West and signifieth a Royall or loftie gift The Trauels of Baesa King of Israel BAesa is as much to say as An industrous and promt man in doing any thing This may hauing slaine his Master Nadab neere vnto Gibithon vsurped vpon the Kingdome of Israel about the end of the third yearo of Asa King of Iuda and began his raigne Anno mundi 2992 before Christ 974 and raigned ouer Israel almost 24 yeares two of which he raigned with his sonne 1 Reg. 15. He went from Gibithon to Thirza 36 miles where hee vtterly rooted out the whole stocke and family of Ieroboam After falling into Idolatrie he was sharply reprehended for it by Iehu the Prophet the son of Hanani of whom you may reade more 1 Reg. 15. From Thirza he went to Ramah which is 16 miles this towne he built and fortified it very strongly 2 Chr. 29. But when he heard that Benhadad King of Syria had inuaded Israel hee left his building at Ramah and with all possible speed that hee could went to Thirza where hee died and was buried 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 16. So all the Trauels of Baesa were 68 miles Of Ramah Of this Citie you may reade before Of Ella or Elah King of Israel ELah signifies a cruell man This was the son of Baasha King of Israel who was crowned King his father yet liuing about the beginning of the 26 yeare of Asa king of Iuda at such time as Benhadad king of Syria inuaded and wasted Galilee He raigned two yeares one of them during the life of his father the other alone in Thirza at the end of which hee was slaine by Simri his seruant 1 Reg. 15. 16. Of Zimri King of Israel SImri signifieth a singer and was a captain ouer king Elahs chariots hee raigned 7 daies in Thirza in which time he put to death and vtterly rooted out all the posteritie of Baasha and then Omri besieged the Citie so straitly that he had no hope to escape wherefore he set the citie and pallace on fire in which he also perished 1 Reg. 15. 16. The Trauels of Omri King of Israel OMri signifieth a souldier or one that deserueth his pay He was made King by the Israelites in his tent while he was at wars neere to Gibithon from whence he went to Thirza which was 36 miles and besieged the same vpon the very day that Simri had put the posteritie of Baasha to the sword and took it He began to raigne in Thirza Anno mundi 3017 and before Christ 951 and raigned ouer Israel 12 yeres the first six of which was in Thirza the latter six in Samaria 1 Reg. 16. From Thirza he went to mount Semer six miles there Omri built Samaria and made it the seat of his kingdome He went thither about the seuenth yeare of his raigne 1 Reg. 16. So these two journies were 42 miles Of Samaria SAmaria the chiefe seat and Metropolis of Israel was built by Omri in mount Semer 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and took that name of Semer who was Lord of that mountaine of whom K. Omri bought it for two talents of siluer which amounteth to 1200 crownes In this citie 14 Kings of Israel kept their Courts viz. Omri who was the first founder of it Ahab Ahasia Iehoram Iehu Ioachas Ioas Ieroboam Zacharias Sallum Menahem Pekahia Pekah and Hosea who was the last of the Kings of Israel that raigned in this citie and lost it together with his libertie Of all these Kings there were but fiue that died naturally for the Lord being moued to wrath by reason of their impietie and idolatrie either gaue them vp into the hands of forrein enemies or by ciuill war amongst themselues they cruelly murthered one another vntill such time as the Assirians destroied the land and led the people captiue Thus the Lord punished with a sharp and seuere punishment this obstinat nation because they contemned the admonitions and doctrines of the Prophets amongst which Elias and Elizeus were the chiefe So that although Samaria was a faire and beautifull city and the country for that cause was called the prouince of Samaria yet notwithstanding that great God the Iudge of all things for the iniquitie of the people caused this faire Citie to be left desolate the inhabitants of the land to be dispersed and the earth for want of due vsage to lie as a wildernesse 2 Reg. 17. This city in the old Testament according to the Hebrew phrase is called Shaemaer of Schomron which signifies To keepe or a Tower of strength You may reade of this 1 Reg. 2. 2 Reg. 1. 7. The Greekes and Latines call it Samaria which signifieth The castle of Iehouah or of God You may reade more of this in the second Volume Of Hiel that built Iericho againe AFter the death of Omri King of Israel when Ahab his sonne began to raigne Hiel a very rich man in the town of Bethel that hee might leaue behind him an eternall memorie of his name went to Iericho which had bin formerly destroied by Ioshuah the son of Nun had lien wast for the space of 536 yeres where contrary to the commandement of the Lord and curse of Ioshuah he caused the said citie to be rebuilt such was the impious securitie and incredulitie of this man but the Lord was angry with him and he strooke all his children that they died The eldest son called Abiram at the laying of the foundation and his yongest sonne called Segub at the hanging on of the gates Ios 6. 1 Reg. 16. The Trauels of King Ahab AHab went from Samaria to the hill Carmel where Elias put to death the Priests of Baal which was about 32 miles 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Iezreel which is sixteene miles there he told his wife how Elias had put the priests of Baal to the sword 1 Reg. 18. From Iezreel he went againe to Samaria 18 miles where being prest with a hard siege by Benhadad King of Syria he broke out of the citie for his better safety and by Gods great prouidence and assistance he assailed the Syrians put a great multitude of them to the sword the rest fled and hee went away with a noble victory as the Prophet of the Lord had formerly told him 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went with his army to Napheck which was 14 miles where he renewed a second battell and therein had good successe so that hee tooke Benhadad aliue and put to the sword 100000 Syrians In this place the Prophet of the Lord reproued him for his ingratitude and obstinacie wherefore Ahab being angry he went from Apheck to Samaria which was eight miles 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went io Iesreel 16 miles where that perfidious Queene Iesabel caused Naboth to be put to death and tooke possession of his Vineyard 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he went to Ramoth Giliad 24 miles and there in a fight that hee had against the Syrians was so sore-wounded with an arrow
