Hivites and Iebusites which were not of the children of Israel their children which were left after them in the land The Canaanites were bond-slaues to Salomon whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy upon those did Salomon levie a tribute of bond service unto this day And it was the people of the seven Nations who hardned their hearts with whom Ioshua tooke not peace Iosh 11.19.20 When the Gibeonites came to Ioshua if they had told him the truth that they were a people that dwelt amongst them and that they came not from a farre Countrey but were Canaanites indeede and came to seeke their peace which they did not for feare then Ioshua was bound to haue spared their liues upon their submission and whereas the men of Israel said then Peradventure yee dwell among us and how shall wee make a league with you Iosh 9.7 The meaning is we cannot make sociale faedus vobiscum but onely deditionis that is Faedus Sociale Deditionis we cannot make a covenant or league of mutual friendship with you but wee may take you as servants and slaues if ye submit your selues Ioshua might make a league of peace with the Canaanites but not of mutuall friendship and if it had beene simply unlawfull to haue made any sort of league with the Canaanites then the posteritie of Saul would not haue beene punished for the breach of this oath Ambrose saith well Pacem quam dederant non censuerant revocandam quia firmata erat sacramenti religione nedum alieni perfidiam arguat suam fidem solveret that is they held that it was not lawfull to break the oath that was made least finding fault with other mens falshood he should become perjured himselfe Ioshua a type of Christ Ioshua was a type of Christ as Ioshua sent messengers to the Canaanites to receiue either peace or warre so the Lord hath sent his Faeciales into the world to bid them either receiue peace or warre Rahâ—b a type of the Church and as Rahab held out a red threed to be a signe that whosoever remained in her house should be saued and they who went out of it should be killed so there is no salvation to those who are without the Church which is marked with the bloud of Christ Act. 2.47 Rahab being the first fruits of the Gentiles implied that the Gentiles should be received into the Church and be saved CHAPTER X. Whether the Kingdome of Iudah or Israel were the best Government IT may seeme at the first that the Kings of Israel did more formally proceed by way of Iustice The Kings of Israel proceeded by way of Iustice formally than the Kings of Iudah did the Kings of Israel did not proceed by way of arbitrary Iustice neither was there any peremptory execution upon the will of the King When Naboth was to be stoned to death the matter was handled after a judiciall forme which might haue given satisfaction to the ignorant people who knew not the device and secrecy of the matter But the Kings of Iudah proceeded by their absolute authoritie as may appeare in some of them The Kings of Iudah proceeded by absolute authoritie who tooke away their Subjects liues by their absolute authoritie without any order of law or processe in Iudgement David killed the Amalekite and againe What things objected to David he seemeth to haue broken his oath swearing that nothing should befall Shimei and yet he biddeth his sonne Salomon put him to death thou art a wise man Ioabs worthy deeds reckoned up Ioab was Davids kinsman and knowest what thou hast to doe 1 King 2. and so caused to kill Ioab who was Davids neere kinsman and who had undergone many dangers for the glory of God and the good of the Church 2 Sam. 10. He gaue many things to the house of the Lord. And he dedicated many of the spoyles which he had taken in the warres to the house of the Lord 1 Chro. 26.8 he fought for his Countrey all Davids time he was faithfull to the King he stood for David against Saul he followed him still although he was banished and at that time when he was made Captaine 2 Sam. 18. Repressed the sedition of Sheba he did represse the sedition of Sheba even when David would haue put him from his place and put Amasa in his stead 2 Sam. 20.4 Disswaded David to number the people It was he that forbad the King to number the people 2 Sam. 24. It was he who first invaded Sion 1 Chron. 11. It was he who by his wisedome taught the woman of Tekoa to obtaine pardon for Absalom Reconciled Absalom to his father It was he that was most skilfull in the warres It was he that fought against the Syrians and the Amorites Subdued many wicked Nations and all the enemies of the Church and it was he who in modestie when he had gotten the victory refused to take the praise to himselfe but sent for the King that he might get the praise of the victorie 2 Sam. 12.28 He was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or implacable when Abner sought peace at him he willingly granted it so did he to the people of Abel 2 Sam. 20. He had good successe in his warres He had good successe in the warres he was a terror to all his enemies 2 Sam. 10. as to Hadarezer the Edomites c. therefore it may seeme that David by his absolute authoritie What things objected to Salomon caused him to be put to death unworthily And as for Salomon he seemeth most unjustly to haue killed his brother Adonijah for first he was Davids eldest sonne now aliue secondly his father loved him most dearely thirdly he never did finde fault with him for seeking the Kingdome and Salomon might seeme here to be too rigorous Suâ—tâ—nius lib. 9. for Titus a Heathen Prince was more mercifull to his brother Heathen Kings louing to their brethren for when his brother did affect the Kingdome yet notwithstanding he lovingly embraced him and disswaded him from that course and Seneca writeth of the like in his first booke of Clemencie cap. 9. how Augustus spared Cinna and made him of a foe a friend David and Salomon Prophets But if we shall consider that the Kings of Iudah especially David and Salomon being directed by the spirit of God immediately had a better warrant to proceede by their sole authoritie David in killing the Amalekite sinned not than the Kings of Israel had we shall be of another minde and where it is objected that David killed the Amalekite onely upon his owne confession When one may be condemned upon his owne confession the confession out of ones owne mouth if it be the confession of one that is well at himselfe and is not wearie of his life and if he stand constantly at it then the confession out of his owne mouth is
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 159 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 160 ×™ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 114 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24 ב 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 57 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 77 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 75 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 100 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 106 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 26 ל 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 121 מ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 52 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 68 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 125 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 116 × ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 79 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 82 × ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 165 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 97 ×¢ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 56 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 124 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 156 פ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 122 צ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 159 ק 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 23 ר 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 110 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 123 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 17 ש 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 199 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 178 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 98 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 77 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 52 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 196 ת 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 33 A Table of the Greeke vvords expounded in this Booke Α 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 108 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 81 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 76 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 160 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 243 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 52 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 102 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 90 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 228 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 245 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 114 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 122 Î’ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 109 Δ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 94 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 79 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 102 Ε 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 231 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 143 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 114 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 103 Κ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 94 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 159 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 109 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 102 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 259 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 75 Îœ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 102 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 52 Π〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 83 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 200 Ο 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 89 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 71 Π〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 200 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 106 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 160 Σ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 90 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 111 Φ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 102 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 108 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 152 An Alphabeticall Table of the chiefe matters contained in this Booke A AAron why not punished as the people for Idolatry 65 the disarrying of him what it meant 71 why he tooke not Moses rod. Altar what Altars meant David of c. 17. and Elias 18. four sorts of Altars 51. things done betwixt the Portch and the Altar 30. two Altars 46 the matter of them ibid Differences betwixt Moses and Salomons Altar 46. the brasen Altar 48. removed by Ahaz 49 Anabatists error concerning Christ 153 Angels what 38. 