rather fall into the hands of God than of men because God was very mercifull threescore and ten thousand men died within the time limited God caused him to see the Angel destroying and killing at which time he spake most like a King for he said it was he that had sinned but they that were sheepe and were slaine had committed no wickednesse and therefore he besought him that he would turn his hand against him and against his Fathers house with which words of his God being moved sent the Prophet Gad unto him to command him to build him an Altar in the sloore of Areana the Jebusite when having made an Altar he had sacrificed to God both the anger of God ceased and the Plague stayed Ahias or Athias the Prophet CHAP. V. Section 1. AHias was a Shilonite he as Epiphanius saith foretold Solomon that it should come to passe that he should sin against God and that women should withdraw him and turne him away from God He also as the same Author writeth reproved Hieroboam because he would serve God hypocritically and feignedly if once he should come to the Soveraignty and he foretold him that he should oppose God with two Calves and that his seed should be kept in servitude But we will relate those few things which are mentioned in the Scripture concerning him Sect. 2. King Solomon had set Hieroboam the Ephrathite having observed him to be of a good disposition over the Tribute of all the Family of Ioseph This Ahias being clad with a new garment met him on the way as he came out of Hierusalem and when he had taken his mantle and rent it in twelve parts he advised Hieroboam that he would take ten peeces to himselfe for that God would divide Solomons Kingdome and give him ten Tribes but one Tribe should be left him for Davids sake and that these things should betide to Solomon because he had worshipped strange Gods and had not obeyed Gods Commandements doing like to his Father David If in his reigne after Solomon was dead for he should not rule over the ten Tribes whilest Solomon lived he would obey Gods Commandements as David had obeyed them that he would not be wanting to him upon any occasion Sect. 3. Now after that Hieroboam was King when his Son Abia was sick he remembred what Abias the Prophet had foretold him and therefore he gave order to his wife that having changed her apparell lest she should be known she should go to him in Shilo to enquire what should betide the Child she having provided her selfe of all things necessary took her journey But God both made known to Ahias that could not see for age that it was Hieroboams wife that came to aske him about her Son and told him what he should say therefore ho called her by her name as she came in and chid her much because she came in a disguise he also foretold her the death of her Son and the ruine of her Family for the sins of Hieroboam her husband the Child indeed died as Ahias had foretold at her entrance in at the doore and when Asa was King of Iudah Baasa having killed Nadab the Son of Hieroboam ho destroyed his Family Now Ahias died in Shile as Epiphanius saith and was buried neare an Oake which was there Semeias the Prophet CHAP. VI VVHen the ten Tribes did fall off from Roboam to Hieroboam as Ahias the Prophet had fore-prophesied and Roboam was therefore gone to Hierusalem and had raised a great Army that he might reduce them God sent Semeias to tell Roboam and all the people that attended him that they ought not to go to war with their Israelitish brethren and therefore they should go every man to his house because this thing was from the Lord and they obeying Gods command went back againe without doing any thing at all Joam the Prophet CHAP. VII Section 1. EPiphanius calleth that Prophet Ioam whom the Scriptures mention to have come out of Iudah to Bethel at Gods Command at such time as Hieroboam stood before the Altar to burne Incense he indeed at his first comming had begun to cry out against the Altar as God had commanded him O Altar Altar thus saith the Lord there shall arise up a sonne or David Josias by name and he shall sacrifice in thee the Priests of the high places who now burne incense on thee and the bones of men shall he burn on thee and this should be known by this that the Altar should then cleave asunder and the ashes that were upon it be powred out Hieroboam could not abide those words of the Prophet or of God rather but stretching out his hand from the Altar towards him he commanded those that were about him to lay hands on him when on a suddaine his hand dryed up so that he could not pull it in to him and finding that to be the power of God he intreateth the Prophet to pray for him that he would restore un-him his hand safe and sound which when he had done and his hand was restored in thankfulnesse for the favour he intreateth him to goe to his house to dinner with him where he should be requited for his charitable kindnesse He said he could not doe so although he should give him the one halfe of his Kingdome for God had charged him that he should not return by the way by which he came and therefore he returned another way Sect. 2. But when he had gone a part of his journy a certaine old Prophet whose sonnes had told him what he had done riding upon his Asse found him sitting under a turpentine tree and when upon the same reason he had denyed his request to goe with him and cate bread at the last giving too much credit to him when he said he was a Prophet also whom God had commanded to doe this he assented to his own hurt for as he sate with him at the table the Prophet that had brought him back foretold him as God had bid him that because he had not obeyed Gods word his carkasse should not be brought into the Sepulchre of his Fathers and therefore shortly after a Lyon slew him as he went away thence which when the old Prophet had newes of he went presently and laying the whole carkasse on his Asse brought it to his house and buried it with all honour speaking to his sounes that when he should dye they should bury him hard by him Jehu the Prophet CHAP. VIII IEhu the sonne of Hanani was Prophet when Asa was King of Judah God sent him to Baasa King of Israel to foretell him that forasmuch as being exalted out of the dust as it were and made Prince over Israel he followed the way of Hieroboam and made Israel to sin by his example and command it should come to passe that his estate and memory should be utterly taken away Now Baasa did not onely refuse to entertaine these words as he ought but also he killed