Ierusalem Southward and fell by lot vnto the tribe of Iuda This tower was as it were a bulwark for the city of Ierusalem stood in the way as you go thence to Bethlem and so to Gaza Of Zareah THis was a city in the tribe of Iuda eight miles from Ierusalem toward the West which Rehoboam did also repaire and fortifie 2 Chr. 11. There was another city of this name scituated vpon the border of the tribes of Iuda and Dan 18 miles from Ierusalem Westward of which you may reade in the trauels of Sampson Of Adoraijm ADoraijm or Adarah was a city in the tribe of Iuda 44 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward which Rehoboam the son of Solomon also fortified 2 Chr. 11. It is scituated vpon the borders of Iudah and Arabia Petraea betweene Cades and Casmona It signifies a glorious City being deriued of Adar he was glorious The Trauels of King Abia. ABijah or Abia signifies The Father of the sea Hee began to reign in the 18 yeare of Ieroboam his Aduersary An. mundi 2988 before Christ 980 and reigned ouer Israel 3 yeres 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 17. He went from Ierusalem to the mount Zemeraim 8 miles After that hee went to Bethel and conquered all the countrey from thence to Ephron which was 36 miles From Ephron hee returned to Ierusalem 44 miles there hee tooke vnto him 14 wiues and begat 20 sonnes and 16 daughters 2 Chron. 13. The Trauels of ASA King of Iudah ASa signifies a Physitian He began to reigne about the end of the 21 yeare of Ieroboam King of Israel An. mundi 2990. before Christ 978. He gouerned Iudah with great commendations 41 yeares He went from Ierusalem to Maresa 16 miles where in the valley of Zephatha hee ouercame the Ethiopians in a memorable battell 2 Chr. 14. From thence he pursued the Ethiopians to Gerar being 22 miles and recouered many cities which the Ethiopians dwelt in 2 Chr. ca. 14. From Gerar he went to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and offered to the Lord of the spoiles that hee had taken 700 Oxen and 7000 sheepe 2 Chr. 15. These trauels of King Asa make 70 miles The journey and expedition of Saerah King of Aethiopia whom Asa King of Iudah ouercame in the valley of Zephatha SAerah or Saerach signifieth A noble and puissant Lord. This was a mighty and warlike Prince who gouerned Lybia and Aethiopia the King of which countrey at this day wee call Presbyter Iohn or rather Petro Iohannes who holdeth his Court in a faire and goodly city called Hamarich the Metropolitan of all Aethiopia and extendeth his gouernment beyond Meroes in Affrica Many though ignorantly suppose he is a Priest because he is called Presbyter though indeed he is not so but rather a puissant and mighty Emperor But to return to Saerah or Saerach who in hope to extend his Empire into these parts went with a great army out of Ethiopia to the valley of Zephatha in Iuda to fight with Asa King of Iudah 1200 miles but lost the day and returned with great shame 2 Chr. 15. It seemeth that this King was the mightiest of all his predecessors and a Prince of no vulgar estimation because of the multitude and great aboundance of soldiers which he brought in his army for it is reported that there were 1000000 that bore armor and 300 chariots but this great army was dispersed and most of them died miserably as did that great army of Xerxes which consisted of 1700000. From whence it may be concluded That it is not the strength of man which deliuereth him but the Lord. The Trauels of IEHOSAPHAT King of Iudah IEhosaphat signifies The Iudge of the Lord. He began his reign in the fourth yeare of Ahab 1 Reg. 22. The greatest part therfore of the first yeare of this King hapned in the yeare of the world 3033 and before Christ 935. Hee reigned ouer Israel 25 yeares that is from the 35 of his age till the 60. In the 7 yeare of his reigne hee went from Ierusalem to Samaria which was 32 miles to visit his kinsman Ahab King of Israel for Ioram his son some ten yeares before had maried Athaliah King Ahabs Sister 2 Reg. 8. From Samaria hee went with Ahab to the war at Ramoth in Gilead which was 24 miles where Ahab was slaine 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 18. From Ramoth he went safe from the wars to Ierusalem which was 48 miles From Ierusalem hee went to the city of Beersaba the vtmost bounds of his kingdome towards the South to instruct his people in the Law of the Lord which was 42 miles from Ierusalem Southward From Beersaba passing through all his kingdome hee came to Mount Ephraim which was 48 miles and the vtmost bounds of his kingdome Northward beeing some 8 miles from Ierusalem 2 Chr. 19. From Mount Ephraim he went to Ierusalem which was eight miles Thus Iehosaphat went through al his dominions to instruct his subjects in pietie and the true worship of God In euery Citie ordaining Iudges and Gouernours Magistrates Procurators and Assessors committing to their discretion the deciding of all controuersies saying to them Take heed what you doe for the office which you haue taken vpon you is not humane but Diuine and as you iudge so shall you bee iudged for the Lord is with you in iudgement Wherefore doe all things with diligence and in the feare of the Lord for with the Lord there is no iniquitie nor respect of persons neither taketh he any bribes And he himselfe remained chiefe Iudge in Ierusalem to whom any might appeale from the inferior Iudges that so there might be a iust end of controuersies 2 Chr. 16. Afterward Iehosaphat went forth with his army to Tecoa sixe miles from Ierusalem where by feruent prayers the sounding of trumpets and other musical instruments he obtained a memorable battell against the Moabites Ammonites and Idumaeans for the Lord turned the weapons of them one against another and they wounded one another to the death This fight happened in a faire vally between Tecoa and Engedi So Iehosaphat pursued the enemy for three daies with great slaughter and returned with a mighty spoile This was called the valley of Blessing because of this great victorie at Tecoa and began 8 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward and extended it selfe to the tower of Engedi neer to the banke of the red sea 20 miles From Engedi out of the valley of Blessing Iehosaphat and his army returned to Ierusalem 20 miles and went into the Temple with shalmes harpes timbrels and great joy thankfully acknowledging Gods mercifull fauor toward him in giuing him so great a victorie 2 Chr. 20. But as there is nothing in this life that can be said permanent so likewise the felicitie of Iehosaphat changed on a sudden the froward and aduerse frowne of aduersitie seising vpon his prosperitie for ioyning with that wicked and impious King of Israel Ahaziah vpon condition to build a certain navy of ships at Ezeongaber to
