be done after The words are these Thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and so forth Setting forth plainely that the householder was to rehearse or to repeate vnto his people the lawes and ordinances of God so often as that thereby they were to be found expert in the knowledge thereof When God was to destroy Sodome and Gomorha for their sinnes Deut. 18.17.18.19 he told Abraham thereof and why Because as hée said Abraham would command his Sonnes and his household after him that they should kéepe the way of the Lord. And doth not the Lord by the preaching of his word specially warne euery householder of fearefull and ineuitable plagues that shall fall vpon swearers drunkards whoremongers contemners of his word violaters and prophaneâ—s of his Sabaoths and so of all other sinnes To what end doth the Lord so particularly by his word in that place and in many more particulate the sinnes of the wicked and their plagues Is it not because the young should know it and be warned by it so well as the old And who should so specially looke vnto their profiting therein as hée vnder whose worldly and bodily charge they are And why doth God so charge the Pastor for the publike publication of his will is it not because the maisters of households should with the like charge receiue it from them and deliuer it vnto their people Truely nothing is more plaine Haue wée not in this Christian kingdome thrée speciall Censures of great force against such children and seruants as doe wilfully refuse or negligently demeane themselues in these orders which are set forth by almighty God The first Censure is that none such shall vndertake for any childe as Godfather or Godmother the second is that hée or shée shall not be admitted to the holy Communion and the third is that he or she shall not enter into the holy estate of Matrimony As these Censures are grieuous and shamefull to household so are they no doubt grieuous and shamefull to the householder And againe in fortie dayes standing forth without reformation after the decrée of the Ordinary they fall into a more grieuous Censare to wit into the sentence of Excommunication and that iustly by the which they are made vncapable of the benefit of his Maiesties lawes vncapable of Christian company and vncaple of any vse of Gods holy word in the congregation and in priuate at home vncapable of baill or maine-prise vncapable of their owne goods vncapable of christian buriall and by the reuealed word of God vncapable of the resurrection with the body of Christ to the ioyes of heauen For the Pastors discharge in the execution of these thrée first censures hée hath the aduertisements he hath the articles of inquirie at euery visitation hée hath his Maiesties Iniunctions and his Maiesties Statute-lawes and that which is most current and conscionable the law of almighty God Here I might say more but I hope that which I haue said already will proue sufficient for you and for such householders and households that be of God Par. I am perswaded concerning this question and here I promise you that for my owne part I will vse all meanes that are good and all diligence that is conuenient as well for my household as for my selfe To the end therefore that I may be the better able to accomplish the one and the other I pray you prescribe vnto me an order how wee shall reade the booke of GOD. Seauen obseruations Pastor I Will contriue the old Testament for your better direction and stay of memorie into seaâ—en obseruations as indéede the times places and persons principally doe occasion wherein you haue néede to be perfit for it is the maine matter and ground worke of our enterprise The 1 is from the Creation to the Flood of Noah 2 Flood Birth of Abraham 3 Birth Departing of Israel out of Egypt 4 Departing Building of Salomons Temple 5 Building Captiuating of Iudah and Ierusalem 6 Captiuitie Proclamation of Cyrus for their liberty 7 Proclamation Incarnation of Iesus Christ our sacred Redeemer Par. Now I pray you declare vnto me where euery of these obseruations doe begin and where they end in the bookes and chapters of the Bible Past Your question is very necessary and profitable I answere therefore that The 1 Obseruation beginneth at Gen. 1. and endeth at Gen. 9. 2 Gen. 9. Gen. 12. 3 Gene. 12. Exod. 12. 4 Exod. 12. 1 King 5. 5 1 King 5. 2 King 25 6 Daniel Chap. 1. 2.3.4.5 7 Ezra  Nehem.  Hester   Daniel 6.7 to the end  Haggi  Zacha.   Malach  Par. I thinke it very conuenient that you doe set downe how long euery of these Obseruations or Ages did last Past The exact knowledge of the Times will fall out hereafter to be most néedefull faile not therefore as you procéede to carie it in your memory The first Obseruation or Age amounteth to 1656. yeares which I proue by the Ages of these ten holy Fathers thrice reckoned in Gen. 5. to wit Adam who liued exactly 930 yeares Seth 912 Enos 905 Kenan 900 Mahalael 895 Iared 942 Henoch 365 Mathusalah 969 Lamech 777 Noah 500. at the flood Their yeares are specially laid downe to instruct the world in two things One as a golden réede to measure the Age of the old world before the Flood The other that God sets down in his owne counsell the very yeare and day of euery mans departure out of this world Make your Addition and you shall finde my computation right 1656. Par. I am well and plainely satisfied concerning the first I pray you in like manner shew me and proue vnto me the Time or Age of the second The Age of the second Obseruation Past The second Obseruation or Age of the world amounteth to 323. yeares which also I proue by the Genealogie of