wife And afterward at the time appoynted his wife bare a sonne and called his name Sampson and the Lord blessed him and the spirite of the Lorde so strengthened him that he grew became a mightie strong man in the house of Dan. And when he fell in loue with a woman one of the daughters of y e Philistines in Timnah he came told his father and his mother and asked their counsels first saying I haue seene a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines nowe therefore geue me her to wife but his father and mother not knowing that this was the secret worke of y e Lord in Samson did iustly reproue their sonne Samson sayd is there neuer a wife among the daughters of thy brethren and among all my people for thee to take but thou must goe to take a wife of these vncircumcised Philistines No said Sampson geue me her for she pleaseth me well then his father and mother went with him to Timnah where by the way he killed a young Lion that roared vpon him without any weapon neuer told his father and mother what he had done wheÌ„ his father mother were come to Timnah to coÌ„mune talke of y â— matter w t the frieÌ„ds of the womaÌ„ which was so beautiful in SaÌ„psons eyes SaÌ„pson their soÌ„ne weÌ„t vnto y e dead carcas of y e lyoÌ„ which he had slaine therein finding a swarm of bees honie in y e lyons body tooke therof in his haÌ„d came to his father mother gaue vnto theÌ„ to eate but told theÌ„ not where he had it so y e matter of mariage being bargained vpoÌ„ by his father mother y e womaÌ„s friends they married their soÌ„ne SaÌ„pson at his own liking choyse after y e wedding feast as y e maner is his father mother returned home to their own house in Zorah neere to Eshtaol Iud. 13.14 Michas mother Michas mother being an old Idolatresse and supersticious woman dwelling in mount Ephraim in the dayes of Othniel Iudge of Israel on a time was robbed by her own sonne Micha of a xi hundred shekles of siluer which amouÌ„teth in our monie to y e suÌ„me of lxxxi pouÌ„d xiii â— iiii â— or there about which she had laid vp of purpose to make an Idoll therwith And wheÌ„ she missed her siluer shee so cursed baÌ„ned y e theefe y t had takeÌ„ it away in y e hearing of Micha her soÌ„ne y t he could not choose for his mothers quietnesse sake but confesse the felony bewray himselfe vnto her that he was the theefe and therefore sayde vnto his mother The xi hundred shekles of siluer which were taken froÌ„ thee for the which thou curseâ—t and spakest so ill euen in my hearing behold the siluer is with me I tooke it and haue it yet in my possession Then his mother was glad to heare that newes and reioyced greatly saying vnto her sonne Blessed be thou my sonne of the Lord. And when he had restored the siluer againe vnto his mother shee saide vnto him I had dedicated this siluer to the Lorde of mine hand for thee my sonne to make a grauen molten Image thereof Now therefore I wil giue it thee again so coÌ„trary to y e coÌ„maÌ„dement of God true religioÌ„ she took 200. of y e shekles of siluer gaue theÌ„ to y e founder to make therof a graueÌ„ molteÌ„ image which being done she gaue it to y e idolater Micha her sonne with whom euer after it remayned to the offence destruction of many Israelits who therby forsooke the Lord his true worship fel to Idolatry Iudg. 17.1 Mourning witches There were among the Iewes at Ierusalem in old time certayne foolish womeÌ„ whoÌ„ of a superstition they especially appoynted hyred once a yeere yeerly to goe into y e teÌ„ple there in y e night with fayned teares to mourne and bewayle the death of one Tammuze y e great prophet of y e Idols long since dead and buried which superstitious women mourners by reasoÌ„ of y e custoÌ„e in processe of time made an art occupatioÌ„ of fained mourning insomuch as they wer not only hyred at eueri calamity y t happened amoÌ„g y e people to lameÌ„t for y e same but also they taught their daughters other meÌ„ womeÌ„ to weepe mourne w t fayned teares for y e dead other their miseriesâ— of w t superstitious Idolatrous womeÌ„ mourners y â— Lord by his prophet Ier. in deriding mocking reproching his people y â— Iewes who could not lameÌ„t their own sins speaketh thus Thus saith y t Lord of hosts take heede cal for y â— mourning womeÌ„ y t they may come send for skilful womeÌ„ y t they may come and let theÌ„ make haste take vp a lamentation for vs that our eyes may cast out teares and our eye liddes gushe out of water for a lamentable noyse is heard in Sion crying how are we destroyed and vtterlye confounded for we haue forsaken the land and our dwellings haue cast vs out as though they were weary of vs because of our iniquitie as they did in the last Earthquake 1580. wheÌ„ the neighbors on both sides of the streetes ran out of their houses for feare they woulde fall vppon them and met to gether in the middest of the streetes amazed at the terrible iudgementes of God then presently shaking the earth and driuing them out the which day and time I pray God giue vs grace alwayes to remeÌ„ber that with y e fiue wise virgins wee hauing bearing Lampes full of oyle in our hands we may so watch and expect the comming of the bridegroome that wee may bee readily prepared to meete him and be found worthy through his merites to returne with him vnto the wedding Therefore heare the woorde of the Lorde yee women and let your eares regard the wordes of his mouth and teach your daughters to mourne euerye one her neighbour to lament for death is come vp into our windowes is entred into our palaces to destroy the children without and the young men in the streetes c. Iere .9.17.18.20 Agayne the Prophet Ezechiel was shewed in a vision y e superstitioÌ„ abhomination of these Idolatrous women as they sate in y e temple of Ierusalem saying And y e Lord caused me to enter into the entry of the gate of y e Lords house which was toward y e North behold there sate a woman mourning for Tammuze Ezech. 8.14 Let mothers reade this after the death of their children especially newly married and be comforted Mourning mother As I lay in a traunce in the field saith Esdras I sawe in a vision a woman which mourned sore and lamented with a loude voyce and was grieued in heart and rent her cloathes and shee had ashes on her head Then I left my thoughts where I was occupied and turned me vnto her to
abhominations which they doe héere in the Lords houseâ— c. Therefore will I execute my wrath vpon them mine eye shall not spare them neither will I haue pitie and though they crie in mine eares with a loude crie yet will I not heare them saith the Lorde Eze. 8.14 15. c. Reade in the stâ—â—â—s of women more Yea because ther were certain supersticious womeÌ„ which made an art of mourning and taught their daughters and other women to mourne and wéepe with feined teares for the dead Therfore the Lorde by his Prophets Ieremie derideth the superstition of these women and threateneth them saying Heare the word of the Lord O yée women and let your eares regard the wordes of his mouth teach your daughters to mourne and euerie one her neigbour to lament for death is come vp into your windowes and is entred into your palaces to destroy the children without and the young men in the stréetes and there is no meanes to deliuer you nor any of y e wicked from my iudgements that shall fall vpon you Ierem. 9. 20. c. 17. And when the Lord woulde deride the prophets lacke of repenâ—tance and hardnesse of heart that coulde not lament for their ownâ— sinnes hee willed them by his Prophete Ieremie in the same chapter to call for thoâ—e foolish women whom of a superstition they had to lament for the dead that they by their fained teares might prouoke them to some sorow and remorce saying Thus saith the Lord take héede and call for the mourning women among you that they may come and sende for skifull women that they may come and let them make hast and let them take vp a lamentation for you that your eies may cast foorth teares and your eye liddes gush out of water For a lamentable noise is hearde in Sion saying Howe are wee destroyed and vtterly confounded c. Iere. 9.17 If a woman haue a spirite of diuination or soothsaying in her shee shall bee stoned to death as a sorceresse or witche Leuit. 20â— 27. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue Exodus 22. 18. Deut. 18â—10 And woe bée vnto the women that sowe pillowes vnder all mens arme holes and make vailes vppon the head of euerie one that standeth vp to hurt soules Will yée hurt the soules of my people and will yée giue life to the soules that come vnto you will yée pollutâ— me among my people for an handful of Barley for a péece of bread to â—laie the soules of them that shoulde not die and to giue life to the soules that shoulde not liue in lying to my people that heare your lies Wherefore thus saith the Lorde God Beholde I will haue to do with your pillowes wherwith ye hurt the soules of my people to make them flee and cause them to perish depart from the bodieâ— and I will teare them from your armes and will let the soules goe whom ye hunt to make them flie or depart from the bodie Your vailes also will I teare in péeces and deliuer my people out of your handes they shal be no more in your hands to be abused or hunted to death and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Because that with your lyes threatnings ye haue made the hart of the righteous foolishy resorting vnto you sad whoÌ„ I haue not made sad because ye haue contrariwise strengthened y e hands of the wicked stil running vnto you that he should not returne froÌ„ his wickednes euil waies by promising him life vnto whom I haue threatned death for haunting your houses coÌ„mitting abhominations in Israel Therefore ye shal sée no more vanitie nor diuine diuinations for I will deliuer my people out of your handes ye shall know that I am the Lorde Ezech. 13.18 c. Thus doth the Lord threaten a curse and woefull destruction vnto all those supersticious women coÌ„monly called Calkâ—rs or wise women but indéede witches who for lucre sake do prophesie or take vpon them to tell euerie man his fortune or who stole his goods and where they are become which women in old time vsed to giue to those that came vnto them pillowes to leane vpon kerchifs to couer their heads to the intent they might the more allure bewitch theÌ„ which sorceresses also to make the word of god blasphemously to serue their bellie made the people beleeue that they could preserue life or destroy it at their pleasures and that it should come to euerie one according as they diuined or prophesied If any turne after such as worke with spirites after wise women or soothsayers to go a whoring after theÌ„ then wil I set my face against that person be it man or woman wil cut him or her off froÌ„ among my people saith the Lord. Leui. 20.6 Deut. 18.10 That the daughter or childe which is stubborn rebellious riotous and disobedient to her fathers or mothers instruction correction or infected with such like notorious vice ought by Gods law to be stoned to death yée may reade in the chapter of the daughters dutie to her parents Deut. 21 2â— If a womans father spit in her face in his displeasure conceiued against her for her disobedience she should by the law be shut out froÌ„ his sight and be ashamed for seuen daies together before shee were reconciled as appeareth Num. 12.14 in the storie of Miriam If there be any woman that curseth her father or mother she shal die the death Leuit. 20.9 reade more in the childes dutie The wife that committeth adultrie with an other man beside her husbande shall die the death saith the Lorde Leuit. 20.10 Deut. 22.22 The mother that lyeth with her sonne or sonne in lawe shall die the death She that lyeth with her owne natural brother or brother in law or with her father in lawe shall die the death And if a woman come to anie beast and lie with it she shal die the death and be burnt with fire her blood shall be vpon her for all that commit such villanie and abhomination are execrable and detestable before God and shal be cut off by violent death as appeareth Leu. 11. 12.17 c. She that lieth with her nephew or cosin germane her brother or sisters sonne c. shall die the death and their children counted as bastardes Leui. 20.29 The maide or virgin that playeth the harlot in her fathers house ought to be stoned to death as appeareth in virginitie and daughters Deut. 22.20 The maid betrothed to an husband that lieth w t an other man in the citie or towne before marriage ought also to bee stoned to death as yée may reade at large in virginitie Deut. 22.25.28 If a Priestes daughter fall to play the whore shee polluteth her fathers house therefore shall shée bée burnt with fire Leuit. 21.9 The women that are giuen vp into vile affections doe change the naturall vse into that which is against nature beeing full of