they were not taken in war but he commanded that all manner of necessaries should be given them and sent them away satisfied Sect. 11. After those things Benhadad King of Syria having got a great army besieged Samaria and besieged it so long that when all things necessary for food were spent there grew such a dearth of provision that an Asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver 2 Kings 24. In this so great scarcity of provision two women constrained with hunger had made a covenant betwixt themselves to eat their children by turnes now when one of them had given her childe to be eaten and the other would not stand to agreement but on the day after hid her child That woman pined with hunger besought the King of Israel with cryes and teares that he would help her and take some order for her life and told him this story of the children hereupon he rent his garment in all their sight swore bitterly that Elisha should die that day And for that end he dispatched away an executioner but before he came to the house of Elisha Elisha told the Elders that sate with him that purpose of the King and charged them that they should not open the door to the messenger because the sound of his masters feet followed He had not yet made an end of speaking those words when as the King prevented the messenger and said Behold this evil is of the Lord what should I wait on the Lord any longer 2 Kin. 6.33 The Prophet at Gods appointment foretold that the next day about that very hour a measure of fine flower should be sold fora shekell and two measures of Barlie for a shekel in the gate of Samaria 2 Kin. 7.1 the matter seemed so incredible to a certaine Lord upon whose hand the King leaned that he said that could not be although God should open Heaven whereas the Prophet assured him that it should come to passe that he should see the thing but should not eat thereof At that time four Lepers constrained with hunger going into the enemies campe in such apparent danger of death when they were come to the entrance of the Campe they found no body for God had caused the enemies to heare a rushing and a noise of Chariots and horses and of a great army which when they heard they left their luggage and ran away Now when the Lepers had told these things in the City the King at the first interpreted it to be a Stratagem afterwards having sent two horses of the six that were onely left when the scouts had found it to be so all the people came thither for bootie and when the tents were spoiled that cheapnesse of provision followed which Elisha had foretold and then that Lord of whom I made mention before to whom the King had given charge of the Gate was trod to death by the multitude Sect. 12. The Prophet had perswaded that woman whose Son as is shewed before 2 Kings 8.1 he raised from death when he foretold the seven yeares famine that she should go some whither else and sojourne with her Family to avoide it She followed his counsell but at the seven yeares end when she came back she found her house and land seized on therefore she petitioned the King that she might recover her owne King Ioram then opportunely at that nick of time commanded Gehazi Elisha's servant to relate the great and strange workes that his Master had done for besides other things which he told him he affirmed that this was the woman whose son that was also present there he had raised from the dead Thereupon when she being asked had affirmed that it was so the King commanded an Officer or Eunuch to restore her not only all her Land but all the profits of it also And no doubt but the woman avoided the inconveniencies of the Famine and recovered her own estate through Elisha's goodnesse Sect. 13. When Benhadad King of Syria was sick Elisha was at Damascus 2 Kings 8.7 of whose comming when the King was certified he sent Hazael to him who was one of his chiefe servants with presents to aske of him whether he should recover from his disease he answered that he indeed should recover but neverthelesse God had told him that he should die shortly whereupon whilest Hazael stood in his sight Elisha began to weepe And when Hazael asked him why he wept He answered that when he should be King of Syria he would afflict the Israelites therefore the next day after he had brought his Master Benhadad newes of recovery he smothered him and seized upon the Kingdome and soone after he oppressed the Israelites with many sad overthrowes the same Elisha tooke order to anoint John King of Israel 2 Kings 9. who should root out the Family of Ahab with Iezabel his wife as Elias had foretold after this manner he bad one of the sons of the Prophets which he had called take a boxe full of oyle and go to Ramoth Gilead and when he had found Iohn there to consecrate him with oyle according to Gods command in an inner Chamber where no body was by that he might afterwards utterly destroy the whole Family of King Ahab together with