raigne hee took it and carried Israel away to Ashur and there seated them since which time Israel hâ—th not beene heard off Obadiah well prophecied roundly taking vp Edom-Esau for laughing at his brothers Captivitie The King of Ashur having carried Isâ— rael away hee pâ—â—ceth in their Roomes in SAMARIA her Citties a Colonie of his owne vncircumcised People IEHOVAH sendeth Lyons amongst them devouring They signifie that vnto their king saying further That they not knowing how to worship the God of Israels Land that Cuntries God therefore so plagued them The King sendeth one of Israels Priests back who dwelling in Bethel did teach the People Some part of IEHOVAHS worship they received and vnto that part they ad their forraigne Idole home-bred worship Salmanesar their king dying his son Esar-Haddon brought more of his Rascals to Samaria and them partes Ezra 4. 2. Enemies vnto the good work of God they were ever For that as also for their Linsy-wolsie worship the Iewes would haue no medling with them Ioh 4. 9. The Iewes would be followed of all haters of Idolatrie But here we leaue Israel vnder the heavie Lash of IEHOVAH Captines in vnknowne partes of the Worlde a People vnknowne howsoever supposed Ezra or Esdras in that second Booke Chap. 13. Verse 39. beginneth a strange tale of them About this time Nahum prophecied Niniuies fall 30. Staffe Their Sinne vpheapt God sendeth them away To Babylon in a three Captivities For b seaventie yeares they bide in Chaldea Then c against Babel d Mede-Persy doth arise And conquering Chaldeahs drunken Roy e Cyrus sends back Iudeah home with joy a Nebuchad netzar commeth against Ierusaelem in Iehoiakim or Eliakim his 3. full yeares Dan. 1. 1. 2. Then go to Babel Iehoiakim Daniel Hananiah Mishael Azariah togither with others of the bloode Royall Iudabâ— King becomming an homager to Babylon is returned homeâ— This was Nebuchadneâ—zar his first year Ierem. 25. 1. and a time of Glory to Babel who now as a Queene sitteth aboue Aegypt Assur and all Cuntries about Three years Iehoiakim serveth Babels King but the next he revolted Then Nebuthadneâ—zars Hoste the second time commeth against Ierusalem Iehoiaâ—im is taken afterwards cast out vnburied as an Asse because like an Asse he had cut in peeces Iâ—REMIAHS Prophecies So he had from Aegypts King his time of making him King raigned 11. yeares 20 Iehoiachin called also Iechonias and Choniah sonne to Iehoiakim is next King being 8. years old at his Fathers Coronation so vnderstand HE 2. Chron 36. 9. compared with 2. Kings 24. 8. He raigned three Moneths and tenne daies in Ierusalem Against him commeth Nebuchadneâ—zars Hoste it being the 8. yeare of Babels Monarch and carrieth the lewde Boye and many more with him to Babilon Nowe went Mordechai and Ezechiel into Babels bondage but their spirit was not bounde This was the second carrying foorth Cáptiue vnto Chaldeahs Monarch 21 Mattaniah called also Zedechiah his Vnkle or Fathers brother properly called his Sonne because hee succeeds his Cosin as a Sonne succeedeth the Father called also his Brother according to the vulgar speach of the Iewes who call any of their blood Brethren this Tzâ—dechias succeedeth at the appointment of Nebuchadneâ—zar and raigneth 11. years Then the fourth time commeth vp Nebuchadneâ—zars Hoste against Ierusalem They sack the Citie and Temple burne and raze downe all shed much blood but Ierusalems Mourners as Ieremie Barcuk Abdemelech the merciful Morian were freed from the sword and that Ezechiel had fore-seene Chap. 9. Tzedechias flying the Chaldean Armie overtakes him They bring him to Riâ—lah in the Land of Hamath where Babels King condemned him slewe his Sonnes and put oâ— his eyes bringing him blinde to Babell and thus hee never sawe it b In these 70. yeares raigned first Nebuchadâ—etzar then Euil-merodach his Sonne who set Iehoâ—achin out of Prison in the 37. yeare of his Captiuitie exalted him aboue al the Kings that were about his Monarchicall Throne in Babel And here I shut vp the two Bookes of Kings and the two Books of Chronicles Ieremiahs hystoricall parte as also his Threnâ— Elegies or Lamentations who were dolefullie sung of him after the third deportation Vnto Euil-merodach succeeded Beshazzar his Sonne called