slaine the peoples hoste pray for them as our Lord hath coÌ„manded †And forthwith Aaron approching to the altar immolated the calfe for his sinne †the bloud wherof his sonnes brought to him wherin dipping his finger he touched the hotnes of the altar and poured the rest at the foote therof †And the fatte and the litle kidneis and the caule of the liuer which are for sinne he burnt vpon the altar as our Lord had commanded Moyses †but the flesh and skinne therof he burnt with fire without the campe †He immolated also the victime of holocaust and his sonnes brought him the bloud therof which he poured in the circuite of the altar †The hoste also it selfe being cut into peeces they brought with the head and euerie member Al which he burnt with fire vpon the altar †hauing first washed the entralles and the feete with water †And offering for the sinne of the people he slew the bucke goat and expâ—ating the altar †he made the holocaust †adding in the sacrifice the libaments which are offered withal and burning them vpon the altar be side the ceremonies of the morning holocaust †He immolated also the oxe and the ramme the pacifique hostes of the people and his sonnes brought him the bloud which he poured vpon the altar round about †The fatte also of the oxe and the rump of the ramme and the two little kindneis with their fatte and the caule of the liuer †they put vpon the brests and after the fatte was burnt vpon the altar †their brests and the right shoulders Aaron did seperate eleuating them before our Lord as Moyses had commanded †And stretching forth his hand to the people he blessed them And so the hostes for sinne and the holocaustes and the pacifiques being finished he descended †And Moyses and Aaron going into the tabernacle of testimonie and afterward comming forth blessed the people And the glorie of our Lord appeared to al the multitude †and behold a fire coming forth from our Lord deuoured the holocaust and the fatte that was vpon the altar Which thing when the multitude had senne they praised our Lord falling on their faces CHAP. X. Nadab and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron for offering strange fire are burnt to death and cast out of the campe 6. for whom the people mourne but not the Priests 8. Priests are forbid to drinke wine when they enter into the tabernacle 12. and are commanded to eate the residew of oblations in the holie place 16. which this timein part they omitted and are excused being sorowful for that vvhich happened to Nadab and Abiu AND Nadab and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron catching censors did put in fire and incense therupon offering before our Lord strange fire which was not commanded them †And fire comming forth from our Lord deuoured them and they dyed before our Lord. †And Moyses said to Aaron This is it which our Lord hath spoken I wil be sanctified in them that approch to me and in tbe sight of al the people I wil be glorified Which Aaron hearing held his peace †And Moyses calling Misael and Elisaphan the sonnes of Oziel the vncle of Aaron said to them Goe and take away your bretheren from the sight of the Sanctuarie and carie them without the campe †And going forthwith they tooke them as they lay reuested with linnen tunikes did cast them forth as it had bene commanded them †And Moyses spake to Aaron to Eleazar and Ithamar his sonnes Vncouer not your heades and rent not your vestiments lest perhaps you die and indignation come vpon al the assemblie Let your brethren and al the house of Israel lament the burning that our Lord hath raised †and your selues shal not goe out of the dore of the tabernacle otherwise you shal perish for the oyle of holie vnction is vpon you Who did al thinges according to the precept of Moyses †Our Lord also said to Aaron †Wine and anie thing that may make drunke you shal not drinke thou and thy sonnes when you enter into the tabernacle of testimonie lest you die because it is an euerlasting precept through your generations †And that you may haue knowledge to discerne betwen the holie and prophane betwen the polluted and cleane †and may teach the children of Israel al my ordinances which the Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moyses †And Moyses spake to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sonnes that were left Take the sacrifice that is remayning of the oblation of our Lord and eate it without leauen beside the altar because it is Holie of holies †And you shal eate it in a holie place which is giuen to thee and thy sonnes of the oblations of our Lord as it hath bene commanded me †The brest also that is offered and the shoulder that is seperated you shal eate in a most cleane place thou and thy sonnes and thy daughters with thee For they are laid apart for thee and thy children of the healthful hostes of the children of Israel †because the shoulder and the the brest and the fatte that is burnt on the altar they haue eleuated before our Lord and they pertaine to thee and to thy sonues by a perpetual lawe as our Lord hath commanded †Among these thinges when Moyses sought for the bucke goate that had bene offered for sinne he found it burnt and being angrie against Eleazar and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron that remained he said †Why did you not eate the hoste for sinne in a holie place which is most Holie and geuen to you that you may beare the iniquitie of the multitude and may pray for it in the sight of our Lord †especially wheras of the bloud therof there hath not bene caried within the holie places and you ought to haue eaten it in the Sanctuarie as it was commanded me †Aaron answered This day hath bene offered the victime for sinne and the holocaust before our Lord and to me that is chanced which thou seest how could I eate it or please our Lord in ceremonies hauing a sorowful hart †Which when Moyses had heard he was satisfied with his answere CHAP. XI The distinction of cleane and vncleane in beastes fish birdes and other things 43. With commandment to be holie and impolluted AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron saying †Say to the children of Israel These are the beasts which you ought to eate of al the liuing things of the earth †Euerie one that hath the hoofe diuided and cheweth the cudde among the cattel you shal eate †But whatsoeuer in dede cheweth the cudde and hath an hoofe but diuideth it not as the camel and others that you shal not eate and among the vncleane you shal repute it †Cherogril which cheweth the cudde and diuideth not the hoofe is vncleane †The hare also for that also cheweth
wife and commit aduontrie with his neighbours wife dying let them die both the adulterer and the aduoutresse †He that lieth with his stepmother and reuealeth the ignominie of his father dying let both die their bloud be vpon them †If anie man lie with his daughter in law let both die because they haue done an heinous fact their bloud be vpon them †He that lieth with man as if he should companie with woman both haue committed abomination dying let them die their bloud be vpon them †He that besides his wife the daughter marieth her mother hath done wickednes he shal burne aliue with them neither shal there so great abomination remaine in the middes of you †He that shal companie with beast and cattel dying let him die the beast also doe ye kil †The woman that shal lie vnder anie beast shal be killed together with the same their bloud be vpon them †He that taketh his sister the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother and seeth her turpitude and she beholdeth her brothers ignominie they haue committed a shameful thing they shal be slaine in the sight of their people because they haue reuealed one an others turpitude and they shal beare their iniquitie †He rhat compaineth with a woman in her menstrual fluxe and reuealeth her turpitude and she openeth the fountaine of her bloud both shal be destroyed out of the middes of their people †The turpitude of thy aunt by thy mother and of thy aunt by thy father thou shalt not discouer he that doeth this hath disclosed the ignominie of his flesh both shal beare their iniquitie †He that compaineth with the wife of his vncle by the father or of his vncle by the mother and reuealeth the ignominie of his kinted both shal beare their sinne without children they shal die †He that marieth his brothers wife doth an vnlawful thing he hath reuealed his brothers turpitude they shal be without children †Keepe my lawes and iudgementes and doe them lest the land which you shal enter into and inhabite vomite out you also †Walke not in the ordinances of the nations which I wil expel before you For al these thinges haue they done and I haue abhorred them †But to you I speake Possesse their land which I wil geue you for an inheritance a land flowing with milke and honie I the Lord your God that haue seperated you from other peoples †Therfore doe you also seperate the cleane beast from the vncleane and the cleane foule from the vncleane pollute not your soules in beastes and birdes and al thinges that moue on the earth and which I haue shewed vnto you to be polluted †You shal be holie vnto me because I the Lord am holie and I haue separated you from other peoples that you should be mine †Man or woman in whom is a pithonical or diuining spirite dying let them die they shal stone them their bloud be vpon them CHAP. XXI At what funerals Priests may not be present 7. VVhat wemen they may not marie 9. a priests daughter committing fornication must be burned 10. The high Priest shal not vncouer his head nor rent his garment nor be present at anie funeral nor at al goe forth of the holie place 13. when he marieth he must take a virgin 16. None that hath a blemish in his bodie though he be of Aarons stock shal minister in the Sanctuarie nor approch to the Altar OVR Lord said also to Moyses Speake to the priestes the sonnes of Aaron and thou shalt say to them Let not a priest be contaminated in the deathes of his citizens †but onlie in his kinne and nigh of bloud that is to say vpon his father and mother and sonne and daughter brother also †and sister being a virgin which hath not bene maried to a husband †but neither in the prince of his people shal he be contaminated †Neither shal they shaue their head nor beard nor make incisions in their flesh †They shal be holie to their God and shal not pollute his name for the burnt sacrifice of the Lord and breades of their God doe they offer and therfore they shal be holie †A whore and a vile strumpette he shal not take to wife nor her that is put away from her husband because they are coÌ„secrated to their God †and offer the breades of proposition Be they holie therfore because I also am holie the Lord that sanctifie them †The daughter of a priest if she be taken in whordome dishonour the name of hir father shal be burnt with fire †The grand bishoppe that is to say the priest that is greatest among his brethren vpon whose head hath bene poured the oyle of vnction and whose handes were consecrated in priesthood and who was reuested with the holie vestimentes shal not vncouer his head he shal not rent his garments †and to no dead person shal he enter in at al. vpon his father also and mother shal he not be contaninated †Neither shal he goe forth out of the holie places lest he pollute the SaÌ„ctuarie of the Lord because the oyle of the holie vnction of his God is vpon him I the Lord. †He shal take a virgin vnto his wife †but a widow and her that is put away and a filth and a whore he shal not take but a maide of his owne people †that he mingle not the stocke of his kinred with the common people of his nation because I am the Lord that sanctifie him †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Speake to Aaron The man of thy seede throughout their families that hath a blemish shal not offer breades to his God †neither shal he approch to his ministerie If he be blinde if lame if he haue a litle or a great or a crooked nose †if his foote be broken if his hand †if he be crooke backed or blere eyed or haue a pearle in his eye or a continual scabbe or drie scurffe in his bodie or be burnt †Euerie one that hath a blemish of the seede of Aaron the priest shal not approch to offer the hostes to the Lord nor the breades to his God †He shal eate notwithstanding of the breades that are offered in the Sanctuarie †yet so that he enter not within the vâ—ilen or approch to the altar because he hath a blemish and he must not contaninate my Sanctuarie I the Lord that sanctifie them †Moyses therfore spake to Aaron and to his sonnes and to al Israel al thinges that had bene commanded him CHAP. XXII VVho may eate of sanctified things 17. And what things may be offered OVR Lord also spake to Moyses saying †Speake to Aaron and to his sonnes that they beware of those that are the consecrated thinges of the children of Israel and contaninate not the name of the thinges sanctified to me which
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
went against Gorgias the gouernour of Idumea †And he went forth with footemen three thousand and horsemen foure hundred †Who buckling together it chanced few of the Iewes to be slayne †But Dositheus one of the Bacenors an horseman a valiant man held Gorgias and wheras he would haue taken him aliue a certayne horseman of the Thracians came vpon him and cut of his shoulder and so Gorgias escaped into Maresa †But they that were with Esdrin fighting long and being wearied Iudas inuocated our Lord to be their helper and captayne of the battel †beginning in his countrey language and with hymmes raising a crie draue Gorgias souldiars into flight †And Iudas hauing gathered an armie came into the citie Odollam when the seuenth day came on being purifyed according to the custome they kept the Sabbath in the same place †And the day folowing Iudas came with his companie to take away the bodies of them that were ouerthrowen and with their kinsmen to lay them in the sepulchers of their fathers †And they found vnder the coates of the slayne some of the donaryes of the idols that were in Iamnia from which the lawe forbiddeth the Iewes therfore it was made playne to al that for that cause they were slayne †Al therfore blessed the iust iudgement of our Lord who had made manifest the hidden thinges †And so turning to prayers they besought him that the same offence which was committed might be forgotten But the most valient Iudas exhorted the people to keepe themselues without sinne seing before their eyes what was done because of the sinnes of them that were ouerthrowen †And making a gathering he sent twelue thousand drachmes of siluer to Ierusalem for sacrifice to be offered for sinne wel and religiously thinking of the resurrection †for vnles he hoped that they that were slaine should rise againe it should seeme superfluous and vaine to pray for the dead †And because he considered that they which had taken their sleepe with godlines had very good grace layd vp for them †“ It is therfore a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sinnes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 46 It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead The Catholique beleefe doctrine and practise of praying for the dead is so euidently confirmed by this place that our aduersaries haue no better shift to auoide the same then by denying these bookes to be Canonical Scripture VVhich being authentically proued it may here suffice to adde that albeit the Greke text as in other innumerable places differeth from the Latin yet it is no lesse clere for this doctrin VVhich in English is thus v 45. Regarding or considering that grace is layde vp for them that sleepe or dye in pietie tovvitte in true faith and repentance in the next verse 46. inferreth thus VVherupon he Iudas Machabeus made reconciliation or expiation for the dead that they might be deliuered or loosed from their sinne that is from punishment for sinne Omitting therfore multitude of other proofes vve vvil here only cite tvvo great Doctors who with others teach that the denial of this particular point of religion is a condemned heresie S. Augustin li. de Haeresib haer 53. noteth this for a special heresie saying Aerians are named of one Aerius vvho being a priest and taking it greuously that he could not be ordained a Bishop falling into the heresie of the Arrians added some proper doctrines of his ovvne saying that vve ought not to pray nor offer sacrifice for the dead Likevvise S. Bernard Ser. 66 in Cantica in plaine termes saith they are heretikes vvhich beleue not that there is purgatorie fire after death but that the soule departing from the bodie goeth forthvvith either to rest or to damnation Let them then saith he aske of him vvho saide There is some sinne that shal not be forgeuen neither in this vvorld nor in the future why he sayd this if there remaine no remission and purgation of sinne in the future vvorld He therfore aduiseth al to bevvare of such seducers saying See the detracters see the dogges They deride vs because vve baptize infantes for that vve pray for the dead It is also most vvorthie of consideration that Iudas Machabeus vvho did this charitable act for his souldiars slaine in the holie vvarres vvas the High priest or chief Bishop of the Church at that time and defender of true faith and Religion Finally vve may also obserue that he did not anie nevv thing but practised the vsual custome of the vvhole Church For so it appeareth by their sette forme of Office for the dead called HASCHABAH that is Rest or prayer for rest in their booke MAHZOR translated and set forth by Bishop Genebrard in the yeare of our Lord. 1569. VVhere are these expresse supplications Requiescat anima ipsius in cubili suo iaceat in pace dormiat in pace His or her soule rest in his bed lye and slepe in peace Againe Ye Angels of peace come forth to mete him c. And that the Ievves this day vse to pray for the dead is a clere thing and confessed by Protestantes namely Munsterus and Fagius in their Annotations vpon the 14. of Deut. and M. VVhitaker in his first booke against F. Dureus fol 81. CHAP. XIII Menelaus a fugitiue Iewe is put to death 9. Antiochus with his great armie is defeated twise with losse of manie men 23. Philippe rebelling peace is renewed 24. And Iudas is made Lord of Ptolemais IN the yeare an hundred fourtie nine Iudas vnderstood that Antiochus Eupator came with a multitude agaynst Iurie †and with him Lysias the procuratour and cheefe ouer the affayres hauing with him of footemen an hundred tenne thousand of horsemen fiue thousand elephants twentie two chariots with hookes three hundred †And Menelaus also ioyned him selfe with them and with much deceite besought Antiochus not for the weale of his contrie but hoping that he should be appoynted to the principalitie †But the king of kinges stirred vp Antiochus mind against the sinner Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of al the euils he commanded as the custome is with them that being apprehended he should be killed in the same place †And there was in the same place a tower of fiftie cubites hauing an heape of ashes on euerie side this had a prospect steepe downe †From thence he commanded the sacrilegious person to be throwne downe into the ashes al thrusting him forward to death †And by such law it chanced the transgressour of the law to dye Menelaus not to be put into the earth †And in deede very iustly because he committed manie offences toward the altar of God the fyre and ashes wherof was holie himself was condemned into the death of ashes †But the king furiouse in mind came to shew
but as it came to his handes r Dauid the natural sonne of Iesse made no more Hymnes that is no more musical praises of God after this Psalme but the prefigured Dauid Christ our Sauiour the Sonne of God in his bodie the Church singeth ful new praises S. Aug in enarrat Psal sequentis 72. Affliction in this world is recompensed in the end the 9. key a To be songue by Asaph the master of musike and his companie b God is so excellent good as no tongue can expresse no hart can conceiue Psal 39. c The peace and prosperitie of the wicked tempted me to leaue the right narrow way and to goe the brode easie way with them d They neuer thincke of death e and if they suffer some affliction they quickly remoue it from them f They trauel not so much as good men do neither are they so often punished g Which maketh them proud and so they runne into al sortes of iniquitie h Whatsoeuer mischief came in their mind they feared not to committe it in fact i boldly extolling their owne wordes and workes and despising others k For this prosperitie of the wicked some of Gods people wil fall from the right way l and their dayes wil abound with calamities m The voice of the weake inclining to diffidence and doubt of Gods knowlege and prouidence n The prophet in his owne person answereth that if he should say such thinges he should reproue Gods children as faultie vnworthie of his protection and to be neglected wheras it is Gods prouidence to chastice his children whom he loueth o In this life we can not know the particular causes why the iust are afflicted and manie wicked prosper in this world p But only in general we are taught that euils are prepared for the guiles or deceptes q pride and other sinnes of the wicked r Not real but imaginarie felicitie Å¿ Almost burned vp with afflictions t Charged with heauie burdens without knowlege how long or to what end v yet not destitute of thy protection w Nothing to be desired in heauen nor in earth but God x In bodie and mind I thirst after thee my true inheritance y Men by their freewil make themselues enimies to God z determined their damnation forseing their final sinnes A prayer in long affliction the 7. key a Instruction for the congregation of the faithful in distresse not to seeke temporal towardes and prosperitie but to expect spiritual and eternal S. Aug. b In long persecution the weake beginne to feare or suspect that God hath vtterly abandoned them c But the stronger pray with confidence d being assured that God who hath conserued his Church hitherto from the beginning of the world wil conserue it st 〈…〉 the end e An other reason why God wil conserue his Church is because he hath deliuered it often a strong arme as from bondage in Aegypt from persecution and oppression in the time of Iudges and kinges and lastly redemed it from the tyrannie of the diuel by Christs death f Thirdly the pride of the enimies moueth God to reuenge their wickednes and so to deliuer his owne people g They pretend to kepe solemne feastes like to thyne h They set vp altars against thyn altares or some new deuised external shew against the holie Rites of the Church i and that in publike places in the endes of high wayes or poâ—â—es and pinnacles k The prophet describeth the maner how persecutors destroy temples and al sacred thinges 4. Reg â— l The whole crew or band of persecutors m The weake complaine that God sheweth not wâ—â—ted signes nor sendeth succourse to his people by raising some prophet or other meanes to helpe them Luc. 1 70. n The perfect do answer that God both hath and wil releeue his people o Made the redde sea like waues p drowned Pharao and his hoste q of blacke diuels r geuen water out of rockes Å¿ made passage ouer Iordan t Ignorant blind and barbarous infidels lodge al kindes of iniquitie in their consciences v and therfore it is vnmeete that faithful people should be in bondage vnder thâ—â— w These foolish audacious men do continually blaspheme al holie thinges x Omite not to punish them y seing they are obstinate and obdurate in pride and â—â— hatred General iudgement the 9. key a Either this was the beginning of a songue to the tune wherof this Psalme was song as some Hebrew Rabbins testifie or as S. Augustin and other fathers explicate the Septuagint do admonish vs by occasion of this Psalme not to faâ—le in our hope for that God wil in no case violate his promise noâ— purpose but wil render to euerie one in the day of Iudgement as they deserue b Christ with his Apostles and other assessorie iudges wil praise and thanke God for his admirable good prouidence and gouernement of this world c This duplication of the same word confirmeth vs of the assured performance of that which is here prophecied d Christ our singular principal and proper Iudge only and no mere creature knoweth the determinate time of general iudgement e The earth at that time shal be purged with flaming fire f yet shal not be destroyed but changed in qualities g An epitome or briefe summe of Christs doctrine to fâ—ee from sinne h be not proud abuse not the powre you haue to do what you please i VVhen other Iudges sitte on tribunales some may be absent or escape from their sentences but al without exception shal be brought in persons when Christ God and Man shal iudge k Some shal haue sentence of eternal paine in hel some of eternal reward in glorie l though partly in this world partly in particular iudgement of euerie soule God hath alreardy and wil before the last day punish sinners yet there resteth more punishment and no impenitent sinners shal escape but al shal drinke of the bitter cuppe of eternal damnation m strong wine not delayde with water but mingled with bitter sharpe thinges as gal vinegre brimstone c. and so powred into festered woundes so they shal suffer vntolerable endles paine mixed with the worme of conscience losse of glorie rancor of hart and eternal desperation n Varietie of hellish torments from one extreme to an other as from snow waters to exceding heate Iob. 24. o The iust for wel vsing their powre of free wil and of al powre geuen them in this life are rewarded in heauen Gods prouidence towards his people the 3. key a For the congregation of faithful and godlie people b Amongst others one notorious example of Gods prouidence is recorded of an hundred fourescore fiue thousand Assirians slame in one night by an Angel 4. Reg. 19. c God was not only knowen in general as to pagane Philosophers and some others but more particularly to the Iewes the issue of Abraham Isaac and Iacob by his special benefites towards them d God suffering
transgressed Morally ancient Fathers here note that albeit the life of the Patriarkes seemeth long to vs yet if we coÌ„pare the same to eternitie it is nothing Neither by the iudgement of Philosophers may aniething be counted long that hath an end as Tullie bringing Cato wisely disputing sheweth the longest life to be but a short moment VVhereby againe we may see what losse we sustaine by sinne seeing if sinne had not benne we should al haue benne translated from earth to heauen and neuer haue dyed 24. VVas seene no more That Enoch and Elias are yet aliue is a constant knowne truth in the hartes and mouthes of the faithful saith S. Augustin in his first booke de peccat merit remiss c. 3. and confirmeth the same in diuers other places And it is testified by very many both Greeke and Latin Doctors S. Ireneus li. 5. S. Iustinus Martyr q. 85. ad Orthodoxos S. Hippolitus li. de Antichristo S. Damascen li. 4. de Orthodoxafide S. Hierom. epist 61. ad Pamach c. 11. S. Ambrose in Psalm 45. S. Chrysostom ho. 21. in Gen. ho. 58. in Mat. ho. 4. in epist 2. ad Thess ho. 22. in ep ad Heb. S. Greg. li. 14. Moral c. 11 ho. 12. in Ezech. S. Prosp li. vlt. de promis S. Bede in c. 9. Marc. Theophilact and Oâ—cumenius in cap. 17. Mat. and others innumerable Touching Elias it is manifest in Scriptures that he shal come preach be slaine with an other witnes of Christ before the terrible day of Iudgement Of Enoch Moyses here maketh the matter more then probable saying of euerie one of the rest he dyed onlie of Enoch saith not so but that he appeared or vvas seene no more For which the seuentie two interpreters say And he vvas not found for God translated him VVhich can not signifie death but transporting or remouing to an other place VVhereto agreeth the author of Ecclesiasticus saying Enoch pleased God and vvas translated But most clearly S. Paul saith Enoch vvas translated that he should not see death and he vvas not found for God translated him VVith what plainer wordes can any man declare that a special person were not dead then to say He vvas translated or coÌ„ueyed away that he should not see death Neither is it a reasonable euasion to interprete this of spiritual death For so Adam being eternally saued as S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 34. Epiphan con haeresim 46. S. Aguâ—â—in epist 99. ad Euodium and others teach and the whole Church beleeueth was preserued from that death and so vndoubtedly were Seth and Enos being most holie and the rest here recounted as is most probable Neuertheles for further confutation of the contrarie opinion of Protestants the reader may also obserue the iudgement of S. Chrisostom who affirmeth that Though it be not a matter of faith vvhether Enoch be novv in Paradise from vvhence Adam and Eue vvere expelled or in some other pleasant place Dicunt tamen sacrae Scriprurae quod Deus transtulit eum quod viuentem transtulit eum quod mortem ipse non sit expertus The holie Scriptures say that God translated him and that he translated him aliue that he felt not or hath not experienced death And S. Augustin as expresly saith Non mortuus sed viuus translatus est He to vvit Enoch is translated not dead but aliue Yea he teacheth how his life is sustayned thus many thousand yeares vpon earth And sheweth moreouer that both Enoch and Elias shal dye For seing Enoch and Elias saith he are dead in Adam and carying the ofspring of death in their flesh to pay that debt are to returne to this life of common conuersation and to pay this debt vvhich so long is deferred Diuers reasons are also alleaged why God would reserue these two aliue First to shew by example that as their mortal bodies are long conserued from corrupting or decaying in like sorte Adam and Eue and al others not sinning should haue bene conserued and according to Gods promise neuer haue died but after some good time translated to heauen and indued with immortalitie Secondly to giue vs an argument of immortalitie which is promised after the general Resurrection For seing God doth preserue some mortal so long from al infirmitie we may assuredly beleue that he wil geue immortal eternal life of bobie and soule to his Sainctes after they haue payed the debt of death and are risen againe Thirdly these two one of the law of nature the other of the law of Moyses are preserued aliue to come amongst men againe towards the end of the world to teach testifie and defend the true faith and doctrin of Christ against Antichrist when he shal most violently oppugne persecute the Church Of Enoch it is said in the booke of Ecclesiasticus that he was translated vt det gentibus poenitenntiam that he geue repentance to the nations by his preaching reducing the deceiued from Antichrist And of Elias Malachie prophicieth that he shal come before the great and terrible day of our Lord and shal turne the hart of the fathers that is the people of the Iewes to the sonnes the Christians and of the sonnes the deceiued Christians to the fathers the ancient true Catholiques CHAP. VI. Mans sinnes cause of the deluge 4. Giants vvere then vpon the earth 8. Noe being iust vvas commanded to build the Arke 18. vvherin he vvith seuen persons more and the seede of other liuing things vvere saued AND after that men began to be multiplied vpon the earth had procreation of daughters †The sonnes of God seing the daughters of men that they were faire tooke to them selues wiues out of al which they had chosen And God said My spirit shal not remaine in man for euer because he is flesh his dayes shal be an huÌ„dred twentie yeares †And Giants were vpon the earth in those dayes For after the sonnes of God did companie with the daughters of men and they brought forth children these be the mightie of the olde world famous men †And God seing the malice of men was much on the earth and that al the cogitation of their hart was bent to euil at al times †it repented him that he had made man on the earth And touched inwardly with sorrowe of hart †I wil saith he cleane take away man whom I haue created from the face of the earth from man euen to beastes from that which creepeth euen vnto the foules of the ayre for it repenteth me that I haue made them †But Noe found grace before our Lord †These are the generations of Noe Noe was a iust and perfect man in his generations he did walke with God †And he begat three sonnes Sem Cham Iapheth †And the earth was corrupted before God and was replenished with iniquitie †And when God had perceiued
the thunders may cease and the haile that I may dismisse you and ye tarie not here any longer †Moyses said When I shal be gone forth out of the citie I wil stretch forth my handes to our Lord and the thunders shal cease and the haile shal not be that thou maist know that the earth is our Lords †but I know that neither thou nor thy seruantes do yet feare the Lord God †The flexe therfore and the barley were hurt because the barley came vp grene and the flaxe now was boulled †but the wheate and other winter corne were not hurt because they were late ward †And Moyses going forth from Pharao out of the citie stretched forth his handes to our Lord and the thunders haile ceased neither did there droppe raine any more vpon the earth †And Pharao seing that the raine and the haile and thunders were ceased he increased his sinne †and his hart was aggrauated and the hart of his seruantes and indurate exceedingly neither did he dismisse the children of Israel as our Lord had commanded by the hand of Moyses CHAP. X. The eight plague of Locustes 21. the ninth darknes Pharao yeldeth that al men and children should goe to the desert but not the cattle 28. At last commandeth Moyses to come no more in his sight which Moyses forecelleth shal so be AND our Lord said to Moyses Goe in to Pharao for I haue indurate his hart and the hart of his seruantes that I may worke these my signes in him †and thou maist tel in the eares of thy sonne and of thy nephewes how often I haue broken the Aegyptians wrought my signes in them and you may know that I am the Lord. †Moyses therfore and Aaron went in to Pharao and said to him Thus saith the Lord the God of the Hebrewes Til when wilt thou not be subiect to me dismisse mv people to sacrifice vnto me †But if thou resist and wilt not dismisse them behold I wil bring in to morow the locust into thy coastes †which may couer the face of the earth that nothing therof appeare but that which the haile hath left may be eaten for it shal gnawe al trees that spring in the fieldes †And they shal fil thy houses and the houses of thy seruantes and of al the Aegyptians such a number as thy fathers haue not seene nor grand-fathers since they arose vpon the earth vntil this present day And he turned him selfe away and went forth from Pharao †And Pharaoes seruantes said to him How long shal we endure this scandal Dismisse the men to sacrifice to the Lord their God Doest thou not see that Aegypt is vndone †And they called back Moyses and Aaron vnto Pharao who said to them Goe sacrifice to the Lord your God who are they that shal goe †Moyses said With our young and old we wil goe with our sonnes and daughters with our sheepe and heardes for it is the solemnitie of the Lord our God †And Pharao answered So be the Lord with you as I shal dismisle you and your litle ones who doubteth but that you intend very wickedly †It shal not so be but goe ye men only and sacrifice to the Lord for this your selues also desired And immediatly they were cast out from Pharaoes sight †And our Lord said to Moyses Strech forth thy hand vpon the Land of Aegypt vnto the locust that it come vpon it and deuoure euerie herbe that remained after the haile †And Moyses stretched forth his rodde vpon the Land of Aegypt and our Lord brought in a burning wind al that day night and when it was morning the burning winde raised the locustes †which came vp ouer the whole Land of Aegypt and sate in al the coastes of the Aegyptians innumerable the like as had not bene before that time nor shal be afterward †And they couered the whole face of the earth wasting al thinges Therfore the grasse of the earth was deuoured and what fruites soeuer on the trees which the haile had left there was also nothing at al left that was greene in the trees and in the herbes of the earth in al Aegypt †For the which cause Pharao in hast called Moyses and Aaron and said to them I haue sinned against the Lord your God and against you †But now forgeue me my sinne this time also and pray to the Lord your God that he take away from me this death †And Moyses going forth from Pharaoes sight prayed to our Lord †who made a very vehement wind to blow from the west and taking the locustes it threw them into the Red sea there remained not so much as one in al the coastes of Aegypt †And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart neither did he dismisse the children of Israel †And our Lord said to Moyses Stretch for thy hand toward heauen and be there darkenesse vpon the Land of Aegypt so thicke that it be palpable †And Moyses stretched forth his hand toward heauen and there was made horrible darkenesse in the whole Land of Aegypt three dayes †No man saw his brother nor moued himselfe out of the place where he was but wheresoeuer the children of Israel dwelt there was light †And Pharao called Moyses and Aaron and said to them Goe sacrifice to the Lord let your sheepe only and heardes remaine let your litle ones goe with you Moyses said Hostes also holocaustes thou shalt geue to vs which we may offer to the Lord our God †Al the flockes shal goe with vs there shal not a hoofe remaine of them the which are necessarie vnto the seruice of the Lord our God especially wheras we know not what must be offered til we come to the very place †And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart and he would not dismisse them †And Pharro said to Moyses Getre thee from me and beware thou see not my face any more in what day soeuer thou shalt come in my sight thou shalt dye †Moyses answered So shal it be as thou hast spoken I wil not see thy face any more CHAP. XI God biddeth Moyses cause the people of Israel to borow siluer and gold vessels of the Aegyptians 4. Fortelleth one other plague the death of the first borne 9. and that Pharao wil stil be obdurate AND our Lord said to Moyses Yet with one plague more wil I touch Pharao Aegypt and after this he shal dismisse you and compel you to goe forth †Thou shalt sav therfore to al the people that euerie man aske of his frend euery woman of her neighbour vessels of siluer of gold †And the Lord wil geue grace to his people in the sight of the Aegyptians And Moyses was a very great man in the Land of Aegypt in the sight of Pharaoes seruantes of al the people †And he said This saith our Lord At midnight
