The Vestments of the High-Priest CHAP. 44. The Sacrifices of Aaron consumed by fire from Heaven CHAP. 45. The Pillar of fire and the Cloud CHAP. 46. The Brazen Serpent CHAP. 47. The last actions of Moses CHAP. 48. The last Canticle of Moses CHAP. 49. The death of Moses at the sight of the Holy Land THE HOLY HISTORIE FIRST TOME GOD THE CREATOR FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. Gods First Sally out of himself in the Birth of the Universe THough God was what he is and in the perfect fruition of his Grandeurs before his omnipotent hand had drawn the Creatures out of their Nothing The motives which invited God to create the world yet his Nature required Hommages his Majesty Servitudes his Glory Admirations his Goodness Acknowledgments and his Beauty hearts and affections It was needfull though he were independent of all Beings Immense in his extent Eternall in his duration and Infinite in all his perfections that he should cause himself to be seen and felt by Emanations out of himself It was not sufficient me thinks that God should contemplate himself in the Myrror of his Essence and that without issuing out of himself he should beget his Word in the splendors which flow from his Claritie It was not enough to love himself and in loving himself to produce without change loss or alteration the sacred fire of his Love All these immanent and infinite productions could not exhaust the Treasures of so fruitfull a Nature For in giving it self it suffers no detriment since amidst these sallies and Emanations the Father and the Son in such sort communicate their Nature and perfections the Father to the Son and both to the Holy Ghost that all three by a Common power can act ad extra or exteriorly and they needed to employ but one single word to create not only a World but even Worlds without end I represent unto my self that Nature sigh'd even without tongue or voice The sighs of Nature before she had a being Me thinks I hear her silence and that she saith to God before her Creation Speak then O speak Great God stretch forth thy arm and cast thy looks out of thy self issue forth of the Luminous Darkness which formes thee a day without Night and a Night more resplendent then the day Give some little passage to those Ejaculations and flames which from all eternity are inclosed within thy bosome and which frame therein a Circle of Light and Love Thou needst but open thy mouth and immediatly all Creatures will be obedient to thy commands The least of thy Irradiations will dissipate the shadows and open that abyss in which they are buried It is true that nothing ought to disturbe the peace and repose of thy solitude It is true thou hast and possessest in thy self all that can ever be But thou canst bring it to light and art able without noyse and disorder to break that eternall silence which hitherto hath made thee heard but of thy self In fine thou art a God of Love and this love would be Captive if it had not Sallies and Ejaculations It was not satisfied to remain in thee by eminence and as it were in the source of beauty and goodness but having made its folds within its self by numberless revolutions Dyonys c. 11. divin Nom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellat munifestationem Dei per se ipsum it must descend upon externall objects to attain that effect and property which is naturall to Love viz. that amorous extasy that prodigious effusion and that pompous and magnificent shew which to speak properly is the Torch of Love or rather the Chariot of its tryumph Well then Creatures come forth of the Mass in which you lye confused Heaven Earth Sea Stars Trees Fishes Furnaces of fire and flames The first allarum of Nature vast extents of Air Clouds Abysses Precipices listen to the voice and Command of God of the Word and of their Love O God! O Power O Love what word what speech and what voice we must proceed in order and pursue the same which God himself hath followed The word was in God the Father and this word was God from that beginning which could never begin the Common Spirit of God animated the Father and the Son But in fine this glorious and happy moment which saw the birth of times and seasons being arrived The eternall God seeing no Object out of himself which could deserve his love and besides this Love being incited by a holy desire of communicating it self it was requisite to frame a Copy of the Intellectuall Originall which was in his Idea Love the architect of the World and in his heavenly mind From that instant the world then but a lively vacuum but an universall privation of forms and qualities was chosen as the blanck Table whereon he resolved to draw the first stroaks of his goodness That Nothing which hath but the bare name men give it In principio creavit Deus Coelum Terram Gen. 1. v. 1. became immediatly a fruitfull Abyss of Essences and Nature was ingendred out of it by the sole power of the Divinity First Heaven Earth Water and Darkness appeared in an instant as the Field on which all the effects of a most Amorous and sage Prodigality were to be displayed Terra autem erat inanis vacua tënebrae crant super saciem abyssi Gen. 1. v. 2. It was before any other thing that this tenebrous Compound this confused Medley and this heap of Water and Earth was the object of him who alone was able to chase away its shadows and convert its dust into Gold and Cristall This is the Throne on which the title of Soveraign Monarch and Lawgiver shall be seen ingraved But what this Theater is too obscure to behold therein the birth of the World we must expect the Aurora and the rayes of the day CHAP. II. The work of the six dayes NAture awake The first day of the Creation it is time for the World to rise the Night hath preceded and twelve hours are as it were already past since Heaven and Earth have been in obscurity Dixitque Deus fiat tax facta est lux Gen. c. 1. v. 3. Behold the break of day and those delightfull colours which play upon the waters are the Companions of that light which in Palestine hath already opened the doors and windows of the East and is going to spread it self upon another Hemisphear Nevertheless to finish this Carriere to perfect this course and to round the whole Globe twelve hours more are required And then counting from Evening till Morning and from Morning till Evening you shall find all the Moments which form the first day a glorious day a day illustrious for having first received the light which gives glory and splendor to all dayes Et vidit Deus lucem quod esset bona Gen. 1. v. 1. God himself made even a stand to be
after the departure out of Egypt a little before the Hebrews passed over Jordan and in the last of their stations in the fields of Moab and in a place surnamed Abelsarim when this new publication was made by reason the most antient of the people of Israel who had received this Law upon Mount Sina being dead it was necessary that the yong men who perchance had never heard of it might at least be instructed therein by this second promulgation Besides it was convenient that Moses who saw his end approaching should declare all his desires unto his beloved people and that for his last farewel he should leave them these speaking Reliques and Divine Commandments which ought to serve them as domestique masters for the well-ordering both of their lives and manners We may say upon the same occasion An excellent Sermon of Moses That Deuteronomy is as it were but a continual Preaching whereof all the Sentences and Exhortations are animated with Zeal Ardor and Piety as the most powerful Motives Moses useth to inculcate to all his Auditors such important Verities and Laws as on them all their happiness and salvation depend It is also most certain That we our selves ought to be touched by the darts of Virtue and by the shaffs of a Holy Love if we will warm others and elevate their hearts and souls unto God For otherwise this were to inkindle a fire with water and ice and to believe that a pile might be fired by an extinguished Torch No no we ought to be interiorly furnished with qualities fit to be imparted unto others and before we lay some touches of a Pencil upon a Cloath and some strokes of a Graver upon a Plate of Brass it is first necessary to form a rough draught in our mindes otherwise we shall but scrible and a multitude of venturous strokes can never finish a regulated work Whence it follows Advice unto publick persons that Judges Masters and all that speak in publick and are as it were the Living Laws of this World the Oracles of the People and the Ecchoes of Gods Will ought to be like animated Books which onely speak command and teach what they have imprinted within themselves or rather like Marble on which it is necessary before-hand and with much labor to engrave what is to be there read In fine they ought at least to imitate the Sun which hath always eminently both heat beauty and all those Lights which without truce and repose he spreads upon the Earth Above all such as God hath chosen for such important employments ought to speak more from the heart than mouth and never to say during life but what they should confirm at the hour of death to the end when they shall see themselves at the point of death they may have no trouble to retract the errors of their youth but only repeat the verities they have alwayes gloried to practice and publish in all places This is that which Moses did after the death of Aaron and very few weeks before his own When for a closure of all his actions and labours he wrote and declared publickly these Lawes unto all his people Poslquam percussit Sehon Regem Amorrhae orum qui habitabat in Hesebon Og Regem Basan c. Deut. 1. v. 4. Coepitque Moyses explanare legem dicere Deut. 1. v. 5. Dominus Deus noster locutus est ad nos in Horcb dicens c. Deut. 1. v. 6. Ingredimini pessidete eam super qua juravit Dominus patribus vestris c. Deut. 1. v. 8. Profecti autem de Horeb transivimus per termum terribilem maximam quam vidistis per viam montis Amorrhaei sicut praeceperat Dominus Deus noster nobis Cumque venissemus in Cadisbarne Deut. 1. v. 19. Mittam us vires qui considerent terram renuntient per quod iter debeamus ascendere ad quas pergere civitates Deut. 1. v. 2. who after his decease were in a manner to hold his place and serve for a bridle unto some and a torch unto others or at least for a spirit generall unto all to inspire them with the duties and obligations they owed unto God To this effect in the first three Chapters of Deuterenomie we need but repasse over the course of their Pilgrimage and expose the admirable adventures of this famous Voyage which lasted fourty years during which they were like wanderers and vagabonds in the Desart It was upon the first day of the eleventh month of the Hebrews and a while after the defeat of Sehon the King of the Ammorites and of Og King of Basan that Moses assembled his troops and first related to them what had passed on Mount Horeb together with a promise of their admission into Chanaan which was to be the period of their travels and the accomplshment of their desires In the second place how