art with me Thy rod and thy staffe they haue comforted me †Thou hast prepared in my sight a table against them that truble me Thou hast fatted my head with oyle and my chalice inebriating how goodlie is it †And thy mercie shal folow me al the dayes of my life And that I may dwel in the house of our Lord in longitude of dayes PSALME XXIII Christ is Lord of the whole earth being Creatour and Redemer of man 3. Good life with faith in him is the way to heauen 7. whither Christ ascending with triumph Angels admire him †The first of the Sabbath the Psalme of Dauid THE earth is our Lordes and the fulnesse therof the round world and al that dwel therein Because he hath founded it vpon the seas and vpon the riuers hath prepared it †Who shal ascend into the mount of our Lord or who shal stand in his holie place †The innocent of handes and of cleane hart that hath not taken his soule in vayne nor sworne to his neighbour in guile †He shal receiue blessing of our Lord and mercie of God his Sauiour †This is the generation of them that seeke him of them that seeke the face of the God of Iacob †Lift vp your gates ye princes and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates and the king of glorie shal enter in †Who is this king of glorie Our Lord strong mightie our Lord mightie in battel †Lift vp your gates ye princes and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates and the king of glorie shal enter in Who is this king of glorie The Lord of powers he is the king of glorie PSALME XXIIII A general prayer of the faithful against al enemies 4. with desire to be directed in the way of godlines 7. and to be pardoned for sinnes past 9. acknowledging Gods meeknes 17. our weaknes necessitie of helpe and hope in God 22. concludeth with prayer for the whole Church †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid TO THEE ô Lord I haue lifted vp my soule †my God in thee is my confidence let me not be ashamed †Neither let mine enemies scorne me for al that expect thee shal not be confounded †Let al be confounded that do vniust thinges in vayne Lord shew me thy wayes and teach me thy pathes †Direct me in thy truth and teach me because thou art God my Sauiour and thee haue I expected al the day †Remember ô Lord thy commiserations and thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world †The sinnes of my youth and my ignorances doe not remember According to thy mercie remember thou me for thy goodnesse ô Lord. †Our Lord is sweete and righteous for this cause he wil geue a law to them that sinne in the way †He wil direct the milde in iudgement he wil teach the meeke his wayes †Al the wayes of our Lord be mercie and truth to them that seeke after his testament and his testimonies †For thy name ô Lord thou wilt be propitious to my sinne for it is much †Who is the man that feareth our Lord he appoynteth him a law in the way that he hath chosen †His soule shal abide in good things and his seede shal inherite the land †Our Lord is a firmament to them that feare him c. his testament that it may be made manifest to them †Myne eies are alwayes to our Lord because he wil plucke my fecte out of the snare †Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me because I am alone and poore †The tribulations of my hart are multiplied deliuer me from my necessities †See my humiliation and my labour and forgeue al my sinnes †Behold mine enemies because they are multiplied and with vniust hatred hated me †Keepe my soule and deliuer me I shal not be ashamed because I hoped in thee †The innocent and righteous haue cleaued to me because I expected thee †Deliuer Israel ô God out of al his tribulations PSALME XXV Dauid in banishment among the Philistimes trusteth in the iustice of his cause 9. and prayeth God earnestly to deliuer him that he may with more freedom and commodity serue him as he desireth †Vnto the end the Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô Lord because I haue walked in my innocencie and hoping in our Lord I shal not be weakened †Proue me Lord and tempt me burne my reynes and my hart †Because thy mercie is before mine eies and I am wel pleased in thy truth †I haue not sitten with the councel of vanitie and with them that doe vniust thinges I wil not enter in †I “ haue hated the Church of the malignant and with the impious I wil not sitte †I wil wash my handes among innocentes and wil compasse thy altar ô Lord †That I may heare the voice of praise and shew forth al thy meruelous workes †Lord I haue loued the beautie of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie †Destroy not ô God my soule with the impious and my life with bloudie men †In whose handes are iniquities their righthand is replenished with giftes †But I haue walked in mine innocencie redeme me and haue mercie on me †My foote hath stood in the direct way in the Churches I wil blesse thee ô Lord. ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXV 5. I haue hated the Church of the malignant Holie Dauid forced by reason of persecution to dwel amongst Infidels the Philistians after he had twise spared king Saules life 1 Reg 24. v. 5. et c. 26. v. 9. lamented v. 19. how great affliction it was to him to be cast out that he could not a vvel in the inheritance of our Lord where God was rightly serued and that his enemies had done so much as in them lay to make him fal into idolatrie by their fact as it were saying â—oâ— serue strange goddes Neuertheles his zele was such that as he here professeth he hated the Church of the malignant that is the congregations of al miscreants his immaculate religious puritie was so perfect that he would not so much as in exâ—eâ—â—â—l shew conforme his actions to theirs in matters of religion nor yeld his 〈◊〉 presence in their conuenticles but said VVith the impious I vvil not siâ—â—â— instructing vs Christians for the word to the end in the title sheweth that this 〈◊〉 perteyneth also to vs that we must both hate the Church or con-â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 of the malignant to witte of Painims Iewes Turkes and Hererikes and â—â—t â—i tâ—
testamentes †and their children because of them abide for euer their seede and their glorie shal not be forsaken †Their bodies are buried in peace and their name liueth vnto generation and generation †Let peoples tel their wisdom and the Church declare their praise †Henoch pleased God and was translated into paradise that he may geue repentance to the nations †Noe was found perfect iust and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation †Therefore was there a remnant least to the earth when the flood was made †The testaments of the world were made with him that al flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood †Abraham the great father of the multitude of the nations and there was not found the like to him in glorie who kept the law of the Highest and was in couenant with him †In his flesh he made the couenant to stand and in tentation he was found faithful †Therefore by an oath he gaue him glorie in his nation that he should encrease as an heape of earth †and that he would exalt his seede as the starres and they should inherite from sea to sea and from the riuer to the endes of the earth †And he did in like manner in Isaac for Abraham his father †Our Lord gaue him the blessing of al nations and confirmed his couenant vpon the head of Iacob †He knew him in his blessinges and gaue him an inheritance diuided him his portion in twelue tribes †And he preserued vnto him men of mercie and found grace in the eies of al flesh CHAP. XLV Praises of Moyses 7. Aaron 16. and his priestlie progenie 22. Against whom Chore with his complices rebelling were destroyed MOYSES beloued of God and men whose memorie is in benediction †He made him like in the glorie of saintes and magnified him in the feare of his enemies And with his wordes he appeased monsters †He glorified him in the sight of kinges and gaue him commandment before his people shewed him his glorie †In his faith and meekenes he made him holie and chose him of al flesh †For he heard him and his voice and brought him into a cloude †And he gaue him precepts face to face and a law of life and discipline to teach Iacob his testament and Israel his iudgements †He exalted Aaron his brother high and like to himself of the tribe of Leui. †He established vnto him an euerlasting testament and gaue him the priesthood of the nation and made him blessed in glorie †and he girded him about with a girdle and put vpon him a robe of glorie and crowned him in furniture of power †Garments to the feete and breches and an Ephod he put vpon him and compassed him with litle belles of gold very manie round about †to geue a sound in his going to make sound heard in the temple for a memorie to the children of his nation †An holie robe of gold and hyacinthe and purple a wouen worke of a wiseman indued with iudgement and truth †Of twisted scarlet the worke of an artificer with precious stones figured in the closure of gold and grauen by the worke of a lapidarie for a memorial according to the number of the tribes of Israel †A crowne of gold vpon his miter grauen with a seale of holines and the glorie of honour a worke of power and the adorned desires of the eies †There were none such so faire before him euen from the beginning †No stranger was clothed with them but only his children alone and his nephewes for euer †His sacrifices were consumed with fire euerie day †Moyses filled his handes anoynted him with holie oile †It was made vnto him for an euerlasting testament and to his seede as the daies of heauen to doe the function of priesthood and to haue praise and to glorifie his people in his name †He chose him of al that liued to offer sacrifice to God incense and good odour for a memorial to pacifie for his people †and he gaue them power in his preceptes in the testaments of his iudgementes to teach Iacob his testimonies and in his law to geue light to Israel †Because strangers stood against him and for enuie men compassed him about in the desert they that were with Dathan and Abiron and the congregation of Core in anger †Our Lord God saw and it pleased him not and they were consumed in the violence of wrath †He did prodigious thinges vnto them and consumed them in flame of fire †And he added glorie to Aaron and gaue him an inheritance and diuided vnto him the first fruites of the increase of the earth †He prepared them bread in the first vnto satietie for the sacrifices also of our Lord they shal eate which he gaue to him and to his seede †But he shal not inherite the nations in the land and he hath no part in the nation for himself is his portion inheritance †Phinees the sonne of Eleazar is the third in glorie in imitating him in the feare of our Lord †and to stand in the reuerence of the nation in the goodnes and alacritie of his soule he pacified God for Israel †Therefore did he establish vnto him a couenant of peace to be the prince of the holies and of his nation that the dignitie of priesthood should be to him and to his seede for euer †And the testament to Dauid king the sonne of Iesse of the tribe of Iuda and inheritance to him and to his seede that he might geue wisdom into our hart to iudge his nation in iustice that their good thinges might not be abolished their glorie in their nation he made euerlasting CHAP. XLVI Praises of Iosue 9. Caleb 13. the Iudges of Israel 16. Namely of Samuel Iudge and Prophet STRONG in battel was Iesus the sonne of Naue successour of Moyses among the prophets who was great according to his name †most great in the saluation of Gods elect to ouerthrow the enemies rising vp that he might get the inheritanâ— of Israel †What glorie obteyned he in lifting vp his handes and casting swordes against the cities †Who before him did so resist â—or our Lord himself brought the enemies †Whether was not the sunne hindered in his anger and one day was made as two †He inuocated the mightie soueraine in assaulting of the enemies on euerie side and the great and holie God heard him in haile stones of exceeding great force †He made violent assault against the nation of his enemies and in the goeing downe he destroyed the aduersaries †that the nations might know his might that it is not easie to fight against God And he folowed at the back of the mightie †And in the daies of Moyses did mercie and Caleb the
tayle †And they that cal this people blessed seducing them and that are called blessed shal be throwen headlong †For this cause our Lord shal not reioyce vpon their yong men and on their pupilles and widowes he shal not haue mercie because euerie one is an hypocrite wicked and euerie mouth hath spoken follie In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †For impietie is kindled as a fyre it shal deuoure bryer and thorne and it shal be kindled in the thicket of the forest and it shal be wrapped vp together in the pride of smoke †In the wrath of the Lord of hostes the earth is trubled and the people shal be foode for the fyre man shal not spare his brother †And he shal decline to the right hand and shal be hungrie and shal eate on the left hand and shal not be filled euerie one shal eate the flesh of his arme Manasses Ephraim and Ephraim Manasses they together against Iuda †In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth CHAP. X. Makers of wicked lawes are cursed 3. For which the Israelites shal be afflicted by the Assirians 5. The Assirians ouerthrowne by extraordinarie meanes sent from God 21. and the Iewes deliuered from imminent danger with diuers mysteries of Christ intermixed VVOE to them that make wicked lawes and writing haue written iniustice †That they might oppresse the poore in iudgement doe violence to the cause of the humble of my people that widowes might be their praye and they might spoile pupilles †What wil you doe in the day of visitation and of calamitie coming from farre to whose helpe wil ye flee and where wil ye leaue your glorie †That you be not bowed vnder the bond and fal with the slaine In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †Woe to Assur he is the rod of my furie and the staffe myne indignation is in their handes †I wil send him to a deceitful nation I wil geue him commandment against the people of my furie that he take away spoiles and catche the praye and put them to be troden vpon as the mire of the streates †But he shal not so thinke and his hart shal not esteme it so but his hart shal be set to destroy and to the destruction of no few nations †For he shal say †Are not my princes with al kinges Is not as Charcamis so Calano and as Arphad so Emath Is not as Damascus so Samaria †Euen as my hand hath found the kingdomes of the idol so also their idols of Ierusalem of Samaria †Shal I not as I haue done to Samaria and her idols so do to Ierusalem and her idols †And it shal be when the Lord shal haue accomplished al his workes in mount Sion and in Ierusalem I wil visite ouer the fruite of the magnifical hart of the king of Assur and ouer the glorie of the hautines of his eyes †For he hath said In the strength of mine owne hand haue I done it and in mine owne wisdome haue I vnderstood and I haue taken away the borders of peoples and haue spoiled their princes and haue pulled downe as a mightie man them that sate on high †And my hand hath found the strength of peoples as a nest and as egges be gathered that are leaft so haue I gathered together al the earth and there was none that moued wing and opened mouth and once muttered †Shal the axe glorie against him that cutteth with it or shal the saw exalt itselfe against him by whom it is drawen As if a rod should lift vp itself agaynst him that lifteth it vp and a staffe exalt itself which is certes but wood †For this cause the Dominatour the Lord of hostes shal send leannes in his fat ones and vnder his glorie shal burne as it were the burning of fyre kindled †And the light of Israel shal be in fyre and the Holie one therof in flame and his thorne shal be kindled and be deuoured and the briars in one day †And the glorie of his forest and of his carmelus shal be consumed from the soule euen to the flesh and he shal be a fugitiue for feare †And the remaynes of the woode of his forest for the fewnes shal be numbred and a child shal write them †And it shal be in that day the residue of Israel and they that shal escape of the house of Iacob shal not adde to leane vpon him that striketh them but they shal leane vpon our Lord the holie one of Israel in truth †The remnant shal be conuerted the remnant I say of Iacob to the strong God †For if thy people ô Israel shal be as the sand of the sea the remnant therof shal be conuerted consumnation abbridged shal make iustice ouerflow †For our Lord the God of hostes shal make consummation and abbridgement in the middes of al the earth †For this cause thus sayth our Lord the God of hostes O my people inhatiter of Sion be not afrayd of Assur he shal strike thee with his rod and shal lift vp his staffe ouer thee in the way of Aegypt †For yet a litle and a very litle and mine indignation and furie vpon their wickednes shal be consummate †And the Lord of hostes shal rayse vp a scourge vpon him according to the plague of Madian in the Rocke Oreb and his rod vpon the sea and he shal lift it vp in the way of Aegypt †And it shal be in that day his burden shal be taken away from of thy shoulder and his yoke from of thy necke and the yoke shal putrifie at the face of oile †He shal come into Aiath he shal passe into Magron at Machmas he shal commend his vessels †They haue passed in hast Gaba is our seate Rama was astonied Gabaath of Saul fled †Neay with thy voice ô daughter of Gallim attend Laisa seelie poore Anathoth †Medemena is remoued ye inhabitants of Gabin take courege †Yet there is day to stand in Nobe he shal shake his hand ouer the mountaine of the daughter of Sion the litle hil of Ierusalem †Behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal breake the litle flagon in terrour and the high of stature shal be cut downe and the loftie shal be humbled †And the thicke places of the forest shal be ouerthrowen with iron and Libanus with the high ones shal fal CHAP. XI Christ borne of the stock of Iesse replenished with seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost 4. shal haue a spiritual kindom most iust and potent 10. wherto al nations wil repayre AND a rod shal come forth of the roote of Iesse and a flowre shal rise vp out of his roote †And the Spirite
might be your God CHAP. XVI Core and his complices making schisme against Moyses and Aaron 31. some are swalowed in the earth with their families and substance 35. other two hundred and fiftie offering incense 41. and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people murmuring in behalfe of the sedicious are consumed with fire from heauen AND behold Core the sonne of Isaar the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leui and Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Hon also the sonne of Pheleth of the children of Ruben †“ rose against Moyses and other of the children of Israel two hundred fiftie men princes of the synagogue and which in the time of assemblie were called by name †And when they had stoode vp against Moyses and Aaron they said Let it suffice you that al the multitude consisteth of holie ones and our Lord is among them Why lift you vp your selues aboue the people of our Lord †Which when Moyses had heard he fel flatte on his face †and speaking to Core and al the multitude he said In the morning our Lord wil make it knowne who pertaine to him and the holie the wil ioyne to him selfe and whom he shal choose they shal approch to him †This do therfore Take euerie man their censars thou Core and al thy councel †and taking fire in them to morrow put vpon it incense before our Lord and whom soeuer he shal choose the same shal be holie you do much exalt your selues ye sonnes of Leui. †And he said againe to Core Heare ye sonnes of Leui †Is it a smal thing vnto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from al the people and ioyned you to him selfe that you should serue him in the seruice of the tabernacle and should stand before the ful assemblie of the people and should minister to him †did he therfore make thee and al thy brethren the sonnes of Leui to approch vnto him that you should chalenge vnto you the priesthood also †and al thy companie should stand against our Lord for what is Aaron that you murmur against him †Moyses therfore sent to cal Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Who answered We come not †Why is it a smal matter to thee that thou hast brought vs out of a land that folowed with milke and honie to kil vs in the desert vnles thou rule also like a lord ouer vs †In deede hast thou brought vs into a land that floweth with riuers of milke and honie hast thou geuen vs possessions of fieldes vineyardes What wilt thou plucke out our eies also We come not †Moyses therfore being very wrath said to our Lord Respect not their sacrifices thou knowest that I haue not taken of them so much as a little asse at anie time neither haue afflicted anie of them †And he said to Core Thou and al thy congregation stand ye apart before our Lord and Aaron to morrow apart †Take euerie one your censars and put incense vpon them offering to our Lord two hundred fiftie censars Let Aaron also hold his censar †Which when they had done Moyses and Aaron standing †and had heaped together al the multitude against them to the dore of the tabernacle the glorie of our Lord appeared to them al. †And our Lord speaking to Moyses and Aaron said †Separate your selues from the middes of this congregation that I may sodenly destroy them †Who felilatte on their face and said Most mightie God of the spirites of al flesh when one sinneth shal thy wrath rage against al †And our Lord said to Moyses †Command the whole people that they separate them selues from the tabernacles of Core and Dathan and Abiron †And Moyses arose and went to Dathan and Abiron and the ancientes of Israel folowing him †he said to the multitude Depart from the tabernacles of the impious men and touch not the thinges that pertaine to them lest you be wrapped in their sinnes †And when they were departed from their tentes round about Dathan and Abiron coming forth stood in the entrie of their pauilions with their wiues and children and al the multitude †And Moyses said In this you shal know that our Lord hath sent me to do al thinges that you see and that I haue not forged them of my owne mind †If they die the accustomed death of men and if the plague wherwith others also are wont to be visited do visite them out Lord did not send me †but if our Lord do a new thing that the earth opening her mouth swallow them downe al thinges that pertaine to them and they descend quicke into hel you shal know that they haue blasphemed our Lord. †Immediatly therfore as he ceased to speake the earth brake insunder vnder their feete †and opening her mouth deuoured them with their tabernacles al their substance †and they went downe into hel quicke couered with the ground and perished out of the middes of the multitude †But al Israel that stoode round about fled at the cric of them that perished saying Lest perhappes the earth swallow vs also †But a fire also coming forth from our Lord slew the two hundred fiftie men that offered the incense †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command Elâ—zar the sonne of Aaron the priest that he take vp the censars that lie in the burning fire and that he sprinkle the fire hither and thither because they be sanctified †in the deathes of the sinners and let him beate them into plates and fasten them to the altar because there hath bene offered incense in them to the Lord and they are sanctified that the children of Israel may see them for a signe and a monument †Eleazar therfore the priest tooke the brasen censars wherin they had offered whom the burning fire deuoured and bette them into plates fastening them to the altar †that the children of Israel afterward might haue wherwith to be admonished that no stranger approch and he that is not of the seede of Aaron to offer incense to our Lord lest he suffer as Core hath suffered and al his congregation according as our Lord spake to Moyses †And al the multitude of the children of Israel murmured the day folowing against Moyses and Aaron saying You haue killed the people of our Lord. †And when there rose a sedition and the tumult grew farder †Moyses and Aaron fled to the tabernacle of couenant Which after they were entred the cloude couered it and the glorie of our Lord appeared †And our Lord said to Moyses †Depart from the middes of this multitude euen now wil I destroy them And as they lay vpon the ground †Moyses said to Aaron Take the censar and drawing fire from the altar put incense vpon it going quickly to the people to pray for them for euen now is the wrath come forth
And thou didst answere me The saying is good which I haue heard †Why then hast thou not kept the oath of our Lord and the precept that I commanded thee †And the king said to Semei Thou knowest al the euil wherof thy hart is priuy to thy selfe which thou dist to Dauid my father our Lord hath rendred thy malice vpon thy head †And king Salomon be blessed and the throne of Dauid shal be stable before our Lord for euer †The king therfore commanded Banaias the sonne of Ioiada who going out stroke him and he died CHAP. III. King Salomon marieth Ikaraos sister 3. offereth Victims in high places 5. admonished by God in his sleepe to demand what he wil he asketh wisdom to gouerne his people 10. which God granteth him with much richesse also and glorie 16. He decideth a controuersie betwen two wemen contending about a liuing child and a dead THE kingdom therfore was established in the hand of Salomon and he was ioyned in affinitie to Pharao the king of Aegypt for he tooke his daughter and brought her into the citie of Dauid vntil he accomplished building his owne house and the house of our Lord and the wal of Ierusalem round about †But yet the people immolated in the excelses for there was no temple built to the name of our Lord vntil that day †And Salomon loued our Lord walking in the preceptes of Dauid his father sauing that he immolated in the excelses and burnt incense †He went therfore into Gabaon to immolate there for that was a verie great excelse a thousand hostes for holocaust did Salomon offer vpon that altar in Gabaon †And our Lord appeared to Salomon in a dreame by night saying Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee †And Salomon said Thou hast done great mercie with thy seruant Dauid my father euen as he walked in thy fight in truth and iustice and a right hart with thee for thou hast kept thy great mercie and hast geuen him a sonne sitting vpon his throne as it is this day †And now Lord God thou hast made thy seruant to reigne for Dauid my father but I am a litle childe and ignorant of my going out and coming in †And thy seruant is in the middes of the people which thou hast chosen a people infinite which can not be numbred and counted for the multitude †Thou shalt therfore geue to thy seruant a docible hart that he may iudge the people discerne betwen good and euil For who shal be able to iudge this people this thy people great in number †The word therfore was liked before our Lord that Salomon had asked such a thing †And our Lord sayd to Salomon Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not desired for thy self manie dayes nor riches nor the liues of thine enemies but hast desired wisedom for thy self to discerne iudgement †behold I haue done vnto thee according to thy wordes haue geuen thee a wise hart and intelligent in so much that 〈◊〉 before thee hath beene like thee nor shal aâ—ise after thee †Yeâ— and these thinges which thou diâ—â—â— not aske I haue geuen thee to witte riches and glorie so that none hath beene like thee â—â—â—â—g the kinges al dayes hertofore †And if thou wilt wall 〈◊〉 my wayes and keepe my preceptes and my â—â—n mandâ—â—â—ntes as thy father waâ—kâ—â— I wil make thy dayeslong †Therfore Salomon awaked and perceiued that it was a dreame and when he was come to Ierusalem he stood before the arke of couenant of our Lord and offered holocaustes and made pacifique victimes and a great feast to al his seruantes †Then came there two wemen har lottes to the king and stood before him †of the which one said I besech thee my lord I and this woman dwelt in one house and I was deliuered of a childe beside her in the chamber †And the third day after that I was deliuered she also was deliuered and we were together and no other person with vs in the house except we two †And this womans childe died in the night For sleping she oppressed him †And rysing in the dead tyme of the night she tooke my childe from the side of me thy handmayd being aslepe and layed it in her bosome and her childe that was dead she put in my bosome †And when I was rysen in the morning to geue my childe milke he appeared dead whom more diligently beholding when it was cleere day I found that it was not mine which I bare †And the other woman answered It is not so as thou sayst but thy childe is dead and mine liueth On the contrarie part she sayd Thou liest for my childe liueth and thy childe is dead And in this maner they stroue before the king †Then sayd the king This woman saith My childe liueth and thy childe is dead And this hath answered No but thy childe is dead and mine liueth †The king therfore said Bring me a sword And when they had brought a sword before the King †Diuide quoth he the liuing child into two partes and geue the halfe part to one and halfe to the other †But the woman whose childe was aliue said to the king for her bowels were moued vpon her childe I besech thee my lord geue her the childe aliue and kil it not On the contrarie part she sayd be it neither mine nor thine but let it be diuided †The king answered and said Geue vnto this woman the infant aliue and let it not be killed for this is the mother therof †Al Israel therfore heard the iudgement that the king had iudged and they feared the king seing the wisedom of God to be in him to doe iudgement CHAP. IIII. Chiefe men of Salomons kingdom are recited by their names and offices 22. likewise the prouision of victuals for his house 26. the number of his horses 19. his wisedom excelleth al others 3â— he writte manie parables and verses and lernedly discoursed of al thinges AND king Salomon was reigning ouer al Israel †and these were the princes which he had Azarias the sonne of Sadoc the priest †Elihoreph and Ahia the sonnes of Sisa Scribes Iosaph at the sonne of Ahilud register †Banaias the sonne of Ioiada ouer the armie and Sadoc and Abiathar priestes †Azarias the sonne of Nathan ouer them that assisted the king Zabud the sonne of Nathan priest the kinges frend †and Ahizar gouernour of the house and Adoniâ—am the sonne of Abda ouer the tributes †And Salomon had twelue gouernours ouer al Israel which serued out victuals for the king and for his house for euerie one ministred necessaries eche man his moneth in the yeare †And these are their names Benhur in mount Ephraim †Bendecar in Macces and in Salebim and in Bethsames and in Elon and in Bethhanan †Benhesed in Aruboth his was Socho and al the land
and fasting for them 2. Reg. 1. Al which were to no purpose if soules departed could not be releiued by such meanes It moreouer appeareth that the same royal prophet beleued diuers places to be in hel when he said Psal 85. Thou hast deliuered my soule from the lower hel signifiyng plainly that there is a lower and a higher hel which higher the Church calleth Purgatorie where soules suffer that paine in satisfaction for their sinnes which remaineth not satisfied before death is due after the guilt of sinne is remitted the law prescribing that besides restitution of damage sacrifice should also be offered Leuit. 5. 6. 16. And Dauid was punished by the death of his child 2. Reg. 12. by the plague sent amongst his people 2. Reg. 24. after his sinnes were remitted He feared also punishment in the other world yea two sortes and therfore prayed to be deliuered from both saying Psal 6. Lord rebuke me not in thy furie nor chastice me in thy wrath That is saith S. Gregorie Strike me not with the reprobate nor aflict me with those that are purged by the punishing flames And most expresly signifieth also a higher place called hel saying Psal 15. in the person of Christ to his Father Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hel From vvhence Christ deliuered the holie Patriarches Prophetes and other perfect soules resting vvithout sensible paine brought them into heauen vvhither before him none could enter VVhich vvas also signified by the cities of refuge whence none might depart to their proper countrie til the death of the high priest Num. 35. by Moyses dying in the desert and not entring into the promised land ouer Iordan Deut. 4. 31. 34. Presupposing the general Resurrection of al men as a truth knovven by former traditions king Dauid shevveth the difference of the vvicked and godlie in that time saying Psal 1. The impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust That is the vvicked shal not rise to ioy glorie as the iust godlie shal doe Of general iudgement is more plainly prophecied 1. Reg. 2. That our Lord shal iudge the endes of the earth not that Dauid nor Salomon but Christ should raigne in his mâ—litant Church euen to the endes of the earth and in fine iudge the vvhole vvorld The same is confirmed Psal 49. God wil come manifestly our God and he wil not kepe silence Fire shal burne forth in his sight Psal 95. He shal iudge the round world in equitie and the peoples in his truth Psal 96. Fire shal goe before him and shal inflame his enemies round about Againe the same royal prophete Psalm 48. describeth the future and eternal state of the damned saying as sheepe creatures vnable to helpe themselues they are put in hel death shal feede vpon them Of the blessed he addeth And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning that is in the resurrection and Psal 149. The Sainctes shal reioyse in glorie they shal be ioyful in their beddes in eternal rest The exaltations praâ—ses of God in their throate and two edged swordes in their handes to doe reuenge in the nations punishments among the peoples To bind their kinges in fetters and their nobles in yron manicles That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written This glorie is to al his Sainctes And much greater glorie belongeth to Sainctes for this is but accidental vttered according to vulgar capacitie The essential and perfect glorie which no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor hart can cone iuâ— consisteth in seeing God Among accidental glorious giftes the foure dowries of glorified bodies are especially prefigured Impassibilitie by the wood Setim wherof the Arke was made Exod. 25. Agilitie and Penetrabilitie in some sorte by Dauids quicknes against Gâ—liath and his conuering of him self into Sauls campe and forth againe 1. Reg. 17. and 26. but a more plaine figure of Claritie was in Moyses face Exod. 34. which by his conuersation with God became more glorious then mortal eyes were able to behold glistering and shining as most splendent lâ—ght through christal described as if his skinne had benne a clere horne aâ—â—earing and spreading beamâ— like the sunnâ— proceding from the beautie of his soule so thâ—â— none of al the people could looke directly vpon him except he couered his face Thus much concerning particular pointes of faith and religion And it is no lesse euident that the vniuersal Church and Citie of God stil continued yea was more visible and conspicuous to the whole world then before First by Gods maruelous protection therof in the desert and famous victories and conquestes of the land of Chanaan And by the excellent lawes geuen to this people which al nations admired and none had the like Deut. 4. For in this fourth age besides other lavves and preceptes the spiritual and temporal States were more distinguished and the Ecclesiastical Hierarchie especially disposed in subordination of one supreme head with inferiour gouerners ech in their place and office for edification of the whole bodie For Moyses being chief ruler and conductâ—r of the Israelites out of Aegypt receiued and deliuered to them the written Law Exod. 20. And for obseruation and conseruation therof by Gods expresse appointment Leuit. 8. consecrated Aaron the ordinarie High priest himself remayning stil extraordinarie Superiour also aboue Aaron And after Aaron he consecrated in like maner his sonne Eleazar high priest and successour to his father Num. 20. To whom succeded others in this order 1. Paralip 6. Phinees Abisuë Bocci Ozi Zacharias otherwise 1. Reg. 1. called Heli Meraioth Amarias otherwise Achimelec whom Saul slew 1. Reg. 22. Achitob othervvise Abiathar vvho vvas deposed 3. Reg. 2. and Sadoc in vvhose time the Temple vvas founded To these vvere adioyned other Priestes also consecrated in a praescript forme Leuit. 8. and Leuites ordayned to assist in lower and distinct offices Num. 3. 4. In the first degree the Caathites whose office was to carrie the Sanctuarie and vessel therof vvrapped vp by the priestes but vvere forbid in paine of death to touch them or to see them In the second degree the Gersonites vvho carried the cortines and couers of the Tabernacle and vessel of the Altar In the third degree the Merarites vvho carried the bordes barres and pillers vvith their feete pinnes cordes and other implementes of the tabernacle euerie one according to their office and burdens Num. 4. v. vlt. But in the temporal state and gouernment Iosue of the tribe of Ephraim succeeded to Moyses Num. 27. Deut. 3. 34. And after Iosue were diuers interruptions of succession with gouerners of diuers tribes and change of gouernment from Dukes to Iudges and from Iudges to Kinges For after Iosues death the people being sore afflicted by inuasions of Infidels God raised certaine special men with title of Iudges to
honre I wil send my seruantes to thee and they shal search thy house and the house of thy seruantes and al that pleaseth them they shal put in their handes and take away †And the king of Israel called al the ancientes of the land and said Marke and see that he seeketh to intrappe vs. for he sent to me for my wiues and children and for the siluer and gold and I said not nay †And al the ancientes and al the people said to him Heare not neither agree vnto him †He therfore answered the messengers of Benadad Tel my Lord the king Al thinges for the which thou didst send to me thy seruant in the beginning I wil doe but this thing I can not doe †And the messengers returning made report vnto him who sent againe and sayd These thinges doe the goddes to me and these adde they if the dust of Samaria shal suffice for the hanfulles of al the people that foloweth me †And the king of Israel answering sayd Tel him let not the girded glorie as the vngirded †And it came to passe when Benaded had heard this word himself and the kinges dranke in pauilions and he sayd to his seruantes Besette the citie and they did besette it †And behold a prophete coming to Achab the king of Israel said to him Thus sayth our Lord Hast thou in dede sene al this exceding great multitude behold I wil deliuer them into thy hand this day that thou mayst know that I am the Lord. †And Achab said By whom And he said to him Thus saith our Lord By the seruantes of the princes of the prouinces And he said Who shal begin to fight And he said Thou †He therfore mustered the seruantes of the princes of the prouinces and he found the number of two hundred thirtie two and he mustered after them the people al the children of Israel seuen thousand †And they went forth at noone But Benadad dranke al dronken in his tent and two and thirtie kinges with him which were come to ayde him †The seruantes therfore of the princes of the prouinces issued forth in the forefront Benadad therfore sent Who told him saying Men are come forth out of Samarìa †And he said Whether they come for peace take them aliue or els to fight aliue take ye them †The seruantes therfore of the princes of the prouinces issued forth and the rest of the armie folowed †and euerie one stroke the man that came against him and the Syrians fled and Israel pursued them Benadad also the king of Syria fled on horsebacke with his horsemen †Moreouer the king of Israel issuing forth stroke the horses and chariotes and he stroke Syria with a great slaughter †And a prophet coming to the king of Israel said to him Goe and take courage and know and see what thou doest for the yeare folowing the king of Syria wil come vp against thee †But the seruantes of the king of Syria said to him The goddes of the mountaynes be their goddes therfore haue they ouercome vs but it is better that we fight against them in the champaine we shal ouercome them †Thou therfore do this word Remoue al the kinges from thine armie and put captaines for them †and repaire the number of souldiars that are slaine of thine and horses according to the old horses chariotes according to the chariotes which thou hadst before and we wil fight against them in the champaine and thou shalt see that we shal ouercome them He beleued their counsel and did so †Therfore after a yeare was passed Benadad mustered the Syrians and went vp into Aphec to fight against Israel †Moreouer the children of Israel were mustered and taking victuals they went forth on the contrarie side and camped against them as it were two litle flockes of goates but the Syrians filled the land †And a man of God coming said to the king of Israel Thus saith our Lord Because the Syrians haue said The Lord is God of the mountaines and is not God of the Valleis I wil geue al this great multitude into thy hand and you shal know that I am the Lord. †And seuen dayes did these and they direct their armies one against the other and in the seuenth day was the battel fought and the children of Israel stroke of the Syrians an hundred thousand footemen in one day †And they that remained in Aphec fled into the citie and the wal fel vpon seuen and twentie thousand men that were leaft Moreouer Benadad fleing entered the citie into a chamber that was within a chamber †and his seruantes said to him Behold we haue heard that the kinges of the house of Israel are merciful Let vs therfore put sackeclothes on our loynes and cordes on our heades and goe forth to the king of Israel perhaps he wil saue our liues †They girded their loines with sackclothes and put cordes on their heades and came to the king of Israel and said to him Thy seruant saith Let my soule liue I besech thee And he said If he be yet aliue he is my brother †Which the men tooke for good lucke and in hast caught the word of his mouth and said Thy brother Benadad And he said to them Goe and bring him to me Benadad therfore came out to him and he lifted him vp into his chariote †Who said to him The cities which my father tooke from thy father I wil render doe thou make thee stretes in Damascus as my father made in Samaria and I confederate wil depart from thee He therfore made a league and dimissed him †Then a certaine man of the children of the prophetes sayd to his felow in the word of our Lord Strike me But he would not strike †To whom he said Because thou wouldest not heare the word of our Lord behold thou shalt depart from me and a lion shal strike thee And when he was departed a litle from him a lyon found him and slew him †But finding also an other man he said to him Strike me Who stroke him and wounded him †The prophete therfore went and metre the king in the way and with sprinkling of dust changed his face and his eies †And when the king passed by he cried to the king and said Thy seruant went forth to fight hand strokes and when a certaine man was fled one brought him to me and said Keepe this man who if he shal slippe away thy life shal be for his life or thou shalt pay a talent of siluer †And whiles I being trubled turned hither and thither sodenly he appeared not And the king of Israel sayd to him This is thy iudgement which thy self hast decreed †But he forthwith wyped of the dust from his face and the king of Israel knew him that he was of the prophetes †Who sayd to him Thus sayth our Lord Because thou hast let
