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
ancient Fathers vnderstood of Anti Christ namely S. Irenaeus lib. 5. aduers Haeres S. Hyppolitus Martyr Orat de consummaâ— soeculi S. Ambrose c. 7 de Benedict Patriarch S. Augustin q. 12. in Iosue Prosper lib. de promiss praedicts Dei P. 4. Theodoret. q. vlt. in Gen. S. Gregorie lib. 30. Moral c. 18 and many others vpon the 7. chap. of the Apocalips where they suppose S. Ioan did omitt Dan from amongst the Elect of the Israelitical Tribes in detestation of Antichrist to be borne of that Tribe And certayne it is that the Iewes wil receiue and folowe him for their Messias as our Sauiour himselfe saith VVhich maketh it very probable that he shal be a Iewe borne else they would not so easily admitt him 22. Ioseph a childe encreasing Ioseph was in manie respectes a figure of Christ especially in that he was loued of his father before al his bretheren solde by his brethrn to the Gentiles of enuie and for money aduanced to dignitie and authoritie the deliuerer of Aegypt from famine and called Sauiour of the world al performed in Christ the true Childe encreasing CHAP. L. Ioseph causeth his fathers bodie to be embawmed 3. the dayes of mourning being expired 6. with Pharaos leaue Ioseph with the ancients of Aegypt al his brethren and elder sorte of Israelites goe and solemnly burie the bodie in Chanaan 14. After their returne his brethren fearing leâ—t ioseph wil now reuenge former iniuries he freely forgeueth al. 22. At the age of 110. yeares adiuring the posteritie to carie his bones into Chanaan he dieth and is put in a coffin VVHICH Ioseph seeing fel vpon his fathers face weeping and kissing him †And he commanded his seruantes the physitians that they should embawme his father with spices †Who fulfilling his commandements there passed fourtie dayes for this was the maner of corses embawmed and Aegypt mourned him seuentie daies †And the mourning time being expired Ioseph spake to the familie of Pharao If I haue found grace in your sight speake in the eares of Pharao †for so much as my father did adiure me saing Behold I die in my sepulchre which I digged for my selfe in the land of Chanaan thou shalt burie me I wil goe vp therfore and burie my father and returne †And Pharao said to him Goe vp and burie thy father as thou wast adiured †Who going vp there went with him al the ancients of Pharaos house and al the elders of the Land of Aegypt †the house of Ioseph with his brethren sauing their little ones and the flockes and heards which they had left in the Land of Gessen †He had also in his traine chariotts and horsemen and it became no smal multitude †And they came to the floore of Atad which is situate beyond Iord aine where celebrating the exequies with great and vehement mourning they spent ful seuen dayes †Which when the Inhabiters of the Land of Chanaan had seene they said This is a great mourning vnto the Aegyptians And therfore the name of that place was called The mourning of Aegypt †Therfore the sonnes of Iacob did as he commanded them †and carying him into the Land of Chanaan they buried him in the duble caue which Abraham had bought with the field for a possession to burie in of Ephron the Hethite against Mambre †And Ioseph returned into Aegypt with his brethren and with al the traine his father being buried †After whose death his brethren fearing and talking one with an other Lest perhaps he be mindful of the iniurie which he suffered and requite vs al the euil that we haue done †they aduertised him saing Thy father commanded vs before he died †that we should say thus much to thee in his wordes I besech that thou forget the wicked fact of thy brethren and the sinne malice which they haue exercised against thee we also desire thee that to the seruants of the God of thy father thou remit this iniquitie Whom when Ioseph ad heard he wept †And his brethren came to him and adoring prostrate on the ground they said We are thy seruantes †To whom he answered Feare not can we resist the wil of God †“ You thought euil against me but God turned that into good that he might exalt me as presently you see and might saue many peoples †Feare not I wil feed you your lirle ones and he comforted them and spake gently mildly †And he dwelt in Aegypt with al his fathers house and liued an hundred and tenne yeares And he sawe the children of Ephraim vnto the third generation Also the children of Machir the sonne of Manasses were borne in Iosephs knees †Which thinges being done he spake to his brethren After my death God wil visite you and wil make you goe vp out of this land to the land which he sware to Abraham Isaac and Iacob †And when he had adiured them and said God wil visite you carie my bones with you out of this place †he died being an hundred and tenne yeares old And being embawmed with spices was put in a coffin in Aegypt ANNOTATIONS CHAP L. 20. You thought euil This plaine distinction sheweth that sinne is wholly of the sinner and that God hath no part therin but turneth it to good For those things which Iosephs brethren did against him were occasions of his aduancement in Aegypt through the omnipotent wisdome of God VVhose â—â—opeitie is out of euerie euil to draw good S. Chrisost ho. 67. in Gen. S. Aug. Enchirid. c. 11. li. 14. c. 27. de â—â—â—it 25. Carie my bones vvith you For the same reasons Ioseph would be finally buried in Chanaan for which Iacob desired to be there buried chap. 47. but Ioseph would not presently be caried thither lest it might haue geuen offence to the Aegyptians or at least haue diminished their fauoure towardes his brethren and withal he would confirme his brethren in their hope of returning seing he was content that his bodie should expect in Aegypt til the whole Nation should returne into Chanaan THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF EXODVS MOYSES hauing prosecuted in Genesis the sacred historie of the Church vnto Iosephs death containing the space of 2310. yeares continueth the same in Exodus for 145. yeares more VVhere he first briefly recounteth how a smal number of Israelites especially after the death of Ioseph being much increased a new King risen in the meane time who knew not Ioseph together with other Aegyptians enuying their better partes both of bodie and minde and more fortunate progres in wealth fearing also lest they stil multiplying either by their owne forces or ioyning with other foreners might spoile Aegypt and returne into Chanaan and hating their Religion because they acknowledged one onlie eternal omnipotent God denying and detesting the new imaginarie goddes of the Aegyptians resolued and publickly decreed by oppression to
hinder their increasing to keepe them in bondage and seruitude But God almightie who had chosen them for his peculiar people did not only so conserue and multiplie them that of seuentie persons which came into Aegypt in the space of two hundred and fiefteene yeres there were six hundred thousand men able to beare armes besides wemen children and old men which by estimation might be three millions in al but amongst other most strange and miraculous workes especally deliuered one Hebrew infant from drowning whom afterwards he made the Guide and supreme Gouernour of the same people by him admonished the King to cease persecuting and diuers waies plagued him his people for their obdurat and obstinate crueltie In fine called away and mightily deliuered his owne people drowned that king and al his armie in the red sea the Israelites wonderfully passing through as in a drie chanel the waters standing on both sides like two walles In the desert fed them miraculously with Manna and gaue them al necessaries defending them also from enimies Then God hauing thus selected and seuered his people from al other nations gaue them a written law as wel of Moral as Ceremonial and Iudicial preceptes with the maner of making the Tabernacle erecting Altares consecrating Priects with the institution of daylie sacrifice and of al vestures veselles other holie things belonging to the seruice of God So this booke may be diuided into three partes First is declared the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt vvith their deliuerie from thence in the fieftene first chapters Then how they were maintained in the desert and prepared to receiue a law in the foure next chapters In the other 21. chapters the lavv is prescribed instructing them hovv to liue tovvards God and al men THE BOOKE OF EXODVS IN HEBREW VEELLE SEMOTH CHAP I. The smal number of Israelites much increasing in Aegypt 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren 8. a new king that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication 11. by imposing workes vpon them 15. and by commanding to kil 22. and to drowne al the malchildren of them God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues that fearing him killed not the children THESE be the names of the children of Israel that entred into Aegypt with Iacob they did enter in euerie one with their houses †Ruben Simeon Leui Iudas †Issachar Zabulon and Beniamin †Dan and Neptali Gad and Aser †Therfore al the soules that came out of Iacobs thigh were seuentie and Ioseph was in Aegypt †Who being dead and al his brethren and al that generation †the children of Israel increased and as it were springing vp did multiplie and growing strong exceedingly filled the land †In the meane time there arose a new king ouer Aegypt that knew not Ioseph †and he said to his people Behold the people of the children of Israel is much and stronger then we †Come let vs wisely oppresse the same lest perhaps it multiplie and if there shal be anie warre against vs it ioyne with our enemies and we being ouerthrowne they depart out of the land †Therfore he set ouer them maisters of the workes to afflict them with burdens and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles Phithom and Ramesses †And the more they did oppresse them so much the more they multiplied and increased †and the Aegyptians hated the children of Israël and deriding afflicted them †and they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay and bricke and with al seruice wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth †And the King of Aegypt said to the mid wiues of the Hebrewes of whom one was called Sephora the other Phua †commanding them When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen and the time of deliuerie is come if it be a manchild kil it if a woman reserue her †“ But the midwiues feared God and did not according to the commandement of the king of Aegypt but preserued the menchildren †To whom being called vnto him the king said What is this that you ment to do that you would saue the men-children †Who answered The “ Hebrew wemem are not as the Aegyptian wemen for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues and before we come to them they are deliuered †God therfore did wel to the midwiues and the people encreased and became strong exceedingly †And “ because the midwiues feared God 〈…〉 e built them houses †Pharao therfore commanded al his people saying Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male seâ— cast it into the riuer whatsoeuer of the female reserue it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 17. But the midvviues feared God In commendation of the midwiues not obeying the kings commandment Moyses opposeth the feare of God to the feare of Princes shewing therby that when their commandments are contrarie the subiects must feare God and not do that the Prince commandem So did our Sauiour himself teach and that for feare of damnation saying Feare him vvho hath povver to cast into het And so his Aporâ—les indued with the Holie Ghost practised answering in this case that they must heare God rather then men Againe God must be obeyed rather then men Alwayes vnderstood when they are contrarie For otherwise both S. Peter and S. Paul teach vs that Princes yea Infidels of whom they especially speake must be obeyed 19. Hebrevv vvemen are not Herein the midwiues sinned For it is neuer lawful to lye Because the lavv of God is truth wherby S. Augustin proueth li. coot mend c. 10 that whatsoeuer varieth from truth is vnlawful VVhen therfore saith he examples of lying are proposed to vs out of holie Scripture either they are not lies but are thought to be whiles they are not vnderstood oâ— if they be lies they are not to be imitated because they are vnlawful â— Gregorie teacheth the same li. 18. Moral c. 20. Qâ—â—a proseltâ— ab 〈◊〉 discrep it quitquidâ—â—eritate discordâ—t Because assuredly vvhatsoeuer disagreeth from veritie differeth from equitie Yet these fathers hold such an officious lye as this was to be a lesse sinne and more easily pardoned and purged by good workes folowing 21. Because the midwiues feared God Feare of God â—s 〈◊〉 is properly taken in holie Scripture is that holie feareâ— by which the children of God reâ—â—aine from sinne and that with temporal dangeâ— lest they should ofend the diuine Maiestie So these midwiues endangering their owne liues by not fullfiling Pharaos commandment had the true feare of God and for the same were rewarded as is most probable eternally though mention be here made only of temporal reward afteâ— the 〈…〉 of the old 〈◊〉 VVhere such promises were made to Abraham and other most godlie Patriarches
not 12. but taketh from him his speare and bottle of water 14. sheweth what he hath done 21. Saul againe confesseth his fault and promiseth peace AND there came Zepheites vnto Saul in Gabaa saying Behold Dauid is hid in the hil Hachila which is ouer against the wildernes †And Saul arose and went downe into the desert Ziph and with him three thousand men of the chosen of Israel to seeke Dauid in the desert Ziph. †And Saul camped in Gabaa Hachila which was ouer against the wildernes in the way and Dauid dwelt in the desert And seing that Saul was come after him into the deset †he sent discouerers and lerned that he was come thither most certainly †And Dauid arose secretly and came to the place where Saul was and when he had seene the place wherein Saul slept and Abner the sonne of Ner the prince of his warre and Saul sleeping in the tent and the rest of the multitude round about him †Dauid spake to Achimelech the Hetheit and Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab saying Who wil goe downe with me to Saul into the campe And Abisai said I wil goe with thee †Dauid therefore and Abisai came to the people by night and found Saul lying and sleeping in the tent and his speare fixed in the ground at his head and Abner and the people sleeping round about him †And Abisai said to Dauid God hath shut vp thine enemie this day into thy handes now therefore I wil thrust him through with my speare in the earth once and twise shal not neede †And Dauid said to Abisai Kil him not for who shal extend his hand vpon the annointed of our Lord shal be innocent †And Dauid said Our Lord liueth vnlesse our Lord shal strike him or his day come to die or descendig into battel he perish †Our Lord be merciful vnto me that I extend not my hand vpon the annointed of our Lord. now therefore take the speare which is at his head cuppe of water and let vs goe †Dauid therefore tooke the speare and cuppe of water which was at Saules head and they went away and there was none that sawe or vnderstood or awaked but al slept because the dead sleepe of our Lord had fallen vpon them †And when Dauid had passed ouer against and stood in the toppe of the mountaine farre of and a good space betwen them †Dauid cried to the people and to Abner the sonne of Ner saying Wilt thou not answer Abner And Abner answering sayd Who art thou that criest and disquietest the king †And Dauid sayd to Abner Art not thou a man And who is like thee in Israel why therefore hast thou not kept thy lord the king for one of the multitude hath entered in to kil the king thy lord †This thing is not good which you haue done Our Lord liueth you are the children of death which haue not kept your lord the annointed of our Lord. Now therefore behold where the kinges speare is where the cup of water is which was at his head †And Saul knew Dauids voice and sayd Is this thy voice my sonne Dauid And Dauid sayd My voice my lord king †and he said For what cause doth my lord persecute his seruant What haue I done or what euil is there in my hand †Now therefore heare I pray my lord King the wordes of thy seruant If our Lord stirre thee vp against me let there be odoure of sacrifice but if the sonnes of men they are cursed in the sight of our Lord which haue cast me out this day that I should not dwel in the inheritance of our Lord saying Goe serue strange goddes †And now let not my blood be shed vpon the earth before our Lord for the king of Israel is come forth to seeke one flea as the perdix is pursued in the mountaines †And Saul sayd I haue sinned returne my sonne Dauid for I wil no more doe thee euil for that my life hath bene precious in thyne eies to day for it appeareth that I haue done foolishly and haue bene ignorant of very many thinges †And Dauid answering sayd Behold the kings speare let one of the kings seruants passe and take it †And our Lord wil reward euerie one according to his iustice and fidelitie for our Lord hath deliuered thee this day into my hand I would not extend my hand vpon the annointed of our Lord. †And as thy life hath bene magnified to day in myne eies so be my life magnified in the eies of our Lord and deliuer he me from al distresse †Saul therefore sayd to Dauid Blessed art thou my sonne Dauid and truly doing thou shalt doe and preuayling thou shalt preuaile And Dauid went into his way and Saul returned into his place CHAP. XXVII Dauid for more securitie goeth againe to Achis king of Geth 5. obtaineth of him the citie of Siceleg 6. by which meanes it becometh subiect to the kinges of Iuda 8. and maketh prayes vpon the enemies of King Achis AND Dauid sayd in his hart at length I shal fal one day into the handes of Saul is it not better that I flee and be saued in the Land of the Philistians that Saul may despaire and cease to seeke me in al the coastes of Israel I wil flee therefore his handes †And Dauid arose and went himselfe and the six hundred men with him to Achis the sonne of Maoch the King of Geth †And Dauid dwelt with Achis in Geth he and his men euerieman his house and his two wiues Achinoam the Iezrahelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel †And it was told Saul that Dauid was fled into Geth and he added no more to seeke him †And Dauid sayd to Achis If I haue grace in thy sight let there a place be geuen me in one of thy cities of this countrie that I may dwel there for why abideth thy seruant in the citie of the king with thee †Achis therefore gaue him in that day Siceleg for which cause Siceleg became the kinges of Iuda vntil this day †And the number of the daies that Dauid dwelt in the country of the Philistians was foure monethes †And Dauid went vp and his men and draue prayes out of Gessuri and Gerzi and from the Amalecites for these villages were inhabited in the land in old time as men goe to Sur as farre as the Land of Aegypt †And Dauid stroke al the land neither left he anie man or woman and taking the sheepe oxen and asses camels and garments he returned came to Achis †And Achis sayd to him Whom hast thou set vpon to day Dauid answered Against the south of Iuda and against the south of Ierâ—miel and against the south of Ceni †Dauid gaue life neither to man nor woman neither brought them into Geth saying Lest perhaps they
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
charitie God gaue him an other particular law that he should not eate of the tree of knovvlege of good and euil And that for two special reasons which S. Augustin noteth vpon this place First that God might declare him selfe to be Lord of man VVhich was absolutely necessarie for man and nothing at al profitable to God who nedeth not our seruice but we without his dominion should vtterly fal to nothing Nec enim ipso non creante c. For he not creating vs neither could vve haue bene noâ— he not conseruing vs could vve remayne nor he not gouerning vs could vve liue rightly VVherfore he onlie is our true Lord vvhom not for his but for our ovvne profite and saluation vve serue The other reason was that God might geue man matter wherin to exercise the vertue of obedience and to shew him selfe a subiect of God VVhich could not be so properly and effectually declared by keping other lawes nor the enormitie of disobedience appeare so euidently as by fulfilling of Gods wil commanding him or by doing his owne wil moued to the contrarie in a thing of it selfe indifferent only made vnlawful because it was forbid But let vs heare S. Augustins owne wordes Nec potuit melius aut diligentius coÌ„â—endâ—ri quantum malum sit sola inobedientia c. Neither could it saith this great Doctor be better nor more exactly signified how bad a thing sole disobedience is then where a man became guiltie of iniquitie because he touched that thing contrarie to prohibition which if he not forbidden had touched he had not sinned at al. For he that saith for example sake Touch not this herbe supposing it is poysenful and doth forwarne one of death if he touch it death assuredly falleth on the contemner of the precept yea though no man had prohibited and he had touched for he should dye because the same thing bereueth him of health and life whether it had benne forbidden him or no. Also when one forbiddeth that thing to be touched which would not in dede preiudice him that toucheth but him that forbiddeth as if one take an others money being forbid by him whose the money is it is a sinne in him that is forbidden because it is iniurie to him that forbiddeth But when that thing is touched which neither should hurt him that toucheth nor any other if it were not forbid wherfore is it prohibited but that the proper goodnes of obedience and the euil of disobedience might appeare Thus S. Augustin sheweth that disobedience is a sinne because it is against a precept though otherwise the thing that is done were not euil And amongst other good notes teacheth that true obedience inquireth not wherfore a thing is commanded but leauing that to the Superior promptly doth that is appointed 17. Of the tree eate thou not This example of our first parents transgression sheweth how friuolous an answer it is to say that breaking of commanded fastes or eating meates forbidden can not hurt vs the meate being good and holsome for so the fruite of the tree was good and should haue hurt no man if it had not benne forbidden Euen so al meates of their owne nature are good yet the precept of fasting foretold by our Sauiour in general and determined by his Church in particular and so of anie other like law though it be in things otherwise indifferent proceeding from lawful Superiors bindeth the subiects in conscience And the transgression is properly disobedience what other sinne soeuer may also be mixed therwith 17. Thou shalt dye the death Against the new doctrine denying that after sinne is remitted anie temporal punishment remaineth for the same this place declareth that death wherof God forewarned Adam if he should eate of the fruite forbidden remained due and was at last inflicted vpon him for his sinne which was presently remitted vpon his repentance Againe for so much as we are al subiect to death it proueth that we were al guiltie of this sinne by which death came vpon al men as S. Paul teacheth Els God should punish vs without our fault which is vnpossible that his goodnes should do Especially it appeareth in infants who dying before they come to vse of reason can neuer coÌ„mit other sinne for though they were circumcised or had Sacrifice offered or other remedie vsed for them before Christ or baptised since Christ yet they suffer as S. Augustin noteth both death and manie other penalties of sickenes cold heate hunger and the like which can neither be to them matter of merite as to others it may be nor profite them for auoiding of other sinnes seing they dye in their infancie Yea moreouer if they dyed without circumcisioÌ„ or other remedie of those former times their soules perished from their people and now without Baptisme can neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen which could not stand with Gods iustice if they were not guiltie of sinne CHAP. III. By the craft of the Diuel speaking in a serpent our first parents transgressed Gods commandment 7. who being ashamed vvould hide them selues 9 but are reproued by God 14. and besides other particular punishements yet with promise of a Redemer are cast out of Paradise BVT the serpent also was more subtile then al the beasts of the earth which our Lord God had made Which said to the woman Why hath God commanded you that you should not eate of euerie tree of Paradise †To whom the woman answered Of the fruite of the trees that are in paradise we doe eate †but of the fruite of the tree which is in the middes of paradise God hath commanded vs that we should not eate and that we should not touch it lest perhapes we die †And the serpent said to the woman No you shal not dye the death †For God doth know that in what day soeuer you shal eate therof your eyes shal be opened and you shal be as gods knowing good euil †The woman therfore sawe that the tree was good to eate and fayre to the eyes and delectable to behold and she tooke of the fruite therof and did eate and gaue to her husband who did eate †And the eyes of them both were opened and when they perceiued themselues to be naked they sowed togeather leaues of a figge tree and made themselues aprons †And hearing the voice of our Lord God walking in paradise at the after none ayre Adam hid himselfe and so did his wife from the face of our Lord God amidst the trees of paradise †And our Lord God called Adam and said to him Where art thou †Who said I heard thy voice in paradise and I feared because I was naked and I hid me †To whom he said And who hath told thee that thou wast naked but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate †And Adam
and seruants of Christ being ouercome not by force of armes but by patience peacable endeuours of those whom they most hated VVherof excellently saith S. Leo Ser. 1. in Natali Apost Although Rome renowmed by manie victories dilated her Empyre by land and by sea yet was it lesse that martial trauel subdued then that which Christian peace hath obtained The Bishops of Rome hauing larger Iurisdiction spiritual then euer the Roman Coesars had temporal Dominion CHAP. XXVII Iacob by his mothers counsail getteth his fathers blessing in place of Esau 42. And by her is aduised for auoiding Esaus wrath who threatned to kil him to flie to his vncle Laban in Haran of Mesopotamia AND Isaac was old and his eyes were dimme and he could not see and he called Esau his elder sonne and said to him my sonne Who answered Here I am †To whom his father Thou seest quoth he that I am old and know not the day of my death †Take thy instruments thy quiuer and bowe and goe abrode and when thou hast taken any thing by hunting †make me broth therof as thou knowest I like and bring that I may eate and my soule may blesse thee before I dye †Which when Rebecca had heard and he was gone into the field to fulfil his fathers commandement †she said to her sonne Iacob I heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother and saying to him †Bring me of thy hunting and make me meates that I may eate and blesse thee in the sight of our Lord before I dye †Now therfore my sonne assent to my counsel †and go thy way to the flocke bring me two kiddes of the best that I may make of them meat for thy father such as he gladly eateth †which when thou hast brought in and he hath eaten he may blesse thee before he dye †To whom he answered Thou knowest that Esau my brother is an hearie man and I am smooth †if my father shal feele me and perceaue it I feare lest he wil thinke I would haue deluded him and I shal bring vpon me a curse for a blessing †To whom his mother said This curse my sonne light vpon me only heare thou my voice and go fetch me the things which I haue said †He went and brought and gaue them to his mother She dressed meats euen as she knew his father liked †And she did on him the garments of Esau verie good which she had at home with her †and the litle skinnes of the kidds â—â—e put about his hands and couered the bare of his necke †And she gaue him the broth and deliuered him bread that she had baked †Which when he had caried in he said My father But he answered I heare Who art thou my sonne †And Iacob said I am thy first begotten Esau I haue done as thou didest command me arise sit and eate of my hunting that thy soule may blesse me †And againe Isaac to his sonne How couldest thou said he find it so quickly my sonne Who answered It was the wil of God that that which I would came quickly in my way †And Isaac said Come hither that I may feele thee my sonne and may proue whether thou be my sonne Esau or no. †He came nere to his father and when he had felt him Isaac said The voice verely is the voice of Iacob but the hands are the hands of Esau †And he knew him not because his hearie hands had made him like vnto the elder Blessing him therfore †he said Art thou my sonne Esau He answered I am †But he said Bring me the meats of thy hunting my sonne that my soule may blesse thee Which when they were brought and he had eaten he offred him wine also which after he had drunke †he said to him Come nere me and geue me a kisse my sonne †He came nere and kissed him And immediatly as he felt the fragrant sauoure of his garments blessing him he said Behold the sauoure of my sonne is as the sauoure of a plentiful field which our Lord hath blessed †God geue thee of the deaw of heauen and of the fatnes of the earth abundance of corne and wine †And let peoples serue thee and tribes adore thee be thou lord of thy brethren and thy mothers children bowe they before thee He that shal curse thee be he cursed and he that shal blesse thee be he replenished with blessings †Isaac had scarce ended his wordes and Iacob now gone forth abroad but Esau came †and brought in to his father meates made of his hunting saying Arise my father and eate of thy sonnes hunting that thy soule may blesse me †And Isaac said to him Why who arth thou Who answered I am thy first begotten sonne Esaù †Isaac was amazed and astonied exceadingly and marueling more then a man can beleue said Who is he then that euen now brought me venison that he had taken and I did eate of al thinges before thou camest and I haue blessed him and he shal be blessed †Esau hauing heard his fathers wordes roared out with a great crye and being dismaied said Blesse me also my father †Who said Thy brother came deceiptfully and tooke thy blessing †But he said again Rightly is his name called Iacob for he hath supplanted me loe the second time my first-birth-right he tooke before and now the second time he hath stollen my blessing And againe to his father he said Hast thou not reserued me also a blessing †Isaac answered I haue appointed him thy Lord and al his brethren I haue made subiect to his seruice with corne and wine I haue established him and for thee my sonne what shal I doe more after this †To whom Esau said Hast thou one only blessing father I besech thee blesse me also And when he wept that he howled againe †Isaac being moued said to him In the fat of the earth and in the deaw of heauen from aboue †shal thy blessing be Thou shalt liue by the sworde and shalt serue thy brother and the time shal come when thou shalt shake of and loose his yoake from thy necke †Esau therfore alwaies hated Iacob for the blessing wherwith his father had blessed him and he said in his hart The daies wil come of the mourning of my father and I wil kil Iacob my brother †These things were told to Rebecca who sending calling Iacob her sonne said to him Behold Esau thy brother threatneth to kil thee †Now therfore my sonne heare my voice and get thee vp and flye to Laban my brother into Haran †and thou shalt dwel with him a few daies til the furie of thy brother be asswaged †and his indignation cease and he forget those things which thou hast done to him afterward I wil send and bring thee from thence hither Why shal I be depriued of both