after their departure out of the land of Horeb they descended into a vast and dreadfull Wildernesse from whence they went unto Cadesbarne which was the place of their retreat whilst Spies went from them to survey the Land unto which they were going Now this was the cause of inkindling Gods wrath against them Cumque audisset Dominus vocem sermonum vestrorum iratus juravit ait Deut. 1. v. 34. Non videbit quispiam de hominibus generationis hujus pessimae terram bonam quam sub juramento pollicitus sum patribus vestris praeter Coleb filium Jephone c. Deut. 1. v. 35 36. Vos autem revertimini abite in solitudinem per viam maris rubri Deut. 1. v. 40. who perceiving that they confided not in his promises swore that except Caleb the son of Jephon and Josua not a man of this incredulous and perfidious Nation should be so happy as to enter the Land of Promise And truly what could God doe hearing the murmurings and seeing the Indignities of these fearfull and mercenary Souls who had no sooner notice of the forces of the Country to which he conducted them but at the same instant they perswaded themselves notwithstanding all that Josua and Caleb could say unto them for their incouragement that these troops were to oppresse their weaknesse and that unfallibly the Towers and Bulwarks of Chanaan would be converted into Prisons for them as also that all those Giants of whom they had heard so much were like so many Tyrants to reduce them again into a more vexatious bondage than that from which they were delivered They would have still wandred in the Desarts and about the Mountains often expos'd unto hunger and thirst if God had not otherwise paternally provided for them cleaving Rocks causing Manna to issue from the Clouds Parvuli vestri de qâ—ibus dixistis quod captivi ducerentur filii qui hodie boni ac moli ignorant distantiam ipse ingredientur c. Deu. 1. v. 39. and preventing all the dangers which accompanied their Voyages Me-thinks I see
139 Hail plague of Egypt 286 Wretched Harvest of worldly men 152 Hail-storm in Constantinople 268 Hardness of Pharaohs heart 269 Hardness of heart a woful estate 271 Grashoppers of Egypt 289 I. Jacob and Esau 121 Figure of the Christian and Jewish people 116 Jacob Esau 's elder brother and how 137 His agreement with his father-in-law Laban 155 Jacob resolves to send Benjamin into Egypt 207 His descent into Egypt to see his son Joseph 223 The answer he made to Pharaoh concerning his age 229 His death and last words 231 Idols and their subversion 344 Detestable Idolatry of amorous persons 39 Jethro the counsel he gave to Moses to establish Judges for deciding differences between the people of Israel 337 Atheistical ignorance 85 Images of Jesus Christ anciently painted in Temples and Houses in the form of a Lamb 27 Image of a generous courage 69 Image of Gods judgement 86 Image of the lives of men 126 Image of the life and death of Jesus Christ 145 Image of Chastity 184 Image of the World 198 Imagination the effects and properties thereof 156 Unnatural impudence of Cham 48 Inconstancy of created things 113 Dreadful incertainty 135 Incarnation its draught and picture 144 Innocence secured 170 Innocence victorious 179 Inhumanity more than brutish 220 Joseph born of Rachel 154 Joseph sold by his brethren 165 Joseph known by his brethren 214 His lamentations for the death of his Father Jacob 242 Joshua his victories over the Amalekites 332 Isaac his birth 93 The discourse he held with his father asking him where was the victim of his Sacrifice 108 His submission and obedience 109 His mariage with Rebecca 116 Most exact Justice 83 Judges a fair example for them ibid. Judas the brother of Joseph made a speech to him in the name of his brethren 216 Judgements of God incomprehensible 290 Prodigious increase of the people of Israel 247 Jacobs Ladder 141 Jacobs wrestling with the Angel 159 K. Kings of France true successors of Abraham 80 L. Laban is grieved for the barrenness of his flocks 156 His agreement with Jacob and his return unto Mesopotamia 157 Lesson to husbands and wives 17 Leah considerable for her fruitfulness 154 Dangerous liberty 29 Liberality cannot be without freedom 79 Liberality portraict of the Divinity ibid. Liberty of holy Souls 80 Liberty of Esau cause of his misfortune 128 Laws their excellency 357 Their establishment 368 Lot delivered out of the hands of his enemies by the means of Abraham 70 Luxury destruction of souls and canker of body 64 Love its effects and properties 3 Love architect of the world ibid. Gods love never idle 73 Incredulous love 224 Ladder of divine providence 146 Lots wife transformed into a pillar of Salt 89 Irreparable loss 184 Life of man a war without truce 159 Life and death inseparable companions 231 M. Magicians of Pharaoh and their enchantments 270 Admirable magnificence of God 58 Malediction of parents dangerous 132 Malediction of God on the Serpent 23 Malediction of Noah on his son 48 Malice of an eloquent woman 20 Manna of the desart 320 The time when it was to be gathered 323 Mariages subject to many disasters 123 Mariage of Isaac with Rebecca 116 Assured marks of our disposition 126 Martyrdom of love 103 Mixture of fortune 166 Excellent meditation 298 Pleasing Metamorphosis 63 Murther of Abel 27 Michael the Emperor quits his Empire to enter into a religious life 58 Mirror of Essences the motto thereof 29 World error of some Philosophers touching the beginning thereof 8 Monarchy of Adam and Eve over the Univers 19 The world is a Theatre 116 Extreme mortification 145 Motives which induced God to create the world 1 Motives of Conscience 140 Powerful motives to divert the brethren of Joseph from wicked designs 172 Moses 246 His birth and education ibid. His learning 252 His zeal and mariage with the daughter of the Prince of Madian 253 His fear at the sight of the flaming Bush 257 His Commission concerning the deliverance of the people of Israel 260 The certain marks of his power 263 He excuseth himself for accepting the Commission which God gave him 265 The threats God used to him 266 His Embassie into Egypt 267 He is visited in the desart where he creates Judges and Magistrates 334 His last Actions 385 His Testament 386 His last Canticle 402 Mysteries hidden under the Paschal Lamb 300 Man necessary for the world 9 Men eloquent when it concerns their own praise excellent conceptions upon this subject 10 Man the sport of the gods 148 Honest man what he is 163 N. Nature of God beneficent 320 Nature her power limited 269 Nembrod cheif contriver of the Tower of Babel his spirit and disposition 49 Noah his obedience to the command of God 41 His going out of the Ark and his sacrifice on the Hills of Armenia 44 Names Chariots of Essences 74 O. Obligation of fathers and mothers 128 Dreadful obstinacy 271 Oeconomy of the humane body 12 Opinion of Hesiod touching the Creation of the World 8 Original sin 15 Ornaments of the Sanctuary 369 P. Peace and Purity inseparable companions 65 Terrestrial Paradise 16 Paradise first habitation of man 16 Passions their different nature 181 Patience very awful 84 Persecution of modesty 184 Perfidiousness of the world 206 Plague of Egypt 284 Natural causes of the plague 285 Pharaoh King of Egypt makes Joseph his Lieutenant by reason of the truth of his predictions 196 Command of Pharaoh concerning the murther of all the male-children of the Hebrews 248 Pharaoh swallowed up in the Red Sea 304 Plagues of Egypt 275 Antient Policy 356 Portraict of the Justice of God 86 Predictions of Joseph 192 Efficacious prayers 122 Prevision of merits 137 Proclaming of Joseph by his Brethren 172 Promulgation of the Law on Mount Sina 343 Paternal Prudence 169 Punishment of Adam 14 Shameful pusillanimity 69 Putipher his over-great credulity 186 The impudence of his wife and her attempt upon the chastity of Joseph 178 Paschal Lamb 299 Planets the beginning of their courses 5 Pillar of Fire and Clouds 379 Picture of Hell 91 Picture of Fortune 194 Pains of women in child-bearing 23 Prayer the power and effects thereof 122 R. Rachel and her sterility 154 Radegond a despiseth France to become religious 59 Ramerus King of Aragon follows the same destiny ibid. Amiable resemblance between Joseph and Jesus Christ 222 The recompence of Jacob for his services 155 Pitiful reliques of sin 26 Remorse of Conscience 32 Remedies against Envy 35 Reproaches of God to Cain 28 Very just resentments 77 Rosignation of Abraham 101 Angelical resolution of Joseph 181 Rock and its motto 102 Ruben his affection towards his brother Joseph 173 Rivers their bounds and limits 5 River of Charity 80 S. Sacrifices very different of Abel and Cain 28 Sacrifices of Aaron consumed by fire from Heaven 376 Sanctification of the Sabhath 346 Sarah her death 113 How long she lived 115 Scamander i'ts properties effects
THE HOLY HISTORY WRITTEN In FRENCH by Nicolas Talon S. J. And Translated Into ENGLISH by the Marquess of WINCHESTER LONDON Printed by Y.W. for J. Crook and J. Baker and are to be sold at the Ship in St. Pauls Church-yard 1653. The Holy History Per Speculum in Aenigmate omnia in figuris Fide Moyses Invisibilem tamquam Videns Sustinuit WHollar LONDON Printed for Iohn Crook Iohn Baker at the Ship in S â— Pauls Churchyard THE AUTHORS DEDICATION TO THE KING OF FRANCE SIR I Should fear to prophane the Holy History if I did not place it in the Sacred hands of your Majesty It is the Book of God which deserves the Eye of a King It is the Testament of a Father which cannot be denyed the Eldest Son of his House And it is the Table of all Divine and Human Lawes which ought to appear under the Canopy of a most Just and most Christian Monarch I know that heretofore this Magnifick pledge was never seen but on the Altar and within the Tabernacle but now I believe I shall not far remove it thence by demanding a place for it in your Majesties Cabinet which without Flattery may be tearmed the Sanctuary of the Louure and Court For my part I would not have been so bold as to touch these pretious Reliques of the increated Wisdome and these illustrious Pourtraicts of so many Princes to make an offering of them to your Majesty If I did not perswade my self that you would rather fix on the Original than the Copy And would have less regard to the hand which presents them than to the passion which renders me Your Majesties Most humble most faithfull and most obedient Subject and Servant NICHOLAS TALON Table of Chapters FIRST BOOK God the Creator CHAPTER 1. GOds first sally out of himself in the birth of the Universe CHAPTER 2. The work of the six dayes CHAPTER 3. The Creation of Adam CHAPTER 4. The terrestriall Paradise CHAPTER 5. The disasters and Banishment of Adam and Eve CHAPTER 6. The murther of Abel and despair of Cain CHAPTER 7. The desolations and spoyles of Envy CHAPTER 8. Remedies against Envy CHAPTER 9. The building of the Ark and the Deluge CHAPTER 10. Noa 's descent out of the Ark and his Sacrifice on the hills of Armenia CHAPTER 11. The Rainbow in the Heavens CHAPTER 12. The unhappy effects of Wine CHAPTER 13. The Tower of Babel BOOK SECOND Ahraham and Isaack CHAP. 1. ABrahams departure out of the