therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Israel and made al that were left in Israel to serue our Lord their God Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers CHAP. XXXV Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt al Iudalamenting him 25. most specially Ieremias AND Iosias made in Ierusalem a Phase to our Lord which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first moneth †And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. †To the Leuites also at whose instruction al Israel was sanctified to our Lord he spake Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel for you shal carie it no more but now minister to our Lord your God and to his people Israel †And prepare your selues by your houses and kinredes in the diuisions of euerie one as Dauid the king of Israel commanded and Salomon his sonne described †And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies †and being sanctified immolate the Phase prepare also your brethren that they may doe according to the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses †Moreouer Iosias gaue to al the people that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase lambes and kiddes of the flockes and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand of oxen also three thousand al these thinges of the kinges substance †His dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed as wel to the people as to the Priestes and the Leuites Moreouer Helcias and Zacharias and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred and oxen three hundred †And Chonenias and Semeias also Nathanael his brethren moreouer Hasabias and Iehiel and Iozabad princes of the Leuites gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe and oxen fiue hundred †And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement †And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes †and they seperated them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one and to be offered to our Lord as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses of oxen also they did in like maner †And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâ—vled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people †And for themselues and for the Priestes they prepared afterward for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last †Moreouer the singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Heman and Idithun the prophetes of the king and the porters watched at euerie gate so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them †Therfore al the seruice of our Lord was ritely accomplished that day so that they made the Phase and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies †There was not a Phase like to this in Israel from the daies of Samuel the prophete neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias to the Priestes and the Leuites and to al Iuda and Israel that was found and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem †In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated †After that Iosias had repayred the temple came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him †But he sending messengers vnto him sayd What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda I come not agaynst thee this day but I fight agaynst an other house to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast leaue to doe agaynst God who is with me lest he kil thee †Iosias would not returne but prepared battel agaynst him neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo †And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded †Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote that folowed him after the maner of kinges and they caried him away into Ierusalem he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers and al Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him †Ieremie most of al whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias and it is growen as it were a law in Israel Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations †But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord †his workes also the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel CHAP. XXXVI Ioachaz reigneth three monethes 4. His brother Eliakim named loakim eleuen yeares 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares 14. Most Priestes and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt 20. The sayd kinges successiuely and people are caryed captiue into Babylon 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia releaseth the captiuitie and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and made him king for his father in Ierusalem †Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem †And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem deposed him and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold †And he made Eliakim his brother king for him ouer Iuda and Ierusalem and he turned his name Ioakim but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him and caried him away into Aegypt †Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem and he did euil before our Lord his God †Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon †Whither he transported also the vessels of
defendeth his owne iust â—â—â—â—cencie and that worldlie calamities and prosperitie happen indifferently to good and had in this lifâ— and that the truâ—r ward of the iust and punishment of the wicked is to be expected in the other world At last God with due reprehension of Iob for some imperfections sharply rebuketh the errors and insolencie of his aduerse freindeâ— geueth sentence on Iobs side pardoneth â—â—â—m at his intercession and restoreth al thinges to him duble to that he had before Bâ—â—iâ—eâ— the literal sense Iob in al his actions sufferinges and whole life was a special figure of Christ shewing sayth S. Gregorie by those thinges which he did and susteyned what our Redemer should do and suffer yea more particularly thâ—n most part of the Patriarches which S. Ierome epist ad Paulin. also admireth and testifieth saying what mysteries of Christ doth not this booke comprehend Euerie word is ful of sense Moreouer this historie is replenished with moral documents how to embrace vertue and eschew vice proposing the life of a right godlie man neither insolent in prosperitie not desparing in aduersitie alwayes resolute in Gods seruice as wel in his prosperous kingdom as in the miserable dunghil Here also we haue the true maner of arguing according to the rules of Logike with detection of sophistrie Iob prouing and disprouing assertions by proposition assumption and conclusion as S. Ierom obserueth with profound knovvlege of natural thinges and causes as appeareth in very manie places Al which varietie and abundance of matter comprised in smal rowme make manie thinges hard and obscure yet are the same so tempered with other thinges plaine and easie that here is verified S. Augustins obâ—â—ruation li. 2. c. 6. doct Christ certaine places of holie Scriptures serue as delectable meate to them that hunger and thirst diuine knowlege and the obscure take away tediousnes from them that loath vsual plaine doctrin It is most probable that Iob himself inspired by the Holie Ghost by whose grace he excelled al in right simplicitie c. 1. writte his owne historie the most part in verse only the two first chapters and the last in prose in the Arabian tongue which Moyses translated into Hebrew for the consolation of the Israelites afflicted in Aegypt And it may be diuided into three general partes First the change of Iobs state from prosperitie into affliction with his lamentation for the same are recorded in the three first chapters In foure and thirtie chapters folowing are sundrie disputations conflictes and discourses betwen him and his freindes touching the cause of his so vehement affliction In the fiue last chapters God discusseth the quarel geueth sentence for Iob against his aduersaries pardonteh them and rewardeth him THE BOOKE OF IOB CHAP. I. Holie Iob offereth sacrifice for euerie one of his children 6. whose good estate Satan enuying by Gods permission spoyle hâ—â—m of al his goodes and children 20. for which he being pensiue offendeth not but thanketh God for al. THERE was a man in the Land of Hus named Iob that man was “ simple right and fearing God and departing from euil †And there were borne to him seuen sonnes and three daughters †And his possession was seuen thousand sheepe and three thousand camels also fiue hundred yoke of oxen and fiue hundred she asses and a familie exceding great and that man was great among al them of the East †And his sonnes went and made a feast by houses euerie one in his day And sending they called their three sisters to eate and drinke with them †And when the dayes of feasting had passed about in course Iob sent to them and sanctified them and rising vp early “ offered holocaustes for euerie one For he sayd Lest perhaps my sonnes haue sinned and haue blessed God in their hartes So did Iob al the dayes †But on a certaine day when the sonnes of God were come to assist before our Lord Satan also was present amongst them †To whom our Lord sayd From whence comest thou Who answering sayd I haue gone round about the earth and walked through it †And our Lord sayd to him Hast thou considered my seruant Iob that there is not the like to him in the earth a man simple and right and fearing God and departing from euil †To whom Satan answering said Why doth Iob feare God in vayne †hast not thou fensed him and his house and al his substance round about blessed the workes of his handes and his possession hath increased on the earth †But stretch forth thy hand a little and touch al thinges that he possesseth vnlesse he blessethee in the face †Our Lord therfore sayd to Satan behold al things that he hath are in thy hand onlie vpon him extend not thy hand And Satan went forth from the face of our Lord. †And when vpon a certeine day his sonnes and daughters did eate and drinke wyne in the house of their eldest brother †there came a messenger to Iob which sayd The oxen plowghed and the she asses fed beside them †and the Sabeians came in violently haue taken al things and haue stroken the seruantes with the sword and I onlie haue escaped to tel thee †And when he yet spake an other came and sayd The fire of God fel from heauen and striking the sheepe and the seruantes hath consumed them and I only haue escaped to tel thee †But whiles he also was yet speaking there came an other and said The Chaldees made three â—roupes and haue inuaded the camels and taken them moreouer the seruantes also they haue strooken with the sword and I alone am fled to tel thee †He yet spake and behold an other came in and said Thy sonnes and daughters eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother †sodenly a vehement winde came violently from the countrie of the desert and shooke the foure corners of the house which falling oppressed thy children and they are dead and I alone haue escaped to tel thee †Then Iob rose vp and rent his garmentes and with powled head falling on the ground adored †and said Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shal I returne thither Our Lord gaue and our Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased our Lord so is it done the name of our Lord be blessed †In al these thinges Iob sinned not with his lippes neither spake he anie foolish thing against God ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 1. Simple right and fearing God Moyses Samuel Esdras other Prophetes writ ther owne actes among others also their owne prayses speaking of themselues in the third person so did holie Iob humbly truly and simply without vayne glorie or arrogancie as S. Gregorie noteth saying Blessed Iob inspired with the Holie Ghost might wel write his owne actes which were the giftes of supernal inspiration God being the
shal perish from their wise men and the vnderstanding of their prudent shal be hid †Woe vnto you that are deepe of hart to hide your counsel from our Lord whose workes are in darkenes and they say Who seeth vs and who knoweth vs †This your cogitation is peruerse as if the clay should thinke against the potter and the worke should say to the maker therof Thou madest me not or the thing formed should say to the fashioner therof Thou vnderstandest not †Shal not yet within a litle while and in a short time Libanus be turned into Charmel Charmel reputed for a forest †And in that day the deafe shal heare the wordes of the booke and out of the darkenes and mist the eies of the blinde shal see †And the meeke shal adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shal reioyce in the holie one of Israel †Because he hath fayled that did preuaile the scorner is consumed and they are al cut downe that watched vpon iniquitie †that made men sinne in word and supplanted him that reproued them in the gate and declined in vayne from the iust †For this cause thus sayth our Lord to the house of Iacob he that redemed Abraham Iacob shal not now be confounded neither shal now his countenance be ashamed †but when he shal see his children the workes of mine handes in the middes of him sanctifying my name and they shal sanctifie the holie one of Iacob and shal preach the God of Israel †and they that erre in spirit shal know vnderstanding and the mutteters shal learne the law CHAP. XXX The Iewes are blamed for seeking counsel and helpe of the Aegyptians 18. but if they repent they shal find releefe and spiritual riches of the soule 27. Gods iudgement wil be strict 33. and hel is most horrible VVOE vnto renegate children sayth our Lord that you would take counsel and not of me would beginne a webbe and not by my spirite that you might adde sinne vpon sinne †which walke to goe downe into Aegypt haue not asked my mouth hoping for helpe in the strength of Pharao and hauing confidence in the shadow of Aegypt †And the strength of Pharao shal be a confusion to you and the confidence of the shadow of Aegypt an ignominie †For thy princes were in Tanis and thy messengers came euen to Hanes †Al were confounded vpon the people that could not profite them they were no helpe nor to any profite but to confusion and to reproch †The burden of the beastes of the South In a land of tribulation and distresse the lionesse and the lion of them the viper the flying basiliscus carying their riches vpon the shoulders of beasts and their treasures vpon the bunch of camels to a people that can not be able to profite them †For Aegypt shal helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cried vpon this It is pride onlie cease †Now therfore going in write to her vpon boxe and drawe it diligently in a booke and it shal be in the latter day for a testimonie for euer †For it is a people prouoking to wrath and lying children children that wil not heare the law of God †Which say to the seers See not and to them that behold Behold vs not those thinges that are right Speake vnto vs pleasant thinges see errours vnto vs. †Take from me the way turne away the path from me let the holie one of Israel cease from our face †Therfore thus sayth the holie one of Israel For that you haue reiected this word haue hoped in calumnie and tumult and haue leaned therevpon †therfore shal this iniquitie be vnto you as a breach that falleth and is found lacking in an high wal because sodenly whiles it is not hoped shal come the destruction therof †And it shal be broken smal as the potters vessel is broken with mightie breaking there shal not a shread be found of the fragments therof wherein a litle fyre may be caried from the burning or a litle water be drawen out of the pitte †Because thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel If you returne and be quiet you shal be saued in silence and in hope shal your strength be And you would not †and you haue sayd No but we wil flee to horses therfore shal you flee And we wil mount vpon swift ones therfore shal they be fwifter that shal persecute you †A thousand men at the face of the terrour of one and at the face of the terrour of fiue shal you flee til you be leaft as the mast of a shippe in the toppe of a mountaine and as a signe vpon a litle hil †Therfore our Lord expecteth that he may haue mercie on you and therfore shal he be exalted sparing you because our Lord is the God of iudgment blessed are al they that expect him †For the people of Sion shal dwel in Ierusalem weeping thou shalt not weepe pitying he wil pitie thee at the voice of thy crie as soone as he shal heare he wil answer thee †And our Lord wil geue you straite bread and short water and wil not make thy doctor to flee away from thee any more and thine eies shal see thy master †And thine eares shal heare the word of him that behinde thy backe admonisheth thee This is the way walke in it and decline ye not neither to the right hand nor to the left †And thou shalt contaminate the plates of the sculptils of thy siluer and the garment of the molten of thy gold and shalt scatter them as the vncleannes of a menstruous woman Thou shalt say to it Get thee hence †And rayne shal be geuen to thy seede wheresoeuer thou shalt sow in the land and the bread of the corne of the land shal be most plentiful and fatte The lambe in that day shal feede at large in thy possession †and thyne oxen as the asse coltes that til the ground shal eate mingled prouender as it was fanned in the floore †And there shal be vpon euerie high mountayne and vpon euerie litle hil eleuated riuers of running waters in the day of the killing of manie when the towres shal fal †And the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne shal be seuenfold as the light of seuen daies in the day when our Lord shal bind vp the wound of his people shal heale the stroke of their wound †Behold the name of our Lord commeth from farre his burning furie and heauie to beare his lippes are filled with indignation and his tongue as a deuouring fire †His spirite as a torrent ouerflowing euen to the middes of the necke to destroy the nations to nothing and the bridle of errour that was in the iawes of peoples †There shal be a song vnto
translate the Latin text rather then the Hebrew or Greke which Protestantes preferre as the fountaine tongues wherin holie Scriptures were first written To this we answer that if in dede those first pure Editions were now extant or if such as be extant were more pure then the Latin we would also preferre such fountaines before the riuers in whatsoeuer they should be found to disagree But the ancient best lerned Fathers Doctors of the Church do much complaine and testifie to vs that both the Hebrew and Greke Editions are fouly corrupted by Iewes and Heretikes since the Latin was truly translated out of them whiles they were more pure And that the same Latin hath bene farre better conserued from corruptions So that the old Vulgate Latin Edition hath bene preferred and vsed for most authentical aboue a thousand and three hundered yeares For by this verie terme S. Ierom calleth that Version the vulgate or common which he conferred with the Hebrew of the old Testament and with the Greke of the New which he also purged from faultes committed by writers rather amending then translating it Though in regard of this amending S. Gregorie calleth it the nevv versioÌ„ of S. Ierom who neuertheles in an other place calleth the self same the old Latin Edition iudging it most worthy to be folowed S. Augustin calleth it the Italian S. Isidorus witnesseth that S. Ierom version was receiued and approued by al Christian Churches Sophronius also a most lerned man seing S. Ieroms Edition so much estemed not only of the Latines but also of the Grecians turned the Psalter Prophetes out of the same Latin into Greke Of latter times what shal we nede to recite other most lerned men S. Bede S. Anselme S. Bernard S. Thomas S. Bonauenture the rest VVho al vniformly allege this only text as authentical In so much that al other Latin Editions which S. Ierom saith were in his time almost innumerable are as it were fallen out of al Diuines handes and growne out of credite and vse If moreouer we consider S. Ieroms lerning pâ—etie diligence and sinceritie together with the commodities he had of best copies in al languages then extant and of other lerned men with whom he conferred and if we so coÌ„are the same with the best meanes that hath bene since surely no man of indifferent iudgement wil match anie other Edition with S. Ieroms but easely acknowlege with the whole Church Gods particular prouideÌ„ce in this great Doctor as wel for expounding as most especialy for the true text and Edition of Holie Scriptures Neither do we flee vnto this old Latin text for more aduantage For besides that it is free from partialitie as being most ancient of al Latin copies and long before the particular Controuersies of these dayes beganne the Hebrew also the Greke when they are truly translated yea and Erasmus his Latin in sundrie places proue more plainly the Catholique Romaine doctrine then this which we relie vpon So that Beza his folowers take also exception against the Greke when Catholiques allege it against them Yea the same Beza preferreth the old Latin Version before al others freely testifieth that the old Interpreter translated religiously VVhat then do our countriemen that refuse this Latin but depriue themselues of the best and yet al this while haue set forth none that is allowed by al Protestantes for good or sufficient How wel this is donne the lerned may iudge when by mature conference they shal haue made trial therof And if anie thing be mistaken we wil as stil we promise gladly correct it Those that traÌ„slated it about thirtie yeares since were wel knowen to the world to haue bene excellent in the tongues sincere men and great Diuines Only one thing we haue donne touching the text wherof we are especially to geue notice That whereas heretofore in the best Latin Editions there remained manie places differing in wordes some also in sense as in long processe of time the writers erred in their copies now lately by the care diligence of the Church those diuers readings were maturely and iuditiously examined and conferred with sundrie the best written and printed bookes so resolued vpon that al which before were leift in the margent are either restored into the text or els omitted so that now none such remaine in the margent For which cause we haue againe conferred this English translation and conformed it to the most perfect Latin Edition VVhere yet by the way we must geue the vulgar reader to vnderstand that very few or none of the former varieties touched Controuersies of this time So that this Recognition is no way suspicious of partialtie but is merely donne for the more secure conseruation of the true text and more ease and satisfaction of such as otherwise should haue remained more doubtful Now for the strictnes obserued in translating some wordes or rather the not translating of some which is in more danger to be disliked we doubt not but the discrete lerned reader deepely weighing and considering the importance of sacred wordes and how easely the translatour may misse the sense of the Holie Ghost wil hold that which is here donne for reasonable and necessarie VVe haue also the example of the Latin and Greke where some wordes are not translated but left in Hebrew as they were first spoken written which seeing they could not or were not conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greke how much lesse could they or was it reason to turne them into English S. Augustin also yeldeth à reason exemplifying in the wordes Amen and Alleluia for the more sacred authoritie therof which doubtles is the cause why some names of solemne Feastes Sacrifices other holie thinges are reserued in sacred tongues Hebrew Greke or Latin Againe for necessitie English not hauing à name or sufficient terme we either kepe the word as we find it or only turne it to our English termination because it would otherwise require manie wordes in English to signifie one word of an other tongue In which cases we commonly put the explication in the margent Briefly our Apologie is easie against English Protestantes because they also reserue some wordes in the original tongues not translated into English as Sabbath Ephod Pentecost Proselyte and some others The sense wherof is in dede as soone lerned as if they were turned so nere as is possible into English And why then may we not say Prepuce Phase or Pasch Azimes Breades of Proposition Holocaust and the like rather then as Protestantes translate them Foreskinne Passeouer The feast of svvete breades Shevv breades Burnt offerings c. By which termes whether they be truly translated into English or no we wil passe ouer Sure it is an English man is stil to seke what they meane as if they remained
