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A11777 The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes ... By the English College of Doway; Bible. O.T. English. Douai. Martin, Gregory, d. 1582. 1609-1610 (1610) STC 2207; ESTC S101944 2,522,627 2,280

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incredulous to his word † After this God looked vpon the earth filled it with his good thinges † And the soule of euerie liuing thing shal shew before the face thereof and into it againe is their returne CHAP. XVII God creating man to his owne image gaue him gifies 9. and precepts 14. chose the Israelites for his peculiar people 18. Workes of mercie are commended to al men 20. Repentance to sinners 28. mercie is offered to al. GOD created man of the earth and after his owne image he made him † And againe he turned him into it and conformable to himselfe clothed him with strength † He gaue him a number of daies and time and gaue him power of those thinges that are vpon the earth † He put his feare ouer al flesh and he had dominion of beastes and fowles † He created of him an helper like to himself he gaue them counsel and tongue and eies eares and hart to deuise and he filled them with the discipline of vnderstanding † He created in them the knowlege of the spirit he filled their hart with vnderstanding and euil and good he shewed them † He set his eie vpon their hartes to shew them the great thinges of his workes † that they might praise the name of sanctification and glorie in his meruelous workes that thy might declare the glorious thinges of his workes † He added discipline vnto them and made them inherite the lawe of life † He made an euerlasting testament with them he shewed them iustice and his iudgementes † And their eie saw the glorious thinges of his honour and their eares heard the honour of his voice and he said to them Beware of euerie vniust thing † And he gaue them commandment euerie one concerning his neighbour † Their wayes are before him alwaies they are not hid from his eies † Ouer eucrie nation he appointed a ruler † And Israel was made the manifest portion of God † And al their workes as the sunne in the sight of God and his eies without intermission looking on their wayes † The testamentes were not hid by their iniquitie and al their iniquities are in the sight of God † The almes of a man is as a seale with him and shal preserue the grace of a man as the apple of the e●e † And afterward he shal arise and shal render them reward to euerie one vpon their head and shal turne into the inner partes of the earth † But to the penitent he hath geuen the way of iustice and he hath confirmed them that faile to susteine and hath appointed to them the lot of truth † Turne to our Lord and forsake thy sinnes † pray before the face of our Lord and diminish offences † Returne to our Lord and turne away from thine iniustice and hate excedingly abomination † and know the iniustices and iudgementes of God and stand in the lot of thy purpose and of praier of the most high God † Goe into the partes of the holie world with the liuing and them that geue praise to God † Tarie not in the errour of the impious before death confesse From the dead as nothing confession perisheth † Thou shalt confesse liuing aliue and in health thou shalt confesse and shalt praise God and shalt glorie in his mercies † How great is the mercie of our Lord and his propitiation to them that turne to him † For al thinges can not be in men because the sonne of man is not immortal and they haue delighted in the vanitie of malice † What is brighter then the sunne it shal faile Or what more wicked then that which flesh and bloud hath inuented and this shal be reproued † He beholdeth the powre of the height of heauen and al men be earth and ashes CHAP. XVIII Gods wonderful workes excede mans capacitie 7. Our weaknes is streingthened by grace 15. wherto man must cooperate 19. by purging his conscience 22. by prayer 24. by meditating Gods iudgements 30. and by mortifying his owne concupiscence HE that liueth for euer created al thinges together God onlie shal be iustified and remaineth an inuincible king for euer † Who is sufficient to declare his workes † For who shal search out his glorious thinges † and who shal shew forth the powre of his greatnesse or who shal adde to declare his mercie † It is not possible to diminish nor adde neither is it possible to finde the glorious workes of God † When a man shal haue done then shal he beginne and when he shal rest he shal worke † What is man and what is his grace and what is his good or what his euil † The number of the daies of men at the most an hundred yeares as droppes of the water of the sea they are reputed and as the grauel stone of the sand so a few yeares in the day of eternitie † For this cause God is patient toward them and powreth out his mercie vpon them † He hath senne the presumption of their hart that it is naught and hath knowen their subuersion that it is euil † Therefore hath he fulfilled his propitiation toward them and hath shewed them the way of equitie † Mans compassion is touching his neigbour but the mercie of God is vpon al flesh † He that hath mercie teacheth and instructeth as a pastour his flocke † He hath mercie on him that receiueth the doctrine of compassion and he that hasteneth in his iudgementes † Sonne in good deedes geue no blame and in euerie gift geue not the sadnes of an euil word † Shal not the dew colle heate so also a word better then a gift † Is not a word aboue a good gift but both are with a iustified man † A foole wil vpbraide bitterly and the gift of one vntaught maketh the eies to drie away † Before iudgement prepare thee iustice and before thou speake lerne † Before sickenes take medicine and before iudgement examine thyself and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation † Before sickenes humble thy self and in time of infirmitie shew thy conuersation † Be not hindered to pray alwayes feare not to be iustified euen to death because the reward of God abideth for euer † Before praier prepare thy soule and be not as a man that tempteth God † Remember the wrath in the day of consummation and the time of reward in conuersation of the face † Remember pouertie in the time of abundance and the necessities of pouertie in the day of riches † From morning vnto euening time shal be changed al these are sowne in the eies of God † A wise man in al thinges wil feare in the daies of offences wil be ware of sloth † Euerie subtile man knoweth wisdom and to him that findeth her he wil geue prayse † The wise in wordes and they also haue done wisely and haue vnderstood truth and iustice
should be spent in confusion CHAP. XXI The prophet answereth the kinges messengers that Ierusalem shal be punished with plague sworde famine and captiuitie 9. Those shal escape best that yeld themselues captiues 11. exhorteth to correct their liues lest al be vtterly destroyed THE word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord when king Sedecias sent Phassur the sonne of Melchias vnto him and Sophonias the sonne of Maasias priest saying † Aske our Lord for vs because Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon maketh battel against vs if perhaps our Lord shal doe with vs according to al his meruelous workes and he may retire backe from vs. † And Ieremie said to them Thus shal you say to Sedecias † Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel Behold I wil conuert the weapons of warre which are in your handes and wherewith you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldees that besiege you round about the walles and I wil gather them together in the middes of this citie † And I wil vanquish you in stretched out hand and in a strong arme and in furie and in indignation and in great wrath † And wil strike the inhabitants of this citie men and beasts shal dye with a greate pestilence † And after this saith our Lord I wil geue Sedecias the king of Iuda and his seruants and his people they that are leaft in his citie from the pestilence and the sword and famine into the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of them that seeke their life and he wil strike them in the edge of the sword and he wil not be moued nor spare nor haue mercie † And to this people thou shalt say Thus saith our Lord Behold I geue before you the way of life and the way of death † He that shal dwel within this citie shal dye with the sword and with famine and pestilence but he that shal goe forth and flee to the Chaldees that besiege you shal liue and his life shal be to him as a spoile † For I haue set my face vpon this citie to euil and not to good saith our Lord it shal be geuen into the hand of the king of Babylon he shal burne it with fire † And to the house of the king of Iuda Heare ye the word of our Lord † ô house of Dauid thus saith our Lord Iudge ye iudgement in the morning deliuer the oppressed by violence out of the hand of the oppressour lest perhaps mine indignation goe forth as fire and be kindled and there be none to quenche it because of the malice of your studies † Behold I to thee inhabitresse of the firme champaine valley saith our Lord which say Who shal strike vs and who shal enter into our houses † And I wil visite vpon you according to the fruite of your studies saith our Lord I wil kindle a fire in the forest therof and it shal deuoure al thinges round aboute it CHAP. XXII The Prophet going to the palace admonisheth the king and his officers to iudge and gouerne rightly 5. threatning that otherwise they shal fal into calamitie 10. prophecieth that Sellum shal not returne into Ierusalem 13. reprehendeth vniust builders 18. that Ioakim shal dye and be buried ignominiously 24. and I cchonias with his mother shal dye in the captiuitie of Babylon THVS saith our Lord Goe downe into the house of the king of Iuda and there thou shalt speake this word † and shalt say Heare the word of our Lord ô king of Iuda which sittest vpon the throne of Dauid thou and thy seruantes and thy people which enter in by these gates † Thus saith our Lord doe ye iudgement and iustice and deliuer the oppressed by violence out of the hand of the oppressour and the stranger and pupil and widow make not sorowful nor oppresse them vniustly and the innocent bloud shede not in this place † For if doeing you wil do this thing there shal enter in by the gates of this house kinges of the stocke of Dauid sitting vpon his throne and mounting vpon chariotes and horses they and their seruants and their people † But if you wil not heare these wordes by my self I haue sworne saith our Lord that this house shal be into desolation † Because thus saith our Lord vpon the house of the king of Iuda Galaad thou art vnto me the head of Libanus if I make thee not a wildernes cities not habitable † And I wil sanctifie vpon thee a killing man and his weapons and they shal cut downe thy chosen ceders shal cast them headlong into the fire † And manie nations shal passe by this citie and euerie one shal say to his neighbour Why hath the Lord done so to this great citie † And they shal answer Because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord their God and haue adored strange goddes and serued them † Weepe not for the dead neither mourne ye vpon him with weeping Lament him that goeth forth because he shal returne no more nor see the land of his natiuitie † Because thus saith our Lord to Sellum the sonne of Iosias the king of Iuda who hath reigned for Iosias his father who is gone forth out of this place He shal returne hither no more † but in the place to which I haue transported him there shal he die and he shal not see anie this land more † Woe to him that buildeth his house in iniustice and his chambers not in iudgement his freind he wil oppresse without cause and his hyre he wil not render him † Who saith I wil build me a broad house and large chambers who openeth to himself windowes and maketh embowed sielings of ceder and painteth them with ruddle † Why shalt thou reigne because thou comparest thyself to the ceder why did not thy father eate and drinke and doe iudgement and iustice then when it was wel with him † He iudged the cause of the poore and needie to his owne good did he it not therefore because he knew me saith our Lord † But thine eies and hart are to auarice and to shede innocent bloud and to craftie oppression to the course of euil worke † Therefore thus saith our Lord to Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda They shal not mourne for him Alas brother and alas sister they shal not crie together to him Alas Lord and alas ô noble one † With the burial of an asse shal he be buried rotted and cast forth without the gates of Ierusalem † Goe vp to Libanus crie and in Basan geue thy voice crie to them that passe by because al thy louers are destroyed † I spake to thee in thine abundance thou saidst I wil not heare This is thy way from thy youth because thou heardest not my voice † The winde shal feede al
both good euil nn this life :: Feare on mans pa●t and hope in God do wel consist together So both presumption and desperation are auoided :: Holie Iob knowing it to be vnpossible that God calumniateth anie man inquireth what is the cause why his goodnes afflicteth the iust :: In that I am thy creature thou maist iustly destroy me but in deede because I am thy creature thou 〈◊〉 spare me through thy m●●c● 〈◊〉 me thy grace which if I vse wel thou wilt also geue me eternal rest :: Repentance is alwayes necessarie but most especially at the houre of death The third conflict :: Sophar might haue applied the vice of much speaking to himself and his felowes alleaging manie thinges which proued not their opinion wheras Iobs allegations proued directly that which he affirmed :: Iobs owne conscience affirmed the contrarie c. 6. v. 3. :: He could not iustly confesse iniqeitie which he had not cōmitted :: God suffereth his simple true meaning seruantes to be scorned for the time but afterward the wicked shal be forced to confesse that those whom they derided are worthily in honour before God Sap. 5. ● 3. :: Craftie plotters of deuises at last by Gods iust punishement commit so great absurdites that the meanest may see their fo●lie :: Iobs state of sinne or innocencie was best knowen to God next to his owne conscience not at al to his aduersaries that presumed to iudge therof :: It semed to his aduersaries that of desperation he would tea● his flesh and so kil himself and to be so nere death as if one held his soule in his hand readie to bet it s●l from him :: He was in extreme anguish but stil trusted in God :: He denieth that he is guiltie in conscience but desireth to know of God if he haue anie hi● sinnes which himself knoweth not :: Al children taking their s●bstance from the mother and hauing only a temporal life continually tending to death can not but be subie●t to ●anie 〈◊〉 ●●●s 〈…〉 itselfe though it may some long is a limited thin● 〈…〉 is very 〈…〉 yea 〈…〉 proportion in respect of eternitie which is infinite yet God hath care to bring this weake creature to life eternal :: The parentes after death are not afflicted with the state of their children as they be in this life The fourt conflict :: Eliphaz not able to answer Iobs solide reasons raileth against him as if he were iniurious to God or taught others to cast away feare :: It is a very rare priuilege to be without spot :: But spot of venial sinnes may be in a iust man :: Al these miseries are incident to the wicked but are falsly applied to holie Iob who ●ndede was iust :: True and freindlie comforters ought to heare the afflicted with patience and not vnmercifully charge him with crimes which they neither know nor his conscience is guiltie of :: A great affliction when one ful of paine and distres is also forced to defend his owne innocencie against calumniators :: As the aduersaries stil obiect great iniquitie to him so he yeldeth them the same true answer :: Not hauing committed such sinnes as he was charged withal in this duble bitternes of corporal paine and calumniation his eye was stil vpon God expecting to be deliuered * Se●l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Infernus :: This tex● sheweth euidently that there was a place of rest called hel The fifth conflict :: Baldad perceiuing Iob to speake confidently as the common doctrin of manie opposeth him self neuertheles against him and al that thincke as he doth and so speaketh as to manie in the plural number vvil ye speake and of himselfe his felowes are vve reputed c. So holie Iob a figure of the Church defended the common cause his aduersaries a figure of here t●kes speaking some truthes mixed false thinges therwith S. Greg. li. 14. c. 1. :: Blessed Iob saith S. Gregorie li. 14. c. 16. 17 looking sincerly on his owne life saw that his affliction was greater then his sinnes deserued and in that respect was not equal yet it was iust for God being iust geueth a iust reward a crowne of iustice as S. Paul speaketh of himself 2. Tim. 4 :: Al refused holie Iob in his affliction euen those whom he had loued most who therfore ought most to haue loued him againe :: An expresse profession of his faith of the Resurrection :: VVe shal rise againe not as one tree riseth in place of an other but the self same persones changed in qualities not in substance The sixth conflict :: Al mans life is short and as a moment in comparison of eternitie but it is not alwayes true that thewiked are shortly punished in respect of this life as this disputer applieth it to proue Iob to impious Therfore Iob answereth in the next chapter ● 13. That ordinarily the wicked lead their dayes to witt their whole life in vvealth and then in a moment goe downe to hel So the rest of these mens assertions are for most part true in some sense but il applied :: Though he disputed with three men yet it was concerning diuine thinges not humaine but of Gods prouidence and iustice of the resurrection of eternal life and punishment :: See ch 20. v 5. :: The same word is in Hebrew Greke and Latin for hel as in the 7 and 17. chap. other places which sheweth that besides hel of the dāned the resting place also of holie fathers in the old Testament was called by the general name of hel * a riuer of hel The seuenth conflict :: In dede whē a iust man hath donne his dutie he is vnprofitable to God but he is profitable to himself which greatly pleaseth God who desireth mans good and it redoundeth to Gods glorie that he hath such seruantes ●●at 5. v. 17. :: After imputation of false crimes this 〈…〉 chargeth 〈…〉 also with 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 error of the Aegyptians that God hath no prouidence of men in this world Aristotel li. d● mundo textu 84. So some heretikes in their phrensic accuse Catholiques of condemned heresies :: VVhiles he expected some comforth of his freindes they stil afflicted him more and more chargeing him with fal●● crimes and so aggrauating his grief both of bodie and mind :: Therfore he appealeth to Gods iudgement seate for sentence :: Gods seruantes know that he wil punish wickednes but know not when the wicked presume that he wil neuer punish them :: Heretikes doing and teaching against their owne knowledge are afterward striken with blindnes that they can not see the truth S. Greg. li. 16. c. 26. :: Sinners running into both extremes of defect and excesse are likewise punished with contrarie tormentes :: Man by powre of free wil oftē presumeth to spend the time in sinning which God granteth him to do penance for former sinnes Rom. 2. The eight conflict :: Iob answered before ch 9. yet blind
secure True testimonie Liberalitie Industrious trauel Solide doctrine True testimonie VVise fitte magistrates Pa 〈…〉 ce ●● teachers ●oy●ltie to kinges and Pr●n●es Don estical peace A good wife is Gods gift Diligence Obedience Almes dedes Moderate chast●●me●t Patience Folow good counsel Trust in God Good wil to helpe the poore Feare of God Diligent trauel Iust correction Honour of parents Desire to lerne True testimonie Feare of eternal punishment Sobrietie Obedience to Princes Concord Industrie Profound counsel Fidelitie Sinceritie Execution of Iustice Nece●sitie of grace ●●quitie Good toward ●●●es Right vse of senses Diligent trauel Prudence Knowlege is 〈…〉 ewel Secu 〈…〉 in ●●e●●snipe Truth Counsel in warre Consult with the faithful Honour of parents Law ful gaine Meeknes Equitie Trust in Gods prouidence Performance of vowes Publique iustice Puritie of minde Three kinglie vertues Prudence with fortitude Punishment of sinnes Gods prouidence ch 14. v. 12. 16 v. 2. Mercie and iudgement Humilitie Fortitude Truth Equitie Right in hart Domestical peace Commiseration Chastisment of sinne Charitie Almes dedes Almes in secrete Iust punishment Obseruation of orders Temperance pa●cimonie Pietie Domestical peace Frugalitie Iustice and mercie Fortitude Guard of the tongue Modestie Diligent trauel Liberalitie Sinceritie in religion True testimonie and found doctrine Amendment of faultes Conformitie to Gods wil. Gods grace necessarie Honest fame Contentment with out state Prudence Pouertie of spirite Care of the soules health Good custome in vertues Diligent trauel Equitie Almes dedes Better to geue then to take Expel the incorrigible Cleanes of hart The godlie prosper Fortitude Care of chastitie Chatisment Compassion :: Rules of wisdom are necessarie profitable and vpon practise found pleasant rightly directing al our thougtes wordes and dedes Care of the poore because they are deare to God Flee from euil companie which may corrupt thee Auoide suretishipe le●t thou fal into distresse Kepe ancient traditions Diligent trauel Modestie and discretion at the table of great persons Mediocritie of riches and contentment with meane state Eate not with a niggard lest he be secretly greued ou●wardly dissembling and thyself repent it Aduise not the vncapable Hurt not orphanes for they are deare to God Diligent studie of wisdom Moderate chatisment profiteth youth Vertues of children are ioyful to the parentes Contentment with Gods wil. Hope of reward Lerne and practise vvisdom Sobrietie and Temperance Honour of parents VVisdom most precious See v. 15. and 16. Bodelie and spiritual puritie So brietie alvvayes necessarie Detest drunkennes Drunkennes is deceiptful dangerous beastlie hurtful to others senselesse and vnsatiable Flee euil companie lest thou be alured to vice VVisdom and vertues not wickednes do prosper temporally and spiritually Counsel in warres and other great affayres Good purposes Report wel of others Fortitude VVorkes of mercie according to our ha biliue VVisdom is swete and geueth hope Toleration of others imperfections * Oftentimes S. Aug. li. 11. c. 31. ciust VVith out which none liueth Charitie towards enemies Haue peace with al so much as may be Loial●ie to God king Equitie in iudgement condemning the guiltie deliuering the innocent is very gratful to al. Order in al affaires Discretion in bearing witnes Reuenge not Diligent labour and vigilance to prouide necessa●ies and to auoide beggerie A iust man falling into venial sinnes is not therby vniust nor Gods enimie Al sinnes are not mortal The 2. part More Parables of Salomon gathered by others Gods workes are not al reueled Kinges haue some secretes Publique iustice and punishment of sinne Modestie and Humilitie Care of others fame Compose controuersies secretly rather then contend in publique court Speake in due time Prudent admonition Diligence in publique affaires Performance of promised industrie Meeknes * 〈…〉 ●eare Temperance Modestie True testimonie Trust not a dissembler * A consuming 〈◊〉 hard earth Striue not with the incorrigible Alacritie Charitie towards enimies Rom. 12. Heare not detraction Domestical peace Ioy of wel doing Profession of truth Humilitie in knowlege Gouernment of the tongue Aduance not the vicious Patience in false sclander Chastisment Answer a foole wisely detecting his follie Place fitte men in office VVise men in authoritie Vertuous in honour and Lerned to teach Make fooles to kepe silence Returne not to sormer sinnes Humble opinion of thy self Fortitude Profitable laboures At least some good worke Loue not idlenes 2. Pet. 2. Intermedle not in brawles Vnfained friendshipe especially in familiar acquantance Punish batemakers Pacific the wrathful Heare not whisperers of euil reportes Flee from hypocrites VVhose flaterie and soft speach are suspicious they wil fal at last into their owne trappes truth preuailing Trust not to future vncertainties Praise not thyself Beware of a fooles wrath for it hath no mercie Loue freindlie seueritie not enemies flaterie Temperance in meate Iust care of thy familie Esteme freindlie counsel Old friendes are better surer then a kinsman Be wise euen for thy fathers sake Foresee and preuent dangers Trust not enimies Suspect extraordinarie curtesie Tolerate incorrigible brawlers with patience lest they become worse by thy striuing to amend them Conserue that is good Conscience is best witnes Contentment with our state Humilitie desireth not praise Right of hart Strine not to teach a foole Discharge thy dutie VVhiles thou art in this life Be content with thinges necessarie and they shal be geuen to thee Mat 6. v. 33. Innocencie is without feare General pietie of the people procureth Gods fauour Neighbourlie compassion Zele of iustice Remember the day of iudgement Honestie and pouertie No want nor waste Just gaine in traffike Obedience to magistrates Geue counsel sincerely Humilitie in authoritie Place the godlie in office Acknowlege thy faultes Feare to offend Clemencie in princes and prudent liberalitie Reuenge bloudshed Harmles life Diligent labour Iust dealing Iust iudgement Moderate gaine Freindlie correption To robbe parents is a greuous crime ●●alt not thyself Trust not thyne owne iudgement Almes dedes Godlie magistrates Loue to ●●e corrrected Choose godlie magistrates Loue wisdom Iust and liberal magistrates Sincere amitie Iust joy of the wickeds fal Compassion of the poore Care of common good Contend not with a foole Defend the iust Discretion in iust anger Derestation of lying Contentment in state of life Equitie in iudgement Chastisment of youth God neuer permitteth al to be euil Instruct children Pray to haue good Pastors Compel the froward to obey Consideration in speaking Subdue the flesh to the spirite Meeknes Humilitie Participate not with sinne Feare not men in Gods cause remembring that God is Iudge of al. Hate al wickednes Obey spiritual and temporal parents The fourth part Other singular precepts with prayse of a prudent woman :: The wisest man best knoweth that he wanteth much of perfect wisdom yet in his humilitie supposeth that others haue attained some what more then himself :: Christ the Sonne of God is wisdom it self and as the Sonne of man hath perfect wisdom :: Bondslades are to be
15. Oza 2● Reg. 6. sodenly slaine for touching the Arke of God the Lavv forbidding vnder paine of death Num. 1. v. 51. 18. v. 7. that none should approch to holie office being not therto orderly called Of workes also of Supererogation called counsailes not preceptes vve haue examples in vovves voluntarily made of thinges not commanded the law prescribing vvhat vovves might be made by vvhom Nu. 30. And Num. 6. a particular rule was proposed to such as of their ovvne accord vvould embrace it a distinct name geuen them to be called Nazarites that is Seperate or Sanctified In which state they vvere to remaine either for a time limited by themselues or their parents or perpetually if they so promised Iudic. 13. 1. Reg. 1. For s● farre as their promise extended they were strictly obliged to performe Deut. 23. When thou hast vowed a vow to our Lord thy God thou shalt not slacke to pay it because our Lord thy God wil require it and if thou delay it shal be reputed to thee for sinne If thou wilt not promise thou shalt be without this sinne Pay thy vowes vnto the Highest Psal 75. Vow ye and render your vowes to our Lord your God Psal 49. The Rechabites aftervvardes had a like rule to the Nazarite● the same perpetual Hierem. 3● neuer to drinke wine nor to build nor dwel in houses but in tabernacles nor sow corne nor plant vineyardes VVhich rule though instituted by a man yet the obseruation therof vvas much commended rewarded by God v. 19. Such distinct state of religious persons with other states of the church of Christ were also prefigured Leuit. 11. by the cleane fishes of three distinct vvaters as some holie Fathers do mystically expound that place To vvitte the cleane fishes of the sea are the multitude of lay persons which are dravven out of the sea of this vvorld and happely found good fishes in our Lords nette Math. 13. The cleane fishes of the riuers are the good and fruitful Clergie men that vvatter the vvhole earth by teaching Christian doctrin and ministring holie Sacramentes vvith other Rites and Gouerning the whole Church And the cleane fishes of standing pooles are the Monastical persons liuing perpetually in Cloysters vvhere good soules are alwayes readie for our Lordes table as S. Bernard teacheth Much more the more ancient fathers S. Beda S. Gregorie S. Augustin and others explicate innumerable places of holie Scripture mystically relying therin vpon example of the new Testament so expounding the old Namely S. Paul teaching as before is noted that the whole law was a pedagogue guiding men to Christ and affirming that al thinges happened to the people of the old Testament in figure of the new Leauing therfore to prosecute the same further which would require a verie great worke it may here suffice to geue according to the literal sense a briefe view of certaine other pointes of Religion practised in this fourth age VVhere it is clere that as Iacob the Patriarch had fortold Gen. 48. that Abrahams Isaacs and his owne name should be inuocated so Moyses prayed God for his promise made to them and for their sake to pardon the people saying Exod. 32. Remember ô Lord Abraham Isaac Israel And our Lord was pacified from doing the euil which he had spoken against his people His diuine prouidence so disposing that he could be hindered by such prayers from that which h●threatned And whereas Moyses did not directly inuocate the holie Patriarches as Christians now cal vpon glorified Sainctes to pray for them the cause of difference is for that now Sainctes seing God know in him whatsoeuer perteyneth to their glorie which state none b●fore Christ attain●d vnto Num 35. v. 25. Deut. 4. v. 12. Againe Protestantes obiect that for so much as God knoweth al our necessities desires dispositions and whatsoeuer is in man it is needles say they superfluous in vaine that Sainctes should commend our causes To this we answer that not only glorious Sainctes but also mortal men by Gods ordināce by which nothing is done vainely do such offices as mediators betwen God and other men for so Moyses told the wordes of the people to our Lord Exod. 19. notwithstanding Gods omniscience or knowledge of al thinges Also God expresly commanded Iobs freinds to goe to Iob promising to heare his prayer for th●m As for Sainctes hearing or knowing our prayers made to them though onlie God of himselfe and by his owne power seeth mens secrete cogitations and therfore is properly called the searcher of hartes 1. Reg. 16. yet God communicateth this pow●r to prophetes to see the secrete thoughtes of others so Samuel knew the cogitations of Saul 1. Reg. 9. v. 20. And Abias saw by reuelation the coming of Ierobomas wife to him in Silo 3. Reg. 14. Much more God reuealeth our present state and acts to glorified soules vvho are as Angels in heauen Math. 22. and being secure of their owne glorie are careful sayeth S. Cyprian of our Saluation Neither is it derogation to God that Saints are honoured and titles ascribed to them of intercessors mediators and the like for such titles are geuen to them not as to God but by vvay of participation only So Iudges are called goddes and sauiours Exod. 21. Iudic 3. and Priestes called goddes Exod. 21. Praise geuen to God and Gedeon Iudic. 7. Protection and adoration of Angels is very frequent Exod. 23. 31. Num. 22. Iosue 5. Iudic. 2. 6. 13. The names of the twelue sonnes of Israel were grauen in the two chiefe ornaments of the high priest in the Ephod and Rationale Exod. 28. Manna was not only reserued as a memorie of Gods singular benefite but also honorably reposed as a Relique in a golden vessel and kept in the Arke of God Exod. 16. Heb. 9. Iosephs bones reserued and remoued Iosue 24. Images of holie Cherubims were made and sette vp together with the Arke and Propitiatorie in the chiefe place of the Tabernacle called Sancta Sanctorum Exod. 25. An image also of a serpent was made in brasse for the health of those that were striken by serpentes Num. 21. Images also of lions and oxen were made and sette vnder the foote of the lauer called a sea in the Temple 3. Reg. 7. The honour done to anie holie thing namely to the Arke 2. Reg. 6. redounded to Gods more honour and al this so farre from idolatrie that quite contrarie in presence of the Arke the idol Dagon fel to the ground and broke in peeces 1. Reg. 5. Exequies for the dead with weeping and fasting were then practised in the Church as appeareth by the peoples mourning for Aaron thirtie dayes Num. 20. Also for Moyses Deut. 34. By the Gabaonites fasting seuen dayes for Saul and his sonnes lately slaine 1. Reg. 31. Likewise king Dauid with al his court mourning weping
ye and see that our Lord is sweete blessed is the man that hopeth in him † Feare ye our Lord al ye his sainctes because there is no lacke to them that feare him † The rich haue wanted and haue bene hungrie but they that seeke after our Lord shal not be diminished of any good † Come children heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord. † Who is the man that wil haue life loueth to see good daies † “ Stay thy tongue from euil and thy lippes that they speake not guile † Turne away from euil and do good seeke after peace and pursewe it † The eies of our Lord vpon the iust and his eares vnto their prayers † But the countenance of our Lord is vpon them that doe euil things to destroy their memorie out of the earth † The iust haue cried and our Lord hath heard them and out of al their tribulations he hath deliuered them † Our Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite hart and the humble of spirit he wil saue † Manie are the tribulations of the iust and out of al these our Lord wil deliuer them Our Lord keepeth al their bones there shal not one of them be broken The death of sinners is verie il and they that hate the iust shal offend Our Lord wil redeme the soules of his seruantes and al that hope in him shal not offend ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXXIII 1. He changed his countenance S. Augustin by holie Dauids changing of his countenance and by changing the king of Geth his name who in the booke of kinges where the historie is recorded is called Achis and here Abimelech gethereth that here is an hidden and great Mysterie VVhich he explicateth partly by interpretation of the Hebrew names but more especially by Dauids changing of his countenance which prefigured Christ eternal God becoming also man and so making great changes in the world For as Dauid killed Goliath and for his good act gotte enuie so Christ killing the diuel and humilitie in Christs mēbers killing pride are persecuted by the wicked For Christ was both to the ruine and Resurrection of manie He changed Sacrifice and Priesthood The Iewes had sacrifice according to the order of Aaron in victims of cattle and this was in mysterie For there was not then the Sacrifice of the bodie and bloud of our Lord which the faithful and those that haue read the Gospel do know which Sacrifice is now spread in al the round earth A●litle after the Sacrifice of Aaron is taken away and the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech begane to be He therfore I knovv not vvho changed his countenance Let it not be I knovv not vvho for our Lord Iesus Christ is knowen He would haue our health to be in his bodie and bloud From whence did he commend his bodie and bloud from his humilitie For vnles he were humble he would neither be eaten nor druncke Behold his highnes In the beginning was the vvord and the vvord was with God and God the vvord Loe the euerlasting meate and Angels eate it supernal powres eate it celestial spirites eate it and they eate and are fatted and the thing remaineth whole which satiateth and reioyceth them How then hath the vvisdome of God fedde vs vvith the same bread the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs It were too long to recite this great Doctors vvhole discourse He further sheweth that Christ dismissed the Ievves and vvent from them to the Gentiles Thou seekest novv Christ saith he among the Ievves and findest him not because he hath changed his countenance For they sticking to the sacrifice according to the order of Aaron held not the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech and haue lost Christ and the Gentiles haue begunne to haue him Againe this holie father vvilleth vs to remember the Gospel VVhen our Lord Iesus Christ spake of his bodie he said Vnles you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud you shal not haue life in you because he had changed his countenance this semed as furie and madnes vnto them to geue his flesh to be eaten of men his bloud to be drunke therfore Dauid vvas reputed madde before Achis vvhen he said you haue brought this madde man vnto me Doth it not seme madnes Eate ye my flesh and drinke my bloud He semed to be madde thus S. Augustin Neuer imagining the figuratiue interpretation of our nevv Sacramentaries vvho say Christ gaue no more but a figure of his bodie bloud for then it had bene easily vnderstood by the Capharnaites and no such contradiction nor murmuring had happened Yet S. Augustin saith more plainly if more plaine may be Christ caried himselfe in his ovvne handes And hovv this can be done bretheren in man vvho can vnderstand For vvho is caried in his ovvne handes A man may be caried in the handes of others no man is caried in his ovvne handes VVe find not hovv it can be vnderstood in Dauid according to the letter but in Christ vve find it For Christ vvas caried in his ovvne handes vvhen geuing his verie bodie he said This is my bodie for he caried his bodie in his ovvne handes 14 15. ●tay thy tongue c. Both these verses and frequent other places in the Psalmes shevv plainly that iustice consisteth not only in faith but in abstayning from euil and doing good yet requiring and presupposing true faith vvithout which no workes are aualable to iustice nor to euerlasting life PSALME XXXIIII Dauid in figure of Christ prophetically by way of inuocating Gods helpe forsheweth his persecution and the iust reuenge vpon his persecutors 9. with praise to God 13. his charitie towards his cruel aduersaries 17. whom neuertheles God punisheth 20. for pretending peace in wordes and in fact persecuting 23. rendering to al as they deserue To Dauid himself IVDGE ô Lord them that hurt me ouerthrow them that impugne me † Take armour and shield and rise vp to helpe me † Bring forth the sword and shut vp against them that perfecute me say to my soule I am thy saluation † Let them be counfounded ashamed that seeke my soule Let them be turned backward and be confounded that thinke euil against me † Be they made as dust before the face of winde and the angel of our Lord straictning them † Let their way be made darkenesse and slippernes and the angel of our Lord pursewing them † Because they haue hid the destruction of their snare for me without cause in vaine haue they vpbrayded my soule † Let the snare which he knoweth not come on him and the net which he hath hid catch him and let him fal into the verie same snare † But my soule shal reioyce in our Lord and shal be delighted vpon his saluation † Al