Territories and his entrie into the fields of Moreth where he erected an Altar and where God appeared to him the second time CHAP. 2. The voyages of Abraham and Sara into the Land of Egypt CHAP. 3. The agreement of Abraham and Lot upon the Controversie between their Shepheards CHAP. 4. The Victories of Abraham and the assurances God gave him of a most flourishing Posterity CHAP. 5. The assurances God gave unto Abraham of a most flourishing Posterity CHAP. 6 The Continuation of the favours which God conferred on Abraham CHAP. 7. The Charity of Abraham towards Pilgrims and the tendernesse of God towards him CHAP. 8. The firing of Sodome and the deliverance of Lot CHAP. 9. The birth of Isaac the banishment of Lot Ismael CHAP. 10. The Sacrifice of Abraham and the artifices of God to try his constancy and fidelity CHAP. 11. The Master-piece of obedience and the triumph of Love in the Sacrifice of Abraham CHAP. 12. The death of Sara CHAP. 13. The Mariage of Isaack with Rebecca and the death of Abraham BOOK THIRD Jacob and Esau CHAP. 1. THeir Birth CHAP. 2. The Education of Esau and Jacob and the shamefull sale he made of his right of primogeniture CHAP. 3. The dexterity of Rebecca to procure for Jacob the blessing of Isaack CHAP. 4. Gods design in preferring Jacob. CHAP. 5. Jacobs Ladder CHAP. 6. The constancy of Jacob in the quest of Rachel CHAP. 7. The reward Jacob received for his services and his departure out of Mesopotamia CHAP. 8. Jacobs wrastling with the Angel and his return into Canaan BOOK FOURTH Joseph and his Brethren CHAP. 1. JOseph sold by his Brethren CHAP. 2. The Combats of Joseph for defence of his Chastity CHAP. 3. The Predictions of Joseph CHAP. 4. The releasment of Joseph CHAP. 5. The government of Joseph in Egypt CHAP. 6. The voyages of Jacobs Children into Egypt and thâ— entertainment they there received from Joseph CHAP. 7. Jacob resolves to send Benjamin into Egypt CHAP. 8. Joseph known by his Brethren CHAP. 9. Jacobs going down into Egypt and the honourable entertainment he received there from Pharaoh CHAP. 10. The last words of Jacob. CHAP. 11. The last Will and Testament of Jacob containing the Benedictions given to the twelve Patriarks CHAP. 12. The lamentations of Joseph for the death of Jacob. BOOK FIFT Moses CHAP. 1. HIs Birth and Education CHAP. 2. The zeal of Moses and his mariage with the Daughter of the Prince of Madian CHAP. 3. The flaming Bush CHAP. 4. The Commission of Moses touching the deliverance of the people of Israel CHAP. 5. The assured marks of Moses power CHAP. 6. The Embassie of Moses and Aaron into Egypt CHAP. 7. The obduration of Pharaoh 's heart CHAP. 8. The plagues of Egypt CHAP. 9. The Waters of Egypt turn'd into bloud CHAP. 10. The Frogs of Egypt CHAP. 11. The Flyes of Egypt CHAP. 12. The Plague and Ulcers CHAP. 13. The Hail-storms Lightnings and Thunders CHAP. 14. The Grashoppers of Egypt CHAP. 15. The Darkness of Egypt CHAP. 16. The Death of the first born of Egypt CHAP. 17. The Pascal Lamb and the departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt CHAP. 18. Pharaoh swallow'd up in the Red Sea CHAP. 19. The Canticle of Moses after the death of Pharaoh CHAP. 20. The Manna of the Desart CHAP. 21. The fountain of Horeb. CHAP. 22. The defeat of the Amalekites by the prayers of Moses CHAP. 23. Moses is visited in the Desart where he Creates Judges and Magistrates CHAP. 24. The Sanctification of the people to receive the Law of God upon Mount Sina CHAP. 25. The promulgation of the Law upon Mount Sina CHAP. 26. The subversion of Idols CHAP. 27. An Edict against Blasphemers CHAP. 28. The Sanctification of the Sabbath CHAP. 29. The duty of Children toward their Parents CHAP. 30. A Sentence of death against Murtherers CHAP. 31. The triumph of Chastity CHAP. 32. Against the unjust usurpation of other mens goods CHAP. 33. Condemnation of False witnesses and Lyers CHAP. 34. The Tomb of Concupiscence CHAP. 35. An abridgement of the Law CHAP. 36. The Antient Policy CHAP. 37. The Adoration of the golden Calf CHAP. 38. The There-establishment of the Lawes and Ceremonies of the old Testament CHAP. 39. Of the Ornaments and other utensils ordained for the Sanctuary which were usefull in the Ceremonies of the Law of Moses CHAP. 40. The Ark of the Old Testament CHAP. 41. The Tabernacle CHAP. 42. The Altar of Holocausts CHAP. 43.
To this effect they chose one amongst them who should goe unto Joseph and whose Commission was to inform him that Jacob their deceased Father of happy memory had commanded them at his death to tell him that he desired him to forget what was past and they all conjur'd him in his name to grant this favour Which Joseph hearing he began to weep and his tears serv'd to assure his Brethren who cast themselves at his feet taking at the same time the boldness of their own accord to demand that Pardon from him which they had already solicited by the means of Benjamin or some other who they believed would be more acceptable to him adding besides that they were all his Servants and resolved to live and dy in that quality To which Joseph answered that they need not fear any thing that he would take care of them and of all their Children and for the rest he would not be less pittifull towards them than God whose example he follow'd and who had changed all their evill purposes into favourable occasions to procure his good having also rarsed him as it were on a Throne of honour and power by the same Arms they had used to precipitate him into an Abyss of miseries and calamities Behold the sense of a noble Soul and of a generous courage whose tears did not resemble those of Crocadiles nor such kindnesses as are used by Apes which strangle in flattering and in shedding feign'd tears Revenge is only proper unto weak minds whereas Clemency resides alwayes in a strong spirit Cruelty is a Tyranny and meekness a true Empire To want the power of retaining any bad resentment is to be invulnerable And those souls also on the contrary are alwayes covered with Wounds and Ulcers which keep in their hearts desire of revenge and cannot grant a Pardon This is more deplorable in respect neither God nor Man have any compassion for those who cannot afford it unto the miseries of others And on the contrary either soon or late there are treasures of graces for those on whom good nature or vertue bestows those amiable inclinations which are mortall enemies to revenge and cruelty And it was I assure my self upon this occasion and to gratifie Joseph for the good entertainment he had given his Brethren and the sweet correspondeney he endevoured to hold with them in despight of all the bad Offices he had received from them that all the powers of Heaven and Earth combin'd to render him perfectly happy almost during the whole course of his life which reached to one hundred and ten years Vixitque centum decem annis Gen. 50. v. 22. Et vidit Ephraim sibios usque ad tertiam generationem Gen. 50. v. 22. Et conditus aromatibus reposiâ—us est loculo in Aegypto Gen. 50. v. 25. at the end of which he saw himself invironed by his Children and by his Childrens Children even to the third generation who at last rendred him all the same duties which they had done unto Jacob for being dead they imbalmed him and his bones a long time after were carried into the Land of promise according to the desire of this great Patriarch from whose end as from that of his forefathers we ought to conclude that it is good to lead a vertuous life that we may dye holily Wee dye every hour and our life is a living death which consumes of it self our looks our vows our words our gestures and all our motions are steps which conduct us to the Tomb. THE HOLY HISTORIE FIRST TOME MOSES FIFTH BOOK CHAP. I. His Birth and Education THe prodigious increase of the people of Israel Filii Israel erevtrunt quasi germinantes multiplicati sunt ac roborati nimis impleverunt terram Exod. 1 v. 7. Creverunt Hebraei divinitus foecundata eorum multitudine Aug. lib. 18. de Civit. c. 7. in the Land of Egypt after the decease of Jacob and of all his Children was not only a work of Nature but a miraculous effect of Divine Providence which inkindled the Ashes of these blessed Patriarcks and intended that their Tombs should be an unexhaustible Spring of life and immortality Egypt neverthelesse was too much blinded to penetrate these secrets Surrexit interea Rex novus super Aegyptum qui ignorabat Joseph Exod. 1. v. 8. Et ait ad populum suum Ecce populus filiorum Israel multus fortior nobis est Exod. 1. v. 9. And Joseph being dead he that took the reigns of the Empire not knowing the services this wise Minister of State had rendred unto his Predecessors for the space of fourscore years seeing that the Israelites went on daily increasing in forces and men resolv'd to humble and suppresse them lest in time they might chance to joyn themselves with the enemies of his Kingdom and form a Party against the State Nevertheless Venite sapicuter opprimamus eum ne fortè multiplicetur si ingruerit contra nos bellum addatur inimicis nostris expugnatisque nobis egrediatur de terra Exod. 1. v. 10. they were like those Grains which shoot out of the Earth and bear a thousand little Ears which the Wind Sun and Rain beat not down but to make new productions But this yong Pharaoh who began to Reign hath not eyes quick enough to discern these mysteries and his hand though most powerful was yet too weak to destroy this fair Nation Jacob is dead Joseph is deceased and this illustrious Colony which left Canaan to come into Egypt hath followed Abraham and Isaac They are no more but the Children of their Children and their Posterity shall never end In vain is it to cast them into servitude Quantó â—ue opprimebant eos tanâ—o magis multiplicabantur crescebant Exod. 1. v. 12. to impose on them a yoke a thousand times more cruel than death and to load them with Irons like Victims These punishments this bondage and all these chains serve but to reinforce their Bodies and me thinks the sweat which drops from their Fore-heads in the midst of their pains is converted into the Juice of Life which renders them marvellously fruitful Have you not seen a River which issueth imperiously after it had passed through the midst of Rocks There are no banks nor limits nor any obstacles which it draws not a long with it It swells the more it is restrained and commonly its highest elevations grow from its greatest falls Thus the people of Israel little in their Birth and as a little Rill in its source increaseth the more it is restrained and like an impetuous torrent which hath broken its Banks Oderuntque filios Israël Aegyptii affligebant illudentes eis Exod. 1. v. 13. Atque ad amaritudinem perducebant vitam eorum operibus duris luti lateris omnique famulatu quo in terrae operibus premebantur Exod. 1. v. 14. it extends it self in a prodigious maner This was the occasion of the mortal hatred the Egyptians conceived