place and let the drie land appeare And it was so done †And God called the drie land Earth and the gathering of waters together he called Seas And God sawe that it was good †And said Let the earth shootforth grene herbes and such as may seede fruite trees yelding fruit after his kinde such as may haue seede in it selfe vpon the earth And it was so done †And the earth brought forth grene herbe such as seedeth according to his kinde tree that beareth fruite hauing seede eche one according to his kinde And God saw that it was good †And there was euening morning that made the third day †Againe God said Be there lightes made in the firmament of heauen to diuide the day the night and let them be for signes seasons and dayes and yeares †to shine in the firmament of heauen to giue light vpon the earth And it was so done †And God made two great lights a greater light to gouerne the day and a lesser light to gouerne the night and starres †And he set them in the firmament of heauen to shine vpon the earth †and to gouerne the day the night and to diuide the light the darkenes And God sawe that it was good †And there was euening and morning that made the fourth day †God also said Let the waters bring forth creeping creature hauing life and flying foule ouer the earth vnder the firmament of heauen †And God created huge Whales and al liuing mouing creature that the waters brought forth according to eche sorte al foule according to their kinde And God sawe that it was good †And he “ blessed them saying Increase and multiplie and replenish the waters of the sea and let the birds be multiplied vpon the earth †And there was euening morning that made the fifth day †God said moreouer Let the earth bring forth liuing creature in his kind cattle such as creepe beastes of the earth according to their kindes and it was so done †And God made the beastes of the earth according to their kindes and cattle al that crepeth on the earth in his kind And God saw that it was good †and he said “ Let vs make Man to our image likenes and let him haue dominion ouer the fishes of the sea and the foules of the ayre and the beastes and the whole earth and al creeping creature that moueth vpon the earth †And God created man to his owne image to the image of God he created him male female he created them †And God blessed them and saith “ Increase and multiplie replenish the earth and subdew it and rule ouer the fishes of the sea and foules of the ayre al liuing creatures that moue vpon the earth †And God said Behold I haue giuen you al maner of hearbe that seedeth vpon the earth and al trees that haue in them selues seede of their owne kinde to be your meate †and to al beastes of the earth and to euerie foule of the ayre to al that moue vpon the earth and wherein there is life that they may haue to feede vpon And it was so done †And God sawe al things that he had made and they were very good And there was euening morning that made the sixt day ANNOTATIONS CHAP. 1. 1. In the beginning Holie Moyses telleth what was done in the beginning of the world and so forward euen til his owne time writing aboue two thousand and foure hundreth yeares after the beginning Al which being incomprehensible by humaine witte or discourse he knew partly by Reuelations from God for he had the gyft of Prophecie in most excellent sorte partly by Traditions from his elders who lerned of their fathers For vntil that time the Church had only Traditions of such things as were reueled to special men wherby we see the great authoritie of Traditions before there were Scriptures And since Scriptures were written they are also necessarie for three special reasons First for that we are only assured by Tradition of the Church that those bookes are in dede holie Scriptures which are so accounted and not by the Scripture it selfe for that were to proue the same by the same vntil we be assured of some part that proueth some other partes And this made S. Augustin to say plainly that he could not beleue the Gospel except the Church told him vvhich is the Gospel Secondly holie Scriptures being once knowen to be the word of God and so of most eminent authoritie of al writings in the world as S. Augustin S. Ierome al other Fathers agree yet for the true vnderstanding of the same both the Scripture it selfe and the ancient Fathers remitte vs to the Church namely to those in the Church that are appointed by Gods ordinance in the high place that he hath chosen VVhich were the High Priests in the old Testament as appeareth Deut. 17. Mat. 23. Ioan. 11. And in the new Testament S. Peter and his Successors for whom Christ prayed that his faith should not faile and therfore commanded him to confirme his bretheren Luc. 22. Thirdly for things not expressed in particular in holie Scripture the Scripture and Fathers do likewise remitte vs to Traditions and to the iudgement and testimonie of the Church Christ saying to his Apostles he that heareth you heareth me The Apostles doubted not to say It semed good to the Holie Ghost and to vs. And S. Paul willed the Thessalonians to hold the traditions vvhich they had lerned whether it were by word or by his Epistle 1. In the beginning God made heauen and earth Al writers ancient and later find such difficulties in these first chapters that some otherwise very lerned haue thought it not possible to vnderstand the same according to the proper and vsual signification of the wordes as the letter may seme to sound but expound al allegorically as that by the waters aboue the firmament should be vnderstood the blessed Angels by the waters vnder the firmament wicked spitites and the like So did Origen and diuers that folow him therein Yea S. Augustin in his bookes vpon Genesis against the Manichees written shortly after his conuersion when he could not find as he desired a good and probable sense agreable to the wordes in their proper signification expounded them mystically but afterwards in his other bookes de Genesi ad literam he gratfully acknowledgeth that God had geuen him further sight therin and that now he supposed he could interprete al according to the proper signification of the wordes yet so that he durst not nor would not addict him selfe to one sense but that he was readie to imbrace an other lest by sticking to his owne iudgement he might faile So likewise S. Basil S. Chrisostom S. Ambrose S. Ierome S. Bede and other greatest
diuers names or one was true and natural father an other legal or adoptiue for there were such also before the law of Moyses as appeareth in the historie of Thamar yet it were hard to geue a determinate solution of this difficultie VVhich example with manie others by vs omitted in these briefe annotations conuince the Protestants presumptuous error holding that Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood 6. Departed from his brother 8. Dvvelt in Mount Seir Here is an other difficultie though not so intricate as the former how Esau now parted into Mount Seir seing he dwelled there when his brother Iacob came from Mesopotamia chap. 22. v. 3. VVhich S. Augustin q. 119. in Gen. solueth saying Esau first dwelt in Seir after he was disapointed of his fathers blessing but dwelt againe with his father after Iacobs returne from Mesopotamia and now went to Seir againe after his fathers death CHAP. XXXVII Ioseph informing his father of his brethrens faults 5. and telling his dreames is by them more hated 13. being sent to visite them 18. they first thinke to kil him 26. but by Iudas coâ—sel sel him to the Ismaelâ—tes 29. vnwiting to Ruben 33. his father lamenteth supposing him to be slaine by some wild beast 36. He is sold againe to Putiphar in Aegypt AND Iacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan wherin his father soiourned †And these are his generations Ioseph when he was sixten e yeares old fed the flock with his brethren being yet a boy and he was with the sonnes of Bala and Zelpha his fathers wiues and he accused his brethren to his father of a most wicked crime †And Israel loued Ioseph aboue al his sonnes because he had begotten him “ in his old age and he made him a coate of diuers coloures †And his brethren seing that he was loued of his father more then al his sonnes they hated him neither could they speake any thing to him peaceably †It chanced also that he reported to his brethren a dreame that he had seene which occasion was the seed of greater hatred †And he said to them Heare my dreame which I haue seene †I thought we bounde sheaues in the field and my sheafe arose as it were and stood and your sheaues standing about did adore my sheafe †His brethren answered What shalt thou be our king or shal we be subiect to thy dominion This occasion of his dreames and wordes ministred nourishment to the enuie and hatred †He sawe also an other dreame which telling his brethren he said I sawe in a dreame as it were the sunne and the moone and eleuen starres adore me †Which when he had reported to his father and brethren his father rebuked him and said What meaneth this dreame that thou hast seene why shal I and thy mother and thy brethren adore thee vpon the earth †His brethren therfore enuyed him but his father considered the thing with him selfe †And when his brethren abode in Sichem feeding their fathers flockes †Israel said to him Thy brethren feed sheepe in Sichem come I wil send thee to them Who answering †I am readie he said to him Goe and see if al things be wel with thy brethren and the sheepe and bring me word againe what they doe Being sent therfore from the Vale of Hebron he came to Sichem †and a man found him there wandring in the field and asked what he sought †But he answered I seeke my brethren shew me where they fede the flockes †And the man said to him They are departed from this place for I heard them say Let vs goe into Dothain Ioseph therfore went forward after his brethren and found them in Dothain †Who when they had seene him a farre of before he came nighe them they deuised to kil him †and spake among them selues Behold the dreamer commeth †come let vs kil him and cast him into an old cesterne and we wil say A naughtie wild beast hath deuoured him and then it shal appeare what his dreames doe profite him †And Ruben hearing this endeuored to deliuer him out of their hands and said †Do not take away his life neyther shee l ye blood but cast him into this cesterne that is in the wildernesse and keepe your handes harmeles and he said this desirous to deliuer him out of their handes and to restore him to his father †As soone therfore as he came vnto his brethren forthwith they stripped him out of his side coate and of diuers colours †And cast him into the old cesterne that had not water †And sitting to eate bread they saw Ismaelites wayfaring men coÌ„ming from Galaad and their camels carying spices and rosen and mirrh into Aegypt †Iudas therfore said to his brethren What auaileth it vs if we kil our brother and conceale his bloode †It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites and that our handes be not polluted for he is our brother and our flesh His brethren assented to his wordes †And when the Madianite marchants passed by they drawing him out of the cesterne sold him to the Ismaelites for twentie peeces of siluer who brought him into Aegypt †And Ruben returning to the cesterne findeth not the boy †and renting his garments went to his brethren and said The boy doth not appeare and whither shal I goe †And they tooke his coate and dipped it in the blood of a kidde which they had killed †sending some that should carie it to their father and should say This we haue founde see whether it be thy sonnes coate or no. †Which when the father acknowledged he said It is my sonnes coate a naughtie wild beast hath eaten him a beast hath deuoured Ioseph †And tearing his garments did on sackcloth mourning his sonne a great time †And al his children being gethered together to asswage their fathers sorowe he would not take comforte but said I wil descend vnto my sonne “ into hel mourning And whilest he perseuered in weeping †the Madianites sold Ioseph in Aegypt to Phutiphar an Eunuch of Pharoes maister of the souldiars ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVII 3. In his old age This being one cause why Iacob loued Ioseph aboue al his other sonnes for that he was the youngest of the eleuen for Beniamin the twelfth was yet an infant it is alleaged in holie Scripture saith S. Chrisostom Epist ad Olympiam as least offensiue to his bretheren For a more special cause was for his mother Rachels sake but most principal cause of al was for his great vertues and mature iudgement for which God also preferred him aboue them al and now forshewed the same by visions in sleepe VVhich they enuying and meaning to preuent did in dede vnwitting cooperate therto Gods prouidence turning their euil worke to infinite good As the same holie Ioseph truly interpreteth it to them after their fathers death
him as alwaies vndefiled and a true seruant of God though his father Thare and his brother Nachor sometimes serued strange goddes Iosue 24. but were reclamed and the whole familie as S. Augustin proueth lib. 16. c. 13. de ciuit was persecuted by the Chaldees VVherupon Thare leauing Chaldea brought Abraham Lot and Sarai so farre as Haran in Mesopotamia Gen. 11. whither also Nachor repaired afterwards and there made his habitation as appeareth Gen. 24. But Abraham vvas sooner and more specially persecuted in Chaldea as Iosephus testifieth li. 1. Antiq. for his clere and publique profession of one God Creator of al things and that by his only goodnes and not by mens ovvne povver happines is attained Further Suidas vocab Abraham vvriteth that at the age of 14. yeares he admonished his father not for lucre sake to seduce men by vvorshipping images of false goddes auouching that there is no other but the celestical God maker of the whole world In vvhich sincere profession hovv he alvvaies perseuered is often testified and needles here to be repeted Also Sem Sale and Heber his proper ancesters the ninth seuenth and sixth in right line before him were al holie men and liued al Abrahams time much of Isaachs and part of Iacobs dayes Likevvise Melchisedech King and Priest a distinct person of an other lineage as vve suppose from Sem liued in the beginning of this age Al which being renowmed men had great troupes or rather countries which with them serued the only true God VVherof we haue example in that Abraham being but a stranger in Chanaan vpon a suddaine exploite Gen. 14. made readie of the seruants borne in his house three hundreth and eighteene wel appointed men of armes al of the same religion for shortly after they were al circumcised Gen. 17. yet was king Melchisedech of more power and authority then he And the other here mentioned except his elder brother Nachor and his nephevv Lot vvere his ovvne direct progenitors and by likelihood more potent Againe from Abraham the succession held on right to Aaron and Moyses and the vvhole people of Israel vvhich vvith them passed out of Aegypt through the redde sea But in the meane time diuers also of Abrahams kindred and seede brake of from this communitie and fel to idolatrie For albeit Lot his brothers sonne perseuered in the true seruice of God yet Lots sonnes Moab and Ammon at least the Moabites and Ammonites two nations that came of them Gen. 19. were infidels and idolaters Likewise though Nachor and Bathuel Nachors sonne continued henceforth in true faith and religion yet Laban the same Bathuels sonne had false goddes vvhich Rachel tooke away Gen 31 But true religion being not wholly extinguished in these families both Isaachs wife Rebecca and Iacobs wiues Lia and Rachel with their handmaides Bala and Zelpha either beleued rightly or were more easily brought to true beleefe and seruice of God Ismael Abrahams first sonne was in his youth euel disposed Gen. 21. and for endeuoring to corrupt Isaac vvhich S. Paul calleth persecution was together with his mother Agar cast out of Abrahams house yet prospered in the desert had twelue sonnes dukes sometimes visited his father and together with Isaac buried him Gen. 25. And at the age of 137. yeares died and was put to his people that is to others like himself good or euil Abraham also separated his other sonnes begotten of Cetura v. 6. from Isaac to whom only and not to any other the promised land of Chanaan and other more special blessings pertained Of these last sonnes came the people of Madianites who kept some resemblance with the people of God in religion and therin prefigured heretikes that descend from Catholique race but falling to schisme heresie doe not participate eternal enheritance with the spiritual children of God as S. Augustin teaceth q. 70. in Gen. In like sorte of the two sonnes of Isaac onlie Iacob had the spiritual blessing and enheritance therto belonging Gen. 27. Esau though prophane in maners selling his birthright Gen. 25. v. 32 which waâ— aspâ—ritual turisdiction wherin he was a figure of the reprobate yet it semeth he kept the true faith Gen. 35. v. vlt. But whether he did or no sure it is Iob who is probably thought to be of his race Gen. 36. was a most holie man and a rare example of vertue But the posterities of them both and al the progentes of Ismael and of Abrahams other sonnes by Cetura sooner or later â—â—l to infidelitie and idolatrie In other nations of the world stil new goddes and goddeses were multiplied vpon euerie occasion As S. Augustin li. 18. de ciuit recounteth diuers Al which notwithstanding the true Church and citie of God continued most visible and notorious yea with meruelous increase especially after they were more hated and afflicted in Aegypt Exo. 1. VVhither they were brought by the strange and special prouidence of God more strangely preserued and most miraculously deliuered from thence Much more the Church of Christ wherof this was a shadow and figure hath benne and shal be euer most visible from the first foundation therof to the worlds end For besides the promises and predictions in the new Testament al the Scriptures also of the old which fortel Christ do withal forshew his Church Totum quod annunciatur de Christo saieth S. Augustin de vnitate Eccles c. 2. caput corpus est Al that is spoken of Christ is of the head and the bodie The head is the onlie begotten Iesus Christ the Sonne of the liuing God he the Sauiour of the bodie His bodie the Church Againe c. 4. Totus Christus caput corpus est VVhole Christ is the head and the bodie The head the onlie begotten Sonne of God and the bodie his Church the bridgrome and bride tvvo in one flesh Yea for no other cause saieth he li. de catech rud c. 3. were al those things written before the coming of our Lord which we read in holie Scriptures but that his coming might be commended and the future Church prefigured that is the people of God through out al nations which is his bodie The same doth S. Paul teach vs not only saying Gal. 3. The law was our pedagogue or conductor to Christ but also 1. Cor. 12. that as the natural bodie is one and hath manie members and al the members of the bodie wheras they be manie yet are one bodie so also Christ And Coloss 1. that Christs bodie is the Church As therfore the great blessing of redemption and saluation was promised in Christ Gen. 12. c. so it was withal expressed that al nations and kindreds of the earth should be partakers therof yea so innumerable as the dust of the earth the starres of heauen and sandes of the sea VVhich S. Paule saieth Rom. 9. is not ment of Abrahams natural children but