on the sea which should saile into Ophir for gold and they could not goe because they were broken in Asiongaber †Then sayd Ochozias the sonne of Achab to Iosaphat Let my seruantes goe with thy seruantes in the shippes And Iosaphat would not †And Iosaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid his father and Ioram his sonne reigned for him †And Ochozias the sonne of Achab began to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria in the seuententh yeare of Iosaphat the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the way of his father and his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne †He serued also Baal and adored him and prouoked our Lord the God of Israel according to al thinges which his father had done THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF KINGES THIS fourth booke prosecuteth the historie of the two Kingdomes of Iuda and Israel to the seueral captiuities of them both Shewing manie special vertues and heroical actes of good Kinges Prophetes and other godlie persons and diuers crimes of the wicked For in Iuda were some good kinges highly commended some euil whom God spared in this world for Dauids sake So that in both sortes King Dauids seede continued in his throne and royal state first in the twelue tribes afterward in two nere foure hundred fourscore yeares And after the captiuitie as wil appeare in the age ensuing it was conserued in honour and estimation til Christ our Sauiour But in the Kingdome of Israel or tenne tribes which stood about two hundred fiftie yeares was great change by raysing and extirpating royal families Al their kinges were bad yet partly were set vp by God himself partly suffered to reigne and in both Kingdomes were true and false prophetes God vsing the ministerie of al to his owne glorie the good of his Church and punishment of others and sometimes of themselues So this booke may be diuided into two partes In the seuentene former chapters are recorded ioyntly and mixtly the principal thinges donne in both kingdomes til the captiuitie of the tenne tribes The other eight chapters conteine other thinges donne in Iuda vntil their captiuitie in Babylon THE FOVRT BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE SECOND OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. Ochozias King of Israel consulting Beelzebub for his sicknes is blamed by Elias and fortold that he shal die 9. Fire from heauen deuoureth two capitaines with ech of them fiftie men 13. The third by his more modestie escapeth the like danger 15. With him Elias cometh to the King 17. The same King dieth and his brother Ioram succedeth AND Moab moued warre agaynst Israel after that â—chab was dead †And Ochozias fel through the â—anchions of his vpper chamber which he had in Samaria and was sicke and he sent messengers saying to them Goe consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron whether I may liue of this my infirmitie †And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias the Thesbite saying Arise and goe vp to meete the messengers of the king of Samaria and thou shal say to them What is there not a God in Israel that ye goe to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron †Wherfore thus saith our Lord From the bed on which thou art ascended thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt die And Elias went away †And the messengers returned to Ochozias Who said to them Why are you returned †But they answered him A man mette vs and sayd to vs Goe and returne to the king that sent you and you shal say to him Thus saith our Lord Doest thou therfore send to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron because there was no God in Israel Therfore from the bed which thou art vpon thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt dye †Who said to them What shape and habite had that man which mette you and spake these wordes †But they said A hearie man and girded about his raines with a girdle of lether Who said It is Elias the Thesbite †And he sent vnto him a captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were vnder him Who went vp and sayd to him sitting in the toppe of the mount Man of God the king hath commanded that thou come downe †And Elias answering sayd to the captaine of fiftie men If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and the fiftie men that were with him †And he sent againe vnto him an other captaine of fiftie men and his fiftie with him Who spake to him Man of God Thus saith the king Make hast come downe †Elias answering said If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and his fiftie †Agayne he sent a third captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were with him Who when he was come bowed his knees toward Elias and prayed him and sayd Man of God despise not my life and the liues of thy seruantes that are with me †Behold fyre came downe from heauen and hath deuoured the two first captaynes of fiftie men and the fifties that were with them but now I besech the that thou haue mercie on my life †And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias saying Goe downe with him feare not He therfore arose and went downe with him to the king †and spake to him Thus saith our Lord Because thou hast sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron as though there were not a God in Israel of whom thou mightest aske the word therfore from the bed which thou art ascended vpon thou shalt not descend but dying thou shalt die †He died therfore according to the word of our Lord which Elias spake Ioram his brother reigned for him in the second yeare of Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat the king of Iuda for he had no sonne †But the rest of the wordes of Ochozias which he wrought are not these written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel CHAP. II. Eliseus wil not part from Elias 7. Fiftie disciples folow them to Iordan 8. The water is diuided by Elias cloke and they two passe the drie chanel 9. Elias is assumpted in a firie chariote and his duble spirite is geuen to Eliseus 13. Who returning by like miraculous meanes ouer Iordan the disciples receiue and honour him as their religious Superiour 16. They seeke Elias but find him not 19. Eliseus amendeth the waters by casting in salt 23. Boyes are torne by bearâ—s for mocking Eliseus AND it came to passe when our Lord would take vp Elias by a hurle winde into heauen Elias and
Vriel Asaia Ioel Semeia Eliel and Aminadab †and he sayd to them You that are the princes of the Leuitical families be sanctified with your brethren and fetch the Arke of our Lord the God of Israel to the place which is prepared for it †lest as from the beginning because yow were not present our Lord strike vs so now also it come to passe we doing some vnlawful thing †The Priestes therfore and the Leuites were sanctified to carie the Arke of our Lord the God of Israel †And the sonnes of Leui tooke the Arke of God as Moyses had commanded according to the word of our Lord vpon their shoulders on barres †And Dauid sayd to the princes of the Leuites that they should appoynt of their brethren singing men on musical instrumentes to witte on nables harpes and cymbals that the sound of ioy might resound on high †And they appoynted Leuites Hemam the sonne of Ioel and of his brethren Asaph the sonne of Barachias and of the children of Merari their brethren Ethan the sonne of Casaia †And with them their brethren in the second order Zacharias and Ben and Iaziel and Semiramoth and Iaâ—iel and Ani Eliab and Banaias and Maasias and Mathathias and Eliphalu and Macenias and Obededom and Iehiel porters †Moreouer them that sang Heman Asaph and Ethan sounding on brasen cymbals †And Zacharias and Oziel and Semiramoth and Iahiel Ani and Eliab and Maasias and Banaias vpon nables sang mysteries †Moreouer Mathathias and Eliphalu and Macenias and Obededom and Iehiel and Ozaziu vpon harpes for the octaue sang a triumphant song †And Chonenias the prince of the Leuites was chiefe ouer prophecie to beginne the melodie for he was verie coning †And Barachias and Elcana doore keepers of the Arke †Moreouer Sebenias and Iosaphat and Nathanael and Amasai and Zacharias and Banaias and Eliezer priestes sounded with trumpettes before the Arke of God and Obededom and Iehias kept the doore of the Arke †Therfore Dauid and al the ancientes of Israel and the tribunes went to fetch the Arke of the couenanr of our Lord out of the house of Obededom with ioy †And when God had holpen the Leuites which caried the Arke of the couenant of our Lord there were immolated seuen oxen seuen rammes †Moreouer Dauid was clothed with a robe of fine linen and al the Leuites that caried the Arke and the singing men and Chonenias the prince of prophecie among the singers and Dauid also was clothed with an Ephod of linen †And al Israel brought the Arke of the couenant of our Lord in iubiley and sounding with the sound of shaulme and with trumpettes and cymbals and nables and harpes †And when the Arke of the couenant of our Lord was come vnto the citie of Dauid Michol the daughter of Saul looking forth through a window saw Dauid the king dancing and playing and she despised him in her hart CHAP. XVI The Arke is placed in a tabernacle Sacrifice is offeâ—ed Dauid blesseth the people 4. disposeth the offices of Leuites 8. and maketh a Psalme of praise to God THEY therfore brought the Arke of God and set it in the middes of the tabernacle which Dauid had pitched for it and they offered holocaustes and pacifiques before God †And when Dauid had finished offering holocaustes and pacifiques he blessed the people in the name of our Lord. †And he duided to al through out euerie one from man vnto woman a loafe of bread and a peece of rosted beefe and floure fryed with oile †And he appoynted before the Arke of our Lord of the Leuites that should minister and should remember his workes glorifie and prayse our Lord the God of Israel †Asaph the prince and the second after him Zacharias moreouer Iahiel and Semiramoth and Iehiel and Mathathias and Eliab and Banaias Obed-edom and Iehiel ouer the instrumentes of psalterie and the harpes Asaph to sound vpon the cymbals †but Banaias and Iaziel priestes to sound the trumpet continually before the Arke of the couenant of our Lord. †In that day Dauid made Asaph prince to confesse to our Lord and his brethren †Confesse ye to our Lord and inuocate his name make his inuentions knowen among the peoples †Chaunt to him and sing to him and tel ye al his meruelous thinges †Prayse ye his holie name let the hart of them that reioyse seeke our Lord. †Seeke ye our Lord and his powre seeke ye his face alwayes †Remember his meruelous thinges which he hath done his signes and the iudgementes of his mouth †The seede of Israel his seruant the children of Iacob his elect †He is the Lord our God in al the earth are his iudgementes †Remember for euer his coueuant the word which he commanded vnto a thousand generations †Which he couenanted with Abraham and his othe with Isaac †And he appoynted it to Iacob for a precept and to Israel for an euer lasting couenant †Saying To thee wil I geue the Land of Chanaan the corde of your inheritance †When they were few in number smal and soiourners therof †And they passed from nation into nation from kingdom to an other people †He suffered not any man to calumniate them but rebuked kinges for their sake †Touch not my annoynted and vnto my prophetes be not malicious †Sing ye to our Lord al the earth shew forth from day to day his saluation †Tel his glorie among the gentiles among al peoples his meruelous workes †Because our Lord is great and laudable excedingly and terrible ouer al goddes †For al the goddes of the peoples be idols but our Lord made the heauens †Confession and magnificence before him strength and ioy in his place †Bring to our Lord ye families of peoples bring to our Lord glorie and impire †Geue our Lord glorie to his name eleuate sacrifice and come ye in his sight and adore our Lord in holie honour †Let al the earth be moued before his face for he founded the world vnmoueable †Let the heauens be glad the earth reioyse and let them say among the nations Our Lord hath reigned †Let the sea thunder and the fulnesse therof let the fieldes reioyse and al thinges that are in them †Then shal the trees of the forest prayse before our Lord because he is come to iudge the earth †Confesse ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer †And say ye Saue vs ô God our sauiour and gather vs together deliuer vs out of the nations that we may confesse to thy holie name and may reioyse in thy songues †Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from eternitie vnto eternitie and let al the people say Amen and hymne to God †He therfore leaft Asaph there before the Arke of the couenant of our Lord and his
his hand to day and offer what he wil to our Lord. †The princes therfore of the families promised and the nobles of the tribes of Israel the tribunes also and the centurions and the princes of the kinges possessions †And they gaue vnto the workes of the house of our Lord of gold fiue thousand talentes and ten thousand solidos of siluer ten thousand talentes and of brasse eightene thousand talentes of yron also an hundred thousand talentes †And with whomsoeuer were found stones they gaue them into the treasures of the house of our Lord by the hand of Iahiel the Gersonite †And the people reioysed when they promised vowes of their owne accord because they did offer them to our Lord with al their hart yea and Dauid the king reioysed with great ioy †And he blessed our Lord before al the multitude and he sayd Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of Israel our father from eternitie vnto eternitie †Thine ô Lord is the magnificence and might and glorie and victorie to thee is the prayse for al thinges that be in heauen and in the earth are thine thine ô Lord is the kingdom and thou art ouer al princes †Thine are riches and thine is glorie thou hast dominion ouer al in thy hand is power might in thy hand greatenesse and the empire of al thinges †Now therfore our God we confesse to thee and we prayse thy glorious name †Who am I and what is my people that we can promisse thee al these thinges al are thine and thinges that we receiued of thy hand we haue geuen thee †For we are pilgrimes before thee and strangers as al our fathers Our daies are as a shadow vpon the earth and there is noe abyding †Lord our God al this plentie which we haue prepared that a house might be built to thy holie name is of thy hand and al thinges are thine †I know my God that thou prouest the hartes and louest simplicitie wherfore I also in the simplicitie of my hart gladly haue offered al these thinges and thy people which is here found I haue sene with great ioy offer thee donaries †Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel our fathers keepe for euer this wil of their hart and let this mind reinayne al waies to the honour of thee †To Salomon also my sonne geue a perfect hart that he keepe thy commandementes thy testimonies and thy ceremonies and doe al thinges and build the house the expenses whereof I haue prepared †And Dauid commanded the whole assemblie Blesse ye our Lord God And al the assemblie blessed our Lord the God of their fathers and they bowed themselues and adored God and then the king †And they immolated victime to our Lord and they offered holocaustes the day folowing oxen a thousand rammes a thousand lambes a thousand with their libamentes with al rite most abundantly for al Israel †And they did eate and drinke before our Lord in that day with great ioy And they anoynted the second time Salomon the sonne of Dauid And they anoynted him to our Lord for the prince and Sadoc for the high priest †And Salomon sate vpon the throne of our Lord as king for Dauid his father and he pleased al al Israel obeyed him †Yea and al the princes and men of might and al the sonnes of king Dauid gaue their hand and were subiect to Salomon the king †Our Lord therfore magnified Salomon ouer al Israel and gaue him the glorie of akingdom such as no king of Israel had before him †Dauid therfore the sonne of Isai reigned ouer al Israel †And the daies that he reigned ouer Israel were fourtie yeares in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares and in Ierusalem three and thirtie yeares †And he died in a good age ful of daies and riches and glorie And Salomon his sonne reigned for him †But the actes of king Dauid the first and the last are writen in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the prophete in the Volume of Gad the Seer †and of al his kingdom and strength and of the times that passed vnder him either in Israel or in al the kingdomes of the earth THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON AS the former booke sheweth how after manie generations from the beginning of the world God selecting one special nation for his peculiar people and the same being afterwardes made a kingdome the Scepter therof both by Gods and the peoples election came to Dauid and his sonne Salomon See this booke declareth that first Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom in the nine first chapters Then in the other twentie seuen chapters relateth how the same kingdom was diuided tenne tribes being taken away the historie wherof is but here briefly touched and two only with the title of the kingdom of Iuda were possessed by succession of ninetenne kinges al of Dauids and Salomons issue in royal estate til the captiuitie in Babylon THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON IN HEBREW DIBRE HAIAMIM CHAP. I. Salomon establiâ—hed in the throne offereth a thousand hostes of sacrifice 7. asking wisdome 12. it is geuen him with richesse and temporal glorie which he asked not 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horsemen SALOMON therfore the sonne of Dauid was strengthened in his kingdom and our Lord was with him and magnified him on high †And Salomon commanded al Israel the tribunes and the centurious and the dukes and iudges of al Israel and the princes of the families †and he went with al the multitude into the Excelse of Gabaon where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God made in the wildernesse †For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from Cariathiarim into the place which he had prepared for it and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it that is in Ierusalem †The altar also of brasse which Beseleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord which also Salomon sought and al the assemblie †And Salomon went vp to the altar of brasse before the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord and offered on it a thousand hostes †And behold in that verie night God appeared to him saying Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee †And Salomon sayd to God Thou hast done great mercie with my father Dauid and hast made me king for him †Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled which thou hast promised to Dauid my father for thou hast made me king ouer thy people great in number which is so innumerable as the dust of the earth †Geue me wisdom and intelligence that I may come in goe out before thy people for who can worthely iudge this thy people which is so great †And
God sayd to Salomon Because this rather hath pleased thy hart and thou hast not asked riches and substance and glorie nor their liues that hate thee no nor manie dayes of life but hast desired wisdom and knowledge that thou mayst be able to iudge my people ouer which I haue made thee king †Wisdom and knowledge are geuen thee and riches and substance and glorie I wil geue thee soe that none among the kinges neither before thee nor after thee shal be like thee †Salomon therfore came from the Excelse of Gabaon into Ierusalem before the tabernacle of couenant reigned ouer Israel †And he gathered to him chariotes and horsemen and there amounted to him a thousand foure hundred chariotes and twelue thousand horsemen and he caused them to be in the cities of the chariotes and with the king in Ierusalem †And the king gaue siluer and gold in Ierusalem as stones cedartrees as sycomores which grow in the champayne in great multitude †And there were horses brought him from Aegypt and from Coa by the kinges merchantes which went and brought by a price †a chariote of foure horses for six hundred peces of siluer and an horse for an hundred fiftie in like maner of al the kingdomes of Hetheites and of the kinges of Syria market was made CHAP. II. Other workemen being prouided to build the Temple 7. Salomon procureth a cunning artificer from the king of Tyre and special timber 16. to be cutte and sent from thence AND Salomon determined to build a house to the name of our Lord and a palace for himself †And he numbred seuentie thousand men that caried on their shoulders and eightie thousand that should hew stones in the mountaynes and ouerseers of them three thousand six hundred †He sent also to Hiram the king of Tyre saying As thou didst with Dauid my father and didst send him cedar trees to build him a house wherin also he dwelt †so doe with me that I may build a house to the name of our Lord my God that I may consecrate it to burne incense before him and to perfume with aromatical spices and to the euerlasting proposition of loaues and for holocaustes morning and euening on the sabbathes also and the newmoones and the solemnities of our Lord God for euer which are commanded Israel †For the house which I desire to build is great for our God is great aboue al goddes †Who then can be able to build him a worthie house if heauen and the heauens of heauens can not conteyne him how great am I that I may build him a house but to this end only that incense may be burnt before him †Send me therfore a cunning man that hath skil to worke in gold and siluer brasse and yron purple scarlet and hyacinth and that knoweth to make engraued workes with these artificers which I haue with me in Iewrie and Ierusalem whom Dauid my father prepared †But send me also cedar trees firretrees and pintrees from Libanus for I know that thy seruantes haue skil to hew the timber of Libanus and my seruantes shal be with thy seruantes †that manie trees may be prepared for me For the house which I desire to build is exceding great and glorious †Moreouer to the workemen that shal hew the trees thy seruantes I wil geue for victuals of wheat twentie thousand cores and of barley as manie cores and of wine twentie thousand oyle also twentie thousand sates †And Hiram the king of Tyre by letters which he sent to Salomon sayd Because the Lord loued his people therfore hath he made thee to reigne ouer it †And he added saying Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel that made heauen and earth who hath geuen to Dauid the king a sonne wise and learned and of vnderstanding and prudent to build a house to the Lord and a palace for himself †I therfore haue sent thee a man wise and most skilful Hiram my father †the sonne of a woman of the daughters of Dan whose father was a Tyrian who knoweth to worke in gold and siluer brasse and yron and marble and in timber in purple also and hiacinth and silke and scarlet and that knoweth to graue al engrauing and to deuise wisely whatsoeuer in the worke is necessarie with thy artificers and with the artificers of my lord Dauid thy father †The wheate therfore and barley and oile and wine which thou my lord hast promised send to thy seruantes †And we wil cut downe the trees out of Libanus as manie as shal be necessarie for thee and wil conuey them in boates by the sea vnto Ioppe and it shal be thy part to transport them into Ierusalem †Salomon therfore numbred al the men that were proselytes in the land of Israel after the numbering which Dauid his father numbered and they were found an hundred fiftie three thousand and six hundred †And he made of them seuentie thousand that should carie burdens on their shoulders and eightie thousand that should cut stones out of the mountaynes and three thousand and six hundred ouerseers of the worke of the people CHAP. III. The Temple is begunne to be built in mount Moria the fourth yeare of Salomons reigne 3. the forme wherof is described and the precious matter 8. especially of Sancta sanctorum 14. with a costlie veile 15. and two excellent pillers before the gate AND Salomon began to build the house of our Lord in Ierusalem in mount Moria which had bene shewed to Dauid his father in the place which Dauid had prepared in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite †And he began to build in the second moneth in the fourth yeare of his kingdom †And these be the fundations which Salomon layd to build the house of God of length in the first measure sixtie cubites of bredth twentie cubites †But the porch before the front which was extended in length according to the measure of the bredth of the house of twentie cubites moreouer the height was of an hundred twentie cubites and he did guilt it on the inside with most pure gold †Also the greater house he couered with wodden bordes of firre-tree and he fastened on plates of fine gold throughout and he graued in it palme trees and as it were litle chaines embracing one an other †He paued also the floore of the Temple with most precious marble in much beautie †Moreouer it was most tried gold of the plates wherof he couered the house and the beames therof and the postes and the walles and the doores and he graued cherubs in the walles †He made also the house of Sanctum sanctorum the length according to the bredth of the house of twentie cubites and the bredth likewise of it twentie cubites and he couered it with plates of gold as it were six hundred talentes †Yea and he made nailes of gold so that
hostes of sacrifices in the solemne feastes 14. disposeth the Priestes and Leuites in their offices as Dauid had ordained 17. and sendeth shippes to fetch gold from Ophir AND twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon built the house of our Lord and his owne house †he built the cities which Hiram had geuen to Salomon and made the children of Israel dwel there †He went also into Emath Suba and obteyned it †And he built Palmira in the desert and he built other cities very wel fensed in Emath †And he built Beth horon the vpper and Beth horon the nether walled cities hauing gates and barrigates and lockes †Balaath also and al the strongest cities that were Salomons and al the cities of the chariotes and the cities of the horsemen Al thinges whatsoeuer Salomon would disposed he built in Ierusalem and in Libanus and in al the land of his dominion †Al the people that was leaft of the Hetheites and Amorrheites and Pherezeites and Heueites and Iebuseites which were not of the stocke of Israel †of their children and of the posteritie which the children of Israel had not slaine Salomon subdewed to be tributaries vntil this day †Moreouer of the children of Israel he sette not to serue the kinges workes for they were men of warre and the chiefe captaines and princes of his chariotes and horsemen †And al the princes of king Salomons armie were two hundred fiftie which taught the people †But the daughter of Pharao he remoued from the citie of Dauid into the house which he had built for her For the king sayd My wife shal not dwel in the house of Dauid the king of Israel because it is sanctified because the Arke of our Lord is entered into it †Then Salomon offered holocaustes to our Lord vpon the altar of our Lord which he had built before the porch †that euerie day there might be offering on it according to the precept of Moyses in the Sabbathes and in the Calendes and in the festiual daies thrise a yere that is to say in the Solemnitie of Azymes and in the Solemnitie of weekes and in the Solemnitie of tabernacles †And he appoynted according to the disposition of Dauid his father the offices of the Priestes in their ministeries the Leuites in their order that they should prayse and minister before the Priestes according to the rite of euerie day the porters in their diuisions by gate and gate for so Dauid the man of God had commanded †Neither did they trangresse of the kinges commandementes as wel the Priestes as the Leuites touching al thinges that he had commanded and in the custodies of the treasures †Salomon had al expenses prepared from the day that he founded the house of our Lord vntil the day wherein he perfitted it †Then went Salomon into Asiongaber and into Ailath to the coast of the Red sea which is in the Land of Edom. †And Hiram sent vnto him by the handes of his seruantes shippes and cunning mariners and they went with Salomons seruantes into Ophir and they tooke from thence foure hundred fiftie talentes of gold and brought it to king Salomon CHAP. IX The Queene of Saba admireth Salomons wisdom 9. giueth and receiueth presents 13. Of the great store of treasure which is yearely brought in 13. king Salomon maketh pretious armour 17. a throne 20. and plate 24. Other kinges send him giftes so he abundeth in glorie and riches 29. After fourtie yeares reigne he dieth and his sonne Roboam succedeth THE queene of Saba also when she had heard the fame of Salomon came to proue him in hard propositions in Ierusalem with great riches and camels which caried spices and very much gold and pretious stones And when she was come to Salomon she spake to him what thinges soeuer were in her hart †And Salomon expounded to her al thinges that she propounded neither was there anie thing that he made not playne vnto her †Who after she saw to witte the wisedom of Salomon and the house which he had built †moreouer also the meates of his table and the habitations of his seruantes and the offices of his ministers and their garmentes the cupbearers also and their garmentes and the victimes which he immolated in the house of our Lord there was no spirit in her anie longer she was soe astonied †And she sayd to the king The word is true which I heard in my countrie of thy vertues and wisdom †I did not beleue them that told it vntil my self was come and mine eies had seene and I had proued scarce the half part of thy wisedom to haue beene told me thou hast passed the fame with thy vertues †Blessed are thy men and blessed are thy seruantes which assist before thee at al time and heare thy wisedom †Be the Lord thy God blessed who would ordayne thee ouer his throne king of the Lord thy God Because God loueth Israel and wil preserue it for euer therfore hath he sette thee king ouer it to doe iudgementes and iustice †And she gaue to the king an hundred twentie talentes of gold and spices exceding much and most pretious stones there were not such spices as these which the Queene of Saba gaue to King Salomon †But the seruantes of Hiram also with the seruantes of Salomon brought gold from Ophir and Thymtrees and most pretious stones †wherof the king made to witte of the Thymtrees stayers in the house of our Lord and in the kinges house harpes also and psalteries for the singing men neuer were there seene such trees in the Land of Iuda †And king Salomon gaue to the Queene of Saba al thinges that she would and that she asked and manie moe thinges then she brought to him who returning went into her countrie with her seruantes †And the weight of the gold that was brought to Salomon euerie yeare was six hundred sixtie six talentes of gold †beside that summe which the legates of diuers nations and the merchantes were accustomed to bring and al the kinges of Arabia and the Dukes of the landes which brought gold and siluer to Salomon †King Salomon therfore made two hundred golden speares of the summe of six hundred peces of gold which were spent in euerie speare †also three hundred golden shieldes of three hundred peces of gold with which euerie shield was couered and the king put them in the armarie which was besette with a wood †The king also made a great throne of iâ—orie and couered it with most fyne gold †Six steppes also wherwith the going vp was to the throne and a foote stoole of gold and two litle armes on either side and two lions standing by the litle armes †yea and other twelue litle lions standing vpon the steppes on both sides there was not such a throne in al kingdomes †Al the vessels also of the kinges table were of gold
and the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus of most pure gold For siluer in those daies was reputed for nothing †For the kinges shippes went into Tharsis with the seruantes of Hâ—ram once in three yeares and they brought from thence gold and siluer and yuorie and apes and pecockes †Salomon therfore was magnified aboue al the kinges of the earth for riches and glorie †And al the kinges of the earth desired to see Salomons face that they might heare the wisedom which God had geuen in his hart †And they brought him giftes vessels of siluer and gold and garmentes and armour and spices horses and mules euerie yeare †Salomon also had fourtie thousand horses in the stables and of chariotes and horsemen twelue thousand and he placed them in the cities of the chariotes and where the king was in Ierusalem †He exercised also authoritie ouer al the kinges from the riuer Euphrates vnto the land of the Philisthines and vnto the borders of Aegypt †And he made so great plentie of siluer in Ierusalem as it were of stones and of cedres so great a multitude as of sicomores which grow in the champayne †And horses were brought him out of Aegypt and al countries †But the rest of of the workes of Salomon the first and the last are writen in the wordes of Nathan the Prophet and in the bookes of Ahias the Silonite in the Vision also of Addo the Seer agayast Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat †And Salomon reigned in Ierusalem ouer al Israel fourtie yeares †And he slept with his fathers and they buried him in the citie of Dauid and Roboam his sonne reigned for him CHAP. X. Roboam requested by Ieroboam and the people to lighten their yoke of seruice 6. leauing the counsel of the ancient and folowing young counsellers threatneth to presse the people 16. Wherupen manie reuolt from him AND Roboam went forth into Sichem for thither al Israel was assembled to make him king †Which when Ieraboam the sonne of Nabat had heard who was in Aegypt for he was fled thither from Salomon forthwith he returned †And they called him he came with al Israel spake to Roboam saying †Thy father pressed vs with a most hard yoke do thou command lighter thinges then thy father who layd vpon vs a heauie seruitude and ease thou a litle of the burden that we may serue thee †Who sayd After three daies returne ye to me And when the people was gone †he tooke counsel with the Ancientes which stoode before his father Salomon whiles he yet liued saying What counsel geue you that I may answer the people †Who sayd to him If thou wilt please this people and pacific them with wordes of clemencie they wil serue thee at al times †But he forsooke the counsel of the Ancientes and began to treat with yongmen that had beene brought vp with him and were in his trayne †And he sayd to them What semeth to you or what shal I answer this people which hath sayd to me Ease the yoke which thy father layd vpon vs †But they answered as yongmen and brought vp with him in delicanesse and sayd Thus shalt thou speake to the people that sayd to thee Thy father aggrauated our yoke doe thou ease it and thus shalt thou answer them My least finger is thicker then the loynes of my father †My father layd vpon yow an heauie yoke and I wil adde a greater weight my father bette you with scourges but I wil beate you with scorpions †Ieroboam therfore came and al the people to Roboam the third day as he had commanded them †And the king answered rough wordes leauing the counsel of the Ancientes †and he spake according to the yongmens wil My father layd vpon you a heauie yoke which I wil make heauier my father bette you with scourges but I wil beate you with scorpions †And he condescended not to the peoples requestes for it was the wil of God that his word should be accomplished which he had spoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat †And al the people when the king spake rough wordes sayd thus vnto him We haue no part in Dauid nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai Returne into thy tabernacles ô Israel and do thou feede thy house Dauid And Israel went into their tabernacles †But ouer the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Iuda Roboam reigned †And king Roboam sent Aduram who was ouer the tributes and the children of Israel stoned him and he died moreouer king Roboam made hast to get vp into his chariote and fled into Ierusalem †And Israel reuolted from the house of Dauid vntil this day CHAP. XI Roboam intending by force to reduce â—l Israel to his subiection is Warned by a Prophet to cease from that enterprise 5. He maketh Walles about diuers cities 11. â—urnisheth them With Victuals and munition 13. Priestes Leuites and manie others repaire to Ierusalem because Ieroboam maketh a new religion and new priestes 18. Roboam taketâ— manie Wiues and concubines 22. preferreth Aâ—ias aboue al his other sonnes AND Roboam came into Ierusalem and called together al the house of Iuda and Beniamin an hundred fourescore thousand chosen men and warriers to fight agaynst Israel and to conuert his kingdom vnto him †And the word of our Lord came to Semeias the man of God saying †Speake to Roboam the sonne of Salomon the king of Iuda and to al Israel that is in Iuda and Beniamin †Thus sayth our Lord You shal not goe vp neither shal you fight agaynst your brethren let euerie man returne into his house because this thing is done by my wil. Who when they had heard the word of our Lord returned neither went they forward agaynst Ieroboam †And Roboam dwelt in Ierusalem and built walled cities in Iuda †And he built Bethlehem and Etam and Thecue †Bethsur also and Socho Odollam †moreouer also Geth and Maresa and Ziph †yea and Aduram and Lachis and Azeca †Saraa also and Aialon and Hebron which were in Iuda and Beniamin most fensed cities †And when he had inclosed them with walles he put in them princes and store houses of victuals that is of oile and wine †Yea and in euerie citie he made armories of shieldes and speares and he strengthened them with great diligence and reigned ouer Iuda and Beniamin †And the Priestes and Leuites that were in al Israel came to him out of al their seates †leauing their suburbes and their possessious and passing to Iuda and Ierusalem because Ieroboam had cast them of and their posteritie that they should not execute the priesthood of our Lord. †Who made vnto him selfe priestes of the excelses and of diuels and of the calues which he had made †Yea and of al the tribes of Israel
that armie which Amasias had sent backe from going with him to battel was spred in the cities of Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethhoron killing three thousand tooke away a great praye †But Amasias after the slaughter of the Idumeans sette vp the goddes of the children of Seir which he had brought thence for his goddes and adored them and burnt incense to them †For which thing our Lord being angrie against Amasias sent a prophete vnto him which should say to him Why hast thou adored goddes that haue not deliuered their owne people out of thy hand †And when he spake these thinges he answered him Art thou the kinges counseler be quiet lest I kil thee And the prophet departing sayd I know that God is minded to kil thee because thou hast done this euil and besides hast not agreed to my counsel †Therfore Amasias the king of Iuda taking verie il counsel sent to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel saying Come let vs see one an other †But he sent backe the messengers saying A thistle that is in Libanus sent to a cedar of Libanus saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife behold the beastes that were in the wood of Libanus passed and trode downe the thistle †Thou hast sayd I haue stroken Edom and therfore thy hart is extolled into pryde sitte in thy house why dost thou prouoke euil against thee that both thou mayest fal and Iuda with thee †Amasias would not heare because it was our Lordes wil that he should be deliuered into the handes of the enemies for the goddes of Edom. †Ioas therfore the king of Israel went vp and they gaue themselues one the sight of the other and Amasias the king of Iuda was in Bethsames of Iuda †and Iuda fel before Israel and fled into their tabernacles †Moreouer Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz did take Ioas the king of Israel in Bethsames brought him into Ierusalem and destroyed the wal therof from the gate of Ephraim to the gate of the corner foure hundred cubites †Al the gold also and siluer and al the vessels that he found in the house of God and with Obededom in the treasures also of the kinges house moreouer he brought backe the sonnes of the hostages into Samaria †And Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued after that Ioas died the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel fiftene yeares †But the rest of the wordes of Amasias the first and the last are Writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel †Who after he reuolted from our Lord they lay in waite agaynst him in Ierusalem And when he had fled into Lachis they sent and slew him there †And carying him backe vpon horses buried him with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid CHAP. XXVI Ozias seruing God 6. preuaileth in battel against the Philistians Arabians and Ammonites 9. prospereth in honour and wealth 16. Then wâ—ixing proud offereth incense on the altar is striken with leprosie expelled out of the Temple and citie 20. and his sonne Ioathan ruleth the kingdom AND al the people of Iuda made his sonne Ozias sixtene yeares old king for Amasias his father †He built Ailath and restored it to the dominion of Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers †Sixtene yeares old was Ozias when he began to reigne and he reigned two and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem †And he did that which was right in the eies of our Lord according to al thinges which Amasias his father had done †And he sought our Lord in the daies of Zacharias that vnderstood and saw God and when he sought our Lord he directed him in al thinges †Moreouer he went forth and fought against the Philisthijms and destroyed the wal of Geth and the wal of Iabinia and the wal of Azotus he built also townes in Azotus and among the Philisthijms †And God did helpe him against the Philisthijms and against the Arabians that dwelt in Garbaal and against the Ammonites †And the Ammonites gaue giftes to Ozias and his name was renowmed vnto the entrance of Aegypt for his often victories †And Ozias built towers in Ierusalem ouer the gate of the corner and ouer the gate of the valley and the rest in the same side of the wal and strengthened them †He built towers also in the wildernesse and digged manie cesternes because he had much cattel as wel in the champaine as in the vastitie of the desert he had also vineyardes dressers of vines in the mountaynes and in Carmel for he was a man geuen to husbandrie †And the host of his warriers which went forth to battels was vnder the band of Iehiel the scribe Maasias the doctor and vnder the hand of Hananias who was of the kinges dukes †And al the number of the princes by families of valiant men was two thousand six hundred †And vnder them al the host of three hundred seuen thousand fiue hundred which were apt to battels and fought for the king against the aduersaries †Ozias also prepared for them that is to say for al the armie shildes and speares and helmettes and coates of mayle and bowes and slinges to cast stones †And he made in Ierusalem engines of diuerse kind which he placed in the towers and in the corners of the walles to shoote arrowes and great stones and his name went forth farre for that our Lord did ayde him and had strengthned him †But when he was strengthned his hart was eleuated to his destruction and he neglected our Lord his God and entering into the temple of our Lord he would burne incense vpon the altar of incense †And incontinent Azarias the Priest going in after him with him the Priestes of our Lord eightie most valiant men †they resisted the king and sayd It is not thy office Ozias to burne incense to our Lord but of the Priestes that is of the children of Aaron which are consecrated to this kind of ministerie goe out of the Sanctuarie contemne not because this thing shal not be reputed to thee for glorie of our Lord God †And Ozias being angrie and holding in his hand the censar to burne incense threatned the Priestes And forthwith there rose a leprosie in his forehead before the Priestes in the house of our Lord vpon the altar of incense †And when Azarias the high Priest had beheld him and al the rest of the Priestes they saw the leprosie in his forehead and in hast they thrust him out Yea and him self being sore afrayd made hast to goe out because he felt by and by the plague of our Lord. †Ozias therfore the king was a leper vntil the day of his death and he dwelt in a house apart ful of the
And she abode in her husbands house an hundred fiue yeares and dismist her abra free and she died and was buried with her husband in Bethulia †And al the people mourned for her seuen dayes †And in al the space of her life there was not that trubled Israel and after her death manie yeares †But the day of the festiuitie of this victorie is receiued of the Hebrewes in the number of holie daies and is worshiped of the Iewes from that time vntil this present day ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 26. After that her husband vvas dead As yong Toblas and Sara were notable patterns to maried persons so Iudith is a like good example to deuout widowes excelling most partin manie respectes For first she professed this holie state of life in the old Testament when it was most rare the law prouiding that the brother or next kinsman should marie the widow of him that died without children as it semeth she had none the Greke text affirming that she gaue al her goodes before her death to other kinred ch 16. v. 24. Secondly she was only once maried ch 15. v. 13. ch 16. v. 26. wheras it is also commendable after twise or oftenner mariage at last to abstaine Thirdly she was yong about 36. yeares for three yeares and a half after that her husband was dead she was called a yong maide ch 12. v. 12. Fourtly she was of excellent beautie ch 8 v. 7. Fiftly exceeding rich ibidem Sixtly very noble especially after the deliuerie of the people from such distresse ch 15. v. 10. Seuently for this renowmed fact and for her other great vertue ch 8. v. 8 manie principal men desired to marie her ch 16. v. 22 Eightly al the people wished much issue of so noble a stock ch 16. v. 25. Nintly she liued long in the state of widowhood about threescore and nine yeares from 36. to 105 ch 16. v. 28. Tently there was great and long peace in al Israel after that she had releeued Bethulia ch 16. v. 30. Al which might easely haue inuited an other to haue maried but her great deuotion and feruent desire to serue God in a retired austere life fasting praying ch 8. v. 6. cutte of al incitements to mariage and made her before the Gospel to embrace Euangelical counsel not commanded but for better attaining to perfecton counseled by our Sauior and S. Paul Mat. 19. 1. Cor. 7. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ESTHER OF the authoritie of this booke only two or three ancient writers doubted before the councels of Laodicea and Carthage declared it to be Canonical Al the rest did euer esteme it as diuine Scripture For albeit S. Ierom in his time found not certaine partes therof in the Hebrew and therfore transposed the same to the end of the booke as now we haue them yet in the Greeke he found al these sixtenne chapters conteyned in tenne And it is not vnprobable that these parcels were sometimes in the Hebrew as were diuers whole bookes which are now lost But whether they were at anie time in the Hebrew or no the Church of Christ accounteth the whole Booke of infallible authoritie reading as wel these partes as the rest in her publique office And the councel of Trent sess 4. For more expresse declaration defiueth that al the bookes recited in the same Decree amongst which is Esther with al the partes therof as they are accustomed to be read in the Catholique Church and be conteyned in the old vulgare latin Edition are sacred and Canonical Scripture It conteyneth a particular great danger of the people of Israel hapening as is probable shortly after their general relaxation returne of some from the captiuitie of Babylon and their deliuere from it through the godlie Zele and other vertues of Quene Esther directed herein by Mardocheus who being also in imminent danger was deliuered aduanced and finally writ the historie which may be diuided into foure partes not by order of the chapters as hey are here transposed but in order of time first the author reporteth some thinges going before the peoples danger in the 11. 1. 2. 12. chapters and part of the 3. Secondly their danger and distresse in the rest of the 3. and part of 13. chapters Thirdly their deliuerie from the 4. chapter to the middes of the. 9. and rest of the 13. and in the 14. 15. and 16. Fourtly the thinges that ensued hereupon in the other half of the ninth chapter the 10. chapter and first verse of the eleuenth VVho soeuer vvil please to read this historie in order of the time as the thinges happened adioyning the latter chapters vvhich are in the Greke and not in the Hebrevv may folovve the letters of the Alphabet as here vve haue placed them in the margent beginning at the second verse of the 11. chapter vvhere he findeth the letter A. and vvhen he cometh to B. returne vvhere the same letter is noted ch 1. And so in the rest folovv the same direction THE BOOKE OF ESTHER CHAP. I. King Assuerus celebrateth a great banket to shew his glorie 10. calleth quene Vasthi therto who refusing to come is by aduise of his counsel deposed IN the daies of Assuerus who reigned from India vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie seuen prouinces †when he sate in the throne of his kingdō the citie Susá was in the begynning of his kingdom †In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great feast to al the princes and to his seruantes to the most valiant of the Persians and the nobles of the Medes and the rulers of the prouinces in his sight †that he might shew the riches of the glorie of his kingdom and the greatnes vaunting of his might a great time to witte an hundred foure score dayes †And when the daies of the feast were accomplished he inuited al people that was found in Susan from the greatest to the least and commanded seuen daies a feast to be prepared in the entrance of the garden and of the wood which was planted with royal garnishing and with hand †And there hong on euerie side hangings of skie colour and grene and hyacinthine colour held vp with cordes of silke and of purple which were put into rings of yuorie and were held vp with marble pillers Beddes also of gold and siluer were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld and the touch stone which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie †And they that were inuited dranke in golden cuppes and the meates were brought in change of vessels Wine also plenteous and the best was set downe as was worthie of a kings magnificence †Neither was there that compelled them to drinke that would not but as the king had appointed making ech of his princes ouerseer of euerie table that euerie man might take what he would †Vasthi also the