fetch gold from Tharshish and other places in India he displeased the Lord for which cause there arose a great tempest which brake down the workes and destroyed the Navy From Ierusalem he went with Iehoram King of Israel to war against the Moabites and with them went the King of Idumaea so passing through the desarts of Edom they came to Mount Seir and so went to Petra the chiefe city of the King of the Moabits distant from Ierusalem 72 miles 2 Reg. 3. From Petra Iehosaphat returned to Ierusalem 72 miles where he died and was buried 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 21. So all the trauels of Iehosaphat King of Iuda were 372 miles The Typicall signification of IEHOSAPHAT AS Iehosaphat by prayer and the sound of trumpets and other instruments of musick ouercame dispersed his enemies without drawing his sword so Christ also by the sound of his Word and doctrine without drawing weapon ouercame the enemies of the Church The Trauels of IORAM King of Iudah IOram signifies The Exalted of the Lord. He was crowned king his father yet liuing at such time as he made his expedition against Mesa King of the Moabites which hapned about the fift yere of Iehoram King of Israel An. mundi 3055 before Christ 913. He reigned with his father Iehosaphat 2 yeares and after his decease six So Ioram reigned 8 yeares ouer Iudah and when hee was forty yeares old died miserably 2 Reg. 8. 9. About the beginning of the second yeare of this Kings reign which was the sixt of Iehoram King of Israel Elias the Prophet was taken vp into heauen About the beginning of his reigne he went from Ierusalem to Mount Seir which was 28 miles Southward where he vsed such extreme cruelty toward the Edomites which at this time were his subiects that of a sudden they fell from him and chose them a King of their own 2 Reg. 8. From the Mountain of Seir he returned to Ierusalem which is 28 miles and there cruelly put to death his owne brothers But God stirred vp against him the Philistines and Arabians who broke into Iuda and destroyed it with fire and sword They also went to Ierusalem and tooke thence all his substance and riches put his children to the sword all but Ioachas which also called Ahaziah or Ochorias caried away his wiues captiue into Arabia Foelix which is neer vnto Ethiopia 1200 miles Then the Lord strooke him with an extreme paine in his bowels of which after two yeares he died and was buried without any funerall pomp or honorable respect neere to the Kings tower A man vnworthy to be buried in the sepulchre of the rest of the Kings because hee so much degenerated from Dauid his predecessor 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 28. So all the trauels of Ioram were 56 miles The Trauels of AHAZIAH King of Iudah AHaziah which also was called Iehoachas succeeded his Father Ioram in the gouernment of Iudah began his reign in the 12 yeare of Iehoram King of Israel Ann. mundi 3062. and before Christ 906 and reigned one yeare 1 Reg. 8. He went from Ierusalem to Ramoth in Gilead which is accounted 48 miles There he went to battell with Iehoram King of Israel against the Syrians 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 22. From Ramoth in Gilead he returned to Ierusalem forty eight miles Within a while after he went backe again to visit his kinsman Iehoram King of Israel to Iesreel for hee was wounded in the battell against Hasael and lay there to be cured which was forty and eight miles With Iehoram he went to meet Iehu the Captaine of the Host who shot an Arrow and wounded Iehoram that hee died in the field of Naboth the Iesreelite Wherefore Ahaziah to saue his life fled with all possible speed taking his way to the Kings garden that stood close by the vineyard of Naboth the Iesreelite not farre from the City and Tower of Iezreel But Iehu followed him so close that he wounded him as he ascended vp vnto a place called GVR which signifieth A Lions Whelpe neere vnto the Towne which is called Iiblea Wherefore Ahaziah feeling himselfe hurt he went to Megiddo foure miles from Iesreel and neere to Apheck vpon the West There as Iosephus saith Lib. Antiq. 9. hee caused his wounds to be searched and bound vp This citie of Megiddo is 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward From Megiddo hee went to Samaria which was 14 miles there he lay hid for a while flying from one place to another to saue himselfe 2 Chron. 22. But being found out he was carried backe to the citie of Megiddo which was 14 miles and at the commandement of Iehu was there slaine 1 Reg. 8. From Megiddo his carkasse was carried to Ierusalem which was 48 miles and there buried 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chron. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahaziah King of Iudah were 224 miles Of that Idolatrous and wicked Queene Athalia AThalia was sister to Ahab and daughter to Omri married to Ioram sonne of that good King Iehosaphat when he was but 17 yeares of age and after the death of Azahiah who was slaine about the 23 yeres of age she vsurped vpon the kingdome of Israel anno mundi 3063 before Christ 905 and raigned with great tyranny almost 7 yeares So soone as she had obtained the gouernment she cruelly and miserably put to death all the children of Ahaziah and all those that were next heire to the Kingdome onely Ioas who was saued by the policie of Iehoshabeath sister to Ahasiah that stole him from among the rest of the Kings sonnes and put him to nourse in her bed-chamber and hee was with them in the house of God six yeares all which time Athalia raigned ouer the land And in the seuenth yeare Iehoiada waxed bold and proclamed Ioas King as being next heire to the crowne and annointed him in the temple who after Athalia was slaine succeeded in the gouernment 2 Reg. 11. 4. 2 Chron. 22. Of Ioas King of Iudah IOas began th raigne ouer Iudah when he was almost 7 yeres of age and about the middle of the seuenth yeare of Iehu King of Israel anno mundi 3069 and before Christ 899 and raigned ouer Iudah 40 yeres He did that which was acceptable in the sight of the Lord all the daies of Iehoiada the Priest who crowned him king but after his death he fell into euil courses and caused that good Priest Zachariah the sonne of Iehoiada who was the author of all his preferment to be stoned to death in the vpper court of the Temple which act argued that he was very vnthankefull and tyrannicall But the Lord displeased with his crueltie within a yeare after the death of Zachariah stirred vp the Syrians who inuaded Iudaea and spoiled the citie of Ierusalem in which warre all those that stirred vp the king to Idolatrie were cruelly slaine To conclude within a while after some of his courtiers conspired against him and as he lay sicke of a grieuous disease in his