might be your God CHAP. XVI Core and his complices making schisme against Moyses and Aaron 31. some are swalowed in the earth with their families and substance 35. other two hundred and fiftie offering incense 41. and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people murmuring in behalfe of the sedicious are consumed with fire from heauen AND behold Core the sonne of Isaar the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leui and Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Hon also the sonne of Pheleth of the children of Ruben †“ rose against Moyses and other of the children of Israel two hundred fiftie men princes of the synagogue and which in the time of assemblie were called by name †And when they had stoode vp against Moyses and Aaron they said Let it suffice you that al the multitude consisteth of holie ones and our Lord is among them Why lift you vp your selues aboue the people of our Lord †Which when Moyses had heard he fel flatte on his face †and speaking to Core and al the multitude he said In the morning our Lord wil make it knowne who pertaine to him and the holie the wil ioyne to him selfe and whom he shal choose they shal approch to him †This do therfore Take euerie man their censars thou Core and al thy councel †and taking fire in them to morrow put vpon it incense before our Lord and whom soeuer he shal choose the same shal be holie you do much exalt your selues ye sonnes of Leui. †And he said againe to Core Heare ye sonnes of Leui †Is it a smal thing vnto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from al the people and ioyned you to him selfe that you should serue him in the seruice of the tabernacle and should stand before the ful assemblie of the people and should minister to him †did he therfore make thee and al thy brethren the sonnes of Leui to approch vnto him that you should chalenge vnto you the priesthood also †and al thy companie should stand against our Lord for what is Aaron that you murmur against him †Moyses therfore sent to cal Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Who answered We come not †Why is it a smal matter to thee that thou hast brought vs out of a land that folowed with milke and honie to kil vs in the desert vnles thou rule also like a lord ouer vs †In deede hast thou brought vs into a land that floweth with riuers of milke and honie hast thou geuen vs possessions of fieldes vineyardes What wilt thou plucke out our eies also We come not †Moyses therfore being very wrath said to our Lord Respect not their sacrifices thou knowest that I haue not taken of them so much as a little asse at anie time neither haue afflicted anie of them †And he said to Core Thou and al thy congregation stand ye apart before our Lord and Aaron to morrow apart †Take euerie one your censars and put incense vpon them offering to our Lord two hundred fiftie censars Let Aaron also hold his censar †Which when they had done Moyses and Aaron standing †and had heaped together al the multitude against them to the dore of the tabernacle the glorie of our Lord appeared to them al. †And our Lord speaking to Moyses and Aaron said †Separate your selues from the middes of this congregation that I may sodenly destroy them †Who felilatte on their face and said Most mightie God of the spirites of al flesh when one sinneth shal thy wrath rage against al †And our Lord said to Moyses †Command the whole people that they separate them selues from the tabernacles of Core and Dathan and Abiron †And Moyses arose and went to Dathan and Abiron and the ancientes of Israel folowing him †he said to the multitude Depart from the tabernacles of the impious men and touch not the thinges that pertaine to them lest you be wrapped in their sinnes †And when they were departed from their tentes round about Dathan and Abiron coming forth stood in the entrie of their pauilions with their wiues and children and al the multitude †And Moyses said In this you shal know that our Lord hath sent me to do al thinges that you see and that I haue not forged them of my owne mind †If they die the accustomed death of men and if the plague wherwith others also are wont to be visited do visite them out Lord did not send me †but if our Lord do a new thing that the earth opening her mouth swallow them downe al thinges that pertaine to them and they descend quicke into hel you shal know that they haue blasphemed our Lord. †Immediatly therfore as he ceased to speake the earth brake insunder vnder their feete †and opening her mouth deuoured them with their tabernacles al their substance †and they went downe into hel quicke couered with the ground and perished out of the middes of the multitude †But al Israel that stoode round about fled at the cric of them that perished saying Lest perhappes the earth swallow vs also †But a fire also coming forth from our Lord slew the two hundred fiftie men that offered the incense †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command Elâ—zar the sonne of Aaron the priest that he take vp the censars that lie in the burning fire and that he sprinkle the fire hither and thither because they be sanctified †in the deathes of the sinners and let him beate them into plates and fasten them to the altar because there hath bene offered incense in them to the Lord and they are sanctified that the children of Israel may see them for a signe and a monument †Eleazar therfore the priest tooke the brasen censars wherin they had offered whom the burning fire deuoured and bette them into plates fastening them to the altar †that the children of Israel afterward might haue wherwith to be admonished that no stranger approch and he that is not of the seede of Aaron to offer incense to our Lord lest he suffer as Core hath suffered and al his congregation according as our Lord spake to Moyses †And al the multitude of the children of Israel murmured the day folowing against Moyses and Aaron saying You haue killed the people of our Lord. †And when there rose a sedition and the tumult grew farder †Moyses and Aaron fled to the tabernacle of couenant Which after they were entred the cloude couered it and the glorie of our Lord appeared †And our Lord said to Moyses †Depart from the middes of this multitude euen now wil I destroy them And as they lay vpon the ground †Moyses said to Aaron Take the censar and drawing fire from the altar put incense vpon it going quickly to the people to pray for them for euen now is the wrath come forth
that thou shalt perish vtterly †As the Nations which our Lord destroyed at thyne entrie so shal you also perish if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God CHAP. IX Lest they should impute the victories which they shal haue to them selues 6. they are put in mind of their often prouoking Gods wrath 12. by idolatrie 22. by murmuring by concupiscence by contempt and other sinnes 25 for which they should haue bene destroyed but God spared them for his prouâ—â—se made to Abraham Isaeac and Iacob HEARE Israel Thou shalt goe ouer Iordan this day to possesse verie greate nations and stronger then thy selfe huge cities and walled euen vnto heauen †a great people and tal the sonnes of the Enacims whom thou hast seene and heard against whom no man is able to resist †Thou shalt know therfore this day that the Lord thy God him selfe wil passe ouer before thee a deuouring and consuming fyre who shal destroy and abolish and bring them to nothing before thy face quickly as he hath spoken to thee †Say not in thy hart when the Lord thy God shal haue destroyed them in thy sight For my iustice hath our Lord brought me in to possesse this land wheras these nations were destroyed for their impieties †For not because of thy iustices and equitie of thy hart doest thou enter in to possesse their landes but because they haue done impiously at thy entring in they are destroyed and that our Lord might accomplish his word which by oath he promised to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob †Know therfore that not for thy iustices hath the Lord thy God geuen thee this excellent land in possession wheras thou art a verie stiffe necked people †Remember and forget not how thou didst prouoke the Lord thy God to wrath in the wildernesse From the same day that thou camest out of Aegypt vnto this place thou hast alwayes contended against our Lord. †For in Horeb also thou didst prouoke him and being wrath he would haue destroyed thee †when I went vp into the mounte to receiue the tables of stone of the couenant which our Lord made with you and I continewed in the mounte fourtie daies and nightes not eating bread nor drinking water †And our Lord gaue me two tables of stone written with the singer of God and conteyning al the wordes that he spake to you in the mounte from the middes of the fyre when the assemblie of the people was gathered †And when fourtie dayes were passed and as manie nightes our Lord gaue me the two tables of stone the tables of couenant †and he said to me Arise and goe downe from hence quickly for thy people which thou didst bring out of Aegypt haue quickly forsaken the way that thou hast shewed them and haue made them a molten idol †And againe our Lord said to me I see that this people is stiffe necked †suffer me that I may destroy them and abolish their name from vnder heauen and may set thee ouer a Nation that is greater and stronger then this †And when I came downe from the burning mounte and held the two tables of couenant with both handes †and saw that you had sinned to the Lord your God and had made you a molten calfe and had quickly forsaken his way which he had shewed you †I cast the tables out of my handes and brake them in your sight †And I fel downe before our Lord as before fourtie dayes and nightes not eating bread not drinking water for al your sinnes which you committed against our Lord and prouoked him to wrath †for I feared his indignation and anger wherwith being moued agaynst you he would haue destroyed you And our Lord heard me this time also †Against Aaron also being exceeding angrie he would haue destroyed him and for him in like maner did I pray †And your sinne that you had committed that is the calfe I tooke and burnt it with fyre and breaking it into peeces and bringing it wholy into dust I threw it into the torrent that deâ—cendeth from the mount †In the burning also and in the tentation and in the Sepulchres of concupiscence you prouoked our Lord †and when he sent you from Cadesbarne saying Goe vp and possesse the Land that I haue geuen you and you contemned the commandement of your Lord God and did not beleue him neither would you heare his voice †but were alwaies rebellious from the day that I beganne to know you †And I lay before our Lord fourtie dayes and nightes in the which I humbly besought him that he would not destroy you as he had threatened †and praying I said Lord God destroy not thy people and thyne inheritance which thou hast redemed in thy greatnes whom thou didst bring out of Aegypt in a strong hand †Remember thy seruantes Abraham Isaac and Iacob regard not the stubbournes of this people and his impietie and sinne †lest perhappes the inhabitantes of the land out of which thou hast brought vs say The Lord could not bring them in vnto the Land that he promised them and he hated them therfore did he bring them forth that he might kil them in the wildernes †Which are thy people and thyne inheritance whom thou didst bring forth in thy great strength and in thy stretched out arme CHAP. X. Moyses receiuing the second tables of the tenne commandments and making an arke put them therin 6. with mention of certaine places where the children of Israel had camped of Aarons death and to the Leuites offices and possesstons 12. be inculcateth the feare and loue of God and the keping of his precepts 16. namely to circumcise the hart 19. to loue strangers 20. and not to serue nor sweare by false goddes AT that time our Lord said to me Hewe thee two tables of stone as the former were and come vp to me into the mounte and thou shalt make an arke of wood †and I wil write in the tables the wordes that were in them which before thou didst breake and thou shalt put them in the arke †I made therfore an arke of the wood Settim And when I had hewed two tables of stone like to the former I went vp into the mount hauing them in my handes †And he wrote in the tables according as he had written before the ten wordes which our Lord spake to you in the mount from the middes of the fyre when the people was gathered and he gaue them to me †And returning from the mount I came downe and put the tables into the arke that I had made which are there til this present as our Lord commanded me †And the children of Israel remoued their campe from Beroth of the children of Iacan into Mosera where Aaron died and was buried for whom Eleazar his soone did the function of priesthood †Thence they came into Gadgad from the which place departing
of our Lord thy God and keepe his preceptes and ceremonies which are written in this law and returne to our Lord thy God in al thy hart and in al thy soule †This commandment that I command thee this daie “ is not aboue thee nor so farre of †nor situated in heauen that thou maiest say Which of vs is able to ascend vnto heauen to bring it to vs that we may heare and fulfil it in worke †Nor placed beyond the sea that thou mayest pretend and say Which of vs can passe ouer the sea and bring it euen vnto vs that we way heare and doe that which is commanded †But the word is very neere thee in thy mouth and in thy hart to doe it †Consider that I haue “ set before thee this day life and good and contrariewise death and euil †that thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his waies and keepe his commandmentes and ceremonies and iudgementes and thou mayest liue and he multiplie thee and blesse thee in the Land which thou shalt enter to possesse †But if thy hart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceaued with errour thou adore strange goddes and serue them †I foretel thee this day that thou shalt perish and abide a litle time in the Land which passing ouer Iordan thou shalt enter to possesse †“ I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life that both thou mayest liue and thy seede †and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies that thou mayest liue in the Land for the which our Lord sware to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would geue it them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXX 6. God vvil circumcise thy bart Most true it is that of our selues without Gods grace none can kepe or fulfil the commandmentes But he whose hart God doth circumcise is therby made able to loue God with al his hart and with al his soule And except some hartes were thus circumcised and so made able to loue God aboue al and consequently their neighboures God should not performe his promise that he wil circumcise the hart of some 11. Is not aboue thee VVhen thou art stirred vp assisted and indued with Gods grace the commandment of God is not then aboue thee nor faire of from thee but very nere thee in thy mouth to confesse God and his truth and in thy hart to do it But you wil aske How then cometh it to passe that manie hauing receiued sufficient grace yet do not kepe Gods commandmentes God him self answereth 15. That he hath set before thee life and good and contrrivvise death and euil he inuiteth and helpeth yet forceth thee not he geuethâ—thee powre abilitie helping and not destroying thy freewil that thou maist loue our Lord thy God walke in his wayes and kepe his commandements But if thy hart be auerted and v. 17. thou vrilt not heare thou shalt perish Againe God inculcateth 19. I cal for vvitnesses heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life c. VVhat Doctor can teach more plainly the possibilitie of keeping Gods commandmentes and frewil in man then this text of holie Scripture CHAP. XXXI Moyses substituteth Iosue his successour in temporal gouernment 9. deliuereth the law to the Priestes 16. God fortelleth that the people wil often forsake him and that he wil punish them 19. commandeth Moyses to write a canticle an abrigement of the Law easie to be remembred 25. and in further testimonie against them the Leuites must put this booke in the arke of couenant MOYSES therfore went and spake al these wordes to al Israel †and said to them I am this day a hundred and twentie yeares old I can not goe out and come in any longer especially wheras our Lord also hath said to me Thou shalt not passe ouer this Iordan †Our Lord therfore thy God wil passe ouer before thee he wil destroy al these nations in thy sight and thou shalt possesse them and this Iosue shal passe ouer before thee as our Lord hath spoken †And our Lord shal doe to them as he did to Sehon and Og the kinges of the Ammorheites and to their land and shal destroy them †Therfore when our Lord shal haue deliuered these also to you you shal doe in like manner to them as I haue commanded you †Doe manfully and be strengthned feare not neither tremble ye at their sight because our Lord thy God him selfe is thy conductor and wil not leaue nor forsake thee †And Moyses called Iosue and said to him before al Israel Take courage and be strong for thou shalt bring in this people into the Land which our Lord sware that he would geue to their fathers and thou shalt diuide it by lotte †And our Lord that is your conductor him selfe wil be with thee he wil not leaue nor forsake thee feare not neither dread thou †Moyses therfore wrote this law and deliuered it to the priestes the sonnes of Leui which caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord and to al the ancientes of Israel †And he commanded them saying After seuen yeares in the yeare of remission in the solemnitie of tabernacles †when al come together out of Israel to appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose thou shalt read the wordes of this law before al Israel they hearing †and the people being assembled together as wel men as wemen children and strangers that are within thy gates that hearing they may learne and feare our Lord your God and keepe and fulfil al the wordes of this law †Their children also who now are ignorant that they may heare and feare our Lord their God al the daies that they liue in the Land which passing ouer Iordan you goe to obteyne †And our Lord said to Moyses Behold the daies of thy death are nigh cal Iosue and stand ye in the tabernacle of testimonie that I may command him Moyses therfore and Iosue went and stoode in the tabernacle of testimonie †and our Lord appeared there in the piller of a cloude which stood in the entring of the tabernacle †And our Lord said to Moyses Behold thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers and this people rysing vp wil fornicate after strange goddes in the Land to the which it entreth to dwel therein there wil they forsake me and wil make the couenant which I haue made with them of none effect †And my furie shal be wrath against them in that day and I wil forsake them and wil hide my face from them and they shal be deuoured al euils and afflictions shal finde them so that they shal say
vnhappie woman and wine and whatsoeuer may inebriate I haue not drunke but I haue powred out my soule in the sight of our Lord. †Account not thy handmaide as one of the daughters of Belial for of the multitude of my sorrow and heauines haue I spoken vntil this present †Then Heli saied to her Goe in peace and the God of Israel geue thee thy petition which thou hast asked him †But she sayd Would God thy handmaide may find grace in thyne eyes And the woman went on her way and did eate and her countenance was no more changed otherwise †And they rose in the morning and adored before our Lord and they returned came into their house to Ramatha And Elcana knew Anna his wife and our Lord remembred her †And it came to passe after a certaine compasse of dayes Anna conceiued bare a sonne and called his name Samuel because she asked him of our Lord. †And Elcana her husband went vp and al her house to immolat vnto our Lord the solemne hoste and his vowe †and Anna went not vp for she sayd to her husband I wil not goe til the infant be weaned and til I may bring him that he may appeare before the sight of our Lord and may remayne there continually †And Elcana her husband sayd to her Doe that which seemeth good to thee and tarie til thou weane him and I pray that our Lord fulfil his word The woman therfore taried and gaue her sonne sucke til she remoued him from the milke †And she brought him with her after she had weaned him with three calues three bushels of meale and a flagon of wine and she brought him to the house of our Lord in Silo. But the childe was yet a litle infant †and they immolated a calfe and offered the childe to Heli. †And Anna said I besech thee my lord thy soule liueth my lord I am that woman which stoode before thee here praying our Lord. †For this childe did I pray and our Lord hath geuen me my petition which I asked him †Therfore I also haue geuen him to our Lord al the daies which he shal liue that he may be applied to our Lord. And they adored our Lord there And Anna prayed and sayd CHAP. II. Anna geueth thankes in a Canticle 11. the sonnes of Heli greuously sinning are reprehended but not duly corected by their father 21. Anna beareth three sonnes more and two daughters 27. Heli is threatned 34. and the death of his two sonnes fortold MY hart hath reioysed in our Lord and my horne is exalted in my God my mouth is dilated vpon myn enemies because I haue ioyed in thy saluation †There is none holie as our Lord is for neither is there an other beside thee and there is none so strong as out God †Doe not multiplie to speake high thinges boasting let old matters depart from your mouth because our Lord is a God of al knowlege and to him cogitations are prepared †The bow of the strong men is ouercome and the weake are girded with strength †They that before were filled haue hyred out them selues for bread and the hungrie are filled vntil the barren woman bare verie manie and she that had manie children was weakened †Our Lord mortifieth and quickeneth bringeth downe to hel and fetcheth backe agayne †Our Lord maketh poore and enricheth humbleth and lifteth vp †He rayseth the needie man from the dust and from the dung he lifteth vp the poore that he may sitte with princes and hold the throne of glorie For the poles of the earth are our Lords and vpon them he hath sette the world †The feete of his Saintes he wil keepe and the impious shal be silent in darknes because in his owne force man shal not be strengthned †Our Lord shal his aduersaries feare and vpon them shal he thunder in the heauens our Lord sâ—al iudge the endes of the Earth and shal geue empire to his king and shal exalt the horne of his Christ †And Elcana went into Ramatha vnto his house but the childe ministered in the sight of our Lord before the face of Heli the priest †Moreouer the sonnes of Heli were the sonnes of Belial not knowing our Lord †nor the office of priestes to the people but whosoeuer had immolated a victime the seruant of the priest came whiles the flesh was in boyling and had a flesh hooke with three teeth in his hand †and thrust it into the kettle or into the caudron or into the potte or into the panne and al that the flesh hooke brought vp the priest tooke to him selfe so did they to al Israel that came into Silo. †Yea before they burnt the fatte the seruant of the priest came and sayd to him that immolated Geue me flesh that I may boyle it for the priest for I wil not take flesh of thee sodde but raw †And he that immolated sayd to him Let the fatte first be burnt to day according to the maner and take vnto thee how much soeuer thy soule desireth Who answering said to him Not so for thou shalt geue it now or els I wil take it away by force †Therfore the sinne of the yong men was exceding great before our Lord because men detracted from the sacrifice of our Lord. †But Samuel ministred before the face of our Lord a child girded with an ephod of linnen †And his mother made him a litle tunike which she brought vpon the ordinarie daies going vp with her husband to immolate the solemne host †And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife and he saied to him Our Lord render thee seede of this woman for the vsurie that thou hast geuen our Lord. And they went into their place †Our Lord therfore visited Anna and she conceiued and bare three sonnes and two daughters and the childe Samuel was magnified before our Lord. †And Heli was very old and heard al thinges which his sonnes did to al Israel and how they slept with the wemen that wayted at the doore of the tabernacle †and he sayd to them Why doe you these kinde of thinges which I heare very naughtie thinges of al the people †Doe not so my sonnes for it is not a good report which I doe heare that you make the people of our Lord to transgresse †If man shal sinne against man God may be pacified toward him but if a man shal sinne against our Lord who shal pray for him And they heard not the voice of their father because our Lord would kil them †But the childe Samuel prospered and grew and pleased both our Lord and men †And there came a man of God to Heli and said to him Thus â—ayth our Lord Was not I openly reueled to thy fathers house when they were in Aegypt in the house of Pharao †and I chose him of al the tribes
of Ionathas his sonne and gathering the bones of them that were crucified †they buried them with the bones of Saul and of Ionathas his sonne in the Land of Beniamin in the side in the sepulchre of Cis his father and they did al thinges that the king had commanded and God was made propitious agayne to the land after these thinges †And there was a battel made agayne of the Philistianes against Israel and Dauid went downe and his seruantes with him and fought agaynst the Philisthijms And Dauid faynting †Iesbibenob which was of the kinred of Arapha the yron of whose speare weyed three hundred ounces and he was girded with a new sword assayed to strike Dauid †And Abisai the sonne of Saruia reskewed him and striking the Philistian killed him Then sware Dauids men saying Thou shalt no more goe forth with vs into battel lest thou put out the lampe of Israel †There was also a second battel in Gob against the Philistians then stroke Sobochai of Husathi Saph of the stocke of Arapha of the kindred of the gyantes †There was also a third battel in Gob agaynst the Philistians in the which Adeodatus the sonne of the Forest a broderer the Bethlehemite stroke Goliath the Getheite the shaft of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame †The fourth battel was in Geth in the which was a tal man that had six fingers and six toes on eche hand and foote that is fowre and twentie and he was of the race of Arapha †And he blasphemed Israel and Ionathan the sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him †These foure were borne of Arapha in Geth and they fel by the hand of Dauid and of his seruantes CHAP. XXII King Dauids Canticle of thankesgâ—uing for his deliuerie from al enemies 44. VVith a prophecie of the reiection of the Iewes and vocation of the Gentiles AND Dauid spake to our Lord the wordes of this song in the day that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies and out of the hand of Saul †And he sayd Our Lord is my rocke and my strength and my sauiour †God is my strong one I wil hope in him my shilde and the horne of my saluation my lifter vp and my refuge my sauiour from iniquitie thou wilt deliuer me †Our Lord prayse worthie wil I inuocate and from mine enemies I shal be saued †Because the pangues of death haue compassed me the streames of Belial haue terrified me †The ropes of hel haue compassed me the snares of death haue preuented me †In my tribulation I wil inuocate our Lord and I wil crie my God and he wil heare my voice out of his holie temple and my crie shal come to his eares †The earth quaked and trembled the fundations of the mountaynes were strycken and shaken because he was angrie with them †A smoke arose out of his nosethrels and a fyre from his mouth shal deuoure coles were kindled from him †And he bowed the heauens and descended and miste vnder his feete †And he ascended vpon the Cherubins and flew and slidde ouer the winges of the winde †He put darkenes round about him a couer stilling waters out of the clowdes of heauen †By the shyning in his presence the coles of fire were kindled †Our Lord wil thunder from heauen and the high one wil geue his voice †He shot his arrowes and dispersed them lightning and consumed them †And the ouerflowinges of the sea appeared and the fundations of the world were discouered at the rebuking of our Lord. at the breathing of the spirit of his furie †He sent from hygh heauen and tooke me and drewe me out of manie waters †He deliuered me from my most mightie enemie and from them that hated me because they were stronger then I. †He preuented me in the day of my affliction and our Lord became my stay †And he brought me forth into latitude he deliuered me because I wel pleased him †Our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice and according to the cleannes of my handes wil he render to me †Because I haue kept the wayes of our Lord and haue not done impiously from my God †For al his iudgementes are in my sight and his preâ—eptes I haue not remoued from me †And I shal be perfect with him and shal keepe my self from myne iniquitie †And our Lord wil restore vnto me according to my iustice and according to the cleannes of my handes in the sight of his eyes †With the holie one thou shalt be holie and with the strong perfect †Wâ—â—â— the elect thou shalt be elect and with the peruerse tâ—ou â—â—â—lt be peruerted †And the poore people thou wilt saue and the hautie in thyne eies thou wilt humble †Because thou art my lampe o Lord and thou wilt illuminate my darkenes †For in thee I wil runne girded in my God I wil leapâ— ouer the wal †God his way immaculate the word of our Lord is examined by fyre he is the shield of al that trust in him †Who is God beside our Lord and who is strong beside our God †God who hath girded me with strength and made euen my perfect way †Making my feete equal with the hartes and setting me vpon my high places †Teaching my handes vnto battel and framing myne armes as it were a brasen bow †Thou hast geuen me the shield of thy saluation and thy mildenes hath multiplied me †Thou shalt enlarge my steppes vnder me and myne ankles shal not fayle †I wil pursew myne enemies and bruise them and wil not returne til I consume them †I wil consume and break them that they rise not they shal fal vnder my feete †Thou hast girded me with strength to battel thou hast bowed vnder me them that resist me †Myne enemies thou hast made to turne to me the backe them that hated me and I shal destroy them †They shal crie and there shal not be to saue to our Lord and he wil not heare them †I wil destroy them as the dust of the earth as the myre of the streates wil I bruise and breake them †Thou wilt saue me from the contredictions of my people thou wilt keepe me to be the head of the Gentiles the people which I knowe not wil serue me †The children alienes wil resist me with the hearing of the eare they wil obey me †The children alienes are fallen away and shal be straytened in their distresses †Our lord liueth and my God is blessed and the strong God of my saluation shal be exalted †God which geuest me reuenges and throwest downe peoples vnder me †Which bringest me out from myne enemies and from them that resist me dost lift me vp from the wicked man thou shalt deliuer me †Therfore wil I confesse vnto thee o Lord among the