Iezabel when he had done as Elisha bad him Iohn being King lid execute all those things which Elisha had appointed him by Gods command After these so excellent uncouth and unheard of things were done Elisha fell into the disease of which he died 2 Kings 13. when he was sick Ioas King of Israel came to visit him and perceiving the danger of his disease he wept before him with these words My Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the Chariot man thereof He first commanded the King that he should bring his bow and arrowes and afterwards that when they were brought he should lay his hand upon the bow being bent and lastly that when his hand was laid upon the Kings he should shoot out of a window which he had towards the East which when he had done he said that was the Arrow of Gods deliverance even the Arrow of salvation against Syria whom he should smite till he had destroyed them in Aphet Againe he commanded him that he should take an Arrow and strike the ground Now the King when he had struck the ground three times gave over whereupon he being angry foretold him that if he had struck five sixe or seven times it should have come to passe that he should utterly destroy Syria But because he had only struck the ground three times he should only smite it three times Epiphanius writeth that he was buried in Sebastopolis a City of Samaria Now he that when he was alive had raised a dead man as I have shewed after he was dead also raised a man from the dead for when some were burying a dead man and for feare of some free-booters Moabites who that yeare in which Elisha died had thrown the Corpes into Elisha's Sepulchre
had beaten him into prison The next day very early when Phashur had brought him out whatever the cause was for I doe not finde it written Ieremiah constantly and freely maintained that he was not called Phashur by God but Magor-Missabib Ier. 20. feare on every side forasmuch as God would astonish him with feare and his friends so as that they should be run through with the enemies whilst hee looked on and that God would deliver all Iudah into the hands of the King of Babylon to be slaine and their riches for a spoile and Phashur himselfe should be led captive thither with all his family and die there and all his friends unto whom he prophesied lies What answer Phashur made to these words or what he did being moved with them is not foe down in the Scriptures Sect. 2. In the beginning of the raigne of Ichoiakim son of Iosiah as he stood in the court of the Temple he denounced to all that were come out of the Cities of Iudah and Ierusalem to worship God that unlesse they kept Gods Lawes both that should befall the Temple which besell Siloh and that all Nations should abhorre that City Ier. 26. The Priests false Prophets and people who had heard him speak these words apprehended him and said first among themselves afterwards to the Princes who having heard this doom of his went from the Palace into the Temple that for that matter he ought to be put to death But he having leave given him to speak told them that God had sent him to declare every word that he had spoken And therefore they should repent and observe Gods Commandements who thereupon also would repent and not bring the evill upon them that he had purposed ver 13. And as for him that he was in their hands that they might resolve what they would against him yet thus much they should understand know it they put him to death they should kill one that was innocent towards them and the City because God had sent him to prophesie all those things unto them ver 14. The great men and the Rulers being perswaded by these speeches perswaded the Priests and the false Prophets that they should not kill him that was sent by God And amongst these some Elders standing up altered their mindes by minding them of Micah the Prophet who when Hezekiah was King had foretold many things concerning the destruction of the City and for all that was not put to death but the men which lived that time appeased God by their repentance prayers and fears but herein the paines and diligence of Ahicam the son of Shaphan most of all appeared that he might not be put to death Sect. 3. In the same Kings Raigne God commanded Ieremiah to bring the posterity of Richab who were called Rechabites into the Temple and give them wine Now they had a command from Ionadah their father to abstaine from wine Therefore when Ieremiah had set wine before them at Gods cōmand they bringing this command of their Fathers for anexcuse refrained altogether from wine which had not been well done of them if he had said that God had commanded them this But God by this example of the Rechabites intended to show and shame the depraved and corrupted manners of the Jewes For he sent afterwards to Iieremias to tel them how grievously they offended because the Rechabites at their Fathers bidding abstained from wine all their whole life whereas he had endeavoured to draw them from their wicked course of life by his Prophets of whom he had sent a great many and could not because of their obstinate will hereupon also he denounced that the Jewes should be plagued with Famine Pestilence and captivity But to the Rechabites he promised that their posterity should never faile before him because they had obeyed their Fathers command with such constancy of spirit Sect. 4. And in the fourth yeare of the same King God commanded him that he should write in a booke all the miseries with which he would punish the Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah that when they should heare them read they might by repentance seek to appease Gods wrath against them Ier. 36. He was then as I said in prison therefore he sent