almost inuincible and for that cause called The mother of strength as the Church is called The mother of the righteous against which the gates of hell shall not be able to preuaile In the time of Iudas Macchabeus though it was then a small city it was numbred amongst the greatest cities of Iuda because of the scituation and strength of it To this place our Sauiour trauelled from Ierusalem the same day that hee arose from the dead Luke 24. In the time of the Romans warres in Iudaea this city was wonderfully defaced and ruined by the souldiers of Tiberius Maximus who was chiefe Captaine in this countrey in the absence of Titus Vespasian but yet not vtterly abolished for about a hundred and fiftie yeares after Heliogabolus Emperour of Rome caused it to be rebuilded and called by the name of Nicopolis that is the citie of Victorie Not farre from Emmaus there was an Inne or a place to which strangers might resort and there three waies met two went of either side the towne and one through it in this place the two Disciples constrained our blessed Sauiour to stay with them because it was then about Sunne-set Neere vnto this Inne Nicephorus and Zozemenus say in their Ecclesiasticall Historie there was a Spring or Well of that admirable vertue that if either man or beast that was infirme or sicke did drinke of the water thereof they were immediately restored to their former health The reason that these Authors haue for it because they are impertinent I willingly omit But to return ro the city of Emmaus as it is now called Nicopolis being scituated eight miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast in the way as you goe thence to Ioppa the countrey round about it being very fertile and pleasant by reason of the riuers and springs wherewith it is watered as Pliny saith l. 5. c. 14. and much altered from that which it was in times past but because you may reade more of this city in Pliny as it is at this day and in Nicephorus and Eusebius I leaue to speake further of it Of Simon of Cyrene THis Simon which carried the Crosse of our Sauiour Christ was born in Kir a city in Africa scituated 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the West Matth. 27. Luke 23. In which city Tiglath Phulasser Emperour of the Assirians planted many of the inhabitants of Damascus after he had conquered that city 2 Reg. 16. This citie and the country round about it by reason of these new inhabitants by little and little changed the name and wheras in former times it was called Kir in the time of our Sauiour it was commonly called Cyrene and this man of that countrey Simon of Cyrene At this day it is a strong and beautifull city scituated betweene Mareotides and Zeugitania at first built by Battus whom Callimachus the Poët claimeth to be his progenitor This Battus was a mighty king in Africa but was one that had a great impediment in his speech insomuch that many thinke this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue beene originally vsed by him and by none other Afterward as is said Tiglah Phulasser hauing obtained the jurisdiction of this citie planted the people of Damascus in it and they obtaining some power there continued till a long time after Christ and imbraced the religion of the Iewes built vp Synagogues and dispersed that law in many parts of those quarters There were some of this countrey that opposed that holy Marter Stephen and were consenting to his death There were many learned men in it as Eratosthenes the Mathematician Callimachus the Poët both which were had in great estimation among the Aegyptians Carneades also the Academian Cronus Apollonius and Hegesias the Philosopher of whom Cicero speaketh in the fifth book of his Tusculans and Eratosthenes the Historian who was sonne of Agaclis Salust saith that this citie in his time was so mightie that it maintained war against the Carthaginians for their bounds and limits of their fields and grounds a long time and Iustine lib. 39. That they maintained warre against two nations the Phoenes and the Aegyptians in which warres they gaue Aprius the King of the Aegyptians such a mighty ouerthrow that there were very few of his army that returned into his countrey with him as Horodot affirmeth lib. 4. there were also many great Princes that ruled in this city of which because you may reade in diuers other Authors more at large I omit to speake of them Of Ioseph of Arimathea who buried Christ THis Ioseph which caused our Sauior Christ to be buried in his garden was a rich man vpright just in all his actions a Senator of Ierusalem and one that expected the Kingdome of God borne at Arimathea a citie of the Iewes Luc. 23. This citie was sometime called Ramathaim Sophim and sometime Ramah because it was scituated in a high place and in times past was a fair citie standing 16 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest the description whereof you may reade before At this day it is called Ramalea being nothing so farre as it was but like a countrey towne the houses being carelessely dispersed here and there lying without walls or bulwarkes to defend it notwithstanding the ancient ruins of the former city is to be seen euen at this day There is also a great Inne or resting place for strangers hauing within it many roomes for the receit of passengers and a well of very sweet water This house was first purchased at the charge of Philip Duke of Burgondie and by him committed to the protection of the Monkes of Mount Sion by whom it is at this day made an hospitall wherein pilgrims trauellers and strangers are entertained and find much reliefe In an inward Orchard belonging to this hospital there is a faire plot of ground that bringeth forth great aboundance of Aloes of which there is often mention in the holy Scriptures but more especially in Psalme 48. Thy garments smell of Aloes and Cassia when thou commest out of thy Iuorie pallaces where they haue made thee glad Nichodemus a Prince of the Iewes together with Ioseph of Arimathea brought with them an hundred pound of Aloes mixed with Myrrhe to embalme the body of our Sauiour Christ when they had begged it of Pilat before they buried it Ioh. 19. Myrrh is a kind of gum that issueth out of a tree that growes in the East countries but principally in Arabia the tree out of which it issueth is commonly two yards and a halfe high with some pricks vpon it the barke whereof being cut there issueth out of it drops like teares which congealeth into a gum and is called Mirrh the principall vertue that it hath is to keepe the bodies of the Dead incorruptable see Pli. li. 12. ca. 15. 16. In Arabia Foelix there is such abundance of sweet Myrrhe Frankincense and other odoriferous gums that such as saile in the Red sea may easily smell the sauour of them There is also found
