that not only the common people but even the wisest and the most sober of al the heathen men that ever were did ever varie that very much in both those points as wel among themselves one from another as from the people of al other countries or sects and also for that neither the ancient church of God under the law nor yet Christendom under the Gospel notwithstanding the expresse word given unto them and this most cleer and absolute manifestation of the wil of God in that point made unto us could ever soundly be brought from our native corruption on that behalfe For where we are so far to seek notwithstanding those helps there are we of our selves marvelous weak In that part of aequitie which respecteth our dutie to others we have som reasonable light remaining in comparison of the other as it may sufficiently appeer by the monuments of many that in writing they have left unto us by the experience and practise which was in ure in al ages and is at this praesent among our selves Howbeit it cannot be denied but that in the aestimation of wrong or disorder they have been in many things very much deceived and in the aestimation of right and order have been further short by many degrees An example may make the matter more plain To take away any part of another mans goods or a magistrate to bear with such offenders is in most cases quikly espied to be very il but that a man should have such a special care to praeserve to every one that which is his that though by bargain or wagers he might have it with his neighbors good wil yet he wil not or that a prince should by laws require such a care to be had that is very far not only from the dim sight of the heathen people but also from our much better lightened eies The inclination of our wil but weak Our understanding therfore is weak but what shal we say of the inclination of our wil Even the selfesame For though we have an indifferent readie wil to divers points of this aequitie yet first of al unto many others and those for the most part of the greatest importance as namely in matters of sound devotion we have no readines at al but are bent directly against them Then also though unto som of them as I said we have som inclination yet cannot it be soundly approoved of God partly for that oftentimes we corrupt our inclination by directing the same to som wrong end as to avoid either the danger of laws or els the displeasure or reproch of men til that our wil by the written word be better framed and partly for that though it have no such meaning with al yet is it not grounded upon knowledge til it hath the word written and therfore is not the service of GOD but of our selves So though we have this instinct of nature and though it giveth us in many points a goodly light yet therwithal may we plainly see whether we cast our eies to our understanding or to our wil that it is not able to serve our turn In the eie or judgement of man I grant we may by the vertu of it and the ordinarie working of God therwithal not only live in seemly order but also now and then give foorth very rare and excellent vertues But before the judgement-seat of God whatsoever such things are found in us be they never so fair yet could they not there be able to stand 6 The case being so with us al This want in the Israelits holpen by the written law it pleased God to cast a special favor to one people whom we cal the Israelites and a principal part of them the Iewes and unto this people by his written law to give a sufficient supply for whatsoever wanted in them by defect of that natural instinct or sense of aequitie This I say he gave unto them but not unto others He gave unto them a more certain light but stil left others unto their thik and duskish mists And now doth it appertain unto us to endevor our selves that as we have seen what they had common with others wherin others had as much as they so now to find out what it was wherin they had that their special help and in respect wherof others came so short of them Which as I said was by the written law wherby they had special order set down so far as the wisdom of God thought meet to supply the defect that was in themselves As touching which although the laws that to this purpose do appertain are manie and divers and so little digested to any plain method that some have omitted to treat of them and those that write of them do not handle them al alike yet me think there may be very wel such a method conceived of them as that we may therby sufficiently perceive what was the form or maner of government that was in those commended unto them 7. For whatsoever laws they had heerunto appertaining they did concern either their inhabiting of the land that God did give them or els their behavior therin Vnto the former of which it doth appertain first to consider somwhat of the land it self then to see in what sort it was allotted to them A breefe description of the land of Canaan Concerning the land it selfe it is no more but to consider what it was and yet not at large for that manie others have written therof but only in som breefe maner so far as to this preasent purpose is needful The land therfore that was appointed for their possession was at this time in the possession of others and those not under any one prince but under many This a Gen. 15 18-31 Exo. 3 8. 