backe they haue prolonged their iniquitie † Our iust Lord wil cut the neckes of sinners † let them al be confounded and turned backward that hate Sion † Let them be made as grasse in the toppes of houses which is withered before it be plucked vp † Wherof the reaper hath not filled his hand and he that gathereth the sheaues his bosome † And they sayd not that passed by The blessing of our Lord be vpon you we haue blessed you in the name of our Lord. PSALME CXXIX The Iewes or other people in tribulation for sinne or temporal captiuitie crie to God to be deliuered 4. trusting and encoreging ech other in Gods accustomed mercie assuredly hoping that he wil redeme deliuer them A gradual Canticle FROM the depthes I haue cried to thee ô Lord † Lord heare my voice Let thine eares be intent to the voice of my petition † If thou shalt obserue iniquities ô Lord Lord who shal susteyne it † Because with thee there is propiciation and for thy law I haue expected thee ô Lord. My soule hath expected in his word † my soule hath hoped in our Lord. † From the morning watch euen vntil night let Israel hope in our Lord. † Because with our Lord there is mercie and with him plenteous redemption † And he shal redeme Israel from al his iniquities PSALME CXXX Anie iust soule in humble confidence offereth his innocencie as a spiritual and gratful sacrifice to God 3. exhorting al Gods seruants euer to hope in him A gradual Canticle of Dauid LORD my hart is not exalted neither are mine eies loftie Neither haue I walked in great matters nor in meruelous thinges aboue me † If I was not humbly mynded but exalted my soule As the weaned childe is toward his mother so retribution in my soule † Let Israel hope in our Lord from henceforth now and for euer PSALME CXXXI The Psalmist earnestly prayeth God to geue him leaue to shew him where to build a Temple But more especially prayeth for and prophecieth the coming of Christ the promised Sonne of Dauid 14. signifying Gods promise therof and of establishing his Church A gradual Canticle REMEMBER Dauid ô Lord and al his meekenes † As he sware to our Lord vowed a vowe to the God of Iacob † If I shal enter into the tabernacle of my house if I shal ascend into the bed of my couch † If I shal geue sleepe to mine eies and slumbering to mine eie liddes † And rest to my temples vntil I finde a place for our Lord a tabernacle for the God of Iacob † Behold we haue heard of it in Ephrata we haue found it in the fildes of the wood † We wil enter into his tabernacle we wil adore in the place where his feete stood † Arise Lord into thy rest thou and the arke of thy sanctification † Let thy Priestes be clothed with iustice let thy sainctes reioyce † For Dauid thy seruants sake turne not away the face of thy Christ † Our Lord hath sworne truth to Dauid and he wil not disapoint it Of the fruite of thy wombe I wil set vpon thy seate † If thy children shal keepe my testament and these my testimonies which I wil teach them Their children also euen for euer shal sit vpon thy seate † Because our Lord hath chosen Sion he hath chosen it for an habitation to himself † This is my rest for euer and euer here wil I dwel because I haue chosen it † Blessing I wil blesse her widow her poore I wil fil with breades † Her Priestes I wil clothe with saluation and her sainctes shal reioyce with ioyfulnes † Thither wil I bring forth a horne to Dauid I haue prepared a lampe to my Christ † His enemies I wil clothe with confusion but vpon him shal my sanctification florish PSALME CXXXII Fraternal concord is commended to al in the Church as necessarie and delectable in it self and blessed of God A gradual Canticle of Dauid BEHOLD how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwel in one † As oyntement on the head which ranne downe vpon the beard the beard of Aaron which ranne downe vnto the hemme of his garment † As the dew of Hermon which runneth downe vpon mount Sion Because there hath our Lord commanded blessing and life euen for euer PSALME CXXXIII Al and especially clergie men that serue the Church are inuited to prayse God by day and by night so shal they be blessed of God A gradual Canticle LOE now blesse our Lord al ye the seruantes of our Lord Which stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God † In the nightes lift vp your handes vnto the holie places and blesse ye our Lord. Our Lord out of Sion blesse thee who made heauen and earth PSALME CXXXIIII God who only is omnipotent and fountaine of algoodnes is of al to be praised 8. He is the special protector of his elected people 15. Contrariwise false goddes are impotent vaine and can not helpe those that serue them 19. Only the Church doth rightly praise him Alleluia PRAYSE ye the name of our Lord ye seruantes prayse our Lord. † Ye that stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God † Prayse ye our Lord because our Lord is good sing ye to his name because it is sweete † Because our Lord hath chosen Iacob to himself Israel for his owne possession † Because I haue knowne that our Lord is great and our God aboue al goddes † Al thinges whatsoeuer our Lord would he hath done in heauen in earth in the sea and in al the depthes † Bringing forth clowdes from the vttermost of the earth lightenings he hath turned into rayne Who bringeth forth the windes out of his treasures † who stroke the first begotten of Aegypt from man euen to beast † He sent ●orth signes and wonders in the middes of thee ô Aegypt vpon Pharao and vpon al his seruantes † Who stroke manie nations and slew strong kinges † Sehon the king of the Amorrheites Og the king of Basan and al the kingdomes of Chanaan † And he gaue their land for inheritance for an inheritance to Israel his people † Lord thy name is for euer Lord thy memorial is vnto generation and generation † Because our Lord shal iudge his people and wil be intreated toward his seruantes † The idoles of the Gentiles are siluer and gold the workes of mens handes † They haue mouth and shal not speake they haue eies and shal not see † They haue eares and shal
not returne neithet shal they apprehend the pathes of life † That thou mayst walke in a good way and mayst keepe the pathes of the iust † For they that are right shal dwel in the earth and the simple shal continue in it † But the impious shal be destroyed from the earth and they that doe vniustly shal be taken away from it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 13. VVho leaue the right vvay Generally this description of wicked men agreeth to al that committe and persist in mortal sinne whether they walked right at anie time before or no but most especially sheweth the properties of heretikes who forsake and leaue the direct ancient beaten knovvne vvay of the Catholique Church and teach nevv obscure doctrines not heard of or not approued in our forefathers time Secondly v. 14 they glorie in their ovvne deuises and reioyce in most vvicked thinges as in seducing multitude of peoples to rebel against their Catholique Princes and other Superiors spiritual and temporal in breaking vovves in despising good vvorkes trusting to only faith and that not the Catholique faith of al true Christians but euerie one his particular persvvasion that himself is iust shal be saued vvhich by their ovvne doctrin none is bond to beleue of an others state but of his owne only In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestants imagined faith is not a general Article which al do or should beleue but a most particular and singular phantasie which each one must conceiue of himself or herself Thirdly v. 16. Heresie called here the strange and forrene woman tempereth her vvordes to please the itching eares of her auditorie framing her doctrine to the humour of those vvhom she seeketh to peruert The same vvich the Apostle saith in other vvordes by svvere speaches and benedictions they seduce the hartes of innocents Fourthly v. 19. Those that do enter into error of heresie shal not returne that is very hardly and rarely returne into the right vvay of life the reason whereof the same Apostle yeldeth because an heretike is condemned by his ovvne iudgement For being in error and admitting no iudge but himself he parteth from the Church excludeth the meanes of better iustruction through his erronious iudgement remaineth in damnable opinion and so in the state of damnation CHAP. III. Wisdom exhorteth to kepe Gods law geuing long life to obserue mercie and truth 5. to confide in God 7. to feare 9. and honour him 11. to take his correction gladly 13. for al good thinges folow wisdom 27. to releue the needie without delay 30. not to contend with the wicked nor to imitate them 33. The euil shal faile and the godlie shal prosper MY sonne forget not my law and let thy hart keepe my precepts † For they shal adde to thee length of dayes and yeares of life and peace † Let not mercie and truth leaue thee put them about thy throte and write them in the tables of thy hart † and thou shalt finde grace and good discipline before God and men † Haue confidence in our Lord with al thy hart and leane not vpon thyne owne prudence † In al thy wayes thinke on him and he wil direct thy steppes † Be not wise in thyne owne conceipte feare God and depart from euil † for it shal be health to thy nauil and watering of thy bones † Honour our Lord with thy substance and geue to him of the first of al thy fruites † and thy barnes shal be replenished with fulnes and thy presses shal runouer with wine † My sonne cast not away the discipline of our Lord neither doe thou faint when thou art chaste●●d of him † for whom our Lord loueth he chasticeth and as a father in the sonne he pleaseth himself † Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and floweth with prudence † better is the purchasing therof then marchandise of siluer and her fruite then chiefe and the purest gold † she is more precious then al riches and al thinges that are desired are not able to be compared with her † Length of dayes in her right hand in her left hand riches and glorie † Her wayes are beautiful wayes and al her pathes peaceable † She is a tree of life to them that shal apprehend her and he that shal hold her is blessed † Our Lord by wisdom founded the earth established the heauens by prudence † By his wisdom the depthes haue broken forth and the cloudes waxe thicke with dew † My sonne let not these thinges depart from thyne eies kepe the law counsel † and there shal be life to thy soule and grace to thy iawes † Then shalt thou walke confidently in thy way and thy foote shal not stumble † if thou sleepe thou shalt not feare thou shalt rest and thy sleepe shal be sweete † Dread not at soden terrour and the power of the impious falling vpon thee † For our Lord wil be at thy side and wil keepe thy foote that thou be not taken † Doe not prohibite him to doe good that is able if thou be able thy selfe also doe good † Say not to thy frend goe and returne and tomorow I wil geue to thee wheras thou mayest geue forth with † Practise not euil against thy freind when he hath affiance in thee † Contend not against man without cause wheras he hath done thee no euil † Doe not enuie an vniust man nor imitate his waies † because euerie deluder is an abomination of our Lord and his communication is with the simple † There is pouertie from our Lord in the house of the impious but the habitations of the iust shal be blessed † He shal delude the deluders and to the milde he wil geue grace † The wise shal possesse glorie the exaltation of fooles ignominie CHAP. IIII. The wiseman exhorteth others by his owne example to seeke wisdom 14. to decline from the wicked and to imitate the iust 23. to guide wel the hart mouth and feete CHILDREN heare ye the fathers discipline and attend that you may knowe prudence † I wil geue you a good gift forsake not my law † For I also was the sonne of my father tender and as onlie begotten in my mothers sight † and he taught me sayd Let thy hart receiue my wordes kepe my preceptes and thou shalt liue † Possesse wisedom possesse prudence forget not neither decline from the wordes of my mouth † Leaue her not and she wil keepe thee loue her and she wil preserue thee † The beginning of wisdom possesse wisdom and in al thy possession purchase prudence † take quickly and she wil exalt thee thou shalt be glorified of her when thou shalt embrace her † She wil geue to thy head increase of graces and with a noble crowne she wil protect thee † Heare my sonne and receiue my wordes that yeares of life may be multiplied to
drunke euen to the dregges † There is none that can vphold her of al the children that she hath borne and there is none that taketh her by the hand of al the children that she hath brought vp † There are two thinges which haue happened to thee who shal be sorie for thee Spoile and destruction and famine and the sword who shal comfort thee † Thy children are throwen forth they haue slept in the head of alwayes as the orix that is snared ful of the indignation of our Lord of the rebuke of thy God † Therefore heare this poore little one and drunken not of wine † Thus sayth thy dominatour our Lord and thy God who hath fought for his people Behold I haue taken out of thy hand the cuppe of drousines the botome of the cuppe of mine indignation thou shalt not adde to drinke it any more † And I wil put it in their hand that haue humbled thee and haue sayd to thy soule Bow downe that we may passe ouer and thou hast layd thy bodie as the ground and as a way to them that passe ouer CHAP. LII The prophet alluding to the deliuerie of Sion and Ierusalem from Babylonical captiuitie sturreth vp the Church of Christ to reioyce for the deliuerie from sinne 7. which Christs Apostles preached 10. with great fruite in al nations ARISE arise put on thy strength ô Sion put on the garments of thy glorie ô Ierusalem the citie of the holie one because the vncircumcised and vncleane shal adde no more to passe by thee † Be shaken out of the dust arise sit vp Ierusalem loose the bonds of thy necke ô captiue daughter of Sion † Because thus sayth our Lord You were sold for nought and without siluer you shal be redemed † Because thus sayth our Lord God My people went downe into Aegypt at the beginning to be a seiourner there and Assur without any cause did oppresse them † And now what haue I here sayth our Lord because my people is taken away for nought Their rulers doe vniustly sayth our Lord and continually al the day my name is blasphemed † For this cause shal my people know my name in that day because I myself that spake loe am present † How beautiful vpon the mountaines are the feete of him that euangelizeth preacheth peace of him that telleth good preaching health that sayeth to Sion Thy God shal reigne † The voice of thy watchemen they haue lifted vp their voice they shal prayse together because eie to eie they shal see when our Lord shal conuert Sion † Reioyce prayse together ye deserts of Ierusalem because our Lord hath comforted his people he hath redemed Ierusalem † Our Lord hath prepared his holie arme in the sight of al the Gentiles and al the endes of the earth shal see the saluation of our God † Depart depart goe ye out from thence touch not a polluted thing goe out of the middes of her be cleansed ye that carie the vesseles of our Lord. † Because you shal not goe out in tumult neither with flight shal you make hast for our Lord wil goe before you and the God of Israel wil gather you together † Behold my seruant shal vnderstand he shal be exalted and shal be lifted vp and shal be exceding high † As manie haue bene astoined vpon thee so shal his looke among men be inglorious and his forme among the sonnes of men † He shal sprinkle manie nations kinges shal shut their mouthe vpon him because they to whom it was not told of him haue sene and they that heard not haue beheld CHAP. LIII Al wil not beleue Christs Gospel to whom it shal be preached 2. as the mysterie of his ignominious death for al mens sinnes 7. which he wil suffer most mekely 10. for which his name shal be glorified in al places VVHO hath beleued our hearing and the arme of our Lord to whom is it reueled † And he shal come vp as a yong spring before him and as a roote from a thirstie ground there is no beautie in him nor comelinesse and we haue sene him and there was no sightlines and we were desirous of him † Despised and most abiect of men a man of sorowes and knowing infirmitie and his looke as it were hid and despised whereupon neither haue we estemed him † He surely hath borne our infirmities and our sorowes he hath caried and we haue thought him as it were a leper and striken of God and humbled † But he was wounded for our iniquities he was broken for our sinnes the discipline of our peace vpon him and with the waile of his stripe we are healed † Al we haue strayed as sheepe euerie one hath declined into his owne way and our Lord hath put vpon him the iniquitie of al vs. † He was offered because him self would and opened not his mouth as a sheepe to slaughter shal he be led and as a lambe before his shearer he shal be dumme and shal not open his mouth † from distresse and from iudgement he was taken vp who shal declare his generation because he is cut out of the land of the liuing for the wickednes of my people haue I striken him † And he shal geue the impious for his burial and the riche for his death because he hath not done iniquitie neither was there guile in his mouth † And our Lord would breake him in infirmitie if he shal put away his soule for sinne he shal see seede of long age and the wil of our Lord shal be directed in his hand † For that his soule hath laboured he shal see and be filled in his knowlege the same my iust seruant shal iustifie manie and he shal beare their iniquities † Therefore wil I distribute vnto him verie manie and he shal diuide the spoiles of the strong for that he hath deliuered his soule vnto death and was reputed with the wicked and he hath borne the sinnes of manie and hath prayed for the transgressours CHAP. LIIII Gentiles who were barren shal multiplie in the Church of Christ 10. from which Gods mercie shal neuer be separated PRAISE ô barren woman which bearest not sing prayse and make ioyful noyse which didst not beare because manie are the children of the desolate more then of her that hath a husband saith our Lord. † Enlarge the place of thy tent and stretch out the skinnes of thy tabernacles spare not make long thy coardes and fasten thy nailes † For thou shalt penetrate to the right hand and to the left and thy seede shal inherite the Gentiles and shal inhabite the desolate cities † Feare not because thou shalt not be confounded nor blush for thou shalt not be ashamed because thou shalt forget the confusion of thy youth and the reproch of thy widowhood thou shalt remenber no more † Because he shal rule ouer thee that made thee the
persons Tit. ● The thinges demanded differ much D. ●●istous Motiuo 23. Personal presence at heretical seruice in England a distinctiue signe of conformity to heresie A case very like to ours 2. Machab ● 7. :: His grief was g●● it because he ha● not meanes to recompence the losse to the owne● :: A husband man in yorkshire called Ketle had the gift to see euil spirites wherby he often detected 〈…〉 red their ●ad purposes ●●● brig li. ● c. 〈◊〉 Rer. Anglic. :: By bread and water is vnderstood ordinarie meate and drinck v. 2● :: Discourse of mans reason can not reach to the powre of God who can do al that he wil and wil doe al that he saith therfore the incredulous are iustly punished v. 20. :: This was true in some sense sicknes ending when death came :: Athalia v. 26. is called the daughter of Amri VVherfore it semeth that either she was the adopted daughter of her brother Achab or is there called the daughter of her grandfather VVhen Naboth was falsly accused vniustly stoned to death as if he had bla●phe med God and cursed the king for his pretended crimes his sonnes were also slaine and his landes and goodes con●●●●ate which appea●eth by the kings present going to posie●●e the vinyard 3. Reg● 21. :: This Ionadab instituted a peculiar rule of religious abstinence which his posterity duly ob serued I●●●m 35. :: Iehu sinned in feaning and causing others to sacrifice to Baal his zele wanting both diseretion and equitie for euil must not be done that good may come therof Rom. 3. :: ●oral good vvorkes done in state of mortal sinne not meriting eternal life a●e often rewarded temporally S. Aug. cont ●en● c. 2. :: Ambition cause of much crueltie :: Our Sauiour calleth this high priest Zacharias which signifieth blessed of our Lord for the iustice which he did towards Athalia and Ioas. S. ●●●rom li. 4. in Math. c. 23. :: Great respect is to be had of holie places VVherof cometh the priuilege of Sanctuaries :: That is the ordinarie ob lation for ech particular person Exod. 30. * a chest or alm●s box● :: Dedicated to helie vse :: He was buried in the citie but not in the sepulcher of the kinges 2 Paral. 24. for his impietie in the latter part of his life :: It was reueiled to the prophet that so often as the king should strike the earth so often he should haue victories against the Syrians but not how often he would strike on the earth Deut. 〈◊〉 :: Amongst kinges being at variance Seing one an other importeth as much as to fight a battle ●●●● 1. :: Otherwise called Ozias 2. Paral. 26. Mat. 1. :: This punishment was inflicted vpon him for his presumption to offer incēse on the altar 2. Paralip 26. :: He was buried honorably in the citie of Dauid that is nere to the walles but in the filde because he was a leper euen to his death 2. Paral. 26. :: Some men of Ruben Gad Manasses and Nepthali were caried captiues into Assyria :: Otherwise called Azarias ● 1. * the great vessel * the place vvhere the king offered :: That is consequently they did prouoke him as 3. R●g 14. v. 9. :: Not truly worshipped but made shew to worshippe For true worship of God admitteth not worship of anie false god ● 34. The second part Actes of other kinges til the captiuitie of Iuda :: This image of a serpent not only when it wrought miraculous health but also long after was worthely reserued in memorie of the benefite but when the people offered sacrifice vnto it which is proper to God only good Ezechias did laudably breake it And to shew that there was no deitie in it called it Nohestan that is a peece of brasse And so in the Catholique Church when anie holie Relique or Image is abused it is taken away or theerrour otherwise corrected See S. Aug. li. 10. ● 8. ciuit Ser. 4 de verb. Apost 101. de temp * a peece of brasse * or recorder :: He sasly addeth of his owne that he should destroy it For Isaias prophecied the contrarie that the Assyrians campe should be destroyed Isa●e 37. and so it came to passe ch 19. v. 35. 2. Pharal 32. :: Paganes and Heretikes are foolish impudent to compare their false goddes and phancies with God almightie and Cathelique Religion :: Before the Arke Propitiatorie being the special place of prayer :: Though manie in the kingdom of Iuda sel to ido lattie yet in respect of the rest publikly professing true faith and religion the Church is stil called a virgin and despiceth and idolaters blasphemers and false goddes :: A pleasant hill in the forrest :: If these tenne lines importe so manie houses then the dial going forwardes againe by like degrees this day was increased by twentie houres and soe was longer then that in which Iosue procured stay of the sunne the space of one day to witte of twelue houres Iosue 10. as S. Dyonise thinketh Epist ad Pol●carp See Glossa erd in Iosue :: the Iewes sinned more greuously reuolting from the Law of God and contemning the admonitions of holie prophetes then the nations that had neither law nor prophetes to instruct them :: God stil preserued some in true religion though they also suffered tribulations with the wicked for the general sinnes of the king and people Ps●l 88. v. 35. Yea this king Manasses in captiuitie became vertuous and recouered his kingdom 2 Pacalip 33. :: VVithin the second wall the citie hauing three wals 3. Reg. 3. :: Because they had offered sacrific to false goddes and in vnlawful places they were suspended from offering anie more sacrifice at al. ● Reg. 〈◊〉 3. Reg 13. :: Iosephus writeth that this godlie king gaue thirtie thousand lambes and kiddes to the poore people for their Pasch three thousand oxen for Holocaustes The priestes also Leuites added more of their owne li. 10. Antiq. c. 5. :: Albeit Manasses repented and was restored to Gods fauour to his kingdome 2. Paral 3. Yet his sinnes were temporally punished both in himself and his posteritie :: Not dying in peace for he was slaine by Nabuchodonosor Iosephus li. 10. c. 8. Ant. And his bodie was cast out of the citie according as Ieremie prophecied c. 22. vvith the burial of an asse shal he be buried c. :: In this he greuosly offended hauing sworne to serue him And therfore Ezechiel c. 1● fortelleth the miserie that wil fal vpon him shal he that broke couenant escape c. :: Certaine falsprophetes perswaded the king and the people not to beleue the prophetes which forwarned them of these calamites because sayd they they contradicte one an other Ieremie saying ●h 32. 34. the eyes of Sedecias should see the eyes of Nabuchodonosor and should be led into Babylon and Ezechiel saying c. 12. v. 13. that he should not see Babylon :: Both saying most
a. greable to mans nature and freevvil by his loue and charitie not as beastes are dravven by feare force :: To make shevv of turning to God and to trust more in men is as vayne as to thinke to fede or to gouerne the vvinde Gen. 25. 32. :: The historie of Iacob and his children written in Genesis and Exodus vvhich the prophet here toucheth sheweth the singular benefites of God tovvards this people Gen. 28. Exo. 14. a VVhen Iero boam first set vp the calues to be adored the people had horrour therof yet consented therto b and shortly after some added the idol of Baal 3 Reg. 16. c and of other idols as this place testifieth Isa 43. d Euils that happen are al of mans owne procurement by his sinnes vvherof God is no vvay the auctor or cause e vvho of his part doth al for the helpe of man for vvhether he punish or pardon al is to saue men so God is onlie cause of helpe and of al good but not of euil as it is euel he is in dede the cause of punishment vvhich is called malum paenae the euil of paine Amos. 3. v. 6. but this for amendment during this life and of iustice after death 1. Reg. ● f This can not be vnderstood of temporal death from vvhich God vvil no● deliuermen nor of violent death from vvhich he vvould not deliuer those that vvere slaine by the Assyrians but necessarily of eternal death from vvhich the iust shal be deliuered 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 2. Ezec. 19. a Such imprecations in holie scriptures are sometimes only predictions as Psal 68. v. 23. so here is prophecied what shal happen to the Israelites in Assyria S. Ierom. sometimes are the zelous desires of Sainctes conformable to Gods iustice as Psal 149. v. 6. 7. 8. 9. I●el 2. Zach. 1. b VVhen the Israelites shal conuert to God as some did vvhen Christ came and manie wil nere the end of the vvorld then Christ wil heale thē c No humane vvitte is able to vnderstand this and other prophetes yet the iust shal know so much as is necessarie S. Ierom. in prooem S. Aug. li. 18. c. 28. ciuit S. Epiph. de vita Patriar● Ioel prophecied the same time vvith Osee Especially to the two tribes S. Iero. Epist ad Paulin. The contents :: Prophecies perteyne not only to those that then liue when they are vttered but also to al poste ritie euen to the end of the vvorld that it may appeare vvhat is fulfilled and vvhat yet resteth to come in due time :: VVhen Ierusalem vvas taken and the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians the sacrifice necessarily ceased according to this and other prophecies :: Fasting praying and other good vvorkes of manie assembling together are an especial meanes to appeaze Gods vvrath prouoked by former sinnes The captiuitie described by the harme of most noysome thinges Ierusalem foure times spoyled by the Babylonians Dan. I. 1. 2. 3. 4. VVhy vve make not more Annotations a Prophets do often speake in such phrase as if they admonished the people vvhat to doe vvhen in dede they foreshevv what they wil do in their distresses b In the time when God wil suffer affliction to fal vpon them for their sinnes * take no harme Isa 13. Ezec. 32. Mat. 24. Iere. 30. Amos. 5. Sopho. 1. c For better mouing the hart to true repentance d God requireth these external workes of penance And where the same are wanting at least in vvil it is a manifest signe that the hart is not truly penitent S. Ierom. ● Psal 85. e Zele is an indignation rising of loue vvhen one seeth anie person or thing vvhich he loueth contemned or vvronged So God hath zele for his people when they are vniustly afflicted more of the malice of their afflicters then for iustice Yet God suffereth often times his people to be punished for their ful correction and for their more merite f So that vvhich God here promiseth by his prophet touching his protection and deliuerie of his people was not fulfilled til after the seuentie yeares of their captiuitie nor then fully but is verified in those that beleue in Christ And especially after this life vvhen his glorious Saincts shal liue in eternal ioy g That this is a plaine prophecie of the mission of the Holie Ghost performed on VVhitsunday the fiftith day after Christs Resurrection and the tenth after his Ascension S. Peter teacheth Act. 2. Isa 44. Act. 2. Rom. 1● a S Ierom and most other expositers vnder stand this chapter of the general Iudgement though some expound it of the relaxation of the Ievves from captiuitie and of the punishment of their enimies b And so Iosaphat is literally vnderstood the place on the east side of Ierusalem betwen the Temple and mount Oliuet whence our Sauiour ascended into heauen Neither is there anie reason why the Iudgement should rather be in an other place seing this is expressed by name signifying The Iudgement of our Lord. Apoc. 14. c This duplication of the vvord peoples importeth an innumerable multitude in that valley of concision also repeted to signifie that there al Gods enimies shal be vtterly damned to eternal destruction as it vvere cut in peeces as fuel to the fire of hel Psal 128. v. 4. Our iust Lord vvil cut the neckes of sinners Iere. 21. Amos. 1. Amos. 9. Amos prophecied the same time vvith see and Io●l S. Ierom ●●●●● ad ●●●●● Especially Against the tenne tribes a As Dauid was called from keping shepe made a king a Prophet so Amos being a shepheard o● hearde man was also made a Prophet b Iosephus li. 9. c. 1. Antiq. sayeth this earthquake happened when king Onias presumed to offer incense but it must nedes be vnderstood of a former in the dayes of Ieroboam v. 1. who died in the 38. yeare of O●ias ● Par. 26. at least 14. yeares before his deposition for he reigned in al. 52 I●el 3. Zach. ●4 c Three signifie the multitude of their sinnes for three is the first number that is called manie or may be called al. d and foure signifie excesse in multitude so that albeit God doth forgeue a multitude of sinnes yet at last for so great excesse he hasteneth their punishment * The god of the Ammonites a Besides other sinnes of the Moabites their crueltie in dravving the bones of the king of Idumea out of the graue as S. Ierom testifieth by tradition and their king immolating his ovvne sonne 4. Reg. 3. exceeded the rest and therfore vvere at last more seuerely punished b The most heynous sinne in Iuda vvas that hauing the lavv to instruct them they contemned and transgressed it c Israel much more contemned the same lavv of God committed the sinnes of al nations d Sonnes committed incest vvith their fathers vviues the fathers vvith their daughters in lavv vvhich most detestable sinnes must nedes be seuerly punished * puellam Num. 21. Deut. 2.
a child to be corrected vnto amendment but as an enemie was suffered to be indurate For of them whom Gods mercie suffereth not to be indurate it is written God scourgeth euerie child vvhom he receiueth And in an other place VVhom I loue I correct and chastise Againe VVhom God loueth he chastiseth Let no man therfore with Paganes and Manichees presume to reprehend or blame Gods iustice but certainly beleue that not Gods violence made Pharao indurate but his owne wickednes and his vntamed pride against Gods precepts Againe what els is it to say I vvil indurate his hart but when my grace is absent from him his owne wickednes wil obdurate him To know this by examples water is congeled with vehement cold but the heate of the sunne coming vpon it is resolued and the sunne departing it freezeth againe In like maner by the lasines of sinners charitie wa●eth cold they are hardned as yse but when the heate of Gods mercie commeth vpon them they are againe so●tned So Pharao without pittie or compassion afflicting the Hebrewes became as hard as yse but Gods hand touching him with afflictions he made humble supplication that Moyses and Aaron would pray to God for him promising what they demanded againe when the plagues were remoued he was more indurate against God and his people then before VVherby we see Gods gentlenes indulgence and sparing of Pharao not his ●igour nor his wil or set purpose but his permission and Pharaoes owne wilful malice hardned his hart and brought him to obstinate contempt of Gods cōmandments And therfore God did only indurate him in that cōmon phrase of speaking as a father or a maister hauing brought vp his child or seruant delicatly and not sufficiently punished his frequent faultes wherby he becometh worse and worse desperate and obdurate at last the father or maister saieth I haue made thee thus bad as thou art I by sparing thee and suffering thee to haue thine owne pleasure haue nourished thy peruersnes and carelesnes yet he saieth not this as though by his wil and intention but by his goodnes and gentlenes the man became so wicked It may here be demanded againe why did not our Lord so mercifully punish Pharao as wholy to reclame him for it semeth that had benne greatest mercie and God dealeth so with some why doth he not with al that al might be saued First it is most iustly and rightly ascribed to their iniquitie which deserue to be indurate againe why this sinner is reclaimed and not an other of the same il deserts is to be referred to Gods inscrutable iudgements which are often secrete neuer vniust Let it therfore suffice piously and humbly to beleue that as Moyses testifieth God is faithful and vvithout anie iniquitie iust and right and as the royal Prophet also professeth Thou art not a God that vv●●● iniquitie and as the Apostle teacheth there is no iniquitie vvith God By al which and some more to the same effect which we omit S. Augustin concludeth againe that properly Pharao hardened his owne hart God only by bestowing benefites vpon him which he abused and not plaguing him so much as he deserued but letting him liue and reigne and persecute the Church for the time vntil he and al his armie were in the middes of the sea VVhither as the same lerned father noteth ser 89. their owne desperate boldnes drew them vaine furie through their owne madnes prouoking them to goe so farre where God not working but only ceasing to continew his miracle the waters returning to their owne nature and meeting together inuolued and drowned them al. Other like expositions the same lerned father hath in other places As q. 18. super Exodum he teacheth that Pharao being already so wicked through his owne fault other things were done to him and his people which partly were to the correction of others and might haue bene to his but he abusing al became worse worse by Gods suffering and dispensation not only for his 〈◊〉 but euidently iust punishment Li. 5. cont Iulian c. 3. touching the ground of tentation he alleageth the Apostle saying Euerie one is tempted of his ovvne concupiscence abstracted and allured but touching one kind of Gods punishing some that are ouerwhelmed in obstinate sinnes he alleageth the saying of an other Aopstle God hath deliuered them into passions of ignominie and into a reprobate ●●n●e to do those things that are not conuenient for God deliuereth them saith he conveniently that the same sinnes are made both punishments of sinnes past and are deserts of punishments to come Yet he maketh not the willes euil but vseth the euil as he wil who can not wil anie thing vniu●●ly Againe q. 24. It appeareth saith he that the causes of induration of Pharaoes hart were not only for that his Inchanters did like things to those which Moyses and Aaron did but the very patience of God by which he spared him Gods patience according to mens hartes is profitable to some to repentance to some vnprofitable to resist God persist in euil yet not of it selfe vnprofitable but through the euil hart Briefly q 36. I haue harned Pharaoes hart that is I haue bene patient ouer him and his seruants Epist 105. God doth not indurate by imperting malice but by not imperting mercie or grace Li de Proed●st Grat. c 4. God is sayed to indurate him whom he wil not mollisie So to make him blinde whom he wil not illuminate So also to repel him whom he wil not cal And ● 6 what is that to say I vvil indurate his hart but I wil not mollifie it cap 14. It ought to haue auailed Pharao to saluation that Gods patience de●erring his iust and deserued punishment multiplied vpon him frequent stripes of miracles or miraculous punishmēts Cap 15. Did not Nabucodonosor repent being punished after innumerable impieties and recouered the kingdome which he had lost But Pharao by punishment became more obdurate and perished Both were men both Kings both persecutors of Gods people both gently admonished by punishments VVhat then made their endes diuers but that the one feeling Gods hand mourned in remembrance of his owne iniquitie the other by his freewil fought against Gods most merciful veritie Neither is this the doctrin of S. Augustin alone but of other Doctors also Origen li. 3. Periarch c. de Libert arbitrij saieth the Scripture sheweth manifestly that Pharao was indurate by his owne wil. For so God saied to him Thou vvouldest not If thou vvilt not dismisse Israel S. Basil Orat. quod Deus non sit auctor malorum saieth God beginning with lesse scourges proceeded with greater and greater to plague Pharao but did not mollifie him being obstinate neither yet did punish him with death vntil he drowned himselfe when he presumed through pride to passe the same way by which the iust went
supposing the redde sea would be passable to him as it was to the people of God S Chrysostom ho. 67. in Ioan. God is saied in holie Scripture to haue indurate some and deliuered some into reprobate sense not for that these things are done by God coming in dede of mans owne proper malice but because God iustly leauing men these things happen to them And in cap. 1. Rom. He deliuered into reprobate sense is nothing els but he permitted S. Damascen li. 4. ca. 20. de fide orthodoxa It is the maner of holie Scripture to cal the permission of God his act As He hath geuen them the spirite of com●unction eyes that they may not see and eares that they may not heare and the like al which are to be vnderstood not as proceding of Gods action but as of Gods permission to wit for mans free power of working S. Hierom Epist 150. resp ad q. 10. Not Gods patience is to be accused but their hardnes who abuse Gods goodnes to their owne perdition Theodoret. q. 17 in Exod. It is to be noted that if Pharao had bene euil by nature he had neuer changed his minde And after diuers mutations recited how sometimes he would dismisse Israel other times be would not al these saith he Moyses recorded to teach vs that neither Pharao was of peruerse nature neither did our Lord God make his mind hard and rebellious For he that now inclineth to this part now to that plainly sheweth freewil of the mind S. Gregorie li. 11. ca. 8. Moral God is saied to indurate by his iustice when he doth not mollifie a reprobate hart And li. 31. c. 11. Our Lord is saied to haue indurated Pharaoes hart not that he brought the hardnes itselfe but for that his desertes so requiring he did not mollifie it with sensibilitie of feare infused from aboue S. Isidorus li. 2. ca. 19. de summo bono Sinne is permitted for punishment of sinne when a sinner for his desert forsaken of God goeth into an other worse sinne Finally conference of holie Scriptures as in other hard places so in this geueth light for better vnderstanding therof For diuers places do not only shew that in al these resistances mutations of mind and obstinacie of hart Pharao was neuer depriued of freewil as the Doctors before cited do note but also expressly attribute the act of induration to himself Cha 8. v. 15. Pharao seeing that rest vvas geuen he hardned his ovvne hart v. 32. where the latin readeth in the passiue voice ingrauatum est cor Pharaon●● Pharaos hart vvas hardned which is more obscure the Hebrew saieth actiuely the protestantes so translate Pharao hardned his hart this time also Likewise cha 9. v. 7. the Hebrew saieth Pharaoes hart hardned it selfe Also v. 35. He hardned his ovvne hart he and his seruants Cha. 13. v. 15. VVhen Pharao had indurated himselfe And 1. Reg 6. v. 6. VVhy do you harden your hartes as Aegypt and Pharao hardned their hart Al which are reconciled with the other textes that say God indurated Pharaoes hart vnderstanding that phrase in like sense to this cha 15. v 4. God hath cast Pharao his chariotes and his armie into the sea VVhere God only permitted and no way forced Pharao and his armie to follow the Hebrewes betwen the walles of water As before is here noted out of S. Basil and S. Augustin and the text it selfe maketh it euident Againe manie other places confirme that not God but the sinners owne wilfulnes is the proper cause of his sinne Iob. 24. v. 23 God hath geuen him place for penance and he abuseth it vnto pride Eccle. 8. v. 11. Because sentence is not quickly pronounced against the euil the children of men cōmit euils without al feare Osee 13 v. 9. Perdition is thine o Israel only in me thy helpe Rom. 2. v. 4. The benignitie of God bringeth thee to penance but according to thy hardnes and impenitent hart thou heapest to thy selfe wrath Ephes 4. v. 19. Gentiles haue geuen vp themselues to impudicitie or vvantonnes And manie like places shew that God is not the mouer author nor forcer of anie thing as it is sinne but man him selfe is the author by wilfully consenting to tentations of the diuel the flesh and the world and by abusing Gods benefites and resisting his grace 11. They also True miracles being aboue the course of al created nature can not be wrought but by the powre of God who is truth it selfe and can not geue testimonie to vntruth and therfore they certainly proue that to be true for which they are done Other strange things done by enchanters false prophetes and diuels are not in deede true miracles but either sleights by quicknes and nimblenes of hand called legier-demain conueing one thing away and bringing an other or false presentations deceiuing the senses and imaginations of men by making things seme to be that they are not or els are wrought by applying natural causes knowen to some especially to diuels who also by their natural force can do great thinges when God permitteth them And so by enchantments and certaine secrecies these sorcerers either conueyed away the roddes and water and brought dragons and bloud in their place more frogges from other places or els by the diuels vsing natural agents turned roddes into serpentes water into bloud other matter into frogges al which might be done naturally in longer time by the diuel in short time But manie thinges are wholy aboue the diuels powre as to destroy the world to change the general order therof to create of nothing to raise the dead to life to geue sight to the borne blind the like which are only in Gods powre In things also diuels naturally can do they are much restrayned by Gods goodnes lest they should deceiue or hurt mankind at their pleasure So these Enchanters fayled in the fourth attempt not able to make more sciniphes nor anie more such prodiges and were only permitted to produce such serpents as were deuoured by Aarons serpent and to change water into bloud and to increase the number of frogges for the greater plague and no profite of the Aegyptians Neither could they remoue anie plague Nay themselues were so plagued with boyles that for paine or for shame they could not stand before Moyses It is further to be obserued that whensoeuer anie haue attempted to worke miracles to proue false doctrin they haue failed and by Gods prouidence bene confounded As when Baals false prophetes crying to their false goddes from morning til noone could not bring fire for their sacrifice and yet the diuel brought fire to burne Iobs shepe and seruants God permitting the one and not the other God also for a time suffered Simon Magus to make shew of miracles and at last as Egesippus li. 3. de excid Hierosol c. 2.