shortly after the king sent new letters for the Iewes saftie geuing them leaue to kil whom soeuer they would of their enemies ch 8. v. â— 11 Eightly the same day which was designed for destruction was made the day of ioy and exultation to the children of God ch 9. v. 1. 17 ch 16. v. 21. c. By which literal sense Gods meruelous prouidence is manifestly shewed neuer suffering his church to perish It hath moreouer two special mystical senses First as saftie of temporal life was procured to one nation by Esthers intercession to king Assuerus so general saluation is procured to al mankind by mediation of the blessed virgin Marie crushing the serpents head and the sentence of death is changed by new letters granting euerlasting life and glorie to al Gods true seruantes Esther also as likewise Iudith in figure of the Church saith S. Ierom Prologo in Sophon killed the aduersaries and deliuered Israel from danger of perishing CHAP. X. Assuerus subdueth manie countries 4. Mardocheus vnderstandeth and declareth his dreame 9. God separateth his people from other nations by a better lotte BVT king Assuerus made al the earth and al the ilandes of the sea tributaries †Whose strength and empire and the dignitie and highnesse wherewith he exalted Mardocheus are written in the bookes of the Medes and of the Persians †and how Mardocheus of the Iewes kinred was second after king Assuerus and great with the Iewes and acceptable to the people of his bretheren seking good to his people and speaking those things which pertayned to the good of his seede That which is in the Hebrew I haue expressed most faithfully And these things that folow I found written in the common edition which are conteyned in the greeke tongue and leetters and in the meane time this chapter was extant after the end of the booke which according to our custome we haue marked with an Obelus before it that is to say a broch †And Mardocheus said These things are done of God †I remember the dreame that I saw signifying these verie things neither was any of them frustrate †The litle fountayne which grew into a riuer and was turned into light and into the sunne and abounded into manie waters is Esther whom the king tooke to wife and made her to be queene †But the two dragons I am and Aman. †The nations that were assembled are they that endeuoured to destroy the name of the Iewes †And my nation is Israel which cried to our Lord and our Lord hath saued his people and he hath deliuered vs from al euils and hath done great signes and wonders among the nations †and he commanded that there should be two lottes one of the people of God and the other of al Nations †And both lottes are come to the day appointed euen now from that time before God to al nations †and our Lord hath remembred his people and hath had mercie on his inheritance †And these daies shal be obserued in the moneth of Adar the fourtenth and fistenth day of the same moneth with al diligence and ioy of the people gathered into one assemblie through out al the generations hereafter of the people of Israel CHAP. XI An Appendix and conclusion of this historie 2. The dreame of Mardocheus IN the fourth yeare when Ptolomee and Cleopatra reigned Dositheus which named himself a Priest and of the Leuitical kinred and Ptolomee his sonne brought this epistle of Phurim which they sayd Lysimachus the sonne of Ptolomee did interprete in Ierusalem This beginning was in the common edition which is neither extant in Hebrew nor with any of the interpreters †In the second yeare when Artaxerxes the greatest reigned in the first day of the moneth Nisan Mardocheus the sonne of Iairi the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin †A Iew which dwelt in the citie of Susan a great man and among the first of the kings court saw a dreame †And he was of that number of captiues whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported from Ierusalem with Ieconias the king of Iuda †and this was his dreame Theâ—e appeared voices and tumultes and thunders and earth quakes and pertuibation vpon the earth †and behold two great dragons prepared one against an other into battel †At whose crie al nations were raysed vppe to fight against the nation of the iust †And that was a day of darkenesse and danger of tribulation and distresse and great feare vpon the earth †And the nation of the iust fearing their euils was trubled and prepared to death †And they cried to God and they crying a litle fountayne grew into a verie great riuer and abounded into verie manie waters †Light and sunne arose and the humble were exalted and they deuoured the glorious †Which when Mardocheus had seene and risen out of his bed he mused what God would doe and he had it fixed in his mind desirous to know what the dreame should signifie CHAP. XII The conspiracie of two eunuches detected by Mardocheus is repeted 6. and Amans malice against him for the same AND he abode that time in the kings court with Bagatha and Thara the kings eunuches which were porters of the palace †And when he vnderstood their cogitations and had throughly seene their cares he learned that they went about to lay hands on king Artaxerxes and he told the king therof †Who hauing them both in examination when they had confesssd he commanded them to be led to death †But the king wrote that which was done in the comentaries and Mardocheus also committed the memorie of the thing to wriring †And the king commanded him that he should abide in the court of the palace geuing him giftes for the delation †But Aman the sonne of Amadathi the Bugeite was most glorious before the king and would hurt Mardocheus and his people for the two eunuches of the king which were put to death Hitherto the proeme That which foloweth was set in that place where it is written in the volum And should spoyle their goodes VVhich we found in the common edition only CHAP. XIII Acopie of the epistle which Aman sent to al prouinces to destroy the Iewâ—â— 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people AND this was the copie of the letter The most great king Artaxerxes from India vnto Aethiopia to the princes of an hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces and to the captaynes that are subiect to his empire greeting †Wheras I reigned ouer manie nations and had subdewed al the world to my dominion I would noâ— abuse the greatnes of my might but with clemencie and lenitie gouerne my subiectes that passing their life quietly without any terrour they might enioy peace wished of al men †But when I demanded of my counselers how this might
be accomplished one that excelled the rest in wisedom and fidelitie and was second after the king Aman by name †told me that there was a people dispersed through the whole world which vsed new lawes and doing against the customes of al Nations contemned the coÌ„mandmentes of kings and brake the concord of al nations by their dissention †Which when we had learned seing one nation rebellious against al kind of men to vse peruerse lawes and to goe against our commandmentes and to disturbe the peace and concord of the prouinces subiect to vs †we haue commanded that whomsoeuer Aman shal shew who is chiefe ouer al the prouinces and second after the king and whom we honour in steed of a father they with their wiues and children be destroyed of their enemies and that none haue pitie on them the fourtenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar of this present yeare †that the wicked men going downe to hel in one day may restore the peace to our empire which they had disturbed Hitherto the copie of the letter That which foloweth I found written after that place where it is read And Mardocheus going forth did al thinges that Esther had commanded him yet it is neither in the Hebrew nor extant with any of the interpreters †But Mardocheus besought our Lord mindeful of al his workes †and said Lord Lord king omnipotent for in thy dominion are al thinges set and there is none that can resist thy wil if thou determine to saue Israel †Thou madst heauen and earth and whatsoeuer is conteyned in the compasse of heauen †Thou art Lord of al neither is there that can resist thy maiestie †Thou vnderstandest al things and knowest that I haue not done this for pride and contumelie and any desire of glorie that I adored not the proud Aman †for gladly would I be readie for the saluation of Israel to kisse euen the steppes of his feete †but I feared lest I should transferre the honour of my God to a man and lest I should adore any except my God †And now ô Lord king the God of Abraham haue mercie vpon thy poople because our enemies wil destroy vs and extinguish thyne inheritance †Despise not thy portion which thou hast redemed to thyself out of Aegypt †Heare my prayer and be propitious to thy lot and corde and turne our mourning into ioy that liuing we may prayse thy name ô Lord and doe not shut the mouthes of them that sing to thee †Al Israel also with like mind and supplication cried to our Lord because certayne death did hang ouer them CHAP. XIIII Esther prayeth in humilitie of spirite that God wil deliuer the people from the crueltie of Aman. ESTHER also the queene fled to our Lord fearing the peril that was at hand †And when she had laid of her royal garmentes she tooke clothes meete for weeping and mourning and for diuers oyntmentes filled her head with ashes and dung and her bodie she humbled with fastes and al the places in which before she was accustomed to reioyse she filled with tearing of her heares †And she besought our Lord the God of Israel saying My Lord which onlie art our king helpe me solitarie woman and which haue no other helper beside thee †My peril is in my handes †I haue heard of my father that thou Lord didst take Israel out from al Gentiles and our fathers out of al their predecessours before that thou mightst possesse an euerlasting inheritance and thou hast done to them as thou hast spoken †We haue sinned in thy sight and therfore thou hast deliuered vs into the handes of our enemies †for we haue worshiped their goddes Thou art iust ô Lord. †And now it suffiseth them not that they oppresse vs with most hard seruitude but imputing the force of their handes to the might of their idols †they wil change thy promisses and destroy thine inheritance and shut the mouthes of them that prayse thee and extinguish the glorie of thy temple and altar †that they may open the mouthes of Gentiles and prayse the strength of idols and magnifie a carnal king for euer †Deliuer not ô Lord thy scepter to them that are not lest they laugh at our ruine but turne their counsel vpon them and destroy him that hath begune to do cruelly against vs. †Remember ô Lord and shew thy self to vs in the time of our tribulation and geue me confidence Lord king of goddes and of al power †geue me speach wel framed in my mouth in the presence of the lion and turne his hart into the hatred of our enemie that both him self may perish and the rest that consent vnto him †But deliuer vs in thy hand and helpe me hauing no other helpe but thee ô Lord which hast the knowlege of al things †and knowest that I hate the glorie of the wicked and detest the bed of the vncircumcised and of euerie stranger †Thou knowest my necessitie that I abhorre the signe of my pride and glorie which is vpon my head in the daies of my ostentation and detest it as the cloth of a woman in her monthlie floores and weare it not in the daies of my silence †and that I haue not eaten at Amans table neither the kings banket hath pleased me and that I haue not drunke the wine of libamentes †and that thy handmayde did neuer reioyse since I was transported hither vnto this day but in thee ô Lord the God of Abraham †O God strong aboue al heare the voyce of them that haue no other hope and deliuer vs from the hand of the wicked and deliuer me from my feare CHAP. XV. Mardocheus causeth Esther to goe to the king and intreate for the people 10. She is terrified by this countenance but God turneth his hart and he calleth her curteously to him This also I found added in the common edition AND he commanded her no doubt but Mardocheus commanded Esther that she should goe vnto the king and make petition for her people and for her countrie †Remember quoth he the daies of thy humilitie how thou wast brought vp in my hand because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against vs vnto death †and doe thou inuocate our Lord and speake to the king for vs deliuer vs from death Moreouer this also which foloweth I found in the common Greke †And in the third day she layd away the garmentes which she ware was clothed in her glorie †And when she glistered in royal apparel and had inuocated God the ruler and sauiour of al she tooke two wayting maydes †and vpon the one in deede she leaned as it were for dilicatnes and verie much tendernes not able to beare vp her bodie †but the other of the maydes folowed her ladie bearing vp her garmentes trayling on the ground â€
But her self in al her countenance of colour like the rose also with gratious and shining eies hid her mind ful of sorow and exceding feare †She therfore entring through al the doores in order stood before the king where he sate vpon the throne of his kingdom clothed with royal garmentes and glittering in gold and pretious stones and he was terrible to behold †And when he had lifted vp his face and with burning eies had shewed the furie of his breast the Queene fel downe and her colour being changed into palenes she rested her wearie head vpon her handmayde †And God turned the kings spirit in to mildnes and in hast and fearing he lept out of the throne and holding her vp in his armes til she came to her self spake her fayre with these wordes †What ayleth thee Esther I am thy brother feare not †Thou shalt not die for this law is not made for thee but for the common sorte †Come neere therfore and touch the scepter †And when she held her peace he tooke the golden rod put it vpon her necke and kissed her and sayd Why speakest thou not to me †Who answered I saw thee my Lord as an angel of God and my hart was trubled for the feare of thy glorie †For thou my lord art exceding maruelous and thy face is ful of graces †And when she spake she fel downe agayne and was almost in a sowne †But the king was trubled and al his seruantes did comfort her CHAP. XVI Acopie of king Artaxerxes letters which he sent for the saftie of the â—ewes 10. declaring the insolencie of Aman and dutiful seruice of Mardocheus and Esther 20. commanding al his princes to assist the Iewes and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from sorow to ioy The copie of king Artaxerxes letter which he sent for the Iewes to al the prouinces of his kingdom the which also is not found in the Hebrew volume THE great king Artaxerxes from India to Aethiopia to the dukes and princes of an hundred twentie seuen prouinces which obey our commandment sendeth greeting †Manie haue abused vnto pride the goodnes of princes and the honour that hath beene bestowed vpon them †and they do not only endeuour to oppresse the kings subiectes but not bearing the glorie that is geuen them they worke treason against them that gaue it †Neither are they content not to geue thankes for the benefittes and to violate in them selues the lawes of humanitie but they thincke they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth al things †And they haue burst forth into so great madnes that such as obserue diligently the offices committed vnto them and do al thinges so that they are worthie of al mens prayse them they endeuour to ouerthrow by subtil meanes of lies †whiles with craftie fraude they deceiue the simple eares of princes and esteming others bâ— their owne nature †Which thing is proued both out of old histories and by these thinges which are done daily how the enterprises of kinges are depraued by the euil suggestions of certaine men †Wherfore we must prouide for the peace of al prouinces †Neither must you thincke if we command diuers things that it cometh of the lightnesse of our mind but that we geue sentence according to the qualitie necessitie of times as the profite of the common wealth requireth †And that you may more plainly vnderstand that which we say Aman the sonne of Amadathi both in mind and countrie a Macedonian and an aliene from the Persians bloud and with his crueltie stayning our pietie was receiued of vs a stranger †and found our humanitie so great towardes him that he was called our father and was adored of al second after the king †who was puft vp with so great swelling of arrogancie that he went about to depriue vs of kingdom and life †For by certaine new deuises and not heard of before he hath sought to kil Mardocheus by whose fidelitie and benefittes we liue and Esther the felow of our kingdom with al their nation †thincking this that they being slayne he might worke treason to our solitarines and might transferre the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians †But we haue found the Iewes which were by that most wicked of men oppoynted to be slayne in no fault at al but conâ—rariwise vsing iust lawes †and the children of the highest and the greatest and alwayes louing God by whose benefite the kingdom was geuen both to our fathers and to vs and is kept vnto this day †Wherfore know ye those letters which he directed in our name to be of none effect †For the which heinous fact before the gates of this citie that is of Susan both him self that deuised it and al his kinred hang on gibbettes not we but God repaying him that which he hath deserued †But this edict which we now send let it be set forth in al cities that it be lawful for the Iewes to vse their owne lawes †Whom you must helpe that those which had prepared them selues to their slaughter they may kil the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth which is called Adar †For God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadnes and mourning into ioy to them †Wherfore count you also this day among other festiual daies and celebrate it with al ioy that hereafter also it may be knowne †that al which faythfully obey the Persians receiue worthie reward for their fidelitie and they that lie in wayte against their kingdom perish for their wicked fact †And euerie prouince and citie that wil not be partaker of this solemnitie let it perish by sword and fyre and let it so be destroyed that not onlie men but also beastes haue no accesse therto for euer for an example of contempt and disobedience THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IOB HOlie Iob otherwise called Iobab Gen. 36. as S. Augustin S. Chrisostom S. Ambrose S. Gregorie and other fathers teach the sonne of Zara the sonne of Rahuel the sonne of Esau was king or absolute prince of the land of Hus. who being perfect in religion sincere in life rich in wealth and blessed with children for an admirable example of patience and to shew that a mortal man through Gods grace may resist al the diuels tentations by Gods permission sudainly lost al his goodes and children was striken with horrible sores in al his bodie reuiled by his wife and in steed of comforth which his special freindes pretemted towards him was iniuriously charged by them with impatience arrogancie blasphemie and other crimes for which they falsly supposed he was so afflicted affirming and by diuers sophistical argumentes grounded as they pretended vpon Gods iustice wisdome powre mercie and goodnes would proue that God suffereth none but wicked men to be so afflicted But Iob constantly
him darkesome water in the cloudes of the aire Because of the brightnesse in his sight the cloudes passed hayle and coles of fire †And our Lord thundered from heauen and the Highest gaue his voice haile and coles of fire †And he shot his arrowes and dissipated them he multiplied lightnings and trubled them †And the fountaynes of waters appeared and the fundations of the world were reueled At thy rebuke ô Lord at the blast of the spirit of thy wrath †He sent from on high and tooke me and he receiued me out of manie waters †He deliuered me from my most strong enemies and from them that hated me because they were made strong ouer me †They preuented me in the day of mine affliction and our Lord was made my protectour †And he brought me out into largenesse he saued me because he would me †And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice and according to the purity of my handes he wil reward me †Because I haue kept the waies of our Lord neither haue I done impiously from my God †Because al his iudgementes are in my sight and his iustices I haue not repelled from me †And I shal be immaculate with him and shal keepe me from mine iniquitie †And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice and according to the puritie of my handes in the sight of his eies †With the holie thou shalt be holie and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent †And with the elect thou shalt be elect and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted †Because thou wilt saue the humble people and the eies of the proud thou wilt humble †Because thou dost illuminate my lampe ô Lord my God illuminate my darkenesse †Because in thee I shal be deliuered from tentation and in my God I shal goe ouer the wal †My God his way is vnpolluted the wordes of our Lord are examined by fire he is protector of al that hope in him †For who is God but our Lord or who is God but our God †God that girded me with strength and made my way immaculate †That perfited my feete as it were of hartes and setting me vpon high thinges †That teacheth my handes to battel and hast put mine armes as a bow of brasse †And hast geuen me the protection of thy saluation and thy right hand hath receiued me And thy discipline hath corrected me vnto the end and thy discipline the same shal teach me †Thou hast enlarged my pases vnder me and my steppes are not weakened †I wil pursew myne enemies and ouertake them and wil not returne til they faile †I wil breake them neither shal they be able to stand they shal fal vnder my feete †And thou hast girded me with strength to battel and hast supplanted them that rise against me vnder me †And myne enemies thou hast geuen me their backe and them that hate me thou hast destroyed †They cried neither was there that would saue them to our Lord neither did he heare them †And I wil breake them to powder as the dust before the face of winde as the durt of the streates I wil destroy them †Thou wilt deliuer me from the contradictions of the people thou wilt appoynte me to be head of the Gentiles †A people which I knew not hath serued me in the hearing of the eare it hath obeyed me †The children being alienes haue lyed to me the children alienes are inueterated and haue halted from their pathes †Our Lord liueth and blessed be my God and the God of my saluation be exalted †O God which geuest me reuenges subdewest peoples vnder me my deliuerer from mine angrie enemies †And from them that rise vp against me thou wilt exalt me from the vniust man thou wilt deliuer me Therfore wil I confesse to thee among nations ô Lord and wil say a psalme to thy name Magnifying the saluations of his king and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid and to his seede for euer PSALME XVIII Gods perfect goodnes and glorie is shewed by his great workes and by his Apostles sent with heauenlie commission to preach in al tongues to al nations 6. Christ coming into the world and returne vnto heauen 8. his immaculate Law 13. Wherin notwistanding the iust shal haue nede to pray for remission of smaller and daylie sinnes †Vnto the end the psalme of Dauid THE heauens shew forth the glorie of God and the firmament declareth the workes of his handes †Day vnto day vttereth word and night vnto night sheweth knowledge †There are no languages nor speaches whose voyces are not heard †Their sound hath gone forth into al the earth and vnto the endes of the round world the wordes of them †He put his tabernacle in the sunne himself as a bridgrome coming forth of his bridechamber He hath reioyced as againt to runne the way †his comming forth from the toppe of heauen And his recourse euen to the toppe therof neither is there that can hide him selfe from his heate †“ The law of our Lord is immaculate conuerting soules the testimonie of our Lord is faithful geuing wisedome to litle ones †The iustices of our Lord be right making hartes ioyful the precept of our Lord lightsome illuminating the eies †The feare of our Lord is holie permanent for euer and euer the iudgmentes of our Lord be true iustified in themselues †To be desired aboue gold and much pretious stone and more sweete aboue honie and the honie combe †For thy seruant keepeth them in keeping them is much reward †Sinnes who vnderstandeth from my secrete sinnes cleanse me †and from other mens spare thy seruant If they shal not haue dominion ouer me then shal I be immaculate and shal be cleansed from the greatest sinne †And the wordes of my mouth shal be such as may please and the meditation of my hart in thy sight alwayes O Lord my helper and my redemer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XVIII â— The lavv of our lord is immaculate conuerting soules Gods law in it selfe being most pure and immaculate is the proper meanes wherby the Holie Ghost conuerteth soules from sinnes to iustice Not that euerie one is iust fied vvhich readeth heareth or knoweth the lavv but by keping it through grace of the Holie Ghost VVho is the author and vvorker of iusâ—â—e by disposing the soule to cooperate in maner partly here described Gods faithful and most true testimonie by his lavv geueth vvisdome faith and knovvlege to the humble his right iustices comfort the hartes of the saithful his clere precept teacheth them their dutie his holie feare perseuireth vvith them his true iudgements are most delectable and
and thyne arme and the illumination of thy countenance because thou wast pleased in them †Thou art the same my king and my God which commandest the saluations of Iacob †In thee we shal turne out our enemies with the horne in thy name we shal contemne them that ryse vp against vs. †For I wil not hope in my bowe and my sword wil not saue me †For thou hast saued vs from them that afflict vs and them that hate vs thou hast confounded †In God we shal be praysed al the day and in thy name we wil confesse for euer †But now thou hast repelled and confounded vs and thou wilt not goe forth ô God in our hostes †Thou hast turned vs backe behind our enemies and they that hated vs spoyled for themselues †Thou hast geuen vs as sheepe that are to be eaten and thou hast dispersed vs among the nations †Thou hast sold thy people without price and there was no multitude in the exchanges of them †Thou hast made vs a reproche to our neighbours a scorne and mocking stocke to them that are round about vs. †Thou hast made vs for a parable to the Gentiles a wagging of the head among the peoples †Al the day my shame is against me and the confusion of my face hath couered me †At the voyce of the vpbrayder and the reprocher at the face of the enemie and persecutor †Al these thinges haue come vpon vs neither haue we forgotten thee and we haue not done wickedly in thy testament †And our hart hath not reuolted backward and thou hast declined our pathes from thy way †Because thou hast humbled vs in the place of affliction and the shadow of death hath couered vs. †If we haue forgotten the name of our God and if we haue spred forth our handes to a strange God †Wil not God enquire of these thinges For he knoweth the secretes of the hart Because for thee we are killed al the day we are estemed as sheepe of slaughter †Arise why sleepest thou ô Lord Arise and expel vs not to the end †Why dost thou turne away thy face forgettest our pouertie and our tribulation †Because our soule is humbled in the dust our bellie is glâ—wed in the earth †Arise Lord helpe vs and redeme vs for thy name PSALME XLIIII Dauid singularly moued in hart and tongue 3. prophecieth Christs excellencie indowing his Church with most worthie dowries 11. by way of exhortation forshewing her internal and external beautie 17. with perpetual succession of Pastors feeding the flock euen to the worlds end †Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to the sonnes of Core for vnderstanding a Canticle for the beloued MY hart hath vttered a good word I tel my workes to the king My tongue is the penne of a scribe that writeth swiftly †Goodly of beautie aboue the sonnes of men grace is powred abrode in thy lippes therfore hath God blessed thee for euer †Be girded with thy sword vpon thy thigh ô most mightie †With thy beautie and fayrnesse intend procede prosperousely and reigne Because of truth and mildenesse and iustice and thy right hand shal conduct thee meruelously Thy sharpe arrowes the peoples vnderneth thee shal fal into the hartes of the kings enemies †“ Thy seate ô God for euer and euer a rod of direction the rod of thy kingdom Thou hast loued iustice and hast hated iniquitie therfore God thy God hath annoynted thee with the oile of gladnes aboue thy felowes †Myrâ—he and Aloes and Cassia from thy garmentes from houses of yuorie out of the which †the daughter of kinges haue delighted thee in thy honour The Queene stood on thy right hand in golden rayment compassed with varietie Heare daughter and see and incline thyne eare and forget thy people and the house of thy father †And the king wil couet thy beautie because he is the Lord thy God and they shal adore him †And the daughters of Tyre with giftes al the rich of the people shal besech thy countenance †Al the glorie of that daughter of the king is within in borders of gold †clothed round about with varieties Virgins shal be brought to the king after her her neighbours shal be brought to thee †They shal be brought in ioy and exultation “ they shal be brought into the temple of the king †“ For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth †They shal be mindeful of thy name in al generation and generation Therfore shal peoples confesse to thee for euer and for euer and euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIIII 7. Thy seate Ô God for euer and euer Seing S. Paul Heb. 1. v. 8. affirmeth expresly that these wordes are spoken of the Sonne of God Christ our Sauiour and therby proueth his excellencie aboue Angels Iohn Caluin is wonderful bold to auouch that in the simple proper sense Dauid spake of his sonne Salomon and the daughter of Pharao as if that were the literal sense and S. Paul only expounded it mystically But first the solemne preface in the two first verses importeth farre greater thinges then agree to anie terrestrial king Secondly this excellent beautie described v. 3. aboue the sonnes of men can not be verified of Salomon for Absalom 2. Reg. 14. v 25. and Adonias were also very beautiful 3. Reg. 1. v. 6. As for Salomons wisdom or other vertues he perseuered not therin and so he was not blessed for euer Thirdly the prophet here calleth the person of whom and to whom he speaketh God v. 7. 12. Fourtly not only the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church but also the Hebrew Rabbins and the Chaldee paraphrasis expound this Psalme literally of the promised Messias and his kingdom the Church 16. They shal be brought into the temple of the king The temple of the king saith S. Augustin is the Church the temple of the king is in vnity the temple of the king is not ruinous not cut insunder not diuided the ioyning of liuing stones is charitie Nothing is more euidenr Attend now the verie temple of the king for from thence he speaketh because of the vnitie spread in the round earth For those that vvould be virgins faithful soules vnles they be brought into the temple of the king the Catholique Church they can not please the bridgrome 17. For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee The Apostles begotte thee ô Christian Church they were sent they preached they are the fathers But could they be
geue ioy and gladnes and the bones humbled shal reioyce †Turne away thy face from my sinnes and wipe away al mine iniquities †Create a cleane hart in me ô God and renew a right spirit in my u bowels †Cast me not away from thy face and thy Holie spirit take not from me †Render vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme me with the principal spirit †I Wil teach the vniust thy waies and the impious shal be conuerted to thee †Deliuer me from bloudes ô God the God of my saluation and my tongue shal exult for thy iustice †Lord thou 〈…〉 lt open my lippes my mouth shal shew forth thy prayse †Because if thou wouldest haue had sacrifice I had verily giuen it with holocaustes thou wilt not be delighted A “ sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit a contrite and humbled hait ô God thou wilt not despise Deale fauorably ô Lord in thy good wil with Sion that the walles of Ierusalem may be built vp Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of iustice oblations k holocaustes l then shal they lay calues vpon thyne altar ANNOTATIONS PSALME L. 2. VVhen Nathan came to Dauid As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Lord had vpon his repentance and confession taken away his sinne added neuertheles that because he had made the enimies of God to blaspheme his sonne should dye so Dauid knowing that more was required then only confession for that the bond of satisfaction remained after his sinnes were remitted persisted in penance praying lamenting and beseching God according to his great and mainfold mercies to take away his iniquitie albeit the prophet Nathan had now told him that our Lord had taken away his sinne because there yet remained temporal paine due for the same He prayeth also v. 4. that God wil vvash him more amply from his iniquitie and cleanse him from his sinne For albeit the guilt of mortal sinne be washed and taken away yet besides temporal punishment that is due the soule that was so polluted nedeth to be washed and cleansed from the euil habite or pronnes to fal againe gotten by the former custome or delectation in sinne 7. I VVas conceiued in iniquities An other reason why sinners after remission of al mortal sinnes neede to be washed and cleansed is because being borne in original sinne after remission therof there remaneth concupiscence that â—â—riueth against vertue and inclineth to sinne from which we must pray and labour to be more and more washed and cleansed 19 Sacrifice Holie Scriptures make often comparison betwen two kindes of sacrifices preferring internal before external as more gratful to God And of spiritual sacrifices this of a contrite spirite is first in order and maketh the way to the sacrifice of iustice because iustice presupposeth repentance and finally succedeth sacrifice of praise and thankesgeuing PSALME LI. Holie Dauid inueigheth against wicked Doeg a traitor 7. prophecieth his ruine 10. and his owne exaltation Vnto the end vnderstanding to Dauid †when Doeg the Idumeite came and told Saul Dauid is come into the house of Achimelech 1. Reg. 22. VVHY doest thou glorie in malice which art mightie in iniquitie †Al the day hath thy tongue thought iniustice as a sharp rasor thou hast done guile †Thou hast loued malice more then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie †Thou hast loued al wordes of precipitation a deceitful tongue †Therfore Wil God destroy thee for euer he wil plucke thee out remoue thee out of thy tabernacle thy roote out of the land of the liuing †The iust shal see and feare and shal laugh at him and they shal say Behold the man that hath not put God for his helper But hath hoped in the multitude of his riches and hath preualed in his vanitie †But I as a fruitful oliue tree in the house of God haue hoped in the mercie of God for euer and for euer and euer †I wil confesse to thee for euer because thou hast done it and I wil expect thy name because it is good in the sight of thy saints PSALME LII As in the thirtenth Psalme Christs Incarnation is prophecied after that sinne abunded in the world so here is foreshewed that after general wickednes 5. Christ wil come to iudge the bad 7. and deliuer the good Vnto the end for Maâ—leth vnderstandings of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God †They are corrupte and become abominable in iniquities there is not that doth good †God hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstaÌ„deth or seeketh after God †Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no there is not one Shal they not al know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as food of bread God they haue not inuocated there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was Because God hath dissipated the bones of them that please men they are confounded because God hath despised them Who wil geue out of Sion the saluation of Israel when God shal conuert the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad PSALME LIII Dauid in distresse crieth to God for helpe 6. considently trusting therin 8. and promising sacrifice of thankesgeuing †Vnto the end in songs vnderstanding for Dauid †when the Zipheites were come and said to Saul Is not Dauid hid with vs 1. Reg. 1. 23. 26. O GOD saue me in thy name and in thy strength iudge me †O God heare my prayer with thine eares receiue the words of my mouth †Because straÌ„gers haue risen vp against me the strong haue sought my soule and they haue not set God before their eies †For behold God helpeth me and our Lord is the receiuer of my soule †Turne away the euils to mine enimies and in thy truth destroy them †I wil voluntarily sacrifice to thee and wil confesse to thy name ô Lord because it is good †Because thou hast deliuered me out of al tribulation and mine eie hath looked downe vpon mine enimies PSALME LIIII The prophet as wel in his owne as other iust mens person describeth great calamities suffered 10. prayeth against the wicked 13. lamenting especially that those which professe frendshipe are aduersaries 17. and declareth Gods prouidence in protecting the good and destroying the bad Vnto the end in songes vnderstanding to Dauid HEARE my prayer ô God despise not my petition †Attend to me and heare me †I am made sorowful in my exercise and am trubled at the voice of the enimie
continew his grace and protection against the malice of the enimie 5. Recounteth Gods mercie in deliuering him from falling into tentations 6. prayeth for the same in old age or weakenes of bodie and spirite 20. and promiseth perpetual gratitude and praises A Psalme for Dauid of the sonnes of Ionadab and the former captiues IN thee ô Lord I haue hoped let me not be confounded for euer †in thy iustice deliuer me and receiue me Incline thine eare to me and saue me †Be vnto me for a God protector and for a fensed place that thou maist saue me Because thou art my firmament and my refuge †My God deliuer me out of the hand of the sinner and ouâ— of the hand of him that doth aganst the law and of the vniust Because thou art my patience ô Lord my hope from my youth †Vpon thee haue I bene confirmed from the wombe from my mothers bellie thou art my protector In thee is my singing alwaies †I was made to manie as a wonder and thou art a strong helper †Let my mouth be filled with praise that I may sing thy glorie al the day thy greatnes †Reiect me not in the time of olde age when my strength shal â—aile forsake me not †Because mine enimies haue said to me and they that watched my soule consulted together †Saying God hath forsaken him pursew and take him because there is none to deliuer †O God be not farre from me my God haue respect to mine ayde †Let them be confounded and fayle that detract from my soule let them be couered with confusion and shame that seeke euils to me †But I wil alwaies hope and wil adde vpon al thy praise †My mouth shal shew forth thy iustice al the day thy saluation Because I haue not knowne lerning I wil enter into the powres of our Lord †ô Lord I wil be mindful of thy iustice onely †O God thou hast taught me from my youth and vntil now I wil pronounce thy meruelous workes †And vnto ancient age and olde age ô God forsake me not Vntil I shew forth thy arme to al the generation that is to come Thy might †and thy iustice ô God euen to the highest great meruailes which thou hast done ô God who may be like to thee †How great tribulations hast thou shewed me manie and euil and turning thou hast quickened me and from the depthes of the earth thou hast brought me backe againe †Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence and being turned thou hast comforted me †For I also wil confesse to thee in the instruments of Psalme thy truth ô God I wil sing to thee on the harpe holie one of Israel †My lippes shal reioyce when I shal sing to thee and my soule which thou hast redemed †Yea and my tongue al the day shal meditate thy iustice when they shal be confounded and ashamed that seeke euils to me PSALME LXXI By way of prayer the Psalmist prophecieth Christs coming our King and Iudge 4. the deliuerer of mankind from the thraldom of the diuel â— the greatnes of his spiritual kingdom in the Gentiles 16. and his continual glorie and praise Concerning Salomon O God giue thy iudgement to the king and thy iustice to the sonne of the king To iudge thy people in iustice and thy poore in iudgement †Let the mountains receiue peace for the people and the litle hilles iustice †He shal iudge the poore of the people and shal saue the children of the poore and he shal humble the calumniator †And he shal continew with the sunne and before the moone in generation and generation †He shal descend as rayne vpon a fleece and as droppes distilling vpon the earth †There shal rise in his dayes iustice and aboundance of peace vntil the moone be taken away †And he shal rule from sea vnto sea and from the riuer euen to the ends of the round world †Before him shal the Aethiopians fal downe and his enimies shal lick the earth †The kinges of Tharsis and the Ilands shal offer presentes the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shal bring giftes †And al kinges of the earth shal adore him al nations shal serue him †Because he shal deliuer the poore from the mightie and the poore which had no helper †He shal spare the poore and needy and he shal saue the soules of the poore †From vsuries and iniquitie he shal redeme their soules and their name shal be honorable before him †And he shal liue and there shal be giuen him of the gold of Arabia and they shal adore it alwaies al the day they shal blesse him †And there shal be a firmament in the earth in the toppes of mountanes the fruite therof shal be extolled farre aboue Libanus and they shal florish of the citie as the grasse of the earth †Be his name blessed for euer before the sunne his name is permanent And al the tribes of the earth shal be blessed in him al nations shal magnifie him †Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel who only doth meruelous thinges †And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer and al the earth shal be filled with his maiestie Be it be it †The praises of Dauid the sonne of Iesse are ended PSALME LXXII The royal prophet first professing the vnspeakable goodnes of God 2. in the person of the weake complaineth that the wicked prosper and the iust are afflicted 15. reprehendeth the murmuration for though we can not comprehend the secrete iudgements of God 18. yet they are most iust 25. So with desire to rest in God he promiseth euer to praise him A Psalme to Asaph HOW good is God to Israel to them that are of a right hart †But my feete were almost moued my steppes almost slipped †Because I haue had zele vpon the wicked seing the peace of sinners †Because there is no respect to their death and stabilitie in ther plague †In the labours of men they are not and with men they shal not be scourged †Therfore hath pride helde them they are couered with their iniquitie and impietie †Their iniquitie hath proceded as it were of fatte they haue passed into the affection of the hart †They haue thought and haue spoken wickednes they haue spoken iniquitie on high †They haue sette their mouth vnto heauen ad their tongue hath passed in the earth †Therfore wil my people returne here and ful daies shal be found in them †And they haue saide How doth God know and is there knowledge in the highest †Loe the sinners them selues and they that abounde in
