many other things did I giue Moreouer also the yearly allowance of my dukedome I sought not for the people was very much empouerished †Remember me my God to good according to al things which I haue done to this people CHAP. VI. The enemies guilfully offer to make league with the Iewes 3. but Nehemias procedeth in building the walles 16. and al bordering nations feare them AND it came to passe when Sanaballat had heard and Tobias and Gossem the Arabian and the rest of our enimies that I did build the wal and there was no breach remayning in it how beit at that time I had not put the doores in the gates †Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me saying Come and let vs make a league together in the villages in the field of Ono But they thought to doe me euil †I sent therfore messengers to them saying I am doing a great worke and I can not goe downe lest perhaps it be neglected when I shal come and descend to you †But they sent to me according to this word foure times and I answered them according to the former word †And Sanaballat sent his seruant to me the fifth time according to the former word and he had a letter in his hand written in this maner Among the Gentiles it is heard and Gossem hath sayd that thou and the Iewes meane to rebel and therfore thou buildest the wal and wil aduance thy selfe king ouer them for which cause †thou hast sette vp prophettes also which should preach of thee in Ierusalem saying There is a king in Iurie The king wil heare of these thinges therfore come now that we may take counsel together †And I sent to them saying It is not done according to these words which thou speakest for thou framest these things of thine owne hart †For al these terrified vs thinking that our hands would cease from the worke and we would leaue of For which cause I did the more strengthen my hands †and I entred into the house of Samaia the sonne of Dalaia the sonne of Metabeel secretly who sayd Let vs consult with our selues in the house of God in the middes of the temple and Let vs shutte the doores of the temple because they wil come to kil thee and in the night they wil come to slea thee †And I sayd Doth any man that is like vnto me flee and who being as I am wil goe into the temple and liue I wil not goe in †And I vnderstood that God had not sent him but as it were prophicying he had spoken to me and Tobias and Sanaballat had hyred him †For he had taken a price that I being terrified should do it and sinne and they might haue some euil to vpbraid me withal †Remember me Lord for Tobias and Sanaballat according to such their workes Yea and Noadias the prophete and the rest of the prophetes that terrified me †But the wal was finished the fiue and twenteth day of the moneth of Elul in two and fiftie dayes †It came topasse therfore when al our enimies had heard it that al nations which were round about vs feared were dismayed within them selues and knew that this worke was done of God †But in those dayes also many letters of the principal Iewes were sent to Tobias and from Tobias there came to-them †For there were many in Iurie sworne vnto him because he was the sonne in law of Sechenias the sonne of Area and Iohanan his sonne had taken the daughter of Mosollam the sonne of Barachias †Yea and they praysed him before me and they reported my words vnto him and Tobias sent letters to terrifie me CHAP. VII Nehemias appointeth watchmen in Ierusalem 5. and calling the people together reciteth the number of those which came first from Babylon 68. likewise of their cattel 70. and the giftes of certaine chiefe men towards the reparations AND after the wal was built I had put on the doores and numbred the porters and singing men and Leuites †I commanded Hanani my brother and Hananias prince of the house of Ierusalem for the semed as it were a true man and one that feared God aboue the rest †and I sayd to them Let not the gates of Ierusalem be opened vntil the heate of the sunne And when they yet stood by the gates were shut and barred and I sette watchmen of the inhabitants of Ierusalem euery one by their courses and euery man against his house †And the citie was exceding large and great and the people few in the middes therof there were no houses built †But God gaue me in my hart and I assembled the princes and magistrates and common people that I might number them and I found a booke of the number of them that came vp first and there was found written in it †These are the children of the prouince which came vp from the captiuirie of them that were transported whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported and returned into lurie euery one into his owne citie †They that came with Zorobabel Iosue Nehemias Azarias Rahamias Nahamani Mardochaeus Belsam Mespharath Begoai Nahum Baana The number of the men of the people of Israel †The children of Pharos two thousand an hundred seuenty two †The children of Saphatia three hundred seuentie two †The children of Area six hundred fiftie two †The children of Phahathmoab of the children of Iosue and Ioab two thousand eight hundred eightene †The children of Aelam a thousand two hundred fiftie foure †The children Zethua eight hundred fourtie fiue †The childeren of Zachai seuen hundred sixtie †The childeren of Bannui six hundred fourtie eight †The children of Bebai six hundred twentie eight †The children of Azgad two thousand three hundred twentie two †The childeren of Adonicam six hundred sixtie seuen †The children of Beguai two thousand sixtie seuen †The childeren of Adin six hundred fiftie fiue †The childeren of Ater childeren of Hezecias ninetie eight †The childeren of Hasem three hundred twentie eight †The children of Besai three hundred twentie foure †The children of Hareph an hundred twelue †The children of Gabaon nyntie fiue †The childeren of Betlehem and Netupha an hundred eightie eight †The men of Anathoth an hundred twentie eight †The men of Bethazmoth fourtie two †The men of Cariathiarim Cephira and Beroth seuen hundred fourtie three †The men of Rama and Geba six hundred twentie one †The men of Machmas an hundred twentie two †The men of Bethel and Hai an hundred twentie three †The men of an other Nebo fiftie two †The men of an other Aelam a thousand two hundred fiftie foure †The childeren of Harem three hundred twentie The childeren of Iericho three hundred fourtie fiue †The childeren of Lod Hadid and Ono seuen hundred twentie one †The childeren of
not his meates †Because after the similitude of a southsayer and diuiner he esteemeth that which he knoweth not Eate and drinke wil he say to thee and his minde is not with thee †The meates which thou hadst eaten thou shalt vomite vp and shalt lose thy beautiful wordes †Speake not in the eares of the vnwise because they wil despise the doctrine of thy speach †Touch not the boundes of litle ones and into the filde of pupils enter not †For their nerekinsman is strong and he wil iudge their cause against thee †Let thy hart enter into doctrin and thyne eares to wordes of knowlege †Withdrawe not discipline from a childe for if thou shalt strike him with the rod he shal not die †Thou shalt strike him with the rod and deliuer his soule from hel †My sonne if thy minde shal be wise my hart shal be glad with thee †And my reines shal reioyce when thy lippes shal speake right thinges †Let not thy hart enuie sinners but in the feare of our Lord be thou al the day †because thou shalt haue hope in the later end and thyn exaltation shal not be taken away †Heare my sonne be wise direct thy minde in the way †Be not in the feastes of great drinkers nor in their comessations which contribute flesh together to eate †because they that are geuen to drinking and that pay shottes shal be consumed and drousines shal be clothed with ragges †Heare thy father that begot thee and contemne not thy mother when she is old †Bye truth and sel not wisedom and doctrine and intelligence †The father of the iust reioyceth with gladnes he that hath begotten a wiseman shal reioyce in him †Let thy father be glad and thy mother and let her reioyce that bare thee †My sonne geue me thy hart let thyne eies kepe my wayes †For an harlot is a deepe dich a strange woman a narrow pitte †She lyeth in wayt in the way as a robber and whom she shal see not circumspect she wil kil †To whom is woe to whose father woe to whom browles to whom diches to whom woundes without cause to whom bloud sheeding eies †Is it not to them that passe their time in wine and studie to drinke out their cuppes †Behold not wine when it waxeth yelow when the colour therof shal shine in the glasse it goeth in pleasantly †but in the end it wil bite like a snake and as a basiliske it wil powre abrode poysones †Thine eies shal see strange wemen and thy hart shal speake peruerse thinges †And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the middes of the sea and as the gouernour fast a sleepe the sterne being lost †And thou shalt say They haue beaten me but I was not greeued they drew me and I felt not When shal I awake and finde wines againe CHAP. XXIIII EMVLATE not euil men neither desire thou to be with them †because their mind doth meditate robberies and their lippes speake deceites †By wisedom the house shal be built and by prudence it shal be strengthened †In doctrine the cellars shal be replenished with al precious and most beâ—utiful substance †A wiseman is strong and a lerned man strong and valiant †Because warre is managed by due ordering there shal be saluation where manie counsels are †Wisedom is high for a foole in the gate he shal not open his mouth †He that thinketh to doe euils shal be called a foole †The cogitation of a foole is sinne and a detracter the abomination of men †If thou despaire being wearie in the day of distresse thy strength shal be diminished †Deliuer them that are led to death and those that are drawen to death cease not to deliuer †If thou say I am not of force he that seeth into the hart he vnderstandeth and nothing deceiueth the keeper of thy soule and he shal render to a man according to his workes †Eate honie my sonne because it is good and the honie-combe most sweete to thy throte †so also the doctrine of wisedom to thy soule which when thou shalt finde thou shalt haue hope in the later end and thy hope shal not perish †Lie not in wayte nor seeke impietie in the house of the iust nor spoile his rest †For “ seuen times shal the iust fal and shal rise againe but the impious shal fal into euil †When thine enemie shal fal be not glad and in his ruine let not thy hart reioyce †Lest perhaps our Lord see and it displease him and he take away his wrath from him †Contend not with the most wicked nor emulate the impious †because euil men haue not hope of thinges to come and the lampe of the impious shal be extinguished †Feare our Lord my sonne and the king with detracters medle not †because their perdition shal sodenly rise and the ruine of both who knoweth †These thinges also to the wise to know a person in iudgement is not good †They that say to the impious Thou art iust peoples shal curse them and tribes shal detest them †They that rebuke him shal be praysed and blessing shal come vpon them †He shal kisse the lippes who answereth right wordes †Prepare thy worke abrode and diligently til thy ground that afterward thou mayst build thy house †Be not witnes without cause against thy neighbour neither alure any man with thy lippes †Say not As he hath done to me so wil I doe to him I wil render to euerie one according to his worke †I passed by the filde of a slothful man and by the vineyard of a foolish man †and behold nettels had filled it wholy and thornes had couered the face therof and the wal of stones was destroyed †Which when I had seene I layd it in my hart and by the example I lerned discipline †A litle I say thou shalt sleepe a litle thou shalt slumber a litle shalt thou ioyne thy handes together to rest †and as a poste pouertie shal come to thee beggerie as a man armed ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXIIII 16. Seuen times shal the iust sal A iust man that is to say Gods true seruant free from mortal sinne is subiect during this life to manie tentations imperfections and may often fal into venial sinnes and not lose iustice nor the true title of a iust man as here he is called nor become the diuels seruant nor Gods enemie but through Gods grace helping his weaknes he riseth agaâ—ne from smal sinnes stil perseuering in Gods fauoure wheras contrariwise the impious falleth into euil towitte into more and more sinne through malice and lacke of grace riseth not so easily
translate the Latin text rather then the Hebrew or Greke which Protestantes preferre as the fountaine tongues wherin holie Scriptures were first written To this we answer that if in dede those first pure Editions were now extant or if such as be extant were more pure then the Latin we would also preferre such fountaines before the riuers in whatsoeuer they should be found to disagree But the ancient best lerned Fathers Doctors of the Church do much complaine and testifie to vs that both the Hebrew and Greke Editions are fouly corrupted by Iewes and Heretikes since the Latin was truly translated out of them whiles they were more pure And that the same Latin hath bene farre better conserued from corruptions So that the old Vulgate Latin Edition hath bene preferred and vsed for most authentical aboue a thousand and three hundered yeares For by this verie terme S. Ierom calleth that Version the vulgate or common which he conferred with the Hebrew of the old Testament and with the Greke of the New which he also purged from faultes committed by writers rather amending then translating it Though in regard of this amending S. Gregorie calleth it the nevv versioÌ„ of S. Ierom who neuertheles in an other place calleth the self same the old Latin Edition iudging it most worthy to be folowed S. Augustin calleth it the Italian S. Isidorus witnesseth that S. Ierom version was receiued and approued by al Christian Churches Sophronius also a most lerned man seing S. Ieroms Edition so much estemed not only of the Latines but also of the Grecians turned the Psalter Prophetes out of the same Latin into Greke Of latter times what shal we nede to recite other most lerned men S. Bede S. Anselme S. Bernard S. Thomas S. Bonauenture the rest VVho al vniformly allege this only text as authentical In so much that al other Latin Editions which S. Ierom saith were in his time almost innumerable are as it were fallen out of al Diuines handes and growne out of credite and vse If moreouer we consider S. Ieroms lerning pâ—etie diligence and sinceritie together with the commodities he had of best copies in al languages then extant and of other lerned men with whom he conferred and if we so coÌ„are the same with the best meanes that hath bene since surely no man of indifferent iudgement wil match anie other Edition with S. Ieroms but easely acknowlege with the whole Church Gods particular prouideÌ„ce in this great Doctor as wel for expounding as most especialy for the true text and Edition of Holie Scriptures Neither do we flee vnto this old Latin text for more aduantage For besides that it is free from partialitie as being most ancient of al Latin copies and long before the particular Controuersies of these dayes beganne the Hebrew also the Greke when they are truly translated yea and Erasmus his Latin in sundrie places proue more plainly the Catholique Romaine doctrine then this which we relie vpon So that Beza his folowers take also exception against the Greke when Catholiques allege it against them Yea the same Beza preferreth the old Latin Version before al others freely testifieth that the old Interpreter translated religiously VVhat then do our countriemen that refuse this Latin but depriue themselues of the best and yet al this while haue set forth none that is allowed by al Protestantes for good or sufficient How wel this is donne the lerned may iudge when by mature conference they shal haue made trial therof And if anie thing be mistaken we wil as stil we promise gladly correct it Those that traÌ„slated it about thirtie yeares since were wel knowen to the world to haue bene excellent in the tongues sincere men and great Diuines Only one thing we haue donne touching the text wherof we are especially to geue notice That whereas heretofore in the best Latin Editions there remained manie places differing in wordes some also in sense as in long processe of time the writers erred in their copies now lately by the care diligence of the Church those diuers readings were maturely and iuditiously examined and conferred with sundrie the best written and printed bookes so resolued vpon that al which before were leift in the margent are either restored into the text or els omitted so that now none such remaine in the margent For which cause we haue againe conferred this English translation and conformed it to the most perfect Latin Edition VVhere yet by the way we must geue the vulgar reader to vnderstand that very few or none of the former varieties touched Controuersies of this time So that this Recognition is no way suspicious of partialtie but is merely donne for the more secure conseruation of the true text and more ease and satisfaction of such as otherwise should haue remained more doubtful Now for the strictnes obserued in translating some wordes or rather the not translating of some which is in more danger to be disliked we doubt not but the discrete lerned reader deepely weighing and considering the importance of sacred wordes and how easely the translatour may misse the sense of the Holie Ghost wil hold that which is here donne for reasonable and necessarie VVe haue also the example of the Latin and Greke where some wordes are not translated but left in Hebrew as they were first spoken written which seeing they could not or were not conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greke how much lesse could they or was it reason to turne them into English S. Augustin also yeldeth à reason exemplifying in the wordes Amen and Alleluia for the more sacred authoritie therof which doubtles is the cause why some names of solemne Feastes Sacrifices other holie thinges are reserued in sacred tongues Hebrew Greke or Latin Againe for necessitie English not hauing à name or sufficient terme we either kepe the word as we find it or only turne it to our English termination because it would otherwise require manie wordes in English to signifie one word of an other tongue In which cases we commonly put the explication in the margent Briefly our Apologie is easie against English Protestantes because they also reserue some wordes in the original tongues not translated into English as Sabbath Ephod Pentecost Proselyte and some others The sense wherof is in dede as soone lerned as if they were turned so nere as is possible into English And why then may we not say Prepuce Phase or Pasch Azimes Breades of Proposition Holocaust and the like rather then as Protestantes translate them Foreskinne Passeouer The feast of svvete breades Shevv breades Burnt offerings c. By which termes whether they be truly translated into English or no we wil passe ouer Sure it is an English man is stil to seke what they meane as if they remained
said The woman which thou gauest me to be my felow companion gaue me of the tree and I did eate †And our Lord God said to the woman Why hast thou done this who answered The serpent deceiued me I did eate †And our Lord God said to the serpent Because thou hast done this thing accursed art thou among al catle beasts of the earth vpon thy brest shalt thou goe earth shalt thou eate al the dayes of thy life †I wil put enmyties betwen thee the woman and thy seed and the seed of her she shal bruise thy head in peeces thou shalt lye in waite of her heele †To the woman also he said I wil multiplie thy trauailes and thy child bearinges in trauaile shalt thou bring forth children and thou shalt be vnder thy husbands power and he shal haue dominion ouer thee †And to Adam he said Because thou hast heard the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree whereof I coÌ„manded thee that thou shouldest not eate cursed is the earth in thy woorke with much toyling shalt thou eate thereof al the dayes of thy life †Thornes and thystles shal it bring forth to thee thou shalt eate the herbes of the earth †In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread til thou returne to earth of which thou wast taken because dust thou art and into dust thou shalt returne †And Adam called the name of his wife Eue for because she was mother of al the liuing †Our Lord God also made for Adam and his wife garments of skynnes and clothed them †And said Loe Adam is become as it were one of vs knowing good euil now therfore lest perhapes he reach forth his hand and take also of the tree of life eate and liue for euer †And our Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure to worke the earth of which he was taken †And he cast out Adam and placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubins a flaming and a turning sworde for to keepe the way of the tree of life ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III 1 VVhy hath God Here we may see how sinne came first amongst men For the diuel enuying maÌ„s happie state tempted Eue the weaker person beginning with a question therby to allure her into conference and by such a question as might bring her into suspition of Gods affection towards man saying VVhy hath God commanded you that you should not eate of euerie tree of paradise insinuating by these words and withal internally suggesting that God dealt hardly with them abridging their libertie without cause And when he had got so much of her that she was displeased with the precept which she shewed by adding of her owne to make it seme more greuous that they were forbidden to touch the tree and againe by reporting the punishment as doubtful saying lest perhaps vve dye then the tempter auouched boldly and falsly that they should not dye and charged God to be enuious of the benefite they should get by eating of that tree saying their eyes should be opened and they should be as Goddes knowing good and euil Vpon which perswasion and liking also she had to the fruite she did take and eate and perswaded Adam also to eate And forthwith they saw that they would not haue seene knew euil which they had better not to haue knowen were ashamed and endeuored to couer and hide them selues Euen thus the diuel dealeth with men euer since assaulting the weaker persons and weaker part as the flesh and sensualitie and by them setteth vpon the stronger and superior part to get consent of freewil without which there is no sinne According to that famous saying of S. Augustin Peâ—atum adeo est voluntarium vt nullo modo sit peccatum si non voluntarium Sinne is so voluntarie that in no vvise it can be sinne if it be not voluntarie wherfore it was no sinne in Eue to be tempted by the serpent which she could not auoide nor in Adam to be tempted by Eue but they sinned when they consented to the euil suggestions And now in the regenerate though concupiscence remaine which is the effect of sinne past occasion of sinne in those that yeld againe to teÌ„tations yet is it not sinne but punishment of sinne and matter of exercise in the iust and if we resist of merite and therfore S. Paul exhorteth vs to vvalle in the spirite and the lusts of the flesh vve shal not accomplish And in an other place sheweth that he vvhich fighteth lavvfully shal be crovvned 15. She shal bruise Protestants wil not admitte this reading ipsa conteret she shal bruise lest our Blessed Ladie should be said anie way to bruise the serpents head And Kemnisius amongst others saith that al ancient Fathers read ipsum not ipsa But he is conuinced of lying by Claudius Marius Victor lib. 1. in Gen. Alcimus Auitus lib. 3. carm c. 6. S. Chrisostom bom 17. in Genes S. Ambrose lib de fuga saeculi cap. 7. S. Augustin lib. 2. de Genesi contra Manichaeos cap. 18 lib. 11. de Genesi ad literam cap. 26. S. Gregorie lib. 1. Moralium cap. 38. And after them S. Bede Eucherius Rabanus Rupertus Strabus and Lira vpon this place S. Bernard ser 2. super Misus est And manie others who read ipsa as the Latin text now hath But whether we read She shal bruise or her sede that is her sonne Christ shal bruise the serpents head we attribute no more nor no lesse to Christ nor to our Ladie by the one reading then by the other for by the text I vvil put â—nmitâ—es betvven thee and the vvoman betvven thy seede and her seede It is clere that this enmitie and battle pertained to the woman and her seede on the one partie and to this diuel that spake by the serpent and al the wicked on the other partie and that the victorie should happen to mankind VVhich being captiue by Adams sinne occasioned by a woman should be redeemed both sexes though in farre different sorte concurring therto And so it is most true that Christ by his owne proper powre and his blessed mother by her most immediate cooperating to his Incarnation and consequently to other Misteries did bruise the serpents head breake and vanquish his powre As manie ancient Fathers do excellently discourse namely S. Bernard writing vpon these wordes in the Apocalips cap. 12. A great signe appeared in heauen a vvoman clothed vvith the sunne Albeit saith he by one man and one woman we were greatly damaged yet God be thanked by one man and one woman al losses are repaired and that not without great increase of graces For the benefite doth farre excede the losse Our merciful father geuing vs for a terrestrial Adam Christ our Redemer for old Eue Gods owne mother Moreouer as the