the cudde but diuideth not the hoofe † And the swine which though it diuideth the hoofe cheweth not the cudde † The flesh of these you shal not eate nor touch their carcasses because they are vncleane to you † These are the thinges that brede in the waters and which it is lawful to eate Al that hath finnes and scales aswel in the sea as in the riuers and the pooles you shal eate † But whatsoeuer hath not finnes and scales of those that moue and liue in the waters shal be vnto you abhominable † and execrable their flesh you shal not eate and their carcasses you shal avoide † Al that haue not finnes and scales in the waters shal be polluted † Of birdes these are they which you must not eate and are to be auoided of you The Eagle and the griffon and the osprey † and the kite and the vulture according to his kinde † and euerie one of the rauens kinde according to their similitude † the ostrich and the owle and the sterne and the hauke according to his kinde † the scritchowle and the diuer and the storke † and the swanne and the onocratal and the porphirion † the herodian and the charadrion according to his kind the lapwing also and the batte † Of foules euerie one that goeth vpon foure feete shal be abhominable to you † And whatsoeuer walketh vpon foure feete but hath the legges behind longer wherwith he hoppeth vpon the earth † that you shal eate as is the bruke in his kind the attake and the ophiomach and the locust euerie one according to their kinde † But of foule whatsoeuer hath foure feete onlie shal be execrable to you † and whatsoeuer shal touch the carcasses of them shal be polluted and shal be vncleane vntil euen † and if it be necessarie that he carie anie of these that be dead he shal wash his clothes and shal be vncleane vntil sunne sette † Euerie beast that hath a hoofe but diuideth it not neither cheweth the cudde shal be vncleane and whatsoeuer toucheth it shal be defiled † That which walketh vpon hands of al beasts which goe on foure feete shal be vncleane he that toucheth their carcasses shal be polluted vntil euen † And he that carieth such carcasses shal wash his clothes and shal be vncleane vntil euen because these thinges are vncleane to you † These also shal be reputed among polluted thinges of al that moue vpon the earth the weesel and the mouse and the crocadile euerie one according to their kinde † the migale and the camelean and the stellion and the lizard and the moule † al these are vncleane He that toucheth their carcasses shal be vncleane vntil euen † and that wherupon anie thing of their carcasses falleth shal be polluted aswel vessel of wood and rayment as skinnes and haire clothes and in whatsoeuer vessel anie worke is done they shal be dipped in water and shal be polluted vntil euen and so afterward shal be cleane † But the earthen vessel wherinto anie of these falleth within it shal be polluted and therfore is to be broken † Al meate which you shal eate if the water be poured vpon it shal be vncleane and al liquor that is dronke of al vessel shal be vncleane † And vpon whatsoeuer ought of such carcasses falleth it shal be vncleane whether ouens o● pottes with feete they shal be distroyed and shal be vncleane † But the fountaines and the cesternes and al collection of waters shal be cleane He that toucheth their carcasse shal be polluted † If it fal vpon seede corne it shal not pollute it † But if any man poure water vpon the seede and afterward it be touched with the carcasses it shal be forthwith polluted † If a beast be dead of which it is lawful for you to eate he that toucheth the carcasse therof shal be vncleane vntil euen † and he that eateth or carieth anie thing therof shal wash his clothes and shal be vncleane vntil euen † Al that creepeth vpon the earth shal be abhominable neither shal it be taken for meate † Whatsoeuer goeth vpon the brest on foure feete and hath manie feete or traileth on the earth you shal not eate because it is abhominable † Doe not contaminate your soules not touch ought therof lest you be vncleane † For I am the Lord your God be holie because I am holie Pollute not your soules in anie creeping beast that moueth vpon the earth † For I am the Lord that brought you out of the Land of Aegypt that I might be your God † You shal be holie because I am holie † This is the lawe of beasts and foules and of euerie liuing soule that moueth in the waters and creepeth on the earth † that you may know the differences of the cleane and the vncleane and know what you ought to eate and what to refuse ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XI 4. Vncleane you shal repute it In the first age of the world before Noes floud and so forward by tradition and after by the written Law some liuing creatures were reputed vncleane and forbid to be eaten or offered in sacrifice Not as euel of themselues for euerie creature of God is good by nature and creation but this distinction and prohibition was made in the old Testament for iust causes as the ancient fathers note specially three First for instruction of the people much inclined to idolatrie God distinguished al beastes birdes and fishes into cleane and vncleane wherby al men might know that none of them is God For hovv can anie man of reason saieth lerned Theodoret. q. 11. in Leuit. thinck that to be God vvhich either he abhorreth as vncleane or offereth in sacrifice to the true God and eateth therof himself Secondly God commanded this obseruance to exercise his people in obedience with precepts not otherwise necessarie but because he so commanded As at first he commanded Adam not to eate of the tree of knowledge of good and euel The transgression wherof brought al mankind into miserie From which againe Christ by his obedience redemed vs. For obseruation of this law old Eleazarus and the seuen bretheren with their mother did geue their liues rather then they would eate swines flesh and for the same are glorious Martyrs as testifie S. Cyprian Epist 56. ad Thibaritanos li. de exhort Mart. c 11. S. Gregorie Nazianzen orat 20. de Machab. S. Chrysostom de natiuitate septem Machab. S. Ambrose li. 1. de officijs c. 4. li. 2. de Iacob c. 10. 11. and the whole Church celebrating their feast the first day of August Thirdly and most specially these obseruations were commanded for signification of vertues to be embraced and of vices or sinnes to be auoided Such beastes therfore were holden for cleane and allowed for mans foode as diuide the hoofe and ruminate or chew the cudde signifying discretion betwixt good and euel and diligent consideration or
and the stranger and pupil and widow which abide with you in the place which our Lord thy God shal choose that his name may dwel there † and thou shalt remember that thou wast a seruant in Aegypt and thou shalt keepe and doe the thinges that are commanded † The solemnitie also of Tabernacles thou shalt celebrate seuen daies when thou hast gathered thy fruite of the barne floore and the presse † and thou shalt feast in the festiuitie thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and woman seruant the Leuite also and stranger and pupil and widow that are within thy gates † Seuen daies shalt thou celebrate the feastes to our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose and our Lord thy God wil blesse thee in al thy fruites and in euerie worke of thy handes and thou shalt be in ioye † Three times in a yeare shal al thy male appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose in the solemnitie of Azymes in the solemnitie of weekes and in the solemnitie of Tabernacles There shal not appeare before our Lord any emptie † but euerie one shal offer according to that he hath according to the blessing of our Lord his God which he shal geue him † Iudges and maisters shalt thou appoynt in al thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee in euerie of thy tribes that they may iudge the people with iust iudgement † and not decline to either part Thou shalt not accept person nor giftes because that giftes blinde the eies of the wise and change the wordes of the iust † Iustly shalt thou pursew that which is iust that thou mayest liue and possesse the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee † Thou shalt plante no groue nor any tree neere the altar of our Lord thy God † Neither shalt thou make nor sette to thy self a statue which thing our Lord thy God hateth CHAP. XVII Perfect hostes not mamed nor defectiue must be offered to God Idolaters stoned to death 8. VVhen inferior iudges differ the cause must be decided by the High Priest in consistorie Who is warranted not to erre therin and al are bound to obey his sentence 14. The dutie also of a king Whom in future time God wil condescend to geue them is described with special charge to receiue the law of God at the Priestes handes THOV shalt not immolate to our Lord thy God a sheepe and an oxe wherein there is blemish or any fault because it is abomination to our Lord thy God † When there shal be found with thee within one of thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee man or woman that do euil in the sight of our Lord thy God and transgresse his couenant † that they goe and serue strange goddes and adore them the sunne and the moone and al the hoste of heauen which thinges I commanded not † and this is told thee and hearing it thou hast inquired diligently and found it to be true and the abomination is committed in Israel † thou shalt bring forth the man and the woman that haue committed that most heynous thing to the gates of thy citie and they shal be stoned † At the mouth of two or three witnesses shal he perish that is to be slaine Let no man be killed one onlie geuing testimonie against him † The hand of the witnesses shal be first to kil him and the hand of the rest of the people shal be layd on last that thou mayest take away the euil out of the middes of thee † “ If thou perceiue that the iudgement with thee be hard and doubtful betwen bloud and bloud cause and cause leprosie and not leprosie and thou see that the wordes of the iudges within thy gates doe varye arise and goe vp to the place which our Lord thy God shal choose † And thou shalt come to the priestes of the Leuitical stocke and to the iudge that shal be at that time and thou shalt aske of them “ who shal shew thee the truth of the iudgment † And thou shalt do whatsoeuer they that are presidentes of the place which our Lord shal choose shal say and teach thee † according to his law and thou shalt folow their sentence neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand † But “ he that shal be proude refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest which at that time ministreth to our Lord thy God and the decree of the iudge that man shal die and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel † and the whole people hearing shal feare that none afterward swel in pride † When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee and doest possesse it and dwellest in it and sayest I wil sette a king ouer me as al nations haue round about † him shalt thou sette whom our Lord thy God shal choose of the number of thy brethren A man of an other nation that is not thy brother thou canst not make king † And when he is made he shal not multiplie to him selfe horses nor lead backe the people into Aegypt taking high courage for the number of his horsemen especially whereas our Lord hath commanded you that in no case you returne any more the same way † He shal not haue manie wiues that may allure his minde nor huge weightes of siluer and gold † And after he shal sitte in the throne of his kingdome he shal copie to him selfe the Deuteronomie of this Law in a volume taking the copie of the priestes of the Leuitical tribe † and he shal haue it with him and shal reade it al the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare our Lord his God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies that are commanded in the law † And that his hart be not lifted vp into pride ouer his brethren nor decline to the right side or the left side that he may reigne a long time and his sonnes ouer Israel ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII 8. If the iudgement be hard For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal that in case inferior Iudges varied in iudgement recourse might be had to the Councel of Priestes where one chiefe Iudge the High Priest was appointed to geue sentence and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same 9. vvho shal shevv the truth God so assisted this consistorie with his spirite of truth that their sentence was infallible though otherwise they might erre either in life or in priuate opinion VVherfore our Sauiour distinguishing betwen their publique doctrin and their workes taught the people that for somuch as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire and yet transgressed Gods commandmentes euerie one should obserue and doe as they saide but not doe according to their
† There was also an other yong man of Bethelem Iuda of the kinred therof and he was a Leuite and dwelt there † And going forth out of the citie of Bethelehem he would seiourne wheresoeuer he should find it comodious for him And when he was come into mount Ephraim making his iourney and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas † he was demanded of him whence he came Who answered I am a Leuite of Bethlehem Iuda and I goe to dwel where I shal be able and shal perceiue it to be profitable for me † And Michas said Abide with me and be to me a father and a priest and I wil geue thee euerie yeare tenne siluer peeces and duble liuerie and the thinges that be necessarie for victual † He was content and abode with the man and was vnto him as one of his sonnes † And Michas filled his hand and had the yong man for a priest with him saying † Now I know that God wil do me good hauing a priest of the Leuitical kinde CHAP. XVIII First sending spie to discouer 11 six hundred armed men of the tribe of Dan goe to seeke possessions 14. By the way they take the idol and idolatrical priest from Michas 27. surprise the towne of Lais 30. and there set vp idolatrie IN those dayes there was not a king in Israel and the tribe of Dan sought possession for it selfe that it might dwel therein for vntil that day it had not receiued a lotte among the other tribes † Therfore the children of Dan sent fiue men of their stocke and familie most valiant from Saraa and Esthaol that they might view the land and diligently behold it and they said to them Goe and consider the land Who going forward when they were come into mount Ephraim and had entered into the house of Michas they rested there † and knowing the voice of the yong man the Leuite and vsing his lodging they said to him Who brought thee hither What doest thou here For what cause wouldest thou come hither † Who answered them These and these thinges hath Michas done to me hath hyred me for wages to be his priest † And they desired him that he would consult the Lord that they might know whether they should goe on a prosperous iourney and the thing should haue effect † Who answered them Goe in peace The Lord regardeth your way and the iourney that you goe † The fiue men therfore going came to Lais they saw the people dwelling in it without any feare according to the custome of the Sidonians secure and quiet no man at al resisting them of greate riches and separated farre from Sidon and from al men † And returning to their brethren in Saraa and Estaol and asking what they had done they answered them † Arise and let vs goe vp to them for we haue seene the Land exceding rich and plentiful neglect not slacke not let vs goe and possesse it it wil be no labour † We shal enter vnto them being secure into a most large countrie and our Lord wil deliuer to vs the place wherein is penurie of nothing of those thinges that grow on the earth † There departed therfore from the kinred of Dan that is to say from Saraa and Esthaol six hundred men furnished with warlike armour † and going vp they taried in Cariathiarim of Iuda which place from that time tooke the name of the Tentes of Dan and it is at the backe of Cariathiarim † Thence they passed into mount Ephraim And when they were come to the house of Michas † the fiue men that before had been sent to view the Land of Lais said to the rest of their brethren You know that in these houses there is an Ephod and Theraphim and a grauen and molten god See what pleaseth you † And when they had turned a litle aside they entred into the house of the yong man the Leuite which was in the house of Michas and saluted him with peaceable wordes † And the six hundred men so as they were armed stoode before the doore † But they that were entred the house of the yong man endeuoured to take away the grauen the Ephod and the idols and molten god and thepriest stoode before the doore the six hundred most valiant men expecting not farre of † They therfore that were entred tooke the grauen the Ephod the theraphim and molten god To whom the priest said What doe you † To whom they answered Hold thy peace and put thy finger vpon thy mouth and come with vs that we may haue thee for a father and a priest Whether is better for thee that thou be a priest in the house of one man or in one tribe and familie in Israel † Which when he had heard he agreed to their wordes and tooke the Ephod and idols and grauen god and departed with them † Who when they went forward and had made the children and the cattel to goe before them and al that was percious † and were now farre from the house of Michas the men that dwelt in the house of Michas crying out together folowed † and at their backe began to shoute Who looking backe said to Michas What meanest thou Why doest thou crie † Who answered My Goddes which I made me you haue taken away and the priest and al that I haue and doe you say What aileth thee † And the children of Dan said to him Beware thou speake no more vnto vs and there come vnto thee men prouoked in mind and thou with al thy house perish † And so they went on their iourney begone But Michas seing that they were stronger then he returned into his house † And the six hundred men tooke the priest and the thinges which we spake of before and came into Lais to a people that was quiet and secure and stroke them in the edge of the sword and the citie they deliuered to fyre † no man at al bringing them succour for that they dwelt farre from Sidon and had with no men anie societie and affayres And the citie was situated in the countrie of Rohob which building agayne they dwelt in it † calling the name of the citie Dan according to the name of their father whom Israel had begotten which before was called Lais. † And they sette vp to them selues the grauen idol and Ionathan the sonne of Gerson the sonne of Moyses and his sonnes priestes in the tribe of Dan vntil the day of their captiuitie † And the idol of Michas remayned with them al the time that the house of God was in Silo. In those daies there was not a king in Israel CHAP. XIX A Leuite bringing homeward his reconciled wife 15. at Gabaa in the tribe of Beniamin hardly getteth lodging 25. his wife is there vilanously abused by wicked men and in the morning found dead 29. whereupon her husband cutteth her bodie and sendeth peeces to euerie
holie persecution then bringing them forth of the fornace of Egypt in his strong hand as is recorded in the former age at last his Diuine Maiestie deliuered to them his perfect and eternal Law conteyned in two tables distributed into tenne preceptes teaching them their proper duties first towards himselfe their God and Lord then towards ech other Adding moreouer for the practise and execution therof other particular precepts of two sortes to witte Ceremonial prescribing certaine determinate maners and rites in obseruing the commandements of the first table pertaining to God and Iudicial lawes directing in particular how to fulfil the commandements of the second table concerning our duties towards our neighbours So we see the whole law is nothing els but to loue God aboue al and our neighboures as our selues The maner of performing al is to beleue and hope in one onlie Lord God honour and serue him alone who made al of nothing conserueth al wil iudge al and render to al men as they deserue and therfore fully to confirme this point he beginneth his commandements with expresse prohibition of al false and imaginarie goddes saying Exod. 20. v 3. Thou shalt not haue strange goddes after threates to the transgressours and recital of the other nine commandementes he concludeth v. 23. with repetition of the first saying You shal not make goddes of siluer nor goddes of gold shal you make to you 〈…〉 i● repeted and explaned Deut. 5. And in the next chapter Moyses 〈…〉 the people saith Heare Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. And God himselfe speaking againe sayth Exod. 23. See ye that I am onlie and there is no other God besides me The royal prophet Dauid 2 Reg. 22. and Psalm 17. who is God but our God and in sundrie other places the sene● doctrine of one God is grounded confirmed and established The Misterie of the B. Trinitie or of three Diuine Persons is no lesse true and certaine then that there is but one God though not so manifest to reason no● so expressly taught in the old Testament yet beleued then also and often in inuaded where God is expressed by names of the plural number as Elobim Elim Elah● Saddai Adonai Tsebaoth which import pluralitie of Persons in God who is b●●e one nature and substance Distinction also of Persons in God 〈…〉 ced Exod. 33. God saying I wil cal in the name of the Lord That is as S. Augustin and other fathers expound it the second Person by his grace maketh his seruants to cal vpon God More distinctly Psalm 2. The Lord said to me Thou art my Sonne I this day haue begotten thee Psalm 109. The Lord said to my Lord that is God the Father to God the Sonne who according to his diuinitie is the Lord of Dauid according to his humanitie the sonne of Dauid The same king Dauid maketh mention also of the third Person the Holie Ghost praying Psalm 50. Thy holie Spirit take not from me In the forme of blessing the people Num. 6. al three Persons some to be vnderstood in the name of our Lord thrise repeted our Lord the Father blesse thee and keepe thee Our Lord the Sonne shew his face to thee and haue mercie vpon thee Our Lord the Holie Ghost turne his countenance vnto thee and geue thee peace Of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God we haue in this age manie prophecies and figures Moyses euidently Deut. 18 forsheweth that after other prophets Christ the Sonne of God should come in flesh and redeme mankind as S. Peter teacheth Act. 3. Likewise in his Canticle and Blessing of the tribes Deut. 32 33 he speaketh more expresly of Christ and his Church then of the Iewes and thier Synagogue The starre prophecied by Balaam Num. 24. forshewed both to Iewes and Gentiles that Christ should subdue al nations Iosu● both in name and office was a manifest figure of IESVS Christ Also the Iudge and Kinges some in one thing some in an other most especially king Dauid and king Salomon were figures of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ The brasen serpent Num. 21. sign fied Christ to be crucified as him selfe expenndeth it Ioan. 3. Bri fly the whole Law was a pedagogue or conductor to bring men to Christ Galat. 3. and by him to know God and them selues to wit God omnipotent al perfect Creator of al our Father Redemer and Sanctifier and man his chief earthlie creature though of himselfe w●●k● and impotent yea through sinne miserable yet in nature of free condition indued wish vnderstanding to conceiue and discourse and with freewil to choose or refuse what liketh or displeaseth him For God appointing al creatures their offices ingraffed in al other thinges inuariable inclination to performe the same so that they could neither by vertue nor sinne make their state better not worse then it was created but ordaining Angels and men to a higher end of eternal felicitie left their wils free to agree vnto or to resist his precepts and counsels VVherupon Angels cooperating with Gods grace were confirmed in glorie and some reuoking were eternally damned Man also offending fel into damnable state but through penance may be saued if he cooperate with new grace of our Redemer which is in his choise to doe or omitte As when God gaue his people meate in the desert Exod. 16. he so instructed them how to receiue it and vse it without force or compulsion that he might proue them as himself speaketh whether they would walke in his law or no. And after making couenant with them Exod. 19. Deut. 26. required and accepted their voluntarie consent entring into formal contract or bargaine betwen him self and them he promising on the one partie to make them his peculiar people a priestlie kingdome and a holie nation they on the other partie promising loyaltie obedience and obseruation of his commandements saying Al thinges that our Lord hath spoken we wil doe For which cause Gods promises are conditional Deut. 7. if thou kepe his iudgements God wil keepe his couenant to thee Againe most plainly Deut. 11. Behold I sette before your sight this day benediction and malediction and Deut. 30. I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life that thou mayest liue In al which it is certaine that Gods promise being firme mans wil is variable and so the euent not necessarie which made Caleb hoping of victorie to say Iosue 14. if perhaps our Lord be with me Neither doth Gods foreknowledge make the euent necessarie for he seeth the effect in the cause as it is voluntarie or casual yea God knoweth al before and some times fortelleth thinges vvhich conditionally vvould happen and in deed the condition fayling come not to passe as 1. Reg. 23. God answered that the men of Ceila would betray Dauid meaning if he staied there vvhich
38. VVith promise to prosper if he serue God 42. Salomon dieth AND king Salomon loued manie wemen strangers the daughter also of Pharao and Moabites and Ammonites Idumeians and Sidonians and Hetheians † of the nations wherof our Lord sayd to the children of Israel You shal not goe in vnto them neither shal anie of them come in vnto yours for they wil most certainly turne away your hartes to folow their goddes To these therfore was Salomon copled in most seruent loue † And he had wiues as it were queenes seuen hundred and concubines three hundred and the wemen turned away his hart † And when he was now old his hart was depraued by wemen that he folowed strange goddes neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God as the hart of Dauid his father † But Salomon worshipped Astarthee the goddesse of the Sidonians and Moloch the idol of the Ammonites † And Salomon did that which was not liked before our Lord and he accomplished not to folow our Lord as Dauid his father † Then built Salomon a temple to Camos the idol of Moab in the mount that is agaynst Ierusalem and to Moloch the idol of the children of Ammon † And in this maner did he to al his wiues that were strangers which burnt frankencense and immolated to their goddes † Therfore our Lord was wrath with Salomon because his minde was turned away from our Lord the God of Israel who had appeared vnto him the second tyme † and had commanded him concerning this word that he should not folow strange goddes he kept not the thinges which our Lord commanded him † Our Lord therfore sayd to Salomon Because thou hast done this and hast not kept my couenant and my preceptes which I haue commanded thee breaking I wil rent asunder thy kingdom and wil geue it to thy seruant † Neuerthelesse in thy dayes I wil not doe it because of Dauid thy father out of the hand of thy sonne I wil rent it † neither wil I take away the whole kingdom but one tribe I wil geue to thy sonne for Dauid my seruant and Ierusalem Which I haue chosen † And our Lord raysed vp an aduersarie to Salomon Adad an Idumeite of the kinges seede who was in Edom. † For when Dauid was in Idumea and Ioab the general of the warfare was gone vp to burie them that were slayne and had slayne al malekind in Idumea † for Ioab taried there six monethes and al Israel til he slew al malekind in Idumea † Adad him self fled and men of Idumea of his fathers seruantes with him to goe into Aegypt and Adad was a litle boy † And when they rose out of Madian they came into Pharan and they tooke with them men of Pharan and entered into Aegypt to Pharao the king of Aegypt who gaue him a house and appoynted him meates and assigued him land † And Adad found grace before Pharao excedingly in so much that he gaue him to wife the germane sister of his wife Taphnes the queene † And the sister of Taphnes bare him a sonne Genubath and Taphnes brought him vp in the house of Pharao and Genubath was dwelling at Pharaoes house with his children † And when Adad in Aegypt had heard that Dauid slept with his fathers and that Ioab the general of the warefare was dead he sayd to Pharao Dismisse me that I may goe into my countrie † And Pharao sayd to him For what lackest thou with me that thou seekest to goe into thyne owne countrie But he answered Nothing yet I besech thee that thou dismisse me † God also raysed vp to him an aduersarie Razon the sonne of Eliada who had fled Adarezer the king of Soba his lord † and he gathered men agaynst him and he became the captayne of theues when Dauid killed them and they went to Damascus and dwelt there and they made him king in Damascus † and he was an aduersarie to Israel al the dayes of Salomon and this is the euil of Adad and hatred agaynst Israel and he reigned in Syria † Ieroboam also the sonne of Nabath an Ephratheite of Sareda the seruant of Salomon whose mother was called Serua a woman widow lifted vp his hand agaynst the king † And this is the cause of his rebellion agaynst him because Salomon built Mello and filled vp the breache of the citie of Dauid his father † And Ieroboam was a strong man and mightie and Salomon seing the youngman of a good witte industrious had made him chief ouer the tributes of al the house of Ioseph † It came to passe therfore at that tyme that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem and the prophete Ahias the Silonite found him in the way couered with a new cloke and they two onlie were in the field † And Ahias taking his new cloke wherwith he was couered cut it into twelue partes † And he sayd to Ieroboam Take vnto thee ten pieces for thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Behold I wil rent the kingdom out of the hand of Salomon and wil geue thee ten tribes † But one tribe shal remayne to him for my seruant Dauid and Ierusalem the citie which I haue chosen of al the tribes of Israel † because he hath forsaken me and hath adored Astarthee the goddesse of the Sidonians Chamos the god of Moab and Moloch the god of the children of Ammon and hath not walked in my waies to doe iustice before me and my preceptes and iudgementes as Dauid his father † Neither wil I take away al the kingdom out of his hand but I wil make him prince al the daies of his life for Dauid my seruant whom I chose who kept my commandmentes and my preceptes † But I wil take away the kingdom out of his sonnes hand and wil geue thee ten tribes † and to his sonne I wil geue one tribe that there may remayne a lampe to Dauid my seruant at al times before me in Ierusalem the citie which I haue chosen that my name might be there † And thee wil I take and thou shalt reigne ouer al thinges that thy soule desireth and thou shalt be king ouer Israel † If therfore thou wilt heare al thinges that I shal command thee and wilt walke in my waies and doe that which is right before me keeping my commandmentes and my preceptes as Dauid my seruant did I wil be with thee and wil build thee a faythful house as I built a house to Dauid and I wil deliuer Israel to thee † and I wil afflict the seede of Dauid vpon this but yet not alwaies † Salomon therfore would haue killed Ieroboam who arose and fled into Aegypt to Sesac the king of Aegypt and was in Aegypt vntil the death of Salomon † And the rest of the wordes of Salomon and al that he did and his wisedom behold they are al written in the Booke of the wordes of the
he destroyed her denne and brake the most filthie idol and burnt it in the torrent cedron † but the excelses he did not take away Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies † and he caried in those thinges which his father had sanctified and vowed into the house of our Lord siluer and gold and vessels † And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies † Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda and built Rama that no man might go out or come in of Asaes side the king of Iuda † Asa therfore taking al the siluer and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord and in the treasures of the kinges house gaue it into the handes of his seruantes and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion the king of Syria which dwelt in Damascus saying † There is a league betwen me and thee betwixt my father and thy father therfore I haue sent thee giftes siluer and gold and I desire thee that thou come and make void the league that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel and he may retire from me † Benadad agreing to king Asa sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel and they stroke Ahion and Dan and Abeldomum of Maacha and al Cenneroth to witte al the Land of Nephthali † Which when Baasa had heard he intermitted to build Rama and returned into Thersa † But king Asa sent word into al Iuda saying Let no man be excused and they tooke stones from Rama and the timber therof wherwith Baasa had built and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin and Maspha † But the rest of al the wordes of Asa and al his forces and al that he did the cities that he built are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete † And he slept with his fathers was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him † But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares † And he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the waies of his father and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne † And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar lay in wayte against him and stroke him in Gebbethon which is a citie of the Philistimes for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon † Baasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and reigned for him † And when he reigned he stroke al the house of Ieroboam he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite † for the sinnes of Ieroboam which he had sinned and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne and for the offence wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel † But the rest of the wordes of Nadab and al that he wrought are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel † And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies † In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Baasa the sonne of Ahias ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares † And he did euil before our Lord walked in the waies of Ieroboam and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne CHAP. XVI Iehu for prophecying the destruction of Baasa and his house 7. is slaine 8. yet his sonne Ela reigneth tvvo yeares 9. Then Zambri rebelleth killeth Ela and reigneth 16. Part of the people choosing Amri prince of the armie their king 18. Zambri desperatly burneth himselfe and the kings palace 21. an other part folow Thebni as king til his death 23. Amri reigneth tvvelue yeares vvickedly 29. His sonne Achab succedeth marieth Iezabel and serueth Baal 34. In the meane time Hiel repairer● Iericho AND the word of our Lord came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani agaynst Baasa saying † For so much as I haue exalted thee out of the dust sette thee duke ouer my people Israel but thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne that thou mightest anger me with their sinnes † behold I wil cut downe the posteritie of Baasa and the posteritie of his house and I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat † Whosoeuer of Baasa shal die in the citie him shal the dogges eate and whosoeuer of his shal die in the countrie him shal the fowles of the ayre deuoure † But the rest of the wordes of Baasa and whatsoeuer he did and his battels are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel † Baasa therfore slept with his fathers and was buried in Thersa and Ela his sonne reigned for him † And when the word of our Lord came in the hand of Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete agaynst Baasa and agaynst his house and agaynst al the euil that he had done before our Lord to anger him in the workes of his handes that it should be made as the house of Ieroboam for this cause he slew him that is to say Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete † In the sixe and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Ela the sonne of Baasa ouer Israel in Thersa two yeares † And his seruant Zambri rebelled agaynst him the captayne of the halfe part of the horsemen and Ela was in Thersa drinking and dronken in the house of Arsa the gouernour of Thersa † Zambri therfore rushing in stroke and slew him in the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda he reigned for him † And when he teigned and sate vpon his throne he stroke al the house of Baasa and he leaft not of it one that could pysse agaynst a wal his kinsfolke and frendes † And Zambri destroyed al the house of Baasa according to the word of our Lord that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Iehu the prophet † for al the sinnes of Baasa and the sinnes of Ela his sonne who sinned and made Israel to sinne prouoking our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities † But the rest of the wordes of Ela and al that he did are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel † In the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Zambri seuen daies in Thersa moreouer the armie besieged Gebbethon a citie of the Philisthines † And
