wherat myn enemies reioyce t After due sorow the true penitent hath confidence in God against his enimies Mat. 7. 25. Luc. 13. v VVil most certainly accept of true repentance w These are noâ— imprecations but threatninges that the wicked ma yamend or els predictions if they persist in sinne The octaue signifieth the world to come Hel for some sinners Purgatorie for others in Psal 37. 1. Cor. 3. Dauids prayer in tribulation the 8. key a This Chusi defeated the counsel of Achitophel as S. Aug. S. Basil S. Chris expound it b Absolom â—n anie other enemie if God doe not resist and hinder him c my life d Such euil as myne enemies fayne obiect against me e Let me not haue the victorie of them f Let me dye with ignominie g Shew thy powre h Seing thou diddest command to make me king it behoueth thee to protect me i manie wil serue thee the only true God k For this increase of faithful people l my iust cause against my particular enemies m let fal vpon me 1. Par. 28. Iere. 11. 17. n God doth not punish al sinners presently but often differreth o expecting if they wil anâ—d Isa 59. Iob. 15. p The iniurious persecutor purposing iniustice conceiueth enuie and bringeth forth iniquitie q Enuie desire to hurt others turneth to the ruine of the enuiers Christs Incarnation The 5. key a Belonging to the newe Testament b Suffering of Christ and of Christians c God the lord of al by creation is our singular lord that beleue and trust in him d God more excelent then the heauens he being the creator they a creature e fulfilled wheÌ„ Christ coming into Ierusalem children sang Ozanna Mat. 21. Mat. â—â— f The Sonne in assumpted humaÌ„e nature became lesse then Angels Heb. 2. g But in him mans nature is exalted aboue Angels h Christ the Lord of al creatures i yea of Angels Heb. 2. k Not only al reasonable creatures but al beastes and other thinges obey him The sea and the windes obey him Mat. 8. Gen. 1. v. 27. 1. Cor. â—â— l The same end beginning signifie that as God was meruelous in creating man in so happie state that if he would he might haue auoyded both sinne death so he is meruelous in that he so rewardeth the blessed in the resurrestion that they can neither sinne non dye Presses signify Christs PassioÌ„ Isa 63. Morally iâ— signifieth the trauels of the Church militant vinâ—ciâ— Gods prouidence in protecting the good and permitting euil The 3. key a Christs coming in humilitie and Christians afflictions are hidden from the world in Gods prouidence b geue thankâ— c in mind d and bodie e God repelleth the enemie when man is not able to resist f A iust man doth his endeuour not of him selfe but by Gods grace ouercometh the enemie g Al sinners called gentils because they were generally accounted wicked h The vaine glorious fame of sinners partly decayeth in this world but most especially in the world to come i Iudicial seates of men are ofâ—eâ— corrupted but Gods neuer k God doth not presently deliuer the good from afflictions but when 〈…〉 ir spiritual profitie l His precepts which men ought chiefly to studie m God reuengeth the blood of Martyrs n procured by mine enemies o In the publique view of the Church p The wicked are intangled in the snares which they lay for others q In zele of iustice not in desire of reuenge r By Gentiles is often vnderstood al great sinners For the Iewes despised Gentiles as the Romans did al Barbarous nations Å¿ Suffer a tyrant to rule ouer them that thereby they may lerne what it is to vse others vniustly It semeth to S. Augustine aprophecie that such as receiue not Christ shal beleue Antichrist 2. Thes 2. t The latter Hebrew Doctors v In great per secution it semeth to the weake that God differreth his assistance very long w Extremely vexed tormented x The Prophet answereth to the complaint of the iust that in deede the wicked are caught in their owne snares y not seeke to recouer Gods fauour z The wicked doth dominier for a time and thinketh he shal do so stil a and neuer fal into any aduersitie but stil remaine without miserie or anie euil Rom. 3. b The prayer of the iust in tribulation c ye vilest men d The iust ought alwayes to be readie prepared in hart to suffer patiently al that shal happen vnto them e As the first workes of Christ in al humility and patience were strange and hidden to the world v. 1. so his last iudgement shal be in maiesty and manifest to al in exalting the blessed and suppressing the wicked Some diuide this Psalme into two Sela a note of change or of rest in musike or rather of attention Al the Psalmes â—â—â— iust 150. Epist ad Marcel Anno. 1577. 1552. 1603. Gods prouident care of the iust The 3. key a S. Augustin applieth it to heretikes perswading Catholiques to repare vnto their separate congregation falsly calling it the montayne b Ye my freindes say thus c Persecuters vsing al rigor and force d falsly preteÌ„d other causes against the innocent to destroy them e It is the maner of persecuters and especially of heretikes to destroy and puldowne that others haue built Abac. 2. f Though God seme to winke or sleepe yet his prouidence stil watcheth and obserueth al mens actions g Proueth by tribulations h ContinuaÌ„ce in sinne bringeth damnation to the soule i God sparing for the time at last must needes of iustice punish seuerely The state of the Church in the first and of Christ The 6. key a Christs first b and last comming c wil bring ioy to the elect d Christ calleth his mystical bodie him selfe Act. 9. v. 4. e False and duble dealing hinder from true faith f Insolent arrogant g VVhen sinne most abunded Christ came into this world and in like case wil come to iudge â—reuer'â— 3â— h yet stil there remaine some iust whom God preserueth i God sometimes suffereth the wicked to do what euil they desire Temporal desires hinder the entrance into heauen li. 12. c. â—3 〈…〉 Platonistes error A prayer in tribulation The 7. key a It more perteyneth to the new testament then to the old b Carful and almost perplex cogitatios by reason of long persecution and mans Weaknes c Very often euerie day d fal not into mortal sinne c Patience in tribulation and reward for victory Of Christs Incarnation The 5. key a wicked men drowned in sinne are at last so besotted in their vnderstanding that they thinke in their hart though they dare not vtter it that there is no God that is none that hath diuine prouidence in gouerning the world nor that wil iudge al in the end Psal 52. b defiled withal sortes of sinne c not only the most Wicked but also al mankind were vnable Without a Redemer to do good Rom. 5. d Without faith in Christ none had meritorious workes These three verses being
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of muâ—itians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers â—each that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Λ delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that “ hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not “ stoode in the way of sinners and hath not “ sitte in the chayre of pestilence †But his “ wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night †And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time †And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper †The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth †Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust
Vnderstanding Praise of Canticle Alleluia Gradual Canticle Secondly in the titles of some Psalmes are the names of certaine persons which by S. Augustins iudgement cited in the Proemial Annotations and others proueth not the same persons to be authores of those Psalmes but signifieth some other thing Thirdly in some titles the time is signified when the Psalme was made or song Fourtly the matter conteyned in the Psalme or vpon what occasion it was made is expressed in some titles Fiftly diuers other termes are often vsed in the titles of sundrie Psalmes as To the end For the Octaue For presses and the like al which we shal briefly explicate where they first occurre First therfore this third Psalme is called the Psalme of Dauid not because he is author therof for he is also author of the former where his name is not expressed as is euident by the testimonie of al the Apostles Act. 4. v. 25. but because it treateth particularly and literally of him 1. VVhen he â—â—ed from the face of Absalon Here the time is signified when this Psalme was made to wiâ—e immediatly after the ouerthrow of his rebellious sonne Absalom mentioned 2. Reg. 18. before his returne to lerusalem For al beit of humaine natural and fatherlie affection he greatly lamented the death of his sonne yet he rendered thankes and praises to God as reason and dutie bond him 6. I haue slept and haue benne at rest and haue risen vp King Dauid by his sleeping in persecution and by his resting and deliuerie from his persecuters prefigured Christs Death Burial Resurrection As appeareth Ioan. 2. v. 22. VVhere the Euangelist â—aith that after Christs Resurrection his disciples beleued the scripture to witte this and other like prophecies For otherwise the old Testament doth not so expresly declare such Mysteries as the Gospel doth but one thing in the proper and grammatical signification of he wordes and an other thing in shadowes and figures and hoth literal VVhereupon S. Gregory teacheth li. 20. c. 1. Moral that holie Scripture amongst other incomparable excellences surpasseth al other doctrines in the verie maner of speaking because by one and the same speach it reporteth a thing donne and proclameth a Mysterie so relating thinges past that with the verie same wordes it foresheweth thinges to come PSALME IIII. The holie prophet teacheth by his owne example to flee to God in al tribulation 3. that other refugies are insufficient 9. and Gods helpe most assured Vnto “ the end in songues the Psalme of Dauid WHEN I inuocated the God of my iustice heard me in tribulation thou hast enlarged to me Haue mercie on me and heare my prayer †Ye sonnes of men how long are you of heauie hart why loue you vanitie and seeke lying †And know ye that our Lord hath made his holie one meruelous our Lord wil heare me when I shal crie to him †Be ye angrie and sinne not the thinges that you say in your hartes in your chambers be ye sorie for †Sacrifice ye the “ sacrifice of iustice and hope in our Lord. Manie say Who sheweth vs good thinges †The light of thy countenance ô Lord is signed vpon vs thou hast geuen gladnesse in my hart †By the fruite of their corne and wine and oile they are multiplied †In peace in the selfe same I wil sleepe and rest †Because thou Lord hast singularly setled me in hope ANNOTATIONS PSALME IIII. 1. Vnto the end The Hebrew word Lamnatsea signifieth to him that â—uercometh And so the Hebrewes interprete that the Psalmes which haue this word in their titles were directed either to him that excelled others in skil of musike or had authoritie ouer other musitians or to him whose office was to sing victories and triumphes But the Latin according to the Greeke hath In finem Vnto the end which most commonly signifying perpetuitie or continuance vnto the end of anie thing in the titles of the Psalmes rather signifieth that the matter conteyned in the Psalme perteineth to future times or persons especially to the new Testament And so S. Augustin expouÌ„deth it here of Christ who is the end or perfection of the lavv Not that the principal contentes belong to Christ in his owne Person but to his mystical bodie the Church and faithful people whom the Prophete here teacheth to haue confidence in God moderation in their affections patience in tribulation which is the seuenth key proposing his owne example prophetically Christs The same wherto Christ exhorteth saying Ioan. 16. v. vlt. Haue considence I haue ouercome the vvorld Signifying that his seruantes through his grace may also ouercome it 6. Sacrifice of Iustice Not only external Sacrifice of diuers kindes were necessarie in the law of nature and of Moyses and one most excellent and complement of al in the new Testament but also spiritual sacrifice was euer and is required and that of three sortes First Sacrifice of sorow and contrition for sinnes Psal 50. An afflicted spirite is a sacrifice to God The second is sacrifice of Iustice here mentioned The third is Sacrifice of praise Psal 49. Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise Concerning the second proposed in this place He offereth sacrifice of Iustice that rendereth to euery one that is due First to God as our Creator a resignation of our selues euen our liues at his diuine pleasure as to our Master we must render faith and beleefe in al that he proposeth as to our Father hope confidence reuerential seare as to our Lord and King payment of tribute that is obseruation of his law and commandments as to our Captaine the trauel of warfare in this life as to our Phisitian patience and toleration when he cureth our woundes by chasticement for sinnes as to our Spouse chastity of body and mind fleeing al carnal and spiritual fornication as to our Freind frequent conuersation in al actes of deuotion VVe owe to our selues that seing we consist of soule and bodie we keepe due subordination that the soule and reason command the bodie and inferiour appetite obey as the seruant must obey his master and the handmaide her mistris VVe owe to our neighbour loue from the hart inctruction also from the mouth and assistance by our helpe according to his necessitie and our abilitie yea though our neighbour be our enemie But to other enimies contrary thinges are due To the world contempt because the goodes of this world are smal few shorte vncertaine deceiptful not satisfying the mind and mixed with manie euils and dangers To the flesh we owe chasticement and daylie care so to seede it that it serue the soule rebel not To the diuel we must render the shame that cometh by sinne acknowledging our faults
things indifferent bind in conscience Temporal punishment due after sinne is remitted Death due to al for Original sinne Yea to infants who haue no other sinne Also other penalties insticted vpon infants Math. 9 Luc. 10. S. Epiph. in compeÌ„ fâ—dei Cat. S. Aug. epist 80. Caluin l. 3. inst c. 4 parag 31. 32. Rom. 5. lib. 13. de ciuit c 6. lib. 2. de pec mer. remis c. 34. Gen. 17. Ioan. 3. S. Greg. li. 4. Moral c. 2. The second part Of the fal of man and propagation of man and of sinne :: SerpeÌ„ts most craftie to escape harme when they hurt men so is the diuel 2. Cor. 11. 3. Eccl. 25. 1. Tim. 2 14. :: After sinne they were ashamed not before S. Chris :: Al this curse perteineth to the diuel that spake in the serpeÌ„t S Aug l. 2. de Gen. ad lit cap. 36. S. Beda in hunc locum :: Earthlie or worldlie and carnal men S. Greg. in Psal 101. :: Though good men resist tentations at the first assaults and so bruise the serpeÌ„ts head yet he â—â—â—â—oâ—eth stil to deceiue especially in the end of mans life signified by the â—eele S Gre. in cap. 1. Iob. 1. Cor. 14. :: Al men trauel one way or other such as suffer wides to ouergrowe in their souls shal after this life either sustaine the fyre of Purgatorie or eternal paine S. Aug. li 2. c. 20 de Gen. coÌ„ Man :: She was mother rather of al the dying but in figure of our B. Lady who is mother of Christ life it selfe she is called mother of the liuing S. Epiph. her 78. Sinne entred among men by the enuie craft of the diuel man coÌ„senting to his suggestions Eue first sined in thought then in words last in deedes Cap. 2. 24. Ioan. 8 44. S. Aug. lib. 14. deciuit c. 11. Rupert li. de Trinit operibus eius c. 4. Bad sequels of sinne Lib. de vera Religione c. 14. Lib. 1. Retract c. 13. No sinne can be without freewil ConcupisceÌ„ce no sinne but the effect and occasion of sinne Also occasion of merite S Aug. lib. 1. de nupt con c. 23. Gal. 5. 2 Tim. 2. The Latin text defended against Kemnisius and other Protestants See Card. Bellarmin li. 2. c. 12. de verbo Dei Both readings veld the same sense As Adam was the cause and â—â—e an occasion of mans captiuitie so Christ is the true cause and his mother an occasion of our restauration * S â—â—eneus li 3. c. 33. lib. 5. circa med S. Epiph Haer. 78. S. Ieron ep 22. ad Eustoch S. Aug. or S. Fulgent ser 18 de Sanctis de fide Symb. de Agone Christiano Ser. 2. super Missus est Our B. Ladie resisted al euil suggestions Iob 42. Esai 58. Ierem. 6. Ionae 3. Mat. 11. The ceremonie of ashes on Ashwenesday Gods prouidence concurreth with mans free wil. de grat liber arb c. 6. de corrept grat ad art falso impos Paradise defended by Angels and by fire sworde God destroyeth not nature Good Angels hinder diuels of their desires S. Aug. lib. 11. de Gen ad lit c. 40. :: A figure of the Lambe that was slaine from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13 v. 8. Heb. 11. Sap. 10. â— 10. 3. :: VVilful murther is one of the sinnes that crie to God for reuenge :: By the increase of AbrahaÌ„s seede by the line onlie of Isaac and Iacob besides the issues of Ismael and Esau in litle more then 400. yeares to aboue six hundreth thousand men able to beare armes Num. 1. it appeareth that Caines progenie in as manie yeates might suffice to people a citie yea a whole countrie S. Aug. l. 15 ciuit c. 8. :: This Lamech of Cains issue is the first that is noted in Scripture to haue taken two wiues External Sacrifice due to God in euerie Law Lib 10. de ciuit â— 5. Leuit. 1 Dan 12. Mal. 1. Luc. 22. Sacrifice due to God onlie and to no creature Lib. 10. ciuit cap. 4. Aristot li. 2 Meta his â—tl iâ— 9. Polit. 7. c. 8. To. 3. q. 4. Quaest. Hebraie Lib 15. ciuit c. 7. Mala. 1. Hebr. 11. Leuit. 9. Iudic. 6. 2. Par. 7. 3. Reg 18. 2. Mac 1 Abels Sacrifice declared acceptable not Cains by some external signe Reward and punishment according to our workes Mat. 16. Rom. 2. Freewil in maÌ„ also after his falle Heretical traÌ„slation Bible 1579. â—b 15. c. 7. ciuit Quaest Hebraic in Gen. The Hebrew also Greeke text proue freewil in Cain Freewil testified by antiquitie vniuersalitie and consent of lerned reasonable persons Luther abhor red the name of freewil S. Augustin li. de vâ—ra Rel. ca. 14. lib. de seruo arbitrio Caluin also misliketh the word freewil lib. 2. c. 2. par 8. lib. 2. aduers Iouinian VVhere is necessitie there is nether reward not punishment due 1. Ioan. 2. Tract de Zelo liuore Going forth of the Church a marke of Heretikes 1. Ioan. 3. lib. de Pastore c. 8. c. 20. Scripture hard Tom. 3. ad 1. quaest Damasâ— A probable sense according to the Hebrewes Tradition S. Chris ho. 20. in Gen. Lib. 1. Antiq. ca. 2. Origen in Gen. Luc. 3. Mystical sense Suidas vocabulo Seth. Ioseph l. 1. Antâ— S. Aug. epist 99. ad Euod Publike prayer besides Sacrifice in the Church of God Sap. 2 24. Eccli 17 1. :: This Hebrew phrase vvalked vvith God signifieth that he liued wel pleased God :: The seuentie two Interpreters say God translated him And so doth S. Paul Heb. 11. :: This is the longest life of al here recited But if we consider that Adam was as strong of bodie the first day he was ere ated as these others were at the age of 60. yeares before which none are said no haue begot children and so subsract 60. yeares from Mathusala then Adam liued in mans state longer then he by 21. yeares a The second prophecie before Male on Easter Eue. S. Aug. li. 15. ciuit c. 20. The coÌ„tinual succession of Gods Church and interruption of other communities How maÌ„ died the day that he sinned 2. R. 14. ho. 37. in Euangel Psal 89. S. Ireneus li. 5. aduer Heret Cicero li. de Senec. q 1. Tuscul Al time is short in respect of eternitie Enoch Elias yet liuing in bodie li. 20. ciuit c 29. lib. 2. de gratia Christi c. 23. tract 4. in IoaÌ„ Manifest Scripture that Elias yet liueth and shal be slaine an other with him Likewise that Enoch did not see death Malac. 4 Apo. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eccli 44 Heb. 11. These Scriptures speake of temporal not of spiritual death ho. 21. in Gen. lib. 1. de pec mer. c. 2. 3. l. 9. de GeÌ„ ad lit c. 6. S. Tho. in c. 11. ad Hebreos The Fathers proue by the scriptures that Enoch is not dead Causes why Enoch Elias are reserued aliue
the ministerie of Priests The ancient fathers proue that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread wine in figure of Christ and of other Priests of the new Testament Caluin coÌ„temneth al the ancient fathers in ca. 9. Heb. Bible 1579. Heretical translation Heb. 7 Iosue 8. 22. 3 Reg. 8. The greatter blesseth the lesse Paying of tithes in the law of nature Ro. 4. Gal. 3. Iac. 2. :: These three kindes of beastes and two of birdes signifie that the Israelites should be three generations in a strange land the fourth in the desert the fifth in possession of Chanaan Theod. q. 65. in Gen. Act. 17. :: Abraham and his seed werein strange land 400 and odde yeares but in seruitude and affliction about 140. Exo. 12. :: God deferreth to punish either that the wicked may amend or the good be exercised by them S Aug. Psal 54. or because the iniquity is not come to that great measure which his wisdome forâ—eeth and wil punish in the end to his owne more glorie and more good of others S. Greg. ho. 11. in 3. Ezech. To beleue Gods word without staggering is an act of iustice Not workes before faith but ioyned with faith are meritorious Onlie faith doth not iustifie :: Some obey whilest they are rude or in low state but hauiÌ„g got a litle knowlege or aduancement disdaine their aduancers S. Gregorie li. 21. in 1. Reg. 3. Manichees condemned pluralitie of wiues in the Patriarches Luther alloweth it in Christians Other Protestants in some case S. Aug. li. 22. c. 47. cont Faust Luther propsit 62. 65. et 66. S. Aug. de bono coniugali ca. 17. Two sortes of preceptsin the law of nature Pluralitie of wiues sometimes allowed Deut. 21. By the law of Christ in no case lawful Math. 19. Gen. 2. :: He is perfect in this life that sincerly diligently tendeth towards perfection of the next life And this God here commanded to Abraham Christ to al Christians Math. 5. S. Aug. li. de perfect cont Caelest See Gen. 6. v. 9 :: Circumcision and name receiued the eight day signified the association of Saints in heauen after the seuen dayes trauel of this world Ser. de circum apud S. Cyprian :: Abraham laughed not doubting but reioycing S. Ambro. li. de Abraham c. 4. S. Aug. li. 16 c. 26. de ciuit :: Temporal blessings were common to Ismael but spiritual pertained properly to Isaac and Israel their successessors :: Conformitie in Religion conserueth peace in euery familie Tho. Anglus in hunc locum Changing of names is mystical S. Aug. li. 16 c. 28 39. ciuit S. Hierom Tradit Hebraicis Gal. 4. Isa 54. Abraham natural father of foure nations spiritual father of al that do beleue in Christ Rom. 4 11. The Church of Christ euer consisteth of many nations Circumcision a figure of Baptisme Baptisme excelleth Circumcision Two difficulties To whom the punishment pertained wheÌ„ circumcision was omitted what punishment was threatned Circumcision instituted to distinguish the people of God and for remedie of original sinne in some persons but not in al. :: Abraham saw three and adored one professing three diuine persons and one God S. Aug. li. 16. c. 29. ciuit Heb. 13. Rom. 9. :: Abraham laughing with admiration for ioy was not reprehended but Sara laughing of diffidence was reprehended by him that seeth the hart S. Aug. q. 36. in Gen. li. 16. c. 31 ciuit :: what a wall are iust men to their countrie their faith saueth vs their iustice defendeth vs from destruction S. Amb. li. 1. de Abraham c. 6. :: Abraham Lot by hospitalitie metâ—ted to receiue Angels in steed of meÌ„ Heb. 1â— :: This sinne crieth to heauen for reuenge a litle one :: Lots wife turned into salt admonisheth the seruants of God to procede in vertue not to looke back to vice Luc. 17. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 30. ciuit :: Lot neither perfect nor very wicked was deliuered for Abrahams â—â—â—e S. Aug. â— 45 in Gen. :: Moabites Ammonites were two distinct nations perhaps of the 72. See p. 43. :: See pag. 52. :: Not his fathers owne daughter but of his progenie S. Aug. li. 22. cont Faust c. 35. li. 16. c. 19. 30. de ciuit :: Kinges of the earth esteming the Church only for a laudable people of God seeke to subiect her to them selues but knowing her to be the inuiolable spouse of Christ subiect them selues to her and offer to her most honorable giftes S. Aug. il 22. cont Faust c. 38. The sixt part of this booke Of the progenie other blessings of Abraham Isaac and Iacob :: Abraham Sara laughed he admiring she doubting at the ioyful promise of a sonne therfore he is called Isaac which signifieth laughter S. Aug li. 16. c. 31. ciuit :: See chap. 17. v. 21. Rom. 9. Heb. 11. * vvel of oath Separation to be made in families when iust cause requireth Mystical sense li. 15. c. 2. ciuit The true Church doth not persecute but iustly punisheth offenders Heretikes and other infidels do persecute when either by word or sword they impugne the truth Epist 48. 50. Tract 11. in Ioan. Tract 〈◊〉 in 4. Gal. The third prophecie in the office before Masse on Easter eue And the first on whitsuneue Iudith 8. Heb. 112. :: This historie is clere and a most notorious example of perfect obedience :: It is a gratful and religious thing by naming of places to coÌ„serue the memorie of Gods benefites that posteritie may know them S. Chrisost ho. 48. in Gen. :: Nachors progenie is here mentioned to shew whence Rebecca came whom Isaac maried God tempteth not to euil but by experience maketh knowen what vertue is in men Isaac figured Chists diuinitie the RaÌ„me his humanitie Iac. 1. 13. Heb. 11 19. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 32. ciuit Theod. q. 72. in Gen. :: A cleare example of religious office in burying the dead See 2. Reg. 1. and 2. Paral. 35. :: Adoration vsed for reuerence done to men See also c. 27. v. 29. c 33. v 37 and S. Aug. q. 6â— in Gen. :: In choosing a wife a vertuous stock and familie especially true faith and religion are before al other things to be considered preferred S. Amb. li. 1. c. 9. de Abrah S. Chrisost ho. 48. in Gen. :: Her father hauing perhaps manie wiues and euerie one a seueral house she went to her mother house :: As children ought not to mary without their parents good liking so the parties owne consent is most necessarie S. Amb. Epist 43. :: Suach signifieth to speake consideratly with hart or mouth Here S. Ambrose li. 1. c. 1. de Isaac and S. Aug. q. 69. in Gen vnderstand it of mental prayeâ— Ominous speaches sometimes supersticious Some times lawful Holie scripture and the Church are iudges of doubtful obseruations Ioan. 14. Eliezers prayer for a particular signe was lawful deuout and discrete Iudic. 7. 1. Reg. 14 Act. 1.