Sed ego scio quòd non dimittat vos Rex Aegypti ut eatis nisi per manum validam Exod. 3. v. 19. Extendam enim manum meam percutiam Aegyptum in cunctis mirabilibus meis quae facturus sum in medio corum posi haec dimittet vos Exod. 3. v. 20. that the God of the Hebrews had enjoyned them to offer sacrifices to him and therefore it was his pleasure they should withdraw themselves three day journey off for that end Mean while God who knew that Pharaoh would not consent thereunto advertis'd Moses of it and said unto him that in fine he would force him by rigour and the power of his armes to permit them to depart Now these weapons were no other than those of the misfortunes which befell this king and constrained him to give liberty unto the people of Israel CHAP. V. The assured markes of Moses Power THere is nothing more charming and more powerfull to Captivate men than speech Marvelous command of speech chiefly when it proceeds from a mouth full of Authority Neverthelesse there are some untamable spirits and rebellious souls who cannot be vanquished by these weapons and to whom all these discourses at most serve but for some time to lull asleep their fury This is sometimes seen in youth in whom the heat of their Age and the boyling of their blood make so much noise and stir up such dark tempests that reason is there alwayes as it were eclips't Oftentimes also there are persons of experience and Authoritie who adore only some old Error and admit of no reason but the course of a long and depraved custome It was not without cause that Moses so much fear'd to speak unto the Elders of the people Respondens Moises ait Non credent mihi neque audient vocem meam Exod. 4. v. 1. perswading himself they would not believe him and that they would deride both himself and his discourse but God made him see Prodigies which were to be infallible marks of his power over the minds of the most potent of his Nation The first was the Rod he held in his hand which became a Serpent Dixitque Dominus projice eam in terram prosicit versa est in colubrum Exod. 4. v. 3. Daxitque Dominus rursum mitte manum tuam in sinum tuum quam cum misisset in sinum protullt leprosam Exod. 4. v. 6. Retrahe ait manum tuam in sinum tuum retraxit protulit iterum erat similis carni reliquae Exod. 4. v. 7. Quod si nec duobus quidem his signis crediderint neque audierint vocem tuam sume aquam fluminis essunde eam super aridam quidquid hauseris de fluvio vertetur in sanguinem Exod. 4. v. 9. and afterwards reassum'd its former Nature The second appeared in his hand which he had no sooner put into his bosome but it became Leprous and afterwards returning into the same place it became immediatly like the rest of his body This was done by the command of him who is omnipotent and who by these miraculous effects would incourage Moses and assure him that those to whom he was sent would give Credit unto these prodigies He said farther to him that if they were so obstinate as not to believe him he was to take water out of the River Nilus and that it should be infallibly changed into blood Behold strange Metamorphoses that of the Rod into a Serpent and of the Serpent into a Rod signifyed three very different states of the people of Israel in Egypt The first was whilst Joseph lived during whose life they had possession of the Rod that is to say the Scepter and government of Egypt After that followes the death of this great Patriark and from that time all these poor people were detested by the Egyptians and like so many Serpents which crawled on the Earth But at length the time will come when Serpents shall be turned into Rods and be powerfull in the hand of Moses The second Metamorphosis by the hand of Moses signifies only the various afflictions of the Hebrews and the different alterations of their fortuns under the government of this wise conductor The third of the waters of Nilus did foretell the death and swallowing up of the Egyptians under the bloody and murthering waves of the Red Sea Notwithstanding all this Moses persists in excusing himself Alt Moises obsecro Domine non sum eloquens ab heri nudius tertius ex quo locutus es ad ser vum tuum impeditioris tardioris linguae sum Exod. 4. v. 10. and useth his best endeavors to discharge himself of an imployment in which he foresaw so many difficulties and whereof he esteemed himself so uncapable He represented unto God the trouble he had to expresse himself and how that since the very hour he had the honour to speak unto him he could hardly draw one word out of his mouth Lord saith he I am as a Child who can form but a confused sound between his lips And my tongue is so heavy and fat as I cannot speak a word without stammering Ah what God answered him Dixitque Dominus ad eum quis secit os hominis aut quis fabricatus est mutum surdum videntem caecum non ego Exod. 4. v. 11. am I not he who hath formed men with my own hand and put words into their mouths and is it not I who renders them deaf and dumb at my pleasure Yes truly it is God who discovers thoughts even in the most intricate minds It is he who moves and animates the tongues of Children and there needs but a breathing from his mouth to give life motion and voice unto the most insensible bodies These vertues are too well known At ille obsecro inquit Domine mitte quem missurus es Exod. 4. v. 13. Iratus Dominus in Meisem ait Aaron frater tuus Levites scio quod cloquens sit c. Exod. 4. v. 14. Loquere ad eum pone versia mea in ore ejus Exod. 4. v. 15. Virgam quoquc hanc sume in manu tua Exod. 4. v. 17. Abiit Moises reversus est ad Iethro Socerum suum dixitque ei vadam revertar ad fratres meos in Aegyptum Exod. 4. v. 18. and I am astonished at Moses who persists notwithstanding in his demand and who conjures God to send in his place the person whom he is to send Now it was doubtlesse the Messias whom he meant but the happy moment in which he should be born was not yet arriv'd and it had been to break the orders and decrees in Heaven to desire absolutely at that time the grant of this request God also grew angry with Moses and resolving no more to hear his complaints and excuses he was content to say unto him that his brother Aaron should serve him for interpreter to declare his will From that time
Moses took the Rod in his hand as God had commanded him and then he took leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt whither he carried his wife and Children It was upon the way God appeared to him the second time Dixitque ei Dominus revertenti in Aegyptum Vide ut omnia ostenta quae posui in manu tua sacias coram Pharaâ—ne ego indurabo cor ejus non dimittet populum Exod 4. v. 21. Ecce ego interficiam silium tuum primogenitum Exod. 4. v. 23. and where he advertised him of the future obduration of Pharaoh's heart and that after so many signs he should persist in his obstinacy and in the design of detaining the Children of Israel It was also commanded him to carry unto this unfortunate Prince the first news of the death of his Eldest Son which was to be the last dart of the revenging Justice of God and that which was to open the eyes of Pharaoh and to mollifie his heart for some time In some part of Moses Journey into Egypt Cumque esset in itinere in dâ—ersorio occurrit ei dominus qui volebat occidere eum Exod 4. v. 24. he was met by an Angel who offer'd to kill him with the Sword he held in his hand Rabbi Solomon who had a wit more inventive for a Romance than a true one for a History would induce credulous mindes to believe That this Angel had appeared under the shape of a Dragon and that he had devoured Moses even to the place of the Body where Circumcision was wont to be applied The two Eusebius's of Caesaria and Emissene believed That the cause why God threatned and afflicted Moses was for having brought his Wife with him the which might vilifie his Mission and render it suspected unto the Hebrews But that which followed renders the conception of St. Isidore of Damietta of Rupertus and Cajetan more probable who believed That it was done to punish the disobedience and the too long delays of Moses to whom he had given command to circumcise his Children Gen. 17. v. 12. Tulit illico Sephora acutissimam petram circumcidit praeputium silii sui Exod. 4. v. 25. For presently his Wife desiring in some sort to repair this fault and to withhold the hand of the Angel took a Knife made of a Stone to circumcise her Son The which being done she kneeled down to mitigate the wrath of this Angel who vanishing left the Husband and Wife in a sad astonishment In such sort as Moses was not able to speak a word Vide Cajetanum and Sephora beholding his eyes bathed in tears and his hands red with blood could not open her mouth but to say unto Moses That in truth he was her Husband but a bloody Husband Et â—it Sponsus sanguinum tu mihies and whom she had as it were acquired by shedding the blood of his own children Now from this example Advice to Parents all Fathers of Families should learn to obey the Will of God and testifie their Zeal and Piety not onely in their own persons but also in the person of their Children Above all they must take a Knife into their hands to cut off all that is impure And if men be therein less manly that is to say less generous than their Wives it is their part to take up Arms and as I have already said upon two or three occasions not to spare either Fire Sword or Blood provided it be done with Prudence Counsel and Piety CHAP. VI. The Embassie of Moses and of Aaron into Egypt TO the end God may be obeyed when he commands Necessary Obedience we must march when he sets forth and we ought not to be silent when he puts words into our mouths to speak by his order Kings hold their Scepters from him and all their Power is but a flash of light which issueth from this Sun without which all Thrones Empires and Crowns would have neither lustre Post haec ingressi sunt Moises Aaron dixerunt Pharaoni Haec dâ—cit Domirus Deus Israel dimitte populum meum Exod. 5. v. 1. At ille respondit Quis est Dominus ut audiam vocem ejus dimittam Israel Nescio Dominum Israel non dimittam Exod. 5. v. 2. nor resplendency Moses and Aaron then need not fear to appear in the presence of Pharaoh and to say boldly unto him That he who is their Lord and God commands him to restore Liberty unto his people But who is this God saith he unto Moses and Aaron of whom you speak For my part I know him not and in despight of him I will detain this people which you demand of me He doth much more for he heaps punishment upon punishment and orders these poor people to be used with more rigor than before Now as it is the custom of the miserable Occurreruntque Moisi Aaron qui stabant ex adverso egredientibus à Pharaont dixerunt ad eos Videat Dominus judicet quoniam foetere secistis odorem nostrum coram Pharaone c. Exod. 5. v. 21. and of those that suffer to complain of every thing and oftentimes to make even those the Authors of their afflictions who endeavor to procure their good so the people of Israel began even to murmure against Aaron and Moses as if the design of their coming-in had been to increase their sufferings There is nothing more cruel and less supportable to a good soul than Ingratitude It is the justest occasion can interrupt the current and continuation of a Benefit and not wholly to stop it we must seek constancy in God who alone hath power and goodness enough to oblige even the most ungrateful persons It is also to him Moses addresseth himself and it is into his bosom he makes an amiable discharge of all his thoughts Alas Reversusque est Moises ad Dominum ait Domine cur afflixisti populum istum quare misisti me Exod. 5. v. 22. Ex eo enim quo ingressus sum ad Pharaonem ut loqueâ—er in nomine tuo afflixit populum tuum non liberasti â—os Exod. 5. v. 23. Lord saith he why dost thou permit the oppressions of thy people And if I be not able to bring them relief why hast thou sent me rather to exasperate than comfort their Afflictions After this loving complaint God discovered himself fully unto Moses to give him a more assured mark of his love Go from me saith he and know that I am that Adonijah whose name is ineffable and whom the quickest and most peircing eyes do not discover but amidst obscurities Yes surely For it is onely under the veils of Faith and through the clouds which cover the Sanctuary God can be known Blindness of Humane Wisdom We must be guided by his obscure Clarities or God himself must inform us who he is otherwise we shall be the Disciples of Aximenes who will swear That God