same S. Bernard sheweth this blessed Virgin in singular sorte bruised the serpents head in that she quite vanquished al maner suggestions of the wicked serpeÌ„t neuer yelding to not taking delight in anie euil moued by him 19. Dust thou art By these wordes Adam was admonished to humble him selfe considering the matter wherof his bodie was made and into which he should be resolued againe wherupon it came to be a ceremonie amongst penitents to cast ashes on their heads As appeareth in holie Scriptures for which cause the Church now also vseth this ceremonie the first day of Lent putting ashes on her childrens heades willing them to remember that dust they are and to dust they shal returne to moue vs by this meditation to more serious penance 22. â—â—st perhaps Notwithstanding Gods eternal decree in disposing al thinges and his omnipotencie which nothing can resist yet he produceth good and either auoideth or disposeth of euil which he suffereth by ordinarie meanes as appeareth Act. 27 v. 31. and that because man hath free wil with which God concurreth destroyeth not nor forceth as S. Augustin teacheth 24. Placed Cherubins Man being cast out of paradise the same is defended with duble gard with Angels that are watchful wise and potent and with fire and sword most terrible armoure to man wherby againe we see that God vseth ordinarie meanes in his prouidence as the ministrie of Angels humane terror and would neither destroy the tree nor depriue it of the vertue to prolong life nor bereue man of freewil by which he might desire to returne but conseruing nature in al creatures preuenteth inconueniences otherwise These Angels also hinder the diuel that he can not enter paradise lest he should take of the fruite of the tree and geue it to men to prolong their liues and therby draw them to his seruice CHAP. IIII. VVicked Cain killeth holie Abel 9. vvhose bloud cryeth for reuenge 11. Cain a cursed vacabond 17. hath much issue 25 Adam also hath Seth and Seth Enos AND Adam knewe Eue his wife who conceiued and brought forth Cain saying I haue gotten a man through God †And againe she brought forth his brother Abel And Abel was a shepehard Cain a husbandman †And it befel after manie dayes that Cain “ offred of the fruites of the earth giftes to our Lord. †Abel also offred of the first begotten of his flocke and of their fat and our Lord “ had respect to Abel to his giftes †But to Cain and to his giftes he had not respect Cain was exceeding angrie and his countenance abated †And our Lord said to him Why art thou angrie and why is thy countinance fallen †If thou doe wel “ shalt thou not receiue againe but if thou doest il shal not thy sinne forth with be present at the dore but the lust therof shal be “ vnder thee and thou shalt haue dominion ouer it †And Caine said to Abel his brother Let vs goe forth abroad And when they were in the filde Caine rose vp against his brother Abel and slewe him †And our Lord said to Cain Where is Abel thy brother Who answered I know not am I my brothers keper †And he said to him What hast thou done the voice of thy brothers bloud crieth to me out of the earth †Now therfore cursed shalt thou be vpon the earth which hath opened her mouth receiued the bloud of thy brother at thy hand †When thou shalt til it it shal not yeld to thee her fruite a roag and vagabound shalt thou be vpon the earth †And Cain said to our Lord Myne iniquitie is greater then that I may deserue pardon †Loe thou doest cast me out this day from the face of the earth and from thy face shal I be hid and I shal be a vagabound fugitiue on the earth euerie one therfore that findeth me shal kil me †And our Lord said to him No it shal not so be but whosoeuer shal kil Cain shal be punished seauen fould And our Lord put a marke on Cain that whosoeuer found him should not kil him †And “ Cain went forth from the face of our Lord and dwelt as a fugitiue on the earth at the east side of Eden †And Cain knewe his wife who conceiued and brought forth Enoch And he built a citie called the name therof by the name of his sonne Enoch †Moreouer Enoch be gat Irad and Irad begat Mauiael and Mauiael begat Mathusael and Mathusael begat Lamech †Who tooke two wiues the name of the one was Ada and the name of the other Sella †And Ada brought forth Iabel who was the father of them that dwel in tents and of heardsmen †And his brothers name was Iubal he was the father of them that sing on harpe organes †Sella also brought forth Tubalcain who was a hammerer worker in al worke of brasse iron And the sister of Tubalcain was Noema †And Lamech said to his wiues Ada and Sella Heare my voice ye wiues of Lamech harken to my talke for I haue slaine a maÌ„ to the wounding of my selfe and a stripeling to mine owne drie blowe brewsing †Seuenfould vengeance shal be taken of Cain but of Lamech seuentie times seuen fould †Adam also knewe his wife again and she brought forth a sonne and called his name Seth saying God hath giuen me other seede for Abel whom Cain slewe †But to Seth also was borne a sonne whom he called Enos this man began to inuocate the name of our Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII 3. Offered giftes Either God him selfe taught Adam and he his children or els they knew by instinct of nature that Sacrifice must be offered to God to acknowledge therby his supreme dominion ouer man and mans due subiection to his diuine Maiestie And that not only in internal affection which as S. Augustin and al Catholique Doctors teach is principally required but also in external things because we consist of bodie and not only of soule and haue by Gods goodnes the vse of corporal things As here we see example in the law of nature and the same was ordained by written precept in the law of Moyses the Prophetes also foretold that external Sacrifice should be offered in the law of grace and new Testament to wit the same which Christ instituted and left in his Church to continew to the end of the world Moreouer this homage of offering Sacrifice is so peculiar to God only that albeit manie other exterior rites and seruices are vsed both to God men as to be bare head to be we to kneele the liâ—e before them either of great humâ—litiâ— saith S. Augustin or of pestiferous â—latterie to such as are homines colendi venerandi si autem eis multum additur adorandi men to be vvorshipped reuerenced and
eaten therof Moreouer the Hebrew word Hotsi brought forth is a word pertayning to Sacrifice as in the 6. chap of Iudges v. 18. and 19 and importeth that the bread and wine were first offered in Sacrifice and then doubtles they did participat though they wanted not other fufficient corporal foode Againe the wordes folowing For he vvas the Priest of God most hiegh can haue no other sense but that he did the function of a Priest in the bread wine which he brought otherwise if the only cause of bringing that prouision had benne to releue the campe with victuals the reason would rather haue benne yelded because he was a bountiful King a liberal Prince a special freind to Abraham as in deede he was but none of these reasons or the like fitted this purpose so wel nor touched the cause of bringing forth bread and wine as to signifie that he was a Priest whose office is to offer Sacrifice Here againe some Protestants take exception against the Latin text that the causual coniunction Enim for is not agreable to the Hebrew but should be the copulatiue Et and which is a meere wrangling For the lerned know wel ynough that the Hebtew particle is better expressed in such places by Enim or quia for or because then by And so the English Bible printed in the yeare of our Lord. 1552. readeth Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine for he vvas the Priest of the most hieghest God The latter Editions also in like places haue not the copulatiue And but some other word as the sense requireth Gen. 20. v. 3. Thou art but a dead man for the vvomans sake vvhich thou hast taken for she is a mans vvife where the Hebrew phrase is And she is maried to a husband Gen. 30. v. 27. they read thus For I haue proued that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake where precisly construing the Hebrew they should say I diuined or coniectured and the Lord blessed me for thy sake Likewise Esaie 64. v. 5. they read But Loe thou hast bene angrie for vve offended the Hebrew is thus Loe thou art angrie and vve haue sinned In the same place they translate Yet shal vve be saued vvhich the Hebrew expresseth by the copulatiue And we shal be saued So when they thinke it conuenient they translate the Hebrew particle For that yet which strictly signifieth And. Now let vs also see the original in this place In the Hebrew it is thus VMALCHI TSEDEC MELEC CHALEM HOTSI LECHEM VAIAIIN VEHV COHEN LEEL ELION VAIE VARECHEHV c. In English word for word thus And Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine And he the priest to God most hiegh And he blessed him c. where albeit the causual word For is not expressed yet these wordes And he the priest further declaring that besides the office and dignitie of a King which was said before Melchisedec was also a Priest must nedes signifie that he did something about the bread and wine belonging to a Priests office And what that something was perhaps the Vniuersitie of Cambridge wil testifie whose late professor of Diuinitie teacheth plainly that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice and was therin a figure of Christ Pag. 6. Reprehen Sacerdotes saith he ij vere proprie sunt qui sacrificia faciunt qualis fuit Aaron Aaronis silij Melchisedechus quem illi adumbrabant Christus Priestes truly and properly are they that offer sacrifices such as vvas Aaron and the sonnes of Aaron and Melchisedech and Christ vvhom they prefigured If then both Aaron Melchisedech were truly and properly Priests because they offered sacrifices according to this Professors definition and both were figures of Christ it must needes be granted that as Christ fulfilled the figure of Aarons bloudie sacrifices in offering him selfe vpon the Crosse so he also fulfilled the figure as wel of vnbloudie sacrifices of Aaron as especially of Melchisedechs Sacrifice in some other besides that on the Crosse seeing the prophet Dauid and S. Paul say Christ is a Priest not according to Aarons order for that was to haue an end but For euer according to the order of Melchisedech And what other Sacrifice did our Sauiour offer to remaine perpetual but of his owne bodie bloud in vnbloudie maner vnder the formes of bread and wine with commandment to his Apostles and Priests to do the same til the end of the world Let the indifferent reader weigh it wel And whosoeuer is not very proud wil for his better instruction or confirmation esteme the vniforme iudgement of manie ancient godlie and lerned Fathers writing vpon this place VVe wil only recite their wordes without other deduction for breuitie sake S. Clemens Alexandrinus li 4. Strom. versus finem writeth thus Melchisedech king of Salem Priest of God most hiegh gaue wine bread santified nutriment in type of the Eucharist S. Cyprian Epist 63. ad Caecilium Christ is Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech which order is this coming from that Sacrifice and thence descending that Melchisedech was Priest of God most hiegh that he offered bread wine that he blessed Abraham For who is more a Priest of God most hiegh then our Lord Iesus Christ who offered Sacrifice to God the Father and offered the same which Melchisedech had offered bread and wine to wit his owne bodie and bloud And a litle after That therfore in Genesis the blessing might be rightly celebrated about Abraham by Melchisedec the Priest the image of Christs Sacrifice coâ—sisting in bread and wine went before which thing our Lord perfecting and performing offered bread and chalice mixt with wine and he that is the plenitude fulfilled the veritie of the prefiguted image Eusebius Cesariensis li 5. Demonst Euang. c. 3. Euen as he who was Priest of Nations was neuer sene to offer corporal sacrifices but only bread wine when he blessed Abraham so first our Lord Sauiour him selfe then priests that come from him exercising the spiritual office of Priesthood in al nations after the Ecclesiastical ordinances do represent the mysteries of his bodie and healthful bloud in bread wine which mysteries Melchisedech knew so long before by diuine spirite and vsed as representations of things to come S. Ambrose li. 5 de Sacramen c. 1. VVe know the figure of the Sacraments went before in Abrahams times when Melchisedech offered Sacrifice Idem in cap. 5 Heb. It is clere that oblations of cattle are vanished which were in Aarons order but Melchisedechs institution remayneth which is celebrated al the world ouer in administration of the Sacraments S Hierom. Epist ad Marcellamo vt migret Bethleem Haue recourse to Genesis and you shal find Melchisedech king of Salem prince of this citie who euen then in figure of Christ offered bread and wine and dedicated the Christian mysterie in our Sauiours bodie and bloud Idem Epist
Hierom. li. 3. comment in Mat. 18. 14. I am vvhich am Al other things besides God once were not and being are limited in nature neither could persist vnles God conserued them mame things also haue lost or shal lose their propet essence and being and whiles they remaine haue continual alterations Onlie God eternally is without beginning ending limitation dependence or mutation coÌ„sisting only of himselfe and al other things arâ— of him Therfore this name QVI EST HE WHICH IS is most proper to God not determining anie maner but indeterminatly signifying al maners of being for so it importeth the very infinite immensitie of Gods substance S. Damascen li. 1. c. 12. Orthodoxae sidei S. Tho. p. 1. q. 13. a. 11. CHAP. IIII. Moyses receiuing power to vvorke miracles in confirmation of his mission 14. and his brother Aaron being designed to assist him 20. goeth vvith vvife and children towards Aegypt 25. is in danger to be slaine for not sooner circumcising his sonne 27. Aaron meeteth him 29. so they goe together and declare to the people that God wil deliuer them MOYSES answering said “ They wil not beleue me nor heare my voice but they wil say Our Lord hath not appeared to thee †Therfore he sayd to him What is that thou holdest in thy hand He answered A rodde †And our Lord sayd Cast it vpon the ground He did cast it and it was turned into a serpent so that Moyses fled †And our Lord sayd Sretch thy hand and catch the tayle therof He stretched it forth tooke hold of it and it was turned into a rodde †That they may beleue quoth he that the Lord God of their fathers hath appeared to thee the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Iacob †And our Lord sayd agayne Put thy hand into thy bosome Which when he had put into his bosome he brought it forth ful of leprosie like snow †Draw backe quoth he thy hand into thy bosome He drew it backe and brought it forth agayne it was like the other flesh †If they wil not beleue thee quoth he nor heare the word of the former signe they wil beleue the word of the signe folowing †And if so be they wil beleue neither of these two signes nor heare thy voice take water of the riuer powre it out vpon the drie land and whatsoeuer thou drawest of the riuer shal be turned into bloud †Moyses sayd I beseech thee Lord I am not eloquent from yesterday and the day before and since thou hast spoken to thy seruant I haue more impediment slownes of tongue †Our Lord sayd to him Who made the mouth of man or who framed the dumme and deafe the seeing and the blinde did not I †Goe on therfore and I wil be in thy mouth wil teach thee what thou shalt speake †But he sayd I besech thee Lord send whom thou wilt send †Our Lord being angrie at Moyses sayd Aaron thy brother the leuite I know that he is eloqueÌ„t behold he cometh forth to meete thee seeing thee shal be glad at the hart †Speake to him and put my wordes in his mouth I wil be in thy mouth and in his mouth and wil shew you what yee must doe †He shal speake in thy steed to the people and shal be thy mouth but thou shalt be to him in those thinges that perteine to God †This rodde also take in thy hand wherwith thou shalt doe the signes †Moyses went his way returned to Iethro his father in law and sayd to him I wil goe and returne to my brethren into Aegypt that I may see if they be yet aliue To whom Iethro sayd Goe in peace †Therfore our Lord sayd to Moyses in Madian Goe and returne into Aegypt for they are al dead that sought thy life †Moyses therfore tooke his wife his children and set them vpon an asse and returned into Aegypt carying the rodde of God in his hand †And our Lord said to him returning into Aegypt See that thou doe al the wonders which I haue put in thy hand before Pharao I wil indurate his hart and he wil not dismisse the people †And thou shalt say to him This sayth the Lord My first begotten sonne is Israel †I sayd to thee dismisse my sonne that he may serue me thou wouldest not dismisse him behold I wil kil thy first-begotten-sonne †And when he was in his iourney in the Inne our Lord mette him and would haue killed him †Sephora by by tooke a very sharp stone and circuncided the prepuce of her sonne touched his feete and sayd A blouddie spouse thou art to me †And he let him goe after she had said A blouddie spouse thou art to me because of the circumcision †And our Lord said to Aaron Goe to Moyses into the desert Who went forth to mete him vnto the Mountaine of God and kissed him †And Moyses told Aaron al the wordes of our Lord by which he had sent him the signes that he had commanded †And they came together and gathered together al the ancientes of the children of Israel †And Aaron spake al the wordes which our Lord had said to Moyses and he wrought the signes before the people †and the people beleued And they heard that our Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked vpon their affliction they adored prostrate ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. â— They vvil not beleue me Moyses wisely considering that the children of Israel much lesse Pharao would hardly beleue his bare woord affirming that he was sent to them by God proposed this difficultie before he tooke the Embacie vpon him For without good proofe both the Israelites and Aegyptians might haue reiected him as seming to come of his owne priuate spirite being no ordinarie superior neither of the whole people nor of his owne tribe nor first of his familie for Aaron was his elder brother Therfore God gaue him powre of working miracles to proue his extraordinarie mission true and lawful VVhich sufficed to make euen Pharao him selfe to know that he was sent from God almightie though it mollified not his stubborne hart to obey Gods commandement and it fully satisfied the children of Israel touching al things which he denounced beleuing him that God mercifully looked vpon their affliction would deliuer them VVherupon they adored prostrate as the last wordes of this chapter testifie VVhere we see both the necessitie and sufficiencie of miracles to proue the extraordinarie vocation of such as preach otherwise then was taught before For this cause our Sauioâ—â— himselfe confirming his doctrin by miracles saied to the Iewes If you vvil not beleue me beleue by vvorkes Againe he said of them If I had not done among them vvorkes that no other man hath done they should not haue sinne And coÌ„formably sending
neere at hand whither to escape †This shal be the law of the murderer that fleeth whose life is to be saued He that striketh his neighbour vnwitting and that is proued yesterday and the day before to haue had no hatred against him †but to haue gone with him simply vnto the wood to cutte wood and in cutting the wood of axe slipped out of his hand and the yron falling from the handle strooke his freind and killed him he shal flee to one of the cities aforesaid and liue †lest perhaps the next kinseman of him whose bloud was shed pricked with sorow pursew and apprehend him if the way be too long and stricke his life that is not guiltie of death because he is proued to haue had no hatred before against him that was slaine †Therfore I command thee that thou separat three cities of equal distance one from an other †And when our Lord thy God shal haue dilated thy borders as he sware to thy fathers and shal geue thee al the Land that he promised them †yet so if thou keepe his commandementes and do the thinges which I command thee this day that thou loue our Lord thy God and walke in his wayes at al time thou shalt adde to thee other three cities and shalt duble the number of the three cities aforesaid †that innocent bloud be not shed in the middes of the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee to possesse lest thou be guiltie of bloud †But if any man hating his neighbour lie in wayte for his life and rise and strike him and he die and he flee to one of the cities aforesaid †the ancientes of his citie shal send acd take him out of the place of refuge and shal deliuer him into the hand of the kinseman of him whose bloud was shed and he shal die †Thou shalt not pitie him and thou shalt take away the guiltie bloud out of Israel that it may be wel with thee †Thou shalt not take and transferre thy neighbours boundes which thy predecessours did sette in thy possession which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in the Land that thou shalt receiue to possesse †One witnesse shal not stand against any man whatsoeuer sinne or wickednesse it be but in the mouth of two or three witnesses shal euerie word stand †If a lying witnesse stand against a man accusing him of preuarication †both of them whose the cause is shal stand before our Lord in the sight of the priestes and the iudges that shal be in those daies †And when searching most diligently they shal finde that the false witnes hath said a lie against his brother †they shal render to him as he meant to doe to his brother and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee †that others hearing may haue feare and may not be bold to doe such things †Thou shalt not pitie him but life for life eie for eie tooth for tooth hand for hand foote for foote shalt thou exacte CHAP. XX. Lawful warres are to be vndertaken with corege and confidence 5. Such as for special causes may be discoreged must be dismissed from the field 10. VVhat to be obserued towardes the enimie 19. VVhat trees may not be cut downe and what sorte may be for the vse of warres IF thou goe forth to warre against thyne enemies and see the horse men and chariottes and the multitude of the aduersaries hoste greater then thou hast thou shalt not feare them because the Lord thy God is with thee which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt †And when the battel is now at hand the priest shal stand before the armie and shal speake to the people thus †Heare Israel you this day ioyne battel against your enemies let not your hart feare be not affrayd retire not neither dread them †because our Lord your God is in the middes of you and wil fight for you against your aduersaries to deliuer you from danger †The Captaine 's also through euerie bande in the hearing of the hoste shal proclaime what man is there that hath built a new house and hath not dedicated it let him goe and returne into his house lest perhaps he die in the battel and an other dedicate it †What man is there that hath planted a vineyard and hath not as yet made it to be common wherof al men may lawfully eate let him goe and returne into his house lest perhaps he die in the battel and an other man execute his office †What man is there that hath despoused a wife and not taken her let him goe and returne into his house lest perhaps he die in the warre and an other take her †These thinges being said they shal adde the rest and shal speake to the people What man is there feareful and fainte harted let him goe and returne into his house lest he make the hartes of his brethren to feare as him selfe is frighted with feare †And when the Captaines of the host shal hold their peace and make an end of speaking euerie man shal prepare their bandes to fight †If at anie time thou come to winne a citie thou shalt first offer peace †If they receiue it and open the gates to thee al the people that is therein shal be saued and shal serue thee vnder tribute †But if they wil not make peace and shal beginne battel against thee thou shalt assalt it †And when our Lord thy God shal deliuer it into thy hand thou shalt strike al that is therein of the male sexe in the edge of the sword †excepting wemen and children the cattel and other thinges that are in the citie Al the praye thou shalt diuide to the armie and thou shalt eate of the spoiles of thine enemies which our Lord thy God shal geue thee †So shalt thou doe to al cities that be verie farre from thee and be not of these cities which thou shalt receiue in possession †But of those cities that shal be geuen thee thou shalt suffer none at al to liue †but shalt kil them in the edge of the sword to witte the Hetheite and Amorrheite and Chananeite the Pherezeite and Heueite and Iebuseite as our Lord thy God hath commanded thee †lest perhaps they teach you to doe al the abominations which them selues did worke to their goddes and you sinne against our Lord your God †When thou hast besieged a citie a long time and hast compassed it with munition to winne it thou shalt not cutte downe the trees that may be eaten of neither shalt thou spoile the countrie round about with axes because it is a tree and not a man neither can it increase the number of warryers against thee †But if there be any trees not fruitful but wilde and apt for other vses cutte them downe and make engines vntil thou take the citie