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
is other mens the best of whatsoeuer he hath in his owne field or in his vineyard he shal restore according to the estimation of the damage †If fire breaking forth light vpon the thornes and catch stackes of corne or corne standing in the fieldes he shal render the damage that kindled the fire †If a man committe money or vessel vnto his frend to keepe and they be stolen away from him that receaued them if the theefe be found he shal restore duble †if the theefe be not knowen the maister of the house shal be brought to the goddes and shal sweare that he did not extend his hand vpon his neighbours good †to doe any fraud as wel in oxe as in asse and sheepe and rayment and whatsoeuer may bring damage the cause of both parties shal come to the goddes and if they geue iudgement he shal restore duble to his neighbour †If a man committee asse oxe sheepe or any beast to his neigbours custodie and it die or be hurt or be taken of enemies and no man saw †there shal be an oath betwen them that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbours good and the owner shal admitte the oath and he shal not be compelled to make restitution †But if it were taken away by stelth he shal restore the damage to the owner †If it were eaten of a beast let him bring vnto him that which was slaine and he shal not make restitution †He that asketh of his neighbour to borow any of these thinges and it be hurt or dead the owner being not present he shal be compelled to make restitution †But if the owner be present he shal not make restitution especially if it were hired and came for the hire of the same †If a man seduce a virgin being not yet despoused and lie with her he shal endowe her and haue her to wife †If the virgins father wil not geue her he shal geue money according to the maner of the dowrie which virgins are wont to receaue †Inchanters thou shalt not suffer to liue †He that lieth with a brute beast dying let him die †He that sacrificeth to goddes shal be put to death but to the Lord only †Thou shalt not molest a stranger nor afflict him for your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt †A widow and an orphane you shal not hurt †If you hurt them they wil crie out to me and I wil heare their crie †and my furie shal take indignation and I wil strike you with the sword and your wiues shal be widowes and your children orphanes †If thou lend money to my people being poore that dwelleth with thee thou shalt not vrge them as an exactour nor oppresse them with vsuries †If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge thou shalt geue it him againe before sunne sette †For that same is the onlie thing wherwith he is couered the clothing of his bodie neither hath he other to sleepe in if he the goddes and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse †Thy tithes and thy first fruites thou shalt not slacke to pay the first-borne of thy sonnes thou shalt geue me †Of thy oxen also sheepe thou shalt doe in like maner seuen dayes let it be with the damme the eight day thou shalt render it to me †Holie men you shal be to me the flesh that beastes haue tasted of before you shal not eate but shal cast it to the dogges CHAP. XXIII Lawes are appointed to Iudges the enemies oxe or asse to be saued 8. namely not to take bribes 10. The seuenth yeare and day al must rest 14. Three principal feastes must be solemnized euerie yeare 20. Conduction and protection of an Agel is promised 24. the people is agane commanded to destroy Idols 29. VVhy their enemies shal be destroyed by litle and litle THOV shalt not admitte a lying voice neither shalt thou ioyne thy hand to say false testimonie for a wicked person †Thou shalt not folow the multitude to doe euil neither shalt thou in iudgement argree to the sentence of the most part to stray from the truth †The poore man also thou shalt not pitie in iudgement †If thou meete thy enemies oxe or asse going astray bring it backe to him †If thou see the asse of him that hareth thee lye vnderneth his burden thou â—halt not passe by but shalt liâ—t him vp with the same †Thou shalt not decline the poore mans iudgement †A lye thou shalt auoide The innocent and iust person thou shal not put to death because I abhorre the impious man †Neither shalt thou take bribes which doe blind also the wise and peruert the wordes of the iust †The stranger thou shalt not molest for you know the hartes of strangers because your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt †Six yeares thou shalt sow thy ground and shalt gather the corne therof †But the seuenth yeare thou shalt let it alone and make it to rest that the poore of thy people may eate and whatsoeuer shal be leift let the beastes of the field eate it so shalt thou doe in thy vineyard and thy oliuete †Six dayes thou shalt worke the seuenth day thou shalt cease that thy oxe may rest and thine asse and the sonne of thy handmaide may be refreshed and the stranger †Kepe al thinges that I haue said to you And by the name of foren goddes you shal not sweare neither shal it be heard out of your mouth †Three times euerie yeare you shal celebrate feastes to me †Thou shalt keepe the solemnitie of Azymes Seuen dayes shalt thou â—aâ—e azymes as I commanded thee in the time of the moneth of new corne when thou didst come forth out of Aegypt thou shalt not appeare in my sight emprie †And the solemnitie of the haruest of the first fruites of thy worke whatsoeuer thou didst sow in the field The solemnitie also in the end of the yeare when thou hast gathered al thy corne out of the field †Thrise a yeare shal al thy male sexe appeare before the Lord thy God †Thou shalt not sacrifice the bloud of my victime vpon leuâ—n neither shal the fatte of my solemnitie remaine vntil the morning †The first fruites of the corne of thy ground thou shalt carrie into the house of the Lord thy God Thou shalt not boyle a kidde in the milke of his damme †Behold I wil send myne Angel which shal goe before thee and keepe thee in thy iourney and bring thee into the place that I haue prepared †Obserue him and heare his voice neither doe thou thinke him one to be contemned for he wil not forgeue when thou hast sinned and my name is in him †But iâ— thou wilt heare his voice and doe al that I speake I wil be enemie to
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
which fighteth against thee CHAP. XXI How to seeke out a secrete murtherer 10. wemen taken in battel may be maried and afterwardes can not be sold nor made bond wemen 15. The eldest sonne may not be depriued of his birthright for hatred of his mother 18. A stubburne sonne must be stoned to death 22. VVhen one is hanged on a gibbet he must be taken downe the same day and buried VVHEN there shal be found in the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee the corps of a man slaine and he that is guiltie of the murder is not knowne †thy ancientes and iudges shal goe forth and measure from the place of the corps the distance of euerie citie round about †and which they shal perceiue to be neerer then the rest the ancientes of that citie shal take an heifer out of the heard that hath not drawen yoke nor ploughed the ground †and shal bring her to a rough and stonie valley that neuer was ploughed nor receiued seede and in it they shal strike of the necke of the heifer †and the priestes the sonnes of Leui shal come whom our Lord thy God hath chosen to minister to him and to blesse in his name and at their word euerie matter dependeth and whatsoeuer is cleane or vncleane must be iudged †And the ancientes of that citie shal come to the slaine person and shal wash their handes ouer the heifer that was strooken in the valley †and shal say Our handes did not sheede this bloud nor our eies seee it †be merciful to thy people Israel whom thou hast redemed o Lord and impute not innocent bloud in the middes of thy people Israel And the guilte of bloud shal be taken from them †and thou shalt be free from the innocents bloud that was shed when thou shalt haue done that which our Lord hath commanded thee †If thou goe forth to fight against thyne enemies and our Lord thy God deliuer them in thy hande and thou leade them away captiue †and seest in the number of the captiues a beautiful woman and louest her and wilt haue her to wife †thou shalt bring her into thy house who shal shaue of her hare and payre her nailes †and put of the rayment wherein she was taken and sitting in thy house shal mourne her father and mother one moneth and afterward thou shalt enter vnto her and shalt sleepe with her and she shal be thy wife †But if afterward she content not thy mynde thou shalt let her goe free neither canst thou sel her for money nor oppresse her by might because thou hast humbled her †If a man haue two wiues one beloued and the other hated and they haue begotten children by him and the sonne of the hated be the firstborne †and he meaneth to diuide his substance among his sonnes he can not make the sonne of the beloued the first borne and preferre him before the sonne of the hated †but the sonne of the hated he shal acknowledge for the first borne and shal geue to him of those thinges which he hath al duble for this is the beginning of his children to this are dew the first brith rightes †If a man begette a stubbourne and froward sonne that wil not heare the commandementes of his father and mother and being chastened contemneth to be obedient †they shal take him and bring him to the ancientes of his citie and to the gate of iudgement †and shal say to them This our sonne is froward and stubborne he contemneth to heare our admonitions he geueth himself to comessation and to ryote and banketinges †the people of the citie shal stone him and he shal die that you may take away the euil out of the middes of you and al Israel hearing it may be afrayde †When a man hath offended so that he is to be punished by death and being condemned to die is hanged on a gybbet †his bodie shal not remaine vpon the tree but the same day shal be buried because he is accursed of God that hangeth on a tree and thou shalt not contaminate thy Land which our Lord thy God geueth thee in possession CHAP. XXII Pietie towardes neighboures 5. neither sexe may vse the apparel of the other 6. crueltie to be auoided euen towardes birdes 8. batlement about the roofe af a house 9. Things of diuers kindes not to be mixed 12. cordes in the hemes of a cloke 13. Trial and punishment of adulterie and of deflowring virgines 30. the sonne may not marie his stepmother THOV shalt not see thy brothers oxe or sheepe straying and passe by but shalt bring it backe to thy brother †although thy brother be not nigh and thou know him not thou shalt bring them vnto thy house and they shal be with thee vntil thy brother seeke them and receiue them †In like manner shalt thou doe with his asse and with his rayment and with euerie thing of thy brothers that shal be lost if thou finde it neglect it nor as perteyning to an other †If thou see thy brothers asse or oxe to be fallen in the way thou shalt not contemne it but shalt list it vp with him †A woman shal not be clothed with mans apparel neither shal a man vse womans apparel for he is abominable before God that doeth these thinges †If walking by the way thou finde a birdes nest in a tree or on the ground and the damme sitting vpon the young or the egges thou shalt not hold her with her young †but shalt let her goe taking the young and holding them that it may be wel with thee and thou mayest liue a long time †When thou buildest a new house thou shalt make a batlement to the roofe round about lest bloud be shed in thy house and thou be guiltie an other slipping and falling headlong †Thou shalt not sowe thy vineyard with diuerse seede lest both the seede which thou didst sow and the thinges that grow of the vineyard be sanctisied rogether †Thou shalt not plough with an oxe and asse together †Thou shalt not weare a garment that is wouen of wolle and linnen †Thou shalt make litle cordes in the hemme at the foure corners of thy cloke wherwith thou shalt be couered †If a man marrie a wife and afterward hate her †and seeke occasions to put her away obiecting vnto her a verie il name and say I tooke this wife and compayning with her I found her not a virgin †her father and mother shal take her and shal carie with them the signes of her virginitie to the ancientes of the citie that are in the gate †and the father shal say I gaue my daughter vnto this man to wife whom because he hateth †he layeth vnto her a verie il name so that he sayeth I found not thy daughter a virgin and behold these are the signes of my
man of Bethleem Iuda to seiourne in the land of Moab with his wife and two children †him self was called Elimelech and his wife Noemi and his two sonnes the one Mahalon and the other Chelion Ephraites of Bethleem Iuda And entring into the countrie of Moab they abode there †And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died and she remained with her sonnes †Who tooke wiues of the Moabites of the which one was called Orpha and the other Ruth And they abode there ten yeares †and both died to witte Mahalon and Chelion and the woman remayned destitute of her two children her husband †And she arose to goe into her countrie with both her daughters in law from the countrie of Moab for she had heard that our Lord had respected his people had geuen them victuals †She therfore went forth from the place of her peregrination with both her daughters in law and being now sette in the way to returne into the Land of Iuda †she said to them Goe into your mothers house our Lord doe mercie with you as you haue done with the dead and with me †Grant he vnto you to find rest in the houses of your husbandes which you shal take And she kissed them Who lifting vp their voice beganne to weepe †to say We wil goe on with thee to thy people †To whom she answered Returne my daughters why come you with me shal I haue sonnes any more in my wombe that you may hope for husbandes of me †Returne my daughters and goe your wayes for I am now spent with old age and not fitte for wedlocke Although I might conceiue this night and beare children †if you would expect til they grow and be of mans age you shal be old women beâ—o you marrie Doe not so my daughters I besech you for your distresse doth the more greue me and the hand of our Lord is come forth against me †Therfore lifting vp their voice they beganne to weepe agayne Orpha kissed her mother in law and returned Ruth cleaued to her mother in law †to whom Noemi said Behold thy kinse woman is returned to her people and to her goddes goe with her †Who answered Be not against me to the end that I should leaue thee and depart for whither soeuer thou shalt goe I wil goe and where thou shalt abide I also wil abide Thy people my people and thy God my God †The land that shal receiue thee dying in the â—ame wil I die and there wil I take a place for my burial These thinges doe God to me these thinges adde he if death onlie shal not separate me and thee †Noemi therfore seing that Ruth with a stidfast mind had determined to goe forward with her would not be against it nor perswade her any more to returne to her frendes †and they went forth together and came into Bethlehem Who being entered into the citie a brute was quickly spred among them and the wemen said This is that Noemi †To whom she said Cal me not Noemi that it to say beautiful but cal me Mara that is to say bitter because with bitternes hath the Almightie very much replenished me †I went forth ful and our Lord hath brought me backe emptie Why therfore doe you cal me Noemi whom our Lord hath humbled and the Almightie hath afflicted †Noemi therfore came with Ruth the Moabite her daughter in law from the Land of her peregrination and returned into Bethlehem when barley was first reaped CHAP. II. Ruth gathering eares of corne in Booz field 8. he kindly biddeth her tarie with his seruantes 17. At night she returneth carying good quantitâ—e of corne and part of the meate which they gaue her to her mother in law AND Elimelech her husband had a cosin a mightie man and of great riches named Booz †And Ruth the Moabite said to her mother in law If thou command I wil goe into the field and gather the eares of corne that shal escape the handes of the reapers where soeuer I shal find the grace of the father of the house fauorable towardes me To whom she answered Goe my daughter †She went therfore and gathered the eares of corne after the backes of the reapers And it chanced that the owner of the same field was Booz who was of the kinred of Elimelech †And behold he came out of Bethlehem and said to the reapers Our Lord be with you Who answered him Our Lord blesse thee †And Booz said to the yongman that was ouerseer of the reapers Whose maide is this †To whom he answered This is that Moabite which came with Noemi from the countrie of Moab †and she desired that she might gather the eares of corne that remayne folowing the steppes of the reapers and from morning vntil now she stayeth in the field and not so much as for a very moment hath she returned home †And Booz said to Ruth Heare me daughter goe not into an other field to gather neither depart thou from this place but ioyne thy selfe to my maides †and where they haue reaped folow For I haue commanded my seruantes that no man molest thee but if thou shalt thirst also goe to the fardels and drinke the waters wherof the seruantes also doe drinke †who falling on her face and adoring vpon the ground said to him Whence cometh this to me that I should find grace before thine eies and that thou wouldest voutsafe to know me a strange woman †To whom he answered Al thinges haue beene told me which thou hast done to thy mother in law after the death of thy husband and that thou hast leift thy parentes and the land wherein thou wast borne and art come to a people which before thou knewest not †Our Lord render vnto thee for thy worke and God grant thou mayest receiue a ful reward of our Lord the God of Israel to whom thou art come vnder whose winges thou art fled †Who said I haue found grace in thine eies my lord which hast comforted me and hast spoken to the hart of thy handmaide which am not like to one of thy maides †And Booz said to her When the houre shal come to eate come hither and eate bread and dippe thy morsel in the vinagre She therfore sate at the side of the reapers and she heaped to her selfe polent and did eate and was filled and tooke the leauinges †And from thence she arose to gleane the eares of corne after her maner And Booz commanded his seruantes saying Yea and if she wil reape with you forbid her not †and of your owne handfuls also cast forth of purpose and let them remaine that she may gather them without bashefulnes and gathering let no man controwle her †She gleaned therfore in the field vntil euening that which she had gathered beating with a rodde threshing she found of barley as it
and began to pray with teares †saying Thou art iust ô Lord al thy iudgementes are iust and al thy waies mercie truth and iudgement †And now Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge of my sinnes neither remember the sinnes of me or of my parentes †Because we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes therfore we are deliuered in spoile and captiuitie and death and into a fable and into reproch to al nations in which thou hast dispersed vs. †And now Lord great are thy iudgementes because we haue not done according to thy preceptes haue not walked sincerely before thee †and now Lord according to thy wil do with me command my spirite to be receiued in peace for it is expedient for me to die rather then to liue †The verie same day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter of Raguel in Rages a citie of the Medes she also heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes †because she had beene deliuered to seuen husbandes the diuel named Asmodeus had killed them forth with as they were entred in vnto her †Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her fault she answered her saying Let vs no more see sonne of thee or daughter vpon the earth thou murderer of thy husbandes †What wilt thou kil me also as thou hast now killed seuen husbandes At this voice she went into an higher chamber of her house and three dayes and three nightes did not eate nor drinke †but continewing in prayer with teares besought God that he would deliuer her from this reproch †And it came to passe the third day whiles she accomplished her prayer blessing our Lord †she sayd Blessed is thy name ô God of our fathers who when thou hast bene angrie wilt doe mercie in the time of tribulation forgeuest them their sinnes that inuocate thee †To thee ô Lord I turne my face to thee I direct myne eyes †I desire Lord that thou loose me from the bond of this reproch or els take me away from the earth †Thou knowest Lord that I neuer coueted a husband and haue kept my soule cleane from al concupiscence †Neuer haue I companied my self with sporters neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in lightnesse †But a husband I consented to take with thy feare not with my lust †And either I was vnworthie of them or they perhaps were not worthie for me because perhaps thou hast kept me for an other man †For thy counsel is not in mans power †But this hath euerie one for certayne that worshippeth thee that his life if it be in probation shal be crowned and if it be in tribulation it shal be deliuered and if it be in correction it shal be lawful to come to thy mercie †For thou art not delighted in our perditions because after a tempest thou makest a calme and after teares and weeping thou powrest in ioyfulnesse †Be thy name God of Israel blessed foreuer †At that time the prayers of both were heard in the sight of the glorie of the high God †and the holie Angel of our Lord Raphael was sent to cure them both whose prayers at one time were recited in the sight of our Lord. CHAP. IIII. Tobias thincking he shal dye geueth his sonne godlie admonitions 7. especially exhorteth him to geue almes diligently 13. to flee al fornication pride and fraude 21. And telleth him of money lent to a friend THERFORE when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard that he might haue died he called to him Tobias his sonne †and sayd to him Heare my sonne the wordes of my mouth lay them as a foundation in thy hart †When God shal take my soule * burie my bodie and thou shalt doe * honour to thy mother al the dayes of her life †for thou must be mindful what perils and how great she suffered for thee in her wombe †And when she also shal haue accomplished the time of her life burie her beside me †And al the dayes of thy life * haue God in thy mind and beware thou consent not to sinne at anie time and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God †* Of thy substance geue almes and turne not away thy face from anie poore person for so it shal come to passe that neither the face of our Lord shal be turned from thee †As thou shalt be able so be merciful †If thou haue much geue aboundantly if thou haue litle studie to impert also a litle willingly †For thou dost treasure vp to thy self a good reward in the day of necessitie †because almes deliuereth from al sinne and from death wil not suffer the soule to goe into darkenesse †Great confidence before God most high shal almes be to al them that doe it †* Take heed to thy self my sonne of al fornication beside thy wife neuer abide to know crime †* Neuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word for in it al perdition tooke his beginning †* Whosoeuer hath wrought anie thing for thee pay him his hyre immediatly and let not the hyre of thy hyred seruant remayne with thee at al. †* That which thou hatest to be done to thee by an other see thou doe it not to an other at anie time †Eate thy bread with the hungrie needie and of thy garmentes couer the naked †* Set thy bread and thy wine vpon the burial of a iust man and doe not eate and drinke therof with sinners †Seeke counsel alwaies of a wiseman †At al time blesse God and desire of him that he direct thy waies and that al thy counsels remayne in him †I tel thee also my sonne that I gaue tenne talentes of siluer whiles thou wast yet a child to Gabelus in Rages a citie of the Medes and I haue a bil of his hand with me †and therfore enquire how thou maist come to him and receiue of him the foresayd weight of siluer and restore him the bil of his hand †Feare not my sonne we leade in dede a poore life but we shal haue many good thinges if we feare God and depart from al sinne and doe wel CHAP. V. Yong Tobias seeking a guide for his iourney Raphael the Angel in shape of a man presenteth himself and vndertaketh this office 23. The mother lamenteth the abscence and danger of her sonne THEN Tobias answered his father and sayd I wil doe al things father whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me †But how I shal require this money I can nor tel he knoweth not me and I know not him what token shal I geue him Yea neither the way which leadeth thither did I euer know †Then his father answered him and sayd I haue the bil of his hand with me which when thou shalt
