day soeuer I am in tribulation incline thine eare to me In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me speedely †Because my dayes haue vanished as smoke and my bones are withered as a drie burnt firebrand †I am striken as grasse and my hart is withered because I haue forgotten to eate my bread †For the voyce of my groning my bone hath cleaued to my flesh †I am become like a pellicane of the wildernes I am become as a nightcrow in the house †I haue watched and am become as a sparow solitarie in the housetoppe †Al the day did mine enemies vpbrayde me and they that praysed me sware against me †Because I did eate ashes as bread mingled my drinke with weeping †At the face of thy wrath and indignation because lifting me vp thou hast throwne me downe †My daies haue declined as a shadow and I am withered as grasse †But thou ô Lord endurest for euer and thy memorial in generation and generation †Thou rysing vp shal haue mercie on Sion because it is time to haue mercie on it because the time cometh †Because the stones therof haue pleased thy seruantes and they shal haue pittie on the earth therof †And the Gentiles shal feare thy name ô Lord and al the kinges of the earth thy glorie †Because our Lord hath built Sion and he shal be seene in his glorie †He hath had respect to the prayer of the humble and he hath not despised their petition †Let these thinges be written vnto an other generation and the people that shal be created shal praise our Lord. †Because he hath looked forth from his high holie place our Lord from heauen hath looked vpon the earth †That he might heare the gronings of the fettered that he might loose the children of them that are slayne †That they may shewforth the name of our Lord in Sion and his praise in Ierusalem †In the assembling of the people together in one and kinges to serue our Lord. †He answered him in the way of his strength Shew me the fewnes of my daies †Cal me not backe in the halfe of my daies thy yeares are vnto generation and generation †In the beginning ô Lord thou didst found the earth and the heauens are the workes of thy hands †They shal perish but thou art permanent and they shal al waxe old as a garment And as a vesture thou shalt change them and they shal be changed †but thou art the selfe same and thy yeares shal not faile †The children of thy seruantes shal inhabite and their seede shal be directed for euer PSALME CII Thankes to God for priuate 6. and publike benefites 17. His mercie iustice and other proprieties are immutable 20. Angels and al other creatures are inuited to praise him †To Dauid himself MY soule blesse thou our Lord and al thinges that are within me his holie name †My soule blesse thou our Lord and forget not al his retributions †Who is propitious to al thine iniquities who healeth al thine infirmities †Who redemeth thy life from deadly falling who crowneth thee in mercie and commiserations †Who replenisheth thy desire in good thinges “ thy youth shal be rewed as the eagles †Our Lord doth mercies and iudgement to al that suffer wrong †He made his waies knowne to Moyses his willes to the children of Israel †Our Lord is pitieful and merciful long suffering and very merciful †He wil not be angrie alwayes neither wil he threaten for euer †He hath not done to vs according to our sinnes neither according to our iniquities hath he rewarded vs. †For according to the height of heauen from the earth hath he strengthned his mercie vpon them that feare him †As far as the East is distant from the West hath he made our iniquities far from vs. †As a father hath compassion of his children so hath our †Lord compassion on them that feare him †because he hath knowen our making He remembred that we are dust †man his daies are as grasse as the floure of the filde so shal he florish †Because the spirit shal passe in him and he shal not stand and he shal know his place no more †But the mercie of our Lord from euerlasting and vnto euerlasting vpon them that feare him And his iustice is vpon the childrens children to them that keepe his testament †And are mindful of his commandmentes to doe them †Our Lord hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kindom shal haue dominion ouer al. †Blesse our Lord al ye his Angels mightie in powre doing his word that feare the voice of his wordes †Blesse our Lord al ye his hoastes you his ministers that doe his wil. †Blesse ye our Lord al his workes in euerie place of his dominion my soule blesse thou our Lord. ANNOTATIONS PSALME CII 5 Thy youth shal be renevved as the Eagles Aristotel and Plinie write that an Eagle decayeth not nor euer dieth by old age but the vpper part of her beake st l growing at last hâ—ndereth her from eating and so she dieth of famâ—ne Saadias and other Hebrew Rabbins reporte that an Eagle euerie tenne yeares washeth herselfe â—n the sea as in a baâ—h then flying very hiegh burneth her fethers in the elemental fire new fethers growing she becometh fresh as in her first youth tâ—l at last about an huadred yeares old she is not able to rise from the water and so is drowned S. Augustin more probably affirmeth that in long time her â—eâ—ke growing long and stopping her mouth that she can not eate she breaketh the vpper hooked part therof against a stone and so receiueth meate and recouereth strength as in her youth But whatsoeuer is the natural propert e of this kinglie birde the Royal Prophet here instructeth vs by the sâ—nilitude of her long life or by the renouation of her streingth that iust men Gods seruantes are spiritually renouated in Christ the principal rocke on whoâ— the Church al the faithful are built either by receiuing new streingth by his grace in their soules after they are weakened by sinne as S. Ierom and Eu hymius expound this place or by restauration of their bodies glorified in the resurrection as S. Augustin teacheth or by both as most Catholique Doctors vnderstand it For one sense of holie Scripture excludeth not an other Especially when one is subordinate to the other As here these two senses do very wel concurre seing the state of the bodie after the resurrection dependeth vpon the state of the soule at
Nazaraeos cont Ebionaeos S. Chrysostom Ser. de Trinit aduers Gentiles S. Augustin li. 18. c. 33. de Ciuit. Quest Vet. Noui Testat q. 102. S. Prosper par 2. c. 9. p. 3. c. 3. de promiss predict S. Theodoretus Dialogo 1. Eranistes who also writeth Comentaries vpon this booke as vpon diuine Scripture c. 2. v. 9. These and others alleage this Prophecie as Ieremies Some also vnder the name of Baruch As Origen li. 2. c. 3. Periarch S. Cyril of Alexandria li. 10. in Iulianum S. Gregorie Nyssen Orat. 1. de pauperibus amandis S. Athanasius Orat. 2. cont Arianos Though in his Synopsi he mentioneth not Baruch yet he as also S. Augustin l. 2. c. 8. Doct. Christ S. Gelacius dist 15. and others in their Catalogues of Canonical Scriptures comprehend this booke vnder the name of Ieremie But whether Baruch was the immediate Auctor vnder God or the writer therof as of an other mans Prophecie as the Euangelistes writte the wordes of Christ and others in the Gospels and in the Actes of the Apostles alwayes it is certaine the Holie Ghost directed him that he could not erre in writing it And the ancient Fathers and Councels euer accepted this booke as Diuine Scripture The Councel also of Laodicea in the last Canon expresly nameth Baruch Lamentations and Ieremies Epistle And lastly The Councels of Florence de Vnione Armenorum and of Trent Sess 4. expresly define that Baruch is Canonical Scripture In the Greke this booke is placed before the Lamentations which S. Ierom not finding in Hebrew nor in the Canon of the Iewes vrgeth it not against them Yet testifieth that he found it in the vulgate Latin Edition and that it conteineth manie thinges of Christ and the later times According to the historical sense the auctor in fiue chapters exhorteth the Iewes to repentance and patience prophecying that they should be brought into more distresse and captiuitie then as yet they were but should afterwards be released The sixt chapter is Ieremies Epistle THE PROPHECIE OF BARVCH CHAP. I. The Iewes in Babylon hauing heard Baruchs booke redde 6. send the same with money to Ierusalem 10. requesting their bretheren there to offer sacrifice and to pray for the king and prince of Babylon and for them 15. acknowleging their manifold sinnes AND these be the wordes of the booke that Baruch the sonne of Nerias the sonne of Maasias the sonne of Sedecias the sonne of Sedei the sonne of Helcias wrote in Babylon †in the fifth yeare in the seuenth day of the moneth at the time that the Chaldees tooke Ierusalem and burnt it with fyre †And Baruch redde the wordes of this booke vnto the eares of Iechonias the sonne of Ioakim king of Iuda and to the eares of al the people comming to the booke †and to the eares of the mightie the sonnes of the kinges and to the eares of the ancients and to the eares of the people from the least euen to the greatest of them that dwelt in Babylon by the riuer Sodi †Who hearing it wept and fasted and prayed in the sight of our Lord. †And they gathered money according as euerie mans hand was able †and they sent into Ierusalem to Ioakim the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salom priest and to the priests and to al the people that were found with him in Ierusalem †When he tooke the vessels of the temple of our Lord which had bene taken away out of the temple to returne them into the Land of Iuda the tenth day of the moneth Siuan the siluer vessels which Sedecias the sonne of Iosias the king of Iuda made †after that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had taken Iechonias and the princes and al the mightie and the people of the land from Ierusalem and brought them bound into Babylon †And they said Behold we haue sent you money with the which bye ye holocausts and frankincense and make manna and offer for sinne at the altar of the Lord our God †and pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and for the life of Balthasar his sonne that their dayes may be as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth †and that our Lord geue vs strength and illuminate our eyes that we may liue vnder the shadow of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and vnder the shadow of Balthasar his sonne and may serue them manie dayes and may find grace in their sight †And for our selues pray ye to the Lord our God because we haue sinned to the Lord our God and his furie is not turned away from vs euen to this day †And read ye this booke which we haue sent to you to be recited in the temple of our Lord in a solemne day and in a day couenient †And you shal say To the Lord our God iustice but to vs confusion of our face as is this day to al Iuda and them that dwel in Ierusalem †to our kinges and to our princes and to our priests and to our prophetes and to our fathers †We haue sinned before the Lord our God and beleued him not hauing diffidence in him †and we would not be made subiect to him and we haue not heard the voice of the Lord our God to walke in his commandments which he hath geuen vs. †From the day that he brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt euen to this day we would not be brought to beleue the Lord our God and * dissipated we reuolted that we might not heare his voice †And manie euils and maledictions haue clouen to vs which our Lord appoynted to Moyses his seruant who brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt to geue vs a land flowing with milke and honie as at this present day †And we haue not heard the voice of the Lord our God according to al the wordes of the prophets which he hath sent to vs †and we haue gone away euerie man into the sense of our malignant hart to serue strange goddes doing euils before the eyes of the Lord our God CHAP. II. The same captiues further confesse that their calamities are iustly comen vpon them for their iniquities 11. and therfore lamentably pray for Gods mercie as he promised by Moyses to penitents FOR the which thing the Lord our God hath established his word that he spake to vs and to our iudges that haue iudged Israel and to our kinges and to our princes and to al Israel and Iuda †that our Lord might bring vpon vs great euils which were not done vnder the heauen as haue bene done in Ierusalem according to the thinges that are written in the law of Moyses †that a man should eate the flesh of his sonne and the flesh of his daughter †And he hath geuen them vnder the hand of al the kinges that are round about vs into reproch and into