for Baruch the sonne of Neriah a good man whom he bad first write in a book what he dictated and afterwards to rehearse it in the Temple whither he could not come on the fast day to all the people and all that came out of Iudah to worship that if they would believe those words which were rehearsed and live according to them they might find God more favourable unto them When he had done these things and at a set fast in the fifth yeare of the same King and the ninth month had rehearsed them all Michaiah the soune of Gemariah told them all to the chiefe men of the Court and they sent Iehudi the sonne of Nethaniah to command him that he should bring the role to them When he was come hee read all out of the writing as they commanded and that with such admiration or aftonishment rather that they said they would acquaint the King with all those words yet first they enquired of him how he writ all those words When he had told them that he had taken all those words from the mouth of Ieremiah who dictared them as if he had read them out of a book and that he had written them all with ink then they advised him that he and Ieremiah would hide themselves some where so as no body might know it they gave the book to Elishama the scribe Then Iehudi at the Kings command began to reade the booke but after three or foure pages only were read the King cut it with a penknife and afterwards threw it into the fire nor could Elnathan Delaiah and Gemariah disswade him but that he would needs do the thing nor was Ichojakim content with this so grievous a wicked act but he also commanded Ierahmiel Hammelech and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the sonne of Abdul to apprehend Baruch the Scribe and Ieremiah the Prophet but God hid them from the Kings wrath But God was so offended with the burning of the book that he bad Ieremias to write the same role over againe and to adde thereunto many other things and to tell the King front him that there should remaine none of his posterity that should sit upon the throne but withall that his carkasse should be throwne out and that he his posterity and servants should be punished for their wickednesse and those evils should befall them the City and people which when they were foretold they had so neglected and slighted Ieremiah as he was commanded by God delivered the other book to Baruch whether Baruch read to the King himselfe or the people or both or what the King did or the rest is not set downe in the Scriptures The same Ieremiah in the beginning of the Raigne of Ichotakim
shooting an Arrow at Rovirs or at adventure wounded Ahab in the shoulders so that he dâ—ed that Evening The life of Elijah the Prophet CHAP. XII Section 1. IN the Raigne of Ahab King of Israel which began on the thirty eighth yeare of Asa King of Iudah and Lasted twenty two yeares was Elijah glorious both for Prophesie and working of miracles Him God sent to Ahab first with this Prediction There shall be no raine for a * Three years and 6 months space of time but according to my word during which time he betooke himselfe to the 1 Kings 17. brooke Cherith which is before Iordan out of which he drunk where God also had promised that the Ravens should feed him And when he was come thither the Ravens brought him bread and flesh morning and evening constantly and water he drew and drank out of the Brook which when it was dryed up by roason of the drought God sent him to Sarepta a City of Zidon to a widow whom he had commanded to feed him there Elijah was no sooner come to the gate of the City but he light upon that very widow gathering sticks And calling her he desired her to bring him a little vessell of water and as she was going to fetoh that he call'd and intreated her to bring a crust of bread with her also she answered that she had no bread at all only a handfull of meal she had which shee was about to bake for her selfe and her child which when they had eaten they should goe and die He bad her not feare but goe and doe as shee had said yet first make a cake for him and then for her selfe and her son for God had spoken it the barrell of meale shall not waste nor the cruse of oyl faile till the day he sent raine upon the earch The woman believed him So Elijah and the woman and her childe did feed upon that bread and from that day the barrell of meale wasted not neither did the cruse of oyl faile Sect. 2. The power and excellency of Elijah was most apparent conspicuous in this but it burst out more gloriously in this that followes It came to passe that the sonne of that widow fel into so sore a sicknesse that there was no appearance of life in him she came and complained to Elijah that his comming to her house had brought death along with it to her sonne Then Elijah tock her sonne out of her bosome and carrying him up into the loft where himselfe kept laid him upon his bed cryed unto the Lord and stretcht himselfe upon the childe three times and prayed that the childes soul might return to him againe God heard his prayers raised the childe and Elijah delivered him to his mother who consessed her faith saying by this I know thou art a man of God and that the word of the Lord is true in thy mouth S. 3. In the third year of this drought God bad Elijah shew himselfe to Ahab for now he would send raine upon the earth Now the Famine was so sore in Samaria that Ahab was faine to send Obadiah governour of his house and one that feared God into one quarter of the Land and himselse to go into another to seek provision about the springs and brooks to save the horses mules and carrell from starving in the way whom should Obadiah meet with all but Elijah whom he well knew and falling upon his face to the very ground said