shal burne the fatte vpon the altar but the breast shal be Aarons and his sonnes †The right shoulder also of the pacifique hostes shal fal for first fruites of the priest †He of the sonnes of Aaron that offereth the bloud and the fatte him selfe shal haue the right shoulder also for his portion †For the brest of eleuation and the shoulder of seperation I haue taken of the children of Israel from their pacifique hostes and haue geuen them to Aaron the priest and to his sonnes by a lawe for euer of al the people of Israel †This is the anoynting of Aaron and his sonnes in the ceremonies of our Lord in the day when Moyses offered them that they might doe the function of priesthood †and the thinges that our Lord commanded to be geuen them of the children of Israel by a perpetual religion in their generations †This is the lawe of holocauste and of the sacrifice for sinne and for an offence and for consecration and the victimes of pacifiques †Which our Lord apointed to Moyses in mount Synai when he commanded the children of Israel that they should offer their oblations to our Lord in the desert of Synai CHAP. VIII Moyses consecrateth Aaron high Priest 13. and his sonnes Priests 33. continuing in the tabernacle seuen dayes and nights AND Our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Take Aaron with his sonnes their vestimentes and the oyle of vnction a calfe for sinne two Rammes a basket with azymes †and thou shalt gather al the assemblie to the dore of the tabernacle †And Moyses did as our Lord had commaunded And al the multitude being gathered before the dore of the tabernacle †he said This is the word that our Lord hath commanded to be done †And immediatly he “ offered Aaron his sonnes and when he had washed them †“ he reuested the high priest with the sttait linnen garment girding him with a bawdrike and reuesting him with the tunike of hyacinth and ouer it he put the Ephod †which he straitening with the girdle fitted it to the Rationale wherin was Doctrine and Veritie †with the mitre also he couered his head and vpon it against the forehead he put the plate of gold consecrated in sanctification as our Lord had commanded him †He “ tooke also the oyle of vnction wherwith he anoynted the tabernacle with al the furniture therof †And sanctifying them and hauing sprinckled the altar seuen times he anoynted it and al the vessel therof and the lauer with the foote therof he sanctified with the oyle †The which pouring vpon Aarons head he anoynted and consecrated him †his sonnes also after he had offered them he reuested with linnen tunikes and girded them with bawdrikes and put mitres on them as our Lord had commanded †He “ offered also the calfe for sinne and when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes vpon the head therof †he did immolate it drawing the bloud and dipping his finger touched the hornes of the altar round about Which being expiated and sanctified he poured the rest of the bloud at the botome therof †But the fatte that was vpon the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two little kidneys with their little tallow he burnt vpon the altar †the calfe with the skinne and the flesh and the dung he burnt without the campe as our Lord had commanded †He offered also a ramme for an holocaust vpon the head wherof when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes †he did immolate it and poured the bloud therof in the circuite of the altar †And cutting the ramme it selfe into peeces the head therof and the ioyntes and the fatte he burnt with fire †hauing first washed the entralles and the feete and the whole ramme together he burnt vpon the altar because it was an holocaust of most swete odour to our Lord as he had commanded him †He offered also the second ramme for the consecration of priests and Aaron and his sonnes did putte their handes vpon the head therof †which when Moyses had immolated taking of the bloud therof he touched the tippe of Aarons right eare and the thumbe of his right hand in like maner also of his foote †He offered also the sonnes of Aaron and when of the bloud of the ramme being immolated he had touched the tippe of the right eare of euerie one and the thumbes of the right hand and foote the rest he poured on the altar round about †but the fatte and the rump and al the fatte that couereth the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two kidneies with their fatte with the right shoulder he seperated †And taking out of the basket of azymes which was before our Lord a loafe without leauen and a manchet tempered with oile and a wafer he put them vpon the fatte and the right shoulder †deliuering al to Aaron and to his sonnes Who hauing lifted them vp before our Lord †he tooke them againe of their handes and burnt them vpon the altar of holocaust because it was the oblation of consecration for a swete odoure of the sacrifice to our Lord. †And he tooke of the ramme of consecration the brest for his portion eleuating it before our Lord as our Lord had commanded him †And taking the oyntment and the bloud that was vpon the altar he sprinckled it vpon Aaron and his vestiments vpon his sonnes and their vestiments †And when he had sanctified them in their vestiments he commanded them saying Boile the flesh before the dore of the tabernacle and there eate it Eate ye also the loaues of consecration that are laid in the basket as our Lord commanded me saying Aaron and his sonnes shal eate them †and whatsoeuer shal be left of the flesh and the loaues fire shal consume †Out of the dore also of the tabernacle you shal not goe forth seuen daies vntil the day wherein the time of your consecration shal be expired for in seuen dayes the consecration is finished †as at this present it hath bene done that the rite of the sacrifice might be accomplished †Day night shal you tarie in the tabernacle obseruing the watches of our Lord lest you die for so it hath bene commanded me †And Aaron and his sonnes dld al thinges which our Lord spake by the hand of Moyses ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 6. Offered Aaron By this maner of taking offering and consecrating Aaron Hiegh Priest S. Paul sheweth that none may chalenge to them selues nor presume to exercise priestlie offices or anie authoritie in spiritual causes but such as be orderly called therto Yea that Christ him self would not haue exercised this function but that he was also called of God vnto it saying Euerie Hiegh Priest taken from among men is appointed for men in those thinges that pertaine to God Neither doth anie man
and is made abominable before our Lord lest thou make thy Land to sinne which our Lord thy God shal deliuer thee to possesse †When a man hath lately taken a wife he shal not goe forth to battel neither shal any publique necessitie be inioyned him but he shal attend to his owne house without fault that one yeare he may reioyce with his wife †Thou shalt not take for a pledge the nether or the vpper milstone because he hath pledged his life to thee †If any man be taken soliciting his brother of the children of Israel and selling him take a price he shal be slaine and thou shalt take away the euil from the middes of thee †Obserue diligently that thou incurre not the plague of leprosie but thou shalt doe whatsoeuer the priestes of the Leuitical stocke shal teach thee according to that which I haue commanded them and fulfil thou it carefully †Remember what our Lord your God did to Marie in the way when you came out of Aegypt †When thou shalt require of thy neighbour any thing that he oweth thee thou shalt not enter into his house to take away a pledge †but thou shalt stand without and he shal bring forth to thee that which he hath †but if he be poore the pledge shal not lodge with thee that night †but forthwith thou shalt restore it to him before the going downe of the sunne that sleeping in his rayment he may blesse thee thou mayest haue iustice before our Lord thy God †Thou shalt not denie the hyre of the needie and poore man thy brother or the stranger that dwelleth with thee in the land and is within thy gates †but the same day thou shalt pay him the price of his labour before the going downe of the sunne because he is poore and there withal susteyneth his life lest he crie against thee to our Lord and it be reputed to thee for a sinne †The fathers shal not be slaine for the children nor the children for the fathers but cuerie one shal die for his owne sinne †Thou shalt not peruert the iudgement of the stranger and the pupil neither shalt thou take away the widowes rayment for a pledge †Remember that thou didst serue in Aegypt and our Lord thy God deliuered thee from thence Therfore I command thee that thou doe this thing †When thou hast reaped the corne in thy field and forgetting hast left a sheafe thou shalt not returne to take it away but thou shalt suffer the stranger and the pupil and the widow to take it away that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al the worke of thy handes †If thou haue gathered the fruites of thy oliue trees whatsoeuer remaineth on the trees thou shalt not returne to gather it but shalt leaue it to the stranger the pupil and the widow †If thou make vintage of thy vineyard thou shalt not gather the clusters that remaine but they shal goe to the vses of the stranger the pupil and the widow †Remember that thou also didst serue in Aegypt and therfore I command thee that thou doe this thing ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXIIII 1. Dimisse her VVhether this diuorce was tollerated as a lesse sinne to auoide a greater as S. Hierom. li. 1. in Mat. c. 5. li 3. in c. 19. S. Chrysostom ho. 12. in Mat. 5. and others teach or dispensed withal and so made lawful to the Iewes which is also probabtle for hat none of the holie Prophetes did euer reprehend it sure it is that Christ either by correcting a fault or by recalling a former dispensation restored the insolubilitie of mariage to the first institution saying Mat. 19. That vvhich God hath ioyned together let not man separate Further answering the Phareses concerning this law that Moyses for the hardnes of your hart permitted you to dimisse your vviues but from the beginning it vvas not so And albeit he alloweth separation of man and wife for fornication yet for no cause neither of them can marie againe so long as the other liueth As S. Augustin li. 1. de adulter coningijs c. 11. 12. by conference of three Euangelistes wordes touching this point plainly sheweth concluding that for so much as holie Scripture calleth him that taketh a woman so dimissed not a husband but an adulterer she is stil his vvife by vvhom for fornication she vvas dimissed Likewise he proueth by S. Paules doctrin Rom. 7. 1. Cor. 7. that though diuorce be made for adultrie yet neither the guiltie nor innocent partie can marie an other for the Apostle saieth a vvoman is vnder the lavv of her husband so long as he liueth if her husband be dead she is loosed from his lavv Therfore her husband liuing she shal be called an aduoutresse if she be vvith an other man If she part let her remaine vnmaried or be reconciled to her husband A vvoman is bond to the lavv so long time as her husband lieth c. These wordes of the Apostle sayeth he li. 2. c. 4. so often repeted so often incultated are true are liuclie are sound are plaine A woman beginneth not to be the wife of a later hushand except she cease to be the wife of the former And she caeseth to be the wife of the former if he die not if he or she committe adultrie Therfore a wife is lawfully dimissed for fornication but the bond of the former remaineth for which cause he is guiltie of adultrie that marieth her that is dimissed yea though it be for fornication Thus and much more sayeth S. Augustin in the same in other bookes And al the ancient fathers and lerned schoolmen teach vniformly that nothing but bodilie death can loose the band of Mariage consummate nor of vnconsummate but death or solemne vow in an approued rule of religion CHAP. XXV Punishment afflicted according to the fault but so that he which is beaten haue not aboue fourtie stripes 4. The oxes mouth not be mooseled that treadeth corne 5. A maried man dying without issue his brother must marie the widow 11. The wife that taketh her husbands aduersarie by priuities must lose her hand 13. no false weightes nor measures to be kept 17. Amelicites must be vtterly destroyed IF there be a controuersie betwen some and they cal vpon the iudges whom they shal perceiue to be iust to him they shal geue the price of iustice whom impious him they shal condemne of impietie †And if they see that the offender be worthie of stripes they shal cast him downe shal cause him to be beaten before them According to the measure of the sinne shal the measure also of the stripes be †yet so that they exceede not the number of fourtie lest thy brother depart fowly torne before thyne eies †Thou shalt not moosel the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out thy corne in the flore †When brethren shal dwel
therfore for this also remember me my God spare me according to the multitude of thy mercies †But in those daies also I saw the Iewes marying wiues wemen of Azotus and of Ammon and of Moab †And their children spake the halfe part the Azotian tongue and they could not speake the Iewes language and they spake according to the language of the people and people †And I rebuked them and cursed them And I beate of them some men and shaued them bald and adiured them by God that they should not geue their daughters to their sonnes nor take their daughters for their sonnes for themselues saying †Did not Salomon the king of Israel sinne in this kind of thing and surely in manie nations there was not a king like to him he was beloued of his God and God sette him king ouer al Israel him therfore also foren wemen brought to sinne †And shal we also being disobedient persons doe al this great euil to transgresse against our God and to marie foren wemen †And Sanaballat the Horonite was sonne in law to one of the sonnes of Ioiada the sonne of Eliasib the high Priest whom I draue from me †Remember o Lord my God against them that pollute the Priesthood and the right of Priestes and Leuites †Therfore I sepatared from them al strangers and I appoynted the courses of the Priestes and Leuites euerie man in his ministerie †and in the oblation of woode at times appoynted and in the first fruites Remember me my God vnto good Amen ANNOTATIONS Concerning the bookes of TOBIAS IVDITH WISDOM ECCLESIASTICVS and MACHABEES PROTESTANTES and other Sectaries of this time denie these bookes to be diuine Scripture because they are not in the Iewes Canon noâ— were accepted for canonical in the primitiue Church But in deede the chiefe cause is for that some thinges in these bookes are so manifest against their opinions that they haue no other answere but to reiect their authoritie An old shift noted and refuted by S Augustin touching the Booke of VVisdome which some refused pretending that it was not canonical but in deede because it conuinced their errors For otherwise who seeth not that the Canon of the Church of Christ is of more authority with al true Christians then the Canon of the Iewes And that the Church of Christ numbreth these Bookes amongst others of diuine and infallible authoritie is euident by the testimonie and diffinition not only of later general Councels of Trent Sess 4. and Florence Instructione Armenorum of Pope Innocentius Epist ad Exuperium and Gelasius Decreto delibris sacris but also the Councel of Carthage An. Dom. 419. S. Augustin lib. 2. Doct. Christ cap. 8. Isidorus lib. 6. Etymol cap. 1. Cassidorus lib. 1. Diuinarum Lectionum Rabanus lib. 2 de Institutione Clericorum and others testifie the same as we shal further note seuerally of euerie booke in their particular places And for so much as our aduersaries acknowlege these Bookes to be Holie and worthie to be read in the Church but not sufficient to proue and confirme pointes of faith the studious reader may consider that the Councel of Carthage calleth them Canonical and Diuine which sheweth that they are of infallible authoritie For a Canon is an assured rule and warrant of direction whereby sayth S. Augustin lib. 11. contra Faustum cap. 5. et lib. 2. contra Cresconium cap. 32. the infirmitie of our defect in knowlege is guided and by which rule other bookes are likewise knowne to be Gods word His reason is because we haue no other assurance that the bookes of Moyses the foure Gospels and other bookes are the true word of God but by the Canon of the Church VVherevpon the same great Doctor vttered that famous saying that he vvould not beleue the Gospel except the authoritie of the Catholique Church moued him thervnto contra Epist Fundamenti ca. 5. True it is that some Catholique Doctors doubted whether these bookes were Canonical or no because the Church had not then declared that they were but since the Churches declaration no Catholique doubteth So S. Ierom testifieth that the Booke of Iudith among the rest semed to him not canonical til the Councel of Nice declared it to be Likewise the Epistle to the Hebrewes the Epistle of S. Iames the second of S. Peter the second and third of S. Iohn S. Iudes Epistle and the Apocalyps were sometimes doubted of yet were afterwardes declared to be Canonical And most Protestantes namely English admitte them al as the assured word of God though they were not alwaies so reputed by al but as S. Ierome affirmeth of S. Iames Epistle Paulatim tempore procedente meruit authoritatem By litle and litle in processe of time merited authoritie THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF TOBIE BESIDES the testimonies of Councels and Fathers before mentioned S. Cyprian de Oratione Dominica alleaging this booke cap. 12. saith Diuine Scripture instructeth vs that prayer is good with fasting and almes S. Ambrose li de Tobia â— 1. calleth this booke by the common name of Scripture saying he wil briefly gather the vertues of Tobie which the Scripture in historical maner layeth forth at large VVhere he also calleth this historie Prophetical and Tobie a Prophet And lib. 3. offic cap. 14. alleageth this booke as he doth other holie Scriptures to proue that the vertues of Gods seruants farre excel the Moral Philosophers S. Chrysostom ho. 15. ad Heb alleageth Tobias as Scripture denouncing curse to contemners S. Augustin made a special sermon of Tobias as he did of Iob which is the 226. sermon de tempore S. Gregorie parte 3. pastor curae admon 21. alleageth it as holie Scripture And vene able Beda expoundeth this whole booke mystically as he doth other holy Scriptures S. Ierom translated it out of the Chaldee language wherein it was written iudging it more â—eâ—e to displease the Phariâ—aical Iewes who reiect it then not to satisfie the wil of holie Bishops vrging to haue it Epist ad Chromat Heliodorum to 3. The author is vncertaine but S. Athanasius in Synopsi reporteth the contentes at large And S. Augustin li. quest ex vâ—roque testamento q. 119. deliuereth both the contentes and cause of writing it briefly thus The seruant of God holie Tobias is geuen to vs after the law for an example that we might know how to practise the thinges which we reade And if tentations come vpon vs not to depart from the feare of God nor expect helpe from anie other then from him It may be diuided into three partes The first foure chapeers shew the holie and sincere maner of life of old Tobias The eight folowing relate the iorney and affayres of yong Tobias accompained and directed by the Angel Raphael In the two last chapters they praise God And old Tobias prophecieth better state of the commonwealth THE BOOKE OF
principal cause efficient of al good mens workes and men the secondarie cause of the same Moreouer Iobs singular patience and other vertues are likewise commended in other holie Scriptures by ancient Doctores Tobiae 2. God permitted tentation to happen vnto Tobias that example might be geuen to his folowers of his patience as of holie Iob S. Iames c. 5. exhorting to patience sayth You haue heard the suffering of Iob and you haue sene the end of our Lord. Tertullian li. de patientia admiring Iobs patience exclameth thus ô most happie man whom neither the driuing away of his flockes of catle nor consuming of the rest with â—ire nor the losse of his children nor terments of his bâ—diâ— could drive â—â—â—m patience but he stood immoueable in the seruice of God for example to vs that we fall not for anie wordlie damage losse of dearest friendes or corporal afflictions blessed be God by whose blessing we may now yâ—ô happie English Catholiques that patiently suffer the very same kindes of tribulation though not in so great a degree in our time S Cyprian li debâ—no patientie Iob examined proued by the vertue of patience was aduanced to the very height of prayse a rich lord in possession a more rich father in children sudainly was neither lord nor father was also most greuously afflicted in his flesh and that no tentation might be wanting the diuel armed his wife against him yet was he not moued but by victorious patience thanked God for al In like sorre other holie fathers for encoregement and consolation of the afflicted write much of holie Iobs inuincible patience Aboue al S. Gregorie our Apostle dilateth most excellently in thirtie and fine whole bookes describing proposing his so great vertues to be imitated by al Christianes first of al li. 1. c 5. obseruing how great a prayse it is to be good in such a place in the middes of a crooâ—ed and peruerse nation shining as a light in the vvorld dwelling in the gentiles vvhere vvas the seate of Satan a lillie amongst thornes 5 Offered holocaustes for euerie one Albeit the vertue of Sacrifice as wel of Holocaust in the old Testament as especially of Christs Sacrifice in the New is of infinite valure in it selfe yet the application therof to particular persons and purposes is limited and therfore holie Iob offered not only once for al his children but manie times seuerally for euerie one VVherof see Cardinal Allan li. 2 de Eucharist Sacrific c. 35. CHAP. II. Satan by Gods permission 7. striketh Iob with sâ—res from the sole of his foote to the toppe of his head 9. His wife also insulteth against him but he sinneth not 11. Three freindes coming to visite and conforte him sitte siâ—â—nâ— by him seuen dayes AND it came to passe when on a certaine day the sonnes of God were come and stood before our Lord and Satan came among them and stood in his sight †that our Lord sayd to Satan From whence comest thou who answering sayd I haue gone round about the earth and walked through it †And our Lord sayd to Satan Hast thou considered my seruant Iob that there is not the like to him in the earth a man simple and right and fearing God and departing from euil and yet reteyning innocencie But thou hast moued me against him that I should afflict him in vaine †To whom Satan answering said Skinne for skinne al thinges that a man hath he wil geue for his life †otherwise put thy hand and touch his bone and flesh and then shalt thou see that he wil blesse thee in the â—ace †Our Lord therfore sayd to Satan Behold he is in thy hand but yet saue his life †Satan therfore going out from the face of our Lord stroke Iob with a verie sore boile from the sole of the foote euen to the toppe of his head †who with a shel scraped the corruption sitting on a dunghil †And his wife sayd to him Doest thou yet continue in thy simplicitie blesse God and die †Who sayd to her Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish wemen if we haue receiued good things of the hand of God euil thinges why should we not receiue In al these things Iob sinned not with his lippes †Therfore “ Iobs three frendes hearing al the euil that had changed to him came euerie one out of their place Elephaz a Themanite and Baldad a Suhite and Sophar a Naamathite For they had appointed that coming together they would visite him and confort him †And when they had lifted vp their eies a far of they knew him not and crying out they wept and renting their clothes sprinkled dust ouer their head toward heauen †And they sate with him on the ground seuen daies and seuen nightes and no man spake to him a word for they saw the payne to be vehement ANNNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 11. Iobs three freindes For better intelligence of these conflictes betwen holie Iob and his freindes it may here be obserued that they were in dede his freindes as the text simply calleth them that they beleued rightly in God Almightie and were not idolaters that they came of freindly good affection to comforth him though they fel into vvordes of reprouing him as S. Gregorie teacheth they alleaged also manie excellent diuine sentences very truly which therfore Iob reproued not But they erred in their illations against Iob and that of ignorance rather then of sette malice concluding that Iob was guiltie of some enormious sinnes because they saw him so greuously punished and heard him complaine therof his owne conscience knowen to him and hid to them wherof they rashly iudged testifying that he was innocent in respect of so great crimes And in this their particular error though they were not heretikes being not obstinate after that the truth was sufficiently reueled vnto them yet they prefigured heretikes endeuouring by one truth to destroy an other and by arrogating knowlege which they had not promising also â—evv thinges vnheard of rather to drovv others to admire them then to edification CHAP. III. Iob lamenteth describing his owne and the general calamities of man 13. and shearing hoâ—â—â— theâ— escape manie miseries which either are neuer bornt or dye presently after their birth AFTER these things Iob opened his mouth and cursed his day †and spake †Perish may the day wherin I was borne and the night wherin it was sayd A man is concâ—â—â—ed †Be that day turned into darkenesse God require it not from aboue and let it not be lightened with light †Let darkenes and the shadow of death obscure it let a mist possesse it and be it wrapped in bitternesse †A darkesome hurle wind possesse that night be it not counted in the daâ—es of the yeare not numbred in the monethes †Be that night 〈◊〉 not prayse worthie †Let them curse it which