other ten holy Fathers immediately after the Flood to wit these Gen. 11. Sem the flood one year Arphaxad 2 yeares Sale 35 Heber 30 Peleg 34 Regue 30 Sarug 32 Nahor 30 Terah 29 Abraham 70 These Fathers and their yeares are specially set down for thrée causes First to approue the age of the story Secondly to continue the Genealogie of Christ Thirdly to teach all nations that as the decease of the former fathers did declare the certainty of the time in which euery man is to die so these fathers by their conceptions which are named doe teach and point out a certaine time of euery mans comming into the world not sooner nor later The Age of the third Obseruation Par. Next in order I pray you set downe the continuance of the third Obseruation or Age. Past The third Obseruation lasted 505. years which I plainly proue by the Stories of these thrée holy Fathers or Patriarches to wit Abraham Isaac and Iacob Abraham begat Isaac when he was a 100. yeares old Isaac begat Iacob when he was 60. yeares old Iacob with his household came
reuoked his former authority for the building of the Lords house and caused the same to stay vnto the second yeare of Darius Par. Tell mee first I pray you what comfort had they in this extreame misery to wit when the building of the Temple was hindered Past As in the time of their captiuity at Babilon they had two great preaching Prophets to wit Ezechiel and Daniel by whom they were mightily strenghtened in hope of deliuerance so now his holy Maiesty stirred vp vnto them foure other godly and diligent Prophets to chéere them by telling them most assuredly that this their worke should goe forward according to Daniels Prophesie Par. What say you of the booke next adioyning to wit Nehemiah Past In this booke is mentioned thrée speciall men Ezra 2.2 to the end of 7. raised vp by the goodnesse and mercies of almighty God for the comfort of the people Israel after their captiuity The first was Zorobabel their Captaine The second was Ezra their Priest The third Nehemiah the setter forward of their building This booke is thought to be written by Ezra as the former because the Hebrewes haue reckoned both bookes as one Neh. 2. and it compriseth a story of 130. yeares This Nehemiah being butler to Artaxerxes the King of Babilon by the prouidence of God found fauour with the King insomuch as that he obtained leaue to depart with the Kings conuoy to Ierusalem for the reedifying of all the decayed places thereof And after the Temple was built he tooke order for the restoring and continuance of religion Par. Who was Hester that beares the name of this booke Past This woman being one of the daughters of Israel was sometime called Hadasa Ahashuerus otherwise named Artaxerxes successour to Cirus tooke her for his wife as the history makes mention For after the returne of some from captiuity to the building of the Temple many of the Iewes remained still in Babilon as a people malecontent and not willing to goe any more to Ikrusalem And had not almighty God preuented it by his prouidence and mercy they had béene all slame in one day by the decrée of the King which was procured and instigated by Haman for the malice and enuy hée did beare to Mardocheus a man of that nation Par. What say you concerning the other Prophets of whom you haue neither spoken amongst the Kings of Iudah nor yet amongst the Kings of Israel to wit Obadiah Nahum Ionah Abakkuck Past Obadiah or Abdiah prophecied against Idumea Nahum and Ionas prophecied against Niniue Abakkuck prophecied against Babilon Par. Why haue you annexed the Prophets with the Kings Past There is great vse thereof For if you compare the doctrine of euery seuerall Prophet with the religion and manners of the king and the people vnder whom they prophesied the one doth plainely expound the other And this I would haue you to marke That euery Prophet in the beginning of his booke doth specially name vnder what King he prophecied to the intent you should sée and marke how he applyeth his doctrine according to the time Par. You haue in a plaine sort declared all the bookes of the old Testament sauing some few but you haue spoken nothing at all of the bookes of the New Testament What is there no vse to be made of them Past There is as great vse to be made of those bookes which are omitted as of those bookes which are already handled Therefore I will here set them downe in seauen degrées whereby you may benefit your selfe by both The first Degree Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Mathew Marke Luke Iohn The second Degree Deuteronomy Acts The third Degree Iosua Iudges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Esay Ieremy Hosea Ioell Amos. Michael Zophony Obadiah Ionah Nahum Abakkuck The fourth Degree Daniels first sixe Chapters Ezechiel The fift Degree Ezra Nehemiah Hester Haggas Zachary Malachy The sixt Degree Iob. Psalmes Prouerbes Ecclesiast Canticles Romanes 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrewes Iames. 