art thou my Lord Elijah when he said I am he and bad him goe and tell Ahab his master that Elijah was here Obadiah asked him what sin it was for the punishment of which lie would deliver him to Ahab to slay him for there was no Nation or Kingdome whither he had not sent to seek him And when they said he is not there he took an oath of them that so it was And yet thou biddest me said Obadiah go tell thy Lord that Elijah is here And whilst I am going the spirit of the Lord will carry thee to some other place and when Ahab comes and findes thee not for certaine he wil slay me Yet when Elijah swore he would shew himselfe to Ahab that day then upon his word Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah was there and out came Ahab to meet him and as soone as he saw him thus he entertained him Art thou he that troublest Israel Elijah denyed himselfe to be the troubler of Israel telling Ahab that it was he and his fathers house had done it in that they had forsaken the commands of the Lord and served Baalim And with like confidence he bad him send for the 450 Prophets of Baal and the people to meet him at Mount Carmel and when they were all met together he came and asked the People once how long they would halt betwixt two opinions if the Lord was God they should doe well to follow him but if Baal then let them goe after him when they all stood silent he spake againe after this manner I am here left alone the onely Prophet of the Lord but lo the Prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty yet am I content to make this overture let here be brought us now two Oxen and let Baals Prophets take their choyce of one cut him in pieces and lay him on wood but pat no sire under the other will I take and cut in pieces but put no sire under When the people jointly applauded this proposition he bad them doe as was agreed and call upon their gods When all was done according to agreement and no fire put under they called upon Baal from morning till noon O Baal heare us but there was neither voice nor any one that answered At noon Elijah mocking them bad them straine their voices a little higher to rouze up Baal for sure and sooth he was a God but perhaps was bufie talking or was in a journy or at his Inne or he might be asleep in bed And for this purpose they stretcht their voices louder and gasht themselves with knives and lances till the blood gushed out when noone was past and still they continued vaticinantibus Raving till the solemn time of the evening Sacrifice approached and yet no voice was heard nor any one that answered or regarded Elijah called the People to him and when they were come the first thing he did was to repaire the Altar of the Lord that was pulled downe which he built up with twelve stones according to the number of the sonnes of Jacob and with such other materialls as he thought sit then when he had the third time commanded them to poure store of water into the trench and the time of the Sacrifice was come and the wood ordered he came without fire and addressed himselfe to God by prayer in these words O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob manifest thy selfe this day to be the God of Israel and that I thy servant have done
looking well upon him he knew Then falling down upon his feet he asked him whether he was not Elias Nâ—w when Elias had said that he was and charged him to go and tell his Master that he was there he demanded of him what great sin he had committed for which he meant to deliver his servant to be certainly put to death by Ahab seeing there was no Country or Nation nor Kingdom whither he had not sent some to seeke him and when all had made answer that he was not there he took an Oath of them all Neverthelesse he sent him to tell Ahab that he was there whom the Spirit of God would conveigh away where he should not be found and so he should be put to death was it not told of Eliah how that when Jezabel would have slaine the Prophets of the Lord he hid an hundred of them by fifties in a Cave and fed them with bread and water Yet when Elias for all that commanded him that he should tell the King he was there he obeyed but Ahab went with not good mind to meet Elias when he understood by Abdias that he was there For at the first meeting he asked him whether he was not that Elias that troubled the STATE Which when he did not only deny but on the contrary maintained that Ahab was he who neglecting Gods Commands did worship Baalim with his whole Family as his Ancesters had done he bad him that he should call together all the Israelites and the Prophets of the god Baal to Mount Carmel where when they were met all those things fell out which are well known and set forth by us at large in the Life of Elias Therefore that we may returne to the point Hierom according to the judgement of the Hebrews thinkes this man both to be that same Abdias and the Captaine of fifty also of whom we speake and we may also suppose him to be one and the same man for the saith in the beginning of his Commentaries upon the Prophecy of this Abdias that because he had fed an hundred Prophets Obadiah both received the gift of Prophesie and of a Leader of an Army was made a Guide of the Church This Prophet if we follow the Letter foretelleth the overthrow of Idumaea and the restitution of Indaea if we consider the meaning the overthrow of the Gentiles and the building of Christ's Church by the Apostles He is short indeed for number of words but long for the weight of the Sentences He dyed and was buried in his own Land although St Hierome writeth that his Sepulchre together with the monument of Elissaeus the Prophet and Iohn the Baptist was had in honour and reverence in the City Schasto which