Gods commandments â—os â— f To him that vseth Gods grace wel more grace is continually geuen â—â—â—e 17. g Through such grace he shal perseuer h al thinges worke to the good of them that loue God sincerely i The wicked are carried with euery light tentation k Al rysing at the last day the wicked shal not rise with hope nor comforth but in desolation l the happie congregation of the blessed m approueth rewardeth n in eternal damnation They are happie in hope that decline from euil Iustice consisteth in fleing euil and doing good Of Christ the 5. key Also of his Church the 6. key a Both geÌ„tiles b and Iewes striue invaine against Christ Act. 4. c Pilate and Herod d Annas and Caiphas e The voice of wicked men f especially libertines striuing to shake of al discipline g God for al this wil turne the haries of manie h seuerly reprehend i and iustly punish the obstinate k Christ shal reigne in his kingdome the Church l God the Father speaketh to m God the Sonne Act. 13. Heb. 1. 5. n Christ as man hath the Church for his inheritance o Spred through the whole world p Gods inâ—â—exwiâ— powre Apoc. 2. 19. q A prophecie that kinges shal be conuerted and submit themselues to Christs discipline r None is secure before death Å¿ Some fal from the way of saluation t God wil iudge iustly in the end of this short life both the euil and good So this Psalme concludeth with the ninth key Persecution cannot hinder the glorie of Christ The Church neuer faileth in hâ—ne Psal Custome in sinne more hardly cured Kinges conuerted to Christianitie Defend Catholiques and punish heretikes Apostataes fauoure heretikes and schismatikes because they hate al Christians Ad Petil li. 2. c. 92. Ad Gaud li. 2. c. 26. Ioy and feare Dauid persecuted by his sonne The 8. key a O God let me know how greuiously I haue sinned b that al Israel 1. Reg. 15. v. 13. with al their hart foloweth Absolom So against Christ the Priestes the People Gentiles al conspired Ioan â—â— c my life d he can not escape e But I auouch that God alwaies defendeth me f geuing me victorie g coÌ„firming my kingdom h heauen i I lay downe k and rested in expectation of thy helpe l And am deliuered Christ dyed was buried rose againe m I know thou wilt help me and so I besech thee to do n The streÌ„gth and furie o health and saftie coÌ„meth from God p Abundance of grace promised to Gods seruantes Titles of the Psalmes added by â—â—â—â—as and the Septuagint â—iue thinges to be noted â—â— the titles Psal 4. 6. 8. 15. 16. c. VVhy this is called the Psalme of Dauid The time and occasion of making this Psalme King Dauid prefigured Christ The same Scripture hath diuers literal senses Confidence in God necessary The 7. key a In an instrument apt for verses b This Psalme perteyneth to the beloued signified by the word Dauid S. Aug. li. 17. c. 14. ciuit S. Beda in Psal c VVhen Saul vniustly persecuted iust Dauid God heard his prayers d being straictly beseeged 1. Reg. 23. 26. e Likewise helpe me when soeuer I shal nede f Why do you stil harden your hartes g honour and transitorie glorie h false and deceiptful riches Ephos 4. i Euery godly soule k Rich with vertues l Euerie iust soule hath confidence in God that he wil heare his crie m Iust anger is good necessarie agaiÌ„st sinne n but then is most nede to beware not to excede in passion haue therfore a continual purpose neuer to sinne o Euil cogitations p bewaile repent before you sleepe q Not only external but most especially internal sacrifice of iustice and obseruation of Gods commandments is most necessarie r The solide rewardes promised by God Å¿ reason and grace are freely geuen to man wherby he may know that God wil reward the iust Heb. II. v. 6. t VVherin a iust man inwardly reioyceth v For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament w For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament x For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament y In this confideÌ„ce the iust may rest contented z God so promiseth euerie iust person in particular The signification of this phrase To the end in tâ— etitles of Psalmes 1. Par. 15. Rom. 10. Three spiritual sacrifices necessarie Of penance Iustice Praise VVhat is due to God To our selues To our neighbour To our enemies The world The flesh The diuel To sinne Light of reason sheweth there is a God that rewardeth The general iudgement The 9. key a The faithful iust soule that ouer coÌ„meth her enimies by vertue b eternal glorie c The praier of the whole Church or of anie faithful euer beloued soule d Gods helpe is presently granted of his part though it be sometimes differred for the more good of his seruantes e Before al other affayres we must pray to God S. Ciprian in fine orat Dominicae f The wicked and wickednes haue noe conuersation with God g in the day of iudgement h by final sentence of eternal daÌ„nation i Not in mans powre but in Gods mercie must the iust man trust k In the Church of God l with reuerential feare as in Gods presence m No true nor solide goodnes in the wicked n They thinke nothing but vanitie and mischiefe o yelding lothsome stinâ—h bitternes and rancor p yet they flatter with feaned good wordes Psal 13. Rom. 3. q Albeit the iust desire the conuersion of the wicked yet if they wil not repeÌ„t then the iust conforme their desires to Gods iust iudgement which shal be manifested in the end of the world r The iust shal receiue sentence of eternal glorie God is not author nor cause of sinne A pathetical praier of a sinner the first penitential Pâ—alme the 7. key a This Psalme perteyneth also to penitentes in the new testament b condemneme not eternally c Spare me also for part of the temporal paine which I deserue Psal 37. d Geue me the medicine of grace e My sorow hath inwardly pearced me euen to the bones f with feare of thyiust wrath g leauest thou me in this calamitie h Shew againe thy fauorable contenance i from this fearful affliction k Though my sinnes haue deserued the contrary yet shew thy mercy l This life is the time of repentance after death no cenuersion m In hel nothing but blasphemie n I haue in part lameÌ„ted o I wil adde more sorow penance p I wil persist in my penance til I be throughly watered with thy grace q myn eyes are dimme with weeping for feare of thy iust iudgement r my heares are gray with sorrow Å¿
a ribbe of his side to be his mate and vnseparable companion as man and wife ioyned in Mariage with Gods blessing for increase and multiplication As appeareth in the two first chapters of this booke But God hauing made man right he intangled him selfe â—â— holie Scripture speaketh with infinite questions For the diuel enuying mans felicitie inâ—â—gled our mother Eâ—e with questions and lies and then by her first seduced and deceiued allured also Adam to the transgression of Gods commandment And so they lost original iustice which Adam had receiued for him selfe and al mankind and al proceeding from them by natural propagation are borne the children of wrath in original sinne contracted from Adam slaues of the diuel not only subiect to temporal death but also are excluded for euer from heauenly blisse and glorie except by Christs redemption particularly applied they be restored to grace iustice in this life And touching Adam and Eue whose sinne was not original but actual directly committed by them selues Gods mercie so reclamed them by new grace that they despared not as Cain and some orhers did afterwards but with hope of remission were sorie and penitent and accordingly receiued penance and redemption For God brought Adam from his sinne as holie writte testifieth and the same is collected of Eue God shewing the like signes of his prouident mercie towards them both of which we shal by and by note some for example Now let vs see the more principal points of faith and Religion professed and obserued by the Church of God before Noes floud First they beleeued in one Eternal and Omnipotent God who made the whole world and al things therin of nothing which is easely confessed of al that are not plaine Atheists and may be proued against them by reason And therfore Adam and other Patriarches could not erre in this Article nor others be ignorant therof except they were very wicked The Mysterie also of the Blessed Trinitie three Diuine Persons in one God though farre aboue the reach of mans reason yet was beleued more expresly by somâ— more implied by others and conserued from age to age by tradition at least amongst the chiefe heades and leaders wherupon Moyses afterwardes insinuated the same great Mysterie by diuers wordes and phraseâ— writing of God and his workes The two wordes God created if they be rightly considered importe so much For the word Elohim God in the plural number signifyeth pluralitie of Persons for manie Gods it can not signifie seeing there is but one God and the verbe bara created in the singular number signifyeth one God in nature and substance albeit three Persons For whatsoeuer God doth in creatures is the worke of the whole Trinitie though holie Scriptures do oftentimes appropriate some worke to one Diuine Person some to another which also proueth distinction of Persons in God So the wordes God created heauen and earth signifie the Father to whom powre is attributed In the beginning signifie the Sonne to whom wisdome is appropriated and the words The Sprite of God moued ouer the waters signifie the Holie Ghost by whose bountiful goodnes the waters were made fruictful Likewise Gods owne wordes Let vs make man signifie the pluralitie of Persons and Image and likenes in the singular number signifie one God Men also knew by faith manie things perteyning to them selues As that the bodie was made of the slime of the earth the soule not produced of anie thing formerly existing but created immediatly of nothing and naturally immortal that the soule of Adam was indued with grace and iustice that he fel from that happie state by yelding to tentation and breaking Gods commandment of abstinence that for the same sinne Adam and Eue were cast forth of Paradise and al mankind subiect to death and other calamities For remedie against sinne restauration to grace they beleeued in Christ promised to be borne of the womans seede who by his death should conquer the wicked serpent deliuer man from captiuitie and restore him to spiritual life And this is the cause of the perpetual enmitie betwen the woman especially the most blessed Virgin Mother of whom Christ tooke flesh and the serpent and betwen her seede the spiritual children of Christ and the serpents seede the whole companie of the wicked Of this battle and conquest Targhum Hierosolimitanum thus speaketh There shal be remedie and health to the children of wemen but to thee o serpent there shal be no medicine yea they shal tread thee vnder their feete in the latter dayes by the powre of Christ their King Likewise Gods familiar conuersation with diuers men in mans shape Gen. 2. 3. 4. 6. and 7. was a signe of Christs incarnation And The Sacrifices immolated did prefigurate his death in respect wherof it is said in the Apocalips The Lambâ— was slaine from the beginniing of the world But more expresly S. Paul testifieth that Abel Enoch and Noe beleeued in Christ naming them for example of the first age and others of other times and in the end concludeth that manie more being approued by the same faith receiued not the promise to wit in their life time God prouiding that they without others of the new Law should not be consummate that is not admitted into heauenlie ioyes fruition of God vntil the way of eternal glorie were opened by our Lords Passion and Asâ—ension Neither did the true seruants of God in those first dayes only beleeue in hart but they also professed their saith Religion by external Rites namely in offering of Sacrifice the most special homage seruice to God which is clerly testified cha 4. as wel bloudie in figure of Christs Passion as vnbloudie in figure of the holie Eucharist Also the accepting of the one rightly offered by Abel reiecting the other not donne sincerly by Cair was declared by external signes which Cain disdayning and enuying his brothers good worke knowing his owne to be naught of mere malice killed his brother Besides Sacrifice they had also other Rites in publique Assemblies praying and inuocating the name of our Lord in more solemne maner from Enos time and so forvvard according to that is recorded of him in the end of the fourth chapter for douteles Adam Abel and Seth did also pray and call vpon God and therfore it was some addition or increase of solemnitie in the seruice of God which is referred to Enos They had moreouer other ceremonies of the seuenth day particularly blessed and sanctified by God kept holie by Adam and other Patriarches as Abben Ezra witnesseth in his commentaries vpon the tenne commandements Of abstayning from meates for it semeth the more godlie sorte did eate no flesh before the floud which was after permitted Obseruation of cleane and vncleane beastes for Sacrifice Of peculiar places dedicated to religious vses where people mette together to pray Likwise diuers
beastes of the earth and be there none to driue them away †Our Lord strike thee with the boile of Aegypt and the part of thy bodie by the which dung is cast out with scabbe also and itche so that thou canst not be cured †Our Lord strike thee with madnes blindnes and furie of minde †and grope thou at midday as the blinde is wont to grope in the darke and direct not thy wayes And at al times susteyne thou wrong and be thou oppressed with violence neither haue thou any to deliuer thee †Take thou a wife and an other sleepe with her Build thou a house and dwel not therin Plant thou a vineyard and take not the vintage thereof †Be thy oxe immolated beforte thee and thou not eate therof Be thy asse taken away in thy sight and not restored to thee Be thy sheepe geuen to thyne enemies and be there none to helpe thee †Be thy sonnes and thy daughters deliuered to an other people thyne eies seing and daseling at the sight of them al the day and be there no strength in thy hand †The fruites of thy land and al thy laboures let a people eate which thou knowest not and be thou alwaies susteyning calumnie and oppressed al dayes †and astonished at the terrour of those thinges which thyne eies shal see †Our Lord strike thee with a verie sore botche in the knees and shankes and be thou vncurable from the sole of the foote vnto the toppe of thy head †Our Lord shal bring thee and thy King whom thou shalt appoint ouer thee vnto a nation which thou and thy fathers know not and there thou shalt serue strange goddes wood and stone †And thou shalt be destroyed for a prouerbe and fable to al peoples vnto whom our Lord shal bring thee in †Thou shalt cast much seede into the ground and gather litle because the locustes shal deuoure al thinges †Thou shalt plant a vineyard and digge and the wine thou shalt not drinke nor gather any thing therof because it shal be wasted with wormes †Thou shalt haue oliues in al thy borders and shalt not be anointed with the oyle because they shal droppe away perish †Thou shalt begette sonnes and daughters and shalt not enioy them because they shal be ledde into captiuitie †Al thy trees and the fruites of thy ground the blasting shal consume †The stranger that liueth with thee in the Land shal ascend ouer thee and shal be higher and thou shalt descend downeward and be inferior †He shal lend thee and thou shalt not lend him He shal be as the head and thou shalt be the tayle †And al these curses shal come vpon thee and pursewing shal ouertake thee til thou perish because thou heard not the voice of our Lord thy God nor kept his commandmentes and ceremonies which he commanded thee †And they shal be in thee as signes and wonders and in thy seede for euer †because thou didst not serue our Lord thy God in ioy and gladnes of hart for the abundance of al thinges †Thou shalt serue thine enemie whom our Lord wil send vpon thee in hunger and thirst and nakednes and al penurie and he shal put an yron yoke vpon thy necke til he consume thee †Our Lord wil bring vpon thee a Nation from a farre and from the vttermost endes of the earth in likenes of an eagle that flieth with vehemencie whose tongue thou canst not vnderstand †a verie malapert Nation that wil attribute nothing to the ancient nor haue pitie on the litle one †and wil deuoure the fruite of thy cattel and the fruites of thy Land vntil thou perish and wil not leaue thee wheate wine and oile heardes of oxen and flockes of sheepe vntil it destroy thee †and consume thee in al thy cities and thy strong and highe walles be destroyed wherin that hadst confidence in al thy Land Thou shalt be besieged within thy gates in al thy Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee †and thou shalt cate the fruite of thy wombe and the flesh of thy sonnes and of thy daughters which our Lord thy God shal geue thee in the distresse and vastation wherwith thyne enemie shal oppresse thee †The man that is delicate in thee and very riotious shal much enuie his owne brother and his wife that lieth in his bosome †so that he shal not geue them of the flesh of his children which he wil eate because he hath nothing els in the siege and penurie wherwith thine enemies shal waste thee within al thy gates †The tender and delicate woman that could not goe vpon the ground nor sette downe her foote for ouer much nicenes and tendernes wil enuie her husband that lyeth in her bosome vpon the flesh of her sonne and daughter †and the filthines of the after birthes that come forth from the middes of her thighes and vpon the children that are borne the same howre for they shal eate them secretely because of the penurie of al thinges in the siege and vastation wherwith thine enemie shal oppresse thee within thy gates †Vnlesse thou keepe and doe al the wordes of this law that be written in this volume and feare his name glorious and terrible that is Our Lord thy God †our Lord shal increase thy plagues and the plagues of thy seede greate plagues and continuing sore infirmities and perpetual †and he shal turne vpon thee al the afflictions of Aegypt which thou didst feare and they shal cleaue to thee †Moreouer also al the diseases and plagues that be not written in the volume of this law our Lord wil bring vpon thee til he consume thee †and you shal remaine few in number which before was as the starres of heauen for multitude because thou heardst not the voice of our Lord thy God †And as before our Lord reioyced vpon you doing good to you and multiplying you so he shal reioyse destroying and subuerting you so that you may be taken away from the Land which thou shalt enter to possesse †Our Lord shal disperse thee into al peoples from the farthest partes of the earth to the endes therof and there thou shalt serue strange goddes which thou art ignorant of and thy fathers woode and stone †In those nations also thou shalt not be quiet neither shal there be resting for the steppe of thy foote For our Lord wil geue thee a feareful hart and daseling eies and a soule consumed with pensifenes †and thy life shal be as it were hanging before thee Thou shalt feare night and day and thou shalt not trust in thy life †In the morning thou shalt say Who wil graunt me euening and at euening Who wil grant me morning for the fearefulnes of thy hart wherwith thou shalt be terrified and for those thinges which thou shalt see with thine eies †Our Lord shal bring thee againe
cubites of length according to the measure of the bredth of the temple and it had ten cubites of bredth before the face of the temple †And he made in the temple oblique windowes †And he built vpon the wal of the temple loftes round about †in the walles of the house round about the temple and the oracle and he made sides round about †The loft that was vnderneth had fiue cubites of bredth the middle loft was of six cubites in bredth and the third loft had seuen cubites of bredth And he put beames in the house round about on the outside that they might not cleaue to the walles of the temple †And the house when it was built was built of stones hewed and perfected and hammer and hachet and al the toâ—lâ— of yâ—â—â—â— were not heard in the house when it was built †The dootâ— of the middle side was in the wal of the house on the râ—â—hâ— hand and by wynding staires they went vp into the middle row me and from the middle into the third †And he built the house and finished it he couered also the house with seelings of cedre trees †And he built a loft ouer al the house fiue cubites of height and he couered the house with cedre timber †And the word of our Lord came to Salomon saying †This house which thou buildest if thou wilt walke in my preceptes and doe my iudgementes and keepe al my commandementes going in them I wil establish my word to thee which I spake to Dauid thy father †And I wil dwel in the middes of the children of Israel and wil not forsake my people Israel †Salomon therfore built the house and finished it †And he built the walles of the house on the inside with cedre loftes from the pauement of the house to the toppe of the walles and to the roofes he couered it with cadre trees on the inside and he couered the floore of the house with boordes of firre †And he built loftes of cedre timber of twentie cubites at the hinder part of the temple from the pauement to the higher partes and he made the inner house of the oracle to be Sanctum Sanctorum †Moreouer the temple it self was fourtie cubites before the doores of the oracle †And al the house was couered within with cedeâ— hauing roundels and the ioyntes therof coningly wrought and the engrauinges standing out al thinges were couered with bordes neither could there a stone appeare in the wal at al. †And he made the oracle in the middes of the house in the inner part that he might put the arke of couenant of our Lord there †Moreouer the oracle had twentie cubites in length and twentie cubites of bredth and twentie cubites in height And he couered and seeled it with most pure gold and the altar also he decked with ceder †The house also before the oracle he couered with most pure gold and fastened on plates with nailes of gold †And there was nothing in the temple that was not couered with gold yea and al the altar of the oracle he couered with gold †And he made in the oracle two cherubs of oliue trees of ten cubites in height †One wing of a cherub of fiue cubites and the other wing of a cherub fiue cubites that is hauing tenne cubites from the end of one wing vnto the end of the other wing †Of ten cubites also was the second cherub in like measure and the worke was one in both cherubs †that is to say one cherub had the height of ten cubites and in like maner the second cherub †And he put the cherubs in the middes of the inner temple and the cherubs extended their winges and the one wing touched the wal and the wing of the second cherub touched the other wal and the other winges in the middle part of the temple touched ech other †He couered also the cherubs with gold †And al the walles of the temple round about he graued with diuerse engrauinges and caruing he made in them cherubs and palme trees and diuerse pictures as it were standing out of the wal and coming forth †Yea the pauement also of the house he couered with gold within and without †And in the entrance of the oracle he made litle doores of the timber of oliuetrees and fiue corner postes †And two doores of oliuetimber and he graued in them pictures of Cherubs and figures of Palme trees and grauen workes standing out very much and he couered them with gold and he couered as wel the cherubs as the palmetrees and the other thinges with gold †And he made in the entrance of the temple postes of oliuetimber foure square †and two doores of firre trees one agaynst an other and either doore was duble and so opened with folding leaues †And he graued cherubs and palmetrees and engrauinges appearing very much and he couered al with golden plates in square worke by rule †And he built the inner court with three rowes of stones polished and one rowe of ceder timber †In the fourth yeare was the house of our Lord founded in the moneth of Zio †and in the eleuenth yeare in the moneth Bul that is the eight moneth the house was perfected in al the workes therof and in al the implementes therof and he was building it seuen yeares THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE FOVRTH AGE FROM the parting of Israel out of Aegypt to the fundation of the Temple The space of 480. yeares VVE HAVE senne already in the three first ages or distinct times of the world the biginning increase and continuance of the Church and Religion of God without interruption Now in this fourth age in which God gaue his people a written Law it is yet more euident that the same faith and religion not only continued but also was more expressed and explicated and the Church had more varietie of Sacrifices Sacraments and other holie Rites Obseruances the two states Ecclesiastical and Temporal more distinguished and ech of them especially the Priestlie and Leuitical Hierarchie more disposed in subordination the ciuil gouernment also vnder Dukes Iudges and Kinges more distributed among superiour and inferiour officers then before For first the principal point and ground of al religion the beleefe in one God and his proper diuine worship is aboue al most stristly commanded often repeated diligently obserued by the good and seuerely punished in trans gressours To which end and purpose after that God had singularly selected three more renowmed Patriarches Abraham Isaac and Iacob preseruing them by his special grace from idolatrie and from wicked wayes of most peoples and nations blessed their seede not in the whole progenie of the two former but in Iacob onlie whom he otherwise named Israel multiplying his children excedingly yea most of al which was most maruelous in
the Temple but commanded first to draw her forth 4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23. And as peculiar places so special Psalmes and Hymnes were appointed for diuers purposes and occasions 2. Par. 20. The ministerie of Angeles was very vsual in this time One was sent to comforte and direct Elias the prophet in his afflictions 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 1. An Angel stroke the Assyrians whole campe 4. Reg. 19. 2. Par. 32. Also the Intercession of Angels is so euident Tobiae 12. Raphael offering Tobias prayer to God that Protestants haue no other refuge to auoide this point of faith but by denying the Booke to be Canonical Scripture Honour of other Sainctes and their Intercession is proued a Maiori For so much as honour was religiously exhibited to spiritual power and excellencie in men yet liuing in this world So a Noble man adored Elias the Prophet being farre greater then he is ciuil and worldlie respectes 3. Reg. 18. Eliseus also was adored by his disciples not for anie worldlie authoritie or eminence but for his spiritual power and superioritie amongst them 4. Reg. 2. Likewise al Prophetes and Priestes were religiously honored for their holie and spiritual functions 3. Reg. 13. Much more Sainctes are rightly honored being immortal and in eternal glorie It appeareth also that Elias seuen yeares after that he was translated from humane conuersation when Eliseus was chiefe Prophet 4. Reg. 3. which was in or before the eightenth yeare of Iosaphat who reigned fiue and twentie 3. Reg. 22. had care of Ioram and his kingdom admonishing him by letters of Gods wrath against him and his people for their sinnes 2. Par. 21. And the scripture saieth often that God spared and protected Ierusalem and the kingdom of Iuda for Dauids sake 3. Reg. 11. 15. 4. Reg. 8. 19. 20. 2. Par. 6. 21. Isa 37. we haue also example of Sainctes Reliques in the cloke of Elias 4. Reg. 2. in Eliseus bones 4. Reg. 13. and in an other Prophetes bodie buried in Bethel VVhich Iosias would not suffer to be touched 4. Reg. 23. Images were conserued in the Temple 3. Reg. 7. as before in the Tabernacle when idolartie was most destroyed 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 23. yea an abuse rising of the brasen serpeÌ„t for which Ezechias destroyed it 4. Reg. 18. yet he touched not the Images of Cherubins in the Temple VVhich none but Infideles sought to destroy And Osee the Prophet ch 3. bewayleth the want of Theraphim or Images amongst other sacred thinges Sacrifice Altar and Ephod VVherby the ancient Rabbins proue very wel that Images of Angels and the same of other Sainctes are not contrarie to the Decalogue but the images of Idoles Good workes were rewarded and bad punished 3. Reg. 9. and the whole historie of this age testifieth the same VVhere by the way may be obserued that some inst men fel from their iustice as Salomon 1. Par. 28. 3. Reg. 11. Ioas 4. Reg. 12. 2. Par. 24. Ozias 2. Paral. 26. Others from wickednes returned to pietie as Manasses 4. Reg. 23. 2. Par. 33. the multitude of the people very often much folowing the disposition of their kinges Special State of life not commanded by the law was voluntarily professed and obserued by some Prophetes and their disciples called the children of Prophetes Keping particular Rules and wearing distinct habite 4. Reg. 1. 2. 4. The orders of Nazarites and Rechabites instituted before continued stil Amos. 2. Ierem. 35. stil which were very examplar figures of Religious State and Orders in the new Testament and perpetual chastitie of clergie men embraced by such as folow Euangelical counsailes proposed and not commanded by our Sauiour To which S. Paul likewise exhorteth though there be no precept therof to anie before they bind themselues Exequies for the dead were continually kept as the sacred historie witnesseth recording where and with what solennitie the kinges were buried which would be ouerlong nedeles to recite the like is also writen of some Prophetes 3. Reg. 13. 4. Reg. 23. Holie Tobias by example and fatherlie admonition exhorted his sonne to do workes of mercie not only to the liuing but also to the dead Put thy bread and thy wine vpon the sepulture of the iust c. 4. Isaias ch 57. as the Iewes both vnderstood and practised prayed that peace be geuen to the iust in his couch or resting place after his death Of the general Resurrection Elias translation is a figure who yet liuing sheweth that God can and wil restore al men to life againe in their bodies after death as he conserueth him and Enoch in their mortal bodies without corruption Ezechiel also prophecieth of the Resurrection of the dead applying it mystically to spiritual resurrection and restauration of Israel to former state ch 37. Of the last Iudgment and eternal glorie to the good and euerlasting paine to the wicked Salomon agreably to the doctrin of other Prophetes discourseth in his booke of Ecclesiastes namely ch 3. 11. and in the last concludeth thus Let vs al together heare the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandmentes for this is euerie man or to this end man is created and God wil bring into Iudgement al thinges that are done for euerie errour or obscure thing whether it be good or euil Neither were these and other pointes of Faith and Religion interrupted but stil beleued and professed in the Church alwaies visible and incontaminate notwithstanding some boughes anâ— branches became vnstructsul and rotten others brake of and were separated from this vine For when Salomon falling to luxurie multiplying manie wiues and concubines was by them seduced and brought to spiritual fornication and idolatrie making altars offering sacrifices to Idoles the Priestes Prophetes and people generally perseuered in Gods law seruice 3. Reg. 11. After whose death Ieroboam his seruant of the tribe of Ephraim possessing Tenne Tribes called the kingdom of Israel to maintaine his new state fearing that if the people resorted to Ierusalem for religions sake they would depart from him and returne to the right heyres of Dauid and Salomon made an egregious Schisme setting vp two golden calues in Bethel and Dan. 3. Reg. 12. made temples altares and priestes to sâ—rue them al opposite to Gods ordinance But not only the other Two Tribes called the kingdom of Iuda but also the greatest part of Israel especially Priestes Leuites and deuoutest people repayred stil to Ierusalem not yelding to that schisme and idolairie 2. Par. 11. Moreouer God raised vp and sent special Prophetes to confirme the weake and recal the seduced For Ieroboam had no sowner sette vp his new altar in Bethel and begunne to offer incense vpon it but a Prophet came out of Iuda in the word of our Lord and cried against that altar foretelling that wheras for that present they burnt frankineâ—nse vpon it the time should come when the
shortly after the king sent new letters for the Iewes saftie geuing them leaue to kil whom soeuer they would of their enemies ch 8. v. â— 11 Eightly the same day which was designed for destruction was made the day of ioy and exultation to the children of God ch 9. v. 1. 17 ch 16. v. 21. c. By which literal sense Gods meruelous prouidence is manifestly shewed neuer suffering his church to perish It hath moreouer two special mystical senses First as saftie of temporal life was procured to one nation by Esthers intercession to king Assuerus so general saluation is procured to al mankind by mediation of the blessed virgin Marie crushing the serpents head and the sentence of death is changed by new letters granting euerlasting life and glorie to al Gods true seruantes Esther also as likewise Iudith in figure of the Church saith S. Ierom Prologo in Sophon killed the aduersaries and deliuered Israel from danger of perishing CHAP. X. Assuerus subdueth manie countries 4. Mardocheus vnderstandeth and declareth his dreame 9. God separateth his people from other nations by a better lotte BVT king Assuerus made al the earth and al the ilandes of the sea tributaries †Whose strength and empire and the dignitie and highnesse wherewith he exalted Mardocheus are written in the bookes of the Medes and of the Persians †and how Mardocheus of the Iewes kinred was second after king Assuerus and great with the Iewes and acceptable to the people of his bretheren seking good to his people and speaking those things which pertayned to the good of his seede That which is in the Hebrew I haue expressed most faithfully And these things that folow I found written in the common edition which are conteyned in the greeke tongue and leetters and in the meane time this chapter was extant after the end of the booke which according to our custome we haue marked with an Obelus before it that is to say a broch †And Mardocheus said These things are done of God †I remember the dreame that I saw signifying these verie things neither was any of them frustrate †The litle fountayne which grew into a riuer and was turned into light and into the sunne and abounded into manie waters is Esther whom the king tooke to wife and made her to be queene †But the two dragons I am and Aman. †The nations that were assembled are they that endeuoured to destroy the name of the Iewes †And my nation is Israel which cried to our Lord and our Lord hath saued his people and he hath deliuered vs from al euils and hath done great signes and wonders among the nations †and he commanded that there should be two lottes one of the people of God and the other of al Nations †And both lottes are come to the day appointed euen now from that time before God to al nations †and our Lord hath remembred his people and hath had mercie on his inheritance †And these daies shal be obserued in the moneth of Adar the fourtenth and fistenth day of the same moneth with al diligence and ioy of the people gathered into one assemblie through out al the generations hereafter of the people of Israel CHAP. XI An Appendix and conclusion of this historie 2. The dreame of Mardocheus IN the fourth yeare when Ptolomee and Cleopatra reigned Dositheus which named himself a Priest and of the Leuitical kinred and Ptolomee his sonne brought this epistle of Phurim which they sayd Lysimachus the sonne of Ptolomee did interprete in Ierusalem This beginning was in the common edition which is neither extant in Hebrew nor with any of the interpreters †In the second yeare when Artaxerxes the greatest reigned in the first day of the moneth Nisan Mardocheus the sonne of Iairi the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin †A Iew which dwelt in the citie of Susan a great man and among the first of the kings court saw a dreame †And he was of that number of captiues whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported from Ierusalem with Ieconias the king of Iuda †and this was his dreame Theâ—e appeared voices and tumultes and thunders and earth quakes and pertuibation vpon the earth †and behold two great dragons prepared one against an other into battel †At whose crie al nations were raysed vppe to fight against the nation of the iust †And that was a day of darkenesse and danger of tribulation and distresse and great feare vpon the earth †And the nation of the iust fearing their euils was trubled and prepared to death †And they cried to God and they crying a litle fountayne grew into a verie great riuer and abounded into verie manie waters †Light and sunne arose and the humble were exalted and they deuoured the glorious †Which when Mardocheus had seene and risen out of his bed he mused what God would doe and he had it fixed in his mind desirous to know what the dreame should signifie CHAP. XII The conspiracie of two eunuches detected by Mardocheus is repeted 6. and Amans malice against him for the same AND he abode that time in the kings court with Bagatha and Thara the kings eunuches which were porters of the palace †And when he vnderstood their cogitations and had throughly seene their cares he learned that they went about to lay hands on king Artaxerxes and he told the king therof †Who hauing them both in examination when they had confesssd he commanded them to be led to death †But the king wrote that which was done in the comentaries and Mardocheus also committed the memorie of the thing to wriring †And the king commanded him that he should abide in the court of the palace geuing him giftes for the delation †But Aman the sonne of Amadathi the Bugeite was most glorious before the king and would hurt Mardocheus and his people for the two eunuches of the king which were put to death Hitherto the proeme That which foloweth was set in that place where it is written in the volum And should spoyle their goodes VVhich we found in the common edition only CHAP. XIII Acopie of the epistle which Aman sent to al prouinces to destroy the Iewâ—â— 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people AND this was the copie of the letter The most great king Artaxerxes from India vnto Aethiopia to the princes of an hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces and to the captaynes that are subiect to his empire greeting †Wheras I reigned ouer manie nations and had subdewed al the world to my dominion I would noâ— abuse the greatnes of my might but with clemencie and lenitie gouerne my subiectes that passing their life quietly without any terrour they might enioy peace wished of al men †But when I demanded of my counselers how this might
