Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king and he dismissed him and he departed in peace †And Ioab went in to the king and said What hast thou done Behold Abner came to thee why didst thou dismisse him and he is gone and departed †knowest thou not Abner the sonne of Ner that to this end he came to thee that he might deceiue thee and might know thy going out and thy coming in and vnderstand al things that thou doest †Ioab therfore being gone from Dauid sent messengers after Abner and brought him backe from the cesterne Sira Dauid being ignorant therof †And when Abner was returned into Heborn Ioab brought him aside to the middes of the gate to spake vnto him in guile and stroke him there in the priuie partes and he died in reuenge of the bloud of Asael his brother †Which when Dauid had heard that the thing was now done he said I am innocent and my kingdom before God for euer from the bloud of Abner the sonne of Ner †and come it vpon the head of Ioab and vpon al his fathers house neither let there fayle of the house of Ioab one hauing a fluxe of seede and a leper and houlding the distaffe and falling by the sword lacking bread †Ioab therefore and Abisai his brother slewe Abner because he had killed Asael their brother in Gabaon in the battel †And Dauid said to Ioab and to al the people that were with him Rent your garmentes and be girded with sacke clothes and mourne before the funeral of Abner Moreouer king Dauid folowed the beere †And when they had buried Abner in Hebron king Dauid lifted vp his voice and wept vpon the graue of Abner and al the people also wept †And the king mourning and lamenting Abner sayd Not as cowardes are wont to die hath Abner died †Thy handes were not bound and thy feete were not loden with fetters but as men are wont to fal before the children of iniquitie so art thou fallen And al the people dubling it wept vpon him †And when al the multitude was come to take meate with Dauid when it was yet cleere day Dauid sware saying These thinges do God to me and these adde he if before sunne set I shal tast bread or any thing els †And al the people heard and al thinges pleased them which the king did in the sight of al the people †And al the people knewe and al Israel in that day that it was not the kinges doing that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne †The king also said to his seruantes Are you ignorant that a prince and the greatest is slayne this day in Israel †But I as yet delicate and annointed king moreouer the the sonnes of Saruia are hard to me our Lord reward him that doth euil according to his malice CHAP. IIII. Baana and Rechab secretly kil Ioboseth 8. bring his head to Dauid 9. who condemning their fact putteth them to death AND Isboseth the sonne of Saul heard that Abner was slaine in Hebron and his handes were weakened and al Israel was trubled †And the sonne of Saul had two men captaynes of robbers the name of one Baana and the name of the other Rechab the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite of the sonnes of Beniamin for Beroth also was accounted in Beniamin †And the Berothites fled into Gethaim and were there strangers vntil that time †And Ionathas the sonne of Saul had a sonne lame in his feete for he was fiue yeares old when the tydinges came of Saul and Ionathas from Iezrahel his nurse therefore taking him fled and when she made hast to flee he fel and was made lame and he was called Miphiboseth †Therefore the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite Rachab and Baana coming entered into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day who slept vpon his bed at noone †And they entered into the house secretely taking eares of corne and Rechab and Baana his brother stroke him in priuy partes and fled †And when they were entred into the house he slept vpon his bed in a parler and striking they killed him and taking away his head they went by the way of the desert al night †And brought the head of Isboseth to Dauid into Hebron and they said to the king Behold the head of Isboseth the sonne of Saul thine enemie who sought thy life and our Lord hath geuen my lord the king this day reuenge of Saul and of his seede †But Dauid answering Rechab and Baana his brother the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite and sayd to them our Lord liueth which hath deliuered my soule out of al distresse †for so much as him that told me and said Saul is dead who thought that he told prosperous thinges I apprehended and slewe him in Siceleg to whom I should haue geuen a reward for his tydinges †How much more now when wicked men haue slaine an innocent man in his owne house vpon his bed shal I not require his bloud of your hand and take you away from the earth †Dauid therefore commanded his seruantes and they slew them and cutting of their hands and feete hanged them ouer the poole in Hebron but the head of Isboseth they tooke and buried in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron CHAP. V. VVith general consent Dauid is annointed king of al Israel 7. He taketh the towre of Sion in Ierusalem destroying the Iebuseites 9. buildeth there a new house 13 marieth more wiues and hath more children 17. The Philiflym rising against him are ouerthrowen 22. also the second time AND al the tribes of Israel came to Dauid in Hebron saying Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh †Yea and yesterday also and the day before when Saul was king ouer vs thou wast he that didst leade vs forth and bring backe Israel and our Lord sayd to thee Thou shalt feede my people Israel and thou shalt be prince ouer Israel †The ancientes also of Israel came to the king into Hebron and king Dauid made a league with them in Hebron before our Lord and they annointed Dauid to be king ouer Israel †Thirtie yeares old was Dauid when he began to reigne and he reigned fourtie yeares †In Hebron he reigned ouer Iuda seuen yeares and six monethes and in Ierusalem he reigned three and thirtie yeares ouer al Israel Iuda †And the king went al the men that were with him into Ierusalem to the Iebuseite the inhabiter of the land they said to Dauid Thou shalt not come in hither vnlesse thou take away the blind and the lame saying Dauid shal not come in hither †But Dauid tooke the towre of Sion this is the citie of Dauid †For Dauid had proposed in that day a reward to whosoeuer should strike the Iebuseite and touch the gutters of the house toppes and take away the blind and the lame that hated the soule of Dauid
he did and his strength wherwith he fought and how he restored Damascus and Emath to Iuda in Israel are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And Ieroboam slept with his fathers the kinges of Israel and Zacharias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XV. Azarias beginneth wel 4. afterward for offering incense on the altar 2 Paralip 26. is strooken with leprosie cast out of the temple and from conuersation weth the people his sonne Ioathan ruling the kingdom 8. Sellum killeth Zacharias king of Israel and reigneth in his place 14. After one moneth Manahem killeth Sellum reigneth also Wickedly 19. Maketh league With the Syrians 22. dieth and his sonne Phaceia reigneth 25. Phacee killeth him and reigneth 29. The Assyrians spoyle the countrie and carie away manie captiues 30. Osee killeth Phacee and reigneth 32. In the meane time Ioathan regning in Iuda is infested With enemies 38. dieth and his sonne Achaz reigneth IN the seuen and twenteth yeare of Ieroboam the king of Israel reigned Azarias the sonne of Amasias the king of Iuda †He was sixtene yeares old when he began to reigne and two and fiftie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem †And he did that which was liked before our Lord according to al thinges that his father Amasias did †But the excelses he destroyed not as yet the people sacrificed and burnt incense in the excelses †And our Lord stroke the king and he was a leper vntil the day of his death and he dwelt in a free house a part but Ioathan the kinges sonne gouerned the palace and iudged the people of the land †But the rest of the wordes of Azarias and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda †And Azarias slept with his fathers and they buried him with his ancetors in the citie of Dauid and Ioathan his sonne reigned for him †In the eight and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Zacharias the sonne of Ieroboam ouer Israel in Samaria sixe monethes †and he did that which is euil before our Lord as his fathers had done he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne †And Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspired against him and smote him openly killed him and reigned for him †But the rest of the wordes of Zacharias are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel †This is the word of our Lord which he spake to Iehu saying Thy children shal sit vnto the fourth generation vpon the throne of Israel And so it came to passe †Sellum the sone of Iabes reigned the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda and reigned one moneth in Samaria †And Manahem the sonne of Gadi went vp from Thersa and he came into Samaria and smote Sellum the sonne of Iabes in Samaria and slew him reigned for him †But the rest of the wordes of Sellum his conspiracie wherwith he wrought treason are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel †Then Manahem stroke Thapsa and al that were in it and the borders therof from Thersa for they would not open vnâ—o him and he slew al wemen therof that were withchilde and ripped them †In the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Manahem the sonne of Gadi ouer Israel ten yeares in Samaria †And he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne al his dayes †Phul also the king of the Assyrians came into the land and Manahem gaue to Phul a thousand ralentes of siluer that he should ayde him establish his kingdom †And Manahem put a taxe of siluer vpon Israel on them that were mightie and riche to geue the king of the Assyrians fiftie sicles of siluer euerie man and the king of the Assyrians returned and taried not in the land †But the rest of the wordes of Manahem and al that he did are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And Manahem slept with his fathers and Phaceia his sonne reigned for him †In the fifteth yeare of Azarias the king of Inda reigned Phaceia the sonne of Manahem ouer Israel in Samria two yeares †and he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne †And Phacee the sonne of Romelia his captaine conspired against him and stoke him in Samaria in the towre of the kinges house beside Argob and beside Arie and with him fiftie men of the children of the Galaadites and he slewe him and reigned for him †But the rest of the wordes of Phaceia al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kings of Israel †In the two and fifteth yeares of Azarias the king of Iuda reigned Phacee the sonne Romelia ouer Israel in Samaria twentie yeares †And he did that which was euil before our Lord he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne †In the daies of Phacee the king of Israel came Theglath phalasar the king of Assur tooke Aion and Abel the house of Maachat and Ianoe and Cedes and Asor and Galaad and Galilee and al the land of Nepthali and transported them vnto the Assyrians †And Osee the sonne of Ela conspired and lay in wayte against Phacee the sonne of Romelia and stroke him and slew him and he reigned for him the twentith yeare of Ioatham the sonne of Ozias †But the rest of the wordes of Phacee and al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kings of Israel †In the second yeare of Phacee the sonne of Romelia the king of Israel reigned Ioatham the sonne of Ozias the king of Iuda †Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began to reigne and sixtene yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ierusa the daughter of Sadoc †And he did that which was liked before our Lord according to al things which Ozias his father had done did he worke †Howbeit the excelses he tooke not away as yet the people immolated and burnt incense in the excelses he built the highest gate of the house of our Lord. †But the rest of the wordes of Ioatham and al that he did are not these things written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kings of Iuda †In those dayes
†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
violence of manie waters ouerflowing sent forth vpon a large ground †The crowne of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shal be troden vnder feete †And the flowre of the glorie of his exultation which is vpon the toppe of the valley of fatte ones shal be falling as a timely fruite before the ripenesse of autumme which when he that seeth it shal behold as soone as he taketh it in his hand he wil deuoure it †In that day the Lord of hostes shal be a crowne of glorie and a garland of exultation to the residue of his people †and a spirit of iudgement to him that sitteth in iudgement and strength to them that returne out of battel to the gate †But these also haue bene ignorant because of wine and by drunkennes haue erred the priest and the prophete haue bene ignorant because of drunkennes they are swalowed vp with wine they haue erred in drunkennes they haue not knowne him that seeth they haue bene ignorant of iudgement †For al tables were filled with vomiting and filth so that there was no more place †Whom shal he teach knowledge and whom shal he make to vnderstand the thing heard them that are weyned from the milke that are plucked away from the breasts †For command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there †For in the speach of lippe and in an other tougue he wil speake to his people †To whom he sayd This is my rest refresh the wearie and this is my refreshing they would not heare †And the word of our Lord shal be to them command recommand command recommand expect reexpect expect reexpect a litle there a litle there that they may goe and fal backward and be destroyed and snared and taken †For this cause heare the word of our Lord ye scorneful men which rule ouer my people that is in Ierusalem †For you haue sayd We haue stroken a league with death and with hel we haue made a couenant The scourge ouerflowing when it shal passe shal not come vpon vs because we haue made lying our hope and with lying we are protected †Therfore thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil send in the foundations of Sion a stone an approued stone a corner stone pretious founded in the foundation He that beleueth let him not make hast †And I wil put iudgement in weight and iustice in measure and haile shal ouerthrow the hope of lying and waters shal ouerflow the protection †And your league with death shal be abolished and your couenant with hel shal not stand when the scourge ouerflowing shal passe you shal be troden downe of it †Whensoeuer it shal passe through it shal take you away because