his master had sent him together with the manner of his meeting with Rebecca their Daughter at the well whom he disired them to giue to his maysters Sonne to wife Wherevnto Laban her brother and Bethuel her mother so soone as they perceiued by his discourse and tale that he tolde that this was Gods ordinaunce they yeelded to the mans request saying This thing is procured of the Lorde we cannot therefore saye vnto thee neyther euill nor good Behold Rebecca is before thee and at thy commaundement take her and goe that shee may bee thy masters sonnes wife euen as the Lorde hath ordeined Which words so greatly reioyced the man that he hauing first praysed the Lord for his mercy towardes his maister and for that he had his request graunted tooke forth more iewelles of gold and siluer and riche apparell and gaue them Rebecca in the presence of her friendes Hee gaue giftes also vnto her brother and mother for tokens of goodwil and to requite their courtesie and then satte downe and did eate and drinke merily with them And on the morowe when the man made haste to bee gone with Rebecca her brother and mother to shew that parentes haue not authoritie to marye their children without consēt of the parties called the Damosel forth to aske her counsel and to know whether she would goe with the man or noe And she being content to goe with him prepared her selfe readye but before shee went her brother and mother blessed her saying Thou art our sister grow into thousandes and thy seede possesse the gate of thine enemies and be victorious ouer them which blessing was afterwarde fullye accomplyshed in Iesus Christ. So Rebecca taking her nurse Deborah and her maydens with her shee lefte her brother and mother and rode away with the man who brought her towardes Isaak his maisters sonne and when shee espyed Isaak comming by the way in the fielde to meete her shee sayde vnto the seruant who is yonder man that commeth in the fielde to meete vs It is Isaak my maisters sonne quoth the seruant who walketh yonder praying in the fieldes as his manner is so when shee came neere him shee alighted and in token of shamefastnesse and chastitie as the custome of euery spouse firste brought vnto her husband was she tooke a vaile couered her head face and was deliuered vnto Isaak being 40. yeares old who brought her vnto his late mothers Saraes tent so she became his wife and this was in the yeare of the world 2148. was deerely beloued of him Wherby he hauing newly left mourning for his mother Sara that was lately departed this lyfe was now by Rebecca his wife greatlye comforted and cheered againe to his great comfort And this maryage was made in the yeare of the worldes creation 2148. Afterward Rebecca hauing bin xx yeares barren and without anye childe at y e last at the earnest petition prayers of her vertuous husbād whom God heard conceiued with 2. children at once when she felt them striue together within her wombe she made her mone to God saiing Seeing it is so that one shal destroy an other why am I thus with childe but God made her answere saying There are two manner of people in thy wombe two nations shal be deuided out of thy bowels and the one nation shal be mightier then the other and the elder shal be seruant to the younger And so when her time was come to bee deliuered she brought forth two twinnes the one red rough that came out first whose name was called Esaw the other white and smoothe that came out last held his brother by y e heele whose name they called Iacob which two afterward became mighty men in the world But Rebecca loued Iacob her youngest sonne better then Esaw her eldest for Esaw had married in processe of time two wiues at once of the daughters of the Hittites one called Iudith y e other Beshemath who were a continual griefe of minde vnto her for their disobedience rebellion And to preferre Iacob before Esaw she sayd vnto Iacob Heare mee my sonne Behold thy father is blinde as thou knowest I haue heard thy father say to thy brother goe and kill some venison and make mee meat therof such as I loue that I may eate blesse thee before y e Lord afore I die Now therfore my sonne heare my voyce in that which I cōmaund thee Get thee now to y e flock bring me thence 2. good kids y t I may make pleasant meate of thē for thy father such as he loueth thou shalt bring it him to eate that he may blesse thee before his death Which subtill dealing of Rebecca with her husband is blame worthy because she should haue taryed til God had performed his promise made towardes Iacob the younger and not to haue sought by this sinister meanes to preuent Esaw Then sayd Iacob vnto her Mother my brother Esaw is a rough man I am smooth and if my father shal happē to feele me I shal seeme vnto him as I went about to deceiue him so shal I bring a curse vpō me not a blessing Wel quoth Rebecca vpō me be thy curse my sonne only heare my voice go fetch me y t kids so he went fet thē vnto her she made pleasant meat therof such as his father her husband loued And when she had done shee fet out certeine fayre cloathes of Esawes put thē vpon Iacob and couered his hands and the smooth of his necke with Goates skinnes and put the meat in Iacobs handes to cary to his father By which pollicie of Rebecca Iacob gat firste his Fathers blessing to fulfill the word of y e Lord who before had sayde to Rebecca that the elder shoulde serue the younger But when shee heard how Esaw her sonne threatned to kill her sonne Iacob his brother for stealing awaye thus by subtyltie his blessing she tolde it Iacob saying Thy brother Esaw threatneth to sleye thee therefore my sonne heare my voyce make thee ready and get thee to Laban my brother at Haran and there tarye with him a while vntyll thy brothers furye and fiercenesse be asswaged and that his wrath bee turned awaye from thee and hee forget the thinges which thou haste done vnto him and then will I send and fetch thee away from thence for why should I bee depriued of you both by murder in one daye And when shee had giuen her sonne Iacob this counsaile to flye away she wente to Isaak her husbande to perswade him to anger for Iacobs departure and sayde I am weary of my life for this Iudith and Bathshemath the daughters of Heath my sonne Esaws wiues for they continually vexe my heart with their disobedience and therfore if my sonne Iacob should take a wife also of y e daughters of Heath such a one as these are of the daughters of that lande what good should my life
commune with her and sayde Wherefore weepest thou why art thou so sory in mynde O sir quoth she let me alone that I may bewayle my selfe and increase sorow for I am sore vexed in my mynd brought very low what ayleth thee quoth Esdras tell me I â—hy seruant quoth she hauing an husband haue been barren and haue had no childe this thirtie yeeres and euery houre and euery day these thirtie yeeres I pray to the most high God day and night for a childe And after thirtie yeeres God heard me thine handmayden and looked vpon my misery considered my trouble and gaue me a sonne and I was glad of him so was myne husband also and al they of my countrie and we gaue great honour vnto the almighty And I nourished him with great trauell so when hee grew vp and came to take a wife I made a feast but when my sonne went into his chamber he fell downe and dyed Then we all ouerthrew the lightes and all my neighbours rose vp to comfort me so I rested till the second day at night when they had al left of to coÌ„fort me that I should be quiet theâ— I rose vp by night and fled and am come into this fielde as thou seest from whence I am not purposed to returne agayne into the citie but to remayne here and neither to eate nor drinke but continually to mourne and fast vntill I die Then Esdras seeing the womans great folly and desperate mynd began to comfort her and very â—ngâ—rly spake vnto her and sayd thou foolishe woman aboue all other art thou so sory for one sonne What if thou haue lost the fruite of thy wombe which thou hast brought forth with heauinesse and bare with sorowes wilt thou thus wast and consume thy selfe with excessiue mourninâ— for that whiche thou canst not help striue against y e almighty who hath caused thy sonne to returne into the earth from whence he came Oh doe not so foolishly but withholde thy sorowe in thy selfe and beare constantly that whiche commeth vnto thee for if thou allowest Gods purpose receiuest his counsel in time thou shalt be coÌ„mended therein leaue thy mourning therefore arise goe thy way now into the citie to thine husband I wil not quoth she I will not goe into the citie but here will I die Then Esdras seeing her desperate miserie was y e more earnest to coÌ„fort her and continued his speech more and more vnto her and sayde O doe not so woman but be counselled Shake off thy great heauinesse and put away the multitude of sorowes and be of good comfort that the almighty may be merciful vnto thee and y â— the most highe may giue thee rest and ease from thy labour and sorow which thou endurest But while I was thus talking with her comforting her sayth Esdras behold her face and beauty shined suddainly and her countenance became so bright that I was afrayd of her and musing what it mighâ— â—e immediately she cast foorth a great voyce and very fearefull so that the very earth shoke at the noyse of the woman And I looked but beholde the woman vanished away and appeared no more but in her place there appeared a citie builded then being more afraide I called for the Angel Uriel to vnderstand this vision who presently came vnto him and tolde him the solution and meaning thereof namely that the woman was Syon wherein there was no offering offered for 30. yeeres space but after 30. yeeres it was built vp by Salomon who offered offeringes so the barren citie bare a sonne The inhabiting of Ierusalem was signified by her nourishing of her sonne And the fall y t came to Ierusalem is the death of her sonne in his wedding chamber her mourning representeth the lamentation of y e people for the destruction of Gods temple and citie and Esdras comforting her declarâ—d his sorowe griefe and sufferinges for her misery for whiche cause God shewed him the cleerenesse of her glorie the fairenesse of her beautie euen the restauration of the temple citie of God into a better forme c. 2. Esd. 9.38.10 c. Machabitesse In the yeere of the worlds creation 3964. there was among y e Machabites or Iewes a righteous godly woman whose name was Hanna as Iosephus saith fol. 4. a And who with her 7. sonnes were all taken and compelled by the cruel tyrant Antâ—ochus and vncircumcised king of the MacedoniaÌ„s against Gods law to cast swines flesh and were tormented with scourges and whippes Which woman their mother was marueilous aboue all other worthy of honourable memory For when she saw her seuen sonnes slayne within the space of one day she suffered it with a good will because of the hope that she had in y e Lord yea she exhorted euery one of them in her owne language and being ful of courage wisedome stirred vp her womanly affection w t a manly stomake said vnto them I cannot tel how yee came into my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor life it is not I that set in order the members of your body but doubtlesse the creatour of the world which formed the birth of man found out the beginning of al things will also of his owne mercie giue you breath life againe as yee now regard not your owne selues for his lawes sake With which her woordes and oration made vnto her children the king being displeased and thinking himselfe greately abused and iniuried thereby in that contrary to his expectation shee rather enâ—ouraged them to death then dissuaded them as he looked after many terrible threatninges and faire promises made vnto her youngest sonne to conuert eate when he saw it would not be for any thing he coulde doe he called his mother and with many words and faire promises exhorted her that she would counsell the young man to saue his life So she promising the king that she would giue her sonne the best counsell she could turned her selfe vnto him laughing the cruell tyraunt to scorne and spake in her owne language vnto her sonne and sayde O my sonne haue pittie vpon me thy mother that bare thee ix monethes in my wombe and gaue thee sucke three yeeres and nourished thee tooke care for thee vnto this age and brought thee vp I beseech thee my sonne looke vpon the heauen and the earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise feare not this hangman but shewe thy selfe worthy such brethreÌ„ by suffering death as they haue done before thee y t I may receiue thee in mercy with thy brethren when shee had spoken these wordes her sonne by and by called for the Executor and offered him selfe body and life to die for the lawes of his God as his brethren had done c. Then the king being kindled with anger raged more cruelly against him then the other and tooke