his children with former wickednes and him as iniurious to God in his speaches of which if he would repent he should be healed and prosper as before Arguing in general that God neuer afflicteth the innocent nor assisteth the malignant Insinuating therby that Iob was an hypocrite wherto Iob answered chap. 9. 10 that in dede no man may compare nor iustifie himselse before God Neuertheles it standeth wel with Gods iustice powre wisdome that innocentes be sometimes exercised with tribulations more then their offences deserue Thirdly Sophar the third disputer assaulted Iob ch 11. imputing his speach and defence of himself to loquacitie and audacious temeritie in that he desired to know the causes of Gods prouidence in so grieuously afflicting him Of which faultes holie Iob purged himself in the three next chapters stil maintayning his innocencie according to his owne conscience better knowen to himself then to them desiring God to instruct him if he had anie vnknowen sinnes Discoursed also much more profoundly of Gods powre wisdome iustice and prouidence as weâ— in general as towards himself in particular and professed his faith and great confidence of the Resurrection Againe Eliphaz ch 15. more bitterly then before condemned Iob of presumption and blasphemie discoursed of mans corruptnes and prones to sinne describing the maners of hypochrites and other impious men with their miserable endes and argued Iob for such a one VVho in the next two chapters expostulated with these his freinds that they coming with pretence to comforth him did so violently afflict him by charging him with false and heynous crimes his owne conscience better knowing and testifying his former life and state of his soule then that their imaginations could alter his iudgement And so with contempt of this world desire of death and rest appealed to Gods iudgement against his three freindes touching the matter in controuersie In the meane time comforted himself with meditation of the next world Baldad likewise replied ch 18. with hote contention accusing Iob of insolent impatience inculcating the greuous punishmentes both of him and others for their impietie In answer wherto he lamented againe the wanâ— of expected comforth especially by such freindes Stil comforted himself with assured faith of the Resurrection Sophar also ch 20. attempted againe to coÌ„uince Iob of impietie and hypochrisie by the miserable and speedie fal of wicked men after prosperitie for so he imagined Iob to be fallen into irrecouerable miserie But Iob shewed the contrarie that some wicked men prosper long yea al their life and the same long and then in a moment goe downe to hel and so the argument of present affliction proued not their opinion against him Eliphaz disputed the third time ch 22. contending that the causes of affliction are not to be attributed to Gods secrete prouidence but to assured sinnes of the wicked Vpon whom only he supposed that afflictions fal inferring that Iob was guiltie of enormious crimes grosse errors Vrged him therfore to returne to God that he might be restored to former prosperitie Iob againe appealed to Gods sentence not in his terrour nor rigour of his iustice but against his aduersaries in this quarel describing Gods powre and wisdome by which he permitteth the innocent to be afflicted the wicked to prosper no man knowing how soone or how late al shal receiue as they deserue Moreouer Baldad disputed the third time very briefly ch 25. endeuouring to terrifie Iob from further answering and especially from appealing to Gods iudgement But Iob very largely in six ensuing chapters discoursed diuinely of Gods souereigne Maieste Powre Wisdom exact Iustice and infinite Mercie Also of wicked mens destruction of his owne former prosperitie and present calamitie together with his good workes and innocencie which he stil anouched in respect of great iniquities After that Iob and his three freindes ceassed nothing being agreed vpon in the point of controuersie the diuel yet ceassed not but sturred vp a yongman called Eliu proud and arrogant but not vnlerned who abruptly condemned them al to witte Iob of pertinacie the others of insufficiencie And therfore tooke vpon him to conuince Iob though the others could not Very like to late-rising Protestantes or Puritaines bragging that by new argumentes and proofes neuer heard of they wil ouerthrow the Papistes or Catholique Romaine Church and doctrin which al former enimies Iewes Pagaines Turkes and Heretikes nor Hel gates could not ouercome This yong Eliu therfore with his Priuate spirite wiser in his owne conceipt then al that went before him assaulted constant Iob ch 32. and fiue more ensuing with manie wordes and bragges often chalenging prouoking but not extorting anie answer from so graue a man to his friuolous and idle argumentes largely discoursing of thinges either not denied or so manifest false that euerie meane seruant of God could easely conuince them and neuer approching to the maine controuersie only railed against holie Iob charging him more furiously then anie had donne before with impietie impatience ignorance pride blasphemie and obstinacie vices farre from Iobs sanctitie dilating also of Gods iustice mercie wisdome powre and prouidence and that no man ought to contend nor expostulate with God that afflictions must be borne patiently and that God is iust and maruelous in his workes wherof no wiseman euer doubted and so Iob conuinced him with silence But God himself for decision of al from ch 38. to the end of the Booke first by way of examining instructed Iob more particularly reciting manie maruelous workes of nature shewing therby his Diuine Maiestie Powre and wisdome exercising Iob in more patience and withal perfecting him in humilitie So that with al reuerent feare and subiection he offered and submitted him selfe to Gods onlie good pleasure Then finally God gaue sentence that Iob had defended the truth his three freindes had erred VVhom after Sacrifice and Iobs prayer for them he pardoned restored Iob to health and to duble prosperitie of al he had lost before geuing him also long life and a happie end In this historie besides the literal sense shewing that Iob was iust and sincere and not for his sinnes as his freindes falsly supposed but for his more mereâ—e was most extremly afflicted and afterwards restored to health and wealth we haue also hâ—re in the Allegorical sense an especial figure of Christ who as he was absolutly most innocent most perfect so was he without coÌ„parison most afflicted of al mankind Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before signified in the Anagogical sense the Resurrection and restâ—uratioÌ„ of better most glorious qualities in the blessed with fulnes of daies in eternal glorie Finally in the Moral sense which S. Gregorie most especially prosecuteth al Christians haue here a most notable example of al vertues namely of patience wherin Iob proceded by degrees to great perfection For he was first
and al truthes and so returne vpon him al vanitie and lying wherwith he allureth seduceth Finally to sinne it selfe we owe hate and reuenge because it is the only euil that hurteth vs and due punishment with zele of iustice because it dishonoreth God He that thus offereth sacrifice of iustice may instly as it foloweth in the Psalme hope yet not in him selfe but in our Lord. And lest anie should pretend ignorance saying vvho shevveth or teacheth vs good thinges as though they lacked instruction the Prophete preuenteth this vaine excuse saying The light of thy countenance o Lord the light of reason which is the image of God wherto we are created like is signed vpon vs fixed in our vnderstanding that we may see there is a God that ought to be serued and that he wil revvard his seruants Heb. 11. PSALME V. Iust men in affliction appeale to God the reuenger of iniuries 5. knowing and prosessing that God hateth iniquity 9. therfore remitte their cause to him 11. recite certaine enormious vices of the wicked 13. and expect Gods final iudgement of the good and bad †Vnto the end for her that obtaineth the inheritance The Psalme of Dauid RECEIVE ô Lord my wordes with thine eares vnderstand my crie †Attend to the voice of my prayer my king and my God †Because I wil pray to thee Lord in the morning thou wilt heare my voice †In the morning I wil stand by thee and wil see because thou art “ not a God that wilt iniquitie †Neither shal the malignant dwel neere thee neither shal the vniust abide before thine eies †Thou hatest al that worke iniquitie thou wilt destroy al that speake lie †The bloudie and deceitful man our Lord wil abhorre †But I in the multitude of thy mercy I wil enter into thy house I wil adore toward thy holie temple in thy feare Lord conduct me in thy iustice because of mine enimies direct my way in thy sight †Because there is no truth in their mouth their hart is vayne †Their throte is an open sepulchre they did deceitfully with their tongues iudge them o God †Let them faile of their cogitations according to the multitude of their impieties expel them because they haue prouoked thee ô Lord. †And let al be glad that hope in thee they shal reioyce for euer and thou shalt dwel in them And al that loue thy name shal glorie in thee because thou wilt blesse the iust †Lord as with a shield of thy good wil thou hast crowned vs. ANNOTATIONS PSALME V. 5. Not a God that vvilt iniquitie Seing God vvil not iniquitie as these wordes testifie in plaine termes it foloweth necessarily that he is not author nor cause of anie sinne For God doth nothing contrarie to his owne wil. But he hateth iniquitie and in respect therof hateth al that vvorke iniquities as the authours of iniquity though he loueth them as his creatures and of his part requireth their saluation PSALME VI. Dauids earnest and hartie praier after he had grieuously sinned 5. which being grounded in filial not seruil feare 9. concludeth with assured hope and confidence in Gods mercie †Vnto the end in songs the Psalme of Dauid for the octaue LORD rebuke me not in “ thy furie nor chastise me in “ thy wrath Haue mercie on me Lord because I am weake heale me Lord because al my bones be trubled †And my soule is trubled exceedingly but thou Lord how long †Turne thee o Lord and deliuer my soule saue me for thy mercie †Because there is not in death that is mindful of thee and in hel who shal confesse to thee †I haue labored in my sighing I wil euerie night was he my bed I wil water my couche with my teares †My eye is trubled for furie I haue waxen old among al myne enemies †Depart from me al ye that worke iniquitie because our Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping †Our Lord hath heard my petition our Lord hath receiued my prayer †Let al myne enemies be ashamed very sore trubled let them be conuerted and asha med very quicly ANNOTATIONS PSALME VI. 1. For the octaue Literally it semeth that the Psalmes which haue For the octaue in their titles were to be song on an instrument of eight stringes So the Caldee paraphasis translateth In eitheris octo chordarum in Citherus of eight stringes But prophetically S. Augustin others expound it to perteine to the Resurrection in the end of this world So Dauid and al penitent sinners bewaile their sinnes and do penance in this life for the octaue that is for the world to come 1. In thy fury nor in thy vvrath By furie is signified diuine iustice irreuocably condemning the wicked to eternal damnation by vvrath Gods fatherlie chasticement correcting sinners whom he saueth VVherupon S. Gregorie teacheth that the faithful soule not only feareth furie but also wrath because after the death of the flesh some are deputed to eternal torments some passe to life through the fire of purgation VVhich doctrine the same holy father confirmeth by the iudgement of S Augustin more ancient VVho likewise affirmeth that al those which haue not laide Christ their fundation are rebuked in furie because they are tormented in eternal fire and those which vpon right fundation of true faith in Christ haue built vvood hay stubble are chastised in wrath because they are brought to rest of beatitude but purged by fire Let therfore the faithful soule considering what she hath donne and contemplating what she shal receiue say Lord rebuke me not in thy furie nor chastice me in thy vvrath As if she said more plainly This only with my whole intention of hart I craue this incessantly with al my desires I couete that in the dreadful iudgement thou neither strike me with the reprobate nor afflict me with those that shal be purged in barning flames Thus S. Gregorie in 1. Psalm penitent v. 1. PSALME VII Dauid in confidence of his iust cause and vniust persecution prayeth for Gods helpe 7. and iust reuenge of his enemies 15. describing their malitious intention and ruine The Psalme of Dauid which he song to our Lord for the wordes of Chusi the sonne of Iemini 2. Reg. 16. †O Lord my God I haue hoped in thee saue me from al that persecute me and deliuer me †Lest sometime he as a Lyon violently take my soule whiles there is none to redeme nor to saue O Lord my God if I haue done this if there be iniquitie in my handes If I haue rendred to them that repayd me euils let me worthely fal emptie from myne enemies
eyes looke vpon the poore he lyeth in wayte in secret as a lyon in his denne †He lyeth in wayte to take the poore man violently violently to take the poore man whiles he draweth him In his snare he wil humble him selfe and shal fal when he shal haue dominion ouer the poore †For he hath sayed in his hart God hath forgotten he hath turned away his face not to see for euer †Arise Lord God let thy hand be axalted forget not the poore †Wherfore hath the impious prouoked God for he hath said in his hart He wil not enquire †Thou seest that thou considerest labour and sorrow that thou mayest deliuer them into thy handes To thee is the poore left to the orphane thou wilt be an helper †Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant his sinne shal be sought and shal not be found †Our Lord shal reigne for euer and for euer and euer ye Gentiles shal perish from his land †Our Lord hath heard the desire of the poore thy eare hath heard the preperation of their hart To iudge for the pupil and the humble that man adde no more to magnifie him selfe vpon the earth ANNOTATIONS PSALME IX 21. After the 21. verse the late Hebrew Doctors diuide this Psalme beginning there the tenth without anie new title but only this word Sela VVhich the Septuagint Theodotion and Symmachus translate Diapsalma that is change of meeter or musike also pause or rest in singing Aquila whom S. Iorom rather approueth translateth semper euer Some English Bibles omitte it others leaue it in the text not translating it into English It semeth to most Interpreters to be added as a note to sturre vp attention And it occureth often not only in the end of Psalmes but also in other places For it is thrise in the third Psalme And therefore maketh no argument that this Psalme should be diuided And those which diuide this into two ioyne two in the 147. Psalme So that al agree in the number of 150. Psalmes in the whole Psalter PSALME X. Dauids freindes aduising him to flee from the persecution of Saul he answereth that his trust is in Gods protection 2. Though the persecutor be very malitious 4. yet God wil ouerthrow him 5. and deliuer the iust Vnto the end the psalme of Dauid I TRVST in our Lord how say ye to my soule Passe ouer vnto the mountayne as a sparrow †For behold sinners haue bent the bow they haue prepared their arrowes in the quiuer that they may shoote in the darke at them that be right of hart †For they haue destroyed the thinges which thou didst perfite but the iust what hath he done †Our Lord is in his holie temple our Lord his seate is in heauen †His eies haue respect vnto the poore his eieliddes examine the sonnes of men †Our Lord examineth the iust and the impious but he that loueth iniquity hateth his owne soule †He shal rayne snares vpon sinners fyre and brimstone and blast of stormes the portion of their cuppe †Because our Lord is iust and hath loued iustice his countenance hath seene equitie PSALME XI The Prophet describeth the paucity of iust men and abundanc of wicked both at Christs first coming in flesh 6. and second in maiestie in the end of the world †Vnto the end for the octaue the Psalme of Dauid SAVE me Lord because the holy hath fayled because verities are diminished from among the children of men †They haue spoken vaine thinges euerie one to his neighbour deiceitful lippes they haue spoken in hart and hart †Our Lord destroy al deceitful lippes the tongue that speaketh great thinges †Which haue said We wil magnifie our tongue our lippes are of vs who is our Lord †For the miserie of the needie and mourning of the poore now wil I arise saith our Lord I wil put in a saluation I wil do confidently in him †Wordes of our Lord be chaist wordes siluer examined by fire tryed from the earth purged seuen fold †Thou Lord wilt preserue vs and keepe vs from this generation for euer †The “ impious walke round about according to thy highnes thou hast multiplied the children of men ANNOTATIONS PSALME XI 9. The impious vvalâ—e round about J S Augustin expoundeth this of worldlie men desiring temporal thinges signified by the seuen dayes wherin this whole life is turned about as in a whele not prouiding for the eight day which is eternitie after the day of Iudgement In an other place he sheweth also that this sentence agreeth aptly to the Platonistes who taught that this world neuer endeth but passeth and returneth round about in a reuolution of manie yeares so that al thinges should happen againe euen as they did before contrarie to this and manie other Scriptures affirming that God vvil preserue the iust and kepe them from this generation for euer VVhereas the reprobate who sette their whole mind on temporal thinges or expect a reuolution of al shal eternally walke without the kingdome of heauen neuer enter in though some may cal with the foolish virgins saith S. Ierom or some other learned author vpon this place Lord Lord open the dore to vs but he vvil ansvver that I knovv you not Mat. 25. PSALME XII A general prayer of the Church in tribulation either temporal or spiritual †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid HOw long â— Lord wilt thou forget me vnto the end How long doest thou turne away thy face from me †How long shal I put counsels in my soule sorrow in my hart by day †How long shal mine enemies be exalted ouer me †Regard and heare me ô Lord my God Illuminate mine eies that I sleepe not in death at any time †lest sometime mine enemie say I haue preuailed against him They that truble me wil reioyce if I be moued †but I haue hoped in thy mercie My hart shal reioyce in thy saluation I wil sing to our Lord which geueth me good thinges and I wil sing to the name of our Lord most high PSALME XIII After general grosse ignorance and impiety in the World 7. Christ shal be incarnate the Redemer of mankind †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God They are corrupt and are become abominable in their studies there is not that doth good “ no not one †Our Lord hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstandeth and seeketh after God Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no not one Their throte is an open sepulchre with their tongues they did deceitfully the poyson of
children and multitude called him king of Israel Ioan 12. At which time as also before he exercised temporal Iurisdiction in correcting abuses in the Temple Mat. 21. Ioan. 2. And when Pilate demanded of him if he were a king Ioan. 18. v. 37. he answered Thou saist that I am a king For this I was borne and for this came I into the world that I should geue testimonie to the truth And though he answered withal that his kingdom to witte the possession and vse therof was not of this world yet Pilate by Gods prouidence writte the title and would not alter it IESVS of Nazareth King of the Iewes But Christs chief inheritance and reward of his merites is God himself as here he professeth by his prophet Dauid which is also the only true perfect inheritance of al Christs seruates vvherfore Clergy men more particularly professe the same when they first enter into their spiritual state addicting and dedicating them selues to serue God in Ecclefiastical sunct on not for temporal inheritance but for a better lotte God himself who is al Good and most perfect goodnes true riches and eternal inheritance In which election of state to liue and serue God in euerie Clergie man sayth Our Lord is the portion of myn inheritance and of my cuppe Thou art he that vvil restore myn inheritance vnto me Man calleth it his inheritance because he was created to serue God and for his feruice to inherite God which reward though he lost by sinne yet euerie one returning to Gods seruice and perseuering therin recouereth by Christ new right and title to the same inheritance performing their duties in their seueral vocations Some traueling in the world but not louing it others sequestered from secular affayres duly administring sacred offices more peculiarly called Diuine seruice ◠Net leaue my 〈◊〉 in hel How Caluin and Beza sometimes corrupt this text alwayes pernert the sense and most absurdly oppose them selues against al ancient holie Farhets concerning the Article of Christs descending in soule denving that into that part of hel called Limbus patr◠is largely noted Gen. 37. Act. 2. 1. pet 3 Only here we may not omitte to aduertise the reader that some Protestants Bibles permitting the word hel to remaine in the text a latter Edition for hel putteth graue with this only note in the former place that thus is chiesly meant of Christ by whose Resurrection al his members haue immortality And Act. 2. they repete their new text by this paraphrasis Thou shlat not leaue me in the graue VV resting that which perteineth to the bodie rising from the graue to the soule which was not at al in the graue al the time the bodie lay there PSALME XVI Aiust mans prayer in tribulation 10. describing his enemies cruelty 13. by way of imprecation foresheweth their destruction 15. and declareth that the iust shal be satisfied in glorie †The “ prayer of Dauid HEARE ô Lord my iustice attend my petition With thine eares heare my prayer not in deceitful lippes †From thy countenanee let my iudgement procede let thine eies see equities †Thou hast proued my hart and visited it by night by fire thou hast examined me and there is no iniquitie found in me †That my mouth speake not the workes of men for the wordes of thy lippes I haue kept the hard wayes †Perfite my pases in thy pathes that my steppes be not moued I haue cried because thou hast heard me ◠God incline thyne eare to me and heare my wordes †Make thy mercies meruelous which sauest them that hope in thee †From them that resist thy right hand keepe me as the apple of the eie †Vnder the shadowe of thy winges protect me †from the face of the impious that haue afflicted me Mine enemies haue compassed my soule †they haue shut vp their fatte their mouth hath spoken pride †Casting me forth now haue they compassed me they haue sette their eies to bend them vnto the earth †They haue taken me as a lion readie to the pray and as a lions whelpe dwelling in hid places †Arise Lord preuent him and supplant him deliuer my soule from the impious thy sword †from the enemies of thy hand Lord from a few out of the land diuide them in their life their bellie is filled of thy secretes They are filled with children and they haue leaft their remnantes to their litle ones †But I in iustice shal appeare to thy sight I shal be filled when thy glorie shal appeare ANNOTATIONS PSALME XVI 1. The prayer of Dauid This Psalme of the matter conteyned is called a prayer VVhich holie Dauid so composed as was both conuenient for himselfe being molested with vniust afflictions by the wicked and for anie other iust person or the whole Church in persecution seruing as a spiritual sword to strike the enimies and as a shield to beare of with patience and fortitude al their forces PSALME XVII King Dauids thankes to God for his often deliuerie from great dangers first in general 9. then more particularly describeth Gods terrible maner of fighting for him 18. against his cruel and otherwise potent enimie◠22. attributing the same to Gods good pleasure and iustice of his cause 31. praiseth God 33. his only protector 41. and depresser of his enemies †Vnto the end to the seruant of our Lord Dauid who spake to our Lord the wordes of this canticle in the day that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies and out of the hand of Saul and he said 2. Reg. 22. I wil loue thee ô Lord my strength †Our Lord is my firmament and my refuge and my deliuere My God is my helper and I wil hope in him My protectour and the horne of my saluation and my receiuer †Praysing I wil inuocate our Lord and I shal be saued from mine enemies †The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and torrentes of iniquitie haue trubled me The sorrowes of hel haue compassed me the snares of death haue preuented me †In my tribulation I haue inuocated our Lord and haue cried to my God And he hath heard my voice from his holie temple and my crie in his sight hath entered into his eares †The earth was shaken trembled the fundations of mountaines were trubled and were moued because he was wrath with them †Smoke arose in his wrath and fire flamed vp from his face coles were kindled from him †He bowed the heauens and descended and darkenesse vnder his feete †And he ascended vpon the cherubs and flew he flew vpon the wings of windes †And he put darkenesse his couert his tabernacle is round about
people that shal be borne whom our Lord hath made ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXI 1. For the morning enterprise In respect of the end for which Christ suffered this Psalme is intitled for the morning enterprise that is for Christs glorious Resurrection and other effectes of his Passion VVhich holie Dauid by the spirite of prophecy so describeth here long before with diuers particular cicumstances as the Euangelistes haue since historically recorded that it may not vnfitly be called The Passion of Iesus Christ according to Dauid 3. Thou vvilt not heare Our B. Sauiour seing his most terrible death imminent prayde conditionally if it pleased his heauenlie Father to haue the same remoued from him and was not heard as the Psalmist here prophecieth The principal reason was because God of his diuine charitie had decreed that mankind should be redemed by this death of his Sonne Christ also him selfe of his excellent charitie consented here vnto therefore persisted not in his conditional prayer but added and absolutly prayed that not his owne wil but his Fathers might be fulfilled And in this he was heard to his owne more glorie and other infinite benefites of innumerable soules as it foloweth v. 25. vvhen I crieâ—d to him he heard me S. Paul also witnesseth Heb. 5. v. 7. that Christ offering prayers and supplications to him that could saue him from death vvas heard for his reuerence that is in respect of his inestimable merite in humane nature vnited in person to God An other cause why Christ was not deliuered from violent death as manie holie persons were when they cried to God in distresses as S Augustin sheweth Epist 120. c. 11. was for example to Christians whom God wil haue to suffer temporal afflictions and death for the glorie of life euerlasting according to S. Peters doctrin Christ suffered for vs leauing an example that you may folovv his steppes 18. They haue digged Of obstinate malice the Iewes haue corrupted this place and God knoweth how manie others in the Hebrew text of some editions reading caari which signifieth as a lion without al coherence of the sense for caaru they digged or pearced to auoid so plaine a prophecie of nailing Christs handes and feete to the crosse 23 I vvil declare thy name to my brethren Here it is euident that this Psalme is of Christ not of Dauid by S. Pauls allegation Heb. 2. v. 11. 12. saying He that sanctifieth towitt Christ disdaned not to cal the sanctified his bretheren 23. In the middes of the Church I vvil praise thee After Christs Passion and Resurrection in the rest of this Psalme other two principal pointes of Christian Religion are likewise prophecied His perpetual visible Church and the B. Sacrament of his bodie The former is here prophecied by way of inuiting al the seede of Iacob to glorifie God v. 24. al the seede of Israel to feare him v. 25. towit innumerable Christians the true Israelites the vniuersal Church in the whole world As for heretical partes or parcels in the world such as the Donatistes which going forth from the Catholique Church say Christ hath lost his great Church the diuel hath taken the whole world from him and he remaineth only in a part of Africa they do not praise God saith S. Augustin but dishonour God and Christ as if God were not faithful in his promise as if Christ were dispossessed of his kingdome the Catholique Church Lest anie should replie that Christ is praised though the Church be decaied or be very smal the Holie Ghost hath preuented such arguments saying v. 26 His praise is in the great Church VVhich could neither be verified in the part of Donatistes in Afrike nor now in the part of Protestantes since Luther in Europe Further S. Augustin explicateth vrgeth the verses folowing in this Psalme against the same blind deafe and obstinate Donatistes who did not or would not see not heare that al the endes of the earth shal remenber and be conuerted to our Lord. The holie Scripture saith not the endes of the earth but al the endes wel goe too saith this great Doctor peraduenture there is but one verse thou thoughtest vpon some thing els thou talkedst with thy brother when one read this marke he repeteth and knocketh vpon the deaf Al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight Yet the heretike is deaf he heareth not let one knocke againe Because the kingdom is our Lords and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles Hold these three verses bretheren Thus and more S. Augnstin against those that thinke the true Church may faile or become inuisible or obscure And though it be not in like prosperous state at al times and in al places yet it is alwayes conspicuous and more general then anie other congregation professing whatsoeuer pretensed religion 27. The poore shal eate Seing this Psalme is of Christ as is proued by S. Pauls allegation of 23 verse and by the concordance therof with the Euangelists it is necessarily deduced that the vovves mentioned in the former verse and these wordes the poore shal eate and be filled can not be referred to the sacrifices of the old Testament but to the blessed Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist which our Sauiour promised after he had replenished the people with fiue loaues and which he instituted at his last supper in presence of his Apostles So S. Augustin doubteth not to vnderstand it and to teach as wel in his duble expositioÌ„ of this Psalme as in his 120. Epistle c. 27. The poore that is the humble and poore in spirite shal eate befilled the fatte ones or the rich being proud do also adore and eate but are not filled They also are brought to the table of Christ and participate his bodie bloud but they adore only are not also filled because they do not imitate Christs humilitie they disdaine to be humble VVhere it is clere this holie father by Christs bodie and bloud meaneth not bread and wine as signes of his bodie and bloud for bread and wine can not be lawfully adored neither doth he meane our Lords bodie as it was on the crosse or is in heauen for so it is not eaten but as it is in formes of bread and wine on Christs table the Altar PASLME XXII A forme of thankesgeuing for al spiritual benefites described vnder the metaphor of temporal prosperitie euen from a sinners first conuersion to final perseuerance and eternal beatitude †The Psalme of Dauid OVR Lord ruleth me and nothing shal be wanting to me †in place of pasture there he hath placed me Vpon the water of refection he hath brought me vp †he hath conuerted my soule He hath conducted me vpon the pathes of iustice for his name †For although I shal walke in the middes of the shadow of death I wil not feare euils because thou
my bones shal say Lord who is like to thee Deliuering the needie from the hand of them that are stronger then he the needie and poore from them that spoile him Vniust witnesses rysing vp asked me things that I knew not †They repayed me euil things for good sterilitie to my soule †But I when they were trublesome to me did put on cloth of heare I humbled my soule in fasting and my prayer shal be turned into my bosome †As a neighbour as our brother so did I please as mourning and sorowful so was I humbled †And they reioyced against me and came together scourges were gathered together vpon me and I was ignorant †They were dissipated and not compunct they tempted me they scorned me with scorning they gnashed vpon me with their teeth †Lord when wilt thou regard restore thou my soule from their malignitie myne only one from the lions †I wil confesse to thee in the great Church in a graue people I wil prayse thee †Let them not reioyce ouer me that are my aduersaries vniustly that hate me without cause and twinckle with the eies †Because they spake in deede peaceably to me and in the anger of the earth speaking they meant guiles †And they opened their mouth awide vpon me they said Wel wel our eies haue seene †Thou hast sene ô Lord keepe not silence Lord depart not from me †Arise and attend to my iudgement my God and my Lord vnto my cause †Iudge me according to thy iustice ô Lord my God and let them not reioyce ouer me †Let them not say in their hartes Wel wel to our soule neitheir let them say We haue deuoured him †Let them blush and be ashamed together that reioyce at my euils Let them be clothed with confusion and shame that speake great things vpon me †Let them reioyce and be glad that wil my iustice and let them say alwayes Our Lord be magnified that wil the peace of his seruant †And my tongue shal meditate thy iustice thy prayse al the day PSALME XXXV The prophet describeth the wicked malice of obstinate sinners 6. Against which he opposeth Gods infinite goodnes 9. with his prouident mercie towards the worst and iust reward of the good 12. praying to escape the dangerous gulfe of pride †Vnto the end to the seruant of our Lord Dauid him selfe THE vniust hath said within him selfe that he would sinne there is no feare of God before his eies †Because he hath done deceitfully in his sight that his iniquitie may be found vnto hatred †The wordes of his mouth are iniquitie and guile he would not vnderstand that he might doe wel †He hath meditated iniquitie in his bed he hath set himselfe on euery way not good and malice he hath not hated Lord thy mercie is in heauen and thy truth euen to the clowdes †Thy iustice as the hilles of God thy iudgementes are great depth Men beastes thou wilt saue ô Lord †as thou hast multiplied thy mercie ô God But the children of men shal hope in the couert of thy winges †They shal be inebriated with the plentie of thy house and with the torrent of thy pleasure thou shalt make them drinke Because with thee is the fountaine of life and in thy light we shal see light †Extend thy mercie to them that know thee and thy iustice to them that are of a right hart Let not the foote of pride come to me and let not the hand of a sinner moue me †There haue they fallen that worke iniquitie they were expelled neither could they stand PSALME XXXVI An exhortation not to enuie nor imitate the euil who for most part prosper in this world and are damned eternally but to flee euil and doe good duly considering that God diuersly permitteth and punisheth the wicked and likewise comforteth and afflicteth the iust al for their good †A Psalme to Dauid him self HAVE no emulation toward the malignant neither enuie them that doe iniquitie †Because they shal quickely wither as grasse and as the blossomes of herbes they shal soone fal †Hope in our Lord and doe good and inhabite the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches therof †Be delighted in our Lord and he wil geue thee the petitions of thy hart †Reuele thy way to our Lord and hope in him and he wil doe it †And he wil bring forth thy iustice as light and thy iudgement as midday †be subiect to our Lord and pray him Haue no emulation in him that prospereth in his way in a man that doth iniustices †Cease from wrath and leaue furie haue not emulation that thou be malignant †Because they that are malignant shal be cast out but they that expect our Lord the same shal inherite the land †And yet a litle while and the sinner shal not be and thou shalt seeke his place and shal not find it †But the meeke shal inherite the land and shal be delighted in multitude of peace †The sinner shal obserue the iust and shal gnash vpon him with his teeth †But our Lord shal scorne him because he foreseeth that his day shal come †Sinners haue drawen out the sword they haue bent their bowe That they may deceine the poore and needie that they may murder the right of hart †Let their owne swordes enter into their hartes and let their bowe be broken †Better is a litle to the iust aboue much riches of sinners †Because the armes of sinners shal be broken in pieces but our Lord comfirmeth the iust †Our Lord knoweth the daies of the immaculate and their inheritance shal be for euer †They shal not be confounded in the euil time and in the dayes of famine they shal be filled †because the sinners shal perish But the enemies of our Lord forth with as they shal be honoured and exalted vanishing shal vanish as smoke †The sinner shal borrow and not pay but the iust is merciful and wil geue †Because they that blesse him shal inherite the land but they that curse him shal perish †With our Lord the steppe of man shal be directed and he shal like wel of his way When he shal fal he shal not be brused because our Lord putteth his hand vnder †I haue bene yong for I am old and I haue not sene the iust forsaken nor his seede seeking bread †Al the day he is merciful and lendeth and his seede shal be in blessing †Decline from euil and doe good and inhabite for euer and euer †Because our Lord loueth iudgement and he wil not forsake his sainctes they shal be