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 Iohn 2 Iohn 3 Iohn Iude. The seauenth Degree Daniels sixe last chapters Reuelation Par. Why haue you thus disposed and sorted the bookes of the Bible declare your reasons seuerally Reason for the first Pastor GEnesis Exodus Leuiticus and Numbers doe specially containe the Lawes Sacrifices and Sacraments concerning Christ Mathew Marke Luke and Iohn doe comprehend principally an answere thereunto or as it were a plaine demonstration of the performance of all former promises concerning him So that indéede whatsoeuer was shadowed figured or foretold of Christs diuinitie of his humanitie and sufferings together with the benefits thereof to the faithfull these Euangelists doe in their bookes declare Reason for the second Moses in Deuteronomie amongst other things repeates summarily all that was famously done and spoken from the going out of Egypt vntill that time in which he wrote this Booke So Luke in the Acts of the Apostles records the whole story of the Church concerning things done from the death of Christ to the time wherein he wrote Reason for the third As in the fiue Bookes of Moses were particularly handled the Religion and manners of the people of Israell from the promise made to Abraham vntill they came to Canaan so in the first eight Bookes mentioned in the third Degrée are recited particularly their rulers and gouernors from their entrance into Canaan vntill they were carryed away captiue into Babilon Whereunto I haue annexed seauen Prophets who liued in those times and taught vnder those Kings as may appeare in the beginning of euery first Chapter of the same Prophets Which Bookes of the Prophets and of the Kings being laid and compared together the one will expound the other Par. Why doe you set forth this woman Ruth amongst the Kings and Rulers of the people Past Samuel the Prophet is said to be the writer of her story and the Hebrewes doe reckon this her Booke and the Booke of Iudges as one And againe this story in this place answereth to the time in which the principall matter recited therein was performed Par. And why doe you place these foure Prophets so odly by themselues and last of all to wit Obadiah Ionah Nahum Abakkuk Past These Prophets which are seuered from the rest had nothing to doe in the Kingdome of Israel nor in the Kingdome of Iudah For Ionah and Nahum prophesied against the Niniuites Obadiah Idumeans Abakkuk Babilonians Par. I doe not vnderstand why you sort out two of the great Prophets and place them so odly by themselues in your fourth Degree Reason for the fourth Past These two Prophets to wit Daniel and Ezekiel are fitly placed together both in respect of the former stories and of their allotted time of prophesie For as the former Prophets did preach before the time of the Captiuitie so these according to the riches of Gods grace not
into Egypt in the time of famine Gen. 17.17 21.5.25.20 47.9 when he was iust 130 years Iacob and his séede continued there 115. years Lay all together and it ariseth as I said before to 505. yeares The age of the fourth Obseruation Par. Now set me downe the continuance of the fourth Obseruation to wit from the going of Israel out of Egypt to the building of the Temple Past It ariseth to 480. yeares which is to be seene by the yeares wherein these religious men ruled and gouerned the people of Israel from their deliuerance out of Egypt to Saul the first king who were in number 17.  Rulers Years Chap. Vers 1 Moses 40 Deut. 1.3.29.5 2 Iosua 40 3 Othoniel Iudg. 3.2 4 Ehud and Shamgar 80 3.20 5 Deborah Barak 40 5.3 1. 6 Gedeon 40 8.28 7 Abimeleck 3 9.22 8 Tola 23 10.2 9 Iair 22 10 3. 10 Iephthe 6 10.7 11 Abesin 7 12.7 12 Elon 10 12.8 13 Abden 8 12.11 14 Samson 20 12.13 15 Eli 40 1 Sam. 4.18 16 Samuel 14 17 Saul 1 K. 12.11 Hereunto you must adde 18. yeares to Iudge Eglons oppression You must adde the Medianites oppression full seauen yeares You must adde also to the Philistins oppression 18. yeares and you must adde hereunto three yeares of King Salomon Now cast the whole and you shall finde my reckoning according as I said 480. The Age of the fift Obseruation Par. How many yeares were there betweene the building of the Temple and the captiuitie which is the fift Obseruation Past You shall finde the account to be 432. yeares which I finde by the seuerall yeares of the raigne of the Kings of Iudah in Ierusalem Kings Yeares Chapters Salomon 37 2 Cro. 9.30 Rehoboam 17 2 Cro. 12.13 Abias 3 1 King 15.2 Asa 41 2 King 9.10 Iahosaphat 25 2 Cro. 20.31 Iehoram 8 2 Cro. 21. â— Ochosias 1 2 King 8.26 Athalia 7 2 King 11.1 Ioash 40 2 King 14.2 Amaziah 29 2 King 15.2 Azariah 52 2 Kin. 15.33 Ioathan 16 2 King 16.2 Ahaz 16 2 King 18.2 Ezechias 29 2 King 21.1 Manasses 55 2 Kin. 21.19 Ammon 2 2 Kin. 22.1 Iosias 31 2 Kin. 23.31 Ioachas 3 Mont. 2 Kin. 23.36 Ioachim 3. Mont. 2 King 24.8 Zedechias 11 2 Kin. 24.18 Now make your Addition your selfe and you shall finde 432. yeares as I said The Age of the sixt Obseruation Par Declare vnto me the continuance or time of the captiuitie in Babilon which is your sixt Obseruation Past From the beginning of the captiuitie in Babilon Ier. 25.13.29.10 Deu. 9.2 2 Cro. 36.21 vnto the end thereof are 70. yeares according as it was foretold many yeares before by Ieremy the Prophet The truth hereof in experience fals out by the raigne of thrée kings or Monarches vnder whom they were captiuated for that time Nabucadnezer 45. yeares Euilmeredech 30. Baltashar 3. The odde yeares are inuolued in Zedechias raigne and Nabucadnezers before the second Captiuitie The Age of the seauenth Obseruation Par. There remaineth for you to set downe the age or continuance of the seauenth and last Obseruation to wit from the end of the captiuitie vnto Christs most sacred incarnation Past The sum thereof rightly reckoned ariseth to 590. yeares after this manner There was thrée goings forth of the people from Babilon The first was vpon the proclamation made by Cirus King of Persia who enioyed the Crowne of Babilon from which time vnto Artaxerxes Long-hand was 115. yeares euen then Daniels seauen seauenties or seauenty wéekes began which by the Romane computation is 490. yeares But by the Hebrewes computation reckoning by