in the morning early it shal passe through in the day and in the night and vexation alone shal geue vnderstanding in the hearing †For the bed is streitened so that one must fal out and a short mantel can not couer both †For our Lord shal stand as in the mount of diuisions as in the valley which is in Gabaon shal he be angrie that he may doe his worke his strange worke that he may worke his worke is strange from him †And now mocke not lest perhaps your bonds be tied strayte For I haue heard of our Lord the God of hostes consummation and abridgement vpon al the earth †Harken with your eares and heare my voice attend and heare my speach †Wil the ploughman plowe al the day to sow wil he cut and harrow his ground †Wil he not when he hath made euen the face therof sprinkle cummine and place the wheate by order and the barley and millet and vetche in their bondes †And his God wil instruct him in iudgement he wil teach him †For gith shal not be threshed with instruments that haue teeth neither shal the wayne wheele turne about vpon cummine but gith shal be beaten out with a rodde and cummine with a staffe †But bread corne shal be broken smal but the thresher shal not thresh it for euer neither shal the wayne wheele vexe it nor breake it with the teeth therof †And this is come forth from our Lord the God of hostes that he might make his counsel meruelous and magnifie iustice CHAP. XXIX The Prophet bewaleth the Iewes destruction 9. for their blinde obstinacie 17. prophecying the Gentiles conuersion VVOE to Ariel Ariel the citie which Dauid ouercame yeare is added to yeare the solemnities are at an end †And I wil make a trench about Ariel and it shal be sorowful moorning and it shal be to me as Ariel †And I wil compasse as a sphere round about thee and wil cast a rampier against thee and place munitions to besiege thee †Thou shalt be humbled thou shalt speake out of the earth and out of the gronnd thy speach shal be heard and thy voice shal be out of the earth as the Pythons and out of the ground thy speach shal mutter †And the multitude of them that fanne thee shal be as smal dust and as issles passing away the multitude of them that haue preuailed agaynst thee †And it shal be sodenly forthwith It shal be visited of the Lord of hostes in thunder and earth quake and with great voice of whirlewind and tempest and with flame of deuouring fyre †And the multitude of al nations that haue fought agaynst Ariel shal be as the dreame of a vision in the night and al that haue waried and beseged preuailed agaynst it †And as he that is hungrie dreameth eateth but when he is awake his soule is emptie as he that is thirstie dreameth and drinketh and after he is awake faint as yet thirsteth and his soule is emptie so shal the multitude be of al the Gentiles that haue fought agaynst mount Sion †Be astonied and meruel wauer and stagger be ye drunke and not of wine be moued not of drunkenes †Because our Lord hath mingled vnto you the spirit of drowsines he wil shut your eyes he wil couer your prophetes and princes that see visions †And the vision of al shal be vnto you as the wordes of a booke sealed which when they shal geue to him that knoweth letters they shal say Read this and he shal answer I can not for it is sealed †And the booke shal be geuen to one that knoweth not letters and it shal be sayd to him Reade and he shal answer I know not letters †And our Lord sayd Because this people approcheth with their mouth and with their lippes glorifieth me but their hart is far from me and they haue feared me by the commandement and doctrines of men †therfore behold I wil adde to make admiration to this people by a great and wonderful miracle for wisdom
saith our Lord God Behold I wil deliuer thee into the handes of them whom thou hatest into their handes of whom thy soule is filled †And they shal deale with thee in hatred and they shal take away al thy labours and shal let thee goe naked and ful of ignominie and the ignominie of thy fornications shal be reueled thy wicked dede and thy fornications †They haue done these thinges to thee because thou hast fornicated after the Nations among which thou wast polluted in their idols †Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister and I wil geue her cuppe in thy hand †Thus saith our Lord God The cuppe of thy sister thou shalt drinke deepe and wide thou shalt be into derision and into scorne which is most capable †With drunckennes and sorow thou shalt be replenished with the cuppe of pensifenes and sadnes with the cuppe of thy sister Samaria †And thou shalt drinke it and shalt drinke it vp euen to the dregges and the fragments therof thou shalt deuoure thou shalt rent thy breastes because I haue spoken saith our Lord God Therfore thus saith our Lord God Because thou hast forgotten me and hast cast me of behind thy bodie thou also beare thy wickednes and thy fornications †And our Lord spake to me saying Sonne of man doest thou iudge Oolla and Ooliba and shewest thou them their wicked deedes †because they haue committed aduoutrie and bloud is in their handes and with their idols they haue fornicated moreouer also their children whom they begate for me they haue offered vnto them to be deuoured †Yea and they haue done this to me They polluted my sanctuarie in that day and profaned my sabbathes †And when they immolated their children to their idols and went into my sanctuarie in that day to pollute it these thinges also they did in the middes of my house †They sent to men comming from far to whom they had sent a messenger therfore loe they came to whom thou didst wash thyself and didst annoint thine eyes about with stibikestone and wast adorned with wemens ornaments †Thou satest in a very faire bed and a table was decked before thee mine incense and mine oyntment thou didst set vpon it †And the voice of a multitude reioycing was on it and on the men that were brought of the maltitude of men and came from the desert they did put bracelets on their handes and beautiful crownes on their heades †And I said to her that was worne in aduoutries Now wil this woman also fornicate in her fornication †And they went to her as to an harlot woman so went they vnto Oolla and Ooliba wicked wemen †They therfore are iust men these shal iudge them with the iudgement of adulteresses and with the iudgement of bloudshedders because they are adultresses and bloud is in their handes †For thus saith our Lord God Bring a multitude to them and deliuer them into tumult and into spoile †and let them be stoned with the stones of peoples and let them be thrust through with their swordes they shal kil their sonnes and daughters and their houses they shal burne with fire †And I wil take away the wickednes out of the land al wemen shal learne not to doe according to the wickednes of them †And they shal geue your wickednes vpon you and the sinnes of your idols you shal carie and you shal know that I am the Lord God CHAP. XXIIII Ierusalem manie wayes chasticed of God and not amended 11. shal at last be melted like a brasse potte 15. and shal not dare to mourne for the death of her dearest AND the word of our Lord was made to me in the ninth yeare in the tenth moneth the tenth day of the moneth saying †Sonne of man write thee the name of this day wherin the king of Babylon is confirmed against Ierusalem to day †And thou shalt speake by a prouerbe to the exasperating house a parable and shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Set thou a potte st it I say and put water into it †Heape together the peeces therof into it euerie good part the thigh and the shoulder the chosen thinges and ful of bones †Take the fattest beast and lay together pyles of bones also vnder it the seething therof is boyling hotte and the bones therof are throughly sodden in the middes therof †Therfore thus saith our Lord God Wo to the citie of bloud to the potte whose rustines is in it and the rustines therof is not gone out of it by her partes and by her partes cast her out there hath no lotte fallen vpon her †For her bloud is in the middes of her she hath shed it vpon the most cleare rocke she shed it not vpon the ground that it might be couered with dust †That I might bring mine indignation in vpon her and might reuenge with vengeance I gaue her bloud vpon the most clere rocke that it might not be couered †Therfore thus saith our Lord God Wo to the citie of bloud whose bonefire I wil make great †Heape together the bones which I wil burne with fire the flesh shal be consumed and al the composition shal be sod and the bones shal drie away †Set it also vpon hote burning coles emptie that the brasse therof may waxe hote and be melted and let the filth of it be melted in the middes therof let the rust therof be consumed †There hath bene sweating with much labour and the exceding rust therof is not gone out no not by fire †Thine vncleannes is exectable because I would clense thee and thou art not clensed from thy filthines yea neither shalt thou be clensed before I make myne indignation to cease in thee †I the Lord haue spoken It shal come and I wil doe it I wil not passe nor spare nor be pacified according to thy wayes and according to thine inuentions wil I iudge thee saith our Lord. †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man behold I take from thee the thing that thine eyes desire in a plague and thou shalt not lament nor weepe neither shal thy teares runne †Sigh holding thy peace thou shalt not make the mourning of the dead let thy crowne be tyed round about thee and thy shoes shal be on thy feete neither shalt thou couer thy face with a cloth neither shalt thou eare the meates of mourners †I spake therfore to the people in the morning and my wife died at euen and I did in the morning as he had commanded me †And the people sayd to me Why doest thou not tel vs what these thinges signifie that thou doest †And I sayd to them The word of our Lord was made to me saying †Speake to the house of Israel Thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil pollute my sanctuarie
straict hand of discipline ouer sinners for their conuersion Å¿ Sinners deserue much punishment t but repenting and trusting in God shal finde his mercie v The end of true penance is ioyto which therfore the prophet inuiteth al penitents Vexation geueth vnderstanding Sinne must be punished Good workes are of graâ—e in epist ad Ro. c. 4. Protestantes expound this place contrary to many other clere places contrarie to the exposition of ancient fathers God couering or not imputing sinne doth quite take them away The contrarie doctrin is iniurious to God to Christ to holie Scriptures to glorified S inctes Sincere repentance is a necessarie dispotion to remission of 〈…〉 e. After remissioÌ„ it is satisfactorie and meritorious The perfectioÌ„ of Gods workes described The 2. key a not in your selues b praise is not comelie in the mouth of a sinner Eccli 15. c in mortification offering your bodies a liuing hoste Rom. 12. d of this instrument this booke is called the Psalter and it signifieth the obseruation of the tenne commandments without which no praise pleaseth God e praising God for the grace of Christ in the new testament f Gods rules and precepts are most iust and right g he performeth whatsoeuer he promiseth h God euer ioyneth these vertues together i Gods word iâ— omnipotent k vnknowen â—â— riches hid in secrete places As in Babylon he confounded their tongues m his absolute wil is alwayes fulfilled n the people of Israel in the old testament and Christians of al nations in the new o Gods per petual prouidence p Gods wisdom infinite q No powre in earth is of anie force without God r of his master Å¿ or of him selfe t O God which hast al perfection shew thy mercie in protecting and sauing al that trust in thee Gods prouidence The 3. key a His proper name was Achis 1. Reg. 21. but al kinges of Palestina were called Abimelech as pharao in Aegypt Nâ—huchodonosor in Babylon This Psalme is also composed in order of tho Alphabet b I prayse God c both in prosperitie and aduersitie d when I serue our Lord my soule shal be praised in his seruice e Euerie man be he how poore soeuer when he prayeth shal be heard f the proper guardian Angel of euerie one g with filial feare h the rich of this world setting their mind vpon their wealth are poore in spiritual giftes i Euerie one desireth to be happie but he in dede shal be happie that fleeth from euil and doth good k God seing almens actioÌ„s intentions wil render as they deserue l Though the iust some for a time to be forsaken yet God that geueth them internal streingth wil at last reward and crow 〈…〉 them his owne giftes m for their sinne they are suffered to fal into more sinne n contrariwise those that accept of his grace shal finally not offend A secret great misterie in the title of this Psalme Iuc 2. Some become vvorse some better by Christ Sacrifice and Priesthood changed God most high is become lovve He is our sacramental meate Christ leaft the Ievves receiued the Gentiles The real presence of Christ in the Sacrament Catech. Râ— p. 2. â— â— q. â—4 Not only faith but good vvorkes with faith iustifie Christs persecution The 5. key a Dauid signifieth beloued desiderable or strong of hand that is Christ aboue al beloued of God desired of man the strong conquerour of death and hel S. Aug. in hunc locum b By way of imprecation heprophecieth that God wil ouerthrow the persecutors of Christ and of Christians c Offensiue d denfensiue e preoccupate and preuent the malice of the persecutor f Such a punishment and confusion shal fal in the end vpon al the malicious after that the iust shal haue ouercome tribulations g In the time of truble in hope h after deliuerie in eternal saluation i such false witnesses did rise against Christ Mat. 26. k thinges that were not for God himselfe that knoweth althinges knoweth not that which neither was is nor can be l they made priuation of my life verified in Christ not in Dauid for he was killed by his enemies m Al our Sauiours life was penance for others needing none for himselfe n Christ the good Samaritane that releeued the wounded man Luc. 10. o al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion p al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion q al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion r Our Lord knoweth not anie iust cause why the Iewes so persecuted him for they had no iust cause but meere malice Å¿ as Psal 21. and Mat. 27. God why hast thou forsaken me not deliuered me from temporal death nor yelded me such consolation as thou gauest other Sainctes in their agonies t a prophecie of Christs resurrection v Prophecie of the Catholique Church as Psal 21. w This place is applied by our Sauiour to himselfe Ioan. 15. x The Pharises and Herodians said Master we know that thou art a true speaker c. meaning to intrappe him with treason Mat. 22. y The same Pharises and Priestes iudged him woorthy of death and procured the people to â—rie Crucifie him crucifie him z Againe his Resurrection is prophecied a At the day of iudgement the wicked shal receiue sentence of damnation b the blessed of eternal glorie Gods prouidence The 3. key a More specially describing the state of men in the new testament then in the old b instruction for Dauid not as a king or a prophet but as the poore seruant of God c wittingly and resolutely preferring wicked life before vertuous d God so â—ateth sinne committed of meere malice that he commonly reiecteth such sinners and more often offereth new grace to those that sinne of frailitie or ignorance e Some ignorance is inuincible wheÌ„ one hath a good wil to lerne doing his endeuour to knovv the truth in doctrin his dutie in manners but can not get knowlege therof and then he is excused before God though he erre in opinion or in fact others are negligent to lerne and their error is grosse ignorance and is a sinne greater or lesse according to the importance of the thing which they ouhgt to knovv Others are more vvilful desiring to be ignorant that they may sinne vvith the lesse remorse or repining of their ovvne conscience and this is affected ignorance and most hainous and odious sinne For which God often leauing them destitute of ordinarie grace which he geueth to others they fal into reprobate sense and into more horrible sinner f God doth not vtterly shut vp his mercie from the most wilful wicked sinners but geueth them sometimes good motions and sufficient helpe that they may repent be iâ— stified saued if they do not wittingly harden their owne hartes and stil wilfully repel Gods grace g For so God pomiseth vvho