1â—0 broad There were so many gifts gratuities sent from all the cities and kings round about toward the building of this Temple that the riches and treasure thereof was wonderfull insomuch that when it was finished it was accounted one of the stateliest buildings the world could afford and numbered amongst the wonders of the world This temple thus built at such an extraordinarie charge that it was almost vnvaluable was set on fire by one Herostratus a wicked peruerse fellow in the same Olympiad and day that Alexander the Great was borne who hauing nothing in him that might make him famous in after-ages burnt this goodly building that so though not for his good but for his euill he might get a name But the Ephesians were so insenced because of this mischiefe that they procured proclamation to bee made through all the kingdomes round about that his name should not be once mentioned which perhaps for a time was obserued but in future ages they could not preuent it but that he was both spoken of written of Notwithstanding afterward the inhabitants of this City became so exceeding wealthy that they soon after rebuilt this temple of Diana and made it much fairer than it was before all the Citisens contributing with willing hands to the charge of the building insomuch that the women brought all their siluer gold and other pretious ornaments and communicated them towards this great worke Also in after-times those faire pillars before spoken of were againe erected towards the rebuilding whereof they receiued so many and wonderfull gifts from all the neighbouring Kings Cities and Countries that this Temple might as it was thought compare with all the world beside for riches and treasure It was standing in S. Pauls time who came thither about 12 yeares after the resurrection of our Sauior and continued there three yeares in which time he so faithfully and diligently preached the Gospell that he conuerted most of the Citisens from their idolatry and worship of Diana to the reuerend knowledge and confession of our blessed Sauior For which cause Demetrius the siluer smith who made a great gain by idolatry stirred vp a great tumult so that the Gentiles running vp and down the City for two houres space cried out with a loud voice Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. Here also Paul fought with beasts 1 Cor. 15. And to this city Paul wrot his Epistle and sent it from Rome 996 miles He made Timothy also a Bishop of this city to whom he wrot two Epistles the first was sent him from Laodicea to Phrygia beeing 280 miles the second from Rome as I said By these Epistles Timothy was greatly comforted and taught them to his disciples and auditors that so they might constantly continue perseuer in the Christian faith and religion to the end To conclude Iohn the Evangelist came also to Ephesus wrot his Gospel against the heretick Cerinthus who denied Christ to be the true God for which cause God grieuously punished him so that he died as hee was bathing himselfe in a bath Irenaeus lib. 5. ca. 3. Euseb li. 3. c. 22. This was the first Church to which Iohn wrot his Reuelation and there when he returned out of Pathmos he raised his host Drusana from death to life So when he had gouerned the churches in Asia 30 yeares after the death of Paul hee died when hee was 91 yeares old and was honorably buried at Ephesus not far from the city There was also another Iohn that liued in Ephesus to whom as many think the Epistles of Iohn the Evangelist were dedicated as Ierom sheweth in his catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers The sepulchre of this man is shewed not far from the Sepulchre of S. Iohn the Evangelist as Euseb witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 31. At this day this city is named Figlo ho Epheso See Gesner Of Pathmos THis is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituated betwixt Asia minor Grecia 2080 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Pli. l. 4. c. 12. saith that it was 30 miles in compasse Into this Isle the Evangelist was banished by Domitian Nero where he wrot his Reuelation It was one of the Cyclad Islands which were 53 in number that lay round about the Island Delus as Stra. li. 10. Geog. obserues It stood 40 miles from Ephesus Southwestward and as Petr. Apianus saith was somtimes called Posidius but now Palmosa Of Smyrna THis is the second city to which Iohn dedicated his Reuelation It was scituated in Ionia in Asia minor 540 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward This was a very faire city beautified with many goodly buildings and of good account in Grecia It was at first but a Colony transplanted from another city in that country But Theseus that great prince beeing then King thereof that he might adde some grace to that which hee had begun hee called it after his wiues name Smyrna signifying Myrrh Herod saith that Homer was born here but not blind and called by the name of Melisigines but after the Cumaenians called him of his blindnesse Homer Strab. li. 14. Geogr. saith That the inhabitants take vpon them to shew his picture standing there also a temple built in his honour During his life he was a man of small or no reputation or rather contemned than honored as Herod saith But after his death his works beginning to grow famous the Cities of Greece contended who should patronise him The Colophonians claim a part in him because he was in that towne and there made some of his Odysses They of Chios say he belonged to them because he liued there a long time and taught schoole But for ought that can bee found by Authours the Smyrnians haue most interest in him Neuerthelesse I leaue him to them that please to patronise him since it is not certainly found where hee liued He liued about 900 yeares before Christ Eusebius saith Hist Eccles lib. 4. cap. 14. that in after times this city grew very famous and was so much inlarged that it became a Bishops See whereof Polycarpus a very godly and religious man was Bishop He gouerned the Church in that place at such time as Iohn the Evangelist wrot his Reuelation and by him cap. 2. is called the Angell of the Church of Smyrna This man after he had faithfully preached the Gospell for the space of 86 yeares was by the inhabitants thereof condemned to death for the profession of Christ Anno 170. But the towne of Smyrna because of the vnthankfulnesse and crueltie of the inhabitants was grieuously punished for within ten yeares it was cast downe by an earthquake since which time it was hardly rebuilt again The riuer Pactolus which beginneth in Lydia runneth by this town of Smyrna But the inhabitants because of the golden veins that are found therein call it Crysorrhoas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. A little after that there was such an extreme plague hapned in Rome that they were constrained to carry out the dead bodies