the moone it is but 475. years which 115. yeares 475. yeares amounteth iust to 590. yeares vnto Christs incarnation as I said before Par. I desire to know what memorable matter or stories of speciall account are in euery of those seauen Obseruations hauing Analogie reference and coherence with other places of Scripture The matter principall in the first Obseruation Pastor THe first Obseruation comprehends one most famous and renowmed story or memorable matter to wit Creation The matter principall vpon the second Obseruation Par. What stories or memorable matter doth the second Obseruation containe Past It comprehends two stories the one concerning the Floud other the building of Babell The matter principall vpon the third Obseruation Par. What doth the third Obseruation containe Past It containes eight memorable matters of story 1 the story of the ten holy Fathers 2 promise to Abraham 3 â—urning of Zodome 4 birth of Isaac 5 Iacob and his 12. sons 6 Ioseph 7 Pharaoh 8 Moses The matter principall vpon the fourth Obseruation Par. What is there comprised in the fourth Obseruation Past It containes ten most memorable stories and matters of waight 1 the story of the Passeouer 2 Israelits enlargement 3 Pharaoh 4 Israels peregrination 5 Iosuah 6 Iudges 7 Samuel 8 Saul 9 Dauid 10 Salomon The matter principall vpon the fift Obseruation Par. What doth the fift Obseruation containe Past It containes foure speciall stories 1 the story of the Kings of Iudah with their prophets 2 Kings of Israell 3 Captiuity of Iudah with their prophets 4 Captiuity of Israel The matter principall vpon the sixt Obseruation Par. What comprehends the sixt Obseruation Past It comprehends the state of the Church vnder foure sorts of tyrannicall gouernment 1 the story of Nabuchad Euilmeredech and Baltashar 2 Cyrus and Darius the Persians 3 Alexander the Grecian 4 Kings of Syria and Egypt The matter principall vpon the seauenth story The seauenth Obseruation comprehends the state of the Church from Artaxerxes Long-hand vnto the reedifying of the Temple thence vnto Christs incarnation Par. Wee will now returne to the particular consideration of euery Obseruation and of the stories recited in them The first particular of the first Obseruation concerning the Creation Parishioner TEll me I pray you before wee enter farther who wrote the Booke of Genesis Past Moses was the writer thereof and of the other foure Bookes next adioyning Par. When did he write the same Past When hée was full forty yeares old neare about the time that God made him Lord-Generall of his people Israel 2414. yeares after the Creation Par. How was it possible for him to write such a large discourse of things done so many hundred yeares before he was borne so truely so particularly and so substantially as if hee had seene all with his eyes and heard it with his eares Past Indéed as you say reasoning with flesh and bloud it was impossible but he was specially most highly in the fauour of God who by the motions stirrings and instinctions of his diuine Spirit did write the same with which Spirit all other Scriptures were written according as it is said 1 Cor. 2.14.15 2 Tim. 3.16.17 2 Pet 1.20 1 Cor. 1.25.26 No Prophesie or foretelling came of any priuate or publike mans motion it came not in olde time by the will of man but by the will of GOD. Holy men of God
leauing his people vtterly destitute prophefled in Babilon during the seauenty yeares Captiuitie Par. Declare your reason why you place Haggi Zachary and Malachie with Ezra Nehemiah and Hester Reason for the fift Past These doe lye in order according to the times The last Degrée that I handled doth concerne the time in which the people were in captiuitie and this Degrée concernes the time from the end of their Captiuitie vntill the finishing of the Temple at Ierusalem And the three Prophets annexed vnto them were such as God gaue to comfort and to set them forward in their building and in Religion Par. What reason haue you to sort some Bookes of the olde Testament with the Epistles Reason for the sixt Past These Bookes olde and new for matter chiefly contained in them are in another sort and kinde farre differing from the former They are more properly called Doctrinall and Sapientall because therein the holy Ghost most compendiously by similitudes comparisons allegories and examples doth perswade all men to embrace Christ Iesus in holinesse of life and conuersation Reason for the seauenth These Bookes fall out according to the Degrées so to be placed For Daniel intreats of matter and things done during the captiuitie and somewhat largely of things to be performed vntill Christs Incarnation So Saint Iohn likewise in the Reuelation poynts out by manifest particulars to those great things that were and are to be performed vntill the last day in which Christ Iesus shall come with triumph and great glory to pronounce the fulnesse of ioy for his Elect. Thus I end as I began yéelding all praise empire and dominion to his blessed Maiestie A Prayer for the Morning O Lord thou which couerest the night with darknesse and causest man therein to take his rest and by euery day and night doest shew thy great glory in the heauens and also thy wisedome and power by gouerning and preseruing all thy creatures vpon the earth O Lord I thy poore seruant and creature doe most humbly thanke thée from the bottome of my heart for my swéet and comfortable rest this night past and for watching ouer me by thine eye of prouidence and kéeping both my body and soule by thy grace from sinne and death Beséeching thée O Lord God my Father Sauiour and