V. 1. Turne to some of the Sainctes Eliphaz prouoking Iob to produce some of his opinion or to seeke the helpe and patronage of some Sainct in his cause plainly sheweth the common faith and practise of inuocating Sainctes in that time Els it had benne a frinâ—lous speach which is not to be imputed to a sensible wise man as he was For it appeareth by the drift of his reasoning that he supposed some of Gods special seruantes would maintaine a good cause but that Iobs cause was such as neither God nor holie Angel nor good man would defend and therfore boldly prouoked him to this trial presuming that he should finde no such patron Neither did he wil Iob in these wordes to cal vpon God only for he could not erre so grosly as to cal God some of the Sainctes but must meane some other holie person And it is clere by the Septuaginta Interpreters that Eliphaz willed Iob to inuocate the Angels saying Inuocate if anie vvil ansvver thee or if thou canst behold anie of the holie Angeles S. Gregorie expoundeth it to the same sense that Sainctes were to be inuocated in a good cause but that Eliphaz here dispicing and deriding holie Iob sayd to him Thou canst not find Sainctes thy helpers in affliction vvhom thou vvouldest not haue thy felovves in prosperitie CHAP. VI. Iob answereth the obiections of Eliphaz shewing that in deede the calamitie which he suffereth is much greatter then his sinnes deserue and therfore his lamentation is excusable 8. wisheth if it so please God that he may dye 13. complaneth that his freindes are become his aduerseries 16 grauely expostulateth that they reprehend him 12. and helpe him not BVT Iob answering sayd †Would God my sinnes were weyed wherby I haue deserued wrath and the calamitie which I suffer in a balance †“ As the sand of the sea this would appeare heauier wherfore my wordes also are ful of sorrow †Because the arrowes of our Lord be in me the indignation whereof drinketh vp my spirit and the terrours of our Lord warre agaynst me †Wil the wilde asse roare when he hath grasse or the oxe loweth when he shal stand before the ful manger †Or can an vnsauerie thing be eaten that is not seasoned with salt or can a man tast that which being tasted bringeth death †The thinges which before my foule would not touch now for anguish are my meates †Who wil graunt that my petition may come and that God would geue me that which I expect †And he that hath begune the same would loose his hand and cut me of †And this might be my comfort that afflicting me with sorrow he spare not not I gayne say the wordes of the Holie one †For What is my strength that I can susteyne it or what is mine end that I should doe patiently †Neither is my strength the strength of stones neither is my â—â—est of brasse †Behold there is no help for me in my self and my familiar freindes also are departed from me †He that taketh away mercie from his frend forsaketh the feare of our Lord. †My brethren haue passed by me as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys †They that feare the hoare frost snow shal fal vpon them †At the time when they shal be dissipated they shal perish and after they waxe hote they shal be dissolued out of their place †The pathes of their steppes are intangled they shal walke in vayne and shal perish †Cosider ye the pathes of Thema the wayes of Saba expect a litle while †They are confounded because I haue hoped they are come also euen vnto me and are couered with shame †Now you are come and euen now seing my plague you are afrayd †haue I sayd Bring ye to me and of your substance geue to me †Or deliuer me from the hand of the enemie and out of the hand of the strong deliuer me †Teach ye me and I wil hold my peace and if I perhaps haue beene ignorant in anie thing instruct ye me †Why haue you detracted from the wordes of truth whereas there is none of you that can controwle me †To rebuke only you frame speaches and you vtter wordes in the wind †You rush in vpon a pupil and you endeuoure to ouerthrow your frend †Notwithstanding accomplish that which you haue begune geue eare and see whether I lie †Answer I besech you without contention and speaking that which is iust iudge ye †And you shal not finde iniquitie in my tongue neither shal folie sound in my iawes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI. 3. As the sand of the sea Scarse anie figure is more common in holie Sâ—ipture then Hyperbole wherby ouâ— vnderstanding is drawne to coÌ„ceiue the greatnes of thinges that otherwise surpasse vulgar capacitie So Iob signifieth here that his calamitie being vveighed vvith his sinnes in balance vvould appeare heauier not precisely in proportion of the number of sandes in the sea but exceding much in true comparison Of which superabundance of paines patiently suffered by holie Iob and other Sainctes more then their sinnes deserued especially of our B. Sauiour who could not sinne and of our B. Ladie who neuer sinned remayneth an infinitie treasure of satisfactorie workes appliable by the supreme stuard of Gods Church Christs Vicar in earth for satisfaction of others which haue nede and are in the communion of Sainctes and performe the conditions appointed And so this high stuard may in due maner by his authoritie geue limited or plenarie pardones to penitentes of the paines which otherwise they should suffer in this life or in purgaritie for their sinnes first remitted Other Bishops can also geue or dispence so much as the Supreme Bishop alloâ—teth to their powre al to edification and necessitie of Gods seruantes as dispencers not dissipators of so holie treasure CHAP. VII Iob explicateth diuers calamities of mans life and namely of his owne 6. Suposing it not likelie that he shal returne to former prosperous state 15. desireth to dye THE life of man vpon earth is a warfare his daies as the daies of an hyred man †As a seruant desireth the shadow as the hired man taryeth for the end of his worke †So I also haue had vayne monethes and haue numbred to my self laborious nightes †If I sleepe I shal say When shal I arise and agayne I shal expect the euening and shal be replenished with sorowes euen vntil darkenens †My flesh is clothed with rottenesse and filth of dust my skinne is withered drawen together †My daies haue passed more swiftly then the webbe is cut of the weauer and are consumed without anie hope †Remember that my life is a winde and myne eie shal not returne to see good thinges †Neither shal the sight of man behold me thine eies vpon me and I shal not stand †As a
his children with former wickednes and him as iniurious to God in his speaches of which if he would repent he should be healed and prosper as before Arguing in general that God neuer afflicteth the innocent nor assisteth the malignant Insinuating therby that Iob was an hypocrite wherto Iob answered chap. 9. 10 that in dede no man may compare nor iustifie himselse before God Neuertheles it standeth wel with Gods iustice powre wisdome that innocentes be sometimes exercised with tribulations more then their offences deserue Thirdly Sophar the third disputer assaulted Iob ch 11. imputing his speach and defence of himself to loquacitie and audacious temeritie in that he desired to know the causes of Gods prouidence in so grieuously afflicting him Of which faultes holie Iob purged himself in the three next chapters stil maintayning his innocencie according to his owne conscience better knowen to himself then to them desiring God to instruct him if he had anie vnknowen sinnes Discoursed also much more profoundly of Gods powre wisdome iustice and prouidence as weâ— in general as towards himself in particular and professed his faith and great confidence of the Resurrection Againe Eliphaz ch 15. more bitterly then before condemned Iob of presumption and blasphemie discoursed of mans corruptnes and prones to sinne describing the maners of hypochrites and other impious men with their miserable endes and argued Iob for such a one VVho in the next two chapters expostulated with these his freinds that they coming with pretence to comforth him did so violently afflict him by charging him with false and heynous crimes his owne conscience better knowing and testifying his former life and state of his soule then that their imaginations could alter his iudgement And so with contempt of this world desire of death and rest appealed to Gods iudgement against his three freindes touching the matter in controuersie In the meane time comforted himself with meditation of the next world Baldad likewise replied ch 18. with hote contention accusing Iob of insolent impatience inculcating the greuous punishmentes both of him and others for their impietie In answer wherto he lamented againe the wanâ— of expected comforth especially by such freindes Stil comforted himself with assured faith of the Resurrection Sophar also ch 20. attempted againe to coÌ„uince Iob of impietie and hypochrisie by the miserable and speedie fal of wicked men after prosperitie for so he imagined Iob to be fallen into irrecouerable miserie But Iob shewed the contrarie that some wicked men prosper long yea al their life and the same long and then in a moment goe downe to hel and so the argument of present affliction proued not their opinion against him Eliphaz disputed the third time ch 22. contending that the causes of affliction are not to be attributed to Gods secrete prouidence but to assured sinnes of the wicked Vpon whom only he supposed that afflictions fal inferring that Iob was guiltie of enormious crimes grosse errors Vrged him therfore to returne to God that he might be restored to former prosperitie Iob againe appealed to Gods sentence not in his terrour nor rigour of his iustice but against his aduersaries in this quarel describing Gods powre and wisdome by which he permitteth the innocent to be afflicted the wicked to prosper no man knowing how soone or how late al shal receiue as they deserue Moreouer Baldad disputed the third time very briefly ch 25. endeuouring to terrifie Iob from further answering and especially from appealing to Gods iudgement But Iob very largely in six ensuing chapters discoursed diuinely of Gods souereigne Maieste Powre Wisdom exact Iustice and infinite Mercie Also of wicked mens destruction of his owne former prosperitie and present calamitie together with his good workes and innocencie which he stil anouched in respect of great iniquities After that Iob and his three freindes ceassed nothing being agreed vpon in the point of controuersie the diuel yet ceassed not but sturred vp a yongman called Eliu proud and arrogant but not vnlerned who abruptly condemned them al to witte Iob of pertinacie the others of insufficiencie And therfore tooke vpon him to conuince Iob though the others could not Very like to late-rising Protestantes or Puritaines bragging that by new argumentes and proofes neuer heard of they wil ouerthrow the Papistes or Catholique Romaine Church and doctrin which al former enimies Iewes Pagaines Turkes and Heretikes nor Hel gates could not ouercome This yong Eliu therfore with his Priuate spirite wiser in his owne conceipt then al that went before him assaulted constant Iob ch 32. and fiue more ensuing with manie wordes and bragges often chalenging prouoking but not extorting anie answer from so graue a man to his friuolous and idle argumentes largely discoursing of thinges either not denied or so manifest false that euerie meane seruant of God could easely conuince them and neuer approching to the maine controuersie only railed against holie Iob charging him more furiously then anie had donne before with impietie impatience ignorance pride blasphemie and obstinacie vices farre from Iobs sanctitie dilating also of Gods iustice mercie wisdome powre and prouidence and that no man ought to contend nor expostulate with God that afflictions must be borne patiently and that God is iust and maruelous in his workes wherof no wiseman euer doubted and so Iob conuinced him with silence But God himself for decision of al from ch 38. to the end of the Booke first by way of examining instructed Iob more particularly reciting manie maruelous workes of nature shewing therby his Diuine Maiestie Powre and wisdome exercising Iob in more patience and withal perfecting him in humilitie So that with al reuerent feare and subiection he offered and submitted him selfe to Gods onlie good pleasure Then finally God gaue sentence that Iob had defended the truth his three freindes had erred VVhom after Sacrifice and Iobs prayer for them he pardoned restored Iob to health and to duble prosperitie of al he had lost before geuing him also long life and a happie end In this historie besides the literal sense shewing that Iob was iust and sincere and not for his sinnes as his freindes falsly supposed but for his more mereâ—e was most extremly afflicted and afterwards restored to health and wealth we haue also hâ—re in the Allegorical sense an especial figure of Christ who as he was absolutly most innocent most perfect so was he without coÌ„parison most afflicted of al mankind Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before signified in the Anagogical sense the Resurrection and restâ—uratioÌ„ of better most glorious qualities in the blessed with fulnes of daies in eternal glorie Finally in the Moral sense which S. Gregorie most especially prosecuteth al Christians haue here a most notable example of al vertues namely of patience wherin Iob proceded by degrees to great perfection For he was first
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of muâ—itians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers â—each that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Λ delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that “ hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not “ stoode in the way of sinners and hath not “ sitte in the chayre of pestilence †But his “ wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night †And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time †And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper †The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth †Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust
people that shal be borne whom our Lord hath made ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXI 1. For the morning enterprise In respect of the end for which Christ suffered this Psalme is intitled for the morning enterprise that is for Christs glorious Resurrection and other effectes of his Passion VVhich holie Dauid by the spirite of prophecy so describeth here long before with diuers particular cicumstances as the Euangelistes haue since historically recorded that it may not vnfitly be called The Passion of Iesus Christ according to Dauid 3. Thou vvilt not heare Our B. Sauiour seing his most terrible death imminent prayde conditionally if it pleased his heauenlie Father to haue the same remoued from him and was not heard as the Psalmist here prophecieth The principal reason was because God of his diuine charitie had decreed that mankind should be redemed by this death of his Sonne Christ also him selfe of his excellent charitie consented here vnto therefore persisted not in his conditional prayer but added and absolutly prayed that not his owne wil but his Fathers might be fulfilled And in this he was heard to his owne more glorie and other infinite benefites of innumerable soules as it foloweth v. 25. vvhen I crieâ—d to him he heard me S. Paul also witnesseth Heb. 5. v. 7. that Christ offering prayers and supplications to him that could saue him from death vvas heard for his reuerence that is in respect of his inestimable merite in humane nature vnited in person to God An other cause why Christ was not deliuered from violent death as manie holie persons were when they cried to God in distresses as S Augustin sheweth Epist 120. c. 11. was for example to Christians whom God wil haue to suffer temporal afflictions and death for the glorie of life euerlasting according to S. Peters doctrin Christ suffered for vs leauing an example that you may folovv his steppes 18. They haue digged Of obstinate malice the Iewes haue corrupted this place and God knoweth how manie others in the Hebrew text of some editions reading caari which signifieth as a lion without al coherence of the sense for caaru they digged or pearced to auoid so plaine a prophecie of nailing Christs handes and feete to the crosse 23 I vvil declare thy name to my brethren Here it is euident that this Psalme is of Christ not of Dauid by S. Pauls allegation Heb. 2. v. 11. 12. saying He that sanctifieth towitt Christ disdaned not to cal the sanctified his bretheren 23. In the middes of the Church I vvil praise thee After Christs Passion and Resurrection in the rest of this Psalme other two principal pointes of Christian Religion are likewise prophecied His perpetual visible Church and the B. Sacrament of his bodie The former is here prophecied by way of inuiting al the seede of Iacob to glorifie God v. 24. al the seede of Israel to feare him v. 25. towit innumerable Christians the true Israelites the vniuersal Church in the whole world As for heretical partes or parcels in the world such as the Donatistes which going forth from the Catholique Church say Christ hath lost his great Church the diuel hath taken the whole world from him and he remaineth only in a part of Africa they do not praise God saith S. Augustin but dishonour God and Christ as if God were not faithful in his promise as if Christ were dispossessed of his kingdome the Catholique Church Lest anie should replie that Christ is praised though the Church be decaied or be very smal the Holie Ghost hath preuented such arguments saying v. 26 His praise is in the great Church VVhich could neither be verified in the part of Donatistes in Afrike nor now in the part of Protestantes since Luther in Europe Further S. Augustin explicateth vrgeth the verses folowing in this Psalme against the same blind deafe and obstinate Donatistes who did not or would not see not heare that al the endes of the earth shal remenber and be conuerted to our Lord. The holie Scripture saith not the endes of the earth but al the endes wel goe too saith this great Doctor peraduenture there is but one verse thou thoughtest vpon some thing els thou talkedst with thy brother when one read this marke he repeteth and knocketh vpon the deaf Al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight Yet the heretike is deaf he heareth not let one knocke againe Because the kingdom is our Lords and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles Hold these three verses bretheren Thus and more S. Augnstin against those that thinke the true Church may faile or become inuisible or obscure And though it be not in like prosperous state at al times and in al places yet it is alwayes conspicuous and more general then anie other congregation professing whatsoeuer pretensed religion 27. The poore shal eate Seing this Psalme is of Christ as is proued by S. Pauls allegation of 23 verse and by the concordance therof with the Euangelists it is necessarily deduced that the vovves mentioned in the former verse and these wordes the poore shal eate and be filled can not be referred to the sacrifices of the old Testament but to the blessed Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist which our Sauiour promised after he had replenished the people with fiue loaues and which he instituted at his last supper in presence of his Apostles So S. Augustin doubteth not to vnderstand it and to teach as wel in his duble expositioÌ„ of this Psalme as in his 120. Epistle c. 27. The poore that is the humble and poore in spirite shal eate befilled the fatte ones or the rich being proud do also adore and eate but are not filled They also are brought to the table of Christ and participate his bodie bloud but they adore only are not also filled because they do not imitate Christs humilitie they disdaine to be humble VVhere it is clere this holie father by Christs bodie and bloud meaneth not bread and wine as signes of his bodie and bloud for bread and wine can not be lawfully adored neither doth he meane our Lords bodie as it was on the crosse or is in heauen for so it is not eaten but as it is in formes of bread and wine on Christs table the Altar PASLME XXII A forme of thankesgeuing for al spiritual benefites described vnder the metaphor of temporal prosperitie euen from a sinners first conuersion to final perseuerance and eternal beatitude †The Psalme of Dauid OVR Lord ruleth me and nothing shal be wanting to me †in place of pasture there he hath placed me Vpon the water of refection he hath brought me vp †he hath conuerted my soule He hath conducted me vpon the pathes of iustice for his name †For although I shal walke in the middes of the shadow of death I wil not feare euils because thou
eares thou hast perfited to me Holocaust and for sinne thou didst not require †then said I Behold I come In the head of the booke it is written of me †that I should doe thy wil my God I would and thy law in the middes of my hart †I haue declared thy iustice in the great Church loe I wil not stay my lippes Lord thou hast knowen it †Thy iustice I haue not hid in my hart thy truth and thy saluation I haue spoken I haue not hid thy mercie and thy truth from the great councel †But thou ô Lord make not thy commiserations farre from me thy mercie and thy truth haue alwayes receiued me †Because euils haue compassed me which haue no number mine iniquities haue ouertaken me I was not able to see They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head and my hart hath forsaken me †It may please thee ô Lord to deliuer me Lord haue respect to helpe me Let them be confounded and ashamed together that seeke my soule to take it away Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them forth with receiue their confusion that say to me Wel wel †Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad vpon thee and let them that loue thy saluation say alwayes Our Lord be magnified †But I am a begger and poore Our Lord is careful of me Thou art my helper my protector my God be not slacke PSALME XL. The prophet pronounceth them happie that wil beleue in Christ coming in humilitie and pouertie 5. Christ describeth his owne poore afflicted state in this life by reason he is to satisfie for the sinnes of the world the malice of his aduersaries 10. especially of Iudas 11. and by way of prayer prophecieth his owne Resurrect on †Vnto the end a Psalme to Dauid him selfe BLESSED is the man that vnderstandeth concerning the needie and the poore in the euil day our Lord wil deliuer him †Our Lord preserue him and geue him life and make him blessed in the land and deliuer him not vnto the wil of his enemies †Our Lord helpe him vpon the bed of his sorow thou hast turned al his couche in his infirmitie †I said Lord haue haue mercie on me heale my soule because I haue sinned to thee †Mine enemies haue spoken euils to me When shal he die and his name perish †And if he came in to see he spake vayne thinges his hart hath gathered together iniquitie to him selfe He went forth and spake together †Al mine enemies whispered against me they did thinke euils to me They haue determined an vniust word against me Shal not he that sleepeth adde to ryse againe †For the man also of my peace in whom I hoped who did eate my breades hath greatly troden me vnder foote †But thou ô Lord haue mercie vpon me and raise me vp againe and I wil repay them †In this I haue knowen that thou wouldest me because mine enemie shal not reioyce ouer me †But me thou hast receiued because of innocencie and thou hast confirmed me in thy sight for euer †Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from the beginning of the world and for euermore Be it be it PSALME XLI The feruent desire of the iust 6. much afflicted in this life 12. and assured hope of eternal ioy †Vnto the end vnderstanding to the sonnes of Core EVEN as the harte desireth after the fountaines of waters so doth my soule desire after thee ô God †My soule hath thirsted after God the strong liuing when shal I come and appeare before the face of God †My teares haue beene breades vnto me day and night whiles it is said to me dayly Where is thy God †These thinges haue I remembred and haue powred out my soule in me because I shal passe into the place of a meruelous tabernacle euen to the house of God In the yoyce of exultation and confession the sound of one feasting †Why art thou sorowful my soule and why dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance †and my God My soule is trubled toward my selfe therfore wil I be mindful of thee from the land of Iordan and Hermoniim from the litle mountaine †Depth calleth on depth in the voice of thy flould-gates Al thy high thinges and thy waues haue passed ouer me †In the day our Lord hath commanded his mercie and in the night a song of him With me is prayer to the God of my life †I wil say to God Thou art my defender Why hast thou forgotten me and why goe I sorowful whiles mine enemie afflicteth me †Whiles my bones are broken mine enemies that truble me haue vpbrayded me Whiles they say to me day by day Where is thy God †Why art thou heauie ô my soule wh◠dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLII The iust inuocateth Gods sentence against the deceiptful that seeke his spiritual ouerthrow 4. acknowledgeth his helpe from almightie God the B. Trinitie in whose vision glorie consisteth †A Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô God discerne my cause from the nation not holie from the vniust and deceitful man deliuer me †Because thou art God my strength why hast thou repelled me and why goe I sorowful whiles the enemie afflicteth me Send forth thy light and thy truth they haue conducted me and haue brought me into thy holy hil and into thy tabernacles †And I wil goe in to the altar of God to God which maketh my youth ioyful †I'wil confesse to thee on the harpe ô God my God why art thou sorowful ô my soule and dost thou trubel me †Hope in God because yet wil I cōfesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLIII The prophet describeth the first calling and difficulte state of the Iewish nation 6. their prosperitie at other times 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie and persecutions †Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core to vnderstanding O GOD we haue heard with our eares our fathers haue declared to vs. The worke that thou hast wrought in their dayes and in the dayes of old †Thy hand destroyed the nations and thou didst plant them thou didst afflict the peoples and expel them †For not by their owne sword did they possesse the land and their owne arme did not saue them But thy right hand