death of his Saincts Hence also is proued that seeing in this life the good are afflicted and the bad oftentimes prosper temporally there must nedes be an other Court of exact Iustice and an other Reaconing day wherin euerie one shal receiue according as they haue donne good or euil which was sufficiently intimated by Gods discussing and manifesting Abels and Cains deserts which were hidden before and in part rewarding them accordingly yet reseruing the ful reward of the one and punishment of the other to the next world Of the Iudge and his sentence Enoch alleadged by S. Iude the Apostle proficied clerly saying Behold our Lord cometh in his holie thousands to doe iudgement aganst al and to reproue al the impions of al the workes of their impietie wherby they haue donne impiously and of al the hard things which impious sinners haue spoken against him Thus holie Enoch preached touching the wicked which thought there was no Iudgement to come nor Iudge to be feared At this Iudgement al shal appeare in bodie and soule returning to life For that Al men shal rise from death is proued by the immortalitie of mans soule which God did not make nor produce of corruptible matter but immediatly Breathed into his face the breath of life and man became a liuing soule so the soule being immortal and hauing a natural inclination to the bodie mans natural perfection requireth the coniunction of bodie and soule for neither soule nor bodie separated is a man but both ioyned in one subsistence are a man in so much that mankind should perish except the bodies shal rise againe and liue with the soules And then shal the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules happie or miserable for euer Of Eternal life the translation of Enoch is a figure For seeing God preserueth his corruptible bodie so long from death and infirmitie it is a token and manifest signe that by the same powre of God the bodies of men shal at last day after that al men are once dead rise againe and remaine with the soules for euer The good in Eternal ioy the wicked in Eternal paine Both signified by the custodie of the gate of Paradise by Angels who for euer kepe out these that are stil defiled with sinne and so they depart into fire euerlasting and admit the innocent and iust into the kingdome of heauen which is euerlasting ioy and perfect felicitie Thus we see the face and briefe summe of Religion in the beginning of the world til the floud and the state of the Church which was alwayes Visible consisting of men good and bad with a continual Succession of Rulers as wel spiritual as temporal For the first borne were both Priestes and Princes in euerie familie And amongst the same one euer chief of al. From which ranke Cain was excluded or rather excluded him selfe by Going forth from the face of our Lord. Wherupon holie Moyses râ—â—teth this Monarchical succession of one chiefe and Supreme Head from Adam by the line of Seth Enos Cainan Malaleel Iared Enoch Mathusala Lamech and Noe. Neuertheles he setteth downe also the progenie of Cain the first beginner of a worldlie schismatical and heretical conuenticle opposite to the Citie of God He denied Gods prouidence as Thargum Hierosolomitanum testifieth protesting to Abel That there was no Iustice nor Iudge nor other world then this no reward for vertue nor punishment for sinne and so desperatly he killed Abel of these negatiue principles proceeded other like detestable opinions and most wicked life sauage and barbarous crueltie and al kind of impietie And in processe of time albeit manie remained in true faith and vnitie of the Church yet by conuersation with such miscreantes especially by occasion of Mariages betwen the faithful and infidels almost the whole world was corrupted in maners But Noe was iust and perfect In punishment therefore of so great and enormious sinnes God sent the general floud wherby al Cains progenie and al other infidels were wholly destroyed and extinguished and the true Church notably purged onlie iust Noe and his familie reserued By whom the same true Church was continued and the world againe replenished with men CHAP. VIII The waters diminishing by litle and litle 6. Noe sendeth forth a crow 8. after him a doue thrise 18. lastly goeth forth with al that were with him in the arke 20. erecteth an Altar and offereth Sacrifice AND God remembred Noe and al the beasts and al the cattle which were with him in the arke and brought a winde vpon the earth and the waters decreased †And the sountaines of the depth and the floud gates of heauen were shut vp and the rayne from heauen was stayd †And the waters returned from the earth going comming and they begane to decrease after a hundred fiftie dayes †And the arke rested the seauenth moneth the seauen twentith day of the moneth vpon the mountaines of Armenia †But the waters for al that were going and decreasing vntil the tenth moneth for in the tenth moneth the first day of the moneth the topps of the mountaines appeared †And after that fourtie dayes were passed Noe opening the windowe of the arke which he had made let forth a crowe †which went forth and did not returne til the waters were dried vpon the earth †He sent forth also a doue after him to see if the waters were ceased yet vpon the face of the earth †Which finding not where her foote might rest returned to him into the arke for the waters were vpon the whole earth and he stretched forth his hand and caught her and brought her into the arke †And hauing expected yet seauen moe dayes againe he let forth a doue out of the arke †But she came to him at euentide carrying a bough of an oliue tree that had greene leaues in her mouth Noe therfore vnderstood that the waters were ceased vpon the earth †And he expected yet neuertheles other seauen dayes and he sent forth a doue which returned not any more vnto him †Therfore in the sixt hundred and one yeare the first moneth the first day of the moneth the waters were cleane diminished vpon the earth and Noe opening the roofe of the arke looked and sawe that the face of the earth was dried †In the second moneth the seuen twentyth day of the moneth the earth was dried †And God spake to Noe saying †Goe forth of the arke thou thy wife thy sonnes and the wiues of thy sonnes with thee †Al cattle that are with thee of al flesh as wel in soules as in beastes al creepers that creepe vpon the earth bring out with thee goe yee vpon the earth increase and multiplie vpon it †Noe therfore went forth and his sonnes his wife and the wiues of his sonnes with him
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
vvorkes Mat. 23. And S. Iohn ascribeth the true sentence geuen by Caiphas in the councel to his office of High Priest saying Ioan. 11. He said not this of him selfe but being the high priest of that yeare he prophecied that IESVS should die for the nation and to gather into one the children of God VVhere the high priest by vertue and priuilege of his office vttered the truth which him selfe neither meant nor vnderstood And this happened when the Law and Priesthood of the Iewes was to decline geue place to Christs new ordinance and therfore no doubt God euer directed the sentence of the high Priest and most specially now Christ preserueth the Apostolique See from error in faith and in general decrees touching manners yea though the chiefe visible Iudge were as wicked as Caiphas And therfore the Protestantes euasion is friuolous limiting the priests sentence to binde the subiectes so long as he is the true minister of God and pronounceth according to his vvord For except God assisted him that he should pronounce according to his word and so al men rest satisfied submitting them selues to his sentence the controuersie should be endles and this consistorie nothing worth but stil be new examinations and new iudgementes whether the former were according to Gods word or no. 12. He that shal be proude This also conuinceth that al were bound to accept of the high priests sentence the law condemning him of pride that refused to obey the commandment of the Priest vvhich at that time ministred to our Lord and for his disobedience punishing him with death CHAP. XVIII In steed of other inheritance Priesies and Leuites haue prouision by Sacrifices and oblations 9. Al superstition to be auoided 15. Perpetuitie of prophetes and finally one special PROPHET towit CHRIST is promised 20. False prophetes must be slaine THE priestes and Leuites and al that are of the same tribe shal haue no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israel because they shal eate the sacrifices of our Lord and his oblations †and nothing els shal they receiue of the possession of their brethren for our Lord him selfe is their inheritance as he hath spoken to them †This shal be the right of the priestes from the people and from them that offer victimes whether they immolate oxe or sheepe they shal geue to the priest the shoulder and the mawe †the first fruites of corne of wine and oile and a part of the woolle of their sheepe shearing †For him hath our Lord chosen of al thy tribes that he might stand and minister to our Lord he and his sonnes for euer †If a Leuite goe out of one of thy cities of al Israel in the which he dwelleth and would come desiring the place which our Lord shal choose †he shal minister in the name of our Lord his God as al his brethren the Leuites that shal stand at that time before our Lord. †He shal receiue the same portion of meates that the rest doe beside that which in his owne citie is dew to him by succession from his fathers †When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee beware thou be not willing to imitate the abominations of those nations †Neither let there be found in thee any that shal expiate his sonne or daughter making them to passe through the fyre or that demandeth of southsayers and obserueth dreames and diuinations neither let there be a sorcerer †nor inchanter nor that consulteth with pithone or diuiners and seeketh the truth of the dead †for al these thinges out Lord abhorreth and for these abominations wil he destroy them at thy entring in †thou shalt be perfect and without spotte with our Lord thy God †These nations whose land thou shalt possesse heare southsayers and diuiners but thou art otherwise instructed of our Lord thy God †“ A PROPHET of thy nation and of thy brethren like vnto me wil our Lord thy God raise vp to thee him thou shalt heare †as thou didst request of our Lord thy God in Horeb when the assemblie was gathered and saidst I wil no more heare the voice of our Lord my God and this exceding great fire I wil see no more lest I die †And our Lord said to mie They haue spoken al thinges wel †A prophete wil I rayse vp to them out of the middes of their brethren like to thee and I wil put my wordes in his mouth and he shal speake al thinges that I shal command him †but he that wil not heare his wordes which he shal speake in my name I wil be the reuenger †And the prophet that being depraued with arrogancie wil speake in my name the thinges that I did not command him to say or in the name of strange goddes shal be slaine †And if in secrete cogitation thou answer How shal I vnderstand the word that our Lord spake not †This signe thou shalt haue That which the same prophete foretelleth in the name of the Lord and cometh not to passe that our Lord hath not spoken but by the arrogancie of his minde the prophet hath forged it and therfore thou shalt not feare him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII 15. A PROPHET of thy nation Amongst other places this plainly proueth that the same wordes in holie Scripture may haue diuers literal senses For first the coherence of the text sheweth that God here promised to geue his people an other extraordinarie prophet after Moyses death of their owne nation as wel to take away occasion of seeking to southsayers diuiners and other prophane prophetes of false goddes strictly forbidden in the wordes going immediatly before as in approbation of their conuenient desire mentioned in the wordes folowing to heare Gods wil not by himself nor by an Angel but by Moyses who was now shortly to be taken from them And so this promise was first performed in Iosue succeding next after Moyses in gouernment And as neede required God ceassed not to send more prophetes besides their ordinarie Priests Againe this place is also vnderstood of Christ our Sauiour chief Prophete and master of al prophetes S Peter so expounding it Act. 3. v. 22. 23. CHAP. XIX Certaine cities of refuge must be assigned for casual manslaughter 11. wilful murther punished by death without remission 15. so it be conuinced by two or three witnesses 16. False witnesses punished with the paine which the crime obiected deserueth VVHEN our Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations whose land he wil deliuer to thee and thou doest possesse it and dwellest in the cities and houses therof †three cities shalt thou separate to thee in the middes of the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in possession †preparing diligently the way and thou shalt diuide the whole prouince of thy Land equally into three partes that he which for murder is a fugitiue may haue