also the Sonne of Nebuchadnetzar a tearme given commonly to successors though far remote This Beast making a great belcâ—ing Feast to his Nobles IEHOVAH sendeth a palme of a hand writing his destinie vpon the wall before his eyes The drunkard yet trembled for feare shuâ—tered in every ioynt and the rather because none of his flattering Prophets could read it Daniel being sent for for in his Grand-fathers daies greate doubtes and difficulties had beene expounded by Daniel he readeth the Canonicall writ and telleth the King that it signified howe IEHOVAH had accompted his time and weighed him in the Ballance had founde him too light and therefore an end was come to him and his Kingdome The same Night Cyrus of Persia and Darius the Mede having turned aside the streame of Babels Euphrates doe rush into the Cittie and so cause the drunken Bacchus-frocs to drink of the Lords Cup. Heere were the 70. years finished an end of the Chaldean Monarch resembled by the golden Head Dan. 2. 38. the indirect cause that Nebuchadnetzar reared vp the golden Image as a memoriall of His being the First of that Head Vnto which Image the 3. young Nobles not bowing they therefore were cast into the fiery fornace but IEHOVAH delivered and exalted them That prideâ—caused Nebuchadnetzar the Great Tree Dan. 4. to bee hackt downe and to be sent to liue as a Bedlem amongst Beastes till he had learned to Rule better over men Euil-merodach doing good vnto Iudahs People it seemeth hee went therefore to his graue in peace But Belshazzar being puft vp as was his great Father hee therefore finisheth the Golden head and Winged Lyon Dan. 7. 4. and Ezech. 17. c Babels destruction prophecied of by Isai. 21. 2. where Elam that is the Persians who sprong from Elam Shems sonne Genes 10. 21. and Media derived from Madai Iaphets sonne Genes 10. 2. these two are commaunded to besiege Babel and smite it d The Medes and Persians issued from good Iapheâ— and Shem do as two sworne brethren ioyne hand in hand for destroying Babel the Captiver of Shem and Hebers People The Mockers of Hebers Songes haue nowe their Children dashed against the stones Psal. 137. It is equall that they who now mock spirituall Song shall be leâ—t hereafter to sing a Black Sanctus e The Kings of the East having sacked the Cittie and put many of the Vncircumcised to the sword Cyrus being eger of warres abroad constituteth his Vnkle Darius King and as Monarch of Persâ—â— giving before his departure Commandement for building the Lordes house at Ierusalem This I saiah foresawe plainly vsing the Name of Cyrus Chap. 45. 1 and soreprophecied of long before Cyrus was borne The poore Iewes obtaining this sodaine delivery they stoode as it were questioning
he was but of Iudah shall bring vs if so we will studie to enter into that rest Without studying and striving it will not be for the Gate is straight and the way narrowe that leadeth vnto Life and fewe there be that finde it Mat. 7. 14. b Ioshuah hauing seated the Tribes in their seuerall Lots as God had appointed onely Levies Tribe had no such Lot for the Lord was his special portion and the other Brethren were to paye vnto them Tenths Reuben Gad and the halfe Tribe of Manassâ—h Then returne vnto their Lot which fell out on the other side Iordan They as wee must sought no Rest to themselues till they see Rest for the Body of Israel c Ioshuah readie to set foot in the Graue calleth before him the Elders of the People rehearsing before them the wonderfull mercies of God received for the which they were all neerely tyed vnto IEHOVAH But in the end he concludeth howsoever others were resolved yet Hee togither with his Houshold would serue the Lord. Soone after he died being 110. yeares olde having ruled 17. yeares and about 50. yeares after their comming from Aegypt So endeth the book of Ioshuah the World then aged 2570. yeares Here beginneth the Booke of IVDGES Ioshuah dead the People consult with God for the succession in Government The Lord appointeth the Tribe of Iudah Of Iudah Othoniel was chosen Iudge who oversawe them for 40. yeares To him succeedeth Ehud of Ben-iamins Tribe who was not I think lame but left handed Iudg. 3. 