are saide of thee ô cittie of God †I wil be mindeful of Raab and Babylon knowing me Behold the foreners and Tyre the people of the Aethiopians these were there †Shal it not be said of Sion Man and man is borne in her and the Highest himselfe founded her †Our Lord wil declare in scriptures of peoples and of princes of those that haue bene in her †The habitation in thee is as it were of al reioycing PSALME LXXXVII A faithful person sore and long afflicted lamentably complaineth praying God 15. not stil to repel him being leift desolate 19. without al consolation of freindes A Canticle of a Psalme to the children of Core vnto the end for Maheleth to answer of vnderstanding to Eman the Ezrahite O †Lord the God of my saluation in the day haue I cried and in the night before thee †Let my prayer enter in thy sight incline thine eare to my petition †Because my soule is replenished with euils and my life hath approched to hel †I am accounted with them that descend into the lake I am become as a man without helpe †free among the dead as the wounded sleeping in the sepulchres of whom thou art mindeful no more and they are cast of from thy hand †They haue put me in the lower lake in the darke places and in the shadowe of death †Thy furie is confirmed vpon me and al thy waues thou hast brought in vpon me †Thou hast made my familiars far from me they haue put me abomination to themselues I was deliuered and came not forth †myne eies languished for pouertie I cried to thee ô Lord al the day I stretched out my handes to thee †Wil t thou doe meruels to the dead or shal phisicians raise to life and they confesse to thee †Shal any in the sepulchre declare thy mercie and thy truth in perdition †Shal thy meruelous workes be knowne in darkenes and thy iustice in the land of obliuion †And I ô Lord haue cried to thee and in the morning shal my praier preuent thee †Why doest thou o Lord reiect my prayer turnest away thy face from me †I am poore and in labours from my youth and being exalted humbled and troubled †Thy wrathes haue passed vpon me and thy terrours haue trubled me †They haue compassed me as water al the day they compassed me together †Thou hast made frend and neighboure far from me and my familiars because of miserie PSALME LXXXVIII Gods mercie and truth with his great promises to Dauid 6. his powre in the whole world and iust iudgements are the true ioy of his seruantes 20. Christs kingdom shal remaine for euer 31. yea manie offending yet al shal not perish 39. but after great affliction 47. God wil respect mans infirmitie 50. his owne promise and the enimies reproching his seruantes and himselfe 53. who is blessed for euer Of vnderstanding to Ethan the Ezrahite THe mercies of our Lord I wil sing for euer In generation and generation I wil shewe forth thy truth in my mouth †Because thou saidst Mercie shal be built vp for euer in the heauens thy truth shal be prepared in them †I haue ordained a testament with mine elect I haue sworne to Dauid my seruant †for ever wil I prepare thy seede And I wil build thy seat vnto generation and generation †The heauens shal confesse thy meruelous workes ô Lord yea and thy truth in the church of saintes †For who in the cloudes shal be equal to our Lord shal be like to God among the sonnes of God †God who is glorified in the counsel of saintes great and terrible ouer al that are round about him †O Lord God of hoastes who is like to thee thou art mightie ô Lord and thy truth round about thee †Thou rulest ouer the powre of the sea and the mouing of the waues therof thou doest mitigate †Thou humbledst the proud one as one wounded in the arme of thy strength thou hast dispersed thine enimies †The heauens are thine and the earth is thine the round earth and the fulnes therof thou hast founded †the north and the sea thou hast created Thabor and Hermon shal reioice in thy name †thy arme is with might Let thy hand be confirmed and thy righthand exalted †iustice and iudgement is the preparation of thy seat Mercie and truth shal goe before thy face †blessed is the people that knoweth iubilation Lord they shal walke in the light of thy countinance †and in thy name they shal reioyce al the day and in thy iustice they shal be exalted †Because thou art the glorie of their streingth and in thy good pleasure shal our horne be exalted †Because our protection is of our Lord and of the holie one of Israel our king †Then didst thou speake in vision to thy saintes and saidst I haue put helpe on the mightie one and haue exalted an elect one of my people †I haue found Dauid my seruant with myne holie oyle haue I anointed him †For mine hand shal helpe him and myne arme shal strengthen him †The enimie shal nothing preuale in him and the sonne of iniquitie shal not adde to hurt him †And I wil cut downe his enimies before his face and them that hate him I wil put to flight †And my truth and my mercie with him and in my name shal his horne be exalted †And I wil put his hand in the sea and his righthand in the riuers †He shal inuocate me Thou art my Father my God and the protector of my saluation †And I wil put him the firstbegotten high aboue the kings of the earth †I Wil kepe my mercie vnto him for euer and my testament faithful to him †I wil put his seed for euer and euer and his throne as the daies of heauen †But if his children shal forsake my lawe and wil not walke in my Iudgementes †If they shal profane my iustices and not kepe my commandmentes †I wil visite their iniquities with a rod and their sinnes with stripes †But “ my mercie I wil not take away from him neither wil I hurt in my truth †Neither wil I profane my testament and the words that procede from my mouth I wil not make frustrate †Once I haue sworne in my holie if I lie to Dauid †his seede shal continewe for euer †And his throne as the Sunne in my sight and as the Moone perfect for euer and a faithful witnesse in heauen †“ But thou hast repelled and dispised thou hast differred thy Christ †Thou hast ouerthrowne the testament of thy seruant thou hast profaned his
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
not heare for neither is there breath in their mouth †Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them †Ye house of Israel blesse our Lord ye house of Aaron blesse our Lord. †Ye house of Leui blesse our Lord you that feare our Lord blesse ve our Lord. †Blessed be our Lord out of Sion who dwelleth in Ierusalem PSALME CXXXV God being meruelous in himself 4. hath shewed his powre and goodnes in his workes as wel in general to al the world 10. as in particular towards his elected people Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the God of goddes because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer †Who onlie doth great meruels because his mercie is for euer †Who made the heauen in vnderstanding because his mercie is for euer †Who established the earth ouer the waters because his mercie is for euer †Who made the great lightes because his mercie is sor euer †The sunne to rule the day because his mercie is for euer †The moone and starres to rule the night because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke Aegypt with their firstbegotten because his mercie is for euer †Who brought forth Israel out of the middes of them because his mercie is for euer †In a mightie hand and loftie arme because his mercie is for euer †Who diuided the Read sea into diuisions because his mercie is for euer †And brought forth Israel through the middes therof because his mercie is for euer †And he ouerthrew Pharao and his host in the Readsea because his mercie is for euer †Who led his people through the desert because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke great kinges because his mercie is for euer †And slewe strong kinges because his mercie is for euer †Sehon the king of the Amorrheites because his mercie is for euer †And Og the king of Basan because his mercie is for euer †And he gaue their land for an inheritance because his mercie is for euer †For an inheritance to Israel his seruant because his mercie is for euer †For in our humiliation he was mindful of vs because his mercie is for euer †And he redemed vs from our enemies because his mercie is for euer †Who geueth foode to al fleshe because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the God of heauen because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer PSALME CXXXVI The Prophet describeth how lamentably the people in captiuitie of Babylon wil bewaile the want of meanes to serue God and of their natiue soyle 7. with iust desire of their enimies punishment A Psalme of Dauid for Ieremie VPON the riuers of Babylon there we sate and wept whiles we remembred Sion †On the willowes in the middes therof we hanged vp our instrumentes †Because there they that led vs captiue demanded of vs wordes of songes And they that led vs away Sing ye an hymne to vs of the songes of Sion †How shal we sing the song of our Lord in a strange land †If I shal forget thee ô Ierusalem let my right hand be forgotten †Let my tongue cleaue to my iawes if I doe not remember thee If I shal not set Ierusalem in the beginning of my ioy †Be mindful ô Lord of the childrem of Edom in l the day of Ierusalem That say Rase it rase it euen vnto the foundation therof †Daugther of Babylon miserable blessed is he that shal repay thee thy payment which thou hast payed vs. †Blessed is he that shal hold and shal dash thy litle ones against the rocke PSALME CXXXVII The whole Church or anie iust person rendreth thankes to God for his benefites 4. praying that al kinges and kingdomes may do the same 4. because God being high respecteth and aduanceth the humble To Dauid him self I wil confesse to thee ô Lord in my whole hart because thou hast heard the wordes of my mouth In the sight of Angels I wil sing to thee †I wil adore toward thy holie temple and wil confesse to thy name For thy mercie and thy truth because thou hast magnified aboue euerie thing thy holie name †In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me thou wilt multiplie strength in my soule †Let al the kinges of the earth ô Lord confesse to thee because they haue heard al the wordes of thy mouth †And let them sing in the wayes of our Lord because great is the glorie of our Lord. †Because our Lord is high and he beholdeth low thinges and high thinges he knoweth far of †If I shal walke in the middes of tribulation thou wilt quicken me and vpon the wrath of mine enimies thou hast extended thy hand and thy right hand hath saued me †Our Lord wil repay for me ô Lord thy mercie is for euer despise not the workes of thy handes PSALME CXXXVIII Gods knowlege 7. and presence 10. without the helpe or hinderance anie thing extendeth to al thinges times and places 17 he geueth exceding great honour to his sainctes 20 the wicked as enimies to God are iustly hated 23. the iust pray for Gods perpetual direction Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid LORD thou hast proued me and hast knowen me †thou hast knowen my sitting downe and my rising vp †Thou hast vnderstood my cogitations far of my path and my corde thou hast searched out †And thou hast foresene al my wayes because there is not a word in my tongue †Behold ô Lord thou hast knowen al the last thinges them of old thou hast formed me and hast put thy hand vpon me †Thy knowledge is become meruelous of me it is made great and I can not reach to it †Whither shal I goe from thy spirit and whither shal I flee from thy face †If I shal ascend into heauen thou art there â—f I descend into hel thou art present †If I shal take my winges early and dwel in the extreme partes of the sea †Certes thither also shal thy hand conduct me and thy right hand shal hold me †And I sayd Perhaps darknes shal treade ouer me and the night is mine illumination in my delightes †For darkenes shal not be darkened from thee and the night shal be lightened as the day as the darkenes therof so also the light therof †Because thou hast possessed my reynes thou hast receiued me from my mothers wombe †I wil confesse to
rather by them that may be supplied vvhich the Hebrevv vvanteth PSALME CXLV The Psalmist exciteth himself and al others to praise God for his singular regard and prouidence of al that trust in him 3. shewing that neither princes nor other men are able to helpe 5. but God can and doth continually releue al sortes of necessities Alleluia of Aggaeus and Zacharie MY soule prayse thou our Lord I wil praise our Lord in my â—te I wil sing to my God as long as I shal be Put not confidence in princes †in the sonnes of men in whom there is no saluation †His spirit shal goeforth and he shal returne into his earth in that day al their cogitations shal perish †Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Iacob his hope in our Lord his God †who made heauen and earth the sea and al thinges that are in them †Which keepeth truth for euer doth iudgement for them that suffer wrong geueth foode to the hungrie Our Lord looseth the fettered †our Lord illuminateth the blind Our Lord lifteth vp the bruised our Lord loueth the iust †Our Lord keepeth strangers the pupil and widow he wil receiue and the wayes of sinners he wil destroy †Our Lord wil reigne for euer thy God ô Sion in generation and generation PSALME CXLVI God is also to be praised by his peculiar people for particular benefites 4. for his omnipotent powre wisdom goodnes in creating and gouerning this whole world 11. and most special benignitie towards those that trust in him Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord because Psalme is good to our God let there be pleasant and comelie praise †Our Lord building vp Ierusalem wil gather together the dispersions of Israel †Who healeth the contrite of hart and bindeth vp their sores †Who numbereth the multitude of starres and geueth names to them al. †Great is our Lord and great is his strength and of his wisdom there is no number †Our Lord receiuing the meeke humbling sinners euen to the ground †Sing ye to our Lord in confession sing ye to our God on harpe †Who couereth the heauen with cloudes and prepareth rayne for the earth Who bringeth forth grasse in the mountaines and herbe for the seruice of men †Who geueth to beastes their foode and to the young rauens that cal vpon him †He shal not haue pleasure in the strength of an horse nor in the legges of a man shal he be wel pleased †Our Lord is wel pleased toward them that feare him and in them that hope vpon his mercie PSALME CXLVII Againe God is to be praised for his goodnes towards his peculiar people 4. yea towards al the world 7. but most abundantly towards his Church Alleluia O Ierusalem praise our Lord praise thy God ô Sion †Because he hath strengthened the lockes of thy gates he hath blessed thy children in thee †Who hath set thy borders peace and filleth thee with the fatte of corne †Who sendeth forth his speach to the earth his word runneth swiftly †Who geueth snow as wool scatereth mist as ashes †He casteth his crystal as morseles before the face of his cold l who shal endure †He shal sendforth his word and shal melt them his spirit shal blowe and waters shal flowe †Who declareth his word to Iacob his iustices and iudgements to Israel †He hath not done in like maner to anie nation and his iudgements he hath not made manifest to them Allelu-ia PSALME CXLVIIII Al creatures spiritual and corporal are inuited to praise God their Creator and Conseruer 13. as incomparably excellent Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord from the heauens praise ye him in the high places †Prayse ye him al his Angels prayse ye him al his hostes †Prayse ye him sunne and moone prayse him al ye starres and light †Prayse him ye heauens of heauens and the waters that are aboue the heauens †let them praise the name of our Lord. Because he sayd and they were made he commanded and they were created †He established them for euer and for euer and euer he put a precept and it shal not passe †Prayse our Lord from the earth ye dragons and al depthes †Fyre haile snow yse spirit of stormes which doe his worde †Mountaines and al litle hilles trees that beare fruite and al ceders †Beastes and al cattel serpentes and fethered fowles †Kinges of the earth and al peoples princes and al iudges of the earth †Yongmen and virgins old with yong let them prayse the name of our Lord †because the name of him alone is exalted †The confession of him aboue heauen and earth and he hath exalted the horne of his people An hymne to al his sainctes to the children of Israel a people approching vnto him Alleluia PSALME CXLIX The Church is most singularly bond to praise God 4. for the grace sanctitie victorie glorie 7. and iudicial powre which he geueth to his Sainctes Alleluia SING ye to our Lord a new song let his prayse be in the Church of sainctes †Let Israel be ioyful in him that made him and let the children of Sion reioyce in their king †Let them praise his name in quite on tymbrel and psalter let them sing to him †Because our Lord is wel pleased in his people and he wil exalt the meeke vnto saluation †The sainctes shal reioyce in glorie they shal be ioyful in their beddes †The exaltations of God in their throte and two edged swordes in their handes †To doe reuenge in the nations chastisements among the peoples †To binde their kinges in fetters and their nobles in yron manicles †That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written this glorie is to al his sainctes Alleluia PSALME CL. God absolutly most excellent is to be praised 3. with al sortes of instruments and by al other meanes Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord in his holies prayse ye him in the firmament of his strength †Prayse ye him in his powers prayse ye him according to the multitude of his greatnes †Prayse ye him in the sound of trumpet prayse ye him on psalter and harpe †Prayse ye him on timbrel and quire prayse ye him on stringes and organ †Prayse ye him on wel sounding cymbals prayse ye him on cymbales of iubilation †let euerie spirit prayse our Lord. Alleluia ANNOTATIONS PSALME CL. S. Augustin in the conclusion of his Enarrations or Sermons vpon the Psalmes explicateth a mysterie in the number of an hundred and fieftie signifying the concord of the two Testaments For in the old testament they kept
vpon hote coales that his soales be not burnt †so he that goeth in vnto his neighbours wife shal not be cleane when he shal touche her †It is no greate fault when a man shal haue stollen for he stealeth to fil his hungrie soule †also being taken he shal restore seuenfold and shal geue vp al the substance of his house †But he that is an aduouterer for penurie of harr shal destroy his owne soule †shame and ignominie he gethereth to himsefe his reproch shal not be blotted out †Because the zele and furie of the husband wil not spare in the day of reuenge †neither wil he yeld to any mans prayers neither wil he take for redemption verie many giftes CHAP. VII He further exhorteth youngmen to seke wisdom 5. especially to flee from the intisements of harlots largely describing the same 22. and the ruine of them that are so deluded MY sonne keepe my wordes and my preceptes hide with thee Sonne †keepe my commandmentes and thou shalt liue and my law as the apple of thine eie †binde it on thy fingers write it in the tables of thy hart †Say to wisdom thou art my sister cal prudence thy freind †that she may keepe thee from the strange woman and from the forenrer which maketh her wordes sweete †For out of the window of my house I looked out through the lattise †and I see litle ones I behold a foolish youngman †which passeth through the streates by the corner and goeth nigh the way of her house †in the darke the day being toward euening in the darkenes of the night and dimnes †And behold the woman meeteth him in harlotes atyre prepared to deceiue soules babling and wandering †impatient of rest nor able to consist in the house on her feete †now abrode now in the streates now lying in wayte neere the corners †And taking the youngman she kisseth him and with malepert countenance speaketh fayre saying †I vowed victimes for welfare this day I haue payed my vowes †Therfore I am come forth to meete thee desirous to see thee and I haue found thee †I haue wouen my bed with cordes I haue adorned it with tapestrie pictured out of Aegypt †I haue sprinkled my bed with myrâ—he aloes and cinamome †Come let vs be inebriated with brestes and let vs enioy desired embracings til the day appeare †For my husband is not at home he is gone a very long iourney †he caried with him a bagge of money in the day of the ful moone he wil returne to his house †She intangled him with many wordes and with flatterie of lippes drewe him †Immediatly he foloweth her as an oxe led to be a victime as a lambe playing the wanton and not knowing that he is drawen as a foole to bondes †til the arow pearse his liuer as if a birde should make haste to the snare and knoweth not that his life is in danger †Now therfore my sonne heare me and attend to the wordes of my mouth †Let not thy mind be drawen away in her wayes neither be thou deceiued with her pathes †For she hath cast downe manie wounded and al the most strong are slaine by her †Her house the wayes of hel penetrating to the inner partes of death CHAP. VIII Wisdom is preached in conspicious and most frequented places that none may pretend wante of admonition 7. her doctrin is true godlie profitable necessarie to al sortes of men 12. wisdom increated which is God himselfe is eternal 32. and bringeth eternal happines DOTH not wisdom crie and prudence geue her voice †Standing in the high loftie toppes ouer the way in the middes of the pathes †beside the gates of the citie in the verie doores she speaketh saying †O men to you I crie and my voice is to the children of men †O litle ones vnderstand subtiltie and ye vnwise marke †Heare ye because I wil speake of great thinges and my lippes shal be opened to preach right thinges †My throte shal meditate truth and my lippes shal detest the impious †Al my wordes are iust there is no wicked nor peruerse thing in them †They are right to them that vnderstand and iust to them that finde knowlege †Receiue ye discipline not money choose doctrine rather then gold †For wisdom is better then al most precious riches and whatsoeuer is to be desired can not be compared to it †I wisdome dwel in counsel and am present in lerned cogitations †The feare of our Lord hateth euil arrogancie and pride and wicked way and a duble toungued mouth I doe detest †Myne is counsel equitie prudence is mine strength is mine †By me kinges doe reigne and the makers of law decree iust thinges †By me princes rule and the mightie decree iustice †I loue them that loue me and they that watch toward me shal finde me †With me are riches and glorie glorious riches and iustice †For my fruite is better then gold and precious stone and my blosomes then chosen siluer †I Walke in the wayes of iustice in the middes of the pathes of iudgement †that I may enriche them that loue me and may replenish their treasures †Our Lord possessed me in the beginning of his wayes before he had made any thing from the beginning †From eternitie I was ordayned of old before the earth was made †The depthes were not as yet and I was now conceiued neither had the fountaines of waters as yet gushed forth †the mountaines with heauie hugenesse stoode not as yet before the litle hilles I was brought forth †he had not yet made the earth and the riuers and the poles of the round world †When he prepared the heauens I was present when with a certaine law and circuite he compassed the depthes †When he established the firmament aboue poysed the fountaines of waters †when he compassed the sea with her limites and set a law to the waters that they should not passe their boundes when he hanged the foundations of the earth †I was with him framing al thinges and was delighted euetie day playing before him at al time †playing in the world my delights to be with the children of men †Now therfore children heare me blessed are they that keepe my wayes †Heare ye discipline and be wise and reiect it not †Blessed is the man that heareth me that watcheth at my doores dayly wayteth at the postes of my doore †He that shal finde me shal finde life and shal draw saluation of our Lord †but he that shal sinne against me shal hurt his owne soule Al that hate me loue death CHAP. IX Wisdom hauing built her house with seuen pillers inuiteth al to a prepared banquette 11. promising to multiplie ioyful dayes 13. Folie
And therfore the wisman here admonisheth not to lie in waite nor calumniously to seke impietie in the house that is in the soule of the iust For though he committe some faultes yet he riseth againe and is not impious vniust nor guiltie of mortal crime as the wicked man is CHAP. XXV THese also are the parables of Salomon which the men of Ezechias king of Iuda wrote out †It is the glorie of God to conceale the word and the glorie of kinges to search the speach †The heauen aboue and the earth beneth and the hart of kinges is vnscrutable †Take away the rust from siluer and there shal comeforth a most pure vessel †Take away impietie from the kings countenance and his throne shal be established with iustice †Appeare not glorious before the king and in the place of great men stand not †For it is better that it be said to thee Come vp hither then that thou be humbled before the prince †The thinges which thy eies haue sene vtter not quickly in a brawle lest afterward thou canst not amend it when thou hast dishonoured thy frend †Treate thy cause with thy frend and reueale not a secret to a stranger †lest perhaps he insult against thee when he heareth and cease not to vpbraide thee Grace and frendshipe deliuer which kepe to thyself lest thou become reprochful †Apples of gold in siluer beddes he that speaketh a word in his time †A golden earlet and a shining precious stone he that rebuketh a wiseman and an obedient eare †As the cold of snow in the day of haruest so a faithful legate to him that sent him maketh his soule to rest †Cloudes and winde and no rayne folowing a glorious man and not accomplishing his promises †By patience the prince shal be pacified and a soft tongue shal breake hardnes †Thou hast found honie eate that which sufficeth thee lest perhaps being filled thou vomite it vp †Withdraw thy foote from the house of thy neighbour lest some time hauing his fil he hate thee †A dart and sword and a sharpe arrow a man that speaketh false testimonie against his neighbour †A rotten tooth and wearie foote he that hopeth vpon the vnfaithful in the day of distresse †and that loseth his cloke in the day of cold Vineger in nither he that singeth songes to a naughtie hart As a moth the garment and a worme the woode so the sadnes of a man hurteth the hart †If thine enemie shal hunger geue him meate if he thirst geue him water to drinke †for thou shalt heape hote coales vpon his head and our Lord wil reward thee †The northwinde dissipateth raynes a sad looke the tongue that detracteth †It is better to sitte in a corner of the house toppe then with a brawling woman and in a common house †Cold water to a thirstie soule and good tydings from a far countrie †A fountaine trubled with the foote and a vaine corrupted the iust falling before the impious †As he that eateth much honie it is not good for him so he that is a searcher of the maiestie shal be oppressed of the glorie †As a citie being open and without compasse of walles so a man that can not represse his spirit in speaking CHAP. XXVI AS snow in the summer and rayne in the haruest so is glorie vndecent for a foole †As a birde flying to other places a sparow going whither he list so a curse vttered in vaine shal light vpon some man †A whippe for a horse and a snaffle for an asse and a rod on the back of the vnwise †Answer not a foole according to his follie lest thou be made like to him †Answer a foole according to his follie lest he seme to himself to be wise †Lame of feete and drinking iniquitie he that sendeth wordes by a foolish messenger †As a lame man hath fayre legges in vaine so a parable is vndecent in the mouth of fooles †As he that casteth a stone into the heape of Mercurie so he that geueth honour to the vnwise †As if a thorne should grow in the hand of the drunkard so a parable in the mouth of fooles †Iudgement determineth causes and he that putteth a foole to silence apeaseth angers †As a dog that returneth to his vomite so the vnwise that reiterateth his follie †Hast thou sene a man seeme to himselfe wise the foole shal haue hope rather then he †The slothful sayth A lyon is in the way and a lyonesse in the iourneis †as a doore turneth on his hinge so the slothful in his bed †The slothful hideth his hand vnder the armehole and is greeued if he turneth it to his mouth †The slothful seemeth wiser to himselfe then seuen men speaking sentences †As he that taketh a dog by the eares so he that passeth by impatient and medleth with an other mans brawle †As he is hurtful that shooteth arrowes and speares vnto death †so a man that hurteth his frende fraudulently and when he is taken with al sayth I did it in iest †When wood fayleth the fire shal be extinguished and the whisperer taken away brawles cease †As coles to burning coles and wood to fire so an angrie man rayseth brawles †The wordes of the whisperer as it were simple and the same come to the inmost partes of the bellie †As if thou wouldest adorne an earthen vessel with drossie siluer so swelling lippes ioyned with a most wicked hart †An enemie is perceiued by his lippes when he shal handle deceites in his hart †When he shal submit his voyce beleue him not because there are seuen mischiefes in his hart †He that couereth hatred fraudulently his malice shal be reuealed in the councel †He that diggeth a pit shal fal into it and he that rolleth a stone it shal returne to him †A deceitful tongue loueth not truth and a slipper mouth worketh ruines CHAP. XXVII BOast not for to morow being ignorant what the day to come may bring forth †Let an other prayse thee and not thine owne mouth a stranger and not thine owne lippes †A stone is heauie and sand weightie but the anger of a foole is heauier then both †Anger hath no mercie nor furie breaking forth and the violence of a moued spirit who can susteyne †Better is manifest correption then loue hidden †Better are the woundes of him that loueth then the fraudulent kisses of him that hateth †A soule that is ful shal treade vpon the honiecombe and a soule that is hungrie shal take bitter also for sweete †As a bird fleeting from her nest so a man that forsaketh his place †The
exercised to the discerning of good and euil With what moderation therfore and humilitie this Canticle of Gods perfect spouse may be read the discrete wil consider and not presume aboue their reach but be wise with sobrietie For here be very high and hidden Mysteries as Origen teacheth in his lerned Commentaries which S. Ierom translated into Latin and singularly commendeth and so much harder to be rightly vnderstood for that the feruent spiritual loue of the inward man reformed in soule and perfected in spirite is here vttered in the same vsual wordes and termes wherwith natural worldlie yea and carnal loue of the outward man old Adam corrupted by sinne is commonly expressed and are so much more dangerous to be mistaken as we are more addicted to proper wil priuate iudgement or subiect to carnal or passionate motions Wherfore it semeth most mete to kepe the same order in reading these three bookes which the auctor wise Salomon obserued in writing them And which Philosophers also folow in their forme of discipline For they first lerne and teach Moral Philosophie then Natural lastly Metaphisikes which is their Diuinitie As Salomon had geuen them example first teaching precepts of good life and maners in his Prouerbes after discoursing of natural thinges in Ecclesiastes deduced thence a conclusion which prophane Philosophers wel vnderstood not to contemne this world and finally cometh to high mystical Diuinitie in this supereminent Canticle written in an other stile in verse and in forme of a sacred Dialogue betwen Christ and his spouse or as Origen calleth it in forme of an Enterlude in respect of diuers speakers actors of diuers persons to whom the speaches are directed and of whom they are vttered For by the Spous or Bridgrome is not only vnderstood Christ as Man but also as God and the whole Blessed Trinitie to whom manie prayers praises and thankes are offered vp and by whom manie benefites are geuen praises returned promises made to his spouse Likewise by the Spouse or Bride the ancient fathers vnderstand three sortes of spouses al espoused to Christ and to God towitt his General Spouse the whole Church of the old and new Testaments of al that are and shal be perfect making one mystical bodie free from sinne without spotte or wrinkle sanctified in Christ Also his special spouse which is euerie particular holie soule And his singular spouse his most blessed most immaculate Virgin Mother This being the general summe of this excellent Canticle remitting the reader for explication therof to the lerned deuout Commenters both of ancient and late writers we shal also endeuour together the same contents more particularly not before the chapters because we can not there so conueniently distinguish the same by verses but in the margent Where we shal especially note the speakers as semeth more probable of euerie parcel according to the first sense not hauing rowme for more perteyning to the General spouse the Catholique Church which is the great and euerlasting holie Citie of God the eternal King SALAMONS CANTICLE OF CANTICLES WHICH IN HEBREW IS CALLED SIR HASIRIM CHAP. I. LET him kisse me with the kisse of his mouth because thy brestes are better then wine †smelling fragrantly of the best ointments Oile powred out is thy name therfore haue yongmaydes loued thee †Draw me we wil runne after thee in the odour of thine ointments The king hath brought me into his cellars we wil reioyce be glad in thee mindful of thy brests aboue wine the righteous loue thee †I am blacke but beutiful ô ye daughters of Ierusalem as the tabernacles of Cedar as the skinnes of Salomon †Doe not consider me that I am browne because the sunne hath altered my colour the sonnes of my mother haue fought against me they haue made me a keeper in the vinyards my vinyard I haue not kept †Shew me ô thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest where thou lyest in the midday lest I beginne to wander after the flockes of thy companyons †If thou know not thyselfe ô most fayrest among wemen goeforth and folow after the steppes of the flockes and feede thy kiddes byside the tabernacles of the pastours †To my companie of horsemen in the chariotes of Pharao haue I likened thee ô my loue †Thy cheekes are beautiful as the turteldoues thy necke as iewels †We wil make thee cheynes of gold enamoled with siluer †Whiles the king was at his repose my spikenard gaue the odour thereof †A bundle of myrrhe my beloued is to me he shal abide betwen my brestes †A clustre of cypre my loue is to me in the vineyardes of Engaddi †Behold thou art fayre ô my loue behold thou art fayre thyne eyes are as of doues †Behold thou art fayre my beloued comlie our litle bed is florishing †The beames of our houses are of cedar our rafters of cypresse trees CHAP. II. I AM the flower of the filde and the lilie of the valley †As the lilie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters †As the apletree among trees of the woddes so is my beloued among the sonnes Vnder his shadow whom I desired I sate and his fruite was sweete vnto my throte †He brought me into the wineceller he hath ordered in me charitie †Stay me vp with flowers compasse me about with apples because I languish with loue †His lefthand vnder my head and his righthand shal embrace me †I adiure you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the roes and the hartes of the fildes that you rayse not nor make the beloued to awake vntil herselfe wil. †The voice of my beloued behold he cometh leaping in the mountaines leaping ouer the little hilles †my beloued is like vnto a roe and to a fawne of hartes Behold he standeth behind our walle looking through the windowes looking forth by the grates †Behold my beloued speaketh to me Arise make hast my loue my doue beautiful one and come †For winter is now past the rayne is gone and departed †The flowers haue appeared in our land the time of pruning is come the voice of the turtledoue is heard in our land †the figgerree hath brought forth her greene figges the florishing vineyards haue geuen their sauour Arise my loue my beautiful one come †My doue in the holes of the rocke in the holow places of the wal shew me thy face let thy voice sound in mine eares for thy voice is sweete and thy face comely †Catch vs the litle foxes that destroy the vineyards for our vineyard hath florished †i My beloued to me and I to him who feedeth among the lilies †til the day breake and the shadowes decline Returne be like my beloued to a roe and to the fawne of hartes
bring her to me to liue together knowing that she wil communicate vnto me of good thinges and wil be a comfort of my cogitation tediousnes †I shal haue for her sake glorie with the multitudes and honour with the ancient being yong †and I shâ—â— be â—â—â—nd sharpe in iudgement and in the sight of the mightie I shal be meruelous and the faces of princes wil meruel at me †Holding my peace they shal expect me and whiles I speake manie wordes they shallay their hands on their mouth †Moreouer by her I shal haue immortalitie and I shal leaue an eternal memorie to them that shal be after me †I shal dispose peoples and nations shal be subiect to me †Horrible kings hearing shal feare me in the multitude I shal seme good and in battel strong †Entring into my house I shal rest with her for her conuersation hath no bitternes nor her companie tediousnes but ioy and gladnesse †Thinking these thinges with myselfe and recording in my hart that immortalitie is in the kindred of wisedom †and good delectation in her frendship and in the workes of her handes honestie without defect and wisdom in the disputation of her talke and glorie in the communication of her wordes I went about seeking that I might take her to me †And I was a wittie childe and had gotten a good soule †And wheras I was more good I came to a bodie vndefield †And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent vnlesse God gaue it this verie thing also was wisdom to know whose this gift was I went to our Lord and besought him and said from my whole hart CHAP. IX A prayer made by Salomon for wisdom 9. wherby Superiors are able to gouerne 13. Which by only humane wisdom they can not rightly performe GOD of my fathers and Lord of mercie which madest al thinges with thy word †and by thy wisdom didst appoint man that he should haue dominion of the creature that was made by thee †that he should dispose the round-world in equitie and iustice and execute iudgement in direction of hart †geue me wisdom the assistant of thy seates and repel me not from thy children †because I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaide a weake man and of smal time and lesse to the vnderstanding of iudgement and lawes †And if one be perfect among the children of men and thy wisdom be absent from him he shal be counted for nothing †Thou hast chosen me king to thy people and iudge of thy sonnes and daughters †and badst me build a temple in thy holie mount and an altar in the citie of thy habitation a similitude of thy holie tabernacle which thou didst prepare from the beginning †and thy wisdom with thee which knew thy workes which then also was present when thou madest the roundworld and knew what was pleasing to thyne eyes and what was direct in thy precepts †Send her from thy holy heauens and from the seate of thy greatnes that she may be with me and may labour with me that I may know what is acceptable with thee †for she knoweth al thinges vnderstandeth and shal conduct me in my workes soberly shal keepe me with her might †And my workes shal be acceptable and I shal gouerne thy people iustly and shal be worthie of the seates of my father †For who of men is able to know the counsel of God or who can thinke what God wil †For the cogitations of mortal men be fearful and our prouidences vncertaine †For the bodie that is corrupted burdeneth the soule and the earthlie habitation presseth downe the vnderstanding that thinketh manie thinges †And we doe hardly coniecture the thinges that are in the earth and the thinges that are in sight we finde with labour But the thinges that are in the heauens who shal search out †And thy sense who shal know vnles thou geue wisdom and send thy holie spirit from on high †and so the pathes of them that are on the earth may be corrected and men lerne the thinges that please thee †For by wisdom they were healed whoseouer haue pleased thee ô Lord from the begynning CHAP. X. The benefites of wisdom are declared by examples in Adam 4. Noe 5. Abraham 6. Lot 10. Iacob 13. Ioseph 15. And the people of Israel SHE kept him that was first made of God father of the world when he was created alone †and she brought him out of his sinne and gaue him powre to conteyne al thinges †After the vniust departed in his anger from her by the furie of brothers man slaughter perished †For whose cause when water destroyed the earth wisdom healed it againe gouerning the iust by contemptible wood †She euen in the consent of wickednes when the nations had confederated themselues knewe the iust and preserued him without blame to God and in his sonnes mercie kept the strong †She deliuered the iust fleing from the impious that perished when the fyre came downe vpon Pentapolis †to whom for a witnes of their wickednes the desert land standeth smoking and trees hauing fruites at vncertain season and the memorie of an incredulous soule a standing piller of salt †For pretermitting wisdom they did not only slippe in this that they were ignorant of good thinges but they left also vnto men a memorie of their foolishnes that in those thinges in which they sinned in they could not be hid neither †But wisdom hath deliuered them that obserue her from sorowes †And the iust fleing his brothers wrath she conducted by the right wayes and shewed him the kingdom of God and gaue him the knowlege of the holie did honest him in labours and accomplised his labours †In the fraude of the circumuenters of him she was present with him and made him honorable †She kept him from the enemies and from seducers she defended him and from seducers she defended him and gaue him a strong fight thas he might ouercome and know that wisdom is mightier then al. †She forsooke not the iust being sold but deliuered him from sinners and she went downe with him into the pitte †and in bands leaft him not til she brought him the scepter of a kingdome and might against them that oppressed him and shewed them to be lyers that spotted him and gaue him eternal glorie †The iust people and seede without blame she deliuered from the nations that oppressed them †She entered into the soule of the seruant of God and stood against dreadful kinges in wonders and signes †And she rendred to the iust the hope of their labours and conducted them in a meruelous way and she was vnto them for a couerr in the day and for the
the tribes of Iacob †Blessed are they that saw thee and were honored in thy freindshipe †For we liue by life only but after death our name shal not be such †Elias was in dede hid in the whirlewind his spirit was complete in Eliseus in his daies he feared not the prince and no man ouercame him by might †Neither did any word ouercome him and his bodie prophecied being dead †In his life he did wonders and in death he wrought meruelous thinges †In al these thinges the people repented not and they departed not from their sinnes til they were cast out of their land and were dispersed into al the earth †And there was leaft a verie smal nation and a prince in the house of Dauid †Some of them did that which pleased God but others committed manie sinnes †Ezechias fenced his citie and brough in water into the middes thereof and digged a rocke with yron and built a wel for water †In his daies came vp Sennacherib and sent Rabsaces and lifted vp his hand against them and put forth his hand vpon Sion and became proude by his mightines †Then were their harts and hands moued and they were in sorow as trauailing wemen †And they inuocated our merciful Lord and spredding their handes they lifted them vp to heauen and the holie Lord God quickly heard their voice †He was not mindful of their sinnes neither did he geue them to their enemies but purged them by the hand of Isaie the holie prophete †He ouerthrew the campe of the Assirians and the Angel of our Lord destroyed them †For Ezechias did that which pleased God and went strongly in the way of Dauid his father which Isaie commanded him the great prophet and faithful in the sight of God †In his daies the sunne returned backward added life to the king †By a great spirite he saw the last thinges and comforted the mourners in Sion †For euer he shewed the thinges to come secret thinges before they came to passe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLVIII 10 VVho art vvritten Amongst other quarels Protestantes except against the authentical auctoritie of this booke because the auctor saith that Enoch and Elias shal come againe to appease the wrath of our Lord to reconcile the father to the sonne and to restore the tribes of Iacob But that this is no iust exception is clere by other holie Scriptures where the same vniforme doctrin of the whole Church is no lesse euident then in this booke For God himself saith the same also by the mouth of his prophet Malachie Behold I wil send you Elias the prophet before the day of our Lord come the great and dreadful Christ also sayth Elias in deede shal come and restore al thinges VVherupon S. Chrysostom after he hath shewed how terrible Antichrist shal be by reason of his temporal powre crueltie and wicked lawes he addeth Feare thou not He shal only haue force in the reprobate that perish For then also Elias shal come to fortifie the faithful Likewise the wordes in the Apocalips I wil geue to my two witnesses they shal prophecie a thousand two hundred and three score dayes were euer inuariably vnderstood by tradition from the first preachers of Christ as the ancient writer Aretas testifieth that Enoch and Elias shal come admonish al not to geue credite to the deceiptful wonders of Antichrist and that they shal trauel in this testimonie the space of three yeares and a half For 1260. dayes come very nere to that space of time CHAP. XLIX Praises of Iosias who like to Dauid and Ezechias tooke away occasions of idolatrie 8. Praises of Ieremie 10. Ezechiel 12. and the twelue Prophetes 13. Also of Zorobabel Iesus the sonne of Iosedech Nehemias Enoch Ioseph Seth Sem and Adam THE memorie of Iosias is according to the confection of perfume made by the worke of an apothecarie †His remembrance shal be sweete as honie in euerie mouth and as musick in banket of wine †He was directed by God into the repentance of the nation and he tooke away the abominations of impietie †And he gouerned his hart toward our Lord and in the daies of sinners he strengthened pietie †Except Dauid and Ezechias and Iosias al committed sinne †For the kinges of Iuda forsooke the law of the Highest and contemned the feare of God †For they gaue their kingdom to others and their glorie to a strange nation †They burnt the chosen citie of holines and made the waies thereof desolate in the hand of Ieremie †For they euil intreated him who was consecrated a prophet from his mothers wombe to ouerthrow and pluck vp and destroy and to build againe and renewe †Ezechiel who saw the sight of glorie which he shewed him in the chariote of Cherubs †For he made mention of the enemies in rayne to doe good vnto them that haue shewed right waies †And the bones of the twelue prophets wel may they spring out of their place for they haue strengthened Iacob and haue redeemed themselues in the fidelitie of power †How may we magnifie Zorobabel for he also was as a signet on the right hand †and so Iesus the sonne of Iosedec who in their daies built the house and erected the holie temple to our Lord prepared to euerlasting glorie †And Nehemias in the memorie of much time who erected vs our walles ouerthrowen and set vp the gates and lockes who built our houses †No man hath bene borne in the earth like to Henoch for he also was taken vp from the earth †Neither as Ioseph who was a man borne prince of his bretheren the stay of the nation the ruler of his bretheren the stay of the people †and his bones were visited and after death they prophecied †Seth and Sem obteyned glorie with men and aboue euerie soule in the beginning Adam CHAP. L. Praises of Simon the High Priest 27. Detestation of certaine persecuting aduersaries 29. With conclusion that the obseruers of this doctrine shal be wise and happie SIMON the sonne of Onias the high priest who in his life held vp the house and in his daies strengthned the temple †The height also of the temple was founded by him the duble building and high walles of the temple †In his daies the welles of waters flowed out and they were filled as the sea aboue measure †Who had care of his nation and deliuered it from perdition †Who preuailed to amplifie the citie who obteyned glorie in conuersing with the nation and amplified the entrance of the house and the court †As the morning starre in the middes of a cloude and as the ful moone he shineth in his dayes †And as the sunne shining so did he shine in the temple of God †As the rainbow that shineth among