these things are sayd in part of his waies and where as we haue heard scarce a litle droppe of his word who shal be able to behold the thunder of his greatnes CHAP. XXVII More and more â—ob confirmeth his innocencie auouching that God not presently iudging 11. wil in time condemne the wicked IOB also added taking his parable and sayd †God liueth who hath taken away my iudgement and the Omnipotent which hath brought my soule to bitternesse †That as long as breath remaineth in me and the spirit of God in my nosthrels †My lippes shal not speake iniquitie neither shal my tongue meditate lying †God forbid that I should iudge you to be iust til I faile I wil not departe from mine innocencie †My iustification which I haue begune to hold I wil not forsake for my hart doth not reprehend me in al my life †Let mine enemie be as the impions and mine aduersarie as the wicked one †For what is the hypocrites hope if couetousely he take by violence and God deliuer not his soule †Wil God heare his crie when distresse shal come vpon him †Or can he be delighted in the Omnipotent and inuocate God at al time †I wil teach you by the hand of God what the Omnipotent hath neither wil I hide it †Loe you doe al knowe and why speake you vaine thinges without cause †This is the portion of an impions man with God and inheritance of the violent which they shal receiue of the Omnipotent †If his children be multiplied they shal be in the sword nephewes shal not be filled with bread †They that shal be leaft of him shal be buried in death and his widowes shal not weepe †If he shal heape together siluer as earth and as clay shal prepare garmentes †He shal prepare in deede but the iust man shal be clothed with them and the innocent shal diuide the siluer †He hath built his house as a moth and as a keeper hath he made a bowre †The rich man when he shal sleepe shal take away nothing with him he shal oppen his eies finde nothing †Pouertie as water shal apprehend him in the night a tempest shal oppresse him †The burning wind shal take him vp and cary him away and as a whirle winde shal pul him violently out of his place †And he shal cast vpon him and shal not spare out of his hand fleing he shal flee †He shal claspe his handes vpon him and shal hisse vpon him beholding his place CHAP. XXVIII The maruâ—lous workes of God the author of nature shew his powre and wisdome 12. and that true riches consist not in temporal creatures but in wisdome 28. and feare of God SILVER hath beginnings of her vaines and gold hath a place where in it is molten †Yron is taken out of the earth and stone resolued with heate is turned into brasse †He hath set a time for darkenesse and the end of al thinges he considereth the stone also of darkenesse and the shadow of death †The torrent diuideth from the pilgrime people them whom the foote of the needie man hath forgotten and to whom there is no way †The land out of which bread grew in his place is destroyed with fire †The place of the sapphire the stones thereof and the cloddes of it gold †The bird hath not knowen the path neither hath the eie of the vulter beheld it †The children of merchantes haue not troden it neither hath the lionesse passed by it †He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint he hath ouerthrowen mountaines from the rootes †In the rockes he hath cut out riuers and his eie hath seene euerie pretious thing †The depthes also of riuers he hath searched hid things he hath brought forth to light †But where is wisdome to be found and what is the place of vnderstanding †Man knoweth not the price therof neither is it found in the land of them that liue pleasently †The depth sayth It is not in me and the sea speaketh It is not with me †The finest gold shal not be geuen for it neither shal siluer be weyed in the change therof †It shal not be compared with the died colours of India nor with Sardonyx the most pretious stone or with the Sapphire †Gold or glasse shal not be equal to it neither shal vessels of gold be changed for it †High and eminent thinges shal not be mentioned in comparison of it and wisedom is drawen out of secrete places †The topazius of Aethiopia shal not be equal to it neither shal it be compared to the cleanest diyng †From whence then cometh wisedom and what is the place of vnderstanding †It is hid from the eies of alliuing the foules of the ayre also know it not †Perdition and death haue sayd With our eares we haue heard the fame therof †God vnderstandeth the way of it and he knoweth the place therof †For he beholdeth the endes of the world looketh on al thinges that are vnder heauen †Who made a poise to the windes and weyed the waters in a measure †When he gaue a lawe to the raynes and a way to the sounding stormes †Then he saw it and declared and prepared and searched it †And he sayd to man Behold the feare of our Lord that is wisedom and to depart from euil vnderstanding CHAP. XXIX Againe Iob recounteth Gods former benefites as Wel his grace wherby he did good workes 5. as temporal prosperitie 9. and wisdome aboue other princes IOB also added taking his parable and sayd †Who wil grant me that I may be according to the former monethes according to the daies in which God kept me †When his lampe shined ouer my head I walked by his light in darknes †As I was in the daies of my youth when God was secretly in my tabernacle †When the Omnipotent was with me and my seruantes round about me †When I washed my feete with butter and the rocke powred me riuets of oile †When I went forth to the gatte of the citie and in the streate they prepared me a chaire †Yong men sawe me and hid them selues and old men rising vp stoode †The princes ceased to speake and did put the finger vpon their mouth †Dukes held in their voice and their tongue cleaued to their throte †The eare hearing counted me blessed and the eie seing gaue testimonie to me †For that I had deliuered the poore man crying out and the pupil that had no helper †The blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon me and I conforted the hart of the widow †I was clothed with iustice and I reuested me with my iudgement as with a garment and crowne †I was an eie to the blind and a foote to the lame â€
illuminate them with the light of the liuing †Attend Iob and heare me and hold thy peace whiles I speake †But if thou hast what to speake answer me speake for I would thee to appeare iust †And if thou haue not heare me hold thy peace and I wil teach thee wisedom CHAP. XXXIIII Againe Eliu chargeth Iob with blasphemie and other crimes 10. sheweth the equitie of Gods iudgement 20. and that al thinges are subiect to Gods powre and knowlege ELIV therfore pronouncing spake these wordes also †Heare ye wise men my wordes and ye learned harken to me †For the eare proueth wordes and the throate discerneth meates by the ras◠†Let vs choose vs iudgement and among vs let vs see what is the better †Because Iob sayd I am iust and God hath subuerted my iudgement †For in iudging me there is a lie mine arrow is violent without anie sinne †What man is there as is Iob that drinketh skorning as it were water †That goeth with them that worke iniquitie and walketh with impious men †For he hath sayd Man shal not please God although he runne with him †Therfore ye discrete men heare me far from God be impietie and iniquitie from the Omnipotent †For he wil render a man his worke and according to the waies of euerie one he wil recompence them †For in verie deed God wil not condemne without cause neither wil the Omnipotent subuert iudgement †What other hath he appointed ouer the earth or whom hath he sette ouer the world which he made †If he direct his hart to him he shal drawe his spirit and breath vnto him †Al flesh shal faile together and man shal returne into ashes †If then thou haue vnderstanding heare that is sayd and harken to the voice of my speach †Can he that loueth not iudgement be healed and how doest thou so far condemne him that is iust †That sayth to the king Apostata that calleth dukes impious †Who accepteth not the persones of princes nor hath knowen the tyrant when he contended against the poore man for al are the worke of his handes †They shal sodenly die and at midnight peoples shal be trubled and shal passe and take away the violent without hand †For his eies are vpon the waies of men and he considereth al their steppes †There is not darkenesse and there is not shadow of death that they may be hid there which worke iniquitie †For it is no more in mans powre to come to God into iudgement †He shal destroy manie innumerable shal make other to stand for them †For he knoweth their workes and therfore he shal bring night and they shal be destroyed †As impious men he hath stroken them in the place of them that see †Who as it were of purpose haue reuolted from him and would not vnderstand al his waies †That they caused the crie of the needie man to come to him and he heard the voice of the poore †For he granting peace who is there that can condemne After he shal hide his countenance who is there that may behole him both vpon nations and vpon al men †Who maketh a man that is an hypocrite reigne for the sinnes of the people †Therfore because I haue spoken to God thee also I wil not prohibite †If I haue erred teach thou me if I haue spoken iniquitie I wil adde no more †Doth God require it of thee because it hath displeased thee for thou beganst to speake and not I but if thou know anie better thing speake †Let men of vnderstanding speake to me and let a wiseman heare me †But Iob hath spoken folishly and his wordes sound not discipline †O my father let Iob be proued euen to the end cease not from the man of iniquity †Who addeth blasphemie vpon his sinnes let him be restrayned in the meane time among vs and then let him prouoke God to iudgement with his speaches CHAP. XXXV Eliu pretending that Iob had sayde God to be vniusts she weth that mans pietie nor impietie neither profiteth nor disprofiteth God 13 and that he iudgeth al thinges rightly THERFORE Eliu againe spake these wordes †Doth thy cogitation seme iust to thee that thou sadyst I am iuster then God †For thou saydst That which is right doth not please thee or what wil it profite thee if I sinne †Therfore wil I answer to thy wordes to thy frendes with thee †Looke vp to heauen and see and behold the skie that it is higher then thou †If thou sinne what shalt thou hurt him and if thine iniquiries be multiplied what shalt thou doe against him †Moreouer if thou doe iustly what shalt thou geue him or what shal he receiue of thy hand †Man that is like to thee thy impietie shal hurt and thy iustice shal helpe the sonne of man †Because of the multitude of calumniatours they shal cry and shal waile for the force of the arme of tyrantes †And he hath not sayd Where is God that made me that hath geuen songs in the night †Who teacheth vs aboue the beastes of the earth and instructeth vs aboue the foules of the ayre †There shal they crie and he wil not heare because of the pride of the euil †God therfore wil not heare without cause and the Omnipotent wil behold the causes of euerie one †Yea when thou shalt say He considereth not be iudged before him expect him †For he doth not now inferre his furie neither doth he reuenge wickednesse excedingly †Therfore Iob in vaine openeth his mouth and without knowledge multiplieth wordes CHAP. XXXVI Yet further Eliu sheweth that God by his powre and wisdome geueth to euerie one that is iust 16. inferring falsly that al Iobs affliction is for his sinnes 22. discoursing stil of Gods poure wisdom and prouidence ELIV also adding speake these wordes †Beare with me a litle and I wil shew to thee for as yet I haue what to speake for God †I wil repete my knowledge from the beginning and I wil proue my maker iust †For in deede my wordes are without lye and perfect knowledge shal be proued to thee †God doth not cast away the mightie wheras as himself also is mightie †But he saueth not the impious and he giueth iudgement to the poore †He shal not take away his eyes from the iust man and he placeth kinges in the throne for euer and there they are extolled †And if they shal be in cheines and be bound with the ropes of pouertic †He shal shew them their workes and their wicked deedes because they haue bene violent †He also shal reuele their eare to chastise them and shal speake that they may returne from iniquitie †If they shal heare and obserue they shal accomplish their daies in good and their years in
glorie †But if they heare not they shal passe by the sworde and shal be consumed in folie †Dissemblers and crastie men prouoke the wrath of God neither shal they crie when they are bound †Their soule shal dye in tempest their life among the effeminates †He shal deliuer the poore out of his distresse and shal reuele his eare in tribulation †Therfore he shal saue thee most largely out of the narrow mouth and not hauing foundation vnder it and the quietnesse of thy table shal be ful of fatnesse †Thy cause is iudged as an impious mans cause and iudgement thou shalt receiue †Let not therfore anger ouercome thee that thou oppresse anie man neither let multitude of gifres in cline thee †Lay downe thy greatnes without tribulation and al the puissant of strength †Protract not the night that peoples may come vp for them †Beware thou decline not to iniquitie for thou hast begunne to folow it after miserie †Behold God is high in his strength and none is like to him among the lawgeuers †Who can search his waies or who can say to him Thou hast wrought iniquitie †Remember that thou knowest not his worke wherof men haue song †Al men see him euerie one beholdeth far of †Behold God is great surmounting our knowledge the number of his yeares is inestimable †Who taketh away the droppes of raine and powreth out showers as it were gulfes of water †Which flow out from the clowdes that couer al thinges from aboue †If he wil stretch forth clowdes as his tent †And lighten with his light from aboue he shal couer also the endes of the sea †For by these he iudgeth peoples and geueth victuals to manie mortal men †In his handes he bideth the light and commandeth it that it come agayne †He sheweth his freind therof that it is his possession and that he may ascend to it CHAP. XXXVII Eliu continueth his discourse shewing Gods wisdom powre and iustice by his meruelous workes of Meteors 14 and vse therof to mans commoditie 18. which the wisest mâ—n sufficiently vnderstand not much lesse may presume as he vniustly chargeth Iob to contend with God VPON this my hart is sore afrayd and is moued out of his place †Heare ye his speach in the terrour of his voice and the sound proceding out of his mouth †Vnder al the heauens he considereth and his light is vpon the endes of the earth †After him shal sounding roare he shal thunder with the voice of his greatnes shal not be found out when his voice shal be heard †God shal thunder in his voice meruelously he that doeth great vnsearcheable thinges †He that commandeth the snow to descend vpon the earth and the winter raines and the shower of his strength †He that signeth in the hand of al men that euerie one may know his workes †The beast shal enter into his couert and shal abide in his denne †From the inner partes shal tempest come forth and cold from Arcturus †When God bloweth frost congeleth and againe waters are powred most largely †Corne desireth clowdes and the clowdes spred their light †Which goe round about whither soeuer the wil of the gouerner shal lead them to al that he shal coÌ„mand them vpon the face of he whole earth †Whether in one tribe or in his land or in what place so euer of his mercy he shal command them to be found †Harken to these things Iob stand and consider the maruels of God †Doest thou know when God commanded the raines that they shew the light of his clowdes †Knowest thou the great pathes of the clowdes and the perfect knowledges †Are not thy garments hote when the earth shal be blowen with the South winde †Thou perhaps madst the heauens with him which are most sound cast as it were of brasse †Shew vs what we may say to him for we are wrapped in darkenes †Who shal tel him the things that I speake yea if man shal speake he shal be deuoured †But now they see not the light sodenly the ayre shal be thickned into clowdes and the wind passing by shal driue them away †From the North gold cometh toward God fearful praysing †We can not find him worthely great of strength and iudgement and iustice and he can not be vttered †Therfore shal men feare him and al that seme to themselues to be wise shal not dare to behold him CHAP. XXXVIII God after terrour of a whirlewind by way of examining his client Iob of diuers creatures about their nature sheweth that no man hath perfect knowlege of them much lesse of Gods immensitie BVT our Lord answering Iob out of a whirlewind sayd †Who is this that wrappeth in sentences with vnskilful wordes †Gird thy loynes as a man I wil aske thee and answer thou me †Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth tel me if thou hast vnderstanding †Who set the measures therof if thou know or who stretched out the line vpon it †Vpon what are the foundations therof grounded or who let downe the corner stone therof †when the morning starres praised me together and al the sonnes of God made iubilation †Who shut in the sea with doores when it brake forth proceding as it were out of a matrice †When I made a clowde the garment therof and wrapped it in darkenes as in cloutes of infancie †I compassed it with my boundes and put barre and doores †And I sayd Hitherto thou shalt come and shalt not procede farder here thou shalt breake thy swelling waues †Didst thou after thy birth command the morning and shew the dawning his place †And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them and hâ—st thou shaken the impious out of it †The seale shal be restored as clay and shal stand as a garment †From the impious their light shal be taken away and the high aâ—me shal be broken †Hast thou entered into the depthes of the sea and walked in the lowest partes of the great depth †Haue the gates of death bene open to thee and hast thou sene the darkesome doores †Hast thou considered the bredth of the earth tel me if thou know al things †In what way the light dwelleth and what is the place of darkenesse †That thou canst bring euerie thing to his borders and vnderstand the pathes of the house therof †Didst thou know then that thou shouldest be borne and didst thou know the number of thy dayes †Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow or hast thou beheld treasures of haile †Which I haue prepared for the time of the enemie for the day of fight and battel †What way is the light spred is
†Let the enemie persecute my soule and take it and treade downe my life in the earth and bring downe my glorie into the dust †Arise Lord in thy wrath and be exalted in the coastes of myne enemies And arise ô Lord my God in the precept which thou hast cōmanded †and a sinagogue of peoples shal compasse thee And for it returne on high †our Lord iudgeth peoples Iudge me ô Lord according to my iustice and according to my innocencie vpon me †The wickednesse of sinners shal be consumed and thou shalt direct the iust which searchest the hart and raynes ô God †My iust helpe is from our Lord who saueth those that be right of hart God is a iust iudge strong patient is he angrie euerie day †Vnlesse you wil be conuerted he shal shake his sword he hath bent his bow and prepared it †And in it he hath prepared the vessels of death he hath made his arrowes for them that burne †Behold he hath bredde with iniustice he hath conceiued sorow and brought forth iniquitie †He hath opened a pit and digged it vp and he is fallen into the diche which he made †His sorrow shal be turned vpon his head and his iniquitie shal descend vpon his crowne †I wil confesse to our Lord according to his iustice and wil sing to the name of our Lord most high PSALME VIII God is magnified praised for his meruelous worke of creatures 5. but especially of mankind singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ. †Vnto the end for “ presses the Psalme of Dauid O LORD our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth Because thy magnificence is eleuated aboue the heauens †Out of the mouth of infantes and sucklinges thou hast perfected praise because of thine enemies that thou mayest destroy the enemie and reuenger †Because I shal see thy heauens the workes of thy fingers the moone and the starres which thou hast founded †What is man that thou art mindful of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him †Thou hast minished him a litle lesse then Angels with glorie and honour thou hast crowned him †and hast appointed him ouer the worke of thy handes †Thou hast subiected al thinges vnder his feete al sheepe and oxen moreouer also the beastes of the field †The birdes of the ayre and fishes of the sea that walke the pathes of the sea †O Lord our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth ANNOTATIONS PASLME VIII 1. Presses Most Hebrew Doctors say the word Gittith may either signifie the place where this Psalme was made or the musical instrument on which it was song But most Christian Doctors expound it literally of Christs Passion who was stretched on the Crosse and al his sacred bloud pressed and drawne out of his bodie VVhich Metaphor Isaias also vseth demanding of Christ VVhy is thy clothing redde and thy garments as theirs that tread in the vine presse and answereth in Christs person I haue troden the presse alone S. Augustin also applieth it morally to the Church where Christ is the vine the Apostles are the branches spreaders that is preachers of the Ghospel Christians are the grapes Christian vertues are the wine Namely patience and fortitude in afflictions VVherby the good are purified and seuered from amiddes the reprobate as wine is pressed out of the grapes barreled and laid vp in sellers and * the huskes and carnels cast to hogges or other beastes PSALME IX The Church prayseth God for her protection 4. in repelling the enemies force 8. in punishing the wicked and rewarding the iust †Vnto the end for the secrets of the sonne the Psalme of Dauid I WIL confesse to thee ō Lord with al my hart I wil tel al thy meruelous thinges I wil be glad and reioyce in thee I wil sing to thy name ō most High †In turning mine enemie backward they shal be weakened and perish before thy face Because thou hast done my iudgement and my cause thou hast sitte vpon the throne which iudgest iustice Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles and the impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer and for euer and euer †The swordes of the enemie haue fayled vnto the end and their cities thou hast destroyed †Their memorie hath perished with a sound and our Lord abideth for euer He hath prepared his throne in iudgement †he wil iudge the whole world in equitie he wil iudge the people in iustice †And our Lord is made a refuge for the poore an helper in opportunities in tribulation †And let them hope in thee that know thy name because thou hast not forsaken them that seeke thee ô Lord. †Sing to our Lord which dwelleth in Sion declare his studies among the Gentiles †Because he requiring bloud remembred them he hath not forgotten the crie of the poore †Haue mercie on me ô Lord See my humiliation by my enemies †Which exaltest me from the gates of death that I may declare al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion †I wil reioyce in thy saluation the Gentiles are fastened in the destruction which they made In this snare which they hid is their foote taken †Our Lord shal be knowen doing iudgements the sinner is taken in the workes of his owne handes †Let sinners be turned into hel al nations that forget God †Because to the end there shal not be obliuion of the poore man the patience of the poore shal not perish in the end †Arise Lord let not man be strengthned let the Gentiles be iudged in thy sight †Appoint Lord a lawgeuer ouer them that the Gentiles may know that they be men The 10. Psalme according to the Hebrevves †Why Lord hast thou departed far of despisest in opportunities in tribulation †Whiles the impious is proude the poore is set on fyre they are caught in the counsels which they deuise †Because the sinner is praysed in the desires of his soule and the vniust man is blessed †The sinner hath exasperated our Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he shal not seeke †There is no God in his sight his waies are defiled at al time Thy iudgementes are taken away from his face he shal rule ouer al his enemies †For he hath sayd in his hart I wil not be moued from genetion vnto generation without euil Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse and guile vnder his tongue labour and sorrow †He sitteth in waite with the rich in secrete places to kil the innocent †His
people that shal be borne whom our Lord hath made ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXI 1. For the morning enterprise In respect of the end for which Christ suffered this Psalme is intitled for the morning enterprise that is for Christs glorious Resurrection and other effectes of his Passion VVhich holie Dauid by the spirite of prophecy so describeth here long before with diuers particular cicumstances as the Euangelistes haue since historically recorded that it may not vnfitly be called The Passion of Iesus Christ according to Dauid 3. Thou vvilt not heare Our B. Sauiour seing his most terrible death imminent prayde conditionally if it pleased his heauenlie Father to haue the same remoued from him and was not heard as the Psalmist here prophecieth The principal reason was because God of his diuine charitie had decreed that mankind should be redemed by this death of his Sonne Christ also him selfe of his excellent charitie consented here vnto therefore persisted not in his conditional prayer but added and absolutly prayed that not his owne wil but his Fathers might be fulfilled And in this he was heard to his owne more glorie and other infinite benefites of innumerable soules as it foloweth v. 25. vvhen I crieâ—d to him he heard me S. Paul also witnesseth Heb. 5. v. 7. that Christ offering prayers and supplications to him that could saue him from death vvas heard for his reuerence that is in respect of his inestimable merite in humane nature vnited in person to God An other cause why Christ was not deliuered from violent death as manie holie persons were when they cried to God in distresses as S Augustin sheweth Epist 120. c. 11. was for example to Christians whom God wil haue to suffer temporal afflictions and death for the glorie of life euerlasting according to S. Peters doctrin Christ suffered for vs leauing an example that you may folovv his steppes 18. They haue digged Of obstinate malice the Iewes haue corrupted this place and God knoweth how manie others in the Hebrew text of some editions reading caari which signifieth as a lion without al coherence of the sense for caaru they digged or pearced to auoid so plaine a prophecie of nailing Christs handes and feete to the crosse 23 I vvil declare thy name to my brethren Here it is euident that this Psalme is of Christ not of Dauid by S. Pauls allegation Heb. 2. v. 11. 12. saying He that sanctifieth towitt Christ disdaned not to cal the sanctified his bretheren 23. In the middes of the Church I vvil praise thee After Christs Passion and Resurrection in the rest of this Psalme other two principal pointes of Christian Religion are likewise prophecied His perpetual visible Church and the B. Sacrament of his bodie The former is here prophecied by way of inuiting al the seede of Iacob to glorifie God v. 24. al the seede of Israel to feare him v. 25. towit innumerable Christians the true Israelites the vniuersal Church in the whole world As for heretical partes or parcels in the world such as the Donatistes which going forth from the Catholique Church say Christ hath lost his great Church the diuel hath taken the whole world from him and he remaineth only in a part of Africa they do not praise God saith S. Augustin but dishonour God and Christ as if God were not faithful in his promise as if Christ were dispossessed of his kingdome the Catholique Church Lest anie should replie that Christ is praised though the Church be decaied or be very smal the Holie Ghost hath preuented such arguments saying v. 26 His praise is in the great Church VVhich could neither be verified in the part of Donatistes in Afrike nor now in the part of Protestantes since Luther in Europe Further S. Augustin explicateth vrgeth the verses folowing in this Psalme against the same blind deafe and obstinate Donatistes who did not or would not see not heare that al the endes of the earth shal remenber and be conuerted to our Lord. The holie Scripture saith not the endes of the earth but al the endes wel goe too saith this great Doctor peraduenture there is but one verse thou thoughtest vpon some thing els thou talkedst with thy brother when one read this marke he repeteth and knocketh vpon the deaf Al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight Yet the heretike is deaf he heareth not let one knocke againe Because the kingdom is our Lords and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles Hold these three verses bretheren Thus and more S. Augnstin against those that thinke the true Church may faile or become inuisible or obscure And though it be not in like prosperous state at al times and in al places yet it is alwayes conspicuous and more general then anie other congregation professing whatsoeuer pretensed religion 27. The poore shal eate Seing this Psalme is of Christ as is proued by S. Pauls allegation of 23 verse and by the concordance therof with the Euangelists it is necessarily deduced that the vovves mentioned in the former verse and these wordes the poore shal eate and be filled can not be referred to the sacrifices of the old Testament but to the blessed Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist which our Sauiour promised after he had replenished the people with fiue loaues and which he instituted at his last supper in presence of his Apostles So S. Augustin doubteth not to vnderstand it and to teach as wel in his duble expositioÌ„ of this Psalme as in his 120. Epistle c. 27. The poore that is the humble and poore in spirite shal eate befilled the fatte ones or the rich being proud do also adore and eate but are not filled They also are brought to the table of Christ and participate his bodie bloud but they adore only are not also filled because they do not imitate Christs humilitie they disdaine to be humble VVhere it is clere this holie father by Christs bodie and bloud meaneth not bread and wine as signes of his bodie and bloud for bread and wine can not be lawfully adored neither doth he meane our Lords bodie as it was on the crosse or is in heauen for so it is not eaten but as it is in formes of bread and wine on Christs table the Altar PASLME XXII A forme of thankesgeuing for al spiritual benefites described vnder the metaphor of temporal prosperitie euen from a sinners first conuersion to final perseuerance and eternal beatitude †The Psalme of Dauid OVR Lord ruleth me and nothing shal be wanting to me †in place of pasture there he hath placed me Vpon the water of refection he hath brought me vp †he hath conuerted my soule He hath conducted me vpon the pathes of iustice for his name †For although I shal walke in the middes of the shadow of death I wil not feare euils because thou
