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
A PLAINE AND perfect Method for the easie vnderstanding of the whole BIBLE CONTAINING Seauen Obseruations Dialoguewise betweene the PARISHIONER and the PASTOR LONDON Printed by T. S. for the Widow Helme and are to be sould at her shop in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet 1617. TO THE RIGHT Reuerend Father in God the Lo Bishop of Lichfield and Couent My LORD MY Honourable good Lord these are to signifie vnto you that whereas I published in print many and sundry Bookes for the reading and vnderstanding of the sacred Scriptures and my selfe being worne with age neare vnto the poynt of my pilgrimage concluded with my selfe long since there to surcease Neuerthelesse of late my Lord I was importuned for the new Impression of this Booke which almost twelue yeares since hath beene in request whereunto I willingly yeelded the rather vnder your Lo fauour and protection being my Honourable good neighbour although not worth nor worthy your reading For had it not beene anciently and truely said that Hee is freer from blame that praiseth the dead then he that praiseth the liuing when the praiser cannot be moued with flattery nor the praised with vaine-glory then should I haue spoken of your Lo more worthy deserts and that whiles you are aliue which I therefore must leaue to doe to the best learned in the Land when you are dead And whereas also I durst not so much as thinke my writing fit your graue and profound reading I doe here therefore humbly acquaint your Lo that the contents thereof is a kinde of Scripture Catechisme by way of Questions and Ausweres betweene the Pastor and the Parishioner the one plainly and diuinely the other a little Philosophically and plausibly for the manner of handling And so nothing doubting of your Lo good acceptance I humbly take my leaue heartily desiring the Lord of eternall life that by your good meanes wee in these parts and in your Iurisdiction may haue a more peaceable proceeding in our preaching and that the sincere professors thereof may by you and such like be more and more countenanced and comforted as your Lordship hath well and graciously begun to the glory of God to the sauing of many thousand soules and to your owne heauenly happinesse Your Lo most humbly and dutifully in the Lord ED VAVGHAN Pastor of Stretton Leafield in the County of Darby neare Clifton Camuill A PREFACE to my Countrey-men of WALES and especially to my Countrey-men and Kinsmen of that ancient Borough of Abergevenny in the County of Monmouth MAy it please you to remember about some thirtie yeares since I wrote vnto you a Booke entituled A method for the reading and vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures the contents of my Epistle vnto you was if euer you would duly tender and apply the merits of Iesus Christ to the sauing health of your soules and the like good vnto your deare children that euery man should liue not according to blinde zeale and olde traditions but according to the line and leuell of holy Scriptures which measureth and weigheth as with a golden Reede and in the Ballance of the Sanctuary whatsoeuer is due to euery man and according as he is able to vse And that the performance thereof could not be without the true sight and perfect knowledge of the said diuine Oracles Therefore I exhorted you in the feare of God vnto the carefull and diligent reading and hearing of the same priuately and publikely To all which intents and purposes I doe here againe in another sort and kinde write vnto you and that more briefly humbly and heartily desiring you all euen for Iesus Christ his sake and for your owne soules sake you will sometimes sequester your selues from your publike affaires and sometimes from your most priuate occasions for the orderly and thorow reading hereof assuring you vpon mine owne experience and vpon the iudgement of the best learned writers that there is nothing so effectuall in all the world to moue a regenerate man to solace in sorrow to mourne in mirth and to apprehend rightly the vse of all good means which God hath left in his Church for the sauing of soule and body as the reading meditating and contemplating in the holy Booke of God giuen vnto vs by inspiration Thus I end heartily neare the period of my life desiring your euerlasting saluation in IESVS CHRIST as mine owne EDWARD VAVGHAN of Stratton Leafield in the County of Darby Late of S. Leonard Shoreditch Some briefe and necessary Introductions to the reading of this Booke by way of Questions and Answers betweene the Parishioner and the PASTOR The Lamentation of a sorrowfull sinner Parishioner HAuing seriously and sincerely searched into the most allowable and laudable things of this life I finde Right reuerend Pastor that these titles Master Worshipfull and Honourable stand not in the dignitie that men haue but in the good workes whereby they deserue and yet for all that I finde that many are violently pulled downe without fault and many are fauourably set vp without merit Moreouer I finde that when flourishing state is perpendicular or when men are at the highest then comes that euill day bringing with it fearefull gusts from the South and thunderbolt-lightnings from the North Then all turneth like to the sacietie of honey which is loathsome to the stomacke and like to ouermuch fecunditie which neuer comes to maturitie Againe I finde although a man haue the strength of Sampson Iudg. 16.3 Dan. 2.5 2 Kin. 5.1 the power of Nabuchadnezer the riches of Baltashar and the applauditie of Naaman in the Court and in the Kingdome for 500. yeares continuance without any impeachment all are nothing all are but fantasticall and sightly to the eye as those Kingdomes which the Diuell offered to Christ Mat. 4. Num. 32.33 or as this side Iordan to Ruben Gad and halfe the tribe of Manasses in respect of Canaan or as Canaan in respect of the Kingdome of heauen And whiles I thus searched into other mens estates and did behold their lamentable lapses I found my selfe of the number which is innumerable that make no care of the Lords Sabaoths that make no conscience of his Euangelicall doctrine nor any regard of them that doe sincerely and purely professe Christ Iesus O how surpassing sorrowfull are the sights of these sinnes sodainly vnto me Wormwood Aloes and Centory was neuer so bitter to the mouthes of men as these sinnes are tedious and troublesome to my minde O what cause haue I to call to cry and to curse the time the place and the persons that procured me thus wilfully as it were to forsake my Sauiour And why doe I thus heauily complaine for these few sinnes seeing I haue many other sinnes For as at a marriage men are made merry with Musicke and with varietie of meates so is my poore heart and soule made heauy and fearefull with the varietie of my sinnes As true loue to a vertuous woman that comes too late doth not desire