and the sounding of Trumpets an Herauld was so clothed in black and covered with a large cipres veil wrought with Thunderbolts and crowned darts who proclamed that this Queen was unpittifull and that she intended speedily to make a horrid Sepulchre of a great kingdome But this funerall pomp was not fully ended when the most mutinous and most seditious appear'd who ask'd pardon and esteemed themselves more happy to fall into the hands of a king who might chastise them without depriving them of life than of a Queen who cannot punish but with death It was I beleeve for the same reason Togaris the Physician of Leon the Armenian cured all the maladies and pains which extended not unto the dissolution of the body and soul In effect there is nothing so terrible and dreadfull as death and God himself hath never erected more tragick Theaters than when he would cause this cruell Tyrant to march which makes all the Catastrophes of life and after many combats and actions at last destroyes creatures without any possibility of their foreseeing the place or moment of their destruction Hear then it is where after a war of all the Elements Warr of all the Elements and a duel of totall nature against the Egyptians these miserable wretches will find at length a revenging hand which is ready to cut off the first fruits of their Mariage and the most amiable delights of their family Methinks I hear the Herauld already pronouncing the sentence and condemning the first-born of Egypt unto death It is Moses who speaks or rather our Lord by his mouth For he is but the Eccho of his voice and the instrument of his most holy and severest decrees To thee Egypt Media nocte ingrediar in Aegyptum Exod. 11. v. 4. Et morietur omne primogenitum in terra Aegyptiorum à primogenito Pharaonis qui sedet in solio illius usque ad primogenitum ancillae quae est ad molam omnia primogenita jumentorum Exod. 11. v. 5. and to thee Pharaoh God will manifest by this blow that he is thy God that is to say not only most good but most just and most powerfull behold the last of dart of his wrath which is ready to be cast upon thy Palace and upon thy Empire and then a sad necessity and an extreme disafter will oblige thee to doe by constraint what thou oughst to doe through sweetness when all Egypt shall be buried in a profound sleep The Angel of God shall goe into all houses and his revenging Sword will have no more respect for him who should one day ascend a Throne and bear the Crown of a King than for the meanest of thy vassals or beasts of which he shall choose the Prince to Sacrifice unto his indignation But who could have ever painted out to us a face covered over with so many horrours if after the first colours which have been laid Moses the most learned and prudent of men had not been pleased to add some touches of his pencill unto this dreadfull image Cum enim quietum silentium con incret emnia nox in suo cursu medium iter haberet Sap. 18. v. 14. Omnipotens sermo tuus de caelo à regalibus sedibus durus debellator in mediam exterminii terram prosiluit Sap. 18. v. 15. Gladius acutus insimulatum imperium portans stans replevit omnia murte usque ad caelum attingebat stans in ter ram Sap. 18. v. 16. It was even in the midst of the Night saith Solomon that this ineffable Word to whom all is possible descended from the height of the Impyreall Heaven and thundred over this abominable Land which was chosen as the Theatre on which the bloody spoyles of the rage and obstinacy of Egypt were to be seen It carried a two edged-Sword which transpierced on every side without pitty and this Sword was no other than this irrevocable decree which was as soon executed as pronounced in Egypt filling the whole Country with horrours desolations and deaths The exterminating Angel went from dore to dore and when any one dore was found whose Threshold was not sprinckled with the innocent blood of the Lamb he entered and having drawn the curtains and search'd the beds in which the first born of Egypt reposed he made upon their lives a bloody proof of Gods indignation and wrath In fine There was no family in which they deplored not some Infant slain by this merciless Executioner of Gods Decrees This punishment was so universal Neque enim erat do mus in qua non faceret mortuus Exod. 12. v. 30. that both Lord and Vassal mourned for the same accident and therein the usage of the people differed not from that of their King So that such as remained alive could not receive consolation from any person since all had need thereof and they could not rest satisfied even with rendering the last duties unto their dead so disconsolate they were and their own grief joyned with that of their Allies Friends and their neerest Kinred did scarce permit them to be attentive to their own misery A more general and sensible desolation was never seen for all this great and flourishing Empire did swim in tears and almost in a moment all its hopes were seen extinguished in blood Besides all these disasters hapned for no other cause than for not having believed what was denounced to them and confirmed by so many exemplary and prodigious Chastisements wherewith they had been lately afflicted Vrgebantque Aegyâ—tis populum â—exire de terra velociter dicentes Omnes moriemur Exod. 12. v. 33. It must be granted then that all these tribulations and punishments were the inevitable effects of the Finger of God in this last misfortune whereby the Egyptians saw themselves deprived of their Eldest sons they could not deny but that the Israelites were under the Protection of the Almighty and from that time they promised to consent unto their departure Behold the degrees Degrees of Vengeance by which Vengeance goes ascending even unto the height we see some marks of it in the Clouds which never break in pieces before they cast forth some Lightnings which carry the first tidings of the approaching storm Indications of a Tempest are also seen upon the Sea and there is no description in all Nature of Gods Justice and Wrath which hath not its peculiar place to arrive unto excess and which doth not first give some wound before it giveth death But also when Threats have proved fruitless and the Darts thrown by a gentle hand served onely to invenome the disease and inflame the wound Patience and Mercy which are the faithful companions of Justice retire and instantly the Heart from whence a great stream of Milk was seen to issue converts it self into a torrent of Gall and the Hand which held Palms and Crowns Darts nothing but Lightnings and Thunder-bolts Divine Justice resembleth that Dragon in the Indies which first casts the
hand of pennance It is there where we ought to gird our Reins for otherwise a God of Purity would abhor to enter into an unclean Habitation into an unchaste Soul and into a Body which serves for a retreat unto the most merciless enemies of Vertue and Chastity We must have Staves in our Hands and Shooes on our Feet like Pilgrims which pass along and seek an abode elswhere than in a forrein Country where we must quit all we have or else either soon or late be forsaken by them Let us make haste then and remember An excellent thought I beseech you that this very day may be our Paschal and our passage from Earth unto Heaven What stayes us in the World our Parents will pass away or else are already gone before Our Friends are not here beneath for the Earth hath none but infidel perfidious and envious people In fine All that is under Heaven remains in a continual vicissitude The face of the Universe changeth every moment and that which sparkleth the most hath but marks of a vain appearance which serve onely to dazle our eyes and deceive our souls Such then saith St. Paul as have wives ought to live as if they had none that is to say Without being fastned unto any inordinate affection Those also who sigh and groan under the weight of miseries as if they had attained to the height of their desires and pretensions those that are on the top of the wheel as if they were under the feet of Fortune and loaden with all afflictions those that heap together riches as if they possessed nothing those that are ingaged amongst Creatures and are inforced to make use of them as if they were severed from them or as if the use of those Creatures were forbidden them This concludes my Brethren That we must break the Chains which fasten us to any other thing than God we must abandon Egypt and depart out of this unfortunate Land where nothing but Plagues Deaths and all sorts of horrors are seen Happy are they who follow God and Moses in the thickest part of the desart out of these tumults and dangers Proscâ—tique sunt filii Israel de Ramesse in Socoth sexcenta fere millia peditum virorum absque parvulis Exod. 12. v. 27. which are so frequent in Cities and Courts We cannot have more delightful company than his Elect who go from Egypt into Ramasses and from Ramasses into the Land of Socoth almost to the number of six hundred thousand foot-men without reckoning women and little children nor even the common people which can hardly be numbred I leave you my dear Reader to reflect on all that passed in this illustrious Departure and during this voyage which was I believe the most famous that hath ever been Nothing but the echoes of their Songs of Victory and of the Benedictions they gave unto their Redeemer were every where heard whilst their Tyrants howled like wolves from whom their prey is taken or else like Ravens which croak upon some dead body Moreover the convoy of the people of Israel was very rich and sumptuous Dominus autem dedit grariam populo coram Aegyptiis c. for they carried with them the most pretious moveables of Egypt as God had ordained them And to this effect he had imprinted on their foreheads and upon their faces I know not what marks of sweetness and so strong and powerfull attractives or as St. Austin beleev'd Sed vulgus promiscuum innumerabile