and thyne arme and the illumination of thy countenance because thou wast pleased in them †Thou art the same my king and my God which commandest the saluations of Iacob †In thee we shal turne out our enemies with the horne in thy name we shal contemne them that ryse vp against vs. †For I wil not hope in my bowe and my sword wil not saue me †For thou hast saued vs from them that afflict vs and them that hate vs thou hast confounded †In God we shal be praysed al the day and in thy name we wil confesse for euer †But now thou hast repelled and confounded vs and thou wilt not goe forth ô God in our hostes †Thou hast turned vs backe behind our enemies and they that hated vs spoyled for themselues †Thou hast geuen vs as sheepe that are to be eaten and thou hast dispersed vs among the nations †Thou hast sold thy people without price and there was no multitude in the exchanges of them †Thou hast made vs a reproche to our neighbours a scorne and mocking stocke to them that are round about vs. †Thou hast made vs for a parable to the Gentiles a wagging of the head among the peoples †Al the day my shame is against me and the confusion of my face hath couered me †At the voyce of the vpbrayder and the reprocher at the face of the enemie and persecutor †Al these thinges haue come vpon vs neither haue we forgotten thee and we haue not done wickedly in thy testament †And our hart hath not reuolted backward and thou hast declined our pathes from thy way †Because thou hast humbled vs in the place of affliction and the shadow of death hath couered vs. †If we haue forgotten the name of our God and if we haue spred forth our handes to a strange God †Wil not God enquire of these thinges For he knoweth the secretes of the hart Because for thee we are killed al the day we are estemed as sheepe of slaughter †Arise why sleepest thou ô Lord Arise and expel vs not to the end †Why dost thou turne away thy face forgettest our pouertie and our tribulation †Because our soule is humbled in the dust our bellie is glâ—wed in the earth †Arise Lord helpe vs and redeme vs for thy name PSALME XLIIII Dauid singularly moued in hart and tongue 3. prophecieth Christs excellencie indowing his Church with most worthie dowries 11. by way of exhortation forshewing her internal and external beautie 17. with perpetual succession of Pastors feeding the flock euen to the worlds end †Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to the sonnes of Core for vnderstanding a Canticle for the beloued MY hart hath vttered a good word I tel my workes to the king My tongue is the penne of a scribe that writeth swiftly †Goodly of beautie aboue the sonnes of men grace is powred abrode in thy lippes therfore hath God blessed thee for euer †Be girded with thy sword vpon thy thigh ô most mightie †With thy beautie and fayrnesse intend procede prosperousely and reigne Because of truth and mildenesse and iustice and thy right hand shal conduct thee meruelously Thy sharpe arrowes the peoples vnderneth thee shal fal into the hartes of the kings enemies †“ Thy seate ô God for euer and euer a rod of direction the rod of thy kingdom Thou hast loued iustice and hast hated iniquitie therfore God thy God hath annoynted thee with the oile of gladnes aboue thy felowes †Myrâ—he and Aloes and Cassia from thy garmentes from houses of yuorie out of the which †the daughter of kinges haue delighted thee in thy honour The Queene stood on thy right hand in golden rayment compassed with varietie Heare daughter and see and incline thyne eare and forget thy people and the house of thy father †And the king wil couet thy beautie because he is the Lord thy God and they shal adore him †And the daughters of Tyre with giftes al the rich of the people shal besech thy countenance †Al the glorie of that daughter of the king is within in borders of gold †clothed round about with varieties Virgins shal be brought to the king after her her neighbours shal be brought to thee †They shal be brought in ioy and exultation “ they shal be brought into the temple of the king †“ For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth †They shal be mindeful of thy name in al generation and generation Therfore shal peoples confesse to thee for euer and for euer and euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIIII 7. Thy seate Ô God for euer and euer Seing S. Paul Heb. 1. v. 8. affirmeth expresly that these wordes are spoken of the Sonne of God Christ our Sauiour and therby proueth his excellencie aboue Angels Iohn Caluin is wonderful bold to auouch that in the simple proper sense Dauid spake of his sonne Salomon and the daughter of Pharao as if that were the literal sense and S. Paul only expounded it mystically But first the solemne preface in the two first verses importeth farre greater thinges then agree to anie terrestrial king Secondly this excellent beautie described v. 3. aboue the sonnes of men can not be verified of Salomon for Absalom 2. Reg. 14. v 25. and Adonias were also very beautiful 3. Reg. 1. v. 6. As for Salomons wisdom or other vertues he perseuered not therin and so he was not blessed for euer Thirdly the prophet here calleth the person of whom and to whom he speaketh God v. 7. 12. Fourtly not only the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church but also the Hebrew Rabbins and the Chaldee paraphrasis expound this Psalme literally of the promised Messias and his kingdom the Church 16. They shal be brought into the temple of the king The temple of the king saith S. Augustin is the Church the temple of the king is in vnity the temple of the king is not ruinous not cut insunder not diuided the ioyning of liuing stones is charitie Nothing is more euidenr Attend now the verie temple of the king for from thence he speaketh because of the vnitie spread in the round earth For those that vvould be virgins faithful soules vnles they be brought into the temple of the king the Catholique Church they can not please the bridgrome 17. For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee The Apostles begotte thee ô Christian Church they were sent they preached they are the fathers But could they be
Ammon and Amalec the for eners with the inhabitantes of Tyre †Yea and Assur also is come with them they are made an aide to the children of Lot †Doe to them as to Madian and Sisara as to Iabin in the torrent Cisson †They perished in Endor they were made as the dung of the earth †Put their princes as Oreb and Zeb and Zebee and Salmana Al their princes †which haue saide Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance †My God put them as a wheele and as stubble before the face of the winde †Euen as fire that burneth a wood as a flame that burneth the mountaines †So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them †Fil their faces with ignominie and they wil seeke thy name ô Lord. †Let them be ashamed and trubled for euer and euer and let them be confounded and perish †And let them know that Lord is thy name thou onlie the Highest in al the earth PSALME LXXXIII Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie 6. accounting it in the meane time a happie state to be in the militant Church 12. where God first geuing grace wil geue glorie in the triumphant †Vnto the end for wine presses t the children of Core a Psalme HOW beloued are thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes †my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the courtes of our Lord. My hart and my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God †For the sparow also hath found her an house and the turtledoue a nest for her selfe where she may lay her young ones Thine altars ô Lord of hoastes my King and my God †Blessed are they that dwel in thy house ô Lord for euer and euer they shal praise thee †Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee he hath disposed ascension in his hart †in the vaile of teares in the place which he hath appointed †For the lawgeuer shal geue blessing they shal goe from vertue into vertue the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion †Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob †Behold ô God our protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ †Because better is one day in thy courtes aboue thousands I haue chosen to be an abiect in the house of my God rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners †Because God loueth mercie and truth our Lord wil geue grace and glorie †He wil not depriue them of good thinges that walke in innocencie ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man that hopeth in thee PSALME LXXXIIII With commemoration of Gods former benefites 5. Christs Incarnation is prophecied 9. bringing peace and saluation 11. mercie and iustice concurring together Vnto the end to the children of Core a Psalme O Lord thou hast blessed thy land thou hast turned away the captiuitie of Iacob †Thou hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes †Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation †Conuert vs ô God our sauiour and auert thy wrath from vs. †Wil t thou be wrath with vs for euer or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation †O God thou being turned shalt quicken vs and thy people shal reioyce in thee †Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation †I wil heare what our Lord God wil speake in me because he wil speake peace vpon his people And vpon his saincts and vpon them that are conuerted to the hart †But yet his saluation is nigh to them that feare him that glorie may inhabite in our land †Mercie and truth haue met each other iustice and peace haue kissed †Truth is risen out of the earth and iustice hath looked downe from heauen †For our Lord certes wil geue benignitie and our land shal giue her fruite †Iustice shal walke before him and shal set his steppes in the way PSALME LXXXV In consideration of his owne imperfections the royal prophet or other faithful person prayeth God 5. according to his mercie and goodnes 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies †A praier to Dauid him selfe Incline thine eare ô Lord and heare me because I am needie and poore †Keepe my soule because I am holie saue thy seruant my God that hopeth in thee †Haue mercie on me ô Lord because I haue cried to thee al the day †make ioyful the soule of thy seruant because to thee ô Lord haue I lifted vp my soule †Because thou ô Lord art swete and milde and of much mercie to al that inuocate thee †Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears and attend to the voice of my petition †In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee because thou hast heard me †There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord and there is not according to thy workes †Al nations what soeuer thou hast made shal come and shal adore before thee ô Lord and they shal glorifie thy name †Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges thou onlie art God †Conduct me ô Lord in thy way and I wil walke in thy truth let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name †I wil confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart and wil glorifie thy name for euer †Because thy mercie is great vpon me and thou hast deliuered my soule out of the lower hel †O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule and they haue not set thee in their sight †And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful patient and of much mercie and true †Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me giue thine empire to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handmaide †Make with me a signe vnto God that they may see which hate me and may be confounded because thou ô Lord hast holpen me PSALME LXXXVI The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem 3. is extended to al Nations 5. glorious 6. and permanent 7. in holie ioy To the children of Core a Psalme of Canticle THE fundations thereof in the holie mountaynes †our Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue al the tabernacles of Iacob †Glorious thinges
are saide of thee ô cittie of God †I wil be mindeful of Raab and Babylon knowing me Behold the foreners and Tyre the people of the Aethiopians these were there †Shal it not be said of Sion Man and man is borne in her and the Highest himselfe founded her †Our Lord wil declare in scriptures of peoples and of princes of those that haue bene in her †The habitation in thee is as it were of al reioycing PSALME LXXXVII A faithful person sore and long afflicted lamentably complaineth praying God 15. not stil to repel him being leift desolate 19. without al consolation of freindes A Canticle of a Psalme to the children of Core vnto the end for Maheleth to answer of vnderstanding to Eman the Ezrahite O †Lord the God of my saluation in the day haue I cried and in the night before thee †Let my prayer enter in thy sight incline thine eare to my petition †Because my soule is replenished with euils and my life hath approched to hel †I am accounted with them that descend into the lake I am become as a man without helpe †free among the dead as the wounded sleeping in the sepulchres of whom thou art mindeful no more and they are cast of from thy hand †They haue put me in the lower lake in the darke places and in the shadowe of death †Thy furie is confirmed vpon me and al thy waues thou hast brought in vpon me †Thou hast made my familiars far from me they haue put me abomination to themselues I was deliuered and came not forth †myne eies languished for pouertie I cried to thee ô Lord al the day I stretched out my handes to thee †Wil t thou doe meruels to the dead or shal phisicians raise to life and they confesse to thee †Shal any in the sepulchre declare thy mercie and thy truth in perdition †Shal thy meruelous workes be knowne in darkenes and thy iustice in the land of obliuion †And I ô Lord haue cried to thee and in the morning shal my praier preuent thee †Why doest thou o Lord reiect my prayer turnest away thy face from me †I am poore and in labours from my youth and being exalted humbled and troubled †Thy wrathes haue passed vpon me and thy terrours haue trubled me †They haue compassed me as water al the day they compassed me together †Thou hast made frend and neighboure far from me and my familiars because of miserie PSALME LXXXVIII Gods mercie and truth with his great promises to Dauid 6. his powre in the whole world and iust iudgements are the true ioy of his seruantes 20. Christs kingdom shal remaine for euer 31. yea manie offending yet al shal not perish 39. but after great affliction 47. God wil respect mans infirmitie 50. his owne promise and the enimies reproching his seruantes and himselfe 53. who is blessed for euer Of vnderstanding to Ethan the Ezrahite THe mercies of our Lord I wil sing for euer In generation and generation I wil shewe forth thy truth in my mouth †Because thou saidst Mercie shal be built vp for euer in the heauens thy truth shal be prepared in them †I haue ordained a testament with mine elect I haue sworne to Dauid my seruant †for ever wil I prepare thy seede And I wil build thy seat vnto generation and generation †The heauens shal confesse thy meruelous workes ô Lord yea and thy truth in the church of saintes †For who in the cloudes shal be equal to our Lord shal be like to God among the sonnes of God †God who is glorified in the counsel of saintes great and terrible ouer al that are round about him †O Lord God of hoastes who is like to thee thou art mightie ô Lord and thy truth round about thee †Thou rulest ouer the powre of the sea and the mouing of the waues therof thou doest mitigate †Thou humbledst the proud one as one wounded in the arme of thy strength thou hast dispersed thine enimies †The heauens are thine and the earth is thine the round earth and the fulnes therof thou hast founded †the north and the sea thou hast created Thabor and Hermon shal reioice in thy name †thy arme is with might Let thy hand be confirmed and thy righthand exalted †iustice and iudgement is the preparation of thy seat Mercie and truth shal goe before thy face †blessed is the people that knoweth iubilation Lord they shal walke in the light of thy countinance †and in thy name they shal reioyce al the day and in thy iustice they shal be exalted †Because thou art the glorie of their streingth and in thy good pleasure shal our horne be exalted †Because our protection is of our Lord and of the holie one of Israel our king †Then didst thou speake in vision to thy saintes and saidst I haue put helpe on the mightie one and haue exalted an elect one of my people †I haue found Dauid my seruant with myne holie oyle haue I anointed him †For mine hand shal helpe him and myne arme shal strengthen him †The enimie shal nothing preuale in him and the sonne of iniquitie shal not adde to hurt him †And I wil cut downe his enimies before his face and them that hate him I wil put to flight †And my truth and my mercie with him and in my name shal his horne be exalted †And I wil put his hand in the sea and his righthand in the riuers †He shal inuocate me Thou art my Father my God and the protector of my saluation †And I wil put him the firstbegotten high aboue the kings of the earth †I Wil kepe my mercie vnto him for euer and my testament faithful to him †I wil put his seed for euer and euer and his throne as the daies of heauen †But if his children shal forsake my lawe and wil not walke in my Iudgementes †If they shal profane my iustices and not kepe my commandmentes †I wil visite their iniquities with a rod and their sinnes with stripes †But “ my mercie I wil not take away from him neither wil I hurt in my truth †Neither wil I profane my testament and the words that procede from my mouth I wil not make frustrate †Once I haue sworne in my holie if I lie to Dauid †his seede shal continewe for euer †And his throne as the Sunne in my sight and as the Moone perfect for euer and a faithful witnesse in heauen †“ But thou hast repelled and dispised thou hast differred thy Christ †Thou hast ouerthrowne the testament of thy seruant thou hast profaned his
geuen his Angels charge of thee that they keepe thee in al thy waies †In their handes they shal beare thee lest perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone †Vpon the aspe and the basiliscus thou shalt walke thou shalt tread vpon the lion and the dragon †Because he hath hoped in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he hath knowne my name †He shal crie to me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and wil glorifie him †With length of daies I wil replenish him and I wil shew him my saluation ANNOTATIONS PSALME XC 5. Thou shalt not be afraid S. Augustin here obserueth foure maners of tempting the faithful to fal from true Religion Sometimes with tentation that is but light and obscure which the Prophet here calleth feare in the night when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion or apprehension of temporal afflictions not knowing that they fal into eternal damnation by fleing from worldlie or bodilie calamities Sometimes the tentation threatneth present death to them that are wel instructed in the truth and knovv that they must confesse it euen to death which the Prophet calleth an arrovv flying in the day vvhen the faithful clerly seeth vvhat danger hangeth ouer him tovvit present death if he stand constant and damnation if he denie his faith Sometimes the tentation is n ore vchement but yet obscure which he calleth busines vvalking in darknes vvhen by sutle endeuoures framing arguments in excuse of sinne men are persvvaded that they may lavvfully take some oath or do some other thing vvhich in dede is not lavvful and so by earnest and sutle persvvasions they ignorantly decline from Catholique Religion or committe other greuous sinnes But the greatest and manifest tentation is called inuasion midday diuel when persecuters seing neither more easie persvvasions can deceiue Gods seruants nor present death force them to denie the truth they then assault them more vehemently and more dangerously vvith long and continual afflictions not remitting their crueltie til the afflicted either yeld to their vvil or dye in long torments And by these tvvo latter kindes of persecution manie are ouerthrovvne vvhich vvere constant in the former For vvhiles tyrants proposed dangers to simple people and deceiued some yet threatning present death to others that were better instructed and confirmed in Religion innumerable perseuered gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholique faith But by sutle arguing of hard pointes of christian doctrin or practise and by long torments manie haue bene seduced blindly falling into errors and manie wittingly haue denied the truth which they clerly beleued in their hartes to auoide this midday diuel the extremitie of long manifest and greuous afflictions Neuertheles in al these tentations God protecteth them that firmly trust in him Those saith this holie Father haue failed which presumed of themselues which dwelt not in the helpe of the Highest and in protection of the God of heauen which said not to our Lord Thou art my Protector and my refuge which trusted not vnder the shadow of his winges but relied or attributed much to their owne streingth PSALME XCI God is by al maner of voices and instruments to be praised his admirable workes 7. which the foolish not doing are punished 11. and the wise are rewarded †A Psalme of Canticle in the sabbath day IT is good to confesse to our Lord and to sing to thy name ô Highest †To shewforth thy mercie in the morning and thy truth in the night †In the instrument of tenstrings in Psalter with Canticle on the Harpe †Because thou hast delighted me ô Lord in thy workemanship and in the workes of thy handes I wil reioyce †How are thy workes magnified ô Lord thy cogitations are made very profounde †The vnwise man wil not know and the foule wil not vnderstand these thinges †When sinners shal spring vp as grasse and al that worke iniquitie shal appeare That they may perish for euer †but thou the Highest foreuer ô Lord. †Because loe thine enimies ô Lord because loe thine enimies shal perish and al that worke iniquitie shal be dispersed †And my horne shal be exalted as the vnicorns and my old age in plentiful mercie †And mine eie hath looked vpon mine enimies and the malignant rysing vp against me mine ears shal heare †The iust shal florish as a palme tree as the ceder of Libanus shal he be multiplied †They that are planted in the house of our Lord shal florish in the courtes of the house of our God †As yet shal they be multiplied in plentiful old age and they shal be wel affected †that they may shewforth That the Lord our God is righteous and there is no iniquitie in him PSALME XCII Christ reigneth for euer in his Church 3. notwith standing manie and great persecution against the faithful Prayse of Canticle to Dauid himselfe in the day before the sabbath when the earth was founded OVR Lord e hath reigned he hath put on beutie our Lord hath put on strength and hath girded him selfe For he hath established the round world which shal not be moued †Thy seat is prepared from that time thou art from euerlasting †The riuers ô Lord haue lifted vp the riuers haue lifted vp their voice The riuers haue lifted vp their waues †aboue the voices of manie waters The surges of the sea are meruelous meruelous is our Lord on high †Thy testimonies are made credible exceedingly holines becometh thy house ô Lord for length of daies PSALME XCIII The faithful seruant of God assuredly professeth that al the pride 5. crueltie 7. foolish imaginations and secret thoughts of the wicked are manifest to God 12. acknowlegeth himself happie that he is better instructed of God wheras he had otherwise bene damned 20. sharply reprehendeth those that consider not of Gods iudgements concluding that the iust shal be glorified and the wicked damned To Dauid himselfe in the fourth of the sabbath OVR Lord God of reuenges the God of reuenges hath done freely †Be exalted thou that iudgest the earth render retribution to the ptoude †How long shal sinners ô Lord how long shal sinners glorie †Shal they vtter and speake iniquitie shal al they speake that worke iniustice †Thy people ô Lord they haue humbled and thine inheritance they haue vexed †The widow and the stranger they haue slaine and the pupilles they haue killed †And they haue saide The Lord shal not see neither shal the God of Iacob vnderstand †Vnderstand ye foolish in the people and ye fooles be wise at sometime †He that
to our Lord a new song because he hath done meruelous thinges His righthand hath wrought saluation to himselfe and his arme is holie †Our Lord hath made knowne his saluation in the sight of the Gentiles he hath reueled his iustice †He hath remembred his mercie and his truth to the house of Israel Al the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God †Make ye iubilation to God al the earth chaunt and reioyce and sing †Sing to our Lord on harpe on harpe and voice of psalme †on long drawen trumpets and voice of cornet of horne Make iubilation in the sight of the king our Lord †let the sea be moued and the fulnes therof the round world and they that dwel therin †The riuers shal clappe with hand the mountaynes together shal reioyce †at the sight of our Lord because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round earth in iustice and the peoples in equitie PSALME XCVIII Christ reigneth notwithstanding his enimies repine is adored 5. also his footestoole 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate A Psalme to Dauid himselfe OVR Lord hath reigned let peoples be angrie he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs let the earth be moued †Our Lord great in Sion and high aboue al peoples †Let them confesse to thy great name because it is terrible and holie †And the honour of the king loueth iudgement Thou hast prepared directions thou hast done iudgement and iustice in Iacob †Exalt ye the Lord our God and “ adore his footstoole because it is holie †Moyses and Aaron in his priestes and Samuel among them that inuocate his name They inuocated our Lord and he heard them †in a piller of a cloud he spake to them They kept his testimonies the precept which he gaue them †O Lord our God thou heardest them God thou wast propitious to them and taking vengeance vpon al their inuentions Exalt ye the Lord our God and adore ye in his holie mount because the Lord our God is holie ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIX 5. Adore his footestoole For so much as al Expositors also the Hebrevv Rabbins affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias that should redeme mankind and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ but vvas only a figure of him the footestoole of Messias here mentioned must nedes be something perteyning to him and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration not only of the shorte time he conuersed vvith men in this life vvhen very fevv adored him the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist Which S Ambrose teacheth lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto c. 12. in these plaine vvordes By the footstoole must be vnderstood the earth by the earth the flesh of Christ VVhich vve also at this day adore in the Mysteries and vvhich the Apostles adored in our Lord Iesus S. Augustin more largely vpon this Psalme I am made doubtful saith he I feare to adore the earth lest he condeme me that made heauen and earth Againe I feare not to adore the footstoole of my Lord because the Psalme saith to me Adore his footstoole I seeke vvhat is his footstoole and the Scripture Isaiae 66. telleth me the earth is his footstoole Doubtful I turne myself vnto Christ because I seeke him here and I finde hovv vvithout impietie the earth may be adored vvithout impietie his footstoole may be adored For he tooke earth of earth because flesh is of earth and he tooke flesh of the flesh of the B. virgin Marie And because he vvalked here in the same flesh and gaue the very flesh to vs to eate vnto saluation and no man eateth that flesh onles he first adore it it is found hovv such a footstoole of our Lord may be adored and not only vve doe not sinne in adoring but vve should sinne in not adoring Thus farre S. Augustin Further instructing not to coÌ„ceâ—ue of Christs flesh as â—he Capharnaites did that he would cute it in peeces from his bodie and geue them portions therof His very flesh is geuen and eaten not in fleshlie maner but in sacramental See Annotations Ioan. 6. PSALME XCIX Al are inuited to reioyce in God Creator of al. A Psalme in confession MAKE ye iubilation to God al the earth serue ye our Lord in gladnesse Enter ye in before his sight in exultation †Know ye that our Lord he is God he made vs and not we ourselues His people and the sheepe of his pasture †enter ye into his gates in confession his courtes in hymnes confesse ye to him Praise ye his name †because our Lord is sweete his mercie for euer and his truth euen vnto generation and generation PSALME C. King Dauid gratfully celebrateth the two general diuine vertues Mercie and Iustice 2. by his owne example exhorteth al especially Superiors to direct their wayes in sinceritie 4. and to seperate the wicked from conuersation of the good A Psalme to Dauid himselfe MERCIE and iudgement I wil sing to thee â— Lord I wil sing †and I shal vnderstand in the immaculate way when thou shalt come to me I walked through in the inocencie of my hart in the middes of my house †I did not propose before mine eies any vniust thing I hated them that do preuarication †A peruerse hart hath not cleaued to me the malignant declining from me I knew not †One secretly detracting from his neighbour him did I persecute One of a proud eye and vnsatiable hart with him I did not eate †Mine eies are towards the faithful of the earth that they may sit with me A man that walketh in the immaculate way he did minister to me †He that doth proudly shal not dwel in the middes of my house he that speaketh vniust thinges hath not directed in the sight of mine eies †In the morning did I kil al the sinners of the earth that I might destroy out of the citie of our Lord al those that worke iniquitie PSALMES CI. A sinner in affliction of mind prayeth God to deliuer him 10. desolate of al other helpe 13. conceiueth comforth in Gods eternal goodnes and singular mercie in redeming mankind and propagating the Church 24. Prayeth to be made mature in vertue before he dye that he may liue with God 26. who only and wholly being immutable establisheth his seruantes for euer The prayer of the poore when he shal be anxious and shal make his petition before our Lord. LORD heare my prayer and let my crie come to thee †Turne not away thy face from me in what
