SOME Genuine Remains Of the Late Pious and Learned John Lightfoot D. D. Consisting of Three Tracts VIZ. I. Rules for a Student of the Holy Scriptures II. Meditations upon some Abstruser Points of Divinity and Explanations of divers Difficult Places of Scripture III. An Exposition of Two Select Articles of the Apostles Creed TOGETHER With a large Preface concerning the Author His Learned Debates in the Assembly of Divines His Peculiar Opinions His Christian Piety and the Faithful Discharge of His Ministry LONDON Printed by R. J. for J. Robinson at the Golden-Lion and J. Wyat at the Rose in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCC TO THE RIGHT REVEREND Father in God JOHN L. Bishop of Norwich My Lord I Present this Book to Your Lordship in this Publick and Solemn manner moved thereto by good Reasons Knowing with what Respect and Honour You are wont to treat the Memory of the Reverend and Pious Man the Author and the great Esteem You express to have of his Studies To whom therefore the Sight of these Tracts some Genuine Remains of that excellent Divine will not I know be unacceptable I was willing also this way to express my Sense of Your Lordship's obliging Favours towards me which You have been pleased to shew not only upon Account of our antient Acquaintance and equal Standing in the University but chiefly in respect of those Studies I have of late addicted my self to which You a known Patron and Furtherer of all good Learning have been always ready to assist and promote You have my Lord afforded me the free Use of Your singular Library stored with so many and so choice Manuscripts together with such Antique and to the present Generation scarce heard of Books and Treatises when Printing was but as it were in its Infancy And besides You have got me the sight of other valuable Manuscripts Whereby I must gratefully acknowledge the considerable Improvements I have made in my Searches into the Historical Affairs of this Church when it first began to reform Abuses and to vindicate it self from Rome and as it happily proceeded under our two first Protestant Princes Which must be more amply owned in case any of my Studies of this Nature hereafter see the Light I beseech Your Lordship therefore to take in good part this my Presumption and to accept of the humble Respects of My Lord Your Lordship 's most Obliged Servant John Stryp THE PREFACE Relating to the AUTHOR SINCE these Genuine Pieces of Dr. LIGHTFOOT might be of good use to such as are Studious of Divine Learning I was unwilling they should lye any longer within private Walls For as he was one of the deepliest Studied Men in the Learning of the Jews whether you regard their Language Phrases Customs Laws Times Worship Temple or Land so he made it his main Bent and Business to render all that Knowledge he had therein useful to contribute Light to the Sacred History and to open the Inspired Writings of the Old and New Testament In the doing whereof he had a happy Faculty by his dextrous Application of his said Learning whereby many Knots in Scripture have been untyed many Difficulties explained many abstruse Questions satisfactorily discussed many Dislocations restored to their right Places and the Chronicle and Method of the Books laid in their due and proper Order This Learned Man's usefulness this way hath been so well known abroad that there have been two or three Impressions of his Works there since his Death In the last whereof finisht at Franeker Anno 1698. are added divers Tracts of his Remains Which several of the Learned there and particularly Remfertus the Professor had earnestly desired of me in order to the publishing of them that no Notions of so great a Man might be lost By which Encouragement I have since at my leisure lookt up together these further Remainders that now appear Which having carefully reviewed and considered and finding them according to my poor Judgment not less serviceable to the good Ends the Reverend Author designed in what he published himself I resolved to prepare and give to the Press also These Tracts are three Concerning each of which I shall say something for the Readers satisfaction I. The First viz. The Rules for a Student of Holy Scripture was written compleat and fair by the Author 's own Hand And surely it is one of the pithiest and plainest Discourses that ever I met with of this Nature in so narrow a compass and in so familiar a way framed to instruct any ordinary Reader that comes with an honest Mind to read the Scriptures whereby he may arrive not to some superficial Knowledge in them but be admitted even into the Depths and Mysteries thereof It was composed by him for the Use of some Person who intending to