213. painted as young men 35 in comely forme ibid They serve Christ and attend us 38 235. Answer is to begin to speake 235 Arke the diverse names of it 11. a threefold Arke 13. to worship before it 12 how it is said to rest in the Temple 14. why the staves left in it ibid B Bastard not to enter in the congregation 140. what meant by bastard ibid 141. not secluded from the worship of God 143 bastard put for any vile person ibid. Benjamin why called a ravening wolfe 24 Bitter see water Blemish what 52. of the blemishes of a beast to be Sacrifice â—d ibid. Blood not the forme to the body 132. how the life is in it ibid. Not the seate of the soule 133. The passions shew themselves in it 16. it was to be covered ibid. why the Apostles commanded abstinance from it 135. it was not a morall precept simply 134. Bodies called our Vessels 44. that part of it punished which was the chiefe instrument of sinne 151. dead bodies of the Saints within the covenant 260. whether pure or not 249. Bread why called the Shewbread 43 why removed every Sabbath ibid. who might eate it 43 44. the poores bread 85. C Canaan Gods land after a speciall manner 128 Candlesticke what it signified 59. why not mentioned in the second Temple 47 Ceremonies of foure sorts 2 some belong to all and some to diverse Commandements 2. 3. the weakenesse of them 108. how applied in the new Testament 170. considered three wayes 171 threefold use of them 172 Chastity twofold 44 Cherubins had diverse names 34. how they were painted 36 what their winges signified 30. they were not naked ibid. Of their diverse formes 37. a difference betwixt the Cherubins in the Tabernacle and in the Temple and those which Ezekiel saw ibid. Christ made sinne and then a Sacrifice 67 how his righteousnesse imputed to us ibid why girt about the loynes 7 how called a Nazarite 82. considered foure wayes 147. he shall not want a seed 199 Church visible may erre 65. compared to the moone 102 gifts necessary for her 231. threesorts of wants in her 233 Combats foure notable combats 222 Cloud how God dwelleth in it 9 Congregation to enter in the congregation what 142 who might not enter in it 141 Crownes three sorts of crownes 240 difference betwixt the Kings crowne and the Priests ibid. D Dame upon the egges why not to be killed 129 Daughter the Priest daughter why burnt 147. 149. David compared to the fat of the Sacrifice 59. Death of the crosse accursed 163. death better then birth 251. when a man may choose death 253. considered diversly 254 comforts against death 257 258 259. Defects threefold 44. Dwell to dwell amongst the people what 142. to beare charge expressed by dwelling ibid how God dwelleth in a cloud 9 how he dwelleth betwixt the Cherubines 12. how he dwelleth betwixt his shoulders 26. E Eate who might eate the holy things 245. 246. Error three sorts of error concerning Christ 173. all error proceedeth of ignorance 208. Expiation what done upon the day of expiation 106. it is called a fast ibid. why instituted 107 the Iubile proclaimed that day ibid. F Face spitting in the face 205 taken for the forme or habit 35. Fatte not to be eaten 60 fat put for the most excellent of any thing 59. Feasts transferred to
sufficient Luk. 19.22 Wicked servant out of thine owne mouth will I judge thee Secondly this Amalekite gloried that he had killed Saul and so flattered David and lastly he was an Amalekite against whom the Lord had given out sentence long before that they should all be killed with the sword and the Lord was wroth with Saul for sparing the Amalekites David brake not his oath in causing Shimei to be killed The second thing objected to David is the breaking of his oath in causing Shimei to be killed when he had sworne that nothing should befall him but it was not for his former railing that he was put to death but for his new transgression David saith to his sonne Salomon Habes apud te 2 Sam. 28. that is confine him and suffer him not to goe abroad for he is a mightie man and is able to gather together a thousand of Benjamin 2 Sam. 19.17 therefore Salomon makes him to sweare that he should never goe beyond the brooke Kedron under the paine of death and he most willingly assented unto it yet he brake his oath and went to seeke his fugitiue servant and for the breach of this oath David commandeth to put him to death and Salomon caused to execute him and after his first transgression he is kept in ward here and he is like a fish taken upon the hooke Simile but yet not pulled out of the water to be dressed by the Cookes Object But Salomon layeth to his charge that sin which was forgiven him 1 King 2.42 thou knowest what thou didst to my Father David Answ Both David and Salomon pardoned this sinne but conditionally that he should not fall into a new sinne Shimei had his former fault pardoned conditionally and even as an old Cicatrix being healed if it get a new blow is more dangerous than any other wound so a fault pardoned if the man fall into sinne againe aggravateth the sinne more he was pardoned conditionally onely that he should not transgresse againe Object But it may seeme too great a punishment for so small a fault going but out to seeke his fugitiue servant Answ He was guiltie of treason Shimei how guiltie of treason in setting light by the Kings commandement and he bound himselfe by an oath if he did transgresse As for the killing of Ioab David sinned not in causing Salomon to kill Ioab all the commendations set downe for his prayse are nothing if yee will compare them with his foule offences that which he did for his Countrey maketh him not a good man Ioabs vices his skill in militarie discipline maketh him not a good man but a good warriour and justly he deserved death for he would haue had the Kingdome from Salomon to Adonijah hoping thereby to haue gotten preferment under him He would haue Adonijah to be King as Abner would haue had the Kingdome from David to Ishbosheth and from Ishbosheth to David againe onely for his owne advancement so would Ioab haue Adonijah to haue the Kingdome hoping thereby to get preferment to himselfe therefore he was not to be reckoned amongst the loyall and faithfull Subjects of the King And whereas the vertues are reckoned up wee shall finde moe vices than vertues in him first we shall see him delight to see one kill another He delighted to see men kill others which he thought to haue beene but a sport 2 Sam. 2.14 And looke to his cruell murthering of Abner and Amasa He killed Abner and Amasa he shed the bloud of peace as it had beene in warre and when Abner looked for no such thing he traiterously killed him neither was he a white moved when he was defiled with their bloud when he saw the bloud both upon his girdle and his shooes he gloried in it and he was readie to kill Vrijah at the commandement of the King So he killed Absalom the Kings sonne He killed Absalom contrary to the Kings commandement Wherefore Salomon being a Prince of peace Why Salomon killed Adonijah Ioab and Shimei would not haue his servants turbulent like Ioab but would haue them as Christ would haue his Disciples not to seeke fire from heaven to be revenged upon the Samaritans for then they knew not of what spirit they were Luk. 9.55 Salomon sinned not in killing Adonijah Now for Salomons killing of Adonijah we must not judge rashly of Salomon who had many excellent vertues in him the great vertues which were in him meekenesse Foure chiefe vertues found in Salomon veritie fortitude and justice were the foure Horses as it were which drew his Chariot Psal 45. First Salomons meekenesse in sparing Adonijah his meeknesse he was the Prince of peace and therefore he pardoned Adonijah regnum auâ—picandum a clementia for this procureth the favour of his subjects so David would not kill Shimei in the beginning of his reigne but Rehoboam that would not gratifie the people in the beginning of his reigne his Kingdome prospered not Secondly his veritie if thou be a good man Salomons veritie in keeping his promise to Adonijah a haire of thy head shall not fall to the ground Thirdly his justice when he failed againe Salomons fortitude and justice justly he caused to put him to death Fourthly his fortitude although Adonijah had a great faction which were against Salomon yet he durst be bold to cause to apprehend him so Salomon for Adonijahs second transgression justly caused to execute him and we are not to measure his heavenly wisedome by the morall vertues which are found in Titus and Augustus Adonijah was guiltie of treason How Adonijah was guiltie of treason for he sought Abishaig onely for that end that he might get the Kingdome Secondly he saith that the Kingdome belongeth still to him he was not like good Ionathan who willingly gaue way to Gods ordinance he knew well that the Lord had appointed the Kingdome for Salomon 2 Sam. 7. The sonne which shall come out of thy loynes shall build thy house and succeede in the Kingdome this was spoken after all his other sonnes were borne this aggravated all the rest of his sinnes that he affected the Kingdome his father being yet aliue and although his father was decrepit yet he ruled by his Counsellours and he was not weake in minde now although in bodie Wherefore wee may conclude Conclusion the Kingdome of Iudah to be the best government and still to be preferred before the Kingdome of Israell CHAPTER XI Whether the Iewes might chuse Herod for their King or not DEVT. 17.15 Thou mayst not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother THe Iewes distinguish those who were Gentiles both by father and mother from those who were borne Iewes Those who were strangers both by father and mother they called them Bagbag by a contraction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Filius Proselyti et Proselyta for Benger and Bengerah that is filius proselyti