ascendit cum eis oves armenta animantia diversi generis multa nimis Exod. 12. v. 38. Coxcruntque farinam quam dudum de Aegypto conspersam tulerant fecerunt sub cinâ—ricios panes azimos Exod. 12. v. 39. Habitatio autem filiorum Israel qua manserunt in Aegypto fuit quadringentorum trigenta annorum Exod. 12. v. 40. Hanc observare debent omnes filii Israel ingenerationibus suis Exod. 12. v. 42. Dixitque Dominus 〈◊〉 Moisen Aaron haec est Religio omnis alienigena non comedit ex eo Exod. 12. v. 43. Omnis autem servus emptititus circumcidetur sic comedet Exod. 12. v. 44. Advena mercenarius edent etit ex ea Exod. 12. v. 45. Omnis caetus filiorum Israel faciet illud Exod. 12. v. 47. such secret qualities as thereby they gained the hearts and friendships of those who before were their persecutors So that they desir'd them to burthen themselves with their spoiles and to depart as it were loaded with the booty they had gained from their enemies and pillaged after the victory of a most just warr which was also due unto them as a just recompence of their labours They carried also with them Sheep Oxen and all kind of Beasts Yet had nothing dressed and fit to eat wherefore they were faine speedily to set their hands awork and cause that which they had brought with them to be baked upon Ashes In fine This night when God drew them out of the calamities of Egypt and the bondage of Pharaoh was the end of four hundred and Thirty years which they pass'd therein and all the Children of Israel ought to observe it with a Solemnall worship throughout all generations It was also for this cause God said unto Moses and Aaron that such were the Ceremonies of the Paschal and that no stranger foreign Merchant nor any mercenary Servant or bought with money could be admitted unto the banquet of the Lamb till after the establishment of the Lawes for Circumcision To the end there might be but one Law both for those of the Country and for strangers which were mingled with the naturall Jewes All these conditions were most religiously kept and the Israelites omitted nothing of what God had given in command unto Moses Feceruntque omnes fibi Israel sicut praececeperâ—t dominus Moisi Aaron Exod. 12. v. 50. Et cadem die eduxit Dominus filâ—os Israel de terra Aegypti per turmas suas Exod. 12. v. 51. And so on the same day the Lord drew them out of Egypt according to their Tribes prescribing to them all the lawes they were to observe ordaining them chiefly Sanctification that is to say the offering of the first born as well of men as beasts to the end by this Sacrifice they should have a living and animated occasion to recall into their memory the singular favours had been done them when during the Murther of the Egyptians all theirs were preserved CHAP. XVIII Pharaoh Swallowed up in the Red Sea THE belief of one God Clemens Allexan â—rom 5. and the Evident demonstration of his justice are so inseparable as it would be more easy to meet with a spring without Water a life without a Soul and stars without rayes than a Soveraign nature which had not the power to punish sinners This then is almost as much as to say that there is one God and he is just We cannot even understand the frightfull termes and
a Picture of those who goe round about the Sanctuary and never enter into it For all these miserable men were shut out of the Land of Promise and this favour was reserv'd for their Children who notwithstanding were long in expectation of it There are some languishing Spirits in the world and souls floating about the Ark these are little Fishes which swim alwayes between two waters or else resemble those Birds which can never take their flight upon elevated places and never come out of their holes but when night approacheth and when scarse any light is to be seen These are also certain curious persons who would pry even into the Sun but the excesse of light blinds them In matters of Faith the eyes ought to be shut and all the reasons of human policy serve but to dazle and confound We ought never to be so presumptuous as to measure the grandeurs of the Mysteries of Heaven with the lownesse of our understanding It is sufficient to follow the lights of God to see what passeth in Chanaan and in the Land of Promise without sending other Spies than our most ardent desires and our purest actions otherwise the hand eye and mind which serve us for a guide in this Pilgrimage will forsake us on the way and amidst windings where we shall see but a far off the end of our travels and the shore which we strive to reach by strength of arms and Oars I even doubt whether after we have long expected Cum mihi quoque iratus propter vos Dominus dixit nec tu ingredieris illuc c. Deut. 1. v. 37. Precatusque sum Dominum in tempore illo dicens Deut. 3. v. 23. and demanded the land of Promise with tears in our eyes and sighs in our hearts we shall not be enjoyned silence and surely it would be done with more reason than unto Moses who notwithstanding his virtue and merits was not heard in the request he made upon this occasion for after he had made his prayer in these termes My Lord Domine Deus tu coepisii estendere servo tuo magnitudinem tuam manumque fortis simam Neque enim est alius Deus vel in caelo vel in terra qui passit facere opera tua comparari sortitudini tuae Deut. 3. v. 24. Transibo igitur videbo terram hanc optimam trans Jordanem montem istum egregium Libanum Deut. 3. v. 25. and my God thou hast begun to withdraw the Veiles which hide from us thy greatness and power It is necessary to confess that neither in the Heavens nor upon Earth there is any power comparable to thine nor other God who can work those miracles whereof I have been a witness I hope then that thy victorious hand and thy Omnipotent arm will conduct me beyond Jordan and that being under this happy Climat and in these fortunate Lands for which I have even sighed the space of fourty years I shall at last ascend the Mountain of Moria and Liban where I may kiss the paces and discern the foutsteps of those who have been my well-beloved fore-Fathers Iratusque est Dominus mihi propter vos nec exaudivit me sed dixit mihi sufficit tibi nequaquam ultrae loquaris de hac re ad me Deut. 3. v. 26. and thy dear Children God who can do nothing but with Justice shewed some marks of his Anger and most expresly prohibited Moses to importune him any more concerning this matter Afterwards he sent him to the top of Mount Phasga Ascende cacumen Phasga aculos tuos circumser ad occidentem ad Aquilonem Austrumque Orientem aspice Deut. 3. v. 27. Sed Josue filius Nun minister tuus ipse intrabit pro te hunc exhortare robora ipse sorte terram dividet Israeli Deut. 1. v. 38. Mansimusque in valle contra fanum Phoger Deut. 3. v. 29. Non addetis ad verbū quod vobis loquor nec auseretis ex eo custodite mandata Domini Dei vestri c. Deut. 4. v. 2. from whence having commanded him to look towards the East the South the West and the North he charged him only to incourage Josua who was to succeed him after his death in the quality of a Conductor of his people and to divide Chanaan and the Land of Promise amongst the Tribes of Israel I know not the terms which Moses used in the Establishment of so prudent and worthy a Successor For he was content to say that having received this answer and commission he descended into the Valley where was the Temple of Phogor Having in this manner concluded the first Chapter of Deuteronomy In the eighth Chapter following he makes a long discourse exhorting his people to keep exactly the Lawes and Commandements which were first given upon Mount Sina with a Spirit inviron'd with flames and ardors which sufficiently testified the greatness of this mysterie and the importance of the matter Beware then my dear Children said Moses to them Remarkable words of Moses of violating the Oath of your fore-Fathers and if you be sensible of all the blessings you have received Dye rather a thousand times than efface in your souls the love and gratitude due unto him who hath delivered you out of the furnaces of Egypt Cave ne quando obliviscaris pacti Domini tui Deut. 4. v. 23. and whose spirit hath secret flames and devouring fires which will consume you if you have been so audacious as to forget him and despise his commands But if you obey him you shall goe into those pleasant Countries which will prove a Haven unto all your miseries and the accomplishment of all your desires Et juravit ut non transirem Jordanem nec ingrederer terram optimam quam daturus est vobis Deut. 4. v. 21. Ecce morior in hac humo non transibo Jordanem vos transibitis possidebitis terram egregiam Deut. 4. v. 22. There all your Fetters shall be broken and your selves freed from bondage without fear and apprehension you shall enjoy those blessings which were heretofore promised unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob. For my part my well-beloved I am at the end of my life and shall never pass over Jordan nor the Land of Chanaan Goe then happily thither and before you set your foot on this Country engrave in the bottom of your soules the Lawes and Precepts I have so often taught you Haec est enim vestra sapientia intellectus coram populis ut audientes universa praecepta haec dicant En populus sapiens intelligens gens magna Deut. 4. v. 6. to the end when another People shall see and hear these Oracles and documents from your mouths they may say with astonishment Behold these wise and learned men this great Nation and these illustrious Tribes for whom heaven hath alwayes had an extraordinary care and a particular affection For the rest in case you observe not
