cleansing and hauing washed his clothes and al his bodie in liuing water he shal be cleane †And the eight day he shal take two turtles or two yong pigeons and he shal come into the sight of our Lord to the dore fo the tabernacle of testimonie and shal geue them to the priest †who shal make one for sinne and the other for an holocaust and he shal pray for him before our Lord that he may be cleansed of the fluxe of his seede †The man from whom issueth the seede of copulation shal wash with water al his bodie and he shal be vncleane vntil euen †The garment and skinne that he weareth he shal wash with water and it shal be vncleane vntil euen †The woman with whom he compaineth shal be washed with water and shal be vncleane vntil euen †The woman that monthly hath the fluxe of bloud shal be separated seuen daies †Euerie one that toucheth her shal be vncleane vntil euen †and that whereon she sleepeth or sittteh in the daies of her separation shal be polluted †He that toucheth her bedde shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be vncleane vntil euen †Whosoeuer shal touch any vessel wherupon she sitteth he shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be polluted vntil euen †If a man companie with her in the time of her menstrual bloud he shal be vncleane seuen daies and euerie bedde wheron he sleepeth shal be polluted †The woman that hath a fluxe of bloud many daies not in her menstrual time or that ceaseth not to haue a fluxe after the menstrual bloud as long as she is subiect to this disease she shal be vncleane as if she were in her menstrual time †Euerie bedde whereupon she sleepeth and vessel wheron she sitteth shal be polluted †Whosoeuer toucheth them shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be vncleane vntil euen †If the bloud stay and cease to runne she shal count the seuen daies of her purification †and the eight day she shal offer for her selfe to the priest two turtles or two young pigeons at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie †who shal make one for sinne and the other for an holocaust and he shal pray for her before our Lord and for the sluxe of her vncleannesse †You shal teach therefore the children of Israel that they take heede of vncleannesse and die not in their filthinesse when they shal pollute my tabernacle that is among them †This is the law of him that hath the fluxe of sede and that is polluted by copulation †and the woman that is separated in her menstrual times or that hath a continual fluxe of bloud and of the man that sleepeth with her CHAP. XVI VVhen and how the high Priest must enter into the Sanctuarie 14. How he shal expiate or reconcile the same 16. and the Tabernacle 18. and the Altar 20. How he shal offer a â—â—ue goate and send him into the wildernes 29. And al must celebrate the feast of expiation or clensing from sinnes AND our Lord spake to Moyses after the death of the two sonnes of Aaron when they were slaine offering strange fire †and he commanded him saying Speake to Aaron thy brother that he enter not at al times into the Sanctuarie that is within the veile before the propitiatorie wherwith the arke is couered lest he die for in a cloude wil I appeare ouer the oracle †vnlesse he doe these thinges before He shal offer a calfe for sinne and a ramme for an holocaust †He shal be reuested with a linnen tunike he shal hide his priuities with linnen femoralles he shal be girded with a linnen girdle a linnen mitre shal he put vpon his head for these are holie vestmentes withal which when he is washed he shal be reuested †And he shal receiue of the whole multitude of the children of Israel two bucke goates for sinne and one ramme for an holocaust †And when he hath offered the calfe and praied for him self and for his owne house †he shal make the two bucke goates to stand before the Lord in the dore of the tabernacle of testimostimonie †and casting lottes vpon both one for the Lord an other for the goate of dismission †that whose lotte fel to the Lord he shal offer for sinne †but that whose lotte was to be the goate of dismission he shal set aliue before the Lord that he may poure out prayers vpon him and dismisse him into the wildernesse †After that these thinges be Ì„BCH 143-476 duly celebtated he shal offer the calfe and praying for him self and for his house he shal immolate it †and taking the thurible which he hath filled of the burning coales of the altar and taking vp with his hand of the compounded persume for incense he shal goe in beyond the veile into the Holie place †that when the incense is put vpon the fire the cloude therof and the vapour may couer the oracle which is ouer the testimonie and he die not †He shal take also of the bloud of the calfe and sprinckle with his finger seuen times against the propitiatorie to the east †And when he hath killed the bucke goate for the sinne of the people he shal carie in the bloud therof within the veile as hath bene commanded of the bloud of the calfe that he may sprinckle it against the oracle †and expiate the Sanctuarie from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel and from their preuarications and al their sinnes According to this rite shal he doe to the tabernacle of testimonie which is fixed among them in the middest of the filth of their habitation †Let no man be in the tabernacle when the high priest goeth into the Sanctuarie to pray for him self and for his house for the whole assemblie of Israel vntil he come forth †And when he is come forth to the altar that is before the Lord let him pray for him self and taking the bloud of the calfe and of the bucke goate let him poure it vpon the hornes therof round about †and sprinckling with his finger seuen times let him expiate and sanctifie it from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel †After he hath clensed the Sanctuarie and the tabernacle and the altar then let him offer the liue goate †and putting both handes vpon his head let him confesse al the iniquiries of the children of Israel and al their offences and sinnes which praying to light on his head he shal send him forth by a man ready therto into the desert †And when the goat hath caried al their iniquities into the solitarie ground and shal be let goe into the desert †Aaron shal returne into the tabernacle of testimonie and putting of the vestiments which he had on him before when he entred into the
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
a ribbe of his side to be his mate and vnseparable companion as man and wife ioyned in Mariage with Gods blessing for increase and multiplication As appeareth in the two first chapters of this booke But God hauing made man right he intangled him selfe â—â— holie Scripture speaketh with infinite questions For the diuel enuying mans felicitie inâ—â—gled our mother Eâ—e with questions and lies and then by her first seduced and deceiued allured also Adam to the transgression of Gods commandment And so they lost original iustice which Adam had receiued for him selfe and al mankind and al proceeding from them by natural propagation are borne the children of wrath in original sinne contracted from Adam slaues of the diuel not only subiect to temporal death but also are excluded for euer from heauenly blisse and glorie except by Christs redemption particularly applied they be restored to grace iustice in this life And touching Adam and Eue whose sinne was not original but actual directly committed by them selues Gods mercie so reclamed them by new grace that they despared not as Cain and some orhers did afterwards but with hope of remission were sorie and penitent and accordingly receiued penance and redemption For God brought Adam from his sinne as holie writte testifieth and the same is collected of Eue God shewing the like signes of his prouident mercie towards them both of which we shal by and by note some for example Now let vs see the more principal points of faith and Religion professed and obserued by the Church of God before Noes floud First they beleeued in one Eternal and Omnipotent God who made the whole world and al things therin of nothing which is easely confessed of al that are not plaine Atheists and may be proued against them by reason And therfore Adam and other Patriarches could not erre in this Article nor others be ignorant therof except they were very wicked The Mysterie also of the Blessed Trinitie three Diuine Persons in one God though farre aboue the reach of mans reason yet was beleued more expresly by somâ— more implied by others and conserued from age to age by tradition at least amongst the chiefe heades and leaders wherupon Moyses afterwardes insinuated the same great Mysterie by diuers wordes and phraseâ— writing of God and his workes The two wordes God created if they be rightly considered importe so much For the word Elohim God in the plural number signifyeth pluralitie of Persons for manie Gods it can not signifie seeing there is but one God and the verbe bara created in the singular number signifyeth one God in nature and substance albeit three Persons For whatsoeuer God doth in creatures is the worke of the whole Trinitie though holie Scriptures do oftentimes appropriate some worke to one Diuine Person some to another which also proueth distinction of Persons in God So the wordes God created heauen and earth signifie the Father to whom powre is attributed In the beginning signifie the Sonne to whom wisdome is appropriated and the words The Sprite of God moued ouer the waters signifie the Holie Ghost by whose bountiful goodnes the waters were made fruictful Likewise Gods owne wordes Let vs make man signifie the pluralitie of Persons and Image and likenes in the singular number signifie one God Men also knew by faith manie things perteyning to them selues As that the bodie was made of the slime of the earth the soule not produced of anie thing formerly existing but created immediatly of nothing and naturally immortal that the soule of Adam was indued with grace and iustice that he fel from that happie state by yelding to tentation and breaking Gods commandment of abstinence that for the same sinne Adam and Eue were cast forth of Paradise and al mankind subiect to death and other calamities For remedie against sinne restauration to grace they beleeued in Christ promised to be borne of the womans seede who by his death should conquer the wicked serpent deliuer man from captiuitie and restore him to spiritual life And this is the cause of the perpetual enmitie betwen the woman especially the most blessed Virgin Mother of whom Christ tooke flesh and the serpent and betwen her seede the spiritual children of Christ and the serpents seede the whole companie of the wicked Of this battle and conquest Targhum Hierosolimitanum thus speaketh There shal be remedie and health to the children of wemen but to thee o serpent there shal be no medicine yea they shal tread thee vnder their feete in the latter dayes by the powre of Christ their King Likewise Gods familiar conuersation with diuers men in mans shape Gen. 2. 3. 4. 6. and 7. was a signe of Christs incarnation And The Sacrifices immolated did prefigurate his death in respect wherof it is said in the Apocalips The Lambâ— was slaine from the beginniing of the world But more expresly S. Paul testifieth that Abel Enoch and Noe beleeued in Christ naming them for example of the first age and others of other times and in the end concludeth that manie more being approued by the same faith receiued not the promise to wit in their life time God prouiding that they without others of the new Law should not be consummate that is not admitted into heauenlie ioyes fruition of God vntil the way of eternal glorie were opened by our Lords Passion and Asâ—ension Neither did the true seruants of God in those first dayes only beleeue in hart but they also professed their saith Religion by external Rites namely in offering of Sacrifice the most special homage seruice to God which is clerly testified cha 4. as wel bloudie in figure of Christs Passion as vnbloudie in figure of the holie Eucharist Also the accepting of the one rightly offered by Abel reiecting the other not donne sincerly by Cair was declared by external signes which Cain disdayning and enuying his brothers good worke knowing his owne to be naught of mere malice killed his brother Besides Sacrifice they had also other Rites in publique Assemblies praying and inuocating the name of our Lord in more solemne maner from Enos time and so forvvard according to that is recorded of him in the end of the fourth chapter for douteles Adam Abel and Seth did also pray and call vpon God and therfore it was some addition or increase of solemnitie in the seruice of God which is referred to Enos They had moreouer other ceremonies of the seuenth day particularly blessed and sanctified by God kept holie by Adam and other Patriarches as Abben Ezra witnesseth in his commentaries vpon the tenne commandements Of abstayning from meates for it semeth the more godlie sorte did eate no flesh before the floud which was after permitted Obseruation of cleane and vncleane beastes for Sacrifice Of peculiar places dedicated to religious vses where people mette together to pray Likwise diuers
when they iustly feared reuenge for so gteat and inhumane iniuries done vnto him chap. 50. v. 20. 35. Into hel mourning Protestants denying more places for soules after this life then Heauen for the iust and Hel for the wicked translate the hebrew word Sheol graue for hel Because if they should grant that Iacob or other holie fathers of the old Testament descended into hel they must confesse some other hel then where the damned are tormented whither no Christian wil say that those fathers went If they contended only about the sense and meaning of the text it were more tolerable for therin they speake according to their erronious opinion as they thinke But knowing as some of them doe that Hel is the true word of the text there is no sinceritie nor moral honestie in putting Graue in place therof And that they know it the second table of the Bible printed at London 1602. witnesseth noting for a common place that in the 37. chap. of Genesis v. 35. Hel is taken for graue therby confessing that the true English word of the holie Scripture in that place is Hel but that they would haue it to signifie graue VVherupon anie reasonable man would thinke to finde the word Hel in the text with some glosse to shew that graue were to be vnderstood But in al their Editions also in that which was printed the yeare next folowing 1603 wherto the same table is adioyned they reade graue and not hel in that place though in some other places they much disagree in translating the same word As for the sense it can not be that Iacob ment the graue for when he said he would goe to his sonne he supposed him to be deuoured by a wild beast and not buried in a graue And therfore must necessarily meane that he would goe where he thought the soule of his sonne to be VVhich was neither in heauen for then he would rather haue ascended thither ioyful then descended to anie place mourning neither did he meane the hel of the dammed for that had bene desperation but to a lowe place where the iust soules then remained in rest which was called Limbus Patrum or Abrahams bosome That is saith S. Augustin in his answere to Bishop Euodius Epist 99. secretae cuiusdam quiet is habitatio The habitation of a certaine secret rest CHAP. XXXVIII Iudas hauing three sonnes by a Chananite 6. marieth the first and after his death the second to Thamar 10. who also dying he delayeth to match the third with her 15. But him selfe begetteth of her taking her for a harlote two sonnes twinnes Phares and Zara. THE same time Iudas going downe from his brethren turned in to a man an Odollamite named Hiras †And he sawe there the daughter of a man of Chanaan called Sue and taking her to wife he did companie with her †Who conceaued and bare a sonne and called his name Her †And conceauing a childe againe she called her sonne after he was borne Onan †She bare also the third whom she called Sela after whose birth she ceased to beare any more †And Iudas gaue a wife to Her his first begotten named Thamar †Also Her the first begotten of Iudas was wicked in the fight of our Lord and was slaine of him †Iudas therfore said to Onan his sonne companie with thy brothers wife and be ioyned to her that thou mayest “ rayse seede to thy brother †He knowing that the children should not be borne to himselfe companying with his brothers wife shed his seede vpon the ground left children might be borne in his brothers name †And therfore our Lord stroke him because he did a detestable thing †For the which cause Iudas said to Thamar his daughter in lawe Be a widowe in thy fathers house til Sela my sonne growe vp for he feared lest he also might dye as his brethren Who went her way and dwelt in her fathers house †And after many dayes were come and gone the daughter of Sue the wife of Iudas died who after his mourning hauing receiued consolation went vp to the shearers of his sheepe himselfe and Hiras his shepheard of his flocke the Odolamite into Thamnas †And it was told Thamar that her father in law came vp into Thamnas to sheare his sheepe †Who putting of the garments of her widowhood tooke a veile and changing her habite sate in the crosse way that leadeth to Thamnas because Sela was growne and she had not taken him to her husband †Whom when Iudas had seene he supposed her to be an harlot for she had couered her face lest she should be knowen †And going vnto her he said Suffer me to lye with thee for he knew her not to be his daughter in law Who answering What wilt thou geue me that thou maiest enioy my companie †He said I wil send thee a kid out of the flockes And when she said againe I wil suffer that thou wilt if thou geue me a pledge til thou send that which thou doest promise †Iudas said What wilt thou to be geuen thee for a pledge She answered Thy ring and bracelet and staffe which thou holdest in thy hand The woman therfore by once companying conceaued †and rising she went her way and putting of the apparel which me had taken put on the garments of her widowhood †And Iudas sent a kid by his shephard the Odolamite that he might receiue the pledge againe which he had geuen to the woman who when he had not found her †he asked the men of that place Where is the woman that sate in the crosse way Al making answere There was no harlot in this place †He returned to Iudas and said to him I haue not found her yea the men also of that place said vnto me that there neuer sate harlot there †Iudas said Let her take it to her surely she can not charge vs with a lye I sent the kid which I promised and thou didest not find her †And behold after three moneths they told Iudas saying Thamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot and her bellie semeth to swel And Iudas said Bring her forth that she may be burnt †Who when she was led to execution she sent to her father in law saying By that man whose these things are haue I conceaued looke whose the ring is and the bracelet and the staffe †Who acknowledging the giftes said She is iuster then I because I did not geue her to Sela my sonne But he knew her no more †And when she was readie to be brought to bed there appeared twinnes in her bellie and in the verie deliuerie of the infants one put forth the hand wherin the midwife tyed a skarlet string saying †This shal come forth the former †But he drawing backe his hand the other came forth and the woman said Why is the partition diuided
ancient Fathers vnderstood of Anti Christ namely S. Irenaeus lib. 5. aduers Haeres S. Hyppolitus Martyr Orat de consummaâ— soeculi S. Ambrose c. 7 de Benedict Patriarch S. Augustin q. 12. in Iosue Prosper lib. de promiss praedicts Dei P. 4. Theodoret. q. vlt. in Gen. S. Gregorie lib. 30. Moral c. 18 and many others vpon the 7. chap. of the Apocalips where they suppose S. Ioan did omitt Dan from amongst the Elect of the Israelitical Tribes in detestation of Antichrist to be borne of that Tribe And certayne it is that the Iewes wil receiue and folowe him for their Messias as our Sauiour himselfe saith VVhich maketh it very probable that he shal be a Iewe borne else they would not so easily admitt him 22. Ioseph a childe encreasing Ioseph was in manie respectes a figure of Christ especially in that he was loued of his father before al his bretheren solde by his brethrn to the Gentiles of enuie and for money aduanced to dignitie and authoritie the deliuerer of Aegypt from famine and called Sauiour of the world al performed in Christ the true Childe encreasing CHAP. L. Ioseph causeth his fathers bodie to be embawmed 3. the dayes of mourning being expired 6. with Pharaos leaue Ioseph with the ancients of Aegypt al his brethren and elder sorte of Israelites goe and solemnly burie the bodie in Chanaan 14. After their returne his brethren fearing leâ—t ioseph wil now reuenge former iniuries he freely forgeueth al. 22. At the age of 110. yeares adiuring the posteritie to carie his bones into Chanaan he dieth and is put in a coffin VVHICH Ioseph seeing fel vpon his fathers face weeping and kissing him †And he commanded his seruantes the physitians that they should embawme his father with spices †Who fulfilling his commandements there passed fourtie dayes for this was the maner of corses embawmed and Aegypt mourned him seuentie daies †And the mourning time being expired Ioseph spake to the familie of Pharao If I haue found grace in your sight speake in the eares of Pharao †for so much as my father did adiure me saing Behold I die in my sepulchre which I digged for my selfe in the land of Chanaan thou shalt burie me I wil goe vp therfore and burie my father and returne †And Pharao said to him Goe vp and burie thy father as thou wast adiured †Who going vp there went with him al the ancients of Pharaos house and al the elders of the Land of Aegypt †the house of Ioseph with his brethren sauing their little ones and the flockes and heards which they had left in the Land of Gessen †He had also in his traine chariotts and horsemen and it became no smal multitude †And they came to the floore of Atad which is situate beyond Iord aine where celebrating the exequies with great and vehement mourning they spent ful seuen dayes †Which when the Inhabiters of the Land of Chanaan had seene they said This is a great mourning vnto the Aegyptians And therfore the name of that place was called The mourning of Aegypt †Therfore the sonnes of Iacob did as he commanded them †and carying him into the Land of Chanaan they buried him in the duble caue which Abraham had bought with the field for a possession to burie in of Ephron the Hethite against Mambre †And Ioseph returned into Aegypt with his brethren and with al the traine his father being buried †After whose death his brethren fearing and talking one with an other Lest perhaps he be mindful of the iniurie which he suffered and requite vs al the euil that we haue done †they aduertised him saing Thy father commanded vs before he died †that we should say thus much to thee in his wordes I besech that thou forget the wicked fact of thy brethren and the sinne malice which they haue exercised against thee we also desire thee that to the seruants of the God of thy father thou remit this iniquitie Whom when Ioseph ad heard he wept †And his brethren came to him and adoring prostrate on the ground they said We are thy seruantes †To whom he answered Feare not can we resist the wil of God †“ You thought euil against me but God turned that into good that he might exalt me as presently you see and might saue many peoples †Feare not I wil feed you your lirle ones and he comforted them and spake gently mildly †And he dwelt in Aegypt with al his fathers house and liued an hundred and tenne yeares And he sawe the children of Ephraim vnto the third generation Also the children of Machir the sonne of Manasses were borne in Iosephs knees †Which thinges being done he spake to his brethren After my death God wil visite you and wil make you goe vp out of this land to the land which he sware to Abraham Isaac and Iacob †And when he had adiured them and said God wil visite you carie my bones with you out of this place †he died being an hundred and tenne yeares old And being embawmed with spices was put in a coffin in Aegypt ANNOTATIONS CHAP L. 20. You thought euil This plaine distinction sheweth that sinne is wholly of the sinner and that God hath no part therin but turneth it to good For those things which Iosephs brethren did against him were occasions of his aduancement in Aegypt through the omnipotent wisdome of God VVhose â—â—opeitie is out of euerie euil to draw good S. Chrisost ho. 67. in Gen. S. Aug. Enchirid. c. 11. li. 14. c. 27. de â—â—â—it 25. Carie my bones vvith you For the same reasons Ioseph would be finally buried in Chanaan for which Iacob desired to be there buried chap. 47. but Ioseph would not presently be caried thither lest it might haue geuen offence to the Aegyptians or at least haue diminished their fauoure towardes his brethren and withal he would confirme his brethren in their hope of returning seing he was content that his bodie should expect in Aegypt til the whole Nation should returne into Chanaan THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF EXODVS MOYSES hauing prosecuted in Genesis the sacred historie of the Church vnto Iosephs death containing the space of 2310. yeares continueth the same in Exodus for 145. yeares more VVhere he first briefly recounteth how a smal number of Israelites especially after the death of Ioseph being much increased a new King risen in the meane time who knew not Ioseph together with other Aegyptians enuying their better partes both of bodie and minde and more fortunate progres in wealth fearing also lest they stil multiplying either by their owne forces or ioyning with other foreners might spoile Aegypt and returne into Chanaan and hating their Religion because they acknowledged one onlie eternal omnipotent God denying and detesting the new imaginarie goddes of the Aegyptians resolued and publickly decreed by oppression to
hinder their increasing to keepe them in bondage and seruitude But God almightie who had chosen them for his peculiar people did not only so conserue and multiplie them that of seuentie persons which came into Aegypt in the space of two hundred and fiefteene yeres there were six hundred thousand men able to beare armes besides wemen children and old men which by estimation might be three millions in al but amongst other most strange and miraculous workes especally deliuered one Hebrew infant from drowning whom afterwards he made the Guide and supreme Gouernour of the same people by him admonished the King to cease persecuting and diuers waies plagued him his people for their obdurat and obstinate crueltie In fine called away and mightily deliuered his owne people drowned that king and al his armie in the red sea the Israelites wonderfully passing through as in a drie chanel the waters standing on both sides like two walles In the desert fed them miraculously with Manna and gaue them al necessaries defending them also from enimies Then God hauing thus selected and seuered his people from al other nations gaue them a written law as wel of Moral as Ceremonial and Iudicial preceptes with the maner of making the Tabernacle erecting Altares consecrating Priects with the institution of daylie sacrifice and of al vestures veselles other holie things belonging to the seruice of God So this booke may be diuided into three partes First is declared the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt vvith their deliuerie from thence in the fieftene first chapters Then how they were maintained in the desert and prepared to receiue a law in the foure next chapters In the other 21. chapters the lavv is prescribed instructing them hovv to liue tovvards God and al men THE BOOKE OF EXODVS IN HEBREW VEELLE SEMOTH CHAP I. The smal number of Israelites much increasing in Aegypt 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren 8. a new king that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication 11. by imposing workes vpon them 15. and by commanding to kil 22. and to drowne al the malchildren of them God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues that fearing him killed not the children THESE be the names of the children of Israel that entred into Aegypt with Iacob they did enter in euerie one with their houses †Ruben Simeon Leui Iudas †Issachar Zabulon and Beniamin †Dan and Neptali Gad and Aser †Therfore al the soules that came out of Iacobs thigh were seuentie and Ioseph was in Aegypt †Who being dead and al his brethren and al that generation †the children of Israel increased and as it were springing vp did multiplie and growing strong exceedingly filled the land †In the meane time there arose a new king ouer Aegypt that knew not Ioseph †and he said to his people Behold the people of the children of Israel is much and stronger then we †Come let vs wisely oppresse the same lest perhaps it multiplie and if there shal be anie warre against vs it ioyne with our enemies and we being ouerthrowne they depart out of the land †Therfore he set ouer them maisters of the workes to afflict them with burdens and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles Phithom and Ramesses †And the more they did oppresse them so much the more they multiplied and increased †and the Aegyptians hated the children of Israël and deriding afflicted them †and they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay and bricke and with al seruice wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth †And the King of Aegypt said to the mid wiues of the Hebrewes of whom one was called Sephora the other Phua †commanding them When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen and the time of deliuerie is come if it be a manchild kil it if a woman reserue her †“ But the midwiues feared God and did not according to the commandement of the king of Aegypt but preserued the menchildren †To whom being called vnto him the king said What is this that you ment to do that you would saue the men-children †Who answered The “ Hebrew wemem are not as the Aegyptian wemen for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues and before we come to them they are deliuered †God therfore did wel to the midwiues and the people encreased and became strong exceedingly †And “ because the midwiues feared God 〈…〉 e built them houses †Pharao therfore commanded al his people saying Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male seâ— cast it into the riuer whatsoeuer of the female reserue it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 17. But the midvviues feared God In commendation of the midwiues not obeying the kings commandment Moyses opposeth the feare of God to the feare of Princes shewing therby that when their commandments are contrarie the subiects must feare God and not do that the Prince commandem So did our Sauiour himself teach and that for feare of damnation saying Feare him vvho hath povver to cast into het And so his Aporâ—les indued with the Holie Ghost practised answering in this case that they must heare God rather then men Againe God must be obeyed rather then men Alwayes vnderstood when they are contrarie For otherwise both S. Peter and S. Paul teach vs that Princes yea Infidels of whom they especially speake must be obeyed 19. Hebrevv vvemen are not Herein the midwiues sinned For it is neuer lawful to lye Because the lavv of God is truth wherby S. Augustin proueth li. coot mend c. 10 that whatsoeuer varieth from truth is vnlawful VVhen therfore saith he examples of lying are proposed to vs out of holie Scripture either they are not lies but are thought to be whiles they are not vnderstood oâ— if they be lies they are not to be imitated because they are vnlawful â— Gregorie teacheth the same li. 18. Moral c. 20. Qâ—â—a proseltâ— ab 〈◊〉 discrep it quitquidâ—â—eritate discordâ—t Because assuredly vvhatsoeuer disagreeth from veritie differeth from equitie Yet these fathers hold such an officious lye as this was to be a lesse sinne and more easily pardoned and purged by good workes folowing 21. Because the midwiues feared God Feare of God â—s 〈◊〉 is properly taken in holie Scripture is that holie feareâ— by which the children of God reâ—â—aine from sinne and that with temporal dangeâ— lest they should ofend the diuine Maiestie So these midwiues endangering their owne liues by not fullfiling Pharaos commandment had the true feare of God and for the same were rewarded as is most probable eternally though mention be here made only of temporal reward afteâ— the 〈…〉 of the old 〈◊〉 VVhere such promises were made to Abraham and other most godlie Patriarches
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