15. compared with Verse 21. and therefore exercised that hand as most ready to drawe his dagger forth Hee slewe Eglon Israels Oppressour for 18. yeares From Othoniels death to the end of his Iudge-ship are 80. yeares Heere Shamgar slewe 600. Philistims with an Oxe-goade and so helped Israel But after Ehud his death Israel forgetteth God their deliverer for which IEHOVAH giueth them into the hand of Iabin a Cananitish King whose chiefe Captaine was Sisera a Gentile He had 900. Chariots of Iron and twentie yeares he vexed Israel But Israel crying vnto IEHOVAH hee raised vp in Israel the woman Deborah an excellent Prophetesse who stirreth vp Barak of Naphtali to take 1000. men of Naphtali and Zebulon for rescuing Israel out of the hands of Sisera Iabins Captaine The Prophetesse goeth vp with Barak and they ioyne with Siseraes hudge Armie by the waters of Megiddo Siseraes Armie is discomfited himselfe finding a paire of feete better than two paire of handes Comming wearie into Iaels Tent he sleeping she knocketh a nayle into his Temples and and so brought Barak pursuing to the spectacle So had Israel much rest for 40. years not for 40 years after this Triumph but accompting 40. years from Ehud vnto Gideon next Israelitish Iudge After Deborahs victorie the Lord because of Sinne gaue Israel into the hands of Midian for whose deliverance Gedeon of Manasseh called also Ierub-baal was stirred vp who Iudged his People 40. yeares To him succeedeth Abimilech Ierubbaals yong sonne hauing first murdered his brethren and hee raigned 3. yeares After him Tola of the Tribe of Issachar helped his people 23. yeares Next Iair of Manasseh for 22. yeares Then Iephte Spurius of Manasseh for 6. yeares After him arose Ibsan of Bethlehem-Iudah Iudged 7. yeares To him succeeded Elon of Zabulons Tribe hee had 40. sonnes and thirtie Nephewes that rode on 70. Asse-coltes He iudged 10. yeares Then next Abdon of Ephraim for 8 yeares In his nect followed Sampson of kicking Dans Tribe He for 20 yeares was a strong plaguer of the vncircumcised Philistims slaying more in his Death than in his Life A Nazarite hee was and a figure of our Nazaret Annointed who by his death on the Crosâ—e overcame Death and destroyed all power infernall to the Faithfull After Sampson arose Eli of the Tribe of Levi and of the Familie of Ithamar the 4. Sonne of Aaron for Aaron had Nadab and Abihu slaine of God in the Wildernes for offering with straunge fire as also he had Eleazar and Ithamar for sonns This Eli became as Priest so Iudge to his people for 40. yeares And heere examining the time of Iudges durance the Booke of Iudges will end within whose times falleth the Story of Ruth the Moabitish Gentile married to Boaz great Grandfather to David The Moabites came from LOT his incestuous sonne Moab 1 Othoniel raigned 4. years 2 Ehud his end of Iudgship after Othoniel 80. yeares 3 From thence to Gedeon 40. yeares 4 Gedeon 40. yeares 5 Abimelech 3. yeares 6 Tolâ— 23. yeares 7 Iair 22. yeares 8 Iephte 6. yeares 9 Ibsan 7. yeares 10 Elon 10. yeares 11 Sampson 20. y. 12 Eli 40. yeares The yeares of the 12. Israelitish Iudges in one summe are 339. yeares Obiect But holy Paul preaching at Antioch and making rehearsal of the sacred Story he there saith that the Lord gaue vnto Israel Iudges about 450. years Act. 13. 20. so that by the former number 339. Paul should over-compt one hundred and eleuen yeares Ans. Manie and not vnlearned haue either here affirmed the text corrupted or else they haue not begunne the number of Iudges from Ioshuahs last but they haue runne backe beyond Ioshuah beyond Moses beyond Iaacob even to Isaac But if they marke Paul there they shall easilie see that he bringeth in the accompt of Iudges from the time that Israel had full possession of their Lots In a word to resolue the doubt Paul hath an eye not onely to these 12. Iudges sprong out of Israel but also to the vncircumcised Rulers that oppressed them and into whose handes the Lord gaue them because of their sinnes for who knoweth not that if the Lord gaue his people into the hands of the Vncircumcsed and so it is oft said in the book of Iudges then it was God that seâ— the Rulers ouer them Let vs number the yeares of the Oppressours 1 Chusan 8. yeares 2 Eglon 18. yeares 3 Sisera 20. yeares 4 Midian 7. yeares 5 Ammon 18. yeares 6 