the Sabbath which is the seuenth day in the new we kepe our Lords day after the sabbath that is the eight which seuen and eight making fieftene multiplied by tenne signifying the Law of tenne commandments rise vnto 150. Againe euen multiplied by seuen make 49. wherto one to witte the eight being added make fieftie which multiplied by three signifying the B Trinitie make 150 Neither semed it without cause to this great Doctor that the fiâ—â—â— fieftie end with a Psalme of Paenance crauing mercie remission of sinnes the second with Mercie and Iustice which God ioyneth in the Redemption Iustification and Saluation of men the last with Diuine Praises signifying that by condemning sinnes in our selues through Gods mercie we may be iustified and so beginne in this life which is to be perfected in the next to praise our Lord as S. Paul admonisheth with Psalmes Hymnes and Spiritual Songues Concluding with the tvvo verses appointed by S Dama us Pope to be added in the end of al Psalmes and is obserued euer since his time by tradition in the vvhole Church Glorie to the Father and to the Sonne and to the Holie Ghost As it was in the beginning and now and euer into worldes of worldes in eternitie vvithout end Amen THE THIRD PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTEINING SAPIENTIAL BOOKES The argument of Sapiential Bookes Hitherto the Law and Historie of Gods peculiar people are set forth in the former partes of the holie Bible after which folowed the Booke of Psalmes which in maner of stile being al in verse is a distinct part but in substance of matter is an Epitome or briefe Summe of al holie Scripture most conueniently therfore placed in the middes of the rest as the Sunne amongst other Planetes a shining great light in a large house Now ensueth the third part conteining Diuine Instructions or Rules of good life A doctrine most agreable to Gods hiegh wisdom and most fitly commended to Man his reasonable creature in earth But besides this principal subiect as before is noted that each part participateth with others in their proper contents so here be manie precepts of the Law renewed sundrie examples of men and thinges past repeted and diuers prophecies vttered of thinges to come though in this part more specially is shewed the ground and as it were the very life or soule of the Law which is Reason the true Rule or Directorie wherin al good lawes are grounded For it both sheweth what ought to be done or auoided directeth mans iudgement to embrace that is good and to flee from al euil not only illuminating the vnderstanding to see that is right and iust but also disposing the internal affection to desire loue choose and preferre the right path of Gods law before whatsoeuer otherwise semeth pleasant or profitable so notwithstanding al dangers difficulties distresses worldlie calamites and death it self effectually perswading to perseuere to the end in holie conuersation Al which by a general name is called Wisdom comprising in one word al good desires holie vertues supernal giftes godlie endeuoures and the whole meanes wherby God is rightly knowen duly serued wherof these fiue Bookes teaching this most excellent and most necessarie maner of life are called Sapiential Neuertheles foure of them haue also other particular names as appareth in their titles Only the fourth is called the Booke of Wisdom by appropriation of the general name Al fiue are Canonical and assured holie Scripture as is shewed before and may be further proued of the two later which Protestants denie It is also euident that King Salomon was Auctor of the three former as S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers proue by the holie text it selfe As it is likewise certaine that he either writte or at least by diuine inspiration vttered much more then is now extant For the holie Scripture 3. Reg. 4. testifieth that he spake three thousand Parables and his Songes were a thousand and fiue He disputed of the trees from the ceder that is in Libanus vnto the hyssop which cometh out of the wal and he discoursed of beastes and foules and creeping wormes and fishes Iosephus li. S. c. 2. Antiq. folowing some other Edition saith his songes were fiue thousand and parables as the ordinarie text hath three thousand For he deduced a parable saith Iosephus through out euerie kinde of trees from the hyssop to the ceder In the same maner he treated of beastes and other liuing creatures of the earth water and ayre For he was not ignorant of anie natural thing neither omitted to treate therof but clerly explicated al their natural proprieties Most briefly S. Ierom declareth both the Auctor and matter of these three bookes saying Salomon the Peaceable and amiable of our Lord correcteth maners teacheth the nature of creatures ioyneth the Church and Christ and singeth the swete bridal song of the holie Mariage THE ARGVMENT OF THE PROVERBES THE first booke called Prouerbes that is common vsual pithie sentences shorte in wordes ample in sense and Parables signifying likenes or similitudes wherby more important thinges are vnderstood then expressed instructeth and exhorteth new beginners to lerne and practise al sortes of vertues the only right way to true wisdome and eternal happines It may be diuided into foure partes In the first nine chapters the auctor interposing certaine general preceptes produceth wisdom her selfe inuiting al men to seeke her for the spiritual profite they shal therby enioy From thence to the 25. chap. he geueth sundrie more particular precepts as wel for embracing vertues as shunning of vices In the next fiue chapters more like precepts of the same auctor are added by the care of King Ezechias In the two last chapters either an other Auctor or rather the same vnder an other title commendeth to al men certaine most excellent precepts receiued of his mother wherto he adioyneth the praise of a right wise woman prophetically the Catholique Church THE BOOKE OF PROVERBES WHICH THE HERBREWES CAL MISLE CHAP. I. Parables are profitable to those that loue and wil lerne wisdom 10. Al are admonished not to folow the alurements of sinners 20. but to embrace wisdome 24. and ruine is threatned to the contemners THE Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel †To know “ wisdom and discipline †to vnderstand the wordes of prudence and to receiue instruction of doctrine iustice and iudgement and equitie †that subtilitie may be geuen to litle ones knowlege and vnderstanding to the youngman †The wise man hearing shal be wiser and he that vnderstandeth shal possesse gouernementes †He shal vnderstand a parable and interpretation the wordes of the wise and their darke sayings †The feare of our Lord is the begynning of wisdom Fooles despise wisedom and doctrine †My sonne f heare the discipline of
and from him withdraw not thy hand because he that feareth God neglecteth nothing †Wisdom hath streingthned the wise aboue tenne princes of the citie †For there is no iust man in the earth that doth good and sinneth not †But to al wordes also that are spoken do not applie thy hart lest perhaps thou heare thy seruant cursing thee †For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast cursed others †I haue proued al thinges in wisdom I haue sayd I wil become wise it departed farder from me †much more then it was and a depe profunditie who shal finde it †I haue vewed al thinges with my minde that I might know and consider and might seke wisdom and reason and that I might know the impietie of the foole and the errour of the imprudent †and I haue found that a woman is more bitter then death who is the snare of hunters and her hart a nette her handes are bandes He that pleaseth God wil auoide her but he that is a sinner wil be caught of her †Loe this haue I found sayd Ecclesiastes one thing and an other that I might finde reason †which yet my soule seketh and I haue not found it A man of a thousand I haue found one a woman of al I haue not found †Only this I haue found that God made man right and he hath intangled himself with infinite questions Who is such a one as the wise and who hath knowne the resolution of the word CHAP. VIII A signe of true wisdom appereth in obseruing Gods commandments 6. in this shorte time of meriting eternal reward 9. Rule of others 11. and want of feare hurt manie 14. Why God suffereth the wicked to prosper and the iust to be afflicted in this life no mortal man can know THE wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance and the most mightie wil change his face †I obserue the mouth of the king and the precepts of the oath of God †Hasten not to depart from his face nor continew thou in an euil worke because al that he pleaseth he wil doe †and his word is ful of powre neither can anie man say to him Why dost thou so †He that kepeth the precept shal finde no euil The hart of a wiseman vnderstandeth time and answer †There is a time for al busines and opportunitie and much affliction of man †because he is ignorant of thinges past and thinges to come he can know by no messenger †It is not in mans powre to prohibite the spirite neither hath he powre in the day of death neither is he suffered to rest when warre is at hand neither shal impietie saue the impious †Al these thinges I haue considered and gaue my hart on al the workes that are done vnder the sunne Sometime man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt †I saw the impious buried who also when they yet liued were in holie place and were praised in the citie as men of iust workes But this also is vanitie †Because sentence is not speedely pronounced against the euil the children of men committe euils without anie feare †But yet a sinner by this that he doth euil an hundred times by patience is borne withal I know that it shal be good to them that feare God which dread his face †Let there be no good to the impious neither let his dayes be prolonged but as a shadow let them passe that feare not the face of our Lord. †There is also an other vanitie which is done vpon the earth There are iust men to whom euils happen as though they had done the workes of the impious and there are impious men which are so secure as though they had the dedes of the iust But this also I iudge most vaine †I therfore haue praised mirth that there was no good thing for a man vnder the sunne but that he should eate and drinke and be glad and this only he should take away with him of his labour in the dayes of his life which God hath geuen him vnder the sunne †And I haue set my hart to know wisdom and to vnderstand the distraction that is in the earth There is a man that dayes and nightes taketh no slepe with his eyes †And I vnderstood that man can sinde no reason of al those workes of God that are done vnder the sunne and the more he shal labour to seke so much the lesse he can finde yea if the wisman shal say that he knoweth he is not able to finde it CHAP. IX None knoweth certainly and ordinarily whether they be in Gods grace or no. 4. The euil are in worse case dead then aliue 11. neither can we know the euent of temporal thinges nor the terme of our life nor how gratful others wil be towards vs. 16. Sure it is that wisdom is better then streingth AL these thinges haue I discoursed in my hart that I might curiously vnderstand them there are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hand of God and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthie of loue or hatred †but al thinges are reserued vncertaine for the time to come because al thinges do equally chance to the iust and impious to the good and the euil to the cleane and vncleane to him that immoleth victimes and him that contemneth sacrifices As the good so also is the sinner as the periured so he also that sweareth truth †This is a very euil thing among al which are done vnder the sunne that the same thinges chance to al men Wherby also the hartes of the children of men are filled with malice and with contempt in their life and after that they shal be brought downe to hel †There is no man that may liue alwayes and that can haue confidente of this thing better is a dog liuing then a lion dead †For the liuing know that they shal dye but the dead know nothing more neither haue they reward anie more because the memorie of them is forgotten †Loue also and hatred and enuies haue perished together neither haue they part in this world and in the worke that is done vnder the sunne †Goe therfore and eate thy bread in ioy drinke thy wine with gladnes because thy workes please God †At al time let thy garments be white and let not oyle fal from of thy head †Enioy life with thy wife whom thou louest al the dayes of the life of thy instabilitie which are geuen to thee vnder the sunne al the time of thy vanitie for this is the portion in life and in thy labour wherwith thou laborest vnder the sunne †Whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe worke it instantly for neither worke nor reason nor wisdom nor knowlege shal be in hel whither thou dost hasten †I turned me to an other thing and I saw vnder the sunne
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
or Ecclesiastae c. but stil Lectio libri Sapientiae The solution therfore is very probable that this booke of wisdom was written by Philo Iudeus not he that liued after Christ but an other of the same name nere two hundred yeares before And Ecclesiasticus by Iesus the sonne of Sirach Who not only imitated Salomon but also compiled their bookes for most part of Salomons sentences conserued til their times by tradition or in separated scrolles of papers yea they so vtter some sentences in his person as if himself had written them As touching the auctoritie of these two bookes and some others it is euident that the Iewes refuse them And therfore manie ancient Fathers writing against them spared sometimes to vrge such bookes as they knew would be reiected Especially hauing abundant testimonies of other holie Scriptures for deciding matters of faith against them Euen as our Sauiour himself proued the Resurrection of the dead against the Sadduces out of the bookes of Moyses which they confessed for Canonical Scripture denying other partes where the same point might otherwise haue bene more euidently shewed And so S. Ierom in respect of the Iewes saide these bookes were not Canonical Neuertheles he did often alleage testimonies of them as of other diuine Scriptures sometimes with this parenthesis si cui tamen placet librum recipere in cap. 8. 12. Zachariae other times especially in his last writinges absolutly without such restriction as in cap. 1. 56. Isaiae in 18. Ieremiae Where he professeth to alleage none but Canonical Scripture As for al the other ancient fathers here aboue mentioned ascribing this booke to Salomon and manie others cited by Doctor Iodocus Coccius To. 1. Thesauri li. 6. art 9. they make no doubt at al but that it is Canonical Scripture as appeareth by their expresse termes Diuine Scripture Diuine word Sacred letters Prophetical saying the Holie Ghost saith the like Finally aswel ancient General counsels namely that of Charthage an D. 419. With others as the later of Florence and Trent haue declared this booke to be Canonical And that conformably to the most ancient and lerned Fathers as S. Augustin not only iudgeth himself but also plainly testifieth li. de Pradestinat Sanct. c. 14. saying The sentence of the booke of wisdom ought not to be reiected by certaine inclining to Pelagianisme Which hath bene so long publiquely read in the Church of Christ and receiued of al Christians Byshops and others euen to the last of the Laitie Penitents and Catecumes cum veneratione diuinae auctoritatis With veneration of diuine auctoritie Which also the excellent writers next to the Apostles times alleaging for witnes nihil se adâ—ibere nisi diuinum testimonium crediderunt thought they alleaged nothing but diuine testimonie The summe and contents of this booke is an Instruction and Exhortation to Kinges and al Magistrates to minister iustice in the comonwealth teaching al sortes of vertues vnder the general names of iustice Wisdom With frequent Prophecies of Christs Coming Passion Resurrection other Christian Mysteries Al may be commodiously diuided into three partes In the six first chapters the auctor admonisheth al Superiors to loue and exercise iustice and wisdom In the next three he teacheth that Wisdom procedeth only from God is procured by prayer good life In the other tenne chapters he sheweth the excellent effects and vtilitie of wisdom and Iustice THE BOOKE OF WISDOM CHAP. I. Superiors are admonished to do iustice sincerely seking God 7. Who being euery where seeth al thinges 11. Murmuration detraction and lying bring to perdition 13. God created men to liue but they brought death vpon themselues LOVE iustice you that iudge the earth Thincke of our Lord in goodnes and in simplicitie of hart seeke him †because he is found of them that tempt him not and he appeareth to them that haue saith in him †For peruerse cogitations seperate from God and proued powre chasteneth the vnwise †because wisdom wil not enter into a malicious soule nor dwel in a bodie subiect to sinnes †For the Holie Ghost of discipline wil flie from him that feyneth and wil withdraw himselfe from the cogitations that are without vnderstanding and he shal be chastened of iniquitie â—niâ— wing †For the spirite of wisdom is gentle and wil no 〈…〉 the â—â— for from his lippes because God is witnes of 〈…〉 is a true searcher of his hart and an hâ—arâ—r 〈…〉 cause the Spirite of our Lord â—ath 〈…〉 who le world and that which contayneth al 〈…〉 â—udge of voice †For this cause he that speaketh â—â—â—â—st thinges can not be hid neither shal the chastising iudgment passe him †For in the cogitations of the impâ—ouâ— there shal be examination and the hearing of his workes shal come to God to the chastising of his iniquities †Because the eare of ielousie heareth al thinges and the tumult of murmurings shal not be hid †Kepe your selues therfore from murmuring which profiteth nothing and refraine your tongue from detraction because an obscure speache shal not passe in vaine and the mouth that lyeth killeth the soule †Zeale not death in the errour of your life neither procure ye perdition by the workes of your handes †Because God made not death neither doth he reioyce in the perdition of the liuing †For he created al thinges to be and he made the nations of the earth to health and there is no medicine of destruction in them nor kingdome of hel in the earth †For iustice is pâ—rpetual and immortal †But the impious with handes wordes haue prouoked it and esteming it a freind haue fallen to decay and haue made couenances with it because they are worthie to be of the part therof CHAP. II. Such as hope not of life to come 6. addict themselues to 〈…〉 â—â— and persecute the iust especially our Sauioâ—◠〈…〉 their wickednes 23. Death came vpon man by the 〈…〉 FOR they haue said thinking with the 〈…〉 Little and with tediousnes is the time of 〈…〉 the end of a man there is no recouâ—â—â—â— and 〈…〉 knowne that hath returned from hel †because oe of 〈…〉 were we borne and after this we shal be as if 〈…〉 bene because the breath is a smoke in our nosthrels â—â—â—â—ch a sparke to moue our hart †Which being extinguished our bodie shal be ashes and the spirit shal be powred abrode as soft ayre and our life shal passe as the trace of a cloude and shal be dissolued as a mist which is driuen away by the beames of the sunne and oppressed with the heate therof †and our name in time shal be forgotten and no man shal haue remembrance of our workes †For our time is the passing of a shadow and there is no returne of our end because it is sealed and no man returneth †Come therfore
and let vs enioy the good thinges that are and let vs quickly vse the creature as in youth †Let vs fil ourselues with precious wine and oyntments and let not the flowre of the time passe vs. †Let vs crowne ourselues with roses before they wither let there be no medow which our riote shal not passe through †Let none of vs be exempted from our rioteousnes euerie where let vs leaue signes of ioy because this is our portion and this our lot †Let vs oppresse the poore iust man and not spare the widow nor reuerence the oldmans grey head of long time †But let our strength be the law of iustice for that which is Weake is found vnprofitable †Let vs therfore circumuent the iust because he is vnprofitable to vs and he is contrarie to our workes and reprochfully obiecteth vnto vs the sinnes of the law and defameth in vs the sinnes of our discipline †He boasteth that he hath the knowlege of God and nameth himselfe the sonne of God †He is made vnto vs to the defaming of our cogitations †He is greuous vnto vs euen to behold because his life la vnlike to others and his wayes are changed †We are estemed of him as triflers and he absteyneth from our wayes as from vncleannes and he preferreth the later ends of the iust and glorieth that he hath God for his father †Let vs see therfore if his wordes be true and let vs proue what thinges shal come to him and we shal know what shal be his later ends †For if he be the true sonne of God he wil defend him wil deliuer him from the hands of the aduersaries †By contumelie and torment let vs examine him that we may know his reuerence and proue his patience †To a most shameful death let vs condemne him for there shal be respect had vnto him by his wordes †These thinges haue they thought and haue erred for their malice hath blinded them †And they haue not knowen the sacraments of God nor hoped for the reward of iustice nor estemed the honour of holie soules †For God created man incorruptible and to the image of his owne likenes he made him †But by the enuie of the diuel death entred into the world †and they folow him that are of his part CHAP. III The iust contemned by the wicked and proued by tentations are happie 10. and the wicked vnhappie 12. Chastitie shal be rewarded adulterous generations shal not prosper BVT the soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the torment of death shal not touch them †They semed in the eies of the vnwise to die and their decease was counted affliction †and that which with vs is the way is destruction but they are in peace †And though before men they suffered torments their hope is ful of immortalitie †Vexed in few thinges in many they shal be wel disposed of because God hath tempted them and hath found them worthie of him selfe †As gold in the furnace he hath proued them and as an host of holocaust he hath receiued them and in time there shal be respect of them †The iust shal shine and as sparkes in a place of reedes they shal runne abrode †They shal iudge nations haue dominion ouer peoples and their Lord shal reigne for euer †They that trust in him shal vnderstand truth and the faithful in loue shal rest in him because rest and peace is to his elect †But the impious according to the thinges which they haue thought shal haue correption which haue neglected the iust haue reuolted from our Lord. †For he that reiecteth wisdom and discipline is vnhappie and their hope is vaine and labours without fruite and their workes vnprofitable †Their wiues are sensles and their children most wicked †Cursed is their creature because happie is the barren woman and the vndefiled which hath not knowen bed in sinne she shal haue fruite in visitation of holie soules †and the eunuch that hath not wrought iniquitie with his hands nor thought most wicked things against God for the chosen gift of fayth shal be geuen to him and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God †For of good labour there is glorious fruite and the roote of wisdom which falleth not †But the children of adulterers shal be in consummation and the sede of the vnlawful bed shal be destroyed †And if certes they be of long life they shal be reputed for nothing their last oldage shal be without honour †And if they dye quickly they shal haue no hope nor speach of comfort in the day of acknowledging †For of a wicked nation the endes are cruel CHAP. IIII. Great difference betwen chaste and adulterous generations 7. Speedier death of the iust is recompensed by Gods prouidence 19. but the wicked incurre greater damnation by liuing long O How beautiful is the chaste generation with glorie for the memorie therof is immortal because it is knowen both with God and with men †When it is present they imitate it and they desire it when it hath withdrawen itself and it triumpheth crowned for euer winning the reward of vndefiled conflictes †But the multitude of the impious that hath manie children shal not be profitable and bastarde plants shal not take deepe roote nor lay sure fundation †And if in the boughes for a â—ime they shal spring being weakly set they shal be moued of the winde and by the vehemencie of the windes they shal be rooted out †For the vnperfect boughes shal be broken and their fruites shal be vnprofitable and sowre to eate and meete for nothing †For the children that be borne of wicked sleepes are witnesses of wickednes against the parents in their examination †But the iust if he be preuented with death shal be in a place of refreshing †For venerable oldage is not that of long time nor accounted by the number of yeares but the vnderstanding of a man are grey heares †and an immaculate life is old age †Pleasing God he is made beloued and liuing among sinners he was translated †“ He was taken away lest malice should change his vnderstanding or lest anie guile might deceiue his soule †For the bewitching of vanitie obscureth good thinges and the inconstancie of concupiscence peruerteth the vnderstanding that is without malice †Being consummate in short space he fulfilled much time †for his soule pleased God for this cause he hastened to bring him out of the middes of iniquiries but the peoples that are seing and not vnderstanding nor putting such thinges in their hartes †that the grace of God and mercie is toward his saintes and respect toward his elect †But the iust dead condemneth the impions aliue and youth soone ended the long life of the vniust †For they