they minister to man thirdly the comfort that we haue by their ministerie First the ground of their ministery is because we are reconciled to God in Christ when man fell from God the Angels stood with a flaming sword to hold him out of Paradise Gen. 3.24 When Christ reconciled us to God he reconciled us also to the Angels Why the Angels minister to us Iacob saw in a vision a Ladder reaching from the earth to the heaven and the Angels ascending up and downe upon it Gen. 28.12 Christ is this Ladder upon which the Angels come downe to minister unto us Ioh. 1.51 Verily verily I say unto you hereafter yee shall see heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the sonne of man Quest Whether doe the Angels minister to wicked men or not Answ For outward things they may helpe them Whether the Angels doe minister to the wicked even as the Lord makes his Sunne to rise on the evill and on the good Mat. 5.45 We haue examples of this in the Scriptures when the Israelites were in the Wildernesse the Angels brought downe Manna to them therefore David saith He fed them with the bread of Angels Psal 74.25 It is called the bread of Angels because it was brought downe by their ministery there were many wicked men amongst the Israelites who did eat Manna yet the Angels by their ministery brought it downe to them another example wee haue the Angels came downe at certaine times and stirred the Poole Ioh. 5.4 and whosoever stepped in first after that the Poole was stirred was healed whether he were bad or good the Angels then may minister to wicked men in outward things but they doe not defend them from spirituall temptations as they doe the children of God in resisting Satan Secondly when they minister to man they minister to him in his life time in his death in the graue and at the resurrection First they minister to him in his life and they keepe him that he dash not his foote against a stone Secondly in his death they waite about his bed to repell Satan and when the soule is out of the bodie they carry it into Abrahams bosome and they attend the bodies of Gods children in the graue because they are the Temples of the holy Ghost and so at the resurrection they shall gather them from the foure corners of the earth and shall attend them to glorie Thirdly we haue great comfort by their ministery first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vigilantes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Robustissimi they are Gnirim vigilantes the watchfull ones Dan. 4.13 Secondly they are Habhirim strong ones Psal 78.25 When Salomon went to bed he had threescore valiant men about it of the valiant of Israel to defend him Cant 3.7 But what comfort is it to the children of God then to haue so many watchfull and strong Angels attending them He was carried by the Angels What strange change was this that he who was now lying amongst the dogs is carried by Angels lying amongst dogs the most base and uncleane creatures therefore they are called Impuri canes obscaeni canes that he should now be carried by Angels the most excellent creatures that GOD made and not carried by one Angell but by many Angels as if they were striving every one to carry him when a great man dieth all men striue to be about the Coffin Simile one to carrie a legge and another to carry an arme so doe the Angels striue here to carrie Lazarus soule never man in this world rode in such triumph as Lazarus soule did The pompe of the Romans in their Chariots the Romans after their Victories in their triumphs they had their Chariots drawn sometimes with Elephants sometimes with nimble footed lennets sometimes with pyde horses and we reade of Amasis King of Egypt who had his Chariot drawn with foure Kings whom he had conquered but what is this to Lazarus Chariot who is carried here by the Angels of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he rode here Bemirkebbath hashecinah in curru majestatis What shall be done to the man whom the King will honour Esther 6.9 he shall not ride upon the Kings best horse but in the Kings best Chariot Into Abrahams bosome This is a speech borrowed from the custome of the Iewes for they that lay in ones bosome were most deare and familiar with him as Iohn leaned in Christs bosome therefore it is said that Christ came out of the bosome of the Father Ioh. 1.18 The fathers were partakers of the same salvation that we are partakers of The fathers partakers of the same salvation that we are of therefore Lazarus is in Abrahams bosome they shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of God Mat. 8.11 Our Sacraments haue the same name with the Iewes Sacraments And they eat the same spirituall manna with us 1 Cor. 10.3 And our Sacraments haue the names of their Sacramēts we are circumcised with circumcision not made with hands Colos 2.11 And Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.7 Those then who thinke that the fathers were but fatted up like hogges with the temporary promises of this life are foully deceived Paradise is called Abrahams bosome because the faithfull as Abrahams children are received into that same fellowship with him what is then become of this Limbus Patrum The rich man also died and was buried Many were the solemnities which were in this funerall but nothing of the Angels that carried his soule to heaven he carried nothing of all that he had with him but onely the prickles of an evill conscience now he leaveth all his pomp behinde him R. Salomon observeth that David sometimes is called David the King and David King of Israel but when the Scripture speaketh of his death he is called but David the dayes of David drew nere that he should die 1 King 2.1 so vers 10. David slept with his fathers and was buried All externall glory and worldly pompe leaveth a man in his death How to make use of Parables Arguments drawn from the lesse to the more To make use of Parables we are to consider how the spirit of God in a Parable draweth an argument from the lesse to the more as if the unjust Iudge because of the importunitie of the widow granted her request how much more will God grant the earnest petitions of his children so the man instantly seeking bread from his neighbour the end of these Parables is to teach us perseverance onely and no other thing to be gathered out of them Secondly the unjust Steward is commended for providing for himselfe here we are to follow him in the Parable for his foresight and not for his deceit so we commend the Serpent for his craft but not for his poison Nothing to be gathered besides the scope of the Parable Thirdly nothing is to be gathered in a Parable besides the scope
the King when he should sit upon the Throne of his kingdome to write a Copie of this Law Deut. 17.18 and the Iewes adde further that he was bound to write out two copies one which he should keepe in his treasurie and another which he should carry about with him and they say moreover if Printing had beene found out then yet hee was bound to write them out with his owne hand Thirdly the Lord commanded the Prophets to write their visions upon Tables 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocant Graeci and to make them plaine Habak 2.2 Esay 8.1 and the Seventy read it to be graven upon the bush tree which is a sort of wood that corrupteth not and it will preserve that which is written upon it and it were to the worlds end Bookes necessary for the Church albeit lost yet they were found againe Fourthly when any booke which was necessary for the use of the Church was lost the Lord had a care that that booke should be found againe as the booke of the law found by Hilkiah 2 King 22.8 Or the Lord endited it anew againe when it was lost as when Iehojakim cut the roule of the lamentations of Ieremie yet the Lord inspired him a new againe to indite this booke to his Scribe Baruch Iere. 36.32 because he thought it necessary still for the Church therefore he would not have it to perish Fiftly in that generall destruction which the Babylonians made at Ierusalem burning their houses and robbing them of their goods The Israelites kept the musicall instruments in the captivity to put them in minde of the worship of God yet as Hierome and Basil observe well it was a speciall providence of God that they should leave to those captives their instruments of Musicke wherewith they used to serve God in the Temple that they might preserve some memorie of their former worship they brought these instruments to Babel with them Psal 137.2 we hung our harpes on willowes If the Lord had such a care of these instruments to have them preserved for his praise much more care had he to have the Scriptures preserved which taught them to worship and he who had a particular care of the parts of the Scripture before it was compleate and numbreth the haires of our heads Matth. 10.30 and the starres of the heavens Psal 147.4 will he not have a speciall care that none of these Bookes should perish which are canonicall That fable of Esdras then is to be rejected lib. 4. The fable of Esdras rejected cap. 4.23 So cap. 14.21 to the 24. verse he sheweth how the booke of God was lost in the Captivity and that Esdras the Scribe by holy inspiration wrote it all anew againe but this is false see we not how Daniel read out of the prophesie of Ieremie how long the captivitie should last Dan. 2.9 The booke of God then was not lost in the captivity and written anew againe by Esdras Esdras wrote nothing of the Scriptures but onely set the bookes in order but onely he set the bookes in order after the captivity nihil ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fecit sed ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee did nothing in correcting the booke of God but onely set it downe in order But we reade often times in the Scriptures of many Bookes wanting now which were extant before as the Bookes of the battels of the Lord Ans Num. 21.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this it cannot bee inferred that any canonicall booke is perished for this word Sepher signifieth a relation as well by word as by write Secondly although wee grant that it was a written booke yet it will not follow that it was a holy Booke Thirdly although we grant that it was an holy booke yet it will not follow that it was a canonicall booke The bookes of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda and Israel were but civill records Some things written by the Prophets not as they were Prophets and belonged nothing to the canon of the Scriptures Secondly some bookes that were written by the Prophets were not written by them as they were Prophets Salomon wrote of Hearbes Trees and Plants 1 King 4.33 But what bookes were these They were but bookes of things which were under the Moone and of things corruptible and because they served not for the edification of the Church afterwards Hezekiah buried Salomons bookes of physick therefore the Lord suffered them to perish Suidas saith that the booke which Salomon wrote of Physicke was affixed upon the gate in the entrie of the Temple and because the people trusted too much in it neglecting the Lord as Asa put his trust in the Physitians 2 Chro. 13. therefore Hezekiah caused to pull away this booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and bury it And the Talmud saith that Hezekiah did two memorable things First Ganaz Sepher rephuoth Abscondit librum medicinarum He hid the bookes of Physicke which Salomon had written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And secondly Cathath nahhash hannehhushoth shegnashe Moshe Comminuit aeneum serpentem quem fecerat Moses He brake the brasen Serpent which Moyses made Salomon spake three thousand Proverbes 1 King 4.32 yet of all these Proverbes scarce eyght hundred are put in the Canon Some of these Proverbes the servants of Hezekiah King of Iuda copied out Prov. 25.1 And as they saw the King their master bury Salomons booke which he knew was hurtfull to the Church Salomoni Proverbs and Songs which were not profitable to the Church perished so those servants copied out these Proverbes which were profitable for the Church whereas the rest perished So Salomon wrote a thousand and five Songes of all which Songes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est utriusque numeri quae vel quod the Lord made choyse but of one to be insert in the Canon which is called the Song of Songes or canticum canticorum quae Salomonis rather then canticum canticorum quod Salomonis it was the most excellent Song of all Salomons Songs rather then the excellentest Song compared with other Songes But all bookes written by thē for the whole Church none of them are perished as the Prophesies of Nathan Ahija and Iddo For Burgensis observeth well upon 1 Chro. 29. That the first booke of Samuel is holden to be written by Samuel himselfe So the second Booke of Samuel and the second booke of the Kings were written by Nathan and Gad who lived with David and Salomon and wrote untill the death of Salomon then Iddo and Ahija wrote the historie following of Ieroboam interlacing somethings of Salomon and Rehoboam Object 1 Chron. 29.29 Now the acts of David the King first and last behold they are written in the booke of Samuel the Seer and in the booke of Nathan the Prophet and in the booke of Gad the Seer with all his reigne and his might and the times that went over him and over Israel and all
