forth his hande towarde his disciples and sayde beholde my mother and my brethren For whosoeuer doth the wyll of my father which is in heuen the same is my brother syster and mother ⢠¶ The parable of the âede of the tares of the mustarde âede of the leuen of the treasure hyd in the felde of the pearles and of the net CAPI XIII THe same daye wente Iesus oute of the house and sat by the see syde moche peple were gathered togither vnto him so greatly that he went and sat in a shyp and all the peple stode on the shore And he spake many thyngê to them by similitudes saynge Beholde the sower went forthe to sowe And when he sowed some scedes fell by the wayes syde and the foules came deuoured them vp Some fell vpon stony places where they had not moche earth and anone they sprang vp bicause they had no depenes of earth and when the sonne was vp they caught heate bicause they had no rote they wythered away Agayne some fell amonge thornes and the thornes sprange vp and chooked them But some fell in to good grounde and broughte forth fruyte some an huÌdred folde some siâty folde some thirtye folde Who soeuer hathe eares to heare let hym heare And the disciples came sayd vnto hym Why speakest thou to them by parables He answered and sayd vnto them it is gyuen vnto you to knowe the secretes of the kyngdome of heuen but to them it is not gyuen For who soeuer hath to hym shal be gyueÌ and he shal haue aboundaunce But who soeuer hath not from hym shall be taken away eueÌ that also which he hath Therfore speake I to them by similitudes for they seynge se not and hearynge they heare not neyther do they vnderstande And in them is fulfylled the prophecye of Esasas ⪠which sayth with the eares ye shall heare and shall not vnderstande seynge ye shall se and shall not perceyue For these peples hertê is wared grosse and theyr eares are dull of hearynge theyr eyes haue they closed leest at any tyme they shulde se with theyr eyes heare with theyr cares and shulde vnderstande with theyr herte and be conuerted that I also myght heale them But blessed are youre eyes for they se your eares for they heare Uerely I saye vnto you that many prophettes and ryghteous men haue desyred to se those thynges whiche ye se and haue not sene them and to heare those thynges whiche ye heare haue not herde them Heare ye therfore the similitude of the sower WheÌ one heareth the worde of the kyngdom vnderstandeth it not then cometh the euyll man and taketh awaye that which was soweÌ in his hert this is he which was sowen by the waye syde But he that receyued the seede whiche was cast in to stonye places the same is he that heareth the worde and anone with ioy receyueth it yet hath he no rote in hym selfe but dureth for a season for when tribulacyon or persecucyon happeneth bycause of the worde by by he falleth He also that receyued seede in to the thornes is he that heareth the worde and the care of this worlde and the deceytefulnes of ryches choke vp the worde so is he made vnfruytful But he that receyueth sede in to the good grounde is he that heareth the worde vnderstandeth it which also beareth fruyte and bryngeth forth some an hundred folde some syxtye folde some thyrtye folde An other similitude put he forth vnto them sayenge â The kyngdom of heuen is lykened vnto a man whiche sowed good seede in his felde But whyle men slepte his enemy came and sowed tares amonge the wheate and went his way But when the blade was spronge vp and had brought forthe fruyte then appeared the tares also So the seruauÌtes of the housholder came and sayde vnto hym Syr dydest not thou sow good seede in thy felde from whence then hath it tares He sayd vnto them the enuyous man hath done this The seruauntes sayde vnto hym wylte thou then that we go and wede them vp but he sayde nay lest whyle ye gather vp the tares ye plucke vp also the wheate with them let bothe growe togyther vntyll the haruest and in tyme of haruest I wyll saye vnto the reapers gather ye fyrst the tares and bynde them togyther in sheaues to be burnt but gather the wheate in to my barne ⢠â An other parable put he forth vnto them sayenge The kyngdome of heuen is lyke vnto a grayne of mustarde seede which a maÌ toke and sowed in his felde which is the least of all seedes But when it is growen it is the greatest amonge herbes and is a tree so that the byrdes of the ayre come and make theyr nestes in the braunches therof An other similitute spake he vnto them The kyngdome of heuen is lyke vnto leueÌ whiche a woman taketh and hydeth in thre peckes of meele tyl all be leuened All these thynges spake Iesus vnto the people by similitudes and without a parable spake he nothyng vnto them that it myght be fulfylled whiche was spoken by the prophet that sayth I wyll open my mouth