that neither running is of the swift nor warre of the strong nor bread of the wise nor riches of the lerned nor grace of the artificers but time and chance in al. †Man knoweth not his owne end but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birdes are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euil time when it shal sudenly come vpon them †This wisdom also I haue sene vnder the sunne and haue proued it to be very great †A litle citie and few men in it there came against it a great king and compassed it and builded fortes round about and the siege was perfired †And there was found in it a man poore and wise and he deliuered the citie by his wisdom and no man afterward remembred that pooreman †And I sayd that wisdom is better then streingth how then was the wisdom of the pooreman contemned his wordes were not heard †The wordes of the wise are heard in silence more then the crie of a prince among fooles †Better is wisdom then weapons of warre and he that shal offend in one point shal lose manie good thinges CHAP. X. Considering the great difference betwen wisdom and follie 4. it behoueth to resist vehement tentations diligently 5. As when euil ignorant men haue auctoritie ouer the wise 8. The wicked often fal into their owne snares 10. are hard yet not vnpossible to be corrected 11. Detracters are like serpents 12. wise graue princes are profitable childish are hurtful to the commonwealth 18. which by their negligence tendeth to ruine 20. yet subiectes ought not to iudge euil of them FLIES dying marre the sweetnes of ointment Wisdom and glorie is more precious then a litle and temporal follie †The hart of a wiseman is in his righthand and the hart of a foole is in his lefthand †Yea and the foole walking in the way wheras himself is vnwise estemeth al men fooles †If the spirite of him that hath powre ascend vpon thee leaue not thy place because carefulnes wil make the greatest sinnes to cease †There is an euil that I haue sene vnder the sunne as it were by errour proceding from the face of the prince †a foole set in high dignitie and the rich to sitte beneth †I haue sene seruants vpon horses and princes walking on the ground as seruants †He that diggeth a pitte shal fal into it and he that breaketh the hedge a serpent shal bite him †He that remoueth stones shal be afflicted in them and he that cutteth trees shal be wounded of them †If the iron shal be blunt and that not as before but shal be made blunt it shal be sharpened by great labour and after industrie shal wisdom solow †If a serpent bite in silence nothing lesse then it hath he that detracteth seoâ—etly †The wordes of the mouth of a wiseman grace and the lippes of the vnwise shal throw him downe headlong †The beginning of his wordes is follie and the later end of his mouth is most wicked errour †A foole multiplieth wordes A man is ignorant what hath bene before him and what shal be after him who can tel him †The labour of fooles shal afflict them that know not to goe into the cittie †“ Woe to thee ô land whose king is a childe and whose princes eate in the morning †Blessed is the land whose king is noble whose princes eate in their time to refection and not to riotousnes †In slouthfulnes the roofe of the house shal goe to ruine in the infirmitie of the handes the house shal droppe through †They make bread for laughter and wine that liuing they may make merie and to money al thinges obey †In thy cogitation detract not from the king and in the secret of thy chamber curse not the richman because euen the birdes of the ayre wil carie thy voice and he that hath winges wil declare the sentence ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 16 VVoe to thee o land vvhose king is a childe S. Ierom as in most part of his commentaries vpon this booke expoundeth this passage in two senses simply according to the first apparance of the letter and mystically concerning the Church The wiseman semeth in dede sayth he to reproue the principalitie of yongmen and to condemne luxurious iudges for that in the one by want of age is infirme wisdom in the other mature age is weakened by delicacies And contrary wise he approueth a prince of good partes liberal education commendeth those Iudges which do not preferre voluptuousnes before publique affayres but after great labour and administration of the commonwealth are constrained as by necessitie to take meate Yet to me saith this great Doctor something more sacred semeth to lye hidde in the letter that in Scripture they are called yongmen who forsake old auctoritie and contemne ancient precepts of forefathers who neglecting Gods commandment desire to establish traditions of men Touching which points our Lord threatneth Israel by Isaias for that this people hath refused the water of Siloe that runneth with silence and hath turned away the old fishpond choosing the streames of Samaria and gulfes of Damascus I wil geue yongmen to be their princes and deluders shal rule ouer them Read Daniel Thou shalt finde God ancient of dayes Read the Apocalips of S. Iosu Thou shalt finde the head of our Sauiour white as snow and as white wool Ieremie also because he was wise and grauitie was reputed in his wisdom was forbid to cal himself a childe VVoe therfore to the land whose king is the diuel who alwayes couering nouelties rebelled in Absalom against the father VVoe to that land whose Iudges and Princes loue the pleasures of this vvorld VVho vntil the day of death come say Let vs eate and drinke for to morow we shal dye Contrarivvise blessed is the land of the Church vvhose King is Christ the Sonne of the freeborne descending from Abraham Isaac and Iacob the stock of Prophetes and of al Saintes ouer vvhom sinne ruled not and for that cause they vvere truly free of vvhom vvas borne the holie Virgin Marie more free hauing no shrubbe nor branch out of the side but her vvhole fruite sprungforth into a floure saying in the Canticles I am the floure of the filde the lillie of the valles The princes also of this land are the Apostles and al sainctes vvho haue their king the sonne of the freeborne the sonne of the freevvoman not of the bondvvoman Agar but borne of the freedom of Sara Neither do they eate in the morning nor quickly For they seke not pleasure in this present vvorld but shal eate in their due time vvhen the time of revvard shal come and they shal eate in fortitude and not in confusion Al the good of this present vvorld is confusion but of the future vvorld is perpetual fortitude Thus farre
and his hope vaine earth and his life viler then clay †because he was ignorant who made him and who inspired into him the soule which worketh and who breathed into him the vital spirite †Yea and they estemed our life to be a pastime and the conuersation of life made for a gayne that we must get euerie way euen of euil †For he knoweth that he offendeth aboue al men which of the matter of earth fashioneth frayle vessels and sculptils †For al the vnwise and vnhappie aboue measure of the soule proude are the enemies of thy people and rule ouer them †because they haue estemed al the idols of the nations for goddes which neither haue vse of eies to see nor nosthrels to take breath nor eares to heare nor fingers of the hands to handle yea and their feete are slow to walke †For a man made them and he that borowed breath the same fashioned them For no man can make God like to himself †For wheras himself is mortal he maketh a dead thing with his wicked handes For he is better then they whom he worshippeth because he in deede liued though he were mortal but they neuer †But they worship also most miserable beasts for the senslesse thinges compared to these are worse then they †Yea neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts But they haue fled from the prayse of God and from his blessing CHAP. XVI God plaguing the Aegyptians for idolatrie and crueltie deliuered the Israelites 5. Chasticed them also but againe shewed them mercie 20. and fedde them with Manna FOR these thinges and by the like to these they haue worthely suffered torments and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts †For the which torments thou didst wel dispose of thy people to whom thou gauest the desire of their delectation a new taste preparing them the quaile for meate †that they in deede coueting meate because of those thinges which were shewed and sent them might be turned away euen from necessarie concupiscence But they in short time being made needie tasted a new meate †For it behoued that without excuse destruction should come vpon them exercising tyrannie but to these onlie to shew how their enemies were destroyed †For when the cruel wrath of beastes came vpon them they were destroyed with the bytings of peruerse serpents †Howbeit thy wrath endured not for euer but for chastisement they were trubled a short time hauing a signe of saluation for the remembrance of the commandment of thy law †For he that turned to it was not healed by that which he saw but by thee the sauiour of al †and in this thou didst shew to our enemies that thou art he which deliuerest from al euil †For the bitings of locusts and flies killed them and there was found no remedie for their life because they were worthie to be destroyed by such thinges †But neither the teeth of venemous dragons ouercame thy children for thy mercie coming healed them †For in memorie of thy wordes they were examined were quickly saued lest falling into deepe obliuion they might noâ— vse thy helpe †For neither herbe not plaâ—ster healed them but thy word ô Lord which healeth al thinges †For iâ— is thou ô Lord that hast powre of life and death and bringest downe to the gates of death and fetchest agayne †but man certes killeth by malice and when the spirit is gone forth it shal not returne neither shal he cal backe the soule that is receiued †but it is vnpossible to escape thy hand †For the impious denying to knowe thee haue bene scourged by the strength of thine arme suffering persecution by strange waters and haile and rayne and consumed by fyre †For that which was meruelous in water which extinquisheth al thinges fyre more preuayled for the world is reuenger of the iust †For a certayne time the fyre was mitigated that the beasts which were sent to the impious might not be burnt but that they seing might know that by Gods iudgement they suffer punishment †And at a certaine time the fyre aboue his powre burnt in water on euerie side that it might destroy the nation of a wicked land †For the which thinges thou didst nourish thy people with the meate of Angels and bread prepared thou gauest them from heauen without labour hauing in it al delectation and the sweetnes of al taste †For thy substance did shew thy sweetnes which thou hast toward thy children and seruing euerie mans wil it was turned to that that euerie man would †Yea snow and yee susteyned the force of fyre and melted not that they might know that fyre burning in hayle and lightening in rayne destroyed the fruites of the enemies †And this againe that the iust might be nourished it forgat also his owne strength †For the creature seruing thee the Creatour is fierce into torment against the vniust and is made more gentle to doe good for them that trust in thee †For this cause euen then being transformed into al thinges they serued thy grace the nource of al at their wil that desired thee †that thy children might know whom thou louedst ô Lord that not the fruites of natiuitie doe feede men but thy word preserueth them that beleue in thee †For that which could not be destroyed by fyre forthwith being heated with a litle beame of the sunne did melt †that it might be knowen to al men that we ought to preuent the sunne to blesse thee and at the rysing of light to adore thee †For the fayth of the vngratful shal melt as winter yee shal perish as vnprofitable water CHAP. XVII Horrible darkenes falling in Aegypt 19. the rest of the world had ordinarie light FOR thy iudgements ô Lord are great thy wordes inexphcable for this cause the soules lacking discipline haue erred †For whiles the wicked are perswaded that they can rule ouer the holie nation fettered with the bands of darknes and long night shut vp vnder roofes they haue lyen fugitiues from the euerlasting prouidence †And whiles they thincke that they lie hid in obscure sinnes they were dispersed by the darke couert of obliuion being horribly afrayd and disturbed with exceding admiration †For neither did the denne that conteyned them keepe them without feare because the sound coming downe trubled them and sorowful visions appearing to them put them in feare †And no force certes of the fyre could geue them light neither could the clere flames of the starres lighten that horrible night †But there appeared to them soden fyre ful of feare and being stroken with the feare of that face which was not sene they estemed the thinges that were sene to be worse †and there were added derisions of the magical art and contumelious rebuke of the glorie of
tayle †And they that cal this people blessed seducing them and that are called blessed shal be throwen headlong †For this cause our Lord shal not reioyce vpon their yong men and on their pupilles and widowes he shal not haue mercie because euerie one is an hypocrite wicked and euerie mouth hath spoken follie In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †For impietie is kindled as a fyre it shal deuoure bryer and thorne and it shal be kindled in the thicket of the forest and it shal be wrapped vp together in the pride of smoke †In the wrath of the Lord of hostes the earth is trubled and the people shal be foode for the fyre man shal not spare his brother †And he shal decline to the right hand and shal be hungrie and shal eate on the left hand and shal not be filled euerie one shal eate the flesh of his arme Manasses Ephraim and Ephraim Manasses they together against Iuda †In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth CHAP. X. Makers of wicked lawes are cursed 3. For which the Israelites shal be afflicted by the Assirians 5. The Assirians ouerthrowne by extraordinarie meanes sent from God 21. and the Iewes deliuered from imminent danger with diuers mysteries of Christ intermixed VVOE to them that make wicked lawes and writing haue written iniustice †That they might oppresse the poore in iudgement doe violence to the cause of the humble of my people that widowes might be their praye and they might spoile pupilles †What wil you doe in the day of visitation and of calamitie coming from farre to whose helpe wil ye flee and where wil ye leaue your glorie †That you be not bowed vnder the bond and fal with the slaine In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †Woe to Assur he is the rod of my furie and the staffe myne indignation is in their handes †I wil send him to a deceitful nation I wil geue him commandment against the people of my furie that he take away spoiles and catche the praye and put them to be troden vpon as the mire of the streates †But he shal not so thinke and his hart shal not esteme it so but his hart shal be set to destroy and to the destruction of no few nations †For he shal say †Are not my princes with al kinges Is not as Charcamis so Calano and as Arphad so Emath Is not as Damascus so Samaria †Euen as my hand hath found the kingdomes of the idol so also their idols of Ierusalem of Samaria †Shal I not as I haue done to Samaria and her idols so do to Ierusalem and her idols †And it shal be when the Lord shal haue accomplished al his workes in mount Sion and in Ierusalem I wil visite ouer the fruite of the magnifical hart of the king of Assur and ouer the glorie of the hautines of his eyes †For he hath said In the strength of mine owne hand haue I done it and in mine owne wisdome haue I vnderstood and I haue taken away the borders of peoples and haue spoiled their princes and haue pulled downe as a mightie man them that sate on high †And my hand hath found the strength of peoples as a nest and as egges be gathered that are leaft so haue I gathered together al the earth and there was none that moued wing and opened mouth and once muttered †Shal the axe glorie against him that cutteth with it or shal the saw exalt itselfe against him by whom it is drawen As if a rod should lift vp itself agaynst him that lifteth it vp and a staffe exalt itself which is certes but wood †For this cause the Dominatour the Lord of hostes shal send leannes in his fat ones and vnder his glorie shal burne as it were the burning of fyre kindled †And the light of Israel shal be in fyre and the Holie one therof in flame and his thorne shal be kindled and be deuoured and the briars in one day †And the glorie of his forest and of his carmelus shal be consumed from the soule euen to the flesh and he shal be a fugitiue for feare †And the remaynes of the woode of his forest for the fewnes shal be numbred and a child shal write them †And it shal be in that day the residue of Israel and they that shal escape of the house of Iacob shal not adde to leane vpon him that striketh them but they shal leane vpon our Lord the holie one of Israel in truth †The remnant shal be conuerted the remnant I say of Iacob to the strong God †For if thy people ô Israel shal be as the sand of the sea the remnant therof shal be conuerted consumnation abbridged shal make iustice ouerflow †For our Lord the God of hostes shal make consummation and abbridgement in the middes of al the earth †For this cause thus sayth our Lord the God of hostes O my people inhatiter of Sion be not afrayd of Assur he shal strike thee with his rod and shal lift vp his staffe ouer thee in the way of Aegypt †For yet a litle and a very litle and mine indignation and furie vpon their wickednes shal be consummate †And the Lord of hostes shal rayse vp a scourge vpon him according to the plague of Madian in the Rocke Oreb and his rod vpon the sea and he shal lift it vp in the way of Aegypt †And it shal be in that day his burden shal be taken away from of thy shoulder and his yoke from of thy necke and the yoke shal putrifie at the face of oile †He shal come into Aiath he shal passe into Magron at Machmas he shal commend his vessels †They haue passed in hast Gaba is our seate Rama was astonied Gabaath of Saul fled †Neay with thy voice ô daughter of Gallim attend Laisa seelie poore Anathoth †Medemena is remoued ye inhabitants of Gabin take courege †Yet there is day to stand in Nobe he shal shake his hand ouer the mountaine of the daughter of Sion the litle hil of Ierusalem †Behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal breake the litle flagon in terrour and the high of stature shal be cut downe and the loftie shal be humbled †And the thicke places of the forest shal be ouerthrowen with iron and Libanus with the high ones shal fal CHAP. XI Christ borne of the stock of Iesse replenished with seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost 4. shal haue a spiritual kindom most iust and potent 10. wherto al nations wil repayre AND a rod shal come forth of the roote of Iesse and a flowre shal rise vp out of his roote †And the Spirite