17.23 23 31 Num. 34 1-15 Ios 1 3 4. land doth the scripture bound or describe two maner of wais somtimes by the bounds and coasts therof and somtimes by the inhabitants whom they should find dwelling therin As touching the bounds it is found to be that land that hath Aegypt Idumaea and the wildernes of Zin on the south the middle-earth sea from Gaza to Sidon on the west Mount Libanus and Phoenicia a part of Syria on the north and the mountains of Galaad with the kingdoms of the Ammonites and Moabites on the east The uttermost length wherof in streight line is aesteemed to be about 150. of our English miles accounting eight furlongs unto a mile and the bredth scant 30. miles accounting one place with another Howbeit the land is not so directly coasted but that it doth not a little decline the north end of it so much into the east and the south end so much into the west that it lieth very neer to the north-east and south-southwest points of the compas Through which land Iordan a great river commeth from the mountains of Libanon in the north and endeth in a dead sea in the south and in such sort
that it leaveth about three parts of this land on the west and but about a fourth part of it on the east Which also hath about the midst of the land that famous lake which is called the sea or lake of Genasereth 8 The name of this land is divers Of the divers names therof but a Herod Thalia lib. 3. Polymnia li. 7. Ptol. Geograph lib. 5. cap. 15 16. Plin. li. 5 c.12 among the ancient heathen people for the most part either it goeth in account as a part of Syria or els is it properly called by the name of Palaestine bicause of the Philistins that dwelt in a principal corner of it towards the south-west neer unto Aegypt In scripture it is commonly called b Gen. 11 31. 45 25. Exod. 6 4. 16 35. the land of Canaan for that the posteritie of Canaan the son of Cham did principally inhabit the same Afterward when the children of Israel were there placed and c Ios 13-19 the whole land divided among the 12. tribes everie shire or part d Ios 13 7 8. 14 2 3. had the name of the tribe that dwelt therin But so soone as the kingdom was divided e 1. King 12 16 17. 14 7 22. then was the south part termed the kingdom of Iuda or Iurie and the north-part which was the greater the kingdom of Israel f Isai 7 9. Ier. 32 4 5. Eze. 16 46 51 Mich. 1 1. or of the principal citie therin Samaria After the return from the captivitie it came to passe that it fel to have g Carol. Ste. ex historicis in Galilaea four principal parts of name Iurie in the south Samaria north from it then Galilie the lower and last of al Galilie the higher and furthest north So since the time of Christ after that the Saracens and Turks began to get possession of it it was termed of us or at least a principal part therof the h Hiero. in epitaphio Paulae Et alii fere omnes qui sequuti sunt Holie-land that name making very much for the clergie of Rome who when people began to inquire of their abuses were wont oft times to devise a quarel for the recoverie of the same so to set them occupied about other matters 9 What kind of land it was for the fertilitie therof Of the fruitfulnes of it for the abundance of things needful for the use of such as should dwel therin the scripture it selfe doth in like sort very plainly declare in manie places but especially under these terms that it flowed with milk and honie When God did first set in hand with the deliverance of his people out of Aegypt and told Moses that now he would no longer suffer his people to be under the greevous yoke of that extreme bondage to the tyrants of Aegypt but wold bring to passe that themselves should have a land of their own to dwel in he also told him that a Exo. 3 17. the same land should be a verie good and a large land and that it should flow with milk and honie b Deut. 1 20-22 When after that once they were delivered they came so far in the wildernes that now they were at the borders of the land and being incouraged by Moses then to make their entry desired to have searchers sent before very reprochful therfore injurious to the word of God that could not now be beleeved of them without the approbation of man and therfore immediately afterward woorthily punished in it selfe although of those searchers being but twelve in al no fewer than ten of them discouraged the people so much as to hope ever to get it for that their enimies were so mightie and had so marvelously fortified themselves yet c Num. 13 27 could they not denie but that the land it selfe was marvelous fruitful as also they brought of the fruits therof in witnes of it So likewise towards the end of their pilgrimage when Moses would take as we say his leave of the people or bid them farewel as he put them in mind of the law of God and called upon them to walk therafter so to the end they might better perceive that they should not leese their labor but were wel hired therunto d Deu. 8 7-9 he doth in like maner put them in mind how notable a land the Lord had provided for them e Deut. 11 10-12 another maner of thing than was Aegypt which som of them did so much condemn For that the inhabitants of Aegypt were fain somtimes to water their land themselves with their own bodily labor wheras this