preserued for euer The vniust shal be punished and the seede of the impious shal perish †But the iust shal inherite the land and shal inhabite for euer and euer vpon it †The mouth of the iust shal meditate wisedome and his tong shal speake iudgement The law of his God in his hart and his steppes shal not be supplanted †The sinner considereth the iust and seeketh to murder him †But our Lord wil not leaue him in his handes neither wil he condemne him when iudgement shal be geuen of him †Expect our Lord and keepe his way and he wil exalt thee that thou mayst inherite the land when the sinners shal perish thou shalt see †I haue seene the impious highly exalted and aduanced as the ceders of Libanus †And I passed by and behold he was not and I sought him and his place was not found †Keepe innocencie and see equitie because there are remaynes for the peaceable man †But the vniust shal perish together the remaines of the impious shal perish †But the saluation of the iust is of our Lord and he is their potector in the time of tribulation †And our Lord wil helpe them and deliuer them and he wil take them away from sinners and saue them because they haue hoped in him PSALME XXXVII King Dauid or anie other penitent earnestly prayeth God to remitte his sinnes and mitigate the paines which he acknowledgeth him selfe to haue deserued 12 lamenting the afflictions which he suffereth by such as sometimes were his freindes 14. whose tentations h◠now resisteth trusting in God resigning himselfe to Gods wil confessing his owne iniquitie and humbly praying for Gods helpe A Psalme of Dauid in recordation of the sabbath LORD rebuke me nor in thy furie nor chastise me in thy wrath Because thy arrowes are fast sticked in me and thou hast fastened thy hand vpon me There is no health in my flesh at the face of thy wrath my bones haue no peace at the face of my sinnes Because mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a heauie burden are become heauie vpon me †My scarres are putrified and corrupted because of my folishnes I am become miserable and am made crooked euen to the end I went sorowful al the day Because my loynes are filled with illusions and there is no health in my flesh I am afflicted and am humbled excedingly I rored for the groning of my hart †Lord before thee is al my desire and my groning is not hid from thee †My hart is trubled my strength hath forsaken me and the light of mine eies and the same is not with me †My frendes and my neighbores haue approched stood against me And they that were neere me stood far of †and they did violence which sought my soule And they that sought me euils spake vanities and meditated guiles al the day †But I as one deafe did not heare and as one dumme not opening his mouth †And I became as a man not hearing and not hauing reproofes in his mouth †Because in thee ô Lord haue I hoped thou wilt heare me ô Lord my God †Because I said Lest sometime mine enemies reioyce ouer me and whiles my feete are moued they speake great thinges vpon me †Because I am readie for scourges and my sorow is in my sight alwaies †Because I wil declare my iniquitie and I wil thinke for my sinne †But mine enemies liue and are confirmed ouer me and they are multiplied that hate me vniustly †They that repay euil thinges for good detracted from me because I folowed goodnes †Forsake me not ô Lord my God depart not from me Attend vnto my help ô Lord the God of my saluation PSALME XXXVIII A iust man in remediles persecution resolueth to suffer al with peace and silence 5. praying God to take him from this world confessing the vanitie therof 8. and relying on Gods prouidence 11. who punisheth man for his sinnes prayeth for release †Vnto the end to Idithun him selfe a canticle of Dauid I HAVE said I wil keepe my waies that I offend not in my tongue I haue set a gard to my mouth when the sinner stood against me †I was dumme and humbled and kept silence from good thinges and my sorrow was renewed †My hart waxed hote within me and in my meditation a fyre shal burne †I haue spoken in my tongue Lord make mine end knowne to me And the number of my daies what it is that I may know what is lacking to me Behold thou hast put my daies measurable and my substance is as nothing before thee Doubtles al things are vanitie euerie man liuing †Surely man passeth as an image yea and he is trubled in vayne He gathereth treasure and knoweth not to whom he shal gather them †And now what is my expectation is not our Lord and my substance is with thee †From al mine iniquities deliuer me a reproch to the foolish thou hast geuen me †I was dumme and opened not my mouth because thou didst it †Remoue thy scourges from me †By the strength of thy hand I haue faynted in reprehensions for iniquitie thou hast chastised man And thou hast made his soule pyne away as a spider but vaynly is euerie man trubled †Heare my prayer ô Lord and my petition with thyne eares receiue my teares Keepe not silence because I am a stranger with thee and a pilgrime as my fathers †Forgeue me that I may be refreshed before I depart and shal be no more PSALME XXXIX Christs faithful members after long expectation congratulate his coming in flesh 6. He directing his speach to his Father professeth to performe the Redemption of manking and to denounce the same in the whole world 12. prayeth for his seruantes vndertaking to satisfie for their sinnes †Vnto the end a Psalme to Dauid himselfe †EXPECTING I expected our Lord and he hath attended to me †And he heard my prayers and brought me out of the lake of miserie and from the myre of dregges And hath set my feete vpon a rocke and hath directed my steppes †And he hath put a new canticle into my mouth a song to our God Manie shal see and shal feare and they shal hope in our Lord. †Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of our Lord and hath not had regard to vanities and false madnes †Thou hast done manie thy meruelous thinges ◠Lord my God in thy cogitations there is none that may be like to thee I haue declared and haue spoken they multiplied aboue number †Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not but
alwaies corporally with vs Could anie of them tarie here til this time could they tarie to the time yet to come But vvas therfore the Church leaft desolate by their departure God forbid For thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee VVhat is this for thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee The Apostles were sent fathers in place of the Apostles sonnes are borne to thee Byshops are appointed For whence were the Bishops borne that are at this day through the vvorld the Church herselfe calleth them fathers â—he begate them and appointed them in the seates of the fathers Do not therfore thinke thy self desolate o christian Church because thou seest not Peter seest not Paul for thou seest not them by vvhom thou wast borne but of thyne issue fatherhood is sprong to thee For thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth This is the Catholique Church Her children are made princes ouer al the earth her sonnes are constituted for fathers Let them acknowlege this that are cut of let them come to the vnitie be they brought into the temple of the king Thus S. Augustin PSALME XLV The Church in persecution acknowledgeth Gods perpetual defence 5. making her therby more glorious 10. sometimes granting rest 11. God himself ckecking the persecuters and euer protecting her †Vnto the end to the sonnes of Core for the secretes OVR God is a refuge and strength an helper in tribulations which haue found vs excedingly †Therfore wil we not feare when the earth shal be trubled and mountaines transported into the hart of the sea †Their waters haue sounded and were trubled the mountaines were trubled in his strength †The violence of the riuer maketh the citie of God ioyful the Highest hath sanctified his tabernacle †God is in the middes therof it shal not be moued God wil helpe it in the morning early †Nations are trubled and kingdomes are inclined he gaue his voice the earth was moued †The Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our defender †Come ye and see the workes of our Lord what wonders he hath put vpon the earth †taking away warres euen vnto the end of the earth He shal destroy bow breake weapons and shields he shal burne with fire †Be quiet and see that I am God I shal be exalted among the gentiles and I shal be exalted in the earth †The Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our defender PSALME XLVI Gentiles are called and inuited to praise God for his magnificence 6. for Christs Ascension and powre †Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core ALYE Nations clappe handes make iubilation to God in the voyce of exultation †Because our Lord is high terrible a great king ouer al the earth †He hath made peoples subiect to vs gentiles vnder our feete †He hath chosen his inheritance in vs the beautie of Iacob which he loued †God is ascended in iubilation and our Lord in the voice of trumpet †Sing ye to our God sing ye Sing ye to our king sing ye †Because God is king of al the earth sing ye wisely †God shal reigne ouer the gentiles God sitteth vpon his holie seate †Princes of peoples are gathered together with the God of Abraham because the strong goddes of the earth are excedingly aduanced PSALME XLVII God most and euerie where laudable is especially praised in the Church of Christ prefigured by Sion and there begunne 9. Al thinges being fulfilled in the Church euen as they were prophecied and promised 12. the faithful are exhorted to consider and congratulate the same A Psalme of Canticle to the sonnes of Core the second of the Sabbath GREAT is our Lord and to be praysed excedingly in the citie of our God in his holie mount †Mount Sion is founded with the exultation of the whole earth the sides of the North the citie of the great king †God shal be knowen in the houses therof when he shal receiue it †For behold the kings of the earth were gathered together they assembled in one †They seing it so were in admiration were trubled were moued †trembling tooke them Their sorowes as a woman traueling †In a vehement spirit thou shalt breake the shippes of Tharsis †As we haue heard so haue we seene in the citie of the Lord of hostes in the citie of our God God hath founded it for euer †We haue receiued thy mercie ô God in the middes of thy temple †According to thy name ô God so also is thy prayse vnto the endes of the earth thy right hand is ful of iustice †Let mount Sion be glad and the daughters of Iuda reioyce because of thy iudgementes ô Lord †Compasse Sion and embrace ye her tel ye in her towers †Set your hartes on her strength and distribute ye her houses that you may declare it in an other generation †Because this is God our God for euer and for euer and euer he shal rule vs euermore PSALME XLVIII The royal prophet inuiting al states and sortes of men to heare him attentiuely 6 sheweth that al ought to feare eternal damnation that liue wickedly 9. vainly and foolishly seeking 13. euen like brute beastes carnal pleasures which they can not long enioy nor long escape hel 16. confidently animating him selfe and al good men that trust not in this world †Vnto the end to the sonnes of Core a Psalme HEARE these thinges al ye Gentiles receiue with your eares al ye that inhabite the earth †Al ye earthly persons and children of men together in one the rich and the poore †My mouth shal speake wisedom and the meditation of my hart prudence †I wil incline mine eare vnto a parable I wil open my proposition on a Psalter †Why shal I feare in the euil day the iniquitie of my heele shal compasse me †They that trust in their strength and glorie in the multitude of their riches †A brother doth not redeme man shal redeme he shal not geue vnto God his reconciliation †And the price of the redemption of his owne soule and he shal labour for euer †and shal liue yet vnto the end †He shal not see death when he shal see the wise dying the vnwise and the foole shal perish together And they shal leaue their riches to strangers †and their sepulchers their houses for euer Their Tabernacles in generation and generation they haue renowmed their names in their landes †And man when he was
geue ioy and gladnes and the bones humbled shal reioyce †Turne away thy face from my sinnes and wipe away al mine iniquities †Create a cleane hart in me ô God and renew a right spirit in my u bowels †Cast me not away from thy face and thy Holie spirit take not from me †Render vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme me with the principal spirit †I Wil teach the vniust thy waies and the impious shal be conuerted to thee †Deliuer me from bloudes ô God the God of my saluation and my tongue shal exult for thy iustice †Lord thou 〈…〉 lt open my lippes my mouth shal shew forth thy prayse †Because if thou wouldest haue had sacrifice I had verily giuen it with holocaustes thou wilt not be delighted A “ sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit a contrite and humbled hait ô God thou wilt not despise Deale fauorably ô Lord in thy good wil with Sion that the walles of Ierusalem may be built vp Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of iustice oblations k holocaustes l then shal they lay calues vpon thyne altar ANNOTATIONS PSALME L. 2. VVhen Nathan came to Dauid As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Lord had vpon his repentance and confession taken away his sinne added neuertheles that because he had made the enimies of God to blaspheme his sonne should dye so Dauid knowing that more was required then only confession for that the bond of satisfaction remained after his sinnes were remitted persisted in penance praying lamenting and beseching God according to his great and mainfold mercies to take away his iniquitie albeit the prophet Nathan had now told him that our Lord had taken away his sinne because there yet remained temporal paine due for the same He prayeth also v. 4. that God wil vvash him more amply from his iniquitie and cleanse him from his sinne For albeit the guilt of mortal sinne be washed and taken away yet besides temporal punishment that is due the soule that was so polluted nedeth to be washed and cleansed from the euil habite or pronnes to fal againe gotten by the former custome or delectation in sinne 7. I VVas conceiued in iniquities An other reason why sinners after remission of al mortal sinnes neede to be washed and cleansed is because being borne in original sinne after remission therof there remaneth concupiscence that â—â—riueth against vertue and inclineth to sinne from which we must pray and labour to be more and more washed and cleansed 19 Sacrifice Holie Scriptures make often comparison betwen two kindes of sacrifices preferring internal before external as more gratful to God And of spiritual sacrifices this of a contrite spirite is first in order and maketh the way to the sacrifice of iustice because iustice presupposeth repentance and finally succedeth sacrifice of praise and thankesgeuing PSALME LI. Holie Dauid inueigheth against wicked Doeg a traitor 7. prophecieth his ruine 10. and his owne exaltation Vnto the end vnderstanding to Dauid †when Doeg the Idumeite came and told Saul Dauid is come into the house of Achimelech 1. Reg. 22. VVHY doest thou glorie in malice which art mightie in iniquitie †Al the day hath thy tongue thought iniustice as a sharp rasor thou hast done guile †Thou hast loued malice more then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie †Thou hast loued al wordes of precipitation a deceitful tongue †Therfore Wil God destroy thee for euer he wil plucke thee out remoue thee out of thy tabernacle thy roote out of the land of the liuing †The iust shal see and feare and shal laugh at him and they shal say Behold the man that hath not put God for his helper But hath hoped in the multitude of his riches and hath preualed in his vanitie †But I as a fruitful oliue tree in the house of God haue hoped in the mercie of God for euer and for euer and euer †I wil confesse to thee for euer because thou hast done it and I wil expect thy name because it is good in the sight of thy saints PSALME LII As in the thirtenth Psalme Christs Incarnation is prophecied after that sinne abunded in the world so here is foreshewed that after general wickednes 5. Christ wil come to iudge the bad 7. and deliuer the good Vnto the end for Maâ—leth vnderstandings of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God †They are corrupte and become abominable in iniquities there is not that doth good †God hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstaÌ„deth or seeketh after God †Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no there is not one Shal they not al know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as food of bread God they haue not inuocated there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was Because God hath dissipated the bones of them that please men they are confounded because God hath despised them Who wil geue out of Sion the saluation of Israel when God shal conuert the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad PSALME LIII Dauid in distresse crieth to God for helpe 6. considently trusting therin 8. and promising sacrifice of thankesgeuing †Vnto the end in songs vnderstanding for Dauid †when the Zipheites were come and said to Saul Is not Dauid hid with vs 1. Reg. 1. 23. 26. O GOD saue me in thy name and in thy strength iudge me †O God heare my prayer with thine eares receiue the words of my mouth †Because straÌ„gers haue risen vp against me the strong haue sought my soule and they haue not set God before their eies †For behold God helpeth me and our Lord is the receiuer of my soule †Turne away the euils to mine enimies and in thy truth destroy them †I wil voluntarily sacrifice to thee and wil confesse to thy name ô Lord because it is good †Because thou hast deliuered me out of al tribulation and mine eie hath looked downe vpon mine enimies PSALME LIIII The prophet as wel in his owne as other iust mens person describeth great calamities suffered 10. prayeth against the wicked 13. lamenting especially that those which professe frendshipe are aduersaries 17. and declareth Gods prouidence in protecting the good and destroying the bad Vnto the end in songes vnderstanding to Dauid HEARE my prayer ô God despise not my petition †Attend to me and heare me †I am made sorowful in my exercise and am trubled at the voice of the enimie
the world haue obtained riches †And I saide Then haue I iustified my hart without cause and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes †And haue bene scourged al the day and my chastising in the morninges †If I saide I wil speake this behold I reproued the nation of thy children †I thought to know this thing it is labour before me †Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes †But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them thou hast cast them downe whiles they were eleuated †How are they brought into desolation they haue failed sodanely they haue perished for their iniquitie †As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord in thy citie thou shalt bring their image to nothing †Because my hart is inflamed and my reynes are changed And I am brought to nothing and knew not †As a beast am I become with thee and I alwaies with thee †Thou hast helde my right hand and in thy wil thou hast conducted me and with glorie thou hast receiued me †For what is to me in heauen and besides thee what would I vpon the earth †My flesh hath fainted and my hart God of my hart and God my portion for euer For behold they that make them selues faire from thee shal perish thou hast destroyed al that fornicate from thee †But it is good for me to cleaue to God to put my hope in our Lord God That I may shew forth al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion PSALME LXXIII Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning besecheth God to respect his owne inheritance cruelly afflicted â—â— and leift long without helpe 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name Vnderstanding to Asaph VVHY hast thou ô God repelled for euer is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture Be mindful of thy congregation which thou hast possessed from the beginning Thou hast redemed the rod of thine inheritanâ—â—e mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt †Lift vp thy handes vpon their prides for euer how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place †And they that hate thee haue gloried in the middes of thy solemnitie They haue sette their signes for signes †and haue not knowne as in the issue on high As in a wood of trees they haue with axes †cut out the gates therof together in hatchet and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe †They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth †Their kinred together haue saide in their hart Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth †Our signes we haue not seene there is now no prophet and he wil know vs no more †How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer †Why doest thou turne away thy hand and thy right hand out of the middes of thy bosome for euer †But God our king before the worldes he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth †Thou in thy strength hast confirmed the sea thou hast crushed the head of Dragons in the waters †Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of the Aethiopians †Thou hast broken vp fountanes and torrentes thou hast dried the riuers of Ethan †The day is thine and the night is thine thou hast made the morning and the sunne †Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth the summer and the spring thou hast formed them †Be mindeful of this the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name †Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer †Haue respect vnto thy testament because they that are obscure of the earth are filled with houses of iniquities †Let not the humble be turned away being confounded the poore and needy shal praise thy name †Arise God iudge thy cause be mindful of those thy reproches that are from the foolish man al the day †Forget not the voices of thine enimies the pride of them that hate thee hath ascended alwaies PSALME LXXIIII Christ with his Assessors wil iudge the whole world at the last day in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement 1â— The wicked shal be punished and the good rewarded Vnto the end Corrupt not a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph VVE wil confesse to thee ô God we wil confesse and wil inuocate thy name We wil tel thy meruelouse workes †when I shal take a time I wil iudge iustices †The earth is melted and al that dwel in it I haue confirmed the pillers thereof †I said to the wicked doe not wickedly and to them that offend Exalt not the horne †Exalt not your horne on high speake not iniquitie aganst God †For neither from the East nor from the West nor from the desert mountanes †because God is Iudge This man he humbleth and him he exalteth †because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture And he hath powred it out of this into that but yet the dregges therof are not emptied al the sinners of the earth shal drinke †But I wil shewforth for euer I wil sing to the God of Iacob †And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted PSALME LXXV The royal prophet singeth Gods praises for his particular prouidence towards the Iewes 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth Vnto the end in prayses a Psalme to Asaph a Canticle to the Assirians God is knowne in Iewrie in Israel his name is great †And his place is made in peace and his habitation in Sion †There he brake the powres of bowes the shilde the sword and the battle †Thou doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal mountaynes †al the foolish of hart were trubled †They slept their sleepe and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes †At thy reprehension ô God of Iacob they haue al slumbered that mounted on horses †Thou art terrible and who shal resist thee from that time thy wrath †From heauen thou hast made thy iudgement hearde the earth trembled and was quiet When God arose vnto iudgement
Ammon and Amalec the for eners with the inhabitantes of Tyre †Yea and Assur also is come with them they are made an aide to the children of Lot †Doe to them as to Madian and Sisara as to Iabin in the torrent Cisson †They perished in Endor they were made as the dung of the earth †Put their princes as Oreb and Zeb and Zebee and Salmana Al their princes †which haue saide Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance †My God put them as a wheele and as stubble before the face of the winde †Euen as fire that burneth a wood as a flame that burneth the mountaines †So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them †Fil their faces with ignominie and they wil seeke thy name ô Lord. †Let them be ashamed and trubled for euer and euer and let them be confounded and perish †And let them know that Lord is thy name thou onlie the Highest in al the earth PSALME LXXXIII Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie 6. accounting it in the meane time a happie state to be in the militant Church 12. where God first geuing grace wil geue glorie in the triumphant †Vnto the end for wine presses t the children of Core a Psalme HOW beloued are thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes †my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the courtes of our Lord. My hart and my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God †For the sparow also hath found her an house and the turtledoue a nest for her selfe where she may lay her young ones Thine altars ô Lord of hoastes my King and my God †Blessed are they that dwel in thy house ô Lord for euer and euer they shal praise thee †Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee he hath disposed ascension in his hart †in the vaile of teares in the place which he hath appointed †For the lawgeuer shal geue blessing they shal goe from vertue into vertue the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion †Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob †Behold ô God our protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ †Because better is one day in thy courtes aboue thousands I haue chosen to be an abiect in the house of my God rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners †Because God loueth mercie and truth our Lord wil geue grace and glorie †He wil not depriue them of good thinges that walke in innocencie ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man that hopeth in thee PSALME LXXXIIII With commemoration of Gods former benefites 5. Christs Incarnation is prophecied 9. bringing peace and saluation 11. mercie and iustice concurring together Vnto the end to the children of Core a Psalme O Lord thou hast blessed thy land thou hast turned away the captiuitie of Iacob †Thou hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes †Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation †Conuert vs ô God our sauiour and auert thy wrath from vs. †Wil t thou be wrath with vs for euer or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation †O God thou being turned shalt quicken vs and thy people shal reioyce in thee †Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation †I wil heare what our Lord God wil speake in me because he wil speake peace vpon his people And vpon his saincts and vpon them that are conuerted to the hart †But yet his saluation is nigh to them that feare him that glorie may inhabite in our land †Mercie and truth haue met each other iustice and peace haue kissed †Truth is risen out of the earth and iustice hath looked downe from heauen †For our Lord certes wil geue benignitie and our land shal giue her fruite †Iustice shal walke before him and shal set his steppes in the way PSALME LXXXV In consideration of his owne imperfections the royal prophet or other faithful person prayeth God 5. according to his mercie and goodnes 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies †A praier to Dauid him selfe Incline thine eare ô Lord and heare me because I am needie and poore †Keepe my soule because I am holie saue thy seruant my God that hopeth in thee †Haue mercie on me ô Lord because I haue cried to thee al the day †make ioyful the soule of thy seruant because to thee ô Lord haue I lifted vp my soule †Because thou ô Lord art swete and milde and of much mercie to al that inuocate thee †Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears and attend to the voice of my petition †In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee because thou hast heard me †There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord and there is not according to thy workes †Al nations what soeuer thou hast made shal come and shal adore before thee ô Lord and they shal glorifie thy name †Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges thou onlie art God †Conduct me ô Lord in thy way and I wil walke in thy truth let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name †I wil confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart and wil glorifie thy name for euer †Because thy mercie is great vpon me and thou hast deliuered my soule out of the lower hel †O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule and they haue not set thee in their sight †And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful patient and of much mercie and true †Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me giue thine empire to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handmaide †Make with me a signe vnto God that they may see which hate me and may be confounded because thou ô Lord hast holpen me PSALME LXXXVI The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem 3. is extended to al Nations 5. glorious 6. and permanent 7. in holie ioy To the children of Core a Psalme of Canticle THE fundations thereof in the holie mountaynes †our Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue al the tabernacles of Iacob †Glorious thinges
vvhom vve haue accesse to the euerlasting kingdom Or thus not transposing the vvordes By vocation of Christ the Head through distinct voice of signes for vvordes are signes shevving the mind vve are conducted to the eternal kingdom the happines vvhich al men desire VVhat I pray thee saith this holie Doctor is more sacred then this mysterie vvhat more pleasant then this delight VVhat meate vvhat honey are svveeter then to knovv Gods vvisdom to enter into his secrecte closset◠to behold the sense of our Creator and to teach the vvordes of thy Lord God ful of spiritual vvisdom vvhich are derided by the vvise of this vvorld VVe must also aduertise the reader of the like discourses of ancient Fathers ouer long to be here recited concerning the manifold hiegh praises of Gods Lavv conteyned in this Psalme vvith frequent repetitiō of certaine Synonyma vvordes signifying the same thing in al fourtene tovvitte The Lavv of God his VVayes Testimonies Commandments Precepts Statutes Iustifications Iudgements Iustice Equitie Veritie VVordes Speaches Sermons of vvhich there is commonly one in euerie verse and somtimes tvvo or three in the same verse But our English tongue hardly sufficing rightly to distinguish the three last which in latin are Verba Eloquia Sermones we translate VVORDES only adding in the margen Eloquia and Sermones when they occurre Leauing therfore larger commentaries to others we shal prosecute our wonted maner of briefe glosses Only here premonishing the diligent readers especially Clergimen our selues and our brethren who euerie day sing or read this whole Psalme in the Canonical houres to obserue two particular pointes of Christian doctrine euidently proued by manie places of this Psalme The one against the Pelagians heresie denying the necessitie of Gods special grace in meritorious workes For the Psalmist often here inculcateth mans insufficiencie that of himselfe and by natural forces he can not kepe the commandments of God but needeth alwayes the particular grace of God as vvel to beleue in him to repent for sinnes and to beginne good vvorkes as to procede and perseuere in good state to the end The other against the heresie of our time denying merite by grace freewil For here it is also manifest that Gods grace maketh man able to kepe his commandments and by keeping them to become iust in this life and so to merite eternal glorie Sundrie other principal Articles of Christian Catholique Religion are likevvise comprised in this one Psalme but especially Moral doctrin Alleluja Aleph Doctrine BLESSED are the immaculate in the way which walke in the law of our Lord. †Blessed are they that search his testimonies that seeke after him with al their hart †For they that worke iniquitie haue not walked in his waies †Thou hast very much commanded thy commandmentes to be kept †Would God my waies might be directed to keepe thy iustifications †Then shal I not be confounded when I shal looke throughly in al thy commandmentes †I wil confesse to thee in direction of hart in that I haue lerned the iudgements of thy iustice †I wil keepe thy iustifications forsake me not wholy Beth. House †Wherein doth a yongman correct his way in keeping thy wordes †With my whole hart I haue sought after thee repel me not from thy commandmentes †In my hart I haue hid thy wordes that I may not sinne to thee †Blessed art thou ô Lord teach me thy iustifications †In my lippes I haue pronounced al the iudgementes of thy mouth †I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al riches †I wil be exercised in thy commandmentes and I wil consider thy waies †I wil meditate in thy iustifications I wil not forget thy wordes Gimel Fulnes †Render to thy seruant quicken me and I shal keepe thy wordes †Reuele mine eies and I shal consider the meruelous thinges of thy law †I am a seiourner in the land hide not thy commandmentes from me †My soule hath coueted to desire thy iustifications at al time †Thou hast rebuked the prowde cursed are they that decline from thy commandmentes †Take from me reproch and contempt because I haue sought after thy testimonies †For princes sate and they spake against me but thy seruant was exercised in thy iustifications †For both thy testimonies are my meditation and thy iustifications my counsel Daleth Of Tables †My soule hath cleaued to the pauement quicken me according to thy word †I haue vttered my wayes and thou hast heard me teach me thy iustifications †Instruct me the way of thy iustifications and I shal be exercised in thy meruelous workes †My soule hath slumbered for tediousnes confirme me in thy wordes †Remoue from me the way of iniquitie and according to thy law haue mercie on me †I haue chosen the way of truth I haue not forgotten thy iudgements †I haue cleaued to thy testimonies ô Lord do not confound me †I ranne the way of thy commandments when thou didst dilate my hart He. This thing Set me a law ô Lord the way of thy iustifications and I wil seeke after it alwayes †Geue me vnderstanding and I wil search thy law and I wil keepe it with my whole hart †Conduct me into the path of thy commandments because I would it †Incline my hart into thy testimonies and not into auarice †Turne away mine eies that they see not vanitie in thy way quicken me †Establish thy word to thy seruant in thy feare †Take away my reproch which I haue feared because thy iudgements are pleasant †Behold I haue coueted thy commandments in thine equitie quicken me Vau. And. †And let thy mercie come vpon me ô Lord thy saluation according to thy word †And I shal answer a word to them that vpbrayde me because I haue hoped in thy wordes †And take not away out of my mouth the word of truth vtterly because I haue much hoped in thy iudgementes †And I wil keepe thy law alwayes for euer and for euer and euer †And I walked in largenesse because I haue sought after thy commandments †And I spake of thy testimonies in the sight of kinges and was not confounded †And I meditated in thy commandments which I loued †And I haue lifted vp my handes to thy commandments which I loued and I was exercised in thy iustifications Zain This. †Be mindeful of thy word to thy seruant wherein thou hast