Comforter to blesse to sanctifie direct and preserue mée in this thy new day and that I may become a new creature vnto thée O God in holinesse and righteousnesse labouring faithfully and painefully in my calling that so my labours this day may be sanctified and blessed vnto mée and mine and that I may shew forth thy praise in all my wayes and declare my loue and charitie vnto men in all my workes that after the dayes of this my life and pilgrimage finished and ended here in this world I may liue with thée for euer in the world to come through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour who liueth and raigneth with thée and the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Euening O Gracious and merciful God I am most bound vnto thy heauenly Maiestie for my preseruation this day because I and all men are continually subiect vnto all dangers and perils griefes and sorrowes sicknesse and death yea we lye open vnlesse thy grace and might doe defend vs vnto the temptations and tyranny of the World the Flesh and the Diuell which daily séeke and desire our hurt and confusion both of body and soule for euer Wherefore O gracious and euerliuing God as thy right hand and sauing health hath béene with mée this day and thou hast directed blessed and comforted mée thy poore seruant in all my wayes and labours for the which I most humbly thanke thée so I most earnestly intreate thy Maiestie in thy loue and mercy for Christ Iesus sake to kéepe mée and all mine in safety this night and to couer vs vnder the shadow of thy wings from all perils and dangers whatsoeuer and that our soules as well as our bodies may take their swéet and comfortable rest and ioy in thée and likewise that thou wouldest grant that whensoeuer thou shalt knocke at the doore of our harts to call vs vnto thée O God wée may with the wise Virgins be watchfull and haue oyle in our lampes that we may be receiued into eternall rest through Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne and our only Sauiour Amen FINIS
spake in olde â—ime as they were moued by the holy Ghost by meanes of which Spirit Moses was able to set downe as is specified in the said booke all that was spoken and done 2400. yeares before he was borne and of all things else most profoundly that should befall the children of Israell many hundred yeares after he was buryed yea most directly of things that should be performed vntill the birth of Christ The Prophets likewise doe testifie that they spake nothing of themselues concerning things to come but as the Lord by his Spirit did informe them which they vttered in these words Thus saith the Lord. The foure Euangelists in like manner disposing themselues seuerally to yéeld famous and renowmed testimony of Christ Iesus the holy Messiah they so agréed in their writings though many yeares and many miles sundred them as that their Gospels being compared together they al agrée for matter of waight and substance as if they had béen personally present the one with the other at one time And S. Paul writing his Epistles alwayes confessed that he deliuered them nothing for matter of doctrine and life more then that which was taught him and that which hée had receiued from the Lords owne hand directly All which manner of writing and forme of spéech plainely publisheth to all ages for euer the truth and dignitie of Gods word the plainnesse thereof to some and the profunditie therof to others Par. Now it remaineth by order to expostulate vpon the Creation which you said is one of the chiefest and most memorable matters in the first Obseruation tell me therefore what did God create the first day Past God made all things excéeding good euen out of that which was then without any preiacent matter or out of nothing and that not all together which he might well haue done but as it were by degrées day by nay night after night vpon diuine deliberation The very title or name giuen to this book imports in effect this wonderfull worke or creation of almightie God whence it is called Genesis that is to say a begetting generation or creation And the first day he created that stately Element of Fire which he gathered out of the whole masse setting it in the heauens as a glorious Globe whence it is said he made Light which indéede is nothing else but a qualitie of Fire in which wonderfull worke hée brought light out of darknesse as an Element impugning the former In this day hee created those celestiall Spirits which are called Angels Par. What was the second work Past The second dayes worke was that liuely Element of the ayre or firmament or as I may say more properly that vaste or void place betwixt the earth and the clouds which made a separation betwixt water and water and which giues breath and life to all liuing things The third day he made the Element of water which hée caused to retire into more proper places which fitly according to the qualitie thereof was called the Seas to wit a gathering together of waters The fourth Element of Earth which according to the qualitie thereof was called Dry land was also made and so continueth as vpon a firme foundation The generall creation of compound bodies were ordained for the inhabitants of this great element Earth In this general earthly creation his Maiestie goeth forward as from things that were vnperfect to that which was perfecter till at last he came to the most perfect as from trées hearbs and plants which haue onely life whereby they grow and increase vnto beasts which haue an increasing and a sensitiue life and from thence to Adam who hath a reasonable life with the increasing