and his hope vaine earth and his life viler then clay †because he was ignorant who made him and who inspired into him the soule which worketh and who breathed into him the vital spirite †Yea and they estemed our life to be a pastime and the conuersation of life made for a gayne that we must get euerie way euen of euil †For he knoweth that he offendeth aboue al men which of the matter of earth fashioneth frayle vessels and sculptils †For al the vnwise and vnhappie aboue measure of the soule proude are the enemies of thy people and rule ouer them †because they haue estemed al the idols of the nations for goddes which neither haue vse of eies to see nor nosthrels to take breath nor eares to heare nor fingers of the hands to handle yea and their feete are slow to walke †For a man made them and he that borowed breath the same fashioned them For no man can make God like to himself †For wheras himself is mortal he maketh a dead thing with his wicked handes For he is better then they whom he worshippeth because he in deede liued though he were mortal but they neuer †But they worship also most miserable beasts for the senslesse thinges compared to these are worse then they †Yea neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts But they haue fled from the prayse of God and from his blessing CHAP. XVI God plaguing the Aegyptians for idolatrie and crueltie deliuered the Israelites 5. Chasticed them also but againe shewed them mercie 20. and fedde them with Manna FOR these thinges and by the like to these they haue worthely suffered torments and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts †For the which torments thou didst wel dispose of thy people to whom thou gauest the desire of their delectation a new taste preparing them the quaile for meate †that they in deede coueting meate because of those thinges which were shewed and sent them might be turned away euen from necessarie concupiscence But they in short time being made needie tasted a new meate †For it behoued that without excuse destruction should come vpon them exercising tyrannie but to these onlie to shew how their enemies were destroyed †For when the cruel wrath of beastes came vpon them they were destroyed with the bytings of peruerse serpents †Howbeit thy wrath endured not for euer but for chastisement they were trubled a short time hauing a signe of saluation for the remembrance of the commandment of thy law †For he that turned to it was not healed by that which he saw but by thee the sauiour of al †and in this thou didst shew to our enemies that thou art he which deliuerest from al euil †For the bitings of locusts and flies killed them and there was found no remedie for their life because they were worthie to be destroyed by such thinges †But neither the teeth of venemous dragons ouercame thy children for thy mercie coming healed them †For in memorie of thy wordes they were examined were quickly saued lest falling into deepe obliuion they might noâ— vse thy helpe †For neither herbe not plaâ—ster healed them but thy word ô Lord which healeth al thinges †For iâ— is thou ô Lord that hast powre of life and death and bringest downe to the gates of death and fetchest agayne †but man certes killeth by malice and when the spirit is gone forth it shal not returne neither shal he cal backe the soule that is receiued †but it is vnpossible to escape thy hand †For the impious denying to knowe thee haue bene scourged by the strength of thine arme suffering persecution by strange waters and haile and rayne and consumed by fyre †For that which was meruelous in water which extinquisheth al thinges fyre more preuayled for the world is reuenger of the iust †For a certayne time the fyre was mitigated that the beasts which were sent to the impious might not be burnt but that they seing might know that by Gods iudgement they suffer punishment †And at a certaine time the fyre aboue his powre burnt in water on euerie side that it might destroy the nation of a wicked land †For the which thinges thou didst nourish thy people with the meate of Angels and bread prepared thou gauest them from heauen without labour hauing in it al delectation and the sweetnes of al taste †For thy substance did shew thy sweetnes which thou hast toward thy children and seruing euerie mans wil it was turned to that that euerie man would †Yea snow and yee susteyned the force of fyre and melted not that they might know that fyre burning in hayle and lightening in rayne destroyed the fruites of the enemies †And this againe that the iust might be nourished it forgat also his owne strength †For the creature seruing thee the Creatour is fierce into torment against the vniust and is made more gentle to doe good for them that trust in thee †For this cause euen then being transformed into al thinges they serued thy grace the nource of al at their wil that desired thee †that thy children might know whom thou louedst ô Lord that not the fruites of natiuitie doe feede men but thy word preserueth them that beleue in thee †For that which could not be destroyed by fyre forthwith being heated with a litle beame of the sunne did melt †that it might be knowen to al men that we ought to preuent the sunne to blesse thee and at the rysing of light to adore thee †For the fayth of the vngratful shal melt as winter yee shal perish as vnprofitable water CHAP. XVII Horrible darkenes falling in Aegypt 19. the rest of the world had ordinarie light FOR thy iudgements ô Lord are great thy wordes inexphcable for this cause the soules lacking discipline haue erred †For whiles the wicked are perswaded that they can rule ouer the holie nation fettered with the bands of darknes and long night shut vp vnder roofes they haue lyen fugitiues from the euerlasting prouidence †And whiles they thincke that they lie hid in obscure sinnes they were dispersed by the darke couert of obliuion being horribly afrayd and disturbed with exceding admiration †For neither did the denne that conteyned them keepe them without feare because the sound coming downe trubled them and sorowful visions appearing to them put them in feare †And no force certes of the fyre could geue them light neither could the clere flames of the starres lighten that horrible night †But there appeared to them soden fyre ful of feare and being stroken with the feare of that face which was not sene they estemed the thinges that were sene to be worse †and there were added derisions of the magical art and contumelious rebuke of the glorie of
thinke as if thou were to pay it †Iudge not agaynst a iudge because he iudgeth according to that which is iust †With the audacious goe not on the way lest perhaps he burden thee with his euils for he goeth according to his owne wil and thou shalt perish together with his follie †With an angrie man make no brawle and with the audacious goe not into the desert because bloud is as nothing before him and where there is no helpe he wil ouerthrow thee †Conferre no counsel with fooles for they can not loue but such thinges as please them †Before a stranger doe no matter of counsel for thou knowest not what he wil bring forth †Make not thy hart manifest to euerie man lest perhaps he repay thee false kindnes and speake reprochfully to thee CHAP. IX Great prudence is required in conuersation betwen men and wemen 14. Esteme old freindes 16. Emulate not sinners 18. Auoide the companie of malicious 21. Consult with the prudent hauing God euer before thyne eyes BE not ielous ouer the wife of thy bosome lest she shew vpon thee the malice of wicked doctrine †Geue not to a woman the power of thy soule lest she goe in thy strength and thou be confounded †Looke not vpon a woman that is desirous of manie lest perhaps thou fal into her snares †With her that is a dauncer be not daily conuersant nor heare her lest perhaps thou perish in her efficacie †Behold not a virgin lest perhaps thou be scandalized in her beautie †Geue not thy soule to harlottes in any poynt lest thou destroy thyself and thine inheritance †Looke not round about in the waves of the citie nor wander vp and downe in the streates therof †Turne away thy face from a trimmed woman and gaze not about vpon an others beautie †By the beautie of a woman manie haue perished and hereby concupiscence is inflamed as a fire †Euerie woman that is an harlot shal be troden vpon as dung in the way †Manie hauing admired the beautie of an other mans wife haue become reprobate for her communication burneth as fire †Sit not at al with an other mans wife nor repose vpon the bed with her †and striue not with her at the wine lest perhapes thy hart decline toward her with thy bloud thou fal into perdition †Forsake not an old frend for the new wil not be like to him †A new frend is as new wine it shal waxe old and thou shalt drinke it with sweetnes †Doe not zelousely desire the glorie and the riches of a sinner for thou knowest not what his subuersion shal be †Let not the iniurie of the vniust please thee knowing that euen to hel the impious shal not please †Be far from the man that hath power to kil and thou shalt not suspect the feare of death †And if thou come to him committe nothing lest perhaps he take away thy life †Know it to be communication with death because thou shalt goe in the middes of snarres and shalt walke vpon the weapons of the sorowful †According to thy powre beware thee of thy neighbour and treate with the wise and prudent †Let iust men be thy ghests and let thy gloriation be in the feare of God †and let the cogitation of God be in thy vnderstanding al thine enarration in the precepts of the Highest †Workes shal be praysed in the handes of artificers and the prince of the people in the wisdom of his speach but the word of the ancients in the sense †A man ful of tongue is terrible in his citie and he that is rash in his word shal be odious CHAP. X. Wise superiors are very necessarie because the multitude folow their example 6. Remitte and forget iniuries detest pride iniustice contumelie and auarice 12. Life is short 14. Pride is the roote of al sinnes 23. Iust pouertie is better then sinful riches 31. Mekenes and modestie are necessarie in al men A wise iudge shal iudge his people and the principalitie of the wise shal be stable †According to the Iudge of the people so also are his ministers and what maner of man the ruler of a citie is such also are the habitants therein †An vnwise king shal destroy his people and cities shal be inhabited by the vnderstanding of the prudent †The powre of the earth is in the hand of God and he wil rayse vp a profitable ruler for a time ouer it †The prosperitie of man is in the hand of God vpon the face of the scribe he wil put his honour †Anie iniurie of thy neighbour remember not and doe nothing by workes of iniurie †Pride is odious before God and men and al the iniquitie of the nations is execrable †A kingdome is translated from nation vnto nation because of iniustices and iniuries and contumelies and diuerse deceites †But nothing is more wicked then the couetous man Why is earth and ashes proud †Nothing is more wicked then to loue money For he hath his soule also to sel because in his life he hath cast forth his most in ward thinges †Al power is of short life Long sicknes greueth the Physicion †Short sicknes the Physicion cutteth of at the first so also the king is to day to morow he shal die †For when a man shal die he shal inherite serpents and beasts and wormes †The begynning of the pride of man is to apostatate from God †because his hart is departed from him that made him for pride is the begynning of al sinne he that holdeth it shal be filled with curses it shal subuert him in the end †Therfore hath our Lord dishonoured the congregations of the euil hath destroyed them euen to the end †God hath destroyed the seates of proud princes and hath made the meeke sitte in their stead †God hath made the rootes of the proud nations to wither and hath planted the humble of the nations themselues †Our Lord hath subuerted the landes of the gentiles and hath destroyed them euen to the fundation †He hath made of them to wither and hath destroyed them and hath made the memorie of them to cease from the earth †God hath destroyed the memorie of the proud and hath left the memorie of them that are humble in vnderstanding †Pride was not created to men nor wrath to the nation of wemen †That seede of men shal be honoured which feareth God but that seede shal be dishonoured which transgresseth the commandments of our Lord. †In the middes of brethren their ruler shal be in honour and they that feare our Lord shal be in his eyes †The glorie of the rich of the honourable and of the poore is the feare of God †Despise not the iust man that is poore and magnifie
not the sinful man that is rich †The great one and the iudge and the mightie is in honour and there is none greater then he that feareth God †Free men wil serue a seruant that is wise and a man that is prudent and hath discipline wil not murmur being rebuked and the ignorant shal not be honoured †Extol not thyself in doing thy worke and linger not in the time of distresse †better is he that worketh and abundeth in al thinges then he that glorieth and lacketh bread †Sonne in mildenes keepe thy soule and geue him honour according to his desert †Him that sinneth agaynst his owne soule who shal iustifie and who shal honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule †The poore man is glorified by his discipline and feare there is a man that is honoured for his substance †But he that is glorified in pouertie how much more in substance and he that is glorified in substance let him feare pouertie CHAP. XI Wisdom by humilitie meriteth exaltation 7. Iudge not before examination 16. Trust not in riches 14. God sendeth both prosperitie and aduersitie for the good of his seruants 31. Take heede of the deceiptful THE wisdom of the humble shal exalt his head shal make him sitte in the middes of great men †Prayse not a man in his beautie neither despise a man by his looke †The bee is smal among fowles and her fruite hath the beginning of sweetnes †In apparel doe not glorie at any time nor be extolled in the day of thine honour because the workes of the Highest onlie be meruelous and his workes are glorious and secrete and not seene †Manie tyrantes haue sitte in the throne and he whom no man would thincke hath worne the crowne †Manie mightie men haue bene greatly oppressed and the glorious haue bene deliuered into the handes of others †Before thou enquire blame no man and when thou hast enquired chasten iustly †Before thou heare answer not a word and in the middes of ancients adde not to speake †Striue not for that thing which doeth not molest thee and consiste not in the iudgement of sinners †Sonne let not thy doings be in manie thinges and if thou be rich thou shalt not be free from sinne for if thou pursew thou shalt not attayne and if thou runne before thou shalt not escape †There is one that laboureth and hasteneth and is a sorowful impious man and so much the more he shal not abound †There is a lither man that wanteth recouerie more fayling in strength and abunding in pouertie †and the eie of God hath respected him in good and hath erected him from his low estate and hath exalted his head and manie haue merueled at him and haue honoured God †Good thinges and euil life and death pouertie and honestie are of God †Wisdom and discipline and the knowlege of the law are with God Loue and the wayes of good thinges are with him †Errour and darkenes are created with sinners and they that reioyce in euils waxe old in euil †The gift of God is permanent to the iust and his prospering shal haue successe for euer †There is that is enriched by doing sparingly and this is the portion of his reward †in that he sayth I haue found me rest and now I wil eate of my goods alone †and he knoweth not that time passeth death approcheth and he must leaue al to others and shal die †Stand in thy couenant and commen therein and grow old in the worke of thy commandements †Abide not in the workes of sinners But trust in God and tarie in thy place †For it is easie in the eies of God sodainly to enrich the poore man †The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the iust and in a swift houre his prospering fructifieth †Say not What neede I and what good shal I haue by this †Say not I am sufficient for my self and what shal I be made worse by this †In the day of good thinges be not vnmindful of euils and in the day of euils be not vnmindful of good thinges †because it is easie before God in the day of death to reward euerie one according to his wayes †The malice of an houre maketh obliuion of great voluptuousnes and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his workes †Before death prayse no man because a man is knowen in his children †Bring not euerie man into thine house for there be manie traynes of the deceitful man †For as the stomakes belche of stinking breathes and as the partriche is brought in the cage and as the doe into the snare so also the hart of the proude and as a watche man that seeth the fal of his neighbour †For turning good thinges into euil he lyeth in wayte and on the elect he wil lay a blot †For of one sparke fire is increased and of a deceitful man bloud is increased and a sinful man lyeth in wayte for bloud †Take heede to thy self of the pestiferous person for he forgeth euils lest perhaps he bring vpon thee derision for euer †Admitte a straunger to thee and he shal ouerthrow thee in an hurlewind shal make thee an aliene from thine owne CHAP. XII Vse beneuolence towards good men 10. Trust not enemies ouer much IF thou wilt doe good know to whom thou doest it and there shal be much thanke in thy good deedes †Doe good to the iust and thou shalt finde great rewarde and if not of him assuredly of our Lord. †For it is not wel with him that is euer occupied in euil thinges and that geueth not almes because the Highest both hateth sinners and hath mercie on them that are penitent †Geue to the merciful and receiue not the sinner both to the impious to sinners he wil repay vengeance keping them vnto the day of vengeance †Geue to the good and receiue not a sinner †Doe good to the humble and geue not to the impious prohibite to geue him bread lest therin he be mightier then thou †for thou shalt finde duble euils in al the good whatsoeuer thou shalt do to him because the Highest hateth sinners and wil repay vengeance to the impious †A freind shal not be knowen in prosperitie and an enimie shal not be hid in aduersitie †In the prosperitie of a man his enimies are in sorow and in affliction a freind is knowne †Credite not thyn enemie for euer for as a brasse potte his wickednes rusteth †and if humbling himself he goe crouching be aduised in thy mind and beware of him †Place him not by thee neither let him sitte on thy right hand lest perhaps turning into thy place he seke after thy seate and at the last thou know my wordes and be pricked in my sayinges †Who
worketh it shal be honoured therin †Blessed is the man that shal continew in wisdom and that shal meditate in his iustice and in vnderstanding shal consider the prouidence of God †He that considereth her wayes in his hart and hath vnderstanding in her secrets going after her as a searcher and consisting in her wayes †He that looketh through her windowes and heareth in her gates †He that resteth by her house in her walles fastening a stake wil set vp his corage beside her handes and good thinges shal rest in his cottage for euer †He shal set his children vnder her couering and shal abide vnder her boughes †he shal be protected vnder her couering from the heate and shal rest in her glorie CHAP. XV. The fruictes of fearing God 7. Which fooles and liers reape not but the wise only 11. God is no way auctor of sinne 14. but sinners themselues are the auctors abusing their freewil HE that feareth God shal doe good thinges and he that hath iustice shal apprehend her †and she wil meete him as an honourable mother and as a wife from virginitie she wil receiue him †She shal fede him with the bread of life and vnderstanding and geue him the water of wholsome wisdom to drinke and she shal be made sure in him and he shal not be bowed †and she shal hold him fast and he shal not be confounded and she shal exalt him before his neighbours †and in the middest of the Church she shal open his mouth and shal fil him with the spirite of wisdom and vnderstanding and shal clothe him with a stole of glorie †Ioy exultation she shal heape vpon him shal make him inherite an euerlasting name †Foolish men shal not apprehend her wise men shal meete her foolish men shal not see her for she is far from pride and deceite †Lying men shal not be myndful of her and true men shal be found in her and shal haue successe euen to the beholding of God †Prayse is not comelie in the mouth of a sinner †Because wisdom proceded from God For prayse shal be with the wisdom of God shal abound in a faithful mouth the dominator wil giue praise to yt †Say not It is by God that she is absent for doe not thou the thinges that he hateth †Say not He hath made me erre for impious men are not necessarie for him †Our Lord hateth al abomination of errour and it shal not be amiable to them that feare him †God from the beginning made man and left him in the hand of his owne counsel †He added his commandmentes and precepts †If thou wilt keepe the commandment and keepe acceptable fidelitie for euer they shal preserue thee †He hath set before thee water and fire to which thou wilt stretch forth thine hande †Before man there is life and death good and euil what pleaseth him shal be geuen him †Because the wisdom of God is much and he is strong in mighte seing al men without intermission †The eies of our Lord are towards them that feare him and he knoweth al the worke of man †He hath commanded no man to do impiously and he hath geuen no man space to sinne †for he desireth not a multitude of faithlesse and vnprofitable children CHAP. XVI A few good children yea none at al are better then manie wicked 9. Gods wrath falleth vpon the euil and his mercie on the good 14. workes of mercie merite great reward 15. Nothing is hid from God 20. but manie thinges from men REIOICE not in impious children if they be multiplied neither be delighted vpon them if the feare of God be not in them †Credite not their life and respect not their labours †For better is one fearing God then a thousand impious children †And it is more profitable to die without children rather then to leaue impious children †By one wise a countrie shal be inhabited and the tribe of the impious shal be made desolate †Manie such thinges hath mine eie sene and myne eare hath heard thinges of more force then these †In the synagogue of sinners a fire shal flame and in an incredulous nation wrath shal waxe hotte †The old giantes did not obteine for their sinnes who were destroied trusting to their owne strength †and he spared not the peregrination of Lot and he detested them for the pride of their word †He had not pitie on them destroying the whole nation and extolling themselues in their sinnes †And as the six hundred thousand foote men which were gathered together in the hardnes of their hart and if one had bene stiffe necked it is meruel if he had bene vnpunished †For there is mercie and wrath with him Mightie exoration powring out wrath †according to his mercie so his chastisement iudgeth a man according to his workes †The sinner shal not escape in robberie and the sufferance of him that doth mercie shal not slacke †Al mercie shal make a place to euerie man according to the merite of his workes according to the vnderstanding of his peregrination †Say not I shal be hid from God and from on high who shal remember me †In a great people I shal not be knowen for what is my soule among so innumerable creatures †Behold heauen and the heauens of heauens the depth and al the earth the thinges that are in them in his sight shal be moued †the mountaines together and the litle hilles the fundations of the earth when God shal behold them they shal be shaken with trembling †And in al these thinges the hart is senseles and euerie hart is vnderstood of him †and his wayes who doth vnderstand and the storme which neither the eie of man shal see †For manie of his workes are in secretes but the workes of his iustice who shal declare or who shal susteine For the testament is far from some and the examination of al is in consummation †He that is lesse of hart thinketh vaine thinges and the vnwise and erring man thinketh folish thinges †Heare me my sonne and lerne the discipline of vnderstanding and attend to my wordes in thy hart †and I wil speake discipline in equitie and wil search to declare wisedom and to my wordes attend in thy hart and I speake in equitie of spirit the vertues that God hath put vpon his workes from the beginning and in truth I shew forth his knowlege †In the iudgement of God are his workes from the beginning and from the institution of them he distinguished their partes and their beginninges in their nations †He adorned their workes for euer neither haue they hungred nor laboured and they haue not ceased from their workes †Euerie one shal not vexe his neighbour for euer †Be not
Sion the zele of the Lord of hostes shal doe this †Therfore thus sayth our Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians He shal not enter this citie and he shal not shoote arrow there and shilde shal not occupie it and he shal not cast rampier about it †In the way that he came by the same he shal returne and into this citie he shal not enter sayth our Lord. †And I wil protect this citie that I may saue it for myne owne sake and “ for Dauids sake my seruant †And the Angel of our Lord came forth and stroke in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred eightie fiue thousand And they arose in the morning and behold al were carcasses of dead men †And he went out and departed and Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians returned and dwelt in Niniue †And it came to passe when he adored in the temple of Nesroch his god Adramelech and Sarasar his sonnes stroke him with the sword and they fled into the land of Ararat Asarhaddon his sonne reigned for him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVII â—5 For Dauids sake VVe haue here a manifest example that the merites of Sainctes departed forth of this world do profite the liuing God protecting Ierusalem not only for his owne but also for his seruant Dauids sake Against which plaine sense Protestantes denying merites and prayers of Sainctes seme to haue no better quasion then this sillie shift â—eâ—ned without vvarrant of holie Scripture or ancient Father to interprete these vvordes for Dauids sake to signifie for Gods promise sake made to Dauid But if they be demanded vvhere and when God promised to Dauid that he vvould protect and saue the citie of Ierusalem from sacking by enimies or from ruine they can neuer shevv it God made Dauid conquerour of Ierusalem extirpating there the Iebusites who vntil his time kept the tovvre of Sion 2. Reg. 5. v. 7. protected the same citie al his time and long after And in certaine particular dangers promised to Achaz a vvicked king Isaie 7. and to this good king Ezechias here â— 4. Reg. 19. â— that he vvould saue and deliuer Ierusalem from oher particular distresses vvherin it vvas at those times but he promised not this to king Dauid Neither did God make a general promise to protect that citie perpetually For if he had so promised it should not haue bene subdued brought into captiuitie defaced as it was by the Babylonians And therfore this glosse of Protestants is built vpon false ground And the vvordes are as manifest as if the kings Maiestie should say I vvil protect the â—â—â—â— of London that I may saue it for myn ovvne sake and such my former subiectes sake that haue faithfully heretofore serued their kinges Or if he should say I vvil protect such a noblemans chiefe Manour place for myn owne sake for such his progenitors sake who serued me loyally VVherby is plainely signified that the king doâ—â— this â—ouour not only forth is ovvne sake but also for the merites of some that liued there and deserued vvel before Neither do vve produce this similitude to proue that is in controuersie but to explaine the Catholique doctrine apparent by this text and approued by the ancient Fathers and the vvhole Church of God CHAP. XXXVIII Ezechias being sick and advertised by the prophete that he shal then dye by prayer 〈…〉 prolongation of life 6. with promise of victorie confirmed by a signe 9. For which he rendereth thankes to God with a Canticle of praise IN those dayes Ezechias was sick euen to death and Isaie the sonne of Amos the prophet went in vnto him and said to him Thus sayth our Lord. Take order with thy house for thou shalt die and shalt not liue †And Ezechias turned his face to the wal and prayed to our Lord †and said I besech thee Lord remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect hart and haue done that which is good in thine eies And Ezechias wepte with great weeping †And the word of our Lord was made to Isaie saying †Goe tel Ezechias Thus saith our Lord the God of Dauid thy father I haue heard thy prayer and seene thy teares Loe I wil adde vpon thy dayes fiftene yeares †and out of the hand of the king of the Assirians wil I deliuer thee and this citie and wil protect it †And this shal be a signe to thee from our Lord that our Lord wil doe this word which he hath spoken †Behold I wil make the shadow of the lines returne by the which it is now gone downe in the dyal of Achaz in the sunne backward ten lines And the sunne returned ten lines by the degrees whereby it was gone downe †The scripture of Ezechias the king of Iuda when he had bene sicke and was recouered of his infirmitie I haue said In the middes of my daies shal I goe to the gates of hel I haue sought the residue of my yeares †I haue said I shal not see our Lord God in the land of the liuing I shal behold man no more and the inhabiter of rest †My generation is taken away and is wrapped together from me as the tent of shepehards My life is cut of as by a weauer whiles I yet began he cut me of from morning vntil night thou wilt make an end of me †I hoped vntil morning as a lion so hath he broken al my bones From morning vntil euening thou wilt make an end of me †As a yong swallow so wil I crie I wil meditate as a doue Mine eies are weakened looking on high Lord I suffer violence answer for me †What shal I say or what shal he answer me wheras him self hath done it I wil recount to thee al my yeares in the bitternes of my soule †Lord if mans life be such and the life of my spirit in such thinges thou shalt chasten me and shalt quicken me †Behold in peace is my bitternes most bitter But thou hast deliuered my soule that it should not perish thou hast cast al my sinnes behind thy backe †Because hel shal not confesse to thee neither shal death prayse thee they that goe downe into the lake shal not expect thy truth †The liuing the liuing he shal confesse to thee as I also this day the father shal make thy truth knowen to the children †O Lord saue me and we shal sing our psalmes al the dayes of our life in the house of our Lord. †And Isaie commanded that they should take a lumpe of figges plaster it vpon the wound and he should be healed †And Ezechias sayd What shal be the signe that I shal goe vp into the house of our Lord CHAP. XXXIX The king of Babylon sent legates to visite king Ezechias and congratulate his recouerie