was receiued †A copie of the letter which they sent to Darius SISENNES deputie of Syria and Phenice and Satrabuzanes and his felowes in Syria and Phenice presidents to king Darius greeting †Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king that when we came into the countrie of Iurie and had entered into Ierusalem we found them building the great house of God †And the temple of polished stones and of great and precious matter in the walles †And the workes to be a doing earnestly and to succede and prosper in their handes and in al glorie to be perfited most diligently †Then we asked the ancients saying by whose permission build ye this house found these workes †And therfore we asked them that we might doe thee to know the men the ouerseers and we required of them a rolle of the names of the ouerseers †But they answered vs saying We are the seruantes of the Lord which made heauen and earth †And this house was built these manie yeares past by a king of Israel that was great and most valiant and was finished †And because our fathers were prouoking to wrath and sinned agaynst God of Israel he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon king of the Chaldees †And throwing downe this house they burnt it and they led the people captiue into Babylon †In the first yeare when Cyrus reigned the king of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build this house †And these sacred vessels of gold and siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the house which is in Ierualsem and had consecrated them in his owne temple Cyrus brought them forth agayne out of the temple which was in Babylon and they were deliuered to Zorobabel to Salmanasar the deputie †And it was commanded them that they should offer these vessels lay them vp in the temple which was in Ierusalem and build the temple of God itself in his place †Then did Salmanasar lay the fundations of the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem and from that time vntil now it is a building and is not accomplished †Now therfore if thou thincke it good ô king let it be sought in the kings liberaries of Cyrus the king which are in Babylon †and if it shal be found that the building of the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem begane by the counsel of Cyrus the king and it be thought good of our Lord the king let him write to vs of these thinges †Then Darius the king commanded search to be made in the libraries and there was found in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media one place wherin were writen these wordes †IN THE FIRST YEARE of the reigne of Cyrus king Cyrus cōmanded to build the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem where they did burne incense with dayly fire †the height wherof shal be of ten cubits the bredth three score cubites foure square with three stones polished and with a loft galerie of wood of the same countrie one new galerie and the expenses to be geuen out of the house of Cyrus the king †And the sacred vesseles of the house of the Lord as wel of gold as of siluer which Nabuchodonosor tooke from the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem where they were layed that they be put there †And he commanded Sisennes the deputie of Syria Phoenice and Satrabuzanes and his felowes them that were ordayned presidentes in Syria Phoenice that they should refraine themselues from that place †And I also haue geuen commandment to build it wholly and haue prouided that they helpe them which are of the captiuitie of the Iewes til the temple of the house of the Lord be accomplished †And from the vexation of the tributes of Coelesyria Phoenice a quantitie to be geuen diligently to these men for the sacrifice of the Lord to Zorobabel the gouernour for oxen and rammes and lambes †And in like maner corne also and salt and wine and oyle continually yeare by yeare according as the priestes which are in Ierusalem haue prescribed to be spent dayly †that libamentes may be offered to the most high God for the king his children that they may pray for their life †And that it be denounced that whosoeuer shal transgresse anie thing of these which are writen or shal despise it a beame be taken of theyr owne they be hanged their goodes be confiscate to the king †Therfore the Lord also whose name is inuocated there destroy euery king nation that shal extend their hand to hinder or to handle il the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem †I Darius the king haue decreed that it be most diligently done according to these thinges CHAP. VII The house of God is finished 7. and dedicated 10. the feast of Pasch is also celebrated seuen dayes with Azimes THEN Sisennes the deputie of Coelesyria and Phaenice and Satrabuzames and their felowes obeying those thinges which were decreed of Darius the king †applied the sacred workes most diligently working together with the ancientes of the Iewes the princes of Syria †And the sacred workes prospered Aggeus Zacharias the prophetes prophecying †And they accomplished al thinges by the precept of our Lord the God of Israel and by the counsel of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes the king of the Persians †And our house was a finishing vntil the three and twentith day of the moneth of Adar the sixth yeare of Darius the king †And the children of Israel and the Priestes and Leuites and the rest that were of the captiuitie which were added did according to those thinges that are written in the booke of Moyses †And they offered for the dedication of the temple of our Lord oxen an hundred rammes two hundred lambes foure hundred †And kiddes for the sinnes of al Israel twelue according to the number of the tribes of Israel †And the Priestes and Leuites stood clothed with stoles by tribes ouer al the workes of our Lord the God of Israel according to the booke of Moyses and the porters at euerie gate †And the children of Israel with them that were of the captiuitie celebrated the phase the fourtenth moone of the first moneth when the Priestes and Leuites were sanctified †Al the children of the captiuitie were not sanctified together because al the Leuites were sanctified together †And al the children of the captiuitie immolated the phase both for their brethren the Priestes and for them selues †And the children of Israel did eate they that were of the captiuitie al that remayned apart from al the abominations of the nations of the land seeking our Lord. †And they celebrated the festiual day of Azymes seuen dayes feasting in the sight of our Lord. †Because he turned the counsel of the king of the
that thou shalt perish vtterly †As the Nations which our Lord destroyed at thyne entrie so shal you also perish if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God CHAP. IX Lest they should impute the victories which they shal haue to them selues 6. they are put in mind of their often prouoking Gods wrath 12. by idolatrie 22. by murmuring by concupiscence by contempt and other sinnes 25 for which they should haue bene destroyed but God spared them for his prouâ—â—se made to Abraham Isaeac and Iacob HEARE Israel Thou shalt goe ouer Iordan this day to possesse verie greate nations and stronger then thy selfe huge cities and walled euen vnto heauen †a great people and tal the sonnes of the Enacims whom thou hast seene and heard against whom no man is able to resist †Thou shalt know therfore this day that the Lord thy God him selfe wil passe ouer before thee a deuouring and consuming fyre who shal destroy and abolish and bring them to nothing before thy face quickly as he hath spoken to thee †Say not in thy hart when the Lord thy God shal haue destroyed them in thy sight For my iustice hath our Lord brought me in to possesse this land wheras these nations were destroyed for their impieties †For not because of thy iustices and equitie of thy hart doest thou enter in to possesse their landes but because they haue done impiously at thy entring in they are destroyed and that our Lord might accomplish his word which by oath he promised to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob †Know therfore that not for thy iustices hath the Lord thy God geuen thee this excellent land in possession wheras thou art a verie stiffe necked people †Remember and forget not how thou didst prouoke the Lord thy God to wrath in the wildernesse From the same day that thou camest out of Aegypt vnto this place thou hast alwayes contended against our Lord. †For in Horeb also thou didst prouoke him and being wrath he would haue destroyed thee †when I went vp into the mounte to receiue the tables of stone of the couenant which our Lord made with you and I continewed in the mounte fourtie daies and nightes not eating bread nor drinking water †And our Lord gaue me two tables of stone written with the singer of God and conteyning al the wordes that he spake to you in the mounte from the middes of the fyre when the assemblie of the people was gathered †And when fourtie dayes were passed and as manie nightes our Lord gaue me the two tables of stone the tables of couenant †and he said to me Arise and goe downe from hence quickly for thy people which thou didst bring out of Aegypt haue quickly forsaken the way that thou hast shewed them and haue made them a molten idol †And againe our Lord said to me I see that this people is stiffe necked †suffer me that I may destroy them and abolish their name from vnder heauen and may set thee ouer a Nation that is greater and stronger then this †And when I came downe from the burning mounte and held the two tables of couenant with both handes †and saw that you had sinned to the Lord your God and had made you a molten calfe and had quickly forsaken his way which he had shewed you †I cast the tables out of my handes and brake them in your sight †And I fel downe before our Lord as before fourtie dayes and nightes not eating bread not drinking water for al your sinnes which you committed against our Lord and prouoked him to wrath †for I feared his indignation and anger wherwith being moued agaynst you he would haue destroyed you And our Lord heard me this time also †Against Aaron also being exceeding angrie he would haue destroyed him and for him in like maner did I pray †And your sinne that you had committed that is the calfe I tooke and burnt it with fyre and breaking it into peeces and bringing it wholy into dust I threw it into the torrent that deâ—cendeth from the mount †In the burning also and in the tentation and in the Sepulchres of concupiscence you prouoked our Lord †and when he sent you from Cadesbarne saying Goe vp and possesse the Land that I haue geuen you and you contemned the commandement of your Lord God and did not beleue him neither would you heare his voice †but were alwaies rebellious from the day that I beganne to know you †And I lay before our Lord fourtie dayes and nightes in the which I humbly besought him that he would not destroy you as he had threatened †and praying I said Lord God destroy not thy people and thyne inheritance which thou hast redemed in thy greatnes whom thou didst bring out of Aegypt in a strong hand †Remember thy seruantes Abraham Isaac and Iacob regard not the stubbournes of this people and his impietie and sinne †lest perhappes the inhabitantes of the land out of which thou hast brought vs say The Lord could not bring them in vnto the Land that he promised them and he hated them therfore did he bring them forth that he might kil them in the wildernes †Which are thy people and thyne inheritance whom thou didst bring forth in thy great strength and in thy stretched out arme CHAP. X. Moyses receiuing the second tables of the tenne commandments and making an arke put them therin 6. with mention of certaine places where the children of Israel had camped of Aarons death and to the Leuites offices and possesstons 12. be inculcateth the feare and loue of God and the keping of his precepts 16. namely to circumcise the hart 19. to loue strangers 20. and not to serue nor sweare by false goddes AT that time our Lord said to me Hewe thee two tables of stone as the former were and come vp to me into the mounte and thou shalt make an arke of wood †and I wil write in the tables the wordes that were in them which before thou didst breake and thou shalt put them in the arke †I made therfore an arke of the wood Settim And when I had hewed two tables of stone like to the former I went vp into the mount hauing them in my handes †And he wrote in the tables according as he had written before the ten wordes which our Lord spake to you in the mount from the middes of the fyre when the people was gathered and he gaue them to me †And returning from the mount I came downe and put the tables into the arke that I had made which are there til this present as our Lord commanded me †And the children of Israel remoued their campe from Beroth of the children of Iacan into Mosera where Aaron died and was buried for whom Eleazar his soone did the function of priesthood †Thence they came into Gadgad from the which place departing
therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Israel and made al that were left in Israel to serue our Lord their God Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers CHAP. XXXV Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt al Iudalamenting him 25. most specially Ieremias AND Iosias made in Ierusalem a Phase to our Lord which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first moneth †And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. †To the Leuites also at whose instruction al Israel was sanctified to our Lord he spake Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel for you shal carie it no more but now minister to our Lord your God and to his people Israel †And prepare your selues by your houses and kinredes in the diuisions of euerie one as Dauid the king of Israel commanded and Salomon his sonne described †And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies †and being sanctified immolate the Phase prepare also your brethren that they may doe according to the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses †Moreouer Iosias gaue to al the people that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase lambes and kiddes of the flockes and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand of oxen also three thousand al these thinges of the kinges substance †His dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed as wel to the people as to the Priestes and the Leuites Moreouer Helcias and Zacharias and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred and oxen three hundred †And Chonenias and Semeias also Nathanael his brethren moreouer Hasabias and Iehiel and Iozabad princes of the Leuites gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe and oxen fiue hundred †And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement †And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes †and they seperated them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one and to be offered to our Lord as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses of oxen also they did in like maner †And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâ—vled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people †And for themselues and for the Priestes they prepared afterward for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last †Moreouer the singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Heman and Idithun the prophetes of the king and the porters watched at euerie gate so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them †Therfore al the seruice of our Lord was ritely accomplished that day so that they made the Phase and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies †There was not a Phase like to this in Israel from the daies of Samuel the prophete neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias to the Priestes and the Leuites and to al Iuda and Israel that was found and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem †In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated †After that Iosias had repayred the temple came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him †But he sending messengers vnto him sayd What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda I come not agaynst thee this day but I fight agaynst an other house to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast leaue to doe agaynst God who is with me lest he kil thee †Iosias would not returne but prepared battel agaynst him neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo †And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded †Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote that folowed him after the maner of kinges and they caried him away into Ierusalem he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers and al Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him †Ieremie most of al whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias and it is growen as it were a law in Israel Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations †But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord †his workes also the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel CHAP. XXXVI Ioachaz reigneth three monethes 4. His brother Eliakim named loakim eleuen yeares 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares 14. Most Priestes and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt 20. The sayd kinges successiuely and people are caryed captiue into Babylon 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia releaseth the captiuitie and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and made him king for his father in Ierusalem †Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem †And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem deposed him and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold †And he made Eliakim his brother king for him ouer Iuda and Ierusalem and he turned his name Ioakim but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him and caried him away into Aegypt †Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem and he did euil before our Lord his God †Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon †Whither he transported also the vessels of
remembred that God is their helper and the high God is their redemer †And they loued him with their mouth and with theirtongue they did lie to him †But their hart was not right with him neither were they counted faithful in his testament †But he is merciful and wil be propicious to their sinnes and he wil not destroy them And he abunded to turne away his wrath and he kindled not al his wrath †And he remembred that they are flesh spirit going and not returning †“ How often haue they exasperated him in the desert prouoked him to wrath in the place without water †And they returned and tempted God and the holie one of Israel they exasperaed †They did not remember his hand in the day that he redemed them from the hand of the afflicter †As he put his signes in Aegypt and his wonders in the filde of Tanis †And he turned their riuers into bloude their showers that they might not drinke †He sent vpon them a swarme of flies and it eate them and the frogge and it destroyed them †And he gaue their fruites to the blast and their labors to the locuste †And he killed their vineyeardes with haile and their mulberie trees with horefrost †And he deliuered their beast to haile and their possession to fire †He sent vpon them the wrath of his indignation indignation wrath and tribulation immissions by euil angels †He made a way to the path of his wrath he spared not their liues from death and their cattel he shut vp in death †And he stroke al the first borne in the land of Aegypt the first fruites of al their labors in the tabernacles of Cham. †And he tooke away his people as sheepe and led them as a flock in the desert †And he brought them forth in hope and they feared not and the sea couered their enemies †And he brought them into the mount of his sanctification the mount which his right hand purchased And he cast out the gentiles from their face and by lot he diuided the land of them in a corde of distribution †And he made the tribes of Israel to dwel in their tabernacles †And they tempted and exasperated God the highest and they kept not his testimonies †And they turned away themselues kept not the couenant euen as their fathers they were turned as a crooked bow †They incensed him to wrath in their hilles and in their grauens they prouoked him to emulation †God heard and contemned and he brought Israel to nothing excedingly †And he reiected the tabernacle of Silo his tabernacle where he dwelt among men †And he deliuered their force into captiuitie and their beautie into the hands of the enemie †And he shut vp his people in the sword and he dispised his inheritance Fyre deuoured their young men and their virgins were not lamented †Their Priestes fel by the sworde and their widowes were not wept for †And our Lord was raised vp as one that sleepeth ◠as a mightie man hauing surfited of wine †And he stroke his enimies on the hinder partes an euerlasting reproch he gaue to them †And he reiected the tabernacle of Ioseph and the tribe of Ephraim he chose not †But he chose the tribe of Iuda mount Sion which he loued †And he built his sanctuarie as of vnicornes in the land which he hath founded for euer †And he chose Dauid his seruant and tooke him from the flockes of sheepe from after the ewes with yong he tooke him To feede Iacob his seruant and Israel his inheritance †And he fedde them in the innocencie of his hart and in the vnderstandings of his hands he conducted them ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXXVII 40. How often haue they exasperated Moyses Deu. 9. v. 7. repeting what had passed in the desert chargeth the people that they had stil prouoked our lord to wrath from the day that they came out of Egypt and alwayes contended aganst him And our lord himself expostulating their ingratitude often murmuring saith Num. 14. v. 22. in the beginning of the second yeare that they had then tempted him tenne times either by this certaine number signifying an vncertaine or els chiefly tenne times for so often we find recorded that they tempted him and murmured within that smal time more notorionly First nere vnto the redde sea Exod. 14. v. 11. where seing the Egyptians pursuing them they murmured against Moyses for bringing them out of Egypt saying It had benne much better to haue serued the Egyptians then to die in the wildernes Secondly for want of swete water Exod. 15. v. 24. Thirdly for lack of meate Exod. 16. v. 3. Fourtly keeping Manna for the next day contrarie to Gods commandment ibid. v. 20. Fiftly going on the Sabbath day also contrarie to Gods commandment together Manna Ibid. v. 27. Sixtly for want of water in Raphidim Exod. 17. v. 2 Num. 26. v. 2 Seuently in Horeb adoring a calfe the image therof Exod. 32 Eightly repyning for their trauels in the wildernes Nu 11. v. 1. Nintly loathing Manna and burning with desire to eate flesh Ibid. v. 4. 5 6. Tently desparing to possesse the promised land of Chanaan after that the discouerers had reported the difficulties with the force of the people and of the cities against which they must fight Nu. 14. v. 1. Al which and the rest saith S. Paul happened to them in figure of vs and are written for our correption or admonition that we murmur not as they did 1. Cor. 10. PSALME LXXVIII The Prophet in person of the Church lamenteth the crueltie of persecutors both in the old and new testament 5. prayeth for release with iust reuenge against Gods enimies that blaspheme his name 3. and promiseth to be gratful in diuine praises A Psalme to Asaph O God the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance they haue polluted thy holie temple they haue made Ierusalem as a watch toure of fruits †They haue made the carcases of thy seruants meats for the foules of the aire the flesh of thy sainctes for the beastes of the land †They haue poured out their bloude as water round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them †We are become a reproch to our neighboures a scorne and mocke to them that are round about vs. †How long ô Lord wilt thou be angrie for euer shal thy zele be kindled as a fire †Poure out thy wrath vpon the Gentiles that haue not knowne thee vpon the kingdomes that haue not inuocated thy name †Because they haue deuoured