day a man shal nourish a young cowe and two ewes †And for the abundance of milke he shal eate butter for butter and honie shal euerie one eate that shal be leaft in the middes of the land †And it shal be in that day euerie place where there shal be a thousand vines for a thousand peeces of siluer they shal be into thornes and bryers †With arrowes and bow they shal goe in thither for bryers and thornes shal be in al the land †And al mountaines that shal be weeded with a weeding hooke the terrour of thornes and bryers shal not come thither and it shal be for the oxe to feede on and cattle to treade vpon CHAP. VIII Vnder the figure of a new name Christs birth of a virgin is againe prophecied 4. but first the kingdomes of Syria and Israel shal be destroyed and Iuda sore afflicted 8. yet conserued with losse of manie 16. which is a mysterie hidden from the Iowes 21. Great euils hang ouer them that depart from the law AND our Lord sayd to me Take thee a great booke write in it with the pen of man Take away the spoiles spedely quickly take prayes †And I tooke to me faithful witnesses Vrias the priest Zacharias the sonne of Barachias †And I went to the prophetesse and she conceiued and bare a sonne And our Lord sayd to me Cal his name Hasten to take away the spoiles make hast to take prayes †For before the childe know to cal his father and his mother the strength of Damascus shal be taken away and the spoiles of Samaria before the king of the Assirians †And our Lord added yet to speake vnto me saying †For that this people hath cast away the waters of Siloé that runne with silence and rather taken Rasin and the sonne of Romelia †for this cause behold our Lord wil bring vpon them the waters of the riuer strong and manie the king of the Assirians and al his glorie and he wil ascend ouer al their riuers and wil flowe ouer al their bankes †And wil goe through Iuda ouerflowing and passing through shal come euen to the necke And the stretching out of his winges shal fil the bredth of thy land ô Emmanuel †Gather ye together ô peoples and be ouercome and heare al ye landes far of Take courege and be ouercome gird yourselues be ouercome †Take counsel and it shal be defeated speake a word and it shal not be done because God is with vs. †For thus sayth our Lord to me As in a strong arme he hath taught me that I should not walke in the way of this people saying †Say not Conspiracie for al thinges that this people speaketh is conspiracie and feare ye not their feare neither dread ye †The Lord of hostes him sanctifie ye be he your dread and he your terrour †And he shal be a sanctification to you But for a stone of offence and for a rocke of scandal to the two houses of Israel for a snare and a ruine to the inhabitants of Ierusalem †And verie manie of them shal stumble and fal and shal be broken in peeces and shal be snared and taken †Binde the testimonie seale the law in my disciples †And I wil expect our Lord who hath hid his face from the house of Iacob and I wil wayte for him †Behold I and my children whom our Lord hath geuen me for a signe and for a wonder in Israel from the Lord of hostes which dwelleth in mount Sion †And when they shal say to you Aske of Pythones and of diuiners which whisper in their inchantments shal not the people aske vision of their God for the liuing of the dead †To the law rather and to the testimonie And if they speake not according to this word they shal not haue the morning light †And he shal passe by it shal fal and be hungrie and when he shal be hungrie he wil be angrie and curse his king and his God and wil looke vpwards †And he wil looke to the earth and behold tribulation and darknes dissolution and distresse and mist persecuting and he can not flie away from his distresse CHAP. IX Theglath Phalasar carieth some Israelites captiue and Salman asar manie more in figure of a few disciples conuerted to Christ in Gallilee and al Iewrie but manie more in the whole world 7. Whose Impyre shal be great and durable 8. but the Iewes glorie especially of the tenne tribes shal be obscured for their pride hypochrisie and other sinnes AT the first time was the land of Zabulon alleuiated and the land of Nepthali and at the last was aggrauated the way of the sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles †The people that walked in darknes hath sene great light to them that dwelt in the countrie of the shadow of death light is risen †Thou hast multiplied the nation and not magnified the ioy They shal reioyce before thee as they that reioyce in haruest as conquerors reioyce after a pray is taken when they diuide the spoiles †For the yoke of their burden and the rod of their shoulder and the scepter of their exactour thou hast ouercome as in the day of Madian †Because al violent taking of pray with tumult and garment mingled with bloud shal be to be burnt and foode for the fyre †For A LITLE CHILD IS BORNE TO VS and a sonne is geuen to vs and principalitie is made vpon his shoulder and his name shal be called Meruelous Counseler God Strong Father of the world to come the Prince of peace †His empire shal be multiplied and there shal be no end of peace he shal sit vpon the throne of Dauid and vpon his kingdom that he may confirme it and strengthen it in iudgement and iustice from this time for euer the zeale of the Lord of hostes shal doe this †Our Lord hath sent a word into Iacob and it is fallen in Israel †And al the people of Ephraim shal know the inhabitans of Samaria saying in pride greatnes of hart †Brickes are fallen but we wil build with square stones they haue cut downe sycomores but we wil change them into ceders †And our Lord shal lifte vp the enemies of Rasin ouer him and shal turne his enemies into tumult †Syria from the East and the Philisthims from the West and they shal deuoure Israel with ful mouth In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †And the people is not returned to him who hath strooken them and haue not sought after the Lord of hostes †And our Lord shal destroy from Israel the head the tayle the peruerter and restrayner in one day †The aged and honorable he is the head the prophet that teacheth a lie he is the
most proud and mightie shal be throwne into extreme miserie 24. In the meane time the Asirians beseging Ierusalem shal be defeated 28. Neither shal the Philistims preuaile against the lewes as they presume IT is neere that the time therof shal come and the daies therof shal not be porlonged For our Lord wil haue mercie on Iacob and wil yet choose out of Israel and wil make them rest vpon their owne ground the stranger shal be ioyned to them shal sticke to the house of Iacob †And peoples shal hold them and bring them into their place and the house of Israel shal possesse them vpon the land of our Lord for seruants and handmaides and they shallead captiue those that had taken them shal subdewe their exactours †And it shal be in that day when God shal geue thee rest from thy labour and from thy vexation and from the sore seruitude which thou didst serue before †Thou shalt take this parable against the king of Babylon and shalt say How hath the exactour ceased the tribute rested †Our Lord hath broken the staffe of the impious the rodde of the rulers †that did beate peoples in indignation with vncurable wound subdewing nations in furie persecuting cruelly †Al earth is quiet and stil is glad hath reioyced †The firre trees also haue reioyeed ouer thee and the ceders of Libanus since thou hast slept there hath none come vp to hewe vs. †Hel beneath is trubled to meete thy coming it hath raysed vp the giants for thee Al the princes of the earth are risen vp from their thrones al the princes of nations †Al shal answere and say to thee Thou also art wounded euen as we made like vnto vs. †Thy pride is drawen downe to hel thy carcasse is fallen vnder thee shal the mothe be strawed and wormes shal be thy couering †How art thou fallen from heauen Lucifer which didst rise in the morning art thou fallen to the earth that didst wound nations †Which didst say in thy hart I wil ascend into heauen aboue the starres of God wil I exalt my throne I wil sitte in the mount of the testament in the sides of the North. †I wil ascend aboue the height of the cloudes I wil be like to the Highest †But yet thou shalt be drawen downe to hel into the depth oh the lake †They that shal see thee shal turne toward thee behold thee Is this the man that trubled the earth that shaked kingdomes †that made the world a desert destroyed the cities therof opened not the prison to his prisoners †Al the kinges of the nations euerie one haue slept in glorie eche man in his owne house †But thou art cast forth out of thy sepulchre as an vnprofitable branche polluted and wrapped vp with them that were slaine by the sword and are gone downe to the fundations of the lake as a rotten carcasse †Thou shalt not keepe companie with them neither in burial for thou hast destroyed thy land thou hast slaine thy people the seede of the wicked shal not be named for euer †Prepare his children to slaughter in the iniquitie of their fathers they shal not rise vp nor inherite the land nor fil the world with cities †And I wil rise ouer them sayth the Lord of hostes I wil destroy the name of Babylon and the remaynes and bud and progenie sayth our Lord. †And I wil make it the possession of the hedgehog marriâ—es of waters I wil sweepe it with besome wearing it sayth the Lord of hostes †The Lord of hostes hath sworne saying If it shal not be as I haue thought and so fal out as I haue in mind consulted †That I destroy the Assirian in my land and in my mountaines tread vpon him and his yoke shal be taken away from them and his burden taken of from their shoulder †This is the counsel that I haue deuised vpon al the earth and this is the hand stretched forth vpon al nations †For the Lord of hostes hath decreed and who can weaken it and his hand is stretched out and who shal turne it away †In the yeare that king Achaz died was this burden made †Reioyce not thou whole Philistaea that the rod of thy striker is broken in peeces for from the roote of the serpent shal issue forth a cockatrice and his seede swalowing the bird †And the first borne of the poore shal be fed the poore shal rest considently and I wil make thy roote to perish in famine and wil kil thy remnant †Howle thou gate crie out ô citie al Philisthaea is throwen downe for a smoke shal come from the North and there is none that shal escape his troupe †And what shal be answered to the messengers of nations That our Lord hath founded Sion and the poore of his people shal hope in him CHAP. XV. Unexpected ruine shal fal vpon the Moabites 5. Wherof the Prophet hath compassion THE burden of Moab Because Ar-Moab was wasted in the night he hath held his peace because the wal of Moab is destroyed in the night he hath held his peace †The house is gone vp Dibon to the high places to moorne vpon Nabo and vpon Medaba shal Moab howle on al the heades therof baldnes and euerie beard shal be shauen †In the high wayes therof they are girded with sackcloth vpon the roofes therof and in the streates therof al howling goeth downe to weepe †Hesebon shal crie Elealé their voice is heard euen to â—asa For this shal the wel appoynted of Moab howle his soule shal howle to himself †My hart shal crie to Moab the barres therof vnto Segor an heifer astonishing for by the ascent of Luith he shal goe vp weeping in the way of Oronaim they shal lift vp a crie of contrition †For the waters of Nemrim shal be made desolate because the grasse is withered the spring is faded al grennes is perished †According to the greatnes of the worke is also their visitation they shal lead them to the torrent of willowes †Because the crie shal goe round about the border of Moab vnto Gallim the howling therof and vnto the Pit-Elim the crie therof †Because the waters of Dibon are replenished with bloud for I wil pur additions vpon Dibon the â—on for them that shal flee of Moab and for the remmant of the land CHAP. XVI The prophet prayeth for and prophecieth Christs coming 6. adding more of the affliction of the Moabites for their pride SEND forth ô Lord the lambe the dominatour of the earth from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion †And he shal be as a bird fleing and the yong flying out of the nest so shal the daughters of Moab be in the passage of Arnon
hingdom against kingdom †And the spirit of Aegypt shal be broken in the bowels therof and I wil ouerthrow their counsel headlong and they shal aske their idols and their diuiners and Pythons and Southsayers †And I wil deliuer Aegypt into the hand of cruel masters and a strong king shal rule ouer them sayth our Lord the God of hostes †And the water of the sea shal be dried vp and the riuer shal be made desolate and drie †And the riuers shal faile the riuers of the ramppiers shal be diminished dried vp The reede and bulrush shal wither †the chanel of the riuer shal be spoiled of his fountayne and al sowne corne filde that is watered shal be dried vp it shal wither and shal not be †And the fishers shal lament and al that cast angle into the riuer shal moorne and they that sprede net vpon the face of the water shal pine away †They shal be confounded that wrought twisting flaxe kombing and weauing fine thinges †And the watred places therof shal be drie al they that made pooles to take fishes †The princes of Tanis are fooles the wise counselers of Pharao haue geuen vnwise counsel how say ye vnto Pharao I am the sonne of the wise the sonne of the ancient kinges †Where are now thy wise men let them tel thee and shew what the Lord of hostes hath thought concerning Aegypt †The princes of Tanis are become fooles the princes of Nemphis are withered away they haue deceiued Aegypt the corner of the peoples therof †Our Lord hath mingled in the middes therof the spirit of gladnes and they haue made Aegypt to erre in euerie worke therof as he erreth that is drunke and vomiteth †And Aegypt shal haue no worke to make the head and the taile the peruerter and restrayner †In that day Aegypt shal be as wemen and they shal be astonied and shal be afrayd at the face of the mouing of the hand of the Lord of hostes which he shal moue ouer it †And the land of Iuda shal be a feare to Aegypt euerie one that shal remember it shal quake at the face of the counsel of the Lord of hostes which he hath thought concerning it †In that day there shal be fiue cities in the land of Aegypt speakingtongue the of Chanaan and swearing by the Lord of hostes one shal be called the citie of the sunne †In that day there shal be an altar of our Lord in the middes of the land of Aegypt and a title of our Lord by the border therof †it shal be for a signe and for a testimonie to the Lord of hostes in the land of Aegypt For they shal crie to our Lord at the presence of the afflicter and he shal send them a sauiour and defendet to deliuer them †And our Lord shal be knowen of Aegypt and the Aegyptians shal knowe our Lord in that day and shal worshipe him in hostes and in giftes and they shal vow vowes to our Lord and pay them †And our Lord shal smite Aegypt with a strooke and heale it and they shal returne to our Lord and he shal be pacified towards them and heale them †In that day there shal be a way from Aegypt to the Assirians and the Assirian shal enter into Aegypt and the Aegyptians to the Assirians and the Aegyptians shal serue Assur †In that day shal Israel be a third to the Aegyptian and the Assirian a blessing in the middes of the earth †which the Lord of hostes hath blessed saying Blessed be my people of Aegypt and the worke of my hands to the Assirian but Israel is mine inheritance CHAP. XX. The ignominious captiuitie of Aegyptians and Aethiopians is againe foreshewed by the Prophet going naked 5. wherat the Iewes are astonied and afeard seing their coâ—federaies so confounded IN the yeare that Tharthan entred into Azotus when Sargon the king of the Assyrians had sent him and he had fought against Azotus and had taken it †at that time our Lord spake in the hand of Isaie the sonne of Amos saying Goe and loose the sackcloth from of thy loynes and take of thy shooes from thy feete And he did so going naked and barefoote †And our Lord said As my seruant Isaie hath walked naked barefoote it shal be a signe a wonder of three heres vpon Aeghpt and vpon Aethiopia †so shal the king of the Assyrians leade the captiuitie of Aegypt and the transmigration of Aethiopia yong and old naked and vnshod their buttockes vncouered to the ignominie of Aegypt †And they shal feare be ashamed of Aethiopia their hope and of Aegypt their glorie †And the inhabitant of this I le shal say in that day “ Loe this was our hope to whom we fled for helpe that they should deliuer vs from the face of the king of the Assyrians and how shal we be able to escape ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XX. 6. Loe this vvas our hope God to shew the vanitie of al hope that is reposed in men or in wordlie thinges layeth the meruelous and miserable mutations of temporal great kingdoms before the eyes of his people That we may see and admire his merciful prouidence and our owne follie when we trust in the helpe of our selues or of other men who can not defend them selues from ruine and ignominie and much lesse can they saue vs or we our selues As these examples make manifest The kingdom of Israel or tenne tribes trusted in Damaseus which could not defend it self but was ouerthrowne The kingdom of Iuda or two tribes trusted in Aegypt The Aegyptians trusted in the Ethiopians and both were ouerthrowne by the Assirians The Assirians glorying in their victories and triumphes attributing al to their owne streingth were ouercome by the Babylonians The Babylonians likewise insolent and proud were oppressed by the Medes and Persians The Medes and Persians were subdued by Alexander the great VVho was shortly taken away in his youth by poyson and his great Monarchie diuided amongst his seruantes And so other peoples and kingdomes much more particular persons and families are turned like a whole And therfore our only refuge must be to God in whom is al true hope helpe safetie and happines temporal and eternal CHAP. XXI The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians is againe prophecied 11. The like of the Idumeans 13. and of Arabians THE burden of the desert sea As whirlewinds come from the South it cometh from the desert from an horrible land †A sore vision was told me he that is incredulous doth vnfaithfully he that is a spoiler wasteth Come vp Aelam besiege ô Mede I haue made al the moorning therof to cease †Therfore are my loines filled with sorow anguish hath possessed me as the anguish of a woman that trauaileth I fel downe when I heard it I was trubled when I saw it †Mine hart fayled
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie †They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice †Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes †Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes †They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace †For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes †We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead †We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. †For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen †to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying †And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in †And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement †And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him †He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele †As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes †And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth †and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. †This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee †Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee †And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side †Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee †The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. †Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie †Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes †For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee †And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee †And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought †For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation †The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie †And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel †For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a â—oy vnto generation and generation †and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob †For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice †Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates †Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie †Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended †And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
of my planting the worke of mine hand to glorifie †The least shal be into a thousand and the litle one into a most strong nation I the Lord in the time therof wil sodenly doe it CHAP. LXI Christ announceth himself to be sent from heauen to teach the truth to heale and pardon the penitent to comforte the desolate and streingthen the weake 4. whose Apostles shal constantly preach iustice in al the world 10. And his Church shal reioyce THE spirit of the Lord vpon me because the Lord hath annoynted me to preach to the milde he sent me that I should heale the contrite of hart and preach indulgence to the captiues and deliuerance to them that are shut vp †That I should preach the placable yeare to the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God that I might comfort al that mourne †that I might appoint to the mourners of Sion and geue them a crowne for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning a mantel of prayse for the spirit of sorrowfulnes and they shal be called in it the strong of iustice planting of the Lord to glorifie †And they shal build the desertes from the begynning of the world and shal erect the old ruines and shal repayre the desolate cities that were dissipated in generation and generation †And aliens shal stand and feede your cattel and the children shal be your husbandmen and dressers of the vines †And you shal be called the priestes of the Lord to you it shal be sayd The ministers of our God you shal eate the strength of the Gentiles and in their glorie you shal be proude †For your double confusion and shame they shal prayse their part for this cause shal they receiue duble in their land euerlasting ioy shal be to them †Because I am the Lord that loue iudgement hate robberie in holocaust and I wil geue their worke in truth and make a perpetual couenant with them †And they shal know their seede in the Gentiles and their bud in the middes of peoples al that shal see them shal know them that these are the seede which the Lord hath blessed †Reioycing I wil reioyce in our Lord and my soule shal be ioyful in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation and with the garment of iustice he hath compassed me as a bridgrome decked with a crowne and as a bride adorned with her iewels †For as the earth bringeth forth her spring and as the garden shooteth forth his seede so shal our Lord God make iustice to spring forth and prayse before al the Gentiles CHAP. LXII The prophet auoucheth that he wil not cease from preaching Christ 4. to whom al nations shal be conuerted 8. whos 's Church shal continew for euer FOR Sion I wil not hold my peace and for Ierusalem I wil not rest til her iust one come forth as brightnes her sauiour be kindled as a lampe †And the Gentiles shal see thy iust one and al kinges thy noble one and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of our Lord shal name †And thou shalt be a crowne of glorie in the hand of our Lord and the diademe of a kingdome in the hand of thy God †Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken and thy land shal no more be called Desolate But thou shalt be called My wil in her and thy land inhabited because it hath wel pleased our Lord in thee and thy land shal be inhabited †For the yong man shal dwel with the virgin and thy children shal dwel in thee And the bridgrome shal reioyce vpon the birde thy God shal reioyce vpon thee †Vpon thy walles Ierusalem I haue appointed watchemen al the day and al the night for euer they shal not hold their peace You that remember our Lord hold not your peace †and geue not silence to him vntil he establish and vntil he make Ierusalem the prayse in the earth †Our Lord hath sworne by his right hand and by the arme of his strength If I shal geue thy wheate any more to be meate for thine enemies and if the strange children shal drinke thy wine wherein thou hast laboured †Because they that shal gather it together shal eate it and shal prayse the Lord and they that carie it together shal drinke it in my holie courtes †Passe ye passe ye through the gates prepare a way for the people make the iourney plaine picke vp the stones and lift vp the signe to the peoples †Behold our Lord hath made heard in the ends of the earth tel the daughter of Sion Behold thy sauiour cometh behold his reward is with him and his worke before him †And they shal cal them The holie people the redemed of our Lord. But thou shalt be called a citie Sought for and not Forsaken CHAP. LXIII Christ is described as a vistorious conquerour ascending into heauen with triumph embrued with bloud 7. For al whose benefites the Prophet rendreth thankes 10. expostulating the peoples ingratitude that prouoked God to wrath VVHO is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bosra this beautiful one in his robe going in the multitude of his strength I that speake iustice and am a defender to saue †Why then is thy clothing red and thy garments as theirs that treade in the wine presse †I haue troden the presse alone and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me I haue troden them in my furie and haue troden them downe in my wrath and their bloud is sprinkled vpon my garments and I haue stayned al my rayment †For the day of reuenge is in my hart the yeare of my redemption is come †I looked about there was no helper I sought and there was none to ayde and myne arme hath saued and myne indignation itself hath holpen me †And I haue troden downe the peoples in my furie and haue inebriated them in mine indignation and haue drawen their strength downe to the ground †I wil remember the mercies of our Lord the prayse of our Lord for al thinges that our Lord hath rendred to vs and for the multitude of the good thinges to the house of Israel which he hath geuen them according to his iudulgence and according to the multitude of his mercies †And he sayd But yet is my people children that denie not and he is become their sauiour †In al their tribulation he was not trubled and the angel of his face saued them in his loue and in his indulgence he redemed them and bare them and lifted them vp al the daies of the world †But they prouoked to wrath and afflicted the spirit of his holie one and he was turned to be their enemie and he conquered them †And he remembred the dayes of the world of Moyses and of his people
send the sword after them til they be consumed †Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel Consider and cal ye lamenting wemen and let them come send to them that are wise and let them make haste †let them hasten take vp a lamentation vpon vs let our eies shede teares our eieliddes rune downe with waters †Because a voice of lamentation is heard from Sion How are we wasted and confounded exceedingly because we haue left the land because our tabernacles are cast downe †Heare therefore ye wemen the word of our Lord and let your eares take the word of his mouth and teach your daughters lamentation and euerie one her neighbour mourning †because death is come vp through our windowes it is entred into our houses to destroy the children from without the young men our of the streetes †Speake Thus saith our Lord and the carcasse of man shal fal as dung vpon the face of the countrie and as a grasse behind the backe of the mower and there is none to gather it †Thus saith our Lord Let not the wiseman glorie in his wisedom and let not the strong man glorie in his strength let not the rich man glorie in his riches †but he that glorieth let him glorie in this to vnderstand know me because I am the Lord that do mercie and iudgement and iustice in the earth for these thinges please me saith our Lord. †Behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil visite vpon euerie one that hath the prepuce circumcised †vpon Aegypt and vpon Iuda and vpon Edom and vpon the children of Ammon and vpon Moab and vpon al that haue their heare powled dwelling in the desert because al nations haue the prepuce but al the house of Israel are vncircumcised in the hart CHAP. X. Influence of starres nor imagined powre of idols is not to be feared but God only 6. whose Maiestie is infinite and idols haue no powre at al. 19. Ierusalem lamenteth 24. and prayeth God to pardon and protect his owne people HEARE ye the word which our Lord hath spoken concerning you ô house of Israel †Thus saith our Lord According to the waies of the Gentils learne not and of the fignes of heauen which the heathen feare be not afraid †Because the lawes of the people are vaine because the worke of the hand of the artificer hath cut a tree out of the forest with an axe †with siluer and gold he hath decked it with nailes and hammers he hath compacted it that it fal not asunder †They are framed after the simulitude of a palme tree and shal not speake being caried they shal be remoued because they are not able to go Therefore feare them not because they can neither doe il nor wel †There is not the like vnto thee ô Lord thou art great and great is thy name in strength †Who shal not feare thee ô king of Nations For thine is the glorie among al the wise of the Gentiles in al their kingdoms there is none like vnto thee †They shal be proued altogether vnwise and foolish the doctrine of their vanitie is wood †Siluer wrapped vp is brought from Tharsis and gold from Ophaz the worke of the artificer and the handes of the coppersmith hyacinth and purple are their clothing al these thinges are the worke of artificers †But our Lord is the true God he is the liuing God and the King euerlasting at his indignation the earth shal be moued the Gentils shal not sustaine his threatning †Thus then you shal say to them The goddes that made not heauen and earth let them perish from of the earth and from these places that are vnder heauen †He that maketh the earth in his strength prepareth the world in his wisedom and with his prudence stretcheth out the heauens †At his voice he geueth a multitude of waters in the heauen lifteth vp the cloudes from the endes of the earth he maketh lightninges into rayne and bringeth forth the winde out of his treasures †Euerie man is become a foole for knowlege euery craftes man is confounded in the sculptil because it is false that he hath melted and there is no spirite in them †They are vaine thinges and a worke worthie to be laughed at in the time of their visitation they shal perish †The portion of Iacob is not like to these for it is he that formed al thinges and Israel is the rodde of his inheritance the Lord of hosts is his name †Gather thy confusion out of the land thou that dwellest in beseige †Because thus saith our Lord Behold I wil cast forth farre of the inhabitans of the land at this time I wil afflict them so that they may not be found †Woe is me for my destruction my plague is very sore But I said Truly this is myne infirmitie and I wil beare it †My tabernacle is wasted al my cordes are broken in sunder my children are gone out from me and are not there is none to stretch out my tent anie more to set vp my courtaines †Because the pastours haue done foolishly and haue not sought our Lord therefore haue they not vnderstood and al their flocke is dispersed †Loe the voice of a bruit cometh a great commotion from the land of the North to make the cities of Iuda a desert an habitation of dragons †I know Lord that mans way is not his owne neither is it in a man to walke and to direct his steppes †Correct me ô Lord but yet in iudgement and not in thy furie lest perhappes thou bring me to nothing †Power out thine indignation vpon the Gentiles that haue not knowen thee and vpon the prouinces that haue not inuocated thy name because they haue eaten Iacob and deuoured him and consumed him and haue dissipated his glorie CHAP. XI The Prophet being commanded to preach the obseruation of Gods couenant is not heard 9. The people folovv their fathers example adoring idols 11. and shal therefore be seuerely punished neither shal their idols nor prayers of the iust profite them 15. their malice against Christ is described 20. and the reuenge therof THE word that was made from our Lord to Ieremie saying †Heare ye the wordes of this couenant and speake to the men of Iuda and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem †and thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel Cursed is the man that shal not heare the wordes of this couenant †which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the Land of Aegypt out of the yron fornace saying Heare ye my voice and doe al thinges that I command you and you shal be my people and I wil be your God †That I may raise vp the othe which I sware to your
prefigured the reiection of the Iewes 12. til Gods mercie recalleth them 17. The Prophet lamenting their obstinacie 22. sheweth that their sinne is the cause of their miserie THVS saith our Lord to me Goe and get thee a girdle of linnen and thou shalt put it about thy loynes shalt not put it into water †And I got a girdle according to the word of our Lord and put it about my loynes †And the word of our Lord was made to me the second time saying †Take the girdle which thou hast gotten which is about thy loynes and rising goe to Euphrates and hide it there in an hole of the rocke †And I went and hidde it in Euphrates as our Lord had commanded me †And it came to passe after manie daies our Lord said to me Arise goe to Euphrates and take from thence the girdle which I commanded thee that thou shouldst hide it there †And I went to Euphrates and digged and tooke the girdle out of the place where I had hid it and behold the girdle was rotten so that it was fitte for noe vse †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Thus saith our Lord so wil I make the pride of Iuda the great pride of Ierusalem †This most wicked people which wil not heare my wordes and walke in the peruersitie of their hart and haue gone after strange goddes to serue them and to adore them they shal be as this girdle which is fitte for no vse †For as the girdle cleaueth to the loynes of a man so haue I fast ioyned to me al the house of Israel and al the house of Iuda saith our Lord that they might be my people and name and prayse and glorie and they heard not †Thou shalt say therefore vnto them this word Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel Euerie bottle shal be filled with wine And they shal say to thee Why are we ignorant that euerie bottle shal be filled with wine †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil fil al the inhabitants of this land the kinges that of the stocke of Dauid sitte vpon his throne and the priests and the prophets and al the inhabitants of Ierusalem with drunkennes †And I wil disperse them euerie man from his brother and the fathers and sonnes together saith our Lord I wil not spare and I wil not yelde neither wil I haue mercie not to destroy them †Heare ye and geue eare Be not eleuated because our Lord hath spoken †Geue ye glorie to our Lord your God before it waxe darke and before your feete stumble at the darke mountaines you shal looke for light and he wil turne it into the shadow of death and into darkenes †But if you wil not heare this in secret my soule shal weepe because of the pride weeping it shal weepe and mine eie shal droppe teares because the flocke of our Lord is taken †Say to the king and to her that ruleth Be humbled sitte downe because the crowne of your glorie is come downe from your head †The cities of the South are shut and there is none that may open them al Iuda is transported with a perfect transmigration †Lift vp your eies and see you that come from the North where is the flocke that is geuen thee thy noble cattel †what wilt thou say when he shal visite thee for thou hast taught them against thee and instructed them against thyne owne head shal not sorowes apprehend thee as a woman in trauel †And if thou shalt say in thy hart Why are these thinges come vnto me For the multitude of thine iniquitie thy more shamelie partes are discouered the soles of thy feete are polluted †If the Aethiopian can change his skinne or the leopard his spottes you also can doe wel when you haue learned euil †And I wil scatter them as stubble which is violently taken with the winde in the desert †This is thy lot and portion of thy measure from me saith our Lord because thou hast forgotten me and hast trusted in lying †Wherefore I haue also made bare thy thighes against thy face and thine ignominie hath appeared †thine adulteries and thy neying the wickednesse of thy fornication vpon the litle hilles in the field I haue seene thine abominations Woe to thee Ierusalem thou wilt not be made cleane after me how long yet CHAP. XIIII Iurie shal be afflicted with drought and famine 11. Neither shal the prophets prayer nor their fastes nor sacrifices auaile them 14. Falseprophetes shal perish with the seduced people 17. Ieremie lamenting exhorteth them to repentance THE word of our Lord that was made to Ieremie concerning the wordes of the drought †Iurie hath mourned and the gates thereof are fallen downe are obscured on the earth and the crie of Ierusalem is come vp †The greater men haue sent their inferiours to the water they came to drawe they found no water they caried backe their vessels emptie they were confounded and afflicted and couered their heades †For the waste of the land because there came no rayne vpon the earth the husbandmen were confounded they couered their heades †For the hinde also brought forth in the field and left it because there was no grasse †And the wild asses stood vpon the rockes they drew winde as dragons their eies failed because there was no grasse †If our iniquities haue answered vs Lord do for thy names sake because our reuoltinges are manie to thee we haue sinned †O expectation of Israel the sauiour thereof in the time of tribulation why wilt thou be as a seiourner in the land and as a wayfaring man turning in to lodge †Why wilt thou be as a wandring man as the strong that can not saue but thou ô Lord art in vs and thy name is inuocated vpon vs forsake vs not †Thus saith our Lord to his people which hath loued to moue their feete and haue not rested and hath not pleased our Lord Now wil he remember their iniquities and visite their sinnes †And our Lord said to me Pray not for this people to good †When they shal fast I wil not heare their prayers and if they shal offer holocaustes and victimes I wil not receiue them because with sword and famine and pestilence I wil consume them †And I said A a a ô Lord God the Prophetes say to them You shal not see the sword and there shal be no famine among you but he wil geue you true peace in this place †And our Lord said to me The prophetes prophecie falsely in my name I sent them not and I commanded them not neither haue I spoken vnto them lying vision and deceitful diuination guilfulnes and the seduction of their owne hart they prophecie vnto you †Therefore thus saith our Lord of the prophets that
yeares and I wil disperse the Aegyptians into nationes and wil scatter them into the landes †Because thus saith our Lord God After the end of fourtie years I wil gather Aegypt out of the peoples in which they had bene dispersed †And I wil bring backe the captiuitie of Aegypt and wil place them in the land of Phatures in the land of their natiuitie and they shal be there as a low kingdom †among other kingdoms it shal be lowest and it shal no more be eleuated ouer the nations and I wil diminish them that they rule not ouer the Gentils †And they shl no more be to the house of Israel in confidence teaching iniquitie that they may flee and folow them and they shal know that I am the Lord God †And it came to passe in the seuen and twenteth yeare in the first in the first of the moneth the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man Nabuchodnosor the king of Babylon hath made his armie to serue with great seruice agaynst Tyre euerie head made bald and euerie shoulder hath the heare plucked of and there hath bene no reward rendred him nor his armie concerning Tyre for the seruice that he serued me agaynst it †Therfore thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil geue Nabuchodonsor the king of Babylon in the Land of Aegypt and he shal take the multitude therof and take the boories therof for a praye and rifle the spoiles therof and it shal be a reward for his armie †and for the worke that he serued me agaynst it I haue geuen him the Land of Aegypt for that they haue labored for me sayth our Lord God †In that day there shal a horne spring to the house of Israel and I wil geue thee an open mouth in the middes of them and they shal know that I am the Lord. CHAP. XXX Aegypt shal be so wasted 5. that Aethiopia and other neighboures shal tremble 9. seing the cities and countrie destroyed 20. Al which is confirmed againe by an other vision AND the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man prophecie say Thus sayth our Lord God Howle ye wo wo to the day †because the day is nere and the day of our Lord approcheth the day of a cloude the time of the Gentiles shal be †And the sword shal come into Aegypt there shal be feare in Aethiopia when the woonded shal fal in Aegypt and the multitude therof shal be taken away and the fundations therof be destroyed †Aethiopia and Libia and the Lydians and al the rest of the common people and Chub and the children of the land of couenan◠shal fal with them by the sword †Thus sayth our Lord God And they shal fal that vnderproppe Aegypt and the pride of the empire therof shal be destroyed from the towre of Siena shal they fal in it by the sword sayth our Lord the God of hostes †And they shal be dissipated in the middes of desolate landes and the cities therof shal be in the middes of desert cities †And they shal know that I am the Lord when I shal haue geuen fyre in Aegypt and al the ayders therof shal be broken †In that day shal messengers goe forth from my face in gallies to terrifie the confidence of Aethiopia and there shal be feare among them in the day of Aegypt because it shal come without doubt †Thus sayth our Lord God I wil make the multitude of Aegypt to cease in the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon †He and his people with him the strongest of the Gentiles shal be brought to destroy the land and they shal draw their swordes vpon Aegypt and shal fil the land with the slaine †And I wil make the channels of the riuers drie and wil deliuer the land into the handes of the most wicked and wil dssipate the land and the fulnes therof in the handes of aliens I the Lord haue spoken †Thus sayth our Lord God And I wil destroy the idols and I wil make the idols to cease out of Memphis and duke of the land of Aegypt there shal be no more and I wil geue terrour in the land of Aegypt †And I wil destroy the land of Phathures and wil geue fire in Taphnis and wil do iudgements in Alexandria †And I wil powre out mine indignation vpon Pelusium the strength of Aegypt and wil kil the multitude of Alexandria †And wil geue fyre in Aegypt as a woman in trauel shal Pelusium sorow Alexandria shal be dissipated and in Memphis daylie distresses †The youngmen of Heliopolis and of Bubasti shal fal by the sword and themselues shal be led captiue †And in Taphnis the day shal waxe black when I shal haue broken there the scepters of Aegypt and the pride of the might therof shal faile in it the cloude shal couer her her daughters shal be led into captiuitie †And I wil doe iudgements in Aegypt they shal know that I am the Lord. †And it came to passe in the eleuenth yeare in the first moneth in the seuenth of the moneth the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man I haue broken the arme of Pharao king of Aegypt and behold it is not wound vp that health might be restored to it that it might be bound with clothes and swadled with linnen cloutes that recouering strength it might hold the sword †Therfore thus saith our Lord God Behold I to Pharao king of Aegypt I wil breake into peeces his strong arme already broken and I wil cast downe the sword out of his hand †and wil disperse Aegypt among the Gentils and wil scatter them in the landes †And I wil strengthen the armes of the king of Babylon and wil geue my sword in his hand and I wil breake the armes of Pharao and the slaine before his face shal grone with groninges †And I wil strengthen the armes of the king of Babylon and the armes of Pharao shal fal and they shal know that I am the Lord when I shal geue my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he shal haue streched it forth vpon the Land of Aegypt †And I wil disperse Aegypt into nations and wil scatter them into landes and they shal know that I am the Lord. CHAP. XXXI The glorie of Assirians excelling al other kingdomes 10. was ouerthrowne God so ordayning by the Chaldees 18. much lesse shal Aegypt escape AND it came to passe in the eleuenth yeare the third moneth the first of the moneth the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man say to Pharao the king of Aegypt and to his people To whom art thou made like in thy greatnes †Behold Assur as it were a ceder in Libanus fayre of boughes and thicke of leaues and high of height