euerlasting death and destruction both of body soule because they haue not only thereby done great dishonour to Christ in slaundering his Church and leauing their charge or vocation but also broken their faith and forsaken their religion professed 1. Tim. 5. all Euery vowe othe or bonde of a widowe wherewith shee hath bounde hir selfe during hir widowhood to mortifie hir selfe and humble hir soule by abstinence or other bodily exercise shall stande in effect against hir because the widowe is not vnder the authoritie of man Also euery vowe bonde or othe that shée hath made in hir husbands life time whereunto hir husbande did consent and agree too by holding his peace and not disallowe of it when hée first heard thereof shall likewise stande and bee of force agaynst hir after the death of hir husbande but if hir husbande in his life tyme did euer disanull or disagrée vnto any such vowe or bonde of his wife then after his death his wife nowe being a widowe may lawfully breake these vowes and bondes so by hir made in hir husbandes life tyme and it shall not bée any sinne for hir so to doe for the Lorde will forgiue hir As appeareth Num. 30.10 c. Of second Marriage THE woman is bounde by the lawe of Matrimonye vnto the man while hée lyueth but if hée bee deade shée is deliuered and fréed from the Lawe of the man so that though shée take an nother man to husbande shée is no adultresse Rom. 7.2 I woulde that all men were euen as I myself am but euery one hath his proper gifte of God one after this maner and another after that Therefore by permission not by commaundement I say vnto the vnmarried and vnto the widowes it is good for them if they abide euen as I doe but if they can not abstaine then to auoyde fornication let them marrie and euery womā haue hir owne husband For it is better to marrie then to burne with y e fire of concupiscence and lust 1. Cor. 7.6,7 And the wife is bounde by the lawe of Matrimonie as long as hir husbande liueth but if hir husbande bée dead shée is at libertye to marrye with whome shée will onely in the Lorde but shee is more blessed if shee so abide in my iudgement I thinke that I haue also the spirite of God 1. Cor. 7.39 Refuse the younger wydowes from taking the liberalitie of the poore for when they haue begunne to waxe wanton agaynst Christe forgetting their vocation they will marrie hauing damnation because they haue broken their first fayth Where note that the apostle meaneth suche wydowes whiche being iustly diuourced from their firste husbandes marry agayne to the sclaunder of the Churche and leaue their vocation for else he doth not reproue the widowes that haue béen oftener married thē once where he saith let not a widowe be taken into the number vnder threescore yeere olde that hath been the wife of one husbande Yea I will therefore that the younger women marrie and beare children and gouerne the house and giue none occasion to the aduersarie to speake euill For certaine are alreadie turned back◠after satan 1. Tim. 5.11 c. No wydowe saue the widowe of a priest might not bee permitted to marrie with any priest in the old lawe as appeareth Leuit. 21. 14. Ezech. 44.22 Naomie being not verye olde and the wife but of one husbande yet after the death of hir husbande shée would marrie no more but saide shée was too olde to haue an husbande as appeareth Ruth 1.12 Ruth also being a widowe and a yong woman was commended by Boaz because shée followed not young men to marrie them were they poore or riche reade hir story Ruth 3.11 To conclude many men desired Iudeth when shee was a wydowe but none had hir company to hir dying day after the death of hir first husbande manasses shée gaue hir selfe to contemplation prayers and good workes to the benefiting of hir countrey and people as appeareth Iudith 8.4.16,12 Likewise Anna the prophetesse hauing been married but seuen yéeres from hir virginitie after the death of hir husbande continued a widowe fourscore and foure yéeres seruing God in the temple with fasting and prayer day and night as ye may reade in hir life Luke 2. 36. Contrarywise wydowhoodde was a burden to Thamar the wife of Er therefore shee cast awaye hir wydowes apparell and decketh hir selfe braue to play the nought with Iuda hir father in lawe as appeareth in hir story more at large Gene. 38.11 That widowehood is a plague of God vpon the vngodly therfore to the comfort of the godly widows and orphans let them reade these comfortable sentenses of the scripture following gathered to this ende that therby they seeing what care the Lorde hath ouer them in this their desolate condition and state as people least esteemed in the world may the better attende vnto their vocation in prayer and good workes of the spirite to the glory of his name and their perpetuall praise and euermore fully trust and hang vpon his prouidence whiche neuer decayeth IF my wrath be kindled saith the Lord against you for your oppression then will I kill you with the sworde and your wiues shal be widowes and your children fatherlesse Exod. 22.22 The children of the oppressour though they bee many shal be destroyed with the sworde c. and his widowes shall not wéepe nor lament for him Iob. 27.13 Let the children of the oppressour and extorcioner be fatherlesse and his wife a widowe c. let the iniquitie of his father be had in remembrance with the Lorde let not the sinne of his mother be done away c. Psal. 109.8,13 Therefore shall the Lorde haue no pleasure in their yong men neyther will he haue compassion of their fatherlesse and of their wydowes For because euery one is an hypocrite and wicked Esai 9.17 The foolishe woman saith in hir heart I shall bée a Lady for euer I am none els I shall not sit as a wydowe nor desolate againe neither shall I knowe the losse of husbande or children but shall be a lady and wise for euer but heare O thou nice an dilicate dame thou carelese and retchlesse woman that art altogether giuen to pleasure and vanitie for because thou hast not set thy minde to godlines nor remembred the latter ende thereof Therefore both these two things shal come to thee sodainly on one day namely widowhood or disolatiō and the losse of childrē euen in their perfection I say shal they mightily fal and come vpon thee for the multitude of thy sinnes and offences Esai 47.8,9 I haue wasted and destroyed my people saith the Lorde yet they woulde not returne from their sinnefull waies Their widowes are increased by me aboue the sande of the Sea because I haue slaine their husbandes I haue brought vpon them the destroyer at noone day c. Shee also that hath borne many children hath béene made weake and lost all
wife that was burnt with fire the whoore of Babylon and the fiue foolish Uirgines that wēt down quick into hell From the which good Lorde deliuer vs. The description of an Harlotte and disprayse of an Whore with Christian and Ghostly exhortations to the Godly to beware of her poysoned bayte pestilent properties and craftie conditions and not to suffer them selues sottishly to be deceyued by her AS I was in the windowe of my house sayeth Solamon I looked through the lettesse sawe and considered among the fooles and children a young man voyde of witte and destitute of vnderstanding who passed through the stréetes by her corner and went towarde her house in the twilight of the Euening when the night began to be black for there was almost none so impudent but they were afraid to be séen and also their own consciences did accuse them which caused them to séeke the night to couer their filthines And beholde there mette him a woman with open tokens the garment and behauiour of an harlot and subtill in heart which only was hid Shée was full of babling and loude woordes and readie to dally whose feete can not abyde in her house nowe shée is without nowe in the streete and lyeth in waite at euery corner So shée caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face and shamelesse countenaunce shée sayde vnto him I haue peace offerings or meate at home to make good cheare with This daye also haue I payde my vowes and made satisfaction for my sinnes so holy and religious will Harlottes séeme to bée outwardly both because they may the better deceiue others and vnder a cloke of holinesse to get them into hir snares Therefore came I forth to méete thée that I might séeke thy face and so haue I founde thée I haue decked my bed with couerings or ornamentes of tapistrie and clothes of Egypt I haue perfumed my bed with Myrhe Aloes and Cynamon Come let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning and let vs solace our selues and take our pleasure in daliaunce For myne husbande is not at home hée is gone a iourney farre off hee hath taken with him the bagge of money and will returne home at the daye appointed and not before Thus with her great craft and swéete wordes shée ouercame him and caused him to yéelde and with her flattering lippes shée entised him And he followed hir straight wayes euen as an Oxe ledde to the slaughter whiche thinking hee goeth to the pasture goeth in déede willingly to his owne death and destruction And as a foole that laugheth when hée goeth to the stockes to bée punished so long went hée after her till shée had wounded his liuer with a darte as a byrde hasteth to the snare not knowing that he is in danger and that the perill of his life lieth therevpon Heare mée nowe therefore O my children and hearken vnto the woordes of my mouth Let not thine hearte wander or declyne to her wayes and bée not thou deceiued in her pathes for many a one hath shée wounded and cast downe Yea many a strong man hath béen slayne by the meanes of her Her house is the hie way to Hell and bringeth men downe into the chaumbers of death and destruction so that neither wit nor strength can deliuer them that fal into the handes of an harlot Prou. 7.6 c. My sonne let wisedome I say enter into thine heart and let thy soule delight in knowledge that thou mayest bée deliuered from the strange woman or Harlot and from her that is not thine owne which flattereth and giueth swéete wordes euen from her I say whithe forsaketh the guide of her youth her husband I meane which is her guide to gouerne her from whom shée ought not to depart but remaine in his subiection and whiche woman forgetteth the couenant of her God or promise made in marriage For surely hir house that is her acquayntance with her familiers and them that haunt her tendeth to death and her pathe vnto them that are dead both in bodye and soule All they that goe in vnto her returne not agayne neyther take they holde of the wayes of life Therefore walke thou in the waies of good men and such as bée vertuous and keepe the pathes of the righteous for the iust shall dwell in the lande but the wicked shal be rooted out Prou. 2.10 c. A foolishe retchlesse woman full of wordes and such a one as is troublesome ignoraunt and hath no knowledge nor feare of God that is an harlot sitteth at the doore of her house and on a seate in the high places and common méetinges of the Citie to call them that passe by the way and goe right in their pathes saying who so is simple and ignorant let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith also Stolen waters are swéet and the hid bread priuily eaten is pleasant and hath a good taste But hee poore soule knoweth not neyther doeth consider that they are but deade which are there and that her ghestes are in the deapth of Hell Prou. 9.13 c. Therefore my sonne giue me thine heart yea giue thy selfe wholy to wisedome that folly hurt thée not this way and let thine eyes delight in my waies for the cōmaundement is a lanterne or lampe lighting and instructing thée in the way of life to keepe thee from the wicked woman and from the flattering dissembling tongue of a straunge woman Prou. 23.26.6.23 Cast not thy minde vpon harlots I say in any maner of thing least thou destroy both thy selfe and thy heritage and patrimonie as the prodigall sonne did Prou. 9.6 Desire not her company neyther lust after her beautie in thine heart but beware shee take thee not with her fayre lookes and wanton gesture Prou. 6.25 For by an harlot a man is brought to begge a morsell of breade and a whorishe woman will hunt for the precious life of a man Pro. 6.26 Can a man take fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt or can a man goe vpon coales and his féete not be burnt Euen so he that goeth into his neighbours wife and toucheth her shall not bée innocent nor vnguyltie Yea shée will neuer cease till shée haue brought him to beggerie then séeke his destruction Prou. 6.23 c. There are three thinges which are neuer satisfied yea foure that crye neuer hoe it is ynough viz. The graue the earth the fire and the barren wombe of an harlot Prou. 30.16 Gaze not on a mayde that thou be not hurt in her beautie and fall by that which is precious in her Eccle. 9.5 Goe not about gazing I say in euery lane or streete of the Citie neither wander thou in the secret corners and priuie places therof Turne away thy face and eye from a beautifull woman looke not vpon the fayrnesse of other for many haue perished and been deceyued by the beautie of women for through it loue is