15. Oza 2â— Reg. 6. sodenly slaine for touching the Arke of God the Lavv forbidding vnder paine of death Num. 1. v. 51. 18. v. 7. that none should approch to holie office being not therto orderly called Of workes also of Supererogation called counsailes not preceptes vve haue examples in vovves voluntarily made of thinges not commanded the law prescribing vvhat vovves might be made by vvhom Nu. 30. And Num. 6. a particular rule was proposed to such as of their ovvne accord vvould embrace it a distinct name geuen them to be called Nazarites that is Seperate or Sanctified In which state they vvere to remaine either for a time limited by themselues or their parents or perpetually if they so promised Iudic. 13. 1. Reg. 1. For sâ— farre as their promise extended they were strictly obliged to performe Deut. 23. When thou hast vowed a vow to our Lord thy God thou shalt not slacke to pay it because our Lord thy God wil require it and if thou delay it shal be reputed to thee for sinne If thou wilt not promise thou shalt be without this sinne Pay thy vowes vnto the Highest Psal 75. Vow ye and render your vowes to our Lord your God Psal 49. The Rechabites aftervvardes had a like rule to the Nazariteâ— the same perpetual Hierem. 3â— neuer to drinke wine nor to build nor dwel in houses but in tabernacles nor sow corne nor plant vineyardes VVhich rule though instituted by a man yet the obseruation therof vvas much commended rewarded by God v. 19. Such distinct state of religious persons with other states of the church of Christ were also prefigured Leuit. 11. by the cleane fishes of three distinct vvaters as some holie Fathers do mystically expound that place To vvitte the cleane fishes of the sea are the multitude of lay persons which are dravven out of the sea of this vvorld and happely found good fishes in our Lords nette Math. 13. The cleane fishes of the riuers are the good and fruitful Clergie men that vvatter the vvhole earth by teaching Christian doctrin and ministring holie Sacramentes vvith other Rites and Gouerning the whole Church And the cleane fishes of standing pooles are the Monastical persons liuing perpetually in Cloysters vvhere good soules are alwayes readie for our Lordes table as S. Bernard teacheth Much more the more ancient fathers S. Beda S. Gregorie S. Augustin and others explicate innumerable places of holie Scripture mystically relying therin vpon example of the new Testament so expounding the old Namely S. Paul teaching as before is noted that the whole law was a pedagogue guiding men to Christ and affirming that al thinges happened to the people of the old Testament in figure of the new Leauing therfore to prosecute the same further which would require a verie great worke it may here suffice to geue according to the literal sense a briefe view of certaine other pointes of Religion practised in this fourth age VVhere it is clere that as Iacob the Patriarch had fortold Gen. 48. that Abrahams Isaacs and his owne name should be inuocated so Moyses prayed God for his promise made to them and for their sake to pardon the people saying Exod. 32. Remember ô Lord Abraham Isaac Israel And our Lord was pacified from doing the euil which he had spoken against his people His diuine prouidence so disposing that he could be hindered by such prayers from that which hâ—threatned And whereas Moyses did not directly inuocate the holie Patriarches as Christians now cal vpon glorified Sainctes to pray for them the cause of difference is for that now Sainctes seing God know in him whatsoeuer perteyneth to their glorie which state none bâ—fore Christ attainâ—d vnto Num 35. v. 25. Deut. 4. v. 12. Againe Protestantes obiect that for so much as God knoweth al our necessities desires dispositions and whatsoeuer is in man it is needles say they superfluous in vaine that Sainctes should commend our causes To this we answer that not only glorious Sainctes but also mortal men by Gods ordinaÌ„ce by which nothing is done vainely do such offices as mediators betwen God and other men for so Moyses told the wordes of the people to our Lord Exod. 19. notwithstanding Gods omniscience or knowledge of al thinges Also God expresly commanded Iobs freinds to goe to Iob promising to heare his prayer for thâ—m As for Sainctes hearing or knowing our prayers made to them though onlie God of himselfe and by his owne power seeth mens secrete cogitations and therfore is properly called the searcher of hartes 1. Reg. 16. yet God communicateth this powâ—r to prophetes to see the secrete thoughtes of others so Samuel knew the cogitations of Saul 1. Reg. 9. v. 20. And Abias saw by reuelation the coming of Ierobomas wife to him in Silo 3. Reg. 14. Much more God reuealeth our present state and acts to glorified soules vvho are as Angels in heauen Math. 22. and being secure of their owne glorie are careful sayeth S. Cyprian of our Saluation Neither is it derogation to God that Saints are honoured and titles ascribed to them of intercessors mediators and the like for such titles are geuen to them not as to God but by vvay of participation only So Iudges are called goddes and sauiours Exod. 21. Iudic 3. and Priestes called goddes Exod. 21. Praise geuen to God and Gedeon Iudic. 7. Protection and adoration of Angels is very frequent Exod. 23. 31. Num. 22. Iosue 5. Iudic. 2. 6. 13. The names of the twelue sonnes of Israel were grauen in the two chiefe ornaments of the high priest in the Ephod and Rationale Exod. 28. Manna was not only reserued as a memorie of Gods singular benefite but also honorably reposed as a Relique in a golden vessel and kept in the Arke of God Exod. 16. Heb. 9. Iosephs bones reserued and remoued Iosue 24. Images of holie Cherubims were made and sette vp together with the Arke and Propitiatorie in the chiefe place of the Tabernacle called Sancta Sanctorum Exod. 25. An image also of a serpent was made in brasse for the health of those that were striken by serpentes Num. 21. Images also of lions and oxen were made and sette vnder the foote of the lauer called a sea in the Temple 3. Reg. 7. The honour done to anie holie thing namely to the Arke 2. Reg. 6. redounded to Gods more honour and al this so farre from idolatrie that quite contrarie in presence of the Arke the idol Dagon fel to the ground and broke in peeces 1. Reg. 5. Exequies for the dead with weeping and fasting were then practised in the Church as appeareth by the peoples mourning for Aaron thirtie dayes Num. 20. Also for Moyses Deut. 34. By the Gabaonites fasting seuen dayes for Saul and his sonnes lately slaine 1. Reg. 31. Likewise king Dauid with al his court mourning weping
And she abode in her husbands house an hundred fiue yeares and dismist her abra free and she died and was buried with her husband in Bethulia †And al the people mourned for her seuen dayes †And in al the space of her life there was not that trubled Israel and after her death manie yeares †But the day of the festiuitie of this victorie is receiued of the Hebrewes in the number of holie daies and is worshiped of the Iewes from that time vntil this present day ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 26. After that her husband vvas dead As yong Toblas and Sara were notable patterns to maried persons so Iudith is a like good example to deuout widowes excelling most partin manie respectes For first she professed this holie state of life in the old Testament when it was most rare the law prouiding that the brother or next kinsman should marie the widow of him that died without children as it semeth she had none the Greke text affirming that she gaue al her goodes before her death to other kinred ch 16. v. 24. Secondly she was only once maried ch 15. v. 13. ch 16. v. 26. wheras it is also commendable after twise or oftenner mariage at last to abstaine Thirdly she was yong about 36. yeares for three yeares and a half after that her husband was dead she was called a yong maide ch 12. v. 12. Fourtly she was of excellent beautie ch 8 v. 7. Fiftly exceeding rich ibidem Sixtly very noble especially after the deliuerie of the people from such distresse ch 15. v. 10. Seuently for this renowmed fact and for her other great vertue ch 8. v. 8 manie principal men desired to marie her ch 16. v. 22 Eightly al the people wished much issue of so noble a stock ch 16. v. 25. Nintly she liued long in the state of widowhood about threescore and nine yeares from 36. to 105 ch 16. v. 28. Tently there was great and long peace in al Israel after that she had releeued Bethulia ch 16. v. 30. Al which might easely haue inuited an other to haue maried but her great deuotion and feruent desire to serue God in a retired austere life fasting praying ch 8. v. 6. cutte of al incitements to mariage and made her before the Gospel to embrace Euangelical counsel not commanded but for better attaining to perfecton counseled by our Sauior and S. Paul Mat. 19. 1. Cor. 7. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ESTHER OF the authoritie of this booke only two or three ancient writers doubted before the councels of Laodicea and Carthage declared it to be Canonical Al the rest did euer esteme it as diuine Scripture For albeit S. Ierom in his time found not certaine partes therof in the Hebrew and therfore transposed the same to the end of the booke as now we haue them yet in the Greeke he found al these sixtenne chapters conteyned in tenne And it is not vnprobable that these parcels were sometimes in the Hebrew as were diuers whole bookes which are now lost But whether they were at anie time in the Hebrew or no the Church of Christ accounteth the whole Booke of infallible authoritie reading as wel these partes as the rest in her publique office And the councel of Trent sess 4. For more expresse declaration defiueth that al the bookes recited in the same Decree amongst which is Esther with al the partes therof as they are accustomed to be read in the Catholique Church and be conteyned in the old vulgare latin Edition are sacred and Canonical Scripture It conteyneth a particular great danger of the people of Israel hapening as is probable shortly after their general relaxation returne of some from the captiuitie of Babylon and their deliuere from it through the godlie Zele and other vertues of Quene Esther directed herein by Mardocheus who being also in imminent danger was deliuered aduanced and finally writ the historie which may be diuided into foure partes not by order of the chapters as hey are here transposed but in order of time first the author reporteth some thinges going before the peoples danger in the 11. 1. 2. 12. chapters and part of the 3. Secondly their danger and distresse in the rest of the 3. and part of 13. chapters Thirdly their deliuerie from the 4. chapter to the middes of the. 9. and rest of the 13. and in the 14. 15. and 16. Fourtly the thinges that ensued hereupon in the other half of the ninth chapter the 10. chapter and first verse of the eleuenth VVho soeuer vvil please to read this historie in order of the time as the thinges happened adioyning the latter chapters vvhich are in the Greke and not in the Hebrevv may folovve the letters of the Alphabet as here vve haue placed them in the margent beginning at the second verse of the 11. chapter vvhere he findeth the letter A. and vvhen he cometh to B. returne vvhere the same letter is noted ch 1. And so in the rest folovv the same direction THE BOOKE OF ESTHER CHAP. I. King Assuerus celebrateth a great banket to shew his glorie 10. calleth quene Vasthi therto who refusing to come is by aduise of his counsel deposed IN the daies of Assuerus who reigned from India vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie seuen prouinces †when he sate in the throne of his kingdō the citie Susá was in the begynning of his kingdom †In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great feast to al the princes and to his seruantes to the most valiant of the Persians and the nobles of the Medes and the rulers of the prouinces in his sight †that he might shew the riches of the glorie of his kingdom and the greatnes vaunting of his might a great time to witte an hundred foure score dayes †And when the daies of the feast were accomplished he inuited al people that was found in Susan from the greatest to the least and commanded seuen daies a feast to be prepared in the entrance of the garden and of the wood which was planted with royal garnishing and with hand †And there hong on euerie side hangings of skie colour and grene and hyacinthine colour held vp with cordes of silke and of purple which were put into rings of yuorie and were held vp with marble pillers Beddes also of gold and siluer were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld and the touch stone which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie †And they that were inuited dranke in golden cuppes and the meates were brought in change of vessels Wine also plenteous and the best was set downe as was worthie of a kings magnificence †Neither was there that compelled them to drinke that would not but as the king had appointed making ech of his princes ouerseer of euerie table that euerie man might take what he would †Vasthi also the
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
children and multitude called him king of Israel Ioan 12. At which time as also before he exercised temporal Iurisdiction in correcting abuses in the Temple Mat. 21. Ioan. 2. And when Pilate demanded of him if he were a king Ioan. 18. v. 37. he answered Thou saist that I am a king For this I was borne and for this came I into the world that I should geue testimonie to the truth And though he answered withal that his kingdom to witte the possession and vse therof was not of this world yet Pilate by Gods prouidence writte the title and would not alter it IESVS of Nazareth King of the Iewes But Christs chief inheritance and reward of his merites is God himself as here he professeth by his prophet Dauid which is also the only true perfect inheritance of al Christs seruates vvherfore Clergy men more particularly professe the same when they first enter into their spiritual state addicting and dedicating them selues to serue God in Ecclefiastical sunct on not for temporal inheritance but for a better lotte God himself who is al Good and most perfect goodnes true riches and eternal inheritance In which election of state to liue and serue God in euerie Clergie man sayth Our Lord is the portion of myn inheritance and of my cuppe Thou art he that vvil restore myn inheritance vnto me Man calleth it his inheritance because he was created to serue God and for his feruice to inherite God which reward though he lost by sinne yet euerie one returning to Gods seruice and perseuering therin recouereth by Christ new right and title to the same inheritance performing their duties in their seueral vocations Some traueling in the world but not louing it others sequestered from secular affayres duly administring sacred offices more peculiarly called Diuine seruice ◠Net leaue my 〈◊〉 in hel How Caluin and Beza sometimes corrupt this text alwayes pernert the sense and most absurdly oppose them selues against al ancient holie Farhets concerning the Article of Christs descending in soule denving that into that part of hel called Limbus patr◠is largely noted Gen. 37. Act. 2. 1. pet 3 Only here we may not omitte to aduertise the reader that some Protestants Bibles permitting the word hel to remaine in the text a latter Edition for hel putteth graue with this only note in the former place that thus is chiesly meant of Christ by whose Resurrection al his members haue immortality And Act. 2. they repete their new text by this paraphrasis Thou shlat not leaue me in the graue VV resting that which perteineth to the bodie rising from the graue to the soule which was not at al in the graue al the time the bodie lay there PSALME XVI Aiust mans prayer in tribulation 10. describing his enemies cruelty 13. by way of imprecation foresheweth their destruction 15. and declareth that the iust shal be satisfied in glorie †The “ prayer of Dauid HEARE ô Lord my iustice attend my petition With thine eares heare my prayer not in deceitful lippes †From thy countenanee let my iudgement procede let thine eies see equities †Thou hast proued my hart and visited it by night by fire thou hast examined me and there is no iniquitie found in me †That my mouth speake not the workes of men for the wordes of thy lippes I haue kept the hard wayes †Perfite my pases in thy pathes that my steppes be not moued I haue cried because thou hast heard me ◠God incline thyne eare to me and heare my wordes †Make thy mercies meruelous which sauest them that hope in thee †From them that resist thy right hand keepe me as the apple of the eie †Vnder the shadowe of thy winges protect me †from the face of the impious that haue afflicted me Mine enemies haue compassed my soule †they haue shut vp their fatte their mouth hath spoken pride †Casting me forth now haue they compassed me they haue sette their eies to bend them vnto the earth †They haue taken me as a lion readie to the pray and as a lions whelpe dwelling in hid places †Arise Lord preuent him and supplant him deliuer my soule from the impious thy sword †from the enemies of thy hand Lord from a few out of the land diuide them in their life their bellie is filled of thy secretes They are filled with children and they haue leaft their remnantes to their litle ones †But I in iustice shal appeare to thy sight I shal be filled when thy glorie shal appeare ANNOTATIONS PSALME XVI 1. The prayer of Dauid This Psalme of the matter conteyned is called a prayer VVhich holie Dauid so composed as was both conuenient for himselfe being molested with vniust afflictions by the wicked and for anie other iust person or the whole Church in persecution seruing as a spiritual sword to strike the enimies and as a shield to beare of with patience and fortitude al their forces PSALME XVII King Dauids thankes to God for his often deliuerie from great dangers first in general 9. then more particularly describeth Gods terrible maner of fighting for him 18. against his cruel and otherwise potent enimie◠22. attributing the same to Gods good pleasure and iustice of his cause 31. praiseth God 33. his only protector 41. and depresser of his enemies †Vnto the end to the seruant of our Lord Dauid who spake to our Lord the wordes of this canticle in the day that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies and out of the hand of Saul and he said 2. Reg. 22. I wil loue thee ô Lord my strength †Our Lord is my firmament and my refuge and my deliuere My God is my helper and I wil hope in him My protectour and the horne of my saluation and my receiuer †Praysing I wil inuocate our Lord and I shal be saued from mine enemies †The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and torrentes of iniquitie haue trubled me The sorrowes of hel haue compassed me the snares of death haue preuented me †In my tribulation I haue inuocated our Lord and haue cried to my God And he hath heard my voice from his holie temple and my crie in his sight hath entered into his eares †The earth was shaken trembled the fundations of mountaines were trubled and were moued because he was wrath with them †Smoke arose in his wrath and fire flamed vp from his face coles were kindled from him †He bowed the heauens and descended and darkenesse vnder his feete †And he ascended vpon the cherubs and flew he flew vpon the wings of windes †And he put darkenesse his couert his tabernacle is round about
people that shal be borne whom our Lord hath made ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXI 1. For the morning enterprise In respect of the end for which Christ suffered this Psalme is intitled for the morning enterprise that is for Christs glorious Resurrection and other effectes of his Passion VVhich holie Dauid by the spirite of prophecy so describeth here long before with diuers particular cicumstances as the Euangelistes haue since historically recorded that it may not vnfitly be called The Passion of Iesus Christ according to Dauid 3. Thou vvilt not heare Our B. Sauiour seing his most terrible death imminent prayde conditionally if it pleased his heauenlie Father to haue the same remoued from him and was not heard as the Psalmist here prophecieth The principal reason was because God of his diuine charitie had decreed that mankind should be redemed by this death of his Sonne Christ also him selfe of his excellent charitie consented here vnto therefore persisted not in his conditional prayer but added and absolutly prayed that not his owne wil but his Fathers might be fulfilled And in this he was heard to his owne more glorie and other infinite benefites of innumerable soules as it foloweth v. 25. vvhen I crieâ—d to him he heard me S. Paul also witnesseth Heb. 5. v. 7. that Christ offering prayers and supplications to him that could saue him from death vvas heard for his reuerence that is in respect of his inestimable merite in humane nature vnited in person to God An other cause why Christ was not deliuered from violent death as manie holie persons were when they cried to God in distresses as S Augustin sheweth Epist 120. c. 11. was for example to Christians whom God wil haue to suffer temporal afflictions and death for the glorie of life euerlasting according to S. Peters doctrin Christ suffered for vs leauing an example that you may folovv his steppes 18. They haue digged Of obstinate malice the Iewes haue corrupted this place and God knoweth how manie others in the Hebrew text of some editions reading caari which signifieth as a lion without al coherence of the sense for caaru they digged or pearced to auoid so plaine a prophecie of nailing Christs handes and feete to the crosse 23 I vvil declare thy name to my brethren Here it is euident that this Psalme is of Christ not of Dauid by S. Pauls allegation Heb. 2. v. 11. 12. saying He that sanctifieth towitt Christ disdaned not to cal the sanctified his bretheren 23. In the middes of the Church I vvil praise thee After Christs Passion and Resurrection in the rest of this Psalme other two principal pointes of Christian Religion are likewise prophecied His perpetual visible Church and the B. Sacrament of his bodie The former is here prophecied by way of inuiting al the seede of Iacob to glorifie God v. 24. al the seede of Israel to feare him v. 25. towit innumerable Christians the true Israelites the vniuersal Church in the whole world As for heretical partes or parcels in the world such as the Donatistes which going forth from the Catholique Church say Christ hath lost his great Church the diuel hath taken the whole world from him and he remaineth only in a part of Africa they do not praise God saith S. Augustin but dishonour God and Christ as if God were not faithful in his promise as if Christ were dispossessed of his kingdome the Catholique Church Lest anie should replie that Christ is praised though the Church be decaied or be very smal the Holie Ghost hath preuented such arguments saying v. 26 His praise is in the great Church VVhich could neither be verified in the part of Donatistes in Afrike nor now in the part of Protestantes since Luther in Europe Further S. Augustin explicateth vrgeth the verses folowing in this Psalme against the same blind deafe and obstinate Donatistes who did not or would not see not heare that al the endes of the earth shal remenber and be conuerted to our Lord. The holie Scripture saith not the endes of the earth but al the endes wel goe too saith this great Doctor peraduenture there is but one verse thou thoughtest vpon some thing els thou talkedst with thy brother when one read this marke he repeteth and knocketh vpon the deaf Al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight Yet the heretike is deaf he heareth not let one knocke againe Because the kingdom is our Lords and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles Hold these three verses bretheren Thus and more S. Augnstin against those that thinke the true Church may faile or become inuisible or obscure And though it be not in like prosperous state at al times and in al places yet it is alwayes conspicuous and more general then anie other congregation professing whatsoeuer pretensed religion 27. The poore shal eate Seing this Psalme is of Christ as is proued by S. Pauls allegation of 23 verse and by the concordance therof with the Euangelists it is necessarily deduced that the vovves mentioned in the former verse and these wordes the poore shal eate and be filled can not be referred to the sacrifices of the old Testament but to the blessed Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist which our Sauiour promised after he had replenished the people with fiue loaues and which he instituted at his last supper in presence of his Apostles So S. Augustin doubteth not to vnderstand it and to teach as wel in his duble expositioÌ„ of this Psalme as in his 120. Epistle c. 27. The poore that is the humble and poore in spirite shal eate befilled the fatte ones or the rich being proud do also adore and eate but are not filled They also are brought to the table of Christ and participate his bodie bloud but they adore only are not also filled because they do not imitate Christs humilitie they disdaine to be humble VVhere it is clere this holie father by Christs bodie and bloud meaneth not bread and wine as signes of his bodie and bloud for bread and wine can not be lawfully adored neither doth he meane our Lords bodie as it was on the crosse or is in heauen for so it is not eaten but as it is in formes of bread and wine on Christs table the Altar PASLME XXII A forme of thankesgeuing for al spiritual benefites described vnder the metaphor of temporal prosperitie euen from a sinners first conuersion to final perseuerance and eternal beatitude †The Psalme of Dauid OVR Lord ruleth me and nothing shal be wanting to me †in place of pasture there he hath placed me Vpon the water of refection he hath brought me vp †he hath conuerted my soule He hath conducted me vpon the pathes of iustice for his name †For although I shal walke in the middes of the shadow of death I wil not feare euils because thou
Caluin and his complices gether poyson of these holie wordes denying that sinnes are truly taken away but only couered and stil remayne say they in the iustest VVhich sense would make this Scripture contrarie to other places Isaie 6. thyn iniquitie shal be taken away and thy sinne shal be cleansed Ioan. 1. The lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Act. 3. Be penitent and conuert that your sinnes may be put out 1. Cor. 6 you are washed you are sanctified you are iustified the like which shew the true real taking away of sinnes true sanctification and iustification As S. Ierom or some other ancient authentical autor explicateth this place saying Sinnes are so couered by baptisme penance that they are not to be reueled in the day of iudgement not imputed in him that diligently purgeth him selfe in this world or by martyrdom S. Augustin teacheth the same saying Sinnes are couered are wholly couered are abolished Neither must you vnderstand saith he that sinnes are couered as though stil they were and liued VVhy then did the prophet say sinnes are couered they are not to be punished More clerly li. 1. c 13. cont duas Epist Pelag. The Pelagians calumniating Catholiques as if they taught that sinnes are not taken away but shauen as heares are cut with a rasor the rootes remaining in he flesh vvhich he answereth none affirmeth but an infidel Likewise S. Gregorie teacheth that a sinner couereth his sinnes wel when with contrarie vertues he ouerwhelmeth former vices and with good deedes blotteth out former euil deedes He couereth them euil when either for shame or feare or obstinacie or desperation he concealeth his sinnes omitting to confesse them God couereth sinnes as a phisition couereth woundes by applying medicinal plaster which in deede cureth them Thus ancient lerned holie Fathers expound this text Further explicating that albeit thinges couered and only therby hidde from men do remaine as they were before they were hid yet whatsoeuer is hid to God is in dede vtterly taken away for nothing that is can be hid from God And the contrarie doctrin of Protestants is iniurious either to Gods powre if they say he can not quite take away sinnes or to his mercie if he wil not or to his iustice if he neuer punish sinnes euer remayning and to his truth if he repute otherwise then in deede the thing is It is also iniurious to Christ to say his bloud and death is not effectual to take away sinnes iniurious to innumerable places of holie Scripture which affirme plainly that sinnes by Gods grace are vtterly taken away Finally it is iniurious to Sainctes in heauen arguing them as stil infected with sinnes if in dede sinnes yet remaine in them which is most absurde and blasphemie to speake And yet foloweth by necessarie consequence For if the iustest liued died in sinne they should remaine eternally in sinne 2. Neither is there guile in his spirite In remission of sinnes the penitent necessarily must so cooperate that he haue no guile in his spirite or hart for if he haue then he faileth of the forsaide blessednes and his iniquities are not forgeuen nor his sinnes couered to God but to be imputed and punished Yet the repentance of a sinner be it neuer so sincere hartie and without guile doth not merite remission of sinne but only disposeth therto But after remission it is satisfactorie for the paine due for sinnes and meritorious of glorie According as S. Augustin here teacheth saying Good or meritorious workes goe not before faith and remission but folow the same PSALME XXXII The prophet exhorteth to praise God 4. describing his powre prouidence mercie and wisdom 16. no saluation but by him 20. and therfore prayeth for his helpe The Psalme of Dauid REIOYCE ye iust in our Lord praysing becometh the righteous †Confesse ye to our Lord on the harpe on a psalter of ten strings sing to him †Sing ye to him a new song sing wel to him in iubilation †Because the word of our Lord is right and al his workes are in faith †He loueth mercie and iudgement the earth is ful of the mercie of our Lord. †By the word of our Lord the heauens are established and by the spirit of his mouth al the power of them †Gathering together the waters of the sea as it were in a bottel putting the depthes in treasures †Let al the earth feare our Lord and let al the inhabitantes of the world be moued at him †Because he said and they were made he commanded and they were created †Our Lord l dissipateth the counsels of nations and he reproueth the cogitations of people and he reproueth the counsels of princes †But the counsel of our Lord abydeth for euer the cogitations of his hart in generation and generation †Blessed is the nation whose God is our Lord the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance †Our Lord hath looked from heauen he hath sene al the children of men †From his prepared habitation he hath looked vpon al that inhabite the earth †Who made their hartes seuerally who vnderstandeth al their workes †The king is not saued by much powre and the gyant shal not be saued in the multitude of his strength †The horse fayleth to safetie and in the abundance of his force he shal not be saued †Behold the eies of our Lord be vpon them that feare him and on them that hope vpon his mercie †That he may deliuer their soules from death and nourish them in famine †Our soule expecteth our Lord because he is our helper and protector Because in him our hart shal reioyce and we haue trusted in his holie name Let thy mercie ô Lord be made vpon vs as we haue hoped in thee PSALME XXXIII King Dauid by his owne example being deliuered from danger exhorteth al men to render thankes for Gods benefites 12. shewing wherin iustice consisteth 16. and Gods special prouidence towards the iust To Dauid when “ he changed his countenance before Abimelech and he dismist him and he went away 1. Reg. 21. I WIL blesâ—e our Lord at al time his prayse alwayes in my mouth †In our Lord my soule shal be praised let the milde heare and reioyce †Magnifie ye our Lord with me and let vs exalt his name for euer †I haue sought out our Lord and he hath heard me and from al my tribulations he hath deliuered me †Come ye to him and be illuminated and your faces shal not be confounded †This poore man hath cried and our Lord hath heard him and from al his tribulations he hath saued him †The Angel of our Lord shal put in him selfe about them that feare him and shal deliuer them †Tast
ye and see that our Lord is sweete blessed is the man that hopeth in him †Feare ye our Lord al ye his sainctes because there is no lacke to them that feare him †The rich haue wanted and haue bene hungrie but they that seeke after our Lord shal not be diminished of any good †Come children heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord. †Who is the man that wil haue life loueth to see good daies †“ Stay thy tongue from euil and thy lippes that they speake not guile †Turne away from euil and do good seeke after peace and pursewe it †The eies of our Lord vpon the iust and his eares vnto their prayers †But the countenance of our Lord is vpon them that doe euil things to destroy their memorie out of the earth †The iust haue cried and our Lord hath heard them and out of al their tribulations he hath deliuered them †Our Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite hart and the humble of spirit he wil saue †Manie are the tribulations of the iust and out of al these our Lord wil deliuer them Our Lord keepeth al their bones there shal not one of them be broken The death of sinners is verie il and they that hate the iust shal offend Our Lord wil redeme the soules of his seruantes and al that hope in him shal not offend ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXXIII 1. He changed his countenance S. Augustin by holie Dauids changing of his countenance and by changing the king of Geth his name who in the booke of kinges where the historie is recorded is called Achis and here Abimelech gethereth that here is an hidden and great Mysterie VVhich he explicateth partly by interpretation of the Hebrew names but more especially by Dauids changing of his countenance which prefigured Christ eternal God becoming also man and so making great changes in the world For as Dauid killed Goliath and for his good act gotte enuie so Christ killing the diuel and humilitie in Christs meÌ„bers killing pride are persecuted by the wicked For Christ was both to the ruine and Resurrection of manie He changed Sacrifice and Priesthood The Iewes had sacrifice according to the order of Aaron in victims of cattle and this was in mysterie For there was not then the Sacrifice of the bodie and bloud of our Lord which the faithful and those that haue read the Gospel do know which Sacrifice is now spread in al the round earth Aâ—litle after the Sacrifice of Aaron is taken away and the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech begane to be He therfore I knovv not vvho changed his countenance Let it not be I knovv not vvho for our Lord Iesus Christ is knowen He would haue our health to be in his bodie and bloud From whence did he commend his bodie and bloud from his humilitie For vnles he were humble he would neither be eaten nor druncke Behold his highnes In the beginning was the vvord and the vvord was with God and God the vvord Loe the euerlasting meate and Angels eate it supernal powres eate it celestial spirites eate it and they eate and are fatted and the thing remaineth whole which satiateth and reioyceth them How then hath the vvisdome of God fedde vs vvith the same bread the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs It were too long to recite this great Doctors vvhole discourse He further sheweth that Christ dismissed the Ievves and vvent from them to the Gentiles Thou seekest novv Christ saith he among the Ievves and findest him not because he hath changed his countenance For they sticking to the sacrifice according to the order of Aaron held not the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech and haue lost Christ and the Gentiles haue begunne to haue him Againe this holie father vvilleth vs to remember the Gospel VVhen our Lord Iesus Christ spake of his bodie he said Vnles you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud you shal not haue life in you because he had changed his countenance this semed as furie and madnes vnto them to geue his flesh to be eaten of men his bloud to be drunke therfore Dauid vvas reputed madde before Achis vvhen he said you haue brought this madde man vnto me Doth it not seme madnes Eate ye my flesh and drinke my bloud He semed to be madde thus S. Augustin Neuer imagining the figuratiue interpretation of our nevv Sacramentaries vvho say Christ gaue no more but a figure of his bodie bloud for then it had bene easily vnderstood by the Capharnaites and no such contradiction nor murmuring had happened Yet S. Augustin saith more plainly if more plaine may be Christ caried himselfe in his ovvne handes And hovv this can be done bretheren in man vvho can vnderstand For vvho is caried in his ovvne handes A man may be caried in the handes of others no man is caried in his ovvne handes VVe find not hovv it can be vnderstood in Dauid according to the letter but in Christ vve find it For Christ vvas caried in his ovvne handes vvhen geuing his verie bodie he said This is my bodie for he caried his bodie in his ovvne handes 14 15. â—tay thy tongue c. Both these verses and frequent other places in the Psalmes shevv plainly that iustice consisteth not only in faith but in abstayning from euil and doing good yet requiring and presupposing true faith vvithout which no workes are aualable to iustice nor to euerlasting life PSALME XXXIIII Dauid in figure of Christ prophetically by way of inuocating Gods helpe forsheweth his persecution and the iust reuenge vpon his persecutors 9. with praise to God 13. his charitie towards his cruel aduersaries 17. whom neuertheles God punisheth 20. for pretending peace in wordes and in fact persecuting 23. rendering to al as they deserue To Dauid himself IVDGE ô Lord them that hurt me ouerthrow them that impugne me †Take armour and shield and rise vp to helpe me †Bring forth the sword and shut vp against them that perfecute me say to my soule I am thy saluation †Let them be counfounded ashamed that seeke my soule Let them be turned backward and be confounded that thinke euil against me †Be they made as dust before the face of winde and the angel of our Lord straictning them †Let their way be made darkenesse and slippernes and the angel of our Lord pursewing them †Because they haue hid the destruction of their snare for me without cause in vaine haue they vpbrayded my soule †Let the snare which he knoweth not come on him and the net which he hath hid catch him and let him fal into the verie same snare †But my soule shal reioyce in our Lord and shal be delighted vpon his saluation †Al