histories fables and so did not account them Canonical Scripture First we answer that he reporting the Iewes opinion vseth their termes not explicating his owne iudgement intending only to deliuer sincerely that which he found in the Hebrew Yet would he not omite to insert the rest aduertising withal that he had it in Theodotions translation Which answer is clerly iustified by his owne testimonie li. 2. c. 9. aduersus Ruffinum in these wordes Wheras I relate sayth he what the Hebrewes say against the historie of Susanna and the Hymne of the three children he that for this reputeth me a foole proueth himself a sycophant For I did not explicate what myself iudged but what they are wont to say against me Secondly we answer that if S. Ierom did not thinke these partes to be Canonical yet seing so manie other ancient Fathers and now the whole Church hold them for Canonical we so beleue them to be For albeit the ancient Councels and others that recite catalogues of holie Scriptures do not expresly say as the councel of Trent lastly doth Sess 4. that al the partes of bookes by them recited are Canonical yet they do not except anie partes of this Booke and therfore speaking indefinitly do in dede include al and not exclude anie parcels vsually read in the Church as these are Moreouer very manie ancient Fathers do expresly alleage these partes as Diuine Canonical Scriptures Of manie we shal cite some The prayer of Azarias is alleaged as diuine Scripture by S. Cyprian Ser. de lapsis by holie Ephrem li. de humilitate comparanda ca. 9. by S. Chrysostom ho. de tribus pueris Leontius Cyprius apud Eutym par 1. Panopliae tit 8. Patianus Parenesi in Poenitentiam S. Augustin Epist 122. li. de natura boni c. 16. S. Fulgentius ad Venatiam de poenitentia c. 16. Likewise the Hymne of the three children is alleaged by most of the same and by diuers others As by S. Ierom himself in c. 3. ad Galatas Epist. 49. de muliere septiesicta S. Ambrose Praefatan Psalmos li. 6. in Lucanum c. 2. Concilium Toletanum c. 13. In like maner the historie of Susanna is cited as holie Scripture by S. Ignatius Epist ad Magnesianos Tertullian li. de corona militis S. Cyprian li. 1. Epist. ep 8. 40. S. Chrysostom Ho. 1. in fine hath a whole sermon of Susanna as vpon holie Scripture S. Ambrose li. 1. de Officijs c. 18. li. 3. c. 14. li. 3. de Spiritu Sancto c. 7. S. Augustin Trast 36. in Ioan. Ser. 118. 242. Finally the histories of Bel and of the Dragon are iudged Diuine Scripture by S. Cyprian li. 1. Ep. ep 4. li. 3. ep 1. li. 4. ep 6. S. Basil ho. in diuites auaros S. Athanasius in Synopsi briefly explicating the argument of this whole booke maketh expresse mention of the Hymne of the three children and of the histories of Susanna and of Bel and the Dragon To conclude therfore with whom we begane S. Ierom speaking of this whole Booke saith Daniel temporum conscius totius mundi philoistor lapidem praecisum de monte sine manibus regna omnia subuertentem claro sermone pronuntiat Daniel skilful of times a studious historiographer in cleare speach sheweth the stone cut out of the mountaine without handes which ouerthroweth al kingdomes Signifying the principal contents of this booke to be that al other kingdomes namely for example sake the foure great Monarchies the fist of the Chaldees the second of the Medes and Persians the third of the Grecians and the fourth of the Romanes should be ouerthrowne one after an other and only the kingdom of Christ our Sauiour borne of a perpetual virgin shal be permanent for euer More particularly this Booke may be diuided into three partes In the first six chapters especially are declared for most part in maner of historie certaine actes of Daniel with the other three Hebrew children and of the kinges of Babylon In other six chapters is more directly prophecied of Christ and of Antichrist of the perpetual glorie of Christs kingdom and vtter destruction of the others with the end of world and general iudgement In the two last chapters are conteyned the histories of holie Susanna and of the idols Bel and the Dragon THE PROPHECIE OF DANIEL CHAP. I. The king of Babylon by force entring into Ierusalem spoyleth the temple 6. amongst others carieth captiue Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias S. who abstayning from the kings meates 15. are fayrer then other children 17. and wiser Daniel also vnderstanding dreames then al the magicians of Chaldee IN THE third yeare of the kingdom of Ioakim king of Iuda came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon into Ierusalem and besieged it †And our Lord deliuered into his hand Ioakim the king of Iuda and part of the vessels of the house of God and he caried them away into the land of Sennaar into the house of his god the vessels he brought into the house of the treasure of his god †And the king spake to Asphenez the gouernour of the Eunuches that he should bring in of the children of Israel and of the kings the tyrants seede †children in whom was no spot beautiful of forme and instructed in al wisedom cunning in knowlege and taught in discipline and that might stand in the kings palace that he might teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldees †And the king appoynted them a certaine prouision for euerie day of his meates of the wine wherof he dranke himself that being nourished three yeares afterward they might stand in the kings sight †There were therfore among them of the children of Iuda Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias †And the gouernour of the enuches gaue them names to Daniel Baltassar to Ananias Sidrach to Misael Misach to Azarias Abdenago †But Daniel purposed in his hart that he would not be polluted of the kings table nor of the wine of his drinke he requested the gouernour of the eunuches that he might not be contaminated †And God gaue vnto Daniel grace and mercie in the sight of the prince of the eunuches †And the prince of the enuches said to Daniel I feare my Lord the king who hath appoynted for you meate and drinke who if he shal see your faces leaner then the other youthes your equals you shal condemne my head to the king †And Daniel sayd to Malasar whom the prince of the eunuches appoynted ouer Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias †Proue I besech thee thy seruants for tenne dayes let pulse be geuen vs to eate water to drinke †and looke vpon our faces and the faces of the children that eate of the kings meate and as thou shalt see thou shalt doe with thy sernants †Who hearing that maner of speach
of a mountaine without handes and it stroke the statua on the yron earthen feete therof brake them in peeces †Then were the yron the clay the brasse the siluer and gold broken together and brought as it were into the dust of a summers floore that are taken violently with the winde and there was no place found for them but the stone that stroke the statua was made a great mountaine and it filled al the earth †This is the dreame the interpretation also therof we wil tel before thee ô king †Thou art the king of kings and the God of heauen hath geuen thee kingdom and strength and empire and glorie †and al thinges wherin the children of men and the beasts of the filde doe inhabite the foules also of the heauen he hath geuen in thy hand and vnder thy dominion he hath appoynted al thinges thou therfore art the golden head †And after thee shal ryse vp an other kingdom lesse then thou of siluer and an other third kingdom of brasse which shal rule ouer al the world †And the fourth kingdom shal be as it were yron As yron breaketh into peeces tameth al thinges so shal that breake and destroy al these †Moreouer because thou sawest part of the feete and of the toes of the potters clay and part of yron the kindom shal be diuided which notwithstanding shal rise of the ground of yron according as thou sawest the yron mingled with the earth of clay †And the toes in part of yron and in part of earth in part the kingdom shal be whole and in part broken †And that thou sawest the yron mingled with the earsh of clay they shal be mingled in dede together with mans seede but they shal not sticke fast one to an other as yron can not be mingled with earth †But in the dayes of those kingdoms the God of heauen wil rayse vp a kingdom that shal not be dissipated for euer and his kingdom shal not be deliuered to an other people and it shal breake in peeces and shal consume al these kingdoms and itself shal stand for euer †According as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountaine without handes and brake the earth in peeces and the yron and the brasse and the siluer and the gold the great God hath shwed the king what thinges are to come hereafter the dreame is true the interpretation therof faithful †Then king Nobuchodonosor fel on his face adored Daniel commanded to sacrifice to him hostes incense †The king therfore speaking said to Daniel In very dede your God is the God of goddes and Lord of kinges and he that reueleth mysteries because thou couldst open this sacrament †Then the king aduanced Daniel on high he gaue him manie gifts and great and he made him prince ouer al the prouinces of Babylon and chiefe of the magistrates ouer al the wisemen of Babylon †And Daniel requested of the king and he appointed ouer the workes of the prouince of Babylon Sidrach Misach and Abdenago but Daniel himself was in the doores of the king CHAP. III. Nabuchodonosor setteh vp a statua commanding al vnder paine of death to adore it 8. which Sidrach Misach and Abdenago refusing to doe 14. are cast into a burning fornace 24. wherin they walke defended by an Angel from burning praying and praysing God 51. with an hymne 57. inuiting al creatures to praise him 91. which the king admiring confesseth and proclameth that their God is the only true God NABVCHODONOSOR the king made a statua of gold in height of sixtie cubites in bredth of six cubits and he set it in the fild of Dura of the prouince of Babylon †Therfor Nabuchodonosor the king sent to cal to gether the nobles the magistrates and iudges dukes and tyrants and rulers and al the princes of the countries that they should come together to the dedication of the statua which Nabuchodonosor the king had erected †Then were the nobles gathered together the magistrates and iudges the dukes and tyrants the great men that were placed in regiments and al the princes of the countries to come together to the dedication of the statua which Nabuchodonosor the king had erected And they stood in the sight of the statua which Nabuchodonosor the king had set vp †And the cryer cried mightely To you peoples and tribes and tongues it is said †In the houre that you shal heare the sound of the trumpet pipe and harpe of the doulcimer and psalter and symphonie al kind of musical instruments falling adore ye the golden statua which Nabuchodonosor the king hath set vp †But if any man shal not adore prostrate he shal the self same houre be cast into a fornace of burning fyre †After this therfore forthwith as al the people 's heard the sound of the trumpet the pipe harpe of the doulcimer and psalter of the symphonie and of al kind of musical instruments al the peoples tribes and tongues falling adored the golden statua which Nabuchodonosor the king had set vp †And forthwith in the very same time men of Chaldee coming accused the Iewes †and sayd to Nabuchodonosor the king King for euer liue †thou ô king hast made a decree that euerie man which shal heare the sound of the trumpet of the pipe and harpe of the doulcimer and psalter of the symphonie and of al kind of musical instrumentes prostrate himself and adore the golden statua †and if any man do not prostrate on the grond adore that he be cast into a fornace of burning fyre †There are therfore men of Iewrie whom thou didst appoynte ouer the workes of the countrie of babylon Sidrach Misach and Abdenago these men ô king haue contemned thy decree thy goddes they worshipe not and the golden statua which thou hast erected they adore not †Then Nabuchodonosor in furie and in wrath commanded that Sidrach Misach Abdenago should be brought who immediatly were brought before the king †And Nabuchodonosor the king pronouncing sayd to them In dede Sidrach Misach and Abdenago doe not you worshipe my goddes the golden statua that I haue set vp doe not you adore †Now therfore if you be readie in what houre soeuer you shal heare the sound of the trumpet the pipe the harpe of the doulcimer and psalter and Symphonie and of al kind of musical instruments prostrate your selues adore the statua which I haue made but if you adore not the selfe same houre you shal be cast into the fornace of burning fyre and what God is there that shal deliuer you out of my hand †Sidrach Misach and Abdenago answering said to king Nabuchodonosor We must not answer thee concerning this thing †For behold our God whom we worshipe can saue vs from the fornace of burning fyre and out of thy handes ô king
and the interpretation therof truble thee Baltassar answered and said My Lord the dreame be to them that hate thee and the interpretation therof be thine enemies †The tree which thou sawest high and strong whose height reacheth to the heauen and the sight therof into al the earth †and the bough therof most fayre and the fruit therof exceding much and the foode of things in it vnder it the beasts of the filde inhabiting in the boughes therof the foules of heauen abyding †It is thou king which art magnified become mightie thy greatnes hath growen and is come euen to heauen and thy power vnto the endes of the earth †But in that the king saw a watchman and an holie one descend fron heauen and say Cut ye downe the tree and dissipate it but leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth and let it be bound with yron and brasse among the grasse without and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heauen and let his foder be with the wild beasts til seauen times be changed ouer him †This is the interpretation of the sentence of the Highest which is come vpon my Lord the king †They shal cast thee out from men and with beasts and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be and grasse thou shalt eate as an oze with the dew of heauen thou shalt be wett seuen times also shal be chaunged ouer thee til thou know that the High one ruleth ouer the kingdoms of men and geueth it to whomsoeuer he wil. †But wheras he commanded that the spring of the rootes therof that is of the tree should be left thy kingdom shal remayne to thee after thou shalt haue knowen that powre is heauenly †Wherfore ô king let me counsel thee and redeme thou thy sinnes with almes thine iniquities with the mercies of the poore perhaps he wil forgeue thyne offences †Al these thinges came vpon Nabuchodonosor the king †After the end of twelue moneths he walked in the palace of Babylon †And the king answered sayd Is not this Babylon the great citie which I haue built to be the house of the kingdom in the strength of my powre and in the glorie of my beautie †And when the word was yet in the kings mouth a voice came downe from heauen To thee it is sayd Nabuchodonosor Thy kingdom shal passe from thee †and from men they shal cast thee out and with beastes and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be grasse as an oxe shalt thou eate and seuen times shal be changed ouer thee til thou know that the Hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men to whom soeuer he wil he geueth it The self same houre was the word accomplished vpon Nabuchodonosor and he was cast away from among men as an oxe did he eate grasse and with the dew of heauen his bodie was imbrued til his heares grew into the similitude of eagles his nailes as it were of birds †Ther fore after the end of the dayes I Nabuchodonosor lifted vp mine eyes to heauen and my sense was restored to me and I blessed the Highest and praysed him that liueth for euer and glorified him because his powre is an euerlasting powre and his kingdom in generation and generation †And al the inhabitants of the earth with him are reputed for nothing for he doth according to his wil as wel in the powers of heauen as in the inhabitants of the earth there is none that can resist his hand and say to him Why didst thou it †In the very same time did my sense returne to me I came to the honour and beautie of my kingdom and my figure returned to me and my nobles my magistrates sought for me and I was restored in my kingdom and more ample magnificence was added to me †“ Now therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise and magnifie and glorifie the king of heauen because al his workes are true and his wayes iudgements and them that walke in pride he can humble ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 13. Let his hart be changed In vvhat maner king Nabuchodonosor vvas changed is hard to explicate But omitting other opinions the most probable and common is that he vvas not depriued of his reasonable soule nor the forme and partes of his bodie substantially changed from the nature of a man but he was distracted losing the vse of reason and in his ovvne melancholie imagination and phantasie thought that he was a beast And therfore easily refused the conuersation of men and consorted himself vvith beastes vvent naked his hayre grovving very much and couering al his bodie his nayles likevvise extreme long he vvent on his handes together with his feete like fourfooted beastes did eate grasse as an oxe putting his mouth to the ground to shere and swalowe it the space of seuen yeares Then God restoring to him the vse of reason and inspiring him vvith grace he lifted vp his eyes to heauen v. 31. and in perfect sense blessed God the Hieghest and praysed him was againe receiued yea sought for by his nobles and magistrates so vvas restored to his kingdom and had more magnificence then before 34. Novv therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise magnifie and glorisie God Albeit holie Scripture doth not reporte vvhen and hovv king Nabuchodonosor died yet by this last thing vvritten of him it is very like he liued not long after his great chatisment for if he had it is probable that Daniel vvould haue vvritten more of him that he being so fully conuerted to God vvould haue deliuered â—oach in king of Iuda out of prison vvhich his next successor Euilmerodach did 4. Reg. 25. v. 27. and al the Iewes from captiuitie if God had longer spared him life he being now wel affected tovvards them And that he died in state of saluation may with great reason be supposed seing his repentance and conuersion to God is so fully expressed in holie Scripture and no mention that he fel againe VVhich is also the iudgement of most lerned vvriters Namely of Iosephus li. 10. Antiq. Dorotheus in Synopsi S. Epiphanius in vita Danielis S. Ierom. epist 7. ad Letam S. Augustin epist 122. ad Victoriam li de predest gratia c. 15. VVhere he compareth Pharao with Nabuchodonosor and their diuers endes by Gods grace mouing the one to penance for his iniquitie the other wilfully fighting against Gods merciful veritie as we haue noted Exo. 7. Pag. 174. CHAP. V. King Baltassar making a great banket with his nobles drinke in the holie vessels which were taken from the Temple of Ierusalem 5. Fingers appeare writing on the wal 10. which only Daniel readeth and interpreteth 18. signifying the ruine of the king 30. happening the same night BALTASSAR the king made a great feast to his nobles a thousand and euerie one dranke according to his age †He commanded therfore now being drunke
that the vessels of gold siluer should be brought which Nabuchodonosor his father had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem that the king and his Nobles might drinke in them and his wiues and concubines †Then were the golden and siluer vessels brought which he had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem and the king and his nobles dranke in them his wiues and concubines †They dranke wine and praysed their goddes of gold and of siluer of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone †In the very same houre there appeared fingers as it were of the hand of a man writing ouer against the candlesticke in the vtter part of the wal of the kings palace and the king beheld the ioynts of the hand that wrote †Then was the kings face changed and his cogitations trubled him and the iunctures of his reynes were loosed and his knees were striken one against the other †The king therfore cried out mightely that they should bring in the magicians Chaldees and southsayers And the king speaking sayd to the wisemen of Babylon Whosoeuer shal read this writing and shal make the interpretation therof manifest vnto me shal be clothed with purple and shal haue a golden chayne on his necke shal be the third in my kingdom †Then al the kings wisemen going in could not neither read the writing nor declare the interpretation to the king †Wherewith king Baltassar was much trubled and his countenance was changed yea and his nobles were trubled †And the queene for the thing that had happened to the king and his Nobles entered into the house of the feast and speaking she sayd King for euer liue let not thy cogitations truble thee neither let thy face be changed †There is a man in thy kingdom that hath the spirit of the holie goddes in him and in the dayes of thy father knowlege and wisedom were found in him for king Nabuchodonosor also thy father appoynted him prince of the magicians inchanters Chaldees and southsayers thy father I say ô king †Because more ample spirit and prudence and vnderstanding interpretation of Dreames and shewing of secrets and solution of thinge bound were found in him that is in Daniel to whom the king gaue the name Baltassar Now therfore let Daniel be called and he wil tel the interpretation †Daniel therfore was brought in before the king To whom the king speaking said Art thou Daniel of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda whom my father the king brought out of Iewrie †I haue heard of thee that thou hast the spirit of the goddes and more ample knowlege and vnderstanding and wisedom are found in thee †And now there haue come in into my sight the wise magicians that they might read this writing and might shew me the interpretation therof and they could not declare me the sense of this word †Moreouer I haue heard of thee that thou canst interpret obscure thinges and resolue thinges bound if therfore thou be able to reade the writing to shew me the interpretation therof thou shalt be clothed with purple and shalt haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke shalt be the third prince in my kingdom †To which thinges Daniel answering sayd before the king Thy rewardes be they vnto thee and the giftes of thy house geue to an other but the writing wil I read thee ô king and the interpretation therof wil I shew to thee †O king God the most high gaue to Nabuchodonosor thy father kingdom and magnificence glorie and honour †And for the magnificence which he gaue to him al peoples tribes and tongues trembled and feared him whom he would he killed and whom he would he stroke and whom he would he exalted and whom he would he humbled †But when his hart was eleuated and his spirit obstinatly set to pride he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and his glorie was taken away †And he was cast out from the sonnes of men yea and his hart was set with the beasts and with the wild asses was his habitation grasse also he did eate as an oxe and with the dew of heauen his bodie was embrewed til he knew that the Highest had powre in the kingdom of men and whomsoeuer it shal please him he wil raise vp ouer it †Thou also his sonne Baltassar hast not humbled thy hart wheras thou knowest al these thinges †but against the dominatour of heauen thou wast eleuated and the vessels of his house haue bene brought before thee and thou and thy nobles and thy wiues and thy concubins haue drunke wine in them the goddes also of siluer and of gold and of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone that see not nor heare nor feele thou hast praysed moreouer the God that hath thy breath in his hand and al thy wayes thou hast not glorified †Therfore from him is the ioynt of the hand sent which hath written this that is drawen †And this is the writing which is ordered MANE THECEL PHARES †And this the interpretation of the word MANE God hath numbred thy kingdom and hath finished it †THECEL thou art weighed in the balance and art found hauing lesse †PHARES thy kingdom is diuided and is geuen to the Medes and Persians †Then the king commanding Daniel was clothed with purple and a cheyne of gold was put about his necke it was proclamed of him that he had powre the third in the kingdom †The same night was Baltassar the king of Chaldee slaine †And Darius the Mede succeded into the kingdom being three score and two yeares old CHAP. VI. King Darius making Daniel one of the three chief rulers of his kingdom 4. and intending also to aduance him higher other princes accuse him for praying to God contrarie to the kings edict 16. wherupon he is cast into the lions denne 21. but is conserued without anie hurt 24. his accusers are deuoured by the lions and commandment is geuen that al men shal feare the God of Daniel IT pleased Darius and he appoynted ouer the kingdom Gouerners an hundred twentie to be in al his kingdom †And ouer them three princes of whom Daniel was one that the gouerners might render account to them the king might susteyne no truble †Daniel therfore passed al the princes and gouerners because there was the spirit of God more ample in him †Moreouer the king thought to appoynt him ouer al the kingdom wherupon the princes the gouerners sought to finde occasion against Daniel on the behalfe of the king and they could finde no cause nor suspicion because he was faithful and no fault nor suspicion was found in him †Those men therfore said We shal not finde against this same Daniel any occasion vnles perhaps in the law of his God †Then the princes and the
and sayd As yet fourtie dayes and Niniue shal be subuerted †And the men of Niniue beleued in God and they proclamed a fast and were clothed with sackcloths from the greater to the lesser †And the word came to the king of Niniue and he rose vp out of his throne and cast away his garment from him and was clothed with sackcloth and sate in ashes †And he cried and sayd in Niniue from the mouth of the king of his princes saying Men and beasts and oxen and cattel let them not taste any thing nor feede and let them not drinke water †And let men and beasts be couered with sackcloths and crie to our Lord in strength and let euerie man conuert from his euil way from the iniquitie that is in their handes †Who knoweth if God wil conuert and forgeue and wil returne from the furie of his wrath and we shal not perish †And God saw their workes that they were conuerred from their euil way and God had mercie on the euil which he had spoken that he would do to them and he did it not CHAP. IIII. The prophet lamenteth for that he was commanded to preach otherwise then it came to passe 5. Going forth he stayeth nere the citie to see the end 6. an yuie growing couereth his head from the sunne 7. but withereth the next day 8. he lamenting desireth to dye 10. and God sheweth that it is more meete to saue Niniue then the yuie AND Ionas was afflicted with great affliction and was * angrie †and he prayed to our Lord and sayd I besech thee ô Lord Why is not this my word when I was yet in my countrie for this did I preuent to flee into Tharsis For I know that thou art a clement and merciful God patient and of much compassion and forgeuing vpon the euil †And now Lord take I besech thee my soule from me because better is death to me then life †And our Lord sayd Art thou angrie wel thinkest thou †And Ionas went out of the citie and sate against the East part of the citie and he made himself a bowre there and he sate vnder it in the shadow til he might see what would befal to the citie †And our Lord God prepared an iuie tree it came vp ouer the head of Ionas to be a shadow ouer his head and to couer him for he had laboured and Ionas reioyced vpon the iuie with great ioy †And God prepared a worme in the rysing of the morning against the morrow and it stroke the iuie and it withered †And when the sunne was risen our Lord commanded an hotte and burning winde and the sunne beate vpon the head of Ionas and he broyled for heate and he desired for his soule to dye and sayd It is better for me to dye then to liue †And our Lord sayd to Ionas Art thou angrie wel thinkest thou for the iuie And he sayd I am angrie wel euen vnto death †And our Lord sayd Thou art sorie for the iuie wherin thou hast not laboured nor made it to grow which in one night came forth and in one night is perished †And shal not I spare Niniue the great citie wherin are more then a hundred twentie thousand men that know not what is betwen their right hand and their left and manie beastes THE PROPHECIE OF MICHEAS MICHEAS a Morasthite of the tribe of Ephraim prophecied part of the time with Isai the former fiue lesse Prophets against both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda foreshewing their captiuities and relaxation of Iuda from Babylon their conuersion to Christ nere the end of the world and that in the meane time al other nations shal beleue in Christ CHAP. I. Samaria and al the tenne tribes shal be brought into captiuitie by the Assirians 9. The two tribes shal also be inuaded and spoyled euen nere to Ierusalem THE word of our Lord that was made to Michaeas the Morasthite in the dayes of Ioathan Achaz and Ezechias kinges of Iuda which he saw vpon Samaria and Ierusalem †Heare al ye peoples and let the earth attend and the fulnes therof and let our Lord God be vnto you for a witnes our Lord out of his holie temple †Because loe our Lord wil goe forth out of his place and he wil descend wil tread vpon the highest of the earth †And the mountaines shal be consumed vnder him and the valleis shal be clouen as waxe at the presence of fyre as waters that runne downe headlong †For the wickednes of Iacob al this and for the sinnes of the house of Israel what is the wickednes of Iacob is it not Sammaria and what the excelses of Iuda is it not Ierusalem †And I wil lay Samaria as a heape of stones in the filde when a vineyard is planted and I wil plucke downe her stones into the valley wil discouer her fundations †And al her sculptils shal be cut in sunder and al her wages shal be burnt with fyre and I wil lay al her idols into perdition because they are gathered together of the wages of an harlot vnto the hyre of an harlot they shal returne †Vpon this wil I lament and howle I wil goe spoiled and naked I wil make lamentation as of dragons and mourning as it were of striches †Because her plague is desperate because it is come euen to Iuda it hath touched the gate of my people euen to Ierusalem †In Geth declare it not weepe not with teares in the house of dust sprinkle your self with dust †And passe ye to your selues ô faire habitation confounded with ignominie she went not out that dwelleth in the going out the house adioyning shal receiue lamentation of you which stood to her self †Because she is weakened to good which dwelleth in bitternesses because euil is descended from our Lord into the gate of Ierusalem †Tumult of the chariot of astonishment to the inhabitant of Lachis it is the beginning of sinne to the daughter of Sion because in thee are found the wickednesses of Israel †Therfore shal he geue spoilers vpon the inheritance of Geth the houses of lying into deception to the kinges of Israel †As yet wil I bring an heyre to thee which dwellest in Maresa euen to Odolla shal the glorie of Israel come †Be bald and be pouled for the children of thy delicacies enlarge thy baldnes as an eagle because they are led captiues out of thee CHAP. II. By their great iniustice 7. notwithstanding their vaine presumption of Gods mercie wherto he is in dede most prone 8. the Israelites through their excessiue rapine prouoke God to punish them 12. yet when Christ shal come some Iewes wil serue him and manie more in the end of the world VVO TO you which thinke that is vnpofitable and worke euil in
and the halfe part of the citie shal goe forth into captiuitie and the rest of the people shal not be taken away out of the citie †And our Lord wil goe forth and wil fight against those nations as he fought in the day of conflict †And his feete shal stand in that day vpon the mount of oliues which is against Ierusalem toward the East and the mount of oliues shal be clouen by the halfe part therof to the East to the Weast with a stiepe rupture exceding great and halfe of the mountayne shal be seperated to the North halfe therof to the South †And you shal flie to the valley of those mountaynes because the valley of the mountaynes shal be ioyned euen to the next and you shal flee as you fled from the face of the earthquake in the dayes of Ozias king of Iuda and our Lord my God shal come and al the saintes with him †And it shal be in that day there shal be no light but cold and frost †And there shal be one day which is knowen to our Lord not day nor night in the time of the euening there shal be light †And it shal be in that day liuing waters shal issue forth out of Ierusalem halfe of them to the East sea and halfe of them to the last sea in summer in winter shal they be †And our Lord shal be king ouer al the earth in that day there shal be one Lord his name shal be one †And al the land shal returne euen to the desert from the hil of Remmon to the South of Ierusalem and it shal be exalted and shal dwel in her place from the gate of Beniamin euen to the place of the former gate and euen to the gate of the corners from the towre of Hananeel euen to the kings presses †And they shal dwel in it and there shal be anathema no more but Ierusalem shal sit secure †And this shal be the plague wherwith our Lord shal strike al nations that haue fought against Ierusalem the flesh shal pine away of euerie one standing vpon his feete and his eyes shal weare away in their holes their tongue shal consume away in their mouth †In that day there shal be a great tumult of our Lord among them and a man shal take the hand of his neighbour and his hand shal be clasped vpon his neighbours hand †Yea and Iudas shal fight agaynst Ierusalem and the riches of al nations round about shal be gathered together gold and siluer and garments exceding manie †And so shal there be ruine of horse and mule and camel and asse and of al the beasts that shal be in those tents as is this ruine †And al that shal be left of al Nations that came against Ierusalem shal goe vp from yeare to yeare to adore the King the Lord of hosts and to celebrate the festiuitie of tabernacles †And it shal be he that shal not ascend of the families of the land to Ierusalem to adore the King the Lord of hosts there shal be no showre vpon them †Yea and if the familie of Aegypt shal not ascend and shal not come neither vpon them shal it be but ruine shal be wherwith our Lord wil strike al Nations that wil not ascend to celebrate the festiuitie of tabernacles †This shal be the sinne of Aegypt and this the sinne of al Nations that wil not ascend to celebrate the festiuitie of tabernacles †In that day shal that which is vpon the bridle of the horse be holie to our Lord and the caudrons in the house of our Lord shal be as the phials before the altar †And euerie caudron in Ierusalem and Iuda shal be sanctified to the Lord of hosts and al that immolate shal come and take of them and shal sethe in them there shal be merchant no more in the house of the Lord of hosts in that day THE PROPHECIE OF MALACHIE MALACHIE whom S. Ierom and some others thinke to be Esdras prophecied last of the twelue after that the Temple was reedified He reprehendeth both Priestes and people for that they did not offer their sacrifices with sinceritie foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes and calling of the Gentils by Christ. Before whose first coming shal be one Precursor and an other before his last coming to iudge CHAP. I. God shewed his especial loue towards the Iewes in that he choise their progenitor Iacob rather then Esau 7. Priestes are reprehended for not offering the best thinges in sacrifice 10. The old sacrifices shal be reiected and new farre more excellent shal be offered in al nations THE burden of the word of our Lord to Israel in the hand of Malachie †I haue loued you sayth our Lord you haue sayd Wherin hast thou loued vs Was not Esau brother to Iacob sayth our Lord and I loued Iacob †but hated Esau and I layd his mountaines into a wildernes his inheritance vnto the dragons of the desert †But if Idumea shal say We are destroyed but returning we wil build the thinges that are destroyed thus sayth the Lord of hosts These shal build and I wil destroy and they shal be called the borders of impietie and the people with whom our Lord is angrie for euer †And your eyes shal see and you shal say Our Lord be magnified vpon the border of Israel †The sonne honoureth the father and the seruant his lord if then I be the father where is my honour and if I be the Lord where is my feare sayth the Lord of hosts †To you ô priests that despise my name haue sayd Wherin haue we despised thy name You offer vpon myne altar polluted bread and you say Wherin haue we polluted thee In that you say The table of our Lord is contemptible †If you offer the blind to be immolated is it not euil and if you offer the â—ame and the â—eble is it not euil offer it d to thy prince if it shal please him or if he wil receiue thy face sayth the Lord of hosts †And now besech ye the face of God that he may haue mercie on you for by your hand hath this bene done if by any meanes he wil receiue your faces saith the Lord of hosts †Who is there among you that wil shut the doores wil kindle fire on my altar for naught “ I haue no wil in you sayth the Lord of hosts and gift I wil not receiue of your hand †For from the rising of the sunne euen to the going downe great is my name among the Gentils “ in euerie place there is sacrificing and there is offered to my name a cleane oblation because my name is great among the Gentils sayth the Lord of hosts †And you haue polluted it in that you say The
†And they diswaded him saying We are not able but let vs saue our liues now and returne to our brethren and then we wil fight against them and we are few †And Iudas sayd God forbid we should doe this thing to flee from them and if our time be neere let vs dye manfully for our bretheren and let vs not stayne our glorie †And the armie moued out of the campe and they stood to meete them and the horsemen were diuided into two parts and the slingers and the archers went before the armie and of the foreward al mightie †And Bacchides was in the right wing and the legion approched on two sides and they sounded with trumpets †and they also cried out that were on Iudas side euen they also and the earth was moued at the voice of the armies and the battel was fought from morning euen vntil the euening †And Iudas saw that the stronger part of the armie was on the right hand al the stout of hart came together with him †and the right side was discomfited of them and he pursewed them euen to the mount of Azotus †And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited and they folowed after Iudas and them that were with him at the backe †and the battel grew sore and there fel manie wounded of these and of them †And Iudas was slaine and the rest fled †And Ionathas and Simon tooke Iudas their brother and buried him in the sepulcher of their fathers in the citie Modin †And al the people of Israel lamented him with great lamentation and they mourned manie dayes †and sayd How is the mightie fallen that saued the people of Israel †And the rest of the wordes of Iudas battels and of the valient acts that he did and of his greatnes are not described for they were exceding manie †And it came to passe after the death of Iudas there came forth the wicked men in al the costs of Israel and there arose al that wrought iniquitie †In those dayes was made an exceding great famine and al their countrie with themselues yelded to Bacchides †And Bacchides chose the impious men and appointed them lords of the countrie †and they sought out and searched for the freindes of Iudas and brought them to Bacchides and he tooke reuenge on them scorned them †And there was made great tribulation in Israel such as was no◠since the day that there was no prophete seene in Israel †And al the freinds of Iudas gathered and sayd to Ionathas †Since thy brother Iudas died there is not a man like vnto him to goe forth against the enemies Bacchides them that are the enemies of our nation †Now therfore thee haue we chosen this day to be for him our prince and captayne to wage our battel †And Ionathas tooke vpon him at that time the princedom and arose in the place of Iudas his brother †And Bacchides vnderstood it and sought to kil him †And Ionathas vnderstood it Simon his brother and al that were with them and they fled into the desert of Thecua and they pitched by the water of the lake Asphar †And Bacchides vnderstood it and in the day of the Sabbaths came him self and al his armie ouer Iordan †And Ionathas sent his brother captayne of the people to desire the Nabutheians his freindes that they would lend him their prouision which was copious †And the children of Iambri issued forth of Madaba and tooke Iohn and al thinges that he had and went away hauing them †After these wordes it was told Ionathas and Simon his brother that the children of Iambri make a great mariage and bring the bride out of Madaba the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan with great pompe †And they remembred the bloud of Iohn their brother and they went vp and hid them selues vnder the couert of the mountayne †And they lifted vp their eyes and saw and loe a tumult and great preparation and the bridegrome came forth and his freindes and his bretheren to meete them with timbrils and musical instruments and manie weapons †And they rose vpon them out of the embushement and slew them and there fel manie wounded the rest fled into the mountaines and they tooke al the spoiles of them †the mariage was turned into mourning and the voice of their musical instruments into lamentation †And they tooke reuenge of the bloud of their brother they returned to the banke of Iordan †And Bacchides heard it and he came on the day of the Sabbaths euen to the brinke of Iordan with a great powre †And Ionathas sayd to his companie Let vs arise and fight against our enemies for it is not to day as yesterday and the day before †For loe battel directly against vs and the water of Iordan on this side and on that side bankes and marrises and forests and there is no place to turne aside †Now therfore crie ye vnto heauen that you may be deliuered out of the hand of your enemies And battel was ioyned †And Ionathas stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides and he turned aside from him backwards †And Ionathas lept aside and they that were with him into Iordan and they swame ouer Iordan to them †and there fel of Bacchides part that day a thousand men and they returned into Ierusalem †and built fensed cities in Iurie the fortresse that was in Iericho and in Ammaum in Bethoron and in Bethel and Thamnata and Phara and Thopo with high walles and gates and lockes †And he placed a garrison in them that they might exercise emnities against Israel †and he fensed the citie Bethsura and Gazara and the castel and set garisons in them and prouision of victuals †and he tooke the sonnes of the princes of the countrie for hostages put them in the castel in Ierusalem into ward †And in the yeare an hundred fiftie three the second moneth Alcimus commanded the walles of the inner holie house to be destroyed and the workes of the prophets to be destroyed and he began to destroy †In that time was Alcimus strooken and his workes were stayed and his mouth was stopped and he was dissolued with the palsey neither could he speake a word any more and geue commandement touching his house †And Alcimus died at that time with great torment †And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead and he returned to the king and the land was quiet for two yeares †And al the wicked thought saying Behold Ionathas and they that are with him dwel in silence securely now therfore let vs bring Bacchides and he shal take them al in one night †And they went and gaue him counsel †And he arose to come with a great armie and he sent secretly