Revel 11.19 things which are hid and obscure are said by the Hebrewes to be far off Deut. 30.14 and things which are cleare and manifest are said to be neare at hand thus we see how farre the Gospell exceedeth the Law but yet we are not to vilifie and count basely of those ceremonies for the holy Ghost hath registred the least instrument and the basest things in the Sanctuary and David gave to Salomon a patterne of the table Candlesticke Lampes flesh-hookes and bowles 1 Chron. 28.11 17. It may be said perhaps that they had some use then 2 Cot. 5.10 but old things are past away and all things are become new what use then can they have in the Church now they have no use for signification now in the Church or to fore-shadow things to come seeing Christ the Body himselfe is come yet they have many other good uses first we should delight to looke backe to see the antiquitie of them for even as men delight to behold the cloathes and Armour of their predecessors which they wore long agoe So should we delight to see the cloathes in which Christ was wrapped in his infancy and the Cradle in which Christ lay Secondly this should teach us to be thankefull to God that we have so cleare a light under the Gospel which they had not under the Law it was a great benefit to learning when the obscure Hieroglyphicks in Egypt were changed into letters and the darke and mysticall writings of Plato were changed by Aristotle into a cleare and plaine forme of writing farre greater is the benefit that the Church hath now when the Lord hath changed these figures and ceremonies into the cleare light of the Gospell Thirdly these doe let us see that God will performe the rest of his promises as he hath fulfilled all these types already and lastly they let us see the miserable estate of the Iewes who cleave still to these ceremonies as yet Hierom compareth the Iewes before Christ came into the world to these that eate the flesh and he compared Christians under the Gospell to those who eate the marrow but he compareth the Iewes after they had rejected Christ to the dogges who gnaw the bones cleaving onely to the killing letter but not seeking to Iesus Christ the quickning Spirit And now Sir I dedicate this part of my labours to you that it may remaine a note of my thankefulnesse for your favours to me I know Sir that ye will make better use of it then most men in these dayes doe with such Treatises casting them by and rather reade any trifle than that which conduceth to the informing of the soule to God-ward yea preaching it selfe they are weary of except perhaps some new mans odde elocution invite them for a fit but by and by they looke after a new straine as it were for new fashions of cloathes But I know Sir your breeding craveth another thing of you who was bred up under so wise and religious a mother who for the educatioÌ„ of her children was another Monica as your selfe and your vertuous sister Mistris Katherine are sufficient proofes I cannot passe by her name upon this occasion whose life and death was to mean instruction Good cause have you to keepe that methode as yee have begun it in your eldest sonne so to prosecute the same with your many hopefull children which GOD hath given you by your Noble match which is one of the best borne Ladies of this Land who dignifieth her birth by her Christian humble and godly life Sir beleeve me that godlinesse is more true Honour to you than your birth although you be never so well descended and to be more esteemed than the place which yee have about our Gracious King and more than all morall vertues whatsoever which are but splendida peccata without piety your Honour and worldly credite are but trifles compared to this they cannot keepe a man alive in this world nor doe him any good in the world to come Eccles 12. â—3 for this is the whole man this makes up a complete man and he is but the shadow of a man that wants this Psal 34.7 The Angels of the Lord pitch round about them that feare him and deliver them and hath any man in this Court gotten more remarkeable deliverances than you have I am sure ye will not let these benefits of the Lord slip out of your minde reade often the sixty two Psalme Heb. 12.20 and meditate upon it The God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the sheepe through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Now for these my labours if they serve for any Christian use in the Church I am satisfied and that I may doe so I humbly pray to God and shall still for your prosperity Your Honours still to be commanded in the Lord Iohn Weemes A Table of the Contents of the Exercitations of this Booke EXERCITAT I. OF the reducing of the ceremonies of the Law in generall unto the Commandements Pag. 1. First Commandement EXERCITAT II. Of the purification of the woman after her childbirth Pag. 4 Second Commandement EXERCITAT III. Of the place of Gods worship Pag. 7 EXERCITAT IIII. Of the Arke Pag. 11 EXERCITAT V. Where they worshipped when the Arke and Tabernacle were separated Pag. 15 EXERCITAT VI. Of the situation of the City of Ierusalem Pag. 19 EXERCITAT VII In what tribe the Temple stood Pag. 23 EXERCITAT VIII Of the Temple of Ierusalem Pag. 28 A comparison betwixt the first and second Temple Pag. 30 A comparison betwixt the Temple and Christ Pag. 32 A comparison betwixt the Temple and Heaven Pag. 33 EXERCITAT IX Of the Churbims Pag. 34 EXERCITAT X. Of the golden Candle sticke Pag. 39 EXERCITAT XI Of the table of Shewbread Pag. 42 EXERCITAT XII Of the Altar Pag. 45 EXERCITAT XIII Of the Sacrifices in generall Pag. 51 EXERCITAT XIIII Of the Sacrifices in particular and first of the burnt offering Pag. 56 Of the meat offring Pag. 58 Of the peace offring Pag. 59 Of the sinne offring Pag. 63 Of the trespasse offring Pag. 68 EXERCITAT XV. Of the Priests apparrell Pag. 69 EXERCITAT XVI The Lord would not have his people use the customes of the heathen Priests Pag. 73 EXERCITAT XVII That a woman might not weare a mans apparrell Pag. 76 Third Commandement EXERCITAT XVIII Of the Nazarite Vow Pag. 78 Fourth Commandement EXERCITAT XIX Of the passeover Pag. 84 EXERCITAT XX. Of the pentecost Pag. 93 EXERCITAT XXI Of the feast of Tabernacles Pag. 96 EXERCITAT XXII Of the new Moones Pag. 100 EXERCITAT XXIII Of the day of expiation Pag. 106 EXERCITAT XXIIII Of the seuenth yeeres rest and the Iubile Pag. 110 Of the
Lacky or footboy divided in two parts Those fringes which they were commanded to put upon the borders of their Garments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 institae and the wings of them are called Gedilim threeds woven together that is threeds which remaine hanging downe like small haires after the coate was woâ—â—n Num. 13.38 And then they had their Tephilim their Phylacteries and the Phylacteries were put upon their heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peniculatus filorum textus Why the Iewes wore Phylacterius and upon their armes and those which were called TZitzith were put upon their cloathes and the posts of their doores he commanded them to weare those fringes and Phylacteries to put them in remembrance to keepe the law of the Lord and to distinguish the Iew from the heathen and they say three things distinguished the Iew from the heathen their Sabbath their circumcision and their Phylacteries The Iewes abused their Phylacteries They abused those fringes and Phylacteries first inlarging them and making them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ blamed them not for wearing Phylacteries but for making them too broad Againe they abused them making them helpes onely for their prayers and they derived Tephilim a Phylacterie a Palal orare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 derivatur a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apponere et non a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 orare ut quidam volunt whereas it should be derived from Taphal apponere Taphal signifieth adhaesionem vel conjunctionem and the seventy translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immobilia they were not then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 helpes to prayer as the Iewes superstitiously imagined but helpes to put them in remembrance to keepe the Law and from this superstition it came that Elisha delighted still to were Talijoth his upper GarmeÌ„t with the wings therefore they called him Elisha with the wings and his superstitious prayers they called them his golden wings and R Eleazer the son of Ioseph said whosoever had Phylacteries upon his head and upon his arme and fringes upon his Garment and a marke upon his doore all these would keepe him from sinning as it is written a threefold cord is not quickly broken Eccles 4.12 After this they became more impious in abusing them making them remedies against Witchcraft 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra fascinationes those Phylacteries Varro called Prebia or Brebia hence commeth the word briefe which is Satan signe to save men from danger EXERCITAT XXXIII A ceremoniall appendix for the breach of all the Commandements Deut. 21.23 Cursed be he that hangeth upon a tree THere are two parts in this punishment a judiciall part and a ceremoniall The judiciall is this A judiciall and ceremoniall part in the Law to put the malefactor to death the ceremoniall part is this to hang him upon a tree but not to suffer him to hang all night for then he defileth the Land When the adulterer is commanded to be put to death the judiciall part of the Law had but respect to the breach of one Commandement to wit the seventh The malefactor that was â—anged under the Law was accu sed for breach of all the Commandements but when the Law commanded to hang up the malefactor upon a tree then the malefactor is accounted accursed because he hath broken the whole Commandements Therefore the Apostle addeth Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written and Deut. 27.26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to doe them that is who hath not continued in them to doe them Heb. 8.9 Iere. 31 33. This transgression of the law is called the quarrell of his covenant that bringeth on the vengeance of God Levit. 