Say ye to God How terrible are thy workes ô Lord in the multitude of thy strength thine enimies shal lie to thee †Let al the earth adore thee and sing to thee let it sing a psalme to thy name †Come ye and see the workes of God terrible in counsels ouer the chidren of men †Who turneth the sea into drie land in the riuer they shal passe on foote there we shal reioyce in him †Who ruleth in his strength for euer his eyes looke vpon the gentiles they that exasperate him let them not be exalted in themselues †Ye Gentiles blesse our God and make the voice of his prayse hearde †Who hath put my soule in life and hath not geuen my feete to be moued †Because thou hast proued vs ô God by fire thou hast tried vs as siluer is tried †Thou hast brought vs into a snare thou hast laide tribulations on our backe thou hast set men vpon our heades †We haue passed through fire and water and thou hast brought vs out into refreshing †I wil goe into thy house with holocaustes I wil render thee my vowes †which my lippes haue distinguished And my mouth hath spoken in my tribulation †Holocaustes with marrow wil I offer to thee with incense of rammes I wil offer to thee oxen with bucke goates †Come ye heare and I wil tel al ye that feare God what great things he hath done for my soule †To him haue I cried with my mouth and haue exulted vnder my tongue †If I haue beheld iniquitie in my hart our Lord wil not heare †Therfore hath God heard and hath attended to the voice of my petition †Blessed be God who hath not remoued my prayer and his mercie from me PSALME LXVI The prophet prayeth for and withal foreshoweth the propagation of the Church of Christ Vnto the end in hymes a Psalme of Canticle to Dauid GOd haue mercie vpon vs and blesse vs illuminate his countenance vpon vs and haue mercie on vs. †That we may know thy way vpon earth in al nations thy saluation †Let peoples ô God confesse to thee let al peoples confesse to thee †Let nations be glad reioice because thou iudgest peoples in equitie and the nations in earth thou doest direct †Let peoples ô God confesse to thee let al peoples confesse to thee †the earth hath yelded her fruite God our God blesse vs †God blesse vs and let al the endes of the earth feare him PSALME LXVII Notwithstanding great persecutions the Church prospereth 10. Especially in the new testament by Apostolical function 18. ministerie of Angels Christs Ascension coming of the Holie Ghost 31. confirming the faithful repressing the insolent and conuerting manie 35. For al which the prophet inuiteth al men to praise God Vnto the end a Psalme of Canticle to Dauid himself LEt God arise and let his enimies be dispersed and let them that hate him flee from his face †As smoke vanisheth let them vanish away as waxe melteth at the presence of fire so let sinners perish at the presence of God †And let the iust make merrie and reioyce in the sight of God and let them be delighted in mirth †Sing to God say a Psalme to his name make way to him who mounteth vpon the west Lord is his name Reioyce ye in his syght they shal be trubled at the presence of him †the father of orphanes and iudge of widowes God in his holie place †God that maketh men to inhabite of one manner in a house That bringeth forth them that be bound in strengh likewise them that exasperate that dwel in sepulchers †O God when thou wentest forth in the sight of thy people when thou didst passe through the desert †The earth was moued and the heauens also distilled at the presence of the God of Sina at the face of the God of Israel †Voluntarie rayne shalt thou seperat ô God to thine inheritance and it was weakned but thou hast persited it †Thy liuing creatures shal dwel in it thou hast prepared in thy swetnes for the poore ô God †Our Lord shal geue the word to them that euanglize with great powre †The king of hoastes the beloued of the beloued and to the beautie of the house to diuide the spoyles †If ye sleepe among the middest of the lottes the winges of a doue layde ouer with siluer and the hinder parts of her backe in the palenes of gold †Whiles the heauenlie discerneth kings ouer her with snow they shal be made white in Selmon †“ The mountane of God a fat mountane A mountane crudded as cheese a fatte mountane †“ why suppose you crudded mountanes A mountane in which it hath wel pleased God to dwel therin for in dede our Lord wil dwel euen to the end †The chariote of God is ten thousand folde thousands of them that reioyce our Lord in them in Sina in the holie place †Thou art ascended on hygh thou hast taken captiuitie thou hast receiued gifts in men for euen those that do not beleue our Lord God to inhabite †Blessed be our Lord day by day the God of our saluations wil make vs a prosperous iourney †Our God is the God of sauing and the issues of death are of our Lord our Lord. †But yet God stil breake the heads of his enimies the hearie croune of them that walke in their sinnes Our Lord Said Out of Basan I wil conuert I wil conuert into the depth of the sea †That thy foote may be dipped in bloude the tongue of thy dogges made redde with * the same bloud of the enimies †They haue seene thy entringes in ô God the entrings of my God of my King Who is in the holie place †Princes came before ioyned with them that sang in the middes of young wemen plaing on tymbrels †In churches blesse ye God our Lord of the fountains of Israel †There Beniamin a youngman in excesse of minde The Princes of Iuda their leaders the Princes of Zabulon the Princes of Nephthali †Command thy strength ô God confirme this ô God which thou hast wrought in vs. †From thy temple in Ierusalem kinges shal offer giftes to thee †Rebuke the wilde beasts of the reede the congregation of bulles in the kine of thy peoples that they may exclude them which are tried with siluer Dissipate the nations that wil warres †Legates shal come out of Aegypt Aethiopia shal prevent his handes
the world haue obtained riches †And I saide Then haue I iustified my hart without cause and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes †And haue bene scourged al the day and my chastising in the morninges †If I saide I wil speake this behold I reproued the nation of thy children †I thought to know this thing it is labour before me †Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes †But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them thou hast cast them downe whiles they were eleuated †How are they brought into desolation they haue failed sodanely they haue perished for their iniquitie †As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord in thy citie thou shalt bring their image to nothing †Because my hart is inflamed and my reynes are changed And I am brought to nothing and knew not †As a beast am I become with thee and I alwaies with thee †Thou hast helde my right hand and in thy wil thou hast conducted me and with glorie thou hast receiued me †For what is to me in heauen and besides thee what would I vpon the earth †My flesh hath fainted and my hart God of my hart and God my portion for euer For behold they that make them selues faire from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed al that fornicate from thee †But it is good for me to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord God That I may shew forth al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion PSALME LXXIII Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning besecheth God to respect his owne inheritance cruelly afflicted â—â— and leift long without helpe 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name Vnderstanding to Asaph VVHY hast thou ô God repelled for euer is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture Be mindful of thy congregation which thou hast possessed from the beginning Thou hast redemed the rod of thine inheritanâ—â—e mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt †Lift vp thy handes vpon their prides for euer how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place †And they that hate thee haue gloried in the middes of thy solemnitie They haue sette their signes for signes †and haue not knowne as in the issue on high As in a wood of trees they haue with axes †cut out the gates therof together in hatchet and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe †They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth †Their kinred together haue saide in their hart Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth †Our signes we haue not seene there is now no prophet and he wil know vs no more †How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer †Why doest thou turne away thy hand and thy right hand out of the middes of thy bosome for euer †But God our king before the worldes he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth †Thou in thy strength hast confirmed the sea thou hast crushed the head of Dragons in the waters †Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of the Aethiopians †Thou hast broken vp fountanes and torrentes thou hast dried the riuers of Ethan †The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast made the morning and the sunne †Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth the summer and the spring thou hast formed them †Be mindeful of this the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name †Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer †Haue respect vnto thy testament because they that are obscure of the earth are filled with houses of iniquities †Let not the humble be turned away being confounded the poore and needy shal praise thy name †Arise God iudge thy cause be mindful of those thy reproches that are from the foolish man al the day †Forget not the voices of thine enimies the pride of them that hate thee hath ascended alwaies PSALME LXXIIII Christ with his Assessors wil iudge the whole world at the last day in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement 1â— The wicked shal be punished and the good rewarded Vnto the end Corrupt not a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph VVE wil confesse to thee ô God we wil confesse and wil inuocate thy name We wil tel thy meruelouse workes †when I shal take a time I wil iudge iustices †The earth is melted and al that dwel in it I haue confirmed the pillers thereof †I said to the wicked doe not wickedly and to them that offend Exalt not the horne †Exalt not your horne on high speake not iniquitie aganst God †For neither from the East nor from the West nor from the desert mountanes †because God is Iudge This man he humbleth and him he exalteth †because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture And he hath powred it out of this into that but yet the dregges therof are not emptied al the sinners of the earth shal drinke †But I wil shewforth for euer I wil sing to the God of Iacob †And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted PSALME LXXV The royal prophet singeth Gods praises for his particular prouidence towards the Iewes 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth Vnto the end in prayses a Psalme to Asaph a Canticle to the Assirians God is knowne in Iewrie in Israel his name is great †And his place is made in peace and his habitation in Sion †There he brake the powres of bowes the shilde the sword and the battle †Thou doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal mountaynes †al the foolish of hart were trubled †They slept their sleepe and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes †At thy reprehension ô God of Iacob they haue al slumbered that mounted on horses †Thou art terrible and who shal resist thee from that time thy wrath †From heauen thou hast made thy iudgement hearde the earth trembled and was quiet When God arose vnto iudgement
to our Lord a new song because he hath done meruelous thinges His righthand hath wrought saluation to himselfe and his arme is holie †Our Lord hath made knowne his saluation in the sight of the Gentiles he hath reueled his iustice †He hath remembred his mercie and his truth to the house of Israel Al the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God †Make ye iubilation to God al the earth chaunt and reioyce and sing †Sing to our Lord on harpe on harpe and voice of psalme †on long drawen trumpets and voice of cornet of horne Make iubilation in the sight of the king our Lord †let the sea be moued and the fulnes therof the round world and they that dwel therin †The riuers shal clappe with hand the mountaynes together shal reioyce †at the sight of our Lord because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round earth in iustice and the peoples in equitie PSALME XCVIII Christ reigneth notwithstanding his enimies repine is adored 5. also his footestoole 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate A Psalme to Dauid himselfe OVR Lord hath reigned let peoples be angrie he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs let the earth be moued †Our Lord great in Sion and high aboue al peoples †Let them confesse to thy great name because it is terrible and holie †And the honour of the king loueth iudgement Thou hast prepared directions thou hast done iudgement and iustice in Iacob †Exalt ye the Lord our God and “ adore his footstoole because it is holie †Moyses and Aaron in his priestes and Samuel among them that inuocate his name They inuocated our Lord and he heard them †in a piller of a cloud he spake to them They kept his testimonies the precept which he gaue them †O Lord our God thou heardest them God thou wast propitious to them and taking vengeance vpon al their inuentions Exalt ye the Lord our God and adore ye in his holie mount because the Lord our God is holie ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIX 5. Adore his footestoole For so much as al Expositors also the Hebrevv Rabbins affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias that should redeme mankind and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ but vvas only a figure of him the footestoole of Messias here mentioned must nedes be something perteyning to him and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration not only of the shorte time he conuersed vvith men in this life vvhen very fevv adored him the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist Which S Ambrose teacheth lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto c. 12. in these plaine vvordes By the footstoole must be vnderstood the earth by the earth the flesh of Christ VVhich vve also at this day adore in the Mysteries and vvhich the Apostles adored in our Lord Iesus S. Augustin more largely vpon this Psalme I am made doubtful saith he I feare to adore the earth lest he condeme me that made heauen and earth Againe I feare not to adore the footstoole of my Lord because the Psalme saith to me Adore his footstoole I seeke vvhat is his footstoole and the Scripture Isaiae 66. telleth me the earth is his footstoole Doubtful I turne myself vnto Christ because I seeke him here and I finde hovv vvithout impietie the earth may be adored vvithout impietie his footstoole may be adored For he tooke earth of earth because flesh is of earth and he tooke flesh of the flesh of the B. virgin Marie And because he vvalked here in the same flesh and gaue the very flesh to vs to eate vnto saluation and no man eateth that flesh onles he first adore it it is found hovv such a footstoole of our Lord may be adored and not only vve doe not sinne in adoring but vve should sinne in not adoring Thus farre S. Augustin Further instructing not to coÌ„ceâ—ue of Christs flesh as â—he Capharnaites did that he would cute it in peeces from his bodie and geue them portions therof His very flesh is geuen and eaten not in fleshlie maner but in sacramental See Annotations Ioan. 6. PSALME XCIX Al are inuited to reioyce in God Creator of al. A Psalme in confession MAKE ye iubilation to God al the earth serue ye our Lord in gladnesse Enter ye in before his sight in exultation †Know ye that our Lord he is God he made vs and not we ourselues His people and the sheepe of his pasture †enter ye into his gates in confession his courtes in hymnes confesse ye to him Praise ye his name †because our Lord is sweete his mercie for euer and his truth euen vnto generation and generation PSALME C. King Dauid gratfully celebrateth the two general diuine vertues Mercie and Iustice 2. by his owne example exhorteth al especially Superiors to direct their wayes in sinceritie 4. and to seperate the wicked from conuersation of the good A Psalme to Dauid himselfe MERCIE and iudgement I wil sing to thee â— Lord I wil sing †and I shal vnderstand in the immaculate way when thou shalt come to me I walked through in the inocencie of my hart in the middes of my house †I did not propose before mine eies any vniust thing I hated them that do preuarication †A peruerse hart hath not cleaued to me the malignant declining from me I knew not †One secretly detracting from his neighbour him did I persecute One of a proud eye and vnsatiable hart with him I did not eate †Mine eies are towards the faithful of the earth that they may sit with me A man that walketh in the immaculate way he did minister to me †He that doth proudly shal not dwel in the middes of my house he that speaketh vniust thinges hath not directed in the sight of mine eies †In the morning did I kil al the sinners of the earth that I might destroy out of the citie of our Lord al those that worke iniquitie PSALMES CI. A sinner in affliction of mind prayeth God to deliuer him 10. desolate of al other helpe 13. conceiueth comforth in Gods eternal goodnes and singular mercie in redeming mankind and propagating the Church 24. Prayeth to be made mature in vertue before he dye that he may liue with God 26. who only and wholly being immutable establisheth his seruantes for euer The prayer of the poore when he shal be anxious and shal make his petition before our Lord. LORD heare my prayer and let my crie come to thee †Turne not away thy face from me in what
the time of death 9 He vvil not be angrie alvvayes Origen misunderstood this place and some other like holding an erronius opinion that al euen the most wicked sinners both men and dâ—uels shal at last be saued and not eternally damned which is a condemned heresie contrarie to euident places of holie Scriptures Psal 9 v 6. The impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer for euer euer Mat. 2â— The wicked shal goe into fire euerlasting into euerlasting punishment Apoc. 20. The beast and the false prophet and the same reason is for al the vvicked shal be tormented day and night for euer and euer Neither are theâ—e vvordes God vvil not be angrie alvvayes spoken vniuersally touching al sinners vvhosoeuer but are limited v 13 17 to those that seare him and kepe his testament vvheras al those that dye in mortal sinne are stil oâ—â—â—â—naâ—e in malice and can neuer rightly repent nor rightly feare God nor kepe his commandments PSALME CIII The Psalmist inuiteth himself and others to praise God for his meruelous workes in the heauens 5. the earth and water 9. limiting their bondes producing al thinges necessarie for al liuing creatures in conuenient seasons 27. With continual prouidence of al. †To Dauid him self MY soule blesse thou our Lord ô Lord my God thou art magnified excedingly †Thou hast put on confession and beautie being clothed with light as with a garment Stretching out the heauen as a skinne †which couerest the higher partes therof with waters Which makest the cloude for thee to ascend on which walkest vpon the winges of windes †Which makest spirites thine Angels and thy ministers a burning fyre †Which hast founded the earth vpon the stabilitie therof it shal not be inclined for euer and euer †The depth as a garment is his clothing vpon the mountaines shal waters stand †At thy reprehention they shal flee at the voice of thy thunder they shal feare †The mountaines ascend and the plaine fildes descend into the place which thou hast founded for them †Thou hast set a bound which they shal not passe ouer neither shal they returne to couer the earth †Which sendestforth fontaines in the valles betwen the middest of mountaines shal waters passe †Al the beastes of the filde shal drinke the wilde asses shal expect in their thirst †Ouer them shal the foules of the ayre inhabite out of the middes of rockes they shal geueforth voices †Watering the mountaines from his higher places of the fruite of thy worke shal the earth be filled †Bringing forth grasse for beastes and herbe for the seruice of men That thou mayst bring forth bread out of the earth †and wine may make the hart of man ioyful That he may make the face chereful with oile and bread may confirme the hart of man †The trees of the silde shal be filled and the ceders of Libanus which he hath planted †there sparowes shal make their nest The house of the hearne is the leader of them †the high mountaines for hartes the rocke a refuge for the Irchins †He made the moone for seasons the sunne knoweth his going downe †Thou didst appoint darkenes and night was made in it shal al the beastes of the wood passe †The whelpes of lions roaring to rauen and to seeke of God meate for themselues †The sunne is risen and they are gathered together and in their couches they shal be placed †Man shal goe forth to his worke and to his working vntil euening †How magnified are thy workes ô Lord thou hast made al thinges in wisedom the earth is filled with thy possession †This great sea and very large there are creeping beastes wherof there is no number Litle beastes with great †there shippes shal passe This dragon whom thou madest to delude †al expect of thee that thou geue them meate in season †Thou geuing vnto them they shal gather it thou opening thy hand al shal be filled with bountie †But thou turning away the face they shal be trubled thou shalt take away their spirite and they shal faile and shal returne into their dust †Thou shalt sendforth thy spirit and they shal be created and thou shalt renewe the face of the earth †Be the glorie of our Lord for euer our Lord wil reioice in his workes †Who looketh vpon the earth maketh it to tremble who toucheth the mountaines and they smoke †I wil chaunte to our Lord in my life I wil sing to my God as long as I am †Let my speach be acceptable to him but I wil take delight in our Lord. †Let sinners faile from the earth and the vniust so that they be not my soule blesse thou our Lord. PSALME CIIII. The Israelites are exhorted to sing praises to God 5. for his meruelous benefites towards Abraham Isaac and Iacob 11. whose particular familie being then smal went from Chanaan into Aegypt 17. Whither Ioseph by Gods prouidence was caried before there increased in number was persecuted 26. deliuered by Moyses and Aaron working manie great miracles 36. protected and fedde in the desert 44. and finally possessed Chanaan Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord and inuocate his name shewforth his workes among the Gentiles †Chaunt to him and sing to him tel ye al his meruelous workes †Prayse ye him in his holie name let the hart of them reioice that seeke our Lord. †Seeke ye our Lord and be confirmed seeke his face alwayes †Remember ye his meruelous workes which he hath done his wonders and the iudgments of his mouth †The seede of Abraham his seruantes the children of Iacob his elect †He is the Lord our God in al the earth are his iudgementes †He hath bene mindeful for euer of his testament of the word which he commanded vnto a thousand generations †Which he disposed to Abraham and of his oath to Isaac †And he appointed it to Iacob for a precept and to Israel for an eternal testament †Saying To thee wil I geue the land of Chanaan the corde of your inheritance †When they were of smal number very few and seiourners therof †And they passed from nation into nation from kingdom to an other people †He leift not a man to hurt them and he rebuked kings for their sake †Touch not my annointed and toward my prophetes be not malignant †And he called a famine vpon the land and he desstroyed al the strength of bread †He sent a man before them Ioseph was sold to be a seruant †They humbled his feete in fetters yron passed through his soule †vntil his word came The word of our Lord inflamed him †the king sent and
the Sabbath which is the seuenth day in the new we kepe our Lords day after the sabbath that is the eight which seuen and eight making fieftene multiplied by tenne signifying the Law of tenne commandments rise vnto 150. Againe euen multiplied by seuen make 49. wherto one to witte the eight being added make fieftie which multiplied by three signifying the B Trinitie make 150 Neither semed it without cause to this great Doctor that the fiâ—â—â— fieftie end with a Psalme of Paenance crauing mercie remission of sinnes the second with Mercie and Iustice which God ioyneth in the Redemption Iustification and Saluation of men the last with Diuine Praises signifying that by condemning sinnes in our selues through Gods mercie we may be iustified and so beginne in this life which is to be perfected in the next to praise our Lord as S. Paul admonisheth with Psalmes Hymnes and Spiritual Songues Concluding with the tvvo verses appointed by S Dama us Pope to be added in the end of al Psalmes and is obserued euer since his time by tradition in the vvhole Church Glorie to the Father and to the Sonne and to the Holie Ghost As it was in the beginning and now and euer into worldes of worldes in eternitie vvithout end Amen THE THIRD PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTEINING SAPIENTIAL BOOKES The argument of Sapiential Bookes Hitherto the Law and Historie of Gods peculiar people are set forth in the former partes of the holie Bible after which folowed the Booke of Psalmes which in maner of stile being al in verse is a distinct part but in substance of matter is an Epitome or briefe Summe of al holie Scripture most conueniently therfore placed in the middes of the rest as the Sunne amongst other Planetes a shining great light in a large house Now ensueth the third part conteining Diuine Instructions or Rules of good life A doctrine most agreable to Gods hiegh wisdom and most fitly commended to Man his reasonable creature in earth But besides this principal subiect as before is noted that each part participateth with others in their proper contents so here be manie precepts of the Law renewed sundrie examples of men and thinges past repeted and diuers prophecies vttered of thinges to come though in this part more specially is shewed the ground and as it were the very life or soule of the Law which is Reason the true Rule or Directorie wherin al good lawes are grounded For it both sheweth what ought to be done or auoided directeth mans iudgement to embrace that is good and to flee from al euil not only illuminating the vnderstanding to see that is right and iust but also disposing the internal affection to desire loue choose and preferre the right path of Gods law before whatsoeuer otherwise semeth pleasant or profitable so notwithstanding al dangers difficulties distresses worldlie calamites and death it self effectually perswading to perseuere to the end in holie conuersation Al which by a general name is called Wisdom comprising in one word al good desires holie vertues supernal giftes godlie endeuoures and the whole meanes wherby God is rightly knowen duly serued wherof these fiue Bookes teaching this most excellent and most necessarie maner of life are called Sapiential Neuertheles foure of them haue also other particular names as appareth in their titles Only the fourth is called the Booke of Wisdom by appropriation of the general name Al fiue are Canonical and assured holie Scripture as is shewed before and may be further proued of the two later which Protestants denie It is also euident that King Salomon was Auctor of the three former as S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers proue by the holie text it selfe As it is likewise certaine that he either writte or at least by diuine inspiration vttered much more then is now extant For the holie Scripture 3. Reg. 4. testifieth that he spake three thousand Parables and his Songes were a thousand and fiue He disputed of the trees from the ceder that is in Libanus vnto the hyssop which cometh out of the wal and he discoursed of beastes and foules and creeping wormes and fishes Iosephus li. S. c. 2. Antiq. folowing some other Edition saith his songes were fiue thousand and parables as the ordinarie text hath three thousand For he deduced a parable saith Iosephus through out euerie kinde of trees from the hyssop to the ceder In the same maner he treated of beastes and other liuing creatures of the earth water and ayre For he was not ignorant of anie natural thing neither omitted to treate therof but clerly explicated al their natural proprieties Most briefly S. Ierom declareth both the Auctor and matter of these three bookes saying Salomon the Peaceable and amiable of our Lord correcteth maners teacheth the nature of creatures ioyneth the Church and Christ and singeth the swete bridal song of the holie Mariage THE ARGVMENT OF THE PROVERBES THE first booke called Prouerbes that is common vsual pithie sentences shorte in wordes ample in sense and Parables signifying likenes or similitudes wherby more important thinges are vnderstood then expressed instructeth and exhorteth new beginners to lerne and practise al sortes of vertues the only right way to true wisdome and eternal happines It may be diuided into foure partes In the first nine chapters the auctor interposing certaine general preceptes produceth wisdom her selfe inuiting al men to seeke her for the spiritual profite they shal therby enioy From thence to the 25. chap. he geueth sundrie more particular precepts as wel for embracing vertues as shunning of vices In the next fiue chapters more like precepts of the same auctor are added by the care of King Ezechias In the two last chapters either an other Auctor or rather the same vnder an other title commendeth to al men certaine most excellent precepts receiued of his mother wherto he adioyneth the praise of a right wise woman prophetically the Catholique Church THE BOOKE OF PROVERBES WHICH THE HERBREWES CAL MISLE CHAP. I. Parables are profitable to those that loue and wil lerne wisdom 10. Al are admonished not to folow the alurements of sinners 20. but to embrace wisdome 24. and ruine is threatned to the contemners THE Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel †To know “ wisdom and discipline †to vnderstand the wordes of prudence and to receiue instruction of doctrine iustice and iudgement and equitie †that subtilitie may be geuen to litle ones knowlege and vnderstanding to the youngman †The wise man hearing shal be wiser and he that vnderstandeth shal possesse gouernementes †He shal vnderstand a parable and interpretation the wordes of the wise and their darke sayings †The feare of our Lord is the begynning of wisdom Fooles despise wisedom and doctrine †My sonne f heare the discipline of