singing in the window the rauen on the vpper post because I wil attenuate her strength †This is the glorious citie dwelling in confidence that sayd in her hart I am and beside me there is none other els how is she become as a desert the couche for beastes euerie one that passeth by her shal hisse and wag his hand CHAP. III. Ierusalem for reiecting Gods admonitions shal be destroyed 7. Christ being risen from death the Iewes persecuting the faithful shal be reiected miserably destroyed 9. and the Gentils called 11. So his Church shal floorish 13. and at last the Iewes shal be conuerted VVO TO thee thou prouoking and redemed citie the doue †She hath not heard the voice and she hath not receiued discipline she hath not trusted in our Lord to her God she hath not approched †Her princes in the middes of her as lions roarnig her iudges wolues in the euening left nothing for the morning †Her prophets madde men vnfaythful her priests haue polluted the holie they haue done vniustly agaynst the law †Our iust Lord in the middes therof wil not doe iniquitie in the morning in the morning he wil geue his iudgement into light and it shal not be hid but the wicked man hath not knowen the confusion †I haue destroyed the Gentils their corners are dissipated I haue made their wayes desert whiles there is none that passeth by their cities are desolate not a man remayning nor any inhabiter †I sayd Neuertheles thou shalt feare me thou shalt receiue discipline and her habitation shal not perish for al thinges wherin I haue visited her but yet rysing early they corrupted al their cagitations ◠Wherfore expect me sayth our Lord in the day of my resurrection til hereafter because my iudgement to assemble the Gentils and to gather kingdomes to powre vpon them mine indignation al the wrath of my furie for in the fyre of my ielousie shal al the earth be deuoured †Because c then wil I restore to the peoples a chosen lippe that al may inuocate in the name of the Lord may serue him with one shoulder †Beyond the riuers of Aethiopia thence shal my suppliants the children of my dispersed bring me a gift †In that day thou shalt not be confounded vpon al thine inuentions wherin thou hast preuaricated against me because then wil I take away out of the middes of thee the loftie speakers of thy pride thou shalt adde no more to be exalted in my holie mount †And I wil leaue in the middes of thee a people poore and needie they shal hope in the name of our Lord. †The remnāt of Israel shal not doe iniquitie neyther shal they speake leasing and deceitful tongue shal not be found in their mouth because they shal feede and shal lie downe and there shal be none to make them afrayd †Prayse ô daughter of Sion make iubilation Israel be glad reioyce in al thy hart ô daughter of Ierusalem †Our Lord hath taken away thy iudgement he hath turned away thine enemies the king of Israel our Lord in the middes of thee thou shalt feare euil no more †In that day it shal be sayd to Ierusalem Feare not to Sion let not thy handes be dissolued †Our Lord thy God in the middes of thee strong he wil saue he wil reioyce vpon thee in gladnes he wil be silent in his loue he wil be ioyful vpon thee in prayse †The triflers that were departed from thee I wil gather together because they were of thee that thou mayst no more haue reproch for them †Behold I wil kil al that haue afflicted thee at that time and I wil saue the halt her that was cast out I wil gather and I wil make them into prayse and into name in al the land of their confusion †In that time when I wil bring you and in the time that I wil gather you for I wil geue you into a name and into prayse to al the people of the earth when I shal conuert your captiuitie before your eyes saith our Lord. THE PROPHECIE OF AGGEVS AGGEVS prophecying in the second yeare of Darius Histaspis king of Persians that is in the 18. yeare after the relaxation from captiuitie of Babylon exhorteth to reedifie the Temple which had bene begune and intermitted promising much prosperitie after the building therof and finally the coming of Christ desired of al nations who by his presence wil glorifie this new temple more then the former built by Salomon and especially prophecieth the glorie of his Catholique Church which shal much excel the Church of the old Testament CHAP. I. The Iewes building to themselues excellent houses are iustly reprehended for not building the Temple of God 10. VVhich is the cause of the barrennes sicknes and other euils 12. VVherupon they vndertake the holie worke IN THE second yeare of Darius the king the sixth moneth in the first day of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet to Zorobabel the sōne of Salathiel duke of Iuda to b Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest saing †Thus sayth the Lord of hostes saying This people sayth The time is not yet come of building the house of our Lord. †And the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophete saying †Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house desert †And now thus sayth the Lord of hostes Set your hartes vpon your wayes †You haue sowed much and brought in litle you haue eaten and haue not bene filled you haue drunke and haue not bene inebriated you haue couered your selues haue not bene warmed and he that hath gathered the wages put them into a broken bag †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Set your harts vpon your wayes †go vp into the mountayne carie timber and build the house and it shal be acceptable to me and I shal be glorified sayth our Lord. †You haue looked for more and behold it became lesse and you brought it into the house and I puft at it for what cause sayth the Lord of hosts because my house is desert and you hasten euerie man into his owne house †For this cause were the heauens stayed ouer you that they gaue no dew and the earth was prohibited that it yelded not her spring †and I called a drought vpon the earth vpon the mountaines and vpon the wheate and vpon the wine and vpon the oile and what thinges soeuer the ground brought forth vpon men vpon beastes vpon al the labour of the handes †And Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the high priest al the remnant of the people heard the voice of their God the wordes of Aggeus the prophet as our Lord their
not eaten it was consumed †In like maner Salomon also eight dayes celebrated the dedication †And these self same thinges were put in the descriptions and commentaries of Nehemias and after what sort he making a librarie gathered together bookes of the prophetes and of Dauid and the epistles of the kinges and concerning the donaries †And in like maner Iudas also such thinges as were fallen away by the warre that happened to vs gathered them al together and they are with vs. †If therfore you desire these thinges send some that may fetch them vnto you †We therfore meaning to kepe the purification haue written vnto you You shal doe wel then if you kepe these dayes †And God that hath deliuered his people and rendered the inheritance to al the kingdom and the priesthoode and the sanctification †as he promised in the law we hope that he wil quickly haue mercie vpon vs and wil gather vs together from vnder heauen into the holie place †For he hath deliuered vs out of great perils and hath purged the place †Concerning Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and of the purification of the great temple and of the dedication of the altar †Yea and of the battels that perteyne to Antiochus the Noble and his sonne Eupator †and of the apparitions that were made from heauen to them that did manfully for the Iewes so that being few they reuenged the whole countrie and put to flight the barbarous multitude †and repayred the most famous temple in al the world and deliuered the citie and the lawes that were abolished were restored our Lord with al clemencie being made propicious vnto them †Also the thinges which by Iason the Cyrenean are comprised in fiue bookes we haue attempted to abridge in one volume †For considering the multitude of bookes and the difficultie to them that wil attempt the narrations of histories because of the multitude of matters †we haue bene careful for them that are willing to reade that there might be delectation of the minde and for the studious that they may more easily comitte it to memorie and that profite might ensewe to al that read it †And to our owne selues in deede which haue taken vpon vs this worke to make an abridgement we haue taken in hand no easie labour yea rather a busines ful of watching and swetâ—e †As they that prepare a feast and seeke to condescend to other mens wil for manie mens sakes we doe willingly susteyne the labour †The veritie certes concerning euery particular leauing to the auctors and our selues according to the forme that is geuen studying to be briefe †For as the builder of a new house must haue care of the whole building but he that hath the care to paint must seeke out the thinges that are apt for garnishing so must it be esteemed also in vs. †For to gather together the vnderstanding to order the speach and curiously to discusse euerie particular part agreeth to the auctor of an historie †but to pursew the breuitie of speach to auoyde the exact declarations of thinges is to be granted to him that abridgeth †From hence then wil we begine the narration of the preface let it be sufficient to haue sayd thus much for it is a foolish thing before the historie to flow ouer and in the historie to be shorte CHAP. III. VVhen Ierusalem was in peace and good order by the care of Onias high priest and king Seleucus fauoured pious workes 4. Simon a wicked churchwarden betrayeth the treasure of the Sanctuarie 7. VVher upon Heliodorus sent by the king and after curteous intertainment declaring that he must carie al the money to the king is resisted by Onias with others deuoutly commending the cause to God 23. He neuertheles attempting the sacrilege is terrified by a vision sore beaten and in desperate miserie 31. by Onias sacrifice and prayers is restored to health 35 and returning home confesseth the powre of God THEREFORE when the holie citie was inhabited in al peace the lawes also as yet were very wel kept because of Onias the high priest his pietie minde that hated euils †it came to passe that kinges also themselues and princes esteemed the place worthie of high honour and glorified the temple with verie great giftes †so that Seleucus the king of Asia of his reuenewes allowed al the charges perteyning to the ministerie of the sacrifices †But Simon of the tribe of Beniamin being appointed ouerseer of the temple â—â—contended the prince of the priestes resisting him to worke some wicked thing in the citie †And 2. when he could not ouercome Onias he came to Appollonius the sonne of Tharsaeas who at that time was gouernour of Caelesyria and Phaenicia †and told him that the treasurie at Ierusalem was ful of innumerable deale of money and the common store to be infinite which perteyne not to the account of the sacrifices and that it is possible al might fal into the kings powre †And 3. when Appollonius had made relation to the king concerning the money that he was told of he calling for Heliodorus who was ouer his affayres sent him with commission to transport the foresayde money †And forthwith Heliodorus began to take his iourney in shew in dede as if he would goe visite the cities through out Coelesyria and Phaenicia but in very deede to accomplish the kings purpose †But when he was come to Ierusalem and was curteously receiued in the citie by the high-priest he told of the the aduertisment geuen of the money and opened for what cause he was come and asked if these thinges were so in very deede †Then the highpriest shewed that these were deposita and the liuelihoods of widowes and pupils †but certaine of them to belong vnto Hircanus of Tobie a very noble man among these thinges which impious Simon had promoted the whole to be of siluer foure hundred talents and of gold two hundred †And that they should be deceiued which had committed it to the place the temple that is honoured through out the whole world to be a thing for the reuerence and holines therof altogether vnpossible †But he by reason of those thinges which he had in commission of the king sayd in any wise that they must be caried to the king †And on a day appointed Heliodorus entered in to take order concerning these thinges But there was noe smal trembling through out the whole citie †And the priestes cast themselues before the altar with their priestes stoles and inuocated him from heauen which made the law of deposita that he would kepe the thinges safe from them that had deposed them †But now he that saw the countenance of the high priest was wounded in minde for his face and colour being changed declared the inner sorow of the minde
King of Iuda a 908. Zacharias the Prophet exhorted to build the Temple b 868. Zele is an indignation rising of loue b 827. Zele is necessarie in iust religious causes discretly vsed a 982. 986. 993. b 55. 126. 898. Zele of Simeon and Leui was iust but not discrete a 109. 149. 1023. Zele of Moyses against Idolaters a 244. of Phinees against fornicators a 374. b 196. 439. of Dauid to Gods publike seruice a 647. 648. b 55. 115. 126. 256. of Elias against false Prophetes a 747. of Matthathias against persecuters of the Church b 896. And of his sonnes and other Machabees in aduancing Religion b 899. c. Zele of Dauid Ezechias and Iosias aboue other Kinges in destroying idolatrie b 445. Zele of certaine Christian kinges rewarded with glorious titles a 475. Zorobabel chief Duke Iesus the Highpriest with others built an Altar a 947. and the Temple after the captiuitie a 951. b 866. Which was a figure of the Church of Christ b 868. FINIS Censura trium Theologorum Anglorum extra collegium commorantium NOS infrascripti perlecta hac veteris Testamenti versione cum Librorum Argumentis capitum cumque Annotationibus ac Recapitulationibus suis locis insertis nihil inuenimus quod Fidei Catholicae aut bonis moribus repugnet sed econtrà reperimus Translationem fidelem reliqua docta vtilia Vtpote quae exactam temporum seriem Ecclesiae Pastorum Doctrinaeque Catholicae successionem ab ipso mundi exordio deducunt obscuriora sacri textus loca elucidant haereses huius temporis argumentis ex ipso eodem textu collectis conuincunt Ecclesiae Catholicae dogmata penè omnia confirmant Ideoque summâ cum legentium vtilitate publcari posse iudicamus si ordinarijs Librorum Censoribus hoc ipsum approbare beneplacitum fuerit 1609. IOANNES WRIGHTVâ— Ecclesiae collegiatae Gloriosiss Virginis Cortracensis Decanus MATTHAEVS KELLISONVS S. Theologiae Doctor ac Professor in Vniuersitate Remensi GVILIELMVS HARISONVS S. Theologiae Doctor Omnes aliquando Sacrarum Literarum in hoc Collegio Professores You may please curteous reader to amend the more especial errors happened in this Edition by reading thus In the former volume Page 20. line 24. reade bodie c. Page 26. line 7. partitions Page 51. line 13. that blesse thee Page 57. line 29. SALEM Page 107. line 1. seing Esau Page 227. line 6. to the twelue Page 305. Adde in the margent much more in the Church of Christ Page 727. line â—4 nauie and put out moniment in the margent Page 846. line 39. reioyce that Page 910. line 40. and 41. Ioas did take Amasias c. Page 1064. line 39. how they escape manie miseries which are neuer borne line 40. birth Page 1069. line 1. nor I gaynesay In the latter volume Page 24. after the last line adde Others thinke he speaketh of that Chusi or Chusai who reported to him the death of Absalom 2. Reg. 18. v. 31. Page 268. read the foure last lines thus thirtith chapter either an other Auctor or rather the same vnder an other title and in prophetical stile vttereth like diuine sentences adding in the last chapter other excellent preceptes receiued of his mother wherto he adioyneth the praise of a right wise woman prophetically the Catholique Church Page 721. adde in the margent were pastors of cattle here mentioned subdued the Ammonites We haue also found some other faultes of lesse importance and feare there be more But we trust the reader may easely correct them as they occurre The cause of delay in setting forth this English Bible Anno. 1568. VVhy how it is allowed to haue holie Scriptures in vulgar tongues Scriptures being hard are not to be read of al. Manie take harme by reading holiâ— Scriptures lib. de Prescrip lib. 2 ad Gratian. c. 1. Tract 18 in Ioan. Epist 103. c. 6. Reading of Scriptures moderated Scriptures translated into diuers tongues Bibl. Sanct. lib. 4. Lib. 1. Hist c. 47 Linvvod lib. 1. A calumnious suggestion of Lutheranes VVhat part of Scriptures be most conuenient for vulgar readers â— Tim 3. â—ac 1. VVhy we translate the old Latin text More pure then the Hebrew or Greke now extant TertulliaÌ„ li. 5. cont Marcion S. Ambrose li. 3 deSpirit San. c. 11 S. Ieron li. 1. con IouiniaÌ„ in 49. Isaiae li. 20. c. 24 mora Epist dedicat ad Leandr li. 2. Doct Christ c. 14. lib. 6. Etymol c. 5. li. 1 de Diuin offic c. 12. Receiued by al Churches Turned into Greke Prefat in Iosue Al others growne out of vse S. Ierom excelled al other Doctors in translating expounding holie Scriptures His Edition free from partialitie Preferred before al other Editions by Beza Luc. 22. v. 20. Prefat Noui. Testam Anno. 1556. Luc. 1. v. 1. None yet in England allowed for sufficient VVhat is done in this Edition Preface before the nevv Testam Diuers readinges resolued vpon none leift in the margent They touched not present controuersies VVhy some vvordes are not translated into vulgar English Some Hebrew wordes not translated into Latin nor Greke li 2 Doct. Christ cap. 11. More authoritie in sacred tongues Some vvordes can not be turned into English Protestantes leaue some vvordes vntranslated Corruptions in Protestantes Translations of holie Scriptures Of purpose against Catholique doctrine Against free wil. Against Melchisedechs sacrifice And against holie Images This Edition dedicated to al that vnderstand English Christ redeemed al but al are not saued True faith first necessarie Act. 17. v. 18. Ser. 42. de Sanct. The twelue Apostles were first Reapers before they were Sowers S. Paul at first a Sower or Seminarie Apostle Pastoral cures and Apostolical missions New doctrine is falsly called the Gospel S. Aug. de vâ—â—lit crede 1. c. Mat. 15. The seduced externally conformable are punished with the authors of iniquitie Psalmo 124. Cor. 6. Grace in the new TestameÌ„t more abundant then in the old Luc. 10. Tit. 1. Both wicked workes and omission of good workes are damnable Mat. 25. 1. Cor. â—3 1. Pet. 1. Innumerable saued by Christ Apoc. 7. They are more happie that suffer persecution for the truth * Vvorthie or comparable in dignitie 2. Cor. 4. English Catholiques most happie in this age 1. Pet. 1. The due praise of Martyres and other glorious Sainctes excedeth mortal tongues Patience necessarie to the end of mans life Persecution profitable Rom 10. Heb. 10. Confession of faith before men necessarie to saluation S. Ierom. Epist ad Paulin. de omnib S. Scipt libris S. Aug. prefat in specul li. 2. dc doct christ ca. 9. li. I. de Gen. coÌ„tra Manich ca. 4. li. de catechiz rudib c. 3. 4. l. 2. qq su per Exod q. 73. li. 15. cont Faust Manich. cap. 2. li 18. ciuit ca 54. de vera relig c. 27. li. 4. coÌ„t Faust ca. 2. S. Greg. hâ— 6. in Ezech. I. How the holie Scriptures conteine al knowlege neceslarie to saluation The old
â—yp â—â—p 76. in fine S. Aug. Tract 12. 13. in Ioan. :: The same credite is geuen to God speaking by Moyses as if he had spoken immediatly by himself S. Hiero. in Epist ad Philem. :: The first of al Canticles sacred or prophane Origen ho. 6. in Exod. :: God only suffered them to goe into the sea For they went of their owne accord supposing they might folowe where the Israelites went before S. Aug. ser 89. de temp :: Musical instrumeÌ„ts vsed before the law of Moyses in the seruice of God :: These things chanced to them in figure 1. Cor. 10. :: The wholsome wood of the Crosse made the bitter sea of gentiles swete Theodoret. q. 26. in Exod. The same Church Religion in this age as in the former Beleefe in one God Three diuine Persons Strength or power the Father vvisdome the Sonne Spirite the Holie Ghost Christ promised to Abraham Rom. 9. To Isaac And to Iacob Christ prefigured by Abraham By Melchisedech By Isaac Iacob Ioseph Iob. Moyses And manie other things Prophecie of Christ Iob. 19. Sacrifice Altares Churces dedicated Vowes Priesthood Priuilege of Priests VVhere is no sacrifice no priest is required Circumcision Penance Gen. 44 Mariage Degrees of coÌ„sanguinitie Pluralitie of wiues lawful sometimes neuer of husbands Blessings Signe of the Crosse Ceremonies Musical instruments Baptisme prefigured 1. Cor. 10. The B. Sacrament Priesthood of the new Testament Traditions Tythes Forme of iustice Precepts Raising seede to the brother Abstinence Freewil Mans industry necessarie God tempteth nor to euil Faith and good workes together iustifie and are meritorious but neither of them alone Iet 2. Heb. 11. Heb. 1â— Perfection in this life Foure principal merites of Abraham 1. Prompt obedience 2. Faith without staggering 3. Propagation of faith and religion 4. Perfect obedience Other iust men Isaac Iacob He spake truth in mystical sense Ioseph Iob. Moyses Nu. 12. Exo. 32. Election is of Gods mercie Predestination excludeth not ordinary meanes Sinne is the cause of reprobation Pharao and other Aegyptians hardned their owne harts God did only permitte them to obdurate themselues Protection Inuocation of Angels and Patriarches S. Aug li 16 c. 36. 〈◊〉 Adoration of creatures Swearing by creatures Ominous speach Dreames Images Reliques Deuotion to holie places Figure of Christ crosse Iosue 24. Funeral offices 2. Reg. â— Place dedicated for burial Mourning 40 dayes Exequies of seuen dayes Special place of burial rightely desired No soule before Christ entred into heauen Diuers places in hel Act. 7. v. 16. Luc. 16. Resurrection Mat. 22 General Iudgement â— Pet. 2. â—p Iud. Eternal punishment of the wicked and ioy of the blessed Heb. 11. Continuance of the Church notwithstanding breathes from it Abraham neuer contaminate in Religion Thare and Nachor reduced from idolatrie Abraham publikly professed his faith Sem. Sale Heber Melchisedech Manie professors of true Religion Breaches from the Church Moabites and Ammonites Nachors progenie Ismaelites Gal. 4. 2. Paral. 12 16. 28. Madianites Idumeans Heb. 12. Idolatrie stil increasing yet the Church continued yea also increased The Church of Christ in the new TestameÌ„t alwayes visible and great The same Scriptures forshew Christ and his Church Multitude of progenie promised to Abraham pertaineth to the Church of Christ Gen. 13. 〈◊〉 17. 22. Apoc. 7. Very absurde to say the Church of Christ was at anie time obscure Succession of spiritual gouernets during the law of nature Iob. 19. Priesthood Moyses law established in Aarons seede Ex. 28. Nu. â— Moyses chiefe in spiritual and temporal gouernment The beginning of the fourth age The second parte of this booke How the Israelites were sustained in the desert prepared to receiue the Law :: God least it in their wil to be content with ynough or to couere more yet suffered them not to haue more when it came to measurinâ—g v. 18. 2. Cor. 8. :: These birdes by Gods prouidence came from other places to the children of Israel Nu. 11. v. 31. :: By their woâ—dering at the duble quaÌ„titie it appeareth they intended not to gather so much :: By anticipation Moyses writeth here the commadment geuen when the Tabernacle and Arck were finished Exo. 〈◊〉 :: This Relique was put in a golden vessel Heb 9. though it was infinitly inferior to Christs flesh â—â— 6 yea inferior to the fleshâ—â— anie glorified Sainct Manna so called of Man-hu It was a figure of the Eucharist li. 3. c 37. â—o 45 Tâ—â—â—26 Ioan. 6. v. 25. 41. 49. 51. 55. Twelue miracles in Manna Psal 77. v 25 〈◊〉 li. 1. c 12 cont Occolâ—m◠◠〈◊〉 li. â— c 12 parâ—â—m 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. No miracle in Protestants Communion Al the said miracles are more eminent in the B. Sacrament 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. :: If this ceremonie of holding vp his handes was of such importance in the law of nature why do Heretikes deride the same and the like in the Catholique Church VVheras also our Sauiour lifting vp his hands blessed his disciples Luc. 24 S Damascen also teacheth li 4. c. 12 Oxthox that this extenâ—ion of his handes prefigured the Crosse of Christ And now it representeth the same :: Cohen in Hebrew signifieth Priâ—â—e oâ— Pâ—â—â—st which offices in the law of nature were often ioyned in one person :: Manifold wisdome wherof Daniel prophecieth c. 12. v. 4 in Christian gentils was here prefigured in Iethio a gentil :: To whom Moyses willingly yelded Origen in hunc locum Morally Superiors are admonished by Moyses example to lerne of aâ—â—e man that which is good 5. Chrysostom â—o de ferâ—ndâ—s reprehensioâ—â—bâ— â— :: To this place which was their 12 mansion they came the 47. day after they parted from Aegypt And the third day folowiÌ„g which was the â—o the law was geuen in mount Sinay S. Hierom. Epist 1. ad Fabiolam :: God would haue their free consent els it were not a perfect couenant Theodoret. q 35 in Exod. :: In this couenant God promiseth particular loue Priestlie function wherby they might better serue him and effectual grace and sanctitie :: The people promise loyaltie to God and to keepe his commandements :: So Angels Saincts offer our prayers other good workes to God though he know al things before hand :: The people and al inferior clergie also are to kepe their limites and to lerne Gods wil of their superiors Agreement of old and new mysteries The third part of this booke 〈◊〉 Diuine Lawes M 〈…〉 l and Iudicial :: In Hebrew 〈◊〉 in Greke 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This com 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 e one of the nine folowing Catech. Ro. p 3 q. 9. The Epistle on wenesday in the third weeke of Lent :: This and other ceremonial precepts are determinate lawes for obseruing the coÌ„mandments of the first table pertaining to God Protestants charge al Catholiques to be Idolaters They abuse their