the children of Herem Eliezer Iosue Melchias Semeias Simeon † Beniamin Maloch Samarias † And of the children of Hasom Mathanai Mathatha Zabad Eliphelet Iermai Manasse Semei † Of the children of Bani Maaddi Amram and Vel † Baneas and Badaias Chelia● † Vania Marimuth and Eliasib † Mathanias Mathanai and Iasi † and Bani and Bennui Semei † and Salmias and Nathan and Adaias † and Mechnedebai Sisai Sarai † Ezrel and Selemiau Semeria † Sellum Amaria Ioseph † Of the children of Nebo Iehiel Mathathias Zabad Zabina Ieddu and Ioel. and Banaia † Al these had taken strangers to wife and there were of them that had borne children THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS THIS booke beareth Title both of the author Nehemias who writ it and of the second booke of Esdras who in the former writ the historie of the Israelites after theyr relaxation from captiuitie to the building againe of the Temple with other thinges done the same time VVhereunto Nehemias ioyneth thinges succeding especially the new erection of walles and towers about the citie of Ierusalem And it may be diuided into three partes In the two first chapters he sheweth his compassion of his countries misserie and his cōming to assist them In the tenne folowing he reciteth the good effectes in repayring and strengthning the citie with wall●s and people In the last chapter the correction of errors euil maners which he found amongst them THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS which also is called THE SECOND OF ESDRAS CHAP. I. Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrie men in Iurie 4. lamenteth fasteth and prayeth God for their relief THE wordes of Nehemias the sonne of Helchias And it came to passe in the moneth of Casleu the twenteth yeare and I was in Susis the castel † And Hanani one of my brethren came him selse and men of Iuda and I asked them of the Iewes that remayned and were left aliue of the captiuitie and of Ierusalem † And they sayd to me They that remayned and are left of the captiuitie there in the prouince are in great affliction and in reproche and the wal of Ierusalem is broken downe and the gates therof are burnt with fire † And when I had heard these maner of wordes I sate and wept and mourned many dayes and fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heauen † And I sayd I besech thee Lord God of heauen strong great and terrible which keepest couenant mercie with them that loue thee and keepe thy cōmandmentes † let thine eares be harkning and thine eyes open to heare the prayer of thy seruant which I pray before thee this day night day for the children of Israel thy seruantes and I confesse for the sinnes of the children of Israel in which they haue sinned to thee I my fathers house haue sinned † we haue bene seduced with vanitie and haue not kept thy commandments and cerimonies and iudgement which thou hast commanded to Moyses thy seruant † Remember the word that thou didst command vnto Moyses thy seruant saying When you shal transgresse I will depresse you into peoples † and if you returne to me and keepe my precepts and doe them although you shal be led away to the vttermost partes of heauen thence wil I gather you and bring you backe into the place which I haue chosen that my name should dwel there † And they are thy seruantes and thy people whom thou hast redemed in thy great strength and in thy mighty hand † I besech thee Lord let thine eare be attent to the prayer of thy seruant and to the prayer of thy seruants which will feare thy name and direct thy seruant this day and giue him mercy before this man for I was the kings cupbearer CHAP. II. Nehemias obtaining commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Ierusalem 11. secretty vieweth the broken walles and ruines of the citie 17. and exhorteth al the Iewes to the reedifying therof AND it came to passe in the moneth of Nisan the twentith yeare of Artaxerxes the king and there was wine before him and I lifted vp the wine and gaue to the king and I was as it were languishing before his face † And the king sayd to me Why is thy countenance sad whereas I doe not see thee sicke this is not without cause but some euil I know not what is in thy hart And I was very much and excedingly afrayd † and I sayd to the king O king for euer mayst thou liue why should not my countenance be heauie because the citie of the house of the sepulchres of my fathers is desolate and the gates therof are burnt with fire † And the king sayd to me For what thing makest thou request And I prayed the God of heauen † and I sayd to the king If it seme good to the king and if thy seruant do please before thy face thou send me into Iewrie to the citie of the sepulchre of my father and I wil build it † And the king sayd to me and the Queene that ●ate by him Vnto what time wil thy iourney be and when wilt thou returne And it pleased before the king and he sent me and I appoynted him a time † And I sayd to the king If it seme good to the king let him geue me letters to the gouernours of the country beyond the Riuer that they conduct me til I come into Iewrie † and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the kings forest to geue me timber that I may couer the gates of the towre of the house and the walles of the citie and the house that I shal enter into And the king gaue according to the good hand of my God with me † And I came to the dukes of the countrie beyond the Riuer and gaue them the kings letters And the king had sent with me captaynes of soldiers and horsemen † And Sanaballat an Horonite and Tobias a seruant an Ammonite heard it and were greiued with great affliction that a man was come which sought the prosperitie of the children of Israel † And I came to Ierusalem and was there three dayes † and I arose in the night I and a few men with me and I told not anie man what God had put in my hart to doe in Ierusalem and there was no beast with me but the beast wheron I sate † And I went out by the gate of the valley by night and before the fountayne of the dragon and to the gate of the dung and I viewed the wal of Ierusalem broken downe and the gates therof consumed with fire † And I passed to the gate of the fountayne and to the kinges conduite and there was no place for the beast where on I sat to passe † And I went vp by the torrent in the night and viewed the wal and going backe I came to the gate of the valley and returned † But the magistrastes knew
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 no● 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 ● 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 ●e●e to displease the Phari●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 v●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
together to Ozias al together with one voice † said God iudge betwen vs and thee because thou hast done euil agaynst vs in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes † And there is none to helpe wheras we lye prostrate before their eies in thirst great destruction † And now assemble ye al that are in the citie that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes † For it is better that captiues we blesse our Lord liuing then we should die and be a reproch to al flesh when we shal see our wiues and our infantes die before our eies † We cal to witnes this day heauen and earth and the God of our fathers which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes that now you deliuer the cirie into the hand of Holofernes armie that our end may be short in the edge of the sword which is made longer in the drught of thirst † And when they had said these thinges there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God saying † We haue sinned with our fathers we haue done vniustly we haue committed iniquitie † Thou because thou art gracious haue mercie vpon vs or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee † that they say not among the Gentiles Where is their God † And when they wearied with these cries and tyred with these weepings had held their peace † Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares said Be of good chere bretheren and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord. † For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation and wil geue glorie to his name † But if after fiue dates be past there come no aide we wil doe these wordes which you haue spoken CHAP. VIII Iudith a most veriuous rich fayre renowmed widow 9. rebuketh the high priest and ancientes for their determination to deliuer the citie if ayde come not in fiue dayes 14. exhorteth al to penance 28. They al agree to her godlie aduise 30. praying for good sucesse of her intention which they yet know not AND it came to passe when Iudith a widow had heard these wordes which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Idox the sonne of Ioseph the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Elai the sonne of Iamnor the sonne of Gedeon the sonne of Raphaim the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Melchias the sonne of Enan the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Salathiel the sonne of Simeon the sonne of Israel † and her husband was Manasses who died in the daies of barley haruest † for he was occupied with them that bound sheues in the field and the heate came vpon his head and he died in Bethulia his citie and was buried there with his father † And Iudith was leaft his widow now three yeares and six monethes † And in the higher partes of her house she made her self a secrete chamber in which she abode shut vp with her maides † and hauing cloth of heare vpon her loynes she fasted al the daies of her life but Sabbathes and new-moones and the feastes of the house of Israel † And she was of an exceding beautiful countenance to whom her husband had leaft much richesse and a great familie and possessions ful of heardes of oxen and flockes of sheepe † And she was among al most famous because she feared our Lord very much neither was there that spake an il word of her † When she therfore had heard that Ozias had promised that after the fifth day were past he would yeld the citie she sent to the ancientes Chabri and Charmi. † And they came to her and she said to them What is this word wherein Ozias hath consented to yeld the citie to the Assyrians if within fiue daies there come no ayde to vs † And what are you that tempt our Lord † This is no word that may prouoke mercie but rather that may rayse vp wrath and inflame furie † You haue set a time for the mercie of our Lord and according to your pleasure you haue appointed him a day † But because our Lord is patient let vs be penitent for this same thing and sheding teares let vs desire his pardon † for not as man so wil God threaten neither as the sonne of man wil he be inflamed to anger † And therfore let vs humble our soules to him and being setled in an humble spirit seruing him † let vs say weeping to our Lord that according to his wil so he doe his mercie with vs that as our hart is trubled in their pride so also we may glorie in our humilitie † because we haue not folowed the sinnes of our fathers which forsooke their God and adored strange goddes † for which abomination they were geuen into the sword and into confusion to their enemies but we know no other God but him † Let vs humbly expect his consolation and he wil require our bloud of the afflictions of our enemies and he wil humble al Nations what soeuer shal rise vp against vs and the Lord our God wil make them without honour † And now bretheren because you are ancientes in the people of God and their soules depende of you by your speach comforte their hartes that they be mindful that our fathers were tempted to be proued whether they did worshippe their God truly † They must be mindful how our father Abraham was tempted and by many tribulations proued was made the freind of God † So Isaac so Iacob so Moyses al that haue pleased God through manie tribulations haue passed faithful † But they that did not receiue the tentations with the feare of our Lord and vttered their impatience and reproch of their murmuring against our Lord † were destroyed of the destroyer and perished by serpents † And we therfore let vs not reuenge ourselues for these thinges which we suffer † but reputing these verie punishments to be the scourges of our Lord lesse then our sinnes wherwith as seruantes we are chastised let vs thinke them to haue chanced to our amendement and not to our destruction † And Ozias and the ancientes sayd to her Al thinges which thou hast spoken be true and there is no reprehension in thy wordes † Now therfore pray for vs because thou art a holie woman and fearing God † And Iudith said to them As you know that which I could speake to be of God † so that which I haue disposed to doe proue if it be of God and pray that God establish my counsel † You shal stand at the gate this night and I wil goe out with myne abra and pray ye that as you haue said in fiue dayes our Lord respect his people Israel † But I
I was the father of the poore and the cause which I knew not I searched most diligently † I brake the iawes of the wicked man and out of his teeth I tooke away the praye † And I said I wil die in my litle nest as a palme-tree wil multiplie daies † My roote is opened beside the waters and dewe shal continue in my haruest † My glorie shal alwaies be renewed and my bow in my hand shal be repayred † They that heard me expected sentence and attent held their peace at my counsel † To my wordes they durst adde nothing and my speach distilled vpon them † They expected me as rayne and they opened their mouth as it were to a lateward shower † If at anie time I laughed on them they beleued not and the light of my countenance fel not on the earth † If I would haue gone to them I sate first and when I sate as a king with his armie standing about him yet was I a conforter of them that mourned CHAP. XXX Holie Iob sheweth the great change of his temporal estate from welfare into great calamitie BVT now they of yonger time scorne me whose fathers I vouchsafed not to put with the dogs of my flocke † The force of whose handes was to me as nothing and they were thought vnworthie of life it self † Barren with pouertie and famine who gnawed in the wildernes il fauoured by calamitie and miserie † And they did eate grasse and the barkes of trees and the roote of iunipers was their meat † Who taking these thinges violently out of the valles when they had found euerie thing they ranne to them with a crie † They dwelt in the deserts of torrentes and in caues of the earth or vpon grauel † Who reioysed among these kind of thinges and counted it delicacies to be vnder the briars † The children of foolish and base men and in the earth not appearing at al. † Now am I turned into their song and become a prouerb with them † They abhorre me and flee far from me and are not a frayd to spit in my face † For he hath opened his quiuer and hath afflicted me and hath put a bridle into my mouth † At the right hand of me rising my calamities forthwith arose they haue ouerthrowen my feete and as with waues haue oppressed with their pathes † They haue dissipated my waies they haue lyen in wayte against me and they haue preuailed and there was not that would helpe † As when a wal is broken and the gate opened they haue broken violently vpon me and are come trambling downe to my miseries † I brought to nothing as a wind he hath taken away my desire mand my prosperitie hath passed away as a clowde † And now my soule withereth in my self and the daies of affliction possesse me † In the night my bone is pearsed with sorrowes and they that eate me sleepe not † In the multitude of them my garment is consumed and they haue girded me about as it were with the coler of a wate † I am compared to durt and am resembled to imbers and ashes † I crie to thee and thou hearest me not I stand and thou doest not respect me † Thou art changed to be cruel toward me and in the hardenesse of thy hand thou art against me † Thou didst lift me vp and setting me as it were vpon the wind thou hast mightely dashed me † I know that thou wilt deliuer me to death where a house is appointed for euery one that liueth † But yet not to my consumption doest thou send forth thy hand and if they shal fal thou wilt saue † I wept sometime vpon him that was afflicted and my soul had compassion on the poore † I expect good thinges and euils are come vpon me I taried for light and darknesse brake forth † My inner partes haue boyled without anie rest the dayes of affliction haue preuented me † I went mourning without furie rising vp I cried in the multitude † I was the brother of dragons and felow of Ostriches † My skinne is made blacke vpon me and my bones are dried with heate † My harpe is turned into mourning and my instrument into the voice of weepers CHAP. XXXI Holie Iob reciteth sincerly his owne vertues shewing therby that he is not punished so gricuously for his sinnes but by Gods prouidence for some other cause I HA●● made a couenant with mine eyes that I would 〈…〉 as thinke of a virgin † For what part should G●● 〈…〉 haue in me inheritance the Omnipotent from on hig●● † Is there not perdition to the wicked man and alienation to them that worke iniustice † Doth not he consider my waies and number al my steppes † If I haue walked in vanitie and my foote hath hastened in guile † Let him wey me in a iust balance and let God know my simplicitie † If my steppe haue declined out of the way and if mine eie hath folowed my hart and if sporte hath cleaued to my handes † Let me sawe and let an other eate it and let my progenie be plucked vp by the rootes † If my hart hath bene deceiued vpon a woman and if I haue lyene in waite at my freinds doore † Let my wife be the harlot of an other man and let other men lye with her † For this is a hainous thing and most great iniquitie † It is a fire deuoring euen to perdition and rooting vp al thinges that spring † If I hane contemned to abide iudgement with my man seruant and my mayd seruant when they had anie controuersie against me † For what shal I doe when God shal rise to iudge and when he shal aske what shal I answer him † Did not he make me in the wombe that made him also and did not one forme me in the matrice † If I haue denied to the poore that which they would and haue made the eyes of the widow to expect † If I haue eaten my morsel alone and the pulpil hath not eaten therof with me † Because from mine infancie mercy hath growen with me and from my mothers wombe it came forth with me † If I haue dispised him that perisheth for that he had not clothing and the poore man without wherwithal to couer him † If his sides haue not blessed me he was not warmed with the flises of my sheepe † If I haue lifted vp my hand ouer the pupil yea when I saw my self in the ga●e the superior † Let my shoulder fal from his iuncture and let my arme with his bones be broken † For I haue alwaies feared God as waues swelling vpon me and his weight I could not beare † If I haue thought gold my strength and haue said to fine gold My confidence † If I haue reioysed vpon my great riches and because my hand found manie thinges † If I saw the sunne
illuminate them with the light of the liuing † Attend Iob and heare me and hold thy peace whiles I speake † But if thou hast what to speake answer me speake for I would thee to appeare iust † And if thou haue not heare me hold thy peace and I wil teach thee wisedom CHAP. XXXIIII Againe Eliu chargeth Iob with blasphemie and other crimes 10. sheweth the equitie of Gods iudgement 20. and that al thinges are subiect to Gods powre and knowlege ELIV therfore pronouncing spake these wordes also † Heare ye wise men my wordes and ye learned harken to me † For the eare proueth wordes and the throate discerneth meates by the ras● † Let vs choose vs iudgement and among vs let vs see what is the better † Because Iob sayd I am iust and God hath subuerted my iudgement † For in iudging me there is a lie mine arrow is violent without anie sinne † What man is there as is Iob that drinketh skorning as it were water † That goeth with them that worke iniquitie and walketh with impious men † For he hath sayd Man shal not please God although he runne with him † Therfore ye discrete men heare me far from God be impietie and iniquitie from the Omnipotent † For he wil render a man his worke and according to the waies of euerie one he wil recompence them † For in verie deed God wil not condemne without cause neither wil the Omnipotent subuert iudgement † What other hath he appointed ouer the earth or whom hath he sette ouer the world which he made † If he direct his hart to him he shal drawe his spirit and breath vnto him † Al flesh shal faile together and man shal returne into ashes † If then thou haue vnderstanding heare that is sayd and harken to the voice of my speach † Can he that loueth not iudgement be healed and how doest thou so far condemne him that is iust † That sayth to the king Apostata that calleth dukes impious † Who accepteth not the persones of princes nor hath knowen the tyrant when he contended against the poore man for al are the worke of his handes † They shal sodenly die and at midnight peoples shal be trubled and shal passe and take away the violent without hand † For his eies are vpon the waies of men and he considereth al their steppes † There is not darkenesse and there is not shadow of death that they may be hid there which worke iniquitie † For it is no more in mans powre to come to God into iudgement † He shal destroy manie innumerable shal make other to stand for them † For he knoweth their workes and therfore he shal bring night and they shal be destroyed † As impious men he hath stroken them in the place of them that see † Who as it were of purpose haue reuolted from him and would not vnderstand al his waies † That they caused the crie of the needie man to come to him and he heard the voice of the poore † For he granting peace who is there that can condemne After he shal hide his countenance who is there that may behole him both vpon nations and vpon al men † Who maketh a man that is an hypocrite reigne for the sinnes of the people † Therfore because I haue spoken to God thee also I wil not prohibite † If I haue erred teach thou me if I haue spoken iniquitie I wil adde no more † Doth God require it of thee because it hath displeased thee for thou beganst to speake and not I but if thou know anie better thing speake † Let men of vnderstanding speake to me and let a wiseman heare me † But Iob hath spoken folishly and his wordes sound not discipline † O my father let Iob be proued euen to the end cease not from the man of iniquity † Who addeth blasphemie vpon his sinnes let him be restrayned in the meane time among vs and then let him prouoke God to iudgement with his speaches CHAP. XXXV Eliu pretending that Iob had sayde God to be vniusts she weth that mans pietie nor impietie neither profiteth nor disprofiteth God 13 and that he iudgeth al thinges rightly THERFORE Eliu againe spake these wordes † Doth thy cogitation seme iust to thee that thou sadyst I am iuster then God † For thou saydst That which is right doth not please thee or what wil it profite thee if I sinne † Therfore wil I answer to thy wordes to thy frendes with thee † Looke vp to heauen and see and behold the skie that it is higher then thou † If thou sinne what shalt thou hurt him and if thine iniquiries be multiplied what shalt thou doe against him † Moreouer if thou doe iustly what shalt thou geue him or what shal he receiue of thy hand † Man that is like to thee thy impietie shal hurt and thy iustice shal helpe the sonne of man † Because of the multitude of calumniatours they shal cry and shal waile for the force of the arme of tyrantes † And he hath not sayd Where is God that made me that hath geuen songs in the night † Who teacheth vs aboue the beastes of the earth and instructeth vs aboue the foules of the ayre † There shal they crie and he wil not heare because of the pride of the euil † God therfore wil not heare without cause and the Omnipotent wil behold the causes of euerie one † Yea when thou shalt say He considereth not be iudged before him expect him † For he doth not now inferre his furie neither doth he reuenge wickednesse excedingly † Therfore Iob in vaine openeth his mouth and without knowledge multiplieth wordes CHAP. XXXVI Yet further Eliu sheweth that God by his powre and wisdome geueth to euerie one that is iust 16. inferring falsly that al Iobs affliction is for his sinnes 22. discoursing stil of Gods poure wisdom and prouidence ELIV also adding speake these wordes † Beare with me a litle and I wil shew to thee for as yet I haue what to speake for God † I wil repete my knowledge from the beginning and I wil proue my maker iust † For in deede my wordes are without lye and perfect knowledge shal be proued to thee † God doth not cast away the mightie wheras as himself also is mightie † But he saueth not the impious and he giueth iudgement to the poore † He shal not take away his eyes from the iust man and he placeth kinges in the throne for euer and there they are extolled † And if they shal be in cheines and be bound with the ropes of pouertic † He shal shew them their workes and their wicked deedes because they haue bene violent † He also shal reuele their eare to chastise them and shal speake that they may returne from iniquitie † If they shal heare and obserue they shal accomplish their daies in good and their years in
drawe out the Leuiathan with a hooke and with a rope shalt thou tye his tongue † Shalt thou put a ring in his nosthrels or bore through his iaw with a buckle † Wil he multiplie prayers to thee or speake to thee gentle wordes † Wil he make a couenant with thee and shalt thou take him to be a seruant for euer † Shalt shou delude him as a birde or tye him for thy handmaydes † Shal freindes cut him merchantes diuide him † Shalt thou fil nettes with his skinne and the cabbin of fishes with his heade † Lay thy hand vpon him remember battel and adde to speake no more † Behold his hope shal frustrate him and in the sight of al he shal be cast downe headlong CHAP. XLI Leuiathan is further described by the peculiar partes of his bodie and terrible composition of al his members NOT as cruel wil I raise him for who can resist my contenance † Who hath geuen me before that I may render vnto him Al thinges that are vnder heauen be myne † I wil not spare him and his mightie wordes and framed to beseech † Who shal reuele the face of his garment and who shal enter into the middes of his mouth † Who shal open the gate of his countenance dreade is round about his teeth † His bodie as shildes that are cast compact with skales fast cleauing together † One is ioyned to an other and not so much as anie ayre entereth betwen them † One shal sticke to an other holding eche other they shal not be seperated † His sneesing is as the shining of fire his eies as the twinklings of the morning † Out of his mouth procede lampes as it were torches of lighted fire † Out of his nosthrels procedeth smoke as it were of a pot heated and boyling † His breath maketh coales to burne a flame cometh fotth out of his mouth † In his necke shal strength abide needines goeth before his face † The members of his flesh cleaue together one to an other he shal send lightnings against him and he shal not be caried to an other place † His hart shal be hardened as a stone and shal be stifly compact as the smithes stithie † When he shal be taken away the Angels shal feare and being feared shal be purged † When the sword shal apprehend him neither speare nor brestplate shal be able to abide † For he shal esteme yron as chaffe and brasse as rotten wood † The bowman shal not put him to flight the stones of the sling to him are turned into stubble † As stubble wil he esteme the hammer and he wil laugh him to skorne that shaketh the speare † The beames of the sunne shal be vnder him and he shal straw gold vnder him as durt † He shal make the deepe sea to boyle as a pot and shal put it as when ointmentes boyle † A path shal shine after him he shal esteme the depth as waxing old † There is no power vpon the earth that may be compared with him who is made to feare no man † He seeth euerie high thing he is king ouer al the children of pryde CHAP. XLII Holie Iob instructed comforted by Gods discourse acknowlegeth his fault and craueth pardon for his ouersight in speach or cogitation 7. God iustifieth his cause against his freindes 9. They offer sacrifice for their offence 10. Al thinges prosper with Iob duble to that he had before 16. and he dieth happely AND Iob answering our Lord sayd † I know that thou canst doe al thinges and no cogitation is hid from thee † Who is this that concealeth counsel without knowledge Therfore haue I spoken vnwisely and the thinges that did excede my knowledge beyond mesure † Heare I besech thee and I wil speake I wil aske thee and do thou tel me † With the hearing of the eare I haue heard thee but now my eye seeth thee † Therfore I reprehend myself and I do penance in imbers and ashes † And after our Lord spake these wordes to Iob he sayd to Eliphaz the Themanite My furie is wrath against thee and against thy two frendes because “ you haue not spoken right before me as my seruant Iob. † Take therfore vnto you “ seuen oxen and seuen rammes and goe to my seruant Iob and offer holocauste for your selues and my seruant “ Iob shal pray for you his face I wil receiue that the follie be not imputed to you for you haue not spoken right thinges before me as my seruant Iob. † Eliphaz therfore the Themanite and Baldad the Suhite and Sophar the Naamathite went and did as our Lord had spoken to them and our Lord receiued the face of Iob. † Our Lord also was turned at the penance of Iob when he prayed for his freindes And our Lord added al thinges whatsoeuer had bene Iobes duble † And al his brethren came to him and al his sisters and al that knew him before and they did eate bread with him in his house and wagged the head vpon him and comforted him vpon al the euil that God had brought in vpon him And euerie man gaue him one ewe and one earelet of gold † And our Lord blessed the last daies of Iob more then his beginning And he had fourtene thousand sheepe and six thousand camels a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she asses † And he had seuen sonnes and three daughters † And he called the name of one Dies and the name of the second Cassia the name of the third Cornustibij † And there were not found in al the earth wemen so beautiful as the daughters of Iob and their father gaue them inheritance among their brethren † And Iob liued after these thinges an hundred fourtie yeares and he saw his children and his childrens children vnto the fourth generation and he died an old man and ful of daies ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLII 7. You haue not spoken right as my seruant Iob Holie Iob being throughly tried in the fornace of tribulation and by diuine instruction confirmed in perfect patience and other vertues God at last gaue sentence condemning the guiltie and iustifying the innocent in plaine termes prononcing that Eliphaz Baldad and Sophar had not spoken right before him as his seruant Iob. And so these three being conuinced that notwithstanding their former pretence of defending Gods cause they had erred and Iob had maintained the truth they submitted themselues as faultie and humbly did penance bringing their oblations for sacrifice to Iob as they were commanded v. 8. 9 As for Eliu the last disputer persisting more vehemēt in his errour when others ceassed from contention he was sufficiently condemned in his felowes And the rather for that true point of his owne doctrine ch 33. v. 14 that God speaketh once and repeteth not the same the second time For it was euer a general rule
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 we● 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 wan● of expected comforth especially by such freindes Stil comforted himself with assured faith of the Resurrection Sophar also ch 20. attempted againe to cōuince 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 mere●e was most extremly afflicted and afterwards restored to health and wealth we haue also h●re in the Allegorical sense an especial figure of Christ who as he was absolutly most innocent most perfect so was he without cōparison most afflicted of al mankind Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before signified in the Anagogical sense the Resurrection and rest●uratiō 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
to God † Ye kingdomes of the earth sing to God sing to our Lord † Sing ye to God that mounteth vpon the heauen of heauen to the East Behold he wil giue to his voice the voice of strength † giue you glorie to God vpon Israel his magnificence and his powre in the cloudes † God is meruelous in his saintes the God of Israel he wil giue powre and strength to his people God be blessed ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXVII 16. The mountaine of God For better discerning the true Church from other congregations the Prophet here describeth certaine proprieties therof for he calleth it a mountane because it is most visible to al men Secondly a fatte mountane that is replenished vvith al vertues and giftes of the Holie Ghost vvherof it is called Holie Thirdly it is crudded or consolidated in vnitie of faith and Religion vvhich conioyne the vvhole bodie making it solide and firme as the ruen turneth liquide milke into curde and so into cheese Fourtly it is the Congregation vvherin God alvvayes remaneth euen to the end for euer vvhich shevveth tvvo other proprieties that the Church neuer faileth nor erreth in doctrin God stil dvvelling therin and consequently conserueth it from error in doctrin 17. VVhy suppose you crudded montaines As for other congregations it is certaine and euident that they are not the Church of God because they are not crudded that is not vnited in the same pointes of faith but only in negatiue pointes and in general opposition against the Catholique Church and among themselues notoriously disagreing and diuided As they also vvant the other markes of the true Church PSALME LXVIII Christ in middes of afflictions as one in dangerous waters 5. describing the malice of persecutors and his owne true zele 14. prayeth his heauenlie Father for helpe 23. By way of iust imprecation forsheweth the seuere punishment of his aduersaries 30. his owne glorious Resurrection and prosperous building of his Church For which he inuiteth al creatures to praise God Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to Dauid SAVE me ô God because waters are entered into my soule † I sticke fast in the myre of the depth and there is no sure standing I am come into the depth of the sea and a tempest hath ouerwhelmed me † I haue labored crying my iawes are made hoarse my eies haue failed whiles I hope in my God † They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head that hate me without cause Mine enimies are made strong that haue persecuted me vniustly then did I pay the thinges that I tooke not † O God thou knowest my foolishnes and mine offences are not hide from thee † Let them not be ashamed vpon me which expect thee ô Lord Lord of hostes Let them not be confounded vpon me that seeke thee ô God of Israel † Because for thee haue I sustained reproch confusion hath couered my face † I am become a forener to my brethren and a stranger to the sonnes of my mother † Because the zele of thy house hath eaten me and the reproches of them that reproched thee fel vpon me † And I couered my soule in fasting and it was made a reproch to me And I put heare cloth my garment I became a parable to them † They spake aganst me that sat in the gate and they soong aganst me that dranke wine † But I my prayer to thee ô Lord a time of thy good pleasure ô God In the multitude of thy mercie heare me in the truth of thy saluation † Deliuer me out of the myre that I stick not fast deliuer me from them that hate me and from the depthes of waters † Let not the tempest of water drowne me nor the depth swallowe me neyther let the pit shut his mouth vpon me † Heare me ô Lord because thy mercie is benigne according to the multitude of thy commiserations haue respect to me † And turne not away thy face from thy seruant because I am in tribulation heare me speedily † Attend to my soule and deliuer it because of mine enimies deliuer me † Thou knowest my reproch my confusion my shame † In thy sight are al they that afflict me my hart hath looked for reproch and miserie And I expected some bodie that would be sorie together with me and there was none and that would confort me and I founde not † And they gaue gal for my meate in my thirst they gaue me vinegre to drinke † Let their table be made a snare before them for retributions and for a scandal † Let Their eies be darkned that they see not and make their backe crooked alwaies Poure out thy wrath vpon them and let the furie of thy wrath ouertake them Let their habitation be made desert and in their tabernacles let there be none to dwel Because whom thou hast striken they haue persecuted and vpon the sorrow of my wounds they haue added † Adde thou iniquitie vpon their iniquitie and let them not enter into thy iustice † Let them be put out of the booke of the liuing and with the iust let them not be written I am poore and sorowful thy saluation ô God hath receiued me † I wil praise the name of God with canticle and wil magnifie him in prayse † And it shal please God more then a young calfe that bringeth forth hornes and hoofes † Let the poore see and reioyce seeke ye God and your soule shal liue † Because our Lord hath heard the poore and he hath not despised his prisoners † Let the heauens and earth praise him the sea and al the creeping beastes in them † Because God wil saue Sion and the cities of Iuda shal be built vp And they shal inhabite there by inheritance they shal get it † And the seede of his seruants shal possesse it and they that loue his name shal dwel in it PSALME LXIX An other prayer of Dauid when he was persecuted by Absolom made in a Psalme after his deliuerie Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid in remembrance that our Lord saued him O God intend vnto my helpe Lord make hast to helpe me † Let them be confounded and be ashamed that seeke my soule † Let them be turned away backeward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them be turned away forthwith ashamed that say to me Wel wel † Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad in thee and let them say alwayes Our Lord be magnified which loue thy saluation † But I am needie and poore ô God helpe me thou art my helper and deliuerer ô Lord be not slacke PSALME LXX King Dauid or anie other iust person prayeth God to