alike †For that which is made with him that made it shal suffer torments †For this cause also in the idol of the nations there shal be no respect because the creatures of God were made to hatred and for tentation to the soules of men and for a snare to the feete of the vnwise †For the begynning of fornication is the deuising of idols and the inuenting of them is the corruption of life †For neither were they from the begynning neither shal they be for euer †For this vanitie of men came into the world and therfore there is found a short end of them †For “ the father being sorowful with bitter moorning made vnto himself the image of his sonne quickly taken away and him that then was a dead man now he began to worshipe as god and appointed holie thinges and sacrifices among his seruants †Afterward by succession of time the wicked custom preuayling this errour was kept as a law and thinges grauen were worshipped by the commandement af tyrants †And those whom openly men could not honour for that they were far of their figure being brought from a far they made an euident image of the king whom they would honour that by their carefulnes they might honour as present him that was absent †And to the worshipping of these the excellent diligence also of the artificer holpe them forward that were ignorant †For he willing to please him that entertained him laboured by his art to fashion the similitude in better sort †And the multitude of men caried away by the beautie of the worke him that a little before had bene honoured as a man now they estemed for a god †And this was the deceyuing of mans life because men seruing either affection or kinges gaue the name that is not communicable to stones and wood †And it was not sufficient that they erred about the knowlege of God but also liuing in a great battail of ignorance so manie and so great euils they cal peace †For either sacrificing their children or making abscure sacrifices or hauing watches ful of madnes †they now neither keepe life nor mariage cleane but one killeth an other by enuie or playing the adulterer maketh him sorowful †and al thinges are mingled together bloud manslaughter theft and fiction corruption and infidelitie truble and pâ—â—iutie disquieting of the good †forgetfulnes of God inquination of soules immutation of natiuitie inconstancie of mariage disorder of adulterie and vnchastnes †For the worshippe of idols not to be named is the cause of al euil and the beginning and end †For either when they reioyce they are madde or certes prophecie false thinges or liue vniustly or quickly forsweare themselues †For whiles they trust in idols which are without soule swearing amisse they hope not to be hurt †Two euil thinges therfore shal happen to them worthely because they haue thought euil of God attending to idols and haue sworne vniustly in guile contemning iustice †For it is not the powre of them that are sworne by but the punishment of them that sinne goeth alwayes through the trangression of the vniust ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 15. The father made vnto himself the image of his sonne Caluin here chargeth this booke with error in affirming that idolatrie begane by supersticiously honoring images of the dead Against which he alleageth that Labans idoles and others more ancient were before anie images of dead men were honoured But he argueth vpon a false ground For labans idols were images as the Hebrew word Teraphim signifieth and is so translated in the English Bibles 1552. and 1577. but because they were images of false goddes and for that Laban called them his goddes a later Bible 1603. rranslateth it better idoles as the Latin and Greke haue idola It is also certaine that Ninus king of Assirians long before Laban yea before Abraham sette vp the image of his Father Belus otherwise called Iuppiter to be publikly honored by the people as S. Cyril sheweth li. 3. in Iulianum nere the end and S. Ambrose or an other graue Auctor writeth the same in cap. 1. ad Romanos Likewise S. Cyprian li. de Idolorum vanitate S. Chrysostom ho. 87. in Matth. and Egesippus apud S. Ieronym li. de Viris Illustrib testifie that the making of mens images in memorie of the dead was the occasion and beginning of idolâ—tric according as this place repotteth that a Father sorovving for the death of his sonne made an image in his memorie begane to worshippe him as a god causing his seruants also to honour his dead sonne vvith rites and sacrifices VVhich priuate idolatrie vvas absolutely the first that is recorded in holie Scripture or anie other good auctor And the first publique is counted by most auctors that of Ninus vvorshipping the image of his father Belus vvith diuine honour who also pardoned al offenders how enormious soeuer their crimes were that fled vnto that image VVhich allurment together vvith so great a kinges auctotitie drevv innumerable to publique idolatrie VVherupon S. Ierom noteth in cap. 2. Oseae that Ninus became so great and glorious as to make his father to be honored as a god CHAP. XV. The wise gratfully praise the swetenes and mercie of God by whom they are deliuered from idolatrie 6. detesting the makers worshippers of idols BVT ô thou our God art sweete and true patient and disposing al thinges in mercie †For if we sinne we are thine knowing thy greatnes and if we sinne not we know that we are counted with thee †For to know thee is absolute iustice and to know iustice and thy powre is the roote of immortalitie †For mens inuention of euil art hath not brought vs into errour nor the shadow of a picture being a labour without fruite a shape grauen by diuerse colours †the sight wherof geueth concupiscence to the sensles and and he loueth the shape without life of a deade image †The louers of euils are worthie to haue their hope in such thinges both they that make them and that loue and that worshippe them †Yea and the potter pressing softe earth with labour fashioneth euerie vessel to our vses and of the same clay maketh the vessels that are cleane to vse and in like maner them that are contrarie to these but what the vse of these vessels is the potter is iudge †And with vaine labour he fashioneth a god of the same clay he which a litle before was made of earth and a litle after returneth backe whence he was taken being exacted the debte of the life which he had †But his care is not because he shal labour nor because he hath a short life but he contendeth with goldsmithes and siluer smithes yea and he imitateth the copper smithes and counteth it a glorie because he maketh vaine thinges †For his hart is ashes
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
and the citie shal be built to our Lord from the tower of Hananeel euen to the gate of the corner †And the rule of the measure shal goe out farder in his sight vpon the litle hil Gareb and it shal compasse Goatha †and al the valley of carcasses and of ashes and al the countrie of death euen to the torrent of Cedron and to the corner of the East gate of horses the Holie of our Lord shal not be plucked vp and it shal no more be destroyed for euer CHAP. XXXII Nabuchodonosor besieging Ierusalem Ieremie in prison 7. byeth by Gods commandment a field of his cosin 17. Prayeth for the whole nation reciting Gods former benefites 26. Prophecieth their captiuitie in Babylon 30. for their idolatrie 36. and deliuerie from thence 40. With a new couenant to serue God sincerely THE word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord in the tenth yeare of Sedecias the king of Iuda the same is the eightenth yeare of Nabuchodonosor †Then the armie of the king of Babylon besieged Ierusalem and Ieremie the prophet was shut vp in the court of the prison that was in the house of the king of Iuda †For Sedecias the king of Iuda had shut him vp saying Why doest thou prophecie saying Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil geue this citie into the hand of the king of Babylon and he shal take it †And Sedecias the king of Iuda shal not escape out of the hand of the Chaldees but he shal be deliuered into the handes of the king of Babylon and he shal speake with him mouth to mouth and his eies shal see his eies †And he shal leade Sedecias into Babylon and he shal be there til I visite him saith our Lord. But if you wil fight against the Chaldees you shal haue nothing prosperous †And Ieremie said The word of our Lord was made to me saying †Behold Hanameel the sonne of Sellum thy cosin shal come to thee saying Bye vnto the my field which is in Anathoth for it apperteyneth to thee by kinred to bye it †And Hanameel myne vncles sonne came vnto me according to the word of our Lord to the enterie of the prison and said to me Possesse my field which is in Anathoth in the land of Beniamin because the inheritance perteineth to thee and thou art nere of kinne to possesse it And I vnderstood that it was the word of our Lord. †And I bought the field of Hanameel myne vncles sonne which is in Anathoth and I weyed him the siluer seuen staters and ten peeces of siluer †And I wrote it in a booke and signed it and tooke witnesses I weighed the siluer in balance †And I tooke the booke of the possession signed and the stipulations and the thinges ratified and the signes on the out side †And I gaue the booke of the possession to Baruch the sonne of Neri the sonne of Maasias in the sight of Hanameel my cosin and in the sight of the witnesses that were written in the booke of the purchase in the sight of al the Iewes that sate in the court of the prison †And I commanded Baruch before them saying †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Take these bookes this booke of the purchase signed and this booke that is open and put them in an earthen vessel that they may continew manie daies †For thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Yet shal houses and fieldes and vineyardes be possessed in this land †And I prayed to our Lord after that I deliuered the booke of the possession to Buruch the sonne of Neri saying †Alas alas alas ô Lord God behold thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and in thy stretched out arme no word shal be hard to thee †Which doest mercie on thousandes and rendrest the iniquitie of the fathers into the bosome of their children after them ô Most strong great mightie the Lord of hostes is thy name †Great in counsel and incomprehensible in cogitation whose eies are open vpon al the waies of the children of Adam to render vnto euerie one according to his waies and according to the fruite of his inuentions †Which hast put signes and wonders in the land of Aegypt euen vntil this day and in Israel and in men and hast made thee a name as is this day †And thou didest bring forth thy people Israel out of the Land of Aegypt in signes and in wonders and in a strong hand and in a stretched out arme and in great terrour †And thou gauest them this land which thou swarest to their fathers that thou wouldst geue them a land flowing with milke and honie †And they entered in and possessed it and they obeyed not thy voice and in thy law they walked not al that thou didst command them to doe they did not and al these euils are befallen them †Behold munitions are built against the citie that it may be taken and the citie is geuen into the handes of the Chaldees which fight against it at the presence of the sword and of famine and of pestilence and what thinges soeuer thou hast spoken are come to passe as thy self seest †And sayst thou to me ô Lord God Bye the field for siluer and take witnesses whereas the citie is geuen into the handes of the Chaldees †And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying †Behold I am the Lord the God of al flesh shal anie word be hard for me †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil deliuer this citie into the handes of the Chaldees and into the handes of the king of Babylon and they shal take it †And the Chaldees shal come fighting against this citie and shal set in on fire and burne it and the houses in whose toppes they did sacrifice to Baal and offered libaments to strange goddes to prouoke me vnto wrath †For the children of Israel and the children of Iuda were continually doeing euil in myne eies from their youth the children of Israel which euen vntil this present exasperate me in the worke of their handes saith our Lord. †Because in furie and in myne indignation this citie is made to me from the day that they builded it vntil this day wherein it shal be taken out of my sight †For the malice of the children of Israel and of the children of Iuda which they haue done prouoking me to wrath they and their kinges their princes and their priestes and their prophets the men of Iuda and the inhabitants of Ierusalem †And they haue turned the backes to me and not the faces when I taught them early and instructed them and they would not heare that they might take discipline †And they haue set their idols in the house wherein my name is inuocated that they might pollute it †And they haue built the
al your preuarications wherin you haue preuaricated and make to yourselues a new hart and a new spirit and why wil you dye ô house of Israel †Because I wil not the death of him that dieth saith our Lord God returne ye and liue ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII â—â— Is the death of a sinner my vvil In manie places of holie Scripture it is clâ—â—â— that Gods vvil is most assuredly fulfilled in al thinges vvhatsoeuer he vvould and none can resist his vvil c. Neuertheles here and in other places it is also expresly affirmed that God would haue al sinners to repent and none to dye in their sinnes vvhich semeth to repugne vvith the former doctrin For solution of vvhich difficultie S. Damascen li. 2. c. 29 de Orthodoxa side and other Doctors distinguish Gods vvil vvhich is either called Antecedent and conditional and so God vvould haue al men to be saued as appeareth by creating al to that end by his frequen admonitions preceptes threates temporal punishments and revvardes and especially by our Sauiours death and redemption of al mankind vvherby he merited most sufficient meanes and offereth his sufficient grace to euerie one that they may be saued if they vvil Othervvise Gods wil is called Consequent and absolute and so for iustice sake his diuine vvil is that impenitent sinners shal be damned and eternally punished for their sinnes As a iust Iudge condionally and antecedently vvould haue al men to obserue good lavves and to liue so long as they can by nature but absolutely consequently finding some to be murderers or othervvise pernicicious to the commonvvelth he panisheth them with death CHAP. XIX The Israelites calaminitie is described by two parables of lions 10. and of a vine planted and plucked vp AND thou take vp lamentation vpon the princes of Israel †and thou shalt say Why lay thy mother a lionesse among the lions in the middes of young lions brought vp her whelpes †And she brought out one of her young lions he became a lion and he lerned to catch prayes and to eate man †And the Gentils heard of him and not without their woundes they tooke him and they brought him in cheynes into the Land of Aegypt †Who when she saw that she was weakened and her expectation was lost she tooke one of her young lions she made him a lion †Who went among the lions and became a lion and he lerned to take praye and to deuoure men †He lerned to make widowes and to bring their cities into a desert and the land was made desolate and the fulnes therof by the voice of his roaring †And the Gentils came together against him on euerie side out of the prouinces they spred their nette vpon him in their wounds he was taken †And they put him into a caue in cheynes they brought him to the king of Babylon and they cast him into prison that his voice might no more be heard vpon the mountaines of Israel †Thy mother as it were a vine in thy bloud is planted vpon the water her fruit and her branches haue growen out of manie waters †And there were made to her strong roddes for the scepters of them that rule and her stature was exalted among the branches and she saw her height in the multitude of her branches †And she was plucked vp in wrath and cast on the ground and the burning winde hath dried vp her fruite the roddes of her strength are withered and dried vp fire hath eaten her †And now she is transplanted into the desert in a land not passable and drie †And there came forth fire from the rod of her boughes which hath eaten her fruite and there was not in her a strong rod the scepter of rulers Lamentation it is and it shal be into lamentation CHAP. XX. God wil not answer the elders of Israel asking by the prophet 4. but by him setteth his benefites before their eyes and their owne heynous sinnes 30. threatning yet greater punishments 40. but stil mixt with mercie AND it came to passe in the seuenth yeare in the fifth the tenth of the moneth there came men of the ancients of Israel to aske our Lord they sare before me †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man speake to the ancients of Israel thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Why are you come to aske me Liue I that I wil not answer you saith our Lord God †Doest thou iudge them doest thou iudge ô sonne of man shew to them the abominations of their fathers †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God In the day that I chose Israel lifted vp my hand for the stocke of the house of Iacob and appeared to them in the Land of Aegypt and lifted vp my hand for them saying I the Lord your God †in that day I lifted vp my hand for them that I might bring them out of the Land of Aegypt into a Land which I had prouided for them flowing with milke and honie which is excellent among al landes †And I said to them Let euerie man cast away the scandals of his eyes and in the idols of Aegypt be ye not polluted I the Lord your God †And they prouoked me and would not heare me euerie one did not cast away the abominations of his eyes neither did they leaue the idols of Aegypt and I said I would powre out mine indignation vpon them and fil my wrath in them in the middes of the Land of Aegypt †And I did for my name sake that it might not be violated before the Gentils in the middes of whom they were and among whom I appeared to them to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt †I cast them out therfore of the Land of Aegypt and brought them forth into the desert †And I gaue them my precepts and I shewed to them my iudgements which a man doing shal liue in them †Moreouer also my sabbathes I gaue to them to be a signe betwen me and them and that they might know that I am the Lord sanctifying them †And the houses of Israel prouoked me in the desert they walked not in my precepts and my iudgements they reiected which a man doing shal liue in them and my sabbathes they violated excedingly I said therfore I would powre out my furie vpon them in the desert and would consume them †And I did for my name sake lest it should be violated before the Gentils from which I cast them out in their sight †I therfore lifted vp my hand vpon them in the desert not to bring them into the Land which I gaue them flowing with milke and honie the chiefe of al landes †Because they reiected my iudgements and walked not in my precepts and violated my sabbathes
her hart had confidence in our Lord. †And the ancients sayd When we walked alone in the orchard this woman came in with two maydes shut the doores of the orchard and she sent away the maydes from her †And a yongman that was hid came to her and lay with her †But we being in a corner of the orchard seeing the iniquitie ranne to them and saw them lie together †And him in deed we could not take because he was stronger then we and opening the doores he lept out †but her when we apprehended we asked what yongman it was and she would not tel vs of this thing we are witnesses †The multitude beleued them as the ancients and the iudges of the people and they condemned her to death But Susanna cried out with a lowd voice and sayd Eternal God which art the knower of hidden things before they come to passe †thou knowest that they haue borne false witnes against me and loe I dye wheras I haue done none of these thinges which these men haue maliciousely forged against me †And our Lord heard her voice †and when she was led to death our Lord raysed vp the holie spirit of a yong boy whose name was Daniel †and he cried out with alowd voice I am cleane from the bloud of this woman †And al the people turning to him sayd What is this word that thou hast spoken †Who when he stood in the middes of them sayd So folish ye children of Israel not iudgeing nor discerning that which is the truth haue you condemned the daughter of Israel †Returne ye to iudgement because they haue spoken false testimonie against her †The people therfore returned with speede and the ancients sayd to him Come and sitte in the middes of vs and tel vs because God hath geuen thee the honour of old age †And Daniel sayd to the people Separate them far one from an other and I wil discouer them †When they were therfore diuided one from the other he called one of them and said to him O thou inueterated of euil dayes now are thy sinnes come which thou didst committe before iudging vniust iudgements oppressing innocents and dismissing offenders our Lord saying The innocent and the iust thou shalt not kil †Now then if thou sawest her tel vnder what tree thou sawest them talking together Who sayd Vnder a schine tree †And Daniel sayd Wel hast thou lyed agaynst thine owne head for behold the Angel of God taking the sentence of him shal cut thee in the middes †And remouing him away he commanded that the other should come and he sayd to him Seede of Chanaan and not of Iuda beautie hath deceiued thee and concupiscence hath subuerted thy hart †so did you to the daughters of Israel and they fearing spake to you but the daughter of Iuda did not abide your iniquitie †Now therfore tel me vnder what tree thou tookest them speaking one to an other Who said Vnder a prine tree †And Daniel said to him Wel hast thou also lyed against thine owne head for the Angel of our Lord tarieth hauing a sword that he may cut thee in the middes and kil you †Therfore al the assemblie cried out with a lowd voice and they blessed God which saueth them that hope in him †And they rose vp against the two elders for Daniel had conuinced them by their owne mouth to haue geuen false testimonie and they did to them as they had dealt naughtely against their neighbour †to doe according to the law of Moyses they killed them and innocent bloud was saued in that day †But Helcias and his wyfe praysed God for their daughter Susanna with Ioakim her husband and al her kinne because there was no vnhonest thing found in her †And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day thence forward †And king Astyages was layd to his fathers Cyrus the Persian receiued his kingdom CHAP. XIIII Daniel detecteth the fraud of Bels priestes who pretend that Bel eateth much meate 21. for which they are slaine and the idol destroyed 22. Likewise he destroyeth a dragon which the Babylonians held for a god 27. He is cast into the lake of seuen lions 32. whithet Habacuc miraculously bringeth him meate 39. the lions hurt him not his accusers are deuoured AND Daniel was the kings ghest and honoured aboue al his freindes †There was also an idol among the Babylonians named Bel and there were bestowed on him euerie day of floure twelue aâ—ctabaes and fourtie sheepe and of wine six great pottes †The king also did worshipe him and went euery day to adore him But Daniel adored his God the king sayd to him Why dost thou not adore Bel. †Who answering sayd to him Because I worshipe not idols made with hand but the liuing God that created heauen and earth and hath powre ouer al flesh †And the king sayd to him Doeth not Bel some vnto thee to be a liuing God Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euerie day †And Daniel smiling sayd Be not deceiued ô king For this same is within of clay and without of brasse neither hath he eaten at any time †And the king being wrath called his priests sayd to them Vnlesse you tel me who it is that eateth these expenses you shal dye †But if you shew that Bel eateth these things Daniel shal dye because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel sayd to the king Be it done according to thy woord †And the priests of Bel were seuentie beside their wiues and litle ones children And the king came with Daniel into the temple of Bel. †And the priestes of Bel sayd Behold we goe forth thou ô king set the meates mingle the wine shut the doore seale it with thy ring †and when thou shalt come in the morning vnles thou finde al eaten of Bel dying we wil dye or Daniel that hath lyed against vs. †And they contemned because they had made vnder the table a secrete entrance by it they came in alwayes and deuoured those thinges †It came to passe therfore after they were gone out the king set the meates before Bel Daniel commanded his seruants and they brought ashes and he sifted them ouer al the temple before the king and going forth they shut the doore and sealing it with the kings ring they departed †But the priestes went in by night according to their custome and their wiues and their children and they did eate and drinke al. †And the king arose in the first breake of day and Daniel with him †And the king sayd Are the seales safe Daniel Who answered Safe ô king †And forth with when he had opened the doore the king looking on the table cried out with a lowd
length he may punish vs. †For which cause he neuer certes remoueth away his mercie from vs but chastening his people by aduersitie he forsaketh them not †But let these thinges be sayd of vs in few wordes for an admonition of the readers And now we must come to the storie †Therfore Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes a man striken in age and comely of countenance with open mouth gaping was compelled to eate swines flesh †But he embracing rather a most glorious death then an hateful life went before voluntarily to the punishment †And considering how he ought to come patiently susteyning he determined not to committe vnalwful thinges for loue of life †But they that stood by moued with vnlawful pitie for the old frendshipe of the man taking him in secrete desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eate that he might feyne to haue eaten as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice †that by this fact he might be deliuered from death and for the old freindshipe of the man they did him this courtesie †But he begane to thinke vpon the worthie preeminence of his age and ancientnes and the houre heares of natural nobilitie his doinges from a childe of very good conuersation and according to the ordinances and the holie law made of God he answered quickly saying that he would rather be sent vnto hel †For it is not meete quoth he for our age to feyne that manie young men thinking that Eleazarus of foure score yeare tenne is passed to the life of Aliens †they also through my dissimulation and for a litle time of corruptible life may be deceiued and hereby I may purchase a stayne and a curse to mine old age †For although at this present time I be deliuered from the punishments of men yet neither aliue nor dead shal I escape the hand of the Almightie †Wherfore in departing manfully out of this life I shal appeare worthie of mine old age †and to yong men I shal leaue a constant example if with readie mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death for the most graue and most holie lawes These thinges being spoken forthwith he was drawen to execution †And they that led him and had bene a litle before more milde were turned into wrath for the wordes spoken of him which they thought were vttered through arrogancie †But when he was now in killing with the strokes he groned and sayd O Lord which hast the holie knowlege thou knowest manifestly that wheras I might be deliuered from death I doe susteyne sore paines of the bodie but according to the soule for thy feare I doe willingly suffer these thinges †And this man certes in this maner departed this life leauing not only to yong men but also to the whole nation the memorie of his death for an example of vertue and fortitude CHAP. VII The noble Martyrdome of seuen refusing to eate swines flesh and boldly admonishing king Antiochus of his damnable state 41. Lastly the mother hauing encoreged her sonnes likewise dyeth gloriously AND it came to passe that seuen brethren together with their mother being apprehended to be compelled by the king to eate against the law swines flesh were tormented with whippes and scourges †But one of them which was the first sayd thus What seekest thou and what wilt thou lerne of vs we are readie to dye rather then to transgresse the lawes of God coming from our fathers †The king therfore being wrath commanded frying pannes and brasen pottes to be heated †the which forth with being heated he commanded his tongue that had spoken first to be cut out and the skinne of his head being drawen of the endes also of his handes and feete to be chopped of the rest of his bretheren and his mother looking on †And when he was now made in al partes vnprofitable he commanded fire to be put vnto him and that breathing as yet he should be fried in the frying panne wherin when he was long tormented the rest together with the mother exhorted one an other to dye manfully †saying Our Lord God wil behold the truth and wil take pleasure in vs as Moyses declared in the profession of the Canticle And in his seruants he wil take pleasure †That first therfore being dead in this maner they brought the next to make him a mocking stocke the skinne of his head with the heares being drawen of they asked if he would eare before that he were punished throughout the whole bodie in euerie member †But he answering in his countrie speach said I wil not doe it Wherfore this also in the next place receiued the torments of the first †and being at the verie last gaspe thus he said Thou in dede ô most wicked man in this present life destroyest vs but the king of the world wil raise vs vp which dye for his lawes in the resurrection of eternal life †After him the third is had in derision and being demanded his tongue he quickly put it forth and constantly stretched out his handes †and with confidence he said From heauen doe I possesse these but for the lawes of God now doe I contemne these selfe same because I hope that I shal receiue them againe of him †So that the king and they that were with him merueled at the yong mans courege because he estemed the torments as nothing †And this being thus dead the fourth they vexed in like maner tormenting him †And when he was now euen to dye thus he said It is better for them that are put to death by men to exspect hope of God that they shal be raysed vp againe by him For to thee there shal not be resurrection vnto life †And when they had brought the fifth they tormented him But he looking vpon him †sayd Thou hauing power among men wheras thou art corruptible doest what thou wilt but thinke not that our stock is forsaken of God †And doe thou patiently abide and thou shalt see his great power in what sort he wil torment thee and thy seede †After him they brought the sixth and he beginning to dye sayd thus Be not deceiued vainely for we suffer this for our owne sakes sinning against our God and thinges worthie of admiration are done in vs †but doe not thinke that thou shalt escape vnpunished for that thou hast attempted to fight against God †But the mother aboue measure meruelous and worthie of good mens memorie which beholding her seuen sonnes perishing in one dayes space bare it with a good hart for the hope that she had in God †exhorted euerie one of them in their countrie language manfully being replenished with wisedome and ioyning a mans hart to a womans cogitation †she sayd to them I know not how you appeared in my wombe for neither did I
prophecied of al his twelue sonnes and in Iudas of Christ Gen. 49. v. 10. And then dyed  Iob either of the progenie of Nachor or as semeth more probable of Esau liued the same time in which the children of Israel were pressed with seruitude in Aegypt Himselfe writte the historie of his affliction in the Arabian tongue which Moyses translated into Hebrew m 2286. Amrā Esron n Ioseph buried his father in Chanaan and nourished his bretheren with their families as their patron superior Gen. 50. v. 18.   o 2340.   o He dyed at the age of 110. yeares Gen. 50. After his death the Superioritie of the children of Israel descended not to his sonnes but to his bretheren and rested in Leui the third brother liuing longest of al the twelue to the age of 137. yeares Exodi 6. v. 16. whose genealogie is there declared to shew the descent of Aaron and Moyses About this time was Atlas the great Astronomer brother of Prometheus grandfather to Mercurius the elder whose nephew Mercurius otherwise called Tris megistus the master of moral philosophie must nedes be a good while after Moyses S. Aug. li. 18. c. 39. de ciuit Also Cecrops the first king and builder of Athens was in Moyses time after him Cadmus built Thebes and the first that brought letters into Grece more ancient then manie Pammes goddes S. Aug. li. 18. c. 8. c. The booke of Exodus conteyneth the affliction and deliuerie of the children of Israel precepts of Gods law p 2401. Aaron borne Aram. r Moyses an infant of three monethes was put in a basket on the water taken thence by Pharaos daughter nurced by his owne mother and brought vp in Pharaos court Exod. 2.   q 2404. Moyses borne  s At the age of fourty yeares he went to his bretheren to comfort them Where killing an Aegyptian that oppressed an Israelite he was forced to flee into Madian Exod. 2.   s 2244.   t After other fourtie yeares God appeared to Moyses in a bush burning not wasting Sent him into Aegypt with powre to worke miracles to bring the children of Israel out of that bondage   t 2484.  Aminadab v Pharao and the Aegyptians resisting were plaged with tenne sundrie afflictions At last the Israelites were deliuered and Pharao with al his armie drowned Exo. 3. to 15.   THE END OF THE THIRD AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FOVRTH AGE Anni mūdi High-priests The line of Iudas The sacred historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures    w The law was geuen in Mount Sina the fifteth day after their going out of Aegypt Exod. 19. 20. In the absence of Moyses the people forcing Aaron to consent made adored a golden calfe for God Exod. 32.   x 2485.   x The tabernacle with al thinges perteyning therto was prepared in the first yeare and erected the first day of the second yeare of their abode in the desert Exod. 40.     Aaron  y In the same second yeare Aaron was consecrated Highpriest and his sonnes Priestes for an ordinarie succession Moyses remayning Superior extraordinarie during his life Leuit. 8. Nadab Abiu offered strange fire in sacrifice and were burnt to death Leuit. 10. Leuiticus conteyneth the Rites of Sacrifices Priestes Feastes Fastes and Vowes Numeri so called because in it are numbered the men of twelue tribes able to beare armes also the Leuites deputed to Gods seruice about the tabernacle and the mansions of the people in the desert with other thinges happening in the 40. yeares of their abode there     z Balaam a sorcerer hyred by Balac king of Moab to curse the Israelites was forced by Gods powre to prophecy good things of them Num. 22. 23. 24. Chore Dathan Abiron with manie others murmuring rebellīg against Moyses Aaron were partly swalowed aliue into the earth others burnt with fire from heauen Num. 16.      a Moyses and Aaron doubting that God would not geue water out of a rock to the murmuring people were foretold that they should dye in the desert and not enter into the promised land Num. 20.    b 2523. Eleazar  b Aaron dyed in the mount Hor and his sonne Eleazar was made Highpriest Num. 20.    c 2524.   c Moyses repeted the law commending it earnestly to the people Then dyed and was secretly buried by Angels in the valley of Moab Deut. 34.      To whom Iosue succeded in temporal gouernment his spiritual remayning in the Highpriest Nu. 27. v 20. d Al the children of Israel that came forth of Aegypt aboue the age of twentie yeares dyed in the desert except two Iosue Caleb Num. 26. v. 64. 65. Al nations generally besides the Iewes seruing many false goddes those thought themselues most religious that were most supersticious studious of art Magike Nigromancy the like And euerie countrie yea almost euerie towne village had their peculiar imagined goddes as S. Athanasius discourseth Orat contra idola Deuteronomie is an abridgement and repetition of the law conteyned more largely in the former bookes    e Presently after Moyses death Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan into Chanaan Iosue ◠And in the space of seuen yeares conquered the land Iosue 6. c.   f 2531   f And diuided the same amongst the tribes Iosue 13.   g 2533.   g The tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses hauing receiued enheritance on the other side of Iordan Num. 32. v. 33. and now returning thither made an altar by the riuer side which the other tribes suspecting to be for sacrifice and so to make a schisme prepared to fight against them but they answering that it was only for a monument al were satisfied Iosue 22.  The booke of Iosue is the first of those which are properly called Historical declaring how the Israelits conquered possessed the land of Chanaan it conteyneth the historie of 32. yeares   Naasson  The Romanes otherwise most prudent accoūted al inuenters of artes conqueroures of countries al archiuers of great explores at least after their deathes to be goddes And not only men but also manie other thinges were held for goddes  h 2556. h Iosue at the age of 110. yeares dyed Iosue 24. v. 29. had no proper successor     i 2556.   i Eleazarus the Highpriest dyed the same yeare Iosue 24. v. 33. And his sonne Phinees succeded    Phinees  k After the death of Iosue the people were afflicted by forreine nations God so permitting for their sinnes but repenting he raised vp certaine captaines who were called Iudges of diuers tribes without ordinarie succession to deliuer defend the countrie from inuasions These were in al fourtenne