in parables I wyl speake forth thynges which haue bene kepte secrete frome the begynnynge of the worlde ⢠When the people were sent away then came Iesus in to the house â And his disciples came vnto hym sayenge declare vn to vs the parable of the tares of the felde He answered sayd vnto them He that soweth the good seed is the sonne of man The felde is the worlde And the chyldren of the kyngdome they are the good seed the tares are the children of the wicked the enemy that soweth them is the deuyll The haruest is the ende of the worlde the reapers be the angels EueÌ as the tares therfore are gathered burnt in the fyre so shal it be in the ende of this world The sonne of man shall sende forthe his angels they shall gather out of his kyngdome all thynges that offende them which do iniquite shall cast them in to a fournace of fyre There shall be waylyng gnasshyng of teeth Then shal the righteous shyne as the son in the kyngdom of theyr father Who so euer hath eares to heare let hym heare ⢠â Agayne the kyngdome of heuen is lyke vnto treasure hyd in the felde the whiche a man hath founde and hyd and for ioy therof goeth selleth al that he hath and byeth the felde Agayne the kyngdom of heuen is lyke vnto a merchaunt man sekyng goodly pearles which wheÌ he fouÌde one precious pearle went solde all that he had and bought it Agayne the kyngdom of heuen is lyke vnto a net that was cast into the see gathered of all kynde â offysshes which when it was ful meÌ drewe to land sat downe gathered the good in to vessels but
Neuertheles your misdedes haue turned these frome you and your synnes haue robbed you hereof For amonge my people are founde wycked personnes that preuely lay snares and wayte for men to take them and destroye them And lyke as a net is full of byrdes so are theyr houses ful of that which they haue gotten with falshed and disceate Hereof commeth theyr great substauÌce and ryches hereof are they fat and welthy and are runne away fro me with shameful blasphemyes They minystre not the lawe they make no ende of y â fatherles cause they iudge not the poore accordyng to equite Shuld I not punish these thinges sayeth the Lorde shulde I not be auenged of all suche people as these be Horrible greuous thinges are done in the lande The Prophetes teache falsely and the prestes folowe them and my people hathe pleasure therin What wyll come therof at the laste ¶ The synnes for whiche Ierusalem is afflyete UnâiââuÌcysed yeares Couetousnes Disceate The Lorde reiecteth the sacryfices of the Iewes The coÌmynge of the Babylonianâ is prophecyed agayne ¶ CAPI VI. COME out of Ierusalem yee stronge chyldren of Ben Iamin blowe vp the troÌpettes ye Tecuytes set vp a token vnto Bethearam for a plage and a great misery pepeth out from the North. I wyl lyken the daughter Sion to a faire and tendre woman and to her shal come the shepherders with theyr flockes There tentes shal they pitche rounde about her euery one shal fede them y t are vnder his hande Make batayle agaynst her shall they saye Aryse let vs go vp whyle it is yet daye Alas the day goeth awaye the nyght shadowes fall downe Aryse let vs go vp by nyght and destroy her strong holdes for thus hath the Lorde of hostes coÌmaunded Hewe downe her trees and set vp bulworkes agaynst Ierusalem This is y â citie that must be punished for in her is al malisiousnes Lyke as a coÌdyte aboundeth in water euen so this cytie aboundeth in wyckednes Robberye and vnryghtuousnesse is herde in her sorowe and woundes are euer there in my syght Amende the O IerusaleÌ lest I withdrawe my herte from the make the desolate and thy lande also that no man dwell in it For thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes The resydue of Israel shal be gathered as the remnaunt of grapes And therfore turne thyne hande agayne into the basket lyke y â grape gatherer But vnto whom shall I speake whome shall I warne that he may take hede Their eares are so vncircumcised that they may not heare Beholde they take the worde of the Lorde but for a scorne haue no lust therto And therfore I am so full of thyne indignacyon O Lorde that I may suffre no loÌger But shede it out vpon y â childreÌ that are wtout and vpon all yonge men yea the man must be taken prysonner with the wyfe and the aged with the crepel Their houses with their landes and wyues shal be turned vnto straungers when I stretche out myne haÌde vpon the inhabitours of this lande sayeth the Lorde For from y â least vnto the most they hange al vpon couetousnes and from the Prophete vnto the preest they go all aboute with falsheede and lyes And besyde that they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes sayeng peace peace wheÌ there is no peace at al. Therfore they must be ashamed for they haue