in carts Thus God turneth the aire and the earth to the confusion of those that persecute his Church Of Pergamus THis was another of the townes whereto Iohn wrot his Reuelation It was a famous city and metropolitan of Mysia scituated in Asia minor 228 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward It stood vpon a high rock close by the riuer Caicus from whence it was called Pergamus For in antient times all famous and notable places were called amongst the Graecians Pergama as Suidas and Servius obserueth Strabo lib. 13. saith That in the time of Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles who was one of the successours of Alexander the Great it was but a castle in which place because of the strength of it he vsually kept all his treasures and those things that were of account and committed the custody of it vnto one named Philetaerus an Eunuch of Tyanus But this man being accused to Lysimachus That he would haue forced his wife Arsinoës for feare of some future punishment because of that offence moued the inhabitants of that Hold to rebellion At the same time also there happened many commotions in Asia whereby Lysimachus was constrained to leaue this and make opposition against Seleucus Nicanor who had inuaded his dominions But in this war Lysimachus was slaine And Philetaerus hauing in his possession great riches that hee might enioy what hee had was alwayes obseruant to him that gat the victorie by which meanes he kept himselfe and his riches for the space of 20 yeares in that castle and then dyed and left all his wealth to Eumenes his brothers sonne who inlarged his gouernment and ouercame Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus This man after hee had raigned 32 yeares dyed and Attalus his sonne succeeded him in the Gouerment who hauing conquered Galatia made a league with the Romans and by them was first called by the name of a King After him succeeded his son Eumenes the second of that name who aided the Romanes against Antiochus magnus King of Syria for which seruice the Romans gaue him all the dominions that Antiochus had on this side the Alps. This man was the first that enlarged the castle of Pergamus and made it a goodly city planting round about it a thick wood or grove and called it Nicephorus And after he had reigned 49 yeares he died and left his kingdom to his son Attalus called Philometor This Attalus after hee had done many notable exploits died without issue when hee had reigned 5 yeares and left his kingdome to the Romans who turned it into a prouince There liued in this town many learned men as Galen the Physitian who was famous in the time of Trajan the Emperor and as the fame went liued 140 yeares Of that town also was Apolodorus the Rhetoritian who was schoole-master to Augustus Caesar of which man the Apollodorean sect tooke name and Dionysius Atticus his scholer Here Antipas was crowned with the Wreath of martyrdome To the Bishop of this Towne Iohn wrot his Reuelation and in the second Chapter thereof sharpely reprehendeth him because he bore with the sect of the Nicholaitans which although it lasted not long yet it was very dangerous Eusebius saith That Nicholaus one of the seuen Deacons for the poore at Antiochia of whom you may reade Act. cap. 6. was the first author of this sect yet Clem. Alexand. cleares him of it laying that offence rather on certaine idle persons that misconstruing his words being giuen ouer to vile affections couered their euils vnder his name calling themselues Nicolaits though indeed he had no hand in it but liued and died honestly The opinion that this Sect held as Euseb saith li. 3. ca. 23. and Irenaeus libr. 1. Chap. 27. was That women were to be common That it was lawful to eat meat offered to Idols That fornication and Adultery was no sin beside many other wicked and peruerse opinions concerning the Deity which would be too tedious to recite in this place You may read more of it in Eusebius and Tertullian Of Thyatira THis was the fourth church to which Iohn wrot his Reuelation it was scituated close by the riuer Caicus vpon the borders of Mysia and Lydia 600 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward It was a very faire city in Asia minor yet subiect to the Lydians In this country Lidda was born that dwelt at Philippa and gaue entertainment to Paul and Sylas Acts 16. Philippa was distant from this town 400 miles It was at first called according to the testimony of Stephen Pelopea and Semiramis But after Seleucus Nicanor K. of Syria making war vpon Lysimachus king of Thrace comming to this towne had newes that his wife had bore him a daughter in honor whereof he would needs haue the town called Thugateira which in Greeke signifies a daughter but Thyatira Diuine reuerence Of Sardis TO this city also S. Iohn wrot his Reuelation It was a famous and princely seat scituated in Asia not farre from the mountaine Tmolus where Croesus King of the Lydians kept his court being 536 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest It was so called without doubt of Sardus the sonne of Hercules which maketh Sardis in the plural number Of this Towne were those two Diodories which were Oratours The younger of them did write Histories and Poems and was one of Strabo's great friends Close by this Towne is found a precious stone which after the townes name is called Sardis it is of a fleshly colour and therefore is commonly called Carnalia of which you may reade more in Pliny lib 37. cap. 4. Of Philadelphia SAint Iohn also wrote his Reuelation to this city It was scituated in Mysia a countrie in Asia Minor being 450 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This city is so often troubled with Earthquakes that the inhabitants are many times constrained to dwell in the open fields Vpon the East side thereof lies a dry and barren country which seemeth to be burnt and scorcht with heat being 60 miles long and 48 miles broad where there grows no trees but there are found great plenty of grapes which being prest yeeld very pleasant wine and may compare with the best of those parts The superfices of the earth seemeth like ashes mountany stony and blacke many conjecture the cause therof to be by reason of the great thunders and lightning that they haue there but there are some which giue other reasons for it It was called Philadelphia of Attolus Philodelphius who first built it Of Laodicea THis was the seuenth and last Citie that Iohn directed his Reuelation to It stood close by the riuer Lycus in Caria a country in Asia the lesse fiue hundred and twentie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest and is likewise oftentimes troubled with Earthquakes as Sardis Magnesia and Philadelphia are The reason of these often Earthquakes is thought to be because there are vaults and hollow caues vnder the earth into which the aire in the time of heat hauing free entrance