him bread to eate and water to drink †and also a peece of a masse of drie figges and two bunches of resinnes Who when he had eaten his spirite returned and he was refreshed for he had not eaten bread nor drunken water three daies and three nightes †Dauid therefore sayd to him Whose art thou or whence and whither goest thou who sayd I am a yong man of Aegypt the seruant of an Amalacite and my maister hath leift me because I began to be sicke three daies agone †For we brake forth at the south side of Cerethi and against Iuda and at the south of Caleb and burnt Siceleg with fire †And Dauid sayd to him Canst thou bring me to this companie Who sayd Sweare to me by God that thou wilt not kil me nor deliuer me into the handes of my lord and I wil bring thee to this companie And Dauid sware to him †Who when he had brought them behold they sate vpon the face of al the earth eating and drinking and as it were keping festiual day for al the praye and spoiles which they had taken out of the Land of the Philistijms and out of the Land of Iuda †And Dauid stroke them from euening vntil the euening of the next day and there escaped not anie of them but foure hundred yong men which had gotten vpon camels and were fled †Dauid therefore reskewed al thinges that the Amalecites had taken and he reskewed his two wiues †Neither was there anie wanting from litle to great as wel of their sonnes as of their daughters and of the spoiles and what thinges soeuer they had taken Dauid brought al againe †And he tooke al the flockes heardes and draue them before his face and they sayd This is the praye of Dauid †And Dauid came to the two hundred men which being wearie had staied neither were able to folow Dauid and he had bidden them to rest in the Torrent Besor who came forth to meete Dauid and the people that were with him And Dauid coming to the people saluted them peaceably †And euerie naughtie and wicked felow of the men that had gone with Dauid answering sayd Because they came not with vs we wil not geue them anie thing of the praye which we haue recouered but let their wife and children suffice euerie man whom when they haue receiued let them depart †But Dauid sayd You shal not doe so my brethren of these thinges which our Lord hath deliuered to vs and hath kept vs and hath geuen the theeues that were broken out against vs into our handes †neither shal anic man heare you vpon this talke For there shal be equal portion of him that went downe into battel and of him that abode at the baggage they shal diuide alike †And this hath beene downe from that day and euer after it was decreed and ordained as a law in Israel †Dauid therefore came into Siceleg and sent giftes of the praye to the ancientes of Iuda his neighboures saying Take a benediction of the praye of our Lords enemies †To them that were in Bethel and that were in Ramoth toward the South and them that were in Gether †and them in Aroer and them in Sephamoth and them in Esthamo †and them in Rachal and them in the cities of Ierameel and them in the cities of Semi †and them in Harama and them in the lake of Asan and them in Athach †and them in Hebron and to the rest that were in those places in the which Dauid had taried and his men CHAP. XXXI Saul with his sonnes are slaine in battel 7. The Philistijms possesse the place and hang the dead bodies on a wal 11. but valiant men of Iabes Galaad take them away and burne them burie their bones and fast seuen dayes AND the Philistijms fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistijms and fel being slaine in mount Gelboe †And the Philistijms fel vpon Saul and vpon his sonnes and they stroke Ionathas and Abinadab and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul †and the whole weight of the battel was turned vpon Saul and the archers ouertooke him and he was sore wounded of the archers †And Saul sayd to his esquier Drawe out thy sword and strike me lest perhaps these vncircumcised come and kil me mocking me And his esquier would not for he was frighted with exceding feare Saul therefore caught his sword and fel vpon it †Which when his esquier had seene to wit that Saul was dead himselfe also fel vpon his sword and died with him †Saul therefore died and his three sonnes his esquier and al his men in that day together †And the children of Israel that were beyond the valley and beyond Iordan seing that the men of Israel were fled and that Saul was dead and his sonnes they left their cities and fled and the Philistijms came and dwelt there †And when the next day was come the Philistijms came to spoile them that were slaine and they found Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gelboe †And they did cut of Saules head and spoiled him of his armour and sent into the land of the Philistians round about that it should be declared in the temple of their Idols and among their people †And they did put his armour in the temple of Astaroth but his bodie they hung on the wal of Bethsam †Which when the inhabiters of Iabes Galaad had heard whatsoeuer the Philistijms had done to Saul †al the most valiant men arose walked al the night and tooke the bodie of Saul and the bodies of his sonnes from the wal of Bethsam and they came to Iabes Galaad and burnt them there †and they tooke their bones and buried them in the wood of Iabes and fasted seuen daies THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF KINGES BESIDES a great part of the first booke and beginning of the third this second booke is wholly of King Dauid VVhos 's manie laudable Actes as also his faultes which were fewer with his true repentance and punishment are related not in such method as may easily be diuided into distinct partes in order of the chapters but according to the distinction of thinges conteined his succession to the royal crowne first in Iuda and after in al Israel with the declination and death of his competitour Isboseth are recorded in the 2. 3. 4. and 5. chapters His vertues and praises to wit his solemne mourning for Saul and that familie his deuotion fortitude pietie and gratitude are specially touched in the 1. 6 7. 8. 9. and 10. chapters His sinnes of adulterie with Bethsabee of killing her husband Vrias of pride in numbering his people with his hartie repentance and temporal punishment for the same are written from the 11. chapter to the 21 together with the 24. The 22. and 23. chapters
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
the world haue obtained riches †And I saide Then haue I iustified my hart without cause and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes †And haue bene scourged al the day and my chastising in the morninges †If I saide I wil speake this behold I reproued the nation of thy children †I thought to know this thing it is labour before me †Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes †But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them thou hast cast them downe whiles they were eleuated †How are they brought into desolation they haue failed sodanely they haue perished for their iniquitie †As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord in thy citie thou shalt bring their image to nothing †Because my hart is inflamed and my reynes are changed And I am brought to nothing and knew not †As a beast am I become with thee and I alwaies with thee †Thou hast helde my right hand and in thy wil thou hast conducted me and with glorie thou hast receiued me †For what is to me in heauen and besides thee what would I vpon the earth †My flesh hath fainted and my hart God of my hart and God my portion for euer For behold they that make them selues faire from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed al that fornicate from thee †But it is good for me to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord God That I may shew forth al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion PSALME LXXIII Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning besecheth God to respect his owne inheritance cruelly afflicted â—â— and leift long without helpe 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name Vnderstanding to Asaph VVHY hast thou ô God repelled for euer is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture Be mindful of thy congregation which thou hast possessed from the beginning Thou hast redemed the rod of thine inheritanâ—â—e mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt †Lift vp thy handes vpon their prides for euer how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place †And they that hate thee haue gloried in the middes of thy solemnitie They haue sette their signes for signes †and haue not knowne as in the issue on high As in a wood of trees they haue with axes †cut out the gates therof together in hatchet and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe †They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth †Their kinred together haue saide in their hart Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth †Our signes we haue not seene there is now no prophet and he wil know vs no more †How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer †Why doest thou turne away thy hand and thy right hand out of the middes of thy bosome for euer †But God our king before the worldes he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth †Thou in thy strength hast confirmed the sea thou hast crushed the head of Dragons in the waters †Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of the Aethiopians †Thou hast broken vp fountanes and torrentes thou hast dried the riuers of Ethan †The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast made the morning and the sunne †Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth the summer and the spring thou hast formed them †Be mindeful of this the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name †Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer †Haue respect vnto thy testament because they that are obscure of the earth are filled with houses of iniquities †Let not the humble be turned away being confounded the poore and needy shal praise thy name †Arise God iudge thy cause be mindful of those thy reproches that are from the foolish man al the day †Forget not the voices of thine enimies the pride of them that hate thee hath ascended alwaies PSALME LXXIIII Christ with his Assessors wil iudge the whole world at the last day in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement 1â— The wicked shal be punished and the good rewarded Vnto the end Corrupt not a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph VVE wil confesse to thee ô God we wil confesse and wil inuocate thy name We wil tel thy meruelouse workes †when I shal take a time I wil iudge iustices †The earth is melted and al that dwel in it I haue confirmed the pillers thereof †I said to the wicked doe not wickedly and to them that offend Exalt not the horne †Exalt not your horne on high speake not iniquitie aganst God †For neither from the East nor from the West nor from the desert mountanes †because God is Iudge This man he humbleth and him he exalteth †because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture And he hath powred it out of this into that but yet the dregges therof are not emptied al the sinners of the earth shal drinke †But I wil shewforth for euer I wil sing to the God of Iacob †And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted PSALME LXXV The royal prophet singeth Gods praises for his particular prouidence towards the Iewes 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth Vnto the end in prayses a Psalme to Asaph a Canticle to the Assirians God is knowne in Iewrie in Israel his name is great †And his place is made in peace and his habitation in Sion †There he brake the powres of bowes the shilde the sword and the battle †Thou doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal mountaynes †al the foolish of hart were trubled †They slept their sleepe and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes †At thy reprehension ô God of Iacob they haue al slumbered that mounted on horses †Thou art terrible and who shal resist thee from that time thy wrath †From heauen thou hast made thy iudgement hearde the earth trembled and was quiet When God arose vnto iudgement
Iacob and his place they haue made desolate †Remember not our old iniquities let thy mercies quickly preuent vs because we are become exceding poore †Help vs ô God our sauiour and for the glorie of thy name ô Lord deliuer vs and be propicious to our sinnes for thy names sake †Lest they say perhaps amongst the Gentiles where is their God and be notified in the nations before our eies The reuenge of the bloud of thy seruants which hath benne shed †let the groning of thefettered enter in thy sight According to the greatnes of thine arme possesse thou the children of them that are put to death †And render to our neighboures seuenfold in their bosome their reproch where with they haue reproched thee ô Lord. †But we thy people and the sheepe of thy pasture wil confesse to thee for euer Vnto generation and generation we wil shew forth thy praise PSALME LXXIX The Prophet prayeth for the release of Israel in great tribulation 15. forsheweth the coming of Christ to redeme man from sinne and from thraldome of the diuel †Vnto the end for them that shal be changed testimonie to Asaph a Psalme †Thou that rulest Israel attend that conductest Ioseph as a sheepe Which sittest vpon the cherubs be manifest †before Ephraim Beniamin and Manasses Raise vp thy might and come to saue vs. †O God conuert vs and shew thy face we shal be saued †O Lord the God of hostes how long wilt thou be angrie vpon the prayer of thy seruant †Thou wilt feede vs with the bread of teares and giue vs drinke with teares in mesure †Thou hast made vs to be a contradiction to our neigh boures and our enimies haue scorned vs. †O God of hosts conuert vs and shew thy face and we shal be saued †Thou didst transport the vineyeard out of Aegypt thou didst cast out the Gentiles and plantedst it †Thou wast the guide of the way in the sight therof thou didst plant the rootes therof and it filled the earth †The shadow of it couered the mountanes and the bowghes of it the ceders of God †It extended her branches euen to the sea and her boughes vnto the riuer †Why hast thou destroyed the hedge therof and al that passe by the way doe plucke it †The boare of the wood hath destroyed it and the singular wilde beest hath eaten it †O God of hoasts returne regard from heauen and see and visite this vineyeard †And perfite it which thy right hand hath planted and vpon the sonne of man whom thou hast confirmed to thee †Thinges burnt with fyre and digged doune at the increpation of thy countenance shal perish †Let thy hand be vpon the man of thy right hand and vpon the sonne of man whom thou hast confirmed to thee †And we depart not from thee thou wilt quicken vs and we wil inuocate thy name †O Lord the God of hoastes conuert vs and shew thy face and we shal be saued PSALME LXXX Al men are inuited to celebrate festiual dayes 6. which were instituted in memorie of benefites receiued 9. the deuent shal be protected