true faith and religion Especially Christian Princes of whom Esai propheciced chap. 49. that Kinges should be softer fathers and Queenes the nources of the Church Conformably wherto S Augustin teacheth li. 3 c. 51. cont Crescon that Kinges in that they are Kinges serue God by commanding good thinges and forbidding euel not only perteining to humaine societie but also belonging to Gods religion To this effect Constantin the great did manie religious actes yea euen those thinges which our aduersaries wrest to their owne sense shew euidently his due submission to his spiritual pastors As when vrged by the Donatistes peruerse importunitie and being desirous as S. Augustin testifieth Epist 166. to bridle so great impudencie he heard and iudged Bishop Cecilians cause after other Bishops sentence for him against the heretikes where he both gaue iudgement agreable to the Bishops and yet pleading parden excused himself for this fact VVhich had not neded if he had bene the ordinarie or competent iudge Optatus also writeth li. 1. cont Parmen that the same Emperour Constantin exclamed against the appellantes in these wordes O raâ—ida furoris audacia sicut in causis Gentilium sâ—â—ri solet appellationem interposuerunt O outragious boldnes of furie like as in causes of Gentiles is wont they haue interposed an appeal The like good offices did Iustinian and Charles the great and manie other Christian Emperours and Kinges for which they are much renowmed in the whole Church and some haue benne honoured for their religious zele with glorious titles geuen to them and their successors To the Kinges of Spaine from the time of Alâ—onsus King of Castil aboue eight hundred yeares agone for expelling the Arians was geuen the title of Cathoque as Michael Ritins a Neapolitâ—n writeth To the French Kinges the title of most Christian from the time of Philip the Emperour about 400. yeares since for expelling the Albigenses as recordeth Nicholaus Gillius To our King Henrie the eight of England for his booke of the Sacramentes against Luther Pope Leo the tenth gaue the title Defender of the saith CHAP. IIII. In memorie of their miraculous passage twelue chief men of the twelue tribes â—uke so manie great stones from the middes of Iordan 9. and put other twelue where the priestes stood with the arke 18. The waters returne to their former course And the twelue stones are erected for a monument VVHo being passed ouer our Lord said to Iosue †Choose twelue men one in euerie tribe †and command them that they take vp out of the middes of the chanel of IordaÌ„ where the feete of the priestes stoode twelue most hard stones which you shal put in the place of the campe where you shal pitch tentes this night †And Iosue called twelue men whom he had chosen out of the children of Israel one of euerie tribe †and he said to them Goe before the arke of our Lord your God to the middes of Iordan and carrie from thence euerie man a stone on your shoulders according to the number of the children of Israel †that it may be a signe among you and when your children shal aske you to morrow saying What meane these stones †You shal answer them The waters of Iordan decayed before the arke of the couenant of our Lord when it passed ouer the same therfore were these stones sette for a monument of the children of Israel for euer †The children of Israel therfore did as Iosue commanded them carying out of the chanel of Iordan twelue stones as our Lord had commanded him according to the number of the children of Israel vnto the place wherein they camped and there they sette them †Other twelue stones also Iosue put in the middes of the chanel of Iordan where the priestes stoode that caried the arke of the couenant and they be there vntil this present day †But the priestes that caried the arke stoode in the middes of Iordan til al thinges were accomplished which our Lord had commanded Iosue to speake to the people and Moyses had said to him And the people made hast and passed ouer †And when they had al passed ouer the arke also of our Lord passed ouer the priestes also went before the people †The children of Ruben also and Gad and the half tribe of Manasses went armed before the children of Israel as Moyses had commanded them †and fourtie thousand fighting men by troupes and bandes marched through the plaine and champion countrie of the citie of Iericho †In that day our Lord magnified Iosue before al Israel that they should feare him as they had feared Moyses whiles he yet liued †And he said to him †Command the priestes that carie the arke of the couenant that they comme vp out of Iordan †Who commanded them saying Come ye vp out of Iordan †And when they that caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord were come vp and began to treade on the drie ground the waters returned into their chanel and ranne as they were wont before †And the people came vp out of Iordan the tenth day of the first moneth and camped in Galgal against the East side of the citie of Iericho †the twelue stones also which they had taken out of the chanel of Iordan Iosue sette in Galgal †and said to the children of Israel When your children shal aske their fathers to morrow and shal say to them What meane these stones †You shal teach them and say By the drie chanel did Israel passe ouer this Iordan †your Lord God drying the waters therof in your sight vntil you passed ouer †as he had done before in the readsea which he dried til we passed throuh †that al the people of the earth may learne the most strong hand of our Lord that you also may feare our Lord your God CHAP. V. The kinges of Chanaan are sore frighted with the newes of Israels passage ouer Iordan 2. Circumcision is againe commanded and obserued which had bene ommitted in the desert fourtie yeares 10 They make their Pasch 12. Manna ceaseth 13. And an Angel appeareth to Iosue THERFORE after that al the kinges of the Ammorrheites which dwelt beyond Iordan at the west side and al the kinges of Chanaan which possessed the places nigh to the great sea had heard that our Lord had dried the streames of Iordan before the children of Israel til they passed ouer their hart failed and there remained no spirit in them fearing the entring of the children of Israel †At that time our Lord said to Iosue Make thee kniues of stone and circumcise the second time the children of Israel †He did that which our Lord had commanded and he circumcised the children of Israel in the hil of the prepuces †And this is the cause of the second circumcision Al the people that came out of Aegypt of the malekinde al the fighting men died in the desert by
that they were with vs in Carmel †Aske thy seruantes and they wil tel thee Now therefore let thy seruantes finde grace in thyne eies for we are come in a good day whatsoeuer thy hand shal finde geue thy seruantes and thy sonne Dauid †And when Dauids seruantes were come they spoke to Nabal al these wordes in Dauids name and so held their peace †But Nabal answering the seruantes of Dauid said Who is Dauid and what is the sonne of Isai There are seruantes multiplied now a daies which flee from their masters †Shal I then take my breades and my waters and the flesh of my cattel which I haue killed for my sheares and geue to men whom I know nnt whence they are †Therefore the seruantes of Dauid returned by their way and returning came and told him al the wordes that he had said †Then sayd Dauid to his seruantes Euery man gird him with his sworde And they were euery one girded with their swordes And Dauid also was girded with his sworde and there folowed Dauid about foure hundred men moreouer two hundred remayned at the baggage †But to Abigail the wife of Nabal one of their seruantes told saying Behold Dauid hath sent messengers from the desert to blesse our maister he disdayned them †these men were good ynough to vs and not trublesome neither did euer any thing perish al the time that we haue couuerst with them in the desert †they were in steed of a wal to vs both in the day and in the night al the dayes that we fed the flockes with them †Wherefore consider thinke what thou hast to doe for malice is accomplished against thy husband and against thy house and he is the sonne of Belial so that no man can speake to him †Abigail therefore made hast and tooke two hundred loaues and two bottels of wine and fiue muttons ready drest and fiue measures of polent and a hundred branches of raysens and two hundred mases of drie figges and laid them vpon asses †and said to her seruantes Goe before me loe I wil folow you at your backe but she told not her husband Nabal †When she therefore had gotten vpon an asse and came downe to the foote of the mountaine Dauid and his men came downe meeting her whom she also mette †And Dauid said In vaine veryly haue I preserued al thinges that were this mans in the desert and there perished nothing of al that perteined to him and he hath rendred me euil for good †These thinges doe God to the enemies of Dauid and these thinges adde he if I shal leaue of al thinges that perteine to him vntil morning any thing pissing against the wal †And when Abigail had seene Dauid she made hast and light from her asse and fel downe before Dauid vpon her face and adored vpon the earth †and fel at his feete and sayd In me my lord be this iniquitie let thy handmayde speake I besech thee in thine eares and heare the wordes of thy seruant †Let not my lord the king I pray thee set his hart vpon this naughtie man Nabal because according to his name he is a foole and follie is with him but I thy handmaide sawe not thy seruantes my lord whom thou didst send †Now therefore my lord our Lord liueth and thy soule liueth who hath stayed thee that thou shouldest not come vnto blood and hath saued thy hand to thee and now be thine enemies as Nabal and they that seeke euil to my lord †Wherefore receiue this benediction which thy handmaide hath brought to thee my lord and geue to thy seruantes that folow thee my lord †Take away the iniquitie of thy handmaide for our Lord making wil make to my lord a faithful house because thou my lord doest fight the battels of our Lord let not malice therefore be found in thee al the dayes of thy life †For if a man shal rise persecuting thee and seeking thy life the life of my lord shal be kept as in the bundel of the liuing with our Lord thy God Moreouer the life of thine enemies shal be whurled and in the violence and whurle of a sling †When our Lord therefore shal doe to thee my lord al good thinges which he hath spoken concerning thee and shal constitute thee prince ouer Israel †this shal not be an occasion of sobbing to thee and a scruple of hart to my lord that thou hast shed innocent blood or thy selfe hast reuenged thy selfe and when our Lord hath bestowed these benefites vpon my lord thou shalt remember thy handmaide †And Dauid sayd to Abigail Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel who hath sent thee this day to meete me and blessed be thy speach †and blessed be thou which hast stayed me to day that I might not goe to blood and reuenge me with myn owne hand †Otherwise our Lord liueth the God of Israel who hath staied me that I should not doe thee any euil vnles thou hadst quickely come to meete me there had not remained to Nabal vntil morning light any pissing against a wal †And Dauid tooke of her hand al thinges which she had brought him and said to her Goe peaceable into thy house behold I haue heard thy voice and haue honoured thy face †And Abigail came to Nabal and behold he had a feast in his house as it were the feast of a king and Nabals hart was pleasant for he was drunke excedingly and she told him not a word little or great vntil morning †But early when Nabal had digested his wine his wife told him these wordes and his hart was dead inwardly and he became as a stone †And when ten dayes had passed our Lord stroke Nabal and he died †Which when Dauid had heard that Nabal was dead he sayd Blessed be our Lord who hath iudged the cause of my reproch at the hand of Nabal and hath kept his seruant from euil and the malice of Nabal hath our Lord rendred vpon his head Dauid therefore sent and spake to Abigail that he might take her to himselfe to wife †And Dauids seruantes came to Abigail into Carmel and spake to her saing Dauid hath sent vs vnto thee to take thee to his wife †Who arising adored flat toward the earth and sayd Loe let thy seruant be as an handmaide to wash the feete of the seruantes of my lord †And Abigail arose and made hast and gatte vpon an asse and fiue wemen went with her waiting maides and folowed the messengers of Dauid and became his wife †Yea and Achinoam also did Dauid take of Iezrahel and both were his wiues †But Saul gaue Michol his daughter Dauids wife to Phalti the sonne of Lais who was of Gallim CHAP. XXVI The Ziphians bewrraying the place Saul besiegeth Dauid 5. who by night goeth where Saul and his men are a sleepe 9. hurteth him
the number of the description of the people to the king and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand strong men that could drawe sword and of Iuda fiue hundred thousand fighting men †But Dauids hart strooke him after the people was numbred and Dauid sayd to our Lord I haue sinned very much in this fact but I pray thee Lord to transferre the iniquitie of thy seruant because I haue done exceding folishly †Dauid therfore arose in the morning and the word of our Lord was made to Gad the prophete and Seer of Dauid saying †Goe and speake to Dauid Thus sayth our Lord Choyse is geuen thee of three thinges choose one of them which thou wilt that I may do it to thee †And when Gad was come to Dauid he told him saying Either famine shal come to thee seuen yeares in thy land or three monethes thou shalt flee thy aduersaries and they shal pursew thee or certes three dayes the pestilence shal be in thy land Now therfore deliberate and see what word I shal answer to him that sent me †And Dauid sayd to Gad I am distressed excedingly but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord for his mercies be manie then into the handes of men †And our Lord sent the pestilence in Israel from morning vnto the time appoynted and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seuentie thousand men †And when the Angel of Our Lord had stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem to destroy it our Lord had pitie vpon the affliction and sayd to the Angel that stroke the people It is sufficient now hold thy hand and the Angel of our Lord was beside the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid sayd to our Lord when he saw the Angel striking the people I am he that haue sinned I haue done wickedly these that are the sheepe what haue they done let thy hand I beseche thee be turned agaynst me and agaynst my fathers house †And Gad came to Dauid in that day and sayd to him Goe vp and build an altar to our Lord in the â—â—oore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid went vp according to the word of Gad which our Lord had coÌ„manded him †And Areuna looking perceiued the king and his seruantes to come towards him †And going forth he adored the king with his face bowing to the earth and sayd What is the cause that my lord the king cometh to his seruant To whom Dauid sayd That I may bye of thee the floore and build an altar to our Lord and the slaughter may cease which rageth among the people †And Areuna sayd to Dauid Let my lord the king take and offer as it pleaseth him thou hast the oxen for holocauste and the wayne and the yokes of the oxen for prouision of wood †Areuna gaue al thinges to the king and Areuna sayd to the king The Lord thy God receiue thy vowe †To whom the king answering sayd Not so as thou wilt but I wil bye it of thee at a price and I wil not offer to our Lord my God holocaustes geuen gratis Dauid therfore bought the floore and the oxen for fiftie sicles of siluer †and Dauid built there an altar to our Lord offered holocaustes and pacifiques and our Lord became merciful to the land and the plague was stayed from Israel THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES VVITH commemoration of king Dauids old age of his appointing a successour and of his death in the first and part of the second chapters this booke conteyneth two other principal partes the former is of king Salomon of his entrance to the kingdom his deuotion wisdom magnificence richesse great familie building of the Temple and other sumptuous palaces of his fal also into luxurie and idolatrie in the rest of the second chapter to the end of the eleuenth The other part sheweth the diuision of the kingdom onlie two tribes remayning to Roboam Salomons sonne with title of king of Iuda and tenne passing to Ieroboam his seruant called king of Israel So folow the seueral reignes of Abias Asa and Iosaphat kinges of Iuda and of Madab Baasa Ela Zambri Amri Achab with Iezabel and Ochosias kinges of Israel with the preaching miracles and other actes of Abias Elias Eliseus and other prophetes in the other eleuen chapters THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE FIRST OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. King Dauid waxing old Abisag a Sunamite is brought to him 5. Adonias pretending to reigne 11. Nathan and Bethâ—abee obtaine 28. that Salomon is declared and annointed King 41. VVherupon Adonias his folowers parting to their houses 50. fleeth to the altar in the tabernacle but vpon promise of safeâ—â—â— doth homage to Salomon AND king Dauid was old and had manie daies of age and when he was couered with clothes he was not warmed †His seruantes therfore sayd to him Let vs seeke for our lord the king a yong woman a virgin and let her stand before the king and cherishe him and sleepe in his bosome and warme our lord the king †They sought therfore a beautiful yong woman in al the costes of Israel and they found Abisag a Sunamite and brought her to the king †And the damsel was exceding beautiful and she slept with the king and serued him but the king did not know her †And Adonias the sonne of Haggith was eleuated saying I wil reigne And he made him self chariotes and horsemen and fiftie men that should runne before him †Neither did his father controwle him at any time saying Why didst thou this And he also was very beautiful the second borne after Absalom †And he had talke with Ioab the sonne of Saruia with Abiathar the priest who furthered Adonias side †But Sadoc the priest and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Nathan the prophet and Semei and Rei and the strength of Dauids armie was not with Adonias †Adonias therfore hauing immolated rammes and calues and al satte beastes beside the Stone zoheleth which was nigh to the Fountaine Rogel called al his brethren the sonnes of the king and al the men of Iuda the seruantes of the king †But Nathan the prophet and Banaias and al the strong ones and Salomon his brother he called not †Nathan therfore sayd to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon Hast thou not heard that Adonias the sonne of Haggith hath reigned and our lord Dauid is ignorant therof †Now therfore come take counsel of me and saue thy life and thy sonne Salomons †Goe and enter in to king Dauid and say to him Didst not thou my lord king sweare to me thy handmayd saying Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me and he shal sitte in my throne Why then reigneth Adonias †And whiles thou art yet speaking there with the king I wil come after thee and make vp thy wordes â€