the ruines of them †Nurter thy sonne and he shal refresh thee and shal geue delightes to thy soule †When prophecie shal fayle the people shal be dissipated but he that keepeth the Law is blessed †A seruant can not be taught by wordes because he vnderstandeth that which thou sayst and contemneth to answer †Hast thou seene a man swifte to speake follie is rather to be hoped then his amendement †He that nourisheth his seruant delicatly from his childhood afterward shal feele him stubburne †An angrie man prouoketh brawles and he that is easie to indign 〈…〉 shal he more prone to sinne †Humiliation foloweth the proude and glorie shal receiue the humble of spirite †He that is partaker with a theefe hateth his owne soule he heareth one adiuring and telleth not †He that feareth man shal soone fal he that trusteth in our Lord shal be lifted vp †Manie seeke after the face of the prince the iudgement of euerie one commeth forth from our Lord. †The iust abhorre an impious man the impious abhorre them that are in the right way The sonne that keepeth the word shal be out of perdition CHAP. XXX Aright wiseman thinketh humbly of himself 4. knowing that Gods workes are inscrutable and perfect 8. desireth truth in al thinges mediocritie in riches 11. Abhorreth certaine sortes of men 1. 5. certaine execrable thinges 18. noteth certaine thinges hard to be knowen 21. other thinges intolerable 24. others admirable 32. the tongue dangerous THE wordes of the Gatherer the sonne of Vomiter The vision that the man spake with whom God is and who being strengthened by God abiding with him sayd †I am most foolish of men the wisedom of men is not with me †I haue not learned wisedom and haue not knowen the science of saints †Who hath ascended into heauen and descended who hath conteyned the spirit in his handes who hath bound the waters together as in a garment who hath raysed vp al the borders of the earth what is his name and what is the name of his sonne if thou know †Enerie word of God tryed by fyre is a buckler to them that hope in him †Adde not any thing to his wordes and so thou be reproued and found a lyer †Two thinges I haue asked thee denie them not to me before I dye †Vanitie and lying wordes make far from me Beggerie and riches geue me not geue only things necessarie for my sustenance †lest perhaps being filled I be allured to denie and may say Who is the Lord or being compelled by pouertie I may steale and forsweare the name of my God †Accuse not a seruant to his master lest perhaps he curse thee and thou fal †There is a generation that curseth their father and that blesseth not their mother †A generation that semeth to itself cleane yet is not washed from their filthines †A generation whose eies are loftie and the eielids therof set vp on high †A generation that for teeth hath swordes and chaweth with theyr grinding teeth that they may eate the needie out of the earth and the poore from among men †The horseleach hath two daughters that say Bring bring Three things are vnsatiable the fourth neuer sayth it sufficeth †Hel and the mouth of the matrice the earth which is not satisfied with water but the fyre neuer sayth it sufficeth †The eie that scorneth his father that despiseth the trauail of his mother in bearing him let the rauens of the torrents pick it out and the young of the eagle eate it †Three thinges are hard to me and of the fourth I am vtterly ignorant †The way of an eagle in the ayre the way of a serpent vpon a rocke the way of a shippe in the middes of 〈…〉 and the way of a man in youth †Such is also the way of an adulterous woman which eateth and wyping her mouth sayth I haue done no euil †By three thinges the earth is moued and the fourth it can not susteyne †By a seruant when he shal reigne by a foole when he shal be filled with meate †by an odious woman when she shal be taken in matrimonie by “ a bondwoman when she shal be heyre to her mistresse †There are foure the least thinges of the earth and they are wiser then the wise †The antes a weake people which prepareth in the haruest meate for themselues †The leueret a people not strong which placeth his bed in the rocke †The locust hath no king and they go our al by their troopes †The stellion stayeth on his handes 〈…〉 in kings houses †There are three thinges which 〈…〉 l and the fourth that goeth happely †The lyon the strongest of beastes shal feare at the meeting of none †the cocke gyrded about the loines and the ramme also the king against whom none can resist †There is that hath appeared a foole after that he was listed vp on high for if he had vnderstood he would haue layd his hand vpon his mouth †And he that strongly presseth the pappes to wring out milke strayneth out butter and he that violently cleanceth his nose wringeth out bloud he that prouoketh angers bringeth forth discordes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXX 1. The vvordes of the Gatherer Some Interpreters take these foure Hebrew wordes Agur Iache Ithiel and Vcal conteined in this first verse to be proper names of men supposing that a certaine wiseman named Agur the sonne of Iache spake the sentences folowing in this chapter to his sonnes or scholars called Ithiel Vcal And so this supposed Agur not Salomon should be the auctor of this chapter But the old Interpreter whom S. Ierom approueth and foloweth translated the same wordes as noones appellatiues Neither doth anie ancient Father account this Agur amongst the writers of holie Scriptures And if there were a peculiar auctor of this chapter it is like the same should haue bene placed last and not before that which now foloweth and is by al men confessed to be Salomons And therfore we thinke it more probable with S. Beda and the common opinion that there vvas no other auctor of anie part of this booke besides King Salomon VVho is here called CONGREGANS the Gatherer because he gathered these excellent Parables and Prouerbes as the sonne of the Holie Ghost signified by the word IACHE povvring forth diuine sentences for instruction of ITHIEL VCAL that is of al those vvith vvhom God is by his grace and vvho are streingthened by God abiding vvith them 23. A bond vvoman vvhen she shal be heyre Of al thinges in this world it semeth most absurde that heresie doth dominiere ouer Catholique religion vvhich God some times and in some places suffereth for the greater merite of his elect CHAP. XXXI
Lord and euerie one returne from his most wicked way because great is the furie indignation which our Lord hath spoken against this people †And Baruch the sonne of Nerias did according to al thinges that Ieremie the prophet had commanded him reading out of the volume the wordes of our Lord in the house of our Lord. †And it came to passe in the fifth yeare of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias the king of Iuda in the ninth moneth they proclaymed a fast in the sight of our Lord to al the people in Ierusalem and to al the multitude that was flocked together out of the cities of Iuda in Ierusalem †And Baruch redde out of the wordes of Ieremie in the house of our Lord in the treasurie of Gamarias the sonne of Saphan the scribe in the higher court in the entrie of the new gate of the house of our Lord al the people hearing it †And when Micheas the sonne of Gamarias the sonne of Saphan had heard al the wordes of our Lord out of the booke †he went downe into the kings house to the treasurie of the scribe and behold al the princes sate there Elisama the scribe and Dalaias the sonne of Semeias and Elnathan the sonne of Achobor and Gamarias the sonne of Saphan Sedecias the sonne of Hananias and al the princes †And Micheas told them al the wordes that he had heard Baruch reading out of the volume in the eares of the people †Al the princes therefore sent to Baruch Iudi the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Selemias the sonne of Chusi saying Take in thy hand the volume out of which thou hast redde in the hearing of the people and come Baruch therefore the sonne of Nerias tooke the volume in his hand and came to them †And they said to him Sitte reade these thinges in our eares And Baruch redde in â—hâ—â— eares †Therefore when they had heard al the wordes they were astonied euerie one toward his neighbour and they sayd to Baruch We must tel the king al these wordes †And they asked him saying Tel vs how didest thou write al these wordes from his mouth †And Baruch sayd to them From his mouth he spake as it were reading vnto me al these wordes and I wrote in a volume with inke †And the princes sayd to Baruch Goe and be hidde thou and Ieremie and let no man know where you are †And they went to the king into the court moreouer they layde vp the volume in the treasurie of Elisama the scribe and they tolde al the wordes in the hearing of the king †And the king sent Iudi that he should take the volume who taking it out of the treasurie of Elisama the scribe redde it the king hearing and al the princes that stood about the king †And the king sate in the winter house in the ninth moneth and there was an hearth set before him ful of burning coles †And when Iudi had redde three or foure pages he cut it with the penknife of a scribe and he cast it into the fire that was vpon the hearth til al the volume was consumed with the fyre that was on the hearth †And the king and al his seruants that heard al these wordes did not feare nor rent their garments †But yet Elnathan and Dalaias and Gamarias gaynesaid the king not to burne the booke and he heard them not †And the king commanded Ieremiel the sonne of Amelech and Saraias the sonne of Ezriel and Selemias the sonne of Abdeel that they should apprehend Baruch the scribe and Ieremie the Prophet but our Lord hid them †And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie the Prophet after that the king had burnt the volume and the wordes that Baruch had written from the mouth of Ieremie saying †Againe take an other volume and write in it al the former wordes that were in the first volume which Ioakim the king of Iuda hath burnt †And to Ioakim the king of Iuda thou shalt say Thus saith our Lord Thou hast burnt that volume saying Why hast thou written in it telling The king of Babylon wil come in hast and wil waste this land and he wil make man and beast to cease out of it †Therefore thus saith our Lord against Ioakim the king of Iuda There shal not be of him to sitte vpon the throne of Dauid and his carcasse shal be cast forth to the heate by day and to the frost by night †And I wil visite against him and against his seede and against his seruants their iniquities and I wil bring vpon them and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem and vpon the men of Iuda al the euil that I haue spoken to them and they haue not heard †And Ieremie tooke an other volume and gaue it to Baruch the sonne of Nerias the scribe who wrote in it from the mouth of Ieremie al the wordes of the booke which Ioakim the king of Iuda had burnt with fire and there were added moreouer manie moe wordes then had bene before CHAP. XXXVII Sedecias appointed by the king of Babylon to reigne in Iuda requesteth Ieremias prayers 4. The Chaldees besieging Ierusalem and hearing that the Aegyptians come against them part away 5. But Ieremie prophecieth that they wil returne and burne Ierusalem 10. For which he is imprisoned 16. After manie dayes the king examineth him of his prophecie who stil affirming the same 20. is kept in the entrie of the prison AND king Sedecias the sonne of Iosias reigned for Iechonias the sonne of Ioakim whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon made king in the Land of Iuda †And he obeyed not he and his seruants and the people of the land the wordes of our Lord that he spake in the hand of Ieremie the prophet †And king Sedecias sent Iuchal the sonne of Selemias and Sophonias the sonne of Maasias priest to Ieremie the prophet saying Pray the Lord our God for vs. †And Ieremie walked freely in the middes of the people for they had not cast him into ward in prison Therefore the armie of Pharao came out of Aegypt and the Chaldees that besieged Ierusalem hearing such tydinges retyred from Ierusalem †And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie the prophet saying †Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel Thus shal you say to the king of Iuda which sent you to demand of me Behold the armie of Pharao which is come forth to helpe you shal returne into his land into Aegypt †And the Chaldees shal returne and make warre against this citie and take it and burne it with fire †Thus saith our Lord Deceiue not your soules saying The Chaldees going shal goe away and retyre from vs because they shal not goe away †But if you shal strike al the host of the Chaldees that fight against you and there be left of them some wounded euerie