and the negligent leift in distresse †Vnto the end for wine presses a Psalme to Asaph him self †REioice to God our helper make Iubilation to the God of Iacob †Take ye Psalme and giue timbrel pleasant Psalter with the harpe †Sound ye with trumpet in the new moone in the notable day of your solemnitie †Because it is a precept in Israel and iudgement to the God of Iacob †He put it for a testimonie in Ioseph when he came out of the Land of Aegypt he heard a tongue which he knew not He turned away his backe from burdens his handes serued in baskettes †In tribulation thou didest inuocate me and I heard thee I heard thee in the secret of the tempest I proued thee at the water of contradiction †Heare ô my people and I wil contest thee Israel if thou wilt heare me †There shal be no new God in thee neither shalt thou adore a strange God †For I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Aegypt dilate thy mouth and I wil fil it †And my People heard not my voice and Israel attended not to me †And I let them alone according to the desires of their hart they shal goe in their owne inuentions †If my people had heard me if Israel had walked in my wayes †I had for nothing perhaps humbled their enimies and had laide my hand vpon those that afflict them †The enimies of our Lord haue lied to him and their time shal be for euer †And he fedde them of the fatte of corne and out of the rocke with honie he filled them PSALME LXXXI The Prophet declareth 2. that God reprehendeth vniust Iudges and Magistrates premonisheth them of his seuere eternal punishment 8. wherto the prophet conforming his wil prayeth for the same †A Psalme to Asaph GOd stood in the assemblie of goddes and in the middes he iudgeth goddes †How long iudge ye iniquitie and accept ye the persons of sinners †Iudge ye for the needie and the pupil iustifie ye the humble and the poore †Take away the poore and deliuer the needie from the hand of the sinner †They knew not neither did they vnderstand they walke in darkenesse al the fundations of the earth shal be moued †I saide Yow are goddes and the sonnes of the highest al. †But you shal die as men and fal as one of the princes †Arise ô God iudge the earth because thou shalt inherite in al the Gentiles PSALME LXXXII The Church impugned by al sortes of enimies 10. prayeth God to confound them as the hath donne diuers the like 17. wherby some shal be conuerted †A Canticle of Psalme to Asaph O God who shal be like to thee hold not thy peace neither be thou appeased ô God †For behold thine enimies haue made a sound they that hate thee haue lifted vp the head †They haue taken malignant counsel vpon thy people and they haue deuised against thy saincts †They haue saide Come and let vs destroy them out of the nation and let the name of Israel be remembred no more †Because they haue deuised with one consent they haue together made a couenant against thee †The tabernacles of the Idumeians and the Ismahelites Moab and the Agarens †Gebal and
alike †For that which is made with him that made it shal suffer torments †For this cause also in the idol of the nations there shal be no respect because the creatures of God were made to hatred and for tentation to the soules of men and for a snare to the feete of the vnwise †For the begynning of fornication is the deuising of idols and the inuenting of them is the corruption of life †For neither were they from the begynning neither shal they be for euer †For this vanitie of men came into the world and therfore there is found a short end of them †For “ the father being sorowful with bitter moorning made vnto himself the image of his sonne quickly taken away and him that then was a dead man now he began to worshipe as god and appointed holie thinges and sacrifices among his seruants †Afterward by succession of time the wicked custom preuayling this errour was kept as a law and thinges grauen were worshipped by the commandement af tyrants †And those whom openly men could not honour for that they were far of their figure being brought from a far they made an euident image of the king whom they would honour that by their carefulnes they might honour as present him that was absent †And to the worshipping of these the excellent diligence also of the artificer holpe them forward that were ignorant †For he willing to please him that entertained him laboured by his art to fashion the similitude in better sort †And the multitude of men caried away by the beautie of the worke him that a little before had bene honoured as a man now they estemed for a god †And this was the deceyuing of mans life because men seruing either affection or kinges gaue the name that is not communicable to stones and wood †And it was not sufficient that they erred about the knowlege of God but also liuing in a great battail of ignorance so manie and so great euils they cal peace †For either sacrificing their children or making abscure sacrifices or hauing watches ful of madnes †they now neither keepe life nor mariage cleane but one killeth an other by enuie or playing the adulterer maketh him sorowful †and al thinges are mingled together bloud manslaughter theft and fiction corruption and infidelitie truble and pâ—â—iutie disquieting of the good †forgetfulnes of God inquination of soules immutation of natiuitie inconstancie of mariage disorder of adulterie and vnchastnes †For the worshippe of idols not to be named is the cause of al euil and the beginning and end †For either when they reioyce they are madde or certes prophecie false thinges or liue vniustly or quickly forsweare themselues †For whiles they trust in idols which are without soule swearing amisse they hope not to be hurt †Two euil thinges therfore shal happen to them worthely because they haue thought euil of God attending to idols and haue sworne vniustly in guile contemning iustice †For it is not the powre of them that are sworne by but the punishment of them that sinne goeth alwayes through the trangression of the vniust ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 15. The father made vnto himself the image of his sonne Caluin here chargeth this booke with error in affirming that idolatrie begane by supersticiously honoring images of the dead Against which he alleageth that Labans idoles and others more ancient were before anie images of dead men were honoured But he argueth vpon a false ground For labans idols were images as the Hebrew word Teraphim signifieth and is so translated in the English Bibles 1552. and 1577. but because they were images of false goddes and for that Laban called them his goddes a later Bible 1603. rranslateth it better idoles as the Latin and Greke haue idola It is also certaine that Ninus king of Assirians long before Laban yea before Abraham sette vp the image of his Father Belus otherwise called Iuppiter to be publikly honored by the people as S. Cyril sheweth li. 3. in Iulianum nere the end and S. Ambrose or an other graue Auctor writeth the same in cap. 1. ad Romanos Likewise S. Cyprian li. de Idolorum vanitate S. Chrysostom ho. 87. in Matth. and Egesippus apud S. Ieronym li. de Viris Illustrib testifie that the making of mens images in memorie of the dead was the occasion and beginning of idolâ—tric according as this place repotteth that a Father sorovving for the death of his sonne made an image in his memorie begane to worshippe him as a god causing his seruants also to honour his dead sonne vvith rites and sacrifices VVhich priuate idolatrie vvas absolutely the first that is recorded in holie Scripture or anie other good auctor And the first publique is counted by most auctors that of Ninus vvorshipping the image of his father Belus vvith diuine honour who also pardoned al offenders how enormious soeuer their crimes were that fled vnto that image VVhich allurment together vvith so great a kinges auctotitie drevv innumerable to publique idolatrie VVherupon S. Ierom noteth in cap. 2. Oseae that Ninus became so great and glorious as to make his father to be honored as a god CHAP. XV. The wise gratfully praise the swetenes and mercie of God by whom they are deliuered from idolatrie 6. detesting the makers worshippers of idols BVT ô thou our God art sweete and true patient and disposing al thinges in mercie †For if we sinne we are thine knowing thy greatnes and if we sinne not we know that we are counted with thee †For to know thee is absolute iustice and to know iustice and thy powre is the roote of immortalitie †For mens inuention of euil art hath not brought vs into errour nor the shadow of a picture being a labour without fruite a shape grauen by diuerse colours †the sight wherof geueth concupiscence to the sensles and and he loueth the shape without life of a deade image †The louers of euils are worthie to haue their hope in such thinges both they that make them and that loue and that worshippe them †Yea and the potter pressing softe earth with labour fashioneth euerie vessel to our vses and of the same clay maketh the vessels that are cleane to vse and in like maner them that are contrarie to these but what the vse of these vessels is the potter is iudge †And with vaine labour he fashioneth a god of the same clay he which a litle before was made of earth and a litle after returneth backe whence he was taken being exacted the debte of the life which he had †But his care is not because he shal labour nor because he hath a short life but he contendeth with goldsmithes and siluer smithes yea and he imitateth the copper smithes and counteth it a glorie because he maketh vaine thinges †For his hart is ashes
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
to stand vpright and his lacke of reuerence is the stopping of the eares †Sheding of bloud is in the brawling of the proud and their cursing is a greeuous hearing †He that discloseth the secrete of a freind loseth credite and he shal not finde a freind to his minde †Loue thy neighhour and be ioyned with him in fidelitie †But if thou discouer his secrets thou shalt not pursew after him †For as a man that loseth his freind so also he that loseth the freindshipe of his neigbbour †And as he that letteth a bird goe out of his hand so hast thou leaft thy neighbour shalt not take him †Folow him not because he is far absent for he is fled as a doe out of the snare because his soule is wounded †Thou canst no more blinde him and of a curse there is reconciliation †but to disclose the secrets of a freind is the desperation of an vnhappie soule †He that winketh with the eie forgeth wicked thinges and no man wil cast him of †in the sight of thyne eyes he wil sweete his mouth and wil be in admiration vpon thy wordes but at the last he wil peruert his mouth and in thy wordes he wil lay a scandal †I haue heard manie thinges haue not esteemed them equal to him and our Lord wil hate him †He that casteth a stone on high it wil fal vpon his head and the deceitful stroke wil diuide the woundes of the deceitful †He that diggeth a pit shal fal into it and he that setteth a stone for his neighbour shal stumble on it he that layeth a snare for an other shal perish in it †To a man that doth most wicked counsel it shal be turned vpon himself and he shal not know from whence it cometh to him †Derision reproch of the proud and vengeance as a lyon shal lie in waite for him †They shal perish in a snare that are delighted with the fal of the iust and sorow shal consume them before they die †Anger and furie both are execrable and the sinful man shal be subiect to them CHAP. XXVIII Abstaine from reuenge 8. and strife 15. from making debate 28. from hearing and speaking euil HE that wil be reuenged shal finde reuenge of our Lord and keepeing he wil keepe his sinne †Forgeue thy neighbour hurting thee then shal thy sinnes be loosed to thee when thou prayest †Man to man reserueth anger and doth he seeke remedie of God †He hath not mercie on a man like vnto himself and doth he intreate for his owne sinnes †Himself whereas he is flesh reserueth anger and doth he aske propitiation of God Who by prayer shal obteyne for his sinne †Remember the last thinges cease to be at enmitie †for consumption and death are imminent in his commandmentes †Remember the feare of God and be not angrie with thy neighbour †Remember the testament of the High contemne the ignorance of thy neigbour †Refraine thyself from strife and thou shalt diminish thy sinnes †for an angrie man kindleth strife and a sinful man wil truble his freindes and in the middes of them that are at peace he wil cast in enmitie †For according to the wood of the forest so the fire burneth and according to the power of a man so shal his anger be and according to his substance he wil increase his anger †Hastie contention kindleth a fire and hastie strife shedeth bloud and an il testifying tongue bringeth death †If thou blow vpon a sparck it wil burne as a fire and if thou spitte thereon it shal be quenched both procede out of the mouth †The whisperer duble tounged is accurst for he hath trubled manie that were at peace †A third tongue hath moued manie and dispersed them from nation into nation †It hath destroyed the walled citie of the rich and hath digged downe the houses of great men †It hath cut the forces of peoples and vndone strong nations †A third tongue hath cast out manlie wemen and depriued them of their labours †He that regardeth it shal not haue rest neither shal he haue a freind in whom he may repose †The stroke of a whippe maketh a blew marke but the stroke of the tongue wil breake the bones †Manie haue fallen by the edge of the sword but not so as they that haue perished by their tongue †Blessed is he that is couered from a wicked tongue that hath not passed into the anger therof and that hath not drawen the yoke therof and hath not bene tyed in the bandes therof †for the yoke of it is a yoke of yron and the band of it is a band of brasse †The death of it is a most wicked death and hel is more profitable then it †The continuance of it shal not be permanent but it shal obteyne the waies of the vniust and it shal not burne the iust in the flame therof †They that forsake God shal fal into it and it shal burne in them and shal not be quenched and it shal be sent in vpon them as a lion and as a leopard it shal hurt them †Hedge thine eares with thornes and heare not a wicked tongue and make doores to thy mouth and locks †Lay together thy siluer and make balance to thy wordes and right bridles to thy mouth †and take heede lest perhaps thou slippe in thy tongue fal in the sight of the enemies that lie in wayte for thee and thy fal be vncurable vnto death CHAP. XXIX Lend charitably 3. and restore faithfully 10. For the fault of il debters omitte not to helpe the honest 12. rather geue almes where nede is 19. Be thankful for suretiship 28. Liue frugally 32. Goe not a ghestning for delicate chere HE that lendeth to his neighbour doth mercie and he that preuayleth with hand keepeth the commandments †Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his necessitie and againe repay thy neighbour in his time †Confirme thy word and doe faithfully with him thou shalt finde at al time that which is necessarie for thee †Manie haue esteemed a thing lent as a thing found and haue geuen molestation to them that did helpe them †Til they receiue they kisse the handes of the lender and in promises they humble their voice †and in the time of repaying they wil aske a time and wil speake wordes of tediousnes and murmurings and wil make the time an excuse †and if he be able to pay he wil resist he wil pay scarse halfe of the whole and wil account it as a thing found †but if not he wil defraude him of his money and possesse him an enemie without cause †and wil repay him reproches and curses and for honour and benefite wil repay him contumelie †Manie