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
woman naturally descended from Lot who committed incest with his two daughters Par. Why then is Ruth here reckoned and accounted sithence she came of such an incestuous wicked man Past Shée is set forth in holy Scripture and the Booke entituled by her name to the open view of the world that the Iewes might sée the calling of the Gentiles by Iesus Christ to saluation for he lineally descended of Ruth who was a Gentile Therein God the Father declared that hée receiued poore sinners into fauour by reuealing of the Gospell vnto them and by vniting her and other of the Gentiles into the stocke and linage of Abraham Par. What is the matter contained therein Past It containes a piece of Dauids genealogie which by the Euangelists is translated into the genealogie of Christ that thereby men might know Gods predestinate decrée for the saluation of penitent sinners by Christ who long after should be borne of sinners The seauenth Particular concerning Samuell in the fourth Obseruation Par. Declare vnto me I pray you in briefe answeres concerning the Booke of Samuel and the Booke of the Kings Past According to the Latines there are foure Bookes to wit two entituled the Bookes of Samuel and two entituled the Bookes of Kings all which foure according to the Hebrew are only two reckoning both the bookes of Samuel for the one and both the Bookes of the Kings for the other The Writers thereof seuerally a piece or a portion were Samuel Nathan Gad Ahiah the Shilonite Iddo the Seer as may appeare by these words 1 Chron. 29.29 The acts of Dauid are they not written in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the Prophet and in the Booke of Gad the Seer Par What was this Samuel Past Hée was the sonne of Elkanah an Ephrahite whom Hannah his Mother obtayned at the Lords hands by prayer when she was in reproach amongst all Israell by reason of her barrennesse She dedicated him to the seruice of GOD in the Temple who proued a most faithfull and a most constant Prophet of the Lord vnder King Saul Par. What doth the first Booke of Samuel containe Past It principally containes the story of King Saul Par. What doth the second booke of Samuel containe Past It containeth principally the story of King Dauid The eight Particular concerning Saul Par. These three Kings to wit Saul Dauid and Salomon who by succession held the famous and renowmed kingdome of the Hebrewes when it was yet whole and entire I would pray you to set mee downe their stories particularly Past It is true these Kings in their time were the most renowmed of any that euer followed after them and they were the first that euer was ouer the people of God 1 Sam. 9.10.11 Saul was the son of Kish of the tribe of Beniamin which was a great prerogatiue to that tribe being the least and the last By séeking of his fathers Asses which went astray hée came by Gods prouidence vnto the place where Samuel the Lords Prophet dwelt Samuel séeing him and knowing Gods will concerning him hée entertained him amongst the best of the people and the next day he annoynted him King ouer the people of Israell and because it should not séeme incredible hée gaue him thrée speciall tokens by the which hée should know that the Lord God had so appointed all which tokens came to passe that same day Samuel hauing also assembled the people he told them that the Lord had appointed them a King euen in his wrath because they refused to be guided and gouerned by him and he presented Saul before them at which time they cryed and said God saue the King And immediately Samuel hauing declared what dutie did belong vnto the King from his subiects the Lord touched the hearts of a band of men who hereupon followed the King to the wars against Nahash the Ammonite in the behalfe of Iabesh Gilead that desired helpe of the Israelites The spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul he was turned into another man that is to say hée by the same Spirit became more wise and more heroically valiant then hée was before and in qualities méete for a King Par. How came it to passe that Saul was sent to seeke the Asses His Father being a man of great reputation and riches hee had many others no doubt to send Past It was the diuine and secret prouidence of God that the Asses went astray and that Saul should séeke after them whereby he might be brought as it were by the hand vnto the place where Samuel was and for that purpose which his holy Maiestie had determined That which Almighty GOD hath done herein was not to declare vnto men what hée could doe but what hee would doe for the better stay of faithfull men vpon his promises and prouidence and withall to teach all men that when any matter happeneth to the good of the godly hée should not attribute it to his owne endeuour or paines nor yet to the fayned Gods as by Fortune and Chance but euen by a secret diuine rule bringing great and mighty things to passe by weake and small meanes And that the very guiding â—and of GOD was in it appeares plainly for God told Samuel â—aying To morrow about this time I will send thee a man of Beniamin named Saul him shalt thou annoynt to be gouernour ouer my people Israell Par. Why was God displeased with his people of Israell for asking a King sithence they had none Past Almighty God was not angry with them simply for asking a King 1 Sam. 8.4.5.6.7.8.9 to 22. but because hée himselfe had gouerned them and guided them alwayes before without a King to wit by Patriarches by Chiefetenants and Iudges Vnder whose gouernment they alwayes prospered so long as they obeyed the Lord in any measure And in that time in which they desired a King they were gouerned by Samuel a holy man and the Prophet of the Lord they desired a King euen in wantonnesse and pride of heart and not in regard of any want Therefore the Lord said to Samuel 1 Sam. 1. to 11. Heare the voyce of the peopple they haue not cast away thee but they haue cast away mee As though he had said thy gouernment was my gouernment or as I commanded thée they doe not reiect thée in this but me therefore heare them and tell them what manner of man he shall be vnto them Par. Doth God appoint ouer any Nation such kings and rulers as shall tyrannize and deale roughly with their subiects Past When as the people are not thankefull vnto him for a good King and when they doe not humbly acknowledge the benefit thereof then hée vsually plagueth them with wicked tyrannous Kings Par. How did Saul behaue himselfe towards God hauing receiued such a speciall fauour as to be made a King ouer such a great Nation Past After he had raigned two yeares ouer Israell 1 Sam. 15. he did that which
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
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