which now doe burne frankencense on thee and he shal burne mens bones vpon thee †And he gaue a signe in that day saying This shal be the signe that our Lord hath spoken Behold the altar shal be clouen and the ashes shal be powred out in it †And when the king had heard the word of the man of God which he cried out against the altar in Bethel he stretched forth his hand from the altar saying Take him And his hand withered which he stretched forth agaynst him neither was he able to draw it backe vnto him †The altar also was clouen and the ashes were powred out of the altar according to the signe which the man of God had told before in the word of our Lord. †And the king said to the man of God Besech the face of our Lord thy God and pray for me that my hand may be restored me And the man of God besought the face of our Lord and the kinges hand was restored to him and it became as it was before †And the king spake to the man of God Come home with me that thou mayst dyne and I wil geue the giftes †And the man of God answered the king If thou wouldest geue me the halfe part of thy house I wil not come with thee nor eate bread nor drinke water in this place †for so was it enioyned in the word of our Lord cōmanding Thou shalt not eate bread nor drinke water nor returne by the way that thou camest †He departed therfore by an other way and returned not by the way that the came into Bethel †And a certaine prophete being old dwelt in Bethel to whom his sonnes came and told him al the workes that the man of God had done that day in Bethel and the wordes which he had spoken to the king they told their father †And their father sayd to them What way went he His sonnes she wed him the way by which the man of God was gone which came out of Iuda †And he said to his sonnes Sadle me and asse Who when they had sadled it he got vp †and went after the man of God and found him sitting vnder a rerebinth and he said to him Art thou the man of God that camest out of Iuda He answered I am he †And he sayd to him Come home with me that thou mayst eate bread †Who sayd I can not returue nor come with thee neither will eate bread nor drinke water in this place †because our Lord spake to me in the word of our Lord saying Thou shalt not eate bread and thou shalt not drinke water there nor returne by the way thou wentest †Who sayd to him I also am a prophet like to thee and an Angel hath spoken to me in the word of our Lord saying Bring him backe with thee into thy house that he may eate bread and drinke water He deceiued him †and brought him backe with him he did eate therfore bread in his house and drunke water †And when they sate at the table the word of our Lord came to the prophete that brought him backe †And he cried out to the man of God which came out of Iuda saying Thus sayth our Lord Because thou hast not beene obedient to the mouth of our Lord and hast not kept the commandment which our Lord thy God commanded thee †and hast returned and eaten bread drunke water in the place wherin he commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate bread nor drinke water thy dead bodie shal not be brought into the sepulchre of thy fathers †And when he had eaten drunke he sadled his asse for the prophet whom he brought backe †Who when he was gone a lion found him in the way and killed him and his bodie was cast forth in the way and the asse stood by him and the lion stood by the dead bodie †And behold men passing by saw the dead bodie cast in the way and the lion standing beside the bodie And they came and diuulged it in the citie wherein that old prophet dwelt †Which when that prophet heard which had brought him backe out of the way he sayd It is the man of God that was disobedient to the mouth of our Lord and our Lord hath deliuered him to the lion he hath torne him and killed him according to the word of our Lord that he spake to him †And he sayd to hie sonnes Sadle me an asse Who when they had sadled †and he was gone he found his dead bodie cast forth in the way and the asse and the lion standing by the corse the lion did not eate of the dead bodie nor hurt the asse †The prophet therfore tooke the corse of the man of God and layd it vpon the asse and returning brought it into the citie of the old prophete that they might mourne for him †And he layd his corse in his owne sepulchre and they mourned for him Alas alas my brother †And when they had mourned for him he savd to his sonnes When I shal be dead burie me in the sepulchre wherein the man of Ged is buried beside his bones lay my bones †For assuredly the word shal come to passe which he hath foretold in the word of our Lord agaynst the altar that is in Bethel and agaynst al the temples of the excelses that are in the cities of Samaria †After these wordes Ieroboam returned not from his wicked way but on the contrarie part he made of the most abiect of the people priestes of the excelses Whosoeuer would he filled his hand and he was made a priest of the excelses †And for this cause did the house of Ieroboam sinne and was ouerthrowen and destroyed from the face of the earth CHAP. XIIII Ahias the prophet forsheweth the ruine of Hieroboams famili 12. namely the death of his sonne for whom being sick the mother consulteth the prophet 20. Hieroboam dieth and his sonne Nadab reigneth 21. Some also of the people of Iuda committing idolatrie and other sinnes 25. the King of Aegypt inuadeth and sacketh Hierusalem 31. Roboam dieth and his sonne Abias reigneth AT that time Abia the sonne of Ieroboam was sicke †And Ieroboam sayd to his wife Arise and change thy habite that thou be not knowen to be the wife of Ieroboam and goe into Silo where Ahias the prophete is which spake to me that I should reigne ouer this people †Take also in thy hand ten loaues and crackneles and a vessel of honic and goe to him for he wil shew thee what shal happen to this childe †The wife of Ieroboam did as he had spoken and rising vp went into Silo and came into the house of Ahias but he could not see because his eies were dimme for age †And our Lord sayd to Ahias Behold the wife of Ieroboam cometh in to consult thee concerning her sonne that is
our Lord and put them in his temple †But the rest of the wordes of Ioakim and of his abominations which he wrought and the thinges that were found in him are contayned in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him †Eight yeares old was Ioachin when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. †And when the compasse of a yeare was come about Nabuchodonosor the king sent some that brought him in to Babylon the most precious vessels of the house of our Lord being caried away withal But he made Sedecias his vncle king ouer Iuda and Ierusalem †One twentie yeares old was Sedecias when he began to reigne he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem †And he did euil in the eies of our Lord his God neither did he reuerence the face of Ieremie the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of our Lord †He reuolted also from king Nabuchodonosor who had adiured him by God he hardened his necke his hart that he would not returne to our Lord the God of Israel †Yea al the chiefe of the Priestes and the people transgresled vnlawfully according to al the abominations of the Gentiles and they polluted the house of our Lord which he had sanctified to him in Ierusalem †And our Lord the God of their fathers sent to them by the hand of his messengers rysing by night and daily admonishing them for that he spared his people and his habitation †But they mocked the messengers of God and litle estemed his wordes and scorned the prophetes vntil the furie of our Lord ascended vpon his people and there was no amendment †For he brought vpon them the king of the Chaldees and slewe their yong men with the sword in the house of his sanctuarie he pitied not yong man and virgin and old man no neither him that stouped for age but he deliuered al into his handes †And al the vessels of the house of our Lord as wel greater as lesser and the treasures of the temple and of the king and the princes he transported into Babylon †The enemies set fyre on the house of God and destroyed the wal of Ierusalem al the towres they burnt and what soeuer was pretious they destroyed †If anie man escaped the sword being led into Babylon he serued the king and his sonnes til the king of the Persians reigned †That the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accomplished and the land might celebrate their Sabbathes for al the daies of the desolation she kept a Sabbath til the seuentie yeares were expyred †But in the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persians to fulfil the word of our Lord which he had spoken by the mouth of Ieremie our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians who commanded to be proclaymed in al his kingdom yea by writing saying †Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians Al kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me and he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iewrie who of you is there in al his people The Lord his God be with him and let him goe vp THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE FIFTH AGE From the fundation of the Temple to the captiuitie in Babylon The space of 430. yeares ALBEIT there were greater Schismes Heresies and more reuoltes from Gods law and seruice in this fifth age then in the former Yet the true Church and Religion continued stil and were no lesse conspicuous then before VVhich being clere and euident touching manie principal Articles we wil here only remitte the reader to some special places for confirmation therof neither wil we be prolixe in declaring other pointes denied or called into controuersie at this time by the impugners of Catholique Religion Beleefe in one God appeareth plainly in building adorning dedicating the Temple with so great solemnitie of the Priestes Leuites and al the Tribes and particularly by king Salomons prayer 3. Reg. 7. 8. 2. Paral. 2. c. Also Prouerb 8. Eccle. 12. Isaie 41. 44. 45. The Mysterie of the B. Trinitie Prouer. 12. Isaiae 6. 48. 49. Ose 11. Ioel. 2. Of Christ our Redemer Isaie 7. 8. 9. 11. 28. 53. Ierem. 23. 30. 33. Ezech. 17. 34. 37. Dan. 7. 9. Osee 6. 11. 14. Ioel. 2. Sophon 2. Aggoei 2. Zachar. 2. c. Sacrifices Sacramentes other Rites the same as before But more frequent Prophecies that they should be changed into better and perfecter by Christ Prou. 9. Isai 12. 52. 55. 61. In the meane time for more signification of the singular vertue of Christs Sacramentes the effect of penitential workes is often recorded For example wicked Achab by hairecloth fasting and other humiliation escaped part of his deserued punishment 3. Reg. 21. Manasses recouered Gods fauoure and his temporal kingdom 2. Par. 33. VVho yet was punished in his posteritie 4. Reg. 23. And the Niniuites by such penance auoided destruction Ione 3. Yea nothing is more frequent in the Prophetes then preaching of penance Isa 1. 2. 3. 30. Iere. 3. 18. c. and others al ascribing the cause of plagues and afflictions to the want of repentance And false Prophetes condemned of errour and false doctrine for promising the people peace and securitie in their sinnes Ierem. 14. Lamen 2. Besides abstinence from diuers sortes of meates counted vncleane Isaiae 66. and ordinarie fastes according to the law other fastes were appointed sometimes vpon occasions requiring not only to subdue and mortifie the flesh but also to obtaine mercie at Gods handes in special distresses 2. Par. 20. Ioel. 1. 2. Ione 3. Elias fasting fourtie dayes 3. Reg. 19. prefigured Christs fast VVhich the Church imitateth in Lent of fourtie daies according to humane habilitie for the fastes of Christ Elias and Moyses were miraculous To the Feastes instituted before was added the Dedication of the Temple 3. Reg. 7. 2 Par. 3. Which was built in Mount Moria 2. Par. 3. the special place designed long before for this purpose when Abraham was directed thither by God was there readie to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. where Dauid also offered sacrifice 2. Reg. 24. 1. Par. 21. This being the onlie ordinarie place for Sacrifice there were for other vses of daylie prayer reading preaching and hearing the word of God other Synagogues built as it were Parish churches in great number in Ierusalem it self foure hundred and foure score and manie more in the whole kingdom as the Hebrew Traditions testifie Of al which places especially of the Temple there was venerable respect had For which cause when Ioiada the High Priest gaue order to kil Athalia he suffered it not to be donne in
when their mightie ones shal be taken then shal he with them be strooken through with the sword †that euerie nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is God of the earth and besides him there is none other CHAP. VI. Holofernes in great rage sendeth Achior to Bethulia that he may there be slaine with the Israelites 8. He is leift bound to a tree 10. from whence the Israelites taking him he telleth them the cause 14. They entertaine him courteously and earnestly pray to God for helpe AND it came to passe when they had ceased to speake Holofernes being sore offended said to Achior †Because thou hast prophecied vnto vs saying that the nation of Israel is defended of their God that I may sheu thee that there is no God but Nabuchodonosor †when we shal haue strookē them al as one man then thy self with them shalt die by the sword of the Assyrians and al Israel with thee shal perish by destruction †and thou shalt proue that Nabuchodonosor is lord of the whole earth and then the sword of my warfare shal passe through thy sides pearsed thou shalt fal among the wounded of Israel and thou shalt no more fetch breath til thou be destroyed with them †But if thou thinke thy prophecie true let not thy countenance quaile and the palenesse that is in thy face let it depart from thee if thou thinke these my wordes can not be accomplished †And that thou mayst know that thou shalt proue these thinges together with them behold from this houre thou shalt be associate to their people that whiles they shal receiue worthie punishment of my sword thou withal may be subiect to the vengeance †Then Holofernes commanded his seruantes that they should take Achior and lead him into Bethula and should deliuer him into the handes of the children of Israel †And the seruantes of Holofernes taking him went through the champaine but when they came neere the mountaynes the slingers came forth against them †And they turning out of the way by the side of the mountayne tyed Achior to a tree hand and foote and so left him bound with withes and returned to their lord †Moreouer the children of Israel descending from Bethulia came to him Whom loosnig they brought to Bethulia and setting him in the middes of the people demanded what was the matter that the Assyrians had left him bound †In those dayes the princes there were Ozias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of Simeon and Charmi who also is Gothoniel †In the middes therefore of the ancientes and in the sight of al Achior told al thinges that he had spoken being asked of Holofernes and how the people of Holofernes would haue killed him for this word †and how Holofernes him selfe being angrie cōmanded him to be deliuered for this cause to the Israelites that when he should ouercome the children of Israel then he might command Achior also himself to die by diuerse tormentes for this that he had said The God of heauen is their defender †And when Achior had declared al these thinges al the people fel on their face adoring our Lord and with common lamentation and weeping they powred out their prayers with one accord to our Lord †saying Lord God of heauen and earth behold their pride and haue regard to our humilitie and attend the face of thy sainctes and shew that thou forsakest not them that presumeof thee and that thow humblest them that presume of them selues and glorie of their power †Their weeping therfore being ended the peoples prayer by the whole day being finished they comforted Achior †saying The God of our fathers whose power thou hast set forth he wil geue thee this recompence that thou rather shalt see their destruction †And when the Lord out God shal geue this libertie to his seruantes be God with thee also in the middes of vs that as it shal please thee so thou with al thine mayst conuerse with vs. †Then Ozias the counsel being ended receiued him into his house and made him a greate supper †And al the ancientes being called they refreshed them selues together after the fasting was ended †But afterwarde al the people was called together and al the night long within the church they prayed desiring helpe of the God of Israel CHAP. VII Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia 6. cutteth their conduite of water 9. kepeth their fountaines 12. the people murmure and mutenie 18. yet they pray to God 23. and the high priest determineth if aide come not within fiue dayes to deliuer the citie to the Assyrians BVT Holofernes the next day commanded his armies that they should goe vp against Bethulia †And there were of warre foote men an hundred twentie thousand and horse men two and twentie thousand besides the preparations of those men whom the captiuitie had taken and had beene led away out of the prouinces and cities of al youth †Al prepared them selues together to the fight agaynst the children of Israel and they came by the hil side vnto the toppe which looketh toward Dothaim from the place which is called Belma vnto Chelmon which is against Esdrelon †But the children of Israel as they saw the multitude of them laid them selues prostrate vpon the earth casting ashes vpon their heades praying with one accord that the God of Israel would shew his mercie vpon his people †And taking their weapons of warre they sate at the places which by a narrow path way lead directly betwen the mountaynes and they were keping them al day and night †Moreouer Holofernes whiles he compasseth round about found that the foūtayne which ranne in went directly to their conduite on the south side without the citie and he commanded their conduite to be cut asunder †Neuerthelesse there were fountaynes not far from the walles out of which secretly they semed to draw water to refresh them selues rather then to drinke †But the children of Ammon Moab came to Holofernes saying The children of Israel trust not in speare nor in arrow but the mountaynes defend them the hilles standing meruelous stipe gard them †Therfore that thou mayst ouercome them without ioyning battel set kepers of the fountaynes that they may not draw water of them and without sword thou shalt kil them or at the least being wearied they wil yeld their citie which they thinck being set in the mountaynes can not be ouercome †And these wordes pleased Holofernes and his souldiars and he placed round about an hundred men at euerie fountayne †And when that watch had beene fully kept for twentie dayes the cesternes fayled and the collections of waters to al the inhabitantes of Bethulia so that there was not within the citie wherof they might be satisfied no not for one day because water was dayly geuen to the people by measure †Then al the men and wemen yong men and children being gathered
can not possesse them †There remayned not of his meate therfore nothing shal continewe of his goodes †When he shal be filled he shal be straytened he shal burne and al sorow shal fal vpon him †Would God his belly were filled that he may send forth the wrath of his furie vpon him and rayne his battel vpon him †He shal flee wepons of yron and shal fal vpon a bowe of brasse †The sword plucked out and coming forth of his scabbard and glistering in his bitternesse the horrible shal goe and come vpon him †Al darkenesse is hid in his secretes fyre that is not kindled shal deuoure him he shal be afflicted leaft in his tabernacle †The heauens shal reuele his iniquitie and the earth shal rise against him †The blossome of his house shal be opened â—e shal be plucked downe in the day of Gods furie †This the portion of an impions man from God the inheritance of his wordes from our Lord. CHAP. XXI Iob requiring his freindes to heare him 7. discourseth of the cause why some euil men prosper al this life BVT Iob answering sayd †Heare I besech you my wordes and doe penance †Beare with me that I also may speake and after my wordes if it shal seme good laugh ye †Is my disputation agaynst man that I ought not worthely to be sorie †Harken to me and be astonied and put the finger vpon your mouth †And I when I shal remember am afrayd and trembling shaketh my flesh †Why then doe the impious liue are they aduanced and strengthened with riches †Their seede contineweth before them a multitude of kinsemen and of nephewes in their sight †Their houses be secure and peaceable the rod of God is not vpon them †Their bullock hath conceiued and hath not made abortion their cow hath calued and is not depriued of her calfe †Their litle ones goe forth as flockes and their infantes reioyse with pastimes †They hold the timbrel the harpe reioyse at the sound of the organe †They lead their daies in wealth and in a moment they goe downe to hel †Who sayd to God depart from vs we wil not the knowlege of thy waies †Who is the Omnipotent that we should serue him and what doth it profite vs if we shal pray him †But yeâ— because their good things are not in their hand be the counsel of the impious far from me †How often shal the candel of the impious be extinguished and inundation come vpon them and shal he deuide the sorowes of his furie †They shal be as chaffe before the face of the winde and as ashes which the whirlewinde scattereth †God shal reserue the sorow of the father to his children and when he shal haue rendred it then shal he know †His eies shal see his owne slaughter and he shal drincke the surie of the Omnipotent †For what doeth it pertayne to him concerning his house after him although the number of his monethes be diminished the halfe †Shal anie man teach God knowledge who iudgeth the high ones †This man dieth strong and in health rich and happie †His vowels be ful of fatte and his bones be embrewed with marrow †But an other dieth in bitternesse of soule without anie riches †And yet they shal sleepe together in the dust and wormes shal couer them †Surely I know your cogitations and vniust sentences agaynst me †For you say Where is the house of the prince and where are the tabernacles of the impious †Aske anie of the wayfaring men and you shal vnderstand that he knoweth these self same thinges †Because the euil man is kept vnto the day of perdition and he shal be led to the day of furie †Who shal reproue his way before him and who shal repay him the thinges that he hath done †He shal be brought to the graues and shal watch in the heade of the dead †He hath beene sweete to the grauel of Cocytus after him he shal drawe euerie man and before him innumerable †How therfore doe ye comforth me in vayne whereas your answer is shewed to be repugnant to the truth CHAP. XXII Eliphaz contendeth that God is not pleased with a iust mans afflictions 5. falsly imputeth enormious crimes to holie Iob 12. and grosse errors 21. wisheth him therfore to repent that so he may prosper BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering sayd †Can man be compared with God yea though he be of perfect knowlege †What doth it profite God if thou be iust or what doest thou aduantage him if thy way be vnspotted †Shal he be afrayde to reproue thee and come with thee into iudgement †And not for thy very great malice and thine infinite iniquities †For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause and the naked thou hast spoyled of clothes †Water to the wearie thou hast not geuen and from the hungrie thou hast withdrawen bread †In the strength of thine arme thou didst possesse the earth and being the mightiest thou didst obteyne it †Widowes thou hast sent away emptie and the armes of pupilles thou hast broken in peeces †Therfore art thou compassed with snares and soden feare trubleth thee †And thoughtest thou that thou shouldest not see darkenes and that thou shouldest not be oppressed with the violence of ouerflowing waters †Doest thou not thinke that God is higher then heauen is exalted aboue the toppe of the starres †And thou sayest For what knoweth God and he iudgeth as it were by a mist †The cloudes are his couert neither doth he consider our thinges and he walketh about the poles of heauen †Doest thou couet ro keepe the path of worldes which wicked men haue troden †Who were taken away before their time and a floud hath euerthrowen their foundation †Who sayd to God Depart from vs and as though the Omnipotent could do nothing they estemed him †Whereas he had filled their houses with good things whose sentence be far from me †The iust shal see and shal reioyse and the innocent man shal skorne them †Is not their exaltation cut downe and hath not fire deâ—oured the remnantes of them †Agree thou therfore to him and haue peace and by these thinges thou shalt haue the best fruites †Receiue the law of his mouth and put his wordes in thy hart †If thou wilt returne to the Omnipotent thou shalt be builded vp and shalt make iniquitie far from thy tabernacle †He shal geue for earth flint and for flint torrentes of gold †And the Omnipotent shal be agaynst thine enemies siluer shal be heaped together vnto thee †Then shalt thou a bound in delightes vpon the Omnipoten and shalt lift vp thy face to God †Thou shalt aske him and he wil heare thee and thou
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