Philistims 40. yeares These halfe 12. being Oppressors do so make 111. yeares Which one hundred eleuen put vnto three hundred thirtie nyne doeth giue vp holy Pauls number of 450. Neither are these 111. yeares falling Alone or successiuely to the Iudges but Togither or intermixtly with them And therefore that 339. yeares are in mixture or confusion 450 yeares mystically reproouing the peoples ' confused manners Let vs now number from Israels Exit from Aegypt hitherto The whole 396. Moses governed 40. yeares Ioshuah 17. yeares The Iudgships orderly time 339. yeares Nowe followe the Books of SAMVEL Eli last Iudge of that Number being now Priest in Israel vnto him and for the service of the Lord Hannah the wife of Elkanah brought her young sonne Samuel to which Samuel the mightie God appeared declaring to him the destruction of Eli and his house because hee stayed not his sonnes Hophni and Phineas from prophaning the holy things Warres being then with the Philistims Israel went out
his Tents Secondly in Numbring the People and divers worthy Events in the Wildernes The Booke of Deuteronomie or second rehersall of the Law maketh a Repeat of the things fallen out since the Peoples comming out of Aegypt containing summarilie what before was delivered in Exodus Leuiticus Numbers b The Israelites ever and anone tempted Iehovah in the Wildernes for the which the Lord kept them for 40. yeares in the Wildernes leading the people for he went before them in a Clowde on the Daye and in a Piller of Fire on the Night not by the way that Iaacob and his sonnes traveled in the Famine but round about in and out till hee had by warres consumed all that went out of Aegypt excepting CALEB and Ioshuah This was the fruite of abusing their Leaders and doubting of the Lord his providence Balak King of Moab and Moab and Ammon came of LOT his drunken Incest committed after his departure from Abram his Vnkle and after the destruction of Sodom Gomorrha Zeboim Admah the Cities of the Plaine hyred the covetous Prophet Balaam to accurse Israel but the Beast could tell the King that no Sorcerie could cease on Iaacob yet wicked Iaacobs seede could accurse themselues by running into many Abhominations to the kindling of IEHOVAHS wrath They overcame Sichon King of Amorites Og the king of Basaâ— and the Basan Bulles but notwithstanding that and farre much more than that they were ever forgetting God their Deliverer for the which as I haue said Iehouah destroyed them Aaron dieth by the way and Moses having called the twelue Tribes of Israel before him he blesseth them After the which he passeth from Moab plaine and mounteth the Mount Nebo from whence overpeering Iordan he beholdeth the land of Promise Canaan from whence their Fore-father Iaacob came in time of deep Dearth Hauing seene all IEHOVAH shewing him al he quietly giueth vp the Ghost being 120. yeares olde But Michael the Arch-Angell after strift with Satan Iude 9. buried his body where never man could find it Deut. 34. 6. And here endeth MOSES his 5. Books The 4. latter Books containe 183. yeares vnto them ad the 2369 yeares of Genesis and the whole will be 2552. yeares And so much heere is the Worlds age 24. Staffe The Seede of them during the 40. yeares Borne in the Wildernes they onely came With other two as in Gods writ appeares Them God did bring into the Land of Fame a For Ioshuah good Moses being dead By Gods appointment doth the people leade a Moses before his death having imposed hands on Ioshuah as the Lord had commanded loe Ioshuah was full of the Spirit of Wisdome succeeding Moses in Captainship to Israel And so beginneth the Book of Ioshuah Ioshuah sending Spies to Iericho the first Citie beyond Iorden they come to Harlotrie Hostesse Rahab for lodging She perceiving they were Israelites for Israel was become famous abroade shee lodged them with holy Care beleeving verelv that her Citie and all the Land should be giuen into the hand of Israel and therfore beggeth obtaineth graunt of Life for her selfe and her Fathers house Officers of Iericho hauing observed Spies in the Towne come and search for the Israelites but Rahab having hid them in the top of the house vnder bundles of Hemp denieth her Ghuests The Inquisitors departed she dwelling vpon the