thee because thou art terribly magnified thy workes are meruelous my soule knoweth excedingly †My bone is not hid from thee which thou madest in secrete and my substance in the lower pattes of the earth †Mine imperfection thine eies haue sene in thy booke al shal be written daies shal be formed no man in them †But to me thy frendes ô God are become honorable excedingly their principalitie is excedingly strengthned †I wil number them and they shal be multiplied aboue the sand I rose vp and I am yet with thee †If thou shalt kil sinners ô God ye men of blood depart from me †Because you say in thought they shal receiue thy cities in vayne †Did not I hate them that hate thee ô Lord and pyned away because of thine enemies †with perfect hatred did I hate them they are become enemies to me †Proue me ô God and know my hart examine me and know my pathes And see if the way of iniquitie be in me and conduct me in the euerlasting way PSALME CXXXIX The iust diuersly afflicted by the wicked pray to be defended 7. repose their confidence in God 10. who wil adiudge the reprobate to eternal punishment 13. and reward the good with the fruition of himself Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid DELIVER me ô Lord from the euil man from the vniust man rescue me †Which haue deuised iniquitie in their hart al the day they did appoint battels They haue whet their tongues as that of a serpent †the venome of aspes is vnder their lippes †Kepe me ô Lord from the hand of the sinner and from vniust men deliuer me †Who haue deuised to supplant my steppes †the proude haue hid a snare for me And they haue streched out ropes for a snare they haue layd a stumbling blocke for me nere the way †I sayd to our Lord Thou art my God heare ô Lord the voice of my petition †O Lord Lord the strength of my saluation thou hast ouershadowed my head in the day of battel †Yeld me not ô Lord from my desire to the sinner they haue deuised against me forsake me not lest they perhaps be proude †The head of their compase the labour of their lippes shal couer them †Coales shal fal vpon them thou shalt cast them downe into fyre in miseries they shal not stand vp †A man ful of tongue shal not be directed in the earth euils shal take the vniust man into destruction †I haue knowne that our Lord wil do the iudgement of the needie and the reuenge of the poore †But as for the iust they shal confesse to thy name and the righteous shal dwel with thy countenance PSALME CXL The Church prayeth that her children may auoide sinful wordes 4. not make excuses of sinnes committed not communicate with others in sinne nor to harken to slatterers 6 but to pray that they may amend the Psalmist by the way prophecieth that manie shal be conuerted 8. though sometimes persecution be great the Church faileth not A Psalme of Dauid LORD I haue cried to thee heare me attend to my voice when I shal crie to thee †Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight the eleuation of my handes as euening sacrifice †Set ô Lord a watch to my mouth and a doore round about to my lippes †Decline not my hart into wordes of malice to make excuses in sinnes With men that worke iniquitie and I wil not communicate with the chiefe of them †The iust shal rebuke me in mercie and shal reprehend me but let not the oyle of a sinner fatte my head Because yet also my prayer is in their good pleasures †their iudges are swalowed vp ioyned to the rocke They shal heare my wordes because they haue preuailed †as the grossenes of the earth is broken out vpon the earth Our bones are dissipated nere to hel †for to thee ô Lord Lord are mine eies in thee haue I hoped take not away my soule †Keepe me from the snare which they haue set for me and from the scandals of them that worke iniquitie †Sinners shal fal in his net I am alone vntil I passe PSALME CXLI Holie Dauid being fled into a caue and beseeged round about by Sauls armie explicating his distresse 6. prayeth to be deliuered Of vnderstanding to Dauid when he was in the caue a prayer 1. Reg. 24. VVITH my voice I haue cried to our Lord with my voice I haue prayed to our Lord †I powre out my prayer in his sight and I pronounce my tribulation before him †When my spirit faileth of myself and thou hast knowne my pathes In this way which I walked they hid a snare for me †I looked toward the right hand and saw and there was none that would know me Flight hath failed me and there is none to require my soule †I haue cried to thee ô Lord I haue sayd Thou art my hope my portion in the land of the liuing †Attend to my petition because I am humbled excedingly Deliuer me from them that persecute me because they are made strong ouer me †Bring forth my soule out of prison to confesse vnto thy name the iust expect me til thou reward me Al this happened in figure of Christ of vvhom prophetically S. Augustin S. Hilarie Cassiams Cassiodorus and others expound the vvhole Psalme Amongst others S Beda briefly in these vvordes VVheras in the title Vnderstanding is premised to Prayer therby as signified that Dauid in his distresses and in the denne whither he fled vnderstood vvhat our Lord should suffer of the Ievves and hovv he vvould pray to his Father In the first part our Lord crieth to his Father complaining of the detestable deceiptes of Iudas the persecutor In the second he prayeth to be deliuered from the prison of hel Limbus vvhere he vvas free because the faith of al the Sainctes depended on his Resurrection PSALME CXLII King Dauid or anie other in spiritual or temporal tribulation not trusting in his owne iustice layeth open his calamitie 5. considering Gods benignitie 6. prayeth to be spedely deliuered 11. and confidently assureth himselfe therof A Psalme of Dauid when Absalom his sonne persecuted him LORD heare my prayer with thine eares receiue my petition in thy truth heare me in thy iustice †And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant because no man liuing shal be iustified in thy sight †Because the enemie hath persecuted
yongmen their strength and the dignitie of oldmen a gray head †The blewnesse of the wound shal wipe away euils and stripes in the more secrete place of the bellie CHAP. XXI AS diuisions of waters so the hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord whither soeuer he wil he shal incline it †Euerie way of a man semeth to himself right but our Lord weigheth the hartes †To doe mercie and iudgement doth more please our Lord then victimes †Exaltation of the eies is the dilatation of the hart the lampe of the impious sinne †The cogitations of the strong are alwayes in abundance but euerie sluggard is alwayes in pouertie †He that gathereth treasures with a lying tongue is vaine and witles and shal stumble at the snares of death †The robberies of the impious shal draw them downe because they would not doe iudgement †The peruerse way of a man is strange but he that is cleane his worke is right †It is better to sitte in a corner of the house toppe then with a brawling woman and in a common house †The soule of the impious desireth euil he wil not haue pitie on his neighbour †The pestilent man being punished the litle one wil be wiser and if he folow the wiseman he wil take knowlege †The iust deuiseth concerning the house of the impious that he may draw the impious from euil †He that stoppeth his eare at the crie of the poore himself also shal crie and shal not be heard †A gift hid quencketh angers and a gift in the bosome the greatest indignation †It is a ioy to the iust to doe iudgement and dread to them that worke iniquitie †A man that shal erre from the way of doctrine shal abyde in the assemblie of giantes †He that loueth good cheere shal be in pouertie he that loueth wine and fatte thinges shal not be rich †The impious shal be geuen for the iust and the vniust for the righteous †It is better to dwel in a desert land then with a brawling and angrie woman †Treasure to be desired and oyle in the habitation of the iust and the vnwise man shal dissipate it †He that foloweth iustice and mercie shal finde life iustice and glorie †The wise hath scaled the citie of the strong and hath destroyed the confidence therof †He that kepeth his mouth and his tongue kepeth his soule from distresses †The proude and arrogant is called vnlerned which in anger worketh pride †Desires kil the slothful for his handes would not worke any thing †al the day he longeth and desireth but he that is iust wil geue and wil not cease †The hostes of the impious abominable because they are offered of wickednes †A lying witnes shal perish an obedient man shal speake victorie †The impious man malepertly hardeneth his countenauce but he that is righteous correcteth his way †There is no wisdom there is no prudence there is no counsel against our Lord. †The horse is prepared to the day of battel but our Lord geueth saluation CHAP. XXII BEtter is a good name then much riches aboue siluer and gold good grace †The rich and poore haue mette one an other our Lord is the maker of both †The subtel saw euil and hyd himself the innocent passed by and was afflicted with damage †The end of modestie the feare of our Lord riches and glorie and life †Armour and swordes in the way of the peruerse but the keper of his owne soule departeth far from them †It is a prouerbe A yongman according to his way when he is old wil not depart from it †The richman ruleth ouer the poore and he that boroweth is the seruant of him that lendeth †He that soweth iniquitie shal reape euils and with the rod of his wrath he shal be consumed †He that is prone to mercie shal be blessed for of his breades he hath geuen to the poore He that geueth giftes shal purchase victorie and honour but he that receiueth taketh away the soule of the geuer †Cast out the scorner and brawling shal goe forth with him and cause shal cease and contumelies †He that loueth cleanes of hart for the grace of his lippes shal haue the king his frend †The eies of our Lord keepe knowlege and the wordes of the iust are supplanted †The slothful sayth A lyon is without in the middes of the streates I am to be slayne †A deepe pitte the mouth of a strange woman he with whom our Lord is angrie shal fal into it †Follie is tyed together in the hart of a childe and the rod of discipline shal driue it away †He that doth calumniate the poore to increase his riches himself shal geue to a richer and shal be in neede †Incline thine eare and heare the wordes of wisemen and set thy hart to my doctrine †which shal be beautiful for thee when thou shalt kepe it in thy bellie and it shal flow in thy lippes †That thy confidence may be in our Lord wherfore I haue shewed also it to thee this day †Behold I haue described it to thee three maner of wayes in cogitations and knowledge †that I might shew thee the stabilitie and the wordes of truth out of these to answer them that sent thee †Doe not violence to the poore because he is poore neither oppresse the needie in the gate †because our Lord wil iudge his cause and wil pearse them that haue pearsed his soule †Be not frend to an angrie man nor walke with a furious man †lest perhaps thou lerne his pathes and take scandal to thy soule †Be not with them that sticke downe their handes and that offer themselues sureties for debts †for if thou haue not wherewith to restore what cause is there that he should take the couering from thy bed †Trangresse not the ancient boundes which thy fathers haue put †Hast thou sene a man quicke in his worke he shal stand before kinges neither shal be before the vnnoble CHAP. XXIII VVHEN thou shalt sitte to eate with a prince attend diligently what thinges are set before thy face †and set a knife in thy throte if notwithstanding thou haue thy soule in thine owne power †Desire not his meates in which is the bread of lying †Labour not to be rich but set a meane to thy prudence †Lift not vp thine eies to the riches which thou canst not haue because they shal make to themselues winges as of an eagle and shal flie into heauen †Eate not with an enuious man and desire
not his meates †Because after the similitude of a southsayer and diuiner he esteemeth that which he knoweth not Eate and drinke wil he say to thee and his minde is not with thee †The meates which thou hadst eaten thou shalt vomite vp and shalt lose thy beautiful wordes †Speake not in the eares of the vnwise because they wil despise the doctrine of thy speach †Touch not the boundes of litle ones and into the filde of pupils enter not †For their nerekinsman is strong and he wil iudge their cause against thee †Let thy hart enter into doctrin and thyne eares to wordes of knowlege †Withdrawe not discipline from a childe for if thou shalt strike him with the rod he shal not die †Thou shalt strike him with the rod and deliuer his soule from hel †My sonne if thy minde shal be wise my hart shal be glad with thee †And my reines shal reioyce when thy lippes shal speake right thinges †Let not thy hart enuie sinners but in the feare of our Lord be thou al the day †because thou shalt haue hope in the later end and thyn exaltation shal not be taken away †Heare my sonne be wise direct thy minde in the way †Be not in the feastes of great drinkers nor in their comessations which contribute flesh together to eate †because they that are geuen to drinking and that pay shottes shal be consumed and drousines shal be clothed with ragges †Heare thy father that begot thee and contemne not thy mother when she is old †Bye truth and sel not wisedom and doctrine and intelligence †The father of the iust reioyceth with gladnes he that hath begotten a wiseman shal reioyce in him †Let thy father be glad and thy mother and let her reioyce that bare thee †My sonne geue me thy hart let thyne eies kepe my wayes †For an harlot is a deepe dich a strange woman a narrow pitte †She lyeth in wayt in the way as a robber and whom she shal see not circumspect she wil kil †To whom is woe to whose father woe to whom browles to whom diches to whom woundes without cause to whom bloud sheeding eies †Is it not to them that passe their time in wine and studie to drinke out their cuppes †Behold not wine when it waxeth yelow when the colour therof shal shine in the glasse it goeth in pleasantly †but in the end it wil bite like a snake and as a basiliske it wil powre abrode poysones †Thine eies shal see strange wemen and thy hart shal speake peruerse thinges †And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the middes of the sea and as the gouernour fast a sleepe the sterne being lost †And thou shalt say They haue beaten me but I was not greeued they drew me and I felt not When shal I awake and finde wines againe CHAP. XXIIII EMVLATE not euil men neither desire thou to be with them †because their mind doth meditate robberies and their lippes speake deceites †By wisedom the house shal be built and by prudence it shal be strengthened †In doctrine the cellars shal be replenished with al precious and most beâ—utiful substance †A wiseman is strong and a lerned man strong and valiant †Because warre is managed by due ordering there shal be saluation where manie counsels are †Wisedom is high for a foole in the gate he shal not open his mouth †He that thinketh to doe euils shal be called a foole †The cogitation of a foole is sinne and a detracter the abomination of men †If thou despaire being wearie in the day of distresse thy strength shal be diminished †Deliuer them that are led to death and those that are drawen to death cease not to deliuer †If thou say I am not of force he that seeth into the hart he vnderstandeth and nothing deceiueth the keeper of thy soule and he shal render to a man according to his workes †Eate honie my sonne because it is good and the honie-combe most sweete to thy throte †so also the doctrine of wisedom to thy soule which when thou shalt finde thou shalt haue hope in the later end and thy hope shal not perish †Lie not in wayte nor seeke impietie in the house of the iust nor spoile his rest †For “ seuen times shal the iust fal and shal rise againe but the impious shal fal into euil †When thine enemie shal fal be not glad and in his ruine let not thy hart reioyce †Lest perhaps our Lord see and it displease him and he take away his wrath from him †Contend not with the most wicked nor emulate the impious †because euil men haue not hope of thinges to come and the lampe of the impious shal be extinguished †Feare our Lord my sonne and the king with detracters medle not †because their perdition shal sodenly rise and the ruine of both who knoweth †These thinges also to the wise to know a person in iudgement is not good †They that say to the impious Thou art iust peoples shal curse them and tribes shal detest them †They that rebuke him shal be praysed and blessing shal come vpon them †He shal kisse the lippes who answereth right wordes †Prepare thy worke abrode and diligently til thy ground that afterward thou mayst build thy house †Be not witnes without cause against thy neighbour neither alure any man with thy lippes †Say not As he hath done to me so wil I doe to him I wil render to euerie one according to his worke †I passed by the filde of a slothful man and by the vineyard of a foolish man †and behold nettels had filled it wholy and thornes had couered the face therof and the wal of stones was destroyed †Which when I had seene I layd it in my hart and by the example I lerned discipline †A litle I say thou shalt sleepe a litle thou shalt slumber a litle shalt thou ioyne thy handes together to rest †and as a poste pouertie shal come to thee beggerie as a man armed ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXIIII 16. Seuen times shal the iust sal A iust man that is to say Gods true seruant free from mortal sinne is subiect during this life to manie tentations imperfections and may often fal into venial sinnes and not lose iustice nor the true title of a iust man as here he is called nor become the diuels seruant nor Gods enemie but through Gods grace helping his weaknes he riseth agaâ—ne from smal sinnes stil perseuering in Gods fauoure wheras contrariwise the impious falleth into euil towitte into more and more sinne through malice and lacke of grace riseth not so easily
An exhortation to chastitie temperance 8. and to workes of mercie 10. with praise of a valiant wise woman THE wordes of Lamuel the king The vision wherwith his mother instructed him †What ô my beloued what ô the beloued of my wombe what ô beloued of my vowes †Geue not thy substance to wemen thy riches to destroy kinges †Geue not to kinges ô Lamuel geue not wine to kinges because there is no secrete where drunknes reigneth †lest perhaps they drinke forget iudgements change the cause of the children of the poore †Geue strong drinke to them that be sad and wine vnto them that are of a pensiue minde †let them drinke and forget their pouertie and not remember their sorow any more †Open thy mouth to the dumme to the causes of al the children that passe †open thy mouth decree that which is iust iudge the needie poore †A valiant woman who shal finde far and from the vtmost borders is the price of her †The hart of her husband trusteth in her and he shal not neede spoyles †She shal render good and not euil al the dayes of her life †She hath sought wool and flaxe and hath wrought by the counsel of her handes †She is become as a marchants shippe bringing her bread from farre †And she hath risen in the night and geuen pray to her houshold and meates to her handmaides †She hath vewed a filde and bought it of the fruite of her handes she hath planted a vineyard †She hath gyrded her loines with strength and hath strengthened her arme †She hath tasted and sene that her traficke is good her lampe shal not be extinguished in the night †She hath put her hand to strong thinges and her fingers haue taken hold of the spindle †She hath opened her hand to the neddie and stretched out her palmes to the poore †She shal not feare for her house in the coldes of snow for al her houshould are clothed with duble †Tapestrie clothing she hath made to herself silke and purple is her garment †Her husband is noble in the gates when he shal sitte with the senatours of the land †She made sindon and sold it and deliuered a girdle to the Chananeite †Strength and beautie is her garment and she shal laugh in the later day †She hath opened her mouth to wisedom and the law of clemencie is in her tongue †She hath considered the pathes of her house and hath not eaten her bread idle †Her children arose and commended her to be most blessed her husband and he praysed her †Manie daughters haue gathered together riches thou hast passed them al. †Grace is deceitful and beautie is vayne the woman that feareth our Lord shal be praysed †Geue ye to her of the fruite of her handes and let her workes praise her in the gates ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXI 10. A valiant vvoman vvho shal finde Vpon occasion of his mothers most prudent admonition the wiseman singularly praiseth a perfect vertuous woman And that in an exquisite kind of stile in Tetramical lambike verse with perfect order and number of the Alphabet letters Signifying as S Ierom teacheth that as none can reade or speale wordes vnles they first lerne to know the letters so we can not attaine to know the greater Mysteries in holie Scriptures except we beginne with moral good life according to that the Prophet sayth By thy commandments I haue vnderstood And therfore wiâ—e Salomon by instinct of the Holie Ghost as wel by the maner of stile as by the doctrine conteined concludeth his Booke of Parables with praise both of the Church in general which hath al the vertues and good properties here mentioned and of euerie faithful soule sincerely seruing God which either in dede or in desire of mind hath such part of them as may suffice to the attaining of eternal life For concerning the whole Church S Augustin in two Sermons 217. and 218 de temp S. Beda vpon this place and other Fathers shew it euidently Touching also particular soules not only of holie men but also of vvemen the frailer sexe holie Scriptures and Ecclesiastical monuments yelde manie examples besides the most Excellent and immaculate virgin Mother of God as of Sara Rebecca Lia Rachael Elizabeth Marie Magdalen Martha and innumerable others most precious pearles deare spouses of Christ and singular ornaments of his Church THE ARGVMENT OF ECCLESIASTES KIng Salomon a diuine Preacher wherof this Booke is called Ecclesiastes exhorteth al such as haue lerned the principles of good life to contemne this world because al thinges therin are vaine and insufficient to geue repose to mans soule shewing that true felicitie which al men desire consisteth not in natural knowlege gotten by witte and industrie nor in worldlie pleasures much lesse in carnal nor in riches nor in auctoritie or dominion nor in anie other temporal thing as diuers diuersly thinke but only in the true seruice of God by flying from sinne and doing good workes as in the meritoricus cause and essentially in the clere vision of God the proper end for which man was created And so this Booke conteyneth three principal parts First this diuine preacher confuteth al their opinions that imagine a false felicitie in humane worldlie or temporal thinges to the beginning of the 7. chapter In the rest of that chapter and three folowing he teacheth that true felicitie consisteth in the eternal fruition of God and is procured by declining from vices and embracing vertues In the two last chapters he exhorteth al to beginne spedily to serue God and to perseuere therin to the end of this life ECCLESIASTES IN HEBREW CALLED COHELETH CHAP. I. Al temporal thinges in comparison of true felicitie are vaine 4. because they are mutable 8. neither can anie man attaine perfect knowlege to his satisfaction 12. as appeareth by Salomons owne experience THE wordes of Ecclesiastes the sonne of Dauid king of Ierusalem †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes vanitie of vanities al thinges vanitie †What hath a man more of al his labour wherby he laboreth vnder the sunne †Generation passeth and generation cometh but the earth standeth for euer †The sunne riseth and goeth downe and returneth to his place and there rising againe †compasseth by the South and bendeth to the North compassing al thinges goeth forward in circuite returneth vnto his circles †Al riuers enter into the sea and the sea ouerfloweth not to the place whence the riuers issueforth they do returne that they may flow againe †Al thinges are hard man can not explicate them in word The eye is not filled with seing neither is the eare filled with hearing †What is that hath bene the same thing that shal be What is that hath bene done the same that is to
and a time to dance †A time to disperse stones and a time to gather A time to embrace and a time to be farre from embracings †A time to gette and a time to lose A time to kepe and a time to cast away †A time to rent and a time to sow together A time to kepe silence a time to speake †A time of loue and a time of hatred A time of warre and a time of peace †What hath man more of his labour †I haue sene the affliction which God hath geuen to the children of men that they may be distracted in it †He hath made al thinges good in their time and hath deliuered the world to their disputation and that man can not finde the worke which God hath wrought from the beginning vnto the end †And I haue knowne that there was no better thing then to reioyce and to do wel in his life †For euerie man that eateth and drinketh and seeth good of his labour this is the gift of God †I haue lerned that al the workes which God hath made perseuere for euer we can not adde anie thing nor take away from those thinges which God hath made that he may be feared †That which hath bene made the same is permanent the thinges that shal be haue already bene and God restoreth that which is past †I saw vnder the sunne in the place of iudgement impietie and in the place of iustice iniquitie †And I sayde in my hart the iust and the impious God wil iudge and then shal be the time of euerie thing †I sayd in my hart of the children of men that God would proue them and shew them to be like beastes †Therfore there is one death of man and beastes and the condition of both equal as man dieth so they also dye al thinges breath alike and man hath nothing more then beast al thinges are subiect to vanitie †and al thinges passe to one place of earth they were made and into earth they returne together †Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend vpward and if the spirite of beastes descend downward †And I haue found that nothing is better then for a man to reioyce in his worke and that this is his portion For who shal bring him to know the thinges that shal be after him CHAP. IIII. In this would manie innocents are oppressed 4. The potent sometimes enuied contemned 15. and forsaken by their subiectes 17. especially when the superiors obey not God ITurned myself to other thinges and I saw the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne and the teares of the innocents and no comforter that they can not resist their violence being destitute of al mens helpe †And I praised rather the dead then the liuing †and happier then both haue I iudged him that is not yet borne nor hath sene the euils that are done vnder the sunne †Againe I haue contemplated al the labours of men and their industries I haue perceiued to lie open to the enuie of their neighbour and in this therfore there is vanitie and superfluous care †A foole foldeth his handes together and eateth his owne flesh saying †Better is an handful with rest then both handes ful with labour and affliction of mind †Considering I found also an other vanitie vnder the sunne †There is one and he hath not a second not a sonne not a brother and yet he ceaseth not to labour neither are his eyes satisfied with riches neither doth he recount saying For whom do I labour and defraud my soule of good thinges in this also is vanitie and very il affliction †“ It is better therfore that two be together then one for they haue profite of their societie †if one fal he shal be stayed vp of the other Woe to him that is alone because when he falleth he hath none to lift him vp †And if two sleepe together they shal warme eche other one how shal he be warmed †And if a man preuaile against one two resist him a triple coard is hardly broken †Beter is a child that is poore and wise then a king old and foolish that knoweth not to foresee for hereafter †Because out of the prison and cheynes sometime there cometh one forth to a kingdom and an other borne in his kingdom is consumed with pouertie †I saw al men aliue that walke vnder the sunne with the second yongman which shal rise vp for him †The number of the people of al that haue bene before him is infinite and they that shal be afterward shal not reioyce in him But this also is vanitie and affliction of spirite †Take heede to kepe thy foote when thou entrest into the house of God and approch thou to heare †For much better is obedience then the victimes of fooles who know not what euil they doe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 9. It is better that tvvo be together Besides the commendation of charitie and freindshipe amongst men which is one proper sense of this place S. Ierom expoundeth it also of the necessitie of Christs dwelling in mans soule of his continual assisting grace that man alone lie not open to the deceiptes of the aduersarie The benefite of feloshippe sayth he is streightwayes shewed in the profite of societie For if the one fal as * the iust falleth often Christ raiseth vp his partner for vvoe to him vvho falling hath not Christ in him to raise him vp If one also slepe that is be dissolued by death and haue Christ vvith him being vvarmed and quickned he sooner reuiueth And if the diuel be stronger in impugning against a man the man shal stand and Christ vvil stand pro homine suo pro sodali suo for his man for his companion Not that Christs povvre alone is vveake against the diuel but that free wil is leift to man and we doing our endeuour he becometh stronger in feighting And if the Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost come vvithal this sodalitie is not soone broken Yet that vvhich is not soone broken may sometimes be broken For this triple coard vvas in Iudas the Apostle but because after the morsel the diuel entered into him this coard was broken Thus S. Irom teacheth that neither can man without Christ resist tentations nor rise from anie sinne in this life or in the next neither vvil Christ vvithout mans consent and endeuour stay him from falling nor raise him vp being fallen CHAP. V. An exhortation to speake discretly and reuerently of God 3. to performe vowes 6. not to be trubled with imaginations nor present oppressions of the poore 9. Auarice is neuer satiate 11. riches sometimes cause sicknes ruine of the bodie 18. and obliuion of God SPEAKE not anie thing rashly neither let thy hart be swift to vtter a word before God For God is
in heauen and thou vpon the earth therfore let thy wordes be few †Dreames do folow manie cares and in manie wordes follie wil be found †If thou hast vowed anie thing to God differre not to pay it for an vnfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him But what soeuer thou hast vowed pay it †and it is much better not to vow then after a vow not to performe the thinges promised †Geue not thy mouth to make thy flesh to sinne neither say thou before the Angel There is no prouidence lest perhaps God being wrath against thy wordes dissipate al the workes of thy handes †Where manie dreames are there are manie vanities and wordes innumerable but do thou feare God †If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poore and violent iudgements and iustice to be subuerted in the prouince meruel not at this matter because there is an other higher then the high and ouer these also there are others more eminent †and besides the king of al the earth reigneth ouer his seruant †A couetous man shal not be filled with money and he that loueth riches shal take no fruite of them and this therfore is vanitie †Where great riches are there are also manie that eate them And what doth it profite the owner but that he seeth the riches with his eyes †Sleepe is swete to him that worketh whether he eate much or litle but the sarietie of the rich doth not suffer him to sleepe †There is also an other very il infirmitie which I haue sene vnder the sunne riches kept to the hurt of the owner †For they perish in very euil affliction he hath begotten a sonne which shal be in great pouertie †As he came forth naked from his mothers wombe so shal he returne and shal take nothing away with him of his labour †An infirmitie vtterly miserable as he came so shal he returne What doth it then profite him that he hath labored into the winde †Al the dayes of his life he eateth in darknes and in miserie and in heauines †This therfore hath semed good to me that a man eate and drinke and take ioy of his labour wherwith he hath labored vnder the sunne the number of the dayes of his life which God hath geuen him and this is his portion †And to euerie man vnto whom God hath geuen riches and substance and hath geuen him powre to eate of them and to enioy his portion and to reioyce of his labour this is the gift of God †For he shal not greatly remember the dayes of his life because God doth occupie his hart with delightes CHAP. VI. Riches make not men happie because manie dye shortly 3. and manie rich men wil not vse their riches 8. Likewise studie to know al secrete thinges is vanitie not felicitie THERE is also an other euil which I haue sene vnder the sunne and that frequent with men †A man to whom God hath geuen riches and substance and honour and nothing is lacking to his soule of al thinges which he desireth neither doth God geue him powre to eate therof but a strange man shal eate it vp This is vanitie and great miserie †If a man shal begette an hundred children and shal liue manie yeares and haue manie dayes of age and his soule vse not the goods of his substance and he lacke burial of this man I pronounce shat the vntimely borne is better then he †For he came in vaine and passeth to darknes and his name shal be cleane forgotten †He hath not sene the sunne nor knowen the distance of good and euil †although he liued two thousand yeares and hath not enioyed good thinges do not al thinges hasten to one place †Al the labour of man is in his mouth but his soule shal not be filled †What hath the wiseman more then the foole and what the poore man but to passe thither where life is †Better it is to see that which thou maist couere then to desire that which thou canst not know But this also is vanitie and presumption of spirite †He that shal be his name is already called and it is knowne that he is a man and can not contend in iudgement against a stronger then himself †There be manie wordes that haue much vanitie in disputing CHAP. VII It is in vaine to seke and vnpossible to know al natural thinges 2. It importeth to leade this shorte life in mortification 4. paenance 8. and patience 12. seeking wisdom with competent temporal meanes 15. prouiding for the next world 24. not yelding to concupiscence VVHAT nedeth a man to seke thinges greater then himself wheras he is ignorant what is profitable for him in his life in the number of the dayes of his peregrination and the time that passeth as a shadow Or who can tel him what shal be after him vnder the sunne †Better is a good name then precious ointments and the day of death then the day of natiuitie †It is better to goe to the house of mourning then to the house of banketing for in that the end of al men is signified and he that liueth thinketh what shal be †Anger is better then laughter because by sadnes of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected †The hart of wisemen where sadnes is and the hart of fooles where mirth †It is better to be rebuked of a wiseman then to be deceiued with the flaterie of fooles †Because as the sound of thornes burning vnder a potte so the laughter of a foole but this also is vanitie †Oppression trubleth the wise and shal destroy the streingth of his hart †Better is the end of a speach then the beginning Better is the patient man then the arrogant †Be not quickly angrie because anger resteth in the bosom of a foole †Say not What is the cause thinkest thou that the former times were better then they are now for this maner of question is foolish †Wisdom with riches is more profitable and doth more profite them that see the sunne †For as wisdom protecteth so money protecteth But lerning and wisdom haue this much more that they geue life to their owner †Consider the workes of God that no man can correct whom he hath despised †In the good day enioy good thinges and beware before of the euil day For as this so that also hath God made that man finde not against him iust complants †These thinges also I saw in the dayes of my vanitie The iust man perisheth in his iustice and the impious liueth a long time in his malice †Be not iust too much neither be more wise then is necessarie lest thou be come more dul †Doe not impiously much and be not foolish lest thou dye not in thy time †It is good that thou hold vp the iust yea
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
