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
as to one Lord if I haue found grace in thy sight goe not past thy seruant and by and by as to manie VVash yee your feete In like maner Moyses sometimes speaketh plurally as of manie There appeared to him three men they saied VVhere is Sara sometimes singularly He said I wil come So Lot Gen. 19. spake to two Angels representing the Sonne of God and the Holie Ghost one God with the Father first as to manie I besech you my Lordes turne into the house of your seruant after as to one I besech thee my Lord because thy seruant hath found grace before thee VVho likewise answered as one only I haue heard thy prayer Againe Moyses sheweth distinction of Persons in God saying v. 24. Our Lord rained from our Lord. Ioâ— also who liued in this age and his frendes professed and serued the same one God auouching him to be the onlie God and Lord that geueth and taketh away Chap. 1. 2. He the maker and peculiar Keeper of men He that taketh away sinne and iniquitie c. 7. He that doth great things incomprehensible and meruelous wherof there is no number c. 9. And that with termes appropriated to the three diuine Persons c. 26. In his strength sodainly the seas are gathered togeather and with his wisedom he stroke the proud man His Spirite hath adorned the heauens The same Mysterie of pluralitie of Persons in one God is more clere by the Hebrevv text chap. 30. v. 11. and 35. v. 10. where the same actions are ascribed to God as to one and as to manie But most euident are the promises figures and prophecies of Christ our Redemer For besides present abundance of riches promise of great progenie and that the same should possesse the fruitful Lâ—ad of Chanaan three special blessings of the old Testament God promised Abraham a farre greater thing Gen. 12. that in his seede al nations and kindreds of the earth should be blessed In confirmation whereof God also changed his name Abram high or noble father into Abraham Father of manie nations Gen. 17. And so he was natural father of foure great Kingdomes Ismaelites Madianites Idumeans and Israelites but spiritual father of manie more to wit of al that beleue in Christ Iewes and Gentiles from that time to the worlds end The same promises of possessing Chaanan and of Christ vvere renevved and confirmed to Isaac Gen. 26. in like sorte to Iacob 28. for they pertained not to Ismael nor to the other sonnes of Abraham nor to Esau Moreouer Christ our Redemer and deliuerer from sinne and captiuitie of the diuel was prefigured by Abraham at last deliuering those from captiuitie who otherwise endeuoring to shake of the yoke of Cordorlahomor fel further into subiection and bondage Gen. 14. Also Melchisedech King and Priest of vnknowen generation extraordinarie vocation without predecessor or successor prefigured Christ King and Priest for euer who not by successors but by Priests his vicars perpetually exerciseth al Priestlie functions Likewise Isaac borne aboue the common course of nature Gen. 21 singularly beloued of his father carying wood on his back for the sacrificing of himselfe 22. Iacob flying his brother Esau 27. hardly treated by Laban 31. yet alwayes inuincible against his aduersaries 32. Ioseph hated of his brethren sold and deliuered to Gentiles 37. By them also persecuted 39. but afterwardes aduanced and called the Sauiour of the world 41. Iust Iob vehemently afflicted Moyses hidden for a while then exposed to danger and thence deliuered afterwards manifesting him selfe to his brethren by them reiected bewrayed and flying from Pharao Exo. 2. returning againe Exod. 3. 4. c. and at last deliuering the Israelites from bondage of Aegypt Exo 14 And manie other things as the ramme sacrificed in place of Isaac Gen. 22. the ladder of Iacob Gen 28. Iosephs scepter 47. Aarons rodde Exo. 7. Paschal lambe 12. prefigured Christ borne of a Virgin the onlie Sonne of God sometimes hidden other times conuersant with men hated persecuted sold betraied who caried his ovvne crosse was sacrificed vanquished al his enimies aduanced and acknowledged the true Sauiour of the world Redemer and deliuerer of mankind from seruitude slauerie thraldome and bondage of sinne death and the diuel Againe Abraham prophecied that of his seede Christ our Sauiour should be borne when he saied to his seruant Gen. 24. Put thy hand vnder my thigh that I may adiure thee by our Lord God of heauen earth that is by Christ who should come of his loynes as S. Hierom Tradit Heb. in Gen. et explic Psal 44. S. Ambrose li. 1. c. 9. de Abraham and S. Augustin q. 62. in Gen. et li. 16. c. 33. ciuit expound it More euidently Iacob Gen. 49. The scepter shal not be taken away from Iudas and a duke of his thigh til he do come that is to be sent and the same shal be the expectation of the Gentiles Iob as planely I know that my redemer liueth Moyses foreknowing that Christ the true Redemer and chiefe Lawgiuer should be sent praied God to hasten his mission saying I besech thee Lord send whom thou wilt send Exod. 4. External Sacrifice was frequent and solemne as the soueraigne homage to God And manie Altares erected by Abraham for that purpose Gen. 12. 13. 15. 22. Vnbloudie in bread and wine by Melchisdech Gen. 14. other liquide sacrifices Gen. 35. v. 14 offered by Iacob with dedication of the place called Bethel the house of God which he also before hand promised by vow Gen 28. Diuers other Sacrifices offered by Isaac and Iacob Gen 26. 31. 33. 36. By Iob and his frends Iob. 1. 42. by Moyses Aaron and other ancients of Israel Exod. 12. Al which consequently shew Priesthood whose proper office is to offer Sacrifice though amongst al the aboue named onlie Melchisedech was called a Priest And among the gentiles we finde that Putiphar Gen. 41. and Iethro Ex. 3. whose daughters Ioseph and Moyses maried were called Priests or as the word Cohenim doth also signifie Princes for they were great and eminent men in their countries At least those that by special priuilege were exempted from selling their landes to Pharao and had not withstanding prouision of mantenance in time of dearth Gen. 47. were properly called Priests for such function as they had in seruing their idols For where vvas true and right Sacrifice there vvere also right Priests and vvhere Idololatrical sacrifice there were like Priests and vvhere no external sacrifice at al as amongst Protestants there are no Priests but ministers only In this age also long before Moyses the Sacrament of Circumcision vvas giuen to Abraham for distinction of Gods selected and peculiar people and for remedy of original sinne in the male sexe of Abrahams seede and others of his communitie In the other sexe and other generations former remedies of sacrifice or other
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
wash his stole in wine and in the bloud of the grape his cloke †His eyes are more beautiful then wine and his teeth whiter then milke †Zabulon shal dwel in the shore of the sea and in the road of shippes reaching as farre as Sidon †Issachar a strong asse lying at rest betwen the borders †He saw rest that it was good and the earth that it was very good and he put vnder his shoulder to cary and became seruing vnder tributes †Dan shal iudge his owne people as also an other tribe in Israel †Be Dan “ a snake in the way a serpent in the path byting the hoosses of the horse that his ryder may fal backward †I wil expect THY SALVATION O Lord. †Gad the gyrded shal fight before him and himself shal be gyrded backward †Aser his bread is sat and he shal geue daynties to kinges †Nepthali a â—art let forth geuing speaches of beautie †Ioseph a child encreasing encreasing and comelie to behold the daughters coursed to and for vpon the wall †But the dart men did exasperate him brawled and enuied him †His bowe sate vpon the strong the bands of his armes and his handes were dissolued by the handes of the mightie of Iacob thence came forth a pastour the stone of Israel †The God of thy father shal be thy helper the Almightie shal blesse thee with the blessinges of heauen from aboue with the blessinges of the deapth that lieth beneath with the blessings of the pappes and of the wombe †The blessinges of thy father were strengthned with the blessings of his fathers vntil the desire of the eternal hilles came be they vpon the head of Ioseph vpon the crowne of the Nazarite among his brethren †Beniamin a rauening woolfe in the morning shal eate the pray and in the euening shal diuide the spoile †Al these in the tribes of Israel twelue these things spake their father to them and he blessed euerie one with their proper blessings †And he commanded them saying I am geathered vnto my people burie you me with my fathers in the duble caue which is in the field of Ephron the Hethite †against Mambre in the Land of Chanaan which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to burie in †There they buried him Sara his wife there was Isaac buried with Rebecca his wife there also Lia doth lie buried †And when he had finished the precepts wherwith he instructed his sonnes he plucked vp his feet vpon the bed and died he was put vnto his people ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLIX 4. Because thou didest ascend thy fathers bed For this crime of incest Ruben was depriued of his first birth-right VVho being by order of birth former in guiltes wherby he should haue had duble portion and greater in Empire wherby he should haue bene Prince or Lord ouer his bretheren the former prerogatiue was geuen to Ioseph whose two sonnes were heades of two Tribes the other was geuen to the Tribe of Iuda in Dauid and his posteritie He was also depriued of his prerogatiue in Priesthood which was after annexed to the Tribe of Leui wherupon the Chaldee paraphrasis speaketh thus to Ruben It belonged to thee to haue receaued three better lettes then thy brethren Priesthood Best portion and the Kingdome But because thou hast sinned the duble portion is geuen to Ioseph the Kingdome to Iudas and Priesthood to Leui. 5. Veselles