pretender built an other schismatical temple in Aegypt   Eleazarus  x Philo the elder writte the booke of wisdom in Greke S. Icrom in pref In the time of Onias the second his brother Iason obtayned for money to be high-priest  w 3720.     Ecclesiasticus conteyneth manie moral precepts and is a storehouse of vertues and holie mysteries  Manasses an Apostata Eliud    w 3750. Onias    The booke of wisdom is also replenished with much doctrine of vertue and of diuine mysteries  Simon     x 3810. Onias Eleazar    y 3825.   y Antiochus Epiphanes persecuted the Church most cruelly like as Antichrist wil doe nere the end of the world 1. Mach. 1. v. 11. 2. Mach. 5. 6 7. Antiochus set vp the abomination of desolation wherof Daniel prophecied ch 9.   Mathathias  z In defence of the Church Mathathias and his sonnes with others made warres killed and oueâ— threw al their enemies aduanced religion clensed the teÌ„ple deliuered the people from persecution 1. Mach. 2. c. 2. Mach. 8. seq  The bookes of Machabees conteine the historie of the Iewes from Alexander the great to the time of Ioannes Hyrcanus high-priest aboue two huÌ„dred yeares z 3846.  Mathan d After the warres the Iewes in Ierusalem writte to the Iewes in Aegypt exhorting them to kepe the feastes and other rites as they were obserued in Iurie 2. Mach. 1. 2. After Iason folowed more vsurpers of the Highpriesthood  a 3847. Iudas Machabeus  e Pompeius the great taking Ierusalem subdued the Iewes to the Romanes He entered into the holy place called Sancta Sanctorum there prophaned holie thinges caried away Aristobulus who had bene Highpriest prisoner confirmed Hyrcanus in his place After whom Cassius also spovled the temple S. Aug. li. 18. c. 4â— de ciuil Menelaus  b 3853. Ionathas  f S. Iohn Baptist was borne of Elizabeth who had bene long barren Lisimachus  c 3869. Simon   Alcimus  d 3878. IoaÌ„nes Hyrcanus Iacob     Aristobulus     e 3847.       Alexander       Ioseph the husband of the most B Virgin     Hyrcanus Marie    f 4000.       IESVS CHRIST  And six monethes after Christ our SAVIOVR was borne of the B. Virgin Marie in Bethleem circumcised adored by the Sages and presented in the Temple When king Herod reigned in Iudea Herodians held opinion that Herod was Christ the Messias whom the Iewes had long expected   Antigonus  g Ioseph fled with the child his mother into Aegypt and Herod murthered the innocent infantes But Christ the Sonne of God coming into this world cut of al these other old sectes And from time to time cutteth of al haresies that rise against his Church   Anaelus  h Returning from Aegypt they dwelt in Nazareth   g4001 Aristobulus  i Christ at the age of twelue yeares remayning in Ierusalem vnknowen to his parentes was found the third day in the temple amongst the Doctors   h4006 Iosue Simon Mathias  k S. Iohn Baptist preached and baptized in Iordan Of whom Christ amongst others was baptized and fasted in the desert fourtie dayes   i 4012. Iosephus Iozarus Eleazar Iosue  l Christ crucified redemed mankind arose from death ascended to heauen sending the Holie Ghost planted his perpetual visible Church   k 4030. Annas Ismael Eleazar Simon     l 4034. Caiphas    The first holie Scripture of the new Testament was S. Mathewes Gospel written about the yeare of Christ 41. And the last was S. Iohns Gospel the yeare 99. The end of the sixth age and of the old Testament A PARTICVLAR TABLE OF THE MOST PRINCIPAL THINGES CONteyned as wel in the holie text as in the Annotations of both the Tomes of the old Testament In vvhich the letter A. directeth to the former volume B. to the latter and the numbers to the pages AARON of the tribe of Leui designed to assist his brother Moyses a 163. called the prophet of Moyses a 169. He yelded to make an idol a 243. was consecrated Highpriest a 275. In him his seede the Priesthood of the written law was established a 206. 275. 278. b. 438. 610. He once murmured against Moyses a 348. He Moyses offended in doubting of Gods wil a 365. b. 196. He died in mount Hor a 366. And is particularly praised b 438. Abel offered sacrifice sincerely a 13. 15. 31. and was slaine by his brother ibidem Abdias prophecied the captiuitie and relaxation of the Iewes and the Incarnation of Christ the Redemer of mankind b 840. Abiathar the Highpriest was deposed a 692. Abimelech killed his brethren and vsurped gouernment a 534. Abram left his country Chaldea for religion a 45. 51. a principal Patriarch a 50. He and his seede were strangers in diuers countries foure hundred and thirtie yeares a 60. 187. His name changed to Abraham a. 63. 65. His faith and singular obedience a 75. His many vertues a 200. 203. He was neuer an idolater a 203. 515. He died at the age of 175. yeares a 83. His praises b 438. Absalom ambicious and sedicious a 663. He perished in rebellioÌ„ a 670. Abstinence a 9. 39. 47. 280. 545. 934. b 613. 772. 994. see Fasting Accaronites durst not keepe the Arke of God a 582. Accidents remaine without subiect in the holie Eucharist a 4. Achans secret sinne punished in the multitude a 481. Achitophel a wicked counseler a 667. hanged himselfe a 669. Adam created in grace and knowlege a 5. transgressing lost the same a 10. repented and is saued b 356. Adonai one of the names of God is also read in place of Tetragramaton the name of foure letters which the Iewes pronounce not a 168. Adoration ciuil due to men a 77. 133. 144. 152. 868. adoration religious of holy persons and other thinges a. Ssssss 746. 746 763. but diuine adoration is only due to God a. 218. 219. see Idolatrie Aegypt was diuersly plagued a 170. 177. cc Affinitie spiritual and carnal in certaine degrees hinder mariage a. 298. c. Agar lawfully maried to Abraham a 62. Aggeus prophecied after the relaxation from captiuitie exhorting to build the temple b. 865. 999. Ahias prophecied the diuision of Salomons kingdome a. 731. and afterwards the vtter ruine of Ieroâ—oams house a. 738. Alcimus an Apostata deceiued the Assidians b 915. did much wickednes and died miserably b 922. Alleluia a voice of praise to God a. 1009. b. 191. 217. Alexander the great brought the monarchie to the Grecians b. 8â—2 999. He honored Iaddus the high priest a. 2â—8 b. 999. His Empyre diuided into foure kingdomes b. 793. 〈…〉 s
in the second weke of Lent :: Brothers easily enuie eech other but the parents are glad of their childrens aduancement So Christ al good Pastors :: So the Iewes thinking to preueÌ„t Christs exaltation cooperated vnwitting therto Prosper li. de promiss Dei :: Some read thirtie And as the reading is diuers so Christ whom Ioseph signified is more lesse estimed of diueres S. Aug. Ser. 81. de temp The least offensiue cause is alleaged why Iacob loued Ioseph aboue his bretheren God turneth euil to good effect S. Aug. li. 14. c. 27. ciuit Graue for hel corruptly traÌ„slated See â— Hiero. Ep. 119. S. Aug. li. 20. c. 15. ciuit VVilful corruption * Nu 16. 2. Reg. 22. Iob. 17 Psal 15 17. 85 Iacob spake of hel not of graue Abrahams besome Iue 16. :: Moyses in serteth here this historie because Christ should be borne of the genealogie of Iudas Phares Mat. 1. :: Thamar sinned desiring to be a mother without lawful mariage and Iudas sinned lying with a supposed harlot S. Aug. li. 22. c 61. 62. 63 cont Faust :: Adultrie punisable by death in the law of nature How a man might marie his brothers wife in the law of nature The Churches decree is now our rule :: Ioseph endued with al vertues was a special mirrhor of chastirie S. Amb. li. de Ioseph c â— The foure cardinal vertues reigned in him :: Temperance :: Iustice :: Fortitude :: Prudence :: God is more specially with his seruants in affliction then in prosperitie S Amb li. de Ioseph c. 5 :: Death on the crosse was most cruel most ignominious Cicero 7. Ver yet suffered by Christ and by him madeglorious Sap. 2. Philip 2. Some dreames are natural Some are illusions of euil spirites Some are from God Dan. 4 Holie Scripture and the Church are iudges of doubtful dreames :: Pharao his dreames and his Eunuches were prophetical For by them God for shewed things to come v 25. yet they were no prophets but Ioseph who had the gift to interpret them S. Aug. li. 12. c. 9 de Gen. ad lit S. Greg. li. 11. Moral in c. 13. Iob. :: These things came to passe by Gods particular prouideÌ„ce Psalm 4. God called or caused a samine vpon the land :: Cohen signifieth priest as not only the latin but also the 70. Philo and Iosephus here translate though sometimes it signifieth prince as the Chaldey paraphrasis interpreteth wherby it is probable that this Putiphar was both a priest and a prince * Obliâ—â—â—n * Fruitful or Grovving Holie Ioseph suddenly aduanced Eâ—â—li 11. li de Ioseph Ioseph truly called the reueler of secrets But more honorably the Sauiour of the world Therin a figure of Christ :: If these things which ye say be proued false ye are to be held as spies for your lying S Aug 1. 139. super Gen. :: Myn old age or me an old man S. Aug. q. 142. Contrition necessarie for the remission of sinnes Disorderlie remission is hurtful Ioseph calleth his brothers spies for their good It is lawful to sweare by creatures â—ier 4. Mat. 5. In some case more conuenient then to name God expresly Diuers mansions in hel :: Guilt of siÌ„ne is a greater bond then the life of Rubens sonnes which he offered Iacob yelded not therto yet granted to this offer of Iudas * Calumniam :: They now adore him whom they sold lest they should adore him S. Greg. ho 22. in Ezech :: See Exodi 8. v. 26. :: Euerie one hauing fiue portions Beniamin had duble Iosephus li. 1. Antiq. Moderation to be vsed in feasting :: By this Ioseph tried his bretherens affection whether they would intrete for Beniamin or suffer him to be captiue as they had be sore sold him selfe to captiuitie Theod. q. 105. in Gen. :: O torments of mercie he vexeth whom he loueth S. Greg. ho. 22. in Ezech. :: Ioseph being in deede a propher knowing more then al sorcerers in Aegypt spoke of himselfe as he was estemed in that place S. Aug. q. 145. super Gen. :: See pag. 130. :: Gods prouidence turned their euil dealing to the good of the whole familie chap. 50. â— â—0 :: Iosephs prâ— deÌ„t proceding before he made him selfe knowen to his brethreÌ„ and them to Pharao procured al this ioy fauour towards them in Aegypt Occasion of sinne to be auoided The eight and last part of this booke Of Iacob and his progenies going into Aegypt Of his and Iosephs death :: That is She bare their fathers in Mesopotamia S. Aug q. 151. in Gen. Aegyptians honoring shepe goates and kyne for goddes detested them that did gouerne kil or eate those cattel God reueleth his wil in holieplaces A difficultie how manie Israelites came at first into Aegypt Act. 7. Numbers mystical sometimes noâ— explicable in the literal sense Euerie mans life is shorte replenished with manie miseries Iob. 14. :: The priests of Aegypt being not forced to laboure for their liuing found out the Mathematiques as wituesseth Aristotle in princ Metaph. Hâ— 65. in Gen. The immunitie and care of Priests in the law of nature Yea amongst Insidels Much more amongst Christians Priests ought to be respected Math. 25. 10. Cohen in some place signifieth Prince but is here translated Priest in al the English Bibles Special place of burial lawfully desired and spiritually profitable Luc 12 But pompe auaileth not the dead Heb. 11. The Septuagint are not contrarie to the Hebrew and Latin text but supplie that was omitted Adoration of God and creatures is not repugnant Mat. 2. :: By this he made a crosse prefiguring the Crosse of Christ Isidor in hunâ— locum The right haÌ„d also in spiritual things preferred before the left Arist li. 2. de caelo textu 8. de inces animal ca. 4. The younger brother preferred signified the Gentiles before the Iewes Procop. Isidor in Gen. The forme of the Crosse prefigured by Iacob crossing his armes Ioan. 12. Collos 2. Protection Inuocation of Angels Proued by ancient Fathers God for his Saints sake sheweth fauour to their frends :: These are predictioÌ„s not al blessings S. Amb. li. de Benedict Patriar :: A prophecie not an imprecation S Aug. li. 16 c 22. on t Faust That these are most profound Mysteries is easie to conceiue but most hard to vnderstand them In some the Patriarch recounteth things past in his life for telling the effects therof to come Other things he forsheweth pertayning to the diuision of the Land of Chanaan others to the times of the Iudges of the Kings of the Captiuitie of Deliuerie from thence of Christ of Antichrist and of the end of this world Of al which diuers ancieÌ„t fathers haue written large coÌ„mentaries godlie treatises :: This prophecie S. Augustin vnderstandeth of S. Paul of the tribe of Beniamin who was first a persecutor and after an Apostle of Christ Ser. 14. de Sanctis Ruben for his sinne was put
to fight for them See Iosue 23. Psal 135. :: He destroyed the places where sacrifice was offered to idoles ch 17. v. 6. but tolerated other places where the people offered to God our Lord without the temple not being able to reduce al to perfection 4. Reg. 8. :: Elias was assumpted from ordinarie conuersation with mortal men the eighttenth yeare of king Iosaphat 4. Reg. 2. 3. who reigned twentie fiue yeares 3. Reg. 22. v. 42. So he shewed this special care of Ioram and his kingdom after his assumption seuen yeares 4. Reg. 8. v. 25. ch 9. :: To wit when he beganne to reigne alone for he reigned together with his father at the age of 22. 4. Reg. 8. v. 26. And after his fathers death but one yeare :: See 4. Reg. 8. v. 18. :: Human hope failed but Gods prouidence vsed meanes to conserue some of Dauids issue to sitte in his throne yea to continue the succession 〈◊〉 Christ Mat. 1. 4. Reg. 11. :: Gods promise being absolute and certayne yet humane meanes were neuertheles required * the vveâ—eliâ— vvatch :: In case of right and necessitie we see here what the high Priest could do and did by his authoritie who otherwise intermedled not in the kings affayres ch 19 v 11. :: They are wilfully blind that wil not see difference betwen images of Baal of Christ or of Sainctes * simulâ—â—ra :: By the law euerie one payed yearly halfe a sicle towards the repayring of the tabernacle and so afterwardes of the temple Ex. 30. Ma◠〈◊〉 :: He that killed his spiritual father was slaine by his owne seruantes 4. Reg. 14. Dâ—â—t 24 4. Reg. 8. :: Obduration of hart for former sinne :: So long as this king obserued the ordinance of God to be directed by the high priest Nâ— 27. v 2â— he prospered in his affayres :: For vsurping spiritual authority which pertayned not to him the high priest with his assistantes opposed themselues against the king and God confirmed their sentence by striking the same king with leprosie And so he was not only cast out of the temple but also out of his kingdom and common conuersation with other men forced to dwel in a separet house without the citie according to the law Leuit. 13. v. 46. :: Neither could he be buried in the propet sepulchres of the kinges 4. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 16. VVicked policie auaileth nothing but hurteth much 4. Reg. 18. :: Being peniteÌ„t in haâ—t for their sinnes Gods dispensation might be sappâ—sed foâ— legal purification iâ— case of â—â—ce â—ine which otherwise was stâ—â—â—ly commaâ—â—â—â— Lâ—â—â—t 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 27. c. :: Voluntarie workes of superetogation more then was commanded :: Besides consession of sinnes there is also coÌ„fession of Gods excellencie goodnes 4. Râ—g 18. Isaie 36. :: â—ore danger of pâ—â—â—e in prosperitie then in aduersitie 4. Reg. 21. :: A pregnant example of the effect of harty repentance :: This prayer is not extant in the Hebrew but in Greke Latin as yet neither receiued for canonical by the Church noâ— refused 4. Reg. 22. â— Reg. 12. :: Geuen by the hand of Moyses :: It is a benefite to be taken out of this world before generaâ— miseâ—â—e come vpon the people :: This Phase o 〈…〉 h made by Ioâ—â—as is fanious partly for that this feast had bene omitted some yeares but specially for the great and extraordinarie solemnitie made at this umâ— 4. Reg. 16. :: Iosias thought that the king of Aegypt intended to inuade his kingdome And it was Gods wil he should be slaine and not see the euiles that should happen to the people :: Solemne exequies with lamentations and musike :: Hitherto from K. Danids death the sonne had euer succeded to his father â—â—re 25. :: It is like that Esdras added this coÌ„clusion when he restored the holie Scriptures that were lost for he beginneth his owne booke with the same wordes The end of the fifth age The Church stil visible and the same faith as before One God Three Persons Christ Sacrifices Sacramentes to be changed by Christ Fruict of penance Abstinence Fastes Lent Feastes Place of the Temple designed long before Synagogues Sanctuarie Sette forme of prayers Ministerie of Angeles Honour and Intercession of Sainctes Reliques Images Good workes meâ—itorions Euangelical counselles pre figured Chastitie of clergie men religious orders Mat. 19 1 Cor. 7. Act. 5. 1. Tim. 5. Solemne Exequies for the dead Gen. 5. Resurrection Iudgement Eternal glorie or paine Church without interruption Ieraboams wicked policie Prophets inspired by God to resist Schisme and Heresie 4. Reg. 23. The often change of Kinges and euil successe in the kingdoÌ„ of Israel The first familie reigned but 24. yeares The second newe familie 26. The third but 7. daies The fourth 48. yeares The fifth 103. The sixth one moneth The seuenth 12. yeares The eight 20. yeares The ninthnine yeares Then ouerthrowen and the kingdom neuer restored The kingdom of Iuda for Dauids sake conserued in his sede Succession of Priestes continued Extraordinary mission of Prophetes Great effectes of their preaching and miracles Elias his miracles Eliseus his miracles Religion not wholly destroyed in the kingdom of Israel Heresies in the kingdom of Israel Ieroboamites Manie constant in true religion Iezabelites Samaritaniteâ— diuided into manie Sectes Tobias neues yelded to Schisme The Kingdom of Iuda more free from herefie King Achaz Vrias high priest King Ioram and others committing idolatrie in fact manie others stil professed true Religion Authoritie depending vpon diuine ordinance is not changed by factes or practise Good kinges defended and promoted religion not as chiefe in spiritual causes but by way of execution dispensation oâ— coÌ„mission Mat. 1â— Priestes by their negligeÌ„ce do sinne but lose not their authoritie Deut. 17. v. 〈◊〉 The Church of the old Testament conserued in truth Much more the Church of Christ â—â— Psal 30. conc â— li. 3. â— 32. de doctrin christ â— Tim. 3 4. Reg. 19. â— Esâ—r 7 The two bookes of Esdras and Nehemias are but one in the Hebrew The third and fourth are not canonical Epist ad Paulin. This historie hath also a spiritual sense First booke diuided into two partes The first part The returne of gods people from Babylon Isaiae 44. 45 Ierem. 25. 29. :: Liberally gaue such thinges into their handes :: This enumeration of the Israelites which aseended into Ierusalem signifieth the Elect which ascend from the militant Chuch to the triumphant :: Such as say they are priestes and can not shew their vocatioÌ„ must not exercise that functon ... Al aboue numbred of the tribes of Iuda Beniamin Leui do not amouÌ„t to 30. thousand three hundred So in this general number are contained aboue twelue thousand of other tribes not recited among the rest as Rabbi Salomoa explicateth the difficultie :: Notwithstanding the terrour of infideles Gods seruantes too 〈◊〉 corage to offer sacrifice :: By the ordinance of Dauid
and obstinate disputers stil repete the same obiections :: Iob sheweth that neither God nedeth mans helpe :: Neither is Baldads prudence able to helpe if there were nede :: Giantes were not able to wade in Noes floud but were drowned with the rest :: Not only great thinges before recited but also the very least are made by God and depend vpon his prouidence :: God would not as yet haue Iobs cause iudged but reserued the sentence for his greater trial in patience :: It were a lie to acknowlege such sinnes as he had not committed :: Some part of Gods iudgement falleth on the wicked in this life but especially at their death Psal 75. :: By these more precious and rare creatures men ought to consider the creator and so not set their rest in them but in him which is true wisdome :: Sudaine headie waters bursting out do change the wayes and passages of men :: True wisdom is not in natural thinges but in supernatural vertues :: VVhen man hath considered Gods workes his dutie is to feare God :: Then to depart from euil and do good :: Parables are not only similitudes of thinges but also pithie and profound sentences such as Iob Salomon and other wisest men vttered :: This particle as importeth not here a similitude but rather that he was a very king or supreme prince as hauing supreme authoritie v. 7. royal vesture and crowne v. 〈◊〉 Isâ—lorus li. de vita sanct Beda alij :: Men scarse fitte to haue care of dogges derided Iob in his affliction so he was contemned of the most contemptible :: Our Sauiour also sustered this reproch Mat. 26. :: In the Hebrew haue put in the plural number importing pluralitie of Diuine Persons :: Death is a comforth to a iust man in tribulation :: Like to such beastes as seke solitary places to lament in :: whereas there is a continual warre betwen a chaist mind and rebellious flesh holie Iob made this condition of truce betwene these enimies that his eye should neuer geue occasion to carnal concupiscence :: By which meanes he was also safe from carnal cogitations S. Greg. li. 21. e. 2. :: By this demand he prouoked his aduersaries to produce what they could to conuince him of idolatrie or denving God wherwith they indirectly charged him :: Iob disputed no more with his freindes but afterward submitted him self to God acknowledging some vnaduised speach c 39. v. 37. c. 42. v 3 The ninth conflict :: This young-man wittie lerned but proud withal was a figure of the hote and arrogant disputers who wil seme to know more then their elders S. Greg. li. 23. c. 2. :: A notorious arrogancie to hold himselfe wiser then any man either of his owne sect or of his aduersaries :: Those that neither credite Catholique Doctors nor yet relie vpon their owne elders but euery one vpon his owne priuate spirit denie that to perteyne to them which is spoken to others in the same errors S. Greg li. 23. c. 8. :: Arrogant men imagine their owne conceiptes vtterance to be more meruelous theÌ„ other mens not knowing how foolish their owne pride is S. Greg. li. 23. c. 16. :: It is true that Gods wil once vttered ought to suffice al men for he answereth not to ech one by a particular speach but by common speach or fact satisfieth al mens questions wherof S. Gregorie noteth this general rule vita praecedentium sit form â— sequentium The lâ—se of them that goe be fore is made a forme or rule of them that folovv li. 23. c. 18 19 But Eliu falsely supposed that God by Iobs affliction had declared that he was a wicked man For in dede God declared the contrarie c. 1. v. 1. 8. c. 2. v. 3. :: Iob said not that God ubuerted iudgement or wrongfully iudged but God hath taken avvay my iudgement cha 27 v 2. that is differred to iudge my cause :: Neither did Iob say this c. 9. v. 22. but Eliu wrested his meaning that he might haue something to reprehend S. Greg. li. 24. c. 25. :: Eliu applieth this to Iob as though he had made false shew of vertue which he had not and that God had suffered him hither to to â—â—igne or rather to tyrannize for iust punishment of his peoples sin nes But God at last declared that Iob was not such a one ch 42. v. 7. :: Eliu insisteth much in this calumniation for Iob neuer said that he was iust compared vvith God nor iuster then God But that his affliction was greater then his sinne ch 6. v. 3. c. 23. v. â— c. :: These are strong sentences saith S. Gregorie but they agree not or â—â—eâ—â—lapphed to the blessed person of Iob. li. 26. c. 7. :: No orator is so vaine but he promiseth al truth speaketh some to get credite with his auditorie :: If kinges reigne wel their praise remaineth for euer v. 11. :: The night is drawne long when tentations are not spedely resisted :: wherby ful worse and worse cogitations succede in place of the first S. Greg. li 26. â— 38. :: Aboue al other Lawgeuers God is most able to punish transgressors but most willing and most able to reward the obseruers S. Gregorie ex poundeth this to be a prophecâ—e of Christ our singular lavvgeuer li. â—7 c. 1 :: Christ wil geue the glorious light of heauen which now is hidden to men that lost terrestrial paradise ibideÌ„ c. 12. :: Consideration of heauenly rewardes mentioned in the end of the former chapter comforteth the afflicted but thunder and other meteors being figures of Gods iudgement strike the hart with terrour :: North wind or north pole :: God directeth the â—loudes in the ayre as a master mariner gouerneth a shippe :: Man not able to praise God sufficiently pâ—ayseth him with feaâ—e * Iob coruinced the former three with sound answers this last and most arrogant with silence The third part For the tenth and last dispute God discusseth the controuer sie and geueth sentence for Iob. :: Onlie the Creator hath absolute and perfect knowlege of al creatures As may appearâ— by induction or example :: Of the creation of the earth :: Of the sea :: Distinction of lightes :: The depth of the sea :: Man 's owne natiuitie and what shal happen after his death :: The sunnes light and heate :: Diuers Meteors :: Starres and planetes :: Man hath his knowlege from God :: And the cock hath skil which man wanteth * or rest from motion :: In some Editions the 39. chap. begineth here shewing by induction of sensible thinges as before of insensible that onlie God knoweth the nature of al creatures :: By Gods meruelous prouidence appearing in the natural instinct of other creatures man may consider that the same is greater towards him And therfore God here proposeth the examples of :: VVild goates :: Hyndes :: VVild asses :: Vnicornes ::
affliction not able to deliuer them selues seeke reuenge by murmuring and other euil speaches but the perfect resolue to rule their tongues d euen to forbeare sometimes from their owne iust defence e though therby they indure more persecution f sorow suppressed maketh the hart to burne with zele and indignation g If it may please thee let me know how long I shal liue desiring to dye as Elias desired 3. Reg. 19. h my life and al that I haue is as nothing compared to thy eternitie i as a shadow or image appearing in a glasse which is quickly forgotte k therfore there is no cause man should be trubled in mind for temporal miseries l Thou hast suffered me to be reproched by the foolish that prosper in this world m I know my tribulation is by thy prouidence o my life decayeth as a spider hauing spent al her moysture p Almen are strangers in this life heauen being our home q that I may recouer spiritual streingth in this life r after which I shal not be in state to do frceworkes of satisfaction nor merite Christs comming and redeming of manking The 5 key a perteyning vnto the new Testament b the faithful of the old and new Testament reioyce in the coming of Christ c Christ by him seâ—â—e and by others preached the Gospel of saluation d the multiplication of Christians therbâ— e â—â— sacrifice of the old testament sufficed â—o satisfie Gods iustice for the sinne of man f Christ by the eare of obedience performed the redemption of man by his death as was determined from eternitie S. Paul for eares â—aith bodie See Annotations Heb. 10. Heb. 10. g The summe of holie Scripture is of Christs Incarnation death for redemption of man h Againe Christ inculcateth the preaching and receiuing of his Gospel in the whole world i In the greatest and wisest congregations of this world Christ concealeth not his mercie and truth So himselfe professed before Annas Caiphas Pilate and their councels S. Paul preached Christ at Atheâ—s and in manie nations and so the other Apostles For their voice went into al the coastes of the earth k The prophet now speaketh in the name of Christs mystical bodie the Church praying to be made partaker of mercie and to be deliuered from euâ—les l the sinnes also of those which beleue in Christ are so manie that they can not be fully sene in particular m I almost faint in considering so manie and so great iniquities amongst those that professe Christ n The whole Church prayeth in the name of al for the infirme members o The prophet foresheweth that the reprobate for their obstinate malice seeking to hurt others shal be confounded p that skornfully say wel wel wishing al euil to good men q which not only in mouth and outward profession but also in sinceritie of hart seeke thee may with confidence reioyce and praise God r Christ speaketh in the name of sinners truly repenting whose sinnes he vndertaketh to redeme and wash away by his passion Å¿ The faithful of the old testament pray for Christs first coming into this world and the faithful now pray for his second coming to purge his Church and to reward the good Christs Passion and Resurrection The 5 key a Perteyning to the new testament as appeareth by the 10. verse alleaged by our Sauiour This Psalme is also applied by the Church in the office of the sick whom whosoeuer assisteth in that case may hope to haue assistance in their owne like necessitie Io. 13. v. 18. b He is happie that is not scandalized in Christ Luc. 7. v. 23. coming in pouertie and suffering extreme afflictions c He that trusteth in Christ notwithstanding the contrarie motiues of his wordlie miserie shal be deliuered by him in al distresse d Our Lord wil geue to such seruantes more grace in this life and glorie in the next e not suffer him to be ouercome in tentations f when such constant seruantes are sick to death Christ wil most especially comforte and helpe them g Christ in the behalf of his mystical bodie confesseth their sinnes and prayeth for them h After death suffered for mankind Christ riseth and his name and kingdom is glorious i Those that came not of good wil but of malice to obserue Christs deedes and wordes carped at both sometimes saying he taught against the law and against Moyses sometymes that he â—ast out diuels in the powre of Beelse bub k At last they resolued that he should die l But they could not so suppresse his powre for he rose againe in glorie m By our Sauiours application of this verse it is certaine that the traitor Iudas is here described Ioa. 13. v. 18. Io. 11. Act. 1. n in the day of iudgement Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one as they deserue o As before in respect of sinners Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one so here in his owne person he auoucheth his owne innocencie which made him apt to satisfie for others p For this mercie of Almightie God in sauing the elect by his Sonnes death he is to be praised for euer eternally q Al the blessed agree in this that God is eternally to be praised and therto say Amen So be it so be it Some diuide the Psalmes into fiue bookes supposing the first booke to end here with these wordes Be it be it not obseruing that the last Psalme hath not this ending S Ierom confuteth this opinion by our Sauiours and S. Peters naming it the booke not bookes of Psalmes Luc. 20. v. 42. Act. 1. Moreouer if this were the end of one booke then the Psalme folowing should not be called the 41. Psalme but the first Psalme of the second booke Eternal glory The 10. key a The sonnes of Core repented and departed from their fathers schisme and so escaped miraculosly the horrible pitte of damnation inâ—o which heir father and his complices fel. Num. 26. v. 10. By which example al seduced and deceiued Christians are admonished not to persist in schisme or other sinnes And wordlie men â—mbicious of honour be warned to desire seke God aboue al thinges first of al the kingdome of heauen â—o be liuing mâ—mbeâ—s of the Catholique Church and the iustice therof to seke thinges whâ—â—h are aboue 〈◊〉 which are vpon the earth lest hel deuoure them as it denoured the complices of Core Num 1â— v. 31. b A harte waxing old and burdened with much heare and great hornes draweth a serpent into his nosethrels so being infected with poyson desireth most ardently to drinke and afterwards casteth his hornes and heare and becometh as it were yong againe c with such feruent desire a true penitent feeling himselfe infected with poyson of sinnes seeketh the water of Gods grace d God is omnipotent and in dede the only true liuing God diuels who are honored in idols ca do no more then God permitteth and so they can
spirite the perfections which he wisheth in Christ in maner of congratulating describeth his fortitude fighting against the diuel for the Church n purposing o prosecuting p and perfecting the conquest and so establishing thy spiritual kingdome q Not vvith warlike armour of this world but by assaulting the aduersarie with truth r defending thyseâ—fe and thy souldiers with the shield of mildnes Å¿ and striking the enemie with the sword of iustice VVhich right force of spiritual fight hath meruelous good successe t Preaching of Christs Gospel his grace mouing the hartes of the hearers is liuelie and forcible more pearcing then anie two edged sword v The example of people conuerted shal moue the hartes of the aduersaries to come also vnto the truth w Christs kingdom shal haue no end Luc 1. v. 33. x Thou defendest and rewardest the good finally forsakest and punishest the wicked y more peculiarly the God of Christ by hypostatical vnion z Diuers kinges as Dauid him selfe Iosaphat Ezechias and Iosias were as godlie as Salomon and perseuered good to the end which is doubted Salomon did not but Christ incomparably was annointed indued with al graces aboue al kinges a Mortification which conserueth from putrifying b humilitie aswaging pride c being smal in the first spring grovveth great d humanitie assumpted and sanctified persons in vvhom Christ dwelleth as in cleane shining odoriferous houses e sincere faithful soules more deare to their spouse Christ then daughters of temporal kinges f The Catholique Church in faith purified as gold g vvith varietie of states as Clergie Laity and diuers sortes of religious Orders and other professions al vnited in the same faith hope and charitie h carifully al that Christ thy spouse speaketh to thee by his Spirite i diligently put the same in practise k vvith al obedience and readines and returne not to former infidelitie noâ— to corrupt life l Christ loueth the Church adoined with his giftes m and mutually his true children loue and serue him n Manie of al nations submitle themselues and al that they haue to Christ o Internal vertues are most especial ornaments p exterior are required to edifie others in diuers sortes of vertues q By this meanes manie more are conuerted to christianitie r and one countrie inuiteth and draweth another Å¿ As Apostles came in place of Patriarches and Prophetes so stil Bishops and Priestes succede in the Church pastors and gouernours therof t These pastores shal stil teach the true Christian doctrin v and stil there shal be Christian people that wil folow and professe the same Caluin expoundeth this Psalme contratie to S. â—aul No saluation out of the Church Perpetual succession of Byshops in place of the Apostles The Church prospereth also in persecution The 6. key a Belonging to the Church of Christ b As wel the cause vvhy God suffereth his Church to be persecuted at his assured protection in difficulties are hidden secretes to the world c Al refuge is not secure for one man is not able alwayes to defend an other but God is a sure and strong refuge d euer able and in conuenient time vvilling to helpe e This whole vvorld is ful of tribulations but the Church suffered the greatest in the first persecutions shal suffer as great in the time of Antichrist English Catholiques suffer most of al nations in this age and can not be suppressed but stil increase in number and fortitude f Therfore al Catholiques may assuredly know that the whole Church can not faile g though very manie as now in England h and very eminent persons as some noblemen and some Priestes haue reuolted yet al vvil not i Such bad examples make the good to recollect themselues more diligently and to reiâ—ycâ— in Gods grace by which they stand fast k before the heate of persecution shal inuade al for the elect the dayes of tribulation are shortned l Sometimes one nation or kingdome rebelleth against the Church but can not destroy it m by the spirite of Christ Antichrist and al his members shal be destroyed n The Church sometimes hath great peace and tranquilitie o God himselfe restrayneth the wicked suddainly abating their furie or cutting of their forces Vocation of Gentiles The 6. key a For Christians that leaue the sinnes of their fathers and reioyce in Christ crucified See Annotation Psal 41. b True ioy of the hart sheweth it selâ—e both in voice of exultation and also in gesture of body by clapping of handes dancing as king Dauid did before the Arke 2 Reg â— likevvise vvith instruments c To al the wicked d not only of one or few kingdoms but of al the earth e VVhen kinges and countries become Christians they are made subiectes to the Church that vvas before not heades and rulers therfore f Christ God man after his Passion rose from death and ascended g not leauing his Church desolate but making her ioyful by an other comforter the Holie Ghost h The same Christ is our God by his Diuinitie i and our king by his Humanitie k Doe your endeuour to vnderstand vvhat you sing read or heare in Gods word At least to know the principal Mysteries and pointes of Christian doctrin euerie one according to their capacitie and state or profession l The faithful of the old and nevv Testament are vnited in the seruice of one and the same eternal God m In respect of the Blessed Trinitie holie Scripture here and in manie places vseth names of the plural number as Eloim Goddes not diuiding Gods substance vvhich is one but insinuating distinction of Diuine Persons The Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost VVhich Mysterie is more expresly mentioned in Baptisme and professed by Christian gentils then it was by the people of the Ievves The Church founded and protected by God The 6. key a Voices beginning the musike instruments prosecuted b especially for the second day of the weke the day after the sabbath which is our Sunday called Dominica our Lords day c Ierusalem and mount Sion were most obliged to praise God for greatest benefites receiued so the Catholique Church therby prefigured and hauing receiued farre greatter is most of al bonden to be gratful d This can not be affirmed of Sion or Ierusalem but is only verified of the Catholique Christian Church e whose coastes do extend to the North and to al quarters of the round earth f The same one God one Christ one Faith and one Religion in al particular Churches of the vvhole militant Church g And this Vniuersalitie and Vnitie shal be after that Christ taking mans nature shal be ascended and shal send the Holie Ghost to found beginne this Church h For the assured certaintie of that is foreshewed the Prophet speaketh in the preteâ—â—ence as if it vvere already done in his time which he then savv in spirite i Nothing more moueth he hart affecteth al the bodie and soule