and al truthes and so returne vpon him al vanitie and lying wherwith he allureth seduceth Finally to sinne it selfe we owe hate and reuenge because it is the only euil that hurteth vs and due punishment with zele of iustice because it dishonoreth God He that thus offereth sacrifice of iustice may instly as it foloweth in the Psalme hope yet not in him selfe but in our Lord. And lest anie should pretend ignorance saying vvho shevveth or teacheth vs good thinges as though they lacked instruction the Prophete preuenteth this vaine excuse saying The light of thy countenance o Lord the light of reason which is the image of God wherto we are created like is signed vpon vs fixed in our vnderstanding that we may see there is a God that ought to be serued and that he wil revvard his seruants Heb. 11. PSALME V. Iust men in affliction appeale to God the reuenger of iniuries 5. knowing and prosessing that God hateth iniquity 9. therfore remitte their cause to him 11. recite certaine enormious vices of the wicked 13. and expect Gods final iudgement of the good and bad †Vnto the end for her that obtaineth the inheritance The Psalme of Dauid RECEIVE ô Lord my wordes with thine eares vnderstand my crie †Attend to the voice of my prayer my king and my God †Because I wil pray to thee Lord in the morning thou wilt heare my voice †In the morning I wil stand by thee and wil see because thou art “ not a God that wilt iniquitie †Neither shal the malignant dwel neere thee neither shal the vniust abide before thine eies †Thou hatest al that worke iniquitie thou wilt destroy al that speake lie †The bloudie and deceitful man our Lord wil abhorre †But I in the multitude of thy mercy I wil enter into thy house I wil adore toward thy holie temple in thy feare Lord conduct me in thy iustice because of mine enimies direct my way in thy sight †Because there is no truth in their mouth their hart is vayne †Their throte is an open sepulchre they did deceitfully with their tongues iudge them o God †Let them faile of their cogitations according to the multitude of their impieties expel them because they haue prouoked thee ô Lord. †And let al be glad that hope in thee they shal reioyce for euer and thou shalt dwel in them And al that loue thy name shal glorie in thee because thou wilt blesse the iust †Lord as with a shield of thy good wil thou hast crowned vs. ANNOTATIONS PSALME V. 5. Not a God that vvilt iniquitie Seing God vvil not iniquitie as these wordes testifie in plaine termes it foloweth necessarily that he is not author nor cause of anie sinne For God doth nothing contrarie to his owne wil. But he hateth iniquitie and in respect therof hateth al that vvorke iniquities as the authours of iniquity though he loueth them as his creatures and of his part requireth their saluation PSALME VI. Dauids earnest and hartie praier after he had grieuously sinned 5. which being grounded in filial not seruil feare 9. concludeth with assured hope and confidence in Gods mercie †Vnto the end in songs the Psalme of Dauid for the octaue LORD rebuke me not in “ thy furie nor chastise me in “ thy wrath Haue mercie on me Lord because I am weake heale me Lord because al my bones be trubled †And my soule is trubled exceedingly but thou Lord how long †Turne thee o Lord and deliuer my soule saue me for thy mercie †Because there is not in death that is mindful of thee and in hel who shal confesse to thee †I haue labored in my sighing I wil euerie night was he my bed I wil water my couche with my teares †My eye is trubled for furie I haue waxen old among al myne enemies †Depart from me al ye that worke iniquitie because our Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping †Our Lord hath heard my petition our Lord hath receiued my prayer †Let al myne enemies be ashamed very sore trubled let them be conuerted and asha med very quicly ANNOTATIONS PSALME VI. 1. For the octaue Literally it semeth that the Psalmes which haue For the octaue in their titles were to be song on an instrument of eight stringes So the Caldee paraphasis translateth In eitheris octo chordarum in Citherus of eight stringes But prophetically S. Augustin others expound it to perteine to the Resurrection in the end of this world So Dauid and al penitent sinners bewaile their sinnes and do penance in this life for the octaue that is for the world to come 1. In thy fury nor in thy vvrath By furie is signified diuine iustice irreuocably condemning the wicked to eternal damnation by vvrath Gods fatherlie chasticement correcting sinners whom he saueth VVherupon S. Gregorie teacheth that the faithful soule not only feareth furie but also wrath because after the death of the flesh some are deputed to eternal torments some passe to life through the fire of purgation VVhich doctrine the same holy father confirmeth by the iudgement of S Augustin more ancient VVho likewise affirmeth that al those which haue not laide Christ their fundation are rebuked in furie because they are tormented in eternal fire and those which vpon right fundation of true faith in Christ haue built vvood hay stubble are chastised in wrath because they are brought to rest of beatitude but purged by fire Let therfore the faithful soule considering what she hath donne and contemplating what she shal receiue say Lord rebuke me not in thy furie nor chastice me in thy vvrath As if she said more plainly This only with my whole intention of hart I craue this incessantly with al my desires I couete that in the dreadful iudgement thou neither strike me with the reprobate nor afflict me with those that shal be purged in barning flames Thus S. Gregorie in 1. Psalm penitent v. 1. PSALME VII Dauid in confidence of his iust cause and vniust persecution prayeth for Gods helpe 7. and iust reuenge of his enemies 15. describing their malitious intention and ruine The Psalme of Dauid which he song to our Lord for the wordes of Chusi the sonne of Iemini 2. Reg. 16. †O Lord my God I haue hoped in thee saue me from al that persecute me and deliuer me †Lest sometime he as a Lyon violently take my soule whiles there is none to redeme nor to saue O Lord my God if I haue done this if there be iniquitie in my handes If I haue rendred to them that repayd me euils let me worthely fal emptie from myne enemies
Idumea †Wil t not thou ô God which hast repelled vs and wilt not thou goeforth ô God in our hoastes †Geue vs helpe out of tribulation because mans saluation is vayne †In God we shal doe strength and he wil bring our enemies to nothing PSALME CVIII Christ by the mouth of Dauid requesteth of God to be iustly declared innocent and his enimies punished 6. particularly describing Iudas the traitors malice 21. and his owne temporal afflictions 26. prayeth 30. and praiseth God for his deliuerie †Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid O God conceale not my prayse because the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful man is open vpon me †They haue spoken against me with deceitful tongue and with wordes of hatred they haue compassed me and they haue impugned me without cause †For that they should loue me they backbited me but I prayed †And they set against me euil thinges for good and hatred for my loue Appoint a sinner ouer him and let the diuel stand on his righthand †When he is iudged let him comeforth condemned and let his prayer be turned into sinne †Let his dayes be made fewe and let an other take his bishopricke †Let his children be made orphans and his wife a widow †Let his children be transported wandering and let them begge and let them be cast out of their habitations †Let the vsurer search al his substance and let strangers spoile his labours †Let there be none to helpe him neither let there be anie to haue pittie on his pupilles †Let his children come to destruction in one generation let his name be cleane put out †Let the iniquitie of his fathers returne to memorie in the sight of our Lord and let not the sinne of his mother be blotted out †Let them be before our Lord alwayes and let the memorie of them perish out of the earth †For that he remembred not to doe mercie †And he persecuted the poore and needie man and the compunct in hart to kil him †And he loued cursing and it shal come to him and he would not blessing and it shal be far from him And he put on cursing as a garment and it entred as water into his inner partes and as oile in his bones †Be it to him as a garment wherwith he is couered and as a girdle wherwith he is alwayes girded †This is the worke of them that detract from me before our Lord and that speake euils against my soule †And thou Lord Lord doe with me for thy names sake because thy mercie is swete Deliuer me †because I am needie and poore and my hart is trubled within me †As a shadow when it declineth am I taken away and I am shaken as locustes †My knees are weakened with fasting and my flesh is changed by reason of oile †And I am made a reproch to them they saw me and wagged their heades †Helpe me ô Lord my God saue me according to thy mercie †And let them know that this is thy hand and thou ô Lord hast done it †They wil curse and thou shalt blesse let them that rise vp against me be confounded but thy seruant shal reioyce †Let them that detract from me be clothed with shame and let them be couered with their confusion as with a duble patched cloke †I wil confesse to our Lord excedingly with my mouth and in the middes of manie I wil prayse him †Because he hath stood on the righthand of the poore that he might saue my soule from the persecutors PSALME CIX Christ rising and ascending into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God 2. beginning in Ierusalem reigneth in the Church of the whole earth 4. vseth the Priesthood of Melchisedechs order to the end of the world 6. and shal iudge the world †A psalme of Dauid OVR Lord sayd to my Lord Sitte on my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole of thy feete †Our Lord wil sendforth the rod of thy strength from Sion rule thou in the middes of thine enemies †With thee the beginning in the day of thy strength in the brightnes of holie thinges from the wombe before the day starre I begat thee †Our Lord sware and it shal not repent him Thou art “ a Priest for euer “ according to the order of Melchisedech †Our Lord on thy righthand hath broken kinges in the day of his wrath †He shal iudge in nations he shal fil ruines he shal crush the heads in the land of manie †Of the torrent in the way he shal drinke therfore shal he exalt the head ANNOTATIONS CIX 4. A Priest for euer In two respectes Christ is a Priest for euer in that from the first instant of his incarnation he was and remaneth a Priest now also in heauen and al other Priestes are his ministerial vicares not successors So that al priestlie functions which they doe he by them doth the same as the principal Priest VVherupon saith S. Paul 1. Cor 4. So let a man thincke of vs as of the ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God Secondly Christ dayly offering Sacrifice by the handes of his Priestes doth continually pacifie Gods wrath in behalf of those sinners for whom it is duly applied euen to the end of the world VVheras the Priesthood of Aaron and of al others in the old Testament ceassed by their deathes both in the office and in the effect 4 According to the order of Melchisedech As Melchisedech king of peace and iustice without father mother or genealogie expressed in holie Scriptures or otherwise knowen to the world was Priest or the Hieghest offered bread and wine an vnbloudie sacrifice communicating with both Chananeites and Hebrewes blessed Abraham and tooke tithes of him and his subiectes so Christ the true King of peace iustice without father of his humanity without mother of his Diuinitie the Sonne of God of ineffable genealogie borne of a virgin in his humanitie the Priest of God offereth Sacrifice not only bloudie on the Crosse but also vnbloudie in the formes of bread and wine continueth the same by the ministerie of other Priestes maketh al nations partakers therof blesseth them and receiueth of them al dutiful and rellgious seruice as of his subiectes PSALME CX Praise of God for benefites 4. especially for the B. Sacrament of the Eucharist 6 with other graces imperted to the Catholique Church Alleluia I Wil confesse to thee ô Lord with al my hart in the counsel of the iust and b the congregation †The workes of our Lord are great exquisite according to al his willes †Confession and magnificence his worke
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 â—â—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
is time to doe ô Lord they haue dissipated thy law †Therfore haue I loued thy commandementes aboue gold and topazius †Therfore was I directed to al thy commandements al wicked way I haue hated Phe. Mouth †Thy testimonies are meruelous therfore hath my soule searched them †The declaration of thy wordes doth illuminate and geueth vnderstanding to litle ones †I opened my mouth and drew breath because I desired thy commandments †Looke vpon me and haue mercie on me according to the iudgement of them that loue thy name †Direct my steppes according to thy Word and let not anie iniustice haue domination ouer me †Redeme me from the calumnies of men that I may kepe thy commondmentes †Illuminate thy face vpon thy seruant and teach me thy iustifications †Mine eies haue gushed forth issues of waters because they haue not kept thy law Sade Iustice †Thou art iust ô Lord and thy iudgement is right †Thou hast commanded iustice thy testimonies and thy veritie excedingly †My Zele hath made me to pine away because mine enimies haue forgotten thy wordes †Thy word is fired excedingly and thy seruant hath loued it †I am a yongman and contemned I haue not forgotten thy iustifications †Thy iustice is iustice for euer and thy law is veritie †Tribulation and distresse haue found me thy commandments are my meditation †Thy testimonies are equitie for euer geue me vnderstanding and I shal liue Coph Vocation †I haue cried in my whole hart heare me ô Lord I wil seeke after thy iustifications †I haue cried to thee saue me that I may keepe thy commandmentes †I haue preuented in maturitie and haue cried because I hoped much in thy wordes †Minecies haue preuented early vnto thee that I might meditate thy wordes †Heare my voice according to thy mercie ô Lord and according to thy iudgement quicken me †They that persecute me haue approched to iniquitie but from thy law they are made far of †Thou art nigh ô Lord and al thy wayes are truth †From the beginning I knewe of thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for euer †See my humiliation and deliuer me because I haue not forgotten thy law †Iudge my iudgement redeme me for thy word quicken thou me †Saluation is far from sinners because they haue not sought after thy iustifications †Thy mercies are manie ô Lord according to thy iudgement quicken me †There are manie that persecute me and afflict me I haue not declined from thy testimonies †I saw the preuaricatours and I pyned away because they kept not thy wordes †See that I haue loued thy commandmentes ô Lord in thy mercie quicken me The beginning of thy wordes is truth al the iudgementes of thy iustice are for euer Sin Tooth †Princes haue persecuted me without cause and my hart hath bene afrayd of thy wordes †I wil reioyce at thy wordes as he that findeth manie spoyles †I haue hated iniquitie and abhorred it but thy law I haue loued ††There is much peace to them that loue thy law there is no scandal to them †I expected thy saluation ô Lord and haue loued thy commandmentes †My soule hath kept thy testimonies and hath loued them excedindgly †I haue kept thy commandmentes and thy testimonies because al my waies are in thy sight Tau Signe †Let my petition approch in thy sight ô Lord according to thy word giue me vnderstanding †Let my request enter in thy sight according to thy word deliuer me †My lippes shal vtter an hymne when thou shalt teach me thy iustifications †My tongue shal pronounce thy word because al thy commandmentes are equitie †Let thy hand be to saue me because I haue chosen thy commandmentes †I haue coneted thy saluation ô Lord and thy law is my meditation †My soule shal liue and shal prayse thee and thy iudgementes shal helpe me †I haue strayed as a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruant because I haue not forgotten thy commandmentes A BRIEFE NOTE CONCERNING the Gradual Psalmes Here folow in order fifetene Psalmes intitled Gradual Canticles The Hebrew word Mahaloâ—h signifieth Steppes or Ascensions The reason wherof Aadias and some other Rabbins veld for that they were songue with hieghest eleuated notes that can be â—â— Musike The Talmud saith they are so called because they were songue in the fifetene steppes going vp into the Temple But S Augustin S. Basil and other Christian Fathers expound them according to the historie and immediate prophetical sense of the deliuerie of the Iewes from captiuitie of Babylon ascending into Ierusalem which is so situated on montaines that the way from al partes was by ascending vnto it According to the Mystical sense of ascending spiritually by vertues to perfection and to eternal felicitie For the way tending to vertue saith S. Basil is like to certaine steppes or degrees by litle and litle bringing the mâ—n that loueth wisdome vnto heauen These Canticles therefore are prayers mixed with consolations for the ioyful deliuerie of Gods people from that great captiuitie in Babylon which the Psalmist King Dauid saw in prophetical spiritie and which his posteritie felt and sometime indured VVhich againe as a figure signifieth thâ—â—eturne and ascending of mankind from sinne to grace and from the miserable state of this world into heauen VVherupon S. Augustin interpreteth this prophecie of the ascension or eleuation of the hart from the vaile of teares In the meane time whiles we are in this world these Psalmes aâ—e consolatorâ—e prayers and prophetical assurance that Gods people Catholique Christian shal be deliuered from thraldom and persecution of Paganes Turkes and Heretikes â—s partly we see by the deliuerie from the Romane persecuting Emperors from the Vandals Gothes and Hunnes therfore with assured confidence we hope and expect the like deliuerie from Turkes and al Heretikes of Luthers broode PSALME CXIX The Iewes in captiuitie of Babylon Christians in persecution or other great tribulation pray with confidence to be deliuered from danger and sclander of wicked tongues 5. lamenting their long indurance A gradual Canticle VVHEN I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord and he heard me †O Lord deliuer my soule from vniust lippes and from a deceiptful tongue †What may be geuen thee or what may be added vnto thee to a deceiptful tongue †The sharpe arrowes of the mightie with coales of desolation †Woe is to me that my seiourning is prolonged I haue dwelte with the inhabitantes of Cedar †My soule hath
yongmen their strength and the dignitie of oldmen a gray head †The blewnesse of the wound shal wipe away euils and stripes in the more secrete place of the bellie CHAP. XXI AS diuisions of waters so the hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord whither soeuer he wil he shal incline it †Euerie way of a man semeth to himself right but our Lord weigheth the hartes †To doe mercie and iudgement doth more please our Lord then victimes †Exaltation of the eies is the dilatation of the hart the lampe of the impious sinne †The cogitations of the strong are alwayes in abundance but euerie sluggard is alwayes in pouertie †He that gathereth treasures with a lying tongue is vaine and witles and shal stumble at the snares of death †The robberies of the impious shal draw them downe because they would not doe iudgement †The peruerse way of a man is strange but he that is cleane his worke is right †It is better to sitte in a corner of the house toppe then with a brawling woman and in a common house †The soule of the impious desireth euil he wil not haue pitie on his neighbour †The pestilent man being punished the litle one wil be wiser and if he folow the wiseman he wil take knowlege †The iust deuiseth concerning the house of the impious that he may draw the impious from euil †He that stoppeth his eare at the crie of the poore himself also shal crie and shal not be heard †A gift hid quencketh angers and a gift in the bosome the greatest indignation †It is a ioy to the iust to doe iudgement and dread to them that worke iniquitie †A man that shal erre from the way of doctrine shal abyde in the assemblie of giantes †He that loueth good cheere shal be in pouertie he that loueth wine and fatte thinges shal not be rich †The impious shal be geuen for the iust and the vniust for the righteous †It is better to dwel in a desert land then with a brawling and angrie woman †Treasure to be desired and oyle in the habitation of the iust and the vnwise man shal dissipate it †He that foloweth iustice and mercie shal finde life iustice and glorie †The wise hath scaled the citie of the strong and hath destroyed the confidence therof †He that kepeth his mouth and his tongue kepeth his soule from distresses †The proude and arrogant is called vnlerned which in anger worketh pride †Desires kil the slothful for his handes would not worke any thing †al the day he longeth and desireth but he that is iust wil geue and wil not cease †The hostes of the impious abominable because they are offered of wickednes †A lying witnes shal perish an obedient man shal speake victorie †The impious man malepertly hardeneth his countenauce but he that is righteous correcteth his way †There is no wisdom there is no prudence there is no counsel against our Lord. †The horse is prepared to the day of battel but our Lord geueth saluation CHAP. XXII BEtter is a good name then much riches aboue siluer and gold good grace †The rich and poore haue mette one an other our Lord is the maker of both †The subtel saw euil and hyd himself the innocent passed by and was afflicted with damage †The end of modestie the feare of our Lord riches and glorie and life †Armour and swordes in the way of the peruerse but the keper of his owne soule departeth far from them †It is a prouerbe A yongman according to his way when he is old wil not depart from it †The richman ruleth ouer the poore and he that boroweth is the seruant of him that lendeth †He that soweth iniquitie shal reape euils and with the rod of his wrath he shal be consumed †He that is prone to mercie shal be blessed for of his breades he hath geuen to the poore He that geueth giftes shal purchase victorie and honour but he that receiueth taketh away the soule of the geuer †Cast out the scorner and brawling shal goe forth with him and cause shal cease and contumelies †He that loueth cleanes of hart for the grace of his lippes shal haue the king his frend †The eies of our Lord keepe knowlege and the wordes of the iust are supplanted †The slothful sayth A lyon is without in the middes of the streates I am to be slayne †A deepe pitte the mouth of a strange woman he with whom our Lord is angrie shal fal into it †Follie is tyed together in the hart of a childe and the rod of discipline shal driue it away †He that doth calumniate the poore to increase his riches himself shal geue to a richer and shal be in neede †Incline thine eare and heare the wordes of wisemen and set thy hart to my doctrine †which shal be beautiful for thee when thou shalt kepe it in thy bellie and it shal flow in thy lippes †That thy confidence may be in our Lord wherfore I haue shewed also it to thee this day †Behold I haue described it to thee three maner of wayes in cogitations and knowledge †that I might shew thee the stabilitie and the wordes of truth out of these to answer them that sent thee †Doe not violence to the poore because he is poore neither oppresse the needie in the gate †because our Lord wil iudge his cause and wil pearse them that haue pearsed his soule †Be not frend to an angrie man nor walke with a furious man †lest perhaps thou lerne his pathes and take scandal to thy soule †Be not with them that sticke downe their handes and that offer themselues sureties for debts †for if thou haue not wherewith to restore what cause is there that he should take the couering from thy bed †Trangresse not the ancient boundes which thy fathers haue put †Hast thou sene a man quicke in his worke he shal stand before kinges neither shal be before the vnnoble CHAP. XXIII VVHEN thou shalt sitte to eate with a prince attend diligently what thinges are set before thy face †and set a knife in thy throte if notwithstanding thou haue thy soule in thine owne power †Desire not his meates in which is the bread of lying †Labour not to be rich but set a meane to thy prudence †Lift not vp thine eies to the riches which thou canst not haue because they shal make to themselues winges as of an eagle and shal flie into heauen †Eate not with an enuious man and desire