of iniquitie Albeit Simeon and Leui were moued with iust zeale to punish the soule crime committed by Sichem against their sister and whole familie yet in their maner of reuenging were manie sinnes worthely condemned by Iacob both immediatly after the fact and here at his death For before the slaughter they committed there greate sinnes in that they rashly did it vnknowne to their father therby putting him themselues in extreme danger if God had not maruelously protected them in falsly pretending agreement and league with the Sichamites which they ment not to performe and in sacrilegiously abusing the Sacrament of Circumcision making it a cloke to deceiue their ennemies In the fact also they committed other foure grosse crimes cruelly killing those that offered other abundant satisfaction murthering others that were altogether innocent sacking and destroying the citie and carying away wemen and children captiue Mystically S. Ambrose Ruffinus Isidorus and others vnderstand this prophecie of the Scribes and the Priestes descending of Simeon and Leui who were most eagre against our Sauiour as himself more plainely fortold saing The sonne of man balbe betrayed to the chiefe Priestes and to the Scribes and they shal condemne him to death Their furic was cursed aboue al surie Because as Iacob here saith it vvas stubborne or obstinate for they did not only condemne Christ to death in their wicked councel but also vrged and pressed Pilat endeuoringe to saue him sturred vp the people to crye Take him avvay Crucisie him Yea their indignation was so hard that they preferred Barabbas before Christ 10. The scepter shal not be taken avvay Here the Patriarch Iacob fortelleth the time when the promised Messias should come into the world by this signe that the scepter should not be taken from Iuda til the same Redeemer of mankind were at hand Not that the regal scepter should remaine in the Tribe of Iuda from Iacobs death â—il Christes comming for that Kingdome beganne first in Dauid aboue six hundred yeares after Iacobs death and after the captiuitie of Babylon the highe Priests of the Tribe of Leui did gouerne also the state not only the Church other six hundred yeares But the sense is that of the Tribe of Iuda should rise most gloriouse Kinges whose crowne and Kingdome should remaine with the Iewish Nation vntil their expected Messias should drawe nere and then be taken from them by the Gentiles VVhich was downe by Herod whose father was an Idumean his mother an Arabique Thus the Ancient fathers with one accorde vnderstood this prophecie S. Iustinus Martyr Ser. cum Triphone Eusebius Cesarien lib Hist Eccles. cap 6. S. Athanasius lib. de Incarnat S. Ambrose lib de Benedict Patriarch c. 4. S. Chrysostom Ilo 67. in Gen. S. Augustin lib. 18. c. 45. de ciuit Theodoretus q. vlt. in Gen. 11. He shal vvash hisstole in vvyne By wine and bloud of the grape what other thing is shewed saith S. Cyprian Epist ad Coecil 63 but the wine of the Chalice of our Lordes bloud Likwise Tertullian lib 4. contra Marcionem expoundeth the stole to signifie Christs flesh and the wine his bloud In al which booke his drift is to shewe that Christ did not destroy the olde Testament but fulfilled the figures and prophecie therof And not that Christ gaue his bodie in figure only as our aduersaries alleadge him 17. Be Dan a snake in the vvay This prophecie most
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
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
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
First the passage of the Israelites ouer Iordan In the five first chapters Secondly their conquest of the promised Land In the seuen chapters folowing Thirdly the partition of the same Land amongst nine Tribes and a half from the. 13. chap. to the 22. Fourthly In the three last chapters the returne of the other two Tribes and a half to their possessions on the east side of Iordan with Iosues last admonition to them al to serue God sincerly and his and Eleazars death THE BOOKE OF IOSVE IN HEBREW IEHOSVA CHAP. I. Iosue encoreged by our Lord 10. admonisheth the people to prepare themselues to passe ouer Iordan 12. and al the able men of the tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses to march armed before the rest 16. Al promise to doe whatsoeuer he commandeth AND it came to passe after the death of Moyses the seruant of our Lord that our Lord spake to Iosue the sonne of Nun the minister of Moyses and said to him †Moyses my seruant is deade arise and passe ouer this Iordan thou and al the people with thee into the Land which I wil geue to the children of Israel †Euerie place the steppe of your foote shal treade wil I deliuer to you as I haue spoken to Moyses †From the desert and Libanus vnto the great riuer Euphrates al the land of the Hetheites vnto the great sea against the going downe of the sunne shal be your border †No man shal be able to resist you al the daies of thy life as I haue beene with Moyses so wil I be with thee I wil not leaue nor forsake thee †Take courage and be strong for thou shalt by lotte diuide to this people the Land for the which I sware to their fathers that I would deliuer it to them †Take courage therfore and be very strong that thou keepe and doe al the Law which Moyses my seruant hath commanded thee decline not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest vnderstand al thinges which thou doest †Let not the volume of this law depart from thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it daies and nightes that thou maiest keepe and doe al thinges that be written in it then shalt thou direct thy way and vnderstand it †Behold I command thee take courage and be strong Feare not and dreade not because the Lord thy God is with thee in al the thinges to whatsoeuer thou shalt goe †And Iosue commanded the princes of the people saying Passe through the middes of the campe and command the people and say †Prepare for your selues victuals for after the third day you shal passe ouer Iordan and shal enter to possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue you †To the Rubenites also and Gaddites and halfe tribe of Manasses he said †Remember the word which Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded you saying Our Lord your God hath geuen you rest and al this Land †Your wiues and children and cattel shal tarie in the Land which Moyses deliuered to you beyond Iordan but passe you ouer armed before your brethren al that are strong of hand fight for them †vntil our Lord geue rest to your brethren as to you also he hath geuen and they also possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue them and so returne into the Land of your possession and you shal dwel in it which Moyses the seruant of our Lord gaue you beyond Iordan against the rysing of the sunne †And they made answer to Iosue and said Al thinges that thou hast commanded vs we wil doe and whither soeuer thou shalt send vs we wil goe †As we obeyed Moyses in al thinges so wil we obey thee also only be our Lord thy God with thee as he was with Moyses †He that shal gainesay thy mouth and not obey al thy wordes that thou shalt command him let him die thou only take courage and doe manfully CHAP. II. Two discoueres sent into Hiericho are hid and concealed by Rahab 8. and vpon promise of like safetie to her whole samilie 21. she helpeth them secretly away THERFORE Iosue the sonne of Nun sent from Setim two men to spie in secrete and said to them Goe and view the Land and the citie of Iericho Who going entred into the house of a woman a harlot named Rahab and rested with her †And it was told the king of Iericho and said Behold there are men come in hither by night of the children of Israel to spie the Land †And the king of Iericho sent to Rahab saying Bring forth the men that came to thee and are entred into thy house for they be spies and are come to view al the Land †And the woman taking the men hid them and said I confesse they came to me but I knew not whence they were †and when the gate was a shutting in the darke and they withal went out I know not whither they be gone pursew quickly and you shal ouertake them †But she made the men to goe vp into the roofe of her house and couered them with the stalke of flaxe which was there †And they that were sent folowed them the way that leadeth to the ford of Iordan and they being gone out the gate for with was shutte †Neither were they yet a sleepe that lay hidde and behold the woman went vp to them and said †I know that the Lord hath geuen this Land to you for your terrour is fallen vpon vs and al the inhabitantes of the Land are become fainte †We haue heard that the Lord dried vp the water of the Redsea at your entring when you came out of Aegypt and what thinges you did to the two kinges of the Amorrheites that were beyond Iordan Sehon and Og whom you slew †And hearing these thinges we greatly feared and our hart fainted neither did there remaine spirite in vs at your entring in for the Lord your God he is God in heauen aboue in the earth beneth †Now therfore sweare to me by the Lord that as I haue done mercie with you so you also doe with my fathers house and you geue me a true signe †that you saue my father and mother my brethren and sisters and al thinges that he theirs and deliuer our soules from death †Who answered her Be our liues for you vnto death only if thou betray vs not And when our Lord shal haue deliuered vs the land we wil doe in thee mercie and truth †She therfore did let them downe by a corde out of a window for her house ioyned fast to the wall †And she said to them Goe vp to the mountaines lest perhaps they meete you returning and there lie hid three daies til they returne and so you shal goe on your way †Who said to her We shal be quitte from this oath wherwith thou hast sworne vs †if