forced to promise libertie to the children of Israel vvhich he aftervvards denied e The read sea f when Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan g in remembring and reciting these singular benefites h Gods chosen people the Iewes did often exasperate God by their ingratitude murmuring and other sinnes whom the prophet therfore admonisheth i not to be proud lest they be subdued and brought lowe k By way of inuitation the Psalmist prophecieth the conuersion of Gentiles l The voice of the whole Church confessing Gods prouidence and protection that she neuer faileth for the Iewes falling from Christ the Gentiles beleued in him and some nations or countries falling from Religion others are conuerted m God suffereth his Church to be persecuted with al kindes of tribulation as some are here recited n But through Gods assistance his seruants passe through and ouercome al tentations o Sacrifice of thankes p and voluntarie vowes q that which anie promiseth to God in tribulation they must performe accordingly r Thâ—se were the best external sacrifices of the old law Å¿ But both then and now the internal sacrifices of contrite hart of iustice and of diuine praise best please God t from the hart which is vnder the tongue and directeth the tongue what to speake v VVhosoeuer wil be heard in prayer must repent of his sinnes Propagation of the Church the 6. key a This Psalme beginning to be songue by voices instruments were adioyned b God first remitte our sinnes c then geue vs thy manifold graces d grant faith and repentance e and so forgeuenes of sinnes f Al nations shal be conuerted g God the Fater h God the Sonne i God the Holie Ghost saue the peoples of al nations by Euangelical preaching of thee the most Blessed Trinitie The Church stil conserued The 6. key a In maner of praying that God wil vouchsafe to defend the Church the Psalmist prophecieth that God wil arise b and the enimies shal flee away not daring to abide the combate c As God is terrible to the wicked so he is comfortable to the iust d Resist not Gods inspiration but receiue it with ioy and thankes e who triumpheth ouer death f God is Lord not only of these or those nations countries or other creatures but absolutly and vniuersally of al. g That is the true holie Church which hath h vnitie in doctrin touching faith and maâ—ers i That be bond in sinne S. Cypr. ep 76. k euen rebellious willes are altered by Gods mercie and freely embrace his law l also the dead and drie hartes that cared not for spiritual thinges are softened and quickned with new grace m The benefites bestowed on the Israelites are written in the bookes of Moyses Iosue and Iudges n Not mans deseruing but Gods mere good wil and free grace caused Christ to come and by himselfe and his Apostles to preach the Euangelical doctrin which watereth the whole world o God chose the weake but made them strong p Those whom thou hast chosen and so made thyn owne peculiar people shal enioy this grace q Thou gauest Manna in the desert the B Sacrament in the new testament r God geueth to the preacher what to speake Å¿ and to some he geueth also powre to worke miracles in confirmation of their doctrin Mar. 16. t Some potent king or as it is in the Hebrew kinges being beloued of the beloued of God the only Sonne of God shal yeld themselues to the same beloued Sonne of God v which shal redound to the glorie and beautie of his Church gayning such spiritual prayes from the diuel w If you be in such danger that the aduersaries cast dice oâ— lottes for your persons and goodes yet you shal be deliuered as if a doue with her glistering fethers like siluer and gold flie away into a secure place without losse or diminution but rather with increase of vertues x VVhen the heauenlie king determineth thus of earthlie kinges y they shal be purged from their sinnes and made white like snow that falleth in mount Selmon which is a shadowed hil thicke with trees in mount Ephraim nere to Iordan z The Church of God is visible and durable like to a mountane a Combined or ioyned together as when milke is turned into curde and so into cheese b fructful enriched by spiritual giftes of the Holie Ghost c ye that are not of this Church do in vaine and erroniously imagine that anie other mountaines are vnited d Innumerable Angels ministers of Gods wil do continually attend vpon his Diuine Maiestie as if he who otherwise nedeth no seruice were caried by them as in a chariotte of infinite magnificence Dan 7. e So God appeared in Maiestie when he gaue his law in mount Sinai f Christ ascended with innumerable Angels attending vpon him g caried with him the fathers of the old testament that had benne captiue Ephes 4. h as man he receiued giftes of God in and for men his faithful seruantes i yea also he receiued for his merite that innumerable which before were incredulous were conuerted and God dwelt in their soules k Our Lord I say our Lord and none but he could ouercome death by dying l Though Christ died to deliuer al men from death yet he wil geue capital sentence of eternal death to al that obstinatly remaine his enimies and multiplie sinnes vpon sinnes to the end of their temporal life m Euen of the iudest barbarous nations manie shal be conuerted to Christiantie n namely Gods grace is extended into the Ilandes of the Ocean and other seas o But such seuere slaughter shal fal vpon the obstinate contemners of this grace that mens feete shal be defiled in their bloud and dogges shal lappe it Exiâ—iâ—â—â—â— ab â—â—â— p Manie haue sene or knowen in general but the faithful more exactly know how Christ came into this world his conuersation therin and his going forth q his reigning now in heauen our Mediatour by whom al other intercessors haue accesse to God r The Apostles sowing the first seede of Euangelical doctrin Å¿ with whom other Apostolical men t and other soules of al nations conuerted by their preaching most ioyfully sing together in hart voice and instruments especially in good workes shew their gratful affections to our Redeemer v And al this in the particular Churches of diuers Kingdomes and partes of the world vv beginning with the Israelites in Ierusalem and so proceding into al furie and Samaria and to the vt most of the earth Act. 1. x S. Paul of Iacobs yongest sonne Beniamin last called to Apostleship was chiefly sent to the Gentiles y Other Apostles of diuers tribes sent first to the Iewes secondarily to Gentiles z As the Church begane by the omnipotent powre of God so by the same only powre it is conserued a Chastice therfore ô God al persecuters of thy Church who are but as weake wauering reedes in comparison of thy powre
dignitie vvisdome or other like qualitie but their iust merites :: A prayer of iust zele e Shal most wicked men stil be suffered to speake so insolently :: A description of heathnish and heretical crueltie :: Scarse anie Atheistes are so blind as thus to thinke but manie sinners so behaue them selues as if God saw not knew not or at least cared not vvhat they do f So vnpossible is it that God should be ignorant or careles vvhat men do that he also knovveth and obserueth most secret thoughtes g Mitigate and temper his afflictions that by patience and fortitude the iust may perseuere and not be ouerwhelmed h The whole Church shal neuer be reiected nor forsaken i Iustice is conuerted into iudgement vvhen iust meaning is put in vvorke and practise that it may appeare in iudgement Also God vvho doth suffereth al iustly vvil conserue his inheritance the Church euen vnto the day of iudgement k The sense is easie by transposing the vvordes al that are right of hart are nere it that is shal like and approue Gods iustice vvhen the vvicked shal repine and blaspheme it l when I felt and complained that I was in danger thou didst assist me m Onlie faith sufficeth not but careful laboure in keping Gods commandmnts is required n The iust do hope for eternal saluation to which God wil bring them o And God the reuenger of wronges wil at last cast the wicked into eternal torments Christ our Lord and king the 5. key a Praise songue with voices b inspired to Dauid written by him This Inuitation is most fitly ordayned by the Church for the proeme or beginning of Mattins c VVith great and solemne exultation d God our Creator is also our Protector Sauiour e Let vs be more diligent and preuent our accustomed time For no man can preuent Gods grace with anie good worke who first preuenteth vs els we can neither doe nor thincke anie good thing f not only in singing his praise with voice but also with musical instruments g So also Isaias c. 45. v. 23. and S. Paul Philip. 2. teach that kneeling or bowing the knees as an external religious ceremonie is acceptable to God h It is most iust and necessarie that we adore God because he made vs and al this world for vs hath also redemed vs and made vs his people as shepe of his pasture and as a Pastor feedeth and gouerneth vs. i of his making k Though some haue often repelled and resisted Gods grace yet if they receiue it being offered againe it wil auaile them to remission of sinnes l The Israelites in the desert tempted God by desiring water and flesh of voluptuous concupiscence without necessitie For Manna did both extinguish their thirst and tasted vnto them whatsoeuer they desired Exo. 16. That also which was left vngathered when the sunne waxed hotte melted v. 21. and serued their cattel for drincke So this tentation was a figure of those which require to communicate vnder both kindes as if one did not conteine as much as both m By this mention of the offence of fourtie yeares as long before passed is conuinced that Moyses writte not this Psalme who died in the very fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert And S Paul citing the wordes of this Psalme Heb. 4. manifestly acknowlegeth Dauid the writter therof and that it was written long after Moyses time in these wordes v 7 Againe he limiteth a certaine day To day in Dauid saying after so long time as is aboue saide To day if you shal heare his voice do not obdurate your hartes For if Iesus that is Iosue had geuen them rest he would neuer speake of an other day afterward n Being greatly offended I approched nere vnto them in punishing the offenders o Those that murmured died in the desert and entered not into the promised land euen so those that finally offend Christ shal not enter into euerlasting rest Heb. 3. 4. It is in mans freewil to resist good motions Concil Triden Sess 6. c. 5 Christs diuine powre the 5. key a Inspired to Dauid and written by him b prophecying the restauration of the temple after the future captiuitie And that in figure of the vniuersal redemption of mankind by Christ from the captiuitie of the diuel â— 1. Par. 16. v. 23. c For a new benefite farre greater then the deliuerie of Israel from Aegypt d The same wordes Sing to our Lord thrise repeted signifie the Blessed Trinitie as some Fathers note Likewise v. 7. and 8. Bring ye to our Lord c. in both places concluding in the singular number blesse his name bring to his name importing one God e VVhat creatures soeuer spiritual or corporal visible or inuisible the paganes serue for goddes stil they â—e diuels that deceiue them and diuers wayes vsurpe diuine honour making such idolaters to thinke that there is diuine powre where none is f He only is true God who is Creator of heauen and of al creatures For no creature can create anie thing at al that is make anie thing of nothing but only God g Diuers ancient Doctors read more in this place Our Lord hath reigned from the wood to witte Christ by his death on the crosse conquered the diuel sinne and death and thence begane to reigne S. Iustinus Martyr dialogo aduers Triphonem Tertullian li. aduers Iudaeos c. 9. 13 aduers Marcionem li. 3 c. 19. 21. S Augustin in this place according to the old Roman Psalter Before him Arnobius and after him Cassiadorus and others wherby it is probable that it was sometimes in the Hebrew text and blotted out by the Iewes h The Psalmist in abundance of spirite inuiteth al creatures to praise God as Daniel in his Canticle c. 3. i Christ iudgeth now in the world by his ministers discerning and deciding causes rewarding and punishing but especially he wil iudge al in the last day The last iudgement the 9. key a In figure of Christ b whose bodie rose the third day after his death to whom manie returned beleuing in him after his resurrection which fel from him in his passion and to whom al thinges shal be subdued as to their true Lord in the day of iudgement c Holie Dauid and other Prophetes hauing great ioy to see long before in spirite only Christs kingdom extended in the whole earth yea to the Ilandes we Ilanders haue great cause to be gladde that God hath not only so blessed vs long since but as yet conserueth seede wherby we trust the whole Iland shal be againe restored vnto him d As in a cloud with terror God gaue his law to the Iewes so in a cloud with greater terror and maiestie he wil iudge the world e not as manie corrupted seates of iudgement in this world but as a corrected tribunal where iustice and right iudgement shal be practised :: These thinges are denounced as if they were alredy donne
our sinnes al his life l He prayed also for his resurrection and glorification m VVith al possible confusion Christs exaltation the 5. key Mat. 22. Act. 2. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 1. 10. a God the Father b To God the Sonne the Lord of Dauid and of al mankind yet the sonne of Dauid according to his humanitie c He limiteth not the time but excludeth al time wherin the enimie might imagine that Christs kingdom should cease signifying that Christ shal reigne til al his enimies be subdued much more afterwards in al eternitie d The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem on whitsunday the fiftith day from his Resurrection continueth euer more e Thou shalt haue principalitie f in the day of thy powrful conquest and rising from death g in excellencie of al holie spiritual mysteries and graces h because I God the Father of my substance begate thee God the Sonne in eternitie The same which Micheas saith c. 5. v. 2. His comingforth from the beginning from the dayes of eternitie i God most firmly and vnchangeably affirmed that thou Christ our Messias art not only a King but also a Priest Heb. 5. v. 7. k not for a time as Aaron was but for euet l neither of Aarons order but according to the Order of Melchisedec m Kinges that sometimes persecute Christans are subdued with other people to Christ n He shal iudge and punish the incredulous people o make great slanghters amongst those that resist p and bring princes with their populous kingdome to nothing q He shal in the meane time and also his best seruants suffer much tribulation in this life r and for the same â—e highly exalted in life euerlasting Christs Priesthood for euer both in function and in effect The resemblance of Christs and Melchisedecs Priesthood Graces geuen to the Church the 6. key a I wil praise God both in secret for discharge of myn owne conscience b and in publique for edification of others This Psalme in the Hebrew is composed with euerie verse and middle of verse begunning with a distinct letter in order of the Alphabet c Gods wil is the whole cause of al his workes d Euerie worke of his is praise worthie and magnifical e God hath leift one most special and beneficial memorie of al other benefites his owne bodie and bloud in memorie of his Passion and our redemption f the spiritual foode and sustinance of al the soules that rightly feare him g Of his promise to conserue his Church perpetually h the powrable operation of his death and of al his mysteries i Gods commandments do iustifie al that kepe them k He also of his mercie redemed man that he might be able to kepe his precepts l Begingning with feare of God bringeth at last by other degrees to true wisdom which two are the first and last of the seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost The meanes to be happie the 7. key a The Septuagint Interpreters added this mention of Aggeus and Zacharie returning from captiuitie to signifie that this Psalme was very proper meete to be coÌ„mended to the people at that time wherby they might lerne that their sinnes were the cause of their captiuitie and of al their miseries and if they desired temporal or spiritual prosperitie they must obserue the meanes here prescribed to obtayne the same b He that sincerly feareth God wil take great delight in keping his commandments This Psalme is also composed by the Alphaber as the next before Psal 1. c So doing he and his shal prosper d The iust shal not only prosper in this world but also in the next e God wil also comfort the iust in tribulations f That shal geue discrete and wholsome counsel to the afflicted g Workes of mercie are also called iustice because they concurre to mans iustification 2. Cor. 9â— h and to his saluation Gods prouidence the 3. key a Al Gods seruants b In respect of God al creatures are low though they be in heauen c See the example of Ioseph so aduanced d of Sara Rebecca Rachael and other wemen made fruictful The meruelous passage of Israel from Aegypt the 4. key a People of false religion counted barbarous especially such as also persecute the true Religion for otherwise the Aegyptians were both ciuil in maners and lerned in manie sciences b The people of Iewes were more notoriously renowmed in the world from the time of their deliuerie out of Aegypt for the peculiar people whom God sanctified and in whom as in his elected enheritance or dominion he dwelled and reigned c The Psalmist writing in verse doth often describe thinges in poetical maner but more truly then prophane poetes for that in very dede al creatures otherwise sensles as the sea do in a sorte feele the powre of their Creator obey his wil d VVhen the Israelites went forth of Aegypt e when they entred into Chanaan f Either there was an earthquake or some other mouing of hilles not mentioned by Moyses or els the Psalmist speaketh of the rockes of the torrentes which bowed that the Israelites might rest in Ar and lie in the borders of the Moabites Num 21 v 15 g By the figure Apostrophe he speaketh to the sea riuer and hilles vsing also Prosopopoeia as if senfles thinges vnderstood and should answer h An other miraculous benefite that the rocke yelded them water in their necessitie * Here some Hebrewe Rabbins beginne an other Psalme but by the coherence of the matter S. Augustin proueth that it iâ— but one Psalme where is shewed that the true inuisible God is knowen by such workes as are here recited and contratiwise that the GeÌ„tils idoles are not goddes because they are made of siluer gold or other matter by mens handes hauing resemblance of liuing thinges are altogether sensles i Thou didstal this ô God of mere mercie towards thy people k for thy truths sake seing thou didst promise to protect them l that the Gentiles should not take occasion to blaspheme m This is a iust prayer of the zelous conforming their desires to Gods wil But if God geue idolaters grace to amend then al the iust wil also reioice in their cenuersion n Though manie Iewes fel to idolatrie yet there alwayes remained so manie in Gods true seruice that it mighst stil be truly saide The house of Israel hath hoped in our Lord as is here auerred o This in effect al worldlie politikes say in their hartes as it were quitting their interest of heauen to God p and contenting themselues with earthlie possessions q But when such prophane men are dead they make no shew at al of praising r for parting from the earth they descend into hel and there eternally blaspheme God God â— Å¿ Contrarivvise the iust aspiring to heauen vvhich is the proper kingdom of God vsing this vvorld as they ought to do for a meanes to ascend into heauen shal
vvombe of the Catholique Church l Moreouer as a strong archer striketh deepe with his arrovves so they that patiently suffer much in this vvorld m do multiplie good vvorkes n Such shal be very happie o very easily ansvver al that can be obiected against them p in the day of Iudgement Feare of God the vvay to happines the 7. key a If such seruants of God be maried they shal ordinarily haue issue and succession in their fa 〈…〉 but especially the soules of such shal bring forth manie meritorious vvorkes b in the bâ—â—ome of the Catholique Church vvhich vvas founded in Christs side c Children also signifie good workes d Revvard in heauen for good vvorkes in earth The Church stil firme in persecution the 6. key a Israel vvhich is the Church of God reioycing saith that enimies haue often b euen from the beginning of the world persecuted me as when Cain persecuted Abel other wicked persecuted Seth Enoch Noe the Chalders persecuted Abraham the Aegyptians persecuted the Israelites and so in other generations c But they haue neuer ouercome me So the Psalmist testifieth for al times past prophecieth the same for times to come d Persecuters not being able to ouerthrow or suppresse the Church haue laide great weightie burdens of tribulations vpon her backe which she hath patiently and strongly borne e they haue stil persisted one sorte after an other but with long animitie the Church hath stood fast and constantly passed through al distresses In moral sense sinners build iniquitie vpon the back of the Church yea and vpon Gods back when they presume to sinne trusting in the end to be absolued by vertue of holie Sacraments leift in the Church Likewise when they excuse their sinnes imputing the cause to other creatures of God vvherby they are allured vvhich is in effect saith S. Augustin to accuse God and to build iniquities on Gods back vvho made those creatures f God therfore who is iust vvil at last cast such presumptuous sinners from his back and breake their stiffe neckes g then shal they be confounded h separated eternally from God become like fruitles and vvithered grasse cast avvay despised yea cursed of al and blessed by none as the Prophet denounceth in the next verses The sixth penitential Psalme the 7. key a This prayer agreeth to al true penitents crying to God for helpe being â—â— her in depth of sorovv for sinne and so it is one of the Penitential Psalmes or the depth of feruent desire to ascend tovvards perfection in vertue and from this vaile of miserie into heauen and so it is a Gradual Psalme or in the depth of temporal paines and so it is a special prayer for soules in Purgatorie offered by the Church in their behalfe b None is able to abide the rigour of Gods iustice c But al must relie vpon his mercie d For thy promises made in the law that thou wilt remitte sinnes to the penitent geue more grace to them that seeke it and mitigate also the paines due for sinnes e The hope of penitents is like to the watches of the day time from morning vntil night vvhich are more comfortable then vvatches of the night f The greatest comforth is in Christ our Redemer vvhose plentiful Redemption bringeth more abundance of grace g Christs Redemption being sufficient for al the vvorld is effectual only to true liuing members of the Catholique Church Confidence of innocencie the 7. key a Dauid by Gods special grace hauing a sincere minde tovvards al men euen tovvards his enimies and an humble hart not desiring anie thing ambiciously but al to the honour of God proposeth his ovvne example for others to imitate that they may vvith him offer the sacrifice of humilitie and innocencie vnto God from vvhom al good thinges procede b Al this vvith a thankful mind to God vvho gaue this grace c As children after they are vveaned come stil vvillingly to their mother so doth the childe of God relie vpon Gods helpe though he alvvayes feele not the same svvetnes d according to his demaneur herein he expecteth revvard e King Dauid or anie other being for his vertue aduanced and revvarded by God is a good example to moue others to do the like so shal they receiue like revvard Christs coming to restore man the 5. key a It is an vsual thing that Dauid Moyses other Prophetes speake of themselues in the third person b King Dauid desiring and so farre as lay in him promising to build a Temple to God vvith great instance prayed that he might persorme the same But God disposing othervvise that not he but his sonne should build it he neuertheles prepared the matter vvorkemen and money shevved the forme and disposed the Leuites hovv to serue therin c Moreouer by vovv depriued himself of entering into his ovvne house or taking his ordinarie rest til he might if it so pleased God knovv the place vvhere it should be built d It vvas reueled to Dauid that the Temple should be built in that part of Ierusalem vvhich looketh tovvards Bethleem othervvise called Ephrata vvhere our Sauiour vvas borne e VVithin Ierusalem vvhich is compassed vvith vvoodes In this vision also the vvhole forme of the Temple vvas reueled vnto him as he testifieth 1. Par. 28. v. 19. Al thinges quoth he came vvritten vvith the hand of our Lord vnto me that I might vnderstand al the vvorkes of the paterne f Holie Dauid moued vvith exceding deuotion repared to the place vvhere Gods Temple should be built g adored God vvhere the Propitiatorie as a footstoole representing Gods presence should stand VVhat meruel then if deuotion moue Christians to visite the holie places vvhere our Sauiour God and Man vvas Incarnare vvas borne suffered death vvas buried ascended into heauen or anie other place vvhere his feete stood h O God leauing Silo Gabaon and the like places come into thy holie Temple i VVith the Arke of couenant vvhere thou sanctifiest thy people And here againe the Prophet illuminated vvith a higher Mysterie and inflamed vvith more deuotion prayeth for Christes coming into the vvorld and that after his Passion he vvil rise not only in glorie of soule but also of bodie prefigured by the Arke of testimonie vvhich vvas in the tabernacle and after in the Temple k Grant therfore that thy Priestes vvhich must offer sacrifice in this sacred place be indued vvith vertues and good life vvorthie of their degree l and the Leuites vvho are ordained to serue there be likevvise made fitte for their diuers functions both in the old and nevv Testament m And seing thou hast geuen such meeknes deuotion zele sinceritie and other vertues making him a man according to thyne ovvne hart and therupon promised to establish his sede n differ not to send thy promised Messias Christ our Redemer o Henceforth to the end of this Psalme the Prophet relateth Gods reuelation to him That he hath truly
a. greable to mans nature and freevvil by his loue and charitie not as beastes are dravven by feare force :: To make shevv of turning to God and to trust more in men is as vayne as to thinke to fede or to gouerne the vvinde Gen. 25. 32. :: The historie of Iacob and his children written in Genesis and Exodus vvhich the prophet here toucheth sheweth the singular benefites of God tovvards this people Gen. 28. Exo. 14. a VVhen Iero boam first set vp the calues to be adored the people had horrour therof yet consented therto b and shortly after some added the idol of Baal 3 Reg. 16. c and of other idols as this place testifieth Isa 43. d Euils that happen are al of mans owne procurement by his sinnes vvherof God is no vvay the auctor or cause e vvho of his part doth al for the helpe of man for vvhether he punish or pardon al is to saue men so God is onlie cause of helpe and of al good but not of euil as it is euel he is in dede the cause of punishment vvhich is called malum paenae the euil of paine Amos. 3. v. 6. but this for amendment during this life and of iustice after death 1. Reg. â— f This can not be vnderstood of temporal death from vvhich God vvil noâ— deliuermen nor of violent death from vvhich he vvould not deliuer those that vvere slaine by the Assyrians but necessarily of eternal death from vvhich the iust shal be deliuered 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 2. Ezec. 19. a Such imprecations in holie scriptures are sometimes only predictions as Psal 68. v. 23. so here is prophecied what shal happen to the Israelites in Assyria S. Ierom. sometimes are the zelous desires of Sainctes conformable to Gods iustice as Psal 149. v. 6. 7. 8. 9. Iâ—el 2. Zach. 1. b VVhen the Israelites shal conuert to God as some did vvhen Christ came and manie wil nere the end of the vvorld then Christ wil heale theÌ„ c No humane vvitte is able to vnderstand this and other prophetes yet the iust shal know so much as is necessarie S. Ierom. in prooem S. Aug. li. 18. c. 28. ciuit S. Epiph. de vita Patriarâ— Ioel prophecied the same time vvith Osee Especially to the two tribes S. Iero. Epist ad Paulin. The contents :: Prophecies perteyne not only to those that then liue when they are vttered but also to al poste ritie euen to the end of the vvorld that it may appeare vvhat is fulfilled and vvhat yet resteth to come in due time :: VVhen Ierusalem vvas taken and the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians the sacrifice necessarily ceased according to this and other prophecies :: Fasting praying and other good vvorkes of manie assembling together are an especial meanes to appeaze Gods vvrath prouoked by former sinnes The captiuitie described by the harme of most noysome thinges Ierusalem foure times spoyled by the Babylonians Dan. I. 1. 2. 3. 4. VVhy vve make not more Annotations a Prophets do often speake in such phrase as if they admonished the people vvhat to doe vvhen in dede they foreshevv what they wil do in their distresses b In the time when God wil suffer affliction to fal vpon them for their sinnes * take no harme Isa 13. Ezec. 32. Mat. 24. Iere. 30. Amos. 5. Sopho. 1. c For better mouing the hart to true repentance d God requireth these external workes of penance And where the same are wanting at least in vvil it is a manifest signe that the hart is not truly penitent S. Ierom. â— Psal 85. e Zele is an indignation rising of loue vvhen one seeth anie person or thing vvhich he loueth contemned or vvronged So God hath zele for his people when they are vniustly afflicted more of the malice of their afflicters then for iustice Yet God suffereth often times his people to be punished for their ful correction and for their more merite f So that vvhich God here promiseth by his prophet touching his protection and deliuerie of his people was not fulfilled til after the seuentie yeares of their captiuitie nor then fully but is verified in those that beleue in Christ And especially after this life vvhen his glorious Saincts shal liue in eternal ioy g That this is a plaine prophecie of the mission of the Holie Ghost performed on VVhitsunday the fiftith day after Christs Resurrection and the tenth after his Ascension S. Peter teacheth Act. 2. Isa 44. Act. 2. Rom. 1â— a S Ierom and most other expositers vnder stand this chapter of the general Iudgement though some expound it of the relaxation of the Ievves from captiuitie and of the punishment of their enimies b And so Iosaphat is literally vnderstood the place on the east side of Ierusalem betwen the Temple and mount Oliuet whence our Sauiour ascended into heauen Neither is there anie reason why the Iudgement should rather be in an other place seing this is expressed by name signifying The Iudgement of our Lord. Apoc. 14. c This duplication of the vvord peoples importeth an innumerable multitude in that valley of concision also repeted to signifie that there al Gods enimies shal be vtterly damned to eternal destruction as it vvere cut in peeces as fuel to the fire of hel Psal 128. v. 4. Our iust Lord vvil cut the neckes of sinners Iere. 21. Amos. 1. Amos. 9. Amos prophecied the same time vvith see and Ioâ—l S. Ierom â—â—â—â—â— ad â—â—â—â—â— Especially Against the tenne tribes a As Dauid was called from keping shepe made a king a Prophet so Amos being a shepheard oâ— hearde man was also made a Prophet b Iosephus li. 9. c. 1. Antiq. sayeth this earthquake happened when king Onias presumed to offer incense but it must nedes be vnderstood of a former in the dayes of Ieroboam v. 1. who died in the 38. yeare of Oâ—ias â— Par. 26. at least 14. yeares before his deposition for he reigned in al. 52 Iâ—el 3. Zach. â—4 c Three signifie the multitude of their sinnes for three is the first number that is called manie or may be called al. d and foure signifie excesse in multitude so that albeit God doth forgeue a multitude of sinnes yet at last for so great excesse he hasteneth their punishment * The god of the Ammonites a Besides other sinnes of the Moabites their crueltie in dravving the bones of the king of Idumea out of the graue as S. Ierom testifieth by tradition and their king immolating his ovvne sonne 4. Reg. 3. exceeded the rest and therfore vvere at last more seuerely punished b The most heynous sinne in Iuda vvas that hauing the lavv to instruct them they contemned and transgressed it c Israel much more contemned the same lavv of God committed the sinnes of al nations d Sonnes committed incest vvith their fathers vviues the fathers vvith their daughters in lavv vvhich most detestable sinnes must nedes be seuerly punished * puellam Num. 21. Deut. 2.