magnificence in gold siluer and furniture abundant and he was astonied and told him the kings wordes †And Simon answered him and sayd to him Neither haue we taken other mens land neither do we hold that is other mens but the inheritance of our fathers which was a certaine season vniustly possessed of our enemies †But we hauing oportunitie challenge the inheritance of our fathers †For concerning Ioppe and Gazara that thou complaynest they made a great plague among the people and in our countrie for these we geue an hundred talents And Athenobius answered him not a word †But with anger returning to the king he reported vnto him these wordes and the glorie of Simon al thinges that he saw and the king was wrath with great anger †And Tryphon fled by shippe to Orthosias †And the king appointed Cendebaeus captaine by the sea cost and gaue him an armie of foote men and horsemen †And he commanded him to moue the campe against the face of Iurie and he commanded him to build Cedron and to fortifie the gates of the citie and to conquer the people But the king pursewed Tryphon †And Cendebaeus came to Iamnia and began to prouoke the people to conculcate Iurie and to take the people captiue and to kil and to build Cedron †And he placed there horsemen and an host that going forth they might walke by the way of Iurie as the king appointed him CHAP. XVI Simon sendeth two of his sonnes to fight against Cendebaeus 8. whom they ouerthrow 11. Ptolemee Simons sonne in law inuiting him to a feast treacherously killeth him and his sonnes Iudas and Mathathias 19. sendeth also men to kil Iohn but he being warned of the treason killeth them 23. and succeedeth to his father in the gouernment AND Iohn went vp from Gazara and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus did amongst their people †And Simon called his two elder sonnes Iudas Iohn and he sayd to them I and my bretheren and the house of my father haue expugned the enemies of Israel from our youth euen to this day and it hath prospered in our handes to deliuer Israel oftentimes †And now I am old but be you in place of me and my bretheren going forth fight for our nation the helpe from heauen be with you †And he chose out of the countrie twentie thousand fighting men and horsemen and they went forth to Cendebaeus and they slept in Modin †And they arose in the morning and went into the plaine filde and loe a mightie great armie coming to meete them of foote men and horsemen there was a running riuer betwen them †And he camped agaynst the face of them him self and his people and he saw the people fearful to passe through the torrent and he passed through first and the men saw him and they passed ouer after him †And he diuided the people and the horsemen in the middes of the footemen and the horsemen of the aduersaries were exceding manie †And they sounded with the holie trompets and Cendebaeus was put to flight and his campe and there fel manie of them wounded and the rest fled into the hold †Then was Iudas Iohns brother wounded But Iohn pursewed them til he came to Cedron which he built †and they fled euen to the towres that were in the fildes of Azotus and he burnt them with fyre And there fel of them two thousand men and he returned into Iurie in peace †And Ptolomee the sonne of Abobus was appointed captayne in the plaine of Iericho and he had much siluer and gold †For he was the sonne in law of the high priest †And his hart was exalted and he would gayne the countrie and he purposed treacherie against Simon and his sonnes to dispatch them †And Simon walking through the cities that were in in the countrie of Iurie and being careful of them went downe into Iericho he and Mathathias his sonne and Iudas the yeare an hundreth seuentie seuen the eleuenth moneth this is the moneth Sabath †And the sonne of Abobus receiued them with guile into a litle fortresse that is called Doch which he built and he made them a great feast and hid men there †And when Simon was inebriated and his sonnes Ptolomee arose with his companie and they tooke their weapons and entered into the feast and slew him and his two sonnes and certain of his seruants †And he did great deceite in Israel rendered euil for good †And Ptolomee wrote these thinges and sent to the king that he should send him an armie for ayde and he would deliuer him the countrie and their cities and tributes †And he sent others into Gazara to dispatch Iohn and to the tribunes he sent epistles that they should come to him he would geue them siluer gold and gifts †And he sent others to take Ierusalem the mount of the temple †And one running before told Iohn in Gazara that his father was perished and his bretheren that he hath sent that thou also mayst be slayne †But as he heard it he was excedingly afrayd and he apprehended the men that came to destroy him he slew them for he knew that they sought to destroy him †And the rest concerning the wordes of Iohn his battels and the valient actes which he did manfully and the building of the walles which he built the thinges that he did †loe these are writen in the booke of the dayes of his priesthood from the time that he was made prince of the priests after his father THE SECOND BOOKE OF MACHABEES CHAP. 1. The Iewes in Ierusalem write to the Iewes in Aegypt 7. signifying that they had wriâ—te before of manie afflictions past 9. and now write againe rendering thankes to God for their deliuerie from Antiochus 18. exhorting their bretheren to kepe the feast of Scenopegia recâ—â—ing the miracle of water returning into fire 24. when Nehemias prayed 33. and that the king built a temple in memorie therof TO THE bretheren the Iewes that are through out Aegypt the bretheren the Iewes that are in Ierusalem and that are in the countrie of Iurie send health and good peace †God doe good to you and remember his testament that he spake to Abraham and Isaac and Iacob his faithful seruantes †and geue he vnto you al an hart to worshippe him and to doe his wil with a great hart and a willing minde †Open he your hart in his law and in his precepts and make peace †Heare he your prayers and be he reconciled vnto you neither forsake he you in the euil time †And now here we are praying for you †When Demetrius reigned in the yeare one hundreth sixtie nine we Iewes wrote vnto you in the tribulation and violence that came vpon vs in these yeares since Iason reuolted from the
holie land and from the kingdom †They burnt the gate and shed innocent bloud and we prayed to our Lord and were heard and we offered sacrifice and fine floore and lighted the lampes and serforth there breades †And now celebrate ye the dayes of Scenopegia of the moneth Cesleu †In the yeare one hundreth eightie eight the people that is at Ierusalem and in Iurie and the senate and Iudas to Aristobolus the maister of Ptolomee the king who is of the stocke of the annointed priestes and to those Iewes that are in Aegypt health and welfare †Being deliuered by God out of great dangers we geue him thankes magnifically as who haue fought against such a king †For he made them swarme out of Persis that haue fought against vs and the holie oiâ—ie †For when he was captaine in Persis with him a very great armie he fel in the temple of Nania being deceiued by the counsel of Nanâ—aâ—s priestes †For Antiochus his freindes came to the place as to dwel with her that he might receiue much money vnder the title of a dowrie †And when Naneaes priestes had layde it forth and he with a few was entered within the compasse of the temple they shut the temple †when Antiochus was entered in a secrete entrance of the temple being opened casting stones they stroke the duke and them that were with him and diuided them in peeces and cutting of their heades they threw them forth †Blessed be the God in al thinges who hath deliuered vp the impious †We therefore meaning to keepe the purification of the temple the fiue and twentith day of the moneth Casleu thought it necessary to signifie vnto you that you also may kepe the day of Scenopegia and the day of the fire that was geuen when Nehemias after the temple was built and the altar offered sacrifice †For when our fathers were caryed into Persis the priestes that then were the worshippers of God taking the fire from the altar hid it secretly in a valley where there was a pitte deepe and dry and therin they saued it so that the place was vnknowne to al men †But when manie yeares had passed and iâ— pleased God that Nehemias should be sent of the king of Persis he sent the nephewes of those priestes that had hid it to seeke our the fire and as they told vs they found not fire but thicâ—ke water †And he bad them draw bring vnto him and the sacrifices that were layd on the priest Nehemias commanded to be sprinckled with the same water and the wood and the thinges that were layde therupon †And as this was done the time was come that the sunne shone forth which before was in a cloude there was kindled a great fire so that al merueiled †And al the priestes made prayer whiles the sacrifice was consuming Ionathas beginning and the rest answering †And the prayer of Nehemias was in this maner O LORD God creatour of al dreadful and strong iust and mereiful which only art the good king †only giuer only iust and omnipotent and eternal which deliuerest Israel from al euil which madest the fathers elect and didst sanctifie them †Receiue the sacrifice for al thy people Israel and kepe thy part and sanctisie it †Gather together our dispersion deliuer them that serue the Gentils and regard the contemned abhorred that the Gentils may know that thou art our God †Afflict them that oppresse vs and that doe contumelie in pride †Place thy people in thy holie place as Moyses sayd †And the priestes sang hymnes til the sacrifice was consumed †And when the sacrifice was consumed of the rest of the water Nehemias coÌ„manded the greater stones to be throughly washed †Which thing as it was done out of them was kindled a flame but by light also that shined from the altar it was consumed †And as the thing was made manifest it was told the king of the Persians that in the place wherin those priestes that were transported had hid fire there appeared water with the which Nehemias and they that were with him purified the sacrifices †And the king considering and diligently examining the matter made a temple for it that he might approue that which was done †And when he had approued it he gaue to the priestes manie good thinges and diuerse giftes and taking them with his owne hand he gaue to them †And Nehemias called this place Nephthar which is interpreted purification But it is called with manie Nephi CHAP. II. Holie fire and the booke of the law were conserued by Ieremie the prophet in the transmigration into Babylon 4. Likewise the Tabernacle of Moyses the Arke and Altar of incense in a secrete place 8. As Moyses had dedicated the Tabernacle and Salomon the Temple 14. so Iudas Machabeus â—lensing the Temple and making a new Altar instituted a feast of the Dedication therof 20. The Preface of the Auctor abridging the historie of the Machabees written by Iason in fiue bookes AND it is found in the descriptions of Ieremie the prophet that he commanded them that went in transmigration to take the fire as it was signified as he commanded them that were caried away in transmigration †And he gaue them a law that they should not forget the precepts of our Lord and that they should not erre in their mindes seing the idols of gold and siluer and the ornaments of them †And saying other like thinges he exhorted them that they would not remoue the law from their hart †And it was in the same writing how the propher commanded by the diuine answer made to him that the tabernacle the arke should folow in company with him til he came forth into the mount in which Moyses ascended and saw the inheritance of God †And Ieremie coming thither found a place of a caue he brought the tabernacle and the arke and the altar of incense in thither and stopped the doore †And there came certaine withal that folowed to marke the place for themselues and they could not finde it †And as Ieremie vnderstood it blaming them he sayd that the place shal be vnknowne til God gather together the congregation of the people and become propicious †and then our Lord wil shew these thinges and the maiestie of our Lord shal appeare there shal be a cloude as it was also madâ—manifest to Moyses and as when Salomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God he did manifest these thinges †For he handled wisedom magnifically as hauing wisedome did he offer the sacrifice of the dedication and of the consummation of the temple †As Moyses also prayed to our Lord and as Salomon prayed and fire came downe from heauen and consumed the holocaust †And Moyses sayd Because that which was for sinne was