going in brought out Rahab and her parentes her brethren also and al her stuffe and kinred and made them to tarie without the campe †But the citie and al thinges that were found therein they burnt except the gold and siluer and brasen vessels and yron which they consecrated vnto the treasurie of our Lord. †But Rahab the harlotte and the house of her father and al that she had Iosue caused to liue and they dwelt in the middes of Israel vntil this present day for that she hidde the messengers which he had sent to view Iericho At that time Iosue pronounced a curse saying †Cursed be the man before our Lord that shal rayse vp and build the citie of Iericho In his first borne lay he the fundations therof and in the last of his children sette he vp the gates therof †Our Lord therfore was with Iosue and his name was bruited in al the earth CHAP. VII For the sinne of Achan reseruing secretly to himself certaine money and other precious thinges the Israelites are beaten in battel 13. But the offender being found out and stoned to death Gods wrath is turned from them BVT the children of Israel transgressed the commandment vsurped of the anathema For Achan the sonne of Charmi the sonne of Zabdi the sonne of Zare of the tribe of Iuda tooke somewhat of the anathema and our Lord was angrie against the children of Israel †And when Iosue sent from Iericho men against Hai which is beside Bethauen at the East side of the towne of Bethel he said to them Goe vp and view the Land who accomplishing his commandmentes viewed Hai. †And returning they said to him Let not al the people goe vp but let two or three thousand men goe and destroy the citie why shal al the people be vexed in vaine against verie few enemies †There went vp therfore three thousand fighting men Who immediatly turning their backes †were strooken of the men of the citie of Hai and there fel of them six and thirtie men and the aduersaries pursewed them from the gate as farre as Sabarim and they stricke them flying away by the descent and the hart of the people was much afrayd and melted like vnto water †But Iosue rent his garmentes and fel flatte on the ground before the arke of our Lord vntil euening as wel he as al the ancientes of Israel and they cast dust vpon their heades †and Iosue said Alas ô Lord God why wouldest thou bring this people ouer the riuer of Iordan to deliuer vs into the handes of the Amorrheite and to destroy vs would God as we beganne we had taried beyond Iordan †My Lord God what shal I say seeing Israel turning their backes to their enemies †The Chananeites shal heare of it and al the inhabitantes of the Land and being gathered together in a plumpe shal compasse vs about shal destroy our name from the earth and what wilt thou doe to thy greate name †And our Lord said to Iosue Arise why liest thou flatte on the ground †Israel hath sinned and transgressed my couenant and they haue taken of the anathema and haue stolen and lyed and haue hid it among their vessel †Neither can Israel stand before his enemies and he shal flee them because he is polluted with the anathema I wil be no more with you til you dispatch him that is guiltie of this wicked fact †Arise sanctifie the people and say to them Be sanctified against to morrow for thus saith our Lord God of Israel There is anathema in the middes of thee o Israel thou canst not stand before thyne enemies til he be destroyed out of thee that is contaminated with this wicked fact †And you shal come in the morning euerie one by your tribes and what tribe soeuer the lote shal finde it shal come by the kindredes therof the kinred by the houses and the house by the men †And whosoeuer he be that shal be taken in this fact he shal be burnt in the fyre with al his substance because he hath transgressed the couenāt of our Lord and hath done abomination in Israel †Iosue therfore rysing in the morning made Israel to come by their tribes and it was found the tribe of Iuda †Which being presented by the families therof it was found the familie of Zare Presenting that also by the houses he found it Zabdi †whose house diuiding into euerie man he found Achan the sonne of Charmi the sonne of Zabdi the sonne of Zare of the tribe of Iuda †And Iosue said to Achan My sonne geue glorie to our Lord God of Israel and confesse and tel me what thou hast done hide it not †And Achan answered Iosue and said to him In deede I haue sinned to our Lord the God of Israel and thus and thus haue I done †For I saw among the spoiles a cloke of scarlet verie good and two hundred sicles of siluer and a golden rule of fiftie sicles and coueting I tooke it away and hid it in the ground against the middes of my tabernacle and the siluer I couered with the earth digged vp †Iosue therfore sent ministers who running to his tabernacle found al thinges hid in the same place and the siluer withal †And taking it away out of the rent brought it to Iosue and to al the children of Israel and threw it before our Lord. †Iosue therfore taking Achan the sonne of Zare and the siluer and the cloke and the golden rule his sonnes also and daughters his oxen and asses and sheepe and the tabernacle it self and al the stuffe and al Israel with him they brought them to the valley of Achor †where Iosue said Because thou hast disturbed vs our Lord disturbe thee in this day And al Israel stoned him and al thinges that were his were consumed with fyre †And gathered together vpon him a greate heape of stones which remaineth vntil this present day And the furie of our Lord was auerted from them And the name of that place was called The valley of Achor vntil this day CHAP. VIII By stratageme of an ambushment the citie of Hai is taken and burned and al the inhabitantes slaine 29. the king hanged 30. An Altar built Sacrifice offered 32. the law written in stones the people blessed and the blessinges and cursinges read before them al. AND our Lord said to Iosue Feare not neither doe thou dread take with thee al the multitude of fighting men and rysing goe vp vnto the towne of Hai. behold I haue deliuered into thy hand the King therof the people and the citie and the land †And thou shalt do to the citie of Hai and to the King therof as thou hast done to Iericho and to the King therof but the praye and al the cattel you shal spoyle for your selues lay ambushmentes to the citie behind it †And Iosue arose and al the hoste of
of Ruben beyond Iordan against Iericho the cities of refuge Bosor in the wildernes Misor and Iaser and Iethson and Mephaath foure cities with their suburbes †Of the tribe of Gad the cities of refuge Ramoth in Galaad and Manaim and Hesebon and Iaser foure cities with their suburbes †Al the cities of the children of Merari by their families and kinredes twelue †Therfore al the cities of the Leuites in the middes of the possession of the children of Israel were fourtie eight †with their suburbes euerie one distributed by the families †And our Lord God gaue to Israel al the Land that he had sworne he would geue to their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt in it †And peace was geuen by him on al nations round about and none of their enemies durst resist them but al were brought into their dominion †Not so much certes as one word which he had promised that he would performe vnto them was frustrate but al thinges were accomplished in deedes CHAP. XXII The tribes of Ruben and Gad and half Manasses returne to their possessions 10. VVho building an altar by the side of Iordan the other tribes suspect that they wil make a schisme and therfore purpose to fight against them 13. But first sending an ambassage to admonish them 21. they answer that they made not an altar for sacrifice but only for a monument that notwithstaÌ„ding they dwel on the other side of Iordan yet they are of the same people of God 30. wherwith al Israel is satisfied THE same time Iosue called the Rubenites and Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasses †and said to them You haue done al thinges that Moyses the seruant of our Lord coÌ„manded you me also haue you obeyed in al thinges †neither haue you left your brethren a long time vntil this present day keeping the commandement of our Lord your God †Therfore because our Lord your God hath geuen your brethren quietnes and peace as he promised returne and goe into your tabernacles and to the land of your possession which Moyses the seruant of our Lord deliuered to you beyond Iordan †alwayes so that you keepe attentiuely and in worke fulfil the commandement and the law which Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded you that you loue our Lord your God and walke in al his wayes and obserue al his commandementes cleaue to him and serue him in al your hart and in al your soule †And Iosue blessed them and dismissed them Who returned into their tabernacles †And to the halfe tribe of Manasses Moyses had geuen possession in Basan and therfore to the halfe that remayned Iosue gaue a lotte among the rest of their brethren beyond Iordan at the West side And when he dismissed them into their tabernacles had blessed them †he said to them In much substance and riches returne to your seates with siluer and gold brasse and yron and varietie of rayment diuide the praye of your enemies with your brethren †And the children of Ruben and the children of Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses returned and went from the children of Israel in Silo which is situated in Chanaan to enter into Galaad the Land of their possession which they had obteyned according to the commandement of our Lord in the hand of Moyses †And when they were come to the litle banckes of Iordan into the Land of Chanaan they built beside Iordan an altar of an infinite greatnes †Which thing when the children of Israel had heard and certaine messengers had reported to them that the children of Ruben and Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses had builded an altar in the Land of Chanaan vpon the litle banckes of Iordan against the children of Israel †they assembled al in Silo that they might goe vp and fight against them †And in the meane time they sent to them into the Land of Galaad Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the priest †and ten princes