26.25 And I bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrell of my covenant so Iere. 50.28 We are naturally accursed for breaking of all the CoÌ„mandmeÌ„ts Christ by imputatioÌ„ was really accursed for the breach of all the Commandements so was the malefactor typically accursed being a type of Christ No malefactor was a type of Christ but he that was hanged Secondly none hanged out of Iudea The malefactor typically accursed the forme of their death made them accursed but onely the sinne it selfe No Malefactor was a type of Christ but he who was hanged in Canaan as when Haman's sonnes were hanged upon a gallowes thirdly whatsoever forme of hanging upon a tree they used in Iudea it made them accursed whether they were hanged upon one tree as Sauls sonnes were or upon a crosse tree which forme the Romanes brought in amongst them No death made a man accursed but hanging on a tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crux patihulam a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 erigere crucifigere Why the theefe was not to hang all night the Iewes called Zekephah and the Greekes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lignum geminum Fourthly they might not suffer them to hang all night upon the tree because it defiled the land the Chaldee Paraphrast giveth this to be the reason why they should not be suffred to hang all night upon the tree because man was made to the Image of God and as it is a dishonor for a Prince to see his Image misregarded so the Lord would not have man to hang all night upon a tree because he was made to his Image but the text giveth this reason that he should not hang all night lest he defile the Land Deut. 21.22 And Iosh 10.26 it was not for the honor of the party hanged that hee was cut downe before night but that the Land might not be defiled and in detestation of this death The tree buried with the Malefactor they tooke the tree upon which the malefactor was hanged and buried it with him and the Iewes adde that they did not hang him upon a growing tree lest they should have spared the growing tree and not cut it downe and buried it with the malefactor Quest It may be asked how David caused the young men to kill Rechab and Benah who killed Ishboseth and to hang up their armes and legges over the poole in Hebron 2 Sam. 4.12 seeing the malefactor was to be cut downe before the sunne set Ans Why David set up the legs and armes of Benah and Rechab The bodies of the malefactors might not hang all night but they were to be taken downe and buried before the Sunne set but the legges and hands of those malefactors were set up there to teach others to abstaine from cruell murther Fiftly they were accursed who hung upon a tree rather than upon any other thing because Adam sinned eating the fruit of the forbidden tree Lastly observe that no forme of mans death All sorts of deaths now are alike now maketh him accursed for all sorts of death now are alike providing that he die penitently it is the dying in sinne onely that maketh a man accursed now it is not the forme of the death that maketh
Fiftly he is called the Tempter Mat. 2.3 but Iesus Christ is called the Comforter and the consolation of Israel Luc. 21.25 primogenitus mortis Iob. 18.13 The first borne of death as many of the Fathers expound it but Christ is principium primogenitus ex mortuis the beginning and the first borne from the dead Coloss 1.18 Revel 1.5 by whom we shall live and rise againe Seventhly the Diuell is that roaring Lyon that seeketh to devour us 1. Pet. 5.8 but Christ is that Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda the roote of David who hath prevailed mightily Revel 5.5 Lastly the Divell is that Old Serpent who stingeth us to death but Christ is that Serpent lift up in the Wildernesse that whosoever looketh upon him and beleeves in him should not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 3.15 The Prophet Zachariah saw in a vision foure hornes rising up to molest and trouble the Church but he saw foure Carpenters come to beat downe these hornes Zach. 1.18 This is the comfort of the Church that there is no tentation that ariseth from Satan to trouble her but the Lord hath a hammer to beat it downe si venenum in Diabolo antidotum in Christo and if there bee poyson in the Divell there is a remedy for it in Christ The Lord rebuke thee O Satan The Apostle Iude verse 8. A great sinne to curse the Magistrate gathereth out of this place and out of the fight betwixt Michael the Archangell and the Divell about the body of Moses that men should not revile those who are in authority Michael is God blessed for eâ—â— Satan is a condemned spirit yet Michael will not raile against him The Devill is a condemned spirit and we are bound to pray against him but we are bound to pray for Magistrates of whose salvation we hope well therefore we are not to curse them the Lord commanded his people to pray for Nebuchadnezzer and for Babylon Iere. 20 7. and the Apostle willeth them to pray for all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 yea although they be infidels Davids heart smot him for cutting off the lap of Sauls garment 1 Sam. 24.5 and should not their hearts smite them who raile against Princes much more for killing of them the Lord will make the fowles of the heaven to discover this wickednesse although it be secretly spoken in their chambers Eccles 10.20 The Lord rebuke thee O Satan Quest What if a man should be tempted by Satan appearing in a visible forme what should he doe whether should he use arguments out of the Scripture to repell him or not Answ He should doe nothing but turne his face to God and weepe upon him and desire that the Lord would rebuke Satan Christ the Mediator could hold argumâ—nt with him because he was God blessed for ever but never one else could hold stitch with him Eva by reasoning and keeping purpose with him got the foile Ob. But ye will say that in spirituall temptations we may reply to him out of the Word why then may we not reply to him out of the Word if he should visibly appeare to us Answ The case is not alike for when the devill tempteth us by inward tentations and suggestions they are but the messengers of Satan and they are not so subtile tentations for they are mixed with our thoughts and therefore may be the â—ore easily answered but when he comes in proper persoâ— then his wickednesse is more spirituall Galath 6.12 therefore wee should turne to God and desire the Lord to rebuke him What are we to thinke of those Exorcists who take upon them to cast out the devill Quest That gift was an extraordinary gift bestowed onely upon the Church in her infancy Answ and it served not simply for edifying of the body of the Church Gifts simply necessary for the Church the gifts which served simply for the Church were Ephes 4.10.11 Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers The Apostle 1 Cor. 12. Gifts necessary for the Church in her infancy reckoneth up other gifts which were not simply necessary for the Church but onely for her infancy as the gift of healing the gift of tongues and this gift of casting out devills if the Highpriest after the captivity should have put in two counterfeit stones in the breastplate and called them Vrim and Thummim would not this have beene a falsehood in him when the gift ceased to use the signe so now when there is no such gift in the Church to use the name this is but a deceit Gifts necessary for the building of the Church were of two sorts Gifts necessary for the Church of two sorts First extraordinary as Apostles and Evangelists Secondly ordinary as Pastors and teachers other gifts were onely for the infancy of the Church the matter may bee cleared by this example A Prince when he is a child he hath need of a regent Simile of counsellers and boyes to play with him but when the Prince commeth to maturity of age the Regent ceaseth and his Play fellowes but not his Counsellors so the Church in her minority had Apostles and Evangelists as her regents and shee had these gifts of ngues healing and casting out of Divels as her play-fellowes these cease now but Pastors and Teachers as her counsellers remaine still with her when Satan is cast out now by Exorcists this is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by force to cast him out but onely by collusion he goeth out but he returneth againe Even the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee as if he should say I have decreed that Ierusalem shall be built although thou hast set thy selfe against this yet thou canst not hinder it Ierusalem taken for the City and for the people in the City Ierusalem is taken here first for the City Ierusalem and then for the people gathered to that City out of the captivity No counsell can stand against the counsell of the Lord see what Gamaleel said Act. 5.38 if this Counsell be of God we cannot hinder it yee may see what strange impediments were cast in to hinder the building of the Temple although it was Gods purpose to have it built againe there was an hundreth and thirteene yeeres before it was finished after the foundation was laid First it was hindered by craft We will build with you Ezr. 3. then by bribes They hired counsellers to weaken the hands of the people and troubled them in building Ezr. 4.5 Thirdly by false accusationes by letters Ezr. 4.6 Fourthly by force Ezr. 4.23 Fiftly by the Kings edict Ezr. 4.21 Lastly when they could doe no more they hindred them by taunts and mocking if a foxe goe up with his taile he will destroy this worke Nehem. 4.3 yet because the Lord had determined to build it it must be builded the Counsell of the Lord stands sure for ever therefore in Zachary it is compared to Mountaines of Brasse and the gates of hell shall not