coÌmytted abhomynacion But howe shuld they be ashamed when they knowe nothing nether of shame nor good nurtour And therfore they shall fall amonge the slayne and in the houre when I shall vyset them they shal be brought downe sayeth the Lorde Thus sayeth the Lorde go into the streates consydre and make inquisicyon for the olde waye and if it be the good and ryght way then go therin that ye may fynde rest for your soules But they say we wyll not walke therin and I wyll set watchemen ouer you therfore take hede vnto the voice of the trompet But they saye we wyll not take hede Heare therfore ye Gentiles and thou congregacion shalte knowe what I haue deuysed for them Heare thou earthe also beholde I wyl cause a plage to come vpon this people euen the fruyte of they re owne ymaginacyons For they haue not bene obedient vnto my wordes and to my lawe but abhorred them Wherfore bryng ye me incense from Saba and swete smellynge Calamus from ââr countrees Your burnt ãâ¦ã please me and I reioyce not in your sacrifyces And therfore thus sayth the Lorde beholde I wyll make this people fall there shall fall from amonge theym the father with the chyldren one neyghbour shall perysshe with an other Thus sayeth the Lorde Beholde there shall come a people from the Northe and a great people shall aryse from the endes of the earth with bowes and with dartes shal they be weapened It is a rough and fearce people an vnmercyful people theyr voice roareth lyke the see they ryde vpon horses well apoynted to the batayle agaynste the O daughter Sion The crye of them haue we herde Our armes are feble henynesse and sorowe is come vpon vs as vpon a woman trauaylynge with chylde No man go forth into the felde no man coÌmeth vpon the hye strete for the swerde and feare of the enemy is on euery syde Wherfore gyrde a sacke cloth about the O thou daughter of my people sprynckle thyselfe with asshes mourne and wepe bytterly as vpon thy onely beloued sonne For the destroyer shall sodaynely fall vpon vs. The haue I set for a prouer of my harde people to seke out and to trye theyr wayes For they are all vnfaythful and fallen awaye they hange vpon fylthy lucre they are cleane brasse and yron for they hurt and destroye euery man The bellous are brente in the fyre the leade is consumed the melter melteth in vayne for the euyll is not taken away from theÌ Therefore do they call them naughty syluer because the Lorde hath cast them out ¶ Ieremye is commaunded to shewe vnto the people the worde of God ⪠whiche trusteth in the outwarde seruyce of the temple The euylles that shall happen to the Iewes for the despysynge of theyr Prophetes Sacryfices dothe not the Lorde thefely requyre of the Iewes but that they shulde obey his worde CAPI VII THESE are the wordes that God spake vnto IEREMY Stande vnder the gate of the Lordes house and crye out these wordes there with a loude voyce saye Heare the worde of the Lorde all ye of Iuda that go in at thys dore to worshyppe the Lord. Thus sayeth y â Lorde of Hostes y â god of Israel AmeÌde your wayes your couÌcels I wyll let you dwel in this place Trust not in false lieng wordes saieng here is the teÌple of the Lord here is the temple of the Lorde here is y â temple of the Lorde For yf ye wyll amende youre wayes
cyties of the southe In the lande of Ben Iamin in the feldes of Ierusalem and in the cyties of Iuda shall the shepe be nombred agayne vnder the hande of hym that telleth them sayeth the Lorde Beholde the tyme commeth sayeth the Lorde that I wyll perfourme that good thynge which I haue promysed vnto the house of Israell to y â house of Iuda In those dayes at the same tyme I wyll briÌge forth vnto Dauid the braunche of ryghtuousnes and he shall do equyte ryghtuousnesse in the lande In those dayes shal Iuda be helped and Ierusalem shal dwell safe and he that shal cal her is euen God our ryghtuousnesse For thus the Lorde promeseth Dauid shall neuer want one to syt vpon the stole of the house of Israel neyther shall the prestes and Leuytes want one to offre all waye before me burnt offeringes to kyndle y â meatofferynges and to prepare the sacrifyces And the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremy after this maner Thus sayeth the Lorde maye the couenauÌt whiche I haue made with daye and nyght be broken that there shulde nat be daye and nyght in due season Then maye my couenaunt also be broken which I made with Dauid my seruaunt so he nat to haue a sonne to reygne in his Trone so shall also the prestes and Leuytes neuer fayle but serue me For lyke as the starres of heauen maye nat be nombred neyther the sande of the see measured so wyll I multiplye the sede of Dauid my seruauÌt the Leuites my mynisters Moreouer the worde of the Lorde came to Ieremy sayenge