also before the yeeres of famine shee bare two sonnes called Manasses and Ephraim Gene. 41.15.50 Atarah or Athara or Araia â—ign the Lordes anger or heate a Crowne She was one of the wiues of Ierathmeel and the mother of Onam 1. Chro. 2.26 Athalia signi tyme for the Lorde his time an houre c. Shee was the daughter of Omri or as some will of Ahab which was the sonne of Omri eyther for that shee was brought vp still with Achab or for that shee imitated his maners in all kinde of Idolatrie Shee was also the wife of Iehoram king of Iuda whome shee corrupted greatly with her Idolatrie and vnto whome in the yeere of the worlde 3217. shee bare a sonne called Ahaziah which was Iehorams youngest sonne who also all his elder brethren being before slain by the Philistines succeeded his father Iehoram in the kingdome His mother Athalia entised him also to all wickednesse insomuch that the Lorde caused him to bee slayne by Iehu Then Athalia perceiuing that her sonne was dead shee in the yeere of the worlde 3239. tooke vpon her the rule and gouernement and to the intent that there shoulde bee none of that lynage of Iehosophat to rayne or make title to the crowne and that shee onely might vsurpe the gouernement and raigne quietly shee most cruelly murdered and destroyed all the seede and posteritie of Iehosophat and Ioram to whom the kingdome appertayned saue one for so it pleased God to vse the tyrannie of this wicked woman to destroy the whole family of Ahab onely Ioas the sonne of Ahaziah was stolen away and hid from her by Iehosheba as appeareth in her storie And when wicked Athalia had ruled the lande most cruelly sixe yeeres and had broken vp the house of God and bestowed vpon Balam and Idoles all thinges that were dedicated therein to the Lorde In the seuenth yere Ioas was brought forth by Iehoida the priest and proclaymed king Shee hearing that ranne into the Temple of the Lorde and there beholding Ioas crowned king shee rent her clothes and cried out treason treason But at the commaundement of Iehoida the priest the captayne and souldiers tooke her and caried her out of the Temple and slue her by the way as they went to the kinges house in the yeere of the world 3245. and this was the ende of that wicked idolatresse booddy woman Athalia 2. Kin. 8.18.26.11.1.2.15 2. chro 21.6.22.2.3.10 c. 24.6 Atossa was first the wife of king Cambyses afterward maried to king Darius Histaspis and maried the mother of Xerxis in the yeere of the worlde 3620. reade more in Ester For as some thinke this Atossa was Ester who first was the wife of Aâ—huerus and after his death became wife to Darius Histaspis vnto whom shee bare Xerxes the father of Artaxerxes in the yeere of the worlde 3621. Azuba or Asuba sig left or forsaken his strength in her Shee was the daughter of Silhi and the wife of Aha king of Iuda vnto whom she bare a sonne called Iehoshaphat that was also king of Iuda after his father 1. King 22.42 2. Chro. 20.31 There was another woman of this name which was the wife of Caleb and bare him diuers sonnes as appeareth 1. Chronicles 2.18 19. B Baara or Bara or Baraa sig a workemanshippe a bed a fire in wicked mynde in ill a companion in ioyes in feedyng in buildyng c. Shee was one of the wiues of Shaharaim whom with her mate Hushim he put away from him and tooke other 1. chro 8.8 Bashemath or Basemath â—ig sweete smelling spices destruction of death in discomforting Shee was the daughter of Elon an Hittite and one of the wiues of Esawe who with her mate Iudith was a griefe of minde to her good father and mother in lawe Isaak and Rebecca through her continuall disobedience and great rebellion Gen. 26.34 Bernice signifieth a hurtlesse Sonne a heauie victorie the weight of vanquishing finely moued or with choyse Shee was the daughter of Herode Agrippa borne in the yeere of the worlde 4170. and the naturall sister of king Agrippa and wife to Herode king of Chalcida her Grandfather And being entertayned of king Agrippa in his house as his wife also she went with him to Cesaria to salute Festus and to welcome him into the Countrey who was then but newly entered into his office of presideÌ„tship in the roome of Felix And when Paules matter should be heard before Agrippa she went with him also into the common hall where she was receiued with great pompe and there sate with Agrippa and the other gouernours all day to heare the examination of Paul before Festus the new President and beyng almost conuerted with her husband Agrippa at the wordes of Paule she together with the rest of the Gouernours arose and in secret conference iustified Paule as altogether innocent and most vnwoorthy of death or imprisonment Actes 25.13 23.26.30 Bethsheba or Bethsabe Bethzabe Bathshua or Bersabe signifieth the seuenth daughter or the daughter of an othe The daughter of fulnes of noise or thâ— daughter of saluation or the honourable or noble daughter She was the daughter of Eliam called also Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel 1. Chro. 3.5 and the wife of Uriah the Hittite which was with Ioab in king Dauids warres against the Moabites at Rabbath And on a tyme in the yeere of the worlde 3086. as Bethsabe was washing her selfe in her priuie garden alone it chaunced king Dauid to looke out at a windowe in his pallace as hee walked on the top or roofe thereof in the afternoone and seeing her to bee a very fayre woman he was presently so rauished with her beautie that forthwith hee sent for Bethsabe and shee comming vnto him hee lay with her committed adulterie with her so sent her home againe to her owne house Then shortly after shee perceiuing her selfe to be with childe and fearing least for that fact shee should be stoned to death according to Gods lawe sent Dauid the king worde thereof secretely Whereupon the king partly to hyde his owne fault and partly to saue the woman from daunger of the lawe sent for Urias her husband to come home from warres that hee might colour and father the matter by lying with his wife But when Dauid sawe that Urias woulde by no meanes company with his wife Bethsabe as he desired he returned him back againe to Ioab with a letter the contentes whereof caused Urias quickly to bee dispatched out of his life by the enemie And when Bethsabe heard that her husbande Urias was dead shee mourned for her husband so when the mourning was done Dauid sent for Bethsabe and to make her amendes hee tooke her into his house and shee became his wife and in the yeere of the world 3086. she brought foorth the same childe conceyued in adulterie being a sonne which liued not long but being stricken by God with a sore sickenesse for Dauids Bethsabes sinnes and punishement it died
his daughter to be her handmayde and seruaunt And afterwarde when Rahel perceiuing shee was barren and could beare Iacob no children she gaue Bilha her mayde vnto her husband to be his wife who conceiued by Iacob and brought him forth two sonnes The first called Dan the second called Nepthali Afterwarde Bilha and her mate zilpha went with Iacob to meete Esau and was placed formost with her children in the company and meeting Esau did him first reuerence and obeysaunce Then at the commaundment of Iacob she reformed her selfe of her Idolatrie and resigned vp vnto him her earinges Idols worshipped God aright with him and all the rest of his housholde yet after this that is in the yeare of the world 2275. Ruben the eldest Sonne of Iacob went and lay with this Bisha his fathers Concubine and caused her to commit adulterie to her shame and his curse giuen of his father vnto whose eares the vile fact came as appeareth Gene. 29.29.30.3 c. 33.2.6.35.4.22 46.25.49.3 1. Chro. 7. 13. Bithiahâ— or Bethia signi the Daughter or measure of the Lord. She was the daughter of Pharaoh and wife of Mered or after some â—he first wife of Ezrah and the mother of Mered. Read 1. Chro. 4.18 C Calmana signi a nourishing gift or present She was one of the two daughters of Adam and Eue sister to Delbora and wife to Rayn her owne brother by whom the worlde was first replenished as appeareth in Graftons Chronicle fol. 27. Candaces signi chaunged hauing breach of minde a cleane or the purest hauing in vse it is a common name to all the Queenes of Ethiopia Shee was the Queene of Ethiopia who sending her Eunuch or chiefe gouernour that had the rule of all her treasure to Ierusalem as hee rode in his charyot reading Esaye the Prophet was by the waye met with of Philip who baptised and instructed him in the true vnderstanding of the scripture he read and conuerted him to the Christian fayth by preaching vnto him Iesus so that he worshipped God aright at Ierusalem Acts. 8.27 Cleopatra signi the flourishing glory or ioy of the countrey or of the Father Shee was the daughter of Philometor king of Egipt who in the yeare of the world 3981. being first giuen in maryage by her father vpon good lyking to Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria and royally maryed with great glory after the manner of Kinges at the Citie of Ptolomays afterward vpon displeasure causeleâ—se taken by her father against her husbande she was taken away from him againe and giuen by her vnnaturall father to Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius and so became his wife also hauing now two husbands alyue as appe 1. Ma. 10.75 11.12 The Prophet Daniel also prophecyeth also of the faythfulnesse constancie of one Cleopatra a bewtiful Woman that was the daughter of Antiochus the great king of Syria wife to Ptolomeus Eptphanes king of Egypt saying in this wise Hee that is Antiochus shall set his face to enter with the power of his whole kingdome and his confederates with him agaynst Ptolomeus thus shall hee doe and hee shal giue him the daughter of women to destroy hym But she shall not stand on his side neyther before him meaning that Antiochus should giue his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolomeus to destroye him with her bewtie betray him to her father after his aduice or if that serued not he woulde destroy him together with his daughter by that marriage vnder pretence of friendship for hee lyke a moâ—t couetous and cruel wretch regarded not the lyfe of his daughter in respect of the kingdome of Egypt which hee chiefly shotte at yet for all that Daniell prophecied that she shoulde not agree to her fathers wicked counsayle but shoulde loue her husband as her duetie required and not seeke his destruction for her fathers pleasure or any friend in the world beside Read Dani. 11.17 Cozbi signi a Lyer leauing off as flowing as a fludde Shee was the Daughter of zur Prince of Midian who playing the harlot with zimry the Israelite and sonne of Salu and being taken in the verye committing and doing of the filthy facte of adulterie was by zealous Phinees the sonne of Eleazar Gods execucioner of his iust wrath thrust quite through her belly and slayne as she laye together with zimry her adulterous mate Which zealous fact of Phinies so pleased God that therefore the Lorde not onely turned awaye his wrath and caused the plague to cease which hee had sent vppon the Israelites for committing both corporall and spirituall whooredome with the woman of Moab and following their idolatry but also God made the couenant of priesthood to remaine with him and his for euer as appeareth Numb 25.6.7 D Damaris signi a little or a prety wile a still heed She was a certaine godly and deuout woman dwelling at the Citie of Athens who with Denis Areopagita and others beleeued the Gospell preached by S. Paule and was conuerted to the Christian fayth Acts. 17.34 Deborah or Debbora signi a word a Bee good vtteraunce a babler speecâ—e Shee was the wife of one Lapidoth and a Prophetesse who after the death of Ehud and Shamgar was the fourth Iudge and gouernesse of the people of Israell and iudged them by the spyrite of prophecy in resoluing of controuersies and doubtes declaring vnto theÌ„ y e wil of God And in the yeare of the world 2766. when y e childreÌ„ of Israel were giuen by the Lorde for their sinnes into the handes of Iabyn King of Canaan and inuaded by Sisara his captaine and a great hoste of enymyes They went to Deborah vnto her house that dwelte vnder a Palme tree betweene Ramah and Bethel in Mounte Ephraim and in great sorrowe and lamentation asked her aduise who vnderstanding the matter sente presently for Barack who being come she sayde vnto him hath not the Lorde GOD of Israel reuealed vnto mee by the spirite of prophecie and commaunded thee saying goe to Mounte Tabor with ten thousand men And I saieth the Lord wil drawe vnto thee to the riuer Kison Sisera with all his huge hoste and delyuer him into thy hande But Barak seeing his owne weakenesse and his enemies power desired Deborah the Prophetesse to goe with him to assure him of Gods will from tyme to tyme saying If thou wilt goe with me I will goe But if thou wilt not goe with me I will not goe Then sayd Deborah I will surely go with thee as thou desirest but for thy distrust and doubtfull minde knowe thou this that this iourney which thou takest shall not therefore be for thine honour for the Lorde shall sel Sisera into the handes of a woman So Deborah arose and went with Barak and all his host to Kedesh And when she saw Sisera and his army come ready to wage battell with Barak she still incouraged him to the enterprise by assuring him of Gods fauour and ayd saying vp