shal be raised againe from death and together with the soule be eternally glorified 12 In the meane time of this pilagrimage of mankind it is our way-faring special prouision dailie and supersubstantial bread til we shal possesse the promised land the kingdome of heauen in eternal blisse CHAP. XVII The people murmuring againe in Raphidim for want of drinck our Lord giueth them water out of arock 8. Amalech fighteth with them And Moyseslifting vp his hand in prayer Israel ouercometh otherwise Amalech prâ—â—aâ—leth THERFORE al the multitude of the children of Israel setting forward from the desert Sin by their mansions according to the word of our Lord camped in Raphidim where there was no water for the people to drinke †Who chiding against Moyses said Geue vs water that we may drinke To whom Moyses answered Why chide you against me Wherfore doe you tempt our Lord †The people therfore was thirstie there for lacke of water and murmured against Moyses saying Why didst thou make vs goe forth out of Aegypt to kil vs and our children and our beastes with thirst †And Moyses cried to our Lord saying What shal I doe to this people Yet a litle while and they wil stone me †And our Lord said to Moyses Goe before the people and take with thee of the ancients of Israel and the rodde wherwith thou didst strike the riuer take in thy hand and goe †Behold I wil stand there before thee vpon the rocke Horeb and thou shalt strike the rocke and water shal goe out therof that the people may drinke Moyses did so before the ancientes of Israel †and he called the name of that place Temptation because of the chiding of the children of Israel and for that they tempted our Lord saying Is the Lord amongst vs or not †And Amalec came and fought against Israel in Raphidim †And Moyses sayd to Iosue Choose out men and goe forth and fight against Amalec to morow I wil stand in the toppe of the hil hauing the rodde of God in my hand †Iosue did as Moyses had spoken and he fought against Amalec but Moyses and Aaron and Hur went vp vpon the toppe of the hil †And when Moyses lifted vp his hands Israel ouercame but if he did lette them downe a little Amalec ouercame †And the handes of Moyses were heauie therfore they tooke a stone and putte vnder him wherupon he sate and Aaron and Hur staied vp his handes on both sides And it came to passe that his handes were not wearie vntil sunne sette †And Iosue put Amalec to flight his people by the edge of the sword †And our Lord said to Moyses Write this for a monument in a booke deliuer it to the eares of Iosue for I wil destroy the memorie of Amalec from vnder heauen †And Moyses builded an Altar and called the name therof Our Lord my exaltation saying †Because the hand of our Lords throne and the warre of our Lord shal be against Amalec from generation vnto generation CHAP. XVIII Iethro Moyses father in law bringeth to him his wise and childrens 8. And hearing the great workes of God 12. offereth Sacrifice 13 and Wisely aduised Moyses to appoint subordinate officers to iudge lesse causes reseruing the greater to him selfe AND when Iethro the priest of Madian the allied of Moyses had heard al the thinges that God had done to Moyses and to Israel his people and that our Lord had brought forth Israel out of Aegypt †he tooke Sephora the wife of Moyses whom he had sent backe †and her two sonnes of which one was called Gersam his father saying I haue bene a stranger in a forren countrie †And the other Eliezer for the God of my father quoth he is my helper and hath deliuered me from Pharaoes sword †Iethro therfore the allied of Moyses came and his sonnes and his wife to Moyses into the desert where he was camped beside the mountayne of God †And he sent word to Moyses saying I Iethro thy allied come to thee and thy wife and thy two children with her †Who going forth to mere his allied adored and kissed him and they saluted on an other with wordes of peace And when he was entred into the tent †Moyses told his allied al thinges that our Lord had done to Pharao and the Aegyptians for Israel and the whole trauaile which had chanced to them in the iourney and that our Lord had deliuered them †And Iethro reioyced for al the good thinges that our Lord had done to Israel because he had deliuered them out of the handes of the Aegyptians †and he said Blessed is the Lord that hath deliuered you out of the hand of the Aegyptians and out of the hand of Pharao that hath deliuered his people out of the hand of Aegypt †Now doe I know that the Lord is great aboue al goddes for because they dealt proudely against them †Iethro therfore the allied of Moyses offered holocaustes and hostes to God and Aaron and al the ancientes of Israel came to eate bread with him before God †And the next day Moyses sate to iudge the people who stoode by Moyses from morning vntil night †Which thing when his allied had seene to witte al thinges that he did in the people he said What is this that thou doest in the people Why sittest thou alone and al the people attendeth from morning vntil night †To whom Moyses answered The people cometh to me seeking the sentence of God †And when anie controuersie chanceth among them they come vnto me to iudge betwene them and to shew the preceptes of God and his lawes †But he said Thou doest not wel †thou art tâ—red with foolish labour both thou and this people that is with thee the busines is aboue thy strength thou alone canst not susteyne it †But heare my wordes and counseils and God shal be with thee Be thou to the people in those thinges that pertaine to God to report their wordes vnto him †and to shew to the people the ceremonies and rite of worâ—hipping and the way wherin they ought to walke and the worke that they ought to doe †And prouide out of al the people men that are wise and doe feare God in whom there is truth and that doe hate auaâ—ice and appointe of them tribunes and centurions and quinquagenarians and deanes †which may iudge the people at al tymes and what great matter soeuer â—â—aâ— fal out let them referre it to thee and let them iudge the lesse matters only and so it may be lighter for thee the burden being imparted vnto others †If thou doest this thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God and shal be able to beare his preceptes and al this people shal returne to their places with pâ—eace †Which thinges when Movses heard he did al thinges that he had suggested vnto him †And choosing substantial men
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
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
speake ought els but that which the Lord commandeth †Balac therfore said Come with me into an other place whence thou mayest see part of Israel and canst not see the whole from thence curse them †And when he had brought him into a high place vpon the toppe of the mountaine Phasga Balaam builded seuen altares laying thereon calues and rammes †he said to Balac Stand here beside thy holocaust whiles I goe to meete him †Whom when our Lord had mette and had put the word in his mouth he said Returne to Balac and thus thou shalt speake to him †Returning he found him standing beside his holocauste and the princes of the Moabites with him To whom Balac said What hath the Lord spoken †But he taking vp his parable said Stand Balac and harken heare thou sonne of Sephor †God is not as man that he may lie nor as the sonne of man that he may be changed Hath he said then and wil he not doe hath he spoken and wil he not fulfil †I was brought to blesse the blessing I am not able to stay †There is no Idol in Iacob neither is there simulachre to be seene in Israel The Lord his God is with him and the sound of the victorie of the king in him †God hath brought him out of Aegypt whose strength is like to the vnicorne †There is no South saying in Iacob nor diuination in Israel In their times it shal be said to Iacob and Israel what God hath wrought †Behold the people shal rise vp as a lionesse and as a lion shal raise it self It shal not lie downe til it deuoure the pray and drinke the bloud of the slaine †And Balac said to Balaam neither curse nor blesse him †And he said Did I not tel thee that whatsoeuer God should command me that would I doe †And Balac said to him Come and I wil bring thee to an other place if happely it please God that thence thou mayest curse them †And when he had brought him vpon the toppe of the mountaine Phogor which looketh to the wildernesse †Balaam said to him Build me here seuen altares and prepare as manie calues and rammes of the same number †Balac did as Balaam had said and he laide the calues and the rammes on euerie altar CHAP. XXIIII Balaam forced by the euidence of truth though not conuerted in wil to serue God whom he confesseth to be omnipotent prophecieth stil more good of Israel 10. wherefore Balac interrupteth him and he answereth plainly that God almightie wil haue it so 15. And so proceeding he prophecieth of CHRIST 20. Also of Amalacheites Cineites and Italians AND when Balaam had seene that it pleased our Lord that he should blesse Israel he went not as before he had gone to seeke Southsaying but directing his countenance against the desert †and lifting vp his eies he saw Israel abiding in their tentes by their tribes and the spirit of God coming vehemently vpon him †taking vp his parable he said Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said The man hath said whose eye is stopped †The hearer of the wordes of God hath said he that hath beholden the vision of the Omnipotent he that falleth and so his eies are opened †How beautiful are thy tabernacles ô Iacob and thy tentes ô Israel †As wooddie valleis as watered gardens beside the riuers as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched as cedres by the waters side †Water shal flow out of his bucket and his seede shal be into manie waters For Agag shal his king be taken away and his kingdom shal be taken away †God hath brought him out of Aegypt whose strēgth is like to the rhinocerote They shal deuoure nations his enimies and breake their bones and pearce them with arrowes †Lying he hath slept as a lion and as a lionesse whom none shal be bold to rayse vp He that blesseth thee him self also shal be blessed he that curseth thee shal be reputed accurst †And Balac being angrie against Balaam clapping his handes together said To curse mine enemies I called thee whom thou contrariewise hast blessed the third time †returne to thy place I was determined verily to honour thee magnifically but the Lord hath depriued thee of the honour appointed †Balaam made answer to Balac did I not say to thy messengers whom thou didst send to me †If Balac would geue me his house ful of siluer and gold I can not passe the word of the Lord my God to vtter of my owne minde either any good or euil but whatsoeuer the Lord shal say that wil I speake †But yet going to my people I wll geue thee counsel what thy people shal doe to this people in the last time †Therfore taking vp his parable againe he said Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said The man whose eye is stopped hath said †the hearer of the wordes of God hath said who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest and seeth the visions of the Omnipotent who falling hath his eies opened †I shal see him but not now I shal behold him but not neere A STARRE SHAL RISE out of Iacob and a rodde shal arise from Israel and shal strike the dukes of Moab and shal waist al the children of Seth. †And Idumea shal be his possession the inheritance of Seir shal come to their enemies but Israel shal doe manfully †Of Iacob shal he be that shal rule and shal destroy the remaines of the citie †And when he had seene Amalec taking vp his parable he said Amalec the beginning of Gentiles whose latter endes shal be destroyed †He saw also the Cineite and taking vp his parable he said Thy habitation in deede is strong but if thou build thy nest in a rocke †and thou be chosen of the stocke of Cin how long shalt thou be able to continew For Assur shal take thee †And taking vp his parable againe he spake Alas who shal liue when God shal doe these thinges †They shal come in galleies from Italie they shal ouercome the Assyrians and shal waist the Hebrewes and at the last them selues also shal perish †And Balaam rose and returned into his place Balac also returned the way that he came CHAP. XXV By carnal fornication manie are drawen to spiritual For which twentie foure thousand are slaine 10. Phinees his Zele in stabbing to death two fornicators is commended by God and rewarded AND Israel at that time abode in Settim and the people fornicated with the daughters of Moab †who called them to their sacrifices And they did eate and adore their goddes †And Israel was professed to Beelphegor and our Lord being angtie †said to Moyses Take al the princes of the people and hang them vp against the sunne on gibbettes that my furie may be auerted from Israel †And Moyses said to the Iudges of Israel
and the stranger and pupil and widow which abide with you in the place which our Lord thy God shal choose that his name may dwel there †and thou shalt remember that thou wast a seruant in Aegypt and thou shalt keepe and doe the thinges that are commanded †The solemnitie also of Tabernacles thou shalt celebrate seuen daies when thou hast gathered thy fruite of the barne floore and the presse †and thou shalt feast in the festiuitie thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and woman seruant the Leuite also and stranger and pupil and widow that are within thy gates †Seuen daies shalt thou celebrate the feastes to our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose and our Lord thy God wil blesse thee in al thy fruites and in euerie worke of thy handes and thou shalt be in ioye †Three times in a yeare shal al thy male appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose in the solemnitie of Azymes in the solemnitie of weekes and in the solemnitie of Tabernacles There shal not appeare before our Lord any emptie †but euerie one shal offer according to that he hath according to the blessing of our Lord his God which he shal geue him †Iudges and maisters shalt thou appoynt in al thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee in euerie of thy tribes that they may iudge the people with iust iudgement †and not decline to either part Thou shalt not accept person nor giftes because that giftes blinde the eies of the wise and change the wordes of the iust †Iustly shalt thou pursew that which is iust that thou mayest liue and possesse the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee †Thou shalt plante no groue nor any tree neere the altar of our Lord thy God †Neither shalt thou make nor sette to thy self a statue which thing our Lord thy God hateth CHAP. XVII Perfect hostes not mamed nor defectiue must be offered to God Idolaters stoned to death 8. VVhen inferior iudges differ the cause must be decided by the High Priest in consistorie Who is warranted not to erre therin and al are bound to obey his sentence 14. The dutie also of a king Whom in future time God wil condescend to geue them is described with special charge to receiue the law of God at the Priestes handes THOV shalt not immolate to our Lord thy God a sheepe and an oxe wherein there is blemish or any fault because it is abomination to our Lord thy God †When there shal be found with thee within one of thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee man or woman that do euil in the sight of our Lord thy God and transgresse his couenant †that they goe and serue strange goddes and adore them the sunne and the moone and al the hoste of heauen which thinges I commanded not †and this is told thee and hearing it thou hast inquired diligently and found it to be true and the abomination is committed in Israel †thou shalt bring forth the man and the woman that haue committed that most heynous thing to the gates of thy citie and they shal be stoned †At the mouth of two or three witnesses shal he perish that is to be slaine Let no man be killed one onlie geuing testimonie against him †The hand of the witnesses shal be first to kil him and the hand of the rest of the people shal be layd on last that thou mayest take away the euil out of the middes of thee †“ If thou perceiue that the iudgement with thee be hard and doubtful betwen bloud and bloud cause and cause leprosie and not leprosie and thou see that the wordes of the iudges within thy gates doe varye arise and goe vp to the place which our Lord thy God shal choose †And thou shalt come to the priestes of the Leuitical stocke and to the iudge that shal be at that time and thou shalt aske of them “ who shal shew thee the truth of the iudgment †And thou shalt do whatsoeuer they that are presidentes of the place which our Lord shal choose shal say and teach thee †according to his law and thou shalt folow their sentence neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand †But “ he that shal be proude refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest which at that time ministreth to our Lord thy God and the decree of the iudge that man shal die and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel †and the whole people hearing shal feare that none afterward swel in pride †When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee and doest possesse it and dwellest in it and sayest I wil sette a king ouer me as al nations haue round about †him shalt thou sette whom our Lord thy God shal choose of the number of thy brethren A man of an other nation that is not thy brother thou canst not make king †And when he is made he shal not multiplie to him selfe horses nor lead backe the people into Aegypt taking high courage for the number of his horsemen especially whereas our Lord hath commanded you that in no case you returne any more the same way †He shal not haue manie wiues that may allure his minde nor huge weightes of siluer and gold †And after he shal sitte in the throne of his kingdome he shal copie to him selfe the Deuteronomie of this Law in a volume taking the copie of the priestes of the Leuitical tribe †and he shal haue it with him and shal reade it al the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare our Lord his God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies that are commanded in the law †And that his hart be not lifted vp into pride ouer his brethren nor decline to the right side or the left side that he may reigne a long time and his sonnes ouer Israel ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII 8. If the iudgement be hard For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal that in case inferior Iudges varied in iudgement recourse might be had to the Councel of Priestes where one chiefe Iudge the High Priest was appointed to geue sentence and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same 9. vvho shal shevv the truth God so assisted this consistorie with his spirite of truth that their sentence was infallible though otherwise they might erre either in life or in priuate opinion VVherfore our Sauiour distinguishing betwen their publique doctrin and their workes taught the people that for somuch as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire and yet transgressed Gods commandmentes euerie one should obserue and doe as they saide but not doe according to their
vvorkes Mat. 23. And S. Iohn ascribeth the true sentence geuen by Caiphas in the councel to his office of High Priest saying Ioan. 11. He said not this of him selfe but being the high priest of that yeare he prophecied that IESVS should die for the nation and to gather into one the children of God VVhere the high priest by vertue and priuilege of his office vttered the truth which him selfe neither meant nor vnderstood And this happened when the Law and Priesthood of the Iewes was to decline geue place to Christs new ordinance and therfore no doubt God euer directed the sentence of the high Priest and most specially now Christ preserueth the Apostolique See from error in faith and in general decrees touching manners yea though the chiefe visible Iudge were as wicked as Caiphas And therfore the Protestantes euasion is friuolous limiting the priests sentence to binde the subiectes so long as he is the true minister of God and pronounceth according to his vvord For except God assisted him that he should pronounce according to his word and so al men rest satisfied submitting them selues to his sentence the controuersie should be endles and this consistorie nothing worth but stil be new examinations and new iudgementes whether the former were according to Gods word or no. 12. He that shal be proude This also conuinceth that al were bound to accept of the high priests sentence the law condemning him of pride that refused to obey the commandment of the Priest vvhich at that time ministred to our Lord and for his disobedience punishing him with death CHAP. XVIII In steed of other inheritance Priesies and Leuites haue prouision by Sacrifices and oblations 9. Al superstition to be auoided 15. Perpetuitie of prophetes and finally one special PROPHET towit CHRIST is promised 20. False prophetes must be slaine THE priestes and Leuites and al that are of the same tribe shal haue no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israel because they shal eate the sacrifices of our Lord and his oblations †and nothing els shal they receiue of the possession of their brethren for our Lord him selfe is their inheritance as he hath spoken to them †This shal be the right of the priestes from the people and from them that offer victimes whether they immolate oxe or sheepe they shal geue to the priest the shoulder and the mawe †the first fruites of corne of wine and oile and a part of the woolle of their sheepe shearing †For him hath our Lord chosen of al thy tribes that he might stand and minister to our Lord he and his sonnes for euer †If a Leuite goe out of one of thy cities of al Israel in the which he dwelleth and would come desiring the place which our Lord shal choose †he shal minister in the name of our Lord his God as al his brethren the Leuites that shal stand at that time before our Lord. †He shal receiue the same portion of meates that the rest doe beside that which in his owne citie is dew to him by succession from his fathers †When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee beware thou be not willing to imitate the abominations of those nations †Neither let there be found in thee any that shal expiate his sonne or daughter making them to passe through the fyre or that demandeth of southsayers and obserueth dreames and diuinations neither let there be a sorcerer †nor inchanter nor that consulteth with pithone or diuiners and seeketh the truth of the dead †for al these thinges out Lord abhorreth and for these abominations wil he destroy them at thy entring in †thou shalt be perfect and without spotte with our Lord thy God †These nations whose land thou shalt possesse heare southsayers and diuiners but thou art otherwise instructed of our Lord thy God †“ A PROPHET of thy nation and of thy brethren like vnto me wil our Lord thy God raise vp to thee him thou shalt heare †as thou didst request of our Lord thy God in Horeb when the assemblie was gathered and saidst I wil no more heare the voice of our Lord my God and this exceding great fire I wil see no more lest I die †And our Lord said to mie They haue spoken al thinges wel †A prophete wil I rayse vp to them out of the middes of their brethren like to thee and I wil put my wordes in his mouth and he shal speake al thinges that I shal command him †but he that wil not heare his wordes which he shal speake in my name I wil be the reuenger †And the prophet that being depraued with arrogancie wil speake in my name the thinges that I did not command him to say or in the name of strange goddes shal be slaine †And if in secrete cogitation thou answer How shal I vnderstand the word that our Lord spake not †This signe thou shalt haue That which the same prophete foretelleth in the name of the Lord and cometh not to passe that our Lord hath not spoken but by the arrogancie of his minde the prophet hath forged it and therfore thou shalt not feare him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII 15. A PROPHET of thy nation Amongst other places this plainly proueth that the same wordes in holie Scripture may haue diuers literal senses For first the coherence of the text sheweth that God here promised to geue his people an other extraordinarie prophet after Moyses death of their owne nation as wel to take away occasion of seeking to southsayers diuiners and other prophane prophetes of false goddes strictly forbidden in the wordes going immediatly before as in approbation of their conuenient desire mentioned in the wordes folowing to heare Gods wil not by himself nor by an Angel but by Moyses who was now shortly to be taken from them And so this promise was first performed in Iosue succeding next after Moyses in gouernment And as neede required God ceassed not to send more prophetes besides their ordinarie Priests Againe this place is also vnderstood of Christ our Sauiour chief Prophete and master of al prophetes S Peter so expounding it Act. 3. v. 22. 23. CHAP. XIX Certaine cities of refuge must be assigned for casual manslaughter 11. wilful murther punished by death without remission 15. so it be conuinced by two or three witnesses 16. False witnesses punished with the paine which the crime obiected deserueth VVHEN our Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations whose land he wil deliuer to thee and thou doest possesse it and dwellest in the cities and houses therof †three cities shalt thou separate to thee in the middes of the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in possession †preparing diligently the way and thou shalt diuide the whole prouince of thy Land equally into three partes that he which for murder is a fugitiue may haue
in that day In truth because God is not with me these euils haue found me †But I wil hide and keepe close my face in that day for al the euils which they haue done because they haue folowed strange goddes †Now therfore write vnto you this canticle and teach the children of Israel that they know it by hart and sing it by mouth and this song be vnto me for a testimonie among the children of Israel †For I wil bring them into the Land for the which I sware to their fathers flowing with milke and honie And when they haue eaten and are ful and fatte they wil turne away to strange goddes and serue them and wil detract from me and make my couenant of none effect †After that manie euils and afflictions shal haue found them this canticle shal answer them for a testimonie which no obliuion shal take away out of the mouth of their seede For I know their cogitations what thinges they are about to doe this day before that I bring them into the Land which I haue promised them †Moyses therfore wrote the canticle and taught it the children of Israel †And our Lord commanded Iosue the sonne of Nun and said Take courage and be strong for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the Land which I haue promised and I wil be with thee †Therfore after that Moyses wrote the wordes of this law in a volume and finished it †he commanded the Leuites that caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord saying †Take this booke and put it in the side of the arke of the couenant of our Lord your God that it may be for a testimonie against thee †For I know thy contention and thy most stiffe necke Whiles I yet liue and goe in with you you haue done alwayes contenciously against our Lord how much more when I shal be dead †Gather to me al the ancientes by your tribes and your doctors and I wil speake these wordes in their hearing and wil inuocate against them heauen and earth †For I know that after my death you wil doe wickedly and wil decline quickly from the way that I haue commanded you and euils shal come vpon you in the later times when you shal doe euil in the sight of our Lord to prouoke him by the workes of your handes †Moyses therfore spake in the hearing of the whole assemblie of Israel the wordes of this song and finished it euen to the end CHAP. XXXII A Canticle of the Law wherin the people are exhorted to serue God for his perfect goodnes for his singular benefites for their former ingratitude and for his mercie stil mixed with his punishmentes 44. Al which being earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children 48. Moyses is commanded to goe into a mountaine whence he shal see the promised land but not enter into it HEARE ye heauens what thinges I speake the earth heare the wordes of my mouth †My doctrine grow together as raine my speach flow as the dew as it were a shower vpon the herbe and as it were droppes vpon the grasse †Because I wil inuocate the name of our Lord geue magnificence to our God †The workes of God be perfect and al his waies iudgementes God is faithful and without any iniquitie iust and right †They haue sinned to him and not his children in filthines a froward and peruerse generation †These thinges doest thou render to our Lord thou foolish and vn wise people Is not he thy father that hath possessed thee and made and created thee †Remember the old daies thinke vpon euerie generation aske thy father and he wil declare to thee thy elders and they wil tel thee †When the highest diuided the nations when he separated the sonnes of Adam he appointed the limites of people according to the number of the children of Israel †But our Lords part is his people Iacob the corde of his inheritance †He found him in a desert land in a place of horrour and of wast wildernes he ledde him about and taught him and kept him as the apple of his eye †As the eagle prouoking her young to flie and houering ouer them hath he spred his winges and he hath taken him and caried him on his shoulders †Our Lord onlie was his guide and there was not with him a strange God †He placed him ouer an high land that he might eate the fruites of the fieldes that he might sucke honie out of the rocke and oile out of the hardest stone †Butter from the heard and milke of the sheepe with the fatte of lambes and of rammes the sonnes of Basan and bucke goates with the marow of wheate and might drinke the bloud of the grape most pure †The beloued was made grosse and spurned made grosse fatted dilated he left God his maker and departed from God his saluation †They prouoked him in strange goddes and in abominations stirred him to anger †They immolated to diuels and not to God to goddes which they knew not there came new fresh ones whom their fathers worshipped not †God that begatte thee thou hast forsaken and hast “ forgotten our Lord thy creatour †Our Lord saw and was moued to wrath because his sonnes and daughters prouoked him †And he said I wil hide my face from them and wil confider their last for it is a peruerse generation and vnfaithful children †They haue prouokedme in that which was no God and haue angred me in their vanities and I wil prouoke them in that which is no people and in a foolish nation wil I anger them †A fyre is kindled in my wrath and shal burne euen to the lowest partes of hel and shal deuoure the earth with her spring and shal burne the foundations of mountaines †I wil heape euils vpon them and myne arrowes I wil spend in them †They shal be consumed with famine and birdes shal deuoure them with most bitter biting the teeth of beastes wil I send vpon them with the furie of those that traile vpon the ground and creepe †Without shal the sword deuoure them within fearefulnes the young man and the virgin together the sucking child with the old man †I said Where are they I wil make their memorie to cease from among men †But for the wrath of the enemies I haue differred lest perhaps their enemies might be proude and would say Our mightie hand and not the Lord hath done al these thinges †A nation without counselis it and without wisedome †O that they were wise and vnderstoode and would prouide for their last †How should one pursew a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight was it not therfore because their God sold them and our Lord inclosed them †For our
our Lord saying Who shal goe vp before vs against the Chananeite and shal be captaine of the warre †And our Lord said Iudas shal goe vp behold I haue deliuered the Land into his handes †And Iudas said to Simeon his brother Come vp with me into my lotte and fight against the Chananeite that I also may goe forward with thee into thy lotte And Simeon went with him †And Iudas went vp and our Lord deliuered the Chananeite and the Pherezeite into their handes and they stroke in Bezec ten thousand men †And they found Adonibezec in Bezec and fought against him and stroke the Chananeite and the Pherezeite †And Adonibezec fled whom pursewing they tooke cutting of the extreme partes of his handes and feere †And Adonibezec said Seuentie kinges hauing the extreme partes of their handes and seete cut of gathered vp the reliques of meates vnder my table as I haue done so hath God repayed me And they brought him into Ierusalem and there he died †Therfore the children of Iudas assaulting Ierusalem tooke it and stroke it in the edge of the sword setting the whole citie on fyre †And afterward going downe they fought against the Chananeite which dwelled in the mountaines and southward and in the champaine countries †And Iudas going forward against the Chananeite that dwelled in Hebron the name wherof was before time Cariatharbe stroke Sesai and Ahiman and Tholmai †and departing thence went to the inhabitantes of Dabir the old name wherof was Cariath Sepher that is a citie of letters †And Caleb said He that shal strike Cariath Sepher and spoile it I wil geue him Axa my daughter to wife †And when Othoniel the sonne of Cenez the yonger brother of Caleb had taken it he gaue him Axa his daughter to wife †Whom going on her way her husband admonished to aske a field of her father To whom when she had sighed sitting on her asse Caleb said What aileth thee †But she answered Geue me a blessing for a drie land thou haft geuen me geue me also a waterie Caleb therfore gaue her a watrie ground aboue waterie beneath †And the children of the Cineite the cosin of Moyses went vp from the citie of palmes with the children of Iudas into the deset of his lotte which is at the south side of Arad and dwelt with him †But Iudas went with Simeon his brother and together they stroke the Chananeite that dwelt in Sephaath and slew him And the name of the citie was called Horma that is Anathema †And Iudas tooke Gaza with the coastes therof Ascalon and Accaron with their boundes †And our Lord was with Iudas and he posessed the mountaines neither could he destroy the inhabitantes of the valley because they had manie hooked chariotes †And they gaue to Galeb Hebron as Moyses had said who destroyed out of it the three sonnes of Enac †But the Iebuseite the inhabiter of Ierusalem the children of Beniamin destroyed not and the Iebuseite dwelt with the children of Beniamin in Ierusalem vntil this present day †The house also of Ioseph went vp into Bethel and our Lord was with them †For when they besieged the citie which before was called Luza †they saw a man comming out of the citie and said to him Shew vs the entrrance of the citie and we wil shew thee mercie †Who when he had shewed them they stroke the citie in the edge of the sword but that man and al his kinred they dismissed †Who being dismist went into the Land of the Hetthims and built there a citie and called it Luza which is so called vntil this present day †Manasses also destroyed not Bethsan and Thanac with their litle townes and the inhabitantes of Dor and Ieblaam and Mageddo with their litle townes And the Chananeite began to dwel with them †But after that Israel was waxen strong he made them tributaries and would not destroy them †Ephraim also killed not the Chananeite that dwelt in Gazer but dwelt with him †Zabulon destroyed not the inhabitantes of Cetron Naalol but the Chananeite dwelt in the middes of him and was made tributarie to him †Aser also destroyed not the inhabitantes of Accho and of Sidon of Ahalab and Achazib and Helba and Aphec and Rohob †and he dwelt in the middes of the Chananeite the inhabiter of that Land neither did he kil them †Nepthali also destroyed not the inhabitantes of Bethsames Bethanath and he dwelt in the middes of the Chananeite the inhabiter of the Land and the Bethsamites Bethanites were tributaries to him †And the Amorrheite straytened the children of Dan in the mountaine and gaue them not place to goe downe to the playne †and he dwelt in mount Hares which is inter preted shelles in Aialon and Salebim And the hand of the house of Ioseph was agrauated and he became tributarie to him †And the border of the Amorrheite was from the Ascent of the Scorpion the rocke and the higher places CHAP. II. An Angel reciting manie benefites of God towardes Israel and their ingratitude 4. they weepe for their faultes 10. After the death of Iosue and other antientes of his time the people often fal and repenting are deliuered from afflictions 19. but stil fal againe worse and worse AND the Angel of our Lord went vp from Galgal to the place of weepers and said I brought you out of Aegypt and haue brought you into the Land for the which I sware to your fathers and I promised that I would not make frustrate my couenant with you for euer †onlie so that you should not make a league with the inhabitantes of this Land but should ouerthrow their altares and you would not heare my voice why haue you done this †For the which cause I would not destroy them from before your face that you may haue enemies and their goddes may be a ruine vnto you †And when the Angel of our Lord spake these wordes to al the children of Israel they lifted vp their voice and wept †And the name of that place was called the place of weepers or of teares and there they immolated hostes to our Lord. †Iosue therfore dismissed the people and the children of Israel went euerie one into his possession to obtayne it †and they serued our Lord al his daies and the daies of the ancientes of them that liued a long time after him and knew al the workes of our Lord which he had done with Israel †And Iosue the sonne of Nun the seruant of our Lord died being a hundred and ten yeares old †and they buried him in the borders of his possession in Thamnathsare in the mount of Ephraim on the North side of mount Gaas †And al that generation was gathered to to their fathers and there rose others that knew not our Lord and the workes which he had done with