was sometimes called Samaria The life of the Prophet Hosea or Osee CHAP. XVI SAint Hierome thinketh that Osee was the first of all the Prophets He was the sonne of Beeri and discharged his Office of Prophesie when Hieroboam the sonne of Joas was King of Israel and Vzzia Joatham Ahaz and Hezekiah were Kings of Judah whereby it may be conceived that he lived long For wheras Hieroboam raigned two and twenty years Ozias fifty and two Joatham sixteen Ahaz sixteen and Hezekias twenty nine although I can deliver nothing for certaine in what year of Hieroboam he began or in what year of Hezekias he left off to Prophesie yet I thing this may be conjectured that he prophesied fourscore and foure yeares and above unto which if we adde the years of his age when he began to prophesie and those years he lived in the raigne of Hezekias and till heo died which we are ignorant of we must confesse that he lived very long This Hosee at Gods command married Gomer an Harlot by whom he had three children to which he gave names also at his command to the eldest sonne he gave the name of Jezreel to his daughter Lo-Ruamah to the third a sonne Lo-ammi Hos 1.1 Sâ— Hierom who thinks this was really done saith this is not to be imputed as a fault to Hosea but rather a commendation because of a bad woman he made her a good one and did not marry her for lust but by the command of God Now that which is done at Gods command cannot be reputed a fault nor indeed would God have this done without a cause but that he might typifie or by fact also signifie what he commanded by words to forerell namely such a destruction of the Kingdome of Israel that is of the ten tribes which had worshipped strange gods by the meanes of Hieroboam and his posterity that God should neither be moved with mercy towards them nor esteeme or call them his people And these very things which indeed came to passe signifie the rejection or detestation of the Jewes as the other woman whom the same Prophet at Gods commandement loved does the calling of the Gentiles And in these two almost is the whole Prophesie of Hosea spent The life of the Prophet Jonah or Jonas CHAP. XVII Ionas the Prophet was the sonne of Amittai a Sydonian of Sarepta For Epiphanius and St Hierome and so also the Hebrews as he saith will have him to be the sonne of the Widow of Sarepta whom Elias raised from the dead which how it hapned although we related it elsewhere yet will it not be far amisse to declare it in this as the proper place When Elias had foretold the famine which lasted three years and a halfe to Ahaz King of Israel as God had bid him he fled from the face of Ahab and first dwelt neer Jordan by the brook Cherith till the brook was dried up and afterwards he went to Sarepta a City of Sidon when he was come to the City gate he found a widow as God had foretold him gathering sticks when she at Elia's bidding had brought a cruse wherein was a little oyle and a barrell wherein was a little meal though she told him shee had provided both these for her selfe and her sonne that when they had eaten they might die yet that oyle did so increase at his prayers that afterwards it never failed by this strange and unheard of worke the widdow was so affected that when her sonne who shortly after fell sick and died she came and complained to him of the death of her sonne as though his comming had been the cause of it Elias that was both grieved for the death of the child and the mothers mourning and teares when he had carried him into a chamber stretching himselfe three times upon him he raised him from the dead by his prayers and restored him alive to his mother Now when this child that was raised up was grown to mans estate God commanded him to goe to Nineve a very great City of the Assyrians to declare and preach the truth and he not obeying Gods command as soon as he came to Joppe a Haven towne of Judaea he there found a Ship setting out for Tharsis and having paied the
wives and children were sent for by the Kings order who for anger could scarce hold his hands they discover the passages by which comming in the night time they used to take away the meates and drinkes and then at last according to the Kings motion which as I said they had accepted they were put to death Daniel destroyed Bel being given into his power and his Temple There was in that place also a dragon of a wonderfull bignesse which the Babylonians worshipped Now Cyrus because he was alive and was worshipped as a God thought he had found a reason why Daniel most needs worship him as though he had said he would not worship Bel onely for this reason because he was not alive Therefore meeting with him he objected that he had no reason now why he should not worship the Dragon which was alive he made answer that he worshipped his owne God which was alive but that the Dragon was not a god whom he that was a man if he might have leave given him could kill without a sword After the King had given him leave he boiled pitch and fat and haire together and cramb'd into the mouth of the Dragon with which he was presently burst in sunder and then he smilingly said to the Babylonians that that was the god which they worshipped The Babylonians being almost madded with this matter all cryed out that the King was become a Jew because he had destroyed Bel and killed the Dragon and put the Priests to death With these words they one stir up another and goe to the King whom having declared the hainousnesse of the matter they threaten with the destruction of himselfe and family unlesse he delivered Daniel unto them The King being enforced with their threatnings gave Daniel to their will whom they throw into the Lyons den He was there five dayes in which they