Barak for this is the day that the Lord hath deliuered Sisara into thyne hands Is not the Lord gone out before thee to fight for thee So the Lorde according to her wordes hauing destroyed the armye of Iabin and forced Sisara to light downe of his chariot and flye away on his feete Barak pursued after him but hee beeing escaped his handes and hid in the tente or house of one Iael the wife of Heber and a faythful friende to Israel was there slaine by the said Iael as in her storie more plainly appeareth vntyll at y e length Barak stil pursuing after Sisara came and found him dead in the tent of Iael and so lost hee the honour of the victory and Iael got it as Deborah before prophecied And thus Deborah by her pollicye and wisdome through Gods power and Baraks helpe assisting and working for her and her people deliuered her people mightely from the tyranny of Iaben Sisara and all their enimies that had vexed them verye sore the space of twentie yeare before and were set at peace and libertie and their enemies vtterly confounded And therefore to the glory and prayse of God for that victorye and to the perpetuall memory and fame of Iaell shee made a notable and learned songe which she together with Barak sange the same daye saying Prayse yee the Lord for the auenging of Israell and for the people that offred them selues willingly c. as it is at larg in the prayers of the Byble made by women before in the first Lamp page 3. And after the death of Debora the Lord raysed vp Gideon to iudge his people Iudges 4.4.5.1 D There was an other woman called Debora which was the nurse of Rebecca and went with her and her maidens when Abrahams seruant brought her from her father to Isak his maisters sonne and who after long traueiling and iourneying comming to Bethel there in the yeare of the world 2275. dyed by the way going towardes Egypt when she had lyued 156. yeares after the byrth of Rebecca and was buryed beneath Bethel vnder an Oke which place Iacob her master for her sake called the Oke of Lamentation Gene. 24.59.35.8 There was an other woman called Debora which was the great Grandmother of Tobyas the elder that is his father Tobiels mother and his garder or bringer vp a very godly and deuout woman as may appeare in that Tobyt said that he gaue his offrings and tythes of the tenth part vnto them vnto whom it was meete as Debora his fathers mother had commanded him vnto whom he was pupil Toby 1.8 She is onely mencioned or read off in the Geneua translation Delbora or Noaba after Philo signifieth Bees a thing a casting downe She was the second Daughter of Adam and Eue the sister of Calmana wife of her own brother Abell as it is supposed Her name nor her sisters is not read or founde in the scriptures but in Lyra also looke Graftons Chronicle fol. 27. Delilah or Dalila signifieth a poore wench a bucket or paile a consumer her paile pouertie his bowe drawing out leane She was a woman of the Philistins dwelling by the ryuer of Sorek whome Sampson the Israelite an enimy to the Philistins loued tooke to wife whilest he aboad amongst the Philistines which when the Princes of the Philistins perceiued they hauing long hunted him to destroy him and knowing no way so good as by the meanes of a woman came at the length to this Dalilas house and perswaded her to betray her husbande saying Entice Sampson and see wherein his great strēgth lieth and learne by what meanes wee may best ouercome him that we may come and binde him and punish him after our desire and for thy labour euery one of vs shall giue thee a xi hundred shekels of siluer which commeth to foure score and a xi pounds thirteene shillings foure pence a man after xx d a shekel and saith Lyra they being fiue in number it amounteth in all to the summe of 336 li.xiii.s.iiii.d Then Dalila being thus bribed or entised for couetousnesse of so much money went and saide vnto Sampson Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lyeth whereby thou mightest be bound to do thee hurt And Sampson mistrusting her nothing at all he was so blinded with her loue tolde her saying if they binde me with vii grene cordes or withes then shall I lie as weake as another man So she hauing gotten of the Philistines vii grene cords bound Sampson therewith and hauing certaine men of the Philistines lying readie in waite with her in a secrete chamber she then cryed out vnto Sampson saying The Philistines are vpon thee Sampson shift for thy selfe But Sampson brake the cordes as a threed and escaped so that his strength coulde not be knowen by her craft Then saide Dalila vnto Sampson see thou hast mocked me and tolde me lies I pray thee nowe yet tell me wherein thou mightest be bounde And Sampson though her falshoode tended to make him loose his life yet his affection towardes her so blinded him that he coulde not beware but tolde her saying If they binde me with newe ropes that were neuer occupied then shall I bee weake and like other men Dellida therefore tooke newe ropes and bounde him againe therewith and saide as before The Philistines bee vpon thee Sampson But as her spies came out of her chamber to haue taken him he brake them also from his armes as a threede and escaped againe the second time After this Delilah saide vnto him againe the thirde time hitherto Sampson thou hast beguiled mee and told me lyes tell mee yet howe thou mayest bee bound And hee giuing place still to his wicked affections tolde her againe the thirde time saying If thou plat seuen lockes of the haire of my head with the threades of the woofe I shall bee weake so shee fastened it with a pinne and cryed as afore The Philistines are vpon thee Sampson the Philistines are vpon thee but hee awoke out of his sleepe and went away with the pinne of the webbe and woofe Then Dalila being verie angrie that hee had so often mocked her beganne to chide him saying Howe canst thou say as thou continually doest vnto mee I loue thee Dalila I loue thee when thine heart is not with mee Thou hast mocked mee nowe these three times together and hast not as yet tolde mee wherein thy great strength lieth And because shee was importunate vpon him with her words continually and vexed him his soule was pyned to the death therefore hee vp and tolde her all his heart and saide vnto her If I bee shauen and my haire cut off my strength will goe from mee and I shall bee as weake as all other men are So when Delilah sawe that hee had tolde her all his heart shee went priuily for the Princes of the Philistines that had bribed her to doe the feate saying come vp once againe for hee hath shewed mee nowe all his hearte
God gaue him after his fall vnto whome also with her sisters Keziah and Kerenhappuch hee gaue an inheritaunce among hir brethren Iob. 42.14 Ierushah or Ierusa sig Banishment or inheritaunce She was the daughter of Zadock the hie Priest and wife to Uzziah or Azariah king of Iuda to whom she bare a sonne called Iotham that after the death of his father was a good king of Iuda 2. King 15. 33. 2. Chro. 27.1 Iezabel or Iesabel or Isabell sig an Iland or habitation a dweller with a vaine flud an issue of blood or issuing blood where is the dunghil the Iland of the dwelling Woe to the dwelling the I le of the dunghill woe to the dunghill She was the daughter of Eth. baal king of the Sidonians wife to Ahab the sonne of Omri king of Israel to whom she bare 2. sonnes called Ahaziah and Iehoram afterwards kings of Israel also This Iezabel being a wicked woman and vile idolatresse not onely entised and pricked forward her husbande Ahab to all kinde of wickednesse strange idolatry and cruell persecution but also her selfe slue the prophetes of the Lord destroyed them and most ragingly persecuted Eliia the Lordes Prophet for destroying Baals priests whom she made so much of and sent a messenger vnto him with threatning words saying The Gods doe so to me quoth she and more also if I make not thy life Elia like one of their liues whom thou hast slayne by to morowe this time Wherevpon the good Prophet was fayne to flie away froÌ„ her into the wildernes where he remayned by her cruelty in great perplexitie sorow til the Lord comforted him Moreouer when shee perceiued the sullen sadnesse and inward fretting of Ahab her husband and vnderstood the cause thereof to be for nothing els but for that hee could not haue his inordinate appetite satisfied and Naboths vineyard graunted vnto him to make him a garden at his request she came to her husband lying languishing and fretting for anger vpon his bed sayd vnto him Why is thy spirite so sad that thou eatest no bread Doest thou now gouerne the kingdome of Israel Thou knowest not I perceiue what it is to reigne be a king for if thou didst thou wouldest coÌ„mand thy subiects not intreate them Up therfore eate bread be of good cheere for I will geue thee the vineyard of Naboth the Iezreâ—lite So in the yeere of the world 3224. shee wrote letters in Ahabs name and sealed them with his seale and sent the letters vnto the Elders and nobles of the citie the contents of which letters was this Proclaime a fast and set Naboth among the chiefe of the people and set two wicked men before him and let them witnesse against him saying Thou didst blaspheme God and the king then carrie him out and stone him that he may die Which letters when the Elders had receyued they like wicked worldlinges obeyed rather the wicked commaundementes of this wicked Princesse then the iust lawe of God who willeth not to consent to the shedding of innocent blood and did as Iezabell had written in the letters sent vnto them and hauing thus truelly without all equitie vnder colour of lawe put innocent Naboth and his sonnes to death they sent Iesabell worde therof who so soone as shee heard thereof went to her husband lying languishing on his bed and sayde vp now man and take possession of Naboths Uinyarde for nought which he before refused to giue thee for money for beholde he as a trangressor of the lawe is stoned to death and all his sonnes that should inherite it and resist thy purpose by clayming possessioÌ„s which she did that her husband might enioy it the more quietly With which newes Achab being reuiued straight wayes arose and went to take possession of Naboths vineyarde as his wife counselled him but as he was in the Uineyarde taking possession God sent his Prophete Elia vnto him whiche reprooued Achab and his wife with terrible threatninges of Gods iudgementes saying first to Ahab Hast thou killed and also gotten possession Ahab or doest thou thinke to haue any aduauntage by murthering of the innocent Uerilye thus sayeth the Lorde I haue seene yesterday the blood of Naboth â—nd the blood of his sonnes and I wil render it thee in this fielde therefore in the place where dogges licked the blood of Naboth euen there shall dogges licke euen thy bloud also because thou hast shed innocent blood and solde thy selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde c. And also as concerning thy wife Iezabel thus sayeth the Lorde of her that forasmuch as she whose nature or kynd shoulde haue abhorred all tyrannie and ben moued and inclined to all pitie mercie and compassion hath contrariwise geuen and horrible example of most monstrous crueltie in womenkinde and not onlie geuen wicked counsell to her husband to become a vile Idolater and cruel murtherer but also ben as one that geueth her selfe wholly to serue all maner of sinne therfore the dogs shal eate her also in the field or by the wall of her pallace in Iezreel there shall be none to burie her With terrible words of the Prophet when Ahab heard he rent his clothes and repented his sinnes in dust ashes and sackcloth which caused the Lorde by and by to haue mercie vpon him and to turne the euill from him vnto his sonne Iorams dayes But as for Iezabel the holie Ghost maketh no mention that euer she blushed at the matter or once repented of her villanny but went on stil in her Idolatry and abhominable life during her husband Ahabs raigne the raigne of Ahaziah and Iehoram her two sonnes Insomuch as when her sonne Iehoram was sicke of wounds an hurt that the Aramites had geuen him God raysed vp Iehue to bee king who being made an instrument of God to execute his foresaide iudgements against the house of Ahab y e king to auenge the blood of his seruauntes the Prophetes and seruaunts shed by the hand of Iezabel He conspired against Ioram who meeting Iehue in the fielde of Naboth the Israelite demaunded of Iehue saying comest thou peaceably Iehue But Iehue being furiously bent to execute Gods vengeaunce against Ioram and his mother Iezabel aunsweared Ioram what hast thou to doe with peace the whoredomes of thy mother Iezabell and her witchcraftes are yet in greate number and with that Iehu shotte Ioram quite thorowe his hearte as he fled from him so that he fell downe dead in his chariot And after Iehu had caused the dead corpes of Ioram to be put and cast in the field of Naboth to fulfil the word of the Lord against Achab whiche was nowe first accomplished in his sonne Ioram after this iudgement of God I say executed vpon y e sonne for imitating the sinnes of his father Achab mother Iezabel Iehu went towards Iezreel to do y e like iudgement in reuenging of Gods cause vpon the mother Iezabel that lay