Leuiticum Mystically it signified that the fire of charitie being first kindled in mans hart by Gods grace must be continually nourished and kept burning from which al other good workes are deriued By slesh of penance is vnder stood fasting watchig hair-cloth teares prayers aâ—mes which whosoeuer duly toucheth shal be sanctified He sychâ—us Hierosol li. 2. in Leuit. c. 6. :: This text sheweth there is difference in the nature of a fault committed commonly called sinne of dutie omitted here called offence in latin peccatuÌ„ and delictum Yet both are alike offencife to God in matter of equal importance As appeareth for that the same sacrifice was offered for both S. Aâ—â— q. 20. in Leuit. :: Geuen or presented to our Lord not offered vpon the Altar for no leauen could be offered in sacrifice cap. 2. v. 15 The second part Of consecrating Priests and their vestmeÌ„ts with punishment of some that transgressed :: VVashing signified puritie required in Priests :: Precious vestiments their dignitie and holie oile their authoritie :: VVhen the high Priest at anie time put the Ephod to the Rationale God gaue answers to his demandes in matters of doctrine and veritie which king Dauid willed Abiathar to doe 1. Reg. 23. v. 9. Neuer could anie woman weue doctrin veritie but diuine vvisdom did make such garmeÌ„ts S. Cyril lib. 6. in Leuit. :: As wel by the function of coÌ„secrating Priests as of offering Sacrifice it appeareth that Moyses was a Priest Yea the chiefe and hieghest Priest saith S. Augustin for his more excellent ministerie and extraordinarie calling Aaron was hiegh priest for his Pontifical inuesture and ordinarie vocation which should continew in his successors q. 23. in Leuit. Particular calling and consecration necessarie to priestlie offices authoritie in spiritual causes Heb. 5. Psal 109. Ordering of Priestes was a Sacrament in the law of Moyses SeueÌ„ precious vestments for the high Priest signifiing 1. Puritie 2 Discretion 3. Good works of edification S. Hierom Epist ad Fabiol 4. Toleration of others infirmities 5. Knowledge and sinceritie 6. IntentioÌ„ directed to God 7. Contemplation of God his workes Other Priestes had also three ornamentes Aaron annointed high Priest His sonnes also consecrated Al three kindes of sacrifice offered at the consecration of Priests Num. â— Priestood and Law changed together The SacrameÌ„t of holie Orders prefigured and the new Law Heb. 7. :: The people before worshipped a calfe for God Exod 32. Now therfore they offer a calfe in sacrifice to God for their sinne and to kepe them from idolatrie S. Hieron in Hierem 7. :: God appeared in his worke by sending fire to burne the sacrifice without mans industrie v. 24. :: This did signifie that Christ in whoÌ„ al nations are blessed should be stretched on the Crosse where he redemed vs in memorie wher of we now make the signe of the Crosse :: The Priests were commaÌ„ded to nourish and kepe this fire petpetually that it should not be extinguished cha 6. v. 12. :: Such as receiued more at Gods hand are more seuerly punished if they transgresse S. Aug. q. 21. in Leuit. By this also al are warned to be content with the doctrine of the Holie Ghost to abhorre heresies the fautors wherof adde falsehood to Gods word preferre their owne wicked inuentions be fore the true sense of holie Scripture Theod. q 9. in Leuit. :: Abstinence from wine coÌ„manded to Priests when they serued in the tabernacle not at other times for they serued at certaine times by turnes Theod. q. 10 in Leuit. As for drunkennes it is forbid to al men and at al times :: Natural griâ—e of mind made Aaron both vnwilling to eate lesse apt to coâ—plete al the ceremonies so without sinne he omitted that pertained to his commoditie offering it to God The third part Of things cleane and vncleane with the maner of purifying other precepts moral iudicial :: Hitherto God reueled his Law to Moyses onlie and by him to the people Now also to Aaron after he was coÌ„secrated high Priest yet not alwayes for Moyses was stil superior chap. 12. 14. 16. 17. c. :: If in dede this vncleaÌ„nes were a sinne it should be clensed by contritioÌ„ and neither necessarily remaine til night nor theÌ„ be taken away without other meanes Gen. 7. 〈◊〉 8. Some things connted vncleane in the law of nature of Moyses Three causes of this obseruance 1. For instruction 2. For exercise of obedience 1. Tim. 4. Rom. 5. 2. Mach. 6. 7. 3. For signification The things holden for cleane signified vertues The vncleane signified vices Christians are not bound to the obseruances of the old law but to that which they signified The second third Lessons on Candlemas day :: The most pure virgin mother was not subiect to this law For she conceiued not by the seede of man yet obserued the custome of other wemen Luc. 2. as Christ also would be baptized by S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. to geue example of humilitie S. Cyril li. 8. in Leuit S Bernard Ser. 3. de Purific :: It pertained to the Priests to discerne of leprosie in figure of Priestes authoritie to bind and loose sinnes in the new Testament S. Chrysost li. 3. de Sacerdotio :: Leprosie making spottes in the skinne of an other colour signifieth heresie that mixeth falshood with truth â— Aug. li. 2. quest Euangel c. 4â— :: Sometimes that semeth leprosie or herelie which is not wherof the priest is to iudge Deut. 17. :: This gift sacrifice were commanded saith S. Augustin because the Sacrifice of Christs bodie was not yet ordained which now serueth for al other sacrifices lâ— 1. ca. 19. et 20. cont aduersar â—eg et prophet * of vvel or riuer not of a cesterne poole or marrâ—â—â— :: If natural infirmities brought vncleaÌ„nes much more lasciuiousnes of the mind Theod. q. 15. 20. in Leuit. :: To make offer and sacrifice an hosteâ—is al one :: S. Hierom. â—s cap. 5 ad 〈…〉 at vnderstandeth this place of the abominable sines that may not be named :: Only once in the yeare the high priest and no other entred into Sancl◠〈…〉 v. 34. signifying that heauen was not open to anie Sainct before Christs passion Heb. 9. v. 8. :: Praying that al their sinnes may be remitted :: Sinnes do so defile the soule that the very holiest of al places is accounnted as contaminate therby Theodo â— 22. in Leuit. 〈◊〉 sine :: God so remitteth sinnes to those that are truly peninitent as that which is caried into a wildernes and neuer returneth :: Besides particular sacrifices for euerie oues sinnes once in the yeare was instituted a general expiatioÌ„ of al. :: If anie killed for sacrifice he must offer it at the dore of the tabernacle that a priest might offer it on the Altar for no other man nor place was allowed without special dispensation of God And so Samuel offered sacrifice in an
promised land S. Hierom. de Mans 42. to 3. :: They were retained in the ayre til the earth broken vnder them was closed againe :: Amram maried his aunt which sheweth that the second degree in consanguinitie is not forbid by the law of nature though it was after prohibited by a positiue law Leuit 18. :: For the general murmuring wherof al the people were guiltie cha 14. â— 29. :: Temporal Princes are also pastors or shepheards of the people but this made not Iosue supreme in spiritual causes For it is clere in the next lines that he had but part of Moyses his glorie or office and that was to be temporal prince Eleazar being chief in causes spiritual before vvhom and the multitude he was ordained Duke but Eleazar consulted God for him and directed his principal actions called here his going out and going in :: Varietie of Sacrifices for diuers times :: Euerie day twise 1. 2. :: On the Sabbath day 3. :: The Neomenia or new moone :: Pasch or Phase 4. 5. :: Pentecost 6. :: Feast of Trumpets 7. :: Feast of Expiation :: For remissioÌ„ of sinnes the penitents did cooperate by penal workes of fasting and abstinence from euen vntil euen Leuit. 23. 〈◊〉 â—2 S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. Theod. q. 32. in Leuit. :: Feast of Tabernacles 8. 9. :: Feast of Assemblie and Collection :: He that voweth abstinence from a thing lawful maketh it vnlawful to him selfe by his vow S. Aug. q. 56. in Num. :: In this case God wil not impute it to her for a siÌ„ne S. Aug. q. 58. :: By afflicting of the souleâ— here vnderstood restraining sensual delectation S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. :: The husbaÌ„d reuoking his consent once geuen by word or by silence to his wiues vow sinned but the wife was bound to obey him and so was excused Vowes of things not commanded S. Aug q. 57. in Num. :: VVith whoÌ„ he sinned with them he was also iustly punished :: These wemen bringing imagies of Beelphogot caused the Israelites to offer sacrifice to him before they should committe fornication with them :: In more detestation of the parents sinne God coÌ„manded to kil these children so they were preuented from committing the like crimes But ordinarily wemen children ought not to be slaine after the victorie Deut. 20. v. 14. :: A right figure of those that would possesse heauen without labour or danger But none shal be crovvned vnles he striue lavvfully 2. Tim. 2. :: These remonings and camping places signifie by what degrees christians leauing sinnes and folowing Christ our guide may come to perfect pietie S. Hierom. de mans 42. ad Fahiol :: Danger to those that destroy not infidelitie and al enormious sinnes which dwelt in their soules before their conuersion Two handes which worke saluation :: Otherwise called the dead sea where Sodom and Gomort had stood :: A mountaine so called of the multitude of scorpions which were in it :: Mediterraneal sea called great in respect of the lakes in the holie Land :: Mount of Libanus :: Yet not before sentencâ— of death â— 12. 24. S. Aug. q. 65. in Num. :: Mystically this signified that the way to true life was not open before Christs death Theodor. q. 51. in Num. S. Grig ho. 6. in Ezechielem :: Al were not bound by this law to marie but al that would marrie must contract within their owne tribe Restrant in Mariages also for a temporal cause â—â—◠◠◠〈◊〉 Tradition Christ a King and a Priest This booke is a repetition explication and suplement of the Law S. Aug. q. 49. in Deuteroâ— It presigured the Gospel et princ Leutero Mans vlt. Conteineth fiue partes Chap. 1. 4. 12. 27. 31. 34. The first part A repetition of Gods benefites the peoples ingratitude and punishment :: God so helpeth his seruantes that they also must cooperate S. Aug. q. 1. in Deut. :: Difference of sinnes :: God is also angrie with his good seruantes and punisheth theÌ„ temporally for smal sinnes S. Aug. q. 1. in Iosue :: These were men of very great stature but not equal to the giantes before the sâ—ould :: By this we are instructed to fight agaâ—st inâ—ideles but not without special cause against christians signified by the childreÌ„ of Lot and Esau :: The I dumeans once denied them passage Num. 20. v. 20. but afterwards granted therto :: God permitted him for his former sinnes to indurate him selfe See Exod. 7. v. 3. :: Longer sorte of cubites are a foote and 9 inches so this bed was 15. foote and nine inches long and 7. foote brode Vitruuius Agricola :: Esdras adding these wordes and often times the like did not against the law because such additions are agreable and not contrarie to that which was written before :: See Num. 〈◊〉 â— 12. The second part A repetition explication of the law :: To kepe Gods coÌ„mandments is counted by al nations the most excellent wisdome :: Here and in other places it is manifest that the commandments called the Decalogue are iust tenne :: Venial and least sinnes passe not with out temporal punishment :: This was also a Mysterie that the old law signified by Moyses could not bring to heauen the true land of promise but the law of Christ signified by Iosue Theodoret q. 43. in Deut. :: Conuersion of the Iewes in the end of the world As other Scriptures are included in the law so also TraditioÌ„s are conteined in the Scriptures Brentius KeÌ„nisius Caluin The Church commended by Scriptures approueth Traditions :: It is not ynough to beleue only or to know the commandments but necessarie also to fulfil them in â—vorâ—e :: The title of mediator lawfully ascribed to Gods lieuâ—enant in â—â—rth :: Coueting as other mans wife and coueting his goodes differ as much as the exterior actes of adultry and of theft And so these two commandments are as distinct as the former two Images of Idols forbid but not of other things :: Some adoration agreeth to creatures but seruice of Latria to God onlie S. Aug. q 61. in Gen. Not withstanding this commination God ofrentimes differreth punishment expecting the sinners repentance :: Gods promises coÌ„ditional if his people serue him :: God is able to make foode of what he plesse or to sustaine men without â—â—cate :: A serpent lesse then a scorpion making those whom he byteth to die of thirst Solâ—â—us in polyhist cap. de Africa :: Holie Scripture vseth the figure Hyperbola folowing the vulgar maner of speakiÌ„g as wel to helpe the vnderstanding as to moue affectioÌ„ in great and extraordinarie things :: The similitude of a calfe and called it their god Exed 32. :: This Mosera where Aaron died is more commonly called Hor. Num. 20. 33. :: VVhen iust cause requireth an oath it must be made in the name of God not of false goddes :: Raine after seeding and before haruest signifieth Gods grace first stirring
that such workes may be profitable and be conserued they must be donne in true faith in the Catholique faith in societie of the vnitie of the Church h VVorkes are good and rightly laide vp when they are donne in vnitie and participation of Gods Altares the most proper places of Diuine Seruice of external Sacrifice in this life and spiritual sacrifice of perâ—ect praises in eternal glorie whereal Sainctes without ceasing sing Holie holie holie Lord God of hoastes Isaiae 6. Apoc. 4. i The Catholique Church k The iust by Gods grace and helpe may resolue to ascend by steppes and degrees from vertue to vertue v. 8. euen to heauen l though he be now in this vaile of teares by reason of mans sinne who otherwise was before sinne in paradise a place of delight m Christ our lawgeuer n geueth abundance of graces o with continual increase p but our only omnipotent God is to be senne by this effect of his grace in the Church and not elswhere q Agreably to this the Church maketh al her petitions concluding al prayers By Christ our Lord. r In respect of the future retribution which euerie one shal receiue according to their desertes one day in Gods Church is better then thousands out of it Å¿ And better to be in the poorest state of Catholique Christians t then in greatest palaces or hieghest dignities amongst sinners v The Diuine wisdom so vseth mercie and veritie that neither may preiudice the other vv and so geueth grace in this life x and glorie in the â—ext y Besides innocencie conserued without sinne there is also innocencie after remission of sinne of which the prophet here speaketh Incarnation of Christ the 5. key a God bestowed manie great benefites vpon the people of Israel b he brought them out of the bondage of Aegypt c Remitted their manifold sinnes d pardoned also a great part of due punishment e As thou hast soared thy peculiar people so we besech thee ô God creator and general Sauiour of al mankind f mitigate thy wrath towards vs al g Til God first shew his mercie sinners lye dead in guilt of sinne but by his grace they are sturred vp and quickned h and ioyfully returne to God i The wordes of the prophet k signifying that God had reueled vnto him the redemption of mankind l Not al men are iustified and saued but those that are hartely and sincerely conuerted m Though al be not saued because manie wil not cooperate to Gods grace yet very manie hauing the feare of God which is the beginning of godlie wisdom freely accept of Gods mercie and so â—he Church is gloriously propagated n VVheras Gods mercie would saue al and his truth or iustice requireth that sinnes be duly punished by Christs Passion and death sufficient satisfaction is offered for al sinnes and thoâ—e that wil be partakers by penance and conformitie to Gods law may haue remission o and so iustice is obserued and peace made betwen God and his subiects p Integritie of conscience reigneth in good men q God sending iust meanes from heauen to saue them r God geueth grace Å¿ and so men yeld fruict t Yea they walke in iustice and right path of Gods law A prayer for continual grace the 7. key a A forme of prayer for king Dauid and for anie faithful person b There be sundrie iust causes which moue God to heare our prayers c first our necessitie requireth Gods helpe d Secondly because we professe and promise to lead a holie life e Thirdly because we trust and hope in God f Fourtly because we perseuere in prayer g Fiftly if we pray with attention of mind h Sixtly because God of his owne nature is benigne readie to bestow benefites i Seuently he is meeke to remitte offences k Eightly he is merciful to mitigate the punishment to those that make recourse vnto him l For these causes we pray as foloweth m Vocation of Gentiles n They shal come by faith o and glorifie God by good workes Mat. 5. v. 17. p Cofession of praise q From the state of eternal damnation r In performing al promises Å¿ A digression vsual to prophetes of Christs Empyre and Kingdom the Church geuen to him being the sonne of an immaculate virgin the handmaide of God t The chief and principal signe of Christs and his Churches glorie is his Resurrection praefigured in Ionas v VVherby al enimies are confounded either to their conuersion or to eternal damnation See 6. Augustin The Catholique Church glorious the 6. key a Christs Church was first founded in Ierusalem on whitsunday Act. 2. in mount Sion which hath two toppes in one of which the Temple stood in the other Dauids towre oâ— palace b The Prophet in the person of Christ saith he wil commend vnto his Apostles and other Apostolical men that they conuert al nations as our Sauiour gaue expresse commission and commandment Math. 28. Luc. 24. v. 47. Act. 1. v. 8. c naming here Raab which is Aegypt and Babylon d The Philistims Tyrians Aethiopians e the rest shal be regenerate in this Church which for the assured certaintie therof after the prophets maner of speaking is affirmed in the pretertence as if it were then donne f It shal be reported or one shal say to an other Loe this and that man al these and al these men are regenerate by Baptisme in the Church of Christ g God himselfe Christ God and Man founded this Church h The multitude of the elect is so great that only God knoweth the number i and the qualities of al sortes of Princes Prelates and Peoples k Great spiritual ioy with peace of conscience is in true Christian Catholiques in the militant Church but the blessed haue the most absolute secure ioy of al in the Church triumphant A prayer in long affliction the 7. key a An instrument of musike apt for lamentable songues Not expressed in the title of anie other Psalme Perhaps because this Psalme mixteth not anie consolation with mourning as other Psalmes do which are also prayers in affliction As the 30. 53. 63. 73. b Neither is this word in anie other title It is added here to admonish vs that as this Psalme and some others were songue by two quires one answering the other so we must in answer and imitation of Christ suffer long and great afflictions with patience seing he in his passion was leift without ordinarie coÌ„solation c By some interpreted his bretheren For Christ saith S. Augustin voutchsaffeth to make them his bretheren which vnderstand the mysterie of his Crosse and not only are not ashamed therof but also faithfully glorie therin d I haue cried to thee very often both by day and by night e I am almost dead f Accounted as dead and readie to be buried g If I were dead I should be free from these afflictions Especially it agreeth to Christ who was free yea of infinite