excel an other and one light an other and one yeare an other yeare of the sunne †By the knowlege of our Lord they were seperated the sunne being made and keeping the precept †And he changed times and the festiual daies thereof and in the same they celebrated the festiual daies at an houre †Of them God exalted and magnified and of them he put into the number of daies And al men are of the ground and of the earth from whence Adam was created †In the multitude of the discipline of our Lord he separated them and changed their waies †Of them he blessed and exalted and of them he sanctified and applied to himself and of them he cursed and humbled and conuerted them from their separation †As potters clay is in his hand to fashion and dispose it †Al his wayes according to his disposition so man in the hand of him and he wil render to him according to his iudgement †Against euil is good and against death life so also against a iust man a sinner †And so looke vpon al the workes of the Highest Two against two and one against one †And I awaked last and as he that gathereth bearies after the grape gatherers †In the blessing of God I also haue hoped and as he that gathereth grapes haue I filled the wine presse †See that I haue not laboured for myself only but for al that seeke out discipline †Heare me ye great men and al peoples and ye rulers of the Church karken with your eares †To sonne and wife brother and freind geue not power ouer ther in thy life and geue not thy possession to an other lest perhaps thou repent thee and thou entreate for them †Whiles thou art yet aliue and takest breath al flesh shal not change thee †For it is better that thy children aske of thee then that thou looke toward the hands of thy children †In al thy workes be exquisite †Geue no staine to thy glorie In the day of the consummation of the dayes of thy life and in the time of thy decease distribute thine inheritance †Fodder and wande and burden for an asse bread and discipline and worke for a seruant †He worketh in discipline and seeketh to rest release him his handes and he seeketh libertie †The yoke and the reyne bend a stiff necke and continual workes do bowe a seruant †For a malicious seruant torment fetters send him into worke that he be not idle †For idlenes hath taught much naughtines †Set him to worke for so it becometh him And if he be not obedient bow him with fetters and exceede not ouer al flesh but without iudgement doe no greuous thing †If thou haue a faithful seruant let him be vnto thee as thy soule as a brother so entreate him because in the bloud of thy soule thou hast gotten him †If thou hurt him vniustly he wil runne away †if rising vp he depart thou knowest not whom to aske and what way to seeke him CHAP. XXXIIII Trust not vaine dreames southsayinges nor lies 9. Much good is got by experience 14. and more by fearing God 21. God reiecteth the oblation of the wicked 24. Defrauding the poore is like to manslaughter 28. Destroy not that an other buildeth 30. Repentance without amendment is nothing worth VAINE hope lying is to a foolish man dreames extol the vnwise †As he that apprehendeth a shadow and pursueth the winde so is he also that attendeth to lying visions †According to this is the vision of dreames as a mans similitude before the face of a man †Of the vncleane what shal be made cleane and of a lyer what truth shal be said †Diuination of errour and lying southsayinges and the dreames of them that do euil are vanitie †And as a woman that traueleth thy hart suffereth phantasies vnlesse it be a vision sent forth from the Highest set not thy hart vpon them †For dreames haue made manie to erre and they that hoped in them haue failed †The word of the law shal be fulfilled without lying and wisedom in the mouth of the faithful shal be made plaine †He that hath not bene proued what knoweth he A man expert in manie thinges shal thinck manie thinges and he that hath lerned manie thinges shal declare vnderstanding †He that is not tryed knoweth few thinges and he that hath bene in manie things multiplyeth wickednes †He that hath not bene proued what maner of thinges knoweth he He that is deceiued shal abound with wickednes †I haue seene manie thinges in wandring to and fro and very manie fashions of words †Some times I haue bene in danger vnto death for these thinges and I was deliuered by the grace of God †The spirit of them that feare God is sought at his sight shal be blessed †For their hope is on him that saueth them and the eies of God vpon them that loue him †He that feareth our Lord shal tremble at nothing and shal not dread because he is his hope †His soule is blessed that feareth our Lord. †To whom doth he looke and who is his strength †The eies of our Lord are vpon them that feare him a protectour of might a stay of strength a couer from the heate and shadow for the noone time †a sauing from offence and helpe from falling exalting the soule and illuminating the eies geuing health and life and blessing †The oblation of him that immolateth of an vniust thing is spotted and the scorninges of the vniust are not acceptable †Our Lord is onlie theirs that expect him in the way of truth and iustice †The Highest alloweth not the giftes of the wicked neither hath he regard to the oblations of the vniust neither wil he be made propitious for sinnes by the multitude of their sacrifices †He that offereth sacrifice of poore mens substance is as he that sacrificeth the sonne in the presence of his father The bread of the needie is the life of the poore he that defraudeth it is a man of bloud †He that taketh away bread in swet is as he that killeth his neighbour †He that sheddeth bloud and that defraudeth the hired man are bretheren †One building and an other destroing what profite haue they but the labour †One praying and an other cursing whethers voice wil God heare †He that is washed from the dead and toucheth him againe what doth his washing profit †so a man that fasteth in his sinnes and doing the same againe what doth he profite in humbling himself who wil heare his prayer CHAP. XXXV Obseruation of the commandments 4. and sacrifice of the iust please God 12. not the sacrifice of the wicked 14. God protecteth the poore and desolate 19. heareth the prayer of the humble and rendereth to alas they deserue HE that keepeth
stake into the ground and say to thee †Thy way is good and stand ouer against thee to see what wil befal thee †With an irreligious man treate not of holines and with the vniust of iustice and with a woman of the thing whereof she is ielous with a feareful man of warre with a marchant of traficke with a byer of selling with an enuious man of geuing thankes †with the impious of pietie with the vnhonest of honestie with the field labourer of al worke †with him that worketh by the yeare of the ending of the yeare with a slothful seruant of much working attend not to these in al counsel †But be continual with a holie man whomsoeuer thou shalt know to obserue the feare of God †whose soule is according to thine owne soule and who when thou shalt stumble in the darke wil be sorie for thee †And establish with thy self an hart of good counsel for there is none other thing more worth to thee then it †The soule of a holie man vttereth sometime true thinges more then seuen watchmen that sitte in a high place to watch †And in al these beseech the Highest that he direct thy way in truth †Before al workes let a true word goe before thee and stable counsel before euerie act †A wicked word shal change the hart out of which rise foure partes good and euil life and death and the tongue is a continual ruler of them There is a subtile man teacher of manie and to his owne soule he is vnprofitable †A cunning man hath taught manie and is swete to his owne soule †He that speaketh sophistically is odious in euerie thing he shal be defrauded †Grace is not geuen him of our Lord for he is defrauded of al wisdom †There is a wise man wise to his owne soule and the fruite of his vnderstanding is laudable †A wise man teacheth his people and the fruites of his vnderstanding are faithful †A wise man shal be filled with blessinges and they that see wil praise him †The life of a man is in the number of dayes but the dayes of Israel are innumerable †A wise man in the people shal inherite honour and his name shal liue for euer †Sonne in thy life proue thy soule if it be wicked geue it not power †for al thinges are not expedient for al and euerie kinde pleaseth not euerie soule †Be not greedie in al feasting and power not out thy self vpon al meate †for in manie meates there shal be infirmitie and greedines shal approch euen to choler †Because of surfet manie haue died but he that is abstinent shal adde life CHAP. XXXVIII God hath ordained corporal 9. and spiritual medicines 16. Vse moderate not excessiue sorow for the dead 26. Tradesmen and artificers are necessarie much more spiritual pastors HONOVR the phisition for necessitie for the Highest hath created him †For al medicine is of God it shal receiue gift of the king †The knowlege of the phisition shal exalt his head and in the sight of great men he shal be praised †The Highest hath created medicines of the earth and a wise man wil not abhorre them †Was not bitter water made sweete by wood †The vertue of these thinges is come to the knowlege of men and the Highest hath geuen knowlege to men for to be honoured in his meruelous thinges †Curing with these thinges he shal mitigate paine and the apothecarie shal make confections of swetenes and shal make ointments of health and his workes shal not be consummated †For the peace of God is vpon the face of the earth †Sonne in thine infirmitie contemne not thy self but pray our Lord and he wil cure thee †Turne away from sinne and direct thy handes and from al offence cleanse thy hart †Geue sweetenes and a memorial of fine floure and make a fat oblation and geue place to the phisition †For our Lord created him and let him not depart from thee because his workes be necessarie †For there is a time when thou maist fal into their handes †and they shal beseech our Lord that he direct their rest and healing for their conuersation †He that sinneth in his sight that made him shal fal into the handes of the phisition †Sonne vpon the dead shed teares and beginne to weepe as hauing suffered doleful thinges and according to iudgement couer his bodie and neglect not his burial †But for detraction beare bitterly the mourning of him one day and be comforted for the heauines †and make mourning according to his desert one day or two because of detraction †For by heauines death hasteneth and it couereth the strength and sorow of the hart boweth the necke †In abstraction sorow is permanent and the substance of the poore is according to his hart †Geue not thine hart into heauines but expel it from thee and remember the latter endes †and forget not for neither is there returne and him thou shalt profit nothing and thou shalt hurt thy self †Be mindful of my iudgement for thine also must be so to me yesterday and to thee to day †In the repose of the dead make the memorie of him to rest and comfort him in the departing of his spirit †The wisdom of a scribe in the time of vacance and he that is lesse in action shal receiue wisdom †With what wisdom shal he be replenished that holdeth the plough and glorieth in the goade driueth oxen with the prickle and conuerseth in their workes and his talke is in the breede of bulles †He wil geue his hart to turne vp furrowes and his watching in the feeding of kine †So euerie craftsman and workemaster that passeth the night as the day that maketh grauen seales and his continual diligence varieth the picture he wil geue his hart to the similitude of the picture and his watching wil perfect the worke †So the yronsmith sitting by the anuil and considering the worke of yron The vapour of the fire wil parche his flesh and he striueth in the heate of the fournace †The noyse of the hammer reneweth his eare and his eye is against the similitude of the vessel †He wil geue his hart to the finishing of the workes and his watching wil polish to perfection †So the potter sitting at his worke turning the wheele with his feete who is alwayes set in carefulnes for his worke and al his working is in number †With his arme he wil fashion the clay and before his feete he wil bend his strength †He wil geue his hart to finish the vernishing thereof and his watching wil make cleane the fournace †Al these haue hoped in their handes and euerie one is wise in his owne art †Without these a citie is not built †And