read the Word of God with Profit had desired his Counsel in his Access thereto Who this Person was I cannot assign but conjecture it might be his Son John who was Chaplain to Dr. Bryan Walton late Bishop of Chester the great and chief Undertaker of the Polyglott Bible or Anastasius his Second Son who was a pious Minister in Hertfordshire Or for whomsoever else it was writ the Author designed it for some that desired to be good Textuists As in Truth all that take upon them Holy Orders and to preach and teach Religion ought to be The Holy Scriptures being the infallible Ground of all Divine Truth whence all sound Doctrine is to befetched And therefore if they be not first well or at least tollerably understood by the Preacher he is likely both to deceive himself and those that hear him and to teach Falshood and Error Whereof hath sprung a great part of those Schisms and wild Opinions that have created so much Disturbance in the Church And for the foresaid purpose the Writer of this Tract doth these things First He directs to reduce the Books of the Bible into a continued Chronicle Secondly He sets down many cursory Notes for the Explanation of Things and Phrases not so obvious Thirdly He shews a Method and Course for a distinct reading of the Scripture according the Historical Order of Time which is not always observed by the Sacred Writers for special Reasons whereby it comes to pass that many Chapters are dislocated that so those Holy Books may be the more clearly apprehended and understood and read with more Profit and Benefit And all laid down in a most plain and easie manner as Instruction to Learners and Beginners ought to be This Discourse seems indeed to have been the Ground-plot of that Piece of the Author 's Printed among his Works intitled A Chronicle of the Times of the Old Testament and of those other Pieces of the Harmony and Chronicle of the New But as they are larger so this is more succinct and may be used as a convenient Manuduction into the other Having also much in it whereof the others are silent So that they may serve all very well to
these two Marks ¶ and †at pag. 7. the former referrs to p. 47. the latter to p 87. THE CONTENTS OF THE Rules for a Student of the Holy Scriptures SECTION I. THE Language of Scripture one help for the explaining of it pag. 3 To lay the Books and Chapters in their due Order another 4 The Way to come to this Skill is to cast the Bible into a continued Chronicle Ib. The Benefit of it Ib. Eight Literal Observations for this Purpose 5 SECT II. The Number of the Canonical Books 11 The Apocrypha the Work of some Jews Ib. Some Observations thereon 12 SECT III. The Old Testament The Method of reading the whole Book of GENESIS with Explanations and Cursory Observations upon each Chapter beginning at p. 12 The Order of reading JOB 28 SECT IV. The Method of reading the Book of EXODUS with Explanations and Cursory Observations throughout the whole Book beginning at p. 29 The Departure of Israel out of Egypt laid Kalendar-wise 31 c. The Tabernacle and Types of it 37 c. The giving of the Law 40 SECT V. The Method of reading the Book of LEVITICUS with some useful Instructions concerning the Ceremonies enjoyned therein The Laws of Leprosie what they imported 48 49 SECT VI. Notes and Explanations upon each Chapter of the Book of NUMBERS 49 A Summary of the Book of DEUTERONOMY 52 SECT VIII A Declaration of the Matters contained in the Book of JOSHUA Chapter by Chapter 53 54 The Story of Caleb's taking of KiriÌ„ath Sepher Chap. xv why rehearsed in Judg. i. 54 SECT IX The true Order for reading of the Book of JUDGES with Explanations 55 c. The Book of RUTH to be read near the beginning of this Book 58 SECT X. Directions for the Methodical reading of the Books of SAMUEL KINGS and CHRONICLES with Cursory Obâ—â—â—vations Instructions where the PSALMS PROVERBS CANTICLES ECCLESIASTES and JONAH fall in to be read Some special Notes concerning the Book of PSALMS 59 c. SECT XI The Prophetical Books A Rule where and how to lay them as to Order of Time And as to the Precedency of the Prophets living under the same Reign How to read the Prophets unto the Captivity The captivity-Captivity-Books to be cast into a Chronicle Scripture Chronology will direct to find what is not possible to express And particularly the beginning of the Seventy Years Captivity 65 66 SECT XII The New Testament The Spirit and Glory of the Old Testament light upon the New 66 Two things of singular Vse in reading of the New Testament 1. In the Evangelists to search out the true and exact Order 2. In reading the New Testament never to take the Eye off the Old 67 SECT XIII Evangelium Mosaico-Propheticum The Gospel and History of