he hath gathered riches and not in iudgement in the middes of his dayes he shal leaue them and in his latter end he shal be a foole †A throne of glorie of height from the beginning the place of our sanctification †O Lord the expectation of Israel al that forsake thee shal be confounded they that depart from thee shal be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our Lord. †Heale me ô Lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saued because thou art my praise †Behold they say to me Where is the word of our Lord let it come †And I am not trubled folowing thee the pastour and the day of man I haue not desired thou knowest That which hath proceeded out of my lippes hath bene right in thy sight †Be not thou a terrour vnto me thou art mine hope in the day of affliction †Let them be confounded that persecute me and let not me be confounded let them be afrayd and let not me be afrayd bring vpon them the day of affliction and with duble destruction destroy them †Thus saith our Lord to me Goe and stand in the gate of the children of the people by which the kinges of Iuda come in and goe out and in al the gates of Ierusalem †and thou shalt say to them Heare the word of our Lord ye kinges of Iuda and al Iuda and al the inhabitants of Ierusalem that enter in by these gates †Thus saith our Lord Take heede to your soules and carie not burdens on the Sabbath day neither bring them in by the gates of Ierusalem †And cast not forth burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day and al worke you shal not doe sanctifie the Sabbath day as I commanded your fathers †And they heard not nor inclined their eare but hardned their necke that they would not heare me and that they would not take discipline †And it shal be if you wil heare me saith our Lord that you bring not burdens in by the gates of this citie on the Sabbath day and if you wil sanctifie the Sabbath day that you doe not al workes therein †there shal enter in by the gates of this citie kinges and princes sitting vpon the throne of Dauid and mounting on chariotes and horses they and their princes the men of Iuda and the inhabiters of Ierusalem and this citie shal be inhabited for euer †And they shal come from the cities of Iuda and from round about Ierusalem and from the land of Beniamin and from the champaine countries from the mountaines and from the South carying holocaust and victime and sacrifice and frankincense and they shal bring in oblation into the house of our Lord. †But if you wil not heare me to sanctifie the Sabbath day not to carie burden and not to bring in by the gates of Ierusalem on the Sabbath day I wil kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shal deuoure the houses of Ierusalem and it shal not be quenched CHAP. XVIII As clay in the hand of a potter so is Israel in Gods hand 8. He pardoneth penitents 10. and punisheth the obstinate 18. They conspire against Ieremie for which he denounceth miseries hanging ouer them THE word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying †Arise and goe downe into the potters house and there thou shalt heare my wordes †And I went downe into the potters house and behold he made a worke vpon the wheele †And the vessel was broken which he made of clay with his handes and turning he made it an other vessel as it pleased in his eies to make it †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Why shal I not be able to doe vnto you as this potter ô house of Israel Behold saith our Lord as clay in the hand of the potter so are you in my hand ô house of Israel †I wil sodenly speake against nation and against kingdom to roote out and destroy and wast it †If that nation shal repent them of their euil against whom I haue spoken I also wil repent me of the euil that I haue thought to doe to it †And I wil sodenly speake of nation and of kingdom to build and plant it †If it shal do euil in mine eies that it heare not my voice I wil repent me of the good that I haue spoken to do vnto it †Now therefore tel the man of Iuda and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem saying Thus saith our Lord Behold I forge euil against you and deuise a deuice against you let euerie man returne from his euil way and direct ye your waies and your studies †Who said We are desperate for we wil goe after our cogitations and we wil do euerie one the peruersitie of his euil hart †Therefore thus saith our Lord Aske the Nations Who hath heard such horrible thinges as the virgine of Israel hath done exceedingly †Why shal the snow of Libanus faile from the rocke of the field or can the cold waters gushing forth and runing downe be drawen out †Because my people hath forgotten me sacrificing in vaine and stumbling in their waies in the pathes of the world that they might walke by them in a way not trodden †that their land might be made into desolation and into an euerlasting hisse euerie one that shal passe by it shal be astonied and wagge his head †As the burning winde wil I disperse them before the enemie the backe and not the face wil I shew them in the day of their perdition †And they said Come and let vs finde deuises against Ieremie for the law shal not perish from the priest nor counsel from the wise nor the word from the prophet come and let vs strike him with the tongue and let vs not attend to al his wordes †Attend ô Lord vnto me and heare the voice of mine aduersaries †Why is euil rendred for good because they haue digged a pitte for my soule Remember that I haue stood in the sight to speake good for them and to returne away their indignation from them †Therefore geue their children into famine and lead them into the handes of the sword let their wiues be made without children widowes and let the husbands be killed by death let their youngmen be pearced through with the sword in battel †Let a crie be heard out of their houses for thou shalt bring the robber vpon them sodenly because they haue digged a pitte to take me and haue hid snares for my feete †But thou ô Lord knowest al their counsel against me vnto death be not propicious to their iniquitie let not their sinne be cleane put out from thy face let them be made falling in thy sight in the time of thy furie deale with them CHAP. XIX The prophet holding an earthen bottel in his
her hart had confidence in our Lord. †And the ancients sayd When we walked alone in the orchard this woman came in with two maydes shut the doores of the orchard and she sent away the maydes from her †And a yongman that was hid came to her and lay with her †But we being in a corner of the orchard seeing the iniquitie ranne to them and saw them lie together †And him in deed we could not take because he was stronger then we and opening the doores he lept out †but her when we apprehended we asked what yongman it was and she would not tel vs of this thing we are witnesses †The multitude beleued them as the ancients and the iudges of the people and they condemned her to death But Susanna cried out with a lowd voice and sayd Eternal God which art the knower of hidden things before they come to passe †thou knowest that they haue borne false witnes against me and loe I dye wheras I haue done none of these thinges which these men haue maliciousely forged against me †And our Lord heard her voice †and when she was led to death our Lord raysed vp the holie spirit of a yong boy whose name was Daniel †and he cried out with alowd voice I am cleane from the bloud of this woman †And al the people turning to him sayd What is this word that thou hast spoken †Who when he stood in the middes of them sayd So folish ye children of Israel not iudgeing nor discerning that which is the truth haue you condemned the daughter of Israel †Returne ye to iudgement because they haue spoken false testimonie against her †The people therfore returned with speede and the ancients sayd to him Come and sitte in the middes of vs and tel vs because God hath geuen thee the honour of old age †And Daniel sayd to the people Separate them far one from an other and I wil discouer them †When they were therfore diuided one from the other he called one of them and said to him O thou inueterated of euil dayes now are thy sinnes come which thou didst committe before iudging vniust iudgements oppressing innocents and dismissing offenders our Lord saying The innocent and the iust thou shalt not kil †Now then if thou sawest her tel vnder what tree thou sawest them talking together Who sayd Vnder a schine tree †And Daniel sayd Wel hast thou lyed agaynst thine owne head for behold the Angel of God taking the sentence of him shal cut thee in the middes †And remouing him away he commanded that the other should come and he sayd to him Seede of Chanaan and not of Iuda beautie hath deceiued thee and concupiscence hath subuerted thy hart †so did you to the daughters of Israel and they fearing spake to you but the daughter of Iuda did not abide your iniquitie †Now therfore tel me vnder what tree thou tookest them speaking one to an other Who said Vnder a prine tree †And Daniel said to him Wel hast thou also lyed against thine owne head for the Angel of our Lord tarieth hauing a sword that he may cut thee in the middes and kil you †Therfore al the assemblie cried out with a lowd voice and they blessed God which saueth them that hope in him †And they rose vp against the two elders for Daniel had conuinced them by their owne mouth to haue geuen false testimonie and they did to them as they had dealt naughtely against their neighbour †to doe according to the law of Moyses they killed them and innocent bloud was saued in that day †But Helcias and his wyfe praysed God for their daughter Susanna with Ioakim her husband and al her kinne because there was no vnhonest thing found in her †And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day thence forward †And king Astyages was layd to his fathers Cyrus the Persian receiued his kingdom CHAP. XIIII Daniel detecteth the fraud of Bels priestes who pretend that Bel eateth much meate 21. for which they are slaine and the idol destroyed 22. Likewise he destroyeth a dragon which the Babylonians held for a god 27. He is cast into the lake of seuen lions 32. whithet Habacuc miraculously bringeth him meate 39. the lions hurt him not his accusers are deuoured AND Daniel was the kings ghest and honoured aboue al his freindes †There was also an idol among the Babylonians named Bel and there were bestowed on him euerie day of floure twelue aâ—ctabaes and fourtie sheepe and of wine six great pottes †The king also did worshipe him and went euery day to adore him But Daniel adored his God the king sayd to him Why dost thou not adore Bel. †Who answering sayd to him Because I worshipe not idols made with hand but the liuing God that created heauen and earth and hath powre ouer al flesh †And the king sayd to him Doeth not Bel some vnto thee to be a liuing God Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euerie day †And Daniel smiling sayd Be not deceiued ô king For this same is within of clay and without of brasse neither hath he eaten at any time †And the king being wrath called his priests sayd to them Vnlesse you tel me who it is that eateth these expenses you shal dye †But if you shew that Bel eateth these things Daniel shal dye because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel sayd to the king Be it done according to thy woord †And the priests of Bel were seuentie beside their wiues and litle ones children And the king came with Daniel into the temple of Bel. †And the priestes of Bel sayd Behold we goe forth thou ô king set the meates mingle the wine shut the doore seale it with thy ring †and when thou shalt come in the morning vnles thou finde al eaten of Bel dying we wil dye or Daniel that hath lyed against vs. †And they contemned because they had made vnder the table a secrete entrance by it they came in alwayes and deuoured those thinges †It came to passe therfore after they were gone out the king set the meates before Bel Daniel commanded his seruants and they brought ashes and he sifted them ouer al the temple before the king and going forth they shut the doore and sealing it with the kings ring they departed †But the priestes went in by night according to their custome and their wiues and their children and they did eate and drinke al. †And the king arose in the first breake of day and Daniel with him †And the king sayd Are the seales safe Daniel Who answered Safe ô king †And forth with when he had opened the doore the king looking on the table cried out with a lowd
our Lord in iustice †And the sacrifice of Iuda and Ierusalem shal please our Lord as the dayes of the world and as the yeares of old †And I wil come to you in iudgement and wil be a swift witnes to sorcerers and aduouterers and to the periured and them that calumniate the hyre of the hyred man the widowes and pupils and oppresse the stranger nor haue feared me sayth the Lord of hosts †For I the Lord and I am not changed and ye sonnes of Iacob are not consumed †For from the dayes of your fathers you haue departed from mine ordinances and haue not kept them Returne to me and I wil returne to you sayth the Lord of hosts And you haue sayd Wherin shal we returne †Shal man fasten God because you do fasten me And you haue sayd Wherein do we fasten thee In tithes and in first fruites †And in penurie you are accursed and you your whole nation fasten me †Bring in al the tithe into the barne and let there be meare in my house and proue me vpon this sayth our Lord if I open not vnto you the fludgates of heauen and powre you out blessing euen to abundance †and I wil rebuke for you the deuourer and he shal not corrupt the fruite of your land neither shal the vine in the filde be barren sayth the Lord of hosts †And al Nations shal cal you blessed for you shal be a land worthie to be desired sayth the Lord of hosts †Your wordes haue bene forcible vpon me sayth the Lord. †And you sayd What haue we spoken against thee You haue sayd He is vayne that serueth God and what profite is it that we haue kept his precepts and that we haue walked sorowful before the Lord of host †Therfore now we cal the arrogant blessed for they that doe impietie are builded and they haue tempted God and are made safe †Then spake they that feared our Lord euerie one with his neighbour and our Lord attended and heard and a booke of monument was writen before him for them that feare our Lord and thinke on his name †And they shal be to me saith the Lord of hosts in the day that I doe to my peculiat and I wil spare them as a man spareth his sonne seruing him †And you shal conuert and shal see what is betwen the iust and the impious and betwen him that serueth God and serueth him not CHAP. IIII. In the terrible day of iudgement the wicked shal be condemned and the iust eternally rewarded 5. Before which time Elias shal returne and conuert the Iewes to Christ FOR behold the day shal come kindled as a furnace and al the proude and al that doe impietie shal be stubble and the day coming shal inflame them sayth the Lord of hosts which shal not leaue them roote and spring †And there shal rise to you that feare my name the Sunne of iustice and health in his winges and you shal goe forth and shal leape as calues of the heard †And you shal treade the impious when they shal be ashes vnder the sole of your feete in the day that I doe sayth the Lord of hosts †Remember ye the law of Moyses my seruant which I commanded him in Horeb to al Israel precepts iudgements †Behold I wil send you Elias the prophete before the day of our Lord come great and dreadful †And he shal conuert the hart of the fathers to the children the hart of the children to their fathers lest perhaps I come and strike the earth with anathema The end of the Prophetical Bookes THE BOOKES OF MACHABEES PERTEYNING TO THE HISTORICAL PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT The argument of the bookes of Machabees with other prooemial Annotations BEFORE we declare the contents the reader perhaps wil require to know why they are called the Bookes of MACHABEES how manie they be who writ them in what language especially whether al or anie or which of them are Canonical Scripture For satisfaction of al which demandes distinguishing betwen certaine and vncertaine we shal briefly shew that which semeth more probable in the doubtful pointes and the assured certaintie of that which is decided by the Catholique Church of Christ Concerning therefore the name and inscription S. Ierom very probably supposeth that these Bookes haue their title of Iudas MACHABEVS the narration of whose heroical vertues and noble Actâ—s occupieth the greatest part of this whole historie And this surname Machabeus signifying valient of streingth or by an vsual hebrew contraction Mobi more explicated Milchamach Coach bihuda that is Force of battel or Streingth in Iuda was geuen him by his father Mathathias when before his death disposing of his sonnes exhorting them he sayd to them al You my sonnes take corege and doe manfully in the law because in it you shal be glorious And behold Simon your brother I know that he is a man of counsel heare ye him alwayes and he shal be father to you Next headdeth And Iudas Machabeus valient of streingth from his youth let him be to you the prince of warfayre and he shal manage the battel of the people And from him this name was also ascribed to his bretheren and to al the rest that ioyned with them either in the holie warres or otherwise shewed their valure professing Gods law in spiritual combate euen to death As Nicetas writeth in Orat. 22. S. Greg. Nazian VVherupon old Eleazarus and the seuen young bretheren with their mother are also called Machabees There be in al foure bookes called Machabees The first S. Ierom found in Hebrew the second in Greke as he testifieth Epist 106. The third is also extant in Greke and Latin in Biblijs Complutensibus The fourth semeth to be that which is mentioned in the end of the first booke And either the same or an other vnder that title is also extant in Greke as testifieth Sixtus Senensis li. 1. Bibliothecae VVho writte them is more vncertaine but most probable euerie one had a diuers auctor Neither are the two last approued for Canonical by anie authentical auctoritie It resteth therfore to speake of the two first which the Iewes and Protestants denie because they are not in the Hebrew Canon The Protestants further alleaging that they are not in the former Canon of the Church before S. Ieroms time Moreouer obiecting certaine places of these bookes which they say are contrarie to sound doctrine to the truth of other authentical histories or contradictorie in themselues None of which thinges can procede from the Holie Ghost the principal auctor of al Diuine Scriptures Al which textes we shal more conueniently explicate according to their true sense in their proper places As for the exception that these bookes are not in the Canon of the Iewes it is answered
that with sorowes haue kept thy testimonies †Neither thinke thou of them that in thy sight haue conuerst falsly but remember them that according to thy wil haue knowen thy feare †Neither be thou willing to destroy theÌ„ that haue had the maners of beastes but respect them that haue taught thy law gloriously †Neither haue indignation towards them which are iudged worse then beastes but loue them that alwayes haue confidence in thy iustice and glorie †Because we and our fathers languish with such diseases but thou for sinners shalt be called merciful †For if thou shalt be desirous to haue mercie on vs then thou shalt be called merciful to vs hauing no workes of iustice †For the iust which haue manie workes layd vp of their owne workes shal receiue reward †For what is man that thou art angrie with him or the corruptible kinde that thou art so bitter touching it †For in truth there is no man of them that be borne which hath not done impiously and of them that confesse which haue not sinned †For in this shal thy iustice be declared and thy goodnes ô Lord when thou shalt haue mercie on them that haue no substance of good workes †And he answered me and sayd Thou hast spoken somethinges rightly and according to thy wordes so also shal it be done †because I wil not in dede thinke vpon the worke of them that haue sinned before death before the iudgement before perdition †but I wil reioyce vpon the creature of the iust and I wil remember their pilgrimage also and saluation and receiuing of reward †Therfore as I haue spoken so also it is †For as the husbandman soweth vpon the ground manie seedes and planteth manie plantes but not al which were sowen in time are preserued nor yet al that were planted shal take roote so they also that are sowen in the world shal not al be saued †And I answered and sayd If I haue found grace let me speake †As the seede of the husbandman if it come not vp or receiue not the rayne in time if it be corupted with much rayne perisheth †so likewise also man who made with thy handes and thou named his image because thou art likened to him for whom thou hast made al thinges and hast likened him to the seede of the husbandman †Be not angrie vpon vs but spare thy people and haue mercie on thy inheritance And thou hast mercie on thy creature †And he answered me and sayd The thinges that are present to them that are present and that shal be to them that shal be †For thou lackest much to be able to loue my creature aboue me and to thee often times euen to thyselfe I haue approched but to the vniust neuer †But in this also thou art meruelous before the Highest †because thou hast humbled thyself as becometh thee hast not iudged thyself that among the iust thou maist be very much glorified †For which cause manie miseries and miserable thinges shal be done to them that inhabite the world in the later dayes because they haue walked in much pride †But thou for thyselfe vnderstand for them that are like vnto thee seeke glorie †For to you paradise is open the tree of life is planted time to come is prepared abundance is prepared a citie is builded rest is approued goodnes is perfited perfit wisdome †The roote of euil is signed from you infirmitie and mothe is hid from you corruption is fled into hel in obliuion †Sorowes are past the treasure of immortalitie is shewed in the end †Adde not therfore inquiring of the multitude of them that perish †For they also receiuing libertie haue despised the Highest and contemned his lawe and forsaken his wayes †Yea and moreouer they haue troden downe his iust ones †and haue sayd in their hart that there is no God and that knowing that they dye †For as the thinges aforesayd shal receiue you so thirst and torment which are prepared shal take them for he would not man to be destroyed †But they them selues also which aâ—e created haue deâ—yled his name which made them haue bene vnkinde to him that prepared life †Wherfore my iudgement now approcheth †Which thinges I haue not shewed to al but to thee to few like vnto thee And I answered and sayd †Behold now Lord thou hast shewed me a multitude of signes which thou wilt beginne to doe in the latter times but thou hast not shewed me at what time CHAP. IX Certaine signes shal goe before the day of iudgement 14. More shal perish then be saued 25. Prayer with other good workes are meanes to saluation AND he answered me and sayd Measuring measure thou the time in it selfe and it shal be when thou seest after a certaine part of the signes which are spoken of before shal passe †then shalt thou vnderstand that the same is the time wherin the Highest wil beginne to visite the world that was made by him †And when there shal be sene in the world mouing of places and truble of peoples †then shalt thou vnderstand that of these spake the Highest from the dayes that were before thee from the beginning †For as al that is made in the world hath a beginning and also a consummation and the consummation is manifest †so also the times of the Highest haue the beginning manifest in wonders and powers and the consummations in worke and in signes †And it shal be euery one that shal be saued and that can escape by his workes and by fayth in which you haue beleeued †shal be leaft out of the foresayd dangers and shal see my saluation in my land and in my costes because I haue sanctified my â—elfe from the world †And then shal they be in miserie that now haue abused my wayes and they that haue reiected them in contempt shal abide in torments †For they that knew not me hauing obtained benefits when they liued †and they that loathed my law when they yet had libertie †and when as yet place of penance was open to them vnderstoode not but despised they must after death in torment know it †Thou therfore be not yet curious how the impious shal be tormented but inquire how the iust shal be saued and whose the world is and for whom the world is and when †And I answered and sayd †I haue spoken hertofore and now I say and hereafter wil say that they are moe which perish then that shal be saued †as a floud is multiplied aboue more then a droppe †And he ansvvered me and sayd Like as the field so also the sedes and as the flovvers such also the colours and as the workeman such also the worke and such as the husbandman such is the husbandrie because it was the time of the world †And
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
cursed in the old Testament but such as now serue not God rightly and yet prosper in this world shal in a moment descend into hel Iob. 21. :: After manie other plagues and punishments at last the Iewes refusing and persecutiÌ„g Christ were reiected and Gentiles called into the Church and aduanced aboue them Theod q. 34. in Deut. :: For sinnes past God letteth some runne into reprobate sense permitting them to their owne freewil who being voide of grace wilfully obdurate them selues Theod. q. 37. in Deut. :: A mind secretly infected with idolatric :: The appetite drunken with pleasures thirsteth stil more :: Secrete thinges are knowne to God manifest thiÌ„ges to men Theod. 9. 38. in Deut. :: Some sinners through great repentance become more vertuous and are more rewarded then some that offended lesse :: God gaue man libertie to choose what he would folow S. Aâ—b in Psal 40. v. 10 By grace men are made able to kepe Gods coÌ„mandments So the commandmentes are not impossible S. Aug. denat et grat c. 69. et q. 54. in Deut. rheod q. â—8 in Deut. S. Cypri li. 3. c. 52. ad Quir. S. Amb. in Psal 40. Freewâ—â— The fourth part An exhortation to serue God with predictioÌ„ of their often sinnes and punishmentes :: He meaneth that he caÌ„ not exercise the office of a captaine general and bring the people into the promised land :: Mâ—â—ter is more easily kept in memorie then prose :: And so by this Canticle they are conuinced that they were abundantly for warned not to breake couenaÌ„t with God The eleuenth prophecie in the office before Masâ—e on Easter eue And the third on whitsuneue The canticle at Laudes on Saturday a Al thinges in heauen and in cartâ— testifie that God dealeth wel with his people b Doctrine doth fructifie in good soules as raine dew in the ground c Mans first dutie is to praise God d The next to acknowledge his owne sinnes defectes c At the towre of Babel f Israel being but one people possessed the inheritance of seuen other nations g God choise Israel to be his peculiar people of mere grace and protected them h Bees without mens industrie made honie in the rockes i Oliue trees prospered in stonie places k Temporal prosperitie occasion of the Iewes reuolting from God l Noueltie allureth carnal people to idolatrie and heresie m For their peruersnes God withdrew his helpe from them n God first loueth before anie man loueth him but men first for sake God before he forsake them o The Iewes reputed most GeÌ„tiles foolish yet now they are inferior to al. p For iust causes God some times differreth punishment q True wisdome considereth thinges past vnderstandeth things present and prouideth for things to come r Al infideles confesse more Maiesty in the true God and in his ReligioÌ„ then in their owne Å¿ Euen such offenders as thinck them selues secure escape not t It is vnpossible that false goddes should helpe theirfolowers in necessitie v The vaine counsel of the wicked being detected shal be punished Caluin contradicteth the holie Scripture Alwaies some good in the Church of the old TestameÌ„t :: The ancient fathers expound these blessinges rather of the Church of Christ then of the Iewes Synagogue s. Aug. q. 56. Theod. q. 44. in Deut. :: The priestlie tribe must especially preferre Gods seruice before their neerest kinred :: The Temple was built in the tribe of Beniamin which God more specially protected and so they dwelt more securely Theod. q. 45. in Deut. :: Epthaim is preferred before his elder brother agreable to their granfathers prophetical blessing Gen. 48. :: The sinne of ZaÌ„bri a prince of Simeons tribe in fresh memorie Nu. 25. semeth to be the cause why this tribe is not partilarly blessed but only in general with al Israel The prophetical sense of these blessiÌ„ges is more certaine more euident then the historical The fifth part The death burial and singular praise of Moyses :: God eleuated his visiue powre aboue nature to see so farre :: Onlie Angels whose ministerie God vsed herein knew the place of his burial lest the Iewes prone to idolatrie might haue honored him for God Histor Scholast VVhosoeuer was author the authoritie of this booke is certaine Bookes of holie Scripture principally treating of seueral argumentes yet in the same participat ech sorte with others The côtentes of this books S. Hiero. Epist ad Paulin. S. Amb. in Psal 47 S. Aug. li. 12 c. 31. li. 16. c. 19. contra Faust Manich. Diuided into foure partes The first part Of the passage of Israel ouer Iordan :: Besides Man na which yeâ— câ—assed not they might 〈◊〉 they would prouide other meate prefiguring that in the primitiue Church it should be lawful to vse legal ceremonies with euangelical rites for a time til the old law were buried with honour :: Notwithstanding this officious lie which is a venial sinne S. Paul Heb. 11. and S. Iames c. 2. testifie that she was iustified by her faith in God and by good workes towards these men S. Aug. cont Mâ—udac â— 17. See Annot Iac. 2. v. 25. :: In place of the cloud and piller of fire the arke is now caried for their guid and direction :: It perteined to the Leuites office to carie the arke Num. 4 but in this special seruice miraculous passage the Priestes did carie it so the greater may do the office of the lesse not contrariwise :: God shewed by this miracle that Iosue had special commission from him and that vnder his gouernment the people should prosper An obiection for laiheadship of the Church Answer Moyses chief both in spiritual and temporal authoritie which was after diuided betwen the high Priest temporal Prince The high priest superiour Iosue executed Gods wil not by spiritual iurisdictioÌ„ but with subordination to the high priest Exod. 4. 5. 6. c. Deut. 17. Chap. 5. 8. 22. 23. 24. Other good princes haue also much aduanced religion but not taken supramacie in spiritual causes Veniam â—etiturus For maintaining Catholique religion against heretikes the kings of Spaine haue the title Catholique The French Kinges most Christian Kinges of England Defenders of the saith â—n Do. 1521. :: Is not the forme of a crosse as conuenieÌ„t a signe to put christians in mind how our Sauiour redemed vs as these stones were to the Iewes how God brought their fathers ouer Iordan :: See annotations annotations c. 3. v. 8. :: CircuÌ„cision had bene omitted sourtie yeares whiles they were in the deserte alwayes vncertaine when to march so it is now commanded the second time * Fuâ—menâ—ie :: Not God but of Gods hoste Religious honour due to Angels See Annot Exâ— 20. Holie places The second part Of conqueâ—ing the Land of promise :: God appointed this long and solemne procession to the end it might appeare that the walles of Iericho â—el not by chance noâ— by force of mans industrie