with him one of euerie tribe †Who came to the children of Ruben and Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses into the Land of Galaad and said to them †This message doth al the people of our Lord send to you What is this transgression Why haue you forsaken our Lord the God of Israel building a sacrilegious altar and reuolting from the worshippe of him †Is it a smale thing to you that you sinned in Beelphegor and vntil this present day the spotte of this abomination abideth in vs and many of the people fel dead †And you to day haue forsaken our Lord and to morow his wrath wil rage against al Israel †But if you thinke the land of your possession to be vncleane passe to the Land wherein is the tabernacle of our Lord and dwel among vs only that you depart not from our Lord and from our companie an altar being built beside the altar of our Lord God †Did not Achan the sonne of Zare transgress the commandement of our Lord and his wrath lay vpon al the people of Israel And he was one man and I would he alone had perished in his wicked fact †And the children of Ruben and Gad and of the halfe tribe of Manâ—sses answered the princes of the legacie of Israel †The most mightie God our Lord The most mightie God our Lord him selfe knoweth and Israel together shal vnderstand If with the mind of preuarication we haue erected this altar let him not keepe vs but punish vs presently †and if we did it with that minde that we might lay vpon it holocaustes and sacrifice and pacifique victimes let him selfe examine it and iudge †and not rather with that meaning and deliberation that we said To morrow your children wil say to our children What haue you to doe with our Lord the God of Israel †Our Lord hath put a border betwen vs and you O ye children of Ruben and children of Gad the riuer Iordan and therfore you haue no part in our Lord. And by this occasion your children shal auert our children from the feare of our Lord. We therfore thought it better †and said Let vs build vs an altar not for holocaustes nor to offer victimes †but for a testimonie betwen vs and you and our issue and your progenie that we may serue our Lord and it may be our right to offer both holocaustes and victimes and pacifique hostes and that your children to morrow say not to our children You haue no part in our Lord. †And if they wil say so they shal answer them Behold the altar of our Lord which our fathers made not for holocaustes nor for sacrifice but for our testimonie and yours †God saue vs from this abomination that we should reuolt from our Lord and leaue his steppes erecting an altar to offer holocaustes and sacrifices and victimes beside the altar of our Lord God
the Temple but commanded first to draw her forth 4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23. And as peculiar places so special Psalmes and Hymnes were appointed for diuers purposes and occasions 2. Par. 20. The ministerie of Angeles was very vsual in this time One was sent to comforte and direct Elias the prophet in his afflictions 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 1. An Angel stroke the Assyrians whole campe 4. Reg. 19. 2. Par. 32. Also the Intercession of Angels is so euident Tobiae 12. Raphael offering Tobias prayer to God that Protestants haue no other refuge to auoide this point of faith but by denying the Booke to be Canonical Scripture Honour of other Sainctes and their Intercession is proued a Maiori For so much as honour was religiously exhibited to spiritual power and excellencie in men yet liuing in this world So a Noble man adored Elias the Prophet being farre greater then he is ciuil and worldlie respectes 3. Reg. 18. Eliseus also was adored by his disciples not for anie worldlie authoritie or eminence but for his spiritual power and superioritie amongst them 4. Reg. 2. Likewise al Prophetes and Priestes were religiously honored for their holie and spiritual functions 3. Reg. 13. Much more Sainctes are rightly honored being immortal and in eternal glorie It appeareth also that Elias seuen yeares after that he was translated from humane conuersation when Eliseus was chiefe Prophet 4. Reg. 3. which was in or before the eightenth yeare of Iosaphat who reigned fiue and twentie 3. Reg. 22. had care of Ioram and his kingdom admonishing him by letters of Gods wrath against him and his people for their sinnes 2. Par. 21. And the scripture saieth often that God spared and protected Ierusalem and the kingdom of Iuda for Dauids sake 3. Reg. 11. 15. 4. Reg. 8. 19. 20. 2. Par. 6. 21. Isa 37. we haue also example of Sainctes Reliques in the cloke of Elias 4. Reg. 2. in Eliseus bones 4. Reg. 13. and in an other Prophetes bodie buried in Bethel VVhich Iosias would not suffer to be touched 4. Reg. 23. Images were conserued in the Temple 3. Reg. 7. as before in the Tabernacle when idolartie was most destroyed 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 23. yea an abuse rising of the brasen serpeÌ„t for which Ezechias destroyed it 4. Reg. 18. yet he touched not the Images of Cherubins in the Temple VVhich none but Infideles sought to destroy And Osee the Prophet ch 3. bewayleth the want of Theraphim or Images amongst other sacred thinges Sacrifice Altar and Ephod VVherby the ancient Rabbins proue very wel that Images of Angels and the same of other Sainctes are not contrarie to the Decalogue but the images of Idoles Good workes were rewarded and bad punished 3. Reg. 9. and the whole historie of this age testifieth the same VVhere by the way may be obserued that some inst men fel from their iustice as Salomon 1. Par. 28. 3. Reg. 11. Ioas 4. Reg. 12. 2. Par. 24. Ozias 2. Paral. 26. Others from wickednes returned to pietie as Manasses 4. Reg. 23. 2. Par. 33. the multitude of the people very often much folowing the disposition of their kinges Special State of life not commanded by the law was voluntarily professed and obserued by some Prophetes and their disciples called the children of Prophetes Keping particular Rules and wearing distinct habite 4. Reg. 1. 2. 4. The orders of Nazarites and Rechabites instituted before continued stil Amos. 2. Ierem. 35. stil which were very examplar figures of Religious State and Orders in the new Testament and perpetual chastitie of clergie men embraced by such as folow Euangelical counsailes proposed and not commanded by our Sauiour To which S. Paul likewise exhorteth though there be no precept therof to anie before they bind themselues Exequies for the dead were continually kept as the sacred historie witnesseth recording where and with what solennitie the kinges were buried which would be ouerlong nedeles to recite the like is also writen of some Prophetes 3. Reg. 13. 4. Reg. 23. Holie Tobias by example and fatherlie admonition exhorted his sonne to do workes of mercie not only to the liuing but also to the dead Put thy bread and thy wine vpon the sepulture of the iust c. 4. Isaias ch 57. as the Iewes both vnderstood and practised prayed that peace be geuen to the iust in his couch or resting place after his death Of the general Resurrection Elias translation is a figure who yet liuing sheweth that God can and wil restore al men to life againe in their bodies after death as he conserueth him and Enoch in their mortal bodies without corruption Ezechiel also prophecieth of the Resurrection of the dead applying it mystically to spiritual resurrection and restauration of Israel to former state ch 37. Of the last Iudgment and eternal glorie to the good and euerlasting paine to the wicked Salomon agreably to the doctrin of other Prophetes discourseth in his booke of Ecclesiastes namely ch 3. 11. and in the last concludeth thus Let vs al together heare the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandmentes for this is euerie man or to this end man is created and God wil bring into Iudgement al thinges that are done for euerie errour or obscure thing whether it be good or euil Neither were these and other pointes of Faith and Religion interrupted but stil beleued and professed in the Church alwaies visible and incontaminate notwithstanding some boughes anâ— branches became vnstructsul and rotten others brake of and were separated from this vine For when Salomon falling to luxurie multiplying manie wiues and concubines was by them seduced and brought to spiritual fornication and idolatrie making altars offering sacrifices to Idoles the Priestes Prophetes and people generally perseuered in Gods law seruice 3. Reg. 11. After whose death Ieroboam his seruant of the tribe of Ephraim possessing Tenne Tribes called the kingdom of Israel to maintaine his new state fearing that if the people resorted to Ierusalem for religions sake they would depart from him and returne to the right heyres of Dauid and Salomon made an egregious Schisme setting vp two golden calues in Bethel and Dan. 3. Reg. 12. made temples altares and priestes to sâ—rue them al opposite to Gods ordinance But not only the other Two Tribes called the kingdom of Iuda but also the greatest part of Israel especially Priestes Leuites and deuoutest people repayred stil to Ierusalem not yelding to that schisme and idolairie 2. Par. 11. Moreouer God raised vp and sent special Prophetes to confirme the weake and recal the seduced For Ieroboam had no sowner sette vp his new altar in Bethel and begunne to offer incense vpon it but a Prophet came out of Iuda in the word of our Lord and cried against that altar foretelling that wheras for that present they burnt frankineâ—nse vpon it the time should come when the
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
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