expecting the end of the thing and she cried to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who brake the bandes as if a man should breake a thread of to◠twyned with spittle when it hath taken the sauor of fyre and it was not knowen wherein his strength was †And Dalila said to him Behold thou hast deluded me and hast spoken false now at the least tel me wherwith thou mayest be bound †To whom he answered If I shal be bound with new cordes that were neuer occupied I shal be weake and like to other men †With the which Dalila againe bound him and cried The Philisthijmes vpon thee Samson ambushementes being prepared in the chamber Who did so breake the bandes as threades of linnen cloth †And Dalila said to him againe How long deceiuest thou me and speakest false Shew wherewith thou mayest be bound To whom Samson answered If thou platte seuen heares of my head with a heare lase and fasten a nayle tyed round about them in the ground I shal be weake †Which when Dalila had done she said to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who rysing vp from sleepe drew out the nayle with the heares and the heare lase †And Dalila said to him How doest thou say that thou louest me whereas thy mind is not with me These three times thou hast lied to me wouldest not tel wherein thy greatest strength is †And when she molested him and continually hong vpon him for many daies not geuing him space to rest his soule faynted and was wearied euen vnto death †Then opening the truth of the thing he said to her There neuer came yron vpon my head because I am a Nazareite that is to say consecrated to God from my mothers wombe if my head shal be shauen my strength shal depart from me and I shal fayle and shal be as other men †And she seing that he had confessed to her al his minde sent to the princes of the Philisthijms and willed them Come vp yet once more for now he hath opened his hart to me Who went vp taking with them the money which they had promised †But she made him to sleepe vpon her knees and to lay his head in her bosome And she called a barber and shaued his seuen heares and beganne to driue him away and thrust him from her for immediately the streingth departed from him †and she said The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who arysing from sleepe said in his mind I wil goe forth as I did before and wil shake my self not knowing that our Lord was departed from him †Whom when the Philisthijmes had apprehended forthwith they plucked forth his eies and led him to Gaza bound with chaynes and being shut vp in prison they made him grinde †And now his heares had begone to grow againe †and the princes of the Philisthijms assembled in one that they might immolate magnifical hostes to Dagon their god and might feast saying Our God hath deliuered our enemie Samson into our handes †Which thing the people also seing praysed their god and said the same thinges Our God hath deliuered our aduersarie into our handes who destroyed our countrie and killed verie manie †And reioysing through out their bankettes when they had now taken their good cheere they commanded that Samson should be called and should play before them Who being brought out of prison played before them and they made him to stand betwen two pillers †Who said to the seruant that gouerned his steppes Suffer me to touch the pillers on which al the house stayeth and let me leane vpon them and rest a litle †And the house was ful of men and wemen and there were al the princes of the Philisthijms also from the roofe and higher part about three thousand of both sexe beholding Samson playing †But he inuocating our Lord said Lord God remember me restore now to me myne old strength my God that I may reuenge me of myne enemies and for the losse of two eies may receiue one reuenge †And taking both the pillers on which the house rested and holding the one in his right hand and the other in his left †he said “ Let me die with the Philisthijms And the pillers being strongly shaken the house fel vpon al the princes and the rest of the multitude that was there and he killed manie moe dying then before he had killed liuing †And his brethren going downe and al his kindred they tooke his bodie and buried it betwixt Saraa and Esthaol in the sepulchre of his father Manue and he iudged Israel twentie yeares ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 30. Let me die vvith the Philisthiims Manie thinges do iustifie Samsons fact in killing himself with the Philisthiims First it appeareth by the miracle that God directly and extraordinarily concurred by restoring in that moment his admirable streingth that he could pull downe two such pillers And conformably we may gather that God inspired his mind to attempt this fact and so he erred not but obeyed God herein as S. Augustin noteth li. 1. c. 21. 26. de ciuit Dei Secondly he was moued with zele of Gods honour hearing the Idolaters praise their false god Dagon Thirdly he had a good and pure intention to reuenge him selfe for Gods more glorie praying to him for restauration of streingth Fourthy he did not directly desire to kil himselfe but to kil the Philisthims though himselfe must also die with them And in this act especially he was a figure of Christ who chiefly by his death conquered his enemies CHAP. XVII Michas and his mother cause a grauen and a molten idol to be made of siluer 5. He maketh one of his sonnes priest for the idol 10. and for the same purpose hyreth also a Leuite THERE was at that time a certaine man of mount Ephraim named Michas †who said to his mother The thousand and hundred siluer peeces which thou hadst separated to thy selfe and concerning the which thou didst sweare in my hearing behold I haue and they are with me To whom she said Blessed be my sonne to the Lord. †He therfore rendred them to his mother who had said to him I haue consecrated and vowed this siluer to the Lord that my sonne may receiue it of my hand and make a grauen and a molten god and now I deliuer that to thee †He rendred them therfore to his mother who tooke two hundred siluer peeces and gaue them to the siluersmith that he might make of them a grauen and a molten god which was in the house of Michas †Who separated also therein a litle house to the God and made an Ephod and Theraphim that is to say a priestlie vestiment and idoles and he filled the hand of one of his sonnes and he became his priest †In those daies there was not a king in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him self
not in vnto them but they were shut vp vntil the day of their death liuing in widowhood †And the king sayd to Amasa Cal me together al the men of Iuda agaynst the third day and be thou present †Amasa therfore went to cal together Iuda and taryed beyond the time appoynted which the king had assigned him †And Dauid sayd to Abisai Now wil Seba the sonne of Bochri more astlict vs then Absalom take therefore the seruantes of thy Lord and pursew him lest perhaps he finde fensed cities escape vs. †There went forth therfore with him Ioabs men Cerethi also and Phelethi and al the strong men yssued forth of Ierusalem to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri †And when they were beside the great stone which is in Gabaon Amasa coming mette them Moreouer Ioab was clothed with a strayte cote according to the measure of his stature and vpon it girded with a sword hanging downe to the flanke in a scabbarde which being made for the purpose could with light mouing come sorth and strike †Ioab therfore sayd to Amasa God saue thee my brother And he held with his right hand the chinne of Amasa as it were kissing him †But Amasa marked not the sword which Ioab had who strick him in the side and powred out his bowels on the ground neither added he the second wound and he dyed And Ioab and Abisai his brother pursewed Seba the sonne of Bochri †In the meane time certayne men when they stoode by the carcasse of Amasa Ioabs company sayd Loe he that would haue beene for Ioab the companion of Dauid †And Amasa embrewed with bloud lay in the middes of the way A certayne man saw this that al the people stayed to see him and he remoued Amasa out of the way into the filde and couered him with a garment that they which passed might not stay because of him †He therefore being remoued out of the way euery man passed folowing Ioab to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri †Moreouer he had passed through al the tribes of Israel vnto Abela and Bethmaaca and al the chosen men were gathered together vnto him †They therfore came and assaulted him in Abela and in Bethmaaca and they compassed the citie with munitions and the citie was besieged and al the multitude that was with Ioab laboured to destroy the walles †And a wise woman cryed out from the citie Heare ye heareye tel Ioab Approche hither and I wil speake with thee †Who when he was come to her she sayd to him Art thou Ioab And he answered I am To whom she spake thus Heare the wordes of thy handmayd Who answered I doe heare †And she agayne sayd A saying was vsed in the old prouerbe They that aske let them aske in Abela and so they prospered †Am not I she that answer truth in Israel and thou seekest to subuert the citie to ouerthrowe a mother citie in Israel Why throwest thou downe hedlong the inheritance of our Lord †And Ioab answering sayd God sorbid God sorbid that I should I do not throw downe nor destroy †The matter is not so but a man of mount Ephraim Seba the sonne of Bochri by name hath lifted vp his hand agaynst king Dauid Deliuer him onlie and we wil depart from the citie And the woman sayd to Ioab Behold his head shal be throwen to thee of the wal †She therfore went to al the people and spake to them wisely who threw the head of Seba the sonne of Bochri being cut of to Ioab And he sounded the trumpet and they departed from the citie euery one into their tabernacles and Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king †Ioab therfore was ouer al the armie of Israel and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada ouer the Cheretheites and Pheletheites †But Aduram ouer the tributes moreouer Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was register †And Siua a scribe and Sadoc and Abiathar priestes †And Ira the â—aiâ—ite was the priest of Dauid CHAP. XXI Eâ—mine oppressing Isiael three yeares for the sinne of Saul agaynst the Gabaonites 6. seuen of Saulsrace 7. Miphiboseth saned are crucisied 12. Their bones with Sauls and Ionathas are buried in the Land of Beniamin 15. Dauid hath foure great battels and victories against the Philistians AND there came a famine in the daies of Dauid three yeares continually and Dauid consulted the oracle of our Lord. And our Lord sayd For Saul and his bloudy house because he slewe the Gabaonites †The king therfore calling the Gabaonites sayd to them Moreouer the Gabaonites were not of the children of Israel but the reliques of the Amorrheites For the children of Israel had sworne to them and Saul would strike them of zeale as it were for the children of Israel and Iuda †Dauid therfore sayd to the Gabaonites What shal I do for you And what shal be the expiation for you that you may blesse the inheritance of our Lord †And the Gabaonites sayd to him We haue no question vpon siluer and gold but agaynst Saul and agaynst his house neither wil we that a man be slayne of Israel To whom the king sayd What wil you then that I do for you †Who sayd to the king The man that hath wasted vs and oppressed vs vniustly we must so destroy that there be not so much as one leift of his stocke in al the coastes of Israel †Let there be geuen vs seuen men of his children that we may crucifie them to our Lord in Gabaa of Saul once the chosen of our Lord. And the king sayd I wil geue them †And the king spared Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul for the oth of our Lord that had beene betwen Dauid and betwen Ionathas the sonne of Saul †The king therfore tooke the two sonnes of Respha the daughter of Aia whom she bare to Saul Armoni and Miphiboseth and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul which she bare to Hadriel the sonne of Berzellai that was of Molathi †and gaue them into the handes of the Gabaonites who crucified them on a hil before our Lord and these seuen dyed together in the first dayes of haruest when the reaping of barley began †And Respha the daughter of Aia taking a heare cloth spred it vnder her vpon the rocke from the beginning of haruest til water dropped vpon them from heauen and she suffered not the birdes to teare them by day nor the beastes by night †And the thinges were told Dauid which Respha had done the daughter of Aia the concubine of Saul †And Dauid went and tooke the bones of Saul and the bones of Ionathas his sonne from the men of Iabes Galaad who had stolen them out of the streate of Bethsan in the which the Philistijms hanged them when they had killed Saul in Gelboe †And he caried thence the bones of Saul and the bones
he destroyed her denne and brake the most filthie idol and burnt it in the torrent cedron †but the excelses he did not take away Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies †and he caried in those thinges which his father had sanctified and vowed into the house of our Lord siluer and gold and vessels †And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies †Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda and built Rama that no man might go out or come in of Asaes side the king of Iuda †Asa therfore taking al the siluer and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord and in the treasures of the kinges house gaue it into the handes of his seruantes and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion the king of Syria which dwelt in Damascus saying †There is a league betwen me and thee betwixt my father and thy father therfore I haue sent thee giftes siluer and gold and I desire thee that thou come and make void the league that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel and he may retire from me †Benadad agreing to king Asa sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel and they stroke Ahion and Dan and Abeldomum of Maacha and al Cenneroth to witte al the Land of Nephthali †Which when Baasa had heard he intermitted to build Rama and returned into Thersa †But king Asa sent word into al Iuda saying Let no man be excused and they tooke stones from Rama and the timber therof wherwith Baasa had built and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin and Maspha †But the rest of al the wordes of Asa and al his forces and al that he did the cities that he built are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete †And he slept with his fathers was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him †But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares †And he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the waies of his father and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne †And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar lay in wayte against him and stroke him in Gebbethon which is a citie of the Philistimes for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon †Baasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and reigned for him †And when he reigned he stroke al the house of Ieroboam he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite †for the sinnes of Ieroboam which he had sinned and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne and for the offence wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel †But the rest of the wordes of Nadab and al that he wrought are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies †In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Baasa the sonne of Ahias ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares †And he did euil before our Lord walked in the waies of Ieroboam and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne CHAP. XVI Iehu for prophecying the destruction of Baasa and his house 7. is slaine 8. yet his sonne Ela reigneth tvvo yeares 9. Then Zambri rebelleth killeth Ela and reigneth 16. Part of the people choosing Amri prince of the armie their king 18. Zambri desperatly burneth himselfe and the kings palace 21. an other part folow Thebni as king til his death 23. Amri reigneth tvvelue yeares vvickedly 29. His sonne Achab succedeth marieth Iezabel and serueth Baal 34. In the meane time Hiel repairer◠Iericho AND the word of our Lord came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani agaynst Baasa saying †For so much as I haue exalted thee out of the dust sette thee duke ouer my people Israel but thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne that thou mightest anger me with their sinnes †behold I wil cut downe the posteritie of Baasa and the posteritie of his house and I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat †Whosoeuer of Baasa shal die in the citie him shal the dogges eate and whosoeuer of his shal die in the countrie him shal the fowles of the ayre deuoure †But the rest of the wordes of Baasa and whatsoeuer he did and his battels are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †Baasa therfore slept with his fathers and was buried in Thersa and Ela his sonne reigned for him †And when the word of our Lord came in the hand of Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete agaynst Baasa and agaynst his house and agaynst al the euil that he had done before our Lord to anger him in the workes of his handes that it should be made as the house of Ieroboam for this cause he slew him that is to say Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete †In the sixe and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Ela the sonne of Baasa ouer Israel in Thersa two yeares †And his seruant Zambri rebelled agaynst him the captayne of the halfe part of the horsemen and Ela was in Thersa drinking and dronken in the house of Arsa the gouernour of Thersa †Zambri therfore rushing in stroke and slew him in the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda he reigned for him †And when he teigned and sate vpon his throne he stroke al the house of Baasa and he leaft not of it one that could pysse agaynst a wal his kinsfolke and frendes †And Zambri destroyed al the house of Baasa according to the word of our Lord that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Iehu the prophet †for al the sinnes of Baasa and the sinnes of Ela his sonne who sinned and made Israel to sinne prouoking our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities †But the rest of the wordes of Ela and al that he did are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †In the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Zambri seuen daies in Thersa moreouer the armie besieged Gebbethon a citie of the Philisthines †And
24. The Syrians besiege Samaria 26. For extreme famine a mother eateth her child 31. And the king commandeth to kil Eliseus AND the children of the prophetes sayd to Eliseus Behold the place wherin we dwel before thee is streite for vs. †Let vs goe as far as Iotdan and take out of the wood euerie man some timber that we may build there a place to dwel in Who said Goe †And one of them sayd Come therfore thou also with thy seruantes He answered I wil come †And he went with them And when they were come to Iordan they cut wood †And it chanced that when one had cut downe timber the head of the axe fel into the water and he cried out and said Alas alas alas my lord this same also I did borow †And the man of God sayd where â—el it and he shewed him the place he therfore cut of a pece of wood and cast it thither and the yron did swimme †and he said Take it vp Who stretched forth his hand and tooke it †And the king of Syria fought against Israel and tooke counsel with his seruantes saying In that and that place let vs lay embushementes †Therfore the man of God sent to the king of Israel saying Beware thou passe not into such a place because the Syrians are there in embushementes †The king of Israel therfore sent to the place which the man of God had told him and preuented him and looked wel to himself there not once or twise †And the hart of the king of Syria was trubled for this thing And calling together his seruantes he sayd Why doe you not tel me who is the betraier of me to the king of Israel †And one of his seruantes sayd Not so my lord king but Eliseus the prophet which is in Israel telleth the king of Israel al wordes whatsoeuer thou shalt speake in thy priuy chamber †And he sayd to them Goe and see where he is that I may send and take him And they told him saying Behold in Dothan †He therfore sent thither horses and chariotes and the force of his armie who when they were come in the night they besette the citie †And the seruant of the man of God rising early went out and saw an armie round about the citie and horses and chariotes and he told him saying Alas alas alas my lord what shal we doe †But he answered Feare not for there are more with vs then with them †And when Eliseus had prayed he sayd Lord open the eies of this man that he may see And our Lord opened the eies of the seruant and he behold and loe the mountaine ful of horses and of firie chariotes round about Eliseus †But the enemies went downe to him moreouer Eliseus prayed to our Lord saying Strike I besech thee this people with blindenesse And our Lord smote them that they saw not according to the word of Eliseus †And Eliseus sayd to them This is not the way neither is this the citie folow me I wil shew you the man whom you seeke He therfore led them into Samaria †and when they were entered into Samaria Eliseus said Lord open the eies of these men that they may see And our Lord opened their eies and they saw them selues to be in the middes of Samaria †And the king of Israel said to Eliseus when he had sene them Shal I strike them my father †And he said Thou shalt not strike them for thou didst not take them with thy sword and thy bow that thou mayst strike them but set bread and water before them that they may eate and drinke and goe to their maister †And a great preparation of meates was sette before them and they did eate and drinke and he dismissed them and they went away to their maister and the robbers of Syria came no more into the Land of Israel †And it came to passe after these thinges Benadad the king of Syria gathered together al his armie and went vp and besieged Samaria †And there was a great famine in Samaria and so long it was besieged til the head of an asse was sold for foure score siluer peeces the fourth part of a cabe of pigeons dung for fiue siluer peeces †And when the king of Israel passed by the wall a certayne woman cried out to him saying Saue me my lord king †Who sayd No our Lord saue thee how can I saue thee of the floore or of the presse And the king sayd to her What ayleth thee Who answered †This woman sayd to me Geue thy sonne that we may eate him to day my sonne we wil eate to morrow †We therfore boyled my sonne and did eate him And I sayd to her the next day Geue thy sonne that we may eate him Who hath hid her sonne †Which when the king had heard he rent his garmentes and passed by the wal And al the people saw the hearecloth which he ware next vpon his flesh †And the king sayd These thinges doe God to me and these adde he if the head of Eliseus the sonne of Saphat shal stand vpon him this day †But Eliseus sate in his house and the ancientes sate with him He therfore sent a man before and before that messenger came he sayd to the ancientes Doe you know that this murderers sonne hath sent to cut of my head See therfore when the messenger shal come shut the doore and suffer him not to enter in for behold the sound of his maisters feete is behinde him †Whiles he was yet speaking to them the messenger appeared which came to him And he sayd Behold this so great euil is of our Lord what shal I looke for more of our Lord CHAP. VII Eliseus prophecieth plentie of corne the next day and death to a chief man that wil not beleue it 3. Foure Lepers going to yeld themselues to the Syrians 6. who by Gods prouidence are frighted and fled away 9. bring newes therof to Samaria 12. which by trial is found true 16. And so there is plentie of corne and the incredulous nobleman is trod to death with presse of multitude in the gate as the prophet fortold AND Eliseus sayd Heare ye the word of our Lord Thus sayth our Lord At this time to morow a bushel of floure shal be at one stater and two bushels of barley at one stater in the gate of Samaria †One of the Dukes vpon whose hand the king leaned answearing the man of God sayd If our Lord shal make fludgates in heauen can that possibly be which thou speakest Who sayd Thou shalt see it with thine eies and shalt not eate therof †There were therfore foure men lepers beside the entrance of the gate who sayd one to an other What meane we to be here til we die †Whether we enter into the citie we shal die for famine or whether we tarie
heauen to burne his sacrifice thereby confounding foure hundred and fifty false prophets of Baal 6. By prayer procured rayne 3. Reg. 18. 7. Fasted vvithout eating or drincking fourtie daies and nightes together 3. Reg. 19. 8. Procured fire from heauen which deuoured two insolent captaines and their hundred men 4. Reg. 1. 9. Diuided the riuer of Iordan vvith his cloke that himselfe and Elisens passed ouer the drie chanel 10. VV as assumpted in a firie chariote into some place vvhere he yet liueth And parting a vvay Obtained of God the like duble spirit of prophecie and miracles to Eliseus In like maner Eliseus 1. diuided Iordan againe by Elias cloke and so returned to his disciples 2. Amended the bitternes of certaine waters by casting in salte 3. Boies being cursed by him for deriding him were forth vvith torne by beares 4. Reg. 2. 4. He procured water without rayne for three kinges in the campe 4. Reg. 3. 5. Multiplied a poore vvidovves Oile 6. By his prayers barren woman became frutefull 7. He raised her sonne from death 8. Made the bitter broth of his disciples sweete 9. Fedde maine with few loaues 4. Reg. 4. 10. Cured Naaman of leprosie 11. Stroke Giezi with the same 4. Reg. 5. 12. Naaman of leprosie 11. Stroke Giezi with the same 4. Reg. 5. 12. Made yron to swimme 13. Knewe the secret counsels of the Syrian king 14. Made one see horsemen and firie chariotes which to others were inuisible 15. Made the Syrianes blinde that vvere sent to apprehend him and so ledde them into samaria 16. For shewed vnexpected plentie of corne the next day VVith the death of a great man that would not beleue it 4. Reg. 7. 17. And after his death an other mans dead bodie touching his bones reuiued 4. Reg. 13. Other Prophets vvrought also miracles but these for example may suffice to she vve that God preserued religion also in the kingdome of Israel VVhich himselfe further testified euen in most desolate times vvhen Elias lamented that he vvas leift alone 3. Reg. 19. For God ansvvered that seuen thousand meaning therby a great multitude had not bowed their knees to Baal not so much as in out vvard she vve conformed themselues to infidelitie or idolatrie Iehu in his time destroyed all the worshippers of Baal 4. Reg. 10. But none at anie time could wholy destroy true Israelites For God would not suffer it 4. Reg. 14. v. 27. Yea not vvithstanding diuers notorious heresies vvere preached folovved in that kingdome of the Tenne tribes yet ab did not fall nor embrace them Iecoboam not onlie made and set vp golden calues but also taught that they vvere Gods saying Behold thy goddes O Israel which brought thee out of the land of Aegypt 3. Reg. 12. making temples altars and imaginarie priestes which were not of the children of Leui. Also a feast the fiftenth day of the moneth after the similitude of the solemnitie that was celebrated in Iuda Al which the holie Scripture saith He fourged of his owne hart The very propertie of Archeretickes But the true Priestes Leuites and manic others that had geuen their hart to seke our Lord went into Ierusalem to immolate theire victimes before our Lord the God of their fathers 2 Par. 11. Yea Naaman a stranger of Syria and a Neophite in religion taught by his example that none may yeld conformitie nor otherwise communicate with Infideles then Gods Priests or Prophetes approue for lawful 4. Reg. 5. Vnto this heresie of leroboam Achab by Iezabels perswasion added the worshipping of Baal as God 3. Reg. 16. making both temple and altar to him in Samaria Ieroboams priests seruing fitly this purpose Though al the former heretikes no more agreed to this new heresie then Iutherans now admitte of Caluinisme For Iehua Ieroboamite destroyed al Iezabilits that he could by a stratageme gette together 4. Reg. 10. v. 28. 29. Muchlesse did al Israel serue Baal Againe after that Salmanazar king of Assyria had taken Samaria and placed there a new people 4. Reg. 17. they learning the rites of the Israelits religion mixed their Paganisme there with and made a new heresie or rather manie new heresies For being diuers nations they had in seueral conuentieles their particular goddes and so manie diuers Sects The Babylonians Cutheites Emathites Heueites and Sapharuaimites 4. Reg. 17. But as the Priestes which taught them rites of true religion allowed not of this mixture so doubtles some people harkened to their admonitions and kept religion simply and sincerely And at this very time of the Tenne tribes captiuitie holie Tobias who was carried captiue with the rest neither before nor after the captiuitie leift the law of God But went to Ierusalem when others serued leroboams golden calues to the Temple of our Lord and there adored the Lord God of Israel And in captiuitie bestowed himselfe in workes of mercie towardes the liuing and dead of his nation Tob. 1. As for the kingdom of Iuda it was more free from heresies For very few or none of those kinges that fell to other grosse enormities yea to manifest idolatrie became heretikes as is probablie collected by that Isaias the Prophet being sent to Achaz admonished him conuersed and dealt with him as with one that beleued wholly and solely true religion assuring him that God would protect Ierusalem bidding him not to feare the two smoking firebrandes in the wrath of Rasin king of Syria and of Phacce king of Israel Isa 7. Further bidding him aske a singe of God he answered though frovvardliâ— yet not as an infidel I wil not aske and I wil not tempt our Lord. Yea though Vrias the High Priest by commandment of the same king 4 Reg. 16. made a new altar in place of Gods Altar yet he erred not in faith nor in doctrine as teaching in Moyses chayre but in fact onclie and of frailtie for feare of the king aâ— the king offended in his externall act to slatter the king of Syria And in this case God sent Isaiâ—â— to admonish the king which Vrias neglected or durst not do Likwise Ioram 4. Reg. 8 2. Par. 21. Ochozias 2. Par. 22. Ioas in the latter part of his life 2. Par. 24. Manasses in the former part of his reigne 4. Reg. 2. 2. Par 33. and sowe other kinges of Iuda committing idolatrie and making others to fall with them either were not wholie peruerted or at least drew not al with them For not onlie Prophets in whose hand or ministerie God spake and reproued these sinnes but manie others kept their Zele of true religion as appeared in their promptnes to serue God when by good kinges Asa Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias and others they were exhorted or admitted so to do 4. Reg. 18. 23. 2. Par. 15. 17. 29. 30. 31. 33. 34. c. Finally wheras diuers good princes disposed thinges belonging to Diuine seruice in the temple correcting faultes and
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