Christ to be traced in Moses and the Prophets 68 SECT XIV The Order of the Evangelists The Four Evangelists laid in an intire continued Story till within a Twelvemonth of Christ's Death A Note concerning the Supper in the Nineteenth Chapter of S. John 72 73 The rest of the Tract in Forty-four Sections shew orderly and distinctly how each Evangelist is to be read according to the Order of Time together with Notes and Observations to prove the Order RULES FOR A STUDENT OF THE Holy Scriptures With Directions how to read the History of the Bible Methodically according to the true Order of Time and consequently for the better Understanding and more Profit RULES FOR A STUDENT OF THE Holy Scriptures SECT I. THAT the Scripture is the best Expositor of its self none ever deny'd but they that would not have the Scriptures expounded The helps that it affords for explaining of its self are various The first to be lookt after is the Language The Spirit of God upon the same Occasions using the same Words in the Original This observed which in Translations cannot be so well expressed giveth Light to Things which otherwise were obscure The Groundwork of the Two Testaments is Hebrew and Greek but upon Occasion flourisht with Chaldee Arabic Syrian Latine c. The Holy Spirit seldom or never using these but intimating something of Note if our Eyes be but serious So in Hos. V. 5. speaking of Israel's seeking God in Affliction he useth the Chaldee Form to teach where that Affliction and Seeking must be So Psal. cxvi 12 the Benefits of God there spoken of are in Chaldee Form for the same reason To spare more the very Language wherein the Doom of Babel is written on the Wall Mene Tekel Upharsin the fullest Piece that ever the World saw in so few Words imports a great deal of Divine Wisdom But every one that desires to read the Bible with Profit cannot see this The first thing then for them that only read Translations to be looked after in reading the Scriptures is to lay the Books and Chapters in their true Order The Holy Spirit hath in divers Places purposely and divinely laid Stories and Passages out of their proper Places for special Ends The Evangelists especially witness this Here the Skill of the Reader is first to reduce each thing to his own Place And secondly to seek the Divine Reason why it is misplaced The only way to come to this Skill is by casting the Story of the Bible into a continued Chronicle Which as the Spirit hath given undoubted Helps to draw so being drawn it is the most Satisfactory Delightsome and Confirmative of the Understanding Mind and Memory that may be This settles Histories in your Mind This brings the things as iâ— done before your Eyes This makes you mark what else you would not and this suffers you not to slip over the least Tittle of a Word And sometimes in things of Doubt and Scruple this Strikes all out of Question The great Doubts in the Primitive Church about Methuselah's living in the Year of the Flood and of Sem's being Melchisedek as they grew from this Course so from this Course had it been truly followed they had been soon resolved I will not anticipate your Study else could I shew in Hab. iii. 2 Joh. xiii and other Places Doubts to be raised not to be answered but bâ— Skill in Scripture Chronicle and being so answered of great Weight and Sweetness Two or Three Hours Oral Instructions from one that hath gone this way would give more Readiness in Scripture-text than whole Days before For the present take these literal Observations with you which may something ease and further you in your Entry upon this Course I. Observe That the Scripture of the Old Testament hath in gross Sums chained the Times together from the beginning of the World to the Death of Christ. These are easie to find and upon the finding it is no hard Task to find out the several or special manner of reckoning of every Link As between the Creation and Flood the Years are reckoned compleat In the paralleling of Judah's and Israel's Kingdom most commonly current but sometimes otherwise II. The Jewish