high priest but an vsurper nor that he liued after Iudas vvho vvas slaine a yeare before this time v. 3 18. VVherby and by manie other such errors vve see that Iosephus is rather to be corrected by this booke then to disalovv this booke because it differeth from Iosephus or other like auctors :: Euil counsel hovv soeuer it happeneth to them that folovv it is euer hurtful to them that geue it :: He falsely auovvched that he vvas the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes for he was in dede of very meane birth Iustinus li. 35. :: It vvas not in the kinges povvre to make Ionathaâ— high priest but he being so before the â—ing from this time did so account him :: This king Demetrius to gette his desired purpose sticked not to vvrite a plainelye for he had heard that the Ievves had refused him and made league vvith his enimie Alexander v 22 23. :: Notwithstanding the great offers of euil disposed men Ionathas and al prudent men considering their former vvicked dedes do not geue credite to glorious vvordes ch 7. v. 11. :: This Ptolomeus Philometor decided a controuersie that the Iewes had the true temple in Ierusalem and that the Samaritanes temple in Garizim vvas schismatical vvhich he iudged because albeit both pleaded antiquitie yet only the Iewes proued by continual succession of high priestes from Aaron and shewed that the other departed from them first in the time of Ieroboam and aftervvardes built that temple in Garizim vvhen some were returned from captiuitie vvherof Iosephus vvriteth li. 13. c. 6. Antiquit Our Sauiour also iudged that the cause of the Ievves vvas better Ioan. 4. v. 22. :: VVhen caluminators see that the innocent is iustified and honored they faile in their hart to procede against him :: Ionathas set his armie in that maner as on euerie side his men stood in front readie to resist the force of the enemie coming towards them al their backes so turned vvithin their ovvne squadron that the enemie could no vvay enter without present resistance and so those of the embushment could only cast dartes but could not breake the aray of Ionathas campe not make anie entrance with out their owne present death :: By this hyperbolical description very frequent in holie scripture is signified that Ptolomeus armie vvas exceding great yea greater then can be easily conceiued therfore is described by excessiue termes :: VVhen pastors endeuour to extirpate siâ—ne out of the mindes of the people those that hate godlines suggest to temporal princes that such spiritual preaching is dangerous to their state :: But zelous men cease not from so necessarie a worke because Gods vvord is not â—yed 2. Tim. 2. :: And vvise kinges vvil most esteme of such men knovving that their fidelitie tovvards God is an assurance that they vvil also be faithful to princes :: The king had before adioyned principal places to Iudea vvhich were called â—opaâ—chiâ— that is places of principalitie or principal gouernments novv he granted also immunities to them as to al Iudea and Samaria :: Three thousand faithful encoâ—â—â—â—ing vvith an hundred twentie thousand infidels killed of them in one day an hundred thousand :: As to vveare purple and to bare a crowne so to drinke in gold cuppes and to vveare a gold cheyne vvas proper to kinges and to vvhom they gaue license :: It is an ancient ceremonie in al uations often mentioned in these bookes to confirme peace by geuing ech other the right hand :: Only tvvo captaines remained and vvith them some souldiars as Iosephus vvriteth about 50 for it is not to be thought that Ionathas vvould haue returned to battel v 72. being but three men in al to beginne a new assault :: Sparta the chief citie of Lacedemonia called also Lacedemon and Theramne :: Spartians otherwise called Lacedemonians by Iosephus and other vvriters descended from Abraham v. 21. and vvere in great league vvith the Ievves :: The Spartianes had written this epistle before Onias vvritte to theÌ„ though it be here placed after :: There remained vvith the Spartiates old vvrites of genealogies as Iosephus supposeth li. 12. c. 5. li. 13. c. 9. :: Morally in Tryphon is noted the practise of the diuel vvho intending to ouerthrovv a king or a kingdom first seeketh to deceiue the pastores and to destroy them especially by error or other sinne For as S. Gregorie teacheth ho. 38. if the pastors life be corrupted his doctrine vvil be contemned :: Simon the fourth general captaine of the Machabees high-priest excelled his bretheren in vvisdome by the restimonie of his father c. 2. v 65. :: He vndertooke by al his endeuour to defend and deliuer his nation from danger and to restore their former libertie :: Simon being vvise choise the lesse euil and lesse danger For if he had not sent that vvas demanded it was very like and almost cettaine that Ionathas should be slaine and it vvould haue bene imputed to Simon that he had not taken iust care of his brothers life vvherby the people vvould haue bene alienated from him and perhaps haue reuolted from him and also from religion S. Tho. in hunc locum :: This vvas not vaine glory but true glorie to kepe memorie of so great vertue therby to stur vp others to imitation He that loueth honour saith S. Augustin li. cont Secundin c. 17. imitateth God But humble soules desire houour in God proud men vvil be honoured more then God or vvithout God O hovv manie Epitaphes are of vvicked men nothing els but perpetual monuments of their ambition vanitie iniustice crucltie other vices but those that are of true vertues are to Gods more honour the auctor of al vertues * a precious chaine :: By hovv much more that mercie is admixed vvith iustice so that iustice be not destroyed and that religion be aduanced the better it pleaseth God and edifieth the vvel disposed :: This Iohn Hyreanus defended the countrie against inuaders ch 16. :: Simon had novv gouerned the people two yeares beginning with great difficulties but hence forth enioyed peace til Antiochus Sedetes brake the league inuaded Iurie ch 15. v. 27. 39. :: He reduced manie Ievves from captiuitie :: Sparta being the chief citie of Lacedemonia had manie cities subiect depending as vpon their Metropolitane :: Vvhen peace was estabished in al Iurie and friendshippe confirmed vvith the Romanes Lacedemonians the vvhole nation of the Ievves in gratitude tovvards Simon vvho onlie novv remained of Mathathias sonnes confirmed him in the office of high-priest perpetually or for euer v. 41 that is during his life to his progenie v. 49 :: The hieghpriesthood continevved in this familie of the Machabees vntil Herod tooke it from them selling it for money and then shortly came Christ the faith ful Prophet :: This Antiochus Sedetes sonne of Demetrius Soter vvas brother to Demetrius the second who was now captiue in Per â—â—a ch 14.
a child to be corrected vnto amendment but as an enemie was suffered to be indurate For of them whom Gods mercie suffereth not to be indurate it is written God scourgeth euerie child vvhom he receiueth And in an other place VVhom I loue I correct and chastise Againe VVhom God loueth he chastiseth Let no man therfore with Paganes and Manichees presume to reprehend or blame Gods iustice but certainly beleue that not Gods violence made Pharao indurate but his owne wickednes and his vntamed pride against Gods precepts Againe what els is it to say I vvil indurate his hart but when my grace is absent from him his owne wickednes wil obdurate him To know this by examples water is congeled with vehement cold but the heate of the sunne coming vpon it is resolued and the sunne departing it freezeth againe In like maner by the lasines of sinners charitie waâ—eth cold they are hardned as yse but when the heate of Gods mercie commeth vpon them they are againe soâ—tned So Pharao without pittie or compassion afflicting the Hebrewes became as hard as yse but Gods hand touching him with afflictions he made humble supplication that Moyses and Aaron would pray to God for him promising what they demanded againe when the plagues were remoued he was more indurate against God and his people then before VVherby we see Gods gentlenes indulgence and sparing of Pharao not his â—igour nor his wil or set purpose but his permission and Pharaoes owne wilful malice hardned his hart and brought him to obstinate contempt of Gods coÌ„mandments And therfore God did only indurate him in that coÌ„mon phrase of speaking as a father or a maister hauing brought vp his child or seruant delicatly and not sufficiently punished his frequent faultes wherby he becometh worse and worse desperate and obdurate at last the father or maister saieth I haue made thee thus bad as thou art I by sparing thee and suffering thee to haue thine owne pleasure haue nourished thy peruersnes and carelesnes yet he saieth not this as though by his wil and intention but by his goodnes and gentlenes the man became so wicked It may here be demanded againe why did not our Lord so mercifully punish Pharao as wholy to reclame him for it semeth that had benne greatest mercie and God dealeth so with some why doth he not with al that al might be saued First it is most iustly and rightly ascribed to their iniquitie which deserue to be indurate againe why this sinner is reclaimed and not an other of the same il deserts is to be referred to Gods inscrutable iudgements which are often secrete neuer vniust Let it therfore suffice piously and humbly to beleue that as Moyses testifieth God is faithful and vvithout anie iniquitie iust and right and as the royal Prophet also professeth Thou art not a God that vvâ—â—â— iniquitie and as the Apostle teacheth there is no iniquitie vvith God By al which and some more to the same effect which we omit S. Augustin concludeth againe that properly Pharao hardened his owne hart God only by bestowing benefites vpon him which he abused and not plaguing him so much as he deserued but letting him liue and reigne and persecute the Church for the time vntil he and al his armie were in the middes of the sea VVhither as the same lerned father noteth ser 89. their owne desperate boldnes drew them vaine furie through their owne madnes prouoking them to goe so farre where God not working but only ceasing to continew his miracle the waters returning to their owne nature and meeting together inuolued and drowned them al. Other like expositions the same lerned father hath in other places As q. 18. super Exodum he teacheth that Pharao being already so wicked through his owne fault other things were done to him and his people which partly were to the correction of others and might haue bene to his but he abusing al became worse worse by Gods suffering and dispensation not only for his 〈◊〉 but euidently iust punishment Li. 5. cont Iulian c. 3. touching the ground of tentation he alleageth the Apostle saying Euerie one is tempted of his ovvne concupiscence abstracted and allured but touching one kind of Gods punishing some that are ouerwhelmed in obstinate sinnes he alleageth the saying of an other Aopstle God hath deliuered them into passions of ignominie and into a reprobate â—â—nâ—e to do those things that are not conuenient for God deliuereth them saith he conveniently that the same sinnes are made both punishments of sinnes past and are deserts of punishments to come Yet he maketh not the willes euil but vseth the euil as he wil who can not wil anie thing vniuâ—â—ly Againe q. 24. It appeareth saith he that the causes of induration of Pharaoes hart were not only for that his Inchanters did like things to those which Moyses and Aaron did but the very patience of God by which he spared him Gods patience according to mens hartes is profitable to some to repentance to some vnprofitable to resist God persist in euil yet not of it selfe vnprofitable but through the euil hart Briefly q 36. I haue harned Pharaoes hart that is I haue bene patient ouer him and his seruants Epist 105. God doth not indurate by imperting malice but by not imperting mercie or grace Li de Proedâ—st Grat. c 4. God is sayed to indurate him whom he wil not mollisie So to make him blinde whom he wil not illuminate So also to repel him whom he wil not cal And â— 6 what is that to say I vvil indurate his hart but I wil not mollifie it cap 14. It ought to haue auailed Pharao to saluation that Gods patience deâ—erring his iust and deserued punishment multiplied vpon him frequent stripes of miracles or miraculous punishmeÌ„ts Cap 15. Did not Nabucodonosor repent being punished after innumerable impieties and recouered the kingdome which he had lost But Pharao by punishment became more obdurate and perished Both were men both Kings both persecutors of Gods people both gently admonished by punishments VVhat then made their endes diuers but that the one feeling Gods hand mourned in remembrance of his owne iniquitie the other by his freewil fought against Gods most merciful veritie Neither is this the doctrin of S. Augustin alone but of other Doctors also Origen li. 3. Periarch c. de Libert arbitrij saieth the Scripture sheweth manifestly that Pharao was indurate by his owne wil. For so God saied to him Thou vvouldest not If thou vvilt not dismisse Israel S. Basil Orat. quod Deus non sit auctor malorum saieth God beginning with lesse scourges proceeded with greater and greater to plague Pharao but did not mollifie him being obstinate neither yet did punish him with death vntil he drowned himselfe when he presumed through pride to passe the same way by which the iust went
supposing the redde sea would be passable to him as it was to the people of God S Chrysostom ho. 67. in Ioan. God is saied in holie Scripture to haue indurate some and deliuered some into reprobate sense not for that these things are done by God coming in dede of mans owne proper malice but because God iustly leauing men these things happen to them And in cap. 1. Rom. He deliuered into reprobate sense is nothing els but he permitted S. Damascen li. 4. ca. 20. de fide orthodoxa It is the maner of holie Scripture to cal the permission of God his act As He hath geuen them the spirite of comâ—unction eyes that they may not see and eares that they may not heare and the like al which are to be vnderstood not as proceding of Gods action but as of Gods permission to wit for mans free power of working S. Hierom Epist 150. resp ad q. 10. Not Gods patience is to be accused but their hardnes who abuse Gods goodnes to their owne perdition Theodoret. q. 17 in Exod. It is to be noted that if Pharao had bene euil by nature he had neuer changed his minde And after diuers mutations recited how sometimes he would dismisse Israel other times be would not al these saith he Moyses recorded to teach vs that neither Pharao was of peruerse nature neither did our Lord God make his mind hard and rebellious For he that now inclineth to this part now to that plainly sheweth freewil of the mind S. Gregorie li. 11. ca. 8. Moral God is saied to indurate by his iustice when he doth not mollifie a reprobate hart And li. 31. c. 11. Our Lord is saied to haue indurated Pharaoes hart not that he brought the hardnes itselfe but for that his desertes so requiring he did not mollifie it with sensibilitie of feare infused from aboue S. Isidorus li. 2. ca. 19. de summo bono Sinne is permitted for punishment of sinne when a sinner for his desert forsaken of God goeth into an other worse sinne Finally conference of holie Scriptures as in other hard places so in this geueth light for better vnderstanding therof For diuers places do not only shew that in al these resistances mutations of mind and obstinacie of hart Pharao was neuer depriued of freewil as the Doctors before cited do note but also expressly attribute the act of induration to himself Cha 8. v. 15. Pharao seeing that rest vvas geuen he hardned his ovvne hart v. 32. where the latin readeth in the passiue voice ingrauatum est cor Pharaonâ—â— Pharaos hart vvas hardned which is more obscure the Hebrew saieth actiuely the protestantes so translate Pharao hardned his hart this time also Likewise cha 9. v. 7. the Hebrew saieth Pharaoes hart hardned it selfe Also v. 35. He hardned his ovvne hart he and his seruants Cha. 13. v. 15. VVhen Pharao had indurated himselfe And 1. Reg 6. v. 6. VVhy do you harden your hartes as Aegypt and Pharao hardned their hart Al which are reconciled with the other textes that say God indurated Pharaoes hart vnderstanding that phrase in like sense to this cha 15. v 4. God hath cast Pharao his chariotes and his armie into the sea VVhere God only permitted and no way forced Pharao and his armie to follow the Hebrewes betwen the walles of water As before is here noted out of S. Basil and S. Augustin and the text it selfe maketh it euident Againe manie other places confirme that not God but the sinners owne wilfulnes is the proper cause of his sinne Iob. 24. v. 23 God hath geuen him place for penance and he abuseth it vnto pride Eccle. 8. v. 11. Because sentence is not quickly pronounced against the euil the children of men coÌ„mit euils without al feare Osee 13 v. 9. Perdition is thine o Israel only in me thy helpe Rom. 2. v. 4. The benignitie of God bringeth thee to penance but according to thy hardnes and impenitent hart thou heapest to thy selfe wrath Ephes 4. v. 19. Gentiles haue geuen vp themselues to impudicitie or vvantonnes And manie like places shew that God is not the mouer author nor forcer of anie thing as it is sinne but man him selfe is the author by wilfully consenting to tentations of the diuel the flesh and the world and by abusing Gods benefites and resisting his grace 11. They also True miracles being aboue the course of al created nature can not be wrought but by the powre of God who is truth it selfe and can not geue testimonie to vntruth and therfore they certainly proue that to be true for which they are done Other strange things done by enchanters false prophetes and diuels are not in deede true miracles but either sleights by quicknes and nimblenes of hand called legier-demain conueing one thing away and bringing an other or false presentations deceiuing the senses and imaginations of men by making things seme to be that they are not or els are wrought by applying natural causes knowen to some especially to diuels who also by their natural force can do great thinges when God permitteth them And so by enchantments and certaine secrecies these sorcerers either conueyed away the roddes and water and brought dragons and bloud in their place more frogges from other places or els by the diuels vsing natural agents turned roddes into serpentes water into bloud other matter into frogges al which might be done naturally in longer time by the diuel in short time But manie thinges are wholy aboue the diuels powre as to destroy the world to change the general order therof to create of nothing to raise the dead to life to geue sight to the borne blind the like which are only in Gods powre In things also diuels naturally can do they are much restrayned by Gods goodnes lest they should deceiue or hurt mankind at their pleasure So these Enchanters fayled in the fourth attempt not able to make more sciniphes nor anie more such prodiges and were only permitted to produce such serpents as were deuoured by Aarons serpent and to change water into bloud and to increase the number of frogges for the greater plague and no profite of the Aegyptians Neither could they remoue anie plague Nay themselues were so plagued with boyles that for paine or for shame they could not stand before Moyses It is further to be obserued that whensoeuer anie haue attempted to worke miracles to proue false doctrin they haue failed and by Gods prouidence bene confounded As when Baals false prophetes crying to their false goddes from morning til noone could not bring fire for their sacrifice and yet the diuel brought fire to burne Iobs shepe and seruants God permitting the one and not the other God also for a time suffered Simon Magus to make shew of miracles and at last as Egesippus li. 3. de excid Hierosol c. 2.
desire nor anie of the rest is in a mans owne powre as of himself so much as to thinke a good thought but Gods grace preuenteth sturreth men vp and continually assisteth in al good beginninges progresse and perseuerance as the same diuine auctor teacheth a litle before v. 14. wisdom preuenteth them that couete her that she first may shew herself vnto them Then to admitte or refuse is in their powre that haue good motions And therfore sinne is rightly imputed and damnation iustly inflicted vpon the wicked because as Nehemias 2. Esd 9. v. 17. testifieth of the vngratful people they would not heare And they hardened their neckes and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude as it were by contention or striuing against God through their owne free wil which appeareth here to remaine in sinners On the other side the same Nehemias in confidence of reward for good workes and of his voluntarie cooperating with Gods grace feared not to pray 2. Esd 5. v. 19 in these wordes Remember me my God to good according to al thinges which I haue done to this people Some men moreouer besides the commandments of the law voluntarily professed a peculiar state of holie life a plaine figure or rather an example of Euangelical counsels As in the former ages the Nazerites whose rule is prescribed Numeri 6. practised by Sampson Iudic. 13. and Samuel 1. Reg. 1. and the Rechabites Iere. 35. so in this last age next before Christ the Assideans or Esseni 1. Mach. 2. v. 42. of whom Iudas Machabeus in his time was head or captaine 2. Mach. 14. v. 6. Ieremie the prophet ch 16. v. 2. by Gods ordinance liued single vnmaried al the time of the captiuitie Thou shalt not take a wife and thou shalt not haue sonnes and daughters in this place to witte in Ierusalem Neither did he marie when he was afterwardes in Aegypt But of his owne accord remayned a virgin al his life as S. Ierom writeth li 1. aduers Iouinianum Prayers of Sainctes after they are departed from this world is wanifestly deduced of the sacred text lere 15. v. 1. of Moyses and Samuel not to be heard if they should pray for the people whom God had decreed to punish were consequently to be heard in some other case And more expresly 2. Mach. 15. v. 12. 14. is recorded that Onias and Ieremie did pray for al the people and for al the holie citie Reuerent estimation of Reliques and other holie thinges is manifest by the fact of the same Prophet Ieremie who by Gods ordinance 2. Mach. 2. v. 1. 5. hid the holie fire and the Tabernacle and the Arke the Altar of incense in a caue that they should not be prophaned by infidels ransaking Ierusalem and the temple Other holie ornaments also and vesseles were restored by the fauorable king Cyrus 1. Esd 1. v. 7. ch 8. v. 30. In figure also of the holie Crosse on which Christ was to redeme mankind those that mourned for the abominations in Ierusalem Ezec. 9. vvere signed in their foreheades vvith the letter Thau or T. and so were saued from the common slaughter of the vnsigned Prayer and Sacrifice for the dead is likewise clere 2. Mach. 12. v. 43. c. if either the text may be admitted for Canonical saying v. 46. It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead or for good testimonie of Iudas fact being Highpriest and doing that which the whole Church practised and which the Iewes yet obserue to this day Of the General Resurrection is good testimnie in the same place v. 43. and 44. as the ground of Iudas his pietie towardos the dead wel and religiously thincking of the Resurrection For vnles he hoped that they which were slaine should rise againe it should seme superfluous and vaine to pray for the dead But seing he did beleue the Resurrection he did right wel and piously And seing the beleefe of resurrection is true it foloweth as this auctor inferreth that it is a holie thing to pray for the dead Malachie the last of the Prophetes in the last chapter foresheweth and describeth the General iudgement in the end of this world wherin the wicked hal be condemned and the iust eternally rewarded Which day shal come sayth he kindled as a surnace Al that do impietie dying in that state shal be stubble and that day shal in flame them And there shal rise to you that feare my name the Sunne of iustice and health in his winges or glorious beames healing and curing al body lie infirmities and defectes Before which day he foretelleth of two signes v. 5. The coming of Elias the Prophet and. v. 6. the conuersion of the Iewes to Christ And thus much may here suffice for particular pointes of religion in this age It resteth to view the state and gouernment of the Church in this time Which may be considered according to the foure Monarchies of heathen nations the Chaldees the Medes Persians the Grecians and the Romanes Vnder the Chaldees whose Emperial citie was Babylon they were in captiuitie seuentie yeares By the Medes and Persians for that Monarchie consisted of those two nations they were released from captiuitie with manie fauoures yet sometimes afflicted Vnder the Monarchie of the Grecians they were partly in extreme persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes and of other Grecian kinges and princes partly in warres for defence of Gods lawes Before and after which persecution and warres as wel vnder the Grecians as the Romans til Christs Passion the Church was for most part in peace yet some times afflicted But omitting manie intricate diffiâ—uliies about the times and reignes of sundrie heathen kinges it wil suffice our purpose to shew the general state of the Iewish nation with their owne particular gouerners spiritual and temporal with more or lesse fauour of forreine Princes First therfore concerning their estate in their captiuitie in Babylon we may here obserue Gods prouidence in that before the citie and temple of Ierusalem were destroyed and the whole nation made captiue Ioachin otherwise called Iechonias the sonne of Ioachaz who was also called Iechonias king of Iuda was transported into Babylon and his mother and manie other principal persons 4. Reg. 24. v. 15. Likewise Iosedech sonne of Saraias highpriest 1. Paral. 6. v. 15. was caried into Babylon And in the meane time Sedecias vncle to Ioachin reigned in Iuda who in the eleuenth yeare was taken and caried captiue into Babylon and there died Ioachin yet liuing in prison And Saraias the Highpriest with others was slayne in Rebla when Ierusalem was destroyed 4. Reg. 25. v. 18. 21. To whom Iosedech succeded in the highpriesthood So that both the issue of Dauid in the right line of our Sauiours genealogie and the Highpriest of Aarons stocke were in Babylon before the whole bodie of the nation was brought thither
This Iechonias or Ioachin remained in prison til the death of Nabuchodonosor the space of thirtie seuen yeares and was then deliuered by Euilmerodach and by him entertayned courteously as a prince 4. Reg. 25. v. 27. He maried there and had issue Salathiel and Salathiel hâ—d Zorobabel Who together with Iosue sonne of Iosedech highpriest Esdras Nehemias others recited 1. Esd 2. conducted the children of Israel from Babylon into their countrie There were also in a former transmigration Daniel and the other three children Ananias Misael Azarias of the royal or principal bloud in the third yeare of Ioakim otherwise called Eliacim sonne of Iosias 4. Reg. 23. v. 34 king of Iuda Dan. 1. v. 1. 6. These with others were caried â—s hostages into Babylon and brought vp more liberally Where seruing God sincerely abstayning from vnlawful meates were protected by God much also estemed and promoted in that place For Daniel about the age of twelue yeares conuinced the two wicked Iudges and deliuered Susanna from their cruel handes Dan. 13. And afterwardes for declaring and interpreting the kings dreame Dan. 2. and excellent wisdom and gift of prophecie was admired by al aduanced by the king but maligned by certaine enuious sorcerers and great men Wherby he was sometimes in great danger but stil deliuered by Gods powre protecting him Dan. 6. 14. The other three children were likewise aduanced Dan. 2. v. 49. and therfore by diuers enuied and for refusing to adore an idol set vp by Nabuchodonosor were cast into a hote burning furnace and there preserued Dan. 3. Ieremie who before this time begane to prophecie whiles he was a childe Iere. 1. continued in the time of captiuitie in Ierusalem and Iurie with much affliction and stil prophecying finally dyed in Aegypt Baruch his scribe and also a Prophete went sometimes into Babylon and returned into Iurie Baruch 1. instructing and exhorting the people Ezechiel was caried with king Iechonias and Iosedech into Babylon and there prophecied ch 1. v. 2. part of the same time with Daniel in great part the same thinges with Ieremie And during the captiuitie king Iechonias Iosedech the highpriest Ieremie Baruch Ezechiel prophetes innumerable others some Martyres and manie Confessors parted from this world But Daniel yet liued And in place of Iosedech Highpriest Iosue succeded and the progenie of king Iechonias continuing in Salathiel and Zorobabel the nation â—ad them and other eminent men with temporal dependence vpon forreine princes in the next Monarchie of the Medes and Persians For when Darius king of Medes had slaine Baâ—â—azar king of the Chaldees and so possessed Babylon with the whole countrie he brought the Monarchie to the Medes Persians Dan. 5. v. 31. and within the space of one yeare he dyed and Cyrus succeding granted leaue to al the Iewes to returne into Iurie and there to build vp their temple and citie of Ierusalem which Nabuchodonosor had destroyed At which time Daniel had his vision that Christ our Sauiour should come into the world within seuentie weekes of seuen yeares to the weke that is in foure hundred ninetie yeares after the perfect finishing of the temple and citie Dan. 9. v. 24. 25. But when they were so built againe that the wekes beganne to be counted is very obscure as it was the wil of God that the prophecie being certayne in itself should not be ouer clere to euerie mans vnderstanding but as likewise manie other prophecies shut and sealed Dan. 12. v. 6. 9. 13. In this time of the Medes and Persians Monarchie Mardocheus remayning in Chaldea after the relaxation had that vision in a dreame Esther 11. after which folowed the historie of him Quene Esther and wicked Aman with the danger and deliuerie of al the Iewes in those partes Some thinke it likewise probable that the historie of Iudith happened after the captiuitie though others suppose that it was in the time of Manasses king of Iuda which not being our purpose to discusse and decide we wil passe to thinges more certayne The prophetes Aggeus Zachatias nere twentie yeares after the relaxation earnestly exhorted the princes people to build vp the temple which had bene begunne and now was neglected vpon vaine feare thincking the time was not yet come of building the house of our Lord. Aggeus 1. v. 2. Wherupon the prophet reproueth them expostulating thus Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house of our Lord desert And assureth them v. 10. that their ground should remaine barren and ch 2. v. 15. their sacrifices vngratful til they should build the temple promising moreouer that this new temple should be more glorious by Christs personal presence therin then the former temple built by Salomon But especially the Church of Christ presigured by the temple should farre excel the Synagoge of the old testament ch 2. v. 10. Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first Which Zacharie confirmeth inuiting the Gentiles to come and the Iewes to returne into Christs Church ch 2. v. 6. O flee out of the land of the North sayth our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you v. 7. O Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And by diuers other visions and prophecies they forshew the conuersion of the Gentiles and reiection of the Iewes for their obduration but in the end they also shal be conuerted Malachie prophecied after the finishing of the temple exhorting al to offer their sacrifices with puritie of hart reprehending both priestes and people for not so doing ch 1. He also foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles with the change of the old sacrifices and institution of a new farre more excellent and more effectual to be offered euerie where v. 10. 11. He concludeth his prophecie ch 4. foretelling the terrible day of Iudgement and life or death euerlasting These later prophetes yet liuing as Iosephus Eusehius Theodoretus and others testifie in their histories the Grecians obtained so great a Monarchie by king Alexander the Great of Macedo that being parted after his death amongst manie yet al were great kingdomes some longer some shorter time In the beginning wherof when king Alexander came to Ierusalem as Iosephus writeth li. 11. c. 8. Antiquit. Iaddus the highpriest going forth in his pontifical attyre to mete him the same king straightwayes fel downe at his feete with al reuerence And being demanded by his freindes the princes of his armie why he so much honored the highpriest he answered that he honored noâ— the man for himself but for his office and God in him who had appeared to him in slepe in that very habite and ornaments when he in Macedonia discoursed in his minde of making battel against the Persians promising him assured victorie Shortly