expedient that one man dye for the people and the whole nation perish not vvhich the holie Euangelist ascribeth to his office being highpriest of that yeare he prophecied that IESVS should dye for the nation and not only for the nation but togather into one the children of God that were dispersed IESVS REDEMER correct in vs our errors gather the dispersed conserue them that are and shal be gathered make al one flocke in one fould vnder one Pastour thy selfe IESVS CHRIST To whom with the Father and the Holie Ghost be al thankes praise honour and glorie now and for euer and euer AMEN The prayer of Manasses vvith the second third Bookes of Esdras extant in most Latin and vulgare Bibles are here placed after al the Canonical bookes of the old Testament because they are not receiued into the Canon of Diuine Scriptures by the Catholique Church THE PRAYER OF MANASSES KING OF IVDA WHEN HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN BABYLON LORD omnipotent God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of their iust sede which didst make heauen and earth with al the ornamentes of them which hast bound the sea with the word of thy precept which hast shut vp the depth and sealed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges dread tremble at the countinance of thy powre because the magnificence of thy glorie is importable the wrath of thy threatning vpon sinners is intollerable but the mercie of thy promise is infinite and vnsearchable because thou art our Lord most high benigne long suffering and very merciful and penitent vpon the wickednes of men Thou Lord according to the multitude of thy goodnes hast promised penance and remission to them that haue sinned to thee and by the multitude of thy mercies thou hast decreed penance to sinners vnto saluation Thou therfore Lord God of the iust hast not appointed penance to the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob them that haue not sinned to thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sand of the sea Myne iniquities Lord be multiplied mine iniquities be multiplied and I am not worthie to behold looke vpon the height of heauen for the multitude of mine iniquities I am made crooked with manie a band of yron that I can not lift vp my head and I haue not respiration because I haue stirred vp thy wrath and haue done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and thy commandmentes I haue not kept I haue set vp abominations and multiplied offenses And now I bowe the knee of my hart beseeching goodnes of thee I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned I acknowlege myne iniquities Wherefore I beseech disiring thee forgeue me Lord forgeue me and destroy me not together with myne iniquities neither reserue thou for euer being angrie euils for me neither damme me into the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of the penitent in me thou shalt shew al thy goodnes because thou shalt saue me vnworthie according to thy great mercie and I wil prayse thee alwayes al the dayes of my life because al the power of the heauens prayseth thee and to thee is glorie for euer and euer Amen THE THIRD BOOKE OF ESDRAS For helpe of the readers especially such as haue not leysure to read al vve haue gathered the contentes of the chapters but made no Annotations because the text it self is but as a Commentarie to the Canonical bookes and therfore we haue only added the concordance of other Scriptures in the margin CHAP. I. Iosias king of Iuda maketh a great Pasch 7. geuing manie hostes to such as wanted for sacrifice 14. the Priestes and Leuites performing their functions therin 22. in the eightenth yeare of his reigne 25. He is slayne in battel by the king of Aegypt 32. and much lamented by the Iewes 34. His sonne Ieconias succedeth 37. After him Ioacim 40. who is deposed by the king of Babylon 43. Ioachin reigneth three monethes and is caried into Babylon 46. Sedecias reigneth eleuen yeares wickedly 52. and he with his people is caried captiue into Babylon the citie and temple are destroyed 57. so remayned til the Monarchie of the Persians AND Iosias made a Pasch in Ierusalem to our Lord immolated the Phase the fourtenth moone of the moneth †appointing the Priestes by courses of dayes clothed with stoles in the temple of our Lord. †And he spake to the Leuites the sacred seruantes of Israel that they should sanctifie them selues to our Lord in the placing of the holie arke of our Lord in the house which king Salomon sonne of Dauid built †It shal not be for you to take it vpon your shoulders And now serue your Lord and take the care of that nation Israel in part according to your villages and tribes †according to the writing of Dauid king of Israel and according to the magnificence of Salomon his sonne al in the temple and according to your fathers portion of principalitie among them that stand in the sight of your brethren the children of Israel †Immolate the Pasch and prepare the sacrifices for your bretheren and doe according to the precept of our Lord which was geuen to Moyses †And Iosias gaue vnto the people that was found of sheepe lambes and kiddes and goates thirtie thousand calues three thousand †These thinges were geuen to the people of the kinges goodes according to promisse and to the priestes for the Phase sheepe in number two thousand and calues an hundred †And Iechonias and Semeias and Nathanael bretheren and Hasabias and Oziel and Coraba for the Phase sheepe fiue thousand calues fiue hundred †And when these thinges were done in good order the Priestes and the Leuites stood hauing azymes by tribes †And according to the portions of their fathers principalitie in the sight of the people they did offer to our Lord according to those thinges which were written in the booke of Moyses †and rosted the Phase with fire as it ought and the hostes they boyled in cauldrons and in pottes with beneuolence †and they brought to al that were of the people and afterward they prepared for them selues and the priestes †For the Priestes offered the fatte vntil the houre was ended and the Leuites prepared for them selues and their brethren the children of Aaron †And the sacred singing men the children of Asaph were by order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Zacharias and Ieddimus which was from the king †And the porters at euerie gate so that none transgressed his owne for their brethren prepared for them †And the thinges were consummate that perteyned to the sacrifice of our Lord. †In that day they celebrated the Phase and offered hostes vpon the sacrifice of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found at that time
other especially the wicked afflicting the good which our Sauiour describeth Mat. 24 saying Nation shal rise against nation You shal be odious to al nations for my sake Iniquitie shal abound c. :: This ioyful propagation of Gods glorie and name is either vnderstood to be prophecied of the Church in general which is as an iland of the whole world or properly and particularly amongst other gentiles of â—laâ—des conuerted to Christ as great Britannie others Iere. 48. :: The prophet and faithful people confessing Gods benefites and perfect performance of whatsoeuer he promiseth or determineth conforming their desires to his pleasure say Amen as wel in prosperitie when he deliuereth and blesseth them as in aduersitie when he punisheth by the destruction of Ierusalem which is here prophecied and the like :: After the reiection of the Iewes al Gentiles shal be conuerted to Christ Apoc. 7. â—1 :: In the time of grace geuen by Christ his whole Church singeth this and other like canticles of praises :: Other peoples haue their peculiar proper cities Babylon Damascus Tyrus Sidon c. but al Christians haue one citie the Catholique Church signified by Sion :: Fensed vvith vval and bul vvorke of faith good vvorkes S. Ierom here noteth that the sense of this Canticle is hard by reason of often and sudaine inter locutions of diuers persons consisting in questions and ansvvers To vvhose lerned commentaries vve remitte the studious readers :: A prophecie of the general resurrection of al men :: Some in glorie :: Some in miserie Mich. 1 Iob. 40. :: Tyrants are called serpents for their suttle poysenful malice and barres because they hold men fast inclosed in bondage And for the same reasons the diuel is called a serpent and a barre The fourt part Prophetical admonitions to both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda :: By Ephraim is vnderstood the kingdom of Israel whose first king Ieroboam was of that tribe :: After that the tenne tribes were caried captiues 4 Reg. 17. God deliuered the two tribes out of imminent danger 4. Reg 18. 19 :: geuing peace to their people :: spirite of iudgement to king Ezechias :: and victorie to the souldiars :: Because Isaias other holie prophetes often and much vrged not only the people but also priestes vvhich had rule ouer the people to kepe Gods commandments and to expect his mercie and goodnes they scornfully repete the same wordes deriding such exhortations desperatly geuing themselues to al wickednes as if they neither feared death nor hel v. 15. Mat. 21. v 42. Act. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 9. 2. Reg. 5. 1. Par. 14 Iosue 10 :: As husbanmen dispose their workes in order so God sometimes worketh miracles sometimes geueth benefites sometimes sendeth afflictions and greater to some then to others :: But none are continually afflicted without intermission :: Ari signifieth a lion El God So Ierusalem called the lion of God to witte a strong citie is threatned with destruction which happened first by the Babylonians 4. Reg. 25 againe more miserably by Titus Vespasian 40. yeares after Christs death 2. Reg. 5. 1 Par. 11 Luc. 19. :: Scribes and Pharises pretending knowlege of Scriptures can not read Christ in the Prophets because these bookes are sealed or loeked and they haue not the key Apoc. 3. :: The Gentiles could not read Christ in these bookes because they knew not letters of the holie Scriptures S. Ierom Praemio in Isaiam Mat. 15. Mar. 7. 1. Cor. â—â— Eccli 29. :: You that trust in your owne counsels and forces or in other mens and not in God shal finde the miserable euent of your follie as is before noted chap. 2â— * Apostatae or denyers :: Either Isaias was commanded to write this which should be fulfilled manie yeares after or els he speaketh prophetically to Ieremie nere 200. yeares before he prophecied signifying that he should hen write it as in dede he did Iere. 41 c. Psal â—3 :: This claritie in sunne and moone shal be after the general resurrection :: Christ wil exercise his seuere iustice in the general iudgement when he shal bid the damned goe into euerlasting fire Mat. 25. :: If often happeareth that when eâ—il men seme most secure they â—al into sodaine calamities * Hel. Iere. 42. :: Both this Prophet and afterwards â—ereâ—â—e admonished the Iewes not to trust in the Aegyptians but they contemning this admonition shewed in their deedes that they distrusted God not be leuing nor obeying his prophetes for the same were at last punished :: In the meane time God destroyed the armie of Sennacaâ—â—b be seging Ierusalem 4 Reg. 19. But they forgote this and manie other examples of Gods powre and loue Isai 2. The fift part Of the captiuitie and relaxation of the kingdom of Iuda with other afflictions and comfortes but especially of Christ and his Church :: Albeit manie thinges in this and other places perteyne first and literally to the old testament yet al are in figure and some thinges haue no other literal sense but of the new testament As this prophecie of maffling or vnperfect tongues to speake readily is fulfilled in the Church of Christ plainly and distinctly confessing al Mysteries of Catholique faith and religion and the like which can not be verified in the Iewish people * Noble cities of Iuda This manie other prophecies perteyne to the old testament as in figure alluding to the historie but principally to Christ and his Church Pref. of prophetical bookes VVhat the wordes Iudgement and Iustice signifie Definition of Iudgement and Iustice as they are vsed in the holie Scriptures Both applied to Gods and mens actions Explication of the text :: Sennacarib spoyled al the kingdom of Israel and al Iuda sauing Ierusalem which he also beseged reproching and despising God but himself was therfore spoyled and despised :: Fidelitie in performing promises of good thinges temporal and spiritual :: Messengers sent to procure peace shal mourne because they can not obtaine it Psal 14 1. Cor 1. :: Both prophecies histories testifie that terrene Ierusalem was subiect to destruction and was destroyed and therfore this is necessarily to be vnderstood of the Church of Christ against vvhich heâ— gates shal neuer preuaile :: God willeth as vvel the gentiles that were farre of to come neere :: As Iso the Iewes that were his pecular people al to attend that he wil destroy this whole world before the general Iudgement :: No defence of strong places signified by Bosra shal saue anie men from destruction in the day of Iudgement :: In the meane time as a figure therof Sion shal be destroyed and therfore the metaphorical destruction folovving rather perteyneth to the state of the damned in the next vvorld then to the afflicted in this life :: An euident prophecie of the conuersion of Gentiles In whom the Church shal continually spring florish :: Christ leaning al logical