then of his Generation or that come out of his Loins were Sixty-nine in number and himself maketh the Seventieth He is presented before Pharaoh who never saw so old a Man in all his Life As he had nourished Joseph Seventeen Years before he was sold GEN. XLVII so Joseph nourisheth him in Egypt Seventeen Years before he dieth XLVIII Before his Death he swears Joseph to interr him in Canaan XLIX blesseth his two Sons particularly and himself with the rest of his Brethren He dieth an Hundred Forty-seven Years old Joseph Fifty-three Years after dieth himself L. and is cossined up in Egypt to be carried to the Land of Promise when Israel shall be delivered Before Joseph's Death Israel grows numerous in Egypt if not before Jacob's Gen. xlvii 27 And God chuseth them for his visible Church Ezek. xx 5 And to his new chosen Church he appointed Levi to be Priest to teach Israel the Ways of God when their great Instructor Jacob is dead 1 Sam. ii 27 His Repentance upon his Father's Curse Gen. xlix 6 7. obtaineth Pardon and his Dividing in Jacob and Scattering in Israel becomes a Blessing But after Joseph Levi and that Generation be dead they forget God as Judg. ii 7 They follow the Idols of Egypt Ezek. xx 8 Jos. xxiv 14 They reject the Covenant of God and Circumcision the Sign of it they utterly neglect so that they are uncircumcised like the Egyptians Jos. v. 9 Exod. iv 24 25. They make mixt Marriages with the Egyptians among whom they live as Lev. xxiv 10 And following the Customs of Egypt they make prohibited Matches among themselves as Exod. ii 1 Lev. xviii 3 and 12. Thus when his Church grows thus degenerate in Egypt God hath ready a Church to shew among the Heathen IOB After Genesis in order of time lies the Story and Book of Job Which to read here before you begin with Exodus will breed Interruption of a continued Story But when you do read Job remember his time and withal examine and mark how he and his Friends speak closely of foregoing Stories As of the Creation Chap. xxxviii xxxix c. The Fall of Angels and Men Chap. iv latter end Chap. v. 2 Cain's Case who was hid from God's Favour yet hedged in that he could not die Chap. iii. 21 The Flâ—â—d and old World Chap. xxii 6 Babel's Builders Chap. iii. 13 c. V. 13. These and other such things you may find closely couched in their Speeches which they came to know partly by Tradition partly by living so near Israel partly by Revelation as Chap. iv 12 and Chap. xxxviii 1 thereby to provoke Israel to Jealousie even in the House of Job in Arabia Whose like Israel had not Job i. 8 after the Death of Levi and the Birth of Moses God also chastiseth them by hard Affliction an Hundred and Twenty Years together according to the time of the old World Gen. vi SECT IV. EXODUS THE Book of Exodus by the ancient Jews was called The Book of Redemption Abarb. in Preface to Exodus So the Work of Redemption is called Exodus Luk. ix 31 Israel's Sin causes hard Affliction From which no Tribe is exempted even the Royal one of Judah groans heavily under this Burden EXOD. CHAP. I. To this first of Exodus treating of the sore Affliction of Israel in Egypt read Pâ— lxxxviii and lxxxix which were made by two Men Heman and Ethan who then lived and felt that Affliction These were Ezrahites or immediate Sons of Zerah 1 Chron. ii 6 And Zerah was one of those Seventy that went down to Egypt Gen. xlvi 12 So that those two Psalms are the oldest piece of Writing the World hath to shew with the rest of his Brethren In these hard times is Moses born a goodly Child tho' his Mother were by Nature past the Course of Child bearing EXOD. II. He is hid at his Birth lest he should be slain as he was also after his Death lest he should be worshipped His Mother is paid for nursing her own Child EXOD. III. He lives Forty Years a Courtier other Forty a Shepherd spending his time in Divine Contemplation In one of which Thoughts of God God appears to him indeed gives him Charge of the Delivery of his People and withal gives him the Power of Miracles His Shepherd's Staff is turned into a Serpent for the Terror of Egypt and Israel if they rebel EXOD. IV. but into a Rod again for Israel's Conduct if they obey His Hand is Leprous to teach both them and himself that not that impure Hand but a greater did those Miracles Armed with these Powers he goes for Egypt The first Night he had like to have lost his Son for want of Circumcision Which when he had received he is unfit for a Journey and so he and his Mother and Brother are left behind Pharaoh upon Moses Message adds Affliction But God will approve himself Jehovah EXOD. V VI. faithful in Promise The Genealogy of Israel undertaken to be reckoned but stops at Levi Which Tribe was shortly to be taken for all Israel Pharaoh plagued five times and hardens his Heart when he is punisht for Sin EXOD. VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII Therefore God hardens his Heart five times more So that he sins for a Punishment At last Israel is delivered by the Blood of a Lamb. All Egyptian First-born slain For which Israel's First-born is due to God Egyptian Gods are overthrown and their Dogs struck dumb From their coming out of Egypt to the end of Exodus the Text hath so pointed out the Months and Days that being laid Kalendar-wise to view they yield more Facility and Delight Year of the World MMDXIII Days of the M. Nisan or Abib the First Month.  