when it shined and the moone going cleerly †And my hart in secret reioysed and I kissed my hand with my mouth †Which is most great iniquitie and a denial against God the most high †If I haue beene glad of his fal that hated me haue reioysed that euil had found him †For I haue not geuen my throte to sinne that cursing I wished his soule †If the men of my tabernacle haue not sayd Who wil giue of his flesh that we may be filled †The stranger taried not without my doore was open to the wayfaring man †If as man I haue hid my sinne and haue concealed my iniquitie in my bosome †If I haue bene afrayd at a verie great multitude the contempt of kinâ—men hath terrified me and I haue not rather held my peace not gone out of the doore †Who wil grant me an hearer that the Omnipotent would heare my desire and that himself that iudgeth would write a booke †That I may carie it on my shoulder and put it about me as a crowne †At euerie steppe of mine I wil pronounce it and as to the prince I wil offer it †If my Land cry against me and with it the furrowes therof lament †If I haue eaten the fruites therof without money and haue afflicted the soule of the tillers therof †For wheate let the bryar grow to me and for batlie the thorne The wordes of Iob are ended CHAP. XXXII Eliu a young man being angrie that Iob persisted in his opinion and that his three freindes could not conuince him S. taketh vpon him to confute Iob which they could not do BVT these three men omitted to answer Iob for that he seemed iust to himself †And Eliu the sonne of Barachel a Buzite of the kinred of Ram was angrie and tooke indignation and he was angrie against Iob for that he sayd himself to be iust before God †Moreouer against his freindes he had indignation for that they had not found a reasonable answer but onlie had condemned Iob. †Therfore Eliu expected Iob speaking because they were his elders that spake †But when he saw that the three were not able to answer he was wrath excedingly †And Eliu the sonne of Barachel a Buzite answering sayd I am yonger in time and you more ancient therfore casting downe my head I was afrayd to shewe you my sentence †For I hoped that longer age would speake and that a multitude of yeares would teach wisdom †But as I see there is a Spirite in men and the inspiration of the Omnipotent geueth vnderstanding †They of many yeares are not the wise men neither doe the ancientes vnderstand iudgement †Therfore wil I speake Heare ye me I also wil shew you my wisedom †For I haue expected your wordes I haue heard your wisdom as long as you contended in wordes †And as long as I thought you said somewhat I considered but as I see here is none of you that can reproue Iob and answer to his wordes †Lest perhaps you may say We haue found wisedom God hath reiected him not man †He hath spoken nothing to me and I wil not answer him according to your wordes †They were afrayd and answered no more they haue taken away talke from themselues †Therfore because I haue expected and they spake not they stoode answered no more †I also wil answer my part and wil shew my knowledge †For I am ful of wordes and the spirit of my bellie streyneth me †Behold my bellie is as new wine without a vent which breaketh new vessels †I wil speake and take breath a litle I wil open my lippes and wil answer †I wil not accept the person of a man and I wil not make God equal to man †For I know not how long I shal continewe and whether after a while my maker wil take me away CHAP. XXXIII Eliu endeuoreth to proue by Iobs speach that he is vniust 13. arguing that God by afflicting him hath alreadly so iudged 23. but if by an Angels admonition he repent al shal be remitted HEERE therfore Iob my sayings and harken to al my wordes †Behold I haue opened my mouth let my tongue speake within my iawes †My wordes are of my simple hart and my lippes shal speake a pure sentence †The Spirit of God made me and the breath of the Omnipotent gaue me life †If thou canst answer me and stand against my face †Behold God hath made me also euen as thee and of the same clay I also was formed †But yet let not my miracle terrifie thee and let not my eloquence be burdenous to thee †Thou therfore hast sayd in my eares and I haue heard the voice of thy wordes †I am cleane and without sinne vnspotted and there is no iniquitie in me †Because he hath found quarrels in me therfore hath he thought me his enemy †He hath put my feete in the stockes he hath obserued al my waies †This therfore is it wherein thou art not iustified I wil answer thee that God is greater then man †Doest thou contend against him because he hath not answered thee to al wordes †God speaketh once repeateth not the self same the second time †By a dreame in a vision by night when heauie sleepe falleth vpon men and they sleepe in their bed †TheÌ„ doth he open the eares of men teaching instructeth them with discipline †That he may turne a man from these things which he doth may deliuer him from pride †Deliuering his soule from corruption and his life that it passe not vnto the sword †He rebuketh also by sorow in the bed and he maketh al his bones to wither †Bread is become abominable to him in his life and to his soule the meate before desired †His flesh shal consume and the bones that had beene couered shal be made naked †His soule hath approched to corruption and his life to things causing death †If there shal be an Angel speaking for him one of thousandes to declare mans equirie †He shal haue mercie on him and shal say deliuer him that he descend not into corruption I haue found wherein I may be propitious to him †His flesh is consumed with punishments let it returne to the daies of his youth †He shal beseche God and he wil be pacified towards him and he shal see his face in iubilation and he wil render to a man his iustice †He shal behold men and shal say I haue sinned and in deede I haue oftended and as I was worthie I haue not receiued †He hath deliuered his soule that it should not goe into death but liuing should see the light †Behold al these things doth God worke three times in euerie one †That he may reclame their soules from corruption and
glorie †But if they heare not they shal passe by the sworde and shal be consumed in folie †Dissemblers and crastie men prouoke the wrath of God neither shal they crie when they are bound †Their soule shal dye in tempest their life among the effeminates †He shal deliuer the poore out of his distresse and shal reuele his eare in tribulation †Therfore he shal saue thee most largely out of the narrow mouth and not hauing foundation vnder it and the quietnesse of thy table shal be ful of fatnesse †Thy cause is iudged as an impious mans cause and iudgement thou shalt receiue †Let not therfore anger ouercome thee that thou oppresse anie man neither let multitude of gifres in cline thee †Lay downe thy greatnes without tribulation and al the puissant of strength †Protract not the night that peoples may come vp for them †Beware thou decline not to iniquitie for thou hast begunne to folow it after miserie †Behold God is high in his strength and none is like to him among the lawgeuers †Who can search his waies or who can say to him Thou hast wrought iniquitie †Remember that thou knowest not his worke wherof men haue song †Al men see him euerie one beholdeth far of †Behold God is great surmounting our knowledge the number of his yeares is inestimable †Who taketh away the droppes of raine and powreth out showers as it were gulfes of water †Which flow out from the clowdes that couer al thinges from aboue †If he wil stretch forth clowdes as his tent †And lighten with his light from aboue he shal couer also the endes of the sea †For by these he iudgeth peoples and geueth victuals to manie mortal men †In his handes he bideth the light and commandeth it that it come agayne †He sheweth his freind therof that it is his possession and that he may ascend to it CHAP. XXXVII Eliu continueth his discourse shewing Gods wisdom powre and iustice by his meruelous workes of Meteors 14 and vse therof to mans commoditie 18. which the wisest mâ—n sufficiently vnderstand not much lesse may presume as he vniustly chargeth Iob to contend with God VPON this my hart is sore afrayd and is moued out of his place †Heare ye his speach in the terrour of his voice and the sound proceding out of his mouth †Vnder al the heauens he considereth and his light is vpon the endes of the earth †After him shal sounding roare he shal thunder with the voice of his greatnes shal not be found out when his voice shal be heard †God shal thunder in his voice meruelously he that doeth great vnsearcheable thinges †He that commandeth the snow to descend vpon the earth and the winter raines and the shower of his strength †He that signeth in the hand of al men that euerie one may know his workes †The beast shal enter into his couert and shal abide in his denne †From the inner partes shal tempest come forth and cold from Arcturus †When God bloweth frost congeleth and againe waters are powred most largely †Corne desireth clowdes and the clowdes spred their light †Which goe round about whither soeuer the wil of the gouerner shal lead them to al that he shal coÌ„mand them vpon the face of he whole earth †Whether in one tribe or in his land or in what place so euer of his mercy he shal command them to be found †Harken to these things Iob stand and consider the maruels of God †Doest thou know when God commanded the raines that they shew the light of his clowdes †Knowest thou the great pathes of the clowdes and the perfect knowledges †Are not thy garments hote when the earth shal be blowen with the South winde †Thou perhaps madst the heauens with him which are most sound cast as it were of brasse †Shew vs what we may say to him for we are wrapped in darkenes †Who shal tel him the things that I speake yea if man shal speake he shal be deuoured †But now they see not the light sodenly the ayre shal be thickned into clowdes and the wind passing by shal driue them away †From the North gold cometh toward God fearful praysing †We can not find him worthely great of strength and iudgement and iustice and he can not be vttered †Therfore shal men feare him and al that seme to themselues to be wise shal not dare to behold him CHAP. XXXVIII God after terrour of a whirlewind by way of examining his client Iob of diuers creatures about their nature sheweth that no man hath perfect knowlege of them much lesse of Gods immensitie BVT our Lord answering Iob out of a whirlewind sayd †Who is this that wrappeth in sentences with vnskilful wordes †Gird thy loynes as a man I wil aske thee and answer thou me †Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth tel me if thou hast vnderstanding †Who set the measures therof if thou know or who stretched out the line vpon it †Vpon what are the foundations therof grounded or who let downe the corner stone therof †when the morning starres praised me together and al the sonnes of God made iubilation †Who shut in the sea with doores when it brake forth proceding as it were out of a matrice †When I made a clowde the garment therof and wrapped it in darkenes as in cloutes of infancie †I compassed it with my boundes and put barre and doores †And I sayd Hitherto thou shalt come and shalt not procede farder here thou shalt breake thy swelling waues †Didst thou after thy birth command the morning and shew the dawning his place †And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them and hâ—st thou shaken the impious out of it †The seale shal be restored as clay and shal stand as a garment †From the impious their light shal be taken away and the high aâ—me shal be broken †Hast thou entered into the depthes of the sea and walked in the lowest partes of the great depth †Haue the gates of death bene open to thee and hast thou sene the darkesome doores †Hast thou considered the bredth of the earth tel me if thou know al things †In what way the light dwelleth and what is the place of darkenesse †That thou canst bring euerie thing to his borders and vnderstand the pathes of the house therof †Didst thou know then that thou shouldest be borne and didst thou know the number of thy dayes †Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow or hast thou beheld treasures of haile †Which I haue prepared for the time of the enemie for the day of fight and battel †What way is the light spred is
his children with former wickednes and him as iniurious to God in his speaches of which if he would repent he should be healed and prosper as before Arguing in general that God neuer afflicteth the innocent nor assisteth the malignant Insinuating therby that Iob was an hypocrite wherto Iob answered chap. 9. 10 that in dede no man may compare nor iustifie himselse before God Neuertheles it standeth wel with Gods iustice powre wisdome that innocentes be sometimes exercised with tribulations more then their offences deserue Thirdly Sophar the third disputer assaulted Iob ch 11. imputing his speach and defence of himself to loquacitie and audacious temeritie in that he desired to know the causes of Gods prouidence in so grieuously afflicting him Of which faultes holie Iob purged himself in the three next chapters stil maintayning his innocencie according to his owne conscience better knowen to himself then to them desiring God to instruct him if he had anie vnknowen sinnes Discoursed also much more profoundly of Gods powre wisdome iustice and prouidence as weâ— in general as towards himself in particular and professed his faith and great confidence of the Resurrection Againe Eliphaz ch 15. more bitterly then before condemned Iob of presumption and blasphemie discoursed of mans corruptnes and prones to sinne describing the maners of hypochrites and other impious men with their miserable endes and argued Iob for such a one VVho in the next two chapters expostulated with these his freinds that they coming with pretence to comforth him did so violently afflict him by charging him with false and heynous crimes his owne conscience better knowing and testifying his former life and state of his soule then that their imaginations could alter his iudgement And so with contempt of this world desire of death and rest appealed to Gods iudgement against his three freindes touching the matter in controuersie In the meane time comforted himself with meditation of the next world Baldad likewise replied ch 18. with hote contention accusing Iob of insolent impatience inculcating the greuous punishmentes both of him and others for their impietie In answer wherto he lamented againe the wanâ— of expected comforth especially by such freindes Stil comforted himself with assured faith of the Resurrection Sophar also ch 20. attempted againe to coÌ„uince Iob of impietie and hypochrisie by the miserable and speedie fal of wicked men after prosperitie for so he imagined Iob to be fallen into irrecouerable miserie But Iob shewed the contrarie that some wicked men prosper long yea al their life and the same long and then in a moment goe downe to hel and so the argument of present affliction proued not their opinion against him Eliphaz disputed the third time ch 22. contending that the causes of affliction are not to be attributed to Gods secrete prouidence but to assured sinnes of the wicked Vpon whom only he supposed that afflictions fal inferring that Iob was guiltie of enormious crimes grosse errors Vrged him therfore to returne to God that he might be restored to former prosperitie Iob againe appealed to Gods sentence not in his terrour nor rigour of his iustice but against his aduersaries in this quarel describing Gods powre and wisdome by which he permitteth the innocent to be afflicted the wicked to prosper no man knowing how soone or how late al shal receiue as they deserue Moreouer Baldad disputed the third time very briefly ch 25. endeuouring to terrifie Iob from further answering and especially from appealing to Gods iudgement But Iob very largely in six ensuing chapters discoursed diuinely of Gods souereigne Maieste Powre Wisdom exact Iustice and infinite Mercie Also of wicked mens destruction of his owne former prosperitie and present calamitie together with his good workes and innocencie which he stil anouched in respect of great iniquities After that Iob and his three freindes ceassed nothing being agreed vpon in the point of controuersie the diuel yet ceassed not but sturred vp a yongman called Eliu proud and arrogant but not vnlerned who abruptly condemned them al to witte Iob of pertinacie the others of insufficiencie And therfore tooke vpon him to conuince Iob though the others could not Very like to late-rising Protestantes or Puritaines bragging that by new argumentes and proofes neuer heard of they wil ouerthrow the Papistes or Catholique Romaine Church and doctrin which al former enimies Iewes Pagaines Turkes and Heretikes nor Hel gates could not ouercome This yong Eliu therfore with his Priuate spirite wiser in his owne conceipt then al that went before him assaulted constant Iob ch 32. and fiue more ensuing with manie wordes and bragges often chalenging prouoking but not extorting anie answer from so graue a man to his friuolous and idle argumentes largely discoursing of thinges either not denied or so manifest false that euerie meane seruant of God could easely conuince them and neuer approching to the maine controuersie only railed against holie Iob charging him more furiously then anie had donne before with impietie impatience ignorance pride blasphemie and obstinacie vices farre from Iobs sanctitie dilating also of Gods iustice mercie wisdome powre and prouidence and that no man ought to contend nor expostulate with God that afflictions must be borne patiently and that God is iust and maruelous in his workes wherof no wiseman euer doubted and so Iob conuinced him with silence But God himself for decision of al from ch 38. to the end of the Booke first by way of examining instructed Iob more particularly reciting manie maruelous workes of nature shewing therby his Diuine Maiestie Powre and wisdome exercising Iob in more patience and withal perfecting him in humilitie So that with al reuerent feare and subiection he offered and submitted him selfe to Gods onlie good pleasure Then finally God gaue sentence that Iob had defended the truth his three freindes had erred VVhom after Sacrifice and Iobs prayer for them he pardoned restored Iob to health and to duble prosperitie of al he had lost before geuing him also long life and a happie end In this historie besides the literal sense shewing that Iob was iust and sincere and not for his sinnes as his freindes falsly supposed but for his more mereâ—e was most extremly afflicted and afterwards restored to health and wealth we haue also hâ—re in the Allegorical sense an especial figure of Christ who as he was absolutly most innocent most perfect so was he without coÌ„parison most afflicted of al mankind Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before signified in the Anagogical sense the Resurrection and restâ—uratioÌ„ of better most glorious qualities in the blessed with fulnes of daies in eternal glorie Finally in the Moral sense which S. Gregorie most especially prosecuteth al Christians haue here a most notable example of al vertues namely of patience wherin Iob proceded by degrees to great perfection For he was first
†For our Lord knoweth the way of the iust and the way of the impious shal perish ANNOTATIONS PSALME I. 1. Hath not gone not stood not sitte The Hebrew stile and maner of discourse differeth here from other nations in mentioning first the lesse euil and the greatest last VVhereas we would say in the contrary order He is happie that hath not sitte that is hath not setled himselfe in wickednes nor finally persisted obstinate more happie that hath not stood anie notable time continued in sinne and most happie that hath not gone not geuen anie consent at al to euil suggestions 2. His vvil in the vvay of our Lord. As one part of happines consisteth in declining from euil so the other is in doing good the wil desiring and diligently endeuoring to walke in the way of vertue and law of God VVhich is true iustice and right forme of good life proposed in this Psalme for attayning eternal beatitude PSALME II. Christs glorie the world repining therat 4. shal be propagated in al the world 7. His diuine powre as wel spiritual in conuerting mens hartes as external in seuere iustice is prophecied VVHY did the Gentiles rage and peoples meditate vaine things †The kings of the earth stood vp and the princes came together in one against our Lord and against his Christ †Let vs breake their bondes a sunder and let vs cast away their yoke from vs. †He that dwelleth in the heauens shal laugh at them and our Lord shal scorne them †Then shal he speake to them in his wrath in his furie he shal truble them †But I am appoynted king by him ouer Sion his holie hil preaching his precept †The Lord said to me Thou art my Sonne I this day haue be gotten thee †Aske of me and I wil geue thee the Gentiles for thyne inheritance and thy possession the endes of the earth †Thou shalt rule them “ in a rod of yron and “ as a potters vessel thou shalt breake them in peeces †And now “ ye kings vnderstand “ take instruction you that iudge the earth †Serue our Lord in feare and “ reioyce to him with trembling †Apprehend discipline lest sometime our Lord be wrath and you perish out of the iust way †When his wrath shal burne in short time blessed are al that trust in him ANNOTATIONS PSALME II. 2. Kinges and Princes against Christ VVhen Christ and his Apostles preached the Gospel both Iewes and Gentiles with their Princes Kinges and Emperors most furiously resisted but al in vaine For they could not hinder the wil and powre of God But the more they persecuted the more was increased the zele and number of Christians 8. The gentiles thyn inheritance By this promise of God to Christ S. Augustin conuinced the Donatistes in them the Protestantes that say the Church of Christ failed and became smal or inuisible as though Christ the Sonne of God could sometimes lose his inheritance which is the Catholique Church gethered of the Gentiles and his possession extended to the endes of the earth 9. As a potters vessel If a potters vessel saith S. Ierom in hunc Psal tom 8. be broken whiles it is soft it may easily be repared but after it is hard it can not be made whole againe So sinners are more easily restored to grace shortly repeating then long obdurate yet that which is vnpossible to man is possible to God Mat. 10. For as clay in the potters hand so are you in my hand saith our Lord. Iere. 18. 10. Ye kinges vnderstand Not onlie innumerable other people of al nations but also after a while Kinges and Emperors beleued in Christ And such as at first persecuted became most Christian Catholique Defenders of the faith 10. Take instruction you that iudge the earth Petilianus Gaudentius other Donatistes inueyghing against Christian Kinges for punishing heretikes most falsly auoched that Christianitie neuer found kinges but inuious enimies and persecuters To whom S. Augustin answereth in seueral bookes that Christian Kinges and Princes are not enemies to Christianitie but are enemies to heretikes the rebelles of Christ and his Church For according to this prophecie of king Dauid Christian kinges are instructed and know it is their dutie â—â— the seruice of God to defend the Church against Heretikes and other Infidelles And it is the propertie of Apostataes to fauour heretikes So good Constantin the great maintained Catholique vnitie and Iulian the Apostata to make greater diuision tooke Churches from Catholiques and gaue them to Donatistes to nourish dissention and so to oâ—eâ—â—â—row al Christians But God stil protecteth the true Church againâ—â— al such suttle and malicious dâ—uiâ—es because it is Christs inheritance 11. Râ—â—oyâ—e vvith trembling Gods seruice is tempeted with two affections with ioy in consideration of his goodnes mercie meeknes and with feare in respect of his â—ustice and â—euere iudgement The one is a remedie against desperation the other against presumption PSALME III. King Dauid recounteth his danger when his sonne Absalom conspired against him 4. and thanketh God for his deliuerie 9 acknowledging al helpe to be from God Mistically Christs persecution Death Burial and Resurrection †The “ Psalme of Dauid “ when he fled from the face of Absalom his sonne 2. Reg. 15. LORD why are they multiplied that truble me manie rise vp against me †Many say to my soule There is no saluation for him in his God †But thou Lord art my protectour my glorie exalting my head †With my voice I haue cried to our Lord and he hath heard me from his holie hil †“ I haue slept and haue bene at rest and haue risen vp because our Lord hath taken me †I wil not feare thousandes of people compassing me arise Lord saue me my God †Because thou hast stroken al that are my aduersaries without cause thou hast broken the teeth of sinners †Saluation is our Lordes and thy blessing vpon thy people ANNOTATIONS PSALME III. 1. Psalme of Dauid Al Interpreters agreably teach that king Dauid made not the titles which are before the Psalmes Neuertheles they are authentical as endited by the Holie Ghost And it is most probable Esdras added those titles which are in the Hebrew and the Seuentie interpreters writte the other in their Greke Edition Both which S. Ierom translated into Latin In these titles fiue thinges may be noted First the former two hauing no title at al the general name of Psalme common to al is particularly appropriated to some and other names to others VVhich in al are twelue to witte Psalme Inscription Prayer Canticle Psalme of Canticle Canticle of Psalme Hymne Testimonie
eyes looke vpon the poore he lyeth in wayte in secret as a lyon in his denne †He lyeth in wayte to take the poore man violently violently to take the poore man whiles he draweth him In his snare he wil humble him selfe and shal fal when he shal haue dominion ouer the poore †For he hath sayed in his hart God hath forgotten he hath turned away his face not to see for euer †Arise Lord God let thy hand be axalted forget not the poore †Wherfore hath the impious prouoked God for he hath said in his hart He wil not enquire †Thou seest that thou considerest labour and sorrow that thou mayest deliuer them into thy handes To thee is the poore left to the orphane thou wilt be an helper †Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant his sinne shal be sought and shal not be found †Our Lord shal reigne for euer and for euer and euer ye Gentiles shal perish from his land †Our Lord hath heard the desire of the poore thy eare hath heard the preperation of their hart To iudge for the pupil and the humble that man adde no more to magnifie him selfe vpon the earth ANNOTATIONS PSALME IX 21. After the 21. verse the late Hebrew Doctors diuide this Psalme beginning there the tenth without anie new title but only this word Sela VVhich the Septuagint Theodotion and Symmachus translate Diapsalma that is change of meeter or musike also pause or rest in singing Aquila whom S. Iorom rather approueth translateth semper euer Some English Bibles omitte it others leaue it in the text not translating it into English It semeth to most Interpreters to be added as a note to sturre vp attention And it occureth often not only in the end of Psalmes but also in other places For it is thrise in the third Psalme And therefore maketh no argument that this Psalme should be diuided And those which diuide this into two ioyne two in the 147. Psalme So that al agree in the number of 150. Psalmes in the whole Psalter PSALME X. Dauids freindes aduising him to flee from the persecution of Saul he answereth that his trust is in Gods protection 2. Though the persecutor be very malitious 4. yet God wil ouerthrow him 5. and deliuer the iust Vnto the end the psalme of Dauid I TRVST in our Lord how say ye to my soule Passe ouer vnto the mountayne as a sparrow †For behold sinners haue bent the bow they haue prepared their arrowes in the quiuer that they may shoote in the darke at them that be right of hart †For they haue destroyed the thinges which thou didst perfite but the iust what hath he done †Our Lord is in his holie temple our Lord his seate is in heauen †His eies haue respect vnto the poore his eieliddes examine the sonnes of men †Our Lord examineth the iust and the impious but he that loueth iniquity hateth his owne soule †He shal rayne snares vpon sinners fyre and brimstone and blast of stormes the portion of their cuppe †Because our Lord is iust and hath loued iustice his countenance hath seene equitie PSALME XI The Prophet describeth the paucity of iust men and abundanc of wicked both at Christs first coming in flesh 6. and second in maiestie in the end of the world †Vnto the end for the octaue the Psalme of Dauid SAVE me Lord because the holy hath fayled because verities are diminished from among the children of men †They haue spoken vaine thinges euerie one to his neighbour deiceitful lippes they haue spoken in hart and hart †Our Lord destroy al deceitful lippes the tongue that speaketh great thinges †Which haue said We wil magnifie our tongue our lippes are of vs who is our Lord †For the miserie of the needie and mourning of the poore now wil I arise saith our Lord I wil put in a saluation I wil do confidently in him †Wordes of our Lord be chaist wordes siluer examined by fire tryed from the earth purged seuen fold †Thou Lord wilt preserue vs and keepe vs from this generation for euer †The “ impious walke round about according to thy highnes thou hast multiplied the children of men ANNOTATIONS PSALME XI 9. The impious vvalâ—e round about J S Augustin expoundeth this of worldlie men desiring temporal thinges signified by the seuen dayes wherin this whole life is turned about as in a whele not prouiding for the eight day which is eternitie after the day of Iudgement In an other place he sheweth also that this sentence agreeth aptly to the Platonistes who taught that this world neuer endeth but passeth and returneth round about in a reuolution of manie yeares so that al thinges should happen againe euen as they did before contrarie to this and manie other Scriptures affirming that God vvil preserue the iust and kepe them from this generation for euer VVhereas the reprobate who sette their whole mind on temporal thinges or expect a reuolution of al shal eternally walke without the kingdome of heauen neuer enter in though some may cal with the foolish virgins saith S. Ierom or some other learned author vpon this place Lord Lord open the dore to vs but he vvil ansvver that I knovv you not Mat. 25. PSALME XII A general prayer of the Church in tribulation either temporal or spiritual †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid HOw long â— Lord wilt thou forget me vnto the end How long doest thou turne away thy face from me †How long shal I put counsels in my soule sorrow in my hart by day †How long shal mine enemies be exalted ouer me †Regard and heare me ô Lord my God Illuminate mine eies that I sleepe not in death at any time †lest sometime mine enemie say I haue preuailed against him They that truble me wil reioyce if I be moued †but I haue hoped in thy mercie My hart shal reioyce in thy saluation I wil sing to our Lord which geueth me good thinges and I wil sing to the name of our Lord most high PSALME XIII After general grosse ignorance and impiety in the World 7. Christ shal be incarnate the Redemer of mankind †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God They are corrupt and are become abominable in their studies there is not that doth good “ no not one †Our Lord hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstandeth and seeketh after God Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no not one Their throte is an open sepulchre with their tongues they did deceitfully the poyson of
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
and from him withdraw not thy hand because he that feareth God neglecteth nothing †Wisdom hath streingthned the wise aboue tenne princes of the citie †For there is no iust man in the earth that doth good and sinneth not †But to al wordes also that are spoken do not applie thy hart lest perhaps thou heare thy seruant cursing thee †For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast cursed others †I haue proued al thinges in wisdom I haue sayd I wil become wise it departed farder from me †much more then it was and a depe profunditie who shal finde it †I haue vewed al thinges with my minde that I might know and consider and might seke wisdom and reason and that I might know the impietie of the foole and the errour of the imprudent †and I haue found that a woman is more bitter then death who is the snare of hunters and her hart a nette her handes are bandes He that pleaseth God wil auoide her but he that is a sinner wil be caught of her †Loe this haue I found sayd Ecclesiastes one thing and an other that I might finde reason †which yet my soule seketh and I haue not found it A man of a thousand I haue found one a woman of al I haue not found †Only this I haue found that God made man right and he hath intangled himself with infinite questions Who is such a one as the wise and who hath knowne the resolution of the word CHAP. VIII A signe of true wisdom appereth in obseruing Gods commandments 6. in this shorte time of meriting eternal reward 9. Rule of others 11. and want of feare hurt manie 14. Why God suffereth the wicked to prosper and the iust to be afflicted in this life no mortal man can know THE wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance and the most mightie wil change his face †I obserue the mouth of the king and the precepts of the oath of God †Hasten not to depart from his face nor continew thou in an euil worke because al that he pleaseth he wil doe †and his word is ful of powre neither can anie man say to him Why dost thou so †He that kepeth the precept shal finde no euil The hart of a wiseman vnderstandeth time and answer †There is a time for al busines and opportunitie and much affliction of man †because he is ignorant of thinges past and thinges to come he can know by no messenger †It is not in mans powre to prohibite the spirite neither hath he powre in the day of death neither is he suffered to rest when warre is at hand neither shal impietie saue the impious †Al these thinges I haue considered and gaue my hart on al the workes that are done vnder the sunne Sometime man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt †I saw the impious buried who also when they yet liued were in holie place and were praised in the citie as men of iust workes But this also is vanitie †Because sentence is not speedely pronounced against the euil the children of men committe euils without anie feare †But yet a sinner by this that he doth euil an hundred times by patience is borne withal I know that it shal be good to them that feare God which dread his face †Let there be no good to the impious neither let his dayes be prolonged but as a shadow let them passe that feare not the face of our Lord. †There is also an other vanitie which is done vpon the earth There are iust men to whom euils happen as though they had done the workes of the impious and there are impious men which are so secure as though they had the dedes of the iust But this also I iudge most vaine †I therfore haue praised mirth that there was no good thing for a man vnder the sunne but that he should eate and drinke and be glad and this only he should take away with him of his labour in the dayes of his life which God hath geuen him vnder the sunne †And I haue set my hart to know wisdom and to vnderstand the distraction that is in the earth There is a man that dayes and nightes taketh no slepe with his eyes †And I vnderstood that man can sinde no reason of al those workes of God that are done vnder the sunne and the more he shal labour to seke so much the lesse he can finde yea if the wisman shal say that he knoweth he is not able to finde it CHAP. IX None knoweth certainly and ordinarily whether they be in Gods grace or no. 4. The euil are in worse case dead then aliue 11. neither can we know the euent of temporal thinges nor the terme of our life nor how gratful others wil be towards vs. 16. Sure it is that wisdom is better then streingth AL these thinges haue I discoursed in my hart that I might curiously vnderstand them there are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hand of God and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthie of loue or hatred †but al thinges are reserued vncertaine for the time to come because al thinges do equally chance to the iust and impious to the good and the euil to the cleane and vncleane to him that immoleth victimes and him that contemneth sacrifices As the good so also is the sinner as the periured so he also that sweareth truth †This is a very euil thing among al which are done vnder the sunne that the same thinges chance to al men Wherby also the hartes of the children of men are filled with malice and with contempt in their life and after that they shal be brought downe to hel †There is no man that may liue alwayes and that can haue confidente of this thing better is a dog liuing then a lion dead †For the liuing know that they shal dye but the dead know nothing more neither haue they reward anie more because the memorie of them is forgotten †Loue also and hatred and enuies haue perished together neither haue they part in this world and in the worke that is done vnder the sunne †Goe therfore and eate thy bread in ioy drinke thy wine with gladnes because thy workes please God †At al time let thy garments be white and let not oyle fal from of thy head †Enioy life with thy wife whom thou louest al the dayes of the life of thy instabilitie which are geuen to thee vnder the sunne al the time of thy vanitie for this is the portion in life and in thy labour wherwith thou laborest vnder the sunne †Whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe worke it instantly for neither worke nor reason nor wisdom nor knowlege shal be in hel whither thou dost hasten †I turned me to an other thing and I saw vnder the sunne