the world haue obtained riches † And I saide Then haue I iustified my hart without cause and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes † And haue bene scourged al the day and my chastising in the morninges † If I saide I wil speake this behold I reproued the nation of thy children † I thought to know this thing it is labour before me † Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes † But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them thou hast cast them downe whiles they were eleuated † How are they brought into desolation they haue failed sodanely they haue perished for their iniquitie † As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord in thy citie thou shalt bring their image to nothing † Because my hart is inflamed and my reynes are changed And I am brought to nothing and knew not † As a beast am I become with thee and I alwaies with thee † Thou hast helde my right hand and in thy wil thou hast conducted me and with glorie thou hast receiued me † For what is to me in heauen and besides thee what would I vpon the earth † My flesh hath fainted and my hart God of my hart and God my portion for euer For behold they that make them selues faire from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed al that fornicate from thee † But it is good for me to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord God That I may shew forth al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion PSALME LXXIII Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning besecheth God to respect his owne inheritance cruelly afflicted ●● and leift long without helpe 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name Vnderstanding to Asaph VVHY hast thou ô God repelled for euer is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture Be mindful of thy congregation which thou hast possessed from the beginning Thou hast redemed the rod of thine inheritan●●e mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt † Lift vp thy handes vpon their prides for euer how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place † And they that hate thee haue gloried in the middes of thy solemnitie They haue sette their signes for signes † and haue not knowne as in the issue on high As in a wood of trees they haue with axes † cut out the gates therof together in hatchet and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe † They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth † Their kinred together haue saide in their hart Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth † Our signes we haue not seene there is now no prophet and he wil know vs no more † How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer † Why doest thou turne away thy hand and thy right hand out of the middes of thy bosome for euer † But God our king before the worldes he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth † Thou in thy strength hast confirmed the sea thou hast crushed the head of Dragons in the waters † Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of the Aethiopians † Thou hast broken vp fountanes and torrentes thou hast dried the riuers of Ethan † The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast made the morning and the sunne † Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth the summer and the spring thou hast formed them † Be mindeful of this the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name † Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer † Haue respect vnto thy testament because they that are obscure of the earth are filled with houses of iniquities † Let not the humble be turned away being confounded the poore and needy shal praise thy name † Arise God iudge thy cause be mindful of those thy reproches that are from the foolish man al the day † Forget not the voices of thine enimies the pride of them that hate thee hath ascended alwaies PSALME LXXIIII Christ with his Assessors wil iudge the whole world at the last day in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement 1● The wicked shal be punished and the good rewarded Vnto the end Corrupt not a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph VVE wil confesse to thee ô God we wil confesse and wil inuocate thy name We wil tel thy meruelouse workes † when I shal take a time I wil iudge iustices † The earth is melted and al that dwel in it I haue confirmed the pillers thereof † I said to the wicked doe not wickedly and to them that offend Exalt not the horne † Exalt not your horne on high speake not iniquitie aganst God † For neither from the East nor from the West nor from the desert mountanes † because God is Iudge This man he humbleth and him he exalteth † because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture And he hath powred it out of this into that but yet the dregges therof are not emptied al the sinners of the earth shal drinke † But I wil shewforth for euer I wil sing to the God of Iacob † And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted PSALME LXXV The royal prophet singeth Gods praises for his particular prouidence towards the Iewes 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth Vnto the end in prayses a Psalme to Asaph a Canticle to the Assirians God is knowne in Iewrie in Israel his name is great † And his place is made in peace and his habitation in Sion † There he brake the powres of bowes the shilde the sword and the battle † Thou doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal mountaynes † al the foolish of hart were trubled † They slept their sleepe and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes † At thy reprehension ô God of Iacob they haue al slumbered that mounted on horses † Thou art terrible and who shal resist thee from that time thy wrath † From heauen thou hast made thy iudgement hearde the earth trembled and was quiet When God arose vnto iudgement
geuen me hope † This hath comforted me in my humiliation because thy word hath quickened me † The prowd did vniustly excedingly but I declined not from thy law † I haue bene mindful of thy iudgements from euerlasting ô Lord and was comforted † Faynting possessed me because of sinners forsaking thy law † Thy iustifications were songue by me in the place of my peregrination † I haue bene mindful in the night of thy name ô Lord and haue kept thy law † This was done to me because I sought after thy iustifications Heth. Life † My portion ô Lord I sayd to keepe thy law † I besought thy face with al my hart haue mercie on me according to thy word † I thought vpon my wayes and conuerted my feete vnto thy testimonies † I am prepared and am not trubled to keepe thy commandments † The cordes of sinners haue wrapped me round about and I haue not forgotten thy law † At midnight I rose to confesse to thee for the iudgements of thy iustification † I am partaker of al that feare thee and that keepe thy commandments † The earth ô Lord is ful of thy mercie teach me thy iustifications Teth. Good † Thou hast done bountie with thy seruant ô Lord according to thy word † Teach me goodnesse and discipline and knowledge because I haue beleued thy commandments † Before I was humbled I offended therfore haue I kept thy word † Thou art good and in thy goodnesse teach me thy iustifications † The iniquitie of the prowd is multiplied vpon me but I in al my hart wil search thy commandments † Their hart is crudded together as milke but I haue meditated thy law † It is good for me that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy iustifications † The law of thy mouth is good vnto me aboue thousands of gold and siluer Iod. Beginning † Thy handes haue made me and formed me geue me vnderstanding and I wil learne thy commandmentes † They that feare thee shal see me shal reioyce because I haue much hoped in thy wordes † I know ô Lord that thy iudgements are equitie and in thy truth thou hast humbled me † Let thy mercie be done to comfort me according to thy word vnto thy seruant † Let thy commiserations come to me and I shal liue because thy law is my meditation † Let the prowde be confounded because they haue done vniustly toward me but I wil be exercised in thy commandments † Let them be conuerted to me that feare thee and that know thy testimonies † Let my hart be made immaculate in thy iustifications that I be not confounded Caph. Hand or Palme of the hand † My soule hath fainted for thy saluation and I haue much hoped in thy word † Myne eies haue fayled for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort me † Because I am made as a bottel in the hoare frost I haue not forgotten thy iustifications † How manie are the daies of thy seruant when wilt thou doe iudgement on them that persecute me † The vniust haue told me fables but not as thy law † Al thy commandmentes are truth they haue vniustly persecuted me helpe me † They haue welnere made an end of me in the earth but I haue not forsaken thy commandments † According to thy mercie quicken me and I shal keepe the testimonies of thy mouth Lamed Discipline † For euer Lord thy word is permanent in heauen † Thy truth in generation and generation thou hast founded the earth and it is permanent † By thy ordinance the day contine weth because al thinges serue thee † But that thy law is my meditation I had then perhaps perished in my humiliation † I wil not forget thy iustifications for euer because in them thou ●●st quickned me † I am thine saue me because I haue sought out thy iustifications † Sinners haue expected me to destroy me I vnderstood thy testimonies † Of al consummation I haue sene the end thy commandment is exceding large Mem. Of them † How haue I loued thy law ô Lord al the day it is my meditation † Aboue mine enemies thou hast made me wise by thy commaundment because it is to me for euer † Aboue al that taught me haue I vnderstood because thy testimonies are my meditation † Aboue ancientes haue I vnderstood because I haue sought thy commandments † I haue staied my feete from al euil way that I may keepe thy wordes † I haue not declined from thy iudgements because thou hast set me a law † How sweete are thy wordes to my iawes more then honie to my mouth By thy commandments I haue vnderstood therfore haue I hated al the way of iniquitie Nun. Euerlasting † Thy word is a lampe to my feete and a light to my pathes † I sware and haue determined to keepe the iudgements of thy iustice † I am humbled excedingly ô Lord quicken me according to thy word † The voluntaries of my mouth make acceptable ô Lord and teach me thy iudgementes † My soule is in my handes alwaies and I haue not forgotten thy law † Sinners laid a snare for me and I haue not erred from thy commandments † For inheritance I haue purchased thy testimonies for euer because they are the ioy of my hart † I haue inclined my hart to doe thy iustifications for euer for reward Samech Helpe † I haue hated the vniust and I haue loued thy law † Thou art my helper and protectour and vpon thy word I haue much hoped † Depart from me ye malignant and I wil search the commandmentes of my God † Receiue me according to thy word and I shal liue and confound me not of myn expectation † Helpe me and I shal be saued and I wil meditate in thy iustifications alwayes † Thou hast despised al that reuolt from thy iudgementes because their cogitation is vniust † Al the sinners of the earth I haue reputed preuaricatours therfore haue I loued thy testimonies † Pearse my flesh with thy feare for I am afrayd of thy iudgementes Ain A fountaine or an eye † I haue done iudgement and iustice deliuer me not to them that calumniate me † Receiue thy seruant vnto good let not the prowde calumniate me † Mine eies haue fayled after thy saluation and for the word of thy iustice † Doe with thy seruant according to thy mercie and teacher me thy iustifications † I am thy seruant geue me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies † It
bring her to me to liue together knowing that she wil communicate vnto me of good thinges and wil be a comfort of my cogitation tediousnes † I shal haue for her sake glorie with the multitudes and honour with the ancient being yong † and I sh●● be ●●●nd sharpe in iudgement and in the sight of the mightie I shal be meruelous and the faces of princes wil meruel at me † Holding my peace they shal expect me and whiles I speake manie wordes they shallay their hands on their mouth † Moreouer by her I shal haue immortalitie and I shal leaue an eternal memorie to them that shal be after me † I shal dispose peoples and nations shal be subiect to me † Horrible kings hearing shal feare me in the multitude I shal seme good and in battel strong † Entring into my house I shal rest with her for her conuersation hath no bitternes nor her companie tediousnes but ioy and gladnesse † Thinking these thinges with myselfe and recording in my hart that immortalitie is in the kindred of wisedom † and good delectation in her frendship and in the workes of her handes honestie without defect and wisdom in the disputation of her talke and glorie in the communication of her wordes I went about seeking that I might take her to me † And I was a wittie childe and had gotten a good soule † And wheras I was more good I came to a bodie vndefield † And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent vnlesse God gaue it this verie thing also was wisdom to know whose this gift was I went to our Lord and besought him and said from my whole hart CHAP. IX A prayer made by Salomon for wisdom 9. wherby Superiors are able to gouerne 13. Which by only humane wisdom they can not rightly performe GOD of my fathers and Lord of mercie which madest al thinges with thy word † and by thy wisdom didst appoint man that he should haue dominion of the creature that was made by thee † that he should dispose the round-world in equitie and iustice and execute iudgement in direction of hart † geue me wisdom the assistant of thy seates and repel me not from thy children † because I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaide a weake man and of smal time and lesse to the vnderstanding of iudgement and lawes † And if one be perfect among the children of men and thy wisdom be absent from him he shal be counted for nothing † Thou hast chosen me king to thy people and iudge of thy sonnes and daughters † and badst me build a temple in thy holie mount and an altar in the citie of thy habitation a similitude of thy holie tabernacle which thou didst prepare from the beginning † and thy wisdom with thee which knew thy workes which then also was present when thou madest the roundworld and knew what was pleasing to thyne eyes and what was direct in thy precepts † Send her from thy holy heauens and from the seate of thy greatnes that she may be with me and may labour with me that I may know what is acceptable with thee † for she knoweth al thinges vnderstandeth and shal conduct me in my workes soberly shal keepe me with her might † And my workes shal be acceptable and I shal gouerne thy people iustly and shal be worthie of the seates of my father † For who of men is able to know the counsel of God or who can thinke what God wil † For the cogitations of mortal men be fearful and our prouidences vncertaine † For the bodie that is corrupted burdeneth the soule and the earthlie habitation presseth downe the vnderstanding that thinketh manie thinges † And we doe hardly coniecture the thinges that are in the earth and the thinges that are in sight we finde with labour But the thinges that are in the heauens who shal search out † And thy sense who shal know vnles thou geue wisdom and send thy holie spirit from on high † and so the pathes of them that are on the earth may be corrected and men lerne the thinges that please thee † For by wisdom they were healed whoseouer haue pleased thee ô Lord from the begynning CHAP. X. The benefites of wisdom are declared by examples in Adam 4. Noe 5. Abraham 6. Lot 10. Iacob 13. Ioseph 15. And the people of Israel SHE kept him that was first made of God father of the world when he was created alone † and she brought him out of his sinne and gaue him powre to conteyne al thinges † After the vniust departed in his anger from her by the furie of brothers man slaughter perished † For whose cause when water destroyed the earth wisdom healed it againe gouerning the iust by contemptible wood † She euen in the consent of wickednes when the nations had confederated themselues knewe the iust and preserued him without blame to God and in his sonnes mercie kept the strong † She deliuered the iust fleing from the impious that perished when the fyre came downe vpon Pentapolis † to whom for a witnes of their wickednes the desert land standeth smoking and trees hauing fruites at vncertain season and the memorie of an incredulous soule a standing piller of salt † For pretermitting wisdom they did not only slippe in this that they were ignorant of good thinges but they left also vnto men a memorie of their foolishnes that in those thinges in which they sinned in they could not be hid neither † But wisdom hath deliuered them that obserue her from sorowes † And the iust fleing his brothers wrath she conducted by the right wayes and shewed him the kingdom of God and gaue him the knowlege of the holie did honest him in labours and accomplised his labours † In the fraude of the circumuenters of him she was present with him and made him honorable † She kept him from the enemies and from seducers she defended him and from seducers she defended him and gaue him a strong fight thas he might ouercome and know that wisdom is mightier then al. † She forsooke not the iust being sold but deliuered him from sinners and she went downe with him into the pitte † and in bands leaft him not til she brought him the scepter of a kingdome and might against them that oppressed him and shewed them to be lyers that spotted him and gaue him eternal glorie † The iust people and seede without blame she deliuered from the nations that oppressed them † She entered into the soule of the seruant of God and stood against dreadful kinges in wonders and signes † And she rendred to the iust the hope of their labours and conducted them in a meruelous way and she was vnto them for a couerr in the day and for the
that they must be iust and gentle and hast made thy children of good hope because iudging thou geuest in sinnes place of repentance † For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy seruants and that deserued to die with so great consideration geuing time and place whereby they might be changed from their wickednes † With what diligence hast thou iudged thy children to whose parents thou gauest othes and couenants of good promises † Therfore when thou geuest vs discipline thou scourgest our enemies very manie wayes that iudging we may thinke vpon thy goodnes and when we are iudged we may hope for thy mercie † Wherfore to them also which in their life haue liued foolishly vniustly thou hast geuen great torments by the same thinges which they did worshipe † For they wandered long in the way of errour esteming for goddes those thinges that in beasts are superfluous liuing after the maner of sensles infants † For this cause thou hast geuen iudgement on them as on sensles children to be in derision † But they that were not amended by scornes and reprehensions haue tried the worthie iudgement of God † For in what thinges they suffering tooke indignation by those whom they thought goddes when seing they were destroyed in them him whom in time past they denied that they knewe they acknowleged the true God for the which cause the end also of their condemnation shal come vpon them CHAP. XIII Men folowing their phantasies knew not God by his creatures but honored the creatures for goddes 10. Most sottishly also worshipped thinges fashioned by mens handes as goddes BVT al men be vame in Whom there is not the knowlege of God and of these good thinges which are sene they could not vnderstand him that is neither attending to the workes haue they agnised who was the workeman † but either the fyre or the wind o● the swift ayre or a circle of starres or exceding much water or the sunne and the moone they thought to be goddes rulers of the world † With whose beautie if being delighted they thought them goddes let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful then they For the author of beautie made al those thinges † Or if they merueled at their vertue operations let them vnderstand by them that he which made these is stronger then they † for by the greatnes of the beautie and of the creature the creator of them may be sene to be knowen therby † But not withstanding there is yet in these lesse complainte For they also perhaps erre seeking God and desirous to finde him † For whereas they conuerse in his workes they enquire they are perswaded that the thinges be good which are seene † But againe neither ought these to be pardoned † For if they could know so much that they were able to estimate the world how did they not more easely find the Lord therof † But they are vnhappie their hope is among the dead who haue called the workes of mens handes godds gold siluer the inuention of art and the similitudes of beastes or an vnprofitable stone the worke of an old hand † Or if an artificer a carpenter cut streight timber out of the wood pare of al the barke therof cunningly and vsing his art diligently frameth a vessel profitable for the common vse of this life † and vseth the chippes of that worke to dresse his meate † and maketh that which is left therof which is for no vses but being a crooked peece of wood and ful of knobes carueth it diligently in the holownes therof and by the skil of his art fashioneth it and maketh it like to the image of a man † or compareth it to some beast straking it ouer with redde and with paynting making the colour therof ruddie and layeth a colour ouer euerie spot that is in it † and maketh a worthie habitation for it and setting it in a wal and fastening it with yron † lest perhaps it fal prouiding for it knowing that it can not helpe it selfe for it is an image and it nedeth helpe † And concerning his substance his children for mariage making a vow he seeketh to it He is not ashamed to speake with him that is without soule † and for health certes he besecheth the weake and for life asketh the dead and for helpe inuocateth him that is vnprofitable † and for a iourney asketh him that can not walke and for getting and for working and for the euent of al thinges he asketh him that in al is vnprofitable ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII 1. They could not vnderstand him that is Philosophers discussing the nature of manie creatures saw that euerie creature proceded of some other thing so there must nedes be one beginning of al absolute of itselfe neither proceding nor depending of an other nor a limited substance As the thing that is a man is not a beast an oxe is not a horse c. and telling what anie thing is we exclude therby that it is not other thinges but saying without addition HE WHICH IS we shew the beginning of al in no sorte limited and this is God VVhom some Philosophers by such discourse found knew in general sometimes confessed but did not honour him as God and therefore were inexcusable as S. Paule concludeth against them Rom. 1. CHAP. XIIII Foolish men intending to saile honour woodden idols in regard of the profite they receiue by shippes 6. by which some were saued in the general diluge 8. Idols and idolmakers are cursed 12. They were not from the beginning 15. but were deuised for memorie of the dead and worshipped with diuine honour 22. So men forgetting God proceeded in idolatrie with other abominable and cruel enormities AGAYNE an other thinking to sayle and begynning to make a iorney through the fierce waues inuocateth wood more fraile then the wood that carieth him † For couetousnes of getting inuented it and the craftesman by his wisdom framed it † But thy prouidence ô Father doth gouerne because thou hast geuen a way euen in the sea and among the waues a most sure path † shewing that thou art able to saue out of al thinges yea if a man goe to the sea without art † But that thy workes might not be voyde of wisdom for this cause also men commit their liues euen to a little wood and passing ouer the sea are deliuered by shippe † But from the begynning also when the prowde giants perished the hope of the world fleing to a shippe rendered to the world feede of natiuitie which was gouerned by thy hand † For blessed is the wood by the which iustice is made † But the idol that is made by handes cursed is both it and he that made it because he in deede wrought it and the same being fraile was called god † But to God the impious and his impietie are odious
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 no● vse thy helpe † For neither herbe not pla●ster healed them but thy word ô Lord which healeth al thinges † For i● 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
his time The end of the Sapiential Bookes THE FOVRT PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTEINING PROPHETICAL BOOKES The argument of Prophetical bookes in general AMongst manie great benefites which God bestowed vpon his peculiar people in the old Testament one principal and very excellent was that besides their ordinarie Pastors and gouerners in spiritual causes the Priestes of Aarons progenic and other clergie men of the same tribe of Leui in ●erarchical subordina ion of one chief with other superiors and subiectes disposed in sacred functions he also gaue them other extraordinarie Prophetes of sundrie tribes as admonitors and guides to reduce them from errors of sinne into the right way of vertue Which office the same Prophetes performed as wel by threatning the offenders with Gods wrath and punishment as by exhorting them to repentance and so to trust in Gods assured mercie that he would geue them better times and reliefe from their miseries But most especially these holie Prophetes did foresee and foretel the happie times of Grace in the New Testament The coming of Messias Christ our Redemer and Sauiour With the mysteries of his Incarnation Birth Passion Death Resurrection Ascension Coming of the Holie Ghost Fundation Propagation perpetual Stabilitie of his Church and finally the General Iudgement Eternal Glorie of the blessed and Euerlasting paine of the damned For albeit they preached and prophecied manie thinges properly and immediatly perteyning to the particular state and people of the Iewes and other nations Where they conuersed yet the principal summe of al the prophetical bookes is of Christ and his Church Yea al the old Testament is a general prophecie and forshewing of the New Which as we noted in the beginning is conteyned and lieth hid in the old Neuertheles speaking more distinctly of the proper arguments or contents of the foure partes of the old Testament the former three more peculiarly setforth the Law the Historie and Sapiential precepts and this last part chiefly conteyneth Prophecies of thinges to come Of which the greatest part is now come to passe or dayly fulfilled and the rest shal likewise be performed in due time So now in order after the Legal Historical and Sapiential bookes folow the Prophetical and are these according to the names of the Prophetes that writte them Isaie Ieremie with Baruch Ezechiel and Daniel commonly called the greatter Prophetes and the twelue lesser a●e Osee Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahum Abacuc Sophonias Aggeus Zacharie and Malachie Who were al singularly inspired and gouerned in their preachings and writinges by the Holie Ghost that they could not erre Yea they were so illuminated in their vnderstanding that they clerly saw that which they vttered And therfore their Prophecies are called Visions for the assured infallibilitie of truth which they auouch For as nothing is more certaine in vulgar knowlege then that which we see with our corporal eyes and therfore of al witnesses the eye witnes is estemed the surest and as in al natural knowlege that is most certaine which is sene by discourse of reason so in supernatural knowlege nothing is more assured then that which is sene by supernatural light Whereof there be three sortes the light of Faith of Prophecie and of Glorie Al three certaine and vndoubted but most clere and manifest is the vision by light of glorie wherby God is sene in himself and al thinges in him that perteyne to the state of euerie glorious Sainct Next therto is the vision by light of prophecie wherwith God illuminateth the vnderstanding of the Prophet by a special extraordinarie and transitorie light of grace that either he clerly seeth the reueled truthes or at least perfectly knoweth that he is moued by the Holie Ghost though he vnderstand not al that the Holie Ghost intendeth and so when and where it is Gods wil he vttereth the same for instruction of others The last which is also certaine but more obscure is the supernatural knowlege which al Catholique Christians haue by light of faith assuredly beleuing al thinges which God reueleth by his Church Concerning therfore this excellent diuine gift of Prophecie granted to few for the benefite of al Gods seruants we are here to informe the vulgar reader that wheras these prophecies are for most part hard to be vnderstood and as S. Peter teacheth not knowen by priuate interpretation but must be interpreted by the same Spirite wherwith they were written our purpose is not to explicate them nor yet to produce large explications of the godlie lerned Fathers but rather fewer and briffer notes then hertofore and for the rest we remitte the more lerned and studious readers according to their capacities to search the same in the commentaries of ancient and late Expositers wishing others to content themselues with the more easie partes of holie Scriptures and other godlie bookes and daylie instructions of spiritual teachers And such as do also read these may obserue with vs these amongst other special causes of the hardnes of the Prophetes One cause is the frequent interruption of sentences with suddaine change from one person or matter to an other without apparent coherence Which S. Ierom noteth in sundrie places As I saie 7. after that the Prophet hath seuerely reprehended king Achab for his distrust of Gods assistance against his temporal enimies v. 13. in the next wordes he prophecieth that a Virgin shal conceiue and beare a sonne Christ our Sauiour and the like in other places An other cause is that the Prophetes speake thinges of some persons which are to be fulfilled in others either of their progenie or prefigured by them As the prophecie of the Iewes and Gentiles comprised in the historie of Esau Iacob Likewise that which Iacob prophecied Gen. 49. of Simeon an Leui not fulfilled in themselues but in the Scribes and Priestes descending of their stock Also much of that which Dauid semeth to speake of Salomon Psal 88. can only be vnderstod of Christ Other examples wil occurre in the Prophetes ensuing Briefly for we can not here expresse al the causes in few wordes prophecies are often times vttered in figuratiue speaches and often not in wordes but in factes other times so mixed with histories and temporal thinges with spiritual againe some thinges perteyning to the old Testament so ioyned with mysteries of the new and the like that most hard it is to discerne nay not possible without special reuelation or instruction of others to know to what purpose or thing euerie part perteyneth or is to be applied for some thinges are spoken only of the historie some thinges of misteries manie thinges of both And the reason why the Holie Ghost doth so vtter these prophecies is noted by S. Ierom in Nahum 3. that the proud and malicious enimies of Religion may not vnderstand them lest sayth he a holie thing should be geuen to dogges pearles cast to swine most sacred mysteries
of my planting the worke of mine hand to glorifie † The least shal be into a thousand and the litle one into a most strong nation I the Lord in the time therof wil sodenly doe it CHAP. LXI Christ announceth himself to be sent from heauen to teach the truth to heale and pardon the penitent to comforte the desolate and streingthen the weake 4. whose Apostles shal constantly preach iustice in al the world 10. And his Church shal reioyce THE spirit of the Lord vpon me because the Lord hath annoynted me to preach to the milde he sent me that I should heale the contrite of hart and preach indulgence to the captiues and deliuerance to them that are shut vp † That I should preach the placable yeare to the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God that I might comfort al that mourne † that I might appoint to the mourners of Sion and geue them a crowne for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning a mantel of prayse for the spirit of sorrowfulnes and they shal be called in it the strong of iustice planting of the Lord to glorifie † And they shal build the desertes from the begynning of the world and shal erect the old ruines and shal repayre the desolate cities that were dissipated in generation and generation † And aliens shal stand and feede your cattel and the children shal be your husbandmen and dressers of the vines † And you shal be called the priestes of the Lord to you it shal be sayd The ministers of our God you shal eate the strength of the Gentiles and in their glorie you shal be proude † For your double confusion and shame they shal prayse their part for this cause shal they receiue duble in their land euerlasting ioy shal be to them † Because I am the Lord that loue iudgement hate robberie in holocaust and I wil geue their worke in truth and make a perpetual couenant with them † And they shal know their seede in the Gentiles and their bud in the middes of peoples al that shal see them shal know them that these are the seede which the Lord hath blessed † Reioycing I wil reioyce in our Lord and my soule shal be ioyful in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation and with the garment of iustice he hath compassed me as a bridgrome decked with a crowne and as a bride adorned with her iewels † For as the earth bringeth forth her spring and as the garden shooteth forth his seede so shal our Lord God make iustice to spring forth and prayse before al the Gentiles CHAP. LXII The prophet auoucheth that he wil not cease from preaching Christ 4. to whom al nations shal be conuerted 8. whos 's Church shal continew for euer FOR Sion I wil not hold my peace and for Ierusalem I wil not rest til her iust one come forth as brightnes her sauiour be kindled as a lampe † And the Gentiles shal see thy iust one and al kinges thy noble one and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of our Lord shal name † And thou shalt be a crowne of glorie in the hand of our Lord and the diademe of a kingdome in the hand of thy God † Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken and thy land shal no more be called Desolate But thou shalt be called My wil in her and thy land inhabited because it hath wel pleased our Lord in thee and thy land shal be inhabited † For the yong man shal dwel with the virgin and thy children shal dwel in thee And the bridgrome shal reioyce vpon the birde thy God shal reioyce vpon thee † Vpon thy walles Ierusalem I haue appointed watchemen al the day and al the night for euer they shal not hold their peace You that remember our Lord hold not your peace † and geue not silence to him vntil he establish and vntil he make Ierusalem the prayse in the earth † Our Lord hath sworne by his right hand and by the arme of his strength If I shal geue thy wheate any more to be meate for thine enemies and if the strange children shal drinke thy wine wherein thou hast laboured † Because they that shal gather it together shal eate it and shal prayse the Lord and they that carie it together shal drinke it in my holie courtes † Passe ye passe ye through the gates prepare a way for the people make the iourney plaine picke vp the stones and lift vp the signe to the peoples † Behold our Lord hath made heard in the ends of the earth tel the daughter of Sion Behold thy sauiour cometh behold his reward is with him and his worke before him † And they shal cal them The holie people the redemed of our Lord. But thou shalt be called a citie Sought for and not Forsaken CHAP. LXIII Christ is described as a vistorious conquerour ascending into heauen with triumph embrued with bloud 7. For al whose benefites the Prophet rendreth thankes 10. expostulating the peoples ingratitude that prouoked God to wrath VVHO is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bosra this beautiful one in his robe going in the multitude of his strength I that speake iustice and am a defender to saue † Why then is thy clothing red and thy garments as theirs that treade in the wine presse † I haue troden the presse alone and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me I haue troden them in my furie and haue troden them downe in my wrath and their bloud is sprinkled vpon my garments and I haue stayned al my rayment † For the day of reuenge is in my hart the yeare of my redemption is come † I looked about there was no helper I sought and there was none to ayde and myne arme hath saued and myne indignation itself hath holpen me † And I haue troden downe the peoples in my furie and haue inebriated them in mine indignation and haue drawen their strength downe to the ground † I wil remember the mercies of our Lord the prayse of our Lord for al thinges that our Lord hath rendred to vs and for the multitude of the good thinges to the house of Israel which he hath geuen them according to his iudulgence and according to the multitude of his mercies † And he sayd But yet is my people children that denie not and he is become their sauiour † In al their tribulation he was not trubled and the angel of his face saued them in his loue and in his indulgence he redemed them and bare them and lifted them vp al the daies of the world † But they prouoked to wrath and afflicted the spirit of his holie one and he was turned to be their enemie and he conquered them † And he remembred the dayes of the world of Moyses and of his people
Depart from me approch not to me because thou art vncleane these shal be smoke in my furie a fyre burning al the day † Behold it is written before me I wil not hold my peace but I wil render and repay into their bosome † your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together sayth our Lord that haue sacrificed vpon the mountaines and vpon the litle hilles haue reproched me I wil remeasure their first worke in their bosome † Thus saith our Lord As if a berrie be found in a cluster and it be said Destroy it not because it is a blessing so wil I doe for my seruants sake that I destroy not the whole † And I wil bring forth seede out of Iacob out of Iuda a possessour of my mountaines and mine elect shal inherite it and my seruants shal inhabite there † And the champaine countries shal be into foldes of flockes and the valley of Achor for the couche of heardes vnto my people that haue sought after me † And you that haue forsaken the Lord that haue forgotten my holie mount that sette a table to Fortune and offer libaments vpon it † I wil number you in the sword and you shal al fal by slaughter because I called and you haue not answered I spake and you haue not heard and you did euil in mine eies and you haue chosen the thinges that I would not † For this cause thus sayth our Lord God Behold my seruants shal eate and you shal be hungrie behold my seruants shal drinke and you shal be thirstie † Behold my seruants shal reioyce and you shal be confounded behold my seruants shal prayse for ioyfulnes of hart and you shal crie for sorow of hart and for contrition of spirit you shal howle † And you shal leaue your name for an othe to mine elect and the Lord God shal kil thee and wil cal his seruants by an other name † In which he that is blessed vpon the earth shal be blessed in God amen he that sweareth in the earth shal sweare by God amen because the former distresses are forgotten and because they are hid from myne eyes † For behold I create new heauens and a new earth and the former thinges shal not be in memorie and they shal not ascend vpon the hart † But you shal be glad and reioyce for euer in these thinges which I create because loe I create Ierusalem exultation and the people therof ioy † And I wil reioyce in Ierusalem and be glad in my people and there shal no more be heard in it the voice of weeping and the voice of crying † There shal no more be a childe of daies and an old man that shal not fil vp his dayes because the childe of an hundred yeares shal die and the sinner of an hundred yeares shal be accurst † And they shal build cities and inhabite and they shal plant vineyardes and eate the fruites therof † They shal not build and an others shal dwel they shal not plant and an other shal eate for according to the daies of the tree shal be the dayes of my people and they shal make old the workes of their handes † Myne elect shal not labour in vayne nor ingender in conturbation because it is the seede of the blessed of the Lord and their posteritie with them † And it shal be before they cal I wil heare as they are yet speaking I wil heare † The wulfe and the lambe shal feede together the lion and the oxe shal eate straw to the serpent dust shal be his bread they shal not hurt nor kil in al my holie mountaine sayth our Lord. CHAP. LXVI God who filleth heauen and earth wil dwel in the hart of the humble 3. For the sinnes of the Iewes Ierusalem shal be destroyed 5. The faith of Christ shal be propagated by the preaching of the Apostles 15. And Christ coming to iudge 19. al shal receiue according to their desertes THVS sayth our Lord “ Heauen is my seate and the earth my foote stoole what is this house that you wil build to me and what is this place of my rest † My hand hath made al these thinges al these thinges haue bene done sayth our Lord. But to whom shal I haue respect but to the poore litle one and the contrite of spirit and him that trembleth at my wordes † He that immolateth an oxe is as he that should stay a man he that killeth a sheepe in sacrifice as he that should braine a dog he that offereth oblation as he that should offer swines bloud he that remembreth frankincense as he that should blesse an idol Al these thinges haue they chosen in their wayes and in their abominations their soule is delighted † Wherfore I also wil choose their delusions and the thinges that they feared I wil bring to them because I called and there was none that would answer I haue spoken and they heard not and they haue done euil in mine eies and haue chosen the thinges that I would not † Heare the word of our Lord ye that tremble at his word your brethren that hate you and reiect you for my name sake haue sayd Let the Lord be glorified we shal see in your ioy but they shal be counfounded † A voice of people from the citie a voice from the temple the voice of our Lord repaying retribution to his enemies † Before she traueled she brought forth before her time came to be deliuered she brought forth a man childe † Who euer heard such a thing and who hath sene the like to this why shal the earth trauel in one day or shal a nation be brought forth together because Sion hath traueled and brought forth her children † Shal not I that make others to bring forth children my self bring forth saith the Lord shal I that geue generation to others be barren sayth the Lord thy God † Reioyce with Ierusalem and be ioyful in her al ye that loue her be glad with her in gladnes al ye that mourne vpon her † that you may sucke and be filled of the breast of her consolation that you may milke and flow with delightes in al maner of her glorie † Because thus saith our Lord Behold I wil decline vpon her as it were a floud of peace and as a torrent ouerflowing the glorie of the Gentiles which you shal sucke at the breasts you shal be caried vpon the knees they shal speake you fayre † As if the mother would speake one fayre so wil I comfort you and in Ierusalem you shal be comforted † You shal see and your hart shal reioyce and your bones shal spring as an herbe and the hand of our Lord shal be knowen to his seruants and he shal be wrath with his enemies † Because loe our Lord wil come in fyre and his chariotes as