and sensitiue which Element of Earth his diuine Maiestie stored with all kinde of commodities méete for the vse of mankinde to be and to remaine for euer This order of Creation vpon a sodaine view may seeme strange to wit that God made corne grasse trées hearbes and such like to grow and to haue their being before celestiall bodies as the Sunne the Moone and Starres whence corne grasse and such like haue their growth and influence But being rightly and aduisedly considered the Almighty Creator shewes that increase propagation preseruation of all things consists onely in him and by him and not from the vertue of celestiall creatures as men haue imagined and spoken The fourth day God made lights the Sunne to rule the day the Moone and the Starres to gouerne the night both which are very great that they might the better giue light to the darke earth being so farre from the heauens These two great ornaments in the heauens doe distinguish betwixt day and night the moneth from the yeare one moneth from another and summer from winter The first day and night hée created in the night fishes in the day birds Fishes were compounded of the foure elements especially of the element of water whence it commeth that they liue in the waters Birds were made of all foure elements but especially of the ayre whence it comes that they take pleasure in the ayre The sixt day and night he made all sorts of beasts some to goe and some to créepe some wilde some tame God then made man in both kindes plurally to wit male and female and yet of single bodies the better to helpe one another and therefore said It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an helper like vnto himselfe He was made after all other creatures that hée might in the beholding thereof laud and magnifie his Creator The whole Trinitie deliberated and consulted concerning him which he did not concerning any other creature The seauenth day God dedicated by his owne rest and ceasing from labour for an euerlasting rest amongst all posterities For when heauen and earth was finished and furnished God said Behold I haue made all things and loe they are exceeding good Hée blessed that day he hallowed it and sanctified it to his owne honour and glory and to the commemoration of the eternall ioy peace and comfort of Adam who was fallen and risen againe in Christ Iesus Adam rested and sanctified that very next and first Sabaoth with inuocations and offerings c. Par. Seeing that God made all things so deliberately and as hee said exceeding good why did hee afterward destroy them with the inundations of waters Past Almighty God saw that the wickednes of man was great on earth and all the imaginations of his heart was euill continually the sonnes of God marryed with the daughters of men onely because they were faire and it repented the Lord that hée had made man therefore he said I will destroy man from the face of the earth Par. What say you of our first father Adam and of his originall Past Adam was made or created in the sixt day being Friday before the Iewish Sabaoth Par. What was that breath which God infused into Adam Past It was an immortall an inuisible and an Angelicall or
one day taketh away the credit of another and one straine of Musicke extincts the pleasure of another euen so the Gospell taketh away the credit of the Law and the present sight of the glorious substance of Christ the long delayed vse of shadowes Wee are not bound to Ceremonies as the Iewes were but to Iesus Christ who is to be worshipped in spirit and truth As Mercury by his eloquence subdued men and reclaimed them from their Barbarisme and Orpheus by his Musicke subdued wilde beasts euen so Christ Iesus by his glorious Gospell hath reclaymed men from the Law and by his blessed Spirit hath reduced them from sauagenesse vnto his most blessed will and pleasure Par. What speciall obseruations must I vse in the reading and vnderstanding of the Naturall Morall and Iudiciall Lawes Past These eight obseruations will very well serue you by way of interrogations 1 the person of him that gaue it 2 persons to whom it was giuen 3 time when it was giuen 4 place where it was giuen 5 manner how 6 punishments that were inflicted 7 executioners 8 continuance Iotbatha the next station signifieth a turning away So it might be well called for there Moses was in danger of his life amongst the people by the turning away or rebellion of Corah Dathan Num. 16. and Abiram with other their associates Salmonah signifieth a shadow or a portion or a shadow of a portion Thereby was plainely shewed to the people of Israell what proportion or inheritance should be giuen them by vanquishing the heathenish Cananites who inhabited those parts of the world The people Israel were faine thorough the Kings cruelty to trauell round about the kingdome of Edom before they could come againe into their way to Canaan in which iorney they were excéeding weary and therefore they did murmur againe at Moses which made the Lord to plague them with fiery Serpents in that place But when they repented he eased them yea healed them by looking vpon a brasen Serpent Thence they went to Moab which signifieth the Father shewing thereby that Moab was begotten in Incest by Lot on his owne daughter of whom came those wicked Moabites that alwaies persecuted Israell and fell to Idolatry They committed whordome with the daughters of Madian There Balack hyred Balam Par. What Law or what religion had the people of Israell in those dayes mentioned in the booke of Leuiticus Past They had two lawes to wit Iudicall and Ceremoniall deriued of the Morall which