the end of all his miseries and therefore is properly called mans day Iob 18.20 The day of a mans death is better then the day of his birth Luc. 2.29 Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace 1 Sam. 28.15 Why hast thou troubled me Iob 3.13 For now should I have lien still and beene quiet I should have slept then should I have beene at rest The Councell of Toledo marketh that Christ wept not at Lazarus death but at his resurrection and this should teach us to moderate our griefe when our friends dye and those whom we love best If ye love me saith Christ yee will rejoyce because I goe to my father Ioh. 14.28 So we should rejoyce when wee see our friends goe to our Father and count the day of their death better then the day of their birth The day of death is worse to the wicked The day of a mans death is better than the day of his birth to the children of God it is better but to the wicked it is much worse the child of God saith in his death as Christ said consummatum est then all teares are wipt from their eyes but to the wicked it is their worst day as the child of God saith consummatum est so they say inchoatum est Luc. 16.25 Remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and Lazarus his evill things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Death is worse to the wicked man therefore his death is called the death of the uncircumcised Ezek. 28.12 and he dyeth as a foole 2 Sam. 3.33 but the children of God die in the Lord and their death is their rest It may seeme that to be borne is better than death Ob. Ioh 16.20 A woman when she is in travell hath sorrow because her houre is come but assoone as she is delivered of the child she remembreth no more the anguish for joy that a man is borne into the world She rejoyceth that she hath brought forth a Sonne but we rejoyce not when one dyeth therefore it may seeme that the day of ones birth is better then the day of his death It is better for the woman that she hath a child borne for the continuation of her posterity Answ and therfore she rejoyceth but the day of the childs death is better for himselfe than the day of his birth because then there is an end put to all his miseries In what case may a man choose death rather then life Quest We may chiefely choose death rather then life onely to be rid of sinne as Paul desired Answ to depart and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 but this was onely to be delivered from the body of sinne to prevent sinne it is better not to be than to be Eccles 4.3 for he hath not seene the evill worke which is done under the Sunne Againe it is better for reprobates that they had never beene because of their damnation as it is said of Iudas It had beene better for him that he had never beene borne Matth. 26.21 and it is better to be dead then living that a man may be freed of sinne There is esse Physicum esse morale it is better for a wicked man to be than not to be ratione Physica because he commeth nearer to God who hath his being of himselfe but it is worse to him quoad esse morale magis optandum non esse cum carentia poena quam esse cum poena that is it is better for him not to be without punishment than to be and be punished eternally There is in man instinct reason and faith instinct teacheth him onely to seeke the preservation of his body reason goeth somewhat higher and hath some respect to vertue and honor but yet it is not a right guide to man here when hee wisheth to be dead for feare of shame and such worldly inconvenients Stoici ne foedetur virtus Romani ob inanem gloriam mortem optarunt but faith seeth farther and wisheth this dissolution because it knoweth that the body and the soule shall be joyned together againe after they are separated and purified from sinne A man must not wish death or the grave although he be bitter in soule Iob. 3.20 and afflictions be upon him but onely for sinne If it be said death destroyeth the substance of man but sinne destroyeth onely an accident in man Ob. therefore death should not be desired for the eschewing of sinne Answ Death is not a totall destruction of a man neither is a man turned into nothing when he dyeth neither wisheth he death that he may not be but that this Tabernacle may be dissolved that he may have A building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 Observe that men looke diversly upon death First as it is an enemy to nature and so all men abhorre it And the naturall man in this respect calleth it a bitter death 1 Sam. 15.3 Hagag said Surely the bitternesse of death is past Secondly some looke upon it as the wages of sinne Rom. 6.32 then it is a more bitter death and thirdly some looke upon it as a passage to life and then it is to be wished but not for it selfe but for another end as when a sicke man desireth a bitter potion for his healths sake for no evill of punishment is to be desired for it selfe There are two periods set downe here our birth and our death and not our life It is the manner of the spirit of God in the Scriptures to set downe the two extremes and to leave out the midst as Psal 21.8 the Lord shall keepe thy going in and going out that is all thy wayes so Exod. 8.11.5 And all the first borne of the land of Egypt shall dye from the first borne of Pharaoh that fitteth upon the throne unto the first borne of the Maidservant that sitteth behind the Mill here the rest of the people are left out for shortnesse and the two extremes are expressed so Num. 6.4 from the kernell to the huske here the wine which is the midst is left out so Iob. 24.20 The wombe shall forget him and the wormes shall feede sweetly upon him here the birth and the grave include the whole life So here are set downe our birth and our death our two graves the grave out of which we come and the grave unto which we goe Iob joyneth these two together Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither Iob. 1.21 he was not to returne backe to his Mothers wombe againe but he was to returne backe to the grave againe the second wombe and Christ joyneth the belly and the grave Matth. 1â— 4 For as Ionas was three dayes and three night in the Whales belly So shall the some of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth hence it is that the inferior parts of the earth
two for one Three sorts of Precepts amongst the Hebrewes or foure for one or at the most fiue for one not aboue The Hebrewes had three sorts of Commandements 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graviae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Levia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Media 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praecepta first they had Mitzboth Hhamuroth Praecepta gravia and Mitzboth Kalloth Praecepta levia those which they call Praecepta gravia here they say the punishment is alwayes indispensable as the murtherer is alwayes to die the death Secondly they had Praecepta levia as not to kill the dam sitting upon the egges this was one of the judiciall Lawes of the lightest sort for there was no punishment in Israel for transgression of this Law so if an Oxe had killed a man his flesh was not to be eaten this was one of their judiciall Lawes but if a man had eaten the flesh of such an Oxe he was not to die for it Thirdly they say they had Praecepta media where the punishment might be enlarged or diminished but not unto death as in theft How affirmatiue and negatiue Precepts bind Affirmatiue commandements binde not so strictly as Negatiues doe this is a Negatiue yee shall not suffer a Witch to liue but this is an Affirmatiue that the theefe shall pay fourefold or fiue this Law had sundry exceptions and mitigations it might be extended or mitigated he was bound to pay fourefold but yet the Magistrate might haue mitigated this and taken but twofold from him and they might haue extended it further as Salomon extendeth it to sevenfold Proverb 6.31 Ieshallem Shibhgnathaijm he shall pay sevenfold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVhat the doubling of the duall nūber among the Hebrewes signifieth the Hebrewes double the duall number ten in the duall number is twentie three is thirtie and foure is fortie but when they come to seaven here they double not The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne and the light of the Sunne shall be sevenfold then he addeth for explanation as the light of seven dayes Esa 30.26 Here Shibhgnathaijm doubleth not in the duall number as in the former numbers but onely standeth for seven he shall pay Shibhgnathaijm VVhat the number seven signifieth that is seven for one some interpret it a definite number for an indefinite or he shall pay sevenfold that is as much as two for foure but it is not the manner of the Scriptures to take the number under seven for seven or he shall pay seven-fold that is much more then he tooke and the words following seeme to approue this interpretation he shall pay all the substance of his house And sometimes this punishment was extended to death as Davids sentence was that he should die the death because he tooke the poore mans onely sheepe Some answere that it was not for his theft that David gaue out sentence of death upon him but for his oppression and violent theft as if a man had come by night and had broken into a mans house and had stollen any thing then he might haue safely killed him by the Law and he was not to die for it but if he had come after the Sunne rose and had stolen any thing and the owner of the goods had killed him then he was to die for it But out of Davids answere we may obserue this The person against whom the theft is committed aggravateth the sinne that the person against whom the sinne is committed aggravateth the sinne as for a rich man to steale a poore mans sheepe so the time aggravateth the sinne if the theefe came in the night to steale then the owner of the goods might safely kill him because of his violent theft But it may be asked what is violent theft If a man steale to satisfie his hunger that is not violent theft but if a man steale who may get his living other wayes and liue upon the sweat of other mens browes or if he steale from one that hath small means to liue on or if he haue meanes to liue upon who stealeth this is judged violent theft Tom. 1.2 Municipall Lawes bind onely in the Countrey where they are made and the Magistrate for this may put him to death Thomas observeth well that the Magistrate may adde to the judiciall Law of Moses according to the necessitie of the time and greatnesse of the offence and as the Municipall Lawes of other Countries oblige not men but in the Countrey where they are made so doth not Moses judiciall Law A Magistrate in Israel was bound when a malefactor was whipt not to giue him aboue fortie stripes this Law bindeth not the Magistrate now sed crescentibus delictis exasperantur paenae but the equitie of Moses judiciall Lawes bindeth all people this is the equitie of Moses Law that for violent theft a man should alwaies die and the Law judged that violent theft which is not for a mans necessitie to satisfie his life Quest What if a poore man had but a little to saue his life and another were in as great extremitie whether were this violent theft for him to take from the poore man in such a case Answ How Christs words are to be understood in workes of charitie No doubt it were therefore Christ sayth hee that hath two coats let him giue his neigbour one to wit in his necessitie but not he that hath one coat for then he was not bound to giue it Object It is alledged Prov. 6.30 that the theife should pay seven-fold and not be put to death but the jealous husband will kill the adulterer Answ This place proveth nothing it sheweth onely what the jealous husband doth it sheweth not what he may doe And secondly for the theife it sheweth onely what was the usuall punishment amongst the Iewes by their judiciall Lawes to take seven fold but it sheweth not what may bee done by the positiue lawes of other Countries The conclusion of this is Now under the Gospell theft is a greater sinne then under the Law A difference betwixt that which is done and that which should bee done and the necessitie is greater amongst us generally then it was amongst them And thirdly that selling of men to make restitution for things taken by theft is not in use amongst us and therefore theeues may bee put to death CHAPTER XXXIX Of their proceeding in judgement before they executed the malefactor EzEK 9.10 Goe through the midst of Ierusalem and set a marke upon the forehead of those that sigh c. Those that were to bee saved the Lord caused to marke them THose who were appointed to be saved amongst the people of God he used to set a marke upon them Exod. 12. When the Egyptians were to be destroyed the Lord commanded his people to sprinkle the bloud of the Paschall Lambe upon the lintels of their doores and from this as Epiphanius marketh Lib. 1.