couenant that he had with him in the middes of Babylon shal he dye †And not in a great armie nor in much people shal Pharao make battel agaynst him in the casting vp of a ramper and in the building of bulworkes to kil manie soules †For he had despised the oath that he might breake the couenant and behold he gaue his hand and when he hath done al these thinges he shal not escape †Therfore thus saith our Lord God Liue I that the oath which he hath despised the couenant that he transgressed I wil lay on his head †And I wil spread my nette ouer him and he shal be taken in my nette and I wil bring him into Babylon and wil iudge him there in the preuerication wherby he hath despised me †And al his fugitiues with al their troupe shal fal by the sword and the residue shal be dispersed into euerie wind and you shal know that I the Lord haue spoken †Thus saith our Lord God And I wil take of the marow of the high ceder wil set it of the toppe of the boughes therof the tender one I wil strippe of and wil plant it vpon a mountaine high and eminent †On the high mountaines of Israel wil I plant it and it shal shoote forth into a budde and shal yelde fruite and it shal be into a great ceder and al birdes and euerie foule shal dwel vnder the shadow of the boughes therof and shal there make their nest †And al the trees of the countrie shal know that I the Lord haue humbled the high tree exalted the low tree and haue dried the greene tree and haue caused the drie tree to spring I the Lord haue spoken and haue done it CHAP. XVIII One shal not beare the sinnes of an other but euerie one their owne 21. If the wieked truly repent he shal be saued and if the iust leaue his iustice he shal be damned AND the word of our Lord was made to me saying †What is that among you you turne a parable into this prouer be in the land of Israel saying The fathers did eate a sowre grape and the teeth of the children are set on edge †Liue I saith our Lord God if this parable shal be vnto you any more for a prouerbe in Israel †Behold al soules are mine as the soule of the father so also the soule of the sonne is mine the soule that shal sinne the same shal dye †And a man if he shal be iust and hath done iudgement and iustice †hath not eaten on the mountaynes and not lifted vp his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel and hath not violated his neighbours wife and approched not to a menstruous woman †and made no man sorowful hath restored the pledge to the debter taken nothing away by violence hath geuen his bread to the hungrie and coueted the naked with a garment †hath not lent to vsurie and not taken more hath turned away his hand from iniquitie and done true iudgement betwen man and man †hath walked in my precepts and kept my iudgements to doe truth this man is iust liuing he shal liue saith our Lord God †And if he hath begotten a sonne that is a robber shedding bloud he doe one of these thinges †and that doth not in dede al these thinges but eateth on the mountaynes and defileth his neighbours wife †that maketh the needie and poore sorowful violently committeth robberies restoreth not the pledge lifteth his eyes to idols doth abomination †that geueth to vsurie and taketh more what shal he liue he shal not liue Wheras he hath done al these detestable thinges dying he shal dye his bloud shal be vpon him †But and if he hath begotten a sonne that seing al his fathers sinnes which he hath done is afrayd and shal not doe the like to them †hath not eaten vpon the mountaines and not lifted vp his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel and hath not violated his neighbours wife †and hath made no man sorowful hath not withheld the pledge and hath not violently committed robberie hath geuen his bread to the hungrie and couered the naked with clothing †hath turned away his hand from iniurie of the poore hath not taken vsurie and ouerplus hath done my iudgements hath walked in my preceptes this man shal not dye in the iniquitie of his father but liuing he shal liue †His father because he did calumniate and did violence to his brother and wrought euil in the middes of his people behold he is dead in his owne iniquitie †And you say Why hath not the sonne borne the iniquitie of his father Verely because the sonne hath wrought iudgement and iustice he hath kept al my precepts and done them liuing he shal liue †The soule that shal sinne the same shal dye the sonne shal not beare the iniquitie of the father and the father shal not beare the iniquitie of the sonne the iustice of the iust shal be vpon him and the impietie of he impious shal be vpon him †But if the impious shal doe penance from al his sinnes which he hath wrought and shal keepe al my precepts and doe iudgement and iustice liuing he shal liue and shal not dye †Al his iniquities which he hath wrought I wil not remember them in his iustice which he hath wrought he shal liue †Why “ is the death of a sinner my wil saith our Lord God and not that he conuert from his wayes and liue †But if the iust man shal turne away himselfe from his iustice and doe iniquitie according to al the abominations which the impious vseth to worke shal he liue al his iustices which he had done shal not be remembred in the preuarication which he hath preuaricated and in his sinne which he hath sinned in them he shal dye †And you haue said The way of our Lord is not right Heare ye therfore ô house of Israel What is not my way right and are not rather your wayes peruerse †For when the iust shal turne away himselfe from his iustice doth iniquitie he shal dye in them in the iniustice that he hath wrought he shal dye †And when the impious shal turne away himselfe from his impietie which he hath wrought shal doe iudgement and iustice he shal viâ—â—siâ—ate his soule †For considering turning away himself from al his iniquities which he hath wrought liuing he shal liue and not dye †And the children of Israel say The way of our Lord is not right What are not my wayes right ô house of Israel and not rather your wayes peruerse †Therfore wil I iudge euerie maÌ„ according to his wayes ô house of Israel saith our Lord God Conuert and doe penance from al your iniquities and iniquitie shal not be a ruine to you †Cast away from you
al your preuarications wherin you haue preuaricated and make to yourselues a new hart and a new spirit and why wil you dye ô house of Israel †Because I wil not the death of him that dieth saith our Lord God returne ye and liue ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII â—â— Is the death of a sinner my vvil In manie places of holie Scripture it is clâ—â—â— that Gods vvil is most assuredly fulfilled in al thinges vvhatsoeuer he vvould and none can resist his vvil c. Neuertheles here and in other places it is also expresly affirmed that God would haue al sinners to repent and none to dye in their sinnes vvhich semeth to repugne vvith the former doctrin For solution of vvhich difficultie S. Damascen li. 2. c. 29 de Orthodoxa side and other Doctors distinguish Gods vvil vvhich is either called Antecedent and conditional and so God vvould haue al men to be saued as appeareth by creating al to that end by his frequen admonitions preceptes threates temporal punishments and revvardes and especially by our Sauiours death and redemption of al mankind vvherby he merited most sufficient meanes and offereth his sufficient grace to euerie one that they may be saued if they vvil Othervvise Gods wil is called Consequent and absolute and so for iustice sake his diuine vvil is that impenitent sinners shal be damned and eternally punished for their sinnes As a iust Iudge condionally and antecedently vvould haue al men to obserue good lavves and to liue so long as they can by nature but absolutely consequently finding some to be murderers or othervvise pernicicious to the commonvvelth he panisheth them with death CHAP. XIX The Israelites calaminitie is described by two parables of lions 10. and of a vine planted and plucked vp AND thou take vp lamentation vpon the princes of Israel †and thou shalt say Why lay thy mother a lionesse among the lions in the middes of young lions brought vp her whelpes †And she brought out one of her young lions he became a lion and he lerned to catch prayes and to eate man †And the Gentils heard of him and not without their woundes they tooke him and they brought him in cheynes into the Land of Aegypt †Who when she saw that she was weakened and her expectation was lost she tooke one of her young lions she made him a lion †Who went among the lions and became a lion and he lerned to take praye and to deuoure men †He lerned to make widowes and to bring their cities into a desert and the land was made desolate and the fulnes therof by the voice of his roaring †And the Gentils came together against him on euerie side out of the prouinces they spred their nette vpon him in their wounds he was taken †And they put him into a caue in cheynes they brought him to the king of Babylon and they cast him into prison that his voice might no more be heard vpon the mountaines of Israel †Thy mother as it were a vine in thy bloud is planted vpon the water her fruit and her branches haue growen out of manie waters †And there were made to her strong roddes for the scepters of them that rule and her stature was exalted among the branches and she saw her height in the multitude of her branches †And she was plucked vp in wrath and cast on the ground and the burning winde hath dried vp her fruite the roddes of her strength are withered and dried vp fire hath eaten her †And now she is transplanted into the desert in a land not passable and drie †And there came forth fire from the rod of her boughes which hath eaten her fruite and there was not in her a strong rod the scepter of rulers Lamentation it is and it shal be into lamentation CHAP. XX. God wil not answer the elders of Israel asking by the prophet 4. but by him setteth his benefites before their eyes and their owne heynous sinnes 30. threatning yet greater punishments 40. but stil mixt with mercie AND it came to passe in the seuenth yeare in the fifth the tenth of the moneth there came men of the ancients of Israel to aske our Lord they sare before me †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man speake to the ancients of Israel thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Why are you come to aske me Liue I that I wil not answer you saith our Lord God †Doest thou iudge them doest thou iudge ô sonne of man shew to them the abominations of their fathers †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God In the day that I chose Israel lifted vp my hand for the stocke of the house of Iacob and appeared to them in the Land of Aegypt and lifted vp my hand for them saying I the Lord your God †in that day I lifted vp my hand for them that I might bring them out of the Land of Aegypt into a Land which I had prouided for them flowing with milke and honie which is excellent among al landes †And I said to them Let euerie man cast away the scandals of his eyes and in the idols of Aegypt be ye not polluted I the Lord your God †And they prouoked me and would not heare me euerie one did not cast away the abominations of his eyes neither did they leaue the idols of Aegypt and I said I would powre out mine indignation vpon them and fil my wrath in them in the middes of the Land of Aegypt †And I did for my name sake that it might not be violated before the Gentils in the middes of whom they were and among whom I appeared to them to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt †I cast them out therfore of the Land of Aegypt and brought them forth into the desert †And I gaue them my precepts and I shewed to them my iudgements which a man doing shal liue in them †Moreouer also my sabbathes I gaue to them to be a signe betwen me and them and that they might know that I am the Lord sanctifying them †And the houses of Israel prouoked me in the desert they walked not in my precepts and my iudgements they reiected which a man doing shal liue in them and my sabbathes they violated excedingly I said therfore I would powre out my furie vpon them in the desert and would consume them †And I did for my name sake lest it should be violated before the Gentils from which I cast them out in their sight †I therfore lifted vp my hand vpon them in the desert not to bring them into the Land which I gaue them flowing with milke and honie the chiefe of al landes †Because they reiected my iudgements and walked not in my precepts and violated my sabbathes
to haue in length on the north quarter foure thousand fiue hundred reedes vvith the same length on the vvest quarter and consequently on the east and south that is nine thousand passes or nine myles on euerie side in al the circuite thirtie six myles Of vvhich greatnes it is certaine the temple and citie neuer were No not after the temple vvas augmented by Herod Ascoloâ—ites vvherof Iosephus writeth li. 15. c. 14. Antiq. Iudâ—icarum Neither vvere there anie such waters issuing from the material temple nor such trees on the bankes therof bringing forth fruites euerie moneth as are described ch 47. v. 1. 12. Al vvhich vvith other like dissonances considered the later Iewes confessing that this prophecie is not hitherto fulfilled say that their Messias whom they expect shal builde such a terrestrial citie and temple with al the appertinances as are shewed in this vision Reiecting therfore these Iewish errors and ridiculous imaginations Richardus de Sancto Victore Hugo Cardinalis Nicolaus Lyranus and some other Christian Doctors suppose that God in dede conditionally according to his antecedent wil promised al these thinges euen as the letter soundeth to the Iewes if after their deliuerie from captiuitie they should sincerely serue him vvalke rightly in his wayes and perfectly kepe his commandmentes And that besides this supposed literal sense al the same should more excellently be performed in the mystical temple and citie of God our Sauiour Christ and his Church But for so much say these Doctors as the Iewes performed not that which vvas required of their part in perfect life and due seruice of God this vision was not fulfilled but only in some part according to the vertues and merites of the better sorte of that people by the restauration of the citie temple and other thinges as in the bookes of Esdras that lastly for their general reuolt from Christ persecuting him to death their temple and citie were againe destroyed the people slaine dispersed reiected except only the few reliques conuerted to Christ In vvhom with the multitude of Gentiles the vvhole vision hath ful effect This opinion albeit grounded in probabilitie yet semeth not so certaine nor in dede so probable as the iudgement of S. Ierom S. Theodoret in their commentaries as also of S. Gregorie in his homiles vpon Ezechiel and of manie others both ancient and late writers VVho not finding hovv to applie this vision in al partes to the state of the old testament neither that promise of such a huge great temple and citie with the rest vvere agreable to Gods vvisdome do only expound this vision to perteine in some partes to the Iewes reduced from temporal captiuitie as in figure of al mankind redemed by Christ and of his Church gathered of al nations enriched and adorned vvith al spiritual graces vertues and powre Neither yet expounding al of the militant Church but some part of the triumphant only as surpassing the perfectest state of this transitorie life Vve therfore out of their large discourses shal abridge a fevv and brief marginal notes for some light of vnderstanding the text and entrance into the spiritual sense principally intended by the Holie Ghost CHAP. XL. In a vision the prophet seeth the reedisication of Ierusalem 5. with the measures of diuers partes therof 47. and of the court and entrie of the temple IN the fiue and twentith yeare of our transmigration in the beginning of the yeare the tenth of the moneth the fourtenth yeare after the citie was strooken in this self same day the hand of our Lord was made vpon me and he brought me thither †In the visions of God he brought me into the Land of Israel and left me vpon a mountaine exceding high vpon which there was as it were the building of a citie bending toward the south †And he brought me in thither and behold a man whose forme was as the forme of brasse and a linen corde in his hand and a reede of measure in his hand he stood in the gate †And the same man spake to me Sonne of man see with thine eyes and heare with thine eares and set thy hart on al thinges which I wil shew