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
or Ecclesiastae c. but stil Lectio libri Sapientiae The solution therfore is very probable that this booke of wisdom was written by Philo Iudeus not he that liued after Christ but an other of the same name nere two hundred yeares before And Ecclesiasticus by Iesus the sonne of Sirach Who not only imitated Salomon but also compiled their bookes for most part of Salomons sentences conserued til their times by tradition or in separated scrolles of papers yea they so vtter some sentences in his person as if himself had written them As touching the auctoritie of these two bookes and some others it is euident that the Iewes refuse them And therfore manie ancient Fathers writing against them spared sometimes to vrge such bookes as they knew would be reiected Especially hauing abundant testimonies of other holie Scriptures for deciding matters of faith against them Euen as our Sauiour himself proued the Resurrection of the dead against the Sadduces out of the bookes of Moyses which they confessed for Canonical Scripture denying other partes where the same point might otherwise haue bene more euidently shewed And so S. Ierom in respect of the Iewes saide these bookes were not Canonical Neuertheles he did often alleage testimonies of them as of other diuine Scriptures sometimes with this parenthesis si cui tamen placet librum recipere in cap. 8. 12. Zachariae other times especially in his last writinges absolutly without such restriction as in cap. 1. 56. Isaiae in 18. Ieremiae Where he professeth to alleage none but Canonical Scripture As for al the other ancient fathers here aboue mentioned ascribing this booke to Salomon and manie others cited by Doctor Iodocus Coccius To. 1. Thesauri li. 6. art 9. they make no doubt at al but that it is Canonical Scripture as appeareth by their expresse termes Diuine Scripture Diuine word Sacred letters Prophetical saying the Holie Ghost saith the like Finally aswel ancient General counsels namely that of Charthage an D. 419. With others as the later of Florence and Trent haue declared this booke to be Canonical And that conformably to the most ancient and lerned Fathers as S. Augustin not only iudgeth himself but also plainly testifieth li. de Pradestinat Sanct. c. 14. saying The sentence of the booke of wisdom ought not to be reiected by certaine inclining to Pelagianisme Which hath bene so long publiquely read in the Church of Christ and receiued of al Christians Byshops and others euen to the last of the Laitie Penitents and Catecumes cum veneratione diuinae auctoritatis With veneration of diuine auctoritie Which also the excellent writers next to the Apostles times alleaging for witnes nihil se adâ—ibere nisi diuinum testimonium crediderunt thought they alleaged nothing but diuine testimonie The summe and contents of this booke is an Instruction and Exhortation to Kinges and al Magistrates to minister iustice in the comonwealth teaching al sortes of vertues vnder the general names of iustice Wisdom With frequent Prophecies of Christs Coming Passion Resurrection other Christian Mysteries Al may be commodiously diuided into three partes In the six first chapters the auctor admonisheth al Superiors to loue and exercise iustice and wisdom In the next three he teacheth that Wisdom procedeth only from God is procured by prayer good life In the other tenne chapters he sheweth the excellent effects and vtilitie of wisdom and Iustice THE BOOKE OF WISDOM CHAP. I. Superiors are admonished to do iustice sincerely seking God 7. Who being euery where seeth al thinges 11. Murmuration detraction and lying bring to perdition 13. God created men to liue but they brought death vpon themselues LOVE iustice you that iudge the earth Thincke of our Lord in goodnes and in simplicitie of hart seeke him †because he is found of them that tempt him not and he appeareth to them that haue saith in him †For peruerse cogitations seperate from God and proued powre chasteneth the vnwise †because wisdom wil not enter into a malicious soule nor dwel in a bodie subiect to sinnes †For the Holie Ghost of discipline wil flie from him that feyneth and wil withdraw himselfe from the cogitations that are without vnderstanding and he shal be chastened of iniquitie â—niâ— wing †For the spirite of wisdom is gentle and wil no 〈…〉 the â—â— for from his lippes because God is witnes of 〈…〉 is a true searcher of his hart and an hâ—arâ—r 〈…〉 cause the Spirite of our Lord â—ath 〈…〉 who le world and that which contayneth al 〈…〉 â—udge of voice †For this cause he that speaketh â—â—â—â—st thinges can not be hid neither shal the chastising iudgment passe him †For in the cogitations of the impâ—ouâ— there shal be examination and the hearing of his workes shal come to God to the chastising of his iniquities †Because the eare of ielousie heareth al thinges and the tumult of murmurings shal not be hid †Kepe your selues therfore from murmuring which profiteth nothing and refraine your tongue from detraction because an obscure speache shal not passe in vaine and the mouth that lyeth killeth the soule †Zeale not death in the errour of your life neither procure ye perdition by the workes of your handes †Because God made not death neither doth he reioyce in the perdition of the liuing †For he created al thinges to be and he made the nations of the earth to health and there is no medicine of destruction in them nor kingdome of hel in the earth †For iustice is pâ—rpetual and immortal †But the impious with handes wordes haue prouoked it and esteming it a freind haue fallen to decay and haue made couenances with it because they are worthie to be of the part therof CHAP. II. Such as hope not of life to come 6. addict themselues to 〈…〉 â—â— and persecute the iust especially our Sauioâ—◠〈…〉 their wickednes 23. Death came vpon man by the 〈…〉 FOR they haue said thinking with the 〈…〉 Little and with tediousnes is the time of 〈…〉 the end of a man there is no recouâ—â—â—â— and 〈…〉 knowne that hath returned from hel †because oe of 〈…〉 were we borne and after this we shal be as if 〈…〉 bene because the breath is a smoke in our nosthrels â—â—â—â—ch a sparke to moue our hart †Which being extinguished our bodie shal be ashes and the spirit shal be powred abrode as soft ayre and our life shal passe as the trace of a cloude and shal be dissolued as a mist which is driuen away by the beames of the sunne and oppressed with the heate therof †and our name in time shal be forgotten and no man shal haue remembrance of our workes †For our time is the passing of a shadow and there is no returne of our end because it is sealed and no man returneth †Come therfore
and let vs enioy the good thinges that are and let vs quickly vse the creature as in youth †Let vs fil ourselues with precious wine and oyntments and let not the flowre of the time passe vs. †Let vs crowne ourselues with roses before they wither let there be no medow which our riote shal not passe through †Let none of vs be exempted from our rioteousnes euerie where let vs leaue signes of ioy because this is our portion and this our lot †Let vs oppresse the poore iust man and not spare the widow nor reuerence the oldmans grey head of long time †But let our strength be the law of iustice for that which is Weake is found vnprofitable †Let vs therfore circumuent the iust because he is vnprofitable to vs and he is contrarie to our workes and reprochfully obiecteth vnto vs the sinnes of the law and defameth in vs the sinnes of our discipline †He boasteth that he hath the knowlege of God and nameth himselfe the sonne of God †He is made vnto vs to the defaming of our cogitations †He is greuous vnto vs euen to behold because his life la vnlike to others and his wayes are changed †We are estemed of him as triflers and he absteyneth from our wayes as from vncleannes and he preferreth the later ends of the iust and glorieth that he hath God for his father †Let vs see therfore if his wordes be true and let vs proue what thinges shal come to him and we shal know what shal be his later ends †For if he be the true sonne of God he wil defend him wil deliuer him from the hands of the aduersaries †By contumelie and torment let vs examine him that we may know his reuerence and proue his patience †To a most shameful death let vs condemne him for there shal be respect had vnto him by his wordes †These thinges haue they thought and haue erred for their malice hath blinded them †And they haue not knowen the sacraments of God nor hoped for the reward of iustice nor estemed the honour of holie soules †For God created man incorruptible and to the image of his owne likenes he made him †But by the enuie of the diuel death entred into the world †and they folow him that are of his part CHAP. III The iust contemned by the wicked and proued by tentations are happie 10. and the wicked vnhappie 12. Chastitie shal be rewarded adulterous generations shal not prosper BVT the soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the torment of death shal not touch them †They semed in the eies of the vnwise to die and their decease was counted affliction †and that which with vs is the way is destruction but they are in peace †And though before men they suffered torments their hope is ful of immortalitie †Vexed in few thinges in many they shal be wel disposed of because God hath tempted them and hath found them worthie of him selfe †As gold in the furnace he hath proued them and as an host of holocaust he hath receiued them and in time there shal be respect of them †The iust shal shine and as sparkes in a place of reedes they shal runne abrode †They shal iudge nations haue dominion ouer peoples and their Lord shal reigne for euer †They that trust in him shal vnderstand truth and the faithful in loue shal rest in him because rest and peace is to his elect †But the impious according to the thinges which they haue thought shal haue correption which haue neglected the iust haue reuolted from our Lord. †For he that reiecteth wisdom and discipline is vnhappie and their hope is vaine and labours without fruite and their workes vnprofitable †Their wiues are sensles and their children most wicked †Cursed is their creature because happie is the barren woman and the vndefiled which hath not knowen bed in sinne she shal haue fruite in visitation of holie soules †and the eunuch that hath not wrought iniquitie with his hands nor thought most wicked things against God for the chosen gift of fayth shal be geuen to him and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God †For of good labour there is glorious fruite and the roote of wisdom which falleth not †But the children of adulterers shal be in consummation and the sede of the vnlawful bed shal be destroyed †And if certes they be of long life they shal be reputed for nothing their last oldage shal be without honour †And if they dye quickly they shal haue no hope nor speach of comfort in the day of acknowledging †For of a wicked nation the endes are cruel CHAP. IIII. Great difference betwen chaste and adulterous generations 7. Speedier death of the iust is recompensed by Gods prouidence 19. but the wicked incurre greater damnation by liuing long O How beautiful is the chaste generation with glorie for the memorie therof is immortal because it is knowen both with God and with men †When it is present they imitate it and they desire it when it hath withdrawen itself and it triumpheth crowned for euer winning the reward of vndefiled conflictes †But the multitude of the impious that hath manie children shal not be profitable and bastarde plants shal not take deepe roote nor lay sure fundation †And if in the boughes for a â—ime they shal spring being weakly set they shal be moued of the winde and by the vehemencie of the windes they shal be rooted out †For the vnperfect boughes shal be broken and their fruites shal be vnprofitable and sowre to eate and meete for nothing †For the children that be borne of wicked sleepes are witnesses of wickednes against the parents in their examination †But the iust if he be preuented with death shal be in a place of refreshing †For venerable oldage is not that of long time nor accounted by the number of yeares but the vnderstanding of a man are grey heares †and an immaculate life is old age †Pleasing God he is made beloued and liuing among sinners he was translated †“ He was taken away lest malice should change his vnderstanding or lest anie guile might deceiue his soule †For the bewitching of vanitie obscureth good thinges and the inconstancie of concupiscence peruerteth the vnderstanding that is without malice †Being consummate in short space he fulfilled much time †for his soule pleased God for this cause he hastened to bring him out of the middes of iniquiries but the peoples that are seing and not vnderstanding nor putting such thinges in their hartes †that the grace of God and mercie is toward his saintes and respect toward his elect †But the iust dead condemneth the impions aliue and youth soone ended the long life of the vniust †For they
incredulous to his word †After this God looked vpon the earth filled it with his good thinges †And the soule of euerie liuing thing shal shew before the face thereof and into it againe is their returne CHAP. XVII God creating man to his owne image gaue him gifies 9. and precepts 14. chose the Israelites for his peculiar people 18. Workes of mercie are commended to al men 20. Repentance to sinners 28. mercie is offered to al. GOD created man of the earth and after his owne image he made him †And againe he turned him into it and conformable to himselfe clothed him with strength †He gaue him a number of daies and time and gaue him power of those thinges that are vpon the earth †He put his feare ouer al flesh and he had dominion of beastes and fowles †He created of him an helper like to himself he gaue them counsel and tongue and eies eares and hart to deuise and he filled them with the discipline of vnderstanding †He created in them the knowlege of the spirit he filled their hart with vnderstanding and euil and good he shewed them †He set his eie vpon their hartes to shew them the great thinges of his workes †that they might praise the name of sanctification and glorie in his meruelous workes that thy might declare the glorious thinges of his workes †He added discipline vnto them and made them inherite the lawe of life †He made an euerlasting testament with them he shewed them iustice and his iudgementes †And their eie saw the glorious thinges of his honour and their eares heard the honour of his voice and he said to them Beware of euerie vniust thing †And he gaue them commandment euerie one concerning his neighbour †Their wayes are before him alwaies they are not hid from his eies †Ouer eucrie nation he appointed a ruler †And Israel was made the manifest portion of God †And al their workes as the sunne in the sight of God and his eies without intermission looking on their wayes †The testamentes were not hid by their iniquitie and al their iniquities are in the sight of God †The almes of a man is as a seale with him and shal preserue the grace of a man as the apple of the eâ—e †And afterward he shal arise and shal render them reward to euerie one vpon their head and shal turne into the inner partes of the earth †But to the penitent he hath geuen the way of iustice and he hath confirmed them that faile to susteine and hath appointed to them the lot of truth †Turne to our Lord and forsake thy sinnes †pray before the face of our Lord and diminish offences †Returne to our Lord and turne away from thine iniustice and hate excedingly abomination †and know the iniustices and iudgementes of God and stand in the lot of thy purpose and of praier of the most high God †Goe into the partes of the holie world with the liuing and them that geue praise to God †Tarie not in the errour of the impious before death confesse From the dead as nothing confession perisheth †Thou shalt confesse liuing aliue and in health thou shalt confesse and shalt praise God and shalt glorie in his mercies †How great is the mercie of our Lord and his propitiation to them that turne to him †For al thinges can not be in men because the sonne of man is not immortal and they haue delighted in the vanitie of malice †What is brighter then the sunne it shal faile Or what more wicked then that which flesh and bloud hath inuented and this shal be reproued †He beholdeth the powre of the height of heauen and al men be earth and ashes CHAP. XVIII Gods wonderful workes excede mans capacitie 7. Our weaknes is streingthened by grace 15. wherto man must cooperate 19. by purging his conscience 22. by prayer 24. by meditating Gods iudgements 30. and by mortifying his owne concupiscence HE that liueth for euer created al thinges together God onlie shal be iustified and remaineth an inuincible king for euer †Who is sufficient to declare his workes †For who shal search out his glorious thinges †and who shal shew forth the powre of his greatnesse or who shal adde to declare his mercie †It is not possible to diminish nor adde neither is it possible to finde the glorious workes of God †When a man shal haue done then shal he beginne and when he shal rest he shal worke †What is man and what is his grace and what is his good or what his euil †The number of the daies of men at the most an hundred yeares as droppes of the water of the sea they are reputed and as the grauel stone of the sand so a few yeares in the day of eternitie †For this cause God is patient toward them and powreth out his mercie vpon them †He hath senne the presumption of their hart that it is naught and hath knowen their subuersion that it is euil †Therefore hath he fulfilled his propitiation toward them and hath shewed them the way of equitie †Mans compassion is touching his neigbour but the mercie of God is vpon al flesh †He that hath mercie teacheth and instructeth as a pastour his flocke †He hath mercie on him that receiueth the doctrine of compassion and he that hasteneth in his iudgementes †Sonne in good deedes geue no blame and in euerie gift geue not the sadnes of an euil word †Shal not the dew colle heate so also a word better then a gift †Is not a word aboue a good gift but both are with a iustified man †A foole wil vpbraide bitterly and the gift of one vntaught maketh the eies to drie away †Before iudgement prepare thee iustice and before thou speake lerne †Before sickenes take medicine and before iudgement examine thyself and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation †Before sickenes humble thy self and in time of infirmitie shew thy conuersation †Be not hindered to pray alwayes feare not to be iustified euen to death because the reward of God abideth for euer †Before praier prepare thy soule and be not as a man that tempteth God †Remember the wrath in the day of consummation and the time of reward in conuersation of the face †Remember pouertie in the time of abundance and the necessities of pouertie in the day of riches †From morning vnto euening time shal be changed al these are sowne in the eies of God †A wise man in al thinges wil feare in the daies of offences wil be ware of sloth †Euerie subtile man knoweth wisdom and to him that findeth her he wil geue prayse †The wise in wordes and they also haue done wisely and haue vnderstood truth and iustice
the law multiplieth oblation †It is an holsome sacrifice to attend to the commandments and to depart from al iniquitie †To depart from iniquitie is a thing that pleaseth our Lord wel and to depart from iniustice is an intreating for sinnes †Thou shalt not appeare before the sight of our Lord emptie †For al these thinges are done because of the commandment of God †The oblation of the iust maketh a fatte altar and is an odour of sweetenes in the sight of the Highest †The sacrifice of the iust is acceptable and our Lord wil not forget the memorie thereof †Render glorie to God with a good minde and diminish not the first fruites of thine handes †In euerie gift make thy countenance chereful and in ioyfulnes sanctifie thy tithes †Geue to the Highest according to his gift and with a good eie doe according to the abilitie of thine handes †because our Lord is a rewarder and wil repay thee seuen times so much †Offer not wicked giftes for he wil not receiue them †And looke not vpon an vniust sacrifice because our Lord is iudge and there is not with him the glorie of person †Our Lord wil not accept person against the poore and he wil heare the prayer of him that is hurt †He wil not despise the prayers of the pupil nor the widow if she power out speach of mourning †Do not the widows teares runne downe to the cheeke her exclamation vpon him that causeth them to runne †For from the cheeke they goe vp euen to heauen and our Lord the hearer wil not be delighted in them †He that adoreth God in delectation shal be receiued his petition shal approch euen to the cloudes †The prayer of him that humbleth himself shal penetrate the cloudes and til it approch he wil not be comforted and he wil not depart til the Highest behold †And our Lord wil not be long but wil iudge the iust and wil do iudgement and the strongest wil not haue patience in them that he may crush their backe †and he wil repay vengeance to the Gentiles til he take away the multitude of the proude breake the scepters of the vniust †til he reward men according to their doings and according to the workes of man and according to his presumption †til he iudge the iudgement of his people and shal delight the iust with his mercie †The mercie of God is beautiful in the time of tribulation as a cloude of raine in the time of drught CHAP. XXXVI A prayer for conuersion of al nations 14. and for conseruation of the Israelites 20. Discretion is necessarie in al actions and desires HAVE mercie vpon vs ô God of al and respect vs and shew vs the light of thy mercies †and send in thy feare vpon the nations that haue not sought after thee that they may know that there is no God but thou and that they may shewforth thy glorious thinges †Lift vp thy hand ouer the strange Nations that they may see thy might †For as in their sight thou art sanctified in vs so in our sight thou shalt be magnified in them †that they may know thee as we also haue knowen that there is no God beside thee ô Lord. †Renewe signes and change meruels †Glorifie thy hand and thy right arme †Raise vp furie and power out wrath †Take away the aduersarie and afflict the enemie †Hasten the time and remember the end that they may declare thy meruels †Let him that is saued be deuoured in the wrath of flame and let them that euil intreate thy people finde perdition †Breake the head of princes of the enemies that saie There is none other beside vs. †Gather together al the tribes of Iacob and let them know that there is no God but thou that they may declare thy great workes thou shalt inherite them as from the beginning †Haue mercie on thy people vpon which thy name is inuocated and vpon Israel whom thou hast made equal to thy first begotten †Haue mercie on the citie of thy sanctification Ierusalem the citie of thy rest †Replenish Sion with thy wordes that can not be vttered thy people with thy glorie †Geue the testimonie to them that are thy creatures from the beginning and raise vp the prophecies which the former prophets spake in thy name †Geue reward to them that patiently expect thee that thy prophets may be found faithful and heare the prayers of thy seruants †according to Aarons benediction of thy people and direct vs into the way of iustice and let al knowe that inhabite the earth that thou art God the beholder of the worldes †The bellie wil eate al meate and one meate is better then an other meate †The iawes taist venison the wise hart lying wordes †A peruerse hart wil geue sorow and a cunning man wil resist it †Some woman wil receiue euerie man and one daughter is better then an other daughter †The beautie of a woman chereth the face of her husband and increaseth the desire aboue al mans concupiscence †If there be a tongue of curing there is also of mitigating and of mercie her husband is not according to the sonnes of men †He that possesseth a good woman beginneth riches she is an helpe like vnto him a piller as rest †Where there is no hedge the possession shal be spoiled and where there is no wife he mourneth wanting Who doth credite him that hath no nest and turning aside wheresoeuer it waxeth darke as a robber girded leaping from citie to citie CHAP. XXXVII Beware of a feaned loue à sure freind 7. consult with the wise trustie 15. and vertuous 19. especially relying vpon God 21. The tongue is cause of much good or much euil 30. Be temperate in diet EVERIE freind wil say I also haue ioyned freindshipe but there is a freind in name only a freind Doth there not sorow remaine euen to death †But a companion and freind wil be turned to enmitie †O most wicked presumption whence wast thou created to couer the drie land with malice and with the deceitfulnes thereof †A companion is pleasant with his freind in delectations and in the time of tribulation he wil be an aduersarie †A companion is sorie with his freind for his bellies sake and he wil take a shield against the enemie †Forgete not thy freind in thy minde and be not vnmindeful of him in thy riches †Consult not with him which betraieth and hide thy counsel from them that enuie thee †Euerie counseler vttereth counsel but there is a counseler in him selfe †From such a counseler keepe thy soule First know what his necessitie is for he wil deuise to his owne minde †lest perhaps he thrust a sharpe
they shal not inhabite nor walke therein and they shal not leape high into the congregation †Vpon the iudges seate they shal not sitte and the ordinance of iudgement they shal not vnderstand neither shal they declare discipline and iudgement and in parables they shal not be found †but they shal confirme the creature of the world and their prayer shal be in the worke of their art applying their soule searching in the law of the Highest CHAP. XXXIX Goldie knowlege 16. puritie of soule 20. humble conceipt of our selues 27. and consideration of eternal reward are good dispositions to spiritual contemplation THE wise man wil search out the wisdom of al the ancientes and wil be occupied in the prophetes †He wil keepe the narration of famous men and wil enter withal into the subtilities of parables †He wil search out the hidden senses of prouerbes and wil conuerse in the secretes of parables †In the middes of great men he wil minister and in the sight of the president he shal appeare †He shal passe into the land of strange nations for he shal trie good and euil in men †He wil geue his hart to watch early vnto our Lord that made him and he wil pray in the sight of the Highest †He Wil open his mouth in prayer and wil entreate for his sinnes †For if it shal please our great Lord he wil fil him with the spirit of vnderstanding †and he wil power forth the wordes of his wisdom as showres and in prayer wil confesse to our Lord. †And he wil direct his counsel and discipline and in his secretes he wil consult †He wil open the discipline of his doctrine and wil glorie in the law of the testament of our Lord. †Manie wil praise his wisdom and it shal not be abolished for euer †The memorie of him shal not depart and his name shal be required from generation to generation †Nations shal declare his wisdom and the church wil shew forth his praise †If he continew he shal leaue a name more then a thousand and if he rest it shal profite him †I wil yet consult that I may declare For as with furie I am replenished †In voice he saith Heare me ye diuine fruites and as the rose planted vpon the riuers of waters fructifie ye †As Libanus haue ye the odours of sweetnes †Florish ye flowres as the lilie and geue forth an odour and bring forth leaues in grace and praise with songue and blesse our Lord in his workes †Geue magnificence to his name and confesse vnto him in the voice of your lippes and in songues of the lippes and harpes thus shal ye say in confession †Al the workes of our Lord are exceeding good †At this word the water stood as an heape and at the word of his mouth as it were receptacles of waters †because in his commandment placabilitie is made and there is no diminishing of his saluation †The workes of al flesh are before him and there is nothing hid from his eyes †From world to world he beholdeth and nothing is meruelous in his sight †It is not to be saied What is this or what is that for al thinges shal be sought in their time †His blessing hath ouerflowed as a streame †And as a flood hath watered the drie land so his wrath shal inherite the nations that haue not sought him †euen as he turned waters into drught and the earth was made drie and his waies are direct to the waies of them so to sinners stumbling blockes in his wrath †Good thinges were created for the good from the beginning so for the wicked good thinges and euil †The beginning of the thing necessarie for the life of men water fire and yron salt milke and bread of flower and honie and the cluster of grape and oyle clothing †Al these shal be conuerted to saintes into good so also to the impious and to sinners into euil †There are spirites that were created for vengeance and in their furie they haue confirmed their tormentes †in the time of consummation they shal power our strength and they shal accomplish the furie of him that made them †Fire haile famine and death al these were created for vengeance †the teeth of beastes and scorpions and serpentes and sword reuenging the impious vnto destruction †In his commandmentes they shal make merrie and on the earth they shal be prepared when nede is and in their times they shal not pretermitte a word †Therefore from the beginning I was confirmed and I haue consulted and thought and leaft written †Al the workes of our Lord are good he wil geue euerie worke in his houre †It is not to be said This is worse then that for al shal be approued in their time †And now with al hart and mouth praise ye and blesse the name of our Lord. CHAP. XL. The first matter of spiritual meditation may be mans miserie contracted by original sinne 4. and increased by actual 17. reliued by God grace 22. which geueth manie benefites 27. man adding his voluntarie cooperation GREAT trauel is created to al men and an heauie yoke vpon the children of Adam from the day of their coming forth of their mothers wombe vntil the day of their burying into the mother of al. †Their cogitations and feares of the hart imagination of thinges to come and the day of their ending †from him that sitteth vpon the glorious seate vnto him that is humbled in earth ashes †From him that weareth hyacinth and beareth the crowne euen to him that is couered with rude linen furie enuie tumult wauering and the feare of death anger perseuering and contention †and in the time of repose in bed the sleepe of night changeth his knowlege †A litle is as nothing in rest and afterward in sleepe as in the day of watch◠†He is trubled in the vision of his hart as he that hath escaped in the day of battel In the time of his safetie he rose vp and merueleth at noe feare †With al flesh from man euen to beast and vpon sinners seuenfold †Beside these thinges death bloud contention and sword oppressions famine and contrition and scourges †for the wicked al these were created and for them the floud was made †Al thinges that are of the earth shal turne into the earth and al waters shal returne into the sea †Al bribing and iniquitie shal be cleane taken away and fidelitie shal stand for euer †The riches of the vniust shal be dried vp as a riuer and they shal sound as great thunder in rayne †In opening his handes he shal reioyce so transgressors shal pine away in consumption †The nephewes of the impious shal not multiplie boughes nor vncleane