was watered without the labor of man with the sweet and seasonable showers of heaven from above and with plentie of springs and rivers beneath Again that the Lord had a special care of that land and that his eies were therupon from the one end of the yeer to the other And therfore that they should there have plentie of wheat and barly wine and olives pomgranats and figs with iron and brasse in great abundance And to the better testification therof and to keepe up a perpetual memorie therof he also taught them f Deu. 26 9. so oft as they should come with their first fruits unto the Lord ever in plain words to confesse unto the Lord that indeed they had received of him a notable good land To be short when afterward the people had diversly offended the Lord and therfore wel deserved to have their land barren and houses desolate nevertheles even after the enimies whom they called in with their sin had fowly defaced it g Eze. 20 6. yet then doth God term it to be a land that floweth with milk and honie and that is a pleasant land among al others 10 But notwithstanding the excellencie of this land a Deu. 15 11. Though there should be poor therin yet might that be no discredit to the land it selfe they were by Moses given to understand that they should ever have poore among them Which might be in the judgment of som a sore blemish to the land it selfe as though it could not be of that fertilitie when as divers of the inhabitants therof should be so needie Howbeit experience it selfe doth teach us that though any countrie do never so much abound with al things needful yet may divers particular persons that live therin be very needie Causes of povertie And me think there are three principal fountains out of which the want or straightnes that the poore are in doth otherwise spring First of al if themselves be unthriftie and wastfully spend those good blessings that God hath given them For then it is no marvel nor any strange matter if God that cannot abide to see his goods so wastfully spent take the occupation therof from such and bestow them on others He would have his houshold therwithal releeved he would not have his goods bestowed to the
that end be of extraordinarie liberalitie towards them or keepe as we say open house for them But as touching this point it cannot be denied but that the writers do somthing varie For som think that this was another tenth besides the ordinarie tenth of the yeer others that it was no other tenth that heer is spoken of but the ordinarie tenth of the yeer but that it should be this yeer bestowed not only on the Levites but also on al the poore generally Howbeit I take it that neither of those senses can wel stand with other parts of the scripture heerunto belonging and that they are not charged but with protestation of sincere righteous dealing in those matters and not to lay out any other tenth nor to bestow that tenth on others than otherwise by law they ought but only to have more special care of the poore and of their own to be more liberal to them Whence this third yeer is to be rekoned And it is to be noted that this third yeer was not everie third yeer but the third from the seventh yeers rest and so fel no oftener indeed but only everie seventh yeer And therin may we see the wisdom and goodnes of God that appointed them to make that protestation and to have a special care of the poore at such a time as was the easiest for them being even in the midst of their plentie when they might most easily amend what defaults they had before made in paiment of their duties if any such were and with lesse hurt to themselves be liberal to others And seeing that b Deut. 15 9. God doth in any wise forbid to have the lesse care on the poore when at any time the seventh yeer approcheth much more are they charged to be careful of them when as it is furthest of from them The seventh yeer The solemnitie of the seventh yeer rested in three special points Wherof the first was that c Exod. 23 10 11. Lev. 25 1-7 20-22 they should that yeer let their ground rest and neither sow nor plant theron neither yet reap or take to themselves that which it yeelded forth of it selfe but that it should that yeer be common and serve to the use of the poorer sort and to releeve the beasts and cattel of the feeld The second was d Deu. 15 1-6 that no man might trouble or su his brother for debt but that for that yeer he had to surcease from al such actions that so poore creditors might togither have rest with the land and so more easily pay it after But yet was it lawful to exact the same of strangers that observed not the law of God and so had their sabbaths in derision And to the end that they might be in this case more favorable to their poore brethren the Lord doth promise that his blessing shal besuch towards them that so doing they shal find no want The third and last was that c Dent. 31 10-13 everie seventh yeer al the people men women and children and those strangers that dwelt among them should at the feast of tabernacles resort to the place that the Lord had appointed and thereshould have the law read unto them to the end that they al might know it and keep it And so it seemeth to be meant of this seventh yeer that in another place f Deu. 16 14. there is mention of bringing their