dispise in his euils in the day of his destruction and thou shalt not be sent out against his armie in the day of his destruction † Neither shalt thou stand in the outgoings to kil them that flee and thou shalt not shut vp his remnant in the day of tribulation † Because the day of our Lord is at hand vpon al nations as thou hast done so shal it be done to thee thy retribution he wil returne vpon thine owne head † For as you haue drunke vpon my holie mount shal al Gentils drinke continually they shal drinke and swallow vp and they shal be as though they were not † And in mount Sion shal be saluation and it shal be holie and the house of Iacob shal possesse those that had possessed them † And the house of Iacob shal be a fyre and the house of Ioseph a flame and the house of Esau stubble and they shal be kindled in them and shal deuoure them and there shal be no remaynes of the house of Esau because our Lord hath spoken † And they that are toward the South shal inherite the mount of Esau and they in the champaine countries Philisthiims and they shal possesse the region of Ephraim and the region of Samaria and Beniamin shal possesse Galaad † And the transmigration of this host of the children of Israel al places of the Chananeits euen to Sarepta and the transmigration of Ierusalem that is in Bosphorus shal possesse the cities of the South † And sauiours shal ascend into mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau and the kingdom shal be to our Lord. THE PROPHECIE OF IONAS IONAS the sonne of Amathi in Geth of the tribe of Zabulon in the reigne of Ieroboam sonne of Ioas king of Israel not only in wordes but also in his person prophecied and prefigured Christ as our Sauiour himself testisieth And vnder the name of Niniue announceth saluation to al Gentiles that repent and returne to God as Niniue did CHAP. 1. Ionas being sent to preach in Niniue fleeth by sea 4. atempest riseth 8. wherof he being found by lotte to be the cause 12. is cast into the sea 15. and it is caulme AND the word of our Lord was made to Ionas the sonne of Amathi saying † Arise and goe into Niniue the great citie and preach in it because the malice therof is ascended before me † And Ionas arose to flee into Tharsis from the face of our Lord and he went downe into Ioppe and found a shippe going into Tharsis and he gaue the fare therof went downe into it that he might goe with them into Tharsis from the face of our Lord. † But our Lord sent a great winde into the sea and a great tempest was made in the sea the shippe was in danger to be broken † And the mariners were afrayd and the men cried to their god they threw the vessels that were in the shippe into the sea that it might be lightned of them and Ionas went downe into the inner part of the shippe and slept a deepe sleepe † And the gouerner came to him sayd to him Why art thou oppressed with sleepe Rise inuocate thy God if perhaps God wil thinke of vs and we perish not † And euerie one sayd to his felow Come and let vs cast lottes and know why this euil is to vs. And they cast lottes and the lot fel vpon Ionas † And they sayd to him Tel vs for whose cause this euil is to vs what is thy worke what is thy countrie and whither goest thou or of what people art thou † And he sayd to them I am an Hebrew the Lord God of heauen I feare which made the sea and the drie land † And the men feared with great feare and they sayd to him Why hast thou done this For the men knew that he fled from the face of our Lord because he had told them † And they sayd to him What shal we do to thee and the sea shal cease from vs because the sea went and swelled † And he sayd to them Take me vp and cast me into the sea and the sea shal cease from you for I know that for me this great tempest is vpon you † And the men rowed to returne to the land and they were not able because the sea went and swelled vpon them † And they cried to our Lord and sayd We besech thee ô Lord let vs not perish in the life of this man and geue not vpon vs innocent bloud because thou ô Lord hast done as thou wouldest † And they tooke Ionas and cast him into the sea and the sea ceased from his rage † And the men feared our Lord with great feare immolated hostes to our Lord and vowed vowes CHAP. II. Ionas is swallowed by a great fish 3. prayeth with confidence in God 11. and the fish casteth him on the drie land AND our Lord prepared a great fish to swallow done Ionas and Ionas was in the bellie of the fish three dayes and three nightes † And Ionas prayed to our Lord his God out of the bellie of the fish † And he sayd I cryed out of my tribulation to our Lord he hath heard me out of the bellie of hel cried I and thou hast heard my voice † And thou hast cast me forth into the depth in the hart of the sea and a floud hath compassed me al thy surges thy waues haue passed ouer me † And I sayd I am cast away from the sight of thine eyes but yet I shal see thy holie temple againe † The waters haue compassed me euen to the soule the depth hath inclosed me the sea hath couered my head † I am descended to the extreme parts of the mountaines the barres of the earth haue shut me vp for euer and thou wilt lift vp my life from corruption ô Lord my God † When my soule was in distresse within me I remembred our Lord that my prayer may come to thee vnto thy holie temple † They that kepe vanities in vaine forsake their mercie † But I in the voice of prayse wil immolate to thee what thinges soeuer I haue vowed I wil render for saluation to our Lord. † And our Lord spake to the fish and it vomited vp Ionas vpon the drie land CHAP. III. Againe Ionas is commanded to preach in Niniue that within fourtie dayes it shal be destroyed 5. They al fast and repent 10. and God recalleth his sentence AND the word of our Lord was made to Ionas the second time saying † Arise goe into Niniue the great citie and preach in it the preaching which I speake to thee † And Ionas arose went into Niniue according to the word of our Lord Niniue was a great citie of three dayes iorney † And Ionas began to enter into the citie on dayes iorney he cried
† and the men of strength approched and he assaulted that citie al the day and al the night and the citie was deliuered into his hand and they slew euerie male in the edge of the sword and he rooted it vp and tooke the spoiles therof and passed through al the citie vpon the slaine † And they p●ssed ouer Iordan in the great playne against the face of Bethsan † And Iudas gathered together the hin most and he exhorted the people throughout al the way til they came into the land of Iuda † and they went vp into mount Sion with ioy and gladnes offered holocausts because none of them was fallen til they returned in peace † And in the dayes that Iudas and Ionathas were in the land of Galaad and Simon his brother in Galilee against the face of Prolomais † Ioseph the sonne of Zacharie heard and Azarias the princes of the band the thinges wel atcheiued and the battels that were made † and he sayd Let vs also make vs a name and let vs goe fight against the heathen that are round about vs. † And he commanded them that were in his armie and they went to Iamnia † And Gorgias went forth out of the citie and his men to meete them into battel † And Ioseph and Azarias were chased in flight euen vnto the borders of Iurie and there fel that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men and there was made a great tumult in the people † because they heard not Iudas and his bretheren thinking that they should doe manfully † But they were not of the seede of those men by whom saluation was made in Israel † And the men of Iuda were magnified excedingly in the sight of al Israel and of al nations where their name was heard † And they came together vnto them with acclamations for their good successe † And Iudas went out and his bretheren and they expugned the children of Esau in the land that is toward the South and they stroke Chebron and her daughters and the walles therof and the towres he burnt with fyre round about † And he remoued the campe to goe into the land of the aliens and he walked through Samaria † In that day fel the priests in battel whiles they wil doe manfully whiles they goe forth without counsel into battel † And Iudas declined to Azotus into the land of the aliens and he threw downe their altars and the sculptils of their goddes he burnt with fyre and he tooke the spoiles of the cities and returned into the land of Iuda CHAP. VI. Antiochus repulsed from Elimais 5. and hearing of the ouerthrow of his armie in lurie falleth vehemently sick 11. and acknowleging his calamities to haue happened for he hath done against the Iewes dyeth 17. His young sonne Antiochus Eupator succedeth 18. Iudas besiegeth the Macedonians fortresse 21. Relapsed Iewes solicite the king 28. and he cometh with a terrible huge armie 32. Iudas therfore leauing the siege meeteth the enemie 43. Eleazar going vnder an elephant killeth him and so himselfe is also slaine 47. The king taketh Bethsura by composition 51. and bendeth his forces against Ierusalem 55. By Lysias aduice the king maketh peace with the Iewes 62. but breaking his othe destroyeth the wal of Sion 63. and returning recouereth Antioch from Philippe AND king Antiochus walked through the higher countries and he heard that there was a citie Elymais in Persis most noble and plentiful in siluer and gold † and a temple therin exceding rich and couerings thereof gold and brigantines and shildes which Alexander philips sonne the king of Macedonia that reigned first in Grece left there † And he came and sought to take the citie and to spoile it and he could not because the word was knowen to them that were in the citie † And they rose vp into battel and he fled from thence and departed with great sorow and returned into Babylonia † And there came one that told him in Persis that the campes that were in the land of Iuda were put to flight † and that Lysias went with great powre with the first and was put to flight before the face of the Iewes and they grew strong with armour and force and manie spoiles which they tooke out of the campes which they destroyed † and that they threw downe the abomination which they had builded vpon the altar that was in Ierusalem and the sanctification they compassed about as before with high walles yea and Bethsura his citie † And it came to passe as the king heard these wordes he was sore afrayd and was moued excedingly and he lay downe vpon his bed and fel into sicknes for sorow because it was not chanced to him as he thought † And he was there for manie dayes because there was renewed in him great sorowfulnes and he made account to dye † And he called al his freindes and sayd to them Sleepe is departed from mine eyes and I am fallen away my hart is gone for pensifenes † and I sayd in my hart Into how great tribulation am I come into what waues of sorow wherin now I am who was pleasant and beloued in my powre † But now I remember the euils that I haue done in Ierusalem from whence also I tooke away al the spoiles of gold and of siluer that were in it and I sent to take away the inhabitants of Iewrie without cause † I know therfore that for this cause haue these euils found me and loe I perish with great sorow in a strange countrie † And he called philip one of his frendes and he made him chiefe ouer al his kingdom † And he gaue him the crowne and his robe and ring that he should bring Antiochus his sonne should bring him vp to reigne † And Antiochus the king died there in the yeare an hundreth fourtie nine † And Lysias vnderstood that the king was dead and he appoynted Antiochus his sonne to reigne whom he brought vp a young man and he called his name Eupator † And they that were in the castel had inclosed Israel round about the holie places and they sought them euils alwayes and the strengthning of the Gentils † And Iudas thought to destroy them and he called together al the people to besiege them † And they came together and besieged them in the yeare an hundredth fiftie and they made balists and engins † And certaine of them that were besieged went forth some impious men of Israel ioyned them selues vnto them † and they went to the king and sayd How long doest thou not iudgements and reuengest our bretheren † We decreed to serue thy father and to walke in his precepts and obey his edicts † and the children of our people for this alienated them selues from vs and whosoeuer were found of vs they were slayne and our inheritances were spoiled † And not to vs only
vniust maintenance therof and in the exercise of the coyte † And setting nought by the honours of their fathers they esteemed the Greeke glories for the best † by reason wherof they had dangerous contention and they had emulation toward their ordinances and in al thinges they coueted to be like to them whom they had enemies and murderers † For to doe impiously against the lawes of God escapeth not vnpunished but this the time folowing wil declare † And when the gamme vsed euerie fifth yeare was kept at Tyre and the king was present † the wicked Iason sent from Ierusalem sinful men carying three hundred didrachmaes of siluer for the sacrifice of Hercules which they that caryed it requested that it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices because it ought not but that it might be deputed for other charges † And these were offered in dede by him that sent them vnto the sacrifice of Hercules but because of them that were present they were geuen to the making of gallees † And Apollonius the sonne of Mnestheus being sent into Aegypt because of the nobles of Ptolomee Philometor the king when Antiochus vnderstood that himself was made an alien from the affaires of the kingdom prouiding for his owne commodities departing thence he came to Ioppe and from thence to Ierusalem † And being magnifically receiued of Iason and the citie entered in with torch lights and with prayses and from thence he turned his armie into Phaenicia † And after the time of three yeares Iason sent Menelaus brother of the foresaide Simon carying money to the king and to bring answers of necessarie affayres † But he being commended to the king when he had magnified the presence of his power wrested the high priesthood vpon him self ouer bidding Iason three hundred talents of siluer † And hauing receiued commission from the king he came hauing in deede nothing worthie of the priesthood but bearing the mind of a cruel tyrant and the wrath of a wilde beast † And Iason indeede who had circumuented his owne brother being himself deceiued was driuen out a fugitiue into the countrie of the Ammanites † And Menelaus obteyned the princedom but concerning the money promised to the king he did nothing wheras Sostratus that was gouernour of the castel exacted it † For to him perteyned the exacting of the tributes for which cause they were both called out to the king † And Menelaus was remoued from the priesthood Lysimachus his brother succeeding and Sostratus was made gouernour of the Cyprians † And when these things were a doing it chanced the Tha●sians and the Mallotians to moue sedition because they were geuen for a gift to king Antiochus concubine † The king therfore came in hast to pacifie them one of his companions Adronicus being lefte substitute † But Menelaus supposing that he had taken a conuenient time stealing certaine vessels of gold out of the temple gaue them to Adronicus and others he had sould at Tyre in their neere cities † Which thing when Onias vnderstood most certainly he rebuked him keeping himself in a safe place at Antioche beside Daphne † Wherupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus desired him to kil Onias Who when he was come to Onias and right handes being geuen with an oath although he was suspected of him had perswaded him to come out of the sanctuarie immediatly he slew him not reuerencing iustice † For which cause not only the Iewes but also other nations likewise were offended and tooke it greuously for the vniust murder of so great a man † But when the king was returned out of the places of Cilicia the Iewes went vnto him at Antioch and also the Greekes complayning of the vniust murder of Onias † Antiochus therefore was sorie in his minde for Onias and being inclined to pitie he shed teares remembring the sobrietie and modestie of the deceased † And his hart being incensed he commanded Andronicus being spoiled of the purple to be led about al the citie and that in the same place wherin he had committed the impiety vpon Onias the sacrilegious person should be depriued of his life our Lord repaying him worthie punishment † And manie sacrilegies being committed of Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus and the rumour being bruited abrode the multitude gathered together against Lysimachus much gold being now caryed out † But the multitudes making insurrection and their mindes replenished with anger Lysimachus arming almost three thousand began to vse vniust handes a certaine tyrant being captaine farre growne in age and also in madnes † But as they vnderstood the endeuour of Lysimachus some tooke stones some strong clubbles and certaine threw ashes † And manie in deede were wounded certaine also throwne to the ground but al were put to flight the sacrilegious person also himself they slew beside the treasurie † Concerning these thinges therefore iudgement began to be commenced against Menelaus † And when the king was come to Tyre three men sent from the ancients put vp the matter vnto him † And when Menelaus was ouercome he promised P●olomee to geue much money to perswade the king † P●olomee therfore went to the king being in a certaine courte as it were to coole himself and brought him from his purpose † and Menelaus certes being guiltie of al the euil was quitted of the crimes and the poore wretches who if they had pleaded the cause euen before Scythians should be iudged innocent them he commanded to death † Quickly then did they vniustly suffer which prosecuted the cause for the citie the people and the sacred vessels † For the which thing the Tyrians also being offended were very liberal towards the burial of them † But Menelaus because of their auarice that were in power continewed in authoritie increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens CHAP. V. Visions of armies fighting in the ayre appeare in Ierusalem fourtie dayes 5. Iason with a thousand men surpriseth the citie killeth manie citizens but is expulsed and dyeth myserably 11. Antiochus persecuteth the Iewes 15. spoyleth the temple and prophaneth holie thinges 27. Iudas with others flee into the desert AT the same time Antiochus prepared a second iourney into Aegypt † And it came to passe that through out the whole citie of Ierusalem were senne for fourtie dayes in the ayre horsemen running hither thither hauing golden stoles and speares as it were companies armed † and coursing of horses set in orders by rankes and that there were encounterings together neere hand and shakings of sheildes and a multitude of men in helmets with swordes drawen and throwing of darts and the glittering of golden armour and of al kind of harnes † Wherefore al prayed that the wonders might be turned to good † But when there was a false rumour gone forth as though Antiochus had bene parted this life Iason taking vnto him no lesse then a thousand men suddenly set vpon the citie
Elias had before a 763. His particular miracles a 940. Enchanters are sometimes suffered to doe meruelous thinges but not true miracles nor al they desire a 176. 177. 180. They sometimes confesse the power of God 178. 371. Enoch yet liueth a 19. b 437. Epicures beleue not eternal punishment nor reward b 346. Equiuocation is sometimes lawful a 52. 71. 89. 91. 777. 1026. b 964. Esther most humble and prudent a 10●7 b 998 a figure of our B. Ladie and of the Church a 1051. The whole booke of Esther is Canonical Scripture a 1035. 1036. 1052. Eucharist a Sacrament and Sacrifice a 190. b 885. Prefigured by bloud a 228. by the loaues of proposition a 229. by al old sacrifices a 239. 264. 288. b 609. Christs real presence in the Eucharist a 150. 188. 210. b 50. 69. 181. See Paschal lambe and Manna Transubstantiation cōfessed by Hebrew Rabbins b 993. Euangelistes signified by foure liuing creatures and by foure wheles b 676. 690. Eue was not borne but built of Adams ribbe a 7. She was a figure of the B. virgin a 11. Example in gouerners is of great importance b 387. 848. Examples ought to moue b 628. 818. Excommunication prefigured a 332. Exequies for the dead a 77. 202. 637. 711. 931. 936. b 978. Ezechias mortally sicke recouered miraculously a 805. b 504. Ezechiel a Priest a Prophet and a Martyr b 674. He prophecied in Chaldea b 998. the beginning and end of his prophecie is very hard 674. 711. He is often called the sonne of man b 677. His last vision perteyneth in some part to the Iewes but more principally to the Church of Christ b 749. 763. It can not be expoūded of the Iewes and their Temple b 753. 765. 767. F. Faith is aboue reason a 775. without faith none can be saued b 289. 348. Faith is the groūd of al true vertues a 60. b 411. there is no true faith but the Catholique faith of the whole Church b 536. Faith alone doth not iustifie a 61. 900. b. 70. Faith and good workes gaine heauen a 393. 410. b 34. 338. Fastes instituted and obserued a 382. 706. 899. 934. 957. 1006. 1029. 1045. b 534. 615. 795. 825. 827. 874. 895. 994 It is an act of religion b 514 great effectes therof ibidem Fathers and the holie Doctors doe build adorne the Church b 537. Faultes must be reueled or concealed with discretion b 400. 402. Feare of God is the first degree of wisdom b 269. It is the seede of al other vertues and of eternal glorie b 375. Feare of Superiors because they are Gods ministers is necessarie a 594. b 412. Feare not men commanding contraie to God b 313. Feare of God with the obseruation of his commandments is the summe of al godlie doctrine b 333. Feastes instituted and obserued a 7. 225. 307. 380. 430. 707. 934. 1050. 1059. b 153. 947. 972. 994. Fire sent miraculously a 15. 279. 528. 748. 761. 855. b 948. Fire perpetually kept in the tabernacle a 271. 279. Fire shal burne the world immediatly before the general iudgement b 97. 545. Foure miracles in the fire which Ieremie hidde b 948. 949. Firmamēt signifieth the space from the highest starres to the earth a 1. Flaterie is ful of guile b 401. Fortitude consisteth more in suffering patiently then in repelling forces a 88. Fortitude contemneth imagined feare b 301. Fortitude required in Iudges b 383. Free consent is required in euerie couenant a 214. and in mans iustification b 323. Freewil is in man a 13. 15. 33. 191. 200. 207. 458. 459. 596. 703. 978. b 177. 217. 271. 323. 349. 418. 466. 526. 543. 567. 821. No sinne can be cōmitted without consent of freewil a 11. 32. Luther abhorred the name of freewil Caluin disliked it a 16. Freindshipe is a strong band a 609. b 405 426 False freindshipe fayleth in aduersitie a 1046. G Gard of the outward senses a 972. Gedeon was confirmed by miracles a 528. encoraged by a dreame a 530. By a stratageme with a few he ouerthrew manie a 531. Genealogies are recited from Adam to Noe. a 18. 818. From Noe to Abraham a 44. 50. 819. From Abraham by Isaac and Iacob to Dauid a 821. From Dauid to Iosias a 823. and to his sonnes a 939. Also from his sonne Iechonias to Christ b 1004. Genealogies of Leui to Aaron and Moyses a 168. 828. 939. b 1004. Gentiles shal be conuerted to Christ a 51. 85. 146. 453. 463. 529. 681. 716. b 16. 119. 425. 484. 498. 521. 543. 544. 558. 636. 702. 743. 812. 813. 839. 872. Giantes before Noes floud a 22. 1033. 1090. others after the floud a 402. Gloria Patri c. added after euerie Psalme by Eclesiastical tradition b 266. Glorie eternal a 35. 712. b 34. 83. 156. 492. God is one in substance a 30. 47. 160. 196. 702. 934. b 41. 182. 362. 988. Knowne by his workes a 162. 178. 464. 1105. b 435. 436. 508. Onlie God knoweth al thinges a 1103 b 251. God calleth the whole world his Beautie and his peculiar people his Corde b 879. He would haue al to be saued b 706. 714. 735. 816. 822. 835. 847. His threates are conditional b 579. 844. He rewardeth al that kepe his law and punisheth the transgressors a 216. 401. 451. 1101. b 21. 22. 830. 831. Gods especial protection in distresses a 804. 924. 1019. 1044. 1051. 1090. 1107. b 27. 30. 37. 51. 56. 57. 61. 67. 255. 262. 487. 512. God figheth for his seruantes three wayes a 512. God tempteth not to euil a 76. He is neuer the cause of sinne a 153. 535. 666. 684. 758. 1024. 1061. b 23. 192. 541. 612. 822. His permission is sometimes called his fact b 653. 654. He made man right a 5. b 327. 550. He is ielous a 216. 1018. b 726. He speaketh by his Priestes Prophetes and Preachers a 194. b 861. God vseth his creatures to supernatural effectes a 163. 764. 998. 1005. And suspendeth their natural operation at his wil. b 781. Gods foreknowlege what wil happen or may happen doth not preiudice mans freewil b 349. Gog and Magog signifie Antichrist and his adherentes b 746. Goliath prouoking the Israelites was slaine by Dauid a 605. 608. Gospel is kowen by the Church a 989. Grace is necessarie otherwise none can merite a 245. b 65. 217. 293. 405. 512. 513. 520. 549. 667. 995. It requireth mans cooperation a 401. 422. 463. 603. 704. 892. b 33. 43. 217. 323. 394. 408. 528. 536. 603. 811. 869. 995. Grace is also necessarie to perseuere a 422. b 129. 293. 679. Grace sufficient is geuen to euery one effectual of Gods especial mercie to some b 678. Al grace is from the fulnes of Christ b 538. 881. It enableth man to kepe the commandments a 458. 704. b 584. 742. 865. Gradual Psalmes are prayers and prophecies b 234. Gratitude acknowlegeth benefites receiued b 447. H Habacuc prophecied before the captiuitie of Iuda b 857. An other Habacuc
〈…〉 nt when 〈◊〉 are ●o●● notorious Rom. 5. Gods patience of it self profitable by euil harts made vnprofitable Miracul●rum 〈…〉 bera ●●●bra 〈…〉 sabat Not doing called sometimes doing the contrarie Freewil the cause of diuers endes in Pharao and Nabucodonosor Other ancient Doctors teach the same Origen E●o 4● S. Basil Chrysostom Damascen Isa 6. Rom. 11. v. 8. Hierom. Theodoret. Gregorie the great Isidorus The act of induration attributed to Pharao himself in diuers places Bible 1552. 1577. 160● How it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God cast Pharao into the sea when himselfe ranne in wilfully Ser. 89. Not God but man the cause of sine proued by other scrptures True miracles do certainly proue the truth Mar. 16. v. 20. lib. 2. v. 4. Some strange things done by sleight by deceipt of senses by course of nature especially by diuels S. Aug. li. 18. c. 18. ciuit Manie things aboue the diuels natural powre The diuels powre is much restrained False prophets euer faile when they pretend by miracles to proue their doctrine Simon Magus confounded 3. Reg. ●9 lib. 1. Cyrola an Arian Bishop detected Caluins attempt misproued and he de●●iued Gods prouidence in most danger 1 His special warning not to credit preachers of a new Religion though they pretend to be prophetes or to worke wonders 2 Most dangerous seducers reigne but short time 3 Notes to know Antichrist 4 Against most dangerous assaltes God sendeth most forcible resistāce Mat. 24. Ioan 5. 2. Thes 2. Apoc. 13. Apoc. 11 A●oc 20. See pag. 19. :: If Pharao had not freewil threatning of punishmēt were vniust Origen li. 3. Per●ar c. de lib a●b●it He that can not do otherwise doth not sinne as both lerned and vnlerned cōfesse S Aug. de ver● Relig. c. 14. :: The 2. plague Multitude of frogges :: The Enchāters could bring more frogges but not take these away :: Pharaos induration ascribed to himself :: The 3. plague Sciniphes smale flying beastes especially molesting mens eyes Philo l. 1. de vita Moysi :: The diuels powre limited by God Iob 1. 2 :: The enchanters conuinced in their vnderstanding confessed the power of God but not changed in affection persisted in malice against the truth :: The 4 plague Abundance of al sortes of flies :: Aegyptians worshipping beasts thought it intolerable abomination to kil or eate or burne t●em in sacrifice ●●n 43. v. 32 46. v. 34. :: In the Hebrew Pharao hardned his o●●n● hart also this time :: The 5. plague Pestilence amongst cattel :: Not al the beastes died for some died in the 7 10. plagues but al that died pertaine● to the Aegyptians :: In Hebr. ●an●●bad ●●b Parhaoh Phara●es hart hardned it selfe :: The 6 plague Boyles in men and beastes :: Poore Enchanters that could neither escape nor cure this plague :: In Hebrew I haue made thee stand in the 70 and chalde paraphrasis I haue kept thee aliue In the Latin I haue put or set thee that in thee through thyn owne malice indurate I may make knowen my powre to mākind S. Aug. de Predest et Grat. c. 6. The 7. plague Terrible haile thunders and lightnings :: Rom. 5. :: In Hebrew Vaiachbed libb● hu vahabadaf And he hardned his ovvne hart he and his seruants :: By Gods patience ouer Pharao his seruants in not destroying them their wicked mind became more obstinate S. Aug. q. 30. 36. in Exod. :: The 8. Plague Innumerable locustes litle flying beastes with long hinder legges that destroy graine grasse fruict Plinius li. 11. c. 29. S. Greg li. 31. c. 20. Moral :: Because Gods seruants may not temporize in religion politiques vniustly charge them to haue bad intentions :: The 9. plague Horrible darknes three dayes together :: Gods people must be resolute in Religion The to plague Death of the firstborne in men beastes of the Aegyptians ●● As before c ● v. 3. c. 9. v. 16. c. 10. v. 1. The Epistle in the office on good friday And the 9. prophecie before Mas●e on Easter eue :: Such as had not meanes to take a lambe tooke a kidde vsing al the same Rites :: Shachatu immolabunt shal offer or sacrfice not only kil as protestants translate Passage in killing the first-borne of Aegypt and not of Israel S. Hiero. in Mat. 26. :: The idols of Aegypt were ouerthrowne as Dagon was in Azotum 1. Reg. 5. S. Hierom Epist ad Fabiol extradit Hebr. :: Christ obseruing this precept had no leuened bread at his last supper and so instituted the Eucharist in vnleuened :: Sprinckling of bloud with ●yslop here ●euit 14 Num. 19 prescribed signifieth mās deliuerie by Christs bloud working in Baptisme and other Sacraments Heb. 9. :: Punishment conforme to their sinne for persecuting Gods ●i●st begotten sonne Israel Exod. 4. v. 22. Theodor. q. 32. in Exod. :: ●awful spoile by the warrant of God Lord of al. :: From the promise made to Abraham Gen 12. v 7. and his first going into Aegypt v. 10 to this time were 4●0 yeares Gal. 3. of which they were in great persecution aboue 80. yeares before that in seruitude about 60. more before that also they were strangers partly in Aegypt partly in Chanaan the rest of this time See Gen. 15. v. 13. The 70. read in Aegypt and in Chanaan for explication as S. Augustin no teth li. 16. c. 10. ciuit Christs action sheweth that the Paschal lambe was a figure of the Eucharist Some things in the Paschal lambe prefigured Christ both on the Crosse and at his last supper Ioan ● Some more expresly signified his Passion Others immediatly the Eucharist Ioa. 19. Ancient writers expound this figure of the Eucharist Luc. 2● Tertullian proueth by this figure fulfilled in the Eucharist that Christ hath a true and not a phantastical bodie Hiere 〈◊〉 v. 19. Psal 103. The same Sacrifice offered by Priests 1. Cor. 5. S. Gregories moralization of this figure applied to the B Sracrament VVhat persons are to receiue the B. Sacrament The thing figured farre excellleth the figure The Eucharist is also a Sacrifice ● The first lesson at Mattins on Candlemasse day :: The old Testament proposed cōmonly temporal rewardes S Hierom l●p ad Dardanum :: In the Hebrew vvhen Pharao had indurated himselfe :: Gods preuention to auoid tentations sheweth free wilin man :: By this appeareth how much Moyses estemed Iosephs charge concerning translation of his bones Also S. Paul commendeth it Heb. 11. :: Although the Hebrew Greke and Latin haue And he yet Protestants corruptly thrust in the text that he shal to make it sound to their sense that God did not only permit but worke Pharaoes induration :: A sorowful hart lamentably mourning for the people is called crying to God S. Hierom. in Gal. 4. ● Reg. 6. :: Protection of Angels The fourth prophecie in the office before Masse on Easter ●u● And the second on whitsuneue :: So in Baptisme al sinnes are destroyed S
folowers They belie the Church militant Blaspheme the triumphant Al modest mē wil condemne these blasphemies Catholique doctrine and practise conuince their lies The true Catholique doctrin Honour due to excellencie Three kindes of excellencie Therfore three kindes of honour Protestants denie anie honour to be due to Saincts Their obiection First answer Example of this necessary distinction Second answer S Augustin declareth this doctrin and geueth both the former answers li. 20. c. 21. Three causes of celebrating Saincts memories Latria is honour proper to God Sacrifice only to God Protestants confesse that the ancient Fathers honored Saincts and their Reliques Manna was put in a golden vessel Heb. 9. How saucie are heretikes to scoffe at so renowmed a Doctor Protestants haue corrupted the text in al their English Bibles God commanded to make Images Christ and Saincts are honored in their Images The first table containeth three precepts the second seuen The first can not wel be diuided The ninth and tenth are as distict as the sixth and seuenth :: Iudicial lawes do instruct in particular ●●w to kepe the commandments of the second table pertaining to our neighboures * Paying nothing :: The Iudges authorized by God :: VVhere great faults are cōmitted punishment is inflicted according to the enormitie of the sinne aboue the proportion of the iniurie Theodoret q. 50. in Exod. Deut. 25. Mystically He that taketh from the Church a daylie laborer in Gods field sinneth more greuously and deserueth more punishment then he that taketh a priuate man of Christs flock Rabanus :: Iudges called goddes for their eminent authoritie Exo. 7. v. 1. :: The law of nature requireth to do to others as we would they should do to vs. For which cause besides others God suffered his people to be strangers in Aegypt to moue them to compassion towards others in like case Rabanus :: Oppression of the poore crieth to God for renenge :: Al vertues being ●●●ded in iustice cease to be true vertues when iustice is not first obserued S. ●ierom in Psal 32. et in Prou. 31. Three principal feastes besides the Sabbath some others :: Pasch in memorie of their deliuerie from Aegypt :: Pentecost when they receiued the Law :: Tabernacles in memorie of Gods protection fourtie yeares in the desert :: Peace with infidels forbidden to Gods people :: As when Moyses had brought the Israentes from bondage and receiued the law for them he built an Altar for Sacrifice so Christ hauing redemed vs and geuē vs a Law for applicatiō of the fruict therof Altares are erected Sacrifice offered :: This was donne corporally to the Iewes In Christians Christs bloud applied by Sacrifice and Sacraments sanctifieth their soules Heb. 9. The lesson in Masse on Imber wenesday in Lent A figure of Christs bloud in the B. Sacrament Mat. 26. :: As the Israelites were prompt to offer these external things in the old law so Christians must offer the like for Gods seruice but specially al sortes of vertues Faith hope charitie penance deuotion prayer almes fasting c. :: If Images were vnlawful God would not haue commanded to make Cherubims 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. :: For the perpetual v●e and sanctitie of these loaues which none might eate but such as were pure 1. Reg. 21. they prefigured ●he holie Eucharist S. ●ur in T●● 1. S Damna ●●n de oxtho li. 4 c. 14. S. Cyril ●●the● 4. And consequently Christ is really present in the ● Sacrament For if there were bread in substance it should not excel the figure which is required it euerie thing prefigured Colless 2. :: Christs members by their vnion communitie assist ech other and adorne his tabernacle the Church :: The chie●●est part of the Tabernacle called Sancta sanctorum Holie of holies :: God would not haue darknes in his tabernacle by day nor night signifying that his people ought alwayes to shine in good workes S. Beda li. 3 c. 1. de tabernac :: Vocation necessarie to spiritual function Heb. 5. :: These vestments sign fie that Bishopes and Priestes must haue special vertues discretion puritie of life sincere intention contemplatiō of God supportation of the peoples infirmitie solicitude of their good exampla● life sound doctrin and band of vnion S. Hiero. ad Fabi●l de vestitu Sacerdotum to 3. :: Knowledge of the cause and sincere proceding therin are the two keyes of right iudgement :: Special preparation before Bishops and Priests be consecrated :: The first preparation in the p 〈…〉 to b●●●●●e ●●a●●d is cl●●●●ng from 〈…〉 then to ●e adorned with the vertues aboue mentioned pag. 234. :: Diuers things were offered at diuers times and al signified Christs Sacrifice in his Church s. Aug li. 1. c 18. co● aduers leg prophet yet none daylie but a lambe more particularly signifiing the daylie offering of the lambe of God and perpetual effect therof Origen ●n Ioan. 1. :: That is 7. d ob English For a sicle of the Sanctuarie is about 15. d :: Obolus 3. farthings :: Not by Movses but by an Angel at Gods appointment Gal. 3. v. 19. :: Aaron knew what goddes they ment to wit such as they had senne worshipped in Aegypt and therfore he made them a molten calfe v. 4. :: Excesse in play called foolish mirth is the daughter of gluttonie and mother of Idolatrie S. Greg. li. 31. c. 31. Moral :: To the molten calfe which they had made :: God saying suffer me signifieth that he could be hindered S. Hierom in Ion● 1. :: Not only Gods promise but also his seruants merites are here proposed for procuring mercie to the people See the Annotation :: Moyses the meekest manon earth Nu. 12. in Gods cause was most zelous against sinne ● Aug. q. 144. in Exod. :: Aaron confessed the fault briefly not intending a friuolous excuse for he could not thinke but Moyses knew the truth ● Aug. q. 145 in Exod. :: Their zeale vsed with authoritie and order is here rewarded which otherwise wanting when Simeon and Leui slew the Sichemites was blamed by Iacob Gen. 34. 49. :: Moyses not content with his owne saluation would rather perish with the people then they should al be destroied and therfore at his instance God pardoned them S. Hicr● E● 12 ad Ga●d in Ione 1. S. Aug q. 147. in Exod. This people thought the calfe to be the true God S. Aug. li. 18. c ● ciuit They adored that which the image represented li. 1. c. 11. para 9. Instit Caluin chargeth Moyses with arrogancie Moyses charitie concurred with Gods prouidence In hunc locum S. Aug. q. 149. in Exod. S. Chrys ho. 42. in Gen. The●d q 67. in Exo. God sheweth mercie for the merites of his seruants Grace goeth before merites :: God w●uld not in this passage worke such miracles as he did bringing them forth of Aegypt So it is a comination because they werest ubborne and stiffe necked :: The vision of God in gloric