sunt dii eorum in quibus habebant fiduciam Deut. 32. v. 37. De quorum victimis Comedebant adipes bibebant vinum libaminum surgant opitulentur vobis in necessitate vos protegant Deut. 32. v. 38. Videte quòd ego sim solus non sit alius Deus praeter me Ego occidam ego vivere faciam percutiam ego sanabo non est qui de manu mea possit eruere Deut. 32. v. 39. Levabo ad caelum manum meam dicam Vivo ego in aeternum Deut. 32. v. 40. Si acuero ut fulgur gladium meum arripuerit judicium manus mea reddam â—ltionem hostibus meis his qui oderunt me retribuam Deut. 32. v. 41. Inebriabo sagiteas meas sanguine gladius meus devorabit carnes de cruore occisorum de captivitate nudati inimicorum capitis Deut. 32. v. 42. and the dreadfull period of an irritated patience Alas what day what Tribunall What Assises and what Judgements This will be the fortunate moment which mercy hath ordained to crown the merits of Virtue and the frightfull Instant which Justice hath decreed for the punishment of sins Then all the force pride and power of the Jews shall appear but weakness and even those who think to be in Cities and in their Towers as in places of security shall be miserably oppressed And then what Answer will these miserable wretches make unto the voice of God who will lay a thousand reproaches on them and in deriding their Miseries will say Alas then where are those Gods whom you idolatrize and in whom you place your Assurances where are those who did eat the fat of the Victims which they have immolated and drank the Wine of their Sacrifices Let them now rise up and succour you in so pressing necessities In fine now acknowledge whether there be another God than my self who is able to dispose of life and death of Evill and the remedy and whose power is so absolute as no man can resist it It is I the living God that I am who will lift up my hand unto Heaven and if I sharpen my Sword and if I inkindle its Edge like Lightning to make you undergoe the rigour of my severest Judgements the thunder of my vengeances shall fall on my enemies and upon all those who shall wage War against me as a furious lightning which shall consume all that it strikes by the breath of its ardours and devouring flames afterwards I will steep my merciless darts and arrows in the bloud of Rebels and I will satiate my justest furies in the most horrid slaughter of those bodyes which have been massacred sparing neither Masters nor slaves Let the Gentiles learn then from hence the praise they ought to give unto this people who have a God whose goodnesses are alwayes favourable to those whom he loves Laudate gentes populum ejus quie sanguinem servorum suorum ulciscetur c. Deut. 32. v. 43. and whose vengeances are dreadfull to his enemies Behold my dear Reader the end of this famous Canticle which was first recited in the presence of all the people of Israel and which contains a description of the miracles God wrought to deliver them out of Captivity It was likewise a powerfull exhortation which ought to oblige them either by force or sweetness to remain faithfull in the service of so good and powerfull a Master But this was to sing in the ears of Tygers whose fury is the more irritated when they hear any Musick Christians let us not doe the like but benefit our selves at the expence of this people And faithfully keep the Lawes and Commandements God hath given us let us listen once more unto the last words of Moses and of our Prophet who speaks both to them and us My dear Children I have nothing else to say Et dixit ad eos Ponite corda vestra in omnia verba quae ego testificor vobis heaie ut mandetis ea siâ—â—iâ— vestris custodire facere implere universa quae scripta sunt legis hujus Deut. 32. v. 46. Quia non in cassâ—â— praecepta sunt vobis sed ut singuli in eis viverent quae facientes longo perseveretis tempore in terra ad quam Jordane transmisso ingredimini possidendam Deut. 32. v. 47. and ask of you before my death but that you would seriously consider what I have delivered to you and that you would deeply imprint it both in your own and your Childrens hearts to the end you may all practise and accomplish it for these Lawes have not been established in vain but to the end they may keep you if you keep them and that they may conserve you with bonds of peace and love in this blessed Land into which you are going after your passage over Jordan CHAP. XLIX The Death of Moses at the sight of the holy Land IN fine after forty years of travell behold us with the people of Israel upon the Confines of the Land of Promise All our enemies are vanquished our Chains are broken the Sea hath suspended its billows to make us a passage the bitternesses of Mara are changed into delights the Heavens have rained down nothing but Manna on our deserts and totall Nature hath wrought miracles to serve us But alas we know not what will be the issue of all these happy accidents and of these admirable prodigies for the Aspects of this amiable Intelligence which have been as it were our starrs amidst so many obscurities and these arms which have been so often lifted up towards Heaven for our safety after they had conducted and delivered us amidst so many dangers are now even ready me-thinks to languish and decay In truth the Judgements of God are frightfull Abysses and it were to lose our selves to enter into them with other lights than those of Faith and Love All our fairest designs are sometimes but the draughts and Images of a dream where our proudest hopes meet only with a Tomb. Have we not seen Conquerours who having measur'd by their Triumphs the richest parts of the Universe banish'd into some corner of the Earth and into the Gates of some Cities where they scarce found any Sepulchre Behold the period of their Combats the end of their Triumphs and the Occident of all these Stars which shined not but amongst Laurels Behold them in lamentations in bloud and under some Cypress tree which formeth the funestous Crown of their ambition and the Tomb of their memory Is this the fatall end of their desires the subject of their tears and the period of their projects At least if their Children were their heirs and if these dolefull issues could open them a passage and give them some entrance into the Empires of honour and immortality after which they had so long sighed they would receive this consolation that their death had been the life of others and that in dying they had rendred
themselves immortall But even those who have not born arms but by express order from God and have had no other design in the conduct of their Troops than to conserve his Empire and inlarge the bounds of his Dominions cannot be freed from paying tribute unto death Who could believe that it durst assault Moses and that this great Captain who had hitherto cast terror and dread into the Armies of his Enemies and so often preserved the lives of his Party should be reduced to the point of being necessitated to undergo the last assaults of Nature Who would believe that he must now be treated like the meanest of persons but this usage is very gentle and these assaults do not affright him since he sings in dying and that these last words are no other than Benedictions for his people and Prophecies concerning all that was to happen unto the Children of Israel My children saith he Haec est benedictio qua benedixit Moises bomo Dei filiis Israel ance mortem suam Deut. 33. v. 1. Et ait Dominus dâ— Sinai venit de Seiortus est nobis apparuit de monte Pharan cum eo sanctorum millia In dextera ejus ignea lex Deut. 33. the Lord who came unto us on the top of Mount Sina to hold his first Sessions upon a Throne of Fire and a Tribunal of Flames This beautiful Sun which rose about the Mountain of Seir and whose Rayes stifled all those furious Serpents which persecuted us This King who appeared to us on the Summit of Mount Paran to establish our Judges This God who is always followed by millions of Angels and whose Majesty sufficiently made its self to be felt when he appeared holding in his hands the Law which he gave us amidst the Thunders and Lightnings It is he who hath wrought these miracles of Love Dilexit populos omnes sancti in manu illius sunt qui apprepinquant pedibus ejus accipient de doctrina illius Deut. 33. v. 3. Legem praecepit nobis Moises haereditatem multitudinis Jacob. Deut. 33. v. 4. and prodigies of Goodness and Power in testimony That you are his wel-beloved people and that he hath no common cares and tendernesses for those who are like your selves more peculiarly consecrated unto him The Law which I leave you by his order is then your Inheritance and the fairest possessions which I even now dying leave unto all your Successors I beseech this great God of our Fore-fathers Vivae Ruben non moriatur sit parvus in numero Deut. 33. v. 6. that the Posterity of Ruben may extend it self without limits even beyond time But I cannot divert the shafts of his Justice which will fall on this guilty Race and which shall be always small in number by reason of the incest which hath infected the first of their name Haec est Judae benedictio Audi Domine vocem Judae Et ad populum suum introduc eum Manus ejus pugnabunt pro eo adjutor illins contra adversarios ejus erit Deut. 33. v. 7. Levi quoque ait Perfectio tua doctrina tua viro sancto tuo c. Deut. 33. v. 8. Lord be propitious unto the children of Juda and when this Prince of the Tribes shall march in the head of your troops overthrow all his enemies and by the power of the Arm of the great God of Battels let him enter the Holy Land I expect also from God that his goodness would conserve in the house of Levi the Priesthood of Aaron with the Ornaments and other principal qualities which are as it were the eyes and souls of so holy and so illustrious a Dignity Et Benjamin ait Ammantissimus Domini habitabit confidenter in eo quast in thalamo tota die morabitur inter humeros illius requiescet Deut. 33. v. 12. I leave unto Benjamin all that which the power of the world can neither give nor take away from him It is the affection of a God who hath made choice of his Territories there to build his Temple and ordained his Tribe to extract thence the Kings of the people of Israel It is also as it were in the bosom and on the back of this his Favorite that the Divinity will take repose as in a Bed of Love and will cause his glory to break forth as on a Throne of Honor. As for Joseph Joseph quoque ait de benedictione Domini terra ejus de pomis caeli rore atque abysso subjacente Deut. 33. v. 13. Et super verticem Nazaraei inter fratres sues Deut. 33. v. 16. and his Off-spring the Earth and the Heavens will make an amorous war against each other and will have a secret emulation to fill them with their benefits and he that appeared to me in the flaming Bush will descend as I promise my self from his mercy upon the head of this Nazarite who hath already changed his Prison into a Throne and to whom the envy of his Brethren served but to raise him above themselves and render him the Vicegerent of Pharaoh The happy Line of Zabulon and Issachar Et Zabulon ait Latare Zabulon in exitu tuo Issachar in tabernaculis tuis Deut. 33. v. 18. Populos vocabunt ad montem ibi immolabunt victimas sustiâ—iae c. Deut. 33. v. 19. have no cause to be sad for they will quietly enjoy all the advantages of the traffick they shall exercise on their shores And both of them by words and examples shall teach the other Tribes and invite them to repair unto Mount Sion to render unto God in his Temple the Worship and Honors which are due unto him Lyons have not more courage and strength Et Gad ait benedictus in latitudine Gad quasi leo requievit cepiâ—que brachium verticem Deut. 33. v. 20. than the Children of Gad and in effect they have already given chace to all their enemies and the Amorites have in a maner given them entrance into those vast Possessions of Canaan of which they shall be the masters Those of Dan also are as so many little Lyons Dan quoque ait Dan catulus leonu fluet largiter de Basan Deut. 33. v. 22. like those of Basan the Philistims shall one day become their prey and the City which bears their name shall be as the Spring of Jordan and the Nursing-mother of other Provinces Concerning Naphtali Et Nepthali dixit Nepthali abundantia perfruetur plenus erit benedictionibus Domini mare meridiem possidebit Deu. 33. v. 23. Aser quoque ait benedictus in filiis Aser sit placens fratribus suis c. Deut. 33. v. 24. Habitabit Israel confidenter solus c. Deut. 33. v. 28. Beatus es tu Israel Quis similis tui popule qui salvaris in Domino scutum auxilii tui gladius gleriae tuae negabunt te inimici tui tu corum colla calcabis Deut. 33.