promised land S. Hierom. de Mans 42. to 3. :: They were retained in the ayre til the earth broken vnder them was closed againe :: Amram maried his aunt which sheweth that the second degree in consanguinitie is not forbid by the law of nature though it was after prohibited by a positiue law Leuit 18. :: For the general murmuring wherof al the people were guiltie cha 14. â— 29. :: Temporal Princes are also pastors or shepheards of the people but this made not Iosue supreme in spiritual causes For it is clere in the next lines that he had but part of Moyses his glorie or office and that was to be temporal prince Eleazar being chief in causes spiritual before vvhom and the multitude he was ordained Duke but Eleazar consulted God for him and directed his principal actions called here his going out and going in :: Varietie of Sacrifices for diuers times :: Euerie day twise 1. 2. :: On the Sabbath day 3. :: The Neomenia or new moone :: Pasch or Phase 4. 5. :: Pentecost 6. :: Feast of Trumpets 7. :: Feast of Expiation :: For remissioÌ„ of sinnes the penitents did cooperate by penal workes of fasting and abstinence from euen vntil euen Leuit. 23. 〈◊〉 â—2 S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. Theod. q. 32. in Leuit. :: Feast of Tabernacles 8. 9. :: Feast of Assemblie and Collection :: He that voweth abstinence from a thing lawful maketh it vnlawful to him selfe by his vow S. Aug. q. 56. in Num. :: In this case God wil not impute it to her for a siÌ„ne S. Aug. q. 58. :: By afflicting of the souleâ— here vnderstood restraining sensual delectation S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. :: The husbaÌ„d reuoking his consent once geuen by word or by silence to his wiues vow sinned but the wife was bound to obey him and so was excused Vowes of things not commanded S. Aug q. 57. in Num. :: VVith whoÌ„ he sinned with them he was also iustly punished :: These wemen bringing imagies of Beelphogot caused the Israelites to offer sacrifice to him before they should committe fornication with them :: In more detestation of the parents sinne God coÌ„manded to kil these children so they were preuented from committing the like crimes But ordinarily wemen children ought not to be slaine after the victorie Deut. 20. v. 14. :: A right figure of those that would possesse heauen without labour or danger But none shal be crovvned vnles he striue lavvfully 2. Tim. 2. :: These remonings and camping places signifie by what degrees christians leauing sinnes and folowing Christ our guide may come to perfect pietie S. Hierom. de mans 42. ad Fahiol :: Danger to those that destroy not infidelitie and al enormious sinnes which dwelt in their soules before their conuersion Two handes which worke saluation :: Otherwise called the dead sea where Sodom and Gomort had stood :: A mountaine so called of the multitude of scorpions which were in it :: Mediterraneal sea called great in respect of the lakes in the holie Land :: Mount of Libanus :: Yet not before sentencâ— of death â— 12. 24. S. Aug. q. 65. in Num. :: Mystically this signified that the way to true life was not open before Christs death Theodor. q. 51. in Num. S. Grig ho. 6. in Ezechielem :: Al were not bound by this law to marie but al that would marrie must contract within their owne tribe Restrant in Mariages also for a temporal cause â—â—◠◠◠〈◊〉 Tradition Christ a King and a Priest This booke is a repetition explication and suplement of the Law S. Aug. q. 49. in Deuteroâ— It presigured the Gospel et princ Leutero Mans vlt. Conteineth fiue partes Chap. 1. 4. 12. 27. 31. 34. The first part A repetition of Gods benefites the peoples ingratitude and punishment :: God so helpeth his seruantes that they also must cooperate S. Aug. q. 1. in Deut. :: Difference of sinnes :: God is also angrie with his good seruantes and punisheth theÌ„ temporally for smal sinnes S. Aug. q. 1. in Iosue :: These were men of very great stature but not equal to the giantes before the sâ—ould :: By this we are instructed to fight agaâ—st inâ—ideles but not without special cause against christians signified by the childreÌ„ of Lot and Esau :: The I dumeans once denied them passage Num. 20. v. 20. but afterwards granted therto :: God permitted him for his former sinnes to indurate him selfe See Exod. 7. v. 3. :: Longer sorte of cubites are a foote and 9 inches so this bed was 15. foote and nine inches long and 7. foote brode Vitruuius Agricola :: Esdras adding these wordes and often times the like did not against the law because such additions are agreable and not contrarie to that which was written before :: See Num. 〈◊〉 â— 12. The second part A repetition explication of the law :: To kepe Gods coÌ„mandments is counted by al nations the most excellent wisdome :: Here and in other places it is manifest that the commandments called the Decalogue are iust tenne :: Venial and least sinnes passe not with out temporal punishment :: This was also a Mysterie that the old law signified by Moyses could not bring to heauen the true land of promise but the law of Christ signified by Iosue Theodoret q. 43. in Deut. :: Conuersion of the Iewes in the end of the world As other Scriptures are included in the law so also TraditioÌ„s are conteined in the Scriptures Brentius KeÌ„nisius Caluin The Church commended by Scriptures approueth Traditions :: It is not ynough to beleue only or to know the commandments but necessarie also to fulfil them in â—vorâ—e :: The title of mediator lawfully ascribed to Gods lieuâ—enant in â—â—rth :: Coueting as other mans wife and coueting his goodes differ as much as the exterior actes of adultry and of theft And so these two commandments are as distinct as the former two Images of Idols forbid but not of other things :: Some adoration agreeth to creatures but seruice of Latria to God onlie S. Aug. q 61. in Gen. Not withstanding this commination God ofrentimes differreth punishment expecting the sinners repentance :: Gods promises coÌ„ditional if his people serue him :: God is able to make foode of what he plesse or to sustaine men without â—â—cate :: A serpent lesse then a scorpion making those whom he byteth to die of thirst Solâ—â—us in polyhist cap. de Africa :: Holie Scripture vseth the figure Hyperbola folowing the vulgar maner of speakiÌ„g as wel to helpe the vnderstanding as to moue affectioÌ„ in great and extraordinarie things :: The similitude of a calfe and called it their god Exed 32. :: This Mosera where Aaron died is more commonly called Hor. Num. 20. 33. :: VVhen iust cause requireth an oath it must be made in the name of God not of false goddes :: Raine after seeding and before haruest signifieth Gods grace first stirring
spiritual Et cont Mend. c. 1â— â—â—â—ym in Pâ—al 1â—7 VVhy God would haue them obscure Isai of noble lineage and a marâ—iâ— prophecied a long time Presat ad Paul Lusto Is called the Euangelical Prophet Hewritte in a high stile S. Ieâ—o Epist ad Paâ—â—â—â— Et in com Isaâ— S. Aug. â—â— 18. c. 27. â—uâ—t lib 9 c. â— conâ—â—â—â— Heb. 1. Liued in the kingdom of Iuda The contents diuided into two general partes and into eight particular 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The first part The kingdom of Iuda shal be captiue in Babylon for their ingratitude towards Gods and other sinnes :: Not Aâ—â—s the third of the lesse prophetes for this name is written in other letters in Hebrew but one of the royal bloud as S. Ierom. testifieth :: Prince Priest and people are al sicke of ingratitude against God other iniquities :: Ierusalem defaced and destroyed :: God continually preserueth some holie seede that his Church neuer faileth Rom. 9. :: Much wickednes reigned in Ierusalem before their captiuitie in Babylon but much more at Christs passion when they persecuted him euen to the Crosse and his disciples and al christians til their citie was taken by the Romanes and the whole nation dispersed :: The Rabbins vnderstand those Iudges and Priestes that gouerned the people after their deliuerie from captiuitie but S. Ierom expoundeth this and the like places of the Apostles and their successâ—â—s :: It is not only certaine but also euident that the prophet speaketh here and in innumerable other places of the Church of Christ which is the citie set vpon a mountaine Mat 5. vnto which al nations are gathered aâ—d al the time of the new Testament is called the last houre 1. Ioan. 2. because no time shal folow after this but al eternitie :: The Iewes were reiected after Christs death before which they were stil conserued though often seuerely punished And so now the Church of Christ shal neuer be reiected noâ— :: It is most absurde and contrarie to this and other Scriptures that Protestants seyne of great idolatrie in the Christian world for a thousand or more yeares together professing Christs name Religion and yet continually committing as these new masters imagine grosse idolatrie :: This was fulfilled first in the captiuitie of Babylon and more notoriously after Christs passion in the destruction of Ierusalem and dispersion of the Iewes euen to this day and yet forward til nere the end of this world :: An Ecclesiastical preacher must not flatter the people He must moue teares sayth S. Ierom not laughter Apoc. 1. :: By the metaphor of wemen S. Ierom vnderstandeth the cities of Iurie of which Ierusalem was the head and Sion the chiefe place there of al which were defaced by the Babylonians but more fully destroyed by Titus and Vespatian fourtie yeares after Christs Passion :: After the reduction of heathnish or heretical people to catholique religion there wil be great want of spiritual pastors :: Not al the Iewes that escaped temporal death in the destruction of Ierusalem but those only shal be eternally saued that beleuing shal be baptized and liue wel :: Isaie of the tribe of Iuda here prophecieth the doleful songue which Christ vttered weeping ouer Ierusalem fore seeing foretelling their destruction Luc. 19. v. 41. Mat. 21. :: Al this sheweth that God only subtracting his protection no man nor people is able to stand of whose ruine God is not the auctor but only permitteth that they fal into sinnes and so into other miseries :: An admonition to celebrate festiual dayes with â—oly religious exercises and not to folow drunkennes nor other wicked or vaine thinges Rom. 12. :: Greuous sinnes must be greuously punished Such as was the sinne of the Ievves persecuting Christ 4. Reg. 15 2. Par. 26 :: Neither Isaie nor Moyses nor anie other mortal man did euer see God in himselfe but only shadowed Yet the wicked calumniously accused condemned and put Isaie to cruel death vpon pretence of blasphemie for saying that he saw God VVhich he otherwise said not but couered by the vvinges of the Seraphimes Origen in hunc locum S. Ierom. Tradi Hebraicis in Paral. Apoc. 4. Rom. 1â— :: Isaie was not only an Euangelical but also an Apostolical prophet with whom God here treateth and procedeth as with an Apostle saying VVhom shal I send and the prophet answering Send me God sent him saying Goe c. S. Ierom in Proâ—mio Isais Mat. 23. :: Before this the kinges of Syria and of Israel had taken king Achaz in battel and caried avvay great spoyles 2. Paral. 