is algo●d :: God by his grace maketh his seruants to cal vpon his name S. Aug. q 154. in Exod. :: None in this life can see God as Saincts do in glorie 1. Ioan. 3. Rom 9. :: Moyses saw more glorious workes effectes of God then other Prophets yet not his substance and diuine nature Theodoret. q. 68. in Exod S Hier. de verb. Isa vidi Dom. S. Chrysost ho. 4. de in copie Dei natura :: The first tables being broken yet others are made so though the first grace geuen in Baptisme be lost Yet there remaineth penance as the second table of saftie after shipwrake S. Hiero. Epis ad Demedriad * chief ruler :: Notwithstanding his former commination chap. 33. v 3 God here promiseth new benefites :: God by an angel not Moyses supra v 1. Deut. 10. v. 2. 4. :: How soeuer the commandments are diuided in both tables here it is certaine that there be no more nor fewer then tenne in al. :: So his face appeared to the beholders by reason of the glistering beames of his countenance shining gloriously after his conuersation with God fourtie dayes which signifieth that much more that which abideth in al eternitie is in glorie 2. Cor. 3. :: The same veile saieth S. Paul remaneth vpon the hart of the Iewes that they can not see Christ til by his special grace they shal be illuminated 2 Cor 3. The like is vpon the hart of Heretikes that can not see the Church S. Aug. in Psal 30. con 2. :: After the fall of the people to Idolatrie their punishment and repentāce their reconciliation to God and new tables of the commandments made and written Moyses repeteth the former precept of keping the Sabbath and prouideth al necessaries to the making of the Tabernacle wherto the Princes and people most promptly and liberally contribute S. Aug. q. 172. in Exo. :: As matter alone is not sufficient for a building without artificers to whom God geueth special skil so for expounding holie Scripture God geueth particular knowledge to Pastors and Doctors to the consummation of Sainctes to the worke of the ministerie to the edifying of the bodie of Christ the Church Ephes 4. :: As the people abounded in deuotion so the workmen of modestie and religion would haue no more then necessarie ● Augustin q. ●71 in Exod. :: The Cherubins couering al vpon and within the arke signifie saith S Gregorie Nyssen that the Scriptures haue a hiegher sense then the literal de vita Moyseos post medium :: These wemen watched there for deuotion and it semeth the same custome continued til Christs time For Anna the widow obserued this state of life Luc. ●● :: Alexander the great seeing Iaddus the hiegh Priest bearing this venerable plate on his forehead with great reuerence went vnto him and adored the name of God written in the pla●e Iosephus li. 11. c. 8. Antiq. :: The Tabernacle prepared in the first yeare and erected the first day of the second yeare signifieth the Church of Christ prepared in the old Testament established exalted and confirmed in the new :: More holie then anie thīg without the Sanctuarie but the Sancta Sanctorum it selfe was then most holie of al places in this world :: A gomor of Manna was now put in the arke mentioned before chap. 16. :: VVithout al doubt s●●th S. Augustin q. 173. in Exod. Moyses prefigured other persons when he entred into the cloud on mount Sinai and others now when he could not enter into the tabernacle reple nished with the glorie of God In Sinai he signified those that penetrate the profound mysteries of Christ here the Iewes who vnderstād not the same Exod. vlt. So soone as the Tabernacle was erected God declared the offices of the Leuites written in this booke wherof it is called Leuiticus Nu. 1. Epist ad Paulinum Leuit. 1. 8. The contents of this booke 11. 12. 18. 23. 26. 27. Diuided into fiue parts The first part of this booke Of diuers sortes of Sacrifices :: The best and perfectest of euerie kind is to be offered to God not the blind lame or weake Gen. 4. Malach. 1. Sacrifice presupposed to be necessary God prescribeth the rites to be obserued therin Three kindes of Sacrifice Holocauste Sacrifice for sinne Pacifique Sacrifice For benefites receiued or desired Al sacrifices of the old Testament prefigured Christs Sacrifice on the Crosse and in the Eucharist Not the external worke for it selfe but sincere deuotion pleaseth God External sacrifices were ordained 1. to keepe the people from Idolatrie 2. To induce them to internal vertues Io. 4. v 24. Rom. 6. v. 19. Psal 5● 3. To signifie greater Mysteries of the new Testament :: These oblations were specially for the poorest sorte So God tempered his law to the abilitie of euerie one Theod. q. 1. in Leuit. :: As literally no leauen not honey might be offered in sacrifice so al sinne and carnal delectatiō must be excluded in christian life :: That salt signifieth discretion appeareth by S Paul exhorting to seasonal our talke with salt Collos 4. v. 6. :: In holocaust onlie the male was offered c●ap 1. in other sacrifices both sexes were acceptable :: These partes and the fatt were burned as an Holocaust the rest of the oblation being pacifique :: Ignorance of that we are bond to know is sinne and more in Priests then in others :: VVe see here and in manie other places that numbers are mystical not alwayes supersticious :: A Priest and the whole multitude offered the same sacrifice of a calfe for their sines the Prince offered a male goate a priuate person a femal See Theod ret q 1. in Le●● versus finem :: Though in ordinarie sacrifices for sinne one part was alotted to the Priests by whose ministerie God remitted sinnes yet of the sacrifice for a priests sinnes or for the sinnes of the multitude the priests had no part lest they should saue cost or reape commoditie by sacrifice for their owne or the whole peoples sinnes but al was burned as in a holocaust Theodoret q. 3. in Leuit. S. Tho 1 2. q. ●02 2. 3. ad 8. :: VVhen periurie doth preiudice an others cause he that knoweth the truth is bond to reueil it to the Iudge but with discretion to auoide scandal :: Swearing to do that is euil or not doing that is lawfally sworne is sinne :: For remission of sinne restitution is first required if ●niu●●e was done :: Besides restitution satisfaction is also necessarie for the offence to God Theodoret. q. 2. in 〈◊〉 :: Such examples of penāce or satifaction for sinne besides restitution of that was wrong fully taken are frequent in Moyses Law :: This fire was first sent miraculously from God in●ra c. 9. v. 24. and according to this cōmandment was perperpetually conserued from which al fire was to be taken that was vsed in the tabernacle S. Aug. q. 31. Theod. q 9. in
wherupon they begāne to detest Abimelec and so hatred grew betwen him them which is a most euil spirite but their former sinne not God was the cause therof S. Aug. q. 45. in Iudic. :: For more reuenge he sowed the citie with salte which maketh ground barren Theod. q. 17. in lib. Iudie :: Euels shal betide the vniust man to destruction Psal 139. Vngtatful people render iniuries for benefites Infidels promote wicked men to authoritie Abimelech a figure of Antichrist 2. Thess 2. :: Not euerie one that sayeth Lord Lord but he tha● doth the wil of God c. Mat. 7. :: The hebrew word Z●nah signifieth also ●n ●n keeper :: If they had not concurred to his expulsion it might haue sufficed to haue sent for him but in this case the ancientes iudged it meete to goe in person and to in treat him So Christ was reiected by the Iewes and returneth not to them til in the end of the world they shal seeke vnto him ● Aug. q. 49. in Iudic. post●e●iū Num. 20 :: In the opinion of infidels it semed that they possess●d countries by the helpe of false goddes and so they thought them selues to haue iust title Much more iust is the title when God almighty geueth victorie of conquest S. Aug. q. 48. in Iudie :: He argueth vpon prescription of 300. yeares being nere so much for there wanted scarce thirtie being from the conquest made by Moyses Num. 21. til the time of Iephte about 270. yeares :: This vow was vnlawful for the law forbiddeth to offer man or woman in sacrifice Exo. 34. v. 20. Deut. 12. v. 31. :: In the old testament mariage was ordinarily preferred before single life but in the new it is better to kepe virginity 1. Cor. ● ● 38. Iephte offended in vowing vndiscretly But not in performing his vow as ancient fathers thinke more probable S. Augustin S. Ambrose S. Hierom. S. Chrysostom S. Gregorie Nazianzen Theodoret. Bible ●603 Protestants censure :: That is expose● my self to danger trusting to Gods helpe ●●y● owne handes when others would not assist me :: Iephte being of Manasses tribe the Ephraites enuied his glorie and calumniously obiected that he and his followers were fugitiues so raised a tumulte to their owne ●●●●e :: Abstinence not only from thinges vncleane by the law but also from wine and sider was a preparation to the childe who should abstaine from them al his life :: Other Nazerites obserued a prescripte rule of abstinence for a time only Num. 6. but Samson al his life as a more perfect figure of Christ :: Manue taking the Angel for a holie prophete iustly thought he would not admitte not cōmand anie thing but that was lawful And so did as the Angel appointed him though he was no priest nor the place proper to sacrifice but by extraordinarie dispensation :: Though Manue saw not God in his owne person yet seing him in his messenger feared death S. Aug. q. 54. in Iudi● Protestantes either contradict themselues or teach Arrianisme Bible 1603. :: It was prohibited Deut. 7. v. 3. to make mariage with the Gentiles but God some times dispensed as here it appeareth he did v. 4. :: By threates they made he● betray her husband and neuertheles destroyed both her and her father cha ●5 v. 6. so persecuters of the Church deale with such as trayterously or of frailtie serue their turne :: Being Iudge of the people he had helpe of others to ●ake so manie foxes with ●●●●es or otherwise being great store in that countrie :: A notorious miracle to kil so manie with so meane a weapon without other helpe of man And by common reason as vncredible as the great mysteries of Catholique Religion :: It was a greater miracle to draw water out of a drie bone then out of the earth or stones but al things are possible to God which he pleaseth to do * or an In●e●per :: For such admirable streingth the heth ●i●h people thought Samson to be Hercules S. Aug. li. 18. c. 19. ciuit But he was indeede farre stronger then they feaned of Hercules who they said was not able to fight against two whereas Samson alone killed a thousand with the iaw bone of an asse c. 15. v. 15. :: Supernatural streingth or grace departeth when any leaue the rule of their profession :: He desired to be reuenged not of rancour of mind but of zele of iustice And so al the elect glorified Sainctes desire reuēge Luc. 18. v. 8. Apoc. 6. v. 10. Samson excused in killing himselfe wīth his enemies Samson a figure of Christ The third part Of certaine accidentes which happened in the time of the Iudges :: In hebrew pesel vmassecah in Latin sculptile constatile a grauen molten thing an image or forme made in mettle for a god and so called v. 5. was in dede an idol of Gentilitie and nothing at al against sacred Images of Christ and his Sainctes in the Catholique Church wherof more is noted Gen. 31. Exo. 20. :: Annointed his hādes with oyle as was prescribed Exo. 29. Leu. 8 But such an apish imitation was of no value where was neither true vocation in the annointed for he descended not of A●ton but of Moyses chap. 18. v. 30. nor authoritie in him that vsed this ceremony b An Apostata Leuite was accounted more sufficient then an idolatrical priest to serue an idol so he that is a Priest of a Deacon once catholikly consecrated is a sufficient yea too sufficient a minister with protestantes c Their whole portiō was assigned Ios 19 but through their owne ●●outh they possessed litle of it so that hitherto the greatest part was not receiued d They ment the false god which the apostata Leuite serued e The diuel answered as his maner is obscurly sometimes truly sometimes falsly :: Pesel eidolon sculptile the grauen thing falsly called god c. 17. v. 5. :: She was his lawful wife and so called v. ● ● 9. et also is called concubine because she had no dawrie nor as yet enioyed the priuiledges of a mistris in her husbands house :: Omission contemp● to punish hainous ●●imes is a 〈…〉 cause to make w●●●● 〈…〉 :: One of the tribe of Iuda :: Being farre more in number hauing the iust cause yet had the worse because they trusted in their owne streingth :: God also punished al Israel by this ciuil warre for suffering idolattie in the tribe of Dan. cha 18. v. 30. which they ought to haue punished Deut. 13. v. 12. :: By this it appeareth that this historie happened not long after the death of Eleazarus Ios 24. v. 33. to whom hissonne Phinees succeded in the spiritual Supremacie of the Church :: Lest either iustice be ouer sharpe or mercie too relaxe with great art of discretion gouernours must obserue mercie iustly aduising and discipline piously ch●sticings S. Greg. li 1. Epist 24. :: In the time of the Iudges
Ostriches :: Falcons or Ierfalcons other haukes :: Horses are of singular great corege :: Haukes wherof Aristotel saith there be ten kindes pli●●e sixtene :: Eagles of most strong sight :: If we discusse al Iobs wordes saith S. Gregorie we shal find nothing wickedly spoken but only smale spe●ce of pride in speaking too much of his owne afflictiō and too litle of Gods goodnes towards him li. 23. c. 1. :: Though Iob had truly auouched that his sinnes deserued not so great afflictions yet he ought to haue acknowleged that God afflicted him iustly for some other cause knowne to God but vnknowē to him which he not confessing semed to make Gods iudgement vniust or of none effect S. Greg. li. 32. c. 3. :: An Elephant the greatest of al beastes of long life strong meke t●n perate chaist ouercome by the Vnicorne or Dragon or taken by the nose ledde away How much more doth Gods prouidence geue man powre to ouercome the diuel :: An huge great fish perhaps the whale exceding mans powre to be managed yet is subiect as also the diuel signified therby to Gods powre and prouidence :: God ruleth al his creatures not with crueltie as a tyranne but with iustice ease and powre :: God at last destroyeth him whom man can not ouercome :: Angels with reuerent feare doe honour Gods powre And valient mariners and other soldiars are terrified when they see this so huge a fish Mystically Gods preachers and perfectest seruantes shal naturally feare the terrour of Gods iudgement :: And the diuel reigneth ouer proude men S. Greg. li. 34. c 4. 17. :: Iob here simply ackowledged his error in speaking so much in defence of his owne innocencie and so litle of Gods prouidence in afflicting him for his more merite and Gods more glorie :: Before he defended a truth against his opposite freindes now with more resignation he contented himself with his affliction :: Iob did penance both for himself and others :: In that he had al other thinges duble and children in the same number as before it is a signe that the former perished not but died in good state God by his sentence condemned the error of Iobs freindes and iustified his assertion Errors ought not to beholden stil being once condemned Much lesse raised againe being hertofore buried S. Aug. deside oper S. Cyprian li. 4. ep 2. Apud Euseb li. 6. c. 35. Gen. 2. 4 7 Exod. 23. Deut. 15. Numbers mystical Great or manie sacrifices for great offences Deuotion of him that offereth sacrifice increaseth the effect Prayers of holie men or Sainstes derogate not from Christ VVhy we haue made few annotations in this booke The argument of this historie Iob in prosperitie was tempted inuisibly more then ordinary men of lower state or lesse perfection 2. Tim. 3. Much more by losse of al his goodes and children in one day Most of al by bodilie affliction And reuiling of his wife Holie Iob lamented his affliction and the general miseries of man VVhere Iob expected comforth in tribulation the diuel procured him more affliction Iob sore afflicted in bodie had nine seueral confflictes about the cause therof before it was decided The first conflict The maine point of the controuersie The second conflict The ground of these mens error The third conflict The fourth conflict The fifth conflict The sixth conflict The seuenth conflict The eight conflict The ninth conflict Newest Sectaries hold themselues the wisest Especially these of our dayes that relie ech one vpon his owne priuate spirite In the tenth place God decided the controuersie Penitentes pardoned Iob rewarded The literal sense of this historie Aliegorical Anagogical Moral Holie Iob proceded by degrees to perfect patience This booke vndoubtedly is canonical Scripture Late Hebrew Doctors and some Catholiques hold diuers authors of sundry Psalmes Prefat in Psal Epist 134. 139. It is much more probable that Dauid was author of al. Proued by S. Augustin S. Chrysostom and greatest part of Doctors Mat. 22. v. 16. Act. 4. v. 24. Ro. 4. v. 6. Ro 11. v. 9. Heb. 4. v. 7. The common voice of Christians some general councels cal it Dauids Psalter Proued by other Scriptures S Ierom attributeth the summe of this booke to Dauid only The Psalmes are a Summe of al other Scriptures Mat. 5. 7. 11. 22. Lu● 16. S. Greg. in Psal penitent They cōteine the summe of Legal Historical Sapientiential and Prophetical doctrine Gods prouidence in sweetly drawing our consent cooperation of freewil which is necessarie to saluation Ser. 15. de verb. Apost S. ●asil in pr●log Apoc. 5. Holie Scriptures a sealed booke li. 4 dialogi c. 42. The Psalter is the key of other Scriptures Iac. 5. But it self is also sealed But one principal key of ech Psalme Tenne keyes of the Psalter Also tenne stringes 1. Key One God the B. Trinitie 2. Gods workes 3. Gods prouidence 4. The Hebrew people 5. Christ our Redemer 6. Conuersion of Gentiles the Catholique Church 7. Faith good workes 8. Dauids owne actes 9. General Resurrection Iudgement 10. Eternal glory and paine Foure wayes to find the proper key of euerie psalme 1. By the title 2. Allegation in the new Testament 3. Greatnes of thinges affirmed 4. Conference of places li. 3 c. 4. de pecca merit The stile of this booke is Poetrie Abuse derogateth not from good thinges Dauids Psalter more ancient then any profane poetrie now extant Musike very ancient Gen. 4. Sacred poetrie most excellēt Prefat VVhy King Dauid w●●●te diuine poetrie The first cause his natural inclination to musike 1. Reg. 16. v. 23. 2. Verse more easie more plesant Eccli 40. S. Aug. S. Basil in Prae●at 3. Most special great and memorable thinges writte in verse Exo. 1● Deut. 32. Iudic 5. Iudith 16. Prou 31. 1. Reg. 2. Isa 38. Isa 12. 26. Eze●h 38 Ia● 2. Abac. 3. Dan. 3. Luc. 1. 2. C●ticles in the new Testament 4. Both diuine musike and dirtie in Gods temple 1. Par● 23 25. 5. The great vse of these Psalmes in the Catholique Church 56. 117. 65. The whole Psalter in the ordinarie office e●●●●● weke Certaine Psalme● euerie day 4. 30. adv 7 53 62. 66. 90. 94. 118. 133. 148. 149 150. Many Psalmes in other Ecclesiastical offices Bishops bond to be skilful in Dauids Psalter Other Priestes to haue competent knowlege therin VVhy this booke is called the psalter Other instrumentes make consorte with the Psalter Al vertues are referred to Gods honour Scriptures are to be expounded by the cōmon spirit of the Church not by priuate men They consist in vnderstanding Holy Fathers do best expound them Some Mysteries are hidden They proue our humilitie The right maner of seruing God The 7. key a He is in the right way to eternal felicitie b not continued to euil suggestions Mat. 5. c not continued in sinne d not finally persisted in wicked life e He is wholly occupied delighted in keeping
life we must desire more and more knowledge of true doctrin h from the first vse of reason at which time manie are careles i negligent to lerne how to serue God k As God is sweete in geuing good motions l so he is seuere to them that resist his grace m God mercifully p euenteth with his grace n and iustly rewardeth good workes o Gods law is his couenant with man p and testimon e of his wil. q sinne in respect of auersien from God is great nedeth ●e grace r He that feareth God which is the beginning of wisdome receiueth fiue spiritual commodities here mentioned 1 God iustructeth him by his law 2 bestoweth al necessaries vpon him 3 others shalimitate his good example 4 God wil protect him 5 According to Gods couenant he shal enioy the manifest sight of God for his eternal reward ●mans weaknes without Gods helpe t Tribulatiōs can not be a●o●de● but must necessarily be suffered therfore ô God g●ue vs grace to passe through them without sinne v myn affliction w take away the cause and affliction wil be mitigated Ioan. 15. x wicked men of ●●ured do end ●our to draw others into sinne y Those that hope in God shal neuer be confounded z Al The letters of the Alphebet being complete in this Psalme this last verse beginneth with Pere Redeeme praying God to redeme and deliuer Israel that is the whole Church from tribulations Dauids prayer distressed in persecution The 8. key a This Psalme is also a counenient prayer for anie Christian in tribulation b Be thou ô God arbiter of the cause bet 〈…〉 Saul and me thou knowest myn innocencie in this behalfe though I am uniustly charged by Saul and his freindes c Lest perhaps I be not so innocent as I desire and as in respect of Saul I hope that I am do thou O God proue me as thou wilt by tribulations d Dauid in confidence of a good conscience and zele against the wicked alleageth his sincere proceding more then ordinarie men may do God so inspiring him extraordinarily e The rest of this Psalme euerie Priest reciteth in Masse before he offer the holie Sacrifice professing putting him selfe in memorie that he must only communicate with the innocent or of pure conscience f and so approch to the Altar prefigured Leuit. 16. v. 4. g Shutting the eares of my hart from euil and vaine thoughtes I wil attend to godlie inspirations h and so with mental prayer and external voice as the holie order of this sacred office requireth praise thee ô God in thy meruelous workes Epi. ●●● c. 11. i I can not but singularly loue the excellencie of this place dedicated to thy seruice where is true faith vnitie and charitie of thy people the guard of holie Angels the administratiō of sacred mysteries assistance of the Holie Ghost real presence of Christ our Lord al replenished with Diuine maiestie k This representeth vnto me the glorious heauenlie kingdom of God and al Sainctes l Suffer me not therfore to be contaminate by the wicked nor to be deuoured with them m They are stil readie to committe more and more iniquities n themselues being corrupted endeuour by giftes of wordly commodities to corrupt others o Euerie one ought so to purge his conscience that he may be innocent or free from great sinne p deliuer me from this necessitie of dwelling among the wicked q I intend to walke right r I desire ●● praise thee amongst thy true faithful seruantes A singular great afflictiō to be hindered from Gods true seruice Christians must abhorre and abstaine from al conuenticles of Heretikes and other Infidels An other confident prayer of Dauid in tribulation The 3. Key a Before his second annointing as is probable 2. Reg. 2. b Against ignorance God illuminateth his seruantes c against infirmitie he geueth streingth d so he nedeth not to feare anic mans malice suteltie nor force Luc. 21. v. 15. e How special a benefite Dauid estemed it to be in the Catholique Church the only true house of God! f Albeit the spiritual or carnal enemie seke to ouerthrow me yet I am secure in the Catholique Church g God either suffereth not the enemie to find his seruant h or not to be able to hurt him spiritually i whē a martyr or confessour dieth then he getteth the victorie against the perse●ntors k Diligently recounting al thy benefites I render thankes by sacrifice and praise l not only in hart but also singing with loud voice and instrument m In my inward sincere cogitation I desire and seeke that I may see thee n face to face 1. Cor. 13. v. 12. o In the meane time ô Lord grant me thy fauour p leaue me not though thou be angrie with me q He speaketh in the person of orphanes r Though car nal parentes forsake the iust man in tribulation yet God hath then most special care of him ſ Establish my hart in thy law t conserue me in the right way which thou hast already taught me and it is the more necessarie because myne enemies labour to peruert me v the willes vv false witnesses accused Dauid others accused Christ Mat. 26. others do stil accuse the iust Mat 5. x the wicked please themselues in lying but the chief hurt finally turneth vpon themselues y The prophet and al iust men are comforted by God and hope of reward in heauen z The iust exhorteth his owne soule to patience a fortitude b and longanimitie Psal 30. An other prayer of Dauid for deliuerie from euils The 8. key a Omitte not to comfort me b Suffer me not to be ouercome for God tempteth none to euil Iac 1. c The iust in zele of iustice pray that sinne may be punished d Ignorance doth not excuse when men may and wil not vnderstand e God saueth not without our cooperation with his grace f being comforted in spirite my bodie is as it were refreshed g freely and gladly h God protecteth and prospereth the kings good endeuoures for his people i As Psal 19. and often elswhere the subiectes pray for their Superior so mutually the superior prayeth for the subiectes The Church of Christ endowed with excellent mysteries The 6. key a 2. Reg. 6. v. 17. 1. Par. 16. v. 1. ●04 105. c Mysteries of the Catholique Church prophecied in this Psalme b Offer sacrifice of thankes for the singular benefites after recounted in this Psalme c Rammes were of the more principal thinges that were offered in the law of Moyses But the sonnes of rammes importe in mystical sense better hostes then rammes d The first thing in sacrifice is to glorifie honour and adore God in sinceritie of spirite e in his holie Catholique Chu●h f Here is a greater matter intimated then happened in the bringing of the Arke into a tabernacle prepared in Sion when Dauid danced and offered hostes for sacrifice others ioyning with
is most faithful that he vvil forgeue sinners and receiue them into his fauoure againe when so euer they resoluing to serue him repent and cease to sinne h Thou ô God that hast care of al creatures not only of men but also of brute beastes art euer readie of thy part to saue both moderate men in vvhom the light of reason remaineth and also grosse senseles persons vvhich are become brutish like horse and mule or other beastes i For so our Lord multiplieth his mercie k Yet with condition that sensles or brutish men must become reasonable men the children of men not coltes whelpes pigges c. l Sinners thus conuerted shal not only haue al necessaries in this life as al liuing creatures haue in this world but also shal hope of spiritual heauenly eternal glorie prepared for Angels and children of men as in the verses folovving m Le●t anie impediment hinder the obtayning and possession of eternal revvard the iust must specially pray not to be infected vvith pride n nor be ouercome by the forcible tentations of other sinners by persvvasion not euil example o The first sinne tovvit of diuels vvas pride and mans sinne vvas by persvvasion of the diuel p neither of which could escape punishment An exhortatiō to contempt of this vvorld The 7. key This Psalme is composed in order of the Alphabet euerie distick beginning vvith a diuers letter to moue the reader to diligent attention which may serue in place of a larger cōmentarie a For Dauids and euery iust mans instruction b Neither be thou offended that the wicked do prosper in this world nor imitate them that thou maist also prosper c For al this life and consequently the prosperitie therof is shorte and vncertaine d Put thy trust in God liuing content in this world e he wil geue thee that is necessarie f Commend al thyn affaire● to God g Partly making vertue appeare to the comfort of the vertuous and example of others in this life but especially in the next world h the land of the liuing Mat● i By way of imprecation as in manie other places the prophet forsheweth that wicked men shal fal into the euils which they prepare for others k Though the iust fal of frailtie orignorance into venial sinne yet Gods grace shal stay him that he fal not into mortal The iust falleth seuen times in the day riseth Prou. 24. l So king Dauid obserued and it very rarely happeneth that the iust or their children are ●●cle 2. destitute of necessarie sustenance in this vvorld If it chance in some it is to their greater merite and is manifestly recompensed in spiritual giftes In which sense S. Basil expoundeth that it is alwayes verified For God euer rewardeth good workes either temporally or spiritually or both wayes S. Augustin also conc 3. in hunc Psal exemplifieth in Abraham Isaac and Iacob with al his familie who were forced to goe into other countries by reason of famine and by Gods prouidence were there susta ned Gen. 12. 26 46 and S Paul among his other tribulations mentioneth famine and thirst 2. Cor. 11. v. 27. Seing therfore these so iust persons sought their bread in necessitie he expoundeth this holie Scripture in the Allegorical sense that the Church from her beginning in Ierusalem to the end of the world neuer wanteth the true word of God true faith and doctrin which is the spiritual bread vvher vvith the soule is nourished m In these tvvo prīciples declining frō euil and doing good true iustice consisteth n and he that finally obserueth these tvvo pointes mer●teth and shal possesse heauen Pro. 31. Isa ●● o to draw him to mortal sinne which is death of the soule p rewardes q mans iustice and wel doing is not of his owne powre but of Gods grace The third penitential Psalme The 7. key a In remembrance that by sinne ●● lost the rest and peace which man had in the state of innocencie secondly we lost the peace of conscience thirdly the rest and peace of eternal felicitie b Condemne me not to eternal paine c nor punish me in purgatorie fire but purge me so in this life that the purging fite be not needful By which fire saith S Augustin though some shal be saued grau●or tamen er●t ille ●gnis quam quicquid potest homo pa●●n hac vita yet that fire shal be more greuous hen whatsoeuer a man can suffer in this ●●ife S. Grego●y also expoundeth this same place as if Dauid sayd thus I ●new it will co●e to passe that after the end of this life some shal be cleansed by purging flames some shal be vnder the sente●ce of eternal damnation But because I do esteme that transitorie fire more intolerable then al present tribulation I desire not only not to be rebuked in furie of eternal damnation but also I feare to be purged in the wr●th of transitorie correption Thou therfore ó Lord whom I serue in my sp●●i●● whom I know to be the Sauiour of al men rebuke me not in furie of perpetual damnation not chatise me in wrath of purging punishment See Annotat. Psal 6. d Afflictions of mind and bodie sent by thy iust iudgement e thou hast strooke me with an heauie hand f I already feele in my flesh in al my bones and powre● great affliction g considering thy iustice h and my sinnes i which are excedingly increased almost ouerwhelming my spirite sinnes not washed away by penance by their weight carie the soule into more and more wickednes l stil corrupting those partes which were whole before as a pestered sore that is not cured m not able to goe streight to do anie good worke being guiltie of greuous sinne n concupiscence striuing in me o from the sorrow of my hart my voice hath broken out into clamour p ● God thou knowest my desire to be restored to thy fauour q those that were my freindes and companions in sinne are become myn enemies because I forsake them r sought by al meanes to intangle me againe ſ I now renoūce al sinne t I now relie vpon thee ô God v for this cause I am returned to thee and do pray that mine enemies may not preuail against me w I resigne my selfe to thee x though thou knowest al yet with mouth consession is made to saluation y and I meditate of that which my sinne hath deserued z one kind of detraction is in reueling secrete faultes an other in feaning and imputing false crimes the third here mentioned in calling vertue vice as penance hypochrisie a Graunt me Lord final perseuerāce in thy grace and seruice Gods prouidence The 3. key a Some expound this Psalme of the Iewes in captiuitie in Babylon but this title and the matter conteyned shew that it rather peteineth to the new Testament b to be songue by Idithun and his scholars successors or rather by Christianes c weake men in
affliction not able to deliuer them selues seeke reuenge by murmuring and other euil speaches but the perfect resolue to rule their tongues d euen to forbeare sometimes from their owne iust defence e though therby they indure more persecution f sorow suppressed maketh the hart to burne with zele and indignation g If it may please thee let me know how long I shal liue desiring to dye as Elias desired 3. Reg. 19. h my life and al that I haue is as nothing compared to thy eternitie i as a shadow or image appearing in a glasse which is quickly forgotte k therfore there is no cause man should be trubled in mind for temporal miseries l Thou hast suffered me to be reproched by the foolish that prosper in this world m I know my tribulation is by thy prouidence o my life decayeth as a spider hauing spent al her moysture p Almen are strangers in this life heauen being our home q that I may recouer spiritual streingth in this life r after which I shal not be in state to do frceworkes of satisfaction nor merite Christs comming and redeming of manking The 5 key a perteyning vnto the new Testament b the faithful of the old and new Testament reioyce in the coming of Christ c Christ by him se●●e and by others preached the Gospel of saluation d the multiplication of Christians therb● e ●● sacrifice of the old testament sufficed ●o satisfie Gods iustice for the sinne of man f Christ by the eare of obedience performed the redemption of man by his death as was determined from eternitie S. Paul for eares ●aith bodie See Annotations Heb. 10. Heb. 10. g The summe of holie Scripture is of Christs Incarnation death for redemption of man h Againe Christ inculcateth the preaching and receiuing of his Gospel in the whole world i In the greatest and wisest congregations of this world Christ concealeth not his mercie and truth So himselfe professed before Annas Caiphas Pilate and their councels S. Paul preached Christ at Athe●s and in manie nations and so the other Apostles For their voice went into al the coastes of the earth k The prophet now speaketh in the name of Christs mystical bodie the Church praying to be made partaker of mercie and to be deliuered from eu●les l the sinnes also of those which beleue in Christ are so manie that they can not be fully sene in particular m I almost faint in considering so manie and so great iniquities amongst those that professe Christ n The whole Church prayeth in the name of al for the infirme members o The prophet foresheweth that the reprobate for their obstinate malice seeking to hurt others shal be confounded p that skornfully say wel wel wishing al euil to good men q which not only in mouth and outward profession but also in sinceritie of hart seeke thee may with confidence reioyce and praise God r Christ speaketh in the name of sinners truly repenting whose sinnes he vndertaketh to redeme and wash away by his passion ſ The faithful of the old testament pray for Christs first coming into this world and the faithful now pray for his second coming to purge his Church and to reward the good Christs Passion and Resurrection The 5 key a Perteyning to the new testament as appeareth by the 10. verse alleaged by our Sauiour This Psalme is also applied by the Church in the office of the sick whom whosoeuer assisteth in that case may hope to haue assistance in their owne like necessitie Io. 13. v. 18. b He is happie that is not scandalized in Christ Luc. 7. v. 23. coming in pouertie and suffering extreme afflictions c He that trusteth in Christ notwithstanding the contrarie motiues of his wordlie miserie shal be deliuered by him in al distresse d Our Lord wil geue to such seruantes more grace in this life and glorie in the next e not suffer him to be ouercome in tentations f when such constant seruantes are sick to death Christ wil most especially comforte and helpe them g Christ in the behalf of his mystical bodie confesseth their sinnes and prayeth for them h After death suffered for mankind Christ riseth and his name and kingdom is glorious i Those that came not of good wil but of malice to obserue Christs deedes and wordes carped at both sometimes saying he taught against the law and against Moyses sometymes that he ●ast out diuels in the powre of Beelse bub k At last they resolued that he should die l But they could not so suppresse his powre for he rose againe in glorie m By our Sauiours application of this verse it is certaine that the traitor Iudas is here described Ioa. 13. v. 18. Io. 11. Act. 1. n in the day of iudgement Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one as they deserue o As before in respect of sinners Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one so here in his owne person he auoucheth his owne innocencie which made him apt to satisfie for others p For this mercie of Almightie God in sauing the elect by his Sonnes death he is to be praised for euer eternally q Al the blessed agree in this that God is eternally to be praised and therto say Amen So be it so be it Some diuide the Psalmes into fiue bookes supposing the first booke to end here with these wordes Be it be it not obseruing that the last Psalme hath not this ending S Ierom confuteth this opinion by our Sauiours and S. Peters naming it the booke not bookes of Psalmes Luc. 20. v. 42. Act. 1. Moreouer if this were the end of one booke then the Psalme folowing should not be called the 41. Psalme but the first Psalme of the second booke Eternal glory The 10. key a The sonnes of Core repented and departed from their fathers schisme and so escaped miraculosly the horrible pitte of damnation in●o which heir father and his complices fel. Num. 26. v. 10. By which example al seduced and deceiued Christians are admonished not to persist in schisme or other sinnes And wordlie men ●mbicious of honour be warned to desire seke God aboue al thinges first of al the kingdome of heauen ●o be liuing m●mbe●s of the Catholique Church and the iustice therof to seke thinges wh●●h are aboue 〈◊〉 which are vpon the earth lest hel deuoure them as it denoured the complices of Core Num 1● v. 31. b A harte waxing old and burdened with much heare and great hornes draweth a serpent into his nosethrels so being infected with poyson desireth most ardently to drinke and afterwards casteth his hornes and heare and becometh as it were yong againe c with such feruent desire a true penitent feeling himselfe infected with poyson of sinnes seeketh the water of Gods grace d God is omnipotent and in dede the only true liuing God diuels who are honored in idols ca do no more then God permitteth and so they can