parente his vvrath must nedes be very great to euerie sinner for his ovvne proper sinnes p The hope of glorious resurrection turneth our calamities into spiritual ioy q Yea the more we suffer in this life for the truth the greater is our comforth in hope of reward r Not only in that we are thy creatures but also in that we are thy seruants we are thy proper worke therfore in both these respectes ô God looke vpon vs with clemencie ſ lead also our posteritie into the right way and make them thy seruantes t O God illuminate our vnderstanding v make our actions by thy grace profitable to vs. vv and make perfect in vs the worke of charitie In which one worke al good workes are included and to which al other are directed For then workes are right sayth S. Angustin when they are directed to this one end Gods prouidence the 3. key a Praise of Gods prouidence with thankes b Which Dauid songue with voice c He that firmely relieth and resteth vpon Gods prouidence is assuredly protected by him d Al secret and sutle machinations e and from al crueltie of tyrants f Terrors obscurly suggested by euil men or spirites with erronions conceipte that men are not bond in time of temporal dangers to confesse the truth g Open persecution threatning present death except men denie the truth which they know h circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing and drawing men into error and so to decline from Catholique Religion i long torments euen to death except Gods seruants wil relent and denie the truth which they assuredly beleue and know in their conscience that they are bond to professe it k On thy left side in aduersitie manie fal from God l on thy right side in prosperitie manie more forgete and forsake God m In sincerely sayng thou art my hope thou makest God thy refuge n Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance o The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture Mat. 4 omitting the latter part of this verse which sheweth when Angels protect iust men towitte when they walke in a right path obseruing ordinarie course in their actions not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple Such falling is not the way of the iust but of Lucifer that fel from heauen So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal p God speaketh the rest that foloweth in this Psalme q In eternal saluation Foure sortes of persecution for the Catholique faith 1. 2. 3 4 God leaueth none but those that first leaue him The vvorkes of God admirable the 2. key a Voices beginning instrumentes prosecute this song b when we rest from worke then especially vve ought to thincke vpon Gods vvorkes praise and thanke him for the same c To geue thankes d In prosperitie e in aduersitie f On euerie instrument of tenne stringes signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments g namely on the Psalter h also on the harpe which signifieth mortification i Carnal and sensual man k he that thinketh only of present thinges not of future l The iust in confidence of a good conscience expect exaltation of their powre m and great consolation in the end of their life n Then shal the iust see their enimies depressed and themselues florish like the palme and ceder trees as folovveth o Militant Church p triumphant q Publikly professe Gods praeises as in the wordes folowing Perpetuitie of the Church the 6. key a Praise to be songue vvith voice b composed by Dauid c the sixth day of the weeke vvhich is our friday d in vvhich day the Church of Christ vvas founded by his bloud shed on the crosse f gloriously escending in soule into limbus and in bodie to his graue g he then put on al armour of strength strength to reforme the world and to inlarge his kingdom according to his owne prediction where he saide If I be exalted from the earth I wil draw al thinges vnto myselfe Ioan. 12. v. 31. Our Sauiour founding his Church by his death begane then to reigne therin h Not only in Iurie and Samaria but the whole earth i and the same Church shal not be destroyed k Christ being eternal hath an euerlasting Church l Al sortes of persecuters the High priestes who sometimes vvatered the spiritual land like riuers vvith Scribes Pharises and other incredulous Ievves also Paganes Turkes and Heretikes haue oppugned the Church m With more force then anie persecutions in the old Testament n but though al these assaultes be great and meruelous yet Christ in protecting his Church is more meruelous o Articles of faith are not euidently apparent to knovvlege but euident to credibilitie to those that are disposed by Gods grace illuminating their vnderstanding and mouing their free vvil to geue consent of beleefe if they vvil p It behoueth therfore al members of the Church to conuerse piously and religiously in this life seing she hath so excellent a spouse protector and instructor q euen to the end of the vvorld Eternal saluation and damnation the 10. key a The Hebrevv letter Lamed vvhich ordinarily is prefixed to the datiue case or signifieth to being set before proper names is a signe of the genetiue case Yet the Septuagint expresse it by the datiue and so doth the latin ipsi Dauid and consequently our English hath to Dauid himselfe to shevv a difference betvven sacred and profane vvriters For in humane bookes the vvriter and auctor is al one but in diuine the Holie Ghost is the proper auctor and a man is the vvriter To signifie therfore the principal auctor Dauid is sometimes named as the instrumental cause to vvhom the Holie Ghost inspired this and other Psalmes and by vvhom they vvere vvritten And vvhen the titles expresse othervvise A Psalme of Dauid yet it is so to be vnderstood that the Holie Ghost is alvvayes the principal auctor and Dauid the instrumental ministerial or secondarie auctor But vvhen other names are expressed either in the genetiue or datiue case or hovvsoeuer it proueth not that those men vvere the vvriters of the same Psalmes but importeth some other thing as by S. Augustins iudgement vve noted in the proemial Annotations page 3. 4. vvherby is proued that this Psalme vvas not written nor composed by Moyses as Hebrevv Rabbins suppose but by the Royal Psalmist Dauid b Made and ordinarily songue in the sourth day of the vveke our vvenesday in vvhich day Iudas the traitor sold our Sauiour Christ to his enimies The reuenge of vvhich vvickednes and of al other sinnes is here prophecied c God more commonly called the God of mercie vvhich vertue in him is aboue al his vvorkes Psal 144 is also the God of reuenges according to his iustice d He procedeth in iudgement resolutly not depending nor fearing not respecting anie person povvre
and long The name Cedar is interpreted blackenes and obscuritie which signifieth darkenes of error and sinne g The wicked afflict those that geue no cause of offence Gods protection the 3. key a Towardes Ierusalme and towards heauen b Al helpe cometh from heauen that is from God who of his diuine ordinance especially heareth prayers made in holie places 3. Reg 7. c The iust speaketh and wisheth wel to his owne soule Especially the vvhole Church reioyceth in Gods assured protection d The militant Church e Prosperitie f nor aduersitie can ouerthrow the Church g spiritual life Ioyes of heauen promised to the iust the 10. key a Diuers Prophetes told the Iewes in captiuitie that they should returne to Ierusalem Al Prophetes Christ also and his Apostles and Priestes preach the entrance and ioyes of heauen to the iust Al vvhich the Psalmist savv in prophetical spirite and reioyced b The Ievves coÌ„sider that sometimes they vvere ioyful in the Temple of Ierusalem Christians reioyce in the comforte they haue in the militant Church c Communitie and participation of spiritual graces is a great ioy to Catholiques vvherof the â—amâ— Prophet speaketh Psal 118. v. 6â— and often elsvvhere d Al the tvvelue Tribes frequented Ierusalem e and al nations of the vvorld do come to the Catholique Church f Seates of Iudgement vvere placed in Ierusalem g and seates of Iudgement in the Catholique Church h of Christ i Christ exhorteth to aâ—ke k and promiseth to geue that is rightly asked Christians also inuite each other to pray for the Church Matt. â—â— v. 22. l Christ prayeth for his Church m and gaue his peace to the Apostles and in them to their successors n For in heauenlie Ierusalem al good thinges are prepared are geuen to Sainctes reigning there foreuer A praâ—eâ— in afflict oâ— the 7. key a Seruantes expecting necessaries at their masters handes are commonly very attentiue to receiue that vvhich they hope for so must the faithful praying God be very attentiue and not distracted in their prayers b An other example of handmaides who generally are more diligent then men c Though God suffer his seruantes to sustaine some affliction and reprech yet he heareth and deliuereth them before they be oppressed d Seing persecution stil increase or continevv long the faithful are then specially to conceiue hope of speedie â—â—l eâ—c Gods protection the 3. key a If God had not sent his helpe and defence to vs b we could not haue escaped the force of our enimies c The vvord perhaps doth not here import a doubt or vncertanitie but in modest maner of asseueration leaueth the iudgement of the euent that should hapen if God did not protect his seruantes to their ovvne consideration vvhich is an vsual phrase in most languages d So sudainly should the vveake vvithout Gods protection be destroyed as men are deuoured svvalovved vp by rauening vvild beasts euen before they be throughly dead So vvas Ionas svvalovved into the vvhales bellie e Furious persecution f Suddaine great trubles g Mans subteltie often deceiueth an other man but there is no counsel able to circumuent God Gods protection the 3. key a Thâ—se that confidently trust in God are in such securitie as is mount Sion vvhich is a hil defended also vvith other hilles round about b An other thing required to this securitie is to dvvel vvithin Ierusalem not the terrestrial citie for as S. Augustin obserueth the levves that dwelt therin are destroyed or made captiues and hitherto reiected of God but in the Catholique Church c God wil not alwayes nor finally leaue his seruants in tribulation but only a vvhile for their good d This prayer is also an asseueration for it is certaine that God wil defend and reward the good and right of hart e And no lesse assuredly God wil punish not only the notorious wicked and principal auctors of wickednes but also al those that for feare or for commoditie or for anie other cause decline into obligations bondes couenants or anie vvay consent in external shew with the wicked against God as in outward profession of Heresie or Schisme though such temporizers do not thincke in their hart that the pretended religion is true wherto they are drawne to yeld external conformitie For as the Psalmist here teacheth our Lord wil bring al such accessarie offenders to the same iudgement and punishment vvith the principal vvorkers of iniquitie f Al vvhich being punished then Ierusalem the Catholique Church shal haue peace The deliuered from captiuitie reioyce the 7. key a The Ievves released from captiuitie vvere excedingly and almost incredibly comforted as men for great and vnexpected sundaine ioy thinke it rather a dreame then a truth that they are deliuered from miseries So S. Peter vvhen he vvas deliuered out of prison by an Angel thought it rather a vision then a true deliuerie Such spiritual ioy deuoute soules haue vvhen they are deliuered from sinne Act. 1â— b VVheras in the tvvo former verses and very commonly the Prophet speaketh in the preter tense for the assurance of that he foreshevveth as if it vvere already donne yet here he vt eâ—eâ—h his prophecie in the future tense that the Gentiles wil confesse that God dealeth magnifically vvith his people c The people also themselues gratfully confesse that God dealeth magnifically vvith them d The Prophet forseing al this in spirite prayeth for the performance hereof e And that it may spedely be done as a torrent that runneth in the south part of the vvorld is commonly very great much desired but scarse expected f This is the ordinarie disposition of God that his seruants shal make their seeding vvhich is doe good vvorkes saith S. Augustin vvith teares in tribulation vpon earth g and reape a plentiful haruest the revvard of their suffering and vvel vvorking in the next life In assured hope vvherof the Psalmist and the vvhole Church joyfully conclude this Psalme vvith the tvvo verses folovving Gods helpe in al good vvorkes the 3. key a God not permitting Dauid to build the Temple promised that his sonne should build it and therfore besides other good admonitions geuen to his sonne Salomon he directeth this Psalme to him to be songue vvith others in the dedication of the Temple 3. Reg. 8. 2. Par. 5. b Vnlesse God be the principal Agent no vvorke can prosper c It is vaine to atempt anie thing vvithout Gods grace assisting d they that so doing thincking they haue done something rest e after their painful trauel must rise againe beginne anevv because that vvhich they seme to haue done vvel is nothing vvorth nor shal haue revvard f Contrarivvise vvhere God geuing grace those that truly loue him do good vvorkes g vvith great ease and dilight as they take their sleepe h they merite inheritance in heauen i for their good vvorkes k the revvard is promised to the true children of God borne to him in the
high priest but an vsurper nor that he liued after Iudas vvho vvas slaine a yeare before this time v. 3 18. VVherby and by manie other such errors vve see that Iosephus is rather to be corrected by this booke then to disalovv this booke because it differeth from Iosephus or other like auctors :: Euil counsel hovv soeuer it happeneth to them that folovv it is euer hurtful to them that geue it :: He falsely auovvched that he vvas the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes for he was in dede of very meane birth Iustinus li. 35. :: It vvas not in the kinges povvre to make Ionathaâ— high priest but he being so before the â—ing from this time did so account him :: This king Demetrius to gette his desired purpose sticked not to vvrite a plainelye for he had heard that the Ievves had refused him and made league vvith his enimie Alexander v 22 23. :: Notwithstanding the great offers of euil disposed men Ionathas and al prudent men considering their former vvicked dedes do not geue credite to glorious vvordes ch 7. v. 11. :: This Ptolomeus Philometor decided a controuersie that the Iewes had the true temple in Ierusalem and that the Samaritanes temple in Garizim vvas schismatical vvhich he iudged because albeit both pleaded antiquitie yet only the Iewes proued by continual succession of high priestes from Aaron and shewed that the other departed from them first in the time of Ieroboam and aftervvardes built that temple in Garizim vvhen some were returned from captiuitie vvherof Iosephus vvriteth li. 13. c. 6. Antiquit Our Sauiour also iudged that the cause of the Ievves vvas better Ioan. 4. v. 22. :: VVhen caluminators see that the innocent is iustified and honored they faile in their hart to procede against him :: Ionathas set his armie in that maner as on euerie side his men stood in front readie to resist the force of the enemie coming towards them al their backes so turned vvithin their ovvne squadron that the enemie could no vvay enter without present resistance and so those of the embushment could only cast dartes but could not breake the aray of Ionathas campe not make anie entrance with out their owne present death :: By this hyperbolical description very frequent in holie scripture is signified that Ptolomeus armie vvas exceding great yea greater then can be easily conceiued therfore is described by excessiue termes :: VVhen pastors endeuour to extirpate siâ—ne out of the mindes of the people those that hate godlines suggest to temporal princes that such spiritual preaching is dangerous to their state :: But zelous men cease not from so necessarie a worke because Gods vvord is not â—yed 2. Tim. 2. :: And vvise kinges vvil most esteme of such men knovving that their fidelitie tovvards God is an assurance that they vvil also be faithful to princes :: The king had before adioyned principal places to Iudea vvhich were called â—opaâ—chiâ— that is places of principalitie or principal gouernments novv he granted also immunities to them as to al Iudea and Samaria :: Three thousand faithful encoâ—â—â—â—ing vvith an hundred twentie thousand infidels killed of them in one day an hundred thousand :: As to vveare purple and to bare a crowne so to drinke in gold cuppes and to vveare a gold cheyne vvas proper to kinges and to vvhom they gaue license :: It is an ancient ceremonie in al uations often mentioned in these bookes to confirme peace by geuing ech other the right hand :: Only tvvo captaines remained and vvith them some souldiars as Iosephus vvriteth about 50 for it is not to be thought that Ionathas vvould haue returned to battel v 72. being but three men in al to beginne a new assault :: Sparta the chief citie of Lacedemonia called also Lacedemon and Theramne :: Spartians otherwise called Lacedemonians by Iosephus and other vvriters descended from Abraham v. 21. and vvere in great league vvith the Ievves :: The Spartianes had written this epistle before Onias vvritte to theÌ„ though it be here placed after :: There remained vvith the Spartiates old vvrites of genealogies as Iosephus supposeth li. 12. c. 5. li. 13. c. 9. :: Morally in Tryphon is noted the practise of the diuel vvho intending to ouerthrovv a king or a kingdom first seeketh to deceiue the pastores and to destroy them especially by error or other sinne For as S. Gregorie teacheth ho. 38. if the pastors life be corrupted his doctrine vvil be contemned :: Simon the fourth general captaine of the Machabees high-priest excelled his bretheren in vvisdome by the restimonie of his father c. 2. v 65. :: He vndertooke by al his endeuour to defend and deliuer his nation from danger and to restore their former libertie :: Simon being vvise choise the lesse euil and lesse danger For if he had not sent that vvas demanded it was very like and almost cettaine that Ionathas should be slaine and it vvould haue bene imputed to Simon that he had not taken iust care of his brothers life vvherby the people vvould haue bene alienated from him and perhaps haue reuolted from him and also from religion S. Tho. in hunc locum :: This vvas not vaine glory but true glorie to kepe memorie of so great vertue therby to stur vp others to imitation He that loueth honour saith S. Augustin li. cont Secundin c. 17. imitateth God But humble soules desire houour in God proud men vvil be honoured more then God or vvithout God O hovv manie Epitaphes are of vvicked men nothing els but perpetual monuments of their ambition vanitie iniustice crucltie other vices but those that are of true vertues are to Gods more honour the auctor of al vertues * a precious chaine :: By hovv much more that mercie is admixed vvith iustice so that iustice be not destroyed and that religion be aduanced the better it pleaseth God and edifieth the vvel disposed :: This Iohn Hyreanus defended the countrie against inuaders ch 16. :: Simon had novv gouerned the people two yeares beginning with great difficulties but hence forth enioyed peace til Antiochus Sedetes brake the league inuaded Iurie ch 15. v. 27. 39. :: He reduced manie Ievves from captiuitie :: Sparta being the chief citie of Lacedemonia had manie cities subiect depending as vpon their Metropolitane :: Vvhen peace was estabished in al Iurie and friendshippe confirmed vvith the Romanes Lacedemonians the vvhole nation of the Ievves in gratitude tovvards Simon vvho onlie novv remained of Mathathias sonnes confirmed him in the office of high-priest perpetually or for euer v. 41 that is during his life to his progenie v. 49 :: The hieghpriesthood continevved in this familie of the Machabees vntil Herod tooke it from them selling it for money and then shortly came Christ the faith ful Prophet :: This Antiochus Sedetes sonne of Demetrius Soter vvas brother to Demetrius the second who was now captiue in Per â—â—a ch 14.
built in Aegypt by Ananias in in the time of Ptolomee Philometor both schismatical Iosephus l. 11. c. S. li. 13. c. 6. :: Besides former great masaker c 5. foure most notorious martyrdomes are here related 1 Vvemen with their circumcised children 2 Other people for keeping the sabbath :: A necessaire admonition to the weake in time of persecucion 3 Eleazarus nintie yeares old cruelly slaine :: He vvas excellently lerned in holie Scriptures and in al diuine and humane knovvlege :: To feyne or make outvvard shevv of consent to false religion is neuer lavvful :: In the old restament none could enter into heauen but the most iust went to Limbus when they died :: Old age saith S. Ambrose li. 2. c. 10. de Iacob patri ought to be the hauen not the shipvvrake of thy former life 4 The fourth Martyrdom vvas of seuen bretheren and their mother â— VVhosoeuer please to read more of these glorious Martyres may sec the large discourses of Flanius Iosephus in his booke de Machabeis And of sundrie ancient Fathers S. Cyprian li 4. Epist ep 6. S. Chrysostom homilia de natiuitate septem Machabaeorum S. Ambrose li. 1. Offic. c. 40. c li. 11. de Iacob c. 9. S. Augustin de origine animae Tract 8. in Epist 1. Ioan Ser. 110. de diuersis S. Prosper li de praedict par 2. c. 40. S. Prudentius hymno de Romano Martyre S. Leo. Ser de Nat septem fratrum Machab. S. Gaudentius Brixanus Tractatu de Machabeis S. Ephrem Ser. de morte S. Victorinus Aser Carmine de septem Machabeis Deut. 32. v. 43. :: A promise is properly of a good thing bindeth the promiser to do that vvhich is in dede good In so much that whosoeuer promiseth svveareth or vovveth to do euil is bond not to do it And to do it is a distinct sinne besides the former :: In that this godlie woman deceiued the tyrant she did vvel lavvfully vsing aequiuoeation * li. 1. c. 2. v. 1. The second part of the historie The vvarres of the Machabâ—eâ— begune by Mathathias li 1. c. 2 and prosecuted by Iudas I. :: In al good attemptes deuout prayer is the first preparation And no vvhere more necessary then in battel As vvel for good successe supposing alwayes a good cause as also that euerie one pray for his ovvne soule that it be in state of grace * li. 1. c. 3. v. 10. :: This Philip a Phrygian was left in Ierusalem by Antiochus to afflict the Ievves ch 5. v. 22. N :: A iust and religious cause is the very best helpe that can be in vvarres 4 Reg. 19. Of this battel vvith the calatians there is no other mention in holy scripture but it semeth to be that vvherin they assisted Antiochus the first called Soter vvhen he repelled the Galatians inuading Asia vvherof Appianus vvriteth in bellis Syriacis And Iosephus testifieth l. 12 c 3. that Antiochus Magnus sonne of Soter much fauored the Ievves for their explottes donne in his fathers dayes * li. 1. c. 4. v. 28. R :: A chief citie of Persis called Elymais li. 1. c. 6. v. 1. :: Antiochus vvas in dede really and seriously greued and truly acknovvledged that his affliction vvas for his sinnes li. 1. c. 6. v. 11. but he vvas not truly penitent for the offence committed against God his neighbour but only for his ovvne calamitie miserie therfore could not obreyne mercie to remission of his sinnes nor release of the punishment So also the damned in hel knovv confesse that they are punished for their sinnes but haue not true repentance for their offence against God :: Of this tyrant S. Cyprian geueth this censure li. de exhort Martyrij King Antiochus an inueterate enimie to al the good Nay in Antiochus Antichrist is expressed * li. 1. c. 6. v. 17. P :: This recouering and clensing of the temple vvas after the fourth battel of Iudas vvhich vvas against Lysias one of Antiochus chiefe captaines as appeareth li. â— c. 4 and so was before the death of Antiochus vvritten here ch 9. li. 1. c. 4. v. 5. * li. 1. c. 5. v. 1. T :: It is neuer an act of fortitude but of extreme pusillanimity when one in temporal miserie killeth himselfe to be ridde therof But is a most heroical act to dye willingly for Gods glorie :: Against this Gorgias Iudas had a victorie before in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes li. 1. c. 4. :: Timothee the second captaine general of Antiochus vvith Bacchides was once before ouerthrowne li. 1. c 8. v. 30. :: Iosephus Gorion li. 3. c. 13. saith these tvventie zelous young men vvere of the Assidians who professed a certaine religious forme of life of vvhom mention is made before li. 1. ch 2 v 42. c. 7. v. 13. Protestantes confesse that Iudas instituted this feast It is distinct from other feastes v. 5. :: This Lysias also bad bene vanquished before li. 1. c. 4. v. 28. :: Knovving that the Patriarches Abraham Isaac Iacob likevvise Moyses Iosue and manie others vvere singularly assisted by Angelles these Machabees in their good cause prayed for Angelical helpe and had it but ioyntly vvith their ovvne endeuour although some times God geueth such victories vvithout cooperation of men Exo. 14. 4. Reg. 19. :: Lysias vvas in dede the kings consin v. â—5 but he calleth him brother for honour sake :: An other Timothee was slaine ch 10. v 37. :: Also an other Apollonius vvas slaine before li. 1. c. 3. v. 11. :: A furlong is about the eight part of a myle so this fire vvas sene thirty miles of others count a furlong to conteyne a thousand foote the fifth part of a myle so it vvas sene 48. myles distant Iosue 6. :: Tubianci or Tubieni signifie religiously good it is pro bable that these vvere the Assideans li 1. c. 2. v. 42. c 7. v. 13. :: Iudas had the victorie twise before against this Gorgias li 1. c. 4. v. 1. li. 2. c. 10. v. 14. :: It was commanded Deut. 7. v 25. not to couet nor take aniething perteyning to idols but to destroy al See this sinne punished Iosue 7. 1. Reg. 15. c. :: Vnles it had bene the doctrine practise of the Church to pray for the dead Iudas could neuer haue thought of anie such matter :: It is only profitable for those that dye penitent * li. 1. c. 6. v. 18. This text is clere for praying for the dead in the argument pa. 890. Likevvise the Greke S. Augustin ep 61. ad Dulcit l. 1. c. 23. de morib li. de cura pro mort c. 1. Enchir. c. 110. Denial of this doctrine is heresie Mat. 12. Iudas vvas high priest when he caused prayers and sacrifice to be offered for the dead It was the general practise of â—he Church And is yet obserued by the Iewes W :: In the first booke ch 6 v. 30 the number of