daughters and maidens to the feast of tabernacles wheras g Exo. 23 17. otherwise but only the males were required The fiftith yeer The solemnitie of the fiftith yeer was much greater For first of al that none should be deceived in their rekoning it h Lev. 25 8 9. was to be proclaimed openly in al quarters of the land and on the day of reconciliation in the 49. yeer going before So that wheras i Lev. 23.27 they had that day to afflict themselves every yeer yet in the 49. yeer on the selfesame day came there to al this special news of joy and gladnes In it k Lev. 25 11 12. the land should rest as in the seventh yeer And bicause it might be dowted how they shuld live when the seventh and the fiftith concur togither l Le. 25 20-22 he answereth that God wilso blesse the sixt yeer with increase that they shal live therof til new com again But besides this which it had common with the seventh yeer there were two other special praerogatives to it belonging One m Lev. 25 10 was that freedom must be proclaimed and granted to al the other that n Lev. 25 13. everie one had free accesse unto his ancient inhaeritance again Which benefits were to be enjoied not only for that yeer but for the time that should afterward follow unles themselves by som new act or deed of theirs should com in bondage or make away the possessions they had 42 Concerning the sacrifices themselves further to help the hardnes therof it shal be good first to say somwhat generally Of the sacrifices themselves and then to enter into the several nature of everie one Which in my judgement may best be done if we shal sort them al to be one of these two either ordinarie or extraordinarie The ordinarie sacrifice principally is that which is called the daily sacrifice which being once set before our eies wil give unto us such a general knowledge of the nature and form of a sacrifice that when we com to the rest we shal not need but to discourse of their several natures wherin they varie from the other Those also may we account ordinarie The ordinarie sacrifice which by the law of God the preests were bound ordinarily to offer at their times appointed without any other occasion given as request of others or whatsoever els Of this sort were divers but the first and principal was that which was called the dailie sacrifice Which was a Exod. 29 38-42 Num. 28 1-8 that everie morning and everie evening the preest should take a lamb of a yeer old without spot and praesent it before the Lord then should he kil and dresse it and lay it on the altar and there burn it unto the Lord. Wherunto they must also ad b Exo. 29 40. a certain quantitie of flower oil and wine of flower a tenth part which was an Omer which of our measure was about a pottle of oil and wine a like quantitie which was of either of them the fourth part of an Hin which of our measure was about a pint Last of al to the latter part of this sacrifice that is to the flower oil and wine which also is called c Lev. 2 1. Num. 28 5. a meat offering they should d Lev. 2 13. The sabbaoths sacrifice ever put som salt which in no meat offering might at any time want Next heerunto is the sacrifice e Nu. 28 9 10. of the sabbaoth which was no
offer 35. The usual Clothing of the high preest 35 m The use of the Cloud 34 m Cloud see rested A breefe exposition of the ten Commandements 20. A larger exposition of the ten Commandements 21-30 Conceal see truth a. The Confirmation of the preests ministration 36 q Who were repelled from the Congregation 23 c Congregation see sacrifice 44. Taking away of Consecrate or holie things as first-fruits tithes and such like to be purged by sacrifice though it were but ignorantly or unwittingly done 47 e The maner of Consecrating the Levites 37 a At the Consecration of the preests what Moses should have in a readines 36 a To be Content with the estate that God doth give see covet How long the sacrifice of consecration for Aaron his sons was to Continu 36 k Matters of Controversie brought to the high preest and cheefe magistrate 38 k Carnal Copulation with beasts forbidden 27. c. Corah see disobedience e. Cords of the sanctuarie 33 h The Covering that was inmost of al 32 o The second Covering 32 p The third Covering 32 i Not to Covet 30 a The Court of the tabernacle square 33 a Cursing father or mother death 57 b Curtain of the tabernacle see covering D. DAily sacrifice again see sacrifice a. The daily sacrifice of the morning 36 m A Damage or wrong wittingly done to be made up with the best of his own 60 e.f Damage or wrong diversly done 60. after d. Damage done for want of heed taking how to be punished 60 g A secret Damage or hurt how to be answered 60 m Dan the gathering host 34 q Dan where he camped see Camped Dathan see disobedience e. Not to curse the Deafe 26 g False Dealing see stealing Debts and debtors see seventh Defraud see oppresse Delay see vow m. To Denie a thing committed to his trust purged by sacrifice 46.f Denieng or forswearing a thing found purged by sacrifice 46.f Destroy by war see Canaanites and forrein cities Dishes pertaining to the table 32 m.2 Disobedience to authoritie punished with death 52 o. For Disobedience to authoritie a strange great execution done on Corah Dathan Abiram and others 57 e Disobedience see authoritie Disobedience