Citie walls letteth them downe through a window by a coard and so they retyre to Ioshuah Ioshuah vnderstanding from IEHOVAH that it was time to set over Iordan hee appointeth the Priestes to bear the Arke of the Covenant in which Arke the booke of Covenent was put vntill they came to the brinke of the River They comming thither and setting foot in the water The waters parted as did the Red Sea The Priestes standing within Iorden all the People passe over Twelue Men in the meane time of every Tribe one takeing vp at Ioshuahs commaund a stone in Iorden which afterwards in their Camping place they pitched downe for a Memoriall The Priests no sooner set foot on the Land beyond Iordan but loe the waters rolle togither againe for what rest is in this floodie world longer than the Priest of Priests setteth foot on the Seasâ— The Israelites Royall Arrivall once reported Oh howe the Vncircumcised growe faint-hearted Their Arrivall being in the first Moneth they as was commanded on the 14. daye of that Moneth hauing first circumcised all the Males borne for that 40. years in the Wildernes in the place called Gilgal they doe celebrate the Passeouer feast and the next day after do eat of the Corne of Canaan wherevpon the Manna a kinde of foode that for the 40. yeares fell with the morning dewe like to Coriander seede it ceased Extraordinary provision shall accompanie the Woman in the Wildernes but she must not exspect so much in the Land of Rest. They incompasse Iericho six daies togither seven Priests blowing on 7. Rammes-hornes every day once but the 7. daye they circuit the Citie 7. times the Priests sounding and at the seaventh time sounding the Armie shoutes vpon which the walles of Iericho fall downe flat They sack the Citie Sauing Rahabs house Ioshuah giving in charge that no man take any execrable stuffe of Iericho Achan filtcheth a Babylonish garment 200. shekels of silver and a wedge of Golde whereby hee brought Gods Iudgment on Israel The execrable Theese found out He his sonnes daughters oxen asses yea All that he had were stoned and burnt to Ashes in the Valley of Achor and reason too for Gold Silver c. first dedicate vnto false worship is onely consecrated by beeing dedicated to Gods Tabernacle The man that filtcheth that for his priuate vse bringeth Iudgment vpon him Let such as haue filtched false Church-liuings marke this Some others my Brethren haue deemd it simplie vnlawfull that the ministry of the Newe Testament yea some that none of the faithfull should at any hand make vse of such stuffe saying It is execrable Indeed it is so regarding his former vse but if nowe it be by the holy Church dedicate to the Saintes vse it is no more execrable Iosh. 6. 24. and this way the Harlots wages is made holy Isa. 23. 23. 24. Let my Brethren considder of this and not so easilie condemne the true vse of God his Creatures because of former prophanation for all the Creatures of God are consecrated vnto vs by the Word and Praier 1. Tim. 4. 4. 5. and heerein the Gospell is more liberall then was the Law 25. Staffe a He hauing brought them into promist Land And b seated every Tribe in proper lot c Good Ioshuah dies Then as we vnderstand The Israelites right soone had God forgot For which he many times did giue them vp To drink the draught of Enemies their cup. a This Ioshuah is called Heb. 4. 8. Iesus because He not the Law man Moses brought Israel into Canaan the first Rest a figure of the second Rest into which our Iesus not of Ephraim as
Saintes by Calling Obiect The Prophets cryed often bitterly out of their owne People within that visible Church Ans. Confound not the two Testaments in their Ministery Lawes People If their Maiestrate wold cut the wicked from the Cittie of God so it was but if hee would not neither Priestes nor People could do withall As for the New Church she hath power be the Magistrate never so negligent as to keepe defiled ones from entring the Lords Cittie Revel 21. 12. 27. for Christ his Church here is Ierusalem from aboue Galatians 4. 26 c. so it hath power to preserue puritie within If therefore any wickednes arise within there must not bee knocking of hammers our Saviour hath commaunded a Rule whereby to walk Math. 18. 15. 