broad here Xerxes when he inuaded Graecia built vp a bridge for his army to passe ouer There is also another strait and narrow place in this sea which is called by the name of Cimmerius Bosphorius These two Bosphori are so called as some authors hold because a Bull when he loweth may be heard from the one side to the other but Pliny seemeth to deriue the name from Io that faire maid which Iupiter turned into a Cow who swam ouer this sea and of her was called Bosphorus lib. 6. cap. 1. It is also called Propontus because it lieth just before the Euxine sea and Hellespont from Helle the daughter of Athamantis K. of Thebes who was drowned therein then running thence it falleth into a gulph of the Mediterranean Ocean there it is called the Aegean sea of Aegeus King of Athens who drowned himselfe therein for the supposed losse of his sonne Theseus In this sea were scituate the Isles of Pathmos Mytelene Samothrace Chius Lesbus and many other Isles as you may reade in the trauels of S. Paul Of Samothracia ot Samothrace SAmothracia is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituate between Troades and Thracia eight hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the sea sometimes called Dardania of Dardanus King of Troy who when hee had slaine his brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the foundation of the citie called Troy and of that Kingdome And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the neerenes that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the rocke whereon it stood it soone changed the name and then especially when the people called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood vpon such a loftie place that from thence all the countries round about might easily bee seen Arsinoë Queene of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her brother into this Island who after put to death all her children and vsurpt vpon the kingdome of Thrace A cruell part in a brother Virg. li. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Treiciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adayes is Samo-Thracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Acts 16. it is said S. Paul sailed from Troad is to Samothracia so went thence into Thracia and came to the city of Neapolis Of Neapolis THis Neapolis to which Paul went was a city of Thrace not far from Macedoni 880 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sichar stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but aboue all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chiefe city of the Neapolitan kingdome Of Philippa THis city in times past was called Crenides because of the veins of gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon father of Alexander the Great caused it in the yeare before Christ 354 to bee re-edified and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the riuer Stridon 936 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest and endowed with many priuiledges In those times the gold was so much increased in this place that the reuenue thereof was worth vnto this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 li. the talent amounteth to forty fiue Millions of pounds yearely By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his gold to be coined and called it after his owne name Philippian gold To this place Paul came and did many miracles taught the Gospell and conuerted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth euen 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Towne and sent it them by the hands of Epaphroditus euen 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THis was a city of Macedonia compassed about with the riuer Strymon from whence it tooke the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the Northwest Here also the Apostle Paul was Acts 17. Of Apollonia THis was a citie of Mygdonia scituated not farre from Thessalonica towards the West close by the riuer Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest being so called from Apollines which signifies the Sunne it stood twentie miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Graecia close by the Adriatick sea another among the Islands of Thrace a third in Creet on this side the riuer Ister a fourth in Syria and a fift in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THis was a citie of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood vpon the sea after called Therma of the hot bathes that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the sonne of Amyntas King of the Macedonians who gaue it that name either of the great victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his daughter called Thessalonica who was the mother of Cassandrus it stood close by the Thermaick gulph not farre from the mouth of the riuer Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest The Apostle Paul taught publiquely in this city and there conuerted a great multitude of people Act. 17. Hee also wrote two Epistles to the inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperor of Rome there hapned by reason of some discontent a grieuous sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stirre some of his captains gouernors were slain Wherefore the Emperor hauing intelligence of what had hapned sent an army against the city with authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it hapned that the city was filled with many vniust slaughters for the soldiers respecting more their priuat profit than the equitie of the cause spared neither innocent nor nocent yong nor old so that as well the inhabitants as strangers that resorted thither did partake of this miserie and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first authors of this rebellion But because the emperor was consenting vnto these euils Ambrose Bishop of Millaine would not suffer him without publique repentance to come to the sacrament of the Lords supper wherefore in a publique assembly hee acknowledged his offence with great contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 24. This town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronichus Palaeologus son of Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople who held it a long time vntill Amurath Emperor of the Turkes won it from them and exercised grieuous cruelty vpon the inhabitants At this day it is