the cloudes of glorie and as a flower of roses in the daies of the spring and as the lilies that are in the passage of water and as frankensence smelling in summer daies †As fire glistering and frankensence burning in the fire †As a massie vessel of gold adorned with euerie precious stone †As an oliue tree budding and a cypresse tree aduancing it self on high when he tooke the robe of glorie and was reuested to the consummation of strength †In going vp to the holie altar he made the vesture of holines glorie †And in receiuing the portions out of the hand of the priestes himself also standing by the altar About him was the ring of his bretheren and as the ceder plant in mount Libanus †so stoode they about him as boughes of the palme tree al the children of Aaron in their glorie †And the oblation of our Lord in their handes before al the synagogue of Israel and executing the consummation on the altar to amplifie the oblation of the high king †he stretched forth his hand in oblation of moist sacrifice and offered of the blood of the grape †He powred out on the fundation of the altar a diuine odour to the high prince †Then cried out the children of Aaron they sounded with beaten trumpets and made a great voice to be heard for a remembrance before God †Then al the people together made hast and fel on their face vpon the earth to adore our Lord their God and to make prayers to God omnipotent the Highest †And the singers amplified in their voices and in the great house the sound was encreased ful of sweetenes †And the people in prayer desired our Lord the Highest vntil the honour of our Lord was perfected and they finished their office †Then coming downe he lifted vp his handes ouer al the congregation of the children of Israel to geue glorie to God from his lippes and to glorie in his name †and he repeated his prayer willing to shew the power of God †And now pray ye the God of al who hath done great thinges in al the land who hath encreased our daies from our mothers wombe and hath done with vs according to his mercie †geue he vnto vs ioyfulnes of euerlasting †that Israel may beleue that the mercie of God is with vs to deliuer vs in his dayes †Two nations my soule hateth and the third is no nation which I hate †they that sitte in mount Seit and the Philisthijms and the foolish people that dwel in Sichem †Iesus the sonne of Sirach a man of Ierusalem wrote the doctrine of wisdom and discipline in this booke who renewed wisdom from his hart †Blessed is he that conuerseth in these good thinges and he that layeth them in his hart shal be wise always †For if he doe them he shal be able to doe al thinges because his steppes are in the light of God CHAP. LI. The auctor rendereth praises and thankes to God 18. and inuiteth others to do the same by his owne example 31. and by earnest exhortation THE prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach I wil confesse to thee ô Lord king and wil praise thee God my sauiour †I wil confesse to thy name because thou art become my helper and protectour †and hast deliuered my bodie from perdition from the snare of an vniust tongue and from the lippes of them that worke lying and in the sight of them that stoode vp thou art become my helper †And thou hast deliuered me according to the multitude of the mercie of thy name from them that did roare prepared to deuoure †out of the handes of them that seeke my soule and from the gates of tribulations which haue compassed me †from the oppression of the flame which hath compassed me and in the middes of fire I was not burnt †From the depth of the bellie of hel and from a defiled tongue and from the word of lying from a wicked king and from an vniust tongue †my soule shal praise our Lord euen to death †and my life was approching to hel beneth †They haue compassed me on euerie side there was none that would helpe I looked toward the helpe of men there was none †I remembred thy mercie ô Lord and thy operation which are from the beginning of the world †Because thou deliuerest them that patiently expect thee ô Lord and sauest them out of the handes of the nations †Thou hast exalted my habitation vpon the earth and I haue prayed for death to passe away †I haue inuocated our Lord the father of my Lord that he leaue me not in the day of my tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe †I wil praise thy name continually and wil collaude it in confession and my prayer was heard †And thou hast deliuered me from perdition and hast rescued me from the wicked time †Therfore wil I confesse say praise to thee and blesse the name of our Lord. †When I was yet young before I erred I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer †Before the temple I prayed for it and vnto the later end I wil seâ—ke after it and it shal flourish as the grape timely ripe †my hart hath reioyced in it my foote hath walked the right way from my youth I searched after it †I bowed mine eare a litle and receiued it †I found much wisdom in myself I haue much profited therein †To him that geueth me wisdom wil I geue glorie †For I haue consulted to doe it I haue had a zele to good and shal not be confounded †My soule hath wrestled in it and in doing it I was confirmed †I stretched forth my handes on high I lamented foolishnes †I directed my soule to wisdom and in knowlege I found it †I possessed with it an hart from the beginning for this cause I shal not be forsaken †My bellie was trubled in seeking it therefore shal I possesse a good possession †Our Lord hath geuen me a tongue for my reward and with the same I wil praise him †Approch vnto me ye vnlerned and gather yourselues together into the house of discipline †Why slacke ye yet and what say you herein your soules are exceeding thirstie †I haue opened my mouth and haue spoken Bye it for you without siluer †and submit your necke to the yoke and let your soule receiue discipline for it is very neere to finde it †See with your eyes that I haue laboured a litle and haue found much rest to myself †Take ye discipline in a great summe of siluer and possesse abundance of gold in it †Let your soule reioyce in his mercie and you shal not be confounded in praise †Worke your worke before the time and he wil geue you your reward in
he hath gathered riches and not in iudgement in the middes of his dayes he shal leaue them and in his latter end he shal be a foole †A throne of glorie of height from the beginning the place of our sanctification †O Lord the expectation of Israel al that forsake thee shal be confounded they that depart from thee shal be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our Lord. †Heale me ô Lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saued because thou art my praise †Behold they say to me Where is the word of our Lord let it come †And I am not trubled folowing thee the pastour and the day of man I haue not desired thou knowest That which hath proceeded out of my lippes hath bene right in thy sight †Be not thou a terrour vnto me thou art mine hope in the day of affliction †Let them be confounded that persecute me and let not me be confounded let them be afrayd and let not me be afrayd bring vpon them the day of affliction and with duble destruction destroy them †Thus saith our Lord to me Goe and stand in the gate of the children of the people by which the kinges of Iuda come in and goe out and in al the gates of Ierusalem †and thou shalt say to them Heare the word of our Lord ye kinges of Iuda and al Iuda and al the inhabitants of Ierusalem that enter in by these gates †Thus saith our Lord Take heede to your soules and carie not burdens on the Sabbath day neither bring them in by the gates of Ierusalem †And cast not forth burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day and al worke you shal not doe sanctifie the Sabbath day as I commanded your fathers †And they heard not nor inclined their eare but hardned their necke that they would not heare me and that they would not take discipline †And it shal be if you wil heare me saith our Lord that you bring not burdens in by the gates of this citie on the Sabbath day and if you wil sanctifie the Sabbath day that you doe not al workes therein †there shal enter in by the gates of this citie kinges and princes sitting vpon the throne of Dauid and mounting on chariotes and horses they and their princes the men of Iuda and the inhabiters of Ierusalem and this citie shal be inhabited for euer †And they shal come from the cities of Iuda and from round about Ierusalem and from the land of Beniamin and from the champaine countries from the mountaines and from the South carying holocaust and victime and sacrifice and frankincense and they shal bring in oblation into the house of our Lord. †But if you wil not heare me to sanctifie the Sabbath day not to carie burden and not to bring in by the gates of Ierusalem on the Sabbath day I wil kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shal deuoure the houses of Ierusalem and it shal not be quenched CHAP. XVIII As clay in the hand of a potter so is Israel in Gods hand 8. He pardoneth penitents 10. and punisheth the obstinate 18. They conspire against Ieremie for which he denounceth miseries hanging ouer them THE word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying †Arise and goe downe into the potters house and there thou shalt heare my wordes †And I went downe into the potters house and behold he made a worke vpon the wheele †And the vessel was broken which he made of clay with his handes and turning he made it an other vessel as it pleased in his eies to make it †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Why shal I not be able to doe vnto you as this potter ô house of Israel Behold saith our Lord as clay in the hand of the potter so are you in my hand ô house of Israel †I wil sodenly speake against nation and against kingdom to roote out and destroy and wast it †If that nation shal repent them of their euil against whom I haue spoken I also wil repent me of the euil that I haue thought to doe to it †And I wil sodenly speake of nation and of kingdom to build and plant it †If it shal do euil in mine eies that it heare not my voice I wil repent me of the good that I haue spoken to do vnto it †Now therefore tel the man of Iuda and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem saying Thus saith our Lord Behold I forge euil against you and deuise a deuice against you let euerie man returne from his euil way and direct ye your waies and your studies †Who said We are desperate for we wil goe after our cogitations and we wil do euerie one the peruersitie of his euil hart †Therefore thus saith our Lord Aske the Nations Who hath heard such horrible thinges as the virgine of Israel hath done exceedingly †Why shal the snow of Libanus faile from the rocke of the field or can the cold waters gushing forth and runing downe be drawen out †Because my people hath forgotten me sacrificing in vaine and stumbling in their waies in the pathes of the world that they might walke by them in a way not trodden †that their land might be made into desolation and into an euerlasting hisse euerie one that shal passe by it shal be astonied and wagge his head †As the burning winde wil I disperse them before the enemie the backe and not the face wil I shew them in the day of their perdition †And they said Come and let vs finde deuises against Ieremie for the law shal not perish from the priest nor counsel from the wise nor the word from the prophet come and let vs strike him with the tongue and let vs not attend to al his wordes †Attend ô Lord vnto me and heare the voice of mine aduersaries †Why is euil rendred for good because they haue digged a pitte for my soule Remember that I haue stood in the sight to speake good for them and to returne away their indignation from them †Therefore geue their children into famine and lead them into the handes of the sword let their wiues be made without children widowes and let the husbands be killed by death let their youngmen be pearced through with the sword in battel †Let a crie be heard out of their houses for thou shalt bring the robber vpon them sodenly because they haue digged a pitte to take me and haue hid snares for my feete †But thou ô Lord knowest al their counsel against me vnto death be not propicious to their iniquitie let not their sinne be cleane put out from thy face let them be made falling in thy sight in the time of thy furie deale with them CHAP. XIX The prophet holding an earthen bottel in his
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
Babylon and was trubled lying in my chamber and my cogitations came vp ouer my hart †because I saw the desolation of Sion and the abundance of them that dwelt in Babylon †And my spirit was tossed excedingly and I began to speake to the highest timorous wordes †and sayd O Lord dominatour thou spakest from the beginning when thou didst plant the earth and that alone and didst rule ouer the people †and gauest Adam a dead bodie but that also was the worke of thy handes didst breath into him the spirit of life and he was made to liue before thee †and thou broughst him into paradise which thy right hand had planted before the earth came †And him thou didst command to loue thy way and he transgressed it forth with thou didst institute death in him and in his posteritie and there were borne nations and tribes and peoples and kinreds wherof there is no number †And euerie nation walked in their owne wil they did meruelous thinges before thee and despised thy preceptes †And agane in time thou broughst in the floud vpon inhabitantes of the world and didst destroy them †And there was made in euery one of them as vnto Adam to dye so to them the floud †But thou didst leaue one of them Noe with his house and of him were al the iust †And it came to passe when they began to be multiplied that dwelt vpon the earth multiplied children and peoples and manie nations and they begane againe to doe impietie more then the former †And it came to passe when they did iniquitie before thee thou didst choose thee a man of them whose name was Abraham †And thou didst loue him and to him on lie thou didst shew thy wil. †And thou didst dispose vnto him an euerlasting testament and toldst him that thou wouldst neuer forsake his seede And thou gauest him Isaac and to Isaac thou gauest Iacob and Esau †And Iacob thou didst seuer to thy selfe but Esau thou didst separate And Iacob grewe to a great multitude †And it came to passe when thou didst bring forth his sede out of Aegypt thou broughst it vpon mount Sinai †And thou didst bowe the heauens and fasten the earth and didst shake the world and madest the depthes to tremble and trubledst the world †and thy glorie passed foure gates of fire and of earthquake and winde and frost that thou mightst geue a law to the seede of Iacob and to the generation of Israel diligence †And thou didst not take away from them a malignant hart that thy law might bring forth fruite in them †For Adam the first bearing a viâ—ious hart transgressed and was ouercome yea and al that were borne of him †And it was made a permanent infirmitie and the law with the hart of the people with the wickednes of the roote and that which is good departed and the wicked remayned †And the times passed the yeares were ended and thou didst raise vp vnto thee a seruant named Dauid †and spakest vnto him to build a citie of thy name and to offer vnto thee in it frankencense and oblations †And this was done manie yeares and they that inhabited the citie forsooke thee †in al things as Adam and al his generations For they also vsed a wicked hart †And thou didst deliuer thy citie into the hands of thyne enimies †Why doe they better thinges that inhabite Babylon And for this shal she rule ouer Sion †It came to passe when I was come hither and had sene the impieties that can not be numbred and my soul saw manie offending this thirteth yeare my hart was astonied †because I saw how thou bearest with their sinne and didst spare them that did impiously and didst destroy thine owne people and preserue thine enimies and didst not signifie it †I nothing remember how this way should be forsaken doth Babylon better thinges then Sion †Or hath anie nation knowen thee beside Israel or what tribes haue beleued thy testamentes as Iacob †Whose reward hath not appeared nor their labour fructified For passing through I passed among the nations and I saw them abound and not mindeful of thy commandmentes †Now therfore wey our iniquities in a ballance and theirs that dwel in the world thy name shal not be found but in Israel †Or when haue not they sinned in thy sight that inhabite the earth or what nation hath so obserued thy commandmentes †These cettes by their names thou shalt finde to haue kept thy commandmentes but the nations thou shalt not finde CHAP. IIII. Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement of God 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations 33. nor of times and thinges to come AND the Angel answered me that was sent to me whose name was Vriel †and sayd to me Thy hart exceding hath exceded in this world thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest †And I sayd It is so my Lord. And he answered me sayd I am sent to shew thee three wayes to propose to thee three similitudes †Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them I also wil shew thee the way which thou desirest to see and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is †And I sayd Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me Goe wey me the weight of the fire or measure me the blast of the winde or cal me backe the day that is past †And I answered and sayd what man borne can doe it that thou askest me of these thinges †And he sayd to me If I should aske thee saying How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea or how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth or how great vaines be there aboue the firmament and what are the issues of paradise †thou wouldest perhaps say to me I haue not descended into the depth nor into hel as yet neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen †But now I haue not asked thee sauing of the fire and the winde and the day by the which thou hast passed and from the which thou canst not be separated and thou hast not answered me of them †And he sayd to me Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together with thee †and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest and now the world being outwardly corrupted vnderstand the corruption euident in my sight †I sayd to him Better were it for vs not to be then yet liuing to liue in impieties and to suffer and not to vnderstand for what thing †And he answered me said Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the filde and they deuised a deuise †and sayd Come and let vs goe and make watre against the sea that it
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
in the space of nere 300. yeares   l 2564.   l Othoniel the first Iudge of the tribe of Iuda deliuered the Israelites from molestation of the king of Syria He gouerned comprehending also the intermission fourtie yeares Iudic. 3. v. 11. Neither did it suffice their phancies to coÌ„mend themselues and their goodes to the protection of few goddes but diuers thinges yea and the same thinges according to diuers state to diuers goddes and goddesses As S. Augustin noteth li. 4. c. 8. de ciuit that they thought it not sufficient to coÌ„mend their landes possessions to one god or goddesse but the fieldes to one mouÌ„taines to an other little hilles to an other valleys or medowes to an other Likewise their corne not al to one but the sede newly sowne to one beginning to brewerd to an other when it riseth beginneth to haue knottes to an other when it bladeth to an other when the eare springeth to an other when it is ripe readie to be reaped to an other And so without end more and more vaine goddes were imagined by the diuels suggestion The booke of Iudges sheweth the state of the people of God the space of nere three hundred yeares after the death of Iosue when they had sometimes temporal gouerners of diuers tribes some times none m 2588.   m Aod of the tribe of Beniamin the second Iudge killed Eglon king of Moab and so deliuered Israel and slew tenne thousand Moabites Iud. 3. v. 20. 29.      n Samgar a husbandman the third Iudge killing six hundred Philisthimes with the culter of a plough defended Israel Iudic. 3. v. 31. He with Aod and the times wanting iudges gouerned seuentie fiue yeares   o 2663.   o Barach by direction of Debora a prophetesse fighting against Sisara chiefe captaine of Iabin king of Asor Iahil a stout woman slew the same captaine striking a naile in his head Iud. 4. They gouerned 38. yeares    Abisue Salmon p Gedeon confirmed by miracles that he was sent of God ouertherw the Madianites and deliuered Israel gouerning fourtie yeares Iudic. 6. 7. 8.   p 2701.   q Abimelech the base sonne of Gedeon vniustly vsurping auctoritie killed his seuenty bretheren one only escaping but within three yeares was hated of his folowers and slaine by a woman Iud 9.   q 2741.   r Thola defended the countrie from inuasion of enimies three yeares Iud. 10.   r 2744.   s Iair a potent noble man defended the people twentie two yeares Iud. 10. v. 3.   s 2767. Bocci  t Iepte first reiected but afterwards intreated by the ancientes of the people fought for them and ouerthrew the enemies And vpon an vndiscrete vow offered his daughter in sacrifice Iud. 11.   t 2789.  Booz   who so deluding men brought them to eternal ruine    v He killed in ciuil warre fourtie two thousand Ephraimites and gouerned six yeares Iud. 12.   w 2795.   w Abesan a fortunate good man ruled in peace seuen yeares Iudic. 12. v. 9. About this time Booz of the tribe of Iuda maried Ruth a Moabite by whom the right line of Iudas descended by Phares to Dauid Ruth 4. v. 18. c. The people in this time of peace fel againe to idolatrie For which God suffered the Philistimes to afflict them Iud. 13. The tribe of Dan set vp idolatrie Iud. 18.  x 2802.   x Ahialon gouerned likewise in peace tenne yeares Iud. 12. v. 11. A hainous crime being committed in the tribe of Beniamin and not punished the other Israelites made battle against them being themselues also great sinners lost manie men in two conflictes but in the third the tribe of Beniamin was almost destroyed Iud. 19. v. 20. The booke of Ruth amongst other mysteries sheweth the genealogie of Dauid of whose sede Christ was borne y 2812.  Obed. y Abdon an other nobleman gouerned eight yeares Iud. 12. v. 13.   z 2820. Ozi  z Samson from his birth a Nazareite of admirable streingth did manie heroical actes killed manie Philistimes in his life more by his owne death He gouerned twentie yeares Iud. 13. v. 5. c. ch 16. v. 31.   a 2840. Hei otherwise Zaraias  a Heli of the stocke of Aaron by the line of Ithamar was High priest and gouerned Israel fourtie yeares 1. Reg. 4. v. 18.     Isai or Iesse b Samuel whose mother being long barren had presented him an infant in the temple according to her vow was a Nazareire and a prophet from a child 1.  The foure bookes of kings shew the state of the Church from the b 2880.     first kinges of Gods people to their captiuitie And the two bookes of Paralipomenon do repete briefly some thinges written before partly adde thinges omitted in other bookes  Maraioth Dauid b. Reg. 1. 3. And after the death of Heli gouerned the people of Israel before Saul twentie yeares And with him twentie yeares more About the yeare of the world 2830. Troy was taken and destroyed by the Grecians In which battel were Agamemnon Vlisses Achilles Nestor many others not in dede so renowmed for anie vertues or factes of their owne as Homer Horace Viâ—gil Onid others by poetical libertie flatterie sette them forth But most follie appeareth in that the citie of Rome was afterwards commended to those goddes which were taken in Troy not able to defend them selues from inuasion and spoile S. Aug. li. 1. c. 3. ciuit The psalmes written by Dauid a summarie of al holie Scriptures c 2900. Achimelech or Amarias Dauid king c By the importunitie of the people to haue a king God appointed Samuel to annoint Saul 1. Reg. 10. who at first gouerned wel but afterwards declining from God was deposed Dauid annointed by the same prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 16. Yet Saul was not actually depriued of the scepter so long as he liued 1. Reg. 31.   d 2920. Abiathar or Achitob Salomon d Dauid king prophetâ—â— led his kingdom as a right parterne of al good kinges made the booke of Psalmes ful of al diuine knowlege prepared meanes for building the temple ordained diuers sortes of musitians and reigned fourtie yeares 2. Reg. totus 2. Par. 23 c.   e 2960. Sadoc  e Salomon excelling in wisdom prospered in this world 3. Reg. 3. c.   f 2964.   f He built the temple and adorned the same with al excellent furniture requisite for Gods seruice disposing al in order as Dauid had ordained   THE END OF THE FOVRTH AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTH AGE AnnimuÌ„di High-priests kinges of luda The sacred Historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures g 2972.   g The temple being finished in seuen yeares was
called Iechonias reigning but three monethes was caried into Aegypt where afterwards he dyed 4. Reg. 23. v. 34. and Eliakim otherwise called Ioakim his brother was made king Who in the third yeare of his reigne was caried into Babylon 4. Reg. 23. v. 34. 2. Par. 36. v. 4. 5. and with him Daniel and the other three children Dan. 1.  Daniel begane to prophecie also verie young in Babylon and continued after  Zaraias  Shortly after which time happened the historie of Susanna Dan. 13.  the relaxation from captiuitie    And the same Ioakim after his reigne of three yeares liued other eight yeares in captiuitie 4. Reg. 24. v. 1. 2. Par. 36. v. 4. 5. A certaine captaine picking a quarel apprehended Ieremie and by consent of principal men cast him into a dungeon the king not knowing therof 4. Reg. 25. Iere. 37. 38. Ezechiel prophecied also in the captiuitie in the countrie nere to Babylon a 3383.  Ioachin otherwise Iechonias a Ioachin called also Iechonias sonne of the former Iechonias or Ioachaz reigned but three monethes was caried into Babylon with him Ezechiel the Prophet and others And his vncle Matthanias otherwise named Sedecias was made king who reigned eleuen yeares 4. Reg. 24. 2. Paral. 36. Ismael killed Godolias the gouernour and others 4. Reg. 25. Iere. 41.  b 3394. Iosedech  b In the eleuenth yeare of Sedecias when king Iechonias the younger was prisoner in Babylon Ierusalem was taken the Temple destroyed and the people caried captiue into Babylon 4 Reg. 25. 2. Paral. 36. In the meane time Daniel was in singular great estimatiō both with the faithful people and Paganes and was aduanced to auctoritie as also by his meanes the other children for which they were enuied and persecuted but were miraculously protected Dan. 1. ad 7. 13. 14. Manie Iewes fled into Aegypt and fel to idolatrie resisting contemning Ieremies admonitions to the contrarie Iere. 42. 43. 44.  THE END OF THE FIFTH AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTH AGE Anni mūdi High-priests The line of Dauid The sacred historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures c 3418. Iesus sonne of Iosedech From the captiuitie the Iewes had no kinges but the line of Dauid continued in these persons from Iechonias to Christ c In the captiuitie by diligence of the prophetes manie Iewes had great zele in true religion And about the 24. yeare of the captiuitie Assuerus otherwise called Astiages made Esther Quene and wicked Aman seeking to destroy al the Iewes in those partes was himself hanged on the gallowes which he had prepared for Mardocheus Esther 7. c. When the Monarchie came to the Chaldees by the powre of Nabuchodo nosor king of Babylon there was greatest confusion of manie goddes and of al kindes of idolatrie The historie of Esther Mardocheus and Aman written in the booke of Esther in the captiuitie d3420  Salathiel d Euilmerodach deliuered Iechonias or Ioachin from prison and enterteyned him as a prince 4. Reg. 25. v. 27.   e3464   e Baltazar being slaine Darius king of Medes Persians possessed Babylon Cyrus succeding Darius released the Iewes from captiuitie and gaue licence to Zorobabel Iesus to reduce the people into Iurie     Zorobabel 2. Paral. 36. v. 22. 1. Esd 1. And great dissention among the more lerned Grecians For the Pithagorians put their chief happines or Summum bonum in the immortalitie of the soule The Stoiks in moral vertues The Achademikes cōceiued much of pure spirites as Angels but could affirme nothing The Peripatetikes placed the consummation of al in the aggregation of spiritual corporal and worldlie prosperitie  f3465   f The Iewes being returned into Ierusalem sette vp an altar and offered sacrifice 1. Esd 3. v. 2.  Esdras write the relaxation of the Iewes from captiuitie And Nehemias the reparation of Ierusalem g3466   g The next yeare they begane to build the temple 1. Esd 3. v. 8.   h3469 Ioachin  h Attaxerxes otherwise called Cambyses also Assuerus forbade to perfect the temple And Iesus the Highpriest returned into Babylon 1. Esd 4. v. 7.     Abiud    i3470   i Daniel vnderstood by vision that Christ should come within seuentie wekes which make 490. yeares from the perfecting of the temple the walles of Ierusalem Dan. 9. v. 25. The schismatical Samaritanes opposed against the building of the temple 1. Esd 4.  k3490 Eliasib  k Aggeus Zacharias the prophets exhorted to build the temple 1. Esd 5. The Saduces acknowleging only the fiue bookes of Moyses reiected al other Scriptures and denied the resurrection Aggeus Zacharias l3500   l Iudith killed Holofernes either about this time or in the dayes of Manasses before the captiuitie Praefat. Iudith The Scribes expounded holie Scriptures sophistically Iudith either here or before the captiuitie m3502  Eliacim m The temple being perfected Malachias who is supposed to be Esdras exhorted to offer sacrifice with sinceritie Mal. 1. 2. The Pharises were precise in the letter corrupting the sense making large hemmes of their garments often washing themselues and the like Malachias n3508   n And Nehemias brought the kings Edict for the reparation of Ierusalem 2. Esd 2.   o3509   o Esdras Nehemlas and others labored in repayring Ierusalem but were often interrupted 2. Esd 3.   p3530  Azor. p About this time the citie was wel repayred with three walles 2. Esd 3. 7. And so by the iudgemēt of some expositers the count of seuentie wekes begane according to the prophecie of Daniel ch 9. v. 26.    Ioiada     q 3504. Ionathan  q Nehemias returning from Persia or Chaldea into Iurie found thicke water for the fire which Ieremie had hid in a deepe caue 2. Mach. 1. v. 20. 23.    Iaddus Sadoc r Alexander the great honored Iaddus the Highpriest Ioseph li. 11. c. 8. Antiq.   r 3644.   s Onias a most zelous godlie Highpriest 2. Mach. 4. was persecuted by Simon a church warden slaine by Andronicus a courtly minion v. 34. And after his death prayed for al the people ch 15. v. 12.   s 3689. Onias Achim t Iesus the sonne of Sirach writte the booke of Ecclesiasticus in the time of this Simon Highpriest as semeth ch 50. v. 24. 25.    Simon Priscus  v The seuentie two Interpreters being sent by Eleazarus Highpriest to Ptolomeus Philadelphus king of Aegypt translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greke Sanaballat a Grecian obtayned licence for his sonnein law Manasses the Apostata high-priest to build a temple in Garizim Ioseph li. 11. c. 8. Antiq.  t 3700.   w An other Iesus Nephew of the former translated Ecclesiasticus into Greke Prolog Eccli Ananias an other false