vnpossible to finde true wisdom without Gods grace and by his grace it is easily â—ound Deut. 30. v. 1â— Mat. 11. v. 30. 1. Ioa. 5. v. 3. :: By this text most of the Fathers cited in the argument of this booke proue Christ to be God against Ievves Paganes and Heretikes :: VVisdom wherof he spake in the former chapter v. 12. is the lavv and commandment of God Deut. â—8 v. 49. Iere. â— v. 15. :: Ierusalem exhorteth her children to patience in their iust punishment assuring them of Gods mercie and relaxation :: Mercie is here called iustice in respect of Gods promise for although â—â— promise vvas of his only mercie yet the performance procedeth also from his iustice a Ieremie writte this Epistle before the common people were in Babylon but Baruch redde it vnto them in Babylon and so it was sent back to the rest which were yet in Ierusalem Iere 1â— v. 8. 9. c. b Tenne being the firstarticle number signifieth a general number and so seuen generations signifie seuen times tenne that is seuentie yeares Sometimes seuen â—â— signific a generalitie because this whole world is counted by seuen dayes sometimes 100. signifie the same as Gen. 15. v 16. 400. yeares are called four generations Isa 44. c The Angel which guided this people coming out of Aegypt Exo. 12. 33. protected them also in Babylon d The innumerable absurdities in forging and adoring false goddes here recited by the prophet shew how foolish sensles they are that serue idols or anie images for goddes :: Idolaters imagining that sensles idols had diuiue powre foolishly estemed them of great value price Is 46. v. â— Martyrol 10. Apri 1. Maij. Ezechiel and Ieremie like in manie respectes prophecied for most part the same thinges 4. Reg. 44. Ep. ad Paulin. Ch. 1. The contents diuided into fine partes The first part The prophets first vision mission to preach :: The coniunction And being the first word either ioyneth the context to the title or as S Gregorie expoundeth it the exterior wordes vttered to the interior reueled to the prophet in spirit :: Either the thirtith yeare of his age or the 30. since the captiuitie was prophecied in the reigne of Iosias 4. Reg. 22. v. 18. â—animahum :: They turned not about v. 12. but hauing faces on euery side were readie to goe euerie way :: S. Gregorie expounding this vision of the foure Euangelistes or of the whole new Testaments teacheth that the old new Testaments are each in the other both teaching the same thinges in diuers maners ho. 6. in Ezech. :: In this chapter the prophet descriheth foure partes of a vision which he saw at one time of a whirlewinde â— 4. of foure liuing creatures v 5 of foure vvheeles v 15. of a man sitting in a throne in the firmament v 16. For vnderstanding of al which lerned large commentaries do hardly suffice :: Our Sauiour of his great humilitie and his singular loue towards mankinde often calleth himself the Sonne of man but no other so called him Here the Angel most frequently calleth Ezechiel the Sonne of man as wel to distinguish betwen Angelical humane kind as in honour of Christ of whom this and other prophetes were figures but why Ezechiel and scarse anie other Dan. 8. v. 17. had this title is hard to explicate :: Lamentations perteine to the penitent :: Songue to the praises of God :: VVoe to the desperate damned :: By this Metaphor of eating a booke is signified that the prophet receiued reuelations from 〈…〉 as appeareth v. 10. c. :: By this place and the like Mat. 11. v. 21. it semeth that the same grace being offered to diuers persons some do accept it and some do not but the cause of difference is by more grace added to the former which was sufficient before and by this super addâ—dâ—tion is made effectual That God geueth this abundance to some is of his mercie and that he geueth it not to others is no iniurie Ro 9. :: I wil take away my grace from him in punishment of his reuolting from me :: A preachers office is as wel to warne the iust to perseuere in iustice as to admonish the wicked to repent returne to God The 2. part The destruction of Ierusalem and the Temple with the captiuitie of the people for their sinnes :: To make a banck a ditch is also made ordinarily aboue three foote depe so the earth cast vp towardes the towne besieged make couert passage about seuen foot in height by which trench men approch more safely towards the wal where they purpose to make batterie breach and assault It is very hard to explicate how the tenne tribes were 390. yeares in captiuitie :: And from what time the 40. yeares are counted seing it is certaine that the two tribes were in captiuitie 70. yeares See S. Ierom in Ezech. :: As a staffe aydeth the weake so bread sustaineth al men :: In other cities of Iuda nere Ierusalem :: Ieremie Lament 2 and Barâ—ch ch 2 prophecied of the same distresse by samine in the siege of Ierusalem :: Blasphemie is here taken improperly and signifieth that other nations shal not only reproch Ierusalem but also â—aâ—â—â— and scoffe at her miseries :: 〈…〉 was most especially committed in mountaines â—â—â—â—lles and therfore both idols and idolaters vvere destroyed in the same places :: Gods perpetual prouidence stil preserueth some reliques that serue him sincerely and before those depart from this vvorld :: others doe repent and returne to God :: By Israel is â—ere meant al the countrie of Iurie as appeareth by the generall peach folovving the foure quarters of the land :: In the yeare of Iubeley the landes vvhich vvere sold returned to the seller or to his heyres Leuit. 2â— but in the captiuitie there could be no such recouerie :: Adorning of idols with much gold was occasion that the Chaldees spoyled the citie more eageily * 〈…〉 :: This other like places signifie seaâ—sitâ—e of Priestes to teach the law in the captiuitie but not an vniuersal destruction or want of al. Ioâ— euen then also God conserued some reliques as appeareth Malach. 2. :: After that the prophet had ested in his house â—9â— dayes in which time when soeuer he sâ—â—pâ— he lay only on his left side 4â— dayes in like maner on his right side which was in al. 430. dayes which make one yeare two moneth and fiue dayes the next day he had this other vision before he went forth to preach â—â— 3. 7. â—â— :: VVicked men either do not beleue or litle consider Gods knovvlege and prouidence of al thinges and so fal into idolatrie :: Rabbi Dauid and Rabbi Salomon vvrite that the image of this idol being made of brasse had eyes of lead and vvhen the brasse was made hote by fire secretly put vnder the lead beginning to melt the image seemed to vvepe wherupon the vvemen
of the dreame :: The foure kingdoms of the Chaldees Persians Grecians and Romanes signified by the foure partes of this statua consisting of diuers metals or mater did succede in order of time :: not ech one meaner or baser then the former as gold is best yron earth the vvorst for the last rather excelled the former but vvhen this vision appeared the kingdom of the Chaldees vvas the greatest and most excellent that being destroyed the Mâ—des Persians became greater then it had bene againe the Grecians vnder Alexander became farre greater then anâ—e before and finally the Romane greatest of al til Christs kingdome his Church vvas spred ouer the vvhole world :: The Church of Christ is the only kingdom that can not be destroyed :: He thought Daniel to be a litle god subiect to the great God v. 47. :: Notwithstanding this confession shortly after he erected an idol to represent his ovvne greatnes and to be adored therin * mysterie :: This huge statua of ninty foot in height and nine in bredth conteined a great masse of gold VVhich the king made to shevv his riches to terrifie his enimies to represent himself that he might be adored therin as a god S. Ierem. :: Practise of this idolatrie consisted in falling prostrate on the ground before the statua some times it consisteth in offering incense to idols and the like Novv in England personal presence at heretical seruice or sermon is a distinctiue signe of conformitie to the protestants pretended religion because such presence is there exacted for this purpose :: By this most modest confident ansvver they professed their assured faith of Gods omnipotent powre not knowing whether it was his diuine wil to deliuer them from the fire or no resoluing to suffer vvith patience what soeuer he would permitte to fal vnto them * or cappes Though these parcels were not in the Hebrew in S. Ieroms time yet either had bene in the Hebrevv or Chalde or at least were Canonical scripture as we haue proued in the argument of this booke :: In the very same maner Moyses prayed pacified Gods wrath Exo. 32. :: Sedecias being dead and Ioachin kept in prison there vvas none in state of a king amongst the Ievves neither vvas there at this time anie prophet in al Ievvrie for Daniel himself and Ezechiel vvere in Babylon and Ieremie vvas either dead or in Aegypt * chalkie clay or lime :: Holy Angels do incessantly prayse God therfore nede not to be inuited therto sensible creatures do not properly prayse God because they haue not vnderstanding nor vvil but the meaning of this inuitation is to congratulate that Angels do alvvayes vvithout intermission praise God to exhorte al men in consideration of al Gods workes spiritual corporal to praise him as most worthie to be praysed by al men :: Priuations of thinges haue also their decent course in the vinuersal state of creatures Darknes prayseth God that is bringeth forth praise in the hartes of consideratiue men S. Aug. li. de natura boni c. 16. â— Ieroms â—â—ordes :: The fire burned their bandes but not their garments nor bodies so God vseth the seruice of his creatures to geue comforte to his seruantes and not torment S. Greg. li. 3. c. 18. dialo VVhere he vvriteth the like miracle when the Gothes vvould haue burned S. Benedict :: This fourth was the Angel that auerted the force of the fire from them v. 49. 95. :: They were not only restored to their former auctoritie as prefectes ouer the vvorkes ch 2. v 49. but were also more aduanced as this place insinuateth :: It semeth that Daniel inserted this particular historie as the king in his owne person and wordes reported it after his restauratioÌ„ It is also probable that the king had this dreame about the 34. yeare of his reigue For he reigning in al 43. yeares liued seuen yeares among beastes into vvhich state he fel one yeare after this dreame v. 26. and liued about a yeare more or lesse after his restauration :: Seuen times signifie seuen yeares because al ordinarie varieties of times are in one yeare :: No meruel that the prophet vvas trubled in mind being loath to declare the calamitie which should fal vnto the king and yet must nedes vtter the truth And therfore vvith milde wordes wishing the king might escape the euil which vvas decreed against him he maketh his entrance to the true interpretation of the dreame :: Gods threats being conditional that if sinners truly repent he vvil pardon al or part of the punishment the prophet proposeth the most soueraine remedie of almes dedes that by workes of mercie this sinful king or anie other sinner may procure the mercie of God As in dede this king found mercie after some punishment the prophet proposeth the soueraine remedie of almes dedes that by vvorkes of mercie he might procure Gods mercie :: Being restored to his wittes he went vp right cut his haire nailes so appeared to himself as returned to his former figure or shape Nabuchodonosor was not changed in substance but became madde and liued seuen yeares like a beast v. 13. It is probable that he died shortly after his restauration And most like that he is eternally saued a After Nabuchodonosor before Baltassar Euilmetodach reigned in Babylon who deliuered Ioachin king of Iuda out of prison and vsed him vvith great respect in the 37. yeare of the transmigration 4. Reg. 25. There reigned also before Balthassar other two of an other lineage called Niglissar and Labosardach as testifie Euse S. Ierom. S. Beda and others :: The ruine of this Baltassar happened in the 17. and last yeare of his reigne when Daniel was nere an hundred years old * the kings mother v. 11. :: Al progenitors are commonly called the fathers of their of spring so Nabuchodonosor is called the father of Baltassar being his grand father as may be gathered ler. 27. v. 27. where is prophecised that Nabuchodonosor and his sonne and sonnes sonne should reigne ouer manie nations * thing vvritten :: His imagination that he was a beast made him forsake the companie of men and to dwel amongst wilde beastes ch 4 :: The Medes being at this time in the siege of Babylon tooke their opportunitie to assault it this night vvhen the king and most part of the citie vvere drunke :: Darius king of medes now also of Chaldees othervvise called Astyages ch 13 v. 65. reigned but one yeare and so Cyrus succeeded :: An old and continual malignant practise to câ—l religion treason And for that purpose to procure lawes or statutes to be enacted :: It is not probable that Daniel opened the windowes of purpose that he might be senne to pray for so â—e should haue vndiscretly contemned the king and prouoked the infidels to persecute him but hauing accustomed to open the windovves of his vpper chamber vvhich gaue prospect towards