Consydrest thou nat what this people speaketh Two kynreddes saye they had the Lorde chosen and those same two hathe he cast awaye For so farre is my people come that they haue no hope to come together any more and to be one people agayne Therfore thus sayeth the Lorde If I haue made no couenaunte with daye and nyght and geue no statute vnto heauen and earth theÌ wyll I also cast awaye the sede of Dauid my seruaunte so that I wyll take no prynce out of his sede to rule the posterite of Abraham Isaac and Iacob But yet I wyll turne agayne theyr captyuite and be mercyfull vnto them ¶ He threateneth that the cytie and the kynge zedekiah also shal be geuen into the handes of the kyng of Babylon He rebuketh them that brought suche of theyr brethren into captiuyte as were pardoned to go at theyr lybertye CAPI XXXIIII THESE are the wordes whiche the Lord spake vnto Ieremy what tyme as Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon and all hys Hostes out of all the kyngdomes that were vnder hys power and al his people fought agaynste Ierusalem and all the cyties therof Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel Goo speake to Zedekiah the kynge of Iuda and tell hym The Lorde sendeth the this worde Beholde I wyl delyuer this cytie in to the hande of the kynge of Babylon he shal burne it thou shalte nat escape hys handes but shalte be led awaye presoner and delyuered into his power Thou shalt loke the kynge of Babylon in the face and he shall speake with the mouth to mouth and then shalt thou go to Babylon Yet heare the worde of the Lorde O Zedekiah thou kynge of Iuda Thus sayeth the Lorde vnto the Thou shalte nat be slayne wyth the swearde but shalt dye in peace Lyke as thy fore fathers the kynges thy progenitours were brente so shalt thou be brent also and in the mournynge they shall saye Oh Lorde For thus haue I determyned sayeth the Lorde Then spake Ieremy the prophet all these wordes vnto Zedekiah kynge of Iuda in Ierusalem what tyme as the kynge of Ba bylons hooste beseged Ierusalem and the remnaunt of the cyties Namely Lachis Azecach which yet remayned of the stroÌg defensed cyties of Iuda These are the wordes that the Lorde spake vnto Ieremy the prophet when Zedekiah was agreed with all the people at Ierusalem that there shulde be proclamed a lyberty so that euery man shulde let his seruant and handmayde go fre Hebrue and Hebruesse and no Iewe to holde hys brother as a bonde man Nowe as they had conseted euen so they were obedient and let them go fre But afterwarde they repented and toke agayne the seruauÌtes and haude maydeÌs whom they had let go fre so made them bonde agayne For the whiche cause the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremy from the Lorde hym selfe sayinge Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel I made a couenaunte with youre fathers when I brought the out of Egypte that they shulde no more be bondmen sayinge When seuen yeares are out euery maÌ shall let hê bought seruauÌt an Hebrye gofre yf he haue serued hym syxe yeares But your fathers obeyed me nat herkened nat vnto me As for you ye were nowe turned dyd right before me in that ye proclamed euery man to let hys ueyghboure go fre and in that ye made a couenaunt before me in the temple that bea reth my name But yet ye haue turned your selves agayne and blasphemed my name In this that euery man hathe requyred his seruauÌt and handmayden agayne whoÌ ye had let go quyte and fre and coÌpelled theÌ to serue you agayne to be youre bonde men And therfore thus sayeth the Lorde ye haue nat obeyed me euerye man to proclayme fredome vnto his brother neyghbour wherfore â I wyll call you vnto a fredome sayeth the Lorde euen vnto the sweared to the pestylence and to honger wyll make you to be plaged in all the Kyngedomes of the earth Yee those men that haue broken my couenaunte and nat kepte the wordes of the appoyntement whiche they made before me â wheÌ they hewed y â calfe in two and when there went thorow the two halfes therof The Princes of Iuda the Prynces of Ierusalem the gelded men the Priestes and al the people of the lande which wente thorow the two sydes of the calfe Those men wyl I geue into the power of their enemyes and in to the handes of them that folowe vpoÌ theyr lyues And their deed bodyes shal be meate for the foules of the ayre and beastes of the felde As for Zedekiah the kynge of Iuda and his Prynces I wyl delyuer them into the power of theyr enemyes and of them that desyre to sleye them and in to the hande of the kynge of Babylous hoste â whiche nowe is departed from you But thorowe my coÌmaundement sayeth the Lorde they shall come agayne before thys cytie they shall fyght agaynste it wynne it and burne it Moreouer I wyll laye the cyties of Iuda so waste that no maÌshall dwell therin CAPI XXXV ¶ He propoundeth the obedsente of the Rechabites ther by confoundeth the pryde of the Iewes The commaundement of IonaÌdab the father of the Rechavites He threateneth punishmeÌt vnto the rebellyous Iewes He