28. But presuming to do the like againe God suffered them not to preuaile My stically this signified that heretikes of diuers sectes conspire together to impugne the Catho like Church VVhich they do much afflict and terrifie but can neuer ouerthrow iâ— S. Ierom in hunc loâ—â—â— 4. Reg. 16 :: Though Achaz vvas very vvicked and committed idolatrie 4. Reg. 16. 2. Par. 28. yet he beleued in God Almightie knovving that he ought not to tempt him :: Vpon occasion of Gods mercie promised vvithout mans desert which king Achaz hardly beleued to confirme the same with a farre greatter example God inspired the Prophet also to forshevv the greater mysterie of Christs Incarnation his conception birth of a virgin for the redemption of â—l mankind Luc. 1. 4. Reg. 19. :: The mysterie here prophocied is of so great importance as would require a very great booke for ful explication therof :: Christ the Sonne of God and virgins child quickly taketh the pray from the diuel who before possessed almost al the world :: The prophet speaketh of the tenne tribes vvhich ioyned forces with the king of Syria against Ierusalem but them selues vvere first brought into captiuity by the Assyrians God protecting Ierusalem for that time and long after Luc. 2. Rom. 9. 1. Pet. 2. :: VVheter they seke to God in their extreme distresse not sincerely but â—â—acted :: or seke worldlie helpe they shal not escape miserie :: S. Mathew expoundeth this prophecie of Christ first preaching in Galilee VVhere his disciples beleued in him folowed him Mat. 4. :: But after his passion few Iewes beleued in him in comparison of the Gentiles Iudic. 7. :: He that is great yea omnipotent God is borne a litle one in this vvorld and vvithout violence conquereth ruleth al the vvorld Luc. 2. :: God punishing sinners and they not repenting his iust furie stil increaseth punishing eternally al those that neuer repent :: VVhere is no repentance there can be no remission As v. 12. 17. ch 10. v. 4. c. :: VVheras good lawes are the stabilitie of the coÌ„mon wealth wicked are the ruine therof Such as Ieroboam made forbidding to goe to Ierusalem and setting vp golden calues in Bethel and Dan causing the people to serue them as the goddes of Israel 3. Reg. 12. v. 16. Such also as the Scribes and
and fasting for them 2. Reg. 1. Al which were to no purpose if soules departed could not be releiued by such meanes It moreouer appeareth that the same royal prophet beleued diuers places to be in hel when he said Psal 85. Thou hast deliuered my soule from the lower hel signifiyng plainly that there is a lower and a higher hel which higher the Church calleth Purgatorie where soules suffer that paine in satisfaction for their sinnes which remaineth not satisfied before death is due after the guilt of sinne is remitted the law prescribing that besides restitution of damage sacrifice should also be offered Leuit. 5. 6. 16. And Dauid was punished by the death of his child 2. Reg. 12. by the plague sent amongst his people 2. Reg. 24. after his sinnes were remitted He feared also punishment in the other world yea two sortes and therfore prayed to be deliuered from both saying Psal 6. Lord rebuke me not in thy furie nor chastice me in thy wrath That is saith S. Gregorie Strike me not with the reprobate nor aflict me with those that are purged by the punishing flames And most expresly signifieth also a higher place called hel saying Psal 15. in the person of Christ to his Father Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hel From vvhence Christ deliuered the holie Patriarches Prophetes and other perfect soules resting vvithout sensible paine brought them into heauen vvhither before him none could enter VVhich vvas also signified by the cities of refuge whence none might depart to their proper countrie til the death of the high priest Num. 35. by Moyses dying in the desert and not entring into the promised land ouer Iordan Deut. 4. 31. 34. Presupposing the general Resurrection of al men as a truth knovven by former traditions king Dauid shevveth the difference of the vvicked and godlie in that time saying Psal 1. The impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust That is the vvicked shal not rise to ioy glorie as the iust godlie shal doe Of general iudgement is more plainly prophecied 1. Reg. 2. That our Lord shal iudge the endes of the earth not that Dauid nor Salomon but Christ should raigne in his mâ—litant Church euen to the endes of the earth and in fine iudge the vvhole vvorld The same is confirmed Psal 49. God wil come manifestly our God and he wil not kepe silence Fire shal burne forth in his sight Psal 95. He shal iudge the round world in equitie and the peoples in his truth Psal 96. Fire shal goe before him and shal inflame his enemies round about Againe the same royal prophete Psalm 48. describeth the future and eternal state of the damned saying as sheepe creatures vnable to helpe themselues they are put in hel death shal feede vpon them Of the blessed he addeth And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning that is in the resurrection and Psal 149. The Sainctes shal reioyse in glorie they shal be ioyful in their beddes in eternal rest The exaltations praâ—ses of God in their throate and two edged swordes in their handes to doe reuenge in the nations punishments among the peoples To bind their kinges in fetters and their nobles in yron manicles That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written This glorie is to al his Sainctes And much greater glorie belongeth to Sainctes for this is but accidental vttered according to vulgar capacitie The essential and perfect glorie which no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor hart can cone iuâ— consisteth in seeing God Among accidental glorious giftes the foure dowries of glorified bodies are especially prefigured Impassibilitie by the wood Setim wherof the Arke was made Exod. 25. Agilitie and Penetrabilitie in some sorte by Dauids quicknes against Gâ—liath and his conuering of him self into Sauls campe and forth againe 1. Reg. 17. and 26. but a more plaine figure of Claritie was in Moyses face Exod. 34. which by his conuersation with God became more glorious then mortal eyes were able to behold glistering and shining as most splendent lâ—ght through christal described as if his skinne had benne a clere horne aâ—â—earing and spreading beamâ— like the sunnâ— proceding from the beautie of his soule so thâ—â— none of al the people could looke directly vpon him except he couered his face Thus much concerning particular pointes of faith and religion And it is no lesse euident that the vniuersal Church and Citie of God stil continued yea was more visible and conspicuous to the whole world then before First by Gods maruelous protection therof in the desert and famous victories and conquestes of the land of Chanaan And by the excellent lawes geuen to this people which al nations admired and none had the like Deut. 4. For in this fourth age besides other lavves and preceptes the spiritual and temporal States were more distinguished and the Ecclesiastical Hierarchie especially disposed in subordination of one supreme head with inferiour gouerners ech in their place and office for edification of the whole bodie For Moyses being chief ruler and conductâ—r of the Israelites out of Aegypt receiued and deliuered to them the written Law Exod. 20. And for obseruation and conseruation therof by Gods expresse appointment Leuit. 8. consecrated Aaron the ordinarie High priest himself remayning stil extraordinarie Superiour also aboue Aaron And after Aaron he consecrated in like maner his sonne Eleazar high priest and successour to his father Num. 20. To whom succeded others in this order 1. Paralip 6. Phinees Abisuë Bocci Ozi Zacharias otherwise 1. Reg. 1. called Heli Meraioth Amarias otherwise Achimelec whom Saul slew 1. Reg. 22. Achitob othervvise Abiathar vvho vvas deposed 3. Reg. 2. and Sadoc in vvhose time the Temple vvas founded To these vvere adioyned other Priestes also consecrated in a praescript forme Leuit. 8. and Leuites ordayned to assist in lower and distinct offices Num. 3. 4. In the first degree the Caathites whose office was to carrie the Sanctuarie and vessel therof vvrapped vp by the priestes but vvere forbid in paine of death to touch them or to see them In the second degree the Gersonites vvho carried the cortines and couers of the Tabernacle and vessel of the Altar In the third degree the Merarites vvho carried the bordes barres and pillers vvith their feete pinnes cordes and other implementes of the tabernacle euerie one according to their office and burdens Num. 4. v. vlt. But in the temporal state and gouernment Iosue of the tribe of Ephraim succeeded to Moyses Num. 27. Deut. 3. 34. And after Iosue were diuers interruptions of succession with gouerners of diuers tribes and change of gouernment from Dukes to Iudges and from Iudges to Kinges For after Iosues death the people being sore afflicted by inuasions of Infidels God raised certaine special men with title of Iudges to