1 Some of the Plagues were at the beginning of this Month at the least the Hail was And Flax and Barley are now ripe So is Rahab's Flax ripe in the same Month Forty Years after and laid upon her flat-roofed House to wither Jos. ii 6  2  3  4  5  6 Rome is Egypt in Rev. xvi and is plagued with Hail for overthrowing Fundamental Points of Religion Every Stone a Talent weight ver 21. answerable to the several Silver Bases for the Foundation of the Tabernacle  7  8  9  10 The Paschal Lamb is taken up  11  EXOD. X. 12 Darkness Three Days  13 Darkness Darkness over Egypt while Israel gathers to Raamses Remember the Three Hours Darkness upon the Jews at Christ's Death EXOD XI.XII. 14 Darkness over Egypt all Day The Passeover kept at Night  15 Israel comes out of Egypt A Day of Unleavened Bread EXOD. XIII 16 They come to Etham EXOD. XIV 17 They come to Pihahiroth  18 Pharaoh arms after them  19 Pursues them  20 Overtakes them EXOD. XV. 21 This Morning they sing Deliverance  22 From hence after three
things than the Land of Canaan out of which even the Holiest among them they see excluded Sihon and Og overcome It is Six and Twenty Generations since the Creation Answerably Psal. cxxxvi doth Six and Twenty times extol the Mercy of God His Mercy endureth for ever NUM XXI Beginning the Psalm from the Creation and ending it in the Overthrow of Sihon and Og. By which Israel first took Possession of the Land promised Balaam is hired to curse Israel but cannot He curseth Rome for Crucifying Christ. NUM XXII XXIII XXIV Chap. xxiv 24 This is the Groundwork of the Revelation Balaam when he cannot curse lays a Stumbling-block in Israel's way by bringing Midianitish Women among them NUM XXV By whom they fall to Lewdness which procures a Plague among them that sweeps away those that were yet left of the Account at Sinai When the old Stock is gone they that must enter Canaan are numbred NUM XXVI Thus as they were delivered Moses by number From hence to the end of the Book all things are facil and in order by number he delivers them up SECT VII DEUTERONOMY MOses in the Eleventh Month of the last Year of their wandring rehearseth and explaineth precedent Laws and Stories He blesseth all the Tribes but only Simeon giveth Judah Priority of Levi dieth and is buried by Christ who was to bury his Ceremonies The Cloud of Glory departeth upon Moses's Death SECT VIII IOSHUA JOshua of Joseph succeedeth him to bring them into Canaan as Joseph had brought them into Egypt This Book contains a Story of Seventeen Years beginning from Nisan the Sixth Anno Mâ—ndi MMDLIII The first Seven Years are spent in Wars and then have they Peace and set up the Tabernacle in Ephraim and call the Town Shiloh i. e. Peaceable God gives Joshua Authority and even puts the Law into his Hands as that was the manner of crowning their Kings IOS I. 2 Chron. xxiii 11 This was the Sixth of Nisan that Day he makes Proclamation of Removal after three Days compleat and withal that Day sends two Men to spy Jericho IOS II. who take up their Lodging in a Victualler's House called Rahab an honest Woman tho' of a scandalous Profession But they come out again that Night The Seventh Day they lye in the Mountains the Eighth Day they return The Ninth Day the People march along upon Jordan's Banks down till they come over against Jericho IOS III. The Ark leadeth the Van. They pass Jordan on the Tenth the Waters being divided four Thousand Cubits besides where the Body of the Army marched in two Parts IOS IV The Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Days they are busie about Circumcision On the Fourteenth they keep the Passover IOS V VI. and so are sensible of both their Sacraments at once Till the Twenty-first at Even is their Passover Week From thence they strangely besiege Jericho compassing it Seven Days according to the Seven Generations since the Land was promised The Spoil of this Town must deservedly be as the first Fruits of Canaan due to the Lord. Which Achan meddling with makes Israel abominable In the Valley of Achor which is here the beginning of their Trouble IOS VII must be the beginning of their Hope Hos. ii 15 Joh. iv Ai taken and the Spoil given to the Soldiers And here they begin to take Possession of Canaan IOS VIII Then Joshua builds an Altar just where Abraham had done when he took Possession of the Land by Faith Gen. xii IOS IX The Gibeonites deceive by colour of Antiquity A miraculous Day of Thirty-six Hours long A humane History Sepher Jasher cited X c. as Paul cites Heathen Poets and Talmudic Doctors From hence to the end of the Book is a Survey of the Land and some few Histories interlaced of no Scruple for Order Only the