because they thought scorne to yeelde them selues vnto you that they might finde mercie in your sight Therefore haue I deuised by my selfe after this maner I will go before the prince Olophernes the chiefe captayne of your armie and tell him all their secretes will shew him y e way how hee may come by them and winne their citie without the losse of body or life of any one of his men Nowe when the men had pondered her woordes and considered well her beawtie her couÌ„tenaÌ„ce fayre face they were astonied wondering greatly at her excelleÌ„t beauty they put her in good coÌ„fort of her life saying Thou hast saued thy life by finding out this deuice and making hast to come before our Lord. Now therefore come with vs to his tent and some of vs shall conduct thee till they haue deliuered thee into his hande And when thou standest before him bee not afrayde in thine heart but showe vnto him what thou hast to say and be thou sure hee will intreat thee well So they set her and her mayde in a chariotte and beeing accompanied with an hundered men brought her to Holophernes cent where by reason her comming was bruted among the pauilions or tentes of his souldiers there was such a running too and fro to see her that they came and stoode rounde about her as shee stoode without Olophernes tent merueiling at her beawtie and wondred at the children of Israel because of her feature comely and goodly personage insomuch as euery one being immediatly ouercome taken with her beawtie sayde one to another who woulde dispise this people of the Iewes that haue amonge them such goodly and fayre women Should we not by reason fight agaynst them for these women if for nothing els surely it is not good that one man of these bee lefte for if they shoulde remayne they might deceiue the whole earth So when Olephernes was aduertised of her comming and that shee stood without his tent wayting to speake with him hee sent his garde and seruauntes for her who brought her neere vnto his tent doore where he lay very stately vpon his bed vnder a canopie whiche was wouen with purple and golde and emeraldes and precious stones and when his menne wente in and tolde him that Iudith was come Olophernes came forth vnto the entrey of his tent lighted with Lampes of siluer because it was in the night carried before him to meete her and welcome her And when Iudith was come before him he no sooner saw her but immediatly he was ouercome and rauished with her beawtie for both he and his seruants marueiled all thereat So Iudith looking wishly vpon him and being somewhat abashed at the first with his maiestie shee fell downe vppon the earth as one almost dead for feare and being reuiued agayne did reuerence vnto Olofernes and his seruants tooke her vp agayne at his commaundement Then saide Olofernes vnto her woman bee of good cheere and feare not in thine heart for I neuer hurt any that woulde serue Nabuchadnezer y e king of al the earth As for thy people if they had not despised mee I would not haue lift vp my speare against them but they haue procured these thinges vnto themselues But tell mee now what is the cause that thou art fledde from them And wherefore thou art come vnto vs For if thou be come for safegarde and succour then bee of good comfort thou shalt liue from this night and hereafter for none shal hurt thee but intreat thee well as they do the seruants of king Nabuchadnezer my Lord. To whom Iudith made answere on this wise saying Sir quoth Iudith if thou wilt receiue the words of thy handmaid suffer thine handmaid to speake in thy presence I will declare no lye vnto my Lord this night And if thou wilt followe do after the wordes of thine handmaide God will bring the thing perfectly to passe by thee and my Lord shall not fayle of his purpose As Nabuchadnezer king of all the earth liueth and as his power is of force who hath senâ— thee to reforme and punishe all persons that goe wrong not onely men shall bee made subiect to him by thee but also the beastes of the field and the cattell and the foules of the heauen shall liue by thy power vnder Nebuchadnezer and all his house For wee heard of thy wisedome of thy prudent spirit and actiuitie doe all people speake yea it is declared bruted through the whole earth that thou onely art good excellent and mightie in all the kingdome and of a wonderfull knowledge in the feates of warre For as concerning the matter which Achâ—or whom thou banished thine armie did speake in thy presence and gaue counsell vnto my Lorde to make search whether the people of the Iewes had sinned against their God or no. It is manifest and true and wee haue heard of his words for the men of Bethulia did take him and hee declared vnto them all that hee had spoken vnto thee concerning vs and the people of Israel Nowe thrrefore least my Lorde should bee frustrate and voyde of his purpose and that death may fall vppon them and that they may bee taken in their sinne whiles they prouoke their God to anger which is so oft times as they doe that which is not beseeming Yea this is playne of a suretie that our God is so wroth with vs by reason of our sinnes that he hath she'wed by his Prophetes vnto the people how that far their sins he wil deliuer them ouer vnto y e enemie And for as much as the childreÌ„ of Israel know that they haue so displeased their God they are sore affrayde of thee yea and suffer great hunger also at this present For want of drinke they are in a maner as dead men for because their victualles fayle aud their water is wasted they haue in their extremitie determined to slay their cattel that they may drinke the blood of theÌ„ are purposed to consume all things y t God hath forbiddeÌ„ theÌ„ to eate by his lawes Yea they haue purposed to speÌ„d y e holy things of their God which he hath forbiddeÌ„ theÌ„ to touch as the first fruits of y e wheat the tithes of the wine of the oyle which they had reserued sanctified for the priests that serue in Ierusalem before the face of our God the which thing it is not lawfull for any of the people to touch with their handes Moreouer they haue sent to IerusaleÌ„ because they also that dwel there haue done the like such as shoulde bring theÌ„ licence froÌ„ the Senate and wheÌ„ they shal bring theÌ„ word theÌ„ they wil do it they shal be giuen thee therfore to be destroyed the same day For if they do these things it is a playne case that they must needs be destroyed Wherefore I thine handmaid knowing all this am fled froÌ„ theÌ„ to shew thee these things for God hath sent me to
Simeon and mother Anna the prophetesse prophesie strange thinges of Christ her sonne and confesse him openly to be the Sauiour of the worlde shee marueyled greatly at those thingâ—s which wâ—re spoken touching him Especially when Simeon blessed her and her babe and sayde vnto her beholde this thy chylde is appoynted for the fall of the reprobate and raysing agayne of many of the elect in Israel and for a signe which shall bee spoken agaynst Yea and a swoorde that is sorrowes shall pearce through thy soule or heart that the thoughtes of many heartes by the triall of the crosse may bee opened And when shee had performed all thinges at Ierusalem according to the lawe shee returned with Ioseph her husbande home to the Citie of Nazareth agayne And being accustomed yeerely she and her husband to goe vp at the feast of Ester to Ierusalem shee chaunced on a tyme to forget her Sonne Iesus behind her and supposing that he had beene in the company went a dayes iourney and sought him among her kinsfolke and acquaintance But when she could not finde him she tourned backe to Ierusalem and there sought him for the space of three dayes ere she could finde him At the last she found him out in the temple sitting in the middes of the doctours hearing and apposing them with questions and sayd vnto him Sonne why haste thou thus delt with vs thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy heartes but he preferring his duetie to God before father or mother sayd how is it that ye sought me Knowe yee not that I must goe about my fathers businesse but they vnderstood him not So hee came and went home to Nazareth with her and was subiecte vnto his mother who kept all these his sayinges in her heart Another time as she was with her sonne at a marriage feast in Cana a towne in Galilee when the wine fayled at the feast she tolde her Sonne that they lacked wine and receiuing his answere meekely she bad the ministers or seruantes to doe whatsoeuer hee commaunded them Fynallye when shee with her sister Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalen stoode by the crosse whereon her Sonne Iesus houng crucified and shedde his blood as well for her as for all other Christians sorow then pearced her heart like a sword according as Simeon had prophecied and foretolde her And when Iesus sawe her and the Disciple Saint Iohn standing by her whome hee loued Hee sayde vnto his mother woman beholde thy Sonne Then sayde hee also to the Disciple beholde thy mother and from that houre the Disciple tooke her home vnto him and comforted her To conclude after Christes ascention vp into heauen she kept companye with the Apostles and together with the other women and all the Apostles continued in one accorde in prayer and supplication in Ierusalem Luke 1. Math. 1â—2 Luke 2. Iohn 2.3.19.25.26 Act. 1. 14. Marye the wife of Cleophas or Clophas was sister to Marie the Uirgin mother of our Sauiour Christ stoode with her by y e crosse wheroÌ„ Christ dyed to behold with teares sorowe of heart his pacient suffring guiltles passion for them and all Christians Iohn 19.25 Mary Magdalen which word Magdalen signi magnified or exalted Shee was the sister of Martha and Lazarus whome Christ raysed from death being a very sinful woman dwelling in Bethynia it pleased God for the comfort of al sinners to call her so to repentaunce remorce for her former foule wicked life y t when she knew Iesus to sit at meate in one of the Pharises houses called Symon the Leaper she went with a boxe of very costly and sweete oyntment called Spiknard or Nardus in her hande the which boxe after she had broken it and powred the Oyle vpon Christes head as he sat so that it ran downe along vpon his bodye she then fell downe also at his feete behynd him and wept so abundantly for her sinnes that she washed his feete with her teares and did wipe them with the hayres of her head and also kissed them and annoynted them with that sweete oyntment so that the house was filled with the sweete sauour and odour thereof Which her godly facte was verye offensiue both to Iudas his Apostle the dissembling traytour and also to Symon the ignoraunt Pharisie and maister of the feast Insomuch as Iudas hereby tooke occasion to betraye Christe For hauing indignation against it not for y t he cared for the poore because he was a theefe and bare the bag of money that was giuen to the poore he murmured and disdayned in himselfe sayd why was not this oyntment solde for three hundred pence giuen vnto the poore But Iesus to excuse or rather approue and commend Maries fact said vnto him Let her alone why trouble ye her she hath wrought a good worke on me done that she could comming before hand to annoynt my body to y e burying to honour my buryal withal The poore ye haue with you alwayes and when yee wil yee may doe them good but me ye shal not haue alwaies Therfore verily I say vnto you whersoeuer this Ghospel shal be preached thorowe out al the world this fact which she hath done shal be spoken of in her worthy remeÌ„brance perpetual memorial Also when Symon the Pharisie which bad Christ to the feast saw what Mary had done he likewise murmured grudged within himself began to doubt of Christ to iustify himselfe to condemne Mary saying if this man were a Prophet he would surely haue known who what maÌ„ner of womaÌ„ this is which toucheth him for she is a sinner or coÌ„mon harlot but Iesus seeing y e great faith of y e woman knowing his hypocritical thoughts preseÌ„tly put foorth this parable said to him SimoÌ„ I haue soÌ„what to say to thee say on master quoth he There was said Christ a certein creditor had 2. debtors y e one ought him 5. hundred pence the other fifty wheÌ„ they had nought to pay he them both which of them therefore thinkest thou wil loue him most tel me I suppose quoth Simon that he to whoÌ„ he forgaue most will loue him most Thou hast iudged truely said Christ and with that turned him to the woman said to Simon Seest thou this woman I entred into thine house and thou gauest me no water to my feete but shee hath washed my feet with teares and wiped them with the haire of her head Thou gauest mee no kisse but shee since the time that I came in hath not ceassed to kisse my feet My head with oyle thou diddest not anoint but shee hath anointed both my head and feete with oyntmente Wherefore I say vnto thee many sinnes are forgiuen her for she loued much To whom a litle is forgiuen he doth loue a litle And then he turned him to Marie Magdalen and sayde vnto her woman thy sinnes are forgiuen thee and thy fayth hath saued thee