hart is delighted with oyntement and diuers odours and with the good counsels of a frend the soule is sweetned †Thy frend and thy fathers frend do not leaue and goe not into thy brothers house in the day of thyne affliction Better is a neighbour neere thene a brother far of Studie wisedom my sonne make my hart ioyful that thou maist make answer to the vpbrayder †The subtel man seeing euil hideth himself litle ones passing through haue susteyned euil detriments †Take his garment that hath bene suretie for a stranger and for alienes take from him a pledge †He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice rising in the night he shal be like him that curseth †Dropping through in the day of cold and a brawling woman are compared together †He that reteyneth her as he that should hold the winde and shal cal in the oyle of his right hand †Iron is sharpened with iron and a man sharpeneth the face of his frend †He that kepeth the feegtree shal eate the frute therof and he that is the keper of his master shal be glorified †As in waters the countenance of them that looke therin shyneth so the hartes of men ate manifest to the prudent †Hel and perdition are neuer filled in like maner also the eies of men are vnsatiable †As siluer is tried in the forge and gold in the fornace so a man is proued by the mouth of him that praiseth The hart of the wicked seeketh after euils but the righteous hart seeketh after knowlege †If thou shalt bray a foole in a morter as when a pestle striketh vpon prisane his follie shal not be taken from him †Know diligently the countenance of thy cattel and consider thy flockes †For thou shalt not haue power always but a crowne shal be geuen into generation and generation †The medowes are open and the grene herbes haue appeared and the grasse is gathered out of the mountaines †Lambes for thy garment and kiddes the price of the filde †Let the milke of the goates suffice thee for thy meates and for the necessities of thy house and for victual to thy handmaides CHAP. XXVIII THE impious fleeth no man pursewing but the iust confident as a lyon shal be without terrour †For the sinnes of the land the princes therof shal be manie for the wisedom of a man the knowlege of those thinges that are said the life of the prince shal be longer †A poore man calumniating the poore is like a vehement showre wherby famine is gotten †They that forsake the lawe praise the impious they that kepe it are set on fire against him †Euil men thinke not on iudgement but they that seeke after our Lord marke al thinges †Better is a poore man walking in his simplicitie then the rich in crooked wayes †He that kepeth the law is a wise sonne but he that feedeth gluttons shameth his father †He that heapeth together riches by vsuries and ocker gathereth them for him that is liberal to the poore †He that turneth away his eares from hearing the law his prayer shal be execrable †He that deceiueth the iust in a wicked way shal fal into his destruction and the simple shal possesse his goodes †The rich man seemeth to him self wise but the poore man being prudent shal searche him †In the exultation of the iust there is much glorie when the impious reigne ruines of men †He that hideth his wicked deedes shal not be directed but he that shal confesse and shal forsake them shal obtayne mercie †Blessed is the man that is alwayes fearful but he that is of an obstinate mynde shal fal into euil †A roaring lyon and hungrie beare an impious prince ouer the poore people †A prince lacking prudence shal oppresse many by calumnie but he that hateth auarice his dayes shal be made long †A man that doth calumniat the bloud of a soule if he shal flee into a lake no man abideth †He that walketh simply shal be saued he that goeth peruerse wayes shal fal once †He that tilleth his ground shal be filled with breads but he that purseweth idlnesse shal be replenished with pouertie †A faithful man shal be much praysed but he that hasteneth to be rich shal not be innocent †He that knoweth a person in iudgement doth not wel this man euen for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth †A man that hasteneth to be rich and enuyeth others is ignorant that pouertie shal come vpon him †He that rebuketh a man shal afterward find fauour with him more then he that by flatteries of tongue deceiueth †He that pilfereth any thing from his father and from his mother saith this is no sinne is the partaker of a mankiller †He that exalteth and dilateth himselfe rayseth brawles but he that trusteth in our Lord shal be healed †He that hath confidence in his owne hart is a foole but who so walketh wisely shal be saued †He that geueth to the poore shal not lacke he that despiseth him that asketh shal susteyne penurie †When the impious shal rise men shal be hid when they shal perish the iust shal be multiplied CHAP. XXIX THE man that with stiffe necke contemneth him that rebuketh soden destruction shal come vpon him and health shal not folow him †In the multiplication of iust men the common people shal reioyce when the impious shal take princedom the people shal mourne †A man that loueth wisedom maketh his father glad but he that maintaineth harlots shal destroy his substance †A iust king setteth vp the land a couetous man shal destroy it †A man that with fayre and fayned wordes speaketh to his frend spreadeth a nette to his steppes †A snare shal intangle the wicked man sinning and the iust shal praise and reioyce †The iust knoweth the cause of the poore the impious is ignorant of knowlege †Pestilent men dissipate a citie but the wise turne away furie †A wise man if he contend with a foole whether he be angrie or whether he laugh shal not finde rest †Men of bloud hate the simple but iust men seeke his soule †A foole vttereth al his spirit a wiseman differreth and reserueth til afterward †A prince that gladly heareth wordes of lying hath al his seruants impious †The pooreman and the creditour haue mette one an other our Lord is illuminatour of both †The king that iudgeth the poore in truth his throne shal be replenished for euer †Rod and rebuke geueth wisedom but the childe that is left to his owne wil confoundeth his mother †In the multiplication of the impious wickednes shal be multiplied and the iust shal see
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 noâ— vse thy helpe †For neither herbe not plaâ—ster healed them but thy word ô Lord which healeth al thinges †For iâ— is thou ô Lord that hast powre of life and death and bringest downe to the gates of death and fetchest agayne †but man certes killeth by malice and when the spirit is gone forth it shal not returne neither shal he cal backe the soule that is receiued †but it is vnpossible to escape thy hand †For the impious denying to knowe thee haue bene scourged by the strength of thine arme suffering persecution by strange waters and haile and rayne and consumed by fyre †For that which was meruelous in water which extinquisheth al thinges fyre more preuayled for the world is reuenger of the iust †For a certayne time the fyre was mitigated that the beasts which were sent to the impious might not be burnt but that they seing might know that by Gods iudgement they suffer punishment †And at a certaine time the fyre aboue his powre burnt in water on euerie side that it might destroy the nation of a wicked land †For the which thinges thou didst nourish thy people with the meate of Angels and bread prepared thou gauest them from heauen without labour hauing in it al delectation and the sweetnes of al taste †For thy substance did shew thy sweetnes which thou hast toward thy children and seruing euerie mans wil it was turned to that that euerie man would †Yea snow and yee susteyned the force of fyre and melted not that they might know that fyre burning in hayle and lightening in rayne destroyed the fruites of the enemies †And this againe that the iust might be nourished it forgat also his owne strength †For the creature seruing thee the Creatour is fierce into torment against the vniust and is made more gentle to doe good for them that trust in thee †For this cause euen then being transformed into al thinges they serued thy grace the nource of al at their wil that desired thee †that thy children might know whom thou louedst ô Lord that not the fruites of natiuitie doe feede men but thy word preserueth them that beleue in thee †For that which could not be destroyed by fyre forthwith being heated with a litle beame of the sunne did melt †that it might be knowen to al men that we ought to preuent the sunne to blesse thee and at the rysing of light to adore thee †For the fayth of the vngratful shal melt as winter yee shal perish as vnprofitable water CHAP. XVII Horrible darkenes falling in Aegypt 19. the rest of the world had ordinarie light FOR thy iudgements ô Lord are great thy wordes inexphcable for this cause the soules lacking discipline haue erred †For whiles the wicked are perswaded that they can rule ouer the holie nation fettered with the bands of darknes and long night shut vp vnder roofes they haue lyen fugitiues from the euerlasting prouidence †And whiles they thincke that they lie hid in obscure sinnes they were dispersed by the darke couert of obliuion being horribly afrayd and disturbed with exceding admiration †For neither did the denne that conteyned them keepe them without feare because the sound coming downe trubled them and sorowful visions appearing to them put them in feare †And no force certes of the fyre could geue them light neither could the clere flames of the starres lighten that horrible night †But there appeared to them soden fyre ful of feare and being stroken with the feare of that face which was not sene they estemed the thinges that were sene to be worse †and there were added derisions of the magical art and contumelious rebuke of the glorie of
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 â—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 aâ—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
time crowned whose merchants were princes her chapmen the nobles of the earth †The Lord of hostes hath thought it that he might plucke downe the pride of al glorie and bring al the glorious of the earth to ignominie †Passe thy land as a riuer ô daughter of the sea thou hast a girdle no more †He hath stretched forth his hand vpon the sea he hath trubled kingdomes Our Lord hath geuen commandment against Chanaan to destroy the strong therof †and he said Thou shalt adde no more to glorie ô Virgin daughter of Sidon susteyning calumnie rising vp saile ouer to Cethim there also thou shalt haue no rest †Behold the land of the Chaldees was not such a people Assur founded it they led away the strong therof into captiuitie they vndermined the houses therof they brought it to ruine †Howle ye shippes of the sea because your strength is destroyed †And it shal be in that day thou shalt be in obliuion ô Tyre seuentie yeares as the daies of one king but after seuentie yeares there shal be to Tyre as it were the song of an harlot †Take an harpe goe about the citie thou harlot forgotten sing wel multiplie song that there may be remembrance of thee †And it shal be after seuentie yeares our Lord wil visite Tyre and wil bring her backe againe to her merchandise and she shal fornicate againe with al the kingdoms of the earth vpon the face of the earth †And the martes and rewards shal be sanctified to our Lord they shal not be kept in store nor layd vp because her merchandise shal be for them that shal dwel before our Lord that they may eate vnto fatietie and be clothed vnto continuance CHAP. XXIIII Al this world shal be destroyed 7. wherof manie signes shal come before 18. and general iudgement shal folow BEHOLD our Lord shal dissipate the earth and make it naked and afflict the face therof and disperse the inhabitants therof †And as the people so shal the priest be as the seruant so his master as the handmayde so her mistresse as the byer so he that selleth as the lender so he that boroweth as he that asketh his dewe so he that oweth †With dissipation shal the earth be dissipated and with spoile it shal be spoiled for our Lord hath spoken this worde †The earth hath mourned and fallen away and is weakened the world is fallen away the height of the people of the earth is weakened †And the earth is infected by the inhabitants therof because they haue transgressed the lawes changed right dissipated the euerlasting couenant †For this cause shal malediction deuoure the earth the inhabitants therof shal sinne and therfore the dwellers therein shal be madde few men shal be leaft †The vintage hath mourned the vine is weakened al haue sighed that reioyced in hart †The ioy of tymbrels hath ceased the sound of them that reioyce is least of the sweetnes of the harpe is silent †They shal not drinke wine with song the drinke shal be bitter to them that drinke it †The citie of vanitie is broken downe euerie house is shut no man goeth in †There shal be crying for the wine in the streetes al mirth is left the ioy of the earth is caried away †Desolation is left in the citie and calamitie shal oppresse the gates †Because these thinges shal be in the middes of the earth in the middes of peoples in like maner as if a few oliues which are remayning should be shaken out of the oliue tree and grapes when the vintage is ended †These shal lift vp their voice and prayse when our Lord shal be glorified they shal make a ioyful noise from the sea †For this cause in doctrines glorifie our Lord in the iles of the sea the name of our Lord the God of Israel †From the endes of the earth we haue heard praises the glorie of the iust one And I sayd My secrete to me my secrete to me woe is me the preuaricatours haue preuaricated and by the preuarication of trangressors they haue preuaricated †Feare and pitte and snare vpon thee that art inhabiter of the earth †And it shal be He that shal flee from the voice of feare shal fal into the pitte and he that shal rid him selfe out of the pitte shal be held in the snare because the fludgates from on high are opened and the fundations of the earth shal be shaken †With breaking shal the earth the broken with bruising shal the earth be bruised with mouing shal the earth be moued †With shaking shal the earth be shaken as a drunken man and shal be taken away as the tabernacle of one night and the iniquitie therof shal be heauie vpon it and it shal fal and not adde to rise againe †And it thal be In that day our Lord wil visite vpon the hoste of heauen on high and vpon the kinges of the earth that are vpon the earth †And they shal be gathered together as the gathering of a bundel into the lake and shal be shut there in prison and after manie daies they shal be visited †And the moone shal be confounded when the Lord of hostes shal reigne in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be glorified in the sight of his ancients CHAP. XXV The Prophet geueth thankes to God for his meruelous workes 7. and great benefites in lightning manie with faith washing away sinnes and geuing grace and eternal glorie OLORD thou art my God I wil exalt thee and confesse to thy name because thou hast done meruelous thinges the old cogitations faithful Amen †Because thou hast brought the citie into a heape the strong citie into ruine the house of strangers that it be no citie that it be not built for euer †For this shal strong people prayse thee the citie of strong nations shal feare thee †Because thou art become a strength to the poore a strength to the needie in his tribulation an hope against the whirlwinde a shadow against the heate For the spirit of the strong is as a whirlwinde beating against a wal †As heate in thirst shalt thou humble the tumult of strangers and as with heate vnder a burning cloude thou shalt make the branch of the strong to wither †And the Lord of hostes shal make to al peoples in this mount a feast of fat thinges a feast of vintage of fat thinges ful of marrow of vintage purified from the dregges †And he shal in this mount throw downe headlong the face of the bond tied together vpon al peoples and the webbe that he hath begune vpon al nations †He shal cast death downe headlong for euer and our Lord God shal take away teare from al face and the reproch of his people he shal take away out of the whole earth because our Lord hath
violence of manie waters ouerflowing sent forth vpon a large ground †The crowne of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shal be troden vnder feete †And the flowre of the glorie of his exultation which is vpon the toppe of the valley of fatte ones shal be falling as a timely fruite before the ripenesse of autumme which when he that seeth it shal behold as soone as he taketh it in his hand he wil deuoure it †In that day the Lord of hostes shal be a crowne of glorie and a garland of exultation to the residue of his people †and a spirit of iudgement to him that sitteth in iudgement and strength to them that returne out of battel to the gate †But these also haue bene ignorant because of wine and by drunkennes haue erred the priest and the prophete haue bene ignorant because of drunkennes they are swalowed vp with wine they haue erred in drunkennes they haue not knowne him that seeth they haue bene ignorant of iudgement †For al tables were filled with vomiting and filth so that there was no more place †Whom shal he teach knowledge and whom shal he make to vnderstand the thing heard them that are weyned from the milke that are plucked away from the breasts †For command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there †For in the speach of lippe and in an other tougue he wil speake to his people †To whom he sayd This is my rest refresh the wearie and this is my refreshing they would not heare †And the word of our Lord shal be to them command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there that they may goe and fal backward and be destroyed and snared and taken †For this cause heare the word of our Lord ye scorneful men which rule ouer my people that is in Ierusalem †For you haue sayd We haue stroken a league with death and with hel we haue made a couenant The scourge ouerflowing when it shal passe shal not come vpon vs because we haue made lying our hope and with lying we are protected †Therfore thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil send in the foundations of Sion a stone an approued stone a corner stone pretious founded in the foundation He that beleueth let him not make hast †And I wil put iudgement in weight and iustice in measure and haile shal ouerthrow the hope of lying and waters shal ouerflow the protection †And your league with death shal be abolished and your couenant with hel shal not stand when the scourge ouerflowing shal passe you shal be troden downe of it †Whensoeuer it shal passe through it shal take you away because in the morning early it shal passe through in the day and in the night and vexation alone shal geue vnderstanding in the hearing †For the bed is streitened so that one must fal out and a short mantel can not couer both †For our Lord shal stand as in the mount of diuisions as in the valley which is in Gabaon shal he be angrie that he may doe his worke his strange worke that he may worke his worke is strange from him †And now mocke not lest perhaps your bonds be tied strayte For I haue heard of our Lord the God of hostes consummation and abridgement vpon al the earth †Harken with your eares and heare my voice attend and heare my speach †Wil the ploughman plowe al the day to sow wil he cut and harrow his ground †Wil he not when he hath made euen the face therof sprinkle cummine and place the wheate by order and the barley and millet and vetche in their bondes †And his God wil instruct him in iudgement he wil teach him †For gith shal not be threshed with instruments that haue teeth neither shal the wayne wheele turne about vpon cummine but gith shal be beaten out with a rodde and cummine with a staffe †But bread corne shal be broken smal but the thresher shal not thresh it for euer neither shal the wayne wheele vexe it nor breake it with the teeth therof †And this is come forth from our Lord the God of hostes that he might make his counsel meruelous and magnifie iustice CHAP. XXIX The Prophet bewaleth the Iewes destruction 9. for their blinde obstinacie 17. prophecying the Gentiles conuersion VVOE to Ariel Ariel the citie which Dauid ouercame yeare is added to yeare the solemnities are at an end †And I wil make a trench about Ariel and it shal be sorowful moorning and it shal be to me as Ariel †And I wil compasse as a sphere round about thee and wil cast a rampier against thee and place munitions to besiege thee †Thou shalt be humbled thou shalt speake out of the earth and out of the gronnd thy speach shal be heard and thy voice shal be out of the earth as the Pythons and out of the ground thy speach shal mutter †And the multitude of them that fanne thee shal be as smal dust and as issles passing away the multitude of them that haue preuailed agaynst thee †And it shal be sodenly forthwith It shal be visited of the Lord of hostes in thunder and earth quake and with great voice of whirlewind and tempest and with flame of deuouring fyre †And the multitude of al nations that haue fought agaynst Ariel shal be as the dreame of a vision in the night and al that haue waried and beseged preuailed agaynst it †And as he that is hungrie dreameth eateth but when he is awake his soule is emptie as he that is thirstie dreameth and drinketh and after he is awake faint as yet thirsteth and his soule is emptie so shal the multitude be of al the Gentiles that haue fought agaynst mount Sion †Be astonied and meruel wauer and stagger be ye drunke and not of wine be moued not of drunkenes †Because our Lord hath mingled vnto you the spirit of drowsines he wil shut your eyes he wil couer your prophetes and princes that see visions †And the vision of al shal be vnto you as the wordes of a booke sealed which when they shal geue to him that knoweth letters they shal say Read this and he shal answer I can not for it is sealed †And the booke shal be geuen to one that knoweth not letters and it shal be sayd to him Reade and he shal answer I know not letters †And our Lord sayd Because this people approcheth with their mouth and with their lippes glorifieth me but their hart is far from me and they haue feared me by the commandement and doctrines of men †therfore behold I wil adde to make admiration to this people by a great and wonderful miracle for wisdom