gave nothing to the seven Lyons to the intent he might be the more greedily devoured by them whereas aforetime two carkasses and two sheep were given them dayly There was then one Habakkuk a Prophet in Judaen who carried pottage that he had made with bread sopt in them into the countrie to the reapers and an Angell of God discovering himselfe unto him bad him to carry the dinner which he had to Babylon to Daniel who was in the Lyons den he answered that he never saw Babylon nor knew the Lyons den But the Angel taking hold of the haire of his head carried him to Babylon and set him downe by the den Habakkuk called Daniel thence by name and willed him to take the dinner which God had sent him Daniel when he had given thankes for Gods so great favour towards him eat on the seventh day the King came to the den to lament Daniel whom when he saw sitting there without the least hurt amongst the Lyons he cryed our with a loud voyce great art thou O Lord God of Daniel And when he was drawne forth he threw all them together into the den who had sought his destruction and they were suddenly devoured by the Lyons By these two gallant acts he preserved himselfe and his owne life maintaining the worship and service of the true and living God But in that which followeth he defended his Neighbour from an unjust death There dwelt a certain man at Babylon one Joacim by name and he had taken a wife whose name was Susanna the daughter of Helcias a handsome woman and that which is more to be valued a woman that feared and served God For her Parents being just and good persons had brought her up in the Law of Moses Amongst her vertues her chastitie was especially eminent which is seldome found joyned with bodily beauty nor could shee ever be brought by any disgrace offered her or by death ordained according to a Law to suffer her selfe to be defiled for whereas her husband was a rich man and had an Orchard next his house into which she used often to goe privately without any body by to wash her selfe and two elders who were made judges that came often to Joacims house had observed her in the garden and at last having got an opportunity to satisfie their lust as they thought were gotten alone to her by her selfe and first with many allurements had attempted her chastity and afterwards thought that they would bring her to it when she utterly denyed that she had ever been defiled it they should threaten her that they would object against her how she had used to lye with young men which by the Law was a fault that deserved death shee remained constant in her purpose and resolution once undertaken to maintaine her chastity For being brought to that strait that shee should either offend God by losing her honesty it shee should yield her selfe to be defiled or be put to death according to the Law by the witnesse of them two if shee should withstand their lust and keep her honesty shee chose rather to fall into their hands that is to hazard the losse of this life retaining and keeping her honesty then having lost it und saving her life to offend the will of God Thereupon she began to cry out with aloud voice and so did the Elders The servants hearing their mistresses speech ran to her by the back door and when they heard the Elders affirme that they had taken her in Adultery because they had never heard any such thing concerning her they did not onely wonder but also blush at it That I may not be long upon the matter the next day Susanna is accused and upon their testimony is condemned She who now conceived there was no helpe for her in man besought God in these words that he would take some course for her O eternall God who knowest the devices of the heart and knowest all things before they come to passe thou knowest that their witnesse is false against me and yet am I violently corried to be put to death unlesse thou beest a defender of mine innocency God heard her having raised up his spirit in Daniel who was but then a child who when she was brought to be put to death cried out first in the multitude that he had no hand in that fault by which the blood of innocent Susanna was to be shed and after when the people asked what he said he answered that their testimony against her was false and therefore the Judges should goe again to judgement when the Judges giving credit to him were about to take better cognisance againe of the matter and had willed him that he would come and sit with them he judged it fitting that those two witnesses should be parted He asked them severally after they were parted under what tree they saw the young man commit whoredome with Susanna And when they both had not named the same but a severall tree the thing being found out all that were there shouted and praised God who saved them that hoped in him Hereupon according to the
year of Darius and the booke that is intituled by his name reckoned amongst Scripture containeth many more verses In the beginning of the book at Gods bidding he chargeth the Iewes who were newly returned out of Babylon that they would return to him and so at last he would return to them and that they would not live as their forefathers had done who had contemned the Command of the former Prophets who perswaded them from their wickednesse to an holy course of life that they would not lie but speak the truth to their neighbours that they would judge truly and friendly that they would not devise evill in their mind against their neighbour that they would not love a false oath forasmuch as these were the things which God hated These things if they would doe that they should receive all things that they had sowne with increase and aboundance He foretold the comming of Christ to Hierusalem upon