epistles to his felowes that were in Iurie to take Ionathas and them that were with him but they could not because their counsel was knowen to them †And he apprehended of the men of the countrie that were the principal of the mischife fiftie men and he slew them †And Ionathas retyred aside and Simon and they that were with him into Bethbessen which is in the desert and he built vp the ruins therof and they fortified it †And Bacchides vnderstood it and gathered together al his multitude and sent word to them that were of Iurie †And he came and camped aboue Bethbessen and assaulted it manie dayes and made engins †And Ionathas left Simon his brother in the citie and went forth into the countrie and came with a number †and stroke Odares and his bretheren and the children of Phaseron in their tabernacles he began to slay and to grow in forces †But Simon and they that were with him went out of the citie and burnt the engins †and they fought against Bacchides and he was discomfited by them and they afflicted him excedingly because his counsel and his conflict was in vayne †And being angrie against the wicked men that had geuen him counsel to come into their countrie he slewe manie of them but himself thought with the rest to depart into their countrie †And Ionathas vnderstood it and he sent vnto him legates to make peace with him and to render vnto him the captiues †And he tooke it gladly and did according to his wordes sware that he would doe him no harme al the dayes of his life †And he rendered vnto him the captiues which he before had taken for a praye out of the land of Iuda and returning he departed into his owne countrie and he added no more to come into their coasts †And the sword ceased out of Israel and Ionathas dwelt in Machmas Ionathas began there to iudge the people and he destroyed the impious out of Israel CHAP. X. Demetrius inuaded by Alexander 3. seeketh helpe of Ionathas 15. but he ioyneth with Alexander a surer freind 22. though Demetrius solicite him againe offering rewardes with remission of tributes 31. and great priuilegies 46. Al which he suspecting to be feaned persisteth with Alexander 48. who in battel killeth Demetrius 52. espouseth the kings daughter of Aegypt 59. calleth Ionathas to the mariage 62. and honoreth him as a king 67. Demetrius the sonne coming into Syria sendeth Apollonius against Ionathas 70. prouoketh him 74. and is ouerthrowen 79. notwithstanding his ambushment of a thousand horsemen 83. Ionathas burneth Asotus with their idol Dagon 86. so returneth by Ascalon to Ierusalem with great glorie AND in the yeare an hundreth threescore came vp Alexander the sonne of Antiochus that was surnamed Noble and he tooke Ptolemais and they receiued him and he reigned there †And Demetrius the king heard it and he gathered together an exceding great armie and went forth to meete him into battel †And Demetrius sent an epistle to Ionathas in peaceable wordes to magnifie him †For he sayd Let vs preuent to make peace with him before he make with Alexander against vs †for he wil remember al the euils that we haue done against him and against his brother and against his nation †And he gaue him authoritie to gather an armie and to make weapons and to be himself his felow and the hostages that were in the castel he commanded to be deliuered to him †And Ionathas came into Ierusalem and read the epistles in the hearing of al the people and of them that were in the castle †And they feared with great feare because they heard that the king gaue him authoritie to gather an armie †And the hostages were deliuered to Ionathas he rendered them to their parents †And Ionathas dwelt in Ierusalem and began to build and to renew the citie †And he spake to them that made the workes that they should build the walles and mount Sion round about with square stones for munition and so they did †And the Aliens fled that were in the holdes which Bacchides had built †and euerie man left his place and departed into his owne countrie †onlie in Bethsura there remained some of them that had forsaken the law and the precepts of God for this was for a refuge to them †And Alexander the king heard of the promises that Demetrius had promised to Ionathas and they told him the battels and the worthie acts that he did and his bretheren and the labours that they endured †and he sayd Why shal we find any such man and now we wil make him a freind our felow †And he wrote an epistle sent it to him according to these wordes saying †KING Alexander to his brother Ionathas greeting †We haue heard of thee that thou art mightie of powre and art meete to be our freind †now we make thee this day high priest of thy nation that thou be called the kings freind and he sent him purple and a crowne of gold and in our affayres thou be of one minde with vs and keepe amitie towards vs. †And Ionathas put on him the holie stole the seuenth moneth in the yeare an hundreth threescore in the solemne day of Scenopegia and he gathered an armie and made very manie weapons †And Demetrius heard these wordes and was exceding sorie and sayd †What is this that we haue done that Alexander hath preuented vs to take the frendshippe of the Iewes for his strength †I also wil write to them wordes of request and dignities and gifts that they may be with me to ayde me †And he wrote to them in these wordes KING Demetrius to the nation of the Iewes greeting †Because you haue kept couenant towards vs and haue continewed in our amitie and haue not ioyned to our enemies we haue heard of it are glad †And now perseuere stil to keepe fidelitie towards vs we wil reward you with good thinges â—or that you haue done with vs. †And we wil remitte you manie charges and wil geue you manie gifts †And now I release you and al the Iewes from tributes and I pardon you the prices of salt and remitte the crownes and the thirds of the seede †and the halfe of the fruite of trees which is my portion I leaue to you from this day forward that it be not taken of the land of Iuda and of the three cities that are added therto of Samaria and Galilee from this day and for euer †and let Ierusalem be holie and free with the coasts therof and the tithes tributes be they to it †I release also the authoritie of the castel that is in Ierusalem and I geue it to the high priest to place therin men whomsoeuer he shal choose that may keepe it †And euerie soule of the Iewes that is
captiue from the land of Iuda in al my kingdom I dismisse free for nothing that al may be discharged also from tributes of their cattel †And al the solemne dayes and the sabbaths and the new moones and the dayes appointed and three dayes before the solemne day and three dayes after the solemne day let them al be of immunitie and remission to al the Iewes that are in my kingdom †and no man shal haue powre to do any thing and to make businesses against any of them in any cause †And let there be inrolled of the Iewes in the kinges armie to the number of thirtie thousand men and allowance shal be geuen them as behoueth to al the kings bands and of them there shal be ordayned certaine that shal be in the fortresses of the great king †and of these there shal be appoynted ouer the affayres of the kingdom that are done of trust and let there be princes of them and let them walke in their owne lawes as the king hath commanded in the land of Iuda †And the three cities that are added to Iurie of the countrie of Samaria let them be accounted with Iurie that they may be vnder one and obey no other powre but the high priestes †Prolomais and the confines therof which I haue geuen for a gift to the holies that are in Ierusalem to the necessarie charges of the holie thinges †And I geue euerie yeare fiftene thousand sicles of siluer of the kings accounts that belong to me †and al that is aboue which they had not rendred that were ouer the affayres the yeares before from this time they shal geue it to the workes of the house †And beside these fiue thousand sicles of siluer which they receiued of the account of the holies euerie yeare and let these perteyne to the priests that execute the ministerie †And whosoeuer flee into the temple that is in Ierusalem in al the coasts therof in the kings danger for matter let them be dismissed al thinges that they haue in my kingdom let them haue it free †And to build or repayre the workes of the holie places the charges shal be geuen of the kings account †and to build the walles in Ierusalem and to fortifie them round about the charges shal be geuen of the kings account and to build the walles in Iurie †But as Ionathas and the people heard these wordes they beleued them not nor receiued them because they remembred the great mischife that he had done in Israel and had afflicted them excedingly †And their liking was toward Alexander because he had bene the first mouer of the wordes of peace vnto them and him they ayded al dayes †And king Alexander gathered a great armie and moued the campe nere to Demetrius †And the two kinges ioyned battel and the armie of Demetrius fled and Alexander pursewed him and vrged them sore †And the battel grew very sore til the sunne went downe and Demetrius was slaine in that day †And Alexander sent legates to Ptolomee king of Aegypt according to these wordes saying †BECAVSE I am returned into my kingdom and am set in the seate of my fathers and haue obteyned the princedom and haue destroyed Demetrius and possessed our countrie †and haue ioyned battel with him and he is destroyed him self his campe by vs and we sit in the seate of his kingdom †and now let vs make amitie one with an other and geue me thy daughter to wife and I wil be thy sonne in law and I wil geue thee gifts and to her dignitie †And king Ptolomee answered saying HAPPIE is the day wherin thou art returned to the land of thy fathers and art set in the seate of their kingdom †And now I wil doe to thee that which thou hast writen but meete me at Ptolemais that we may see one an other and I may despouse her to thee as thou hast sayd †And Ptolomee went out of Aegypt he and Cleopatra his daughter and he came to Ptolomais in the yeare an hundred threescore and two †And Alexander the king mette him and he gaue him Cleopatra his daughter and he made her mariage at Ptolomais as kinges in great glorie †And king Alexander wrote to Ionathas that he should come to meete him †And he went with glorie to Ptolomais and he mette there the two kinges and he gaue them much siluer and gold and gifts and he found grace in their sight †And there assembled against him pestilent men of Israel wicked men soliciting against him and the king attended not to them †And he commanded Ionathas to be changed of his garments and that he should be clothed with purple and so they did And the king placed him to sit with him self †And he sayd to his princes Goe ye out with him into the middes of the citie proclame that no man solicite against him for any matter and that no man be trublesome vnto him for any cause †And it came to passe as they that solicited saw his glorie that was published him couered with purple they al fled †and the king magnified him and wrote him amongst his chiefe freindes and made him Duke and partaker of the princedom †And Ionathas returned into Ierusalem with peace and ioy †In the yeare an hundreth sixtie fiue came Demetrius the sonne of Denetrius from Crete into the land of his fathers †And Alexander the king heard it and he was verie sorie and returned to Antioche †And Demetrius the king made Apollonius general who was ruler of Coelesiria he gathered a great armie came to Iamnia and he sent to Ionathas the high priest †saying Thou onlie resistest vs and I am brought into derision and into reproch because thou doest exercise powre against vs in the mountains †Now therfore if thou trust in thy forces come downe to vs into the plaine let vs compare there one with an other because with me is the force of battels †Aske and learne who I am and the rest that ayde me who also say that your foote can not stand before our face because twise haue thy fathers bene put to flight in their owne land †and now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen so great an armie in the plaine where is no stone nor rocke nor place to flee †But as Ionathas heard the wordes of Apollonius he was moued in minde and he chose tenne thousand men and went forth from Ierusalem Simon his brother mette him to ayde him †And they moued the campe to Ioppe and it shut him out of the citie because the garison of Apollonius was in Ioppe and he assaulted it †And they that were in the citie being put in great feare opened to him and Ionathas obteyned Ioppe †And Apollonius heard it he tooke three thousand horsemen and a great armie †And
he went to Azotus as making iorney and immediatly he went forth into the plaine because he had a multitude of horsemen and he trusted in them And Ionathas pursewed him vnto Azorus and they ioyned battel †And Apollonius left in the campe a thousand horsemen behinde them secretly †And Ionathas vnderstood that there was an embushement behind him and they compassed his campe and they threw dartes vpon the people from morning euen vnto euening †But the people stood as Ionathas had commanded and their horses laboured †And Simon put forth his armie and ioyned it against the legion for the horsemen were wearied and they were discomfited by him and fled †And they that were scattered by the playne fled into Azotus and entered into Bethdagon their idol house there to saue them selues †And Ionathas burnt Azorus and the cities that were round about it and he tooke the spoiles of them and the temple of Dagon and al that fled into it he burnt with fire †And there were that were slayne by the sword with these that were burnt almost eight thousand men †And Ionathas remoued the campe from thence and brought it to Ascalon and they went out of the citie to meete him in great glorie †And Ionathas returned into Ierusalem with his companie hauing manie spoiles †And it came to passe as Alexander the king heard these wordes he added yet to glorifie Ionathas †And he sent him a cheyne of gold as the custome is to be geuen to the cosins of kings And he gaue him Accaron and al the borders therof in possession CHAP. XI Ptolomeus king of Aegypt deceiptfully coming into Syria 8. surpriseth certaine cities taking his daughter from Alexander geueth her to Demetrius 15. Alexander flying away 17. is treacherously slaine 18. Ptolomeus dyeth the third day and Demetrius reigneth 20. Ionathas besiegeth the fortresse which resisted him in Ierusalem 24. obtayneth of Demetrius remission of tributes and other priuilegies 38 Demetrius dismissing his armie the souldiars conspire with Tryphon against him 43. Ionathas aydeth him with three thousand men who kil an hundred thousand mutiners 53. Demetrius breaking league with Ionathas is ouerthrowen by Tryphon 57 Young Antiochus reneweth league with Ionathas and he 65. as likewise his brother Simon prospereth 67. in great danger prayeth and preuaileth AND the king of Egypt gathered an armie as the sand that is about the sea shore and manie shippes and he sought to winne the kingdom of Alexander by guile and to adde it to his owne kingdom †And he went out into Syria with peaceable wordes and they opened to him the cities and mette him because Alexander the king had commanded them to goe forth to meete him for that he was his father in law †But when Ptolomee entered the cities he put garrisons of souldiars in euerie citie †And as he approched to Azotus they shewed him the temple of dagon burnt with fyre and Azotus and the rest therof throwen downe and the bodies cast forth and the graues of them that were slaine in the battel which they had made neere the way †And they told the king that Ionathas did these thinges to raise enuie against him and the king held his peace †And Ionathas came to meete the king into Ioppe with glorie and they saluted one an other and they slept there †And Ionathas went with the king euen to the riuer that was called Eleutherus and he returned into Ierusalem †And king Ptolomee obteyned the dominion of the cities euen to Seleucia by the sea side and he purposed euil purposes against Alexander †And sent legates to Demetrius saying Come let vs make a league betwen vs and I wil geue thee my daughter that Alexander hath thou shalt reigne in the kingdom of thy father †For it repenteth me that I haue geuen him my daughter for he hath sought to kil me †And he disprased him for that he coueted his kingdom †and he tooke away his daughter gaue her to Demetrius and alienated him self from Alexander and his emnities were made manifest †And Ptolomee entered into Antioch he put two crownes vpon his head of Egypt of Asia †But Alexander the king was in Cilicia at that time because they rebelled that were in those places †And Alexander heard it and came to him into battel and Ptolomee the king brought forth an armie and mette him with a strong power and put him to flight †And Alexander fled into Arabia there to be protected and king Ptolomee was exalted †And Zabdiel an Arabian tooke of Alexanders head sent it to Ptolomee †And king Ptolomee died the third day and they that were in the fortresses perished by them that were within the campe †And Demetrius reigned the yeare an hundreth sixtie seuen †In those dayes Ionathas gathered together them that were in Iurie to winne the castel in Ierusalem and they made engins against it †And certaine that hated their owne nation wicked men went to king Demetrius and told him that Ionathas besieged the castel †And as he heard it he was wrath and forth with he came to Pâ—olemais and wrote to Ionathas that he should not besiege the castel but should meete him to talke together in hast †But as Ionathas heard it he bade them besiege it and he chose of the ancients of Israel and of the priests and put himself in hazard †And he tooke gold and siluer and rayments and manie other presents and went to the king to Pâ—olomais and he found grace in his sight †And certaine wicked men of his nation solicited against him †And the king did to him as they had done to him which had bene before him and he exalted him in the sight of al his freinds †and he established to him the chiefe priesthood and whatsoeuer other thinges he had before precious and he made him the chiefe of his freindes †And Ionathas requested of the king that he would make Iurie free and the three toparchies Samaria the confines therof and he promised him three hundred talents †And the king consented and he wrote to Ionathas epistles of al these thinges conteyning this tenure †KING Demetrius to his brother Ionathas greeting to the nation of the Iewes †A copie of the epistle which we haue writen to Lasthenes our parent concerning you we haue sent to you that you might know it †KING Demetrius to Lasthenes his parent greeting †We haue determined to do good to the nation of the Iewes our freinds that keepe the thinges that are iust with vs for their gentlenes which they beare towards vs. †We haue ordayned therfore vnto them al the coasts of Iurie the three cities Apherema Lyda Ramatha which are added to Iurie of Samaria al their confines to be sequestred to al them that sacrifice in Ierusalem for these thinges
which the king receiued of them euerie yeare and for the fruits of the land and of the trees †And other thinges that perteined to vs of the tithes and of the tributes from this time we remitte to them and the salt floores and the crownes that were presented to vs †we grant al to them and nothing of these shal be broken from this time and for euer †Now therfore prouide to make a copie of these and let it be geuen to Ionathas and let it be layd in the holie mount and in a solemne place †And Demetrius the king seing that the land was quiet in his sight and nothing resisted him he dismissed al his armie euerie man to his place except the forren armie which he brought from the iles of the Gentils and al the bandes of his fathers were enemies to him †And there was one Tryphon of Alexanders part before and he saw that al the armie murmured against Demetrius he went to Emâ—lchuel the Arabian that brought vp Antiochus the sonne of Alexander †And he lay vpon him to deliuer this Antiochus vnto him to reigne in his fathers place and he declared vnto him what great thinges Demetrius did the emnities of his hosts against him And he taried there manie dayes †And Ionathas sent to Demetrius the king that he would cast out them that were in the castel in Ierusalem and that were in the holdes because they impugned Israel †And Demetrius sent to Ionathas saying I wil not onlie doe these thinges for thee and for thy nation but with glorie I wil honour thee and thy nation when it shal be time conuenient †Now therfore thou shalt doe wel if thou wilt send men to helpe me because al mine armie is departed †And Ionathas sent him three thousand valient men to Antioch and they came to the king and the king was delighted at their coming †And there assembled they that were of the citie an hundred twentie thousand men and they would haue slaine the king †And the king fled into the court and they that were of the citie kept the wayes of the citie and began to â—ight †And the king called the Iewes for ayde and they came together to him al at once and they were al dispersed through the citie †And they slew in that day an hundred thousand men and they burnt the citie and tooke manie spoiles in that day and deliuered the king †And they that were of the citie saw that the Iewes had obteyned the citie as they would and they were discomfited in their minde and cried to the king with petitions saying †Geue vs the right hand and let the Iewes cease to oppugne vs and the citie †And they threw away their weapons made peace and the Iewes were glorified in the kings sight were renowmed in the sight of al that were in his kingdom returned into Ierusalem with manie spoiles †And king Demetrius sate in the seat of his kingdom the land was at rest in his sight †And he feaned al thinges whatsoeuer he sayd and alienated himself from Ionathas and he requited him not according to the benefites that he had geuen him and he vexed him excedingly †And after these thinges Tryphon returned and with him Antiochus the yong boy who reigned and put the crowne vpon him †And there gathered vnto him al the bandes which Demetrius had dispersed and they fought agaynst him and he fled and turned the backe †And Tryphon tooke the beastes and wanne Antioch †And Antiochus the yong man wrote to Ionathas saying I appoynt to thee the priesthood and I place thee ouer the foure cities that thou mayst be of the kings freinds †And he sent him vessels of gold for his seruice and he gaue him leaue to drinke in gold and to be in purple and to haue a cheyne of gold †And he appointed Simon his brother gouerner from the borders of Tyre euen to the coasts of Aegypt †And Ionathas went forth and walked through the cities beyond the riuer and al the band of Syria gathered vnto him to helpe him and he came to Ascalon they mette him honorably out of the citie †And he went from thence to Gaza and they that were in Gaza shut in them selues and he besieged it burnt the thinges that were round about the citie and he spoiled it †And the men of Gaza besought Ionathas and he gaue them the right hand and he tooke their sonnes for hostages and sent them into Ierusalem and he walked through the countrie euen to Damascus †And Ionathas heard that the princes of Demetrius preuaricated in Cades which is in Galilee with a great armie meaning to remoue him from the affayres of the kingdom †and he went against them but his brother Simon he left within the prouince †And Simon approched to Bethsura and expugned it manie dayes and inclosed them †And they requested of him to take the right handes and he gaue it them and he cast them out from thence and tooke the citie and placed therin a gartison †And Ionathas and his campe approched to the water of Genesar and before it was light they watched in the plaine Asor †And loe the campe of the aliens mette him in the playne they layd embushments for him in the mountaines but he went against them †And the embushments rose out of their places and they ioyned battel †And al fled that were on Ionathas part and none was left of them but Mathathias the sonne of Absolom and Iudas the sonne of Calphi chiefe captayne of the chiualrie of the host †And Ionathas rent his garments and put earth vpon his head and prayed †And Ionathas returned to them into battel he put them to flight and they fought †And they of his part that fled saw and returned to him and Pursewed with him euen to Cades to their campe and they came euen thither †And there fel of the aliens in that day three thousand men and Ionathas returned into Ierusalem CHAP. XII Ionathas confirmeth league with the Romanes and Spartiates by letters 19. with mention of letters receiued before 24. By diligent guard he defendeth the countrie from the enimies inuasions putting them to flight 31. subdueth the Arabians and returneth by Damascus 33. Simon prospering in other places fortifieth Ierusalem 39. Finally is deceiued by Tryphon 48. and al his men are slaine AND Ionathas saw that the time helped him he chose men and sent them to Rome to establish and to renew amitie with them †and to the Spartiats and to other places he sent epistles according to the same tenure †And they went to Rome and entered into the court and sayd Ionathas the hight priest and the nation of the Iewes haue sent vs to renew the amitie and societie according as before †And they gaue them epistles vnto them
men of Iurie to the defence of the countrie of the citie he raysed the walles of Ierusalem †And king Demetrius appointed him the high priesthood †According to these thinges he made him his friend and glorified him with great glorie †For he heard that the Iewes were called of the Romanes freinds and felowes and bretheren and that they receiued Simons legates gloriously †and that the Iewes and their priests consented that he should be their duke and high priest for euer til there rise the faithful prophete †and that he be duke ouer them and that he should haue the care of the holies and that he should appoint rulers ouer their workes and ouer the countrie and ouer the armour and ouer the holdes †And that he haue care of the holies and that he be heard of al and that al writinges in the countrie be writen in his name and that he be clothed with purple and gold †and that it be not lawful for any of the people and of the priests to disanul anie of these and to gainsay those thinges that are sayd of him or to cal together an assemblie in the countrie without him and to be clothed with purple and to weare a cheyne of gold †But he that shal doe beside these thinges or shal make frustrate any of these he shal be guiltie †And it pleased al the people to appoiut Simon and to doe according to these wordes †And Simon tooke it vpon him and it pleased him to execute high priesthood and to be duke and prince of the nation of the Iewes and of the priests and to be chiefe ouer al. †And this writing they bad them put in tables of brasse and to set them in the circuite of the holies in a famous place †and to put a copie therof in the treasurie that Simon may haue it and his children CHAP. XV. Antiochus by his letters granteth great priuilegies to simon 10. pursueth Thryphon and inuironeth him 15. The Romanes commend the Iewes to other nations 25. Antiochus refusing ayde sent by Simon breaketh league 30. and exacteth certaine cities and tribute 37. Tryphon escapeth and other of the kings forces inuade and spoîle lurie AND king Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius sent epistles from the iles of the sea to Simon the priest and prince of the nation of the Iewes and to al the nation †and they conteyned this tenure KING Antiochus to Simon the grand priest and to the nation of the Iewes greeting †Because certaine pestilent men haue obteyned the kingdom of our fathers and I meane to chalenge the kingdom and to restore it as it was before and I haue chosen a great armie haue made shippes of warre †And I wil march through the countrie that I may take reuenge of them that haue destroyed our countrie and that haue made manie cities desolate in my realme †Now therfore I establish vnto thee al the oblations which al the kinges before me remitted vnto thee and what other gifts soeuer they remitted thee †and I permitte thee to make a coyne of thy owne money in thy countrie †and Ierusalem to be holie and free and al the armour that is made and the fortresses which thou hast built and which thou dost hold let them remayne to thee †And al that is dew to the king and the thinges that are to be the kings hereafter from this present and for al time they are remitted to thee †And when we shal haue obteyned our kingdom we wil glorifie thee and thy nation and the temple with great glorie so that your glorie shal be made manifest in al the earth †In the yeare an hundreth seuentie foure went forth Antiochus into the land of his fathers and al the hosts assembled vnto him so that there were few left with Tryphon †And Antiochus the king pursewed him and he came to Dora flying by the seacost †For he knew that euils were heaped vpon him and the armie forsooke him †And Antiochus camped vpon Dora with an hundred twentie thousand men of warre and eight thousand horsemen †and he compassed the citie and the shippes approched to the sea and they vexed the citie by land and by sea and suffered none to come in or to goe out †And Numenius came and they that had bene with him from the citie of Rome hauing epistles written to kinges and countries wherein were conteyned these wordes †LVCIVS the consul of the Romanes to Ptolomee the king greeting †The ambassadours of the Iewes our freindes came to vs renewing the old amitie and societie being sent from Simon the prince of the priests and the people of the Iewes †And they brought also a buckler of gold of a thousand powndes †It hath pleased vs therfore to write to the kinges and countries that they doe them no harme nor impugne them and their cities and their countries and that they geue no ayde to them that fight against them †And it hath semed good vnto vs to take the buckler of them †If therfore anie pestilent men are fled out of their countrie to you deliuer them to Simon the prince of the priests that he may punish them according to their law †These self same thinges were written to Demetrius the king to Attalus and to Ariarathes and to Arsaces †and into al countries and to Lampsaces and to the Spartiats and to Delus and to Myndus and to Sicyon and to Caria and to Samus Pamphilia and Lycia and Alicarnassus and Coo and Siden and Aradon and Rhodes Phaselis and Gortyna and Gnidus and Cypres and Cyrenee †And a copie therof they wrote to Simon the prince of the priests people of the Iewes †But king Antiochus moued his campe vnto Dora the second time setting handes alwayes vpon it making engins he shut vp Tryphon that he could not goe forth †And Simon sent vnto him two thousand chosen men for ayde and siluer and gold and abundance of furniture †And he would not take them but brake al thinges that he couenanted with him before alienated him self from him †And he sent to him Athenobius one of his freinds to treate with him saying You hold Ioppe and Gazara and the castel that is in Ierusalem cities of my kingdom †their borders you haue made desolate and you haue made a great plague in the land and haue ruled in manie places in my kingdom †Now therfore deliuer the cities that you haue taken and the tributes of the places wherin you haue ruled without the borders of Iurie †But if not geue you for them fiue hundred talents of siluer and for the destruction that you haue made and the tributes of cities other fiue hundred talents but if not we wil come and expugne you †And Athenobius the kings freind came into Ierusalem saw the glorie of Simon and his
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
and the citizens flying together to the wal at the last the citie being taken Menelaus fled into the castel †But Iason spared not his citizens in murder nor considered that prosperitie against kinsmen is a verie great euil supposing that he should take the victorious spoiles of the enemies and not of his citizens †And the princedome verily he obteyned not but receiued confusion the end of his treacherie and went againe a fugitiue into the countrie of the Ammanites †At the last to his owne destruction being inclosed of Aretas the tyrant of the Arabians flying from citie to citie odious to al men as an apostata from the lawes and execrable as an enemie of his countrie and citizens he was thrust out into Egypt †and he that had expelled manie out of their countrie perished in a strange place going to the Lacedemonians as being like for kindred sake to haue refuge there †but he that cast away manie vnburyed himself both vnlamented and vnburyed is cast forth neither enioying forrein buryal nor partaker of the sepulcher of his fathers †These thinges therefore being done the king suspected that the Iewes would forsake the societie and for this departing out of Aegypt with a furious mind he tooke the citie by armes †And he bad the souldiars kil and not spare them that came in their way to murder them that went vp into the houses †Slaughters therfore were made of youngmen old and destructions of wemen and children and murders of virgins and litle ones †And there were in the whole three dayes foure score thousand slaine fourtie thousand prisoners and no lesse sold †But neither do these thinges suffice he presumed also to enter into the temple in al the earth the most holie Menelaus being his leader who was betrayer of the lawes and his countrie †And with wicked handes taking the holie vessels which by other kinges and cities were set for the ornament and the glorie of the place he vnworthily handled and contaminated them †So Antiochus being alienated in minde considered not that for the sinnes of them that inhabit the citie God had bene angrie a litle for the which also hapned the contempte about the place †otherwise vnles it had chanced them to haue bene wrapped in manie sinnes as Heliodorus who was sent of Seleucus the king to spoile the treasurie this man also immediately as he came had bene scourged and repelled verily from his boldnes †But not the nation for the place but the place for the nation hath God chosen †And therefore the place also it self is made partaker of the peoples euils but afterward it shal be partaker of the good thinges and it that was forsaken in the wrath of almightie God shal be exalted againe with great glorie in the reconciliation of the great Lord. †Therefore Antiochus hauing taken away out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents spedily went backe to Antioch thinking through pride that he might bring the land to sayle vpon the sea to goe vpon through haughtines of minde †And he left also rulers to afflict the nation at Ierusalem Philip a Phrygian borne more cruel of maners then he himself by whom he was appointed †and in Garizim Andronicus and Menelaus who lay more greiuously vpon the citizens then the rest †And wheras he was set against the Iewes he sent the odious prince Apollonius with an armie of two twentie thousand commanding him to kil al of perfect age to sel the wemen and the young ones †Who when he was come to Ierusalem feyning peace rested vntil the holie day of the Sabbath and then the Iewes keping holie day he commanded his men to take weapons †And he murdered al that were gone forth to behold the gammes running through the citie with armed men he slew a very greate multitude †But Iudas Machabeus who was the tenth was retyred into a desert place and there amongst wilde beastes he led his life in the mountaines with his companie and they abode eating meate of grasse that they might not be partakers of the contamination CHAP. VI. The law of God is abolished the temple prophaned and named of Iupiter Olympius 7. The feast of Bacchus is kept 10. wemen with their circumcised children are slaine 11. others for celebrating the sabbath 12. an admonition to the reader 18. old Eleazarus constantly obseruing the law suffereth glorious death BVT not long after the king sent a certaine ancient man of Antioch that should compel the Iewes to remoue them selues from the lawes of their fathers and of God †to contaminate also the temple that was in Ierusalem and to cal it by the name of Iupiter Olympius and in Garizim according as they were that inhabited the place of Iupiter Hospitalis †And the inuasion of the euiles was sore and grieucus to al †for the temple was ful of the lecherie and glottonie of the Gentiles of them that played the harlots with whoores And wemen thrusting themselues of their owne accord into the sacred houses bringing in thouse thinges which were not lawful †The altar also was ful of vnlawful thinges which were forbidden by the lawes †And neither were the Sabbaths kept not the soleme dayes of the fathers obserued neither plainely did anie man confesse him selfe to be a Iewe. †But they were led with bitter necessitie in the kings birth day to sacrifices and when the feast of Bacchus was kept they were compelled to goe about crowned with Iuie vnto Bacchus †And there went forth a decree into the next cities of the Gentiles the Ptolomeans geuing the aduise that they also in like manner should doe against the Iewes that they sacrifice †and them that would not paste to the ordinances of the heathen they should kil A man then might see the miserie †For two wemen were accused to haue circuncided their children whom the infantes hanging at their breasts when they had openly led them about through the citie they threwe downe headlong by the walles †And others coming together to the next caues secretely 2. keping the day of the Sabbath when they were discouered to Philip were burnt with fyre because they feared for religion and obseruance to helpe themselues with their hand †But I beseech them that shal read this booke that they abhorre not for the aduersities but that they account those thinges which haue happened not to be for the destruction but for the chastening of our stocke †For not to suffer sinners a long time to doe as they wil but forthwith to punish is a token of a great benefite †For not as in other nations our Lord patiently expecteth that when the day of iudgement shal come he may punish them in the fulnes of sinnes †so also doth he determine in vs that our sinnes being come to the end so at
celebrated the Phase and the festiual day of Azymes for seuen dayes †and there was not celebrated such a Phase in Israel from the times of Samuel the prophet †and al the kinges of Israel did not celebrate such a Phase as Iosias did and the Priestes and the Leuites and the Iewes and al Israel that were found in their abode at Ierusalem †In the eightenth yeare Iosias reigning was the Phase celebrated †And the workes of Iosias were directed in the sight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare †and the thinges concerning him are writen in the ancient times touching them that sinned and were irreligious against our Lord aboue al nations and that sought not the wordes of our Lord vpon Israel †And after al this fact of Iosias came vp Pharao the king of Aegypt comming in Charcamis from the way vpon Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him †And the king of Aegypt sent to Iosias saying What is there betwen me thee king of Iuda †I was not sent of the Lord to fight against thee for my battel is vpon Euphrates goe downe in hast †And Iosias did not returne vpon his chariote but endeuoured to ouerthrow him not attending the word of the prophet from the mouth of our Lord †but he made battel against him in the field of Mageddo And princes went downe to king Iosias †And the king said to his seruantes Remoue me from the battel for I am weakned excedingly And forth with his seruantes remoued him out of the battel †And he went vp into his second chariote comming to Ierusalem dyed and was buried in his fathers se pulchre †And in al Iurie they mourned for Iosias the rulers with their wiues lamented him vntil this day And this was geuen out to be done alwayes vnto al the stocke of Israel †But these thinges were writen before in the booke of the histories of the kinges of Iuda and al the actes of the doing of Iosias and his glorie and his vnderstanding in the law of our Lord and the thinges that were done by him and that are not writen in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda †And they that were of the nation taking Iechonias the sonne of Iosias made him king for Iosias his father when he was three and twentie yeares old †And he reigned ouer Israel three monethes And the king of Aegypt remoued him that he should not reigne in Ierusalem †and he put a taxe vpon the nation of siluer an hundred talentes and of gold one talent †And the king of Aegypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda and Ierusalem †and he bound the magistrates of Ioacim and Zaracel his brother and taking them brought them backe into Aegypt †Ioacim was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne in the land of Iuda and Ierusalem and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. †And after this man came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and binding him with a bande of brasse brought him into Babylon †And Nabuchodonosor tooke the sacred vessels of our Lord and carried away and consecrated them in his temple in Babylon †For his vncleanes and lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges †And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him And when he was made king he was eightene yeares old †And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem and did euil in the sight of our Lord †and after a yeare Nabuchodonosor sending transported him into Babylon together with the sacred vessels of our Lord. †And he made Sedecias king of Iuda and Ierusalem when he was one and twentie yeares old and he reigned eleuen yeares †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord and was not afraid of the wordes which were spoken by Ieremie the prophet from the mouth of our Lord †and being sworne of king Nabuchodonosor forsworne he did reuolt and his necke being hardened his hart he transgressed the ordinances of our Lord the God of Israel †And the princes of the people of our Lord did manie thinges wickedly and they did impiously aboue al the vncleannes of the nations and they polluted the temple of our Lord that was holie in Ierusalem †And the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to reclame them for that he would spare them and his tabernacle †But they scorned at his messengers and in the day that our Lord spake to them they were mocking his prophetes †Who was moued euen vnto wrath vpon his nation for their impietie and commanded the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp †These slewe their yong men with the sword round about their holie temple and spared not yong man and old man and virgin and youth †but al were deliuered into their handes taking al the sacred vessels of our Lord and the kinges treasures they caried them into Babylon †and burnt the house of our Lord and threwe downe the walles of Ierusalem and the towres therof they burnt with fire †and consumed al their honorable thinges and brought them to naught and those that were left of the sword they led into Babylon †And they were his seruants vntil the Persians reigned in the fulfilling of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie †as long as the land quietly kept her sabbathes al the time of her desolation she sabbathized in the application of seuentie yeares CHAP. II. Cyrus king of Persia permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrie 10. and deliuereth to them the holie vessels which Nabuchodonosor had taken from the temple 16. Certaine aduersaries writing to king Artaxerxes hinder those that would repayre the ruines of Ierusalem CYRVS king of the Persians reigning for the accomplishment of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie †our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes and that by writing †saying Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians The Lord of Israel the high Lord hath made me king ouer the whole earth †and hath signified to me to build him a house in Ierusalem which is in Iurie †If there be any of your kinred his Lord goe vp with him into Ierusalem †Whosoeuer therefore dwel about the places let them helpe them that are in the same place in gold and siluer †in giftes with horses and beastes and with other thinges which by vowes are added into the temple of our Lord which is in Ierusalem †And the princes of the tribes of the villages and of Iurie of the tribe of Beniamin the Priestes and the Leuites standing vp whom our Lord moued to goe vp and to build the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem and they that were round about them †did helpe them with al their gold and siluer and beastes and
from Babylon to build the citie that there should be libertie aswel to them as to their children and to al the priestes that goe before †And he wrote a quantitie also and commanded the sacred stole to be geuen wherein they should serue †and to the Leuites he wrote to geue preceptes vntil the day wherein the house shal be finished and Ierusalem builded And to al that kepe the citie he wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them †And he sent away al the vessels whatsoeuer Cyrus had separated from Babylon and al thinges whatsoeuer Cyrus sayd he also commanded to be donne and to be sent to Ierusalem †And when that yong man was gone forth lyfting vp his face toward Ierusalem he blessed the king of heauen †and sayd Of thee is victorie and of thee is wisdome and glorie And I am thy seruant †Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisedom and I wil confesse to thee Lord God of our fathers †And he toke the letters and went into Babylon And he came and told al his brethren that were in Babylon †and they blessed the God of their fathers because he gaue them remission and refreshing †that they should goe vp and build Ierusalem and the temple wherein his name was renowmed and they reioyced with musike and ioy seuen dayes CHAP. V. Those that returned from captiuitie of Babylon into Ierusalem and Iurie are recited 47. They restore Gods seruice 66. but are hindered from building AFTER these thinges there were chosen to goe vp the princes of townes by their houses and tribes and their wiues and their sonnes and daughters and their men seruantes and wemen seruantes and their cattel †And Darius the king sent together with them a thousand horsmen til they conducted them to Ierusalem with peace with musicke with tymbrels and shaulmes †and al the brethren were playing and he made them goe vp together with them †And these are the names of the men that went vp by their townes according to tribes and according to the portion of their principalitie †Priestes The children of Phinees the sonne of Aaron Iesus the sonne of Iosedec Ioacim the sonne of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel of the house of Dauid of the progenie of Phares of the tribe of Iuda †Who spake vnder Darius king of the Persians the meruelous wordes in the second yeare of his reigne the first moneth Nisan †And they are these that of Iurie came vp from the captiuitie of the transmigration whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported into Babylon and returned into Ierusalem †And euerie one sought a part of Iurie according to his owne citie they that came with Zorobabel and Iesus Nehemias Areores Elimeo Emmanio Mardocheo Beelsuro Mechpsatochor Olioro Emonia one of their princes †And the number of them of the same nation of their rulers the children of Phares two thousand an hundred seuentie two †The children of Ares three thousand an hundred fiftie seuen †The children of Phoemo an hundred fourtie two in the children of Iesus and Ioabes a thousand three hundred two †the children of Demu two thousand foure hundred seuentie the children of Choraba two hundred fiue the children of Banica an hundred sixtie eight †the children of Bebech foure hundred three the children of Archad foure hundred twentie seuen †the children of Cham thirtie seuen the children of Zoroar two thousand sixtie seuen the children of Adin foure hundred sixtie one †the children of Aderectes an hundred eight the children of Ciaso and Zelas an hundred seuen the children of Azoroc foure hundred thirtie nine †the children of Iedarbone an hundred thirtie two the children of Ananias an hundred thirtie the children of Asoni ninetie †the children of Marsar foure hundred twentie two the children of Zabarus nintie fiue the children of Sepolemon an hundred twentie three †the children of Nepopas fiftie fiue the children of Hechanatus an hundred fiftie eight the children of Cebethamus an hundred thirtie two †the children of Crearpatros which are of Enocadie and Modia foure hundred twentie three they of Gramas and Gabea an hundred twentie one †They of Besselon and Ceagge sixtie fiue they of Bastaro an hundred twentie two †they of Bechenobes fiftie fiue the children of Liptis an hundred fiftie fiue the children of Labonni three hundred fiftie seuen †the children of Sichem three hundred seuentie the children of Suadon Cliomus three hundred seuentie eight †the children of Ericus two thousand an hundred fourtie fiue the children of Anaas three hundred seuentie The priestes †the children of Ieddus the sonne of Euther the sonne of Eliasib three hundred seuentie two the children of Emerus two hundred fiftie two †the children of Phasurius three hundred fiftie seuen the children of Caree two hundred twentie seuen †The Leuites The children of Iesus in Caduhel and Bamis and Serebias and Edias seuentie foure the whole number from the twelfth yeare thirtie thousand foure hundred sixtie two †The sonnes and daughters and wiues the whole number fourtie thousand two hundred fourtie two †The children of the Priestes that sang in the temple the children of Asaph an hundred twentie eight †And the porters the children of Esmeni the children of Azer the children of Amon the children of Accuba of Topa the children of Tobi al an hundred thirtie nine †Priestes that serued in the temple the children of Sel the children of Gaspha the children of Tobloch the children of Caria the children of Su the children of Hellu the children of Lobana the children of Armacha the children of Accub the children of Vtha the children of Cetha the children of Aggab the children of Obai the children of Anani the children of Canna the children of Geddu †the children of An the children of Radin the children of Desanon the children of Nachoba the children of Caseba the children of Gaze the children of Ozui the children of Sinone the children of Attre the children of Hasten the children of Asiana the children of Manei the children of Nasissim the children of Acusu the children of Agista the children of Azui the children of Fauon the children of Phasalon †the children of Meedda the children of Phusa the children of Careé the children of Burcus the children of Saree the children of Coesi the children of Nasith the children of Agisti the children of Pedon †Salomon his children the children of Asophot the children of Phasida the children of Celi the children of Dedon the children of Gaddahel the children of Sephegi †the children of Aggia the children of Sachareth the children of Sabathen the children of Caroneth the children of Malsith the children of Ama the children of Sasus the children of Addus the children of Suba the children of Eura the children of Rahotis the children of Phasphat the children of Malmon †Al that serued the sanctuarie and the seruantes of Salomon foure hundred eightie two