Iewes See page 12. n Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations Gods prouidence in suffering euil the 3. key a This Psalme was made vpon the same occasion and to the same purpose as the former b to exhorte the iust and innocent to patience c by Dauids memorable example d Few are so wicked but they speake and pretend iust thinges e but neither thincke wel f nor do wel but both contrarie which feaned sanctitie is duble iniquitie g These wicked sinners that flatter and incite king Saul seme to haue spent al their life from their infancie in malice h Their furie is vnquiet til they may wound the innocent with their poisonful sting i neither wil they harken to good admonitions but stoppe their eares like an aspe that layeth one eare close to the ground and stoppeth the other with his taile k But God wil breake their cruel force l though it semeth most strong and in superable m Gods iust determination of punishing the wicked stil remaineth bent and readie though execution be some while differred n That force and powre which is now inuincible hard and strong like a lions strongest teeth shal then be as impotent and soft as waxe o Gods wrath like fire the most forcible element shal fil vpon them and they shal be cast into vtter darkenes depriued of the sunne and al comfortable light p Before their malice can bring to effect the great mischieffes which they plotte and purpose God suddainly cutteth them of before they fully vnderstand of either sicknes or death casteth them as it were aliue into hel q The iust reioyce in the punishment of the wicked for three causes first in zele of iustice conforming his wil and mind to Gods iudgement secondly for that himselfe through Gods mercie hath escaped that terrible damnation thirdly for that he is now deliuered from molestation and continual tribulation r The iust seing or by faith knowing what punishment remaineth for the wicked is therby assured that the good shal reape fruict for his wel doing and that in the meane time God ruleth and iudgeth on the earth though as yet it appeareth not so euidently An other prayer of Dauid in danger the 8. key a King Saul hauing thrise attempted in vaine to kil Dauid 1. Reg. 18 v 11. c. 19. v. 9. sene some of his guard to fe●ch him from his owne house that he might be slaine but God moued the mind of Michol to admonish him of the danger and to helpe him away in saftie though Saul thought she would haue bene a scandal vnto him or cause of ruine by the handes of the Philistians 1. Reg. 18. v. 21. Vpon which occasion Dauid made this Psalme As he also made others for perpetual memorie of Gods like benefites in deliuering him in iminent dangers VVhen Saul sent three troupes of serieants to kil him and solowed them himselfe 1. Reg. 19. v. 20 likevvise vvhen he vvas knovven and bevvrayed before Achis king of Geth 1. Reg. 21. also in Ceila in the deserts of Ziph and of Maon c. 23 in Engaddi c. 24. in Hachila c. 26. and againe amongst the Philistians c. 27. and 30. b They haue so straictly beseged me that it is now in their haudes to take away my life c Of my part I haue committed no sault against myn enimies for which they can haue a●ie iust cause to persecute me d The prophet soreseing in spirite that the Catholique Church shal be vniustly persecuted prayeth and teacheth others to pray that God wil mercifully visite his faithful people of al nations e and not spare obstinate persecuters f Persecuters laboring how much or how long soeuer shal at night that is in the end of al their wicked endeuoures be vnsatisfied in their desires g as hungrie dogges that runne hunting al the day night also stil seeking not finding wherwith to fil their rauenous mouthes and deuouring bellies h They threaten and determine to vse al crueltie i as if there were no God that heareth and wil punish it k Through Gods grace the Church is stil strong and the vertuous do perseuere l God suffereth afflictions to fal vpon his seruants to kepe them exercised lest in prosperitie they forgete their duties to him m Depriue them of powre that they may not do so much euil as they desire n After that their iniquitie is complete o they shal be accused and punished for their blasphemies and lies p As. v. 7. q They shal in vaine seeke oyle for their lampes with the foolish virgins repent with Iudas and finding no helpe r shal continually blaspheme in hel ſ In the resurrection King Dauids thankes for victories the 8. key a The change of state from aduersitie to prosperitie in the people of Israel was a figure of the like change in the Church of Christ b worthie to be remembred c for the instruction d of Gods beloued e as the same are more largely recorded in the bookes of kinges f God suffereth his people to be afflicted as wel for their sinnes as for exercise in vertue g after sheweth his mercie in pardoning and fauour in aduancing them h by punishīg sinners i VVarning them to amēd k and then restoreth them to former good state l God also as he hath promised by his holie oracle m hath aduanced king Dauid in his temporal kingdom and doth much more aduance him and other elect in euerlasting life n As a vessel for meaner vses o Bring it vnder my dominion p As God doth sometimes punish q so he also rewardeth r strongly with fortitude A confident prayer for Christs Incarnation the 5. k. ●y a In songues of praise and thankes to God b From al coastes of the earth faithful people pray to God c the Church builded vpon an assured fundation is exalted to great powre and dignitie d God conducteth defendeth and deliuereth those that confidently trust in him e in the Church a place of assured protection f Christ● kingdome the Church perpetual to the end of this world and eternal after the general Resurrection g Who is able to vnderstand or explicate how great Christs mercie is in redeming vs h and his truth in performing his promised rewardes i For so imestimable benefites I wil alwayes praise thee with Psalmes Canticles or other thankes in this life k and eternally in the life to come Exhortation to good life in respect of reward or punishment the 7. key a Directed to Idithun one of the masters of musike to sing it or to make tune for it b The wicked threating to ruinate others Dauid or anie iust man feareth them not because his soule is subiect to God c Therfore I firmely purpose neuer to be moued from God d In vaine do you myn aduersaries stil assault me e though ye be al confederate to kil me f
whole Church to faile nor to be destroyed i Mans life is like the winde that stil passeth and the same returneth not As Aristotel teacheth Here the Hebrewes note the middes of the Psalter in 1263. verses and so manie in the rest k The people of Israel murmured so often in the desert that it was not easie to tel how often See the Annotation l For ef●soones repenting they offended God againe and againe m The first signe was in turning a rodde into a serpent which was a miracle but no plague the other signes were also plagnes to the Aegyptians n The first plague o Pooles lakes and al sortes of water yea showers or raine water which seldome happeneth in Aegypt p The fourth plague in order as they are recited in Exodus * C●●●my●am q The second plague r This was a lesse plague not mentioned in with the greater ſ The eight plague Exodus t The seuenth plague v This also is omitted in Exodus w Not only al trees and plantes but also beastes were subiect to the haile x and to firie leghtnings y In these general termes of wrath indignation and tribulation the Prophet comprehendeth al the other plagues to witte the third of scinies the fifth of pestilence the sixt of boyles in men and beastes the ninth of darknes three dayes together z Al which God sent by the ministerie of diuels euil angels a The tenth and greatest plague 11. v. 5. c. 12. v. 29. b Egyptians also descended from cham by his sonne Mesraim Gen. 10. v. 6. Exod. c After that Aegypt was thus plagued God brought Israel out of their seruitude as a shepheard leddeth his sheepe and defendeth them d Iudea a hillie countrie e Into that countrie which God chose and endewed with manie blessinges f As is written in Iosue g After the conquest and quiet possession the Israelites often fel into grosse sinnes especially in the time of Iudges h A croked bow deceiueth the archer so this people failed to serue God and deceiued them selues i In their altares erected in hilles to Idoles * Scuptilibus k By grauen imagies of Idoles they prouoked God to indignation l Not absolutely to nothing but punished them exceedingly til they repented and then spared and deliuered them from tribulation as appeareth in the booke of Iudges m The Arke of God sometime kept in Silo Iosue 18. in the tribe of Ephraim was taken by the Philistims 1. Keg 4. and neuer returned thither agane n but whersoeuer the Arke was there God more especially heard their petitions and gaue answers o For their sinnes God suffered the Arke to be taken p And the Israelites to be sore afflicted by their enimies q The zele and iust wrath of God suffered these calamities to happen r Ophni and Phinees the sonnes of Heli slaine and Heli himselfe hearing that the Arke was taken fel from his stoole and broke his neck 1. Reg 4. ſ Neuertheles God plagued the infidels and conserued his Church 1. Reg. 5. t As before v. 60. v After a time the Arke was brought into the tribe of Iuda w The Church was firme and euer preserued in the old testament til Christ and from Christs time to the end of the world x Gods particular grace in choosing and exalting Dauid was a special benefite to the Israelites y To rule and gouerne the people of Israel z Prudently vsing his powre and authoritie The people of Israel often murmured in the desert Tenne times more notori ously 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The Church suffereth verie great persecutions the 6. key a to be sungue by Asaph and his companie in the behalfe of people vnited in faith b Cruel infidels haue inuaded those thinges which perteyne to thy Church c euen possessed and prophaned the holie temple of the Iewes and Churches of Catholique Christians Fulfilled by Antiochus in Ierusalem by the Vandals in Afrike by Protestants and Puritanes in diuers partes of Europe and wil be more vniuersally by Antichrist in al Christendom d Insteed of great and fare Churches Gods seruantes are fane to vse meane houses yea poore cotages e Some persecutors suffer not Martyrs bodies to be buried but hang them on polles and pinnacles where birdes may eate them f Christianes Gallileans Catholiques Homousians and now Papistes in spite and reproch g Sinnes prouoking Gods wrath are one cause why he suffereth his people to be persecuted h Though the faithful committe some sinnes yet in respect that they beleue righly haue zele in Gods cause and denie not God they are nerer to grace and fauour i Especially when they repent and confesse their sinnes then those that neither know not wil know God but obstinatly impugne and resist the truth k so much afflicted and despised that none wil regard the truth which we professe l Albeit ô Lord thou suffer vs to be punished yet suffer not thyn enimies to insult as though thou were not our God and consequently thou haddest no people at al in the world m Therfore we pray that the reuenge of thy seruantes bloud may be so notified that it can not be denied nor doubted of Which is also here prophecied that it wil so come to passe in the end n Preserue also ô God the reliques of thy seruantes the successors of thy Martyrs o This also is a prophecie that God wil most seuerely reuenge the blasphemie of persecutors p Gods people deliuered from persecution and perpetually conserued wil alwayes praise God for the same Christ our Redemer from sinne and captiuitie the. 5. key a Perteyning to the new Testament b especially to Gentiles that shal be conuerted to Christ c for perpetual memorie to the congregation of faithful d By Ioseph the prophet vnderstandeth al Israel because the first birthright being taken from Ruben wa● geuen to him to witte duble portion of enheritance two tribes of twelue e Appeare and shew thy mightie hand before thy people f wherof Ephraim Beniamin and Manasses folowing the Arke when they marched or camped should most directly see what appeared therin the other nine tribes being placed before it and on both sides Num. 2. g Thou which alwayes can helpe vs now vse thy powre in deliuering vs from this temporal miserie h Set vs in a better state i Shew thy benigne countenance and fauoure Mystically send the promised Messias Christ the essential Image of God 2. Cor. 4. v. 4. Collos 1 v. 15. k How long wilt thou differre to heare our prayer l Thou dost iustly punish vs but thou temperest the same with measure that it exceede not to our ruine m God first preuenting vvith his grace n man may cooperate therwith to his iustification and saluation o Thy Church and people p the Chananites q The cloude and piller of fire were visible guides r and it multiplied mightely ſ Hyperbolical speach to signifie the great multiplication
suffer him vvholly to omitte manifest profession of faith and true religion f seing by thy former grace I haue already reposed my trust in thy promises made to them that are resolued to kepe thy lavv g For I do firmly purpose euer and alwayes to kepe thy law h In this I haue had great ioy and comforte of mind i because I did in dede seeke after thy commandements vvhich is specially vttered as also the three next verses in the person of those that are in trial of persecution for their faith k VVho boldly in time of persecution euen before persecuting Kinges and Emperors professe Christs true Religion Veryfied in innumerable glorious Martyrs yea also of the fraile sexe in S. Catharin S. Cecilie S. Lucie S. Margaret S. VVenefrede S. Vrsula and her felovves and manie more most constantly ansvvering al vvordes of reproch obiected as if it vvere a base or contemtible thing to be Christians to be Catholiques to be Papistes No al these and the like are honorable and glorious titles importing the true seruice of Christ in vnitie of the Catholique Church and spiritual participation vvith the visible head therof Christs Vicar in earth l Such confessors as yet mortal reioyce in that they haue meditated in Gods commandments vvhich they haue feruently loued m Also shevved the same in external vvorke not dissembling by silence by vvord nor fact n euerie way exercising Gods lavv vvhich maketh the obie●uers iust a That vvhich God hath decreed and promised being in itselfe most certaine and assured yet includeth the meanes vvherby it shal be put in execution and therfore the iust his elect do pray for the performance of his vvil b Expectation of thy promise hath geuen me corege * elo●●●● c Provvde contemners of Gods lavv haue euerie vvay molested me by detracting deriding calumniating and violently persecuting me d Al vvhich I haue borne patiently and not declined from thy lavv e I remembred and considered thy iust punishments inflicted vpon the impious f euen from the beginning of the vvorld both vpon the diuels and vvicked men and that thou vvilt exercise the like hereafter g vvhich consideration of thy iustice comforted me h Otherwise if I had not sene thy iustice my zele against contemners of thy law would haue killed me i In this place of my perigrination from heauen I am comforted by remembring celebrating and singing thy iust commandments and lavves vvhich make thy seruants iust k In persecution and in al tribulation I kept thy law because I would not dishonour thy name l And my tribulation especially fel vpon me because I sought to be iustified by keping thy law a The Prophe● procedeth speaking in the person of the iust tending to perfection and saying This is my happie choise that I desire no other enheritance nor possession but to kepe Gods Lavv. b And seeing this excedeth my proper streingth I prayed God of his mercie to make me able to kepe it * ●loquiū c Pondering my former actions I turned my pathes to obserue more perfectly the Law which God hath testified to be the right way d With prompnes of mind and without hesitation I resolued to kepe the commandments e The wicked laide cordes nettes or snares to intrappe and hinder me f but I kept thy law fresh in memorie g That this is not vnderstood only mystically in time of affliction but also literally and prophetically that some special seruantes of God should obserue a godlie profession of praying at midnight the vvord I rose maketh it probable S. Paul Silas either of a holie custome or at least vpon special occasion and such occasions vvere to them and others frequent Act. 16. prayed and praised God at midnight And novv in the Church of Christ some religions men pray and praise God continually at midnight besides other houres mentioned more distinctly v. 164. h A great benefite and a singular consolation that al true liuing members of Christ are partakers of al the prayers good workes and merites of the whole Church militant and triumphant VVhich in our Crede is called The Communion of Sainctes i So great is the mercie of God extended communicated and multiplied in the whole earth k Instruct me and direct me therfore ó God that I may lerne and obserue thy law and so be iustified and made participant of so great mercie a Dealt very bountifully b as thou didst promise c He that hath bountifully receiued grace at Gods hand prayeth for more grace that he may be beneficial to others in releuing the needie d in instructing the ignorant e in perswading to kepe the law of God f because he hath lerned and beleueth the commandments by which he is bond to loue and haue care of his neighbour g Before I was afflicted I often fel into sinne h but vexation gaue me vnderstanding therfore now I kepe thy law * eloquiū i Contemners of thy law haue endeuored to intangle me k but I persist in keping thy commandments As before v. 51. 61. l Though the wicked combine themselues together against me m yet I consider that it is necessarie to perseuer in thy law n A clere comparison that it is better to kepe Gods law which bringeth life euerlasting then to haue al the riches kingdoms of this world a God being our Creator we may with confidence pray him to illuminate our mindes that we may lerne what is his pleasure and so endeuour to fulfil it b Others that loue God wil be gladde to see me also serue him c The iust being afflicted and not seing the particular cause therof yet knoweth and confesseth that God doth it for most iust cause d And therfore with patience prayeth for comforth as foloweth * eloquiū e who am almost dead in tribulation f The iust also prayeth that the wicked may be ashamed and conuerted for so the hebrew word here signifieth though it is also lawful to desire the iust punishment of obstinate sinners g He prayeth againe for conuersion of the wicked and to haue peace with them a Manie iust of the old testament most feruently desired the coming of Christ our Sauiour as our Lord himselfe testifieth Mat. 13 v. 17. And now the iust desire his coming in glorie 2. Tim. 4. v. 8 * eloquiū b Delaved hope afflicteth c As a leather bottel made of a beasts skinne congeled with the frost and after partched in smoke so is the bodie of the iust mortified by diuers sortes of afflictions made a new bottel fitte to receiue new wine that is perfect doctrin of Christian life as of fasting and other austeritie wherof our Sauiour speaketh Mat. 9. v. 17. d Such is mans infirmitie yea of the iust that he apprehendeth tribulations to be very long and therfore desireth consummation and that without sinne so he stil submitte his wil to Gods wil. e Friuolous idle tailes which are not according to Gods law f I
promised vvith an oath p and vvil performe q to sette one of Dauids sonnes vpon his Throne vvhich vvas not only fulfilled in Salomon vvho reigned in great peace and builded the Temple but especially in Christ the Sonne of Dauid to vvhom our Lord God gaue the seate of Dauid his father he shal reigne in the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdom there shal be no end Luc. 1. v. 32. 33. By this promise S. Peter also proueth Christs Resurrection Act. 2 v. 30. r Concerning the children of Christ members of his kingdom the Church the promise is conditional if they obserue Gods commandments they shal sit vpon his seate be coheyres of his kingdom Rom. 8 v. 17. ſ Sion the Catholique Church is a perpetual place where God dwelleth t The Church vvanting Christs visible presence is replenished vvith manie blessinges v and al her humble children are releeued vvith holie Sacraments w The Church hath alwayes some holie Priestes x and some holie people y Of this Church elected by God Christ is the Protector and strong defence z and the same Church shal be a perpetual lampe vvherby others may come to him Fraternal concord the 7. key a Dauid being a most peaceable man euen tovvard his enimies is added by Esdras in this title as an example for others to imitate b That concord is both good and pleasant nedeth no other proofe but only to con●ider to behold the fruict therof in euerie communitie and especially in the Church of God c The ointment vvhervvith Aaron and other High Priestes vvere consecrated vvas precious and most odori●erous signifying grace bought by Christs blood and producing vertues vvhich make svvete sauoure d vvas povvred vpon the High Priests head vvho being head of the Church e vnitie and concord descended from him to other Priestes f and so to the people euen to the lovvest and meanest in Gods Church g An other similitude to declare the excellencie of concord As the devv of mount Hermon vvhich is perpetually couered vvith snovv that falleth from the heauen thence descending refresheth fructifieth the hil of Sion so mutual concord and fraternal charitie amongst the faithful nourisheth each other making them fructful in al good vvorkes h VVhere there is vnitie God geueth abundance of grace as vvhere the Apostles vvith other faithful vvere geathered and continued in prayer the Holie Ghost came vpon them al. And the multitude of beleuers then increasing had one hart and one soule Act 2. 4. v. 32. God continually to be praised the 1. key a This last Gradual Psalme as a conclusion exhorteth al to praise God b for to this end he made al creatures in heauen in earth Gods perfection and goodnes the 1. key a Gods seruantes b Clergie that serue in the Temple c and ye Laitie that attend to his seruice must praise him for these causes d ●●● goodnes e his benignitie f he hath adopted vs his children g he is omni potent as appeareth by his vvorkes here and elsvvhere recited and manie wayes knovvne to the vvorld Exo. 1● Ios 12. Num. 21. Ios 13. Psal 113. Gods meruelous workes the 2. key a VVhose goodnes is incomparable b This second part of euerie verse first pronounced by the Priestes confessing praising Gods mercie aboue al his workes was stil repeted by musicians or other assistants in maner as now in L●tanies ô Lord deliuer vs and VVe besech theeto heare vs And as Gloria Patri c. is added in the end of Psalmes and our Lords prayer and the Angelical salutation are often repeted in diuers Offices and in the Rosarie c VVhose diuine powre created al other thinges d By this inuitation to praise our Lord God thrise repeted we professe the blessed Trinitie who is one God in substance and three Diuine Persons e VVhose dominion is ouer al the world f Only God can do true miracles towit workes aboue the course of al nature g In admirable wisdom Gen. 1. h Made the waters aboue nature to remaine vvithin their bondes not to couer the earth Exo. 11. Exo. ●● Exo. ●● Num. ●● i Al Gods benignitie as wel of particular benefites towards his people as general to them and al others procedeth from his mercie The Iewes lamentation in captiuitie the 4. key a By adding to this title for Ieremie the Septuagint Interpreters signifie that this Psalme treateth of the same captiuitie in which Ieremias writte his Lamentations b Nere the riuers in Chaldea wherof Babylon was the head citie c the Iewes remained mourning d remembring the holie rites and seruice of God which had bene in Sion wherof they were depriued in the captiuitie e Al their musical instruments as hauing no vse of them f Either in earnest or in scorne the Chaldees willed them to sing as they were accustomed in their countrie g They excused themselues and refused to sing sacred Psalmes before prophane people neither had they mind to sing in that mourning state of captiuitie h The people shew not only their feruent present desire to serue God in Ierusalem but also their firme purpose stil to desire the same wishing that if they forget it or lose this affection their right handes or what soeuer is most deare or necessarie for them may be forgotten not conserued but suffered to perish i If I lose this affection let me also lose the vse of my tongue k The Idomeans incensed the Chaldees to be cruel against the Iewes wherof they pray for iust reuenge and withal the Psalmist prophecieth that it wil be reuenged which Isaias also prophecieth c. 21. v. 11. l. for their reioycing in Ierusalems miserie m The voice of the Idumeans inciting the Babylonians vtterly to destroy Ierusalem n A prophecie that the people of Babylon should also be punished for their crueltie against the Iewes wherof Isaias likewise prophecieth c. 13. o God wil blesse or reward them that shal seuerly afflict the Babylonians p not sparing their children Morally he is blessed that mortifieth his owne passions cutteth of first il motions or punisheth venial sinnes that they grow not strong vvithin his soule and so draw it to committe mortal sinne S. Aug. hic S. Greg. in fine expos Psal 4. paeuit Thankes to God for benefites the 7. key a This Psalme is a fitte forme of thankes for Dauid or anie other seruant of God b I vvil render thankes and praise c God euer heareth the prayer that is rightly made for vvhich the supplicant is therfore to geue thankes d Angels are present vvhere the faithful pray obserue our prayers and offer them to God if they be sincere as the prayers of Tobias and Cornelius 1. Cor. 11. v. 10. Iob. 12. Act 10. Psal 24. v. 10. e VVhen there vvas not accesse to the Temple yet the Ievves praying in captiuitie turned themselues tovvards the Temple f The Name and Maiestie of GOD The VVORD which
a By Israel is here vnderstood the whole people al the kinred or ofspring of Iacob deliuered from Aegypt b As tvvo men do not vvel trauel together except they agree so man can not walke vvith God vnles he agree with God keeping his commandments c Al euil of paine that is punishment for sinne is by Gods permission and ordinance either to bring sinners to repentance or if they dye in mortal sinne the beginning of etetnal punishment d The fayrest and strongest thinges that vvicked men haue shal at last be destroyed :: Rich hard-harted people vvho being vvelthie haue no compassion of the poore * places of Armenia :: After manie admonitions geuen in vaine God suffereth the idolaters to do al the vvickednes they list :: Al these afflictions God sent to the children of Israel for their good but they murmured vvere stil obstinate Agge 2. :: After long captiuitie Christ vvil offer himself to the Iewes and such as receiue him he vvil saue :: VVhen the people neither fele nor feare euil God forseing their calamities lamenteth the same in their behal● therby admonishing them to know their ovvne danger and by repentance to preuent it Soph. 1. Rom. 12. Psal 96. :: If men seeke good not euil God vvil assist them as in the former verie and in innumerable holie scriptures but it is here sayd perhaps God vvil haue mercie by reason of the difficultie of mans part who conuerteth not alvvayes perfectly as he hath freevvil to do by Gods grace assisting him Isa 13. Iere. 30. Ioel. 1. Soph. 1. Isa 1. Ier. 6. Mat. 2. :: In the first yeare of the 40 and beginning of the second they offered sacrifices to God Leuit. 8. 9. Num. 7. But not aftervvardes S. Aug. q. 47. in Exod. Act. 7. Psal ●4 :: It is a fowle odious fault vvhen rich men neglect the poore but most detestable vvhen the rich in S●●n welthie clergie men haue not compassion on them that vvant either spiritual or temporal helpe Iac 5. Iere. ●● :: VVheras Iacob by humilitie patience manie other vertues became great in Gods ●auour novv his progenie by pride and delicacie become hateful to God in respect of these sinnes are therfore afflicted and miserably slaine and caried captiues :: To turne the vvorkes of iudgement and iustice into sinnes vvhich are bitter and vngratful is as contrarie to order as it is contrarie to the course of nature that horses should ●unne vpon craggierockes or wild bu●les be brought to dravv the plough a Locustes svvarming in multitude signified the Assirian ●●●ld●ars inuading the tenne tribes as is recorded 4. Reg. 18. b Sa●manasar king of Assirians hauing subdued the tenne tribes inuaded the kingdom of Iuda besieged Ierusalem but his armie was miraculously destroyed 4. Reg. 19. d This third vision signified the calamities vvhich the ten tribes suffered shortly after in the reigne of Manahem 4. Reg. 15 v. 20. c This second vision of sire signified the captiuitie of the two tribes caried into Babylon 4. Reg. 24. 25. e False prophets not induring the vvhol some preaching of true pastores falsely accuse them of rebellion treason and sedition f In this also the false prophetlyed for Amos sayd not Ieroboam shal dye by the svvord but that God would rise vpon the house of Ieroboam vvith the svvord v. 9. fulfilled vvhen Zacharias the sonne of Ieroboam was slaine by Sellum 4. Reg. 15 v 10. * ●yedu●●tion a By this vision of a hooke is signified that not only the nerer partes of the tenne tribes should be brought into captiuitie vvhich is writen 4. Reg. 15. v. 29. but also the rest which vvere further of as fruite of trees vvhich can not be gathered vvith the hand is dravven vvith a hooke so al vvere caried avvay 4. Reg. 17. v. 6. b In their great prosperitie vvhen they least suspect calamities shal fal vpon them Deut. ● Iere 15. Tob. 2. Mar. 1. c It can not be doubted but in the siege there vvas vvant of bread drinke and of other victuals but greater vvant of spiritual foode a Destruction of the Altar b and the Temple importe the abolishing of sacrifice vvhen the two tribes vvere caried into Babylon Psal ●● Iere. 44. c God who defendeth his Church as a strong bundel fast bond together vvil punish the vvicked vvith iust afflictions d Notvvithstanding the great ruine of the Ievves slaine ledde captiues yet God in them conserued the Church that it vvas not destroyed e S. Iames conformable to S. Peters doctrine interpreteth this place of the conuersion of the Gentiles to Christ Act. 15. v. 15. c. Act. 15. Ioel. 3. S Epiph. Iere. 49. :: God directed the cogitations of diuers other Gentiles to ioyne their forces against the Idumeans Isa 29. Gen. 2● :: God admonisheth them vvhat they ought not to do but vvithal foreshevveth that they vvil dispise the levves heir bretheren vvil reioyce in their miseries :: Historically al this prosperitie vvas promised to the levves after their deliuerie from Babylon and so much therof performed as their nevv sinnes hindered not the rest is fulfilled in Christians S Ierom. ep ad Dardam :: The rest of this prophecie is only of Christ possessingal nations To vvhom al the prophetes geue testimonie that al receiue remission of sinnes by his name beleeuing in him Act. 10. v. 43. see S. Augustin li. 18. c 31. deciuit luc 1. v. 3. Mat. 12. Luc. 11. Ionas a figure of Christ prophecied saluation to al nations S. Ierom. Epost ad Paulin. a God creator and Lord of al the vvorld hath also care of al. Rom. 3. v. 29 therfore sent this prophet to the great citie Niniue as likevvise others prophecied to the Babylonians Aegyptians Moabites Ammonites Idumeans c. b Ionas shevveth the cause vvhy he fled ch 4. v. 2. fearing to be counted a fals prophet c The mariners seing no natural cause of so sudaine great a tempest sought to knovv the reason therof by lotte wherto the prophet agreed by Gods inspiration so was discouered d Sacrifice and vovves are knovvne to al men by the light of nature to be gratful to God a That this great fish vvas a vvhale our Sauiour plainly expresseth Mat. 12 v. 40. Mat. 12. Luc. 11. b The prophet doubtles prayed before vvhen they cast him out of the shippe and continued the same prayer being in the vvhales bellie vvith more confidence that he should be safly cast on the brie land v. 5 And therfore rendereth thankes vowing sacrifice of thankes geuing v 10. Psal 119. 129. c Fu●thest that can be from mountaines euen into the depth of the sea vvhich is lower then any other valleyes d Gods vvil is his vvord by vvhich al creatures vvere made and to vvhich as vvel liuing as sensles thinges obey a Diodorus Siculus li. 3. c 1. VVriteth that Niniue was in length 150. stadia or forlōgs in
this armie differeth from the number here recorded the cause is for that sometimes those only are counted vvhich vvere permanent sometimes others are also counted vvhich came vncertainly The like difficulties of differences occurre often in the bookes of kinges and Paralipomenon :: The vvatch word this night was The victorie of God * li. 1. c. 7. v. 1. Y :: Alcimus was of Aarons stock li. 1. c 7. v. 14. but for this apostasie here mentioned was vncapable of high priesthood so Matthathias vvas ordayned being of the same progenie and most sincere in religion * a golden bough :: This description of the Assideans made by their malicious enimie in calumnious and odious termes sheweth vvel their singular zele sinceritie in promoting Gods seruice And so their aduersaries malignant accusations more against them then al others is a plaine testimonie of their more rate and more singular vertues * li. 1. ● 7. v. 26. a :: Apostates and politikes make their gayne by spoyling the faithful :: Nicanor a right worldlie politike a figure of Pilate and of such temporizing Iudges counsellers and courtiers as lacke zele in religion :: They knevv not precisely vvhere Iudas vvas neither vvould they search for him to deliuer him to the persecutor :: Bacchus called also Liber and by manie other names feaned by infidels to be auctor and god of wine And therfore drunkards dedicate feastes temples to him :: S. Augustin epist 61. ad Dul●itium l. 2. c. 23. ad epist 2. Gaud discussing th●● fact saith the helie scripture dot● tel it not praise it As to be admired not to be imitated that either it vvas not vvel done by him or at least is not conuenient in this time of grace * li. 1. c. 7. v. 39. c :: P●ophane men make their aduantage of religious mens good conscience but Iudas rightly instructed in this case defended his iust cause also in the sabbath li. 1. c. 3. v. 40. :: O Luciferian blasphemie :: This dreame was from God as the effect shevved And Iudas knevv also that it so was by internal inspiration as Ioseph Mat. 1. v 20. vvas assured of his dreames :: Ieremie ch 38. v. 17. persvvaded the king of Iuda to yeld himself vvith the citie and people to the Chaldees and not to resist But novv he deliuereth a svvord to Iudas exhorting him to fight according to Gods vvil in diuers cases and times for there is a time of vvare and a time of peace Eccle 3. v 8. :: Gods honour holie thinges are first and principally to be respected before vvordlie freindes though they also must be regarded in due order and place 4. Reg. 19. li. ● c 8. v. 1. c. f :: More being vvritten in the first booke this auctor maketh one conclusion of al because other persecuters being also ouercome the land was againe caulme after stormes Prayer of Sainctes is euidently proued by this place It is also proued by manie other holie Scriptures Neither is this place to be omitted The auctor of this booke asketh pardon for his stile not for the doctrine nor historie But the auctors of these Annotations crane pardon for al defectes Gods true Seruice hath alvvayes continued in the visible Church Faith in one God is the ground of al religion The B. Trinitie reueled to some and vttered obscurely in the old testament Distinction of Persons in one God The Father The Sonne The Holie Ghost Other places proue pluralitie of Persons in God The mysterie of Christs Incarnation is more frequent more plaine in the holie Scriptures especially in the Prophetes Ieremie Baruch Ezechiel Daniel Aggeus Zacharias Malachias Also the bookes of wisdom Ecclesiasticus Machabees Prophecies figures of the B virgin mother of God Angeles excel corporal creatures in multitude And in powre They helpe men and are lavvfully inuocated by men Diuels hating God and al mankind neuer cease to tempt men to sinne They seke to be honored vvith sacrifice Sacrifice is the proper seruice of God Sacrifice of the new testament in al places More pure and excellent then the old The old ceased and the new succeded which shad also be abandoned by Antichrist Transsubstantiation confessed by Rabbins Baptisme Penane Holie orders Feastes Fastes ordinarie And extraordinarie Abstinence Forme of good life prescribed in the sapiential bookes The ascending by steppes 〈◊〉 from earth to heauen ● Ioan. 2. VVithout Gods grace preuenting no man can thinke or do anie thing meritorious 2. Cor. 3. Confidence of good vvorkes done in grace Voluntarie vovves like to Euangelical connsels Perpetual virginitie Prayers of Sainctes Reliques Holie vesseles Signe of the Crosse Prayer for the dead Resurrection Iudgement Euerlasting punishment and eternal reward The coming of Elias conuersion of the Iewes The state of the Church in the times of heathen Monarchies in general Their state in the captiuitie King Iechonias ●n●● sede●h High-priest vvere in Babylon before the vvhole nation vvas captiue Iechonias intertayned in captiuitie as a prince Daniel vvith other three children were caried before ●ni● of the kinges into Baoylon They vvere singularly esteemed Sometimes in danger But preserued by God Ieremie prophecied in Ierusalem and in Aegypt Ezechiel and Daniel in Babylon The Monarchie of Medes and Persians Cyruslicensed the Ievves to returne and build vp their temple Prophecie of Christ after seuentie vveekes Mardocheus Esther Aman. Iudith Aggeus and Zachatias The 〈◊〉 more glorious in the nevv testament Malachie The Grecian Monarchie King Alexander honored Iaddus the Highpriest The schismatical temple in ●atizim An other schismatical temple in Aegypt The Seuentie tvvo Interpreters Prophane lerning florished amongst the Crecians but they erred excedingly in matters of Religion Primum principium Sammum ●o●um Pithagorians Stoikes Achademikes Peripatetikes Epicures The assured fayth of the Church the citie of God Psal 93 1. Cor. 3. The Machabees professed the same Antiochus his Edict Martyres for this fayth For circumcision For keeping the Sabbath For abstayning from svvines flessh Holie vvarres for the Church and religion Matthathias Iudas Machabeus A religious prayer The temple clensed Antiochus dyed miserably Ni●●or ●laine Iudas dyed gloriously Ionathas Altimus dyed miserably Simon Ioannes Hyrcanus The Romane Monarchic Hered the first strange king of the Iewes He enlarged the temple But sold the office of Highpriest This king was a signe of Christs coming The genealogie of Christ from the captiuitie pag. 939 Succession of Highpriestes pag. 713. 939. The true suecession continued also in the times of vsurpers A petition to IESVS CHRIST 2. Paral. 33. v. 12. 4. Reg. 23. v. 21. 2. Paral. 35. v. 1. Exo. 12. Leuit. 23. Num. 28. 4. Reg. 23. v. 29. 2. Paral. 35. v. 20. 4. Reg. 23. v. 30. 2. Par. 36. v. 1. 4. Reg. 24. v. 1. v. 17. Iere. 37. v. 2. Iere. 25. v. 12. 29. v. 10. Dan. 9. v. 2. 2. Paral. 36. v. 22. 2. Esd 1. v. 1. 6. v. 3. Iere. 26. v. 12.