Marie which was a godly woman dwelling in Rome who best owed much hospitalitie and labour vpon S. Paule the Apostles while they were there at Rome to whō therfore S. Paule in his Epistle to y e Romans hath him specially commended by name among the rest saying greete Marie which bestowed much labour on vs c. Ro◠16.6 Of Marie Salome read in Salome Martha signi bitter egging or prouoking She was sister to Marie Magdalen Lazarus and dwelling in Bethynia called y e towne of Marie Martha almost two miles from Ierusalē On a time she inuited Iesus home to her house to dinner being cumbred about much seruing and seeing her sister Marie sit still at Iesus feete to heare his preaching she went to Iesus to cōplayne vnto him said Master doest thou not care y t my sister hath left me to serue alone bid her come helpe me And Iesus perceiuing y t she had smotten the principall which was to heare Gods word answered and sayd vnto her Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled about manye things but verily one thing is needeful Mary hath chosen y e good or best part which shal not be takē away frō her as if he shold say it is not meete y t Mary should haue bin drawn frō so profitable a thing as y e hearing of gods word is wherūto she could not alwaies haue opportunity And whē her brother Lazarus fel sicke in Bethynia she and her sister Marie sent word therof vnto Iesus saying behold he whō thou louest is sick come therfore heale him And whē Iesus who loued Martha Marie her sister Lazarus their brother heard y t he said his sicknes was not vnto death but for y e glory of God therfore staid a while with his Disciples then when he knewe Lazarus was dead he said to his Disciples Our friend Lazarus sleepeth is dead but I goe to wake him vp to raise him to life for your sakes y t ye may beleeue in me So whē Martha heard that Iesus was cōming to Bethynia toward Marthas house whether many of y e Iewes were resorted after y e deth of Lazarus to cōfort Martha her sister Mary for their brother departed Martha went out to meete him but Mary sat stil in y e house And whē Martha met Iesus her faith being almost ouercōe by her afflictiō she said vnto him lord if thou haddest bin here my brother had not bin dead but now I know also y t whatsoeuer thou askest of God he wil giue it thee Thē said Iesus Thy brother shal rise again yea quoth Martha I knowe y t he shal rise againe in the resurrection at the laste day I am sayde Iesus the resurrection and the lyfe he that beleeueth in mee yea though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer lyueth and beleeueth in mee shall not dye Beleeuest thou this Yea Lord quoth Martha I beleeue that thou art Christ the sonn of God which shoulde come into the worlde And when shee had so saide shee went her way and called Marie her sister secretly saying The maister is come and calleth for thee whiche when Marie heard shee arose quickly and came vnto him vnto the place where Martha mette him The Iewes also that aboad behind with Marie in the house to comfort her when they sawe Marie rise vp so hastily went out and followed her thinking shee had gone vnto the graue to weepe and lament there ouer her dead brother But when they perceiued that Marie was come to meete Iesus they aboad with her who there presently so soone as shee sawe Iesus with all reuerence fell down at his feet saying Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not been dead And Iesus seeing her and the Iewes that came with her all weepe and lament the death of Lazarus Hee also as one that presently felt their miserie and as though he suffered the like with great compassion and remorse wept also with them and groned greatly in spirite as one much troubled and disquieted in him selfe and sayde vnto them where haue yee layde him They sayde vnto him Lorde come and see and the Iewes perceiuing him to weepe for Lazarus sayde one to another beholde how he loued him Yea some of them blasphemed and sayde coulde not this man which hath opened the eyes of the blinde haue made also that this man Lazarus his friend should not haue died which their blasphemie so grieued Christ that he againe groned in spirit then comming to the graue of Lazarus he commanded the stone of the graue to be taken away Lord quoth Martha he stinketh already by this time for he hath bin dead foure dayes Saide not I vnto thee quoth Iesus that if thou diddest beleeue thou shouldest see the glory of God Then they tooke away the stone and Iesus through heartie praier raised Lazarus her brother from death who came forth bounde hande and foote and his face couered with a napkin which when Martha had loosed and taken away as Iesus commaunded he was let goe and reuiued so that shee sawe her brother Lazarus restored from death to life to the glory of God her great comforte and the conuersion of many of the Iewes that came and sawe this myracle to the faith of the Iesus whose name be therefore blessed and praysed for euer Amen Matred or Mathred signi a rod striking the sticke of the commaunder comming downe the falling downe of the bed soueraintie worke to wearinesse She was the daughter or Mezahab and the mother of Mehetabell that was wife to Hadad which women as appeareth by their names were of great fauour among the Edomites Gene. 36.39 1. chr 1.50 Mehetabel or Meetable or Meezable sig how good is God The well working God She was the daughter of Matred and wife of Hadad the 7. and last king of the Edomites that reigned before there were any kinges ouer the children of Israel euen vntill the lyne of Dauid who first conquered their countrey Gen. 36.39 1. Chro. 1.50 Merab or Merob sig fighting chyding or multiplying of the people Mastry She was the eldest daughter of king Saule and sister to Michall Dauids wife And when her wicked father coulde not by furie kill Dauid as he often attempted with his owne hand he deuised with himself to promise Dauid to geue him this his eldest daughter Merab to wife if he would goe to warre for him against y e Philistines thinking hereby no more to defile his owne handes vpon Dauid but that the Philistines shoulde kill him by fight of warres and so be made away But ere the time came that Dauid should inioye her Saule her dissembling Father had geuen her to another man to wife named Adriel by whom she conceiued and bare him fiue sonnes whiche were all put to death afterward by Dauid at the request of the Gibionites in reuenge of the iniury that Saul their Grandfather had done vnto them
the right of her pertaine and thou must marry her seeing thou alone art the remnant of her fathers kinred and the maide is faire and wise nowe therefore heare mee and I will speake vnto her father that we may make the mariage when we are returned from Rages for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the lawe of Moses els hee shoulde deserue death because the right of her doth rather appertaine to thee then to any other man Then answered the young man Tobias and saide I vnderstand and haue heard brother Azariah that this maide hath beene giuen to seuen men who died in the marriage chamber and were slaine of the Diuell I am afraide therefore least such thinges shoulde happen vnto mee for if I as thou knowest the only begotten sonne of my father should go into her whoÌ„ I feare the wicked spirits do loue because they hurt no bodie but those which come into her it should come to passe y t I also should die as y e other vii I should I feare me bring my father mothers life because of me to y e graue in sorrow for they haue none other sonne to bury theÌ„ Then said the Angel againe vnto him doest thou not remembtr the precepts that thy father gaue thee when he charged thee of his blessing that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine owne kinred wherfore heare me O my brother for shee shal be thy wife neither bee thou carefull or fearefull of the euill spirite For I will tell thee what they be of whom the Diuell hath power namely they that receiue mariage after suche a fashion that they shut God out of them and from their heartes and giue themselues to their owne lustes euen as it were an Horse and Mule whiche haue no vnderstanding vppon suche hath the the same Diuell Asmodeus power But this same night shall Sarah bee giuen thee in marriage And when thou takest her and art come into the bed chamber withold thy selfe from her three dayes and giue thy diligence to nothing but vnto prayer together with her And in the first night take the heart and liuer of the fishe and lay it vpon hot coles and make a perfume thereof to perfume the chamber and when the Diuell doth smell the same hee shall flee away and neuer come againe any more The seconde night also when thou shalt come to her and goe into thy bed ryse vp both of you and pray to God which is mercifull who will haue pitie on you and saue you and so shall you bee receiued into the companie of the holy Patriarches The third night arise and pray likewise both together that yee may obtaine the blessing of God and haue whole and sounde children begotten and borne of your bodies And after the thirde night feare not but take the maiden in the feare of God for shee is appointed vnto thee from the beginning and abuse her not but vse her body modestly more for the desire of children then for any fleshly lust that in the feede of AbrahaÌ„ thou maiest obtaine the blessing in children And thou shalt keepe her and shee shall goe with thee Moreouer I suppose that shee shall beare thee children Now when young Toby heard these thinges hee loued Sara before that â—uer he sawe her and in his heart he was effectually ioyned to her And when they were come to Raguels house in Ragis it was Saraes chaunce to meet them first who after gentle salutations vsed ech to other brought them into her fathers house where after further acquaintance taken when shee heard that olde Toby was blinde she with her father and mother wept and were very sorowfull for that his affliction And after much good cheere and courteous entertainemente made by her father and mother and her selfe vnto them the Angell brake the matter and cause of their comming first to Raguel and communed with him about the giuing of his daughter to young Toby his cosin And Raguel Saraes father being very willing so to doe tolde him all the doubt and thinges that hee feared woulde discourage the young man saying It is meete that thou shouldest marry my daughter Neuertheles I will declare vnto thee al y e truth I haue giuen my daughter alredy in mariage to seuen men who dyed that same night y t they came into her Therefore I feare least it should chance vnto thee in like maner No quoth the Angel feare not to giue him thy daughter in mariage for vnto this man Tobie which feareth God doth thy daughter Sara belong to wife therefore might many marry her but none other haue or inioy her as appeareth by thy saying in that the seuen men are all dead before they euer lay with her Yea quoth yoÌ„g Toby who for all this was couragious mery constantly set in the loue of Sara I will neither eate nor drinke here this day except thou first graunt me my petition that is doe not only promise mee to giue me thy daughter Sara but also bring her foorth hither and presentlie betroth her to me to be my wife Then Raguel perceiuing this to bee the worke of God who had sent them for the same intent y t his daughter might bee maried in her owne kinred according to the law of Moses doubted not to giue her vnto young Tobie but said vnto him take her then marry her according to the custome for thou art her cosin she is thine and God which is mercifull make this prosperous to you both in al good things So he called his daughter Sara who came vnto him he tooke her by the right hand gaue her into the right hand of Tobie for a wife vnto him blessed theÌ„ saying Behold take her after the law of Moses lead her away to thy father And the God of Abraham the God of Isaak the God of Iacob be with you ioyne you together fulfill his blessing in you And then y t is to say in the yeere of the world 3414. Raguel with his wife Edna made a contract of mariage sealed it to approue both their consents to the marriage of their daughter so after the feast praised God And when night came her mother Edna at her husbands commandement prepared another chaÌ„ber for Sara to lie in who so soone as she was brought thither fel a weping But her mother wyped away her daughters tears comforted her with sweete wordes saying Be of good cheere my daughter the Lord of heauen earth giue thee ioy for this thy sorrow heauinesse y t thou hast suffered be of good comfort my daughter So when she was in the chamber a bed they brought in Tobie her husband also into her who remembring the Angels wordes perfumed the chamber with the liuer of the fish which perfume when the euill spirite had smelled hee fled straight way into the vttermost parts of Egypt for the Angel Raphael had taken hold of