but by the mightie hand of God :: Manie are held guiltie of sinne and are iustly punished for the fact of one or few either because they coÌ„sented or concealed or neglected to punish the offenders or els they suffer temporal affliction for their warning to abhorre sinne for increase of their merite â— Aug. q. 8. 9. in Iosue :: Hiâ—l fel into this curse for reparing Iericho 3. Reg. 16. v. 34. :: So God tempered his punishment that but few were slaine and afterwards gaue the towne to the Israelites without losse of any of their men :: Prayer wil not auaile til iustice be first donne :: Deceiptes â— stratagemes are lawful in iust warre but not falshood nor breach of promise â— Aug. q. 10. 〈◊〉 Iosue :: These fiue thousaÌ„d were of the thirtie thousand which were first sent v. 3. The other 25000 ioyned with Iosues troupe entered into the citie :: Not one fitte to beare armes was left :: He life his shield vpon a long pike or lance that it might be sene fitte of Deut. 27. :: Al superiors may blesse their subiectes Princes their people and parentes their children :: In such a case they ought to haue consulted God to wirte the high Priest putting on the Ephod Rationale should haue prayed at the dore of the tabernacle where our Lord appointed to speake vnto him Exo. 29 v. 42 It was also ordained Num. 27. v. 21. that Eleazar should coÌ„sult our Lord when anie thing was to be donne by Iosue which omittiÌ„g to do they were deceiued by these Gabaonites :: In these Gabaonites of Chanaans race was fulfilled Noes prophecie Geu 9. that Chanaan should be a seruant to his brethren :: Iosue did thinke if the moone moued the sunne also must necessarily moue so he obtained the stay of both :: Til after the time this booke was written :: God condescending to worke so great a miracle at the instance of his seruant :: God so disposed that they should not coÌ„quer al in one yeare lest the land had benne brought into a vvildernes and beastes increased against them Exod. 23. v. 29 Morally it signifieth that the children of God must be exercised in tribulations and mortification lest vices grow in them Procop. in Exod. :: These warres coÌ„tinued nere seuen yeares as appeareth chap. 14. v. 10. :: For their enormious sinnes God left them in their owne reprobate sense not imposing necessitie of sinning but permitting them to indurate their owne hartes See An not Exod. 7. :: Hence forth they had not general warres but diuers tribes had particular as appeareth chap. 15. c. Num. 21. Deut. 3. :: Moyses slew two kinges Iosue thirtie one The third part PartitioÌ„ of the land among nine tribes a half :: These partes are designed though not yet conquered :: This part the Amorreites had taken and possessed otherwise the Israelits were prohibited to take anie thiÌ„g from the Ammonites Deut 2. :: The Leuites hauing their portions in other maner yet there were twelue tribes to receiue portioÌ„s by reason that Iacob adopted Iosephs two sonnes Gen. 48. :: After the viewing of the land Num. 1â— the Israelites remained in the desert 38. yeares so they were nere seuen yeares in warres :: Gods promise is euer sure on his part but because it is conditional if we serue him sincerly oâ—â— wil being fâ—ee he saith â—f perhaps our lord be vvith me :: Onlie the countrie of Hebron was geuen to Caleb for the citie it self and suburbes belonged to the Priestes chap. 21â— v. 11. c See beâ—ore Chap. 11. v. 23. :: Though it was prohibited that the nephew should marie his â—unt yet the vncle was not expresly forbid to marie his neece by Moyses law Leuit. 18. And albeit there is the same degree of consanguinitie yet not the same incoÌ„uenience by reason the same person remaineth subiect that was inferior before mariage Because ordinarily the south part of the world is more drie and barren then other partes a barren place is called a south land in respect of more settile ground :: The Iebuseites kept a strong castle in Ierusalem til king Dauid tooke it from them 2. Reg. 5. :: Ruben for the sinne of incest losing the priuelegies of birth-right Gen. 49 Priesthood was geuen to Leui the kingdome to Iuda and duble portioÌ„ to Ioseph Paraphr Chald. :: The land or territorie of Taphua fallig to the lotte of Manasses yet Taphua that is the citie it selfe was the childrens of Ephraim :: The Chananeite remained in the Land of Manasses for a time :: Not equal buâ— proportionable partes were assigned for so it was commanded Num. 26. v. 54. To the greater number to geue a greater portion and to the fewer a lesse :: After the portions were appointed by mens industrie discretion God confirmed the same by lotte to take away al occasioÌ„ of discontentment :: Of modestie Iosue would not assigne to him self anie place but the whole people freely granted his request :: At first entering it sufficed to allege in general his innocencie but after he must be tried in particular :: God gaue al the Land in due time but not al at once for the causes expressed Exo. 23. v. 29. Deut. 7. v. 22. The fourth part Two tribes a halfe returne to their possessions Iosues godly admonitions his and Eleazars death :: It perteineth to al magistrates and other superiors to admonish their subiectes of their dutie towardes God before al other thinges :: Al superiorâ— may impert blessing to their subiectes :: So it behoueth al the seruantes of God to see in time that no schisme be made and therfore orderly to inquire of euerie show of euil 1. Thes 5. :: Sinnes past are imputed to such as fal againe as a grauating their new sinnes by reason of more ingratitude :: As before chap. 7. so if these had bene culpable al Israel might feare to be punished except iustice were donne vpon the offenders chap. 7. :: In the law of Moyses was one onlie altar for sacrifice for the whole people of God to auoide schisme and idolatrie Now in the Church being in al nations are manie altares but one onlie Sacrifice prefigured by al the former as S. Augustin teacheth li 17. c. 20 de â—iuit S. â—â—o Se◠◠〈◊〉 Pâ—ssione :: God fought for the Isiachtes three maâ— of wayes sometimes alone they not fighting at al as when the Aegyptians were drowned in the read sea sometimes they doing his coÌ„mandmentes he apparently assisted them as in the siege of Iericho the walles miraculously fel downe c. 6 haile stones killed their enimies chap. 10. but most times inuâ—sibly as wel by geuing them courege as by striking their enimies with terrour And al these wayes God also fighteth for his seruantes in spiritual warres against the diuel the flesh the world :: The Israelites descended also of Nachor by Rebecca his sonnes daughter the wife of Isaac
wherupon they begaÌ„ne to detest Abimelec and so hatred grew betwen him them which is a most euil spirite but their former sinne not God was the cause therof S. Aug. q. 45. in Iudic. :: For more reuenge he sowed the citie with salte which maketh ground barren Theod. q. 17. in lib. Iudie :: Euels shal betide the vniust man to destruction Psal 139. Vngtatful people render iniuries for benefites Infidels promote wicked men to authoritie Abimelech a figure of Antichrist 2. Thess 2. :: Not euerie one that sayeth Lord Lord but he thaâ— doth the wil of God c. Mat. 7. :: The hebrew word Zâ—nah signifieth also â—n â—n keeper :: If they had not concurred to his expulsion it might haue sufficed to haue sent for him but in this case the ancientes iudged it meete to goe in person and to in treat him So Christ was reiected by the Iewes and returneth not to them til in the end of the world they shal seeke vnto him â— Aug. q. 49. in Iudic. postâ—eâ—iuÌ„ Num. 20 :: In the opinion of infidels it semed that they possessâ—d countries by the helpe of false goddes and so they thought them selues to haue iust title Much more iust is the title when God almighty geueth victorie of conquest S. Aug. q. 48. in Iudie :: He argueth vpon prescription of 300. yeares being nere so much for there wanted scarce thirtie being from the conquest made by Moyses Num. 21. til the time of Iephte about 270. yeares :: This vow was vnlawful for the law forbiddeth to offer man or woman in sacrifice Exo. 34. v. 20. Deut. 12. v. 31. :: In the old testament mariage was ordinarily preferred before single life but in the new it is better to kepe virginity 1. Cor. â— â— 38. Iephte offended in vowing vndiscretly But not in performing his vow as ancient fathers thinke more probable S. Augustin S. Ambrose S. Hierom. S. Chrysostom S. Gregorie Nazianzen Theodoret. Bible â—603 Protestants censure :: That is exposeâ— my self to danger trusting to Gods helpe â—â—yâ— owne handes when others would not assist me :: Iephte being of Manasses tribe the Ephraites enuied his glorie and calumniously obiected that he and his followers were fugitiues so raised a tumulte to their owne â—â—â—â—e :: Abstinence not only from thinges vncleane by the law but also from wine and sider was a preparation to the childe who should abstaine from them al his life :: Other Nazerites obserued a prescripte rule of abstinence for a time only Num. 6. but Samson al his life as a more perfect figure of Christ :: Manue taking the Angel for a holie prophete iustly thought he would not admitte not coÌ„mand anie thing but that was lawful And so did as the Angel appointed him though he was no priest nor the place proper to sacrifice but by extraordinarie dispensation :: Though Manue saw not God in his owne person yet seing him in his messenger feared death S. Aug. q. 54. in Iudiâ— Protestantes either contradict themselues or teach Arrianisme Bible 1603. :: It was prohibited Deut. 7. v. 3. to make mariage with the Gentiles but God some times dispensed as here it appeareth he did v. 4. :: By threates they made heâ— betray her husband and neuertheles destroyed both her and her father cha â—5 v. 6. so persecuters of the Church deale with such as trayterously or of frailtie serue their turne :: Being Iudge of the people he had helpe of others to â—ake so manie foxes with â—â—â—â—es or otherwise being great store in that countrie :: A notorious miracle to kil so manie with so meane a weapon without other helpe of man And by common reason as vncredible as the great mysteries of Catholique Religion :: It was a greater miracle to draw water out of a drie bone then out of the earth or stones but al things are possible to God which he pleaseth to do * or an Inâ—eâ—per :: For such admirable streingth the heth â—iâ—h people thought Samson to be Hercules S. Aug. li. 18. c. 19. ciuit But he was indeede farre stronger then they feaned of Hercules who they said was not able to fight against two whereas Samson alone killed a thousand with the iaw bone of an asse c. 15. v. 15. :: Supernatural streingth or grace departeth when any leaue the rule of their profession :: He desired to be reuenged not of rancour of mind but of zele of iustice And so al the elect glorified Sainctes desire reueÌ„ge Luc. 18. v. 8. Apoc. 6. v. 10. Samson excused in killing himselfe wiÌ„th his enemies Samson a figure of Christ The third part Of certaine accidentes which happened in the time of the Iudges :: In hebrew pesel vmassecah in Latin sculptile constatile a grauen molten thing an image or forme made in mettle for a god and so called v. 5. was in dede an idol of Gentilitie and nothing at al against sacred Images of Christ and his Sainctes in the Catholique Church wherof more is noted Gen. 31. Exo. 20. :: Annointed his haÌ„des with oyle as was prescribed Exo. 29. Leu. 8 But such an apish imitation was of no value where was neither true vocation in the annointed for he descended not of Aâ—ton but of Moyses chap. 18. v. 30. nor authoritie in him that vsed this ceremony b An Apostata Leuite was accounted more sufficient then an idolatrical priest to serue an idol so he that is a Priest of a Deacon once catholikly consecrated is a sufficient yea too sufficient a minister with protestantes c Their whole portioÌ„ was assigned Ios 19 but through their owne â—â—outh they possessed litle of it so that hitherto the greatest part was not receiued d They ment the false god which the apostata Leuite serued e The diuel answered as his maner is obscurly sometimes truly sometimes falsly :: Pesel eidolon sculptile the grauen thing falsly called god c. 17. v. 5. :: She was his lawful wife and so called v. â— â— 9. et also is called concubine because she had no dawrie nor as yet enioyed the priuiledges of a mistris in her husbands house :: Omission contempâ— to punish hainous â—â—imes is a 〈…〉 cause to make wâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 :: One of the tribe of Iuda :: Being farre more in number hauing the iust cause yet had the worse because they trusted in their owne streingth :: God also punished al Israel by this ciuil warre for suffering idolattie in the tribe of Dan. cha 18. v. 30. which they ought to haue punished Deut. 13. v. 12. :: By this it appeareth that this historie happened not long after the death of Eleazarus Ios 24. v. 33. to whom hissonne Phinees succeded in the spiritual Supremacie of the Church :: Lest either iustice be ouer sharpe or mercie too relaxe with great art of discretion gouernours must obserue mercie iustly aduising and discipline piously châ—sticings S. Greg. li 1. Epist 24. :: In the time of the Iudges
answer :: Euil wordes for curteous vsage heret o sore and for late gentil intreating by messengers :: Things tyeâ— in bundels are stronger and more secure then single and loose :: Dauid is resolute and often repeteth that it is not lawful for priuate subiectes to kil their prince no although him selfe was annointed to succede :: Gods prouidence sent this extraordinary sleepe and inspired Dauid to doe this fact for more iustification of his innocencie :: These countries were neither subiect to the Philistijms not to the Israelites and were also of those nations whom God had coÌ„manded to destâ—roy dwelling within the land of Chanaan Deut 25. The fourth part Of the ruine of Saul and exaltation of Dauid :: Not manie but one excellent person an old man come lie in apparel Saul adored not Samuel with diuine honour but with dulia reuerencedue to a blessed soule * â—iadagâ— cognouit Luevv :: In state of the dead in an other world not in the same particular state S. Augustin opinion whether Samuele soule appeared or no. More probable that his verie soule appeared not compelled by the euil spirite but obeying Gods secrete ordinance First proose 2 3 4 â— to â— pag. 210. Soules sometimes appeare after death loco 〈◊〉 tatâ— :: He speaketh by amplification to make his fact seme more reasonable whereas the time of Dauids abode with him was but foute monethes ch 27. v. 7. :: Consuit out Lord for me so Dauid by the priests mediation was instructed what to do :: It is not against Gods coÌ„mandment Deut. 4. 12. to make new lawes so they be conformable not contrarie to Gods former lawes Saul killing himself after that he was wounded 〈◊〉 his enimies signifieth those that being ouercome by tentations desperatly persist wilfully die in their sinne S. Greg. â—â—o 10 :: These men are coÌ„mendable for gratitude towards Saul who had deliuered them ch 11. for a vvorke of mercie in burying the dead for pietie towards their king and princes and for fortitude in atchiuing so heroical an act This booke is wholly of Dauid His succession to the kingdom His vertues Faultes Thankes and Prophecie :: He fained al this thincking to get fauoure for Saul killed himself li. 1. ch 31. but Dauid punished him as such a crime desetued v. 15. :: Exequies of Saul obserued with mourning weeping and fasting :: The Philisthijms were strong cunning archers therefore Dauid commanded that his subiectes should lerne and exercise the same maner of fight :: This second annointing as also the third ch â— was in confirmation and to put him in possession of the first mâ—â—â— long before 1. Reg. 16. :: He reigned two yeares before he beganne much to decline but in al seuen yeares and a half for so long Dauid reigned only in Iuda v. 11. :: Hence perhaps cometh the phraise that one armie playeth vpon an other vvith smal and great arâ—â—lane that is strike and kil their enimies with al sortes of gunnes Iosephus li. 7. c. 1. Antiq. :: Am I coâ—temptible in thy sight and yet head of them that oppose against Dauid I that haue donne so much for thee wil not indure to be reprehended for a smal fault So God suffereth the maintainers of an euiâ— quarel to fal out among them selues wherby the right cause is aduanced :: weake being newly receiued king and not able to punish strong offenders But Ioab others were afterwardes punished 3. Reg. 2. :: They annoint him againe in confirmation of their consent as Iuda had donne chap. 2 acknowledging Gods ordinance 1. Reg. 16. :: King Dauid now atcheued that the tribe of Iuda could not in the time of Iosue Iosue 15. :: Idoles that haue eyes and can not see feete and can not goe shal not enter into the Church of Christ * â—câ—lp â—â—lia :: 〈…〉 there 〈…〉 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 as he 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 S. 〈…〉 S. 〈…〉 :: To dance before the arke is to dance before our Lord. :: The tabernacle made by Moyses was a goodlie thing but being couered with skinnes and in manie respectes insufficient for Gods seruice Dauid desired to build a glorious Temple But was not permitted to do it for mysterie sake to signifie that Christ the true Salomon should build his Church that farre excelleth the Synagogue of the Iewes and old Testament S. Augustin li. 17. c. 8. deciuit a He that supposeth this great promise to be fulfilled in Salomon erreth much sayeth S. Augustin ibidem b S. Paul expoundeth this of Christ Heb. 1. v 5. c This can not be saied of Christ but of Salomon and of anie christian so this place hath manie literal senses d The Sea Apostolique priestly powre in the church of christ is this perpetual kingdom S. Epiphanius Heresi 29. e Here and in manie other places the Hebrew word is of the plural number Elohim Goddes signifying more diuine Persons f The worke of mans Redemption is appropriated to God the Sonne :: For 〈◊〉 â—â—pâ—â—â—â— Dauid compâ—ssing then with cordes as 〈…〉 are eâ—â—iâ—â—â—â—d cast them on the around and by lotte killed some and spared some aliue :: Sette 〈◊〉 an Arch in memorie of triumph * â—rchaâ—â—â—lâ—r :: These were archers and sling throwers of the guard Pharaâ—â—rasis â—hâ—ll :: Or priestes oâ— chief rulers See the annotation Gen 47. v. 22. 1. Paâ—â—l 18. v. 17. :: The partiâ—â—lar inhereâ—â—â—â— that perâ—â—ined to Sauls familie :: Not siâ—â—e 〈◊〉 table with the king but haue his diet of the kinges prouision besides the forsaide inheritance :: This Naas king of Ammon curtously intertained Dauids freindes which escaped from the king of Moab killing most of them that were coÌ„mended to him because Dauid had leift his countrie and was returned into Iuda 1. Reg. 22. Histor Eccles :: Then do sius the Eâ—â—rerour pretenâ—ing to be excused from punishment for his sinnes because king Dauid also was an adulter â— and a manslaver S. Ambrose replied saying Thou that hast solovveding Dauid evving folovv him â—epenting After which admonâ—tion the Emperour most humbly did publique penance inioyned him by the Bishop in vâ—â—a Theodâ—sij :: Now then some of thy seede shal be violently slaine so were slaine three of his owne sonnes Ammon chap. 13. Absalom chap. 18. Adonias 3. Reg. 2. six sonnes of Iosaphat and al Iorams sonnes saue one â— paralip 21. also Ochozias Amasias Iosias 2. Par. 24 25. 35. and the sonnes of Sedechias himselfe hauing his eyes put out and so brought into Babylon 4. Reg. 25. :: Praised and thanked the king :: These children died before him as appeareth cha 18. :: Concubines were lawfully maried but had not al priuilegies as other wiues See 〈◊〉 25. Iudiâ— 19. :: He couered his head that he might not be seene to weepe lest he should discorege the people neuertheles the people also wept and likewise couered their heades :: King Dauid was here abused by false information to which he ought not so easely to
v. â— * ch 3. v. 3. E :: Great hurt to a king that is ruled much by one counseler Salomon teacheth that VVhere are manie counsellers cogitations are confirmed â—ron 15. v. 22. * F ch 3. v. 14. ch 4. v. 17. * Excepâ— the 72. G The Epistle on wenesday in the 1. weke of â—â—nâ— And in a votiue Masse against Paganes :: Idoles are nothing in the vvorld 1. Cor. 8. but baâ—e imaginations of men :: The Church vseth this prayer in the offertorie the 22. sunday after Pentecost as a parcel of holie Scripture Of herselfe nor for wordlie glorie she desired not to marie a heathen king but for the coÌ„mon good she maried him God dispensing with the law in this behalf See ch 2. G * H ch 13. v. 8. :: Vesâ—imâ—nta oratus not ornâ—â—â—s her playing wâ—ede :: A notable example for Noble wemen how to kepe their state remaine neuer theles humble in hart :: By this comparison of angels she ment that the king excelled al or most part of men * K ch 5. v. â— L :: At last this king saw his owne errour in beleuing one false counseller ouer much ch 1â— v. ◠〈◊〉 1â— v. 6. :: As Mardocheus suggested thâ— king confirmed the obseruation of a feast in memorie of Gods benefice and so both Iewes and Genâ—â—les kept it * M chap. 9. v. â— â— 18. c. 47. ciuit conc 2. de Lazar Rom. 9. Praesat 〈◊〉 Iob. Iob of the race of Esau VVhy God suffered him to be so afflicted The contentes according to the historie Iob an especial figure of Christ Prafâ—â— Moral documentes in this booke True logike Philosophie Hard and eaâ—ic thinges to be vnderstood are both profitable VVritten by Iob himself most part in verse Diuided into three partes This booke is read the two fâ—râ—â— wekes of September The first paâ—â— The change of Iobs prosperous sâ—aâ—â— into affliction 〈…〉 :: Diuels appeare not in Gods sight but sometime in presence of Angels which represent God S. Athan q. 8. ad Antiâ—câ—â—â— :: God doth not directly send euils bâ—t permitteth them to happen to his seruantes :: By this holie example ancient fathers condeme the senâ—â—es Stoikes who are neuer moued S. Aug. li. 1. c. 9. ciuit S. Paul also reproueth men vvithout affection Rom. 1. v. 31. Aswal Iob as other prophetes writ their owne actes and prayses Good workes are both Gods workes and mens workes Praefâ—â— in Iob. Iobs patience inuincible in â—l sortes of â—â—â—liction English Catholiques lose their goodes and children and are afflicted in bodie Great commendation to be good amongst the bad Philip. 2. Apoc. 2. â—â—ntie Sacrifice being of infinite vertue yet the valure in application is limited :: A man of plâ—ine 〈◊〉 true dealing mixed with meekâ—â—â— with out al guile is called a simple right man S. Greg. li. 1. Moral â— 2 â—â—â— :: His wife perswading him to desperation and blasphemie signified carnal cogitions which corrupt the soule inwardly as afflictions do affault the flesh outwardly S. Greg. li. 3. c. 24. :: Seuen dayes together euerie day and night some good part These visiters of Iob were in dede his freindes and professed true religion They erred in Iobs particular case li. 3. â— 24. And prefigured heretikes li. 5. â— 18. :: After so long â—â—leâ—ce at last â—â—b expresseth hiâ—â—Spandâ—â— so 〈…〉 des 〈…〉 great 〈…〉 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 〈…〉 ly 〈…〉 〈…〉 ud 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 〈◊〉 by God bu 〈…〉 to m 〈…〉 bein 〈…〉 〈…〉 nne euen from his conception and 〈◊〉 wishing that whatsoeuer concurred to his longer afflictions in this life and hâ—â—dâ—râ—â— his more spedie deliuerie from dangers and calamities had not bene for so he had benne sowner at â—est as Gods goodnes should dispose of him Al which was a lawful desire and no sinne at al. See 1. Pineda in c. 2. Iob. The second part Diuers discourses and disputes about the cause of Iobs afflictions The first constrct betwen Eliphaz and Iob. :: No innocent euer perished eternally but innocent Abel was slaine temporaly and innumerable others suffer calamities for their greater merite :: Heretikes pretend such obscure visions more to gette credite then to edifie others S. Greg. li. 5. c. 18. :: Iob easely granteth that man may not compare not contend with God ch 9. v. 1. Yet men may be innocent free from greuous sinnes :: This disputer hauing pretended an imaginarie vision from God 〈◊〉 Iob now he supposeth that neither God noâ— Angel noâ— other holie person wil patrâ—â—age his cause nor iudge of his case as he doth but that al wil condemne him of impatience follie enuie and other sinnes :: This proueth unporteth that a man must not thincke to passe his life without trauel but must get his bread vvith svveat of his brovves or suffer other calamities :: Gods goodnes deliuereth his seruantes the space of this laborious life :: And most especially in the houre of death S. Org. li. 6. c. 18. â—nuocation of Sainctes especially Angels in Iobs time li. 5. c. 30. :: A man of sincere conscience confesseth the sinnes wherof he is guiltie yet acknowledgeth not al wherwith others may vniustly charge him :: Sâ—ndâ—e wayes without water :: Iobs aduersaâ—ies preâ—â—med to teach him but because they erred in their applying of true assertions in his case which himself vnderstood and not they he acconted not their discourses for good doctrin The vse of Hyperbole in holie Scripture Treasure of satisfactorie workes in the Church Pardons do applie the suffering of some for the satisfaction of others :: A souldiar must be alwayes readie to indure trauel to be promptly obedient content to be beaten by his superior with out al resistance vpon paine of his life he is alwayes subiect to cares and to danger of death and therfore must euer be readie to dye * Seol :: Iust Iob supposing he was at the point of death prayed God to spare or cease to punish him more and to accept of that affliction which he had already suffered So the Church in behalf of soules departed in state of grace prayeth God to spare and cease from further punishing them and to geue them eternal rest :: The second confflict This second disputer charged Iob to be obâ—â—â—â—ate who in dedâ— was constant 〈◊〉 a true setled iudgement :: Euen thus heretikes imagine Catholikes to the ignorant and therfore fil their mouthes and bookes with thinges that are not denied and yet inserre much falshood sophistically applying one truth against an other being them selues ignoraÌ„t how to reconcile difficulties :: Iob here granteth that which was truly said by his aduersarie sheweth how he did wrong apliâ—â—rue doctrin against him and so stil defendeth his owne in nocencie and iust quarel :: Angeles moue the spheres of heauen :: Euen so S. Paul though he was not guiltie in conscience of anie crime yet he would not therin iustifie himself 1. Cor. 4. :: This is an assured true assertion that God afflicteth
certaine that Salomon was sometime innocent and holie but was peruerted by wemen 3. Reg. 11. 3 Reg. 3. v 9. 12. :: Here againe it is euident that the Auctor reporteth Salomons speaches 1. Paral. 28. v. 5. 2. Par. 1. v. 9. :: VVisdom increated is with God yea is God him selfe Prou. 8. v. 22. :: VVisdom vvhich is geuen to men procedeth from God as a gift created :: Mans wisdom vvithout special wisdom from God is not sufficient to gouerne ourselues much lesse others The 3. part The excellent effectes of wisdom iustice :: Adam Gen. 1. v. 27. :: By this it is certaine that our first pareÌ„t Adam truly repented and had remission of his sinne Gen. 4. v. 8. Gen. 6. :: Noe. :: Abraham Gen. 19. :: Lot :: In al trees about Sodom there is only shew of fruite which when it is touched falleth into dust :: Lots wife an example of inconstancie :: Iacob Gen. 28. Gen. 37. :: Ioseph Gen. 41. :: Gods peculiar people Exo. 1. Exo. 3. Exo. 14. Exo. 12. Exo. 15. :: Moyses Exo. 16. Exo. 27. :: The Amalachites Exo. 17. Num 20. :: VVhen the Israelites wanted water God gaue them abundance out of rockes :: But turned the Aegyptians waters into blood :: After affliction the benefite of peace is more gratful :: Moyses was reiected when he iudged betwen his bretheren Exo. 2. :: 14. but was afterwards the deliuer of the whole people Act. 7. v. 45. Leuit. 26. v. 22. Iere. 8. v. 17. â— Aegyptians seruing beasts for goddes were plaged by frogges stuiphes flees and locustes :: God made no creature euil as the Manichees foolishly imagined neither is there any God but one who alone created al thinges :: From the land of Iurie called sacred because God was there tightly serued in the old testament and mans redemption vvas wrought there by Christ Exo. 23. Deut. 7. :: By custom malice became as it were natural after that nature was corrupted :: Gods powre being almightie is only limited by his vvil Rom. 1. v. 23. :: Serpents battes moles like beastes which seme not only super fluous in the world but also hurtful yet were estemed as goddes :: Knowing him to be the only true God by vvhom they saw their false goddes destroyed yet they did not serue him as God :: Gods most proper name is HE WHICH 1â— Exo. 3. v. 14. Rom. 1. Deut. 4. :: Seing no creature how excellent soeuer is or may be estemed a god it is more foolish to thinke an Image or statua or anie thing framed by mans handes can be God Isa 4. Iere. 10. God is the beginning of al thinges absolute and independing :: Great madnes to inuocate a wodden idol more base commonly more corruptible then the wood of a shippe :: As the Israelites went through the redsea :: The auctor prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crosse on which our Sauiour redemed mankind :: From whole death procedeth mans iustification :: Inuention of Idols brought men to spiritual fornications corruption of maners :: This first idolatrie was only prâ—uâ—tly exercised by the father and his seruants at their masters coÌ„mandment by which occasion publique idolatrie came into the world wicked custom in time preuailing :: The name GOD in the proper signification can not be geuen to anie creature Manie enormious crimes procede from dolatrie :: Two sort es of periurie swearing by false goddes and swearing vntruthes Caluin falsly chargeth this booke vvith â—râ—or Gen. 31. Images of false goddes are rightly called idols Idolatrie begane by vvorshipping images of dead men vvith diuine honour Priuate idolatrie was before publique :: Of the diueâ—s sortes of idols and â—dolaters see our brife Annotion vpon the 113. Psal :: Idolaters hauing forsaken and forgot the onlie true God become as Atheists making their temporal gaine of false goddes :: And so waxing insolent contemte and persecute the seruants of God :: Some idolaters worshipped brute beastes for goddes as being better then sensles images but al are abominable :: The Aegyptians were plagued for their idolatrie :: And that by beastes because they worshipped beastes for goddes and by death of their first begotten for their crueltie against Gods people :: God punished his owne people as a father for their amendment :: The brasen serpent not by anie vertue inherent but as a signe of Gods fauoure vvas the meanes of curing the people Num. 21. :: VVith the plague of haile there vvas also fire mixed Exo. 9. v. 24. VVhich destroyed the profitable cattle :: But burnt not other beastes that plagued the Aegyptians :: Haile did not extinguish the fire by Gods povvre aboue nature :: See the miracles of Manna Annoe Exod 16. :: He speaketh againe of Manna :: The vaine imagination of the vvicked that himself shal be saued vvil faile him Exo. â— 10. :: Literally the 〈…〉 s â—â—â—â—a knes thâ—er dayes together Exo 10. v. 22. Morally they other gâ—nâ— les vvere in darknes vvithout faith in God til Christs Resurrection the third day :: A trubled conscience is a great torment :: This signified the conuersion of al nations to Christ :: The Church is called holie because it professeth holines and hath alwayes some holie men without the Church there is no sanctitie :: VVhen the Aegyptians drowned the Hebrews children Moyses was saued and reserued to guide the Israelites when the Aegyptians were drowned :: A prophecie of Christ comming into this world when there was temporal peace but extreme darkenes of â—gnorance :: An other example of difference in Gods punishing his people for their â—mendment and of the obstinate vnto their â—uine Exo 14. â— â—8 Num. 16. â— 46. Num 10 :: God foreseing the Aegyptians malice permitted them to persecute his people but was no way the cause nor auctor of their sinne Exo. 14. Exo. 16. :: The Amorrheites refused to grant them passage Num 21. v. 21. The Aegyptians brought them into seruitude Exo. 1. God changing the natural properties of elementes by them wrought iustice on sinners S. Greg. â—â— 35. in Euang. Exo. 9. v. 24. Exo. 16. v. 2â— Particular testimonies that this booke is holie Scripture It was written in Hebrew translated into Greke Difference betwen Ecclesiasticus and Ecclesiastes Panaretos The contents diuided into two partes By reason of a more perfect law the people of Israel were more renowmed then anie other nation in the world Deut. 4. :: Translations into other languages hardly expresse the seâ—se of the original tongue The 1. part Praises and preceptes of vvisdom :: Mans vvisdom is not able to comprehend the vvorkes of God :: Eternal glorie is the fruicte of the feare of our Lord not that this one vertue sufficeth but it is the beginning grounded in true faith and bringeth forth other vertues diuine giftes vvith the fruites of the Holie Ghost a ioyful crowne in the end Prou. 1. 9. :: Men drowned in
are circumcised in hart which argueâ—h them of hypochrifie :: Heathnisâ— idolaters thought theâ—â— was diuine powre in the planetes and other starres But the faithful know thâ—â— they are the creatures of God made for the benefite of men not that men should serue or feare thâ—â— :: Of other idols made of vvood siluer gold and the like it is more easie to see the vanitie Mich. 7. Apoc. 15. Psa 134. :: Man can not do anie good thing without Gods helpe nor anie euil without his permission neither of which destroyeth freewil As in the present example Nabuchodonosor could not afflict the Iewes but by Gods permision Psal 6. Psal 78. :: Not for the priuilegies of kinred being the children of Abraham Isaac and Iacob nor for suffering circumcision nor for the rest of the Sabbath but for obedience in keeping the couenant and precepts our Lord is the God of Israel and Israel his people S. Ierom. :: Ch. 7. v. 16. ch 14. v. 11. :: Flesh offered in sacrifice is holâ—e but profiteth not those that are obstinate in sinne :: By consent of al Churches saith S. Ierom this is spoken of Christ :: VVho so bore himself as if he had not knowen when the Iewes condemned him in their councel For otherwise he knew and foretold that he should be betrayed crucified Mat. 20. v 18. 19 ch 26 v. 2. :: He speaketh only of the wicked for stil some reliques remaine Isa 10. Ier. 4. Ro. 9. :: Prophetes other holie men not ignorant nor doubtful of Gods prouidence speake sometimes in the person of the weake as desirous to know why God suffereth the wicked to prosper in this world and the godlie to be afflicted Iob. 21. v. 7. Dauid Psal 72. v. 2. 3. Abacuc 1. v. 3. Iob. 21. Abac. 1. * Sâ—gregate :: After that the children are chasticed the rodde is to be burned The 2. part The peoples ingratitude sâ—ning against God and persecuring the Prophet :: Prophecies vttered in factes haue more force to perswade then only wordes And therfore the Prophetes by Gods commandment vse both these wayes Heb. 1. :: An other prophetical similitude to signifie that the Iewes shal be perplexe not knowing what to do in extreme disstresse as sensles men ouercome with much wine â—am 1. :: Custome is as it were an other nature hard to be altered yet Gods grace raiseth some inueterate sinners to true repentance but this is rare And of them selues without grace no sinners can rise nor repent :: The Iewes suffered famine thirst by reason of drought for their sinnes which also signifieth depriuation of Godâ— grace for their former wickednes :: As one that braggeth and esteemeth him self strong :: False prophetes seducing the people can not excuse them from sinne For when the blind leadeth the blind both fal into the pitte Lam. 1. 2. :: Notwithstanding there were very manie greuous sinners yet in respect of the iust the Church is a virgine :: The Geneua Bible is corruptly translated contrarie to the Hebrew and Greeke Though Moyses and Samuel stood before me :: This Hebrew phrase signifieth that some shal dye by sicknes some by the sword some by famine some shal be lead into captiuitie as God hath feuerally ordayned Zach. 11. 4. Reg. 21. Amos. 8. :: There can hardly be concord betwen potent kingdomes :: The weaker is easily afflicted by the stronger :: The Prophet fearing his ovvne vveaknes prayeth to be deliuered from persecution :: Defer not to deliuer me As Psal 12. v 2. 3 Psal 1. 2â— :: Vaine hopes :: The people shal yeld to the prophets admonition not he to their peruersitie No prayers of others do aauaile for obstinate impenitent sinners Sainctes after their death pray for men in this world This text is vnderstood of Moyses and Samuel them selues :: Ieremie not only liued single in the time of tribulation but also remaâ—ned a virgin al his liâ—e S. Ierâ—m li 1. aduer Iouian post medium :: After long expectation of amendment generation after generation adding more sinnes at last cometh great punishment :: But againe after punishment God sheweth his mercie :: The Apostles :: Other Apostolical men :: Not only Christ is a rock but he hath also geuen to his Apostle Peter to be called a rocke In whose iudgements they that rest are rightly sayde to be translated from the rocke S. Iero. in hunc locum :: To make men is the worke of God and therfore it is very absurde that a man can make goddes S. Iero. ibidem :: These metaphorical termes signifie that their sinnes were inueterated and hard to be blotted out :: Chiefe and principal trust must be in Gods helpe not in mans strength or policie Isa 30. Psal 1. :: It is proper to God only by his owne powre to search the hart of man and to know his secrete thoughts vvhich men nor Angels can not naturally know but holie Angels glorified Sainctes do knovv the thoughtes of men by light of glorie vvhen mortal men pray vnto them prophetes know by light of prophecie as Elizeus savv vvhen Giezi tooke bribes and by special inspiration S. Peter knew the fraude of Ananias Za phira Act. 5. Psa 7. v. 10. Apoc. 2. v. 23. :: By the sabbath as often els vvhere is meant the obseruation of al the lavv :: Such temporal rewardes vvere commonly promised in the old testament but in the nevv is promised life euerlasting eternal glorie :: A potter can make a nevv vessel of the same clay being misformed in casting so it be yet fresh moyst but God can also reforme man being hardned in hart as if he made a new potte of an old one broken into peeces or deformed Isa 45. Rom. 9. :: Alluding to his owne persecution the prophet here speaketh expresly of Christ as S. Ierom sheweth it verified when the Iewes crucified Christ crying Crucifie him crucifie him :: VVordes actions together instruct both by the eares eyes and so moue more effectually as S. Ierom often noteth :: That which is vnpossible to men is possible to God Mat. 19. See Annot ch 18. v. â— :: Phassur signifieth multiplying principalitie but his name was changed into Feare on euerie side to signifie that he should be terrified by many enimies :: As Iob saith S. Ierom so this holie prophet in hyperbolical wordes she weth his afflicted mind signifying that which our Sauiour also affirmeth Mat. 26. It were better not to be then to be in miserie as Iacob hauing liued in much trauel and affliction calleth his dayes few and euil Gen. 47. Amos also â—â— 5. saith The day of our Lord afflicting is darknes not light Likewise S. Paul calleth this world wicked Gal. 1 and the dayes euil Ephes 5. Iob. 3. The 3. part Comminations to Ierusalem especially to the King euil priests false prophets for which Ieremie is againe persecuted :: This reuelation was made to