16 17. namely to vse all peaceable brotherly speaches and behaviour for drawing the Trespasser to repentance If he Repent hee is woon and there an end But if he Repent not then hee is to be put out of Communion as an Heathen out of the Temple nor eat and drunk withall of vs willingly no more than the Iewes would with Publicans Such honour is to all his Saints Psal. 109. 9. This is called a deliverie vp to Satan 1. Cor. 5. and not for ever but vntill the partie Repent and his obstinate flesh be humbled In the meane time if by any meanes wee haue to deale with him we are commaunded to admonish him as a brother 2. Thess. 3. 15. For if hee haue not proceeded so far as directly to reiect Iesus for the Kâ—rim and black cuâ—se is due to such a one 1. Cor. 16 22. we are ever to hope him a brother not vtterly dead but in a trance who happilie once may bee recovered by chyrting the cheeke and vse of strong waters But as a man in a foming sounde is not fit for our Table c so neither a Brother in the hands of the hellish club-fiâ—â—ed Surgeon till he be come to his pristine estate Let therefore Invectivers against Brethren and foolish Excommunicators here Smite their thigh and sav What haue I done See 2. part Staffe 13. In this Temple were two Pillers the one called Iachâ—n or stabâ—litie the other called Boas or In strength To these two our Saviour casteth his eye when he saith Him that overcommâ—tâ— will I make a Piller in the Temple of my God c. Revel 3. 1â— Every thing in this Temple was Glorious figuring the glorious estate of a Christian Proportionable and 〈◊〉 figuring the pâ—oportion and order of Christes Church Precious signifying the high valewe of a Christian and nothing there was that is not for our â—rudition Salomon having finished the work he dedicates it by Prâ—â—er to IEHOVAH The Lord giueth vnto him wisedome beyond all measure of other men But â—est he should think hee stood of himselfe the Lord for a season leaues him to himselfe who by meanes of strange women fell to grosse Idolatrie not onely marrying with Pharaohs daughter a figure of the Gentile Church but also concubining Maâ—y At last the Lorâ— â—ho hath promised to Dauid his Father that If SALOMON sinned hâ—e wâ—uld chastice him with the Rodde of Men but his mercie shulâ— not depart away from him as 〈◊〉 did from SAVL He giveth to Salomâ—n grace to Repent and not only that but he appointeth him to be the holy Ghosts Scribe for three Canonicall bookes In the first Booke entitled Proverbâ— he setteth down positiue Lawes for initiating all People of all ages sexes callings notablie inveying against the Idolatrous Church vnder the person of the strange woman Bitten Child fire dreades he spoke of experience In the second Booke entitled Ecclesiastes or Preacher he taketh his Puple into an higher seate and there letting him see the things vnder the Sun secretly compared with things aboue the Sunne he concludeth all belowe to be Vanitie In the third Booke entitled Song of Songs or Canticles he superelateth or carrieth his Disciple aboue the Sunne to let him see the mysticall Vnion of Christ his Church togither with their Loue-signes and spirituall Amouâ—s To this purpose his former fleshlie loue and Loue-tricks was deepelie sanctified and had he not that way bin overshoes he had bene nothing so fitte to discouer the overtrance of the Spirit Oh the wisedome and mercie of God To these that are called according to his purpose all things work to the best Rom. 8. 28. yea Sinne and All. And he that knowes not this knoweth nothing yet as he should knowe Having finished these three Bookes three degrees of Ascension from Sinne as was Peters triple conâ—ession of Loue for his threefolde deniall hee afterwardes dieth having raigned overall Ierusalem 40. yeares leaving his Sonne Rehobâ—â—m to Raigne after him 28. Staffe In his a sonnes daies for wickednes and sinne God rent the Tribes from Salomon his blood Kingdome of Iudah here did first begin To which the Tribe of Ben-iamin fast stood The ten Tribes King as holy Scriptures tell Was after this term'd King of Israel a Rehâ—boâ—m his Son forsaking the counsel of the Aged cleaving to the desperat advise of young start vps who willed that his little Finger should be sorer vpon the People than was his Fathers â—oynes Ten of the Tribes doe Schisme from Rehoboâ—m despitefully who take vnto them I eroboam the Sonne of Nebat and creat him their King From this time the King of the ten Tribes was called King of ISRAEL The other two Tribes that stood to Rehoboam lawefull though wicked King they hencesorth were called Iewes and their King King of IVDAH togither with which Iudah Beniamin stood on whose hilles as on shoulders Deuâ— 33. 