a shee Asse and the price of his betraying God shewed him Jesus the sonne of Josedec the high Priest standing before his Angell and Sathan standing at his right hand to withstand him whom when God had rebuked he signified by the Angell that his sins were pardoned by the change of his apparell and that he should become a judge if he would observe his Commandements In the fourth yeare of Darius in the fourth day of the month that is of November some amongst whom were Sarasar and Regemmelech had sent to Hierusalem to aske the Priests and Prophets whether they should weep and fast in the fifth month for the time to come as they had done already in former times and for many yeares Now God bad Zacharias being inspired and moved with a prophetick spirit to aske of the people of the Country and of the Priests whether they had fasted to God these seventy yeares in which they had been out of their land when they kept a fast the fifth and ninth month or when they eat and drank to him God declaring by these words that their fastings dinners suppers were not acceptable to him because they were not joyned with works of bountie and mercy as he had wished them by former Prophets and therefore it was come to passe that he being moved against them had scattered them abroad into all countries He prophesieth also many other things which are besides my present purpose he foretold also to Josedec as Epiphanius saith that he should have a sonne that should serve as a Priest in the Temple of God and to Salathiell how he should have Zorobabel There are some as Hierome saith that would have this to be the Zacharias whom Christ affirmeth in Mathew to have been slaine betwixt the Temple and the Altar But Epiphanius referreth this to Zacharias the father of John the Baptist in his life and writeth how that this man being very aged died in Judaea and was buried neer Aggaeus the Prophet The Life of the Prophet Esdras CHAP. XXXIII ESdras the Prophet and scribe of the Tribe of Levi was the sonne of Saraias He as himselfe saith was a Captive when Artaxerxes was King of Babylon and he beganne to prophesie in the thirtieth yeare almost after Jerusalem was destroyed He maketh mention in his book of the prophesying of Malachias the Prophet who neverthelesse is said to be born after the people were brought back againe from captivity And therefore he must be conceived to have foretold this as being moved with a prophetick spirit But because we write the life and acts of Esdras we must keep the order of the times as long as we can in setting them downe In the first year of Cyrus King of the Persians in which the seventy yeares of the captivity foretold by Hieremiah were fulfilled by his grant this Esdras went to Hierusalem to build the Temple with Zorobabel the governour and Jesus the sonne of Josedeck and others that had a minde to goe after them but how long he was there it is uncertaine For he came afterwards againe to Babylon and in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes he returned thence to Hierusalem by his grant with many others and so as that when they set out from Babylon the first day of the first month they came to Hierusalem the first day of the fifth month Which journy and returne of his why and how it befell or was procured because it pertaines to his exceeding commendation I have thought meet to be related The work of the Temple of Iierusalem which was begun by the edict of Cyrus had been intermitted by the hatred envy of the enemies of Ierusalem and compleated in the sixth yeare of Darius and the third day of the twelfth month And in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes the sonne of Darius seeing he by Gods blessings was in great favour with the King both because of his great vertues with which he was endowed and also because he knew him to be a scribe very skilfull in the Law of God hee not onely willingly granted his petition that he might goe to Hierusalem with his country men that had a mind to explain the law but also he gave him a Patent whereby it may easily be conceived how gratious he was with him Now the Copy of the Patent is thus Artaxerxees King of Kings to Esdras the Priest ascribe exceeding skilfull of the law of the God of Heaven greeting I have made a decree that he that will of the people of Israel the Priests and Levites may goe with thee to Hierusalem out of my Kingdome for thou art sent by me according to the advice and judgement of my seven Councellors that thou maiest teach and explaine in Judaea and Hierusalem the law of thy God which thou understandest and propound it to all and maiest carry the Gold and silver which I and my Councellers have of our selves and of our owne accord offered unto the God of Israel whose Temple is at Hierusalem And if the people which is in the country will give gold and silver I give thee leave to receive it all and buy with it Calves ramms lambs and other necessary sacrifices which thou maiest offer in the Temple of thy God and if there be any silver or gold left that ye may dispose of it as it liketh thee or thy people according to the will of God The vessels also which are delivered thee to doe sacrifice in the Temple of thy God doe thou there look to that they may be ready at hād But if thou want any thing besides I would that thou require of my Rulers whom I have set over my Treasurie beyond the river for this I have given them charge of in thy decree lest perhaps thy God should be angry at me and my children and also that they that attend Gods service may be altogether free Let it be also lawfull for thee to appoint some punishment either of banishment or death or prison or fine Esdras having received this Patent after he had thanked the King in