doth that girdeth her selfe with sack because of her bryde grome For y â meate drincke offering shal be taken away from the house of the Lord the prestes the Lordes ministtrs shal mourne The felde shal be wasted the laÌde shal be in a myserable case for the corne shal be destroyed the swete wyne shal come to confusion and the oyle vtterly desolate The housbandmen and the wyne gardeners shal loke piteously make lameÌtacion for the wheat wyne barly and because the haruest vpon the felde is so cleane destroyed The grape gatherers shall make great mone when the vineyarde and fygtrees be so vtterly wasted Yee al the poÌgarnettê palmtrees apletrees and the other trees of the felde shall wyther away Thus the mery chere of the chyldren of men shall come to confusion GyrdeÌ you and make your mone O ye prestes mourne ye mynysters of the aulter go your way in and stepe in sacke cloth O ye officers of my God for the meat drinckofferyng shal be taken away from the house of your God Proclayme a fastyng call the coÌgregacion gather the elders and all the inhabytours of the lande togyther into the house of the Lorde your God and crye vnto y â Lorde alas alas for this day And why the day of the Lord is at hande and coÌmeth as a destroyer from the almighty Shal not the meates be taken away before our eyes â the myrth also and ioye from the house of our God The sede shal perysh in the grouÌde the garners shall lye wast the flores shal be broken downe for the corne shal be destroyed O what a syghynge make the euyll the bullockes are very euel lyking because they haue no pasture and the shepe are samyshed away O Lorde to the wyll I crye for the fyre hath consumed the goodly pastures of the wyldernesse the flame hath brent vp al the trees of the felde Yee the wylde beastes crye also vnto the for the water riuers are dryed vp the fyre hath consumed the pastures of the wyldernesse ¶ He propheryeth the commyng and cruâââye of theyr enemyes An exhortâcion to moue them to conuerte CAPI II. BLowe out the trompet in Syon crye vpon my holy hyll y â all suche as dwell in the laÌde may treÌble at it for the day of the Lorde toÌmeth is harde at hande a darcke day a gloomyng day a cloudy day yee a stormy daye lyke as the mornynge spredeth out vpon y â hylles Namely a great mightye people suche as haue not bene sens the begynnyng neyther shall be after them for euer more Before hym shal be a consumyng fyre behynde him a burnynge flame The lande shal be as a garden of pleasure before him but behinde hym shall it be a very wast wyldernesse and there is no man that shall escape him They are to loke vpon lyke barbed horses ruÌne lyke horsmen They skyp vp vpon y â hylles as it were the souÌde of charettê as y â flame of fyre y â consumeth y â strawe as a myghty people redy to the batayle The tolke shal be afrayed of hym all faces shal be as blacke as a pot These shal ruÌne lyke gyauntes and leape ouer the walles lyke men of warre Euery man in his going shall kepe hys araye and not go out of hys Path. There shal not one driue another but eche shall kepe his owne waye They shall breake in at the wyndowes not be hurte They shal come into the cyââe runne vpon the walles They shall clyme vp vpon the houses and slyppe in at the wyndowes lyke a thefe The earth shall quake before hym yee y â heauens shal be moued ⪠The sunne the moone shal be darckened and the starres shall withdrawe theyr shyne The Lord shal shall shewe his voyce before his hooste for his hooste is great stronge and myghty to fulfyll his commaundement This is that great and maruelous fearefull daye of the Lorde And who is able to abyde it Now therfore sayeth the Lorde Turne you vnto me with all your hertes with faâynge wepynge and mournyng rent your hertes and not youre clothes Turne you vnto the Lord your God for he is gracyoê° and mercyfull long suffering and of greate compassion and redy to pardon wickednes Then no doute he also shall turne and forgeue and after his chastenynge he shall let your increase remayne ⪠for meat and drinckoffriÌges vnto the Lord your God Blowe out with the trompet in Syon proclayme a fastynge call the congregacyon and gather the people together warne the congregacioÌ gather the elders briÌge the chyldren suckelynges together Let the brydegrome go forth of hys chaÌbre and the bryde out of her rloset Let the preastes serue the Lorde betwyxte the porche the aulter wepyng and saying be fauourable O Lord be fauourable vnto thy people let not thine heritage be brought to suche