Story of Caleb's taking of Kiriah Sepher Chap. xv 14 is rehearsed Judg. i. 12 as if it were after Joshua's Death but in this Book it is in the proper Place It is rehearsed in Judges because there speaking how Judah was appointed Captain by God it relates this Story to shew why Othniel was looked after rather than any other of Judah because of his Valour tried before in this Action SECT IX IUDGES GOD to make easier way for Israel's Possession of the Land of the Amorites useth the Amorites for their Furtherance So Sihon and Vahob King of Moab CHAP. I. fall to Wars and Sihon taketh Land from Moab that Israel might take it from him that was an Amorite for with a Moabite they might not meddle So Adonibezek and his Neighbour Kings fall to civil Wars and he conquers Seventy of them ready to Israel's Hand So that when they have conquered him they have conquered so many They cut off his Thumbs and great Toes and bring him to the great Town of the Kingdom Jerusalem and there for Terror to others do publickly kill him The things next related after the Overthrow of Adonibezek as the taking of Hierusalem Hebron and Kiriath Sepher were done in Joshua's time But they are rehearsed for this reason that we might see that Judah was chosen General after Joshua's Death by God That Israel might war under one to whom they were used and acquainted For Judah was made General by Joshua even in his Life-time And this Matter of Othniel named here to shew why he is made Judge afterward In the rest of the Chapter the Order is proper only whereas some things are mentioned here which are mentioned in Joshua's Book as ver 27 29. about Israel's not expelling the Canaanites it is to shew that as it was not done before Joshua's Death so neither was it done after For which they have heavy tidings from God Joshua's Age and Death mentioned again IVDG II. to v. 11. then read CHAPP XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI of this Book to shew that in his time all was well with them After the Tenth Verse of this Chapter take in the XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI Chapters of this Book for hereabout is their Order For howsoever these these Stories be laid in the end of the Book yet were the things there mentioned done before any Judge arose in Israel For the evidencing of which consider First the Connexion of the Passages there mentioned one to another I. Micah of Ephraim set up an Idol as Jeroboam of the same Tribe did afterward The Danites take it away IUDG XVII XVIII even in Micah's Life time and set it up publickly in Dan as Jeroboam also did afterwards And Jonathan a Grandchild of Moses is the first publick Idolatrous Priest This Moses had for marrying in an Idolatrous Line Dan for Idolatry first set up in his Tribe is not sealed Rev. vii among Israel Upon Toleration of Idolatry all Iniquity follows IUDG XIX XX. so that a City of Israel becomes Sodom Against this City all Israel goes by God's Permission to War
to To nothing but Vanity and Vexation of Spirit Like him in the Story that had a great Iron-bound Chest by him that he thought his Forefathers had filled full of Treasure for him but when he comes to open it it proved nothing but Stones and Old Iron and Rags and such Trash The Title of his Book as you see Chap. i. is Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity Who would read such a Book that carries no better no more comfortable a Title If the Title were Pleasure of Pleasures Profit of Profits Contentment of Contentments here were a brave Book to Study that spoke of such things as these As it is in the Prophet Prophesie to us of Wine and Strong Drink Such an one is a Prophet for this People But a Book that goes about to shew me that all that I set my mind upon and take delight in is but Vanity of Vanities and Vexation of Vexations away with such a Book Like Jeremy's Prophesie with Jehoiakim cut it with the Penknife and cast it into the Fire Thus Flesh and Blood and Carnal Hearts would be ready to Censure and like the Papists with their Index Expurgatorius dash out in all Writings they meet with whatsoever was not to their own Minds But what says the Heart of a Solomon in this Case Nay what says the Sacred Spirit of God in this Case That there can hardly be a more useful Study for Worldly Men nay for all Mortal Men than to Study Find out and be Satisfied that all Earthly things whatsoever are but Vanity That the Heart may be set to hearken after that which is more than Earthly more than Vanity And Solomon the great Student the Wisest of Men never shewed himself more Learned more Wise than in this Convictive Impression upon his own Heart that all things under the Sun are but Vanity of