1â— the Temple of IEHOVAH stood Thus the Sonne of the Right hand set his shoulders to the Lyon of Iudah for supporting Church and Churchwoorship Worthie was Ben-iamin to stand on the Righthand of Iesus our Lyon of Iudah 29. Staffe These ten Tribes Israelites a falling from God They fell into the hands of Assurs King Who led them far away a righteous rod As for the two Tribes Ievves from them did spring Some holy Kings But ever and among They grieved God and did his Servants wrong a They Schisming or rendring themselues from Davids house Ieroâ—â—â—â— to keep them from sacrificing at Ierusalem neither was it lawfull any where else hee reareth vp an Idole in Dâ—â— and another in Bâ—tâ—el appointing Tinker-like fellowes for sacrificing Priestes By this meanes as they had Schized from the true Church so now likewise from the true worship to a false Neitâ—er after this did the Kings of Israel better of whome therefore still the holy Ghost saith He followed Ieroboam â—â—e sonne of Nebat who caused Israel to sinne This Supreame head of Idolatrie sprung out of Epâ—raim and begun his Raigne with Râ—hoboam of Iudah The age of the Olde and New-World here was 3030. yeares Of the Newe-worlâ— 2344 From the Promise 1917. From Aegypt 516. From former Iudgeship hitherto 120. And from the Temples structure 36. yeares
feare of such issue should ever keepe thee from admonishing any One so much as in priuate for thou admonishing privatlie he might likewise impudently deny it or hee might reply thus Though I haue done this sinne yet I will deny it to all men and except thou wilt ask me forgiuenes for thus reproouing me I will publish abrode that thou hast falsly accused me of Sinne then thou vnable to proue it by witnes shall be forced either to â—y saying I neuer reprooued him of such Sinne or else thou shalt be censured for a slanderer Because therefore such issue may faâ—l out at first aswell as by proceding it therfore is apparant that there is no stoppage with the vnrepentant Secondly it cannot fall out that such Sin shall not be discovered walking by Rule in the middest of the Congregation Prov. 26. 26. when a case vnder the Lawe could not through witnes-want be found out in the gates of the Citie then were they to come before the Lord and the Priest and there in the Temple it should be discovered Deut. 17. 8. 9. Now that Temple was a figure not onely of the whole Catholike but also of every particular Church the Priest a figure of Iesus annoynted to whome the Father communicates al knowledge by whome we receiue the knowledge of all necessaries but in such a plunge the knowledge of the wicked is necessary therefore by Christ wee are to exspect the Revelation thereof That Christ wil not be inferior to Moses his Priesthood for Vrim and Thummim is evident ynough if but onely in this promise Where two or three are gathered togither in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. I therefore conclude that Christ the heade will not haue his owne holy body so mocked nor the Hider of his sinne so to prosper Prov. 28. and that because of the honour of his own name If Faith in Gods promise Care of his glory Loue of keeping the Church pure do lead vs in this action the Lord neither can nor will faile in disclosing the Guiltie Obiect But some Sin is in it owne nature publike as Incest Adulterie Murder c and therefore not to be satisfied for by private Repentance Ans. If a woman within the Church bring forth a Child besides the order of continencie her sin is indeed publik and therfore the vncleane man and woman both if both be within the Church must satisfie by publick Repentance Obiect In Deuteronomie 13. 