shal perish from their wise men and the vnderstanding of their prudent shal be hid †Woe vnto you that are deepe of hart to hide your counsel from our Lord whose workes are in darkenes and they say Who seeth vs and who knoweth vs †This your cogitation is peruerse as if the clay should thinke against the potter and the worke should say to the maker therof Thou madest me not or the thing formed should say to the fashioner therof Thou vnderstandest not †Shal not yet within a litle while and in a short time Libanus be turned into Charmel Charmel reputed for a forest †And in that day the deafe shal heare the wordes of the booke and out of the darkenes and mist the eies of the blinde shal see †And the meeke shal adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shal reioyce in the holie one of Israel †Because he hath fayled that did preuaile the scorner is consumed and they are al cut downe that watched vpon iniquitie †that made men sinne in word and supplanted him that reproued them in the gate and declined in vayne from the iust †For this cause thus sayth our Lord to the house of Iacob he that redemed Abraham Iacob shal not now be confounded neither shal now his countenance be ashamed †but when he shal see his children the workes of mine handes in the middes of him sanctifying my name and they shal sanctifie the holie one of Iacob and shal preach the God of Israel †and they that erre in spirit shal know vnderstanding and the mutteters shal learne the law CHAP. XXX The Iewes are blamed for seeking counsel and helpe of the Aegyptians 18. but if they repent they shal find releefe and spiritual riches of the soule 27. Gods iudgement wil be strict 33. and hel is most horrible VVOE vnto renegate children sayth our Lord that you would take counsel and not of me would beginne a webbe and not by my spirite that you might adde sinne vpon sinne †which walke to goe downe into Aegypt haue not asked my mouth hoping for helpe in the strength of Pharao and hauing confidence in the shadow of Aegypt †And the strength of Pharao shal be a confusion to you and the confidence of the shadow of Aegypt an ignominie †For thy princes were in Tanis and thy messengers came euen to Hanes †Al were confounded vpon the people that could not profite them they were no helpe nor to any profite but to confusion and to reproch †The burden of the beastes of the South In a land of tribulation and distresse the lionesse and the lion of them the viper the flying basiliscus carying their riches vpon the shoulders of beasts and their treasures vpon the bunch of camels to a people that can not be able to profite them †For Aegypt shal helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cried vpon this It is pride onlie cease †Now therfore going in write to her vpon boxe and drawe it diligently in a booke and it shal be in the latter day for a testimonie for euer †For it is a people prouoking to wrath and lying children children that wil not heare the law of God †Which say to the seers See not and to them that behold Behold vs not those thinges that are right Speake vnto vs pleasant thinges see errours vnto vs. †Take from me the way turne away the path from me let the holie one of Israel cease from our face †Therfore thus sayth the holie one of Israel For that you haue reiected this word haue hoped in calumnie and tumult and haue leaned therevpon †therfore shal this iniquitie be vnto you as a breach that falleth and is found lacking in an high wal because sodenly whiles it is not hoped shal come the destruction therof †And it shal be broken smal as the potters vessel is broken with mightie breaking there shal not a shread be found of the fragments therof wherein a litle fyre may be caried from the burning or a litle water be drawen out of the pitte †Because thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel If you returne and be quiet you shal be saued in silence and in hope shal your strength be And you would not †and you haue sayd No but we wil flee to horses therfore shal you flee And we wil mount vpon swift ones therfore shal they be fwifter that shal persecute you †A thousand men at the face of the terrour of one and at the face of the terrour of fiue shal you flee til you be leaft as the mast of a shippe in the toppe of a mountaine and as a signe vpon a litle hil †Therfore our Lord expecteth that he may haue mercie on you and therfore shal he be exalted sparing you because our Lord is the God of iudgment blessed are al they that expect him †For the people of Sion shal dwel in Ierusalem weeping thou shalt not weepe pitying he wil pitie thee at the voice of thy crie as soone as he shal heare he wil answer thee †And our Lord wil geue you straite bread and short water and wil not make thy doctor to flee away from thee any more and thine eies shal see thy master †And thine eares shal heare the word of him that behinde thy backe admonisheth thee This is the way walke in it and decline ye not neither to the right hand nor to the left †And thou shalt contaminate the plates of the sculptils of thy siluer and the garment of the molten of thy gold and shalt scatter them as the vncleannes of a menstruous woman Thou shalt say to it Get thee hence †And rayne shal be geuen to thy seede wheresoeuer thou shalt sow in the land and the bread of the corne of the land shal be most plentiful and fatte The lambe in that day shal feede at large in thy possession †and thyne oxen as the asse coltes that til the ground shal eate mingled prouender as it was fanned in the floore †And there shal be vpon euerie high mountayne and vpon euerie litle hil eleuated riuers of running waters in the day of the killing of manie when the towres shal fal †And the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne shal be seuenfold as the light of seuen daies in the day when our Lord shal bind vp the wound of his people shal heale the stroke of their wound †Behold the name of our Lord commeth from farre his burning furie and heauie to beare his lippes are filled with indignation and his tongue as a deuouring fire †His spirite as a torrent ouerflowing euen to the middes of the necke to destroy the nations to nothing and the bridle of errour that was in the iawes of peoples †There shal be a song vnto
this people as stickes and it shal deuoure them †Behold I wil bring vpon you a nation from a far ô house of Israel saith our Lord a strong nation an ancient nation a nation whose tongue thou shalt not know nor vnderstand what it speaketh †The quiuer thereof is as an open sepulcher they are al strong †And it shal eate thy corne and thy bread it shal deuoure thy sonnes and thy daughters it shal eate thy flocke thy heards it shal eate thy vineyard and thy figge it shal destroy thy fenced cities wherein thou hast confidence with the sword †But yet in those daies saith our Lord I wil not bring you into consummation †And if you shal say Why hath the Lord our God done al these thinges to vs thou shalt say to them As you haue forsaken me and serued a strange god in your owne land so shal you serue strange ones in a land not your owne †Declare ye this to the house of Iacob and make it heard in Iuda saying †Heare thou foolish people that hast no hart which hauing eies seest not and eares and hearest not †Me then wil you not feare saith our Lord and at my presence wil ye not be sorie Who haue set the sand a limitie for the sea an euerlasting precept that shal not passe and they shal be moued and shal not preuaile and the waues therof shal swel and shal not passe ouer it †But to this people their hart is become incredulous and exasperating they are reuolted and departed †And they haue not said in their hart Let vs feare the Lord our God who geueth vs the timely and lateward rayne in due season who preserueth the fulnes of the yearly haruest vnto vs. †Your iniquities haue turned away these thinges and your sinnes haue stayed good from you †Because there are found impious men in my people that lye in wate as foulers setting snares trappes to take men †As a net ful of birdes so their houses are ful of guile therefore are they magnified enriched †They are made grosse and fatte and haue transgressed my wordes most wickedly The cause of the widow they haue not iudged the cause of the pupil they haue not directed and the iudgement of the poore they haue not iudged †Shal I not visite vpon these thinges saith our Lord or vpon such a nation shal not my soule take reuenge †Astonishment and meruelous thinges are done in the land †The prophets prophecied a lye the priests claped with their handes and my people hath loued such thinges what shal be done therefore in the later end thereof CHAP. VI. Ierusalem shal be destroyed for trangressing Gods law 8. and contemning admonitions 16. Yet God admonisheth againe the Iewes and they contemning 18. he calleth the Gentiles and reiecteth the â—ewes TAKE courege ye children of Beniamin in the middes of Ierusalem and in Thecua sound with the trumpet ouer Bethacarem lift vp the standart because there is euil seene from the North and great destruction †I haue resembled the daughter of Sion to a beautiful delicate woman †To her shal pastours come and their flockes they haue pitcht tents in her round about euerie one shal feede them that are vnder his hand †Sanctifie ye battel vpon her arise and let vs go vp in the midday wo vnto vs because the day is declined because the shaddowes of the euening are waxen longer †Arise and let vs goe vp in the night and destroy her houses †Because thus saith the Lord of hostes Hew downe her wood cast a trench about Ierusalem this is the citie of visitation al oppression is in the middes thereof †As a cesterne maketh colde the water therof so hath she made colde her malice iniquitie and spoile shal be heard in her infirmitie and plague alwaies before me †Be thou taught Ierusalem lest perhaps my soule depart from thee lest perhaps I make thee a desert land not habitable †Thus saith the Lord of hosts Euen to one cluster shal they gather as in a vineyard the remaines of Israel turne back thy hand as the grapegatherer to the basket †To whom shal I speake and whom shal I contest that he may heare behold their eares are vncircumcised and they can not heare behold the word of our Lord is become vnto them as a reproche and they wil not receiue it †Therefore am I ful of the furie of our Lord I haue laboured sustayning power out vpon the litle one without and vpon the counsel of the yong men together for man with woman shal be taken the ancient with him that is ful of daies †And their houses shal passe to others their landes and wiues together because I wil extend my hand vpon the inhabitants of the land saith our Lord. †For from the lesser euen to the greater al studie auarice and from the prophets euen to the priest al commit guile †And they cured the destruction of the daughter of my people with ignominie saying Peace peace there was not peace †They were confounded because they did abomination yea rather they were not confounded with confusion and they knew not how to blush for the which thing they shal fal among them that fal in the time of their visitation they shal fal downe saith our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord Stand ye vpon the waies and see and aske of the old pathes which is the good way and walke ye in it and you shal find refreshing for your soules And they said We wil not walke †And I appointed watchmen ouer you Heare yee the voice of the trumpet And they said We wil not heare †Therefore heare ye ô Gentiles and thou congregation know what great thinges I wil doe to them †Heare ô earth Behold I wil bring euils vpon this people the fruites of their cogitations because they haue not heard my wordes and they haue cast of my law †To what purpose bring you me frankencense from Saba and the sweete smelling cane from a farre countrie your holocaustes are not acceptable and your victimes haue not pleased me †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil bring ruine vpon this people the fathers with the children shal fal in them together neighbour and neighbour and they shal perish †Thus saith our Lord Behold there cometh a people from the land of the North a great nation shal arise vp from the endes of the earth †It shal take arrow and shild it is cruel and wil haue no mercie The voice thereof shal sound as the sea they shal mount vpon horses prepared as a man to battel against thee ô daughter of Sion †We haue heard the fame thereof our handes are dissolued tribulation hath caught vs sorowes as a woman in trauel †Goe not out to the fieldes and walke not in the way
cantel of bread that they might kil the soules which dye not and viuificate the soules which liue not lying to my people that beleeueth lies †For this cause thus saith our Lord God Behold I to your cushions wherwith you carche flying soules and I wil breake them from your armes and I wil let goe the soules that you take the soules to flâ—e †And I wil breake your pillowes and wil deliuer my people out of your hand neither shal they be anie more in your handes to be a praye and you shal know that I am the Lord. †For that you haue made the hart of the iust to mourne lyingly whom I made not sorowful and haue strenghtned the handes of the impious that he might not returne from his euil way and liue †Therfore you shal not see vaine thinges and diuinations you shal diuine no more and I wil deliuer my people out of you hand and you shal know that I am the Lord. CHAP. XIIII Idolaters inquiring of Gods wil by his prophetes 6. must first depart from idolatrie 8. otherwise God wil permitte fals-prophetes to deceiue them and both shal perish together 12. by famine 15. by rauenous beastes 17. sword 19. and pestilence yea Noë Daniel and Iob interceding shal not deliuer them v. 14. 16. 18. 20. 21. yet God wil conserue some that the whole Church perish not AND men of the ancients of Israel came to me and sate before me †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man These men haue put their vncleannes in their hartes and the scandal of their iniquitie they haue set against their face what being asked shal I answer them †For this cause speake to them and thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Man man of the house of Israel that shal put his vncleannes in his hart set the scandal of his iniquitie against his face shal come to the prophet asking me by him I the Lord wil answer him in the multitude of his vncleannes †that the house of Israel may be taken in their hart wherwith they haue reuolted from me in al their idols †Therfore say to the house of Israel Thus saith our Lord God Conuert and depart from your idols and from al your contaminations turne away your faces †Because man man of the house of Israel and of the proselytes whosoeuer shal be a stranger in Israel if he be alienated from me and put his idols in his hart and set the scandal of his iniquitie against his face and come to the prophet to aske me by him I the Lord wil answer him by my self †And I wil set my face vpon that man and wil make him for an example and a for a prouerbe and wil destroy him out of the middes of my people and you shal know that I am the Lord. †And the prophete when he shal erre and shal speake a word I the Lord haue deceiued that prophet and I wil strech forth my hand vpon him and wil rase him out of the middes of my people Israel †And they shal carie their iniquitie according to the iniquitie of him that asketh so shal the iniquitie of the prophet be †That the house of Israel may no more erre from me nor be polluted in al their preuarications but may be my people I may be their God saith the Lord of hostes †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man the land when it shal sinne to me that transgressing it transgresseth I wil strechforth my hand vpon it and wil breake the rod of the bread therof and I wil send famine into it and wil kil out of it man and beast †And if these three men shal be in the middes therof Noe Daniel and Iob they by their iustice shal deliuer their owne soules saith the Lord of hostes †And if I shal bring most euil beasts also vpon the land to waste it and it be without passage for that there is none can passe because of the beasts †These three men if they shal be therin I liue I saith our Lord that they shal deliuer neither sonnes not daughters but themselues alone shal be deliuered and the land shal be made desolate †Or if I shal bring the sword in vpon that land and shal say to the sword Passe through the land and shal kil out of it man and beast †And these three men shal be in the middes therof I liue I saith our Lord God they shal not deliuer sonnes not daughters but themselues alone shal be deliuered †And if I shal send the pestilence also in vpon that land and shal powre out mine indignation vpon it in bloud to take away out of it man and beast †And Noe and Daniel and Iob shal be in the middes therof liue I saith our Lord God that sonne and daughter they shal not deliuer but themselues by their iustice shal deliuer their owne soules †Because thus saith our Lord That and if I shal send in vpon Ierusalem my foure very sore iudgements the sword and famine and euil beastes and the pestilence to kil out of it man and beast †Yet shal there be left in it saluation of some bringing out sonnes and daughters behold they shal go forth to you and you shal see their way and their inuentions and you shal be comforted vpon the euil that I haue brought vpon Ierusalem in al thinges that I haue brought in vpon it †And they shal comfort you when you shal see their way and their inuentions and you shal know that I haue not in vaine done al thinges which I haue done in it saith our Lord God CHAP. XV. As a vine cut downe is profitable to no vse but to burne 6. so the Iewes and other people separated from the Church are to be burned in the fire AND the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man what shal be made of the wood of the vine of al the trees of the woods that are among the trees of the forests †Shal there be taken wood of it that a worke may be made or shal a pinne be made therof that anie vessel may hang theron †Behold it is geuen to the fire for food the fire hath consumed both partes therof and the middes therof is brought into ashes why shal it be profitable for a worke †Yea when it was whole it was not fit for a worke how much more when the fire hath deuoured and burnt it shal no worke be made therof †Therfore thus saith our Lord God As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forests which I haue geuen to the fire to be deuoured so wil I deliuer the inhabitants of Ierusalem †And I wil set my face against them out of the fire shal they come forth and fire shal consume them
from the prerogatiues of the first borne The zeale of Simeon Leui was coÌ„mendable but their maner of reuenge was manie wayes faultie Iudith â— The Priests Scribes furie obstinacie hard harts against Christ Mat. 20. Ioan. 11. Ioan. 18. Taking away of the regal scepter from the Iewes a signe of Christs coming Our Lords real presence in the B. Sacrament prophecied li. 2. Ep. 3. Ancient Fathers suppose that Antichrist shal be of the tribe of Dan. Ioan. 5. Ioseph in manie things prefigured Christ :: Iacob digged a sepulcher for himselfe though it be not hertofore mentioned when he did it S. Aug. q. 170. in Geâ— :: This word adoring often in holie Scripture signifieth ciuil honour as here it can haue no other sense Mans wil not God the cause of sinne Ioseph for his brethreÌ„s sake differred his desired burial in Chanaan The continuation of this booke with Genesis The increase of the Israelites was enuyed feared and their religion hated Gen. 50. Exod. 1. Their persecution Their greater multiplicatioÌ„ Exod. 2. Num. â— Exod. 2. The persecutor admonished and punished Gods people mightely deliuered 3. 5. 7. 12. 14. Miraculously sustained in the desert 16. 17. 20. Instructed with Lawes Moral Ceremonial and Iudicial 26. 27. 30. seq The first part of this booke Of the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt and their deliuerie from thence :: Enuie vaine feare v. 10. hatred of true religioÌ„ v. 13. are the causes why Infidels persecute the faithful :: The first persecution was in temporal losses and bodilie paines by pressing them with workes :: The second was secrete murther :: The third was open murther God must be feared before Princes commanding contrarie things Mat 10. Luc. 12. Act. 4. 5. Princes must be obeyed in lawful things 1. Pet 2. Ro. 13. Allies are sinnes and vnlawful Psal 11â— v. 142. Venial sinnes Feare of God meritorious Temporal rewardes promised in the old TestameÌ„t eternal in the new kind of 〈…〉 lâ—vv so 〈…〉 lled :: Mos in the Aegyptian tongue signifieth vvater and Ises saued Ioseph li. 2. Antiq Clemens Alexan. li. 1. Stromat :: The guiltie persoÌ„ reiected Moyses for lack of knoweÌ„ authoritie but God coÌ„firmed his coÌ„mission Act. 7. So the Iewes reiected Christ Iudge of the world :: He feared to tempt God by staying but not the siercâ—â—es of the king Heb. 11. :: Oppression of innocents crieth to heauen for reuenge Moyses pareÌ„ts did prudently expose him to some danger to auoide greater Reuelations and Gods determinations do not exclude but include mans endeuour Though Moyses iustly killed the Aegyptian yet others may not imitate his example li. 2. Antiq. li. 16. c. 19. deâ—iuit Act. 7. The three first lessons on the 4. sunday in Lent See what maner of reuerence and deuotion is prescribed to goe bare fooâ—e to holie places :: Of holie places and of christian deuotion in going to them S. Hierom writeth largely â—pist 17. 18. 27. :: This is the most proper name but the most common is GOD deriued in manie languages of Good Mat. 19. v. 17. :: Al that anie man possessetâ— in this world is but lent by God And therfore he iustly taketh away and lendeth to others disposing of al as pleaseth him Act. 7. Al appatitionâ— to the Patriarches and Prophetes were made by Angels though sometimes attributed to God Proued by holie Scriptures and Fathers Heb. 2. Exod. 19. 20. Examples Psal 77. Exo. 3. God executeth his wil by Angels The most proper name of God is 〈◊〉 WHICH IS :: God designed a rodde for an instrument to work miracles :: See the Annotations cha 7. v. 3. :: Sephora cast the prepuce at Moyses feete and said I had lost thee my spouse except I had redeemed thee with the bloud of my child And the Angel let Moyses goe S. Aug. q. 11. in Exod. iuxta 70. :: Miracles a motiue to true beleefe Miracles necessarie and sufficient to proue extraordinary vocation of new preachers Ioan. 10. Ioan. 15. Mat. 9. Mat. 16. :: VVordlie men thinke Gods people encrease most by rest but indede they multiplie more when they are oppressed S. Cyprian de exhort Mart. c. 10. :: The craftie diuel knowiÌ„g that weake men afflicted are easely moued to murmur sturred this people against their owne leaders S. Greg. li. 29. c. 14. Moral :: Gods prouideÌ„ce suffereth his children to be most afflicted when relife is nere at hand Theod. q. 13 in Exod. :: Adonai is not the name here vttered to Moyses but is redde in place of the vnknowen name :: Ioseph died first of the twelue bretheren Gen. 50. Leui liued loÌ„gest and so the yeares of their liues are recorded in holie Scriptures not of the rest Chronolog 〈◊〉 :: See Num. 26. v. 59. * patrâ—â—â— lem prâ— patrua quae latinâ— non d 〈…〉 r. :: It perteined not to Moyses present purpose to prosecute the genealogies of Iacobs other sonnes being come to the origin of the Priestlie tribe in Leui the third soÌ„ne â— Aug. q. 15. in Exod. In place of the name of God counted ineffable is commonly redde Adonai Mat. 4. v. 7 10. Rom. 15. v. 11. Iehouah is not the right name of God S. Dionyse S. Hierom. Theodoret Damasâ—â—â— :: Aaron also was the prophet of God but subordinate vnder Moyses and ouer Pharao S. Aug. q. 17. in Exod. :: Iannes and Mambres 2. Tim. 3. knowen by tradition :: Induration of hart saith S. Bernard is neither cut with remorse nor softened with pittie nor moued with prayers nor yeldeth to threates yea is more hardned by punishments li. 1. de consid ad Eugen. :: The first plague in water in which the AegyptiaÌ„s drowned the Hebrewes infants Theodoret q. 19. in exod the like Ap. 16 Because the wicked spil the bloud of Gods Saintes he wil geue them bloud to drinke The name of God attributed to men Iudges called goddes Moyses the God of Pharao Priests called goddes Other titleâ— of God geuen to men Moyses a Holie Prophete Priest and Prince * Psal 98. v. 6. Protestants hold God to be the cause that men do sinne yet not the cause of sinne Zuinglius doctrine Caluins doctrine Bezas doctrin By their doctrin it necessarily foloweth that God should he author of sinne The state of the controuersie S. Augustins doctrin ser 88 de temp God forsaketh not til he be forsaken Ezech 〈◊〉 Prâ— 18. God by not punishing permitted Pharao to indurate him self And that for his former sinnes Heb 12. Apoc. 3. Prou. 8. In absence of grace sinne obdurateth Gods grace in the obstinate like the heate of the sunne in cold water As a father for not punishing is saied to spoile so God to indurate Al the wicked may iustly be damâ—â—d but some are iustified and saued Deut. 32. Psal 5. Rom. 9. God neuer willeth but only suffereth sine Pharao abusing Gods benefites hardned his owâ—e start And â—â—â—fully perished Other places of S. Augustin â—â—â—â— 1. Gods iustice â—â—de