light of starres by night †and she transported them through the Redsea and caried them ouer through a great water †But their enemies she drowned in the sea and from the depth of hel she brought them out Therfore the iust tooke the spoyles of the impious †and they sang thy holie name ô Lord and thy victorious hand they praised together †because wisdom hath opened the mouth of the dumme and the tongues of infants she hath made eloquent CHAP. XI Other benefites of wisdom protecting the Israelites in the desert 3. ouerthrowing their enimies 4. geuing them water out of a rocke 8. plaguing the Aegyptians 21. yet not al sudenly but by often admonitions that they might haue repented if they would SHE directed their workes in the handes of a holy prophet †They made a iourney through the deserts that were not inhabited and in desert places they pitched cottages †They stood against the aduersaries and reuenged themselues of the enemies †They thirsted and inuocated thee and water was geuen them out of a most high rorcke and quenching of their thirst out of the hard stone †For by the thinges wherby their enemies suffered punishment for defect of their drinke and therein when the children of Israel abunded they did reioyce †by these thinges when others lacked the same it went wel with them †For in steede of the fountaine of an euerlasting riuer thou gauest mans bloud to the vniust †Who when they were diminished in the destruction of the murdered infants thou gauest them abundant vnlooked for †shewing by the thirst that then was how thou didst exalt thine didst kil their aduersaries †For when they were tempted and in deede with mercie taking discipline they knew how the impious being iudged with wrath did suffer torments †These certes admonishing as a father thou didst proue but them examining as a hard king thou didst condemne †For the absent and the present were tormented alike †For duble tediousnes had taken them and sighing with the memorie of good thinges past †For when they vnderstood by their punishement that it went wel with them they remembred our Lord merueling at the end of the euent †For whom before they derided being cast forth in that wicked laying out to perish him they merueled at in the end of the euent not thirsting in like maner to the iust †but for senseles cogitations of their iniquitie for that some erring did worshippe dumme serpents and superfluous beasts thou didst send vpon them a multitude of dumme beasts for reuenge †that they might know that by what thinges a man sinneth by the same also he is tormented †For thine omnipotent hand which made the world of inuisible matter was not vnable to send vpon them a multitude of beares or fierce lyons †or vnknowen beasts ful of anger of a new kind or breathing the vapour of fires or casting forth the sauour of smoke or shooting horrible sparkes from their eies †of which not onlie their hurt was able to destroy them but also their sight to kil them for feare †Yea and without these with one spirit they might haue beene slaine suffering persecution of their owne factes and dispersed by the spirit of thy powre but thou hast disposed al thinges in measure and number and weight †For to be of great force rested alwaies in thee onlie who shal resist the powre of thyne arme †Because as the least weight of the balance so is the round world before thee and as a droppe of the dewe before day that falleth vpon the earth †But thou hast mercie on al because thou canst do al thinges and dissemblest the sinnes of men for repentance †For thou louest al thinges that are and hatest nothing of those which thou hast made for thou didst not ordaine or make any thing hating it †And how could any thing continew vnles thou wouldest or be preserued which was not called of thee †But thou sparest al because they are thine ô Lord which louest soules CHAP. XII Gods wisdom and mercie in destroying the wicked inhabitants of Chanaan by parts 10. that they might haue amended whom he could haue slaine sudenly 15. In that God neuer condemneth the iust 19. his people are instructed to confide in him 25. and sinners to turne vnto him O how good and sweete is thy spirit ô Lord in al †And therefore those that erre by partes thou doest chastise and doest admonish and speake to them concerning the thinges wherin they sinne that leauing naughtines they may beleue in thee ô Lord. †For those old inhabitantes of thy holie land whom thou didst abhorre †because they did workes odious to thee by sorceries and vniust sacrifices †and the murderers of their owne children without mercie and eaters of mens bowels and deuourers of bloud from the middes of thy sacrament †and the parents authors of aydelesse soules thou wouldst destroy by the handes of our parents †that they might receiue a peregrination worthie of the children of God which is a land of al most deare to thee †But them also as men thou didst spare and didst send forerunners of thine host waspes that by litle and litle they might destroy them †Not because thou wast vnable in battel to subdewe the impious to the iust or with cruel beastes or with a sharpe word to destroy them together †but iudging by partes thou gauest place of repentance being not ignorant that the nation of them is wicked and their malice natural that their cogitation could not be changed for euer †For it was a cursed seede from the begynning neither fearing any didst thou geue pardon to their sinnes †For who shal say to thee what hast thou done or who shal stand against thy iudgement or who in thy sight shal come reuenger of the wicked men or who shal impute it to thee if the nations perish which thou hast made †For there is no other God but thou who hast care of al that thou mayst shew that thou doest not geue iudgement vniustly †Neither king nor tyrant in thy sight shal enquire of them whom thou hast destroyed †For so much then as thou art iust thou doest dispose al thinges iustly thou also estemest it disagreable from thy powre to condemne him who ought not to be punished †For thy powre is the begynning of iustice and for this that thou art Lord of al thou makest thyself to spare al. †For thou shewest powre which art not thought to be absolute in powre and thou conuincest the boldnes of them that know thee not †But thou dominatour of powre iudgest with tranquilitie and with great reuerence disposest of vs for it is in thy powre when thou wilt to be able †And thou hast taught thy people by such workes
alike †For that which is made with him that made it shal suffer torments †For this cause also in the idol of the nations there shal be no respect because the creatures of God were made to hatred and for tentation to the soules of men and for a snare to the feete of the vnwise †For the begynning of fornication is the deuising of idols and the inuenting of them is the corruption of life †For neither were they from the begynning neither shal they be for euer †For this vanitie of men came into the world and therfore there is found a short end of them †For “ the father being sorowful with bitter moorning made vnto himself the image of his sonne quickly taken away and him that then was a dead man now he began to worshipe as god and appointed holie thinges and sacrifices among his seruants †Afterward by succession of time the wicked custom preuayling this errour was kept as a law and thinges grauen were worshipped by the commandement af tyrants †And those whom openly men could not honour for that they were far of their figure being brought from a far they made an euident image of the king whom they would honour that by their carefulnes they might honour as present him that was absent †And to the worshipping of these the excellent diligence also of the artificer holpe them forward that were ignorant †For he willing to please him that entertained him laboured by his art to fashion the similitude in better sort †And the multitude of men caried away by the beautie of the worke him that a little before had bene honoured as a man now they estemed for a god †And this was the deceyuing of mans life because men seruing either affection or kinges gaue the name that is not communicable to stones and wood †And it was not sufficient that they erred about the knowlege of God but also liuing in a great battail of ignorance so manie and so great euils they cal peace †For either sacrificing their children or making abscure sacrifices or hauing watches ful of madnes †they now neither keepe life nor mariage cleane but one killeth an other by enuie or playing the adulterer maketh him sorowful †and al thinges are mingled together bloud manslaughter theft and fiction corruption and infidelitie truble and pâ—â—iutie disquieting of the good †forgetfulnes of God inquination of soules immutation of natiuitie inconstancie of mariage disorder of adulterie and vnchastnes †For the worshippe of idols not to be named is the cause of al euil and the beginning and end †For either when they reioyce they are madde or certes prophecie false thinges or liue vniustly or quickly forsweare themselues †For whiles they trust in idols which are without soule swearing amisse they hope not to be hurt †Two euil thinges therfore shal happen to them worthely because they haue thought euil of God attending to idols and haue sworne vniustly in guile contemning iustice †For it is not the powre of them that are sworne by but the punishment of them that sinne goeth alwayes through the trangression of the vniust ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 15. The father made vnto himself the image of his sonne Caluin here chargeth this booke with error in affirming that idolatrie begane by supersticiously honoring images of the dead Against which he alleageth that Labans idoles and others more ancient were before anie images of dead men were honoured But he argueth vpon a false ground For labans idols were images as the Hebrew word Teraphim signifieth and is so translated in the English Bibles 1552. and 1577. but because they were images of false goddes and for that Laban called them his goddes a later Bible 1603. rranslateth it better idoles as the Latin and Greke haue idola It is also certaine that Ninus king of Assirians long before Laban yea before Abraham sette vp the image of his Father Belus otherwise called Iuppiter to be publikly honored by the people as S. Cyril sheweth li. 3. in Iulianum nere the end and S. Ambrose or an other graue Auctor writeth the same in cap. 1. ad Romanos Likewise S. Cyprian li. de Idolorum vanitate S. Chrysostom ho. 87. in Matth. and Egesippus apud S. Ieronym li. de Viris Illustrib testifie that the making of mens images in memorie of the dead was the occasion and beginning of idolâ—tric according as this place repotteth that a Father sorovving for the death of his sonne made an image in his memorie begane to worshippe him as a god causing his seruants also to honour his dead sonne vvith rites and sacrifices VVhich priuate idolatrie vvas absolutely the first that is recorded in holie Scripture or anie other good auctor And the first publique is counted by most auctors that of Ninus vvorshipping the image of his father Belus vvith diuine honour who also pardoned al offenders how enormious soeuer their crimes were that fled vnto that image VVhich allurment together vvith so great a kinges auctotitie drevv innumerable to publique idolatrie VVherupon S. Ierom noteth in cap. 2. Oseae that Ninus became so great and glorious as to make his father to be honored as a god CHAP. XV. The wise gratfully praise the swetenes and mercie of God by whom they are deliuered from idolatrie 6. detesting the makers worshippers of idols BVT ô thou our God art sweete and true patient and disposing al thinges in mercie †For if we sinne we are thine knowing thy greatnes and if we sinne not we know that we are counted with thee †For to know thee is absolute iustice and to know iustice and thy powre is the roote of immortalitie †For mens inuention of euil art hath not brought vs into errour nor the shadow of a picture being a labour without fruite a shape grauen by diuerse colours †the sight wherof geueth concupiscence to the sensles and and he loueth the shape without life of a deade image †The louers of euils are worthie to haue their hope in such thinges both they that make them and that loue and that worshippe them †Yea and the potter pressing softe earth with labour fashioneth euerie vessel to our vses and of the same clay maketh the vessels that are cleane to vse and in like maner them that are contrarie to these but what the vse of these vessels is the potter is iudge †And with vaine labour he fashioneth a god of the same clay he which a litle before was made of earth and a litle after returneth backe whence he was taken being exacted the debte of the life which he had †But his care is not because he shal labour nor because he hath a short life but he contendeth with goldsmithes and siluer smithes yea and he imitateth the copper smithes and counteth it a glorie because he maketh vaine thinges †For his hart is ashes
not the sinful man that is rich †The great one and the iudge and the mightie is in honour and there is none greater then he that feareth God †Free men wil serue a seruant that is wise and a man that is prudent and hath discipline wil not murmur being rebuked and the ignorant shal not be honoured †Extol not thyself in doing thy worke and linger not in the time of distresse †better is he that worketh and abundeth in al thinges then he that glorieth and lacketh bread †Sonne in mildenes keepe thy soule and geue him honour according to his desert †Him that sinneth agaynst his owne soule who shal iustifie and who shal honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule †The poore man is glorified by his discipline and feare there is a man that is honoured for his substance †But he that is glorified in pouertie how much more in substance and he that is glorified in substance let him feare pouertie CHAP. XI Wisdom by humilitie meriteth exaltation 7. Iudge not before examination 16. Trust not in riches 14. God sendeth both prosperitie and aduersitie for the good of his seruants 31. Take heede of the deceiptful THE wisdom of the humble shal exalt his head shal make him sitte in the middes of great men †Prayse not a man in his beautie neither despise a man by his looke †The bee is smal among fowles and her fruite hath the beginning of sweetnes †In apparel doe not glorie at any time nor be extolled in the day of thine honour because the workes of the Highest onlie be meruelous and his workes are glorious and secrete and not seene †Manie tyrantes haue sitte in the throne and he whom no man would thincke hath worne the crowne †Manie mightie men haue bene greatly oppressed and the glorious haue bene deliuered into the handes of others †Before thou enquire blame no man and when thou hast enquired chasten iustly †Before thou heare answer not a word and in the middes of ancients adde not to speake †Striue not for that thing which doeth not molest thee and consiste not in the iudgement of sinners †Sonne let not thy doings be in manie thinges and if thou be rich thou shalt not be free from sinne for if thou pursew thou shalt not attayne and if thou runne before thou shalt not escape †There is one that laboureth and hasteneth and is a sorowful impious man and so much the more he shal not abound †There is a lither man that wanteth recouerie more fayling in strength and abunding in pouertie †and the eie of God hath respected him in good and hath erected him from his low estate and hath exalted his head and manie haue merueled at him and haue honoured God †Good thinges and euil life and death pouertie and honestie are of God †Wisdom and discipline and the knowlege of the law are with God Loue and the wayes of good thinges are with him †Errour and darkenes are created with sinners and they that reioyce in euils waxe old in euil †The gift of God is permanent to the iust and his prospering shal haue successe for euer †There is that is enriched by doing sparingly and this is the portion of his reward †in that he sayth I haue found me rest and now I wil eate of my goods alone †and he knoweth not that time passeth death approcheth and he must leaue al to others and shal die †Stand in thy couenant and commen therein and grow old in the worke of thy commandements †Abide not in the workes of sinners But trust in God and tarie in thy place †For it is easie in the eies of God sodainly to enrich the poore man †The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the iust and in a swift houre his prospering fructifieth †Say not What neede I and what good shal I haue by this †Say not I am sufficient for my self and what shal I be made worse by this †In the day of good thinges be not vnmindful of euils and in the day of euils be not vnmindful of good thinges †because it is easie before God in the day of death to reward euerie one according to his wayes †The malice of an houre maketh obliuion of great voluptuousnes and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his workes †Before death prayse no man because a man is knowen in his children †Bring not euerie man into thine house for there be manie traynes of the deceitful man †For as the stomakes belche of stinking breathes and as the partriche is brought in the cage and as the doe into the snare so also the hart of the proude and as a watche man that seeth the fal of his neighbour †For turning good thinges into euil he lyeth in wayte and on the elect he wil lay a blot †For of one sparke fire is increased and of a deceitful man bloud is increased and a sinful man lyeth in wayte for bloud †Take heede to thy self of the pestiferous person for he forgeth euils lest perhaps he bring vpon thee derision for euer †Admitte a straunger to thee and he shal ouerthrow thee in an hurlewind shal make thee an aliene from thine owne CHAP. XII Vse beneuolence towards good men 10. Trust not enemies ouer much IF thou wilt doe good know to whom thou doest it and there shal be much thanke in thy good deedes †Doe good to the iust and thou shalt finde great rewarde and if not of him assuredly of our Lord. †For it is not wel with him that is euer occupied in euil thinges and that geueth not almes because the Highest both hateth sinners and hath mercie on them that are penitent †Geue to the merciful and receiue not the sinner both to the impious to sinners he wil repay vengeance keping them vnto the day of vengeance †Geue to the good and receiue not a sinner †Doe good to the humble and geue not to the impious prohibite to geue him bread lest therin he be mightier then thou †for thou shalt finde duble euils in al the good whatsoeuer thou shalt do to him because the Highest hateth sinners and wil repay vengeance to the impious †A freind shal not be knowen in prosperitie and an enimie shal not be hid in aduersitie †In the prosperitie of a man his enimies are in sorow and in affliction a freind is knowne †Credite not thyn enemie for euer for as a brasse potte his wickednes rusteth †and if humbling himself he goe crouching be aduised in thy mind and beware of him †Place him not by thee neither let him sitte on thy right hand lest perhaps turning into thy place he seke after thy seate and at the last thou know my wordes and be pricked in my sayinges †Who
approche to iudgement together †Who hath raysed the iust from the East hath called him that he should folow him he shal geue the Gentiles in his sight and he shal obteyne kinges he shal geue them as it were dust to his sword as stubble taken violently with with the winde to his bow †He shal pursew them he shal passe in peace there shal no path appeare after his feete †Who hath wrought and done these thinges calling the generations from the begynning I the Lord the first and the last I am †The ilands haue seene and haue bene afrayd the ends of the earth haue beene astonied they haue approched and come neere †Euerie one shal helpe his neighbour and shal say to his brother Be strong †The coppersmith striking with the hammer encouraged him that forged at that time saying It is good for sodering and he strengthened it with nailes that it should not be moued †And thou Israel my seruant Iocob whom I haue chosen the seede of Abraham my frend †in whom I haue taken thee from the ends of the earth and from the fat parts therof haue called thee and sayd to thee Thou art my seruant I haue chosen thee and haue not cast thee away †Feare not because I am with thee decline not because I am thy God I haue strengthened thee and haue holpen thee and the right hand of my iust one hath susteyned thee †Behold al that fight against thee shal be confounded and ashamed they shal be as if they were not and the men shal perish that gaynesay thee †Thou shalt seeke them and shalt not find the men thy rebelles they shal be as if they were not and as consumption the men that warre agaynst thee †Because I am the Lord thy God taking thy hand and saying to thee Feare not I haue holpen thee †Feare not thou worme of Iacob ye that are dead of Israel I haue holpen thee sayth our Lord and thy redemer the holie one of Israel †I haue made thee as a new threshing wayne hauing teeth like a saw thou shalt thresh the mountaynes and breake them in peeces and shalt make the litle hilles as dust †Thou shalt fanne them and the wind shal take them away and the whirle wind shal disperse them and thou shal reioyce in the Lord in the holie one of Israel thou shalt be ioyful †The needie and the poore seeke for waters and there are none their tongue hath bene drie with thirst I the Lord wil heare them I the God of Israel wil not forsake them †I wil open riuers in the high hilles and fountaynes in the middes of plaine fildes I wil make the desert into pooles of waters and the land not passable into riuers of waters †I wil geue into the wildernes the cedar and the thorne and the myrlte and the oliue tree I wil set in the desert the firretree the elme and the box tree together †That they may see and know and recount and vnderstand together that the hand of the Lord hath done this and the holie one of Israel hath created it †Make your iudgement approche sayth the Lord bring hither if perhaps you haue any thing sayd the king of Iacob †Let them come and tel vs what thinges so euer are to come tel the former thinges what they haue bene and we wil set our hart and shal know the later ends of them and tel vs the thinges that are to come †Shew what thinges are to come hereafter and we shal know that ye are goddes Doe ye also good or euil if you can and let vs speake and see together †Behold you are of nothing and your worke of that which is not he is abomination that hath chosen you †I haue raysed vp from the North and he shal come from the rising of the sunne he shal cal vpon my name and shal bring the magistrates as myre and as the plasterer treading claie †Who hath shewed from the beginning that we may know and from the beginning that we may say Art thou iust There is neyther that sheweth nor telleth before nor heareth your wordes †The first shal say to Sion Loe I am present and to Ierusalem I wil geue an euangelist †And I saw and neither of these was there any that would consult and being asked would answer a word †Behold al are vniust and their workes vayne their idols are wind and vanitie CHAP. XLII God the Father is wel pleased with his Sonne 6. whom he sendeth into this world to teach iustice whereby men are iustified 11. Manie Gentiles shal be conuerted 25. Iewes and other obstinate infidels shal be seuerely punished BEHOLD my seruant I wil receiue him mine elect my soule hath pleased itself in him I haue geuen my spirit vpon him he shal bring forth iudgement to the Gentiles †He shal not crie nor accept person neither shal his voice be heard abrode †The bruised reede he shal not breake and smoking flaxe he shal not quench he shal bring forth iudgement in truth †He shal not be sad nor turbulent til he set iudgement in the earth and the ilands shal expect his law †Thus sayth the Lord God that created the heauens and stretched them out that established the earth the thinges that spring therof that geueth breath to the people that is vpon it and spirit to them that tread therevpon †I the Lord haue called thee in iustice and taken thy hand and preserued thee And I haue geuen thee for a couenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles †That thou mightest open the eyes of the blind and bring forth the prisoner out of prison them that sitte in darknes out of the prison house †I the Lord this is my name I wil not geue my glorie to an other and my praise to grauen thinges †The thinges that were first loe they are come new thinges also I do shew◠before they come forth I wil make you heare them †Sing ye to the Lord a new song his prayse is from the endes of the earth ye that goe downe to the sea and you the fulnes therof ye ilands and inhabitants of the same †Let the desert be exalted and the cities therof Cedar shal dwel in houses ye inhabitants of the Rocke geue prayse they shal crye from the toppe of the mountaines †They shal geue glorie to the Lord and shal declare his praise in the ilands †The Lord shal goe forth as a strong man as a man of warre shal he raise vp zele he shal shoute and crie ouer his enemies he shal be strengthened †I haue alwayes held my peace I haue kepte silence I haue bene patient I wil speake as a trauailing woman I wil dissipate and swallow vp together †I wil make mountaynes and litle hilles desolate and wil make al their grasse to
But I eremie againe prophecieth the contrarie 16. that Hananias shal dye the same yeare AND it came to passe in that yeare in the beginning of the kingdom of Sedecias king of Iuda in the fourth yeare in the fifth moneth Hananias the sonne of Azur the prophet of Gabaon spake to me in the house of our Lord before the priestes and al the people saying †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel I haue broken the yoke of the king of Babylon †As yet two yeares of dayes and I wil make al the vessels of the house of our Lord to be brought backe into this place which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon tooke out of this place and transported them into Babylon †And Iechonias the sonne of Iaokim the king of Iuda and al the transmigration of Iuda that are entered into Babylon I wil make to returne to this place saith our Lord for I wil breake the yoke of the king of Babylon †And Ieremie the prophet said to Hananias the prophet in the presence of the priestes and in the presence of al the people that stoode in the house of our Lord †And Ieremie the prophet said Amen Our Lord so doe our Lord raise vp thy wordes which thou hast prophecied that the vessels may be brought againe into the house of our Lord and al the transmigration out of Babylon to this place †But yet heare this word that I speake in thine eares and in the eares of al the people †The prophets that haue bene before me and before thee from the beginning and haue prophecied concerning manie countries and concerning great kingedomes of warre and of affliction and of famine †The prophet that hath prophecied peace when his word shal come to passe the prophet shal be knowen whom our Lord hath sent in truth †And Hananias the prophet tooke the chaine from the necke of Ieremie the prophet and brake it †And Hananias spake in the sight of al the people saying Thus saith our Lord So wil I breake the yoke of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon after two yeares of dayes from the necke of al nations †And Ieremie the prophet went his way And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie after that Hananias the prophet brake the chayne from the necke of Ieremie the prophet saying †Goe and thou shalt tel Hananias Thus saith our Lord Thou hast broken chaynes of wood and thou shalt make for them chaynes of yron †Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel An yron yoke haue I put vpon the necke of al these Nations to serue Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and they shal serue him moreouer also the beastes of the earth I haue geuen him †And Ieremie the prophet said to Hananias the prophet Heare Hananias Our Lord sent thee not thou hast made this people to trust in a lie †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil send thee from of the face of the earth this yeare shalt thou dye for thou hast spoken against our Lord. †And Hananias the prophet died in that yeare the seuenth moneth CHAP. XXIX Ieremie writeth to the captiues in Babylon exhorting them to liue in peace 8. and not harking to falseprophetes 10. For they must remaine there seuentie yeares and then shal be deliuered 16. And those that remaine in Ierusalem shal suffer sword famine and pestilence 21. And Achab Sedecias 24. and Someias false prophetes shal dye miserably AND these are the wordes of the booke which Ieremie the prophet sent from Ierusalem to the remnant of the ancientes of the transmigration and to the priestes and to the prophetes and to al the people which Nabuchodonosor had transported from Ierusalem into Babylon †after that Iechonias the king was gone forth and the queene and the Eunuches and the princes of Iuda and of Ierusalem and the craftes man and the incloser our of Ierusalem †by the hand of Elasa the sonne of Saphan and Gamarias the sonne of Helcias whom Sedecias the king of Iuda sent to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon into Babylon saying †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to al the transmigration which I haue transported from Ierusalem into Babylon †Build ye houses and inhabite them and plant orchardes and eate the fruite of them †Take wiues and beget sonnes and daughters geue wiues to your sonnes geue your daughters to husbands let them beare sonnes and daughters and be ye multiplied there and be not few in number †And seeke the peace of the citie to which I haue transported you pray for it to our Lord because in the peace thereof there shal be peace to you †For thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Let not your prophetes that are in the middes of you and your diuiners seduce you and attend not to your dreames which you dreame †because they doe falsely prophecie to you in my name and I sent them not saith our Lord. †Because thus saith our Lord When the seuentie yeares shal beginne to be expired in Babylon I wil visite you and I wil raise vp vpon you my good word to bring you againe to this place †For I know the cogitations that entend vpon you saith our Lord cogitations of peace and not of affliction to geue you an end and patience †And you shal inuocate me and goe and you shal pray me and I wil heare you †You shal seeke me and shal finde when you shal seeke me with al your hart †And I wil be found of you saith our Lord and I wil bring backe your captiuitie and I wil gather you out of al nations and from al places to the which I haue expelled you saith our Lord and I wil make you to returne from the place to the which I haue transported you †Because you haue said Our Lord hath raised vp prophetes to vs in Babylon †for thus saith our Lord to the king that sitteth vpon the throne of Dauid and to al the people the inhabiter of this citie to your bretheren that are not gone forth with vou into the transmigration †Thus saith the Lord of hostes Behold I wil send vpon them the sword and famine and the pestilence I wil make them as naughtie figges that can not be eaten because they are very naught †And I wil persecute them with the sword with famine with pestilence and I wil geue them into vexation to al the kingdomes of the earth into malediction into astonishment and into hyssing into reproch to al the Nations to which I haue cast them out †because they haue not heard my wordes saith our Lord which I sent to them by my seruantes the prophetes in the night rysing and sending and you heard not saith our Lord. †You therefore heare the word of our Lord al
as the wounded in the streets of the citie when they yelded vp the ghostes in the bosome of their mothers Wherto shal I compare thee or wherto shal I liken thee ô daughter of Ierusalem wherto shal I make thee equal and comfort thee ô virgin daughter of Sion For great is thy destruction as the sea who shal heale thee Thy prophetes haue sene false and foolish thinges for thee neither haue they opened thyne iniquitie to prouoke thee to penance but they haue sene false burdens and banishements for thee Al that passed by the way haue clapped their handes vpon thee they haue hissed and moued their head vpon the daughter of Ierusalem saying Is this the citie of perfect beautie the ioy of al the earth Al thyne enemies haue opened their mouth vpon thee they haue hissed and gnashed with the teeth and haue sayd We wil deuour Loe this is the day which we expected we haue found it we haue sene it Our Lord hath done the thinges that he meant he hath accomplished his word which he commanded from the dayes of old he hath destroyed and hath not spared and he hath made the enemie ioyful ouer thee and hath exalted the horne of thine aduersaries Their hart hath cryed to our Lord vpon the walles of the daughter of Sion Shede teares as a torrent by day and night geue no rest to thyself neither let the aple of thyne eye cease Arise prayse in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy hart as waters before the sight of our Lord lift vp thy handes to him for the life of thy litle ones which haue fainted for famine in the head of al high wayes See ô Lord and consider whom thou hast vintaged thus shal wemen then eate their owne fruite litle ones of the measure of a spanne is the priest and the prophet slaine in the sanctuarie of our Lord The childe and the old man lay on the ground without my virgins and my yongmen are fallen by the sword thou hast killed in the day of thy furie thou hast strooken neither hast thou had mercie Thou hast called as it were to a solemne day those that should terrifie me round about and there was none in the day of the furie of our Lord that escaped and was left whom I brought vp nourished mine enemie hath consumed them CHAP. III. I THE man that see my pouertie in the rod of his indignation He hath led me and brought me into darknes and not into light Only against me he hath turned and hath conuerted his hand al the day He hath made my skinne old and my flesh he hath broken my bones He hath built round about me and he hath compased me with gaul and labour In darke places he hath placed me as the euerlasting dead He hath built round about against me that I goe not forth he hath aggrauated my fetters Yea and when I shal crie and aske he hath excluded my prayer He hath shut vp my wayes with square stones he hath subuerted my pathes He is become vnto me a beare lying in waite a lyon in secret places He hath subuerted my pathes and hath broken me he hath made me desolate He hath bent his bow and set me as a marke for the arrow He hath shot in my reines the daughters of his quiuer I am made a derision to al my people their songue al the day He hath replenished me with bitternes he hath inebriated me with wormwood And he hath broken my teeth by number he hath fed me with ashes And my soule is repelled from peace I haue forgotten good thinges And I sayd Mine end is perished and mine hope from our Lord. Remember my pouertie and transgression the wormwood and the gual Remembring I wil be mindful and my soule shal languish in me Recording this thing in my hart therfore wil I hope The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed because his commiserations haue not fayled New in the morning great is thy fidelite Our Lord is my portion sayd my soule therfore wil I expect him Our Lord is good to them that hope in him to the soule that seeketh him It is good to waite with silence for the saluation of God It is good for a man when he beareth the yoke from his youth He shal sit solitarie and hold his peace because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himself He shal put his mouth in the dust if perhaps there be hope He shal geue the cheeke to him that striketh him he shal be filled with reproches Because our Lord wil not reiect for euer Because if he hath reiected he wil also haue mercie according to the multitude of his merciés For he hath not humbled from his hart and cast of the children of men To stamp vnder his fete al the prisoners of the earth To auert the iudgement of a man before the face of the Highest To peruert a man in his iudgement our Lord hath not knowne Who is this that hath commanded it to be done our Lord not commanding it Out of the mouth of the Highest there shal not procede neither euil thinges nor good What hath the liuing man murmured man for his sinnes Let vs search our wayes seeke and returne to our Lord. Let vs lift vp our hartes with our handes to our Lord into the heauens We haue done wickedly and prouoked to wrath therfore thou art inexorable Thou hast couered in furie and hast strooken vs thou hast killed and not spared Thou hast sette a cloude before thee that prayer may not passe Thou hast made me to be rooted out and abiect in the middes of the peoples Al the enemies haue opened their mouth vpon vs. Prophecie is made vnto vs feare and snare and destruction Myne eye hath shed streames of waters in the destruction of the daughter of my people Myne eye is afflicted neither hath it bene quiet because there was no rest Til our Lord regarded and looked from the heauens Mine eye hath spoyled my soule for al the daughters of my citie Myne enemies in hunting haue caught me as a birde without cause My life is fallen into the lake and they haue layd a stone vpon me The waters haue flowed ouer my head I sayd I am vndone I haue inuocated thy name ô Lord from the lowest lake Thou hast heard my voice turne not away thine eare from my sobbings and cries Thou didst approch in the day when I inuocated thee thou hast sayd Feare not Thou hast iudged ô Lord the cause of my soule redemer