6. c. If the secret friend should secretly entice vnto Idolatrie that friende notwithstanding the sinne was secreet was not to bee concealed therefore some secreet sinnes are not at all to be concealed Answ. You might rather conclude Therefore some secret sinne was once not to be concealed Moses must end where Christ begins Moses enioyned That then Christ eniovneth This nowe Obiect Such grosse sinnes cannot bee satisfied for by publike Repentance for the death of their bodies is due Answ. Thogh the body deserue death yet publike Repentance satisfieth the Church The Incestuous person being humbled in his flesh that is in the vnregenerate part the Church of Coâ—inth was by Pauls Commandement inioyned first to forgiue him Secondly to comfort him Thirdly to confirme their loue towards him Consider herewithall the Apostles wordes Galat 6. 1. Brethren if a man be fallen by occasion into any fault yee which are spirituall hee speaks not to carnall men restore such one with the spirit of meeknes considering thy selfe lest thou also be tempted Obiect These Aposâ—olicall Churches had no Magistrates that bare the corpoâ—eal sword but we haue Kings in our Churches therefore the former is no president for vs. Answ. The former is a president where the corporeall sword is not drawne out That I haue alreadie saide is therefore sufficient for my present Argument who delivers but the Rule whereby the Apostolicall Churches watched one over another The Constitution being changed and the Case altered moe heaps of Obiections do arise than is meet for lesse than a great volume For many people I knowe no readier way for them to come out of the Laborinth or Maze wherein they haue winded themselues than by returning backe step by step till they come to the doore againe 14. Staffe For Iesus sake a great toyl Paul vnderwent For planting faith where he soever staid At last to b seauen Hild Rome good Paul was sent There for c two yeares an harvest good he made Within d fift yeare as humaine writings say The Lyon Nero did the Apostle slay a His multitud of sufferings see 2. Cor. 11. 23. c. b So the holy Ghost describeth Rome Revel 17 9. and so much their Mantuae Prophet affirmeth of Rome as also others their owne Hystoriographers The names of the 7. Hils are thus tearmed Palatine Capitoline Aventine Exquiline Celius Viminal Quirinal To this Citie after he had preached to and froe aboue 30. years good Paul was sent Prisoner he having indeed appealed to Cesar and Cruell Nero then was Cesar and Emperour c Comming to Rome PAVL was suffered to dwell by himselfe with a Souldier that kept him Two full yeares he remained in an house which for himselfe he had hyred receiving al that came vnto him preaching the kingdome of God teaching these things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ with all boldnes of speach and without let And here endeth the Booke of the Apostles Acts. d Hee is saide to die vnder Nero That being the 36. yeare of Pauls Conversion and thus it is reckoned IESVS died in the 19. of Tiberias Paul converted in the 20. yeare Tiberias raigning 23. yeares To him succeeded Caligula who raigned 4. yeares To Caligula succeeded Claudius in whose second Iames was slaine by Herod Acts. 12. who raigned 14. yeare To him succeeded Nero in whose 14. it is said Paul was beheaded that being the 70. yeare from Iesus his Nativitie The Epistles that Paul writ vnto the Churches are either such as he writ before his imprisonment at Rome or after The Epistles he writ before are The Epistle to the Romanes written from Corinth The two Epistâ—es to the Corinthes written from Philippe as also a third Epistle which indeed was the first written to the Corinths 1. Cor. 5. 9. which we haue not The two Epistles to the Thessalonians written from Athens The first Epistle to Timothie the Evangelist written from Laodicea The Epistle to Titus written from Nicopolis part of which subscription is demed forged and yet may well ynough be granted The Epistles he writ after hee became Prisoner at Rome are these The Epistle To the Galatians To the Ephesians To the Philippians To the Colossians To Philemon Second to Timothie though a strange Title be given to Timothie in the subscription and that of latter time But if the Title of an Arch-bishop or Chiefe Over-seer be granted considering he was an Evangelist it maketh nothing for Romish Lord-Bishops As all these Epistles tend to the advancing and