thee for thou art brought hither that they may be shewed to thee declare al thinges that thou seest to the house of Israel †And behold a wal on the out side round about the house and in the mans hand a reede of measure of six cubits a palme he measured the breadth of the building with one reede the height also with one reede †And he came to the gate that looked to the way of the east he ascended by the steppes therof he measured the threshold of the gate with one reede the bredth that is one threshold with one reede in bredth †and a chamber with one reede in length and one reede in bredth and betwen the chambers fiue cubites †and the threshold of the gate by entrie of the gate within with one reede †And he measured the entrie of the gate of eight cubites and the front therof of two cubites and the entrie of the gate was within †Moreouer the chambers of the gate to the way of the East three on this side and three on that side one measure of the three and one measure of the fronts on both partes †And he measured the bredth of the threshold of the gate of tenne cubits and the length of the gate of thirtene cubits †and the border before the chambers of one cubite and one cubite the end on both sides and the chambers were of six cubites on this side and that side †And he measured the gate from the roofe of the chamber euen to the roofe therof the bredth of fiue and twentie cubits doore against doore †And he made fronts by sixtie cubits to the front the court of the gate on euerie side round about †And before the face of the gate which raught euen to the face of the entrie of the inner gate fiftie cubits †And oblique windowes in the chambers and in their fronts which were within the gate on euerie side round about and in like maner there were also in the entries windowes round about within and before the fronts the picture of palme trees grauen †And he brought me out to the vtter court and behold celles and the pauement paued with stone in the court round about thirtie celles in the compas of the pauement †And the pauement in the front of the gates according to the length of the gates was beneath †And he measured the bredth from the face of the lower gate euen to the front of the inner court without an hundred cubits to the East and to the North. †The gate also that looked to the way of the North of the vtter court he measured as wel in length as in bredth â€
length he may punish vs. †For which cause he neuer certes remoueth away his mercie from vs but chastening his people by aduersitie he forsaketh them not †But let these thinges be sayd of vs in few wordes for an admonition of the readers And now we must come to the storie †Therfore Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes a man striken in age and comely of countenance with open mouth gaping was compelled to eate swines flesh †But he embracing rather a most glorious death then an hateful life went before voluntarily to the punishment †And considering how he ought to come patiently susteyning he determined not to committe vnalwful thinges for loue of life †But they that stood by moued with vnlawful pitie for the old frendshipe of the man taking him in secrete desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eate that he might feyne to haue eaten as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice †that by this fact he might be deliuered from death and for the old freindshipe of the man they did him this courtesie †But he begane to thinke vpon the worthie preeminence of his age and ancientnes and the houre heares of natural nobilitie his doinges from a childe of very good conuersation and according to the ordinances and the holie law made of God he answered quickly saying that he would rather be sent vnto hel †For it is not meete quoth he for our age to feyne that manie young men thinking that Eleazarus of foure score yeare tenne is passed to the life of Aliens †they also through my dissimulation and for a litle time of corruptible life may be deceiued and hereby I may purchase a stayne and a curse to mine old age †For although at this present time I be deliuered from the punishments of men yet neither aliue nor dead shal I escape the hand of the Almightie †Wherfore in departing manfully out of this life I shal appeare worthie of mine old age †and to yong men I shal leaue a constant example if with readie mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death for the most graue and most holie lawes These thinges being spoken forthwith he was drawen to execution †And they that led him and had bene a litle before more milde were turned into wrath for the wordes spoken of him which they thought were vttered through arrogancie †But when he was now in killing with the strokes he groned and sayd O Lord which hast the holie knowlege thou knowest manifestly that wheras I might be deliuered from death I doe susteyne sore paines of the bodie but according to the soule for thy feare I doe willingly suffer these thinges †And this man certes in this maner departed this life leauing not only to yong men but also to the whole nation the memorie of his death for an example of vertue and fortitude CHAP. VII The noble Martyrdome of seuen refusing to eate swines flesh and boldly admonishing king Antiochus of his damnable state 41. Lastly the mother hauing encoreged her sonnes likewise dyeth gloriously AND it came to passe that seuen brethren together with their mother being apprehended to be compelled by the king to eate against the law swines flesh were tormented with whippes and scourges †But one of them which was the first sayd thus What seekest thou and what wilt thou lerne of vs we are readie to dye rather then to transgresse the lawes of God coming from our fathers †The king therfore being wrath commanded frying pannes and brasen pottes to be heated †the which forth with being heated he commanded his tongue that had spoken first to be cut out and the skinne of his head being drawen of the endes also of his handes and feete to be chopped of the rest of his bretheren and his mother looking on †And when he was now made in al partes vnprofitable he commanded fire to be put vnto him and that breathing as yet he should be fried in the frying panne wherin when he was long tormented the rest together with the mother exhorted one an other to dye manfully †saying Our Lord God wil behold the truth and wil take pleasure in vs as Moyses declared in the profession of the Canticle And in his seruants he wil take pleasure †That first therfore being dead in this maner they brought the next to make him a mocking stocke the skinne of his head with the heares being drawen of they asked if he would eare before that he were punished throughout the whole bodie in euerie member †But he answering in his countrie speach said I wil not doe it Wherfore this also in the next place receiued the torments of the first †and being at the verie last gaspe thus he said Thou in dede ô most wicked man in this present life destroyest vs but the king of the world wil raise vs vp which dye for his lawes in the resurrection of eternal life †After him the third is had in derision and being demanded his tongue he quickly put it forth and constantly stretched out his handes †and with confidence he said From heauen doe I possesse these but for the lawes of God now doe I contemne these selfe same because I hope that I shal receiue them againe of him †So that the king and they that were with him merueled at the yong mans courege because he estemed the torments as nothing †And this being thus dead the fourth they vexed in like maner tormenting him †And when he was now euen to dye thus he said It is better for them that are put to death by men to exspect hope of God that they shal be raysed vp againe by him For to thee there shal not be resurrection vnto life †And when they had brought the fifth they tormented him But he looking vpon him †sayd Thou hauing power among men wheras thou art corruptible doest what thou wilt but thinke not that our stock is forsaken of God †And doe thou patiently abide and thou shalt see his great power in what sort he wil torment thee and thy seede †After him they brought the sixth and he beginning to dye sayd thus Be not deceiued vainely for we suffer this for our owne sakes sinning against our God and thinges worthie of admiration are done in vs †but doe not thinke that thou shalt escape vnpunished for that thou hast attempted to fight against God †But the mother aboue measure meruelous and worthie of good mens memorie which beholding her seuen sonnes perishing in one dayes space bare it with a good hart for the hope that she had in God †exhorted euerie one of them in their countrie language manfully being replenished with wisedome and ioyning a mans hart to a womans cogitation †she sayd to them I know not how you appeared in my wombe for neither did I
Assirians toward them to strengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VIII Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters 14. nâ—t licence to takâ— gold siluer and al thinges necessarie at their pleasure 31. The chief mâ—n that goe with him are recited 51. He voweth a fast praying for good successe in their iorney 56. weigheth the gold and siluer which he deliuereth to the Priestes and Leuites 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance for their mariages made with infideles AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome †the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Ameri the sonne of Azahel the sonne of Bocci the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest †This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe wise in the law of Moyses which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and to doe †And the king gaue him glorie because he had found grace in al dignitie and desire in his sight †And there went vp with him of the children of Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the sacred singers of the temple and the porters and the seruantes of the temple into Ierusalem †In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth †they came to Ierusalem according to his commandment according to the prosperitie of their iourney which their Lord gaue them †For in these Esdras had great knowlege that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges which were according to the law and the preceptes of our Lord and in teaching al Israel al iustice and iudgement †And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest the reader of the law of our Lord the copie wherof here foloweth †KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord greeting †I of curtesie esteming it among benifites haue commanded them that of their owne accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes and of the Priestes and Leuites which are in my kingdom to goe with thee into Ierusalem †If anie therfore desire to goe with thee let them come together and set forward as it hath pleased me and my seuen freindes my counselers †that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ierusalem obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. †And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ierusalem and al the gold and siluer that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem with that †which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ierusalem that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen and rammes and lambes and kiddes and for the thinges that are agreable to these †that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord which is in Ierusalem †And al thinges whatsoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer doe it at thy pleasure according to the precept of the Lord thy God †And the sacred vessels which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God which is in Ierusalem †And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kings treasure †When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and siluer doe according to the wil of the Lord. †And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria and Phaenice that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord shal write for they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of siluer likewise also of gold †And vnto an hundred measures of corne an hundred vessels of wine and other thinges whatsoeuer abound without taxing †Let al thinges be done to the most high God according to the law of God lest perhaps there arise wrath in the reigne of the king and of his sonne and his sonnes †And to you it is sayd that vpon al the Priestes and Leuites and sacred singers and seruantes of the temple scribes of this temple †no tribute nor any other taxe be sette and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them †But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God appoynt iudges and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice and teach al them that know no the law of thy God †that whosoeuer shal transgresse the law they be diligently punished either with death or with torment or els with a forfeite of money or with banishment †And Esdras the scribe sayd Blessed be the God of our fathers which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart to glorifie his house which is in Ierusalem †And hath honoured me in the sight of the king and of his counselers and freindes and them that weare purple †And I was made constant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God and gathered together of Israel men that should goe vp together with me †And these are the princes according to their kindredes and seueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes †Of the children of Phares Gersomus and of the children of Siemarith Amenus of the children of Dauid Acchus the sonne of Scecilia †Of the children of Phares Zacharias and with him returned an hundred fiftie men †Of the children of leader Moabilion Zaraei and with him two hundred fiftie men †Of the children of Zachues Iechonias of Zechoel and with him two hundred fiftie men †of the children of Sala Maasias of Gotholia with him seuentie men †of the children of Saphatia Zarias of Michel and with him eightie men †of the children of Iob Abdias of Iehel and with him two hundred twelue men †of the children of Bania Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia and with him an hundred sixtie men †of the children of Beer Zacharias Bebei and with him two hundred eight men †of the children of Ezead Ioannes of Eccetan and with him an hundred ten men †of the children of Adonicam which were last and these are their names Eliphalam the sonne of Gebel and Semeias and with him seuentie men †And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia and we camped there three dayes and vewed them againe †And of the children of the Priestes and Leuites I found not there †And I sent to Eleazarus and Eccelon and Masman and
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
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