Gen. 24. :: Iosue being a prophet saw some of their hartes inclined to idoles though exteriorly they then had none among them S. Aug. q. 29. in Iosue :: This renouation of the same couenaÌ„t presigured the law of the new Testament S. Aug. q. 30. in Iosue :: To the more confusion of reasonable creatures wilfully offending vnsensible things are made witnesses because they euer obey Gods wil which is the best maner of hearing Theod. q. 19. in Iosue :: If Iosue writ the rest of this booke then Samuel added these last verses Hist Sâ—hol :: Iosephs Mausoleum oâ— famous sepulchre remained in Sichem in S. Hieroms time as he wit nesseth Tradit Hebra in Gen. prope sinem Gen. 5â— â—xo 13. Thare sometime serued false goddes but Abraham neuer Before Christ none entered into heauen A rule for reading historical bookes The Iudges of Israel figures of Christs Apostles They were al finally holie men Eâ—â—li 4â— The Contents of this booke Diuided into three partes The first part A geneâ—al recapitulation of the peoples state :: The maner of consulting our Lord was by the High priest praying in the tabernacle Exo. 29. v. 42. :: The first general captaine after Iosue and diuers of the Iudges were of the tribe of Iuda but not al as appeareth in this booke :: Strong weapons crooked like sickles made fast to the chariottes which cut in peeces men horses and other chariottes that came in their way :: An Angel taking the forme of a man as before to Iosue ch 5. so now appearing to the people spake to them in the name of God whose messenger he was :: By special dispensation sacrifice was sometimes lawfully offered in other places though the Tabernacle and afterward the Temple was the onlie place commanded Deut. 12. Iosue 22. S. Aug. q. 36. in Iudic. :: These Iudges were extraordinarily raised vp to deliuer the people repenting when they were fallen into afflictioÌ„s for their sinnes The second part Of the common peoples often falling to idolatrie their repentance and deliuetie :: In manie places we see the worde sauiour and like titles geuen to men as the seruantes and officers of God who is the proper and principal Sauiour of al. S. Aug. q. 18. in Iudic. :: In these 40. yeares are included the eight yeares of their seruitude v. 8. so in the rest of this historie otherwise the number of yeres agreeth not with the count 3. Reg. 6. v. 1. :: Aod hauing special inspiration from God to do this fact as S. Augustin noteth vpon these wordes q 20. in Iudic. is not to be imitated by priuat men See Num. 25. v. 11. :: Being a prophetesse she resolued hard and obscure thinges but exercised no iurisdiction in anie causes for that belonged to the councel of Priestes and of seuentie ancientes where the high priest was the chief Iudge Num. 11. Deut. 17. Spiritually Debbora signified the Church Barac christian Princes who are directed in their warres and other actions by spiritual superiors as Origen and other ancient writers expouud this historie :: VVho is this woman ful of confidence piercing the temples of the enimies head with a naile but the faith of the Church destroying the diuels kingdomes with the crosse of christ S. Aug. li. 12. â— 32. cont Iaust Manich. Iabel also prefigured our B. Ladie who crushed the serpentes head :: The greater blesse the lesse by imparting spiritual benefites so God and superiors blesse their subiectes Men blesse God the lesse their betters by geuing thankes and prayses :: She inculcateth that she must so much more praise God for this victorie because he forshewed it by her by her directed the general captaine Barac lest it might be ascribed either to wisdome or valure of anie man :: Those that subdew their bodies to the spirite ride vpon fayre asses Origen hom 6. in c. 5. Iudic. :: Iahel the figure was blessed amongst wemen much more the most holie virgin mother of God is blessed aboue alwemen :: S. Augustin q 31. in Iudic. supposeth that this messenger sent from God called a man a prophete for the forme wherin he appeared was the same Angel which sate vnder the oke and sent Gedeon to deliuer Israel v. 11. 12. c. :: He meant not to offer sacrifice to the Angel but that either the Angel or himselfe in presence of the Angel should offer it to God and so in dede the Angel partly directed him what to do partly executed the office himselfe by touching the oblation with his rodde and miraculously bringing fire to consume the sacrifice :: An altar for a monument not for sacrifice :: The strength of Baal or stronger then Baal :: Dew first in the fleece and after on the ground signified grace and true religion first in one people after in al nations Sainct Amb. Ser. 13. de Natal Dom. Venr Beda qq in Iudic. c. 4. Also Christs Incarnation without detriment of his mothers virginitie of whose grace al are replenished S. Bernard ho. 2. in Missus est :: Obseruation of dreames is generally forbid Leuit. 19. v. 26. Deut. 18 v. 10. yet here and in other places it is euident God would haue some obserued See Annot. Gen. 40. :: These thinges were ridiculous saieth venerab Beda c. 5. qq in Iudic. if they had not bene terrible to the enemies :: It is no derogation to God that honour is also geuen to his seruantes :: Trumpetes signified preachers of Christ pitchers the bodies of Martyres lampes their vertues and miracles Vener Beda qq in Iudic. c. 5. :: A soft answer breaketh anger hard speach stirreth vp furie Prou. 15. :: Zebee and Salmana were not of anie of the seuen nations whom God commanded to destroy and therfore Gedeon might haue spared their liues if he would :: Kinges may do ante thing not contrarie to the law but Iudges Dukes may onlie do according to the law See 1. Reg. 8. :: His handmaide oâ— seruant not a harlotte to wit such a one as had not the priuiledge of a wife as Gen. 25. v. 6. :: This sonne of Gedeon by his seruant prefigured Antichrist who wil persecute the Church and reigne for a while but in the end shal be destroyed S. Beda c. 6. qq in Iudic. :: True pastores in the time of Antichrist wil still auouch the truth and the right of the Church :: Oyle spiritually signifieth the grace of the Holie Ghost making peace of conscience in mens soules towardes God :: The swetnes of Gods law producing good workes :: Contemtible in outward shew but bringing forth liquour of meruelous force which sorte of workes God is most delighted withal and men most admire Psal 85 :: The rhamnus signifieth base and ambicious men * brierre bramble â—rthistle :: God doth suggest only good cogitations as remoâ—â—e of conscience in the secheâ—â—tes for their ingratitude towardes Gedeon and for so wicked and cruel a murder of his sonnes
Ser 1. de S. Andrea S. Beda 〈◊〉 4. S. Aug. cont Faust S. Greg. in li. 1. Reg. et in Iob. Inuocation of Patriarches S. Hiere Ep. 12. ad Gauden Obiections answered by holie Scriptuâ—es Iob. 4â— How Sainctes knâ—w mens prayers Titles geuen to men in office and to Sainctes lib. de mortalitate Angels adâ—â—ed Reliqués Images Exequies fâ—â— the dead Purgatorie To. 2. in sept Psal paeuitent Limbus pattâ— No entrance into heauen before Christ Resurrection Iudgement Eternal paine of the damned and glorie of the blessed 1. Co◠◠〈◊〉 dowries of glorified bodies presigured 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 Cathâ— câ—â—s Rom p. 1. c 12. q 9. The Church more knowen to other nations then before The Ecclesiastical and temporal states more distinguished Succession of High Priestes Distinction of offices in Priestes Leuites Succession of temporal princes interrupted Dukes Iudges Kinges M 〈…〉 Church Murmure Idolatrie 〈…〉 e. 〈…〉 〈…〉 * Iudic. 3. Ordinarie meanes of conseruing the Church No participation with infiâ—els No 〈…〉 But one Tabernacle One Altar 〈◊〉 〈…〉 8. Chris orat 1. aduers Iudeos One supreme Iudge of controuersies Al bound to obey him His sentence infallible The Church of Christ preserued from â—â—â—ing in Religion Math. 16. 28. Luc. 22. Ioan 14. 16. Eph. 4. â— Tâ—m 3. Not anie temporal but Christs kingdom is in al nations and perpetual S. Aug. li. 17. â—â— de â—â—uit S. â—â—pipâ—â— here 's 2â— The Church of Christ vniuersal Act. 4. in hunc Psalm The Iewes wil not see Christ 2. Cor. 3. And Heretikes wil not see the Church which yet is alwayes visible S. Aug. in Psal 30. câ—nâ— 2. Collat. Carthag at cont Donatist Ibidem The beginning of the fifth age * Firmnes * in strength :: A vessel so 〈…〉 for the 〈…〉 being 〈…〉 :: â—atus contayned 〈…〉 :: Had designed and dedicated to holie vses :: There was no more with in the arke Deut. 10. but on the outside was the rodde of Aaron Nu. 17. Heb. 9. the golden potte with Manna Exod 16 Heb 9. and the booke of the law repeted by Moyses Deut. 31. :: Prices blesse their people parentes their children :: Salomon knew wel Gods conditional promise but perseuered not in keping his coÌ„mandments and therfore a great part of the kingdom was takeÌ„ from his children yet the right of the kingdom of Iuda remayned to his seede euen to Christ our Sauiour :: Reward of good workes :: External workes of penance except they proceede from the hart suffice not for remission of sinne :: External worship is not acceptable to God except it procede from internal sinceritie and dâ—â—odon VVherfore S. Augustin sayth God is worshipped in faith hope and charitie Enchirid c. â— :: Salomon did not â—el these cities for he could not alienate them but let the king of Tyre haue the vse and reuenewes in payment for timber for the gold which he sent * dirtie or disples sing :: a monument :: Part of Arabia is called Saba nere to Iurie but this Saba is beyond Arabia as S. Hierom testifieth in Esaiae 60 li. 17 it semeth to be in Aethiopia for our Sauiour saith Mat. 12. The quene of the South came froÌ„ the endes of the earth to heare the vvisdom of Salomon :: As this quene had no spirite when she saw Salomons wisdom so the Church gathered of gentiles knowing Christs grace finding the masters of Euangelical doctrin casting away the spirite of pride and laying of al hautinesse of mind lerned to distrust in her self and to trust in the great mercie of her king S. Greg in Psal 7. paâ—â—ten to 2. * A wonderful thing that a Quene vpon fame of a mans wisdom traueled so farre to heare him speake and to see his gouernment but it was Gods inspiration to signifie by this figure that the Church of Christ should be gathered of the Gentiles in al nations Kiges Quenes noâ— potent Princes also submitting themselues to Christ Isaae c. 49. :: Though pluralitie of wiues was then alowed yet it was forbid to multiplie manie Deut. :: The tribe of Iuda :: By Ierusalem is vnderstood the tribe of Beniamin wherin it stood so there remained two tribes to Salomons heyres 2. Reg. â— â—â— Reg. 10. :: From the time that Salomon fel to idolatrie he was more impugned by three perpetual aduersaries Adad Razon and Hieroboam mystically signifying the flesh the world and the diuel :: This fact coÌ„firmed his wordes that he spoke seriously fained not :: VVhether he repented and was saued or no is vncertaine The third part The diuision of the Kingdom Seueral reigues of certaine kinges and preaching of special prophetes :: This pharaise noteth the sequel not the final cause As chap. 14. â— â— :: A diuelish policie to make a religion conformable to the temperal state :: For such a religion such priestes were fittest :: Places on hilles where they sacrificed calues and other thinges to the images of calues :: This foreshewing long before the name of a childe that should be borne importeth that he should do great thinges See 4. Reg. 2â— :: This man of Bethel was indeede a prophet of God but in this lied wickedly and so deceiuing the other prophet made him to breake Gods commandment for which he was slaine VVhervpon Hieroboam swhom the wiked prophet sought to please was lesse afeard to procede in idolatrie :: Not only the deceiuer but also he that is deceiued is guiltie and punishable for breakiÌ„g Gods coÌ„mandment :: By this it appeareth to be Gods worke and punishment :: Ieroboam did not wittingly and of purpose set vp false goddes to the end he might prouoke God to anger for his intention only was to kepe the people froÌ„ going to Ierusalem left by that occasion they should returne to Roboam their Lord king of Iuda ch 12. v. 27. But by settiÌ„g vp idols he did prouoke God consequently to anger So here and in other places this phrase that he might prouoke that it might be fulfilled and the like signifieth not the final cause but the sequele of other factes without direct intention :: Dauids postetitie conserued for his sake :: Those altares which Salomon had made for his wiues that were idolaters Asa destroved not but al which RoboaÌ„ and Abias had made or suffered to be made for their owne people he pulled downe Iosias afterward destroyed also those which Salomon had made 2. â—â—â—â—l 34. :: The aâ—â—â—ouâ— of schisme punished in his posteritie :: Al those that were in the campe chose their general to be their king and preuailed therin though an other half of Israel chose and folowed an other for a time :: Thebni being then dead he reigned peaceably for he began his reigne the 27. yeare of Asa â— 15. 16. and reigned in al 12. yeares :: VVhen Hiel began to build Iericho his eldest sonne died so the rest successiuely that the last died when he finished the building because God by the mouth of
of the Israelites t from the mediterranean sea of Palestin v to the riuer Euphrates Exo. 23. v. 31. Beut 11. v. 24. vv eruel enimies more like to most cruel beastes then to men x yea so cruel as none els in the world are like vnto them y The Prophet now prayeth for the coming of Christ which he saw in spirite z The Church of the old testament in her best state wanted the perfection which the Church of Christ hath a Christ our Messias most commonly calleth by this title The Sonne of man b So thy vinyard can not indure if it be stil afflicted and trodden downe c Christ working by Gods powre redresseth almiseries d The same is the 8. and the 15. verse with litle alteration and here repeted the third time In which we also pray for three thinges first to be purged and conuerted from sinne second to be illuminated by Christ the Image of God Thirdly to be sanctified and saued in eternal glorie to haue the fruition of the most blessed Trinitie Inuitation to celebrate festiual dayes deuoutly the 7. key a This Psalme perteyneth not only to the old testament but also to the new b Gods seruants oppressed with tribulations c to be songue by Asaph a chief master of musike d Make readie al these musical instruments e In the Calendes or first day of euerie moneth in remembrance of Gods prouidence and perpetual gouernment of al creatures :: The feast of Neomenia f and most especial solemnitie in the first day of the seuenth moneth in memorie of Isaac conserued from death in whom God promised Abraham to multiplie his seede and to blesle al nations Gen. 17 v. 21. c 21. v 12. c 22. v. 18. :: Feast of trumpetes g The people of Israel signified by Ioseph as Psal 79. v. 2. :: In memorie of this benefite Pasch was instituted h God deliuered the same people from their vntolerable bondage of carying burdens in baskettes from geathering straw making brickes and other seruitude Exo 1. v. 14 c. 5. v. 7. i The admonition of God to the people k yet after so great benefites thou didst murmure and contradict me Exo. 17. Num. 20. l Seriously admonish thee m Man by free wil may choose whether he wil obey or no. :: The feast of Pentecost in memorie of the lawe n This was an other great benefite to geue an expresse law for their instruction o Obseruing my commandments aske what thou wilt and I wil geue it thee Pom. 1. ◠24. p Very easely q of my freewil and liberalitie without necessitie or obligation r The wicked that promise to serue God and do it not shal be in eternal torments In the meane time God bestowed these benefites vpon them for the iusts sake Admonition to Magistrates the. 7. key a The wordes of the prophet admonishing al magistrates that when they sitte in iudgement or determine anie cause God who is there and euerie where present b attendeth their processe and therfore it behoneth them to be aduised what they doe euen as if they heard God speaking as here foloweth c The wordes of God though not vttered sensibly yet in effect intimated by his law according wherto he wil procede in iudgement against vniust Iudges d Such iudges procede in grosse ignorance not caring to vnderstand but content to walke in darknes e Ye are so euil disposed that you would turne al vpside downe instifying the wicked and condemning the iust f For your office which you participate of me you are certaine goddes vpon earth g But when you die you shal find that you are men subiect to Gods iudgement h yea your punishment wil be greuous and importable for the mightie shal mightely suffer torments Sap. ◠i Againe the wordes of the prophet praying God k that eing he is Lord of al he wil iudge al. Persecuters of the Church confounded or conuerted the 6 key a Seing none is like to thee ô God b shew thy powre and maiestie c be not silent d The cruel persecuters are most insolent e and proud f That there be no more anie faithful people g anie Catholiques leift aliue h The progenie of Esau i the seede of Ismael k descending from the elder sonne of Lot l the issue of Abraham by Agar who falsly cal them selues Sarascens as if they were of Sara m People of Gebal a citie of Syria n of the other sonne of Lot o those that first oppugned the Israelites after they were parted from Aegypt Exo. 17. p The Philistians q and Tyrians al nere neighboures and some of them nere akine to the Israelites were their great enimies r Others also coming further of ioyned against Gods people in figure that al heretikes and other infidels conspire together against Catholiques ſ The Psalmist therfore prayeth and withal prophecieth that God wil at last destroy them as he did Madian Num 31. Iudic. 6. 7. t Sisara captaine general v for Iabin king of Asor nere Cisson Iudic. 4. v. 7. 23. w Within the territorie of Manasses Ios 17. which they inuaded x slaine and not buried y These foure princes of the Madianites were slaine by Gedeons forces Iudic. 7. 8. z By foure similitudes the prophet describeth the punishment that shal fal vpon persecuters :: By foure similitudes the prophet describeth the punishment that shal fal vpon persecuters 1. 2. 3. 4. a God by punishing seeketh the conuersion of sinners not their eternal death b But such as be stil obstinate and finally impenitent do perish for euer c God only the creator of heauen and earth is properly called LORD VVhose essential and incommunicable name is VVHICH IS Exo. 3. v. 14. 6. v. 3. Eternal glorie the 10. key a For men afflicted in this vale of miserie b By the children of Core not being musitians but porters in the temple 1. Par. 26. S. Augustin here and in other titles of Psalmes vnderstandeth the faithful children of Christ c The glorious mansions in heauen which God hath prepared for the iust d Vehement desires do sometimes depriue vs of external sense e The mind reioycing in hope the bodie is also recreated releeued and reuiued which before was dulle and heauie f As sparowes by natural instinct seeking habitations finde houses to dwel in g and turtles haue nestes wherin to lay their young ones so faithful soules seeke to dwel in heauen and in the meane time to lay vp good workes within the Catholique Church out of which sayth S. Augustin in this place how good soeuer workes do seme as when paganes and heretikes feede the hungrie cloth the naked receiue strangers into their houses visite the sicke comforte prisoners being not laid in the nest conculcabuntur conterentur non seruabuntur non custodientur they shal be trodde vnder foote they shal be bruised in peeces they shal not be conserued they shal not be kept but
praised her she returneth al the praise to him d Praying him to come and stil remaine vvith her e Acknovvleging him to be the only Sauiour of both old and nevv testament a The Synagogue prosecuteth her prayer desiring Christs Incarnation b Christ admonisheth vvordlie men not to molest those that serue him in contemplation other spiritual vertues c Angels and other Sainctes of the triumphant Church admire the beautie of the Câ—nâ—les conuerted which is also vnderstood of euerie holie soule ascending from this world into heauen And more singularly of the most glorious virgin mother of God f The Church of Gentiles reioyceth in the strong defence vvhervvith her Sauiour hath established her g Keepers of this vinyard vvere the Prophetes and Apostles and their Successors are stil the kepers therof h Christ shevveth that together vvith the pastors himself especially hath care of his Church alvvayes assisting the visible gouerners therof vvith his inuisible grace i The vvhole Church militant vvel contented yea desiring Christs Ascension into heauen for the good of al that here serue him prayeth him from thence to send abundance of his grace that vve may ascend the high mountaines of perfect charitie and zele of Gods honour that he vvil make our soules such hilles the garden of al vertues so voutsafe to dwel therin Amen d The Synagogue of the Iewes was corrupt vnder the tree of Christs Crosse when they cried Crucifie him Crucifie him And againe His bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children Againe VVe haue no King but Caesar c. e Christ againe sheweth his affection towards his Church of the Gentiles calling her his owne sister and the Synagogs sister promising and bestowing on her manie excellent benefites Both the auctor auctoritie of this booke were sometimes doubtful The same doubt is of Ecclesiasticus It is most probable that Philo a Iew writte this booke collecting manie sentences of Salomons Argum. lib. Reg. Fiue Sapiential bookes of the old testament Chap. 7. 8. 9. The Iewes denie these bookes to be Canonical Mat. 22. Exo. 3. They are iudged by very manie ancient fathers and afterwards defined by the Church to be Canonical Scriptures Et li. 17. c. 20. â—â—â—â— The contents Diuided into three patts The 1. part An admonition to loue and practise iustice 3. Reg. 3. Isa 56. 2. Par. 1â— :: Mortal sinnes are not only committed in dedes vvordes but also in though tes :: He that maliciously curseth sâ—uâ—sed of God â—al 5. v. 22. :: Be not cause of your owne eternal death by euil life :: Desperate death deliuereth not the wicked from calamities :: Neither are anâ—e damned vvhile they are in thâ—â— life :: But sinners not repenting being etâ—â—nal 〈…〉 them 〈…〉 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 be after death fal to these prophane thoughts and speaches of infidelitie :: Of infidelitie touching paine or reward after death procedeth the Epicures life :: Infidels are not content to liue in riote but doe also enuie and persecute the iust vvhose good examples vexe their mindes sturred therto by the diuel :: An euident prophecie of the Iewes malice persecuting our Sauiour Fulfilled by the chief Priestes Scribes and Ancientes recorded dy the Euangelists Mat. 27. v. 41. Mar 14. v. 53. Mat. 27. v. 43. :: vvant of beleuing diuine Mysteries namely the reward of the iust punishmeÌ„t of the wic ked is cause of dissolute life and of hatred against the good :: Temporal death of the iust is the way to eternal life vvhere damnation called here the tormeÌ„t of death shal not touch them :: For albelt Martyrs seme in the eyes of the vnwise to dye or to be extinguished they passe in dede into eternal and vnspeakeable glorie Chap. 5. v. 4 Mat. 13. v. 43. :: Al the iust shal approue Gods iudgmeÌ„t condemning the wicked :: Literally is vnderstood that the wiues of adulterers often become adultresses their children wicked Morally their sensualitie al their vvorkes are wholly corrupted * See S. Ierom. in Isa 56. v. 4. :: Chastitie of the bodie is a singular great vertue spiritual chastitie of true faith and religion is greatter and more generally commended as the roote and fundation of al vertues For vvithout faith it is vnpossible to please God :: VVhen soeuer the iust dieth it is profitable for him dying yong his immaculate life is more commendable then old age in the wicked v. 16. :: The damned shal be vvithout al excuse vtterly confounded in their owne consciences Gods prescience dâ—â—th not preiudice mans free wil. â—tl 17. â— 30. ciuit :: VVicked men in their false conceipt iudge the trauels of the iust to be vaine fructles :: Repentance of the damned is only for the losse paine whereinto they are fallen not of loue towards God or vertue nor of hate towards sinne therfore is fructles bringing no comforte nor helpe at al but euerlasting torment and anguish of mind Chap. 3. v. 2. Pro. â—0 v. 19. :: For the certaintie of thinges that shal be Prophetes do very often speake in the pretertence of thinges to come as if they vvere already past :: As the ioy of the blessed so contrariwise the miserie of the damned is meruelous great for euer vnchangeable Eccle. 9. v. 18. :: Al powre is from God therfore to be respected though the magistrates sometimes abuse their auctoritie Rom. 1â— v. 1. :: As euerie ones charge is more or lesse so his account is easier or har der and the punishment if he offend smaller or greater S. Gre. ho. 9. in Euang. :: VVisdom is attained by this gradation and so from first to last a resolute desire ioyneth faithful soules to God v. 21. The second part VVisdom procedeth from God and is procured by prayer :: The perfectest children are borne in the beginning of the tenth moneth :: Children in the mothers wombe are as in slepe :: Salomon whose sayinges are here recited praied for wisdom obtained it 3. Reg. 3. 3. Reg â— v. 9. :: God first gaue him grace to desire wisdom before al other thinges as he explicateth plainly cap. 8. v. 21. :: Salomon was a most excellent Philosopher :: Proper Epithetons of the spirite of wisdom :: See the Annotation Prouerb 1. v. 2. Heb. 1. v. 3. :: God the increated wisdom is infinite and wisdom created is also most excellent amongst Gods giftes 3. Reg. 3. Prou. â— :: This is also the speach of Salomon recited by the writer of this booke :: Of Salomons wisdom riches glorie renowmed fame not only the bookes of Kinges Paralipomenon but also our Sauiour doth witnes Mat. 6. 12. :: It is not certaine that Salomon hath immortal glorie but rather by immortalitie is here vnderstood that his glorious fame remaineth to the end of this world :: Neuertheles wisdom of her part geueth life and glorie euerlasting to al that perseuere to the end of this life :: It is