coÌfusion lest the Hethen be Lordes therof Wherfore shuld they say among the Hethen where is now their God Then shal the Lorde be gelous ouer his lande and spare his people yee the Lorde shall answerre saye vnto his people Beholde I wyll sende you corne wyne oyle so that ye shall haue pleÌty of them I wyll no more geue you ouer to be a reprofe amoÌg the Hethen Againe as for him of the North I shal dryue him farre from you shut him out into a drye wast lande his face toward the east sce his hynder partes towarde the vtmost see The styncke of him shall go vp his filthy corruption shall fal vpon hym selfe because he hath dealt so proudly Feare not O lande but be glad reioyse for the Lord wyl do great thinges Be not ye afraied neither O ye beastes of the felde for the pastures shal be grene the trees shal beare theyr frute the fyg trees vyneyardes shall geue theyr increase Be glad then O ye chyldreÌ of Syon and reioyse in the Lorde your god for he hath ge uen you a teacher of rightuousnesse he it is y t shal sende you downe showers of rayne early late in the fyrst moneth so y t the garners shal be ful of corne the presses plentuous in wyne oile And as for the yeres that the greshoper locust blastyng caterpyller my grethost which I seÌt among you haue eaten vp I shal restore theÌ to you againe so that ye shal haue ynough to eate be satisfied prayse the name of the Lord your God that so maruelously hath dealt with you And my people shal neuer be confounded any more Ye shal wel knowe y â I am in the middest of Israel that I am the Lord your God ye that there is none other my people shal no more be brought to confusion After this wyll I poure out my sprete â vpon al flesh your soÌnes your daughters shal êphecy
swearde agaynst another yee they shall nomore lear ne to fyght but euery maÌ shall syt vnder his vyneyarde vnder hys fygâre and no maÌ to fraye him away for the mouth of y â Lord of hostes hath spokeÌ it Therfore where as al the people haue walked euery maÌ in y â name of his owne God we wyl walke in y â name of the Lord our God for euer euer At the same tyme sayth the Lord wyl I gather vp y â lame the outcastes such as I haue chastened wyl geue issue vnto the lame make of the outcastes a great people the Lorde him selfe shal be theyr kyng vpon the mount Sion from this tyme forth for euermore And vnto y â O thou tower of Eder thou stronge holde of the daughter Syon vnto the shal it come euen the Lordshippe kyngdome of the daughter IerusaleÌ Why then art y u nowe so heuy is there no kyng in the are thy councelers away that thou arte so payned as a woman in her trauayle And nowe O thou daughter Syon be sorye let it greue the as a wyfe laboryng with chylde for nowe must thou get the out of the cytie dwel vpon the playne felde Yee vnto Babylon shalt thou go there shalt thou be delyuered there the Lorde shal lowse the from the hande of thyne enemyes Nowe also are there many people gathered together against the saying what SioÌ is cursed we shall se our lust vpon her But they knowe not the thoughtes of y â Lorde they vnderstande not his councell that shal gather them together as the sheeues in the barne Therfore get the vp O thou daughter Syon and thresshe out the corne For I wyll make thy horne yron and thy clawes brasse that thou mayest grynde many people theyr goodes shalt thou appropriate vn to the Lorde and theyr substaunce vnto the ruler of the whole worlde ¶ Of the destruccyon of Ierusalem CAPI V. AFter that shalt thou be robbed thy selfe O y u robbers daughter they shall laye sege agaynst vs smyte the iudge of Israel w t a rodde vpon the cheke And y u BethleeÌ Ephrata art lytle amoÌge the thousandes of Iuda Out of the shal come vnto me which shal be the gouernour in Israell whose out goynge hath bene from the begynnynge from euerlastynge In the meane whyle he plageth them for a season vntyll the tyme that she whiche shal beare haue borne then shall the remnaunt of his brethren be coÌuerted vnto y â chyldren of Israel He shall staÌde fast and geue fode in the strength of the Lorde and in the victory of the name of the Lorde his God and when they be conuerted he shal be magnifyed vnto the farthest partes of the worlde Then shall there be peace so that the Assyrian maye come into our lande treade in oure houses We shall brynge vp seuen shepherdes and. viii princes vpon theÌ these shal subdue the lande of Assur w t the swerde and the laÌde of Nymrod wyth their naked weapeÌs Thus shall he deliuer vs from y â Assirian when he coÌmeth within our lande and setteth his fote within our borders And the reÌnaunt of Iacob shal be among the multitude of people as the dewe of the Lorde and as the droppes vpon the grasse that taryeth for no man and wayteth of no body Yee y â resydue