Ierusalem according to Salomons prayer 3. Reg. 8. v. 47. 48. he obserued the same custome stil and vvas not senne publiquely of manie but his enimies searching curiously v. 11. found him praying accused him of breaking the kings Edict :: To this miracle wrought by the powre of God in defence and for the merites of this holie prophet S. Paul alludeth Heb. 11. v. 33. :: The law of like-punishment is so agreable to the law of nature that this Pagane king punished Daniels accusers when it appeared to him that Daniel had not committed treason but only vsed his religion and deuotion The 2. part Prophetical visions of Christ and of Antichrist a In order of time these two visions vvere before the histories written in the two precedent chapters b Foure winds may signifie the great tumultes which happen in the beginning of monarchies by vvarres and bloudshed of much people c Foure beastes do signifie the foure Monarchies of the Chaldees Medes and Persians the Grecians and the Romanes as was also signified before in Nabuchodonosors dreame ch 2. d A lionesses crueltie and the pride of an eagle do resemble the Chaldees monarchie e A beare of rude shape vveake sight content vvith litle and base meate represented the Medes Persians f The leopard vvith vvinges and foure heades signified the speedie victories of the Grecians vnder Alexander in foure quarters of the vvorld after his death diuided into foure kingdomes g By the fourth beast without name is vnderstood the incomparable povvre of the Romanes gouerning first by kinglie auctoritie aftervvards by Consuls then ioyning to them Tribunes sometimes Dictators finally Emperial h The litle horne becoming so great and strong as to ouercome al the other signifieth Antichrist whose outragious furie shal continevv but a shorte time v. 25. n. ch 12. v. 7. 11. 12. Apoc. 11. v. 2. 3. Apoc. 12. v. 6. 14. Apoc. 13. v. 5. â— God the Father is called the Ancient of dayes not as though one Person of the Blessed Trinitie vvere more ancient then an other for euerie Person is eternal and al are one eternal God But in order of proceding one from an other the Father is the beginning of vvhom the Sonne is begotten and from vvhom as also from the Sonne the Holie Ghost procedeth k By multiplication of these cardinal numbers is signified the innumerable multitude of Angels vvho doe excede al corporal creatures in number as the celestial spheres excede terrestrial bodies in greatnes l And the hieghest Hierarchie vvho are Assitants do farre excede the other Hierarchies in multitude S. Dionys c. 14. Hierar caelest S. Tho p. 1. q. 112. a. 4 m Our Sauiour Christ is here clearly prophecied by vvhose povvre Antichrist shal be vtterly destroyed a He insinuateth that this vision vvas in explication of some part of the former vvhich he had tvvo yeares before ch 7. where foure monarchies are mentioned so here is foretold the great conflict betvven the Persians Greciaus about 220. yeares after or riuer b The ramme represeÌ„ted the king of Persians Medes c The goat signified Alexander the great d breaking the tvvo hornes that is conquering the tvvo nations of Persians Medes e King Alexander died when he vvas very yong strong not fully 33. yeares of age f Foure of his solovvers possessed euerie one a kingdome of his Monarchie g Antiochus Epiphanes persecuting the people of God destroyed the sacrifice polluted the temple setting vp the image of Iupiter Olimpius i 2300. euenings and mornings that is 2300. dayes vvhich make six years and vvel nere foure monethes the whole time from the beginning of Antiochus persecution vnto his death for he begane to persecute in the yeare 143. 1 Mâ—â— 1. v 21. he died an 149. 1. Mac 6. v 16. vvithin which time an 148 the temple was purged 1. Mac. 4. v 52. l Ezechiel is very often called by the name of sonne of man here also Daniel is so called by an Angel as vvel to distinguish Angelical and humane nature as in honour of mankind vvhich Christ would assume therfore calleth himself by the very same rule in the Gospel b One Angel demanded of an other to knovv a thing to come l Historically Antiochus mystically Antichrist as ch 12. Mat. 24. * obscure speaches m So much as perteyned to the prophanation of the temple was fulfilled aboue 300. yeares after this prophecie as the same is also a figure of Antichrist it shal happen towards the end of this world S Greg. li. 30. c. 12. Moral a Assuerus or achasuerus not a proper name signifieth a great prince or head of people b Darius had reigned in Persia before this time but this vvas the first yeare of his reigne ouer the Chaldees also the last neither did he reigne a ful yeare for Cyrus reigned some part of the seuentith yeare of the Ievves captiuitie in Babylon in vvhich also Baltassar vvas slaine Ier. 25. v. 12. Ier. 29. v. 10. 2 Par. 36. v. 22. c Daniel seing the seuentith yeare of captiuitie vvas comen in vvhich God promised to deliuer his people Ier. 29. v. 10 prayed vvith great zele confidence for their release Iere. 29. v. 10. Deut 17. v. 14. d This singular deuotion with austere works of penance zele of his countrie merited this commendable title to be called the man of desires e And vvheras the prayed particularly for the release of the Ievves from captiuitie of Babylon a farre greater thing is promised and reueled to him that within seuentie vvekes of yeares that is â—â— yeares the Messias Christ vvil come and redeme mankinde from captiuitie of finne and the diuel f These foure thinges v. 24 Forgeuenes of sinnes Infusion of iustice Fulfilling of prophecies Annoiated Holie of holies agree only to Christ g Hebdâ—mas or Septenarius signifying seuen vnderstood of dayes importeth a weeke of yeares as Leui. 25 seuen yeares so seuentie vveekes 490. yeares S Bed li. de rat temp c. 6. 7. 8. truble some 〈◊〉 â—â—at 24. a Pharao had a vision in slepe Gen. 41. Baltassar vvaking savv a hand writing in the vval Dan. 5. but neither of them vnderstood their visions therfore vvere not prophets Ioseph vnderstood the former Daniel this other and so they vvere prophets For as this text teacheth vnderstanding is required that a vision be prophetical â— â—â—o 2. 2. q 175 a. 2 4. b The Angel iepereth this honorable nevv title to encorege him being sore frighted prayers c The Angel guardian of Persia S. Ierom S. Theodoret. S. Gregorie d This Angel for his office sake not yet knowing Gods vvil in this particular prayed that the Iewes might remain among the Persians for their edification and spiritual good e Daniels proper Angel ioyned his prayers vvith him for the deliuerie of the Ievves from captiuitie f S. Michael the guardian Angel of the whole Church also prayed for the same purpose a
breadth 90. so it was in citcuite of the vvalles 480. And euerie forlong hauing 125. paces of fiue foote the pace the compasse vvas 60. Italian myles about 50. or 48. English myles a sufficient trauel of three dayes to passe through the principal streates and more publique places therof b As vvel this as manie other like prophecies shevv that Gods threates are conditional if sinners vvil repent for then God changeth his sentence S. Chrys ho. 5. ad popul S. Iero in hun â—ocum S. Greg. li. 16 c. 18 Moral The same is also clere Iere 18. v. 8. c Great remorse detestation of sinne maketh penitents to excede in austere vvorkes vvhich being vvel meant is accepted at Gods handes so it be not indiscreete Iere. 18. Ioel. â— a Ionas coniectured by their penance that God vvould for this time spare Niniue and so vvas afflicted fearing that both this and other prophecies should be reputed vn certaine But this doubt is solued vnderstanding Gods threates to be conditional as before ch 3 v. 4. and so it proued For they falling againe into former sinnes vvere afterwards destroyed Nahum 1. 2 3. Psal 58. Ioel. 2. b Ionas had iust cause to be greued so God had iust cause of compassion that the citie should not perish In this prophecie vvhich is also an historie vvho could haue thought that Ionas had bene a figure of our Sauiours death and resurrection vnles himself had so expounded it Mat. 12. * greued S. Epiph. devita prophet Micheas prophecied the same time vvith Isai c. a If the prophet should not admonish the people both he and they should dye in their sinne Iere. 3. v. 18 19 but he dischargin his office as â—od is witnes they not repenting shal perish in their iniquitie Deut. 32. Isa 1. Isa 26. b Samaria gathering riches by traffike with idolaters communicated also vvith them in idolatrie therfore their riches shal be caried into Niniue other places of Assyria c Tel not these calamities vvhich I foreshew amongst your enimies lest they reioyce therat d But lament in your ovvne houses vvhich shal be ruined replenished vvith dust S. Ierome here testifieth the hardnes of this place praying for the assistance of the Holie Ghost to vnderstand it e Ironiously he sayth the glorie that is the miserie of Israel shal be extended to Odolla the vttermost citie of Iuda a By the figure Liptote that is here called vnprofitable vvhich is indede extreme hurtful hath nothing profitable in it b The princes of the people command the prophets not to speake and inculcate so much of future afflictions c God ansvvereth that his threates procede from his mercie For he vvould saue al and those that either vvalke rightly or repent shal feele the effect of his mercie but except they be admonished neither the good vvil perseuere in goodnes nor the euil returne into the right vvay d In further proofe of Gods mercie he promiseth to gather his Church of al nations by Christ a The chief of both the kingdomes the tvvo tribes the tenne were great extorcioners and the poore murmuring against the rich also extorted ech from other imitating the greater sorte in euil b False prophetes sought also their priuate gaine c Likewise the Iudge peruerted iudgement scraping their tempo al profite of other mens quarels Ezec. 22. Soph. 3. d And therfore al sortes greeuously offending shal al vvorthely perish Iere. 26. a The Ievves confesse this prophecie to be of Christ the promised Messias but denie it to be of our Sauiour IESVS of Nazareth framing for their purpose diuers arguments which the lerned may see very vvel confuted by Doct. Franc. Ribera in this place The later dayes are this whole time from Christ to the end of the vvorld which is the last time or state after which shal be no other statâ— of time but eternitie Though in some places the later dayes or last dayes signifie the time that folovveth after the thing then mentioned as Isa 9. v. 1. 2 Tim. 3. v. 1. Isa 2. b True and sincere christians loue kepe peace yea rather sustaine iniuries with meeknes then contend one against an other 1 Cor. 6. c Al such quiet patient people as vvalke in the name of God our Lord wil kepe this peace yea euen vvith them that hate peace Pâ— 119. suffering persecution with alacritie of minde Heb. 10. v. 34. S. Iren l. 4. c 67. aduers haeres S Iustin Apolog. 2. pro Christian S. Cyril in hunc locuÌ„ d The Iewes shal be at last conuerted to Christ Soph. 3. Luc. 1. Dau. 7. e Captiuitie of the two tribes f The relaxation from captiuitie a Ierusalem is called daughter of the spoiler that is addicted to spoyling oppressing the poore as ch â— and therfore shal be spoyled yet shal be restored conserued til Bethlehem bring forth the Dominatour Christ our Lord. Mat. 2. Ioan. â— b Bethlehem a smal citie of least account amongst manie yet by Christ borne there it became not a litle one but more excellent then manie others Mat. â— v. 6. Christ man and God The Church hath alvvayes true pastors a VVheras God shevved most singular great benefits the vngratful malignant people required him with most vvicked reprochful crueltie As is excellently set forth in the Churches seruice on good friâ—day Iere. 2. Exo 14. Num. 22. b Both Moyses Aaron were figures of our Sauiour and their sister Marie a figure of B Marie the mother of Christ c VVorkes of iustice mercie do farre excel external sacrifice of the old lavv Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Agge 1. d Thou Ierusalem art so wicked foolish as to imitate the most vvicked kings and people of the tenne tribes Amri Achab. 3. Reg 16. v. 25. 30. a Such general speach doth not importe absolutly al vvithout exception but that very manie or the farre greater part of the vvicked remaned so stil notvvithstanding the prophetes diligence in preaching by the vvhich fevv were conuerted b In time of great general distresse ne rest freindes euen domestical may not be trusted because euerie one in such case hath care of himself though it be vvith preiudice of others Mat. 10. v. 21. â—5 c Babylon shal be taken and spoyled by the Medes Persians by them the Iewes shal be deliuered vvherat the Chaldees vvil much repine d Pastors office is to feede and rule vvith meate and rodde vvith doctrine and discipline Iere. 10. Act. 10. Collos 2. Iuc 1. v. 55. 73. Gen. 22. v. 17. f God gaue truth to Iacob performing that vvhich was promised g of his mere mercie to Abraham S. Ierom. Epist ad Paulin. Nahum prophecied about 50. yeares after Ionas â—ere 135. before the destruction of Niniue a Burden signifieth comminatorie pen siue prophecie of ruine and punishment Allegorically Nahum according to his name comforteth the iust shevving that God vvil reuenge them by destroying
Confidence in God procureth his assistance Psa 106. * li. 2. c. 8. v. 8. O :: The fourth great battle of Iudas vvas agaynst Lysias sent by Antiochus into Iurie 1. Reg. 17. 1. Reg. 14. :: As it vvas the first and chiefe intention of Iudas to defend religion holie things so hauing expugned their enimies his chief care is to purge the temple and to restore al holie rites of Gods true seruice :: Altars temples statues of false goddes made of stone and set vp in the temple ch 1. v. 50. vvere novv destroyed :: The temple vvas purged tvvo yeares some thing more after the prophanation vvhich vvas in the yeare 145. ch 1. v. 57. :: Our Sauiour obserued this feast being instituted long after the Lavv of Moyses Ioan. 10. v. 226 Ioan. 10. * li. 2. â— 10. v. â— :: In this chapter is mention of tenne battles in vvhich Iudas or his bretheren Ionathas and Simon vvere victors Q :: The first against the Idumeans in Aâ—rabathane :: The second against the Beanites a vtterly destroyed :: The third against the Ammonites b villages :: The fourth against the Galadites :: The fifth against the Galileans of the Gentiles :: The sixth against the Carnaimites :: The seuenth against the Ephronites Num. 20. :: A good and pious captaine cherisheth and comforteth the vveake souldiars and enâ—oreged â—l to shew their soâ—titude :: Men that preâ—ume of their ovvne strength without commission from lawful auctotitie haue not Gods assistance and so faylein their attemptes as not called of God amongst those men by vvhom saluation is made in Israel v. 62. :: The eight against the Idumeans in Chebron :: The ninth against the Samaritanes :: The tenth against the Philistimes in Azotus :: The ful historie of Antiochus Epiphanes his death is vvritten in this chapter to the 16. v. and in al the 9. of the second booke Finally he returned into the countrie of Babylon but before he arriued there he heard the bad newes of his armie in Iurie fel into intolerable and desperate diseases v. 8. and li. 2. ch 9. v 5. :: Al this vvas but seaned repentance li. â— ch 9. v 13. :: Antiochus begane to persecute the Ievves in the yeare 143. ch 1. v. 21. and dying this yeare 149 it appeareth that his persecution dured about six yeares or some vvhat more agreable to the answer of the Angel Dan. 8. v. 14. that it should indure 2300. dayes vvhich make six yeares almost foure monethes vvithin vvhich time Iudas by his valure obteyned purged the holie places in the yeare 148. ch 6. v 52 some monethes before Antiochus death * li. 2. c. 9. v. 1. S * li. 2. c. 10. v. 10. V :: Bloud of the grup vvine Deut â—2 v 14. aâ—â— iuyce of mulberies do incite elephantes to fight Aâ— some kinde of bloud or smel therof doth incire houndes to hunt Vallesius c. 82 sacrae Philosophia :: S Ambiose li. 1 c. 40 Offic. highly commendeth the fortitude of this souldiat putting himself in so present danger of death fighting for religion * li. 2. c. 13. v. 1. X :: This Scleucus vvas brother to Antiochus Epiphanes so Antiochus Eupator vvas Demetrius his consin german :: Alcimus was novv in place of the high-priest as Menelaus had bene before him set vp by Antiochus therfore is righâ—ly here sayd he vvould haue bene the chiefe priest but in dede vvas not For the true high-priesthood vvas amongst the Machabees :: This vsurper vvith his complices deuised false accusations against Iudas and the rest to incense the king against them And by great giftes gayned the kings fauour li. 2 c. 14. v. 4. :: Among the Scribes the Assideans vvere first consulted being as lerned as the Pharises or anie other and in dede more sincere as we noted ch 2. v. 42. :: And so Alcimus deceiuing them in a matter of fact tovvitte that himself meant truly as he did not cruelly murdered threâ— score of them Psal 78. * li. 2. c. 14. v. 1. :: This Nicanor vvas the most terrible enimie against Iudas but was at last slaine by him v. 43. li. 2. c. 15. v. 28. Z * li. 2 c. 14. v. 12. :: This was the last conflict betwen Iudas and Nicanor vvritten more largely in the last chapter of the second booke 4. Reg. 19. :: VVhiles Iudas disposed thinges perteyning to religion and the common-vvealth Demetrius prepared for warres ch 9. v. 3. * li. 2. c. 15. v. 1. :: Of the renow med actes of the Romans other Historiographers haue also vvritten largely especially Liuius Diodorus Iustinus Florus Varre Plutarchus and manie others d :: Vvhat places these vvere losephus expresseth li. 12. c. 17. :: Polybius li. 5. vvriteth that Antiochus had 102. elephants in his vvarre against Prolemeus therfore it is not to be merueled that he had 120. against the Romans :: Though Rome vvas then gouerned by tvvo consuls Yet one only ruled euerie day in their course not both in one day for so saith Liuius li. 2 hist it should haue bene more terror of tvvo rulers then before it had bene of one king :: This happened about a yeare after the death of Nicanor ch 7. v. 50 li. 2 c. 15 38. :: Strongest men are not free from first motions of perturbation but reflecting vpon their ovvne infirmitie and considing in Gods prouidence take corege in a good cause being assured either of temporal victorie or of eternal glorie As now it happened to this most glorious Champion v. 18. :: The mightie may fal in the sight of men but Iudas his fortitude proued and confirmed by former heroical actes vvith prosperous successe vvas now perfectly consummate by this most glorious end S. Ambr. li. 1. c. 4â— Offre :: VVhere there is no gouernour the people shal fal Pro. 11. v. 14. :: Ionathas the third general captaine of the Macha bees vvas also high priest after the death of Iudas Though Alcimus by the kinges fauoure vniustly vsurped the office ch 7. v. 9. vvhiles Iudas yet liued and vntil this time v 54. :: They also killed him v. 38. 42. :: To reuenge or punish faultes in due measure other right circumstances is a special vertue moderating mans defence of his person honour or right vvithout crueltie or remisnes and so the children sometimes are temporally punished for their parents finnes and the communitie for their leaders either for their consent before the fact or after or to preuent that they doe not the like S. Tho. 2. 2. q. 108. 2. Par. 20. v. 3. :: Ionathas and his men svvame not to the other side but to an other place on the same side for othervvise the armies had bene parted by the riuer and so there had bene no conflict that time :: Iosephus li. 12. c. 17. confesseth that Iudas vvas highpriest but erreth in saying he succeded after Alcimus neither considering that Alcimus vvas not in dede
ye the transmigration which I haue sent out from Ierusalem into Babylon †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to Achab the sonne of Colias and to Sedecias the sonne of Maasias which prophecie vnto you in my name falsely Behold I wil deliuer them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and he shal strike them in your eies †And of them a malediction shal be taken vp by al the transmigration of Iuda that is in Babylon saying Our Lord make thee as Sedecias and as Achab whom the king of Babylon fryed in the fire †for that they haue done follie in Israel and committed adulterie with their freindes wiues and haue spoken the word in my name falsely which I commanded them not I am the iudge and the witnes saith our Lord. †And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel For that thou hast sent in thy name bookes to al the people that is in Ierusalem and to Sophonias the sonne of Maasias the priest to al the priestes saying †Our Lord hath made thee priest for Ioiada the priest that thou shouldest be ruler in the house of our Lord vpon euerie man rauing and prophecying to put him into the stockes and into prison †And now why hast thou nor rebuked Ieremie the Anathothite which prophecieth vnto you †Because vpon this he hath sent into Babylon to vs saying It is long build ye houses and inhabite them and plant gardens and eate the fruities of them †Sophonias therefore the priest reade this booke in the eares of Ieremie the propher †And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying †Send to al the transmigration saying Thus saith the Lord to Semeias the Nehelamite Because Semeias hath prophecied to you and I sent him not and hath made you to trust in a lie †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil visite vpon Semeias the Nehelamite and vpon his seede there shal not be vnto him a man sitting in the middes of this people and he shal not see the good that I wil doe to my people saith our Lord because he hath spoken preuarication against our Lord. CHAP. XXX The prophet is commanded to write the same which he preacheth 4. first pensiue thinges 8. Then ioyful 9. Especially in the new Testament when God wil raise Dauid towitte Christ 16. Who shal destroy al enemies 19 And whose Church shal be great glorious and perpetual THIS is the word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying †Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel saying Write vnto thee al the wordes that I haue spoken to thee in a booke †For behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil conuert the conuersion of my people Israel and Iuda saith our Lord and I wil make them returne to the land which I gaue their fathers and they shal possesse it †And these are the wordes that our Lord hath spoken to Israel and to Iuda †Because thus saith our Lord We haue heard a voice of terrour there is feare and no peace †Demand and see if a man beare childe wherefore then haue I seene euerie mans hand vpon his loyne as a woman that is in trauel and al faces are turned into the iaundice †Alas because that is a great day neither is there the like to it and it is the time of tribulation to Iacob and he shal be saued out of it †And it shal be in that day saith the Lord of hostes I wil breake his yoke from of thy necke and wil breake his bandes and strangers shal no more rule ouer him †but they shal serue our Lord their God and Dauid their king whom I wil raise vp to them †Thou therefore my seruant Iacob feare not saith our Lord neither be thou afrayd Israel because loe I wil saue thee out of a farre countrie and thy seede out of the land of their captiuitie and Iacob shal returne and be at rest flow with al good thinges and there shal be none whom he may feare †because I am with thee saith our Lord to saue thee for I wil make a consumation in al the Nations in which I haue dispersed thee but thee I wil not make into consummation but I wil chastice thee in iudgement that thou maist not seme to thy selfe innocent †Because thus saith our Lord Thy wound is vncurable thy stripe is very sore †There is none to iudge thy iudgement to binde it vp there is no prosite of medicines for thee †Al thy louers haue forgoten thee and wil not seeke thee for with the stroke of an enemie I haue striken thee with cruel chastisment for the multitude of thine iniquitie thy sinnes are hardened †What criest thou vpon thine affliction thy sorow is vncurable for the multitude of thine iniquitie and for thine hardned sinnes I haue done these thinges to thee †Therefore al that eate thee shal be deuoured and al thine enemies shal be led into captiuitie and they that waste thee shal be wasted and al thy spoilers wil I geue to the spoile †For I wil close vp thy wound and wil heale thee of thy woundes saith our Lord. Because they haue called thee ô Sion an out cast This is she that had none to seeke after her †Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil conuert the conuersion of the tabernacles of Iacob and wil haue pitie on his houses and the citie shal be built in her high place and the temple shal be founded according to the order thereof †And out of them shal come forth praise and the voice of them that play and I wil multiplie them and they shal not be diminished and I wil glorifie them they shal not be lessened †And his children shal be as from the beginning and his assemblie shal be permanent before me and I wil visite against al that afflict him †And his duke shal be of himself and the prince shal be brought forth from the middes of him and I wil bring him nere and he shal come to me For who is this that applieth his hart to approch vnto me saith our Lord †And you shal be my people and I wil be your God †Behold the whirle wind of our Lord the furie going forth the storme violently falling it shal light vpon the head of the impious †Our Lord wil not turne away the wrath of indignation til he haue done and accomplished the cogitation of his hart in the latter daies you shal vnderstand these thinges CHAP. XXXI God wil reduce Israel from captiuitie 4. and geue them abundance of al thinges 9. after their tribulation 15. Rachel The afflicted Church shal cease from mourning 18. confessing that she is iustly chastised 20. Christ a perfect man shal be conteyned in his mothers wombe 26. He rising from slepe death wil build
his Church 31. with a new couenant 36. that it shal be large and perpetual AT THAT time saith our Lord I wil be the God of al the kindredes of Israel and they shal be my people †Thus saith our Lord The people that remayned from the sword found grace in the desert Israel shal goe to his rest †Our Lord hath appeared to me of long time And in euerlasting charitie haue I loued thee therefore haue I drawen thee taking compassion †And I wil build thee againe and thou shalt be builded ô virgin Israel thou shalt yet be adorned with thy timbrels shal goe forth in the quyre of them that play †Thou shalt yet plant vinyards in the mountaines of Samaria the planters shal plant and til the time come they shal not make vintage †because there shal be a day wherein the watchmen on mount Ephraim shal crie Arise and let vs goe vp vnto Sion to the Lord our God †Because thus saith our Lord Reioyce in gladnes ô Iacob and neye against the head of the Gentiles sound ye and sing and say Saue ô Lord thy people the remnant of Israel †Behold I wil bring them out of the land of the North and wil gather them from the endes of the earth among whom shal be the blinde and the lame the woman with childe and she that beareth childe together a great companie of them that returne hither †They shal come in weepeing and in mercie I wil reduce them and I wil bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way and they shal not stumble in it because I am become a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstbegotten †Heare the word of our Lord ye Nations shew forth in the ilands that are farre of and say He that dispersed Israel wil gather him and he wil keepe him as the pastour his flocke †For our Lord hath redeemed Iacob and he wil deliuer him out of the hand of the mightier †And they shal come and shal praise in mount Sion and they shal runne together to the good thinges of our Lord for the corne and wine and oile and the increase of cattel and heardes and their soule shal be as a watered garden they shal be hungrie no more †Then shal the virgin reioyce in the quyre the youngmen and old men together and I wil turne their mourning into ioy and wil comfort them and make them ioyful from their sorow †And I wil replenish the soule of the priestes with fatnes and my people shal be filled with my good thinges saith our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord A voice of lamentation is heard on high of the mourning and weeping of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted for them because they are not †Thus saith our Lord Let thy voice cease from weeping and thine eies from teares because there is a reward for thy worke saith our Lord and they shal returne out of the land of the enemie †And there is hope to thy last endes saith our Lord and the children shal returne to their borders †Hearing I heard Ephraim going into trāsmigration Thou hast chastised me and I am taught as a young bullocke not tamed Conuert me and I shal be conuerted because thou art the Lord my God †For after thou didst conuert me I did penance and after thou didst shew vnto me I stroke my thigh I am confounded and ashamed because I haue sustayned the reproch of my youth †Certes Ephraim is an honorable sonne to me certes a delicate childe because since I spake of him as yet wil I remember him Therefore are my bowels trubled vpon him pitying I wil pitie him saith our Lord. †Sette thee a watch tower make vnto thee bitternes direct thy hart into the right way wherein thou hast walked returne ô virgin Israel returne to these thy cities †How long wilt thou be dissolute in deliciousnes ô wandring daughter because our Lord hath created a new thing vpon the earth A WOMAN SHAL COMPASSE A MAN †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel As yet shal they say this word in the land of Iuda and in the cities thereof when I shal conuert their captiuitie Our Lord blesse thee the beauty of iustice the holie mountaine †and Iudas and al his cities shal dwel in it together the husbandmen and they that driue the flockes †Because I haue inebriated the wearie soule and euerie hungrie soule I haue filled †Therefore I was raised vp as out of a sleepe and I saw and my sleepe was sweete to me †Behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil sow the house of Israel and the house of Iuda with the seede of men and with the seede of beastes †And as I haue watched vpon them to plucke vp and deface and dissipate destroy and afflict so wil I watch ouer them to build and to plant them saith our Lord. †In those daies they shal say no more The fathers did eate the bitter grape and the teeth of the children are set on edge †But euerie one shal dye in his owne iniquitie euerie man that shal eate the sowre grape his teeth shal be on edge †Behold the daies shal come saith our Lord and I wil make a new couenant with the house of Israel and the house of Iuda †not according to the couenant which I made with their fathers in the day that I tooke their hand to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt the couenāt which they made voide and I had the dominion of them saith our Lord. †But this shal be the couenant that I wil make with the house of Israel after those daies saith our Lord I wil geue my law in their bowels and in their hart I wil write it and I wil be their God and they shal be my people †And a man shal no more teach his neighbour and a man his brother saying Know our Lord for al shal know me from the least of them euen to the greatest saith our Lord because I wil be propicious to their iniquitie and their sinne I wil remember no more †Thus saith our Lord that geueth the sunne for the light of the day the order of the moone and of the starres for the light of the night that trubleth the sea and the waues thereof doe sound the Lord of hostes is his name †If these lawes shal faile before me saith our Lord thee also the seede of Israel shal faile that it be not a nation before me for euer †Thus saith our Lord If the heauens aboue shal be able to be measured and the foundations of the earth beneth to be searched out I also wil cast away al the seede of Israel for al thinges that they haue done saith our Lord. †Behold the daies come saith our Lord
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