was giuen on mount Sinay Par. What is the Iudicall Law Past The Iudicall Law is an humane iustice deriued out of the Morall or diuine Law disposed with good and vnderstanding words without contrarieties and with the ability of the subiect It inforceth a restraint of sinnes against God and the performance of those dueties towards the brethren which they would haue done to themselues It pointeth directly to euery man his owne and proportionably diuideth rewards according to iustice and equity It is the same in effect as was the law of nature Moses ordained many particulars of this quality namely for Apprehensions Testimonies Iudgements Executions against the Iewes onely then and thenceforth while the Arke was in Tents and Tabernacles and also vnto the captiuating thereof This law is abrogated from them that liue vnder the Gospel sauing from the substance and the end the forme fashion lyeth yet in the consciences of Christian Princes but so after that sort as the maker thereof may be known to loue and feare God and also to desire the saluation of his Subiects This law is not fearefull to them that doe well but to them that doe euill if he be not a mad man a childe or a naturall foole Par. What other particular ordinances was there ordained by Moses out of this Iudiciall Law Past There were very many glorious things that did properly appertaine vnto Christ celebrated vnder earthly things and vnder figures All which celebrations and ceremonies had their discharge and end vpon the Sacrificing of Christ As one day takes away the credit of another euen so the Gospell takes away the credit of this Law and the present sight of the glorious substance of Christ the long delaying vse of shadowes We are not bound to ceremonies as the Iewes were but to Iesus Christ who is to be worshipped at all times and in all places according to spirit and truth Par. What speciall inuention haue you for the reading and vnderstanding of this Iudiciall Law Past These eight obseruations will very well serue for that purpose if they be vsed by way of interrogation 1 The person of him that gaue it 2 persons to whom it was giuen 3 place where it was giuen 4 manner how it was giuen 5 punishments for euery offence 6 executioners of this Law 7 time when the Law was giuen 8 continuance of it Par. What kinde and sort of Sacrifices were there vsed by this Law to publish and to prenosticate Christ Past These seauen sorts to wit 1 A Burnt offering is so called because it was burnt 2 Meat was an oblation of diuers kindes of bread 3 Peace takes the name of peace from the Hebrews 4 Sinne had relation to the sin of the Priests and not the sinne of the people 5 Trespas was for sinnes committed of ignorance 6 Drinke when men willingly vowed 7 Vow was when men did curse themselues if they did not this or that Par. Now I pray you deliuer something vnto me concerning the ceremoniall Law that you spake of contained also in this booke of Leuiticus Past The Ceremoniall Law consisteth of diuers rites Sacrifices and Sacraments which were nothing else indéede but signes shadowes and shewes of Christ for to come in the fulnesse of time As an Anker fastned to the earth kéepeth a Ship safe in the middest of waues and billowes of raging seas vntill the storme be past and that it may arriue into a wished hauen euen so these Ceremonies staid and fastned on the promises of God concerning Christs death and the benefit thereof kept the faithfull Iewes in comfort and hope vntill they arriued into the hauen of heauenly happinesse As a good sonne in all his troubles affianceth his repose in his father as a staffe supporteth a trauailer in his dangerous wayes and as pillers support earthly buildings euen so these Iewes by faithfull obseruations and ministration of these Ceremonies were maintained supported and defended vnto euerlasting ioyes through Christ As the blood of a Lambe doth appease the rage of a cruell Lyon so these Ceremonies wherein was shedding and offering of bloud did signifie the bloud of Iesus Christ which should be shed to appease the rage and wrath of almighty God We reade that nothing can bruise the Adamant but the warme bloud of a Goat euen so in the holy Scriptures wée finde though no Ceremony could bruise Belials bands yet the blood of Iesus Christ hath bruised and burst them into péeces These Ceremonies were solemnised by the
prophane vses to the seruice of the liuing God appointed at the Altar by praying by praising and by sacrificing for themselues and for the people in and about the Tabernacle whiles it was in vse and afterwards in the temple of Salomon Par. What is the seauenth and last particular to wit the Sabaoth Past The Sabaoth signifieth according to the deriuation thereof rest peace and quietnesse It was precisely kept thorow out all generations amongst the people of Israel vpon diuers and sundry expresse commandements so as neither man nor beast might be séene doing any bodily labour therein which outward rest had relation and reference to the inward affections of the Soule wrought by the spirit resting from sinne and all prophanenesse Therein also was an absolute representation of heauenly rest and peace of soule and of body in the life to come They might not gather Manna on the Sabaoth day though it came from heauen miraculously for the nourishment of their hungry bodies because they might be occupied in a more speciall businesse to wit in gathering spirituall Manna a foode for their soules The Lord of the Sabaoth vouchsafed to dignifie the Sabaoth with his owne personall presence and to make it a signe or pledge of warrantise