of Iacob shal be among the Gentiles and the multitude of people as the lyon among the beastes of the wod and as the LyoÌs whelpe among a flocke of shepe which when he goeth thorow tredeth down teareth in peces and there is no man that can helpe Thyne hande shal be lyfte vp vpon thyne enemyes and all thyne aduersasaries shall peryshe The tyme shall come also sayeth y â Lorde that I wyll take thyne horses from the and destroye thy charettes I wyl breake downe the cytyes of thy lande and ouerthrowe all thy stronge holdes All witchcraftes wyll I rote oute of thyne hande there shal no mo soth sayinges be within the. Thyne Idols and thyne Images wyll I destroye out of y â so that thou shalt nomore bowe thy selfe vnto the worckes of thyne owne handes Thy groues wyll I plucke vp by the rotes and breake downe y â cyties Thus wyl I be aueÌged also vpoÌ al y â Heathen y t wyl not heare ¶ An ââhortacyon to heare the iudgment agaiÌst Israel beynge vnkynde What maner of sacrifyces do please God CAPI VI. HErken nowe what the Lord sayeth Up reproue the mountaines let the hylles heare thy voyce O heare the punyshemeÌt of the Lorde ye mountaynes and ye mighty foundacioÌs of the earth for y â Lorde wyl reporue his people reason w t Israel O my people what haue I done vnto y â or wherin haue I hurte the geue me answere Because I brought the from the lande of Egypte delyuered the out of the house of bondage Because I made Moses Aaron Miriam to lede y â RemeÌbre O my people what Balach y â kyng of Moab had Imagyned agaynst the and what answere that Balaam the sonne of Beor gaue hym from Sethim vnto Galgal that ye may knowe the louynge kyndnesses of the Lorde What acceptable thynge shal I offer vnto the Lord shall I bowe my kne to the hye God Shall I come before hym with brent offrynges and with calues of a yeare olde Hath the Lord a pleasure in many thousaÌde rammes or innumerable streames of oyle Or shall I geue my fyrst borne for myne offences the frute of my body for the synne of my soule I wyll shewe the O maÌ what is good what the Lorde requyreth of the Namely to do right to haue pleasure in louyng kyndnesse to be lowly to walcke w t thy God that thou mayest be called a citie of the Lorde that thy name maye be rightuousnesie Heare O ye trybes who wolde els geue you such warnyng Shuld I not be displeased for y â vnrightuous good in y â houses of the wycked and because the measure his mynyshed Or shulde I iustifye the false balaunces and the bagge of disceatful weyghtes amonge those that be full of ryches vnryghtuously gotten where the cytesyus deale with falshede speake lyes haue disceatfull tunges in their mouthes Therfore I wyll take in haÌde to punish y â and to make y â desolate because of thy sines Thou shalt eat not haue ynough yee thou shalt briÌge thy self downè Thou shalt fle but not escape those that thou woldest saue wyll I delyuer to the swerde Thou shalt sowe but not reape y u shalt presse out olyues but oyle shalt y â not haue to anoint thy self with all thou shalte treade out swete muste but shalt dricke no wyne Ye kepe the ordiuaunces of Amri al the customes of the house of Ahab ye folowe their pleasures therfore wil
if they put hiÌ to death myght be dysapoynted So when he had promysed faythfully to delyuer them agayne according to the coÌdicioÌ made they let him go without harme for the health of the brethren And when Iudas had slayne xxv M. he went from Carmon Now after y â he had chased away slayne his enemies he remoued the hoste towarde Ephrom a strong cytie wherin dwelt many diuerse people of the Heythen the stronge yong men kepte the walles defendyng them myghtely In this cytie was much ordynauÌce and prouision of dartes But when Iudas and his coÌpany had called vpon Almyghtye God whiche wyth his power breaketh the strength of the enemyes they waÌne the cytie and slewe xxv M. of theÌ y â were within FroÌ thence wente they to the cytie of the Scithyans whiche lyeth vi C. furlonges from IerusaleÌ But when the Iewes whiche were in the citie testyfied that the cytesyns dealte louyngely with them yee and intreated them kyndely in the tyme of their aduersyte Iudas and his company gaue them thanckes desyrynge them to be freÌdly styll vnto them and so they came to Ierusalem the hye feaste of the wekes beynge at hande And after the feast of Pentecost they went forth agaynste Gorgias the gouernoure of Idumea wyth iij. M. men of fote iiij C. horsmen Which when they met together it chaunsed a fewe of y â Iewes to be slayne And Dositheus one of y â Bachenors a mighty horsmaÌ toke holde of Gorgias and wolde haue takeÌ hiÌ quycke But an horsman of Thracia fell vpon hym and smote of his arme so y â Gorgias escaped fled into Moresa When they nowe y â were of Gorgias syde had