alloes and cynamom Come I saye let vs therefore lye together and take our fill of loue and let vs solace our selues and take our pleasure in daliance for my husbande is not at home hee is gone a iourney farre of and hath taken with him a great bagge of money and will not returne home againe of a long time vntill the day appoynted Thus this impudent harlot with her great subtilty and craft ioyned with sweete woordes and flattering speeches ouercame so the silly young man that she caused him to yeeld and with her dissembling lippes she so entised and bewitched him as it were that he silly foole followed her straight wayes home to her house as an Oxe ledde to the slaughter which thinking he goeth to the pasture willingly goeth to his owne death and destruction And as a natural idiot and foole that laugheth when he goeth to the stockes to be punished and as a byrde y t hasteth to the snare not knowing what danger and perill his life is in Euen so I say went this besotted young man after her so long till shee had wounded his languishing liuer with the dart of her filthy luste brought him home into her house of hell and chamber of death destruction and there placed him as her gheste in the deepe pitte of hel Prou. 7. The description of the great whore or harlot of Babilon By S. Iohn the Euangelist Whore of Babylon I sawe sayeth Saint Iohn a woman sitte vppon a scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemie which had seuen heads and tenne hornes and the woman sate vppon many waters and was arrayed all in purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones pearles had a cup of gold in her hand ful of abhominatioÌ„s filthines of her fornications And in her forehead was this name writteÌ„ A misterie great Babilon the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth And I saw this woman dronken with the blood of Saintes and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus And I heard this strumpet glorifie her selfe and boast gloriously of her prosperitie saying in her heart I sitte and lyue in pleasure being a queene and am no widdow and shall see no mourning Yea I saw the kings of the earth commit fornication with this whore and the inhabitantes of the earth drinke til they were dronken with the wine of her fornication and the marchantes of the earth traffike with her and buye her ware to make them selues rich thereby of the aboundaunce of her pleasures euen her ware of gold and siluer precious stones pearles of fine linnen purple silke scarlette and all manner of Thymwood vessels of Iuory and of pretious wood of brasse yron and marble her wares also of synamom sweete odours oyntmentes frankinsence wyne oyle fine flower and wheate of beastes and sheepe horses and charyots seruants and soules of men And when I sawe her saieth S. Iohu I wondred with great maruell But the Angell of the Lorde after that hee had shewde me the misterie of the woman and of the beast that bare her told mee that this whore or harlot Babilon for her sinnes and abhominations committed which were all ascended and come vp to heauen shall haue a great fall and be sore plagued and tormented in one day all at once euen with death sorrowe and famyne and that shee shoulde bee rewarded double according to her workes and drinke the dreegges of her own cuppe and bee burnt with fire for strong is the Lord which will condempne her yea that they that hate the whore shall with one consente make her desolate and naked and shall eate her fleshe and burne her with fire as God hath put in their heartes to fulfill his will vppon her That the kinges of the earth which liued in pleasure with her also shall bewayle and lament her when they shall see the smoake of her burning And standing a farre off for feare of her torment shall saye Alas alas the great Citie Babylon the mightie Citie howe is thy iudgement come euen in one houre The inhabitants and people of the world also shall runne out of her and crye out mightelye with a loude voice and saye Alas alas it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great citie is fallen and is become the inhabitation of diuels and the holde of all foule spirites and the cage of euery vnclean and hateful byrde Finally y e marchants of her trash which made them selues rich therby for sorrowe and wante of their filthy gaine shall stand a farre off from her for feare of her tormente and erye out and dispayre weeping and wayling and saye Alas alas the greate Citie that was cloathed in fine linnen purple and scarlet and gilded with golde and pretious stone and pearle howe in one houre are so great riches come to desolation And all shipmen and trauaylers by sea shall flye vp to the toppe of their mastes to see her destruction and shall crye out when they see the smoake of her burning and cast dust vppon their heades and saye alas alas what Citie in all the world was like vnto this great Citie wherein all that had shippes on the sea were made rich by her costlynesse howe in one houre is shee made desolate But contrariwyse the Angelles tolde mee that the Saintes and Martyrs whome shee hadde slayne shoulde greatlye reioyce in her destruction and saye O heauen reioyce of her desolation and yee holye Apostles and Prophets tryumph in her ouerthrow for GOD hath giuen your iudgement on her c. And with that the Angell cast a greate myghtye mylstone into the sea saying With suche violence shall that great Citie Babylon bee caste downe so that shee shall bee founde no more Reuela 17. 18. see more 19.1.2.3 I Of the Virgins of Iabes Gilead read in Syloe Ieptahs daughter Ieptahs daughter being a very fayre virgin vnknowne of manne â—he onelye childe and heire of her father went out of her fathers house in Myspheh accompanyed with diuers damoselles to meete her father with Tymbrelles daunces and songes as the manner and custome of women then was after anye great victorie to welcome him home from warre and to praise God for the victory giuen him against the Ammonites but alas to her destruction and her fathers infamy For her father hauing before made a rash vow to God that if hee gat the victory came home in peace he would dedicate offer vp in sacrifice vnto God the thing that first came out of his house to meete him as wickedly performed the same rash vow And so soone as he saw his daughter come out to meete him being nowe ouercome with blinde zeale little considering whether his vowe were lawful or no hee rente his cloathes and sayde alas my daughter thou haste brought mee lowe and arte one of them that trouble mee for I haue opened my mouth and made a vow vnto the Lorde to sacrifice vnto him the first thing that meeteth mee
it more greeuously that their mother had so often mocked him so he caused her youÌ„gest sonne to be most cruelly handled put to death then any of his brethreÌ„ And last of all after her sonnes were this all slayne and martyred She also their mother suffered death martyrdome paciently constantly holily dyed in the same opinion and religion for mainteining of the law of God 2. Mach. 7. Ioseph fol. 202. Machabites There were also before these two other women of the Machabites who because they had circumcised their sonnes according to Gods law contrary to the commandement of this cruell tyrant Antiochus were brought forth with the babes haÌ„ging at their breasts and after they had ledde them rounde about the Citie for example to others they were cruelly â—ast downe headlong ouer the walles with their children sucking at their breasts so both mothers and babes perished and were most butcherly slayne martyred for the lawes of their God 1. Mach. â— 63â—2 Mach. 6.10 N Widowe of Nahim In the Citie of Nahim a Towne of Galilie in the tribe of Isachar hard by Tyberias there was a certayne widowe who hauing but one onely sonne left her to comfort her after the death of her husband it pleased God that it fell sicke and dyed And as she was following the corse out of the gates of the Citie to the buriall so it was that Iesus by Gods prouidence came and met her and when the Lorde saw her mourne and take her sonnes death so heauily as she had great cause he had compassion on her and sayde vnto her Woman weepe not and commaunding them that bare the corse to stand stil hee went and touched y e coffin sayde vnto her dead sonne Young man I say vnto thee arise with y t onely word of Christ her dead sonne sate vpright in y â— coffin and began to speake Then Iesus delâ—uered him to his mother to her great comfort and his euerlasting glory Luke 7.11.12.13 P Pathroitesse In Pathros a Citie of Egypt there were certaine superstitious and Idolatrous women of the Iewes who when they heard the Prophete Ieremy from the mouth of the Lord preach vnto them there reproue theÌ„ for their Idolatry with many threatnings of Gods plagues to light vpon them vnlesse they did turne and repent in time These wicked women standing by set light by the threatninges of the Lorde vttered by his Prophet and most impudently answered Ieremias saying The worde that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lorde we will not heare it of thee But we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offeringes vnto her as we haue done both we and our fathers our kings and our Princes in the citie of Iudah and in the streetes of Ierusalem for then had we plenty of victuals and were wel and felt no euill But since we left of to burn incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her we haue had scarcenes of all things and haue been consumed by the sworde by famine And when we burne incense to the Querne of heauen and powred out drinke offerings vnto her did we make hâ—r cakes to make her glad and powre out drinke offeringes vnto her without our husbandes consent as if they shoulde say no wee did it by their sufferance where we may learne howe great daunger it is for the husbands to permitte their wiues to doe anye thing whereof they bee not assured by Gods woorde for if they doe their wiues thereby will take occasion to iustifie their doinges as these supersticious women here did for which folly wickednesse in the wife the husband shal assuredly giue an account before God who wil not onelie punish the women but their husbands also which haue suffered this superstition and errour in their wiues without reprehension Then the Prophet Ieremy perceiuing these Idolatrous women to esteeme religion by their bellie and so greatly to dishonour God by attributing his woorkes to their Idolles and seeyng their extreeme madnesse and impudencie that they were fallen into by declyning froÌ„ GOD to followe their owne fancies euen to iustifie their idolatry and wickednesse in woorshipping the sunne moone and starres against GOD and his Prophetes The Prophete I say spake againe vnto the women and their husbandes gaue them this aunsweare and sayde Heare the woorde of the Lorde yee women thus saieth the Lorde Forasmuch as yee and your wiues haue committed double euill in making wicked vowes in performing the same spoken with your mouthes and fulfilled them with your handes saying We will performe the vowes that we haue vowed to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to powre out drinke offerings vnto her Therfore beholde I haue sworne saith the Lord by my great name that my name shall bee no more called vppon by the mouth of any man or woman in Iudah in the land of Egypt as to say the Lorde liueth yea beholde I will watche ouer them for euill and not for good and all the men women children of Iuda y t are in Egypt shal be consumed by y e sword famine til they be vtterly destroyed c. Iere. 44. Also Ier. saieth y t in Babylon there were certaine superstitious Idolatrous women and the menstruous women and they that lay in childbed came and brought giftes to the Idols of siluer gold and wood touched the sacrifices offered to Idolles whiche giftes so offered the Priests gaue vnto their wiues to cloath them and their children and to lay vp to vse at their pleasure but vnto the poore and sicke they gaue nothing Baruc. 6.27.28.29.32 Pharaos daughter Pharaos daughter after that her father the king of Egypt had moste cruelly caused the Hebrewe women to cast their men children into the water to be drowned vpon a tyme went downe to washe her selfe in the same Riuer whereinto their children were throwen and as she walked by the Riuer side she espied an Arke or Cradell of wickar lying among the bulrushes and sent one of her maydes that were there with her to fetch it and draw it out of the water and wheÌ„ they brought it vnto her shee opened it and when shee sawe therein a fayre young babe and a man childe and heard it crie and make pitious mone for the mother and sustenance shee had compassion on it and saide surely this is one of the Hebrues children Then the childs sister Miriam standing a farre off to watche what woulde become of the childe seeing it so taken vp by women ran vnto them and not reuealing vnto them whose childe it was saide to Pharaos daughter shal I goe and call vnto thee a nurse of the Hebrewe women to nurse the childe yea quoth Pharaos daughter goe So the mayde went and called Iochebed hers and the childes mother to whom Pharaos daughter sayde Take this childe away