betwixt his people and himselfe And this was published first by God himselfe secondly by Moses thirdly by Iesus Christ and fourthly by the Church This ceremoniall Sabaoth did properly point out a time publike for the ministration of the Law which immediate Sabaoths instituted by Moses are of diuers sorte A Sabaoth of yeares to wit euery seauenth yeare in which the Israelites might not till nor sow There was a Sabaoth euery fifty yeare in which was proclaimed a generall fréedome which yeare was called a yeare of Iubile The Noëmian is seauen months There is another externall and immediate Sabaoth to wit the Sunday or Lords day which God appointed to his Church There is also a spirituall Sabaoth to wit an holy rest from sin which only appertains to the elect such as of whom S. Paul speakes who liue not after the flesh but after the spirit these shal enioy the celestiall Sabaoth which is that most pure and perfect Sabaoth which was begun in the old Ceremoniall Law continued in the new Law and which shall be accomplished in the kingdome of heauen Par. What vse or profit haue we by the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall lawes Past The vse and profit is twofold one is an humbling of all sorts at the feet of God For when our sinnes are gathered together as it were on an heape and the entrance into our owne vnablenesse to make a kinde of satisfaction it must néedes strike a feare and a confusion into our hearts and thereby prostrate vs before God The other is the simple submission and yéelding vp of all the functions and offices of soule and body which is vnpossible for man to doe because the soule doth consist of a minde and of affections and the minde doth consist of vnderstanding iudgement and memory all which are decaied and to no purpose for the worke of our redemption Yea all the members of mans body and all the parts thereof which should be imployed in his holy worship doe easily and plainely bewray their stubbornenesse negligence and contempt Par. What is the sum or principall matter in the booke of Numbers besides the numbring of the people which maketh the booke called Numbers Past Moses therein setteth down diuers Lawes some for the Nazarits some against fornication People sedition Leuites ignorance Priests incredulity Sabaoth murmuring Sanctuary  The fift Particular concerning Iosua Par. Now I desire to know who wrote the booke of Iosua Past Iosua or Iesus the sonne of Nun carieth the title of this Booke because he and Eliazar did penne the same He was a most feruent follower of the faith therefore by faith most admirably he slew mighty Kings Iosua 10.26 euen one and thirty in number and deuided their dwellings and their lands by lots amongst the people of Israel 11.12 according to the word of the Lord many hundred yeares before He resembled Iesus Christ the ouer-ruling and euerlasting Conquerour He was thrée and fifty yeares old before he came from Egypt he ruled seauent éene yeares 24.29.30 he died when he was one hundred and tenne yeares old and was buried in mount Ephraim which was his owne limitation border or lot Par. What speciall matter haue I to marke therein Past The booke deuides it selfe by chapters after this manner in regard of the matter From Chapter the 1 to chapter the 6 comprehending Iosua hisstory the story of the Spies the story of Iordan Circumcision and Passeouer 6 13 the story of the Gibeonites Sacriledge the sacking of Cities and killing of Kings 13 20 Cities of refuge the Leuites portion Manasses tribe Iosua his zeale 20 24 Israel haue now rest Ruben Gad and Manasses are sent to their inheritances Iosua exhorts the people and dieth The sixt Particular concerning the booke of Iudges Past This booke according to the Gréeke and Latines is called Iudicum because indéede the matter principall is concerning the gouernment of Gods people vnder Iudges from the death of Iosua vnto Hely the high priest about 299. yeares and Samuel wrote it Par. Declare vnto me the Iudges in their order and by their names Past As I haue set them down so haue you néede to be perfect in their particular stories Othoniel of the tribe of Iudah who gaue them rest 40. yeares Ehud of the tribe of Beniamin who gaue them rest 18. yeares Deborah and Barack of the tribe of Ephraim who raigned 40. yeares Gedeon of the tribe of Ephraim who slew his brethren was slaine himselfe ruled 40. yeares Abimelech of Isachars tribe 23. yeares Tola of Manasses tribe 22. yeares Iair of Ephraim 16. yeares Iepthe and Abesan of Iudah 7. yeares Eglon of the tribe of Zabulon who ruled 10. yeares Abden of the tribe of Manasses who ruled 8. yeares Sampson of the tribe of Dan who ruled 20. yeares Hely of the tribe of Leui who ruled 40. yeares These Iudges continued in story 450. yeares reckoning withall the yeares of the oppressors Par. Who were the oppressors Past These they were by their names and by their succession Philistines Cananites Sidonians Heuites Chusan vnder whom Israell were in bondage 8. yeares Eglon King of Moab vnder whom they liued in bondage 18. yeares Iabine and Sisera King of Canaan vexed them 20. yeares Madianites vexed them 7. years Amalekites they of the East with their Captaines Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Zalmana Kings of Madian Philistines who vexed them 18. yeares Ammonites who vexed them 40. yeares Par. Who wrote the Booke of Ruth Past Samuell the Prophet is said to write this Booke because the Hebrewes doe reckon it and the Booke of Iudges as one for Ruth liued when Deborah ruled Israell Par. What was this woman of what Nation or kindred Past Shée was a Moabitish