deliuer and saue them First Othoniel of the tribe of Iuda then Aod of Beniamin after him Samgar the Scripture not signifying of what tribe then Barach with Debora of Ephraim Gedeon of Manasses Abimelech his basâ— sonne an vsurper Thola of Issachar Iair and Iephte of Manasses Abesan of Iuda Aialon of Zabulon Abdon of Ephraim Sampson of Dan and Heli who was also high priest of Aarons stocke otherwise called Zaraias 1. Paralip 6. and Samuel also of the tribe of Leut a Prophet In his time the people demanding and vrging to haue a King Saul of the tribe of Beniamin was annointed 1. Reg. 10. But for transgressing Gods commandments especially for exercising spiritual function without warrant 1. Reg. 13. and not destroying idolaters 1. Reg. 15. was deposed and Dauid of the tribe of Iuda was annointed King who after manie great trubles possessed the whole kingdome and died in peace leauing his sonne Salomon inuested and annointed king in his throne The Church being thus established in distinct states and orders albeit there were manie imperfections in al sortes of persons and great sinnes committed yet God so punished offenders and chastised the whole people that he stil conserued the greatest or chiefe part in true faith and religion For whiles they were in the desert they murmured very often against God and his Ministers their Superiours Exod. 17. Num. 11. 14 20. 21. Manie fel to idolatrie Exod. 32. Aaron not free from cooperating in the peoples sinne Nadab and Abiu Aarons sonnes and consecrated priestes offered strange fire Leuit. 10 Core Dathan and Abiron with their complices made a great schisme Num. 16. Manie committed carnal fornication with Infidels and were therby drawen to spiritual Num. 25. Of which and other like â—innes the Psalmist speaketh Psal 94. exhorting his people not to harden their hartes as in the desert their fathers had tempted God Fourtie yeares was I offended sayth God with that generation and sayd They alwayes erre in hart And therfore he sware in his wrath that the same generation should not enter into the promised land of Chanaan but their children entred and possessed it Num. 14. Iesue 3. A 〈…〉 the people falling to idolatrie and other sinnes were afflicted and sore pressâ—d by forraine enemies but repenting were deliuered and saued by certain capitaines called Iudges and Sauiours as appeareth in the booke of iudges They had also tribulations by some of their owne nation for among the Iudge one called Abimelee was a tyrannical vsurper Iudic. 9. Saul their first King falling from God vniustly persecuted Dauid 1. Reg. 18. â— Ambitious Absolom rebelled against the King his father 2. Reg. 15. and Seba of the tribe of Beniamin raised an other rebellion 2. Reg. 20. â—â—â—â—wise Adonias assisted by Abiathar the high priest and by Ioab general of the armie pretended to reigne his father Dauid yet liuing to preuent S 〈…〉 n of the kingdom 3. Reg. 1. So God both shewed his iustice in suffering suâ—â— afflictions to happen for punishment of sinne and his mercie in sauing hiâ— Church from ruine Moreouer for preseruatioÌ„ of the Church there were diuers diuine Ordinances prouided by the law For first al were strictly commanded not to coÌ„municate with Infidels in their idolatrie Ex. 23. nor with Schismatikes in their schisme Nu. 16. but to destroy al Idolaters Num. 33. and shunne al nouelties in religion as a sure marke of idolatrie or false doctrine Deut. 13. Further to conserue vnitie there was but one Tabernacle and one Altar for Sacrifice in the whole people of Israel VVherupon when the two tribes and halfe on the other side Iordan had made a seueral altar al the tribes that dwelt in Chanaan suspecting it was for sacrifice sent presently to admonish them and prepared to make warre against them except they destroyed their new altar but being aduertised that it was only an altar of monument and not for sacrifice were therwith satisfied Iosue 22. Afterwards the tribe of Dan setting vp idolatrie and the other tribes not correcting it they were al punished VVhich happened by occasion of an other enormous sinne committed and not corrected in the tribe of Beniamin For the other eleuen tribes making warre against them for this iust cause yea by Gods direction and warrant yet had the worse susteyning great slaughter of men in two conflictes and in the third Beniamin was almost destroyed Iudic. 20. Finally for decision of al controuersies and ending of strife the High Priest was expresly ordayned supreme Iudge Deut. 17. And al were commanded in paine of death to submitte their opinions and obey his sentence with promise of Gods assistance wherby his definitions were certaine and infallible For in consultations of doubtes and difficult cases God inspired him with doctrine of veritie Exod. 28. 29. Leuit. 8. Num. 3. 7. 9. 1. Reg. 23 30. VVhich iudgement Seate Christ admonished the Iewes to repayre vnto and folow Math. 23. though the Iudges themselues did not the thinges which they taught In so much that Caiphas through this assistance of Gods spirite being otherwise a wicked man yet pronounced the truth That one must die for the people VVhich therfore S. Iohn the Euangelist ascribeth to his Chayre and office because he was High priest that yeare Ioan. 11. Seing then Gods prouidence and continual assistance was so clere and assured in the Church of the old Testament much more is the Church of christ builded vpon a sure rocke assured of his perpetual assistance and always preserued from erring in Faith or in general practise of Religion And that by Gods like assured ordinance of one supreme head and Iudge S. Peter his Successour for vvhom our Sauiour prayed that his faith should not faile Further commanding him that he should confirme his brethren Al vvhich vvse see is performed in the Successours of S. Peter vvheras the successours of the other Apostles are al failed long since The same most assured stabilitie of the Church of Christ is further confirmed by the whole Lavv and Prophetes Namely Deut. 32. and 33. vvhere Moyses fortelleth more povver and grace in the Church to be collected in the Gentiles of al natioÌ„s then euer vvas in that of the Israelites or Iews Likewise 1. Reg. 2. The same vvas both prefigured and prophecied by holie Anna The hungrie those that desire Gods grace and glorie are filled vntil the barren woman the Church of the Gentiles bare verie manie she that had manie children was weakned Shewing that the Church of the Iewes had manie vntil the plenitude of Gentiles much more abounded Wherfore the Psalmist inuiteth al nations to praise God saying Psal 116. Praise our Lord al ye Gentiles praise him al ye peoples Also 2. Reg. 7. God promised Dauid saying Thy Kingdome for euer before thy face and thy throne shal be firme continually which was not verified in Dauids temporal kingdome For it was
desire nor anie of the rest is in a mans owne powre as of himself so much as to thinke a good thought but Gods grace preuenteth sturreth men vp and continually assisteth in al good beginninges progresse and perseuerance as the same diuine auctor teacheth a litle before v. 14. wisdom preuenteth them that couete her that she first may shew herself vnto them Then to admitte or refuse is in their powre that haue good motions And therfore sinne is rightly imputed and damnation iustly inflicted vpon the wicked because as Nehemias 2. Esd 9. v. 17. testifieth of the vngratful people they would not heare And they hardened their neckes and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude as it were by contention or striuing against God through their owne free wil which appeareth here to remaine in sinners On the other side the same Nehemias in confidence of reward for good workes and of his voluntarie cooperating with Gods grace feared not to pray 2. Esd 5. v. 19 in these wordes Remember me my God to good according to al thinges which I haue done to this people Some men moreouer besides the commandments of the law voluntarily professed a peculiar state of holie life a plaine figure or rather an example of Euangelical counsels As in the former ages the Nazerites whose rule is prescribed Numeri 6. practised by Sampson Iudic. 13. and Samuel 1. Reg. 1. and the Rechabites Iere. 35. so in this last age next before Christ the Assideans or Esseni 1. Mach. 2. v. 42. of whom Iudas Machabeus in his time was head or captaine 2. Mach. 14. v. 6. Ieremie the prophet ch 16. v. 2. by Gods ordinance liued single vnmaried al the time of the captiuitie Thou shalt not take a wife and thou shalt not haue sonnes and daughters in this place to witte in Ierusalem Neither did he marie when he was afterwardes in Aegypt But of his owne accord remayned a virgin al his life as S. Ierom writeth li 1. aduers Iouinianum Prayers of Sainctes after they are departed from this world is wanifestly deduced of the sacred text lere 15. v. 1. of Moyses and Samuel not to be heard if they should pray for the people whom God had decreed to punish were consequently to be heard in some other case And more expresly 2. Mach. 15. v. 12. 14. is recorded that Onias and Ieremie did pray for al the people and for al the holie citie Reuerent estimation of Reliques and other holie thinges is manifest by the fact of the same Prophet Ieremie who by Gods ordinance 2. Mach. 2. v. 1. 