see father c The Distribution of the land among the tribes 14. Divels see offering s Divorse in som cases permitted 27 b.2 Divorse see marriage h. Dog see vile thing Drunkards or riotous persons that wil not be ruiled by their parent calling from it to be put to death 57 c E. EAsement so to be done as should annoy none 23 i Easement done to the noiance of others offendeth God also 23 i Easement so to be done as that therin also it may appeer that we reverence others 25 e Easter the first of their yeerly feasts 40 k The solemnitie of Easter 40 k.l A sheafe of new corn to be offered at Easter 40 o Certain things forbid to be Eaten 30 b also blood fat and such as died alone c.d. No beast to be offered under Eight dais old 39 d. A bench of Elders appointed upon the complaint of Moses 50 m.n.o Enimies to good use 12 m Aaron and his sons Entered into their office the eight day 36.l Of their Entrie into the land 11. Entrie into the court at the west end 33.f Ephod see upmost garment The Exercise of the sabbath see sabbath Eie for eie tooth for tooth c. 58 i Eie for eie see witnes a. F. FAt forbid see blood Faise swearing punished by a sacrifice 46.f Familiars see witches The Families of Levie 38 t Father and mother to be honored 20. 25. Refusing to be ruled by Father or mother to be punished with death 57 c Not to marrie the Fathers wife 25 b The Father not to die for the offence of the childe nor the childe for the father 25.f Fatherles see hard-dealing Not to Fear though their enimies be many 54 a When they go to war to send away such as are Fearful 54 a Of their solemn Feasts and times 40. Their Feast lasted seven dais togither 40 p Everie Feast had his proper sacrifice 42.f u. Fire was first sent down to consume the sacrifice 36 q Fighting see beating Fighting see hurting Fighting see maiming A Fift part more to be added for an iniurie done 60 m A Fift part more to be added for taking away of holie things 47 e Fift part see owner The solemnitie of the Fiftith yeer 41. In the Fiftith yeer the land should rest as in the seventh 41 k l. In the Fiftith yeer freedom was granted to al and everie one might return to their ancient inheritance 41 m.n The freedom of the Fiftith yeer 30.f The Fiftith yeer how it should be proclaimed 41 h First born exempted to keep in memorie how the Lord spared them when he destroied the first born of Aegypt 21 m.n First born of man 21.f First born of such things as were clean 21 h.k First born of such things as were unclean 21 i or had deformitie k. First born see Levites n. The First day of everie moneth rekoned among other solemn feasts 40.f The First day of the moneth see new moone First fruits ordained why 21 o and of what things they should be offered p q. At the offering of their First fruits how they shuld acknowledge the goodnes of the Lord withal 21 s How careful they shuld be truly to bring their First fruits to the Lord 21 r First fruits see consecrate Certain portions of the Flesh of the sacrifice given to the preests 36 i How the preests should use the Flesh of the sacrifice Flesh see sacrifice d. Flowers see fluers Fluers token of maidenhead 59 o To lie with a woman in hir Fluers forbidden 27 g and punished by death to both the parties 59 e Flieng of birds see prognosticate Fornication with a single woman unbetrothed how it is punished 59 k Fornication with a bond-maid how punished 59.l Fornication see whoordom Forrein cities not to be so clean destroied as the cities of Canaan 54 h Forswearing see denieng Things Found ought to be restored again 28.f Found see denieng A Frame for lights in the holie place see candlestik Freedom see fiftith n. and maiming Frindges see law m. That there should be poore in the land it hindereth not the Fruitfulnes of it for that povertie may arise of other causes than of the hardnes of the land 10. Fruits of their trees forbidden the first four yeers 30 g Fruits not to be gathered over neer 28 i Fruit trees not to be cut down in a seege 54.f Hurt by Fire negligently kindled how to be answered 60 i Fire see hurt i. G. GAin of whoordom not to be offered vnto the Lord 23.l The holie Garments of the high preest put on when he began the reconciliation and put off again when he had done 43 b z. The lake or sea Genasareth 7. The Gerah 21 f.g Peace made with the Gibeonites 12.f To speak to the people in the name of other Gods death
of God for it was that wheras he had most liberally allowed his people to bestow six dais in the weeke about their usual labors the seventh day he would have them ever to rest and to keep it holie unto the Lord. Which being first a Gen. 2 2 3. commended to man by the example of God himselfe was afterward b Exo. 20 8-11 23 12 Lev. 23 3. Deu. 5 12-15 commanded very expresly by the written word So that they had both to intermit their ordinarie busines for that day and to give them selves to holines besides The first day of every moneth As for the first day of everie moneth which also is called the new moone it was in this somthing severed from other dais for that c Num. 28 11-15 there was a special sacrifice appointed for it of which there is somwhat alreadie said in the treatise of sacrifices And although otherwise we read not of any special solemnitie appointed for that day in the first institution