cont haer 18. the Egyptians used at the Equinoxe in the Spring to take vermilion and to rubbe over all their trees and houses with it saying that at that time of the yeere the fire had almost burnt up all Egypt and therefore they use this as a signe in remembrance of their deliverance So the Lord commanded Ezekiel to set a marke upon those of Ierusalem that mourned whom he was minded to saue Ezek. 9.4 Quest But what was the reason that he set not a marke of destruction upon them that were to be destroyed as he set upon these who were to be saved Answ The reason was God did not marke those who were to be destroyed because of their great number because of the great number that was to be destroyed in respect of the handfull that was to be saved for where there was one to be saved there was a hundred to be destroyed there were but seven thousand who bowed not their knee to Baall and of the great multitude that came out of Egypt onely two entred into the land of Canaan And Revel 7.4 of all the Tribes of Israel there were but one hundred and fortie foure thousand sealed in the fore-head And in Ieremies time it was very hard to find one that executed judgement in all the streetes of Ierusalem Ier. 5.1 There were a few good men at that time as Ieremie himselfe Ebedmelech the Blackmoore Vriah the Prophet and the Rechabites But the most of the rest were naught and if Ierusalem had beene searched few had been found in it And this was a griefe to the Prophet Micah which made him to complaine that hee could not get a cluster to eate Mica 7.1 meaning that the good men were perished out of the earth The Heathen learned this of the people of God to marke those who were to be saved with the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and these that were condemned with the letter θ theta The heathen marked the condemned with theta and them that were absolved in judgement with tau Ascon pad It was the custome of the ancient warriors when they returned from battaile he who kept the register of their names marked the names of those who returned safe with the letter tau and the names of those who were wanting with the letter theta the Latines learned this from the Grecians the Grecians from the Egyptians and the Egyptians from the people of God Persius Si potis es vitio nigrum praefigere theta The Iewes put not two to death in one day but for the same crime They put not two to death in one day except they were guiltie of one crime and they giue this example If a man had lien with the Priests daughter he and she were not put to death both in one day because she was guiltie of a greater sinne then he therefore she was to be burnt quicke but he was not to be put to death that day neither was he burnt quicke as she was Quest How came it to passe then that they put Christ and the two theeves to death in one day seing Christ was condemned for affecting the Kingdome and the theeves for theft Answ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seditiosi Mark 15.7 á 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seditio factio Christ and the two theeves were condemned for one fault because they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 troublers of the peace of the Kingdome and therefore the theife said thou art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same condemnation Luke 23.40 Barrabas was a murtherer and so should haue dyed by the sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Effractores but because he made insurrection and troubled the common peace therefore he was to be crucified And the Hebrewes call these perizim effractores and the Rabbins called them listin from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they tooke armes to trouble the peace of the Common-wealth and they used to crucifie all these who troubled the Kingdome and made insurrection CHAPTER XL. Of their Capitall punishments IOSH. 7.25 And all Israel stoned him with stones and burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones THere were sundry sorts of punishments inflicted upon malefactors by the house of judgement among the Iewes Some of them were burnt some of them were strangled some of them were stoned and some of them were beheaded and some of them were drowned He that lay with his mother or daughter in law the wife of his sonne or with a maide that was betrothed Who were stoned Deut. 22.24 Or if a woman bowed downe to a beast Levit. 20.16 so the blasphemer Levit. 24.14 and Idolater Deut. 17.5 So he who offered his seed to Molech Levit. 20.2 He that had the spirit of divination or was a wizard Levit. 20.27 He that profaned the Sabbath he that cursed his father or his mother Levit. 20.9 so the disobedient sonne was stoned to death Deut. 21.21 He that perswaded or enticed others to Idolatry Deut. 13.1 all these were stoned to death First the Priests daughter if she committed adulterie Secondly he who lay with his owne daughter Who were burne Thirdly he who lay with his sonnes wife Fourthly he who lay with his daughters daughter or with the daughter of his wiues daughter Fifthly he who lay with his mother in law or with the mother of his mother in law or hee who lay with the mother of his father in law his wife being yet aliue even all these were burnt Iosh 7 15. He that is taken with a cursed thing shall be burnt with fire and vers 25. all Israel stoned him with stones first he was stoned and then burnt Who were beheaded Those who killed were beheaded and those who fell away to Idolatry Who were strangled The fourth sort of punishment was strangling which was the lightest sort of punishment capital among the Iewes First he who did strike his father or his mother Secōdly he who stole a man in Israel Deut. 24.7 Thirdly any old man who hearkened not to the voice of the Synedrion Fourthly a false Prophet and he who lay with another mans wife Fiftly he who defiled the Priests daughter all these were strangled And the Iewes say wheresoever this punishment is set down let his bloud be upon his owne head it is to be understood of stoning but where the phrase is found let him die the death and the punishment not set downe in particular then it is to be understood of strangling But this holdeth not it is said Exod. 21.12 he that smiteth a man that he die shall surely bee put to death so it is said that the adulterer shall die the death yet he was not strangled but stoned Ezek. 16.40 Ioh. 8.45 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 crucifigere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crux 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arbor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This strangling the Romanes changed into crucifying which was called Zacaph crucifigere and the crosse was
called Zeceph crux and gnetz arbor and the Greekes called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lignum geminum Lastly drowning Mat. 18.6 It were better that a milstone were hanged about his necke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dimersio in pelagus submersio and that he were drowned in the midst of the Sea and the Greekes had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were put in a chest of lead and sunke in the Sea as Casaubon sheweth out of Athenaeus Quest. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Excisio What sort of punishment is meant Gen. 17.14 he that is not circumcised that soule shall bee cut off from his people Answ The Hebrewes expound this sort of punishment diversly Kimchi saith he shall be punished by the Lord but he addeth that he is much mistaken who thinketh that the child not being circumcised is secluded from the life to come Moses Cotzensis thinketh that these who were not circumcised the eight day should dye without children alluding to that place Levit. 20.20 But all of them agree in this that the punishment is inflicted by the Lord. Exod. 31.14 Object Whosoever doth any worke on the Sabbath day he shall be cut off from his people and bee surely put to death by cutting off here is meant cutting off by the Magistrate why should it not then be so understood in that place Gen. 17.14 so Levit. 20.6 If any goe after wizards I will set my face against him and cut him off by cutting off here is meant to be cut off by the Magistrate why is it not so then to be understood in that place of Genesis before mentioned Maymone answereth to these places Answ distinguishing betwixt the manifest transgression and the hidden transgression of the Law if one did violate the Sabbath with a hie hand and if there were witnesses and he were admonished before not to doe so then he was cut off by the hand of the Magistrate but if he was not admonished secretly before and did transgresse then hee was cut off by the hand of the Lord. But wee must distinguish betwixt these phrases Levit. 