5. hid the holie fire and the Tabernacle and the Arke the Altar of incense in a caue that they should not be prophaned by infidels ransaking Ierusalem and the temple Other holie ornaments also and vesseles were restored by the fauorable king Cyrus 1. Esd 1. v. 7. ch 8. v. 30. In figure also of the holie Crosse on which Christ was to redeme mankind those that mourned for the abominations in Ierusalem Ezec. 9. vvere signed in their foreheades vvith the letter Thau or T. and so were saued from the common slaughter of the vnsigned Prayer and Sacrifice for the dead is likewise clere 2. Mach. 12. v. 43. c. if either the text may be admitted for Canonical saying v. 46. It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead or for good testimonie of Iudas fact being Highpriest and doing that which the whole Church practised and which the Iewes yet obserue to this day Of the General Resurrection is good testimnie in the same place v. 43. and 44. as the ground of Iudas his pietie towardos the dead wel and religiously thincking of the Resurrection For vnles he hoped that they which were slaine should rise againe it should seme superfluous and vaine to pray for the dead But seing he did beleue the Resurrection he did right wel and piously And seing the beleefe of resurrection is true it foloweth as this auctor inferreth that it is a holie thing to pray for the dead Malachie the last of the Prophetes in the last chapter foresheweth and describeth the General iudgement in the end of this world wherin the wicked hal be condemned and the iust eternally rewarded Which day shal come sayth he kindled as a surnace Al that do impietie dying in that state shal be stubble and that day shal in flame them And there shal rise to you that feare my name the Sunne of iustice and health in his winges or glorious beames healing and curing al body lie infirmities and defectes Before which day he foretelleth of two signes v. 5. The coming of Elias the Prophet and. v. 6. the conuersion of the Iewes to Christ And thus much may here suffice for particular pointes of religion in this age It resteth to view the state and gouernment of the Church in this time Which may be considered according to the foure Monarchies of heathen nations the Chaldees the Medes Persians the Grecians and the Romanes Vnder the Chaldees whose Emperial citie was Babylon they were in captiuitie seuentie yeares By the Medes and Persians for that Monarchie consisted of those two nations they were released from captiuitie with manie fauoures yet sometimes afflicted Vnder the Monarchie of the Grecians they were partly in extreme persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes and of other Grecian kinges and princes partly in warres for defence of Gods lawes Before and after which persecution and warres as wel vnder the Grecians as the Romans til Christs Passion the Church was for most part in peace yet some times afflicted But omitting manie intricate diffiâ—uliies about the times and reignes of sundrie heathen kinges it wil suffice our purpose to shew the general state of the Iewish nation with their owne particular gouerners spiritual and temporal with more or lesse fauour of forreine Princes First therfore concerning their estate in their captiuitie in Babylon we may here obserue Gods prouidence in that before the citie and temple of Ierusalem were destroyed and the whole nation made captiue Ioachin otherwise called Iechonias the sonne of Ioachaz who was also called Iechonias king of Iuda was transported into Babylon and his mother and manie other principal persons 4. Reg. 24. v. 15. Likewise Iosedech sonne of Saraias highpriest 1. Paral. 6. v. 15. was caried into Babylon And in the meane time Sedecias vncle to Ioachin reigned in Iuda who in the eleuenth yeare was taken and caried captiue into Babylon and there died Ioachin yet liuing in prison And Saraias the Highpriest with others was slayne in Rebla when Ierusalem was destroyed 4. Reg. 25. v. 18. 21. To whom Iosedech succeded in the highpriesthood So that both the issue of Dauid in the right line of our Sauiours genealogie and the Highpriest of Aarons stocke were in Babylon before the whole bodie of the nation was brought thither
This Iechonias or Ioachin remained in prison til the death of Nabuchodonosor the space of thirtie seuen yeares and was then deliuered by Euilmerodach and by him entertayned courteously as a prince 4. Reg. 25. v. 27. He maried there and had issue Salathiel and Salathiel hâ—d Zorobabel Who together with Iosue sonne of Iosedech highpriest Esdras Nehemias others recited 1. Esd 2. conducted the children of Israel from Babylon into their countrie There were also in a former transmigration Daniel and the other three children Ananias Misael Azarias of the royal or principal bloud in the third yeare of Ioakim otherwise called Eliacim sonne of Iosias 4. Reg. 23. v. 34 king of Iuda Dan. 1. v. 1. 6. These with others were caried â—s hostages into Babylon and brought vp more liberally Where seruing God sincerely abstayning from vnlawful meates were protected by God much also estemed and promoted in that place For Daniel about the age of twelue yeares conuinced the two wicked Iudges and deliuered Susanna from their cruel handes Dan. 13. And afterwardes for declaring and interpreting the kings dreame Dan. 2. and excellent wisdom and gift of prophecie was admired by al aduanced by the king but maligned by certaine enuious sorcerers and great men Wherby he was sometimes in great danger but stil deliuered by Gods powre protecting him Dan. 6. 14. The other three children were likewise aduanced Dan. 2. v. 49. and therfore by diuers enuied and for refusing to adore an idol set vp by Nabuchodonosor were cast into a hote burning furnace and there preserued Dan. 3. Ieremie who before this time begane to prophecie whiles he was a childe Iere. 1. continued in the time of captiuitie in Ierusalem and Iurie with much affliction and stil prophecying finally dyed in Aegypt Baruch his scribe and also a Prophete went sometimes into Babylon and returned into Iurie Baruch 1. instructing and exhorting the people Ezechiel was caried with king Iechonias and Iosedech into Babylon and there prophecied ch 1. v. 2. part of the same time with Daniel in great part the same thinges with Ieremie And during the captiuitie king Iechonias Iosedech the highpriest Ieremie Baruch Ezechiel prophetes innumerable others some Martyres and manie Confessors parted from this world But Daniel yet liued And in place of Iosedech Highpriest Iosue succeded and the progenie of king Iechonias continuing in Salathiel and Zorobabel the nation â—ad them and other eminent men with temporal dependence vpon forreine princes in the next Monarchie of the Medes and Persians For when Darius king of Medes had slaine Baâ—â—azar king of the Chaldees and so possessed Babylon with the whole countrie he brought the Monarchie to the Medes Persians Dan. 5. v. 31. and within the space of one yeare he dyed and Cyrus succeding granted leaue to al the Iewes to returne into Iurie and there to build vp their temple and citie of Ierusalem which Nabuchodonosor had destroyed At which time Daniel had his vision that Christ our Sauiour should come into the world within seuentie weekes of seuen yeares to the weke that is in foure hundred ninetie yeares after the perfect finishing of the temple and citie Dan. 9. v. 24. 25. But when they were so built againe that the wekes beganne to be counted is very obscure as it was the wil of God that the prophecie being certayne in itself should not be ouer clere to euerie mans vnderstanding but as likewise manie other prophecies shut and sealed Dan. 12. v. 6. 9. 13. In this time of the Medes and Persians Monarchie Mardocheus remayning in Chaldea after the relaxation had that vision in a dreame Esther 11. after which folowed the historie of him Quene Esther and wicked Aman with the danger and deliuerie of al the Iewes in those partes Some thinke it likewise probable that the historie of Iudith happened after the captiuitie though others suppose that it was in the time of Manasses king of Iuda which not being our purpose to discusse and decide we wil passe to thinges more certayne The prophetes Aggeus Zachatias nere twentie yeares after the relaxation earnestly exhorted the princes people to build vp the temple which had bene begunne and now was neglected vpon vaine feare thincking the time was not yet come of building the house of our Lord. Aggeus 1. v. 2. Wherupon the prophet reproueth them expostulating thus Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house of our Lord desert And assureth them v. 10. that their ground should remaine barren and ch 2. v. 15. their sacrifices vngratful til they should build the temple promising moreouer that this new temple should be more glorious by Christs personal presence therin then the former temple built by Salomon But especially the Church of Christ presigured by the temple should farre excel the Synagoge of the old testament ch 2. v. 10. Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first Which Zacharie confirmeth inuiting the Gentiles to come and the Iewes to returne into Christs Church ch 2. v. 6. O flee out of the land of the North sayth our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you v. 7. O Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And by diuers other visions and prophecies they forshew the conuersion of the Gentiles and reiection of the Iewes for their obduration but in the end they also shal be conuerted Malachie prophecied after the finishing of the temple exhorting al to offer their sacrifices with puritie of hart reprehending both priestes and people for not so doing ch 1. He also foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles with the change of the old sacrifices and institution of a new farre more excellent and more effectual to be offered euerie where v. 10. 11. He concludeth his prophecie ch 4. foretelling the terrible day of Iudgement and life or death euerlasting These later prophetes yet liuing as Iosephus Eusehius Theodoretus and others testifie in their histories the Grecians obtained so great a Monarchie by king Alexander the Great of Macedo that being parted after his death amongst manie yet al were great kingdomes some longer some shorter time In the beginning wherof when king Alexander came to Ierusalem as Iosephus writeth li. 11. c. 8. Antiquit. Iaddus the highpriest going forth in his pontifical attyre to mete him the same king straightwayes fel downe at his feete with al reuerence And being demanded by his freindes the princes of his armie why he so much honored the highpriest he answered that he honored noâ— the man for himself but for his office and God in him who had appeared to him in slepe in that very habite and ornaments when he in Macedonia discoursed in his minde of making battel against the Persians promising him assured victorie Shortly