offered unto God 28 His murthers by Cain 30 Abraham 52 His vocation 53 The difficulties of his voyage 60 The agreement he made with his Father-in-law Lot 65 His Charity towards Pilgrims 78 His martyrdom for three days 107 His discourse to his son Isaac 109 The advertisement which he gave him that he was to be the victim of his sacrifice 110 His farewel to the world 60 Adam and his Creation 10 His fear and shame at the sight of God in the Terrestrial Paradise 21 He lays the fault on his wife 22 His disaster and banishment 23 Advantage by good education 128 Advertisement very remarkable of Philip of Macedon 51 Advice to fathers and mothers 267 Advice to publick persons 386 Affections very regular 150 Africa tormented by Grashoppers 289 Agar chased out of Abrahams house 73 Alexius his affection towards his father 348 Amalekites overcome by the prayers of Moses 330 St. Ambrose his authority over the Empress Justina 269 Anastasius the Emperor leaveth the Empire of Greece to be religious 58 Animals their production 7 Antandria marvellous in her Rivers 156 Apparition of God unto Moses and the advertisement he gave him 266 Apprentiship of Empires 257 Lawful apprehensions 139 Very just apprehensions for worldly men 62 Ark of the Old Testament 370 Ark of the Testament a figure of the divinity 186 Insolent artifice of Putiphers wife 185 Artifice of Rebecca in the preference of Jacob before Esau 133 Admirable artifices of God to try the fidelity of Abraham 97 Art of digging very difficult 236 Aurelian and his Crowns of bread 81 Altar of Holocausts 373 Mysterious answers 136 B. St. Basil the power he had with the Emperor Valens 269 Banishment of Adam and Eve 19 Banishment of Agar and Ismael 94 Baltilda leaves France and became a religious woman 59 Cruel battery of Putiphers wife against the chastity of Joseph 182 Beauty its power and tyranny pleasing and deadly poison 37 Benediction of God upon all Nations and Generations in the person of Abraham 57 Deceiptful Benedictions of this world 136 Benediction of the twelve Patriarks 236 Flaming Bush 257 The reality of fire which burnt it without consâ—ming it 258 First-born of Egypt their death and destruction 294 Blindness of Isaac 230 Building of the Ark 40 Supplanting Brethren 125 Bones springs of the bodies motions 12 Birds their production 6 C. Cain his affection fastned to the Earth 27 His execrable insolence 30 His troubles and exiles 32 First Canticle of Moses 313 Second Canticle of Moses 404 Ignominuous captivity of Creatures in the world 335 Charlemain son of Charls Martel leaves France to live out of way on Mount Soracte 58 Doleful Catastrophies 312 Ridiculous Ceremonies 221 Ceremonies of the Old Testament 368 Certainty most uncertain 130 Charity her Antiparistasis 361 Chastity her victories and triumphs 349 Circumcision the command thereof 75 Circumcision corporal figure of that which is to be in the spirit of Grace ibid. Circumcision sign of peace 76 Circumcision Image of Faith ibid. Mark of distinction ibid. Sequence of original sin ibid. Clotarius his victories which he gained by the means of prayer 333 Combat of Joseph in defence of his chastity 177 Combats natural to man 326 Mournful complaint of Jacob 174 Fruitless complements 98 Consort of creatures 8 Condemnation of false witnesses and lyers 351 Divine condescendency 81 Confidence in God 28 Conscience of sinners an inseparable Officer 200 Inflexible courage 162 Courage the definition of it according to St. Thomas 59 Course of Wisdom 142 Creation of the World 4 Cremona beaten by a Hail-storm 287 Cyreneans necessitated to make war against Grashoppers 289 Complaint of Rebecca in the paines of child-bearing 123 Rigorous clemency 203 D. Deliverance of Joseph 190 Deluge and the time when it hapned 41 Devil of Egypt 181 Disasters of gluttony 129 Disorders of love 178 Design of God in the preference of Jacob before Esau 134 Disobedience first misfortune of Adam 21 Disunion the first misfortune of the World 20 Duty of children towards their parents 347 Diamond how it is broken 278 Dina carried away by Sichem Prince of the Sichemites 163 Dioxipus vanquished by the beauty of a great Lady Diversity of depositions 27 Duel of grief and love 106 Decrees against the usurpation of other mens goods 350 Death of Abraham 117 Darkness of Egypt 290 Departure of the people of Israel out of Egypt 299 Decree concerning the Creation of men 10 Departure of the people of Israel out of Egypt 303 Dreams of Joseph which he revealed to his brethren 167 Dreams their destinction according to Chrysippus 168 E. Eclipse of reason in Wine 48 Edict against blasphemers 345 Equality sometimes dangerous 74 Egypt the Sepulchre of the name of Israel 249 State Elogy 141 Empire of Love 102 Empire of Souls 162 Sovereign Empire of God 251 Envy its desolations 32 Its resemblance with those bloody Birds of prey which are seen near the North Pole 33 Remedies against it 35 Its nature and qualities 175 Esau his nature and humor 126 The love he had to hunting 128 He sells his birth-right to his brother Jacob for a mess of pottage 129 He marrieth against the will of his Parents 130 Marvellous estate of man 16 Eternity all is short to him who meditates on it 153 Eve her Creation 17 Her disaster and banishment 19 Her discourse to Adam to deceive him 20 Her malediction 23 End of the deluge 44 Epitomy of the Law 354 Eagles a handsom mark of their affection 339 Ermine and her Motto ibid. Extraction of great men is commonly a fair subject of miseries 135 F. Fruitfulness of women the causes which hinder it 121 Felicity subject to alteration 123 Feasts of death 214 Memorable feast of the Hebrews 299 Fire symbol of the Divinity 310 Firmament formed in the midst of waters 5 Enigmatical Figures 136 Inviolable Fidelity 187 Fountain of Horeb 326 Fountain of the Red Sea which changeth every thing into Carnation 156 Firing of Sodom 89 Frogs of Egypt 279 Flyes of Egypt 281 Fishes their production 6 Fopperies of Idolaters and Turks 341 G. Government of Joseph in Egypt 194 Graces of God always sufficient 139 Gregory the thirteenth the Picture he caused to be made of Peace and Justice 68 Goodness of God towards men 15 Ineffable goodness 85 Golden Calf the adoration thereof 359 God Creator 1 God repents to have made man 39 God hidden under the habit of the poor 152 God never tempteth 97 God hath no need of a name why 261 God sporteth with Jacob 148 H. Hook and the motto thereof 350 Heliopolis City of the Sun in Egypt 197 Heraclius Patriark of Jerusalem an excellent answer made by him to Henry King of England 364 St. Hilary his power over the Emperor Constantius 269 Homicides their sentence of death 348 Homicides of two kindes 352 Honors rendred to Joseph by the command of Pharaoh 196 Different humors of Jacob and Esau 126 Happiness of Divine Providence 195 Wel-grounded hopes
156 Secret to become master of hearts 162 Lamentable separation 141 Sephora the command which was given her to circumcise her son 266 Diabolical Serpent which deceived Eve in the Terrestrial Paradise 20 Brazen Serpent which God commanded Moses to make and set up in the Wilderness 381 Sigibertus leaves England to become religious 58 Signs of the day of Judgement 89 Simeon and Levi their fury and cruelties upon the Sichemites 163 Pleasing spectacle 120 Two-edged swords 136 Stratagem of the Angel Raphael 137 Stratagem of Abraham 61 Statue of Justice amongst the antient 86 Soul of a just man is the throne of God 186 Interessed souls 66 Soul source of beauty and operations 14 Slavery of love 150 Spirit of peace becomes furious when it is irritated 69 T. Tabernacle of the Old Testament 372 Time of mans creation 12 Dreadful tempest 275 Temptations their natures and diversities 97 Temptation exercise of Faith ibid. Furious temptations 183 Discreet tenderness 211 Testament of Jacob 236 Thales his opinion of God 262 Theodosius leaves the Empire of Greece to become a religious man 58 The thanksgiving he rendred unto God for one of his vanquished enemies 333 Tomb of concupiscence 352 Thunders plagues of Egypt 286 Tower of Babel 49 Trajan a gallant answer made by him to the Emperor Valens 333 Warlike tranquillity 68 Triumph of love on the sacrifice of Abraham 96 Tryal of love 97 Things difficult to comprehend in the World 166 Tears quench the ardors of our souls 242 Delicious tears 120 V. Vengeance and its degrees 297 Vanity of worldly men in buildings 50 Veremond King of Castile becomes a religious man 58 Verity makes a breach every where 199 Vesuvia the firing of it 275 Vicissitudes of life 168 Union of the souls 145 Vocation of holy soul 57 Voice of God in silence 143 Voyage of Abraham and Sarah into the Land of Egypt 59 His victories and the assurances which God gave him of a flourishing posterity 68 Voyage of the children of Jacob into Egypt 199 Vestments of the High Priest 374 W. Waters of Jordan respectful to the Priests who carried the Ark of the Testament 186 Waters of Egypt converted into blood 277 Constant women 106 Weakness worthy of compassion 46 Weakness of courage 152 Eternal war between the Woman and the Serpent 23 Works of uncreated wisdom 148 Works of the six days 4 Wisdom resembling the Sun 141 Wine its unhappy effects 48 Z. Zeal the excellency and source of it 238 Zeal of the Ranters of the world 254 Indiscreet zeal ibid. True zeal 255 FINIS The Printer to the Reader HIs Lordship 's being out of Town hath occasioned some Errors in the Print which the Reader may thus Correct PAg. 3. line 33. read liveless p. 5. l. 16. r. ardors p. 9. l. 16. r. to his love p. 44. l. 8. adde while p. 55. l. 5. r. Heaven p. 60. l. 28. r. Castles for Dungeons p. 74. l. 30. r. Covenant p. 98. l. 37. r. love was content p. 100. l. 3. r. Benedictions p. 102. l. 15. r. Clarities p. 108. l. 12. r. Isaac 's cost p. 129. l. 4. r. avail me p. 142. l. 13. r. now time l. 14. r. not for needs p. 173. l. 9. dele much p. 204. l. 15. r. poudered p. 207. l. 1. r. Laws p. 217. l. 22. r. even ready p. 255. l. 2. r. specious titles p. 269. l. 3. r. amazed himself p. 295. l. 6. r. was seen cleathed p. 300. l. 1. r. were obliged p. 301. l. 30. r. by it p. 307. l. 1. dele to p. 343. l. 29. dele nevertheless p. 379. l. 9. r. he imployes With other faults of lesser importance besides these in the Text and Marginal Notes