therof yet afterward in the practise of the church d 1. Sam. 20 5 2. King 4 23. we find it often rekoned among their festival dais and somtimes to be so specially named that it seemeth with them to have bin of som special account As that David e Psal 81 3. assigneththerunto the blowing of trumpets and a joiful solemnizing therof and Salomon f 2. Par. 2 4. doth rekon it among others of the solemn feasts and g Isai 1 14. Hos 2 11. Col. 2 15. so likewise both Isai and Hoseah among the prophets and long after that Saint Paul the Apostle Of these there was one of more special account The first day of the seventh moneth and of greater solemnitie than the rest which was the first of the h Lev. 23 23-25 Num. 29 1. seventh moneth which they were appointed to keepe verie holie and to solemnize not only with the sound of the trumpet but also i Num. 29 2-6 with another sacrifice proper to it selfe over and besides that which was appointed for the first dais of other moneths Easter Of those that came everie yeer once k Exo. 12 1. the first was that which is called Easter the solemnities wherof were divers First that which was l Exod. 23 14-17 34 23 24. common both unto Pentecost and to the feast of tabernacles following that is that m Deu. 16 5 6 11 16 17. al the people should make their repair to the place that the Lord had chosen so many as were of the woorthier sex and able to travel there to keep holie the feast to the Lord then the eating of the pascal lamb according to the maner before described and namely with none other n Exo. 12 15 17-20 34 18. 13 3 6 7 Lev. 23 6. Deut. 16 8. than unlevened bread al the whole feast thirdly that therin they had to offer a o Lev. 23 10 11. sheaf of new corn unto the Lord last of al that their feast was to last p Exod. 12 15 16. Lev. 23 7 8. seven dais togither wherof the first and the last were of special solemnitie above the rest But as touching the second point that is the eating of the pascal lamb q Exod. 12 6.13 10. Lev. 25 5 6. Nu. 9 2 3 13. although the law did generally require both that everie one should eat therof and appointed both one time and place for al yet did it allow of certain r Nu. 9 10 11 exceptions if any should be either unclean or in his journey els where that such might have respit til the same day of the next moneth Pentecost The feast of ſ Exod. 23 16.34 22. Lev. 23 15-17 Deu. 16 9-12 Pentecost which followed next in order was the fiftith day after Easter which also was to be holden a verie holie feast unto the Lord in remembrance of their deliverance out of the bondage of Aegypt For which their deliverance they were willed themselves and their families to rejoice togither before the Lord and to bring with them two loaves of levened bread to praesent the Lord withal And the better to advance the solemnitie of this feast besides the praesence of the people and those loaves that they had to bring for themselves and ther families there was t Lev. 23 18-21 a special sacrifice appointed on behalfe of the whole people for that pręsent day After this feast of Pentecost which fel in the third moneth of the yeer they had no more til they came to the seventh saving only the first of everie moneth that before was spoken of But when the seventh moneth came in which was about the end of sommer it did bring with it two notable feasts besides the first day spoken of before The former of which was no more but one only day The day of reconciliation which was u Ley. 16 29.23 27. Num. 29 7. on the tenth day of that moneth was called the day x Lev. 23 27. of reconciliation On it was it that the high preest had to enter into y Lev. 16 34. Exod. 30 10. the most-holie place there to make a general attonement for al. On it had the z Lev. 16 31. 23 27-32 Num. 29 7. people to cease from their labors and to afflict and humble themselves before the Lord. On it also everie nine fortith yeer a Lev. 25 9. was proclaimed the Iubile following by the sound of the trumpet Five dais after that is the b Lev. 23 33-43 Nu. 29 12-39 The feast of tabernacles fifteenth of the same moneth began the feast of tabernacles the last of the principal feasts in the yeer and of a verie special solemnitie ordained to cal to their remembrance how they dwelt in tents in the wildernes fortie yeers It continued eight dais and had a proper sacrifice for everie one but the greatest and most special dais were the first and the last 41 The yeers that were of special account with them Their solemnities in yeers The third yeer were especially three the third the seventh and the fiftith The solemnitie of the third yeer was a Deu. 14 28 29. 26 12-15 that so soone as they had that yeer set out a just tith of al such things as God had given them they should make a solemn protestation therof before the Lord that they had truly paid al such duties that they had withheld or taken to their own use no part of them whatsoever need or occasion there was nor suffered any part of them through negligence to decay in their hands and therwithal that they should make their praiers unto the Lord to blesse the people and the land which he had given them It was also ordeined that that yeer they al should have a more special care of those that stood in need as namely of the Levite stranger fatherles and widow and to