17.10 and 21.6 Difference betwixt these two phrases I shall cut off c. and thou shalt cut off c. I shall cut off that soule and thou shalt cut off that soule Exod. 22.18 thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue but when hee sayth I will set my selfe against that soule which eateth blood and will cut him off from my people then it is meant that by his owne hand immediately hee will cut him off But what sort of cutting off by the hand of God is meant here Quest It is not meant of any bodily punishment inflicted Answ upon their bodies or upon their posteritie as the Iewes interpret it but of excommunication and secluding them from the Church So Calvin Iunius Deodati expound it CHAPTER XLII Why they gaue wine to those who were going to be executed PROV 31.6 Giue wine unto those that be of an heavie heart THey used to doe three things to them who were condemned First they gaue them wine to drinke to comfort them Amos 2.8 They drunke the wine of the condemned in the house of their God that is they dranke the most excellent wine for such wine they gaue to the condemned Secondly they used to apply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soft wooll which the Chirurgians apply to wounds to mitigate their paine because their death was a lingering death Thirdly they used to hold odoriferous canes or reedes to their nose to refresh their braines But see what miserable comforters the Iewes were to Christ Luke saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they derided him Luk. 23.35 for in stead of wine they gaue him vinegar and gall to drinke which was a most bitter sort of drinke and the Lord saith Ier. 9.15 I will feed this people even with wormwood and giue them water of gall to drinke And for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they gaue him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hysope tyed about a read and dipped in vineger and they gaue it him not to quench his thirst but to smell it in derision They gaue him wine to drinke mingled with myrrhe but he received it not Mark 15.23 Christ would not drinke this cup mingled with myrrhe for it intoxicated the braine that he might be sensible of the paine which he was to suffer for us It is a great judgement to be beaten and not to feele it Prov. 23.35 The Lord who went willingly to death did willingly drinke the cuppe of Gods wrath for us and therefore he was unwilling to drinke this cuppe which would haue made him senselesse of the paine They gaue him hyssope in stead of wooll which should haue mitigated his paine the tender mercies of the wicked are cruell Prov. 12.10 Christ suffered in all his senses in his tast they gaue him veneger mixed with gall in his feeling whereas they should haue applied soft wooll and bound up his wounds mitigated his paine they applied but hysope so in his hearing he heard their bitter mockes and scoffing And as he felt the grievous paine of the crosse in all his senses so the wicked shall suffer the paines and torments of hell in all their senses The conclusion of this is sin is sweet in the beginning but bitter in the end Adam did eate asweet fruit Conclusion but here is vineger and gall a bitter potion offered to Christ for it the lippes of a strange woman drop as an hony combe and her mouth is smoother then oyle but her end is bitter as wormwood sharpe as a two-edged sword Pro. 5.3 They giue him hysope hysope was the last purgation and sprinkling when the leper was brought into the Campe againe and David alludeth to this Psal 51. wash mee with hysope So Christs death must purge us from all our sinnes and bring us into the societie of the Saints of God that there we may dwell for ever CHAPTER XLIII Of their VVarres DEVT. 20.10 When thou commest neare to a Citie to fight against it then proclaime peace vnto it c. FIrst let us consider in their warres the time when they went to battell secondly the manner how they pitched about the Tabernacle thirdly the manner how they marched when the Camp removed fourthly the Proclamation made to them at their removing fiftly the conditions of peace offered to the enemie sixtly what they did before they joyned battell and lastly the song which they had after the victorie The time that they entred to be Souldiers First what time they entred to be Souldiers the Levites entred to their Ministery when they were thirtie yeares Num. 4.42 But the Souldiers entred when they were twentie yeares and they left off when they were fiftie none went to the warres but they who payed the halfe shekell the Levites were exempted because they served the Lord in the Tabernacle they neither payed this halfe shekell nor yet went to the warres Women likewise were exempted She that tarrieth at
this the Priest did not prophesie neyther made songues to the prayse of God but having put on this breastplate it was a signe to him that God would answer these doubts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he asked of him it is called the Brestplate of judgement mishpat signifieth eyther the administration of publike judgements Esa 41.3 or private affaires Pro. 13.23 est qui absumitur absqe judicio that is because his family is not rightly administrat It is called then the breastplate of judgement because the Lord taught his people in their doubtfull cases what to doe The breastplate and the Vrim and Thumim are distinguished by this vrim and thummim Exod. 28.30 Thou shalt put in the breastplate Vrim and Thummim Some hold that the twelve pretious stones set in the brestplate were called vrim and thummim as Kimchi but the Text maketh against that for the breastplate and the vrim and the thummim are distinguished vers 30. Some of the Iewes againe incline most to this sense that these two words vrim and Thummim were set in the breastplate as holinesse to the Lord was written in great letters upon a plate of Gold What this Vrim and Thummim were and set in the forehead of the highpriest But it seemeth rather that they were two pretious stones given by the Lord himselfe to be set in the brestplate and an Ancient Iew called Rabbi Bechai marketh ה demonstrativum that these two are set downe cum he demonstrativo for their excellencie Neyther saith the Lord thou shalt make vrim and thummim as hee sayd of the rest of the ornaments of the Highpriests thou shalt make this or that The letters did not make up the answer It is commonly holden that the letters did shine out of the breastplate of Aaron when the Lord gave his answers to him that he might read the answer by the letters but this could not be as may appeare by the forme of the brestplate following The forme of the Breast-plate When David asked of the Lord 1 Sam. 23.12 will the men of Keila deliver me and my men into the hands of Saul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord sayd ysgiru they will deliver thee here the letters in the brestplate would have made up this whole answer Iod from Iehuda Samech from Ioseph Gimel from Gad Iod from Levi Resh from Reuben and Vau from Reuben but Iudges 20.8 when the Israelites asked counsell of the Lord who shall goe up first to battell against Benjaman it was answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iehuda Battechilla Iuda shall goe up first now there was not so many letters in the brestplate to expresse this answer for there wanted foure letters of the Alphabet in the brest-plate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 5.23 There wanted foure letters in the Breast-plate when David enquired of the Lord shall I goe up against the Philistimes the Lord answered Thou shalt not goe up but fetch a compasse behind them and come upon them over against the Mulberry trees The letters in the brestplate could not expresse all this therefore it was not by the letters that the Lord answered the Priest but when hee had on this brestplate How the Lord taught the Priest by Vrim and Thummim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rationale upon him then the Lord taught him what to answer and this brestplate was but a signe unto him that the Lord would answer him as Sampsons hayre was a signe unto him that the Lord would continue his strength with him as long as hee kept his haire how was the strength in Sampsons haire not as in the cause or in the subject but onely as in the signe so in the Apostles garments and shaddow The Vrim and Thummim were a signe onely that the Lord would answer the Priest they were but a signe of their power which they had in healing miraculously and so was vrim and thummim but a signe of this that the Lord would answer the Priest The vrim and thummim were not alwayes with the Arke The Vrim and Thummim were not ever with the Arke for all the time of Saul they asked not counsell of the Arke 1 Chron. 13.3 Let us bring againe the Arke of our God unto us for we enquired not at it in the dayes of Saul they went usually to aske counsell in the Tabernacle and Sanctuarie of the Lord Iud. 20. they went up to Silo where the Tabernacle was to aske the Lord then the Arke was in the Tabernacle but when the Arke was separated from the Tabernacle they might sacrifice in the Tabernacle So they might aske the Lord here by vrim and thummim although the Arke was not there When the Highpriest asked counsell for David at Nob the Arke was not there nor the Tabernacle but onely vrim and thummim but when the Arke and the vrim and thummim were together they alwayes enquired the Lord before the Arke and when they were separated they turned their faces towards the Arke wheresoever it was when they asked counsell by the judgement of vrim and thummim When David was in Ziglag 1 Sam. 30. he asked counsell of the Lord by the Priest but neyther the Arke nor the Tabernacle was ever in Ziglag a towne of the Philistims They asked counsell of the Lord at the Arke by the High Priest When any are sayd to aske counsell of the Lord who were not Highpriests as the Israelites are sayd thrice to aske the Lord. Iud. 20.18 1 Sam. 14.37 23.2 1 Chron. 14. they are understood to have done this by the Highpriest for Num. 27.21 Ioshua is commanded to aske counsell at the Lord by Eleazer the High-priest How he stood who asked counsell by Vrim and Thummim The manner how he stood who asked counsell of the Lord by the Highpriest He shall stand before Eleazar the Priest who shall aske counsell for him after the judgment of Vrim before the Lord. Num. 27.21 he stood not directly before the Highpriest for then he should have stood betwixt him and the Arke therefore liphne should be translated juxta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a latere or beside the Priest Hee stood by the Highpriest when he asked counsell and hee heard not what tht Lord sayd to the Priest but the Priest gave him his answer The Lord by Vrim and Thummim answered distinctly to every question When two things are demanded of the Lord he answered in order to them As 1 Sam. 23.9 will they come up The Lord answered they will come up So he answered to the second question will they deliver me They will deliver thee They asked not counsell of the Lord by Vrim and Thummim but in great and weighty matters They asked counsell by Vrim and Thummim onely in matters of weight as David after the death of Saul 1 Sam. 2. So 2 Sam. 5. they asked the Lord for the King for the common wealth or for a