conuerted the Ievves shal also returne to Christ Ro. 11. v. 26. :: Al gentiles elder younger shal be conuerted to Christ :: Not by the couenant made with the Ievves in the Lavv of Moyses but by the Euangelical couenant Nabuchodonosor like an eagle rauenous to the praye speedie in seazing theron spoyled the vineyard signifying Ierusalem not vvithstanding they sought helpe of an other eagle the king of Aegypt v. 7. see v. 12. c. :: The explication of the parable :: The king of Babylon making Sedecias king of Iuda tooke of him an oath of alleageance to be vnder him vvhich oath Sedecias breaking was therfore iustly plaged :: After the ruine of Ierusalem the slaughter of his sonnes the plucking out of his owne eyes manie other miseries this king at last dyed a captiue in Babylon Iere. 32. Ezech. 12. :: Nabuchodonosor planted a kingdom vnder Sedecias vvhich prospered not the kingdom also of Babylon was aftervvards destroyed ouâ— Gods Church planted by Christ shal neuer faile :: The people suffering affliction vvould not confesse it to be for their owne sinnes but cast the fault vpon their fathers vvhich error is here conuinced God declaring by his prophet that not only the fathers but also the children had finned vvere therfore iustly puâ—nished euerie one is for his owne sinnes :: An other general rule is here geuen that as men alter their maners from euil to good or froÌ„ good to euil so they shal be â—â—dged finally revvarded or punished according to the state wherin they end this life v â— :: As a soule in mortal sinne is spiritually dead so truly repenting it returnâ—â—â— to spiritual life â— Not only repentance which is auersion from sinne and conuersion to God but also 〈…〉 that is satisfaction for sinnes past is necessarie to saluation * maâ—â— his soule to liue Psal 11â— Though God conditionally vvould haue â—â— men to be sâ—uâ—d yet manie are iustly damned v. 11. Rom. 9. v. 19. Ezech. 33. v. 11. 1. Tim. 2. v 4. 2. Pet. 3. v. 9. â— Thâ— p. â— q 19. a. 6. A â—ust Iudge vvould condemne no maâ— yet condemneth murderers â—heeâ—â—â— c. :: Ierusalem brought forth cruel kinges as Ioachaz Ioakim Iechonias and Sedecias 4. Reg. 2â— 24. of the vvhich tvvo reigned but three moneths ech one the others but ech of them eleuen yeares :: Rouers of Chaldea of Syria of Moab of Ammon 4. Reg. 24 v. 2. :: The kingdom of al the Israelites vvas planted and prospered vnder Dauid and Salomon but decayed vnder other kinges and first tenne tribes afterwardes the other two were caâ—â—%d into captiuitie :: Ezechiel beginne to prophecie in the fifth yeare after the transmigration of Iechon as ch 1. v 2 after which he was silent 390. dayes and 40. dayes ch 4. v. 8. which make 430. that is a yeare two monethes and fiue dayes In the sixth yeare the sixth moneth he prophecied againe ch 8. v. 1. And novv in the seuenth yeare fifth moneth tenth day the elders coming to demand prophecie it was reueled to him not to answer :: According to their deserts al should haue bene destroyed but God for his names sake saued his people as he had promised :: As v. 9 22 God stil conserued a succession Num. 26. Psa 105. :: God lifteth vp his hand either to deliuer as v 5 6 15. or to threaten and punish as here :: See â— 39. :: By long custom of sacrificing to idols vpon the Excelleses that is on hiegh places of litle hilles the people also called the Altar of God an Excelse wherupon the prophet argueth against theÌ„ that euen by the false name vsed by euil custome they are conuinced to haue bene great idolaters As those vvho haue bene heretikes do coÌ„monly vse termes phrases belonging to heresie As Communion for Masse Table for Altar Seruice for Sacrifice :: God vvil rather haue idolaters to leaue him wholly then to halt betvven tvvo 3. Reg 18. neither hâ—te nor cold but luke vvarme Apoc. 3. :: For such do especially pollute Gods name Rom. 2. v 24. :: By southeren forrest is meant Ierusalem ful of al sortes of people good and bad :: Much of his prophecie was so hard that al semed to â—â— parables :: Cease not to instil and incul â—ate the punishment of the people :: Temporal afflictions sâ—l also vpon the iust not for punishment but for their merite and that they may escape the miseries of captiuitie wheras the vvicked are punished both temporally and eternally S. Ierom. in ch 20. v 47. :: The vvhole people of Israel vvas the peculiar adopted sonne of God called also his first begoten Exo. 4. v. 22. :: The Babylonians consulting the idols vvhether they should inuade the Ammonits or the Ievves vvere ditected to assault Ierusalem :: The Ammonites reproching the Ievves vvhen they were afflicted by the Babylonians vvere for the same destroyed also by the Babylonians :: At last the like svvord and ruine fel vpon Babylon :: VVhy dost thou cease from admonishing and blaming the people for their bloud sinnes :: God of his part desiring the saluation of al men signifieth here his sorow for the peoples sinnes not that God is subiect to anie such passion but to infinuate the enormitie of sinne as Gen. 6. v. 6. :: A meruelous force of iust mens prayers by which God suffereth himself to be ouercome And it is most gratful to God when some do so oppose themselues to entreat mercie for sinners that they may repent S. Iero. Epist 12. ad Gaudentium a He speaketh here as of two peoples by anticipation for when the Israelies were in Aegypt they were but one people then also they committed idolatrie b Though they vvere but beginning to increase c God called the ten tribes Oolla vvhich signifieth their ovvne habitation because they made goddes to themselues in Bethel and Dan and the tvvo tribes he called Ooliba signifying my halitation because the temple there vvas Gods habitation :: In al this the like discourses the prophet speaketh not of carnal fornication but of spiritual which is idolatrie by the most frequent figure Metaphora :: In that the Chaldes vvere the ministers of Gods wrath they are called his â—ele as Assur is called the râ—dde of his furie Isa 10. v. 5. :: By the nose S. Ierom vnderstandeth the king by the caâ—es the Priestes and Iudges who were not â—â—â—â—e but â—ut of from the people and caried into captiuitie 4. Reg 25. Iere. 52. :: This demand is an admonition to iudge and condemne â—heâ—â— wickednes without intermission as câ— 20. v. 4. :: Circumstances of places and :: times do aggrauate sinnes very much vvhich are therfore more seuerely punished * Amimonium :: Ieremie in Babylon saw vvhat vvas done the same time in Ierusalem and therfore is bid â—â—to write the day v. 2. that therby the certaintie of his prophecie may appeare For the
verie same day Nabuchodonosor layde siege to Ierusalem 4. Reg. 25. v. 1. :: VVhen sinners are not amended by fire of tribulation God after that they are parted froÌ„ this vvorld punisheth them euerlastingly :: The suddaine death of nere freindes causeth â—ore sorow then if it were feared before yet the prophet was commanded not to shew sorow for the suddaine death of his wife to signifie that the great calamitie of euerie one would take away the particular 〈…〉 for the lode priuate freindes The 3. part The destruction of diuers other nations besides the Iewes :: Amongst other heathen nations especially the Ammonites reioyced at the miseries of the Iewes and were therfore plaged :: The Chaldees or rather the Armenians or Agarens who are more direct eastward and :: I wil take away al the streingth and force of Moab vvhich consisteth in his strong cities :: Yeares are stil counted from the transmigration of Ioachin as ch 1. 8 20. 24. v. 1. 29. v. 1. 17. :: Tyre which is a most frequented sea towne shal be made desolate and to no vse but to hang nettes therin to drie :: Lesse cities and townes perteyning to Tyre shal likewise be destroyed :: As Tyre was exalted in pride so it was brought to great ruine yet was it restored after seuentie yeares according to Isaias prophecie ch 23 v. 15. And our Sauiour retired sometimes into the quarters of Tyre and Sidon Mat. 15. v. 21. :: This large description of the Tyrians glory sheweth their greater ruine :: S. Ierom in Isaie 54. v. 12. translating this word a iasper stone here leaueth it vntranslated and so do also the Septuagint neither do the Hebrew Doctors describe it in their commentaries The Chaldee paraphrasis translateth it in general precious stones or margarites some in particular thinke it to be a carbunkle some a rubie others a chrystal others an adamant :: VVith these Gentiles cutting or shauing of their heare was a signe of sorovv vvhich the Ievves vvere commanded not to imitate Deut. 14. to shevv difference from other nations yet they also did cut their heare in great calamities Isa 22. v. 12. :: Daniel was so famous for vvisdom that therof came a prouerbe in Chaldea to compare wisemen vvith Daniel and to reproch those that arrogated more wisdom then they had that they semed vainely to themselues vviser then Daniel * 〈…〉 plâ—â—â— taâ—ing breath :: Tyre had much â—niquity long before but when the king thought himself to be God v. 2 this iniquity could not be longer tolerated :: As Sidon was nere in situation to Tyre so it was made like in ruine for their like pride :: Al nations wil praise God when they see that he iustly punisheth his owne people afterwards restoreth them to their former state :: Prophetes do not write their prophecies in order of time as they were reueled for in former chapters he wrote that which he saw in the eleuenth yeare ch 26. v. 1. but that which was sooner fulfilled or because Tyre Sidon were nerer in situation to Ierusalem then Aegypt he writte that prophecie before this :: This vision against Aegypt is in confirmation of the former 17. yeares before v. 1. :: Of this place Sâ—â—eâ—om proueth that God rewardâ—â—halso Infidels for their moral good woorkes temporally though they can not merite an eternal revvard as the iust doe :: The day of iust punishment is called the day of our Lord. As the Apostle calleth the day of general iudgement the day of our Lord. 1. Cor 5. 2. Cor. 1 1. Thes 5. :: The time vvhen the Chaldees the most potent nation shal conquer and triumph ouer Aegypt :: Part of the kingdom of Aegypt was subdâ—â—ed before this time by the king of Babylon 4. Reg. 24. v. 7. :: Thou that semest to thyself inuincible yet art thou not equal to the king of Assirians who already is ouer throwne and so â—halt thou likewise be :: Although â— Aegypt thou art like to the most potent kingdomes yet as the assirians others so thou also shalt be ruined :: Here it is manifest that this prophet counteth the yeares by the time of transmigration of king Iechonias for it is clere that Sedecias â—eigned only eleuen yeares 4. Reg. 24. 25. Iere. â—â— 52 :: This hyperbolical speach describeth the former glorie of Aegypt as if al lightes were much diminished when this kingdom was darkned :: The countrie of the Aelamites :: and the king of Aelamâ—â—es shal also perish with Assirians Aegyptians other infidels :: Pastors are not excused omitting to admonish their flocke either for feare of danger or for despare of the sinners amendment For euerie one shal be iudged as he discargeth or neglecteth his owne office S. Iere. :: Gods absolute or consequent wil is alvvayes fulfilled but not his conditional or an ecedent As is noted ch 18. v. 23. :: God being alwayes â—eâ—dy to shew mercie knocking at the dore of our hart Apoc. 3. v. 20. it is of mens owne vvilfulnes that they are not saâ—eâ— according to that general Axiome Man doing that in him â—â—â—th God â—â— not vvanting of his part to saue al. S. Tho 1. 2. q. 109. a. 6. q. 112. a. 3. :: As he prophecied ch 24. v. 2 the very day vvhen the siege begane so he foreshewed also v. 26. that one flying avvay should tel of the taking and spoyling of the citie three yeares after Pastors do lawfully eate of the milke of their flock 1. Cor. 9. v. 7. but they ought not to take the wool nor flesh to themselues which belong to their master :: He that hath spiritual charge of soules and seeketh his owne temporal profite not the spiritual good of his flocke is in dede no pastor but a hyreling or if he also teach false doctrine he is a woolf Ioan. 1â— :: Not only Christ himself but also others shal doe these right Offices of true pastors in the new Testament as S. Paul conformably teacheth Ephe. 4. that God geueth Apostles Prophets Euangelistes Pastors and doctors to the consummation of Sainctes tilvve mete al into the vâ—itie of faith c. Iâ—â— 1â— :: No Iewe is so obstinate nor heretike so blind but al confesse that Messias Christ is here called by the name of Dauid For king Dauid was now dead long before this prophet liued See the same ch 17. v. 24. 25. and in manie places of holie Scripture :: This frequent phrase here and in other places signifieth turne thy speach to speake of such and such people or speake boldly and freely fearing no man :: God accounteth al iniuries done against his Church as done against himself So our Sauiour charged Saul persecuting the Church as persecuting himself Aâ—â— 9. v. 4. The 4. part The reduction of the Iewes from captiuitie and the Redemption of mankind by Christ :: Your captiuitie and distressed state hath geuen occasion to al nations to speake discourse of you As