already Praef. Tobiae that the Canon of the Christian Catholique Church is of souereigne auctoritie though the Iewes Canon haue them not Finally wheras these bookes were not canonized in the former General Councels it sufficeth that they are since declared to be Canonical Diuine Scripture as some other partes haue likewise bene which English Protestants do not denie As the Epistle of S. Iames the second of S. Peter the second and third of S. Iohn and S. Iudes epistle of al which Eusebius and S. Ierom testifie that some lerned Fathers doubled sometimes whether they were Apostolical or no. But afterwards the same with these two bookes of Machabees and others were expresly declared to be Diuine Scripture by the third Councel of Carthage can 47. By the Councel of seuentie Bishops vnder Gelasius though by the name of one booke as also Esdras and Nehemias as but one booke Last by the Councels of Florence and Trent If anie further require the iudgement of more ancient Fathers diuers doe alleage these bookes as Diuine Scriptures S. Dyonise c. 2. celest Hierar S. Clemens Alexan. li. 1. Stromat S. Cyprian li. 1. Epist ep 3. ad Cornelium li. 4. ep 1. de exhort ad Martyrium c. 11. Isidorus li. 16. c. 1. Etym. S. Gregorie Nazianzen hath a whole Oration of the seuen Machabees Martyrs and their mother S. Ambrose li. 1. c. 41. Offic. But to omite others albeit S. Ierom vrged not these bookes against the Iewes yet he much estemed them as appeareth in his commentaries vpon Daniel c. 1. 11. 12. S. Augustin most clerly auoucheth li. 2. c. 8. de doct christ li. 18. c. 36. de ciuit that notwithstanding the Iewes denie these bookes the Church holdeth them Canonical And wheras one Gaudentius an heretike alleaged for defense of his haeresie the example of Razias who slew him self 2. Mac. 14. S. Augustin denieth not the auctoritie of the booke but discusseth the fact and admonisheth that it is not vnprofitably receiued by the Church si sobrie legatur vel audiatur if it be read or heard soberly VVhich was a necessarie admonition to those Donatistes who not vnderstanding the holie Scriptures depraued them as S. Peter speaketh of like heretikes â—p 2. c. 3. to their owne perdition Now touching the contentes a great part of the same historie which is written in the former booke is repeted in the second with such varietie of some thinges added some omitted as in the bookes of Kinges and Paralipomenon and as the Gospel is written by the foure Euangelistes Ioyning therfore these two bookes together the Concordance therof conteyneth foure principal partes The Preface the Historie an Appendix the Conclusion But the three former partes are very extraordinarily disposed For the writer of the second booke who doubtles was a distinct person from him that writte the former first of al added an Appendix to the historie written before making mention of two Epistles and reciting the summe of one of them in the first chapter and part of the second as though he meant to haue writte no more of the same matter But then as it may seme vpon new resolution intending to abridge the historical bookes of Iason maketh a preface to his worke in the rest of that second chapter And so prosecuteth his purpose and finally maketh a briefe conclusion in the three last verses of the same second booke The mayne historie conteyneth two special partes The first sheweth the state of Gods peculiar people the Iewish nation from the beginning of the Grecian Monarchie parted after the death of Alexander amongst his folowers of which some did exceedingly persecute the Iewes by diuers both suttle and cruel meanes to the ruine of manie and euen to death and martyrdom of some most constant obseruers of Gods Lawes and true Religion til the warres of the Machabees in the first chapter of the first booke and in the 3. 4 5 6. and 7. chapters of the second booke In the other fiftene chapters of the former booke and other eight of the second are described the battles victories triumphes of the valient Machabees Of which holie warres Mathathias was the beginner and first captaine Iudas the second the third Ionathas and Simon the fourth after whose death his sonne Iohn Hyrcanus succeded Duke and Hieghpriest But because these bookes are intermixed the one with the other whâ—soeuer please to read them in order of the historie may folow the direction of the Alphabet letters set in the inner margen beginning with A. at the twentith verse of the second chapter of the second booke to the end of the same chapter Thence procede as the signe of a starre directeth to the next letter B. which is at the beginning of the first booke the first chapter first verse And so in the rest And when the capital letters are ended the smaller wil direct you THE FIRST BOOKE OF MACABEES CHAP. I. King Alexander conquering manie countries erecteth a new Monarchie 6. who dying his chief folowers succeede in seueral kingdomes of the same Monarchie 11. King Antiochus approueth that a prophane schole be setup in Ierusalem 17. subdueth Aegypt 21. inuadeth Iudea entreth by force into Ierusalem spoyleth the temple 25. and killeth manie 30. Two yeares after sendeth an other spoyler who killing manie robbeth and burneth lerusalem 35. fortisieth the towre of Dauid 38. prophaneth al holie thinges 4â— commandeth al to committe idolatrie 47. and to forsake the rites of Gods law 52. vpon paine of death 57. He setteth vp an abominable idol in the Temple 60. persecuteth and murdereth those that conforme not themselues to these innouations AND it came to passe after that Alexander Philips sonne the Macedonian that first reigned in Greece being gone out of the land of Cethim stroke Darius king of the Persians and the Medes †he made manie battels and obteyned the munition of al and slewe the kinges of the earth †and he passed through euen to the ends of the earth and tooke the spoiles of the multitude of the Gentils and the earth was silent in his sight †And he gathered powre and an armie exceding strong and his hart was exalted and eleuated †and he obtayned the regions of the Gentils and the tyrantes and they were made tributaries to him †And after these thinges he fel downe in his bed and he knew that he should dye †And he called his seruants the Nobles that were brought vp with him from his youth he diuided his kingdom to them when he yet liued †And Alexander reigned twelue yeares and he died †And his seruants possessed the kingdom euerie one in his place †and they did al put crownes on them after his death their sonnes after them manie yeares euils were multiplied in the earth †And there came forth of them a sinful roote Antiochus Illustre the sonne of king Antiochus
receiue the right handes and he gaue it them and he cast them out from thence and clensed the castel from the contaminations †and they entered into it the three and twentith day of the second moneth the yeare an hundreth seuentie one with prayse and boughes of palme trees and harpes and cymbals nables and hymnes and canticles because the great enemie was destroyed out of Israel †And he ordayned that euerie yeare these dayes should be kept with gladnes †And he fortified the mount of the temple that was by the castel and he dwelt there him self and they that were with him †And Simon saw Iohn his sonne that he was a valient man of warre he made him captayne of al the hosts and he dwelt in Gazara CHAP. XIIII Demetrius inuading Media is taken captiue 4. and Iurie is in peace 14. Simon cherisheth the godlie and punisheth the wicked 16. receiueth freindlie letters from the Romanes and Spartiates 20. vvherof the copie is recited 24. sendeth a legate to Rome with a present 25. And is established highpriest and gouernour by publique consent IN THE yeare an hundreth seuentie two king Demetrius gathered his armie and went into Media to get him aydes to expugne Tryphon †And Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius was entered his confines and he sent one of his princes to take him aliue †And he went and stroke the campe of Demetrius and tooke him and brought him to Arsaces and he put him into ward †And al the land of Iuda was at rest al the dayes of Simon and he sought good to his nation and his powre and his glorie pleased them al dayes †And with al his glorie he tooke Ioppe for an hauen and made it an entrance vnto the iles of the sea †And he enlarged the borders of his nation and obteyned the countrie †And he gathered a great captiuitie and had the dominion of Gazara and of Bethsura and of the castle and tooke away the vncleanes out of it and there was none that resisted him †And euerie man tilled his land with peace the land of Iuda yelded her fruites and the trees of the fildes their fruit †The ancients sate al in the streetes and treated of the good thinges of the land the yongmen did on them glorie and the stoles of warre †And he gaue victuals to the cities and he appointed them that they should be vessels of munition til the name of his glorie was renowmed euen to the end of the earth †He made peace vpon the land Israel reioyced with great ioy †And euerie man sate vnder his vine and vnder his fig-tree and there was none to make them asrayd †There was none left that impugned them vpon the earth kinges were discomfited in those dayes †And he confirmed al the humble of his people and sought the law and tooke away euerie wicked and euil man †he glorified the holies and multiplied the vessels of the holie places †And it was heard at Rome that Ionathas was dead and euen vnto the Spartiats and they were very sorie †But as they heard that Simon his brother was made the high priest in his place and he obteyned al the countrie and the cities therein †they wrote to him in brasen tables to renew the amities and societie which they had made with Iudas with Ionathas his bretheren †And they were read in the sight of the church in Ierusalem And this is a copie of the epistles that the Spartiates sent †THE PRINCES and the cities of the Spartians to Simon the grand priest and to the ancients and the priests and the rest of the people of the Iewes their bretheren greeting †The legates that were sent to our people haue told vs of your glorie and honour and ioy and we reioyced at their entrance †And we wrote that which was sayd of them in the counsels of the people thus Numenius the sonne of Antiochus and Antipater the sonne of Iason legates of the Iewes came to vs renewing with vs old amitie †And it pleased the people to receiue the men gloriously and to put a copie of their wordes in the seuered booke of the people to be for a memorie to the people of the Spartiats And a copie of these we haue writen to Simon the grand priest †And after these thinges Simon sent Numenius to Rome hauing a great buckler of gold of the weight of thousand poundes to establish amitie with them But when the people of Rome had heard †these wordes they sayd What thankes geuing shal we render to Simon and his children †For he hath restored his bretheren and hath expugned the enemies of Israel from them they decreed him libertie and registred it in tables of brasse and put it in titles in mount Sion †And this is a copie of the wriring THE EIGHTENTH day of the moneth Elul in the yeare an hundreth seuentie two the third yeare vnder Simon the grand priest in Asaramel †in a great assemblie of the priests of the people and the princes of the nation and the ancients of the countrie these thinges were notified that there haue often bene battels made in our countrie †But Simon the sonne of Mathathias of the children of Iarib and his bretheren put themselues in danger and resisted the aduersaries of their nation that their holies and law might stand with great glorie haue they glorified their nation †And Ionathas gathered together his nation and was made their grand priest and he was layd to his people †And their enemies would conculcate and destroy their countrie and extend their handes against the holies †Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation and bestowed much money and armed the valient men of his nation gaue them wages †and he fortified the cities of Iurie and Bethsura that was in the borders of Iurie where the armour of the enimies was before and he placed there Iewes for a garrison †And he fortified Ioppe which was by the sea and Gazara which is in the borders of Azotus wherin the enemies dwelt before and he placed Iewes there and whatsoeuer was fitte for their correption he put in them †And the people saw the fact of Simon and the glorie that he meant to doe to his nation they made him their duke and grand priest for that he had done al thes◠thinges and for the iustice and fayth which he kept to his nation for that he sought by al meanes to aduance his people †And in his dayes it prospered in his hands so that the heathen were taken away out of their countrie and they that were in the citie of of Dauid in Ierusalem in the castel out of which they came forth and contaminated al thinges that were round about the holies they brought great plague vpon chastitie †he placed in it
of Iuda a 785. Ionas being sent to preach in Niniue fled from that function b. 842. in a tempest was cast into the sea and swallowed by a whale ibid. He prayed in the whalles bellie and was cast safe on the land b. 843. He preached the destruction of Niniue the comming of Christ conuersion of al Nations b. 841. He was a figure of Christs Resurrection b. 845. Ionathas Highpriest and general gouernour b. 920. 1003. Ioram slaine by Iehu a. 780. Iosaphat the place where probably shal be the General Iudgement b. 828. Ioseph endued with manie vertues a. 121. suddenly aduanced a. 127. called the Sauiour of the world a. 128. was a figure of Christ a. 151. a Prophet a. 152. b. 445. He had duble portion a. 499. 826. Iosias king of Iuda destroyed Idolatrie and made a great Pasche a. 810. was very deuout and liberal a. 812. Iosue gouernour of Israel a. 468. He conquered and diuided the land of Chanaan a 473. c. in al his booke b 440. He slew one and thirtie kinges a 493. exhorted and blessed the people a 509. Iron did swimme vpon the water a 773. Irregularities a 304. Isaac borne by promise a 72. prefigured Christ a 76. He and Iacob were blessed in Abraham b 438. He blessed Iacob in place of Esau a 89. Isaias an Euangelical Prophet b 452. also an Apostolical announcing Christ his Church b 460. 521. seq In the former part of his prophecie he admonisheth and threatneth the people for their sinnes in the latter part he comforteth them b 452. He went naked when God so commanded him b 477. He inueigheth against euil Pastors b 530. Israelites chosen not for their merite but by mere grace a â—61 They encreased exceedingly a 323. were guided by a cloud and pillar of fire a 191. 345. Iubiley yeare a 312. Iudgement and Iustice what they signifie in holy scripture b 495. 529. Iudgement general a. 34. 48. 203. 576. 712. 936. 1095. b 22. 97. 138. 178. 498. 828. 888. 996. Iudgement beginneth at the house of God or with the Clergie b 687. Iudges of Israel were figures of Christ a 516. They were extraordinaryly raised to saue the people a 520. They were finally holiemen a 516. b 440. Iudges are called gods a 221. 223. they ought not to be partial a 437. Iudiths booke Canonical Scripture a 989. 1010. 1023. b 999. she was a figure of the Blessed Virgin and of the Church a 1032. she ledde a most holy life a 1021. 1025. 1033. and a special example of holy widowhood a 1034. Iurisdiction perteineth to the Ordinary Clergie a 433. to Prophets by extraordinarie commission a 692. b 449. Iust men alwayes some in the Church a 21. 24. 26. 35. 48. 201. 204. 465. b 453. 682. Iustice necessarie a 481. 559. 560. 754. Iustice and mercie must be mixed a 563. b 199. Iustice consisteth in declining from euil doing good b 76. 529. 550. Iustice may consist with venial sinnes a 1066. 1079. b 34. 35. Iustification by faith good woorkes a 472. b 43. K Kinges shal be conuerted to Christ a 72. b 17. 522. A King desired by the Iewes a 585. was disliked by God a 586. 594. Kinges haue priuileges aboue Dukes a 533. 587. They are annointed with oile a 590. 604. 639. 645. 779. They receiue spiritual grace therby a 591. Good Kinges are called the Kinges of God a 884. They are bound to destroy Idolatrie and infidelity a 810. 891. 901. 916. 927. 942 b 17. 344. and to aduaunce Religion a. 918. b 17. Kinges honoured wth glorious titles for their zele in religion a 475. They receiue the law at the Priests handes a. 433. and direction in principal actions a 620. 633. Badde Kinges b 17. Kinges of Iuda had continual succession a 939. Kinges of the tenne tribes with their families were destroyed a 937. Kinges ought to vse manie counselers not to relie much vpon one a 1054. 1058. Kingdomes are often changed b 478. 513. Kingdomes of great powre hardly agree b 574. Knowlege of al thinges in God taketh not away free wil a 604. 620. b 349. Knowlege of the truth in controuersies is a priuilege of the High-priest a 433. 715. Humaine knowlege is vnperfect a 1103. it can not comprehend Gods workes b 374. it is a good knowlege to knowe that we are ignorant b 755. Knowlege of God includeth the keeping of his precepts b 814. L Laban sinned in geuing Lia for Rachel to Iacob a 96. also in pursuing and threatning Iacob a 100. 448. and more greeuously in Idolatrie a 103. Lacedemonians descended from Abraham b 923. 958. Laiheads hippe of the Church is reiected by most Heretiques and by al Catholiques b 410. Lamentations of Ieremie are composed in verse in order of the Hebreu Alphabet and conteine manie Mysteries b 650. Lamentations a Song and Woe b. 677. Lampes in the Tabernacle a 233. in the Temple a 720. Last foure thinges to be remembred b 384. L%%ria is honour due to God only a 219. 411. Law of God is most excellent wisedom a 406. 463. It maketh his people most renowmed a 460. b 373. it is outwardly sharp but inwardly swete b 548. Lawes positiue doe bind in conscience a 8. Good lawes are the safety of the commonwealth wicked lawes the ruine b 465. Law of like paine a 311. 437. b 790. Law of Moyses ceased after Christ but the New Law is to the end of the world b 665. Leauen not offered in Sacrifice a 25. 265. 273. Lending is a worke of mercie b 415. Lents fast is in imitation of Moyses Elias and Christ a 249. 749. 9%4 Leprosie iudged by Priests a 285. Leui liued longest of al his brethren a 167 b 1080. Leuiathan a huge fish signifying the diuel a 1107. Light an accident made the first day a 2. Limbus or Abrahams bosome a 515. 711. See Hel. Loaues of proposition a 229. 310. Lot receiued Angels in his house a 69. his wife turned into a pillar of salt a 70. Of him proceded the two families of Moabites and Ammonites a 43. 71. Lotte in trial diuision or election is guided by God a 296. 482. 502. 591. Loue but beleeue not enemies b 390. M Machabees so called of Iudas Machabeus b 889. and Iudas had this title of his valiant strength b 899. Two bookes of Machabees Canonical b 890. the auctor asketh pardon for his stile not doubting of the truth b 987. Both the bookes in great part conteine the same historie b 891. Seuen brothers Machabees Martyres b 962. and their mother b 965. Magistrates a 213. 346. b 154. Malachias the Prophet is supposed by some to be Esdras b 883. He prophecied after the Temple was reedified b 883. 999. Man made to Gods image a 2. 5. 17. Man in his creation had tenne prerogatiues a 5. Manasses King of Iuda repented in captiuitie a 807. 926. Manna had twelue miracles a 209 al which are more eminent in the B. Sacrament none at al in the
vp the soule and assisting the same to the end The second lesson in Masse on Imber Saturday in Lent :: God worketh and we cooperate for he taketh not away but helpeth free wil. S. Aug. q. 15. in Deut. :: Peculiar place appropriate to Gods seruice :: In the deseâ—â— they could not obserue the ceremonies of the Law but comming to rest they were bound to kepe al one sette forme of holie rites No hostes lawful in sacrifice but such as the law appointed New precepts may be added not contrarie to the former :: Noueltie in Religion is a marke of idolatrie or heresie :: Euerie priuat man is not commanded nor warrented by this to kil but euerie one is bound to informe the Magistrate and so by order of iustice to procede against the wicked Such as wil not indure discipline are called children of Beâ—lial that is vvithout yoke :: If these thiÌ„gs were vncleane by nature they were not lawful for anie nation to eate but being only forbid to the Iewes sheweth that this prohibition was ceremonial only for that time and people :: Al shew of crueltie to be auoided Mystically this presigured that Christ for the similitude of sinful flesh signified by a kidde should not be slaine in his infancie â— Tho. 1. 2. q. 102. â— 6. ad 4. :: The Israelites were bouÌ„d to do their endeuour that none should be needie among them notwithstanding for exercise of loue charitie Gods prouidence suffered some to be poore â— 7. 11. :: He that can and wil not feede his neighboure in extremitie killeth him S. Amb. li. 2. de Offic. c. 7. The rest of the feastes are mentioned Leuit. 23. Num. 28. 29. :: Here only three of the principal 1. Pasch 2. Pentecost 3. Feast of Tabernacles :: It is not ynough to doe that is iust except it be donne iustly to a good end for loue of iustice :: In the councel of Priestes one supreme Iudge which was the High Priest v. 12. :: There were not manie presidentes at once but in succession one after an other :: Pluralitie of wiue is not here forbid for king Dauid transgressed not this precept hauing more then one or two but Salomon offended in multiplying manie wiues S. Aug. q. 27. in Deut. :: Temporal good Princes take the law and word of God at the Priests handes Supreme Iuge of controuersies Sentence of the Iewes consistorie infallible The high priest was chief Iudge Protestantes friuolous euasion English Bible 1603. Pride in priuate opinion punished with death :: This sorte of false prophets signified Heretikes that preach false things in Christs name :: These prefigured Apostataes which renouncing Christ expresly professe false goddes The same wordes may haue diuers literal senses :: The way to the cities of refuge were paued and markes set for direction that he which fled might not erre in his way :: This was sayd to the whole people who must not intreate for the murderers pardon but the kinsmen of him that was slaine might remitte the punishment :: This pertained to the Iudge who without partialitie must do iustice :: Men possessed with such desires haue not like valure to good souldiars And by worde or example often discorege others So in spiritual warfare we must not be addicted to worldlie profites or pleasures :: By this ceremonie and abiuration they purged them selues that they were not negligent in doing iustice :: Mystically he is cursed that persisteth in sinne as it were hanging on the tree by which our first parents sinned :: Their houses had flat roofes as manie of our churches pallaces and castles where battlements are necessarie for danger of falling when anie walke theron :: For correction of so couetous a mind the whole fruicte must be offered to pious vses Theodoret. q. 23. in Deut. :: Such as are barreÌ„ in good workes can not enter into Gods house Theod. q. 25. in Deut. :: These natioÌ„s not able to hurt the children of Israel neither by denying ordinarie curtesies nor by force nor by hyring BalaaÌ„ to curse them yet inuegling them with carnal sinnes signified obstinate peruerse sinners that nouer amending can neuer be rightly receiued into the Church of God :: Onlie lawful enemies are here called strangers where therfore is iust cause of warre there only it is lawful to exercise vsurie S. Amb. li. de Tobia c. 15. :: Vowes binde where otherwise was no obligation :: This hebrew phrase signifieth that pledging the thing wherin the meanes of life consisteth is as if he pledged his life :: In case the laborer susteyneth his life by his dailie wages then not to pay him is in effect to kil him and such sinne crieth to God for reuenge VVhether the band of mariage could be â—oosed or no in the old law amongst ChristiaÌ„s it can not be dissolued No not for adultrie Only before consummatioÌ„ Mariage is dissolued by solemne vow in Religion :: S. Paul expoundeth this of the spiritual laborer in Gods Church that he must haue his main tenaÌ„ce for his trauel 1. Cor. 9. 1. Tim. 5 It was also ment of oxen so it hath two literalseÌ„ses Theod. q 31. in Deut. :: He that disdaineth to honour his brother is iustly despised :: A lasie familie vnprofitable to the coÌ„moÌ„wealth Mystically Pastors and Doctors must beget spiritual children to Christ not to themselues so they are called Christians not Paulians whom S. Paul conuerted And he that is elected by the church to spiritual functioÌ„ neglecteth his dutie is worthie of reproch and in famie S. Aug. li. 32. c. 10. cont Faust Manich. :: Amalec first impugned Israel after they had passed the redsea Exo. 17. Mariage with the brothers wife he dying without issue Rutâ— 3. 4. The third lesson in Masse on Imber Saturday in whit funweke :: Laban pursued Iacob when he parted from Mesopothamia of Syria Gen. 27. The first lessoÌ„ in Masse on Imber Saturday in Lent :: The people payed euerie yeare two â—â—thes first to the Leuites the second for entertaining trauelers to from IerusaleÌ„ euerie third yeare a third tith for relief of the poore inhabitantes :: Mutual pact betwen God his peoples that they seruing him he wil reward them The third part Gods promises threates for keeping or breaking his commandments :: The ancientes of euerie tribe :: The Leuites proper office was to blesse :: But by occasion of sinne their office was also to pronounce curses :: Though the sinnes were secrete yet the offenders were cursed publique sinnes were also publikely punished :: Temporal blessings belonged to sensual people of the old testament now the poore in spirite are blessed that mourne and suffer persecution for truth and iustice :: The poore beiÌ„g releeued of thy superfluitie shal blesse thee :: Thou shalt rule ouer others none ouer thee :: Yet alwaies with this condition if thou serue God :: Thus most coÌ„monly sinners were
life we must desire more and more knowledge of true doctrin h from the first vse of reason at which time manie are careles i negligent to lerne how to serue God k As God is sweete in geuing good motions l so he is seuere to them that resist his grace m God mercifully p euenteth with his grace n and iustly rewardeth good workes o Gods law is his couenant with man p and testimon e of his wil. q sinne in respect of auersien from God is great nedeth â—e grace r He that feareth God which is the beginning of wisdome receiueth fiue spiritual commodities here mentioned 1 God iustructeth him by his law 2 bestoweth al necessaries vpon him 3 others shalimitate his good example 4 God wil protect him 5 According to Gods couenant he shal enioy the manifest sight of God for his eternal reward â—mans weaknes without Gods helpe t TribulatioÌ„s can not be aâ—oâ—deâ— but must necessarily be suffered therfore ô God gâ—ue vs grace to passe through them without sinne v myn affliction w take away the cause and affliction wil be mitigated Ioan. 15. x wicked men of â—â—ured do end â—our to draw others into sinne y Those that hope in God shal neuer be confounded z Al The letters of the Alphebet being complete in this Psalme this last verse beginneth with Pere Redeeme praying God to redeme and deliuer Israel that is the whole Church from tribulations Dauids prayer distressed in persecution The 8. key a This Psalme is also a counenient prayer for anie Christian in tribulation b Be thou ô God arbiter of the cause bet 〈…〉 Saul and me thou knowest myn innocencie in this behalfe though I am uniustly charged by Saul and his freindes c Lest perhaps I be not so innocent as I desire and as in respect of Saul I hope that I am do thou O God proue me as thou wilt by tribulations d Dauid in confidence of a good conscience and zele against the wicked alleageth his sincere proceding more then ordinarie men may do God so inspiring him extraordinarily e The rest of this Psalme euerie Priest reciteth in Masse before he offer the holie Sacrifice professing putting him selfe in memorie that he must only communicate with the innocent or of pure conscience f and so approch to the Altar prefigured Leuit. 16. v. 4. g Shutting the eares of my hart from euil and vaine thoughtes I wil attend to godlie inspirations h and so with mental prayer and external voice as the holie order of this sacred office requireth praise thee ô God in thy meruelous workes Epi. â—â—â— c. 11. i I can not but singularly loue the excellencie of this place dedicated to thy seruice where is true faith vnitie and charitie of thy people the guard of holie Angels the administratioÌ„ of sacred mysteries assistance of the Holie Ghost real presence of Christ our Lord al replenished with Diuine maiestie k This representeth vnto me the glorious heauenlie kingdom of God and al Sainctes l Suffer me not therfore to be contaminate by the wicked nor to be deuoured with them m They are stil readie to committe more and more iniquities n themselues being corrupted endeuour by giftes of wordly commodities to corrupt others o Euerie one ought so to purge his conscience that he may be innocent or free from great sinne p deliuer me from this necessitie of dwelling among the wicked q I intend to walke right r I desire â—â— praise thee amongst thy true faithful seruantes A singular great afflictioÌ„ to be hindered from Gods true seruice Christians must abhorre and abstaine from al conuenticles of Heretikes and other Infidels An other confident prayer of Dauid in tribulation The 3. Key a Before his second annointing as is probable 2. Reg. 2. b Against ignorance God illuminateth his seruantes c against infirmitie he geueth streingth d so he nedeth not to feare anic mans malice suteltie nor force Luc. 21. v. 15. e How special a benefite Dauid estemed it to be in the Catholique Church the only true house of God! f Albeit the spiritual or carnal enemie seke to ouerthrow me yet I am secure in the Catholique Church g God either suffereth not the enemie to find his seruant h or not to be able to hurt him spiritually i wheÌ„ a martyr or confessour dieth then he getteth the victorie against the perseâ—ntors k Diligently recounting al thy benefites I render thankes by sacrifice and praise l not only in hart but also singing with loud voice and instrument m In my inward sincere cogitation I desire and seeke that I may see thee n face to face 1. Cor. 13. v. 12. o In the meane time ô Lord grant me thy fauour p leaue me not though thou be angrie with me q He speaketh in the person of orphanes r Though car nal parentes forsake the iust man in tribulation yet God hath then most special care of him Å¿ Establish my hart in thy law t conserue me in the right way which thou hast already taught me and it is the more necessarie because myne enemies labour to peruert me v the willes vv false witnesses accused Dauid others accused Christ Mat. 26. others do stil accuse the iust Mat 5. x the wicked please themselues in lying but the chief hurt finally turneth vpon themselues y The prophet and al iust men are comforted by God and hope of reward in heauen z The iust exhorteth his owne soule to patience a fortitude b and longanimitie Psal 30. An other prayer of Dauid for deliuerie from euils The 8. key a Omitte not to comfort me b Suffer me not to be ouercome for God tempteth none to euil Iac 1. c The iust in zele of iustice pray that sinne may be punished d Ignorance doth not excuse when men may and wil not vnderstand e God saueth not without our cooperation with his grace f being comforted in spirite my bodie is as it were refreshed g freely and gladly h God protecteth and prospereth the kings good endeuoures for his people i As Psal 19. and often elswhere the subiectes pray for their Superior so mutually the superior prayeth for the subiectes The Church of Christ endowed with excellent mysteries The 6. key a 2. Reg. 6. v. 17. 1. Par. 16. v. 1. â—04 105. c Mysteries of the Catholique Church prophecied in this Psalme b Offer sacrifice of thankes for the singular benefites after recounted in this Psalme c Rammes were of the more principal thinges that were offered in the law of Moyses But the sonnes of rammes importe in mystical sense better hostes then rammes d The first thing in sacrifice is to glorifie honour and adore God in sinceritie of spirite e in his holie Catholique Chuâ—h f Here is a greater matter intimated then happened in the bringing of the Arke into a tabernacle prepared in Sion when Dauid danced and offered hostes for sacrifice others ioyning with
spirite the perfections which he wisheth in Christ in maner of congratulating describeth his fortitude fighting against the diuel for the Church n purposing o prosecuting p and perfecting the conquest and so establishing thy spiritual kingdome q Not vvith warlike armour of this world but by assaulting the aduersarie with truth r defending thyseâ—fe and thy souldiers with the shield of mildnes Å¿ and striking the enemie with the sword of iustice VVhich right force of spiritual fight hath meruelous good successe t Preaching of Christs Gospel his grace mouing the hartes of the hearers is liuelie and forcible more pearcing then anie two edged sword v The example of people conuerted shal moue the hartes of the aduersaries to come also vnto the truth w Christs kingdom shal haue no end Luc 1. v. 33. x Thou defendest and rewardest the good finally forsakest and punishest the wicked y more peculiarly the God of Christ by hypostatical vnion z Diuers kinges as Dauid him selfe Iosaphat Ezechias and Iosias were as godlie as Salomon and perseuered good to the end which is doubted Salomon did not but Christ incomparably was annointed indued with al graces aboue al kinges a Mortification which conserueth from putrifying b humilitie aswaging pride c being smal in the first spring grovveth great d humanitie assumpted and sanctified persons in vvhom Christ dwelleth as in cleane shining odoriferous houses e sincere faithful soules more deare to their spouse Christ then daughters of temporal kinges f The Catholique Church in faith purified as gold g vvith varietie of states as Clergie Laity and diuers sortes of religious Orders and other professions al vnited in the same faith hope and charitie h carifully al that Christ thy spouse speaketh to thee by his Spirite i diligently put the same in practise k vvith al obedience and readines and returne not to former infidelitie noâ— to corrupt life l Christ loueth the Church adoined with his giftes m and mutually his true children loue and serue him n Manie of al nations submitle themselues and al that they haue to Christ o Internal vertues are most especial ornaments p exterior are required to edifie others in diuers sortes of vertues q By this meanes manie more are conuerted to christianitie r and one countrie inuiteth and draweth another Å¿ As Apostles came in place of Patriarches and Prophetes so stil Bishops and Priestes succede in the Church pastors and gouernours therof t These pastores shal stil teach the true Christian doctrin v and stil there shal be Christian people that wil folow and professe the same Caluin expoundeth this Psalme contratie to S. â—aul No saluation out of the Church Perpetual succession of Byshops in place of the Apostles The Church prospereth also in persecution The 6. key a Belonging to the Church of Christ b As wel the cause vvhy God suffereth his Church to be persecuted at his assured protection in difficulties are hidden secretes to the world c Al refuge is not secure for one man is not able alwayes to defend an other but God is a sure and strong refuge d euer able and in conuenient time vvilling to helpe e This whole vvorld is ful of tribulations but the Church suffered the greatest in the first persecutions shal suffer as great in the time of Antichrist English Catholiques suffer most of al nations in this age and can not be suppressed but stil increase in number and fortitude f Therfore al Catholiques may assuredly know that the whole Church can not faile g though very manie as now in England h and very eminent persons as some noblemen and some Priestes haue reuolted yet al vvil not i Such bad examples make the good to recollect themselues more diligently and to reiâ—ycâ— in Gods grace by which they stand fast k before the heate of persecution shal inuade al for the elect the dayes of tribulation are shortned l Sometimes one nation or kingdome rebelleth against the Church but can not destroy it m by the spirite of Christ Antichrist and al his members shal be destroyed n The Church sometimes hath great peace and tranquilitie o God himselfe restrayneth the wicked suddainly abating their furie or cutting of their forces Vocation of Gentiles The 6. key a For Christians that leaue the sinnes of their fathers and reioyce in Christ crucified See Annotation Psal 41. b True ioy of the hart sheweth it selâ—e both in voice of exultation and also in gesture of body by clapping of handes dancing as king Dauid did before the Arke 2 Reg â— likevvise vvith instruments c To al the wicked d not only of one or few kingdoms but of al the earth e VVhen kinges and countries become Christians they are made subiectes to the Church that vvas before not heades and rulers therfore f Christ God man after his Passion rose from death and ascended g not leauing his Church desolate but making her ioyful by an other comforter the Holie Ghost h The same Christ is our God by his Diuinitie i and our king by his Humanitie k Doe your endeuour to vnderstand vvhat you sing read or heare in Gods word At least to know the principal Mysteries and pointes of Christian doctrin euerie one according to their capacitie and state or profession l The faithful of the old and nevv Testament are vnited in the seruice of one and the same eternal God m In respect of the Blessed Trinitie holie Scripture here and in manie places vseth names of the plural number as Eloim Goddes not diuiding Gods substance vvhich is one but insinuating distinction of Diuine Persons The Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost VVhich Mysterie is more expresly mentioned in Baptisme and professed by Christian gentils then it was by the people of the Ievves The Church founded and protected by God The 6. key a Voices beginning the musike instruments prosecuted b especially for the second day of the weke the day after the sabbath which is our Sunday called Dominica our Lords day c Ierusalem and mount Sion were most obliged to praise God for greatest benefites receiued so the Catholique Church therby prefigured and hauing receiued farre greatter is most of al bonden to be gratful d This can not be affirmed of Sion or Ierusalem but is only verified of the Catholique Christian Church e whose coastes do extend to the North and to al quarters of the round earth f The same one God one Christ one Faith and one Religion in al particular Churches of the vvhole militant Church g And this Vniuersalitie and Vnitie shal be after that Christ taking mans nature shal be ascended and shal send the Holie Ghost to found beginne this Church h For the assured certaintie of that is foreshewed the Prophet speaketh in the preteâ—â—ence as if it vvere already done in his time which he then savv in spirite i Nothing more moueth he hart affecteth al the bodie and soule