foughten longe were weary Iudas called vpoÌ the Lorde that he wolde be their helper captayne of the felde and wyth that he beganue wyth a manly voice to take vp a song of prayse a cry In so muche y â he made the enemyes afrayed Gorgias meÌ of warre toke their flyght So Iudas gathered his host came into y â cite of Odolla And when the seuenth day came vpoÌ them they cleÌsed them selues as the custome was kept the Sabboth in the same place And vpon the day folowyng Iudas his coÌpany came to take vp the bodyes of theÌ that were slaine to bury them in the fathers graues Nowe vnder the cotes of certayne Iewes which were slayne they fouÌde Iewels that they had taken out of the teÌple froÌ the Idols of the Iamniters whiche thyng is forbydden the Iewes by the law Then euery man saw y t this was the cause wherfore they were slaine And so euery maÌ gaue thanckes vnto y â Lorde for hys ryghtuous iudgment which had opened y â thing that was hyd They fell downe also vnto their prayers besought God y t the fawte which was made might be put out of remeÌbrauÌce Besydes that Iudas exhorted y â people earnestly to kepe them selues from such synne for so much as they sawe before theyr eyes y â these men were slaine for the same offeÌce So he gathered of euery one a certaine in so much y â he brought together two thousande drachmas of syluer which he sent vnto IerusaleÌ that there myght a sacryfice be offred for the misdede In the which place he dyd wel ryght for he had some consyderacion pondering of y â lyfe that is after this tyme. For yf he had not thought that they which were slayne dyd yet lyue it had bene superfluous vaine to make any vow or sacryfice for them y â were deed But for so muche as he saw y â they which dye iÌ the fauour beleue of God are in good rest and ioy he thought it to be good honorable for a recoÌcylyng to do the same for those which were slayne that the offence myght be forgeuen ¶ The coÌming of Enpater into Iewrye The deth of Menel mo ⪠Machabeus goynge to fyght against Eupater moneth his soudrats vnto prayer He kylleth .xiiii. Women in the teÌtes of Antiochus Robocus the betraier of the Iewes is taken Antiochus retayneth frendshipe with the Iewes CAPI XIII IN y â Cxlix yeare gat Iudas knowlege y â Antiochus Eupater was coÌming with a great power into Iewry Lisias the stewarde ruler of his matters with hym hauing an C. x. M. men of fote v. M. horsmen xxij ElephaÌtes iii. C. charettes Menelaus also ioyned himselfe with them but with great disceat spake faire to the kiÌge not for any good of y â couÌcre but because he thought to haue bene made some great maÌ of auctoryte But y â kyng of kinges moued Antiochus mynde agaynst thys vngodly personne and Lysias infourmed the kyng that thys Menelaus was the cause of all myschefe so that the king commaunded to take him and as the maner of them is to put him vnto death in the same place There was also in the same place a tower of L. cubites hye heapped with asshes but aboue it was so made that men might loke downe on euery syde Where into the kinge coÌmaunded that shameful person to be cast among the asshes as one that was cause of all vngraciousnes And reason it was that the vnthrift shuld dye such a death and not to be buried for he had done much mischefe vnto the aulter of God whose fyre asshes were holy therfore was it ryght y â he hym selfe also shulde be destroyed wyth asshes But y â kynge was wood in hys mynde and came to shewe him self more cruell vnto the Iewes then hys father was Whiche when Iudas perceaued he coÌmauÌded the people to cal vpon y â Lorde night and day that he wold now helpe theÌ also lyke as he had done alwaye For they were afrayed to be put from theyr lawe from theyr naturall countre and from the holy temple and not to suffre the people which a lytle while afore beganne to recouer to be subdued agayne of the blasphemous nacions So when they had done thys together and besought the Lord for mercy with wepynge and fastynge thre dayes longe flat vpon the grouÌde Iudas exhorted them to make them selues ready But he and the elders together deuised to go forth first with they re people afore the kynge brought hys hoost into Iewry and afore he beseged the cytie so to coÌmytte the matter vnto God Wherfore he ascrybed the power of all thynges vnto God the maker of y â worlde exhorting his people to fyght maÌfully yee euen vnto death for the lawes the temple the cyte theyr owne natyue countre and to defende the eytesins and set his host before Modyn He gaue them also that were with him a token of the victory of God chosyng out the maÌlyest yonge men wente by night into the kynges pauylyoÌ slewe of the hoost xiiii M. men the greatest Elephantes wyth those that sat vpon them Thus when they had brought a greate