Vanities Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity And as he among the Heathen was accounted the VVisest Man among them that said Hoc scio tantum me nihil i. e. that he knew only this that he knew Nothing so shall he approve himself a VVise Man indeed that can come Solidly Throughly and Feelingly to know and be convinced of this that all Things here below are but Vanity of Vanities Solomon doubles the Word because he would heighten and enhaunce the Sense And if you Observe you shall find also that he takes the Word Vanity in a double Sense viz. For Vanity of Things and Vanity of Minds As all Things here below are but Vanity and Fading in themselves and as the Minds of Men are but Vanity and Foolishness in their Desires and Thoughts And so you shall find that he takes the Word sometimes in one Sense and sometimes in another That saying Chap. viii 11 demonstrates this and speaks to this double Sense Because Sentence against an evil Work is not executed speedily therefore the Heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do Evil. The Verse before is this There is a Time wherein one Man ruleth over another to his own Hurt And so I saw the Wicked Buried who had come and went from the Place of the Holy And they were forgotten in the City where they had done so This is also Vanity That is some Men Oppress Domineer Tyranize over others But at last I saw such come to the Grave And then what proved all their Insulting but a wretched Vanity Nay they went or were separated from Heaven the Place of the Holy One. And their very Name rotted in the very Place where they had so Domineered And they were forgotten in the City where they had done so A Vanity of Vanities that they should lose Heaven and lose their Name too and all they had done and contrived to themselves come to no better Issue And then in the following Verse he speaks of the wretched Vanity that is in Mens Minds That because Sentence against an Evil thing is not presently executed therefore the Hearts of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do Evil. One would expect that Fear should move the Heart that it should not be Evil because there is a Sentence against an Evil Work and that Fairness and Gentleness should move the Heart to be Good because this Sentence is not speedily put in Execution But Behold Wild Grapes indeed Behold the Vanity of Men's Minds therefore the Heart of Man is fully set to do evil IV. The Sin and Punishment of the Golden Calf explained THE Golden Calf is oft laid in the Jews Dish and that deservedly That ever a People should so soon so shamefully fall from God It was not Fourty Days since the Law was given them and the two First Commandments already broken To turn the Glory of God into a Calf as it is exprest Psal. cvi 20 Was that the God that brought them out of Egypt Expositors cannot tell what to say of their Intent For they cannot think they were such Calves And yet what can we say else Jonathan saith The Devil got into the Metal and fashioned it into a Calf The Devil indeed was too much there but it was in their Fancies more than in the Metal The Jews will not suffer Aaron's Relation of this matter to be interpreted Exod. xxxii 24 But the Thing stands upon Record against them Whether they made it in imitation of the Egyptian APIS or of a Cherub Compare Ezek. i. 10 with Ch. x. 14 God Punisht this Sin 1. With the Sword Exod. xxxii 28 There fell of the People that Day about Three Thousand Men. And 2. With a Plague ver ult And the Lord Plagued the People because they made the Calf And 3. Which is worse than both God Punisht the Sin with the Judgment of giving them up to Worship the Host of Heaven mentioned Acts vii 42 Then God turned and gave them up to Worship the Host of Heaven The Verse immediately before speaks of their making a Calf in those Days and offering Sacrifice unto the Idol and rejoicing in the Works of their own Hands THEN it was that God turned because they turned first Hitherto God and Israel were Face to Face but now Contra. As it is said of Moses That he went out from Pharaoh in a great Anger Exod. xi 8 So God turned away from them and leaves them What did God Turn from And VVhither Did he turn from his Covenant They broke it indeed but did he In the Eighth Chapter to the Hebrews ver 9. The Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day when I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant They continued not in the Covenant but did not he Yea he returned again set up his Tabernacle among them and brought them into the Land which he Promised them Had he broke his Covenant he had played quit with them And the Covenant was not but upon God's Conditions and those not performed he was quit from