parente his vvrath must nedes be very great to euerie sinner for his ovvne proper sinnes p The hope of glorious resurrection turneth our calamities into spiritual ioy q Yea the more we suffer in this life for the truth the greater is our comforth in hope of reward r Not only in that we are thy creatures but also in that we are thy seruants we are thy proper worke therfore in both these respectes ô God looke vpon vs with clemencie ſ lead also our posteritie into the right way and make them thy seruantes t O God illuminate our vnderstanding v make our actions by thy grace profitable to vs. vv and make perfect in vs the worke of charitie In which one worke al good workes are included and to which al other are directed For then workes are right sayth S. Angustin when they are directed to this one end Gods prouidence the 3. key a Praise of Gods prouidence with thankes b Which Dauid songue with voice c He that firmely relieth and resteth vpon Gods prouidence is assuredly protected by him d Al secret and sutle machinations e and from al crueltie of tyrants f Terrors obscurly suggested by euil men or spirites with erronions conceipte that men are not bond in time of temporal dangers to confesse the truth g Open persecution threatning present death except men denie the truth which they know h circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing and drawing men into error and so to decline from Catholique Religion i long torments euen to death except Gods seruants wil relent and denie the truth which they assuredly beleue and know in their conscience that they are bond to professe it k On thy left side in aduersitie manie fal from God l on thy right side in prosperitie manie more forgete and forsake God m In sincerely sayng thou art my hope thou makest God thy refuge n Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance o The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture Mat. 4 omitting the latter part of this verse which sheweth when Angels protect iust men towitte when they walke in a right path obseruing ordinarie course in their actions not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple Such falling is not the way of the iust but of Lucifer that fel from heauen So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal p God speaketh the rest that foloweth in this Psalme q In eternal saluation Foure sortes of persecution for the Catholique faith 1. 2. 3 4 God leaueth none but those that first leaue him The vvorkes of God admirable the 2. key a Voices beginning instrumentes prosecute this song b when we rest from worke then especially vve ought to thincke vpon Gods vvorkes praise and thanke him for the same c To geue thankes d In prosperitie e in aduersitie f On euerie instrument of tenne stringes signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments g namely on the Psalter h also on the harpe which signifieth mortification i Carnal and sensual man k he that thinketh only of present thinges not of future l The iust in confidence of a good conscience expect exaltation of their powre m and great consolation in the end of their life n Then shal the iust see their enimies depressed and themselues florish like the palme and ceder trees as folovveth o Militant Church p triumphant q Publikly professe Gods praeises as in the wordes folowing Perpetuitie of the Church the 6. key a Praise to be songue vvith voice b composed by Dauid c the sixth day of the weeke vvhich is our friday d in vvhich day the Church of Christ vvas founded by his bloud shed on the crosse f gloriously escending in soule into limbus and in bodie to his graue g he then put on al armour of strength strength to reforme the world and to inlarge his kingdom according to his owne prediction where he saide If I be exalted from the earth I wil draw al thinges vnto myselfe Ioan. 12. v. 31. Our Sauiour founding his Church by his death begane then to reigne therin h Not only in Iurie and Samaria but the whole earth i and the same Church shal not be destroyed k Christ being eternal hath an euerlasting Church l Al sortes of persecuters the High priestes who sometimes vvatered the spiritual land like riuers vvith Scribes Pharises and other incredulous Ievves also Paganes Turkes and Heretikes haue oppugned the Church m With more force then anie persecutions in the old Testament n but though al these assaultes be great and meruelous yet Christ in protecting his Church is more meruelous o Articles of faith are not euidently apparent to knovvlege but euident to credibilitie to those that are disposed by Gods grace illuminating their vnderstanding and mouing their free vvil to geue consent of beleefe if they vvil p It behoueth therfore al members of the Church to conuerse piously and religiously in this life seing she hath so excellent a spouse protector and instructor q euen to the end of the vvorld Eternal saluation and damnation the 10. key a The Hebrevv letter Lamed vvhich ordinarily is prefixed to the datiue case or signifieth to being set before proper names is a signe of the genetiue case Yet the Septuagint expresse it by the datiue and so doth the latin ipsi Dauid and consequently our English hath to Dauid himselfe to shevv a difference betvven sacred and profane vvriters For in humane bookes the vvriter and auctor is al one but in diuine the Holie Ghost is the proper auctor and a man is the vvriter To signifie therfore the principal auctor Dauid is sometimes named as the instrumental cause to vvhom the Holie Ghost inspired this and other Psalmes and by vvhom they vvere vvritten And vvhen the titles expresse othervvise A Psalme of Dauid yet it is so to be vnderstood that the Holie Ghost is alvvayes the principal auctor and Dauid the instrumental ministerial or secondarie auctor But vvhen other names are expressed either in the genetiue or datiue case or hovvsoeuer it proueth not that those men vvere the vvriters of the same Psalmes but importeth some other thing as by S. Augustins iudgement vve noted in the proemial Annotations page 3. 4. vvherby is proued that this Psalme vvas not written nor composed by Moyses as Hebrevv Rabbins suppose but by the Royal Psalmist Dauid b Made and ordinarily songue in the sourth day of the vveke our vvenesday in vvhich day Iudas the traitor sold our Sauiour Christ to his enimies The reuenge of vvhich vvickednes and of al other sinnes is here prophecied c God more commonly called the God of mercie vvhich vertue in him is aboue al his vvorkes Psal 144 is also the God of reuenges according to his iustice d He procedeth in iudgement resolutly not depending nor fearing not respecting anie person povvre
are immaculate that walke in the law of God VVhere the holie Psalmist presupposeth that some can and do kepe the law of God and so are immaculate and blessed in the vvay of this life d Those that are immaculate are againe blessed by searching Gods testimonies that is his lavv testifying that the good shal be revvarded and the vvicked punished but searching these testimonies vvhiles one is contaminate vvith sinnes against Gods lavv maketh not blessed e neither doth euerie superficial careles search bring this blessing but searching vvith true affection of the hart f Contrarivvise they that vvorke iniquitie are not blessed g because they haue not vvalked in the vvayes of God to witte not kept his conmamdments and lavv vvhich are the vvay to happines h For mans ovvne good that he may come to true happines God hath most seriously commanded vs to kepe his commandments that is to obserue his Lavv commanded by most sufferaine diuine authoritie i Therfore the faithful seruant of God knovving his ovvne insufficiencie desireth that God by his grace vvil direct and streing then him k to kepe his lavv called Iustifications because therby man is made iust l They shal be safe from eternal confusion when they shal kepe not only part but al thy commandments because breach of â—nâ—e bringeth confusion m So shal I praise thee and render thankes n with sincere not fayned affection o for this great benefite that I haue lerned that thy law is according to most iust iudgement p I haue therfore a firme purpose do faithfully promise to kepe thy law which maketh the keper therof iust q Albeit thou suffer me sometimes to be in tribulation or in tentation yet forsake me not wholy The Psalmist knew wel saith S. Gregorie that he might be profitably leift a while who prayed that he should not be wholy forsaken li. 20. c. 21. Mer. a In this second Octonarie as also in al the rest the Holie Ghost by the prophets penne teacheth the meanes how to come to perfection happines Here by way of interrogation as it were demanding how a youngman that is euerie man prone to worldlie pleasure slow in Gods seruice shal beginne to correct his course b VVherto the same Holie Ghost answereth that he must kepe Gods law called here his wordes For al the wordes which God vttereth are lawes to his seruants * sermones c The Psalmist now speaketh in the person of perfect iust men or of the whole Church in general VVhose common spirite seeketh God intyrely d And considering that this perfect good wil is the gift of God prayeth that he wil conserue the same and not suffer it to be altered or to erre from his commandments e An other sincere profession of a resolute good purpose not to sinne * eloquia f A gratful aspiration praising God g Againe the iust prayeth to be more and more instructed in iustifications that which S. Iohn exhorteth vnto He that is iust let him yet be iustified Apoc. 22. h Gods law is also called his Iudgements because sitting in iudgement he geueth sentence according to his Law i As the iust professeth by mouth so he delighteth in hart k practiseth in worke l and diligently meditateth Gods law * sermones a O Lord liberally geue me that which I here craue b quicken me with spiritual life thy grace c so I shal kepe thy law which otherwise I can not * sermones d Illuminate myn vnderstanding by thy grace e that I may be able to see the meruelous great and iust reasons of thy law instructing al threatning the peruerse encoreging the wel disposed punishing the wicked rewarding the good doing right to al. f I that haue but a smal time in this world g desire to be instructed in thy law what is therein commanded h I consider that thou ô God dost sharply reproue the prowd contemners of thy commandments i laying curses vpon them for declining from thyn obedience k Though persecutors were very potent l yet the faithful seruant of God perseuered in his seruice m In time of persecution and tentation we must thincke and meditate that Gods law testifieth eternal revvard or punishment n and in our deliberation or consultation we must consider that keping Gods law maketh iust and consequently meriteth reward a This also is vttered in the person of the just who is often brought to great distresse as it were euen nere to death b in which case he confidently prayeth to be reliued according to Gods word law and promise c Being in so great anxietie that my minde is almost distracted or ouercome d I cal to thee ô God that thou wilt conserue me that I stil kepe thy law vttered by thy vvordes e Protect me that I fal not to iniquitie f And of thy'mercie conserue me in state of grace g Suffer me not to be confounded h Man is able and doth runne in the right vvay of Gods commandments i yet not of himselfe but vvhen God replenisheth his hart vvith grace a Impresse ô God thy lavv in myn affection make me to loue it and to desire to be iustified b so shal I hartely and alvvayes seeke it c After thou hast geuen me a desire to kepe thy lavv geue me also vnderstanding d then shal I fruictfully search it For this is the right order as before in the first and second verses first to loue Gods lavve to be iustified and to become immaculate and then to search to knovv the lavve and so it is more eâ—sily lerned e Gods grace first dravveth and leadeth f then freevvil inflamed vvith desire effectually concurreth g Stil the Prophet inculcateth the necessitie of Gods grace as vvel to make vs desire that is good h as to flee from euil i It is necessarie also to pray that God vvil take avvay occasions vvhich might moue to sinne k and stil to grant his helping grace in progresse of vertue l Againe the iust prayeth for confirmation in grace to be established in the feare of God * eloquiuÌ„ m To be deliuered also from al the effectes of former sinnes n for sinne is therfore reprochful and odious because it is contrarie to Gods lavv and true iudgements vvhich are most pleasant o Being thus affected vvith desire to kepe the commandments the soule prayeth to be stil quickned more and more vvith good spirite and so to perseuere to the end a Againe considering that vvithout Gods grace preuenting man can not do anie good thing the prophet renevveth his prayer requesting Gods mercie b and his helpe freely promised to al that aske it * eloquiuÌ„ c VVhervvith being assisted and streingthned he that before vvas vveake vvil boldly ansvver al calumniators that reprochfully say God wil not helpe him d that in dede he hath not in vaine trusted in Gods promised helpe * sermoâ—ibus e He also prayeth though he be sometimes fearful that God vvil not
is the Sonne of God also the name of IESVS is magnified aboue al names or temporal thinges g Sovvner or later Kinges and Princes of al kingdomes and nations haue bene or shal be conuerted to Christ h God knovveth proud men not as his freindes or seruants but farre of as strangers and enimies Gods special prouidence of his seruantes the 3 key a By this part of the title to the end is signified as is noted Psal 4. that the matter contâ—ined in the Psalme perteyneth to the nevv Testament b God vvho knovveth al thinges most absolutly and perfectly vvithout discourse or searching yet as it vvere maketh experimental trial of his seruants to make them in some sorte to know him and to knovv themselues And so here holie Dauid or other faithful man acknovvlegeth Gods Omniscience that is perfect knovvlege of al thinges vvithout exception past present to come al vvorkes vvordes thoughtes and vvhat soeuer can be though it neuer vvas nor shal be in general and in particular c The vttermost measure and reach of myne intention d The word holden in by the tongue and not vttered by mouth is not hidden from God e By experieÌ„ce we see that Gods knovvlege excedeth our reach f As Gods knovvlege comprehendeth al thinges so his presence extendeth it selfe to al places neither is conteined in place but excedeth al place in his diuine immensirie g The Prophe also in the person of anie curious imaginatiue man examineth and findeth that no darknes nor couer can hide anie ching from God h Nothing semeth more hidde then a mâ—ns entrals i oâ— a child in the mothers vvombe k Or bones in the flesh l Or mans bodilie imperfection before his birth * Golâ—â— Embryoâ—em * Of knovvlege m dayly formed by God not by man Iob. 10. v. 8. 2. Mae 7. v. 22 23. n Aboue al considerations it most excedeth that God so high and infinite honoreth his humble poore seruants so excedingly that it semeth to themselues farre more then can be due For he revvardeth euen ouer aboue merites which merites also are founded in Gods mercie geuen vvithout merite :: Nevv translaters peruert this place translating thoughts for frendes contrarie to the Hebrevv Greke and Latin and al ancient Fathers only pretending that the same vvord in the Chaldee tongue also signifieth thoughts o The number also of Saintes vvhom God hath chosen called iustified and vvil glorifie excede mans conceipt Apoc. 7. p Incensed vvith this excellent glorie and desiring to be of this innumerable multitude by thy grace I haue risen from sinne and in confidence of thy perpetual helpe I stand and hope to perseuere in thy seruice q And if it be so yea seing it is so that as thou ô God doest exalt thy Saincts to exceding and vnspeakable honour so thou hast also decreed to punish obstinate sinners vvith eternal death and damnation r I renounce al vvicked association gette ye avvay from me al cruel bloudie men that vvould dravv me into euerlasting torments Å¿ Avvay from me you that thinke t the glorious mansions in heauen prepared and promised to the iust are vaine hopes and in vaine expected v This hate of such sinners the iust shal confidently plead and happie are they that shal be able truly to alleage for themselues in the day of iudgement that they hated al vvhom God hateth vv yea hated them vvith feruent zele that are Gods enimies x Stil the Prophet inculcateth this necessarie perfect hatred y and emnitie tovvards Gods enimies z For that none in this life without special and extraordinarie reuelation knoweth certainly their owne state whether they be worthie of Gods loue or hatred Eccle 9. the iust submitte themselues to Gods examination of their hart and actions a humbly praing God that if they be in the way of iniquitie b he wil voutsafe to reduce and guid them into the right way of euerlasting life Eternal paine of the wicked and ioy of the blessed the 10. key a Vnquiet euil disposed men stil deuise wicked plottes b and neuer cease to make discord and debates * Scandalum c In time of tentation prayer is most necessarie d Man is not able to resist tentations e vnlesse God by his grace as by a helmet defend him from yelding consent f Suffer me not to fal from that which I now desire which is to be constant in vertue not to consent to sinners perswasions g VVho then would triumph ouer me h The summe of their mischeuous deuises i consisting in their suttle persuasions with swete wordes k shal ouerwhelme and bring themselues to perdâ—tion l Hel fire shal be their lote m â—nto which they shal fal n â—uer be in intolerable torments o I haue lerned by good instructions and by experience that in the end thou ô God wâ—lt comfort the iust who are now afflicted and punish the vniust that liue in temporal delightes as it happened to Lazarus and the glatâ—on p Eternal glorie consisteth in seeing God The Church prayeth and preuaileth the 6. key :: In these wordes the Church prayeth offering incense in her solemne Offices a As the fume of incense is swete and ascendeth vpwards so the Church prayeth that her petitions may be gratful and ascend to God b In the old testament morning acrifice was rather more solemne and more frequeut but the Prophet semeth to allude vnto Christs Sacrifice which he was to offer towards euening on the Crosse and the same also in vnbloudie maner the euening befofe his Passion in the Eucharist c A iust care and consideration what to speake before the mouth be opened d lippes must not be alwayes stopt for it is a sinne sometimes not to speake but as a dore that is to be opened and shut at due seasons for example opened to confesse our sinnes and Gods truth e shutte from wordes of malice and from excusing sinnes committed f Admonition of the iust is a profitable reprehension g but the fawning of flatteters is pernicious h The Church ceaseth not to pray for sinners i though as yet they take pleasure in their sinnes k but the very chiefest of them which seme most potent if they remaine obstinate to their death shal then perish as men throwne against rockes l They shal then heare and vnderstand that the prayers of the Church m are effectual obtaining grace of constancie to her children not to feare anie persecution nor anie kind of death obtayning also iustificatioÌ„ of their cause vvhen the persecuters shal see that the wordes and doctrin of the Church are true and preuaile in true iudgement as true modest peaceable not sedicious turbulent nor against the commonwealth n As much earth sticking together is made fructful by breaking it into smal mould so the children of the Church by persecution bring forth more fruict then before S. Aug. o Some persecuters are so cruel as to rage against the bones and
sinne thincke the seruice of God a most tedâ—ous loathsome thing :: Desire not to dye that thou maist therby be couered from vvorldlâ—e miseries for that is a desperate desire but haue patience in this lâ—fe that thou maist fiâ—de rest in God * Coâ—â—â—ing :: As vertues are to be revvarded so al sinnes shal be punished Namely external pretence of holines vvith secrete euil intention Distrust in God Impatience and the like :: The progenie of Gods children bring forth the fruite of obedience and loue :: Honour and estimation of parents is the chiefest obligation that man hath towardes his neighbour the first after his dutie to God Exo. 20. Deut. 5. Gen. 27. 49. :: Almes geuen or prayer made or sacrifice offered for parents doth merite reward at Gods hand :: Al greatnes in men proceding from God bindeth them so much the more to humilitie VVhich vertue God most specially loueth that so they may shew gratitude for his benefites Philip. 2. Pro. â—â— v. â— :: Those that dare liue in sinful state tempting God euen to the last houre commonly perish therin Dan 4. v. 24. :: Geue not occasion by thy hard dealing with the poore that they curse thee :: For if thou geue cause God who is their protector wil reuenge them against thee :: They that folow wisdom shal be safe :: Through shamfastnes to yeld vnto sinne or not to reproue sinne is vicious :: But to be ashamed and to abhorre sinne is very good and necessarie :: Al men are bonde to say the truth at conuenient times v 23. And euer bond to auoide vntruthes :: Euerie one is bond â—ather to lose his lâ—fe then to do against iustice oâ— to denie the truth Though thou be so potent that no man can hinder thy euil de signment yet do it not because God wil punish it :: After that sinne is forgeuen there remaineth ofâ—eâ— times punishment for satisfaction * Couering or death Prou 10. v. 4. :: Constancie in good purpose meriteth :: the promised peace and iust reward :: So Gedeon pacified the Ephraimites that were incensed against him Iudic. 8 :: Manie preferre lerning before pietie which S. Augustin reproueth preferring the godlie before the lerned that are lesse vertuous The vnlerned rise sayth he and take the kingdom of heauen and we with our lernings without halt loe how we tumble in the durt li. 8. c. 8. Consess :: what soeuer anie soweth that he shal reape and the wicked shal eate the fruites of his owne workes Iob. 9. Psal 142 Eccle. 7. :: Great prudence and sortitude are required in al Iudges spiritual and temporal :: In hel are two punishments fire burning and the worme of conscience vering the soule both are eternal Leuit. â—â— Tâ—b â— Deut. 1â— Leuit. â— Num â—â— :: VVorkes of mercie are also profitable to the dead as prayer almes and sacrifice for soules in purgatorie Rom 1â— v. 15. :: A most especial preseruatiue from sinne :: Briberie sometimes corrupteth kinges much more other inferior Iudges And therfore it is better to suffer damage then to contend by law against the rich Gal 6. Prou. 26. Prou. 22. v. 24. :: In al consultations conferre with the skilful for the blinde can not iudge of colours the dease of musike the sicke of taist nor worldlie mâ—n of spiritual thinges :: Seing ielosie betwen man wife is dangerous much more vnnecessarie conuersation betwen other men and wemen especially probable occasions of sinne must be auoided Prou. â— :: Constancie in good thinges namely in freindshippe is very necessarie :: A sinner that prospereth is like to a somer floure in the filde that is quickly cut downe and withereth :: Example of rulers is of greate efficacie Prou. 29. Dan. 4. :: The causes of translating kingdomes dominions :: Couetuosnes is the roote of al euiles 1. Tim. 6. in that for lucie manie fal into al sortes of sinnes euen into schisme and heresie erring from the faith ibidem v. 1â— :: Neuertheles pride is the beginning of al sinne as this text expresly testifieth and the reason is for that mans inordinate self loue is the cause of declining from Gods commandments they which runne on in that course cast themselues headlong into the depth of al mischief and of eternal miserie Prou. 17. Prou. 1â— :: A wisman humbling himself by penance as Daniel did or being vniustly humbled by others as Ioseph was shal be exalted by God :: Expect the end of an other mans speach before you beginne to answer :: Expect also if anie that is elder or better able wil answer first Deut. 13. Iob. 42. :: One punishment of sinne is blindnes of hart Especially where is no remorse of conscience :: In prosperitie is feare and in aduersitie hope of change :: It is rather crueltie then mercie to nourish a wicked man persisting in sinne for so he runneth stil into more wickednes and into eternal damnation :: but the penitent is to be comforted and assisted :: Euerie one is bond to loue his enemie of charitie but in prudence it be houeth not to credite him According to our Sauiours rule Be wise as serpents and simple as dooues Mat. 10 Deut. 7. :: He that conuerseth with a greater man then himself except it be with vertuous is forced often to suffer much and to yeld to manie inconueniences :: Pusill animitie in a superior maketh him omite his dutie committe errors fearing to do that perteyneth to his office which his auctoritie requireth :: Acception of persous hindereth manie good counsels promoteth manie euil thinges Iac. 3. :: He that can not afforde nourishment to his owne bodie by such meanes as he hath sinneth against God abusing his benefites against himself whom he vniustly afflicteth and against his neighbour whom he scandalizeth Prou. 27. v. â—0 :: In the old testament al descended into some part of hel Isa 40. v. 7. :: There shal be particular reward of euerie good worke :: VVho so euer shal resolue with himself to liue iustly shal be sure to haue grace for God preuenteth our weakenes and so continueth to helpe al that acccept his grace :: He doth iniurie to God to his word that preacheth wel and liueth euil :: Beza sayeth God ordained Adams fall but to a good end and that God iustly decreed that which men vniustly haue done in refut 2. calumnae ad Castel But this holie Scripture teacheth the contrarie that God gaue man both freewil and sufficient grace that he might if he would haue kept his preceps The same is also clerely taught Deut 7. 11. 30. and other places Gen. 2. Mat. 19. v. 17. Ier. 2. v. 8. :: Fire of concupiscence if it be not ouercome in this life wil procure the fire of Gods wrath which shal neuer be extinguished Gen. 6. Num. 26. Rom. 2. v. 6. :: Euen a dish of colde water geuen in almes shal be rewarded Mat. 10.
:: Reasonable soules if they folow reason and al sensible soules doe in their maner praise the prouidence of God in vsing al creatures to that end for which they were treated :: Man at first recemed original iustice by losing wherof we al fel into original sinne :: God gaue a precept to man to be obserued for exercise of his obedience so to be rewarded and vnder paine of punishment if he transgreded â—en 2. Rom. 13. :: Perseuerance in vertue to the end is necessarie which none can merite :: But must stil pray for it :: Al creatures according to their substantial forme in general were created together though they were afterwards formed in particular kindes as they are distinctly recited in Genesis with the order ornaments of the world S. Aug. li. 4. c. 33 34. de Gen. ad litter VVhere he expresly affirmeth that this Scripture was written by inspiration of the same spirite of truth wherby Genesis was written Psal 89. v. 10. 1. Cor. 11. :: They pray alwayes that pray at certaine conuenient times And stil haue intention so to frequent the same exercise al their life S. Aug. Epist 121. c. 9. ad Probam Luc. 18. 1. 1. Thes. 5. :: The best remedie against great sinnes is to auoide smal ones and not to contemne the least but diligently to amend al. 3. Reg. 11. Ios 22. :: That this document perteyneth to common conuersation with worldie men appeareth by the next verse But to reuele secrete sinnes to a spiritual father in sacramental confession is necessarie vvholesome and secure It is alâ—o very commendable and most lawful in holie religious Societies vvhere they willingly for their owne spiritual good submitte themselues to such a godlie rule Lâ—uit 1â— Mat. 15. Iac. 3. :: False pretence of pietie is hypocrisie :: And in a Superior to oppen his ovvne secrete fault to his subiects is pusillanimitie :: Discretion auoideth both by concealing and reueling faultes as reason directeth and iustice requireth Eccle. â— :: He that taketh reptchension in good part when he is faulty meriteth pardon and when he is not faultie he satifieth for his other sinnes and meriteth reward :: His intention is ful of guile that flattereth by shew of loue and of praise but he wil detract so much the more in the end reproch thee when he may gette probable aduantage against thee Prou. 12. Exo 23. Deut 16. :: VVisdom is to be shewed in vvordes and deedes vvhen it may profite others :: To conceale faultes so they be amended is most conuenient :: As a serpent deceiptfully approcheth stingeth the bodie so al sinnes inuegle and hurt the soule :: It is a signe that he is guiltie who contemneth freindly admonition :: He that truly feareth God wil diligently examine his ovvne actes defectes when he is vvarned :: As walles of stone built in the frost so riches or good name vniustly gotten wil not coÌ„tinue long :: Senseles or bad talke is tedious to al good men :: VVordes that may edifie are gratful to al godlie eares :: VVicked men condemning the diuel or anie other wicked do in dede condeme them selues And to them agreeth that sentence of our Sauiour By thyne owne mouth I iudge thee naughtie seruant Luc. 19. :: Contempt ignominie is the worldlie punishment of the slouthful besides his eternal damnation at the day of iudgement Mat. 25 â— 30 :: In this and other places is not vnderstood a foole that by defect of natural vvitte is ignorant or an ideote but he that is voide of grace ful of malice and wickednes For the wicked life of such a one is worse then his death v. 12. Gen 50. Prou. â—3 Prou â—â— :: A true freind wil not be lost for temporal damage noâ— danger :: But the vices of derision reproch and the like violate al freindshipe with wise and good mâ—n Ps 140. :: Man being weake and the enimie suttle strong he is not able to resist tentations without Gods special grace for which the vvisman therfore prayeth instructing al by his example to do the same :: Precepts how to gouerne the mouth and tongue :: Against rash vntrue vnlawful swearing Iere. 4. Mat. 5. :: In oathes God is called to witnes as he that can not lie but bâ—aâ—phemie attributeth thâ—t to God which perteyneth not him or attributeth to some creature that which only belongeth to God and so is a contrarie sinne to vnlawful swearing :: Both are mortal sinnes :: Admonition against sinnes of the tongue :: Reproch to parents and other neighboures :: Against couetousnes :: Fornication :: Adultrie Isa 29. :: Seing earnal adultrie shal be seuerely punished much more spiritual as schisme heresie and apostasie from Catholique Religion Leui 20. Deut. 22. :: Diuine wisdom the Second Person of the B. Trinitie begotten not created praiseth it self According to the phrase of speach Iere. 51. v. 14. The Lord of hostes hath svvorne by his soule that is by himself :: God offereth his grace but forceth not anie to accept it :: Creation is not here taken in the strict signification but for diuine production in that God the Father by vnderstanding begetteth God the Sonne As likewise the Father and the Sonne by loue produce the Holie Ghost :: in the Church only is effectual grace Psa â—â—â— :: The more grace any hath the more he desireth and receiueth :: In Dauids progenie God preserued the kinglie state til the captiuitie and the estimation of the royal bloud vnto Christ But in al this Dauid was a figure of Christ VVho sitteth in the Throne of honour absolutly for euâ—â— Iosâ— 3. :: Three very commendable thinges :: Other three detestable :: Nine happie thinges in this life Iac. 3. :: Al happines in this life is grounded in the feare of God :: The description of heresie vnder the figure of a wicked woman whose malice is secretly couered vnder pretence of truth and â—â—â—â—â—â— Prou â—â— :: Layheadshiâ—e in spiritual causes is so vnreasonab le and absurde that â—â—w heretikes 〈…〉 ure it :: An vnquâ—â—â— life depâ—iuâ—th a man of much comforth and therfore continual peace â—â— as a duble life :: As wheâ— oâ—â—n moâ—e the yoke oâ— their neckeâ— doth moue withal so a wicked woman to wittâ— heresie can not rest nor let others rest quiet :: The Catholique faith is the ground al al vertues :: Those that kepe innes or ailehouses are alwayes talking as willing to please al but in much talke wanteth not sinne Prou. 10. v. 19. 1. Tim 6. :: The soule is kept in good state by fearing God :: After that sinne is purged there remaine reliques in the soule as dust in a siene vvhen the chaffe is cast out til it be more purged or washed Psal 50. v. 4. Prou. 27. VVhether the sunne shineth forth or not it is alvvayes light so is a vvisman alvvayes vertuous vvhetherit appeaâ—â— outvvardly or no. A foole or vvicked man hath
of compassion â—id wepe with their goddesse :: The prophet being first instructed by a voice that the destruction is nere at hand * Vas intersectionis :: forthvvith in the same vision 〈…〉 men coming to kil the idolaters :: Yet one is sâ—â—t before the six to â—aâ—ke some vvhom Gods mercie vvil saue from the slaughter because he neuer suffereth his Church to be vvholly destroyed * Marke vvith †:: For abuses of holie Sacrifices Sacramentes and other sacred Rites God suffereth first Churches and Monasteries to be destroyed and clergie men and other religious persons to be persecuted and so punishment proceedeth to other offenders as 1. Pet. 4. v. 17. iudgement beginneth at the house of God Some translate Signe a signe or sette a marke vpon the foreheades Others translate more distinctly Signe Thau vpon the foreheades or Marke the foreheades vvith Thau or T. That is with the letter which hath the forme of a Crosse It was in the time of Ezechiel in figure now is in remembrance of Christs Crosse The ancient Fathers testifie the continual vse of the signe of the Crosse in the Church Exo. 1â— 1. Cor. â— Honour of the Crosse proueth Christ to be God The signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme in Confirmation in the B Eucharist and in aâ— holie Rites Miraculous apparitions of the signe of the Crosse The signe â—â—â— the Crosse shal appeare before Christ coÌ„ming to iudge The vnsigned shal be confounded The rightly signed shal be glorified :: In this vision appeared in the ayre as it vvere a man sitting in a throne of sapphire stone ouer the image of Cherubs foure wheeles vnder them :: The strange forme of these foure payre of wheeles signified the consonant agrement of the old and nevv Testament S Greg. ho. 6. in Ezech. :: They were readie to goe forward backward on the right hand on the left or to what part soeuer without turning about :: It semeth euerie one had as it vvere foure faces v. â—t al like mens faces but one more resembling a mans face then the other one some what resembling an ore face c. 1. here called the face of a cherish another the face of a lion the other of an eagle :: The prophet in Chaldea saw in spirite what was dont in Ierusalem :: VVere not nevv houses builded say the false prophetes sine Ieremie said that al our houses should be destroyed vvherupon they inferiâ— that his prophecie is false :: and so counted themselues as secure in Ierusalem as flesh in the potte :: The false prophetes feared warres but not captiuitie therfore the prophet assureth them that the people shal feele both sword captiuitie :: He lamented not the death of the false prophet but feared great ruine of the people seeing this wicked man dye so sodenly :: God stil conserueth his Church from vtter ruine as the prophets do often affirme Iere. 4. v. 27. ch 5. v. â—â— 18. Psal 88. â— â— â—â— :: Prouide furniture for trauel :: Trusse vp carie bag and bagage from one place to an other :: The false prophetes argued here Ezechiel of contradiction that the king should be caried into Babylon and should not see Babylon But the euent conuinced their rash iudgement For he vvas caried thither blinde 4. Reg. â—â— :: That which is commonly saide of manie is called a prouerbe :: False prophetes perswaded the people that seing the captiuitie foretold by the prophetes was not yet come therfore it would neuer come As heretikes shal denie the day of general iudgement â— Pet. â— :: As a wal of clay or morter without straw or other temperature is washed away with rayne so vaine hopes of securitie without repentance good vvorkes deceiue the careles people that liue in sinne :: There were also false prophetisses feaning to be illuminated with the spirit of Prophecie as Debora Iud 4 Holda 4. Reg 22. other holie vvemen vvere in dede true prophetisses but these by :: flaterie deceiued the people saying they vvere in good state and in securitie vvhen they vvere in sinne in exâ—teme danger of both temporal and eternal â—â—â—â— :: God reueled to the prophet that these men came not sincerely to lerne but were setled in their hart to serue the idoles As vvorldlie men in heretical countries do inquire of Catholique Priestes vvhat they should do but remaine resolued to participate with heretiks :: Such men are first of al to be admonished to depart from idolatrie heresie schisme from al practise therof which is the first step of true conuersion to God :: God permitteth false prophetes to be deceiued to deceiue in punishment of their owne sinnes and of the people that heare them 3. Reg. 22. v. 19. 2. Par. 18. v. 18. :: Daniel then liuing Noe Iob departed from this life did sometime pray for the people els this allegation of their interceding were not to the purpose of confirming Gods immutable decre to punish this obstinate people As is noted of Moyses and Samuel Iere. 15. :: Noe is named for example of spiritual Pastors of the Church Daniel of al religious orders Iob of holie laie people S. Gregorie li 1. c. 1â— â—or :: There shal alvvayes be Pastors to bring forth seede spiritual children of God Gods Church is very often and fitly compared to a vine in respect of the excellent fruite so the branches cut of from the Church are most like to wilde superfluitie of the vine good for nothing but to the fire S. Aug. Tract 81. in Io. :: In burning a fagot the middes being first consumed v. 4. the rest of both endes are likewise put in the fire til al be consumed so none that are out of the Church can escape the fire :: Ezechiel was now in Babylon and therforce this admonition which he should geue to Ierusalem was to be notified there by letters and messengers sent thither for this purpose :: By al this is signified that God made the Israelites of a barbarous nation to be ciuil and gaue them not only thinges necessarie but also :: ornaments aboue the state of other nations especially in spiritual benefites geuing a Law with Sacrifices Sacraments and other holy rites :: Adulterous wemen doe deceiue their husbandes bringing them other mens children but the Ievves gaue their lawful children to the vvorst adulterers sacrificing them to idols 4. Reg. 16. 17 21. 23. :: Al fornication is abominable but that is must detestable when vveâ—â—â— gâ—ue revvards to men for fornication or adultrie :: As Ierusalem was wont to be vvicked in former times so it is novv :: Ambition 〈…〉 idlenes are cause of much more sinnes temperance laboure bring forth much good fruite Olla si tollas perâ—ere cupidinis arcus Take avvay idlenes Cupids bovv is vveake Labor omnia vincit :: By Sodom other cities are vnderstood al nations vvhich shal come to Christ :: After that al other nations are