age by the command of Claudius Lysius was taken and scourged by the Iewes and brought thence to Antipatris by night because there were forty Iewes which had sworne his death which was 12 miles Acts 22 23 24. From Antipatris hee was brought to Caesarea Strato which was 28 miles where he was brought before Foelix who was President for the Romans in those parts and was captiue there for the space of two daies Acts 24 25 26. In the 59 yere after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then 49 yeares of age or thereabouts was sent by Portius Festus President of the Iewes to Rome so Paul sailed from Caesarea Strato to Sidon which was 84 miles Acts 27. From thence Paul sailed close by Cyprus because the winde was contrarie and came to the sea ouer against Cilicia which was very troublesome and so passing by Pamphilia they came to Myra which was 480 miles Loosing from Myra they sailed to Gnidum which was 248 miles Acts 27. From Gnidum they sailed towards the South and came to Crete and so passed by the townes of Salmo Lasaea and Assus and so came to Phoenicia which was 180 miles From Phoenicia they came to the Island of Claudia which was 108 miles From the Island of Claudia they came to Melite which now is called Malta in which place they suffered shipwracke and Paul shooke off the Viper off his hand into the fire and did manie other miracles which was 720 miles From Malta they sailed in a ship of Alexandria to Syracusus in Sicilia which was 180 miles Paul at this time was 50 yeares of age Acts 28. From Syracusa they sailed to Regium which was 52 miles From thence they went to Puteola which was 164 miles From Puteola they went to Apiforum which was 12 miles there certaine Christians of Rome came to meet them aboue 22 miles and receiued Paul with great friendship From Apiforum they led him to Tribatera which is six miles and there he met more Christians From Tribatera he went to Rome being 16 miles where hee remained two yeares prisoner and there wrote his Epistles to the Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Philemon and the Hebrews so all these Trauels were 2300 miles And in the whole from his first beginning vntill his being prisoner in Rome were 10270 miles But being deliuertd out of prison the last ten yeres of his age he did not only preach the Gospell in Asia and Creta where he appointed his disciple Timothy to be a Bishop and in Macedonia where being in Neapolis he wrote an Epistle to Titus and sent it to him aboue 300 miles to the Isle of Creta but also he preacht the Gospell and spred the word of God abroad in the countrie of Spaine Rom. 15. which is distant from Ierusalem 2800 miles and being the second time imprisoned in Rome he wrote his second Epist to Timothy sent it aboue 996 miles to Ephesus not long after he was beheaded in Rome in the place called Via Ostensi Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Antipatris THe towne of Antipatris is distant from Ierusalem twelue miles towards the Northwest In times past it was called Caphar Zalama that is a Village of peace There Iudas Macchabeus ouercame Nicanor 1 Mac. 7. Afterward Herod that liued in the time of our Sauiour Christ built this towne much fairer and called it after the name of his father Antipatris It stood in a very pleasant and fruitfull soile hauing many faire trees and fresh waters about it Ios lib. 16. ca. 7. S. Paul was by night brought prisoner into this towne Acts 23. Of Myra THis was a great town as Strabo li. 14. saith and stood in Asia minor in the prouince of Licia vpon the coast of the Mediterranean sea 380 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward S. Paul was in this towne Of Gnidus THis towne lieth in Asia minor vpon the Mediterranean sea in the Pennisida called Doris which by a narrow point joineth vnto the Prouince of Caria and is distant from Ierusalem 492 miles In this town the goddesse Venus had a great temple wherin her image was placed made by that cunning workman Praxiteles of Marble stone and for that cause Horace calleth Venus Queene of Gnido Lib. 1. carm Od. 30. O Venus Regina Gnijdi Paphique that is O Venus Queene of Gnidus and Paphos c. There came many learned men out of this towne as Eudoxus Agatarchides Paripateticus Theopompus and others This towne is yet standing and as it is thought it tooke the name of the fish Gnidus which is taken there in the sea which fish is of so strange a nature that if you take it in your hand it stingeth like a nettle At this day this towne hath another name and is called Cabo Chrio as Conradus Gesnerus in his Onomastico writeth Of Creta THe Island of Creta tooke the name as Strabo saith from the people called Curetes that dwelt in this Island those people vsed to cut all the haire off from the foreparts of their heads and therefore they would not endure to suffer any man to weare his haire being in the warres for which cause in the Grecian tongue they were called Couretes and in time this name by corruption of speech was changed and they called Cretans This Island standeth in the Mediterranean sea between Graecia and Africa 600 miles from Ierusalem toward the West It is a great Island being 200 miles long 48 miles broad and in compasse 588 miles it is very fruitfull of Cypresse trees Malmsey Sugar and other spices the Malmsey taketh the name from the towne of Maluesia in Peloponessus standing vpon the point of Malta right ouer against Creta or Candia and at this day the like wine is made in Creta and called by the same name from whence it is commonly brought vnto vs though in times past it came out of this Island of Chius Among all the hills that are found in the Island of Creta the hill Ida is most spoken of because of the height about it standeth diuers townes and villages it hath many hills and woods for the Island is very full of sweet Cypresse trees insomuch that there are woods full of them Pliny writes that vpon a time there was such an Earthquake in this Island that one of the hills remoued out of which there came a man being forty cubits high In this Island there are no venomous beasts but in times past it was inhabited by cruell people of whom S. Paul complaineth in his first Epistle to Titus cap. 1. where he rehearseth the saying of Epimenides which was after this manner The people of Creta are alwaies liers euill beasts and slow-bellies And to conclude they resemble some of the Friers among the Papists for as they are idle people and shaue their heads so were the men of Creta Titus Pauls disciple was a Bishop in this Island and S. Paul wrote an Epistle to them and to Nicapolis and sent it them aboue 320 miles