both good euil nn this life :: Feare on mans paâ—t and hope in God do wel consist together So both presumption and desperation are auoided :: Holie Iob knowing it to be vnpossible that God calumniateth anie man inquireth what is the cause why his goodnes afflicteth the iust :: In that I am thy creature thou maist iustly destroy me but in deede because I am thy creature thou 〈◊〉 spare me through thy mâ—â—c◠〈◊〉 me thy grace which if I vse wel thou wilt also geue me eternal rest :: Repentance is alwayes necessarie but most especially at the houre of death The third conflict :: Sophar might haue applied the vice of much speaking to himself and his felowes alleaging manie thinges which proued not their opinion wheras Iobs allegations proued directly that which he affirmed :: Iobs owne conscience affirmed the contrarie c. 6. v. 3. :: He could not iustly confesse iniqeitie which he had not coÌ„mitted :: God suffereth his simple true meaning seruantes to be scorned for the time but afterward the wicked shal be forced to confesse that those whom they derided are worthily in honour before God Sap. 5. â— 3. :: Craftie plotters of deuises at last by Gods iust punishement commit so great absurdites that the meanest may see their foâ—lie :: Iobs state of sinne or innocencie was best knowen to God next to his owne conscience not at al to his aduersaries that presumed to iudge therof :: It semed to his aduersaries that of desperation he would teaâ— his flesh and so kil himself and to be so nere death as if one held his soule in his hand readie to bet it sâ—l from him :: He was in extreme anguish but stil trusted in God :: He denieth that he is guiltie in conscience but desireth to know of God if he haue anie hiâ— sinnes which himself knoweth not :: Al children taking their sâ—bstance from the mother and hauing only a temporal life continually tending to death can not but be subieâ—t to â—anie 〈◊〉 â—â—â—s 〈…〉 itselfe though it may some long is a limited thin◠〈…〉 is very 〈…〉 yea 〈…〉 proportion in respect of eternitie which is infinite yet God hath care to bring this weake creature to life eternal :: The parentes after death are not afflicted with the state of their children as they be in this life The fourt conflict :: Eliphaz not able to answer Iobs solide reasons raileth against him as if he were iniurious to God or taught others to cast away feare :: It is a very rare priuilege to be without spot :: But spot of venial sinnes may be in a iust man :: Al these miseries are incident to the wicked but are falsly applied to holie Iob who â—ndede was iust :: True and freindlie comforters ought to heare the afflicted with patience and not vnmercifully charge him with crimes which they neither know nor his conscience is guiltie of :: A great affliction when one ful of paine and distres is also forced to defend his owne innocencie against calumniators :: As the aduersaries stil obiect great iniquitie to him so he yeldeth them the same true answer :: Not hauing committed such sinnes as he was charged withal in this duble bitternes of corporal paine and calumniation his eye was stil vpon God expecting to be deliuered * Seâ—l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Infernus :: This texâ— sheweth euidently that there was a place of rest called hel The fifth conflict :: Baldad perceiuing Iob to speake confidently as the common doctrin of manie opposeth him self neuertheles against him and al that thincke as he doth and so speaketh as to manie in the plural number vvil ye speake and of himselfe his felowes are vve reputed c. So holie Iob a figure of the Church defended the common cause his aduersaries a figure of here tâ—kes speaking some truthes mixed false thinges therwith S. Greg. li. 14. c. 1. :: Blessed Iob saith S. Gregorie li. 14. c. 16. 17 looking sincerly on his owne life saw that his affliction was greater then his sinnes deserued and in that respect was not equal yet it was iust for God being iust geueth a iust reward a crowne of iustice as S. Paul speaketh of himself 2. Tim. 4 :: Al refused holie Iob in his affliction euen those whom he had loued most who therfore ought most to haue loued him againe :: An expresse profession of his faith of the Resurrection :: VVe shal rise againe not as one tree riseth in place of an other but the self same persones changed in qualities not in substance The sixth conflict :: Al mans life is short and as a moment in comparison of eternitie but it is not alwayes true that thewiked are shortly punished in respect of this life as this disputer applieth it to proue Iob to impious Therfore Iob answereth in the next chapter â— 13. That ordinarily the wicked lead their dayes to witt their whole life in vvealth and then in a moment goe downe to hel So the rest of these mens assertions are for most part true in some sense but il applied :: Though he disputed with three men yet it was concerning diuine thinges not humaine but of Gods prouidence and iustice of the resurrection of eternal life and punishment :: See ch 20. v 5. :: The same word is in Hebrew Greke and Latin for hel as in the 7 and 17. chap. other places which sheweth that besides hel of the daÌ„ned the resting place also of holie fathers in the old Testament was called by the general name of hel * a riuer of hel The seuenth conflict :: In dede wheÌ„ a iust man hath donne his dutie he is vnprofitable to God but he is profitable to himself which greatly pleaseth God who desireth mans good and it redoundeth to Gods glorie that he hath such seruantes â—â—at 5. v. 17. :: After imputation of false crimes this 〈…〉 chargeth 〈…〉 also with 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 error of the Aegyptians that God hath no prouidence of men in this world Aristotel li. dâ— mundo textu 84. So some heretikes in their phrensic accuse Catholiques of condemned heresies :: VVhiles he expected some comforth of his freindes they stil afflicted him more and more chargeing him with falâ—â— crimes and so aggrauating his grief both of bodie and mind :: Therfore he appealeth to Gods iudgement seate for sentence :: Gods seruantes know that he wil punish wickednes but know not when the wicked presume that he wil neuer punish them :: Heretikes doing and teaching against their owne knowledge are afterward striken with blindnes that they can not see the truth S. Greg. li. 16. c. 26. :: Sinners running into both extremes of defect and excesse are likewise punished with contrarie tormentes :: Man by powre of free wil ofteÌ„ presumeth to spend the time in sinning which God granteth him to do penance for former sinnes Rom. 2. The eight conflict :: Iob answered before ch 9. yet blind
parente his vvrath must nedes be very great to euerie sinner for his ovvne proper sinnes p The hope of glorious resurrection turneth our calamities into spiritual ioy q Yea the more we suffer in this life for the truth the greater is our comforth in hope of reward r Not only in that we are thy creatures but also in that we are thy seruants we are thy proper worke therfore in both these respectes ô God looke vpon vs with clemencie ſ lead also our posteritie into the right way and make them thy seruantes t O God illuminate our vnderstanding v make our actions by thy grace profitable to vs. vv and make perfect in vs the worke of charitie In which one worke al good workes are included and to which al other are directed For then workes are right sayth S. Angustin when they are directed to this one end Gods prouidence the 3. key a Praise of Gods prouidence with thankes b Which Dauid songue with voice c He that firmely relieth and resteth vpon Gods prouidence is assuredly protected by him d Al secret and sutle machinations e and from al crueltie of tyrants f Terrors obscurly suggested by euil men or spirites with erronions conceipte that men are not bond in time of temporal dangers to confesse the truth g Open persecution threatning present death except men denie the truth which they know h circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing and drawing men into error and so to decline from Catholique Religion i long torments euen to death except Gods seruants wil relent and denie the truth which they assuredly beleue and know in their conscience that they are bond to professe it k On thy left side in aduersitie manie fal from God l on thy right side in prosperitie manie more forgete and forsake God m In sincerely sayng thou art my hope thou makest God thy refuge n Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance o The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture Mat. 4 omitting the latter part of this verse which sheweth when Angels protect iust men towitte when they walke in a right path obseruing ordinarie course in their actions not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple Such falling is not the way of the iust but of Lucifer that fel from heauen So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal p God speaketh the rest that foloweth in this Psalme q In eternal saluation Foure sortes of persecution for the Catholique faith 1. 2. 3 4 God leaueth none but those that first leaue him The vvorkes of God admirable the 2. key a Voices beginning instrumentes prosecute this song b when we rest from worke then especially vve ought to thincke vpon Gods vvorkes praise and thanke him for the same c To geue thankes d In prosperitie e in aduersitie f On euerie instrument of tenne stringes signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments g namely on the Psalter h also on the harpe which signifieth mortification i Carnal and sensual man k he that thinketh only of present thinges not of future l The iust in confidence of a good conscience expect exaltation of their powre m and great consolation in the end of their life n Then shal the iust see their enimies depressed and themselues florish like the palme and ceder trees as folovveth o Militant Church p triumphant q Publikly professe Gods praeises as in the wordes folowing Perpetuitie of the Church the 6. key a Praise to be songue vvith voice b composed by Dauid c the sixth day of the weeke vvhich is our friday d in vvhich day the Church of Christ vvas founded by his bloud shed on the crosse f gloriously escending in soule into limbus and in bodie to his graue g he then put on al armour of strength strength to reforme the world and to inlarge his kingdom according to his owne prediction where he saide If I be exalted from the earth I wil draw al thinges vnto myselfe Ioan. 12. v. 31. Our Sauiour founding his Church by his death begane then to reigne therin h Not only in Iurie and Samaria but the whole earth i and the same Church shal not be destroyed k Christ being eternal hath an euerlasting Church l Al sortes of persecuters the High priestes who sometimes vvatered the spiritual land like riuers vvith Scribes Pharises and other incredulous Ievves also Paganes Turkes and Heretikes haue oppugned the Church m With more force then anie persecutions in the old Testament n but though al these assaultes be great and meruelous yet Christ in protecting his Church is more meruelous o Articles of faith are not euidently apparent to knovvlege but euident to credibilitie to those that are disposed by Gods grace illuminating their vnderstanding and mouing their free vvil to geue consent of beleefe if they vvil p It behoueth therfore al members of the Church to conuerse piously and religiously in this life seing she hath so excellent a spouse protector and instructor q euen to the end of the vvorld Eternal saluation and damnation the 10. key a The Hebrevv letter Lamed vvhich ordinarily is prefixed to the datiue case or signifieth to being set before proper names is a signe of the genetiue case Yet the Septuagint expresse it by the datiue and so doth the latin ipsi Dauid and consequently our English hath to Dauid himselfe to shevv a difference betvven sacred and profane vvriters For in humane bookes the vvriter and auctor is al one but in diuine the Holie Ghost is the proper auctor and a man is the vvriter To signifie therfore the principal auctor Dauid is sometimes named as the instrumental cause to vvhom the Holie Ghost inspired this and other Psalmes and by vvhom they vvere vvritten And vvhen the titles expresse othervvise A Psalme of Dauid yet it is so to be vnderstood that the Holie Ghost is alvvayes the principal auctor and Dauid the instrumental ministerial or secondarie auctor But vvhen other names are expressed either in the genetiue or datiue case or hovvsoeuer it proueth not that those men vvere the vvriters of the same Psalmes but importeth some other thing as by S. Augustins iudgement vve noted in the proemial Annotations page 3. 4. vvherby is proued that this Psalme vvas not written nor composed by Moyses as Hebrevv Rabbins suppose but by the Royal Psalmist Dauid b Made and ordinarily songue in the sourth day of the vveke our vvenesday in vvhich day Iudas the traitor sold our Sauiour Christ to his enimies The reuenge of vvhich vvickednes and of al other sinnes is here prophecied c God more commonly called the God of mercie vvhich vertue in him is aboue al his vvorkes Psal 144 is also the God of reuenges according to his iustice d He procedeth in iudgement resolutly not depending nor fearing not respecting anie person povvre
for the assured certaintie therof f As wel the worshippers of grauen or painted images of Iupiter Mars Bacchus and the like as the worshippers of the same imagined false goddes shal be confounded g The Catholique Church h And al particular Churches members of the vniuersal i Praise our Lord Christ who is sanctitie it selfe and sanctifieth others The Church in al nations The 6. key a Prefiguring Christ who hath made his saluation knowen in al nations b A new benefite of grace making men new in spirite requireth a new songue of gratitude c Raised vp himselfe from death d Made his grace effectually knowen by raising men from sinne and deliuering them from the powre of the diuel e Some of the Iewes conuerted to Christianitie Rom. 11. f In voice Cantate exultate psallite g In hart h In instruments i Christ directeth and disposeth al thinges rightly in this world k And wil accordingly geue iust sentence in the end Christ our Messias the 5. key a Though manie enimies do rage and impugne Christ b though the whole earth be trubled thervvith yet Christ vvho sitteth Lord ouer the highest Angels Cherubins and Seraphins obteyneth the victorie reigneth and doth his vvil in al the earth c Requireth discretion d in fauour of thyn elect people e Hebrevv Doctors expound this of the Arke in the old testament but the Doctors of the Church vnderstand Christs humanitie in the holie Eucharist f Here it is euident and S. Augustin sayth this place taketh avvay al doubt that Moyses vvas a Priest against those that for maintaining the heresie of Laiheadshippe denie it â— 23. in Leuit. g By example of their praying and obtaining the Psalmist confirmeth his prophecie that Priestes of the new Testament shal pray and obtaine mercie of Christ for the Church h God reuenged the machinations made against them punishing the rebellion of chore Dathan and Abyron Num. 16. Christs humanitie is his footestoole adored in the Eucharist S. Ambrose S. Augustin The receiuers of the B. Sacrament do sinne if they do not adore it One Creator of al thinges The 1. key a of praise b Not only Iewes but also al Gentiles c God eueryvvhere present yet more peculiarly heareth his suppliants praying in the temple or place dedicated to his seruice d He only whom we serue as our Lord is the only God and there is no other e Peculiar dedicated place as v. 2. f As God is alwayes merciful in geuing and promising g so he is euer faithful in performing Instruction to gouerne the 7. key a These tvvo capital diuine vertues are euer ioyned in al Gods vvorkes for both vvhich experienced tovvards him selfe the Psalmist rendereth thankes and praises b I wil do myn endeuoure to knovv the immaculate vvay c vvhich I can not do but by thy grace coming vnto me For by helpe therof I did as folovveth d That is al and euerie one thus wickedly disposed I abhorred e I kept such vnder as a seruant or slaue f Prospered not gotte no benefite by me g Speedely and without delay I cutte of al disordered people h that others might not be corrupted by them The fift penitential Psalme the 7. key a Euerie petition is a prayer b and that which procedeth from more feruent affection is called a crie though it burst not out into clamoure nor perhaps into anie voice at al. For God saide to Moyses praying in mere silence but vvith vehemencie of spirite Exod. 14 VVhy criest thou to me c Though sinne prouoke Gods wrath because we by sinning turne from him and not he first from vs yet we pray God not so to leaue vs but to geue vs new grace that by humilitie and penance we may returne to him and not dye in sinne d Mans dayes and al his workes are nothing worth but vanish like smoke so long as he is in mortal sinne e yea his best workes as if he geue almose fast pray and dye for the truth yet al those auaile nothing 1. Cor. 13. but are f like dryed stickes or chippes fitte to kindle the fire g My soule separated by sinne from God withereth as grasse that is cutte from the roote h because I haue lost al sauour and appetite to spiritual meate i In this miserable state k I am as bones and flesh cleauing together without moysture or radical humour l I fled from conuersation of men for sorow and shame of my sinnes m as a crow that only flieth by night or as an owle or batte n Also as a sparow hauing lost her mate remaineth mourning and solitarie in the accustomed nest ornere vnto it o Those that were wont to praise or flatter me now are as sworne enimies against me p Bread sauoured to me no better then ashes q and drinke gaue me no comfort but stil I wept r I am most especially aflicted because thou art angrie Å¿ In that thou didst sometime aduance me in prosperitie t my fall is so much greater and more grieuous v As a shadow declineth to nothing and al becometh darknes when the sunne and other light departeth euen so I that am but a shadow decline to mere darknes when thy fauoure parteth from me w and I lose my beautie as grasse cutte from the ground withereth x But I am meruelously comforted considering that thou our Messias the Sonne of God art immutable for euer y and thy memorable promise of redeeming mankind wil haue effect in al generations z Thou rising to helpe who semedst to haue forgote wilt protect the Church and euerie faithful soule a because thou hast differred long b and because the time by thee designed semeth to approch c Men that shal heare thyn Apostles preach shal proue good and fitte matter for the building of thy Church d and the simplest poore people as it were the earth or dust e shal participate of this mercie f Besides those Iewes that shal beleue in Christ much more the Gentiles shal feare and serue him g His glorie is so euident that al kinges know it though al be not conuerted h Of holie Patriarches Priestes Prophetes and of al true penitents i That shal be made a new creature in Christ k The faithful people of the Church according to their habilitie endeuour to serue Christ l Grant me time and meanes to be mature in vertue in this life m Be changed in qualitie Heb. 1. n The Church of Christ perpetual Gratitude for Gods benefits The 7. key a Inspired to Dauid and written by him b Shew forth praises and thankes c al my cogitations affections senses and powres d The first benefite of grace is remission of sinnes e the second is curing euil habites or dispositions f The third to conserue from falling againe g the fourth to geue victorie and reward in abundant measure h The fifth to grant al lawful petitions temporal and spiritual which are good for the soule i
blesse and praâ—e God for euermore The definition of Idolatrie Diuers sortes of Idolatrie Angels honored as goddes Men liuing or dead Corporal creatures sensible and without sense Imagees of false goddes Imagees them selues reputed goddes Idolaters are voide of reason And seruants of diuels â—sal 95. â—5 A prayer with praise of God the 7. key a I am induced to loue God b because he alwayes heareth my prayers c So long as I shal liue d VVhen serred like a stray sheepe from thee the paines of death e and the danger of hel-torments both due for sinne inuironed me and I was not ware therof f But by tribulation falling vpon me I came to knowe my dangerous estate g turned to thee and prayed as foloweth h Afflicted with tribulations i I wil endeuoure to please God in the congregation of those that liue herein grace and in heauen in glorie Thankesgeuing for our Redemer the 5. key a I beleued that God would helpe me b therfore I freely professed that I trusted in him For then in dede faith is perfect when we confesse with mouth that which we beleue in hart c I was vehemently afflicted in tribulations This in the Hebrew is ioyned to the next Psalme before d In the middes of my great affliction I professed that al mans helpe is vaine false deceipful and defestiue and therfore our trust must be in God only e Considering that God hath not only geuen and bestowed manie great benefites vpon me and al mankind but also hath rendered good for euil mercie for our sinneâ— we hâ—uâ—â—g rendered euil for good what now shal I render sayth a true penitent for al that he hath thus rendered to me deseruing so euil f Considering that God hath not only geuen and bestowed manie great benefites vpon me and al mankind but also hath rendered good for euil mercie for our sinneâ— we hâ—uâ—â—g rendered euil for good what now shal I render sayth a true penitent for al that he hath thus rendered to me deseruing so euil g Seing I am not able to render anie thing worthie of Gods fauoure to me yet I wil do that I can I wil gratfully accept his great benefite the cuppe of Christs passion which he dâ—uunke for mankind h and wil praise and cal upon his name i I wil pay voluntarie vowes k for Gods glorie and edification of others l yea I wil offer my life and suffer death when Gods glorie shal require it in whose sight the death of Sainctes is precious and most highly esteemed m Alvvayes vnderstood that such as suffer persecution be in good state of then soules the true seruantes of God n the children of the Church his handmaide o Deliuered me from captiuitie of sinne p In the Church of the faithful The Church of Christ in alnations the 6. key a Not only some but al nations of the Gentiles b and al Ievves Christs Redemption being abundantly sufficient for al are inuited to praise God Rom. 15. v. 11. c Because he hath multiplied his mercie to vs Gentiles to vvhom he made no promise d and most truly performed his promise made to the levves Christ beneficial Mysteries are celebrated by his Church the 6. key a Let vs praise God for his goodnes in making vs of nothing geuing vs manie benefites b and remitting our sinnes Psal 105. 106. 135. c Let the Church of the nevv testament especially confesse his goodnes vvhich hath receiued more mercie and grace d Let al the Clergie praise God novv in the time of more grace and of greater spiritual functions e Yea let the Whole bodie of the Church al that feare and serue God praise his mercie f As wel spiritual as temporal g Though innumerable oppose and endeuour to hurt me saith the Church or anie iust person h yet by Gods povvre not by myn ovvne I am defended and they punished and so the iust hath the victorie and triumpheth i In great troopes and furie k vvith sharpe though shorte force and vvith special noise to terrifie me but in God I ouercame al l I vvas sometimes by vehemencie of tentation declining to sinne m but Gods grace assisted and strengthned me n The same vvord right hand thrise mentioned signifieth the B. Trinitie Also Our Lord signifying Christ in his humanitie the chief instrument of God is here often repeted to signifie the singular efficacie therof o God chastiseth his children p because he vvould not that they should dye eternally So he punisheth as a father not as an enimie q The Prophet novv speaketh in the person of iust soules requiring spiritual doctrin and foode r and promising to serue God Å¿ An euident prophecie of Christ vttered by the Royal Psalmist and novv confessed by euerie Christian that our Sauiour reiected by the Ievves is neuertheles the builder of his Church by ioyning the tvvo peoples of Ievves and Gentiles as tvvo vvalles into one house t God ordayned this acceptable time of grace Mat. 21. â—â— 20. Act. 4. Iâ—m 9. 1 Pet. 2. v The songue of the Hebrevv children vvhen Christ entered Ierusalem vvith palmes of triumph and acclamations w The voice of Christ and his Apostles and other Clergie blessing the people as they desire x This was fulfilled when Christ was brought with bowes of palme and other signes of triumph from Bethania y through the whole citie euen into the Temple and vnto the Altar Mat. 21. z Our first chife and final dutie is to praise God v. 1. vlt. Perfect iustice is in keping Gods law the 7. key The obscuritie of this profound and Psalm appeareth not to the vulgar reader S Augustin differred the explication of this Psalme Omitted to d 〈…〉 e one difficultie At last made 32. sermons in explication therof S. Ambrose writte 22 sermons vpon this Psalme King Dauid a great master of moral doctrin VVhy this Psalme was composed in order of the Alphabet VVhy eight verses are begunne with euerie letter S Basils iudgement that this Psalme conteyneth the argument of manie Psalmes Other expositors of this Psalme S. Ieroms interpretation and explication of the Hebrew Alphabet Idem Proem lament 1. Cor. 13. * God in himself Most of these letters haue also other significations And are diuersly explicated by S. Ambrose S. Beda and others VVherby we may lerne though we vnderstand no more that holie Scriptures are ful of mysteries as S. Ierom calleth this and hard to be vnderstod Gods lavv especially commended in this Psalme 14 Symonyma signifying the lavv of God Gods grace necessarie in euerie good vvorke It enableth freevvil to merite This title vvas added by the Septuagint to admonish vs that this Psalme conteyneth that singular maner of praising God signified by the two Hebrevv vvordes Allelu ja as before Psal 104. a VVhereas al without exception desire to be happie and blessed b they are indede happie according to the perfectest happines of this life that are immaculate c and they
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