Assirians toward them to strengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VIII Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters 14. nâ—t licence to takâ— gold siluer and al thinges necessarie at their pleasure 31. The chief mâ—n that goe with him are recited 51. He voweth a fast praying for good successe in their iorney 56. weigheth the gold and siluer which he deliuereth to the Priestes and Leuites 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance for their mariages made with infideles AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome †the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Ameri the sonne of Azahel the sonne of Bocci the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest †This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe wise in the law of Moyses which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and to doe †And the king gaue him glorie because he had found grace in al dignitie and desire in his sight †And there went vp with him of the children of Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the sacred singers of the temple and the porters and the seruantes of the temple into Ierusalem †In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth †they came to Ierusalem according to his commandment according to the prosperitie of their iourney which their Lord gaue them †For in these Esdras had great knowlege that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges which were according to the law and the preceptes of our Lord and in teaching al Israel al iustice and iudgement †And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest the reader of the law of our Lord the copie wherof here foloweth †KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord greeting †I of curtesie esteming it among benifites haue commanded them that of their owne accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes and of the Priestes and Leuites which are in my kingdom to goe with thee into Ierusalem †If anie therfore desire to goe with thee let them come together and set forward as it hath pleased me and my seuen freindes my counselers †that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ierusalem obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. †And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ierusalem and al the gold and siluer that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem with that †which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ierusalem that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen and rammes and lambes and kiddes and for the thinges that are agreable to these †that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord which is in Ierusalem †And al thinges whatsoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer doe it at thy pleasure according to the precept of the Lord thy God †And the sacred vessels which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God which is in Ierusalem †And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kings treasure †When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and siluer doe according to the wil of the Lord. †And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria and Phaenice that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord shal write for they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of siluer likewise also of gold †And vnto an hundred measures of corne an hundred vessels of wine and other thinges whatsoeuer abound without taxing †Let al thinges be done to the most high God according to the law of God lest perhaps there arise wrath in the reigne of the king and of his sonne and his sonnes †And to you it is sayd that vpon al the Priestes and Leuites and sacred singers and seruantes of the temple scribes of this temple †no tribute nor any other taxe be sette and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them †But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God appoynt iudges and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice and teach al them that know no the law of thy God †that whosoeuer shal transgresse the law they be diligently punished either with death or with torment or els with a forfeite of money or with banishment †And Esdras the scribe sayd Blessed be the God of our fathers which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart to glorifie his house which is in Ierusalem †And hath honoured me in the sight of the king and of his counselers and freindes and them that weare purple †And I was made constant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God and gathered together of Israel men that should goe vp together with me †And these are the princes according to their kindredes and seueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes †Of the children of Phares Gersomus and of the children of Siemarith Amenus of the children of Dauid Acchus the sonne of Scecilia †Of the children of Phares Zacharias and with him returned an hundred fiftie men †Of the children of leader Moabilion Zaraei and with him two hundred fiftie men †Of the children of Zachues Iechonias of Zechoel and with him two hundred fiftie men †of the children of Sala Maasias of Gotholia with him seuentie men †of the children of Saphatia Zarias of Michel and with him eightie men †of the children of Iob Abdias of Iehel and with him two hundred twelue men †of the children of Bania Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia and with him an hundred sixtie men †of the children of Beer Zacharias Bebei and with him two hundred eight men †of the children of Ezead Ioannes of Eccetan and with him an hundred ten men †of the children of Adonicam which were last and these are their names Eliphalam the sonne of Gebel and Semeias and with him seuentie men †And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia and we camped there three dayes and vewed them againe †And of the children of the Priestes and Leuites I found not there †And I sent to Eleazarus and Eccelon and Masman and
†My righthand shal not spare sinners neither shal the sword cease vpon them that shede innocent bloud vpon the earth †Fire came forth from his wrath and hath deuoured the fundations of the earth and sinners as it were straw set on fire †Woe to them that sinne and obserue not my comandmentes sayth our Lord. †I wil not spare them depart ô children from the powre Defile not my sanctification †because the Lord knoweth al that sinne against him therefore hath he deliuered them into death and into slaughter †For now are euils come vpon the world and you shal tarrie in them For God wil not deliuer you because you haue sinned against him †Behold an horrible vision and the face of it from the east †And the nations of dragons of Arabians shal come forth in manie chariots as a winde the number of them is caried vpon the earth so that now al doe feare and tremble that shal heare them †the Carmonians madde for anger and they shal goe forth as wild boares out of the wood they shal come with great power and shal stand in fight with them they shal waste the portion of the land of the Assirians †And after these thinges the dragons shal preuaile mindful of their natiuitie and conspiring shal turne themselues in great force to pursue them †These shal be trubled and hold their peace at their force and shal turne their fete into flight †And from the territorie of the Assirians the besiegers shal beseige them and shal consume one of them and there shal be feare and trembling in their armie and contention against their kinges †Behold cloudes from the east and from the north vnto the south and their face very horrible ful of wrath and storme †And they shal beate one against an other and they shal beate downe manie starres and their starre vpon the earth and bloud shal be from the sword vnto the bellie †And mans dung vnto the camels litter and there shal be much feare and trembling vpon the earth †And they shal shake that shal see that wrath and tremble shal take them and after these thinges there shal manie showers be moued †from the south and the north and an other portion from the weast †And the windes from the east shal preuaile vpon it and shal shut it vp and the cloudes which he raised in wrath and the starre to make terrour to the east winde and the west shal be destroyed †And there shal be exalted great and mightie cloudes ful of wrath and a starre to terrifie al the earth and the inhabitantes therof and they shal powre in vpon euerie high and eminent place a terrible starre †fire and haile and flying swordes and manie waters so that al fildes also shal be filled and al riuers with the fulnes of manie waters †And they shal throw downe cities and walles and mountaines and hilles and the trees of the woodes and the grasse of the medowes and their corne †And they shal passe constant vnto Babylon and shal raise her †They shal come together against her and shal compasse her and shal power out the starre and al wrath vpon her and the dust and smoke shal goe vp euen into heauen and round about shal lament her †And they that shal remaine vnder her shal serue them that terified her †And thou Asia agreeing into the hope of Babylon and the glorie of her person †woe be to thee thou wretch because thou art like to her and hast adorned thy daughters in fornication to please glorie in thy louers which haue desired alwayes to fornicate with thee †Thou hast imitated the odious in al her workes and in her inuentions therefore sayth God †I wil send in euils vpon thee widow hood pouertie and famine and sword and pestilence to destroy thy houses by violation and death and glorie of thy vertue †As a flower shal be withered when the heate shal rise that is sent forth vpon thee †thou shalt be weakned as a litle poore soule plaged and chastised of wemen that the mightie and the louers may not receiue thee †Wil I be zealous against thee sayth our Lord †vnles thou hadst slayne myne elect at al times exalting the slaughter of the handes and saying vpon their death when thou wast drunken †Adorne the beautie of thy countenance †The reward of thy fornication is in thy bosome therefore thou shalt receiue recompence †As thou shalt doe to my elect sayth our Lord so shal God do to thee and shal deliuer thee vnto euil †And thy children shal dye for famine and thou shalt fal by the sword and thy cities shal be destroyed al thyne shal fal in the filde by the sword †And they that are in the mountaines shal perish with famine and shal eate their owne flesh drinke kloud for the famine of bread and thirst of waters †Vnhappie by the seas shalt thou come and againe thou shalt receuie euils †And in the passage they shal beate against the idle citie and shal destroy some portion of thy land and shal deface part of thy glorie againe returning to Babylon ouerthrowen †And being throwen downe thou shalt be to them for stubble and they shal be to thee fire †and deuoure thee and thy cities thy land and thy mountaynes al thy woodes and fruitful trees they wil burne with fire †Thy children they shal lead captiue shal haue thy goodes for a praye and the glorie of thy face they shal destroy CHAP. XVI Al are admonished that extreme calamities shal fal vpon this world 36. the penitent returning to iustice shal escape 55. as al thinges were made by Gods omnipotent powre at his wil so al thinges shal serue to the reward of the blessed and punishment of the wicked VVOE to thee Babylon Asia woe to thee Aegypt and Syria †Gird yourselues with sackclothes and shirtes of heare mourne for your children be sorie because your destruction is at hand †The sword is sent in vpon you and who is he that can turne it away †Fire is sent in vpon you and who is he that can quench it †Euiles are sent in vpon you and who is he that can repel them †Shal anie man repel the lion being hungrie in the woode or quench the fire in stubble forthwith when it beginneth to burne †Shal anie man repel the arrow shot of a strong archer †Our strong Lord sendeth in euiles and who is he that can repel them †Fire came forth from his wrath and who is he that can quench it †He wil lighten who shal not feare he wil thunder and who shal not be afrayde †Our Lord wil threaten and who shal not vtterly be destroyed before his face †The earth hath trembled and the fundations thereof the sea tosseth vp waues from the
habites and inclinations to sinne So our Sauiour afterwards taught Ioan. 13. v. 10. He that is washed nedeth not sauing to wash his feere il affections and reliques of former sinnes but is cleane wholy f VVhiles I did not know not consider nor acknowledge my sinnes I could not be forgeuen but now I know and acknowledge them g and I cease not to consider of them with sorow h Principally for so this particle only here signifieth the enormities of my sinnes consist in that I haue offended thy Diuine Goodnes and Maiestie the King of the worldes immortal inuisible onlie God to whom is due al honour and glorie for euer and euer 1. Tim. 1. v. 17. i Thou which hast promised forgeuenes to al sinners that truly conuert shal herein be iustified by receiuing me againe to grace k and ouerthrow thy calumniators that iudge wickedly of thy proceedings as if either thy iustice or mercie were peruerted l I and al are burne in original sinne the reliques wherof concupiscence and weakenes incline vs to other sinneâ— which we haue added In regard of which our infirmitie thy mercie is readie to recal vs and help vs. m Besides thou hast also geuen me knowledge of true faith and right doctrine which thou euer louest and art accustomed to reduce and direct such into the true way of penance n yea thou hast moreouer shewed to me thinges vncertaine or vnknowen to manie others geuen me the gift and spirit of prophecie to know hidde mysteries and to euerie one God geueth some particular benefites which he loueth in him and is ready of his part to confirme and maintaine the same that they be not lost o Most merciful Lord thou wilt as I see in the spirit of prophecie sprinkle me and al men with thy bloud from the Crosse where they shal geue thee vinegre about hyssoppe to drinke Ioan. 19. p by which washing I shal be cleane from sinne and become in time pure yea whiter then snow A figure of this hyssope was obserued in Moyses Law Num. 19. signifying the liuelie heat of Christs infinite charitie q When myn affections shal be cleane purged I shal take singular great delight to heare of thee r and al my powres of mind and bodie which are now afflicted shal reioyce Å¿ Leaue of thy cogitation of punishing to which purpose first take away myn iniquities â—oâ— otherwise if they remaine Gods iustice can not but punish them t Create in me new grace wherby my hart shal be pure So S. Paul calleth a iust soul a new creature Galat. 6. v. 15. v v In my invvard thoughtes w suffer me not so to fal againe that thy grace depart from me x which I had before my fal of Christ promised of my seede and alter not the same for my â—â—nâ—es Dauid also and other penitents pray here that God wil restore vnto them the ioy which they had in the state of grace of eternal saluation promised y confirme conserue in â—e hereafter a strong constant and willing spirite to perseuere z No way can a penitent better shew him self gratful to God for remission of his sinnes theâ— by instructing exhorting and perswading other sinners to repentance to leaue their former il wayes and turne to God a From the guilt and punishment of murder causing Vrias and others with him to be slaine Other penitents pray to be deliuered from what sinnes soeuer they haue committed by sheding bloud or other â—â—â—â—gs and iniuries promising to praise Gods iustice in offering and geuing grace accordâ—â—◠〈…〉 promise to sinners that they may repent b Thou â— God first sâ—â—rring me vp opening my lippes which of my selfe I can not do then my tongue and 〈…〉 wil praise thee c If thou wouldest especially legal sacrifice I would easily haue offered great store d but the best of that kind is not sufficient e true contrition of hart pleaseth thee farre better f After a penitent hath remission of his owne sinnes he must pray for the whole Church g The Church prospering her faithful children shal offer h the sacrifice of iustice rendering to euerie one that is due i also free offeringes without obligation k yea holocaustes which is the chiefest â—caâ—â—es and like hostes vpon the altar according to the state of the old law but in the law of Christ the most B. Sacrifice by him instituted Temporal punishment is due after remission of sinnes Custome of sinne maketh more pronnes to fal againe CoÌ„cupiscence remaineth after original sinne Spiritual sacrifice prefeâ—red before external Dauids inuectiue against Doeg the 8. key a Of the race of Esau half a Ievv but either an Infidel or fautor of Infidels a spie for Saul a persecutor of Dauid a murderer of Innocents 2. Reg. 22. v. 9. 18. b High priest slaine with 84. more Priestes and others because they were supposed to fauour Dauid ibidem c Thou persecutor Doeg why art thou so malicious to abuse thy credite with king Saul to the murdering of innocents d playing the part of a spie in betraying to Saul that I was with Achimelech e Though he told a truth yet it was iniquitie to betray innocents f Thou shalt vtterly be destroyed g al thy race h for a short time in this world i Dauid prophecieth his owne exaltation and conseruation of his seede in the kingdom of Israel k Sing praise and â—aâ—kes to thee l thy Goodnes which agreeth to thy name The general Iudgement the 9. key a Weakenes or mourning b S. Augustin expoundeth this Psalme as an instruction to those that suffer persecution and iniuries especially nere the end of the world c God wil ouerthrow al the counsels and forces d of worldlie politiques e The true Church afflicted desireth Christs coming to deliuer the oppressed A praier in distresse the 7. key a Though historically this Psalme b was song by Dauid the author therof shewing how he prayd in dauger and rendered thankes for his deliuerie c when vpon notice geuen that he abode in the mountaines Saul straictly beseged him with a great armie but the Philistims inuading the countrie Saul was forced to leaue Dauid and to turne his forces against them 1. Reg. 23 yet iâ— perceyneth also literally to al iust men in distresse especially to the Church of Christ praying in like dangers and God by his like prouidence deliuering his seruantes in extremities d For the glorie of thy name e for the iustnes of my cause defend me f Barbarous highland men haue betraide the place of myne abode to the persecuters g But I feare them not because I am in Gods protection h A iust prayer that God wil turne intended mischief vpon the deuisers heades i according to his promise that he wil defend the innocent k Offering voluntarie sacrifice more then is commanded l and praise thee ô God m as I am bond n I reioyce in thy iust iudgements against the wicked Gods
forced to promise libertie to the children of Israel vvhich he aftervvards denied e The read sea f when Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan g in remembring and reciting these singular benefites h Gods chosen people the Iewes did often exasperate God by their ingratitude murmuring and other sinnes whom the prophet therfore admonisheth i not to be proud lest they be subdued and brought lowe k By way of inuitation the Psalmist prophecieth the conuersion of Gentiles l The voice of the whole Church confessing Gods prouidence and protection that she neuer faileth for the Iewes falling from Christ the Gentiles beleued in him and some nations or countries falling from Religion others are conuerted m God suffereth his Church to be persecuted with al kindes of tribulation as some are here recited n But through Gods assistance his seruants passe through and ouercome al tentations o Sacrifice of thankes p and voluntarie vowes q that which anie promiseth to God in tribulation they must performe accordingly r Thâ—se were the best external sacrifices of the old law Å¿ But both then and now the internal sacrifices of contrite hart of iustice and of diuine praise best please God t from the hart which is vnder the tongue and directeth the tongue what to speake v VVhosoeuer wil be heard in prayer must repent of his sinnes Propagation of the Church the 6. key a This Psalme beginning to be songue by voices instruments were adioyned b God first remitte our sinnes c then geue vs thy manifold graces d grant faith and repentance e and so forgeuenes of sinnes f Al nations shal be conuerted g God the Fater h God the Sonne i God the Holie Ghost saue the peoples of al nations by Euangelical preaching of thee the most Blessed Trinitie The Church stil conserued The 6. key a In maner of praying that God wil vouchsafe to defend the Church the Psalmist prophecieth that God wil arise b and the enimies shal flee away not daring to abide the combate c As God is terrible to the wicked so he is comfortable to the iust d Resist not Gods inspiration but receiue it with ioy and thankes e who triumpheth ouer death f God is Lord not only of these or those nations countries or other creatures but absolutly and vniuersally of al. g That is the true holie Church which hath h vnitie in doctrin touching faith and maâ—ers i That be bond in sinne S. Cypr. ep 76. k euen rebellious willes are altered by Gods mercie and freely embrace his law l also the dead and drie hartes that cared not for spiritual thinges are softened and quickned with new grace m The benefites bestowed on the Israelites are written in the bookes of Moyses Iosue and Iudges n Not mans deseruing but Gods mere good wil and free grace caused Christ to come and by himselfe and his Apostles to preach the Euangelical doctrin which watereth the whole world o God chose the weake but made them strong p Those whom thou hast chosen and so made thyn owne peculiar people shal enioy this grace q Thou gauest Manna in the desert the B Sacrament in the new testament r God geueth to the preacher what to speake Å¿ and to some he geueth also powre to worke miracles in confirmation of their doctrin Mar. 16. t Some potent king or as it is in the Hebrew kinges being beloued of the beloued of God the only Sonne of God shal yeld themselues to the same beloued Sonne of God v which shal redound to the glorie and beautie of his Church gayning such spiritual prayes from the diuel w If you be in such danger that the aduersaries cast dice oâ— lottes for your persons and goodes yet you shal be deliuered as if a doue with her glistering fethers like siluer and gold flie away into a secure place without losse or diminution but rather with increase of vertues x VVhen the heauenlie king determineth thus of earthlie kinges y they shal be purged from their sinnes and made white like snow that falleth in mount Selmon which is a shadowed hil thicke with trees in mount Ephraim nere to Iordan z The Church of God is visible and durable like to a mountane a Combined or ioyned together as when milke is turned into curde and so into cheese b fructful enriched by spiritual giftes of the Holie Ghost c ye that are not of this Church do in vaine and erroniously imagine that anie other mountaines are vnited d Innumerable Angels ministers of Gods wil do continually attend vpon his Diuine Maiestie as if he who otherwise nedeth no seruice were caried by them as in a chariotte of infinite magnificence Dan 7. e So God appeared in Maiestie when he gaue his law in mount Sinai f Christ ascended with innumerable Angels attending vpon him g caried with him the fathers of the old testament that had benne captiue Ephes 4. h as man he receiued giftes of God in and for men his faithful seruantes i yea also he receiued for his merite that innumerable which before were incredulous were conuerted and God dwelt in their soules k Our Lord I say our Lord and none but he could ouercome death by dying l Though Christ died to deliuer al men from death yet he wil geue capital sentence of eternal death to al that obstinatly remaine his enimies and multiplie sinnes vpon sinnes to the end of their temporal life m Euen of the iudest barbarous nations manie shal be conuerted to Christiantie n namely Gods grace is extended into the Ilandes of the Ocean and other seas o But such seuere slaughter shal fal vpon the obstinate contemners of this grace that mens feete shal be defiled in their bloud and dogges shal lappe it Exiâ—iâ—â—â—â— ab â—â—â— p Manie haue sene or knowen in general but the faithful more exactly know how Christ came into this world his conuersation therin and his going forth q his reigning now in heauen our Mediatour by whom al other intercessors haue accesse to God r The Apostles sowing the first seede of Euangelical doctrin Å¿ with whom other Apostolical men t and other soules of al nations conuerted by their preaching most ioyfully sing together in hart voice and instruments especially in good workes shew their gratful affections to our Redeemer v And al this in the particular Churches of diuers Kingdomes and partes of the world vv beginning with the Israelites in Ierusalem and so proceding into al furie and Samaria and to the vt most of the earth Act. 1. x S. Paul of Iacobs yongest sonne Beniamin last called to Apostleship was chiefly sent to the Gentiles y Other Apostles of diuers tribes sent first to the Iewes secondarily to Gentiles z As the Church begane by the omnipotent powre of God so by the same only powre it is conserued a Chastice therfore ô God al persecuters of thy Church who are but as weake wauering reedes in comparison of thy powre
praised her she returneth al the praise to him d Praying him to come and stil remaine vvith her e Acknovvleging him to be the only Sauiour of both old and nevv testament a The Synagogue prosecuteth her prayer desiring Christs Incarnation b Christ admonisheth vvordlie men not to molest those that serue him in contemplation other spiritual vertues c Angels and other Sainctes of the triumphant Church admire the beautie of the Câ—nâ—les conuerted which is also vnderstood of euerie holie soule ascending from this world into heauen And more singularly of the most glorious virgin mother of God f The Church of Gentiles reioyceth in the strong defence vvhervvith her Sauiour hath established her g Keepers of this vinyard vvere the Prophetes and Apostles and their Successors are stil the kepers therof h Christ shevveth that together vvith the pastors himself especially hath care of his Church alvvayes assisting the visible gouerners therof vvith his inuisible grace i The vvhole Church militant vvel contented yea desiring Christs Ascension into heauen for the good of al that here serue him prayeth him from thence to send abundance of his grace that vve may ascend the high mountaines of perfect charitie and zele of Gods honour that he vvil make our soules such hilles the garden of al vertues so voutsafe to dwel therin Amen d The Synagogue of the Iewes was corrupt vnder the tree of Christs Crosse when they cried Crucifie him Crucifie him And againe His bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children Againe VVe haue no King but Caesar c. e Christ againe sheweth his affection towards his Church of the Gentiles calling her his owne sister and the Synagogs sister promising and bestowing on her manie excellent benefites Both the auctor auctoritie of this booke were sometimes doubtful The same doubt is of Ecclesiasticus It is most probable that Philo a Iew writte this booke collecting manie sentences of Salomons Argum. lib. Reg. Fiue Sapiential bookes of the old testament Chap. 7. 8. 9. The Iewes denie these bookes to be Canonical Mat. 22. Exo. 3. They are iudged by very manie ancient fathers and afterwards defined by the Church to be Canonical Scriptures Et li. 17. c. 20. â—â—â—â— The contents Diuided into three patts The 1. part An admonition to loue and practise iustice 3. Reg. 3. Isa 56. 2. Par. 1â— :: Mortal sinnes are not only committed in dedes vvordes but also in though tes :: He that maliciously curseth sâ—uâ—sed of God â—al 5. v. 22. :: Be not cause of your owne eternal death by euil life :: Desperate death deliuereth not the wicked from calamities :: Neither are anâ—e damned vvhile they are in thâ—â— life :: But sinners not repenting being etâ—â—nal 〈…〉 them 〈…〉 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 be after death fal to these prophane thoughts and speaches of infidelitie :: Of infidelitie touching paine or reward after death procedeth the Epicures life :: Infidels are not content to liue in riote but doe also enuie and persecute the iust vvhose good examples vexe their mindes sturred therto by the diuel :: An euident prophecie of the Iewes malice persecuting our Sauiour Fulfilled by the chief Priestes Scribes and Ancientes recorded dy the Euangelists Mat. 27. v. 41. Mar 14. v. 53. Mat. 27. v. 43. :: vvant of beleuing diuine Mysteries namely the reward of the iust punishmeÌ„t of the wic ked is cause of dissolute life and of hatred against the good :: Temporal death of the iust is the way to eternal life vvhere damnation called here the tormeÌ„t of death shal not touch them :: For albelt Martyrs seme in the eyes of the vnwise to dye or to be extinguished they passe in dede into eternal and vnspeakeable glorie Chap. 5. v. 4 Mat. 13. v. 43. :: Al the iust shal approue Gods iudgmeÌ„t condemning the wicked :: Literally is vnderstood that the wiues of adulterers often become adultresses their children wicked Morally their sensualitie al their vvorkes are wholly corrupted * See S. Ierom. in Isa 56. v. 4. :: Chastitie of the bodie is a singular great vertue spiritual chastitie of true faith and religion is greatter and more generally commended as the roote and fundation of al vertues For vvithout faith it is vnpossible to please God :: VVhen soeuer the iust dieth it is profitable for him dying yong his immaculate life is more commendable then old age in the wicked v. 16. :: The damned shal be vvithout al excuse vtterly confounded in their owne consciences Gods prescience dâ—â—th not preiudice mans free wil. â—tl 17. â— 30. ciuit :: VVicked men in their false conceipt iudge the trauels of the iust to be vaine fructles :: Repentance of the damned is only for the losse paine whereinto they are fallen not of loue towards God or vertue nor of hate towards sinne therfore is fructles bringing no comforte nor helpe at al but euerlasting torment and anguish of mind Chap. 3. v. 2. Pro. â—0 v. 19. :: For the certaintie of thinges that shal be Prophetes do very often speake in the pretertence of thinges to come as if they vvere already past :: As the ioy of the blessed so contrariwise the miserie of the damned is meruelous great for euer vnchangeable Eccle. 9. v. 18. :: Al powre is from God therfore to be respected though the magistrates sometimes abuse their auctoritie Rom. 1â— v. 1. :: As euerie ones charge is more or lesse so his account is easier or har der and the punishment if he offend smaller or greater S. Gre. ho. 9. in Euang. :: VVisdom is attained by this gradation and so from first to last a resolute desire ioyneth faithful soules to God v. 21. The second part VVisdom procedeth from God and is procured by prayer :: The perfectest children are borne in the beginning of the tenth moneth :: Children in the mothers wombe are as in slepe :: Salomon whose sayinges are here recited praied for wisdom obtained it 3. Reg. 3. 3. Reg â— v. 9. :: God first gaue him grace to desire wisdom before al other thinges as he explicateth plainly cap. 8. v. 21. :: Salomon was a most excellent Philosopher :: Proper Epithetons of the spirite of wisdom :: See the Annotation Prouerb 1. v. 2. Heb. 1. v. 3. :: God the increated wisdom is infinite and wisdom created is also most excellent amongst Gods giftes 3. Reg. 3. Prou. â— :: This is also the speach of Salomon recited by the writer of this booke :: Of Salomons wisdom riches glorie renowmed fame not only the bookes of Kinges Paralipomenon but also our Sauiour doth witnes Mat. 6. 12. :: It is not certaine that Salomon hath immortal glorie but rather by immortalitie is here vnderstood that his glorious fame remaineth to the end of this world :: Neuertheles wisdom of her part geueth life and glorie euerlasting to al that perseuere to the end of this life :: It is
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
Confidence in God procureth his assistance Psa 106. * li. 2. c. 8. v. 8. O :: The fourth great battle of Iudas vvas agaynst Lysias sent by Antiochus into Iurie 1. Reg. 17. 1. Reg. 14. :: As it vvas the first and chiefe intention of Iudas to defend religion holie things so hauing expugned their enimies his chief care is to purge the temple and to restore al holie rites of Gods true seruice :: Altars temples statues of false goddes made of stone and set vp in the temple ch 1. v. 50. vvere novv destroyed :: The temple vvas purged tvvo yeares some thing more after the prophanation vvhich vvas in the yeare 145. ch 1. v. 57. :: Our Sauiour obserued this feast being instituted long after the Lavv of Moyses Ioan. 10. v. 226 Ioan. 10. * li. 2. â— 10. v. â— :: In this chapter is mention of tenne battles in vvhich Iudas or his bretheren Ionathas and Simon vvere victors Q :: The first against the Idumeans in Aâ—rabathane :: The second against the Beanites a vtterly destroyed :: The third against the Ammonites b villages :: The fourth against the Galadites :: The fifth against the Galileans of the Gentiles :: The sixth against the Carnaimites :: The seuenth against the Ephronites Num. 20. :: A good and pious captaine cherisheth and comforteth the vveake souldiars and enâ—oreged â—l to shew their soâ—titude :: Men that preâ—ume of their ovvne strength without commission from lawful auctotitie haue not Gods assistance and so faylein their attemptes as not called of God amongst those men by vvhom saluation is made in Israel v. 62. :: The eight against the Idumeans in Chebron :: The ninth against the Samaritanes :: The tenth against the Philistimes in Azotus :: The ful historie of Antiochus Epiphanes his death is vvritten in this chapter to the 16. v. and in al the 9. of the second booke Finally he returned into the countrie of Babylon but before he arriued there he heard the bad newes of his armie in Iurie fel into intolerable and desperate diseases v. 8. and li. 2. ch 9. v 5. :: Al this vvas but seaned repentance li. â— ch 9. v 13. :: Antiochus begane to persecute the Ievves in the yeare 143. ch 1. v. 21. and dying this yeare 149 it appeareth that his persecution dured about six yeares or some vvhat more agreable to the answer of the Angel Dan. 8. v. 14. that it should indure 2300. dayes vvhich make six yeares almost foure monethes vvithin vvhich time Iudas by his valure obteyned purged the holie places in the yeare 148. ch 6. v 52 some monethes before Antiochus death * li. 2. c. 9. v. 1. S * li. 2. c. 10. v. 10. V :: Bloud of the grup vvine Deut â—2 v 14. aâ—â— iuyce of mulberies do incite elephantes to fight Aâ— some kinde of bloud or smel therof doth incire houndes to hunt Vallesius c. 82 sacrae Philosophia :: S Ambiose li. 1 c. 40 Offic. highly commendeth the fortitude of this souldiat putting himself in so present danger of death fighting for religion * li. 2. c. 13. v. 1. X :: This Scleucus vvas brother to Antiochus Epiphanes so Antiochus Eupator vvas Demetrius his consin german :: Alcimus was novv in place of the high-priest as Menelaus had bene before him set vp by Antiochus therfore is righâ—ly here sayd he vvould haue bene the chiefe priest but in dede vvas not For the true high-priesthood vvas amongst the Machabees :: This vsurper vvith his complices deuised false accusations against Iudas and the rest to incense the king against them And by great giftes gayned the kings fauour li. 2 c. 14. v. 4. :: Among the Scribes the Assideans vvere first consulted being as lerned as the Pharises or anie other and in dede more sincere as we noted ch 2. v. 42. :: And so Alcimus deceiuing them in a matter of fact tovvitte that himself meant truly as he did not cruelly murdered threâ— score of them Psal 78. * li. 2. c. 14. v. 1. :: This Nicanor vvas the most terrible enimie against Iudas but was at last slaine by him v. 43. li. 2. c. 15. v. 28. Z * li. 2 c. 14. v. 12. :: This was the last conflict betwen Iudas and Nicanor vvritten more largely in the last chapter of the second booke 4. Reg. 19. :: VVhiles Iudas disposed thinges perteyning to religion and the common-vvealth Demetrius prepared for warres ch 9. v. 3. * li. 2. c. 15. v. 1. :: Of the renow med actes of the Romans other Historiographers haue also vvritten largely especially Liuius Diodorus Iustinus Florus Varre Plutarchus and manie others d :: Vvhat places these vvere losephus expresseth li. 12. c. 17. :: Polybius li. 5. vvriteth that Antiochus had 102. elephants in his vvarre against Prolemeus therfore it is not to be merueled that he had 120. against the Romans :: Though Rome vvas then gouerned by tvvo consuls Yet one only ruled euerie day in their course not both in one day for so saith Liuius li. 2 hist it should haue bene more terror of tvvo rulers then before it had bene of one king :: This happened about a yeare after the death of Nicanor ch 7. v. 50 li. 2 c. 15 38. :: Strongest men are not free from first motions of perturbation but reflecting vpon their ovvne infirmitie and considing in Gods prouidence take corege in a good cause being assured either of temporal victorie or of eternal glorie As now it happened to this most glorious Champion v. 18. :: The mightie may fal in the sight of men but Iudas his fortitude proued and confirmed by former heroical actes vvith prosperous successe vvas now perfectly consummate by this most glorious end S. Ambr. li. 1. c. 4â— Offre :: VVhere there is no gouernour the people shal fal Pro. 11. v. 14. :: Ionathas the third general captaine of the Macha bees vvas also high priest after the death of Iudas Though Alcimus by the kinges fauoure vniustly vsurped the office ch 7. v. 9. vvhiles Iudas yet liued and vntil this time v 54. :: They also killed him v. 38. 42. :: To reuenge or punish faultes in due measure other right circumstances is a special vertue moderating mans defence of his person honour or right vvithout crueltie or remisnes and so the children sometimes are temporally punished for their parents finnes and the communitie for their leaders either for their consent before the fact or after or to preuent that they doe not the like S. Tho. 2. 2. q. 108. 2. Par. 20. v. 3. :: Ionathas and his men svvame not to the other side but to an other place on the same side for othervvise the armies had bene parted by the riuer and so there had bene no conflict that time :: Iosephus li. 12. c. 17. confesseth that Iudas vvas highpriest but erreth in saying he succeded after Alcimus neither considering that Alcimus vvas not in dede
both and to put his hand betwen both †Let him take his rod from me and let not his dread terrifie me †I wil speake and wil not feare him for I can not answer fearing CHAP. X. â—ob scarse able to speake yet sheweth that there is no iniustice nor ignorance in God neither is his sinne the cause of so great afflictions 9. Acknowledgeth Gods loue and benefites towards himself 15. and dreadeth his strict iudgement MY soule is wearie of my life I wil let my speach passe agaynst my self I wil speake in the bitternes of my soule †I wil say to God Condemne me not tel me why thou iudgest me so †Doth it seeme good to thee if thou calumniate me and oppresse me the worke of thy handes and helpe the counsel of the impious †Hast thou eies of flesh or as a man seeth shalt thou also see †Are thy daies as the daies of man and are thy yeares as the times of men †That thou sekest my iniquitie and searchest my sinne †And thou mayst knowe that I haue done no impious thing whereas there is no man that can deliuer out of thy hand †Thy handes haue made me and framed me wholly round about and dost thou so sodenlie cast me downe headlong †Remember I besech thee that as clay thou madest me and into dust thou wilt bring me agayne †Hast thou not as milke milked me and curded me as cheese †With skinne and flesh thou hast clothed me with bones sinowes thou hast compacted me †Life and mercie thou hast geuen to me and thy visitation hath kept my spirit †Although thou conceale these thinges in thy hart yet I know that thou remembrest al thinges †If I haue sinned and thou hast spared me for an houre why doest thou not suffer me to be cleane from mine iniquttie †And if I shal be impious woe is to me and if iust I shal not lift vp my head filled with affliction and miserie †And for pride as a lionesse thou wilt take me and returning thou doest meruelously torment me †Thou renewest thy witnesses agaynst me and multipliest thy wrath toward me and paynes doe warre vpon me †Why didst thou bring me forth out of the matrice Who would God I had beene consumed that eye might not see me †I had beene as if I were not caried from the wombe to the graue †Shal not the fewnes of my daies be ended shortly suffer me therfore that I may a litle lament my sorow †Before I goe and returne not vnto the darke land that is couered with the mist of death †A land of miserie and darkenesse where is the shadow of death and no order but euerlasting horrour inhabiteth CHAP. XI Sophar imputeth â—obs discourse about the cause of his so great afflictions to insolencie of mind and loquasitie of tongu perswading him to acknowlege greuous sinnes that so he may haue the reward of a iust man BVt sophar the Naamathite answering said †Why shal he that speaketh manie thinges not heare also or shal a man ful of wordes be iustified †To thee onlie shal men hold their peace and when thou hast mocked others shalt thou be confuted of none †For thou hast sayd My word is pure and I am cleane in thy sight †And I would wish that God would speake with thee and would open his lippes to thee †That he might shew thee the secretes of wisdom and that his law is manisold and thou mightest vnderstand that thou art exacted much lesser thinges of him then thy iniquitie deserueth †Peraduenture thou wilt comprehend the steppes of God and wil find out the Omnipotent perfectly †He is higher then heauen and what wilt thou doe deeper then hel and how wilt thou know †The measure of him is longer then the earth and broder then the sea †If he shal ouerthrow al things or shal strayten them into one who shal say against him †For he knoweth the vanitie of men seing iniquitie doth he not coÌ„sider †A vaine man is extolled into pride and thinketh him self borne free as a wilde asses colt †But thou hast confirmed thy hart hast spred thy handes to him †If thou shalt take away from thee the iniquitie that is in thy hand and iniustice remaine not in thy tabernacle †Then mayst thou lift vp thy face wthout spotte and thou shalt be stable and shalt not feare †Thou shalt also forget miserie and shalt remember it as waters that are passed †And the brightnes as it were of noone daies shal arise to thee at euening and when thou shalt think thyself consumed thou shalt rise as the day starre †And thou shalt haue confidence hope being set before thee and buried thou shalt sleepe secure †Thou shalt rest and there shal be none to terrifie thee and verie manie shal besech thy face †But the eies of the impious shal decay and escape shal faile them and their hope the abomination of the soule CHAP. XII Iob sheweth the knowlege which his freinds much boast of to be the common knowne doctrin of Gods seruantes He more truly and more profoundly discourseth of Gods powre and wisdome stil defending his owne innocencie in respect of great sinnes BVâ— Iob answering sayd †Are you then men alone shal wisedome die with you †I also haue a hart euen as you neither am I inferiour to you for who is ignoraÌ„t of these thinges which you know †He that is mocked of his frend as I shal inuocate God he wil heare him for the simplicitie of the iust man is scorned †The lampe contemned in the cogitations of the riche is prepared to the time appointed †The tabernacles of robbers abound they prouoke God bouldly wheras he hath geuen al thinges into their handes †For aske the beastes and they shal teach thee and the foules of the ayre and they shal tel thee †Speake to the earth and it shal answer thee and the fishes of the sea shal tel †Who is ignorant that the hand of our Lord hath made al these things †In whose hand is the soule of euerie liuing thing and the spirit of al the flesh of man †Doth not the eare discerne wordes and the iawes of him that eateth the tast †In the ancientes is wisedom and in long time prudence †With him is wisedom and strength he hath counsel and vnderstanding †If he shal destroy there is no man that can build if he shut vp a man there is none that can open †If he hold in the waters al things shal be dried and if he send them forth they shal ouerthrow the earth †With him is strength and wisedom he knoweth both the deceiuer him that is deceiued †He bringeth counselers to a folish end and iudges to astonishment †He looseth the belt of kings
and girdeth their reines with a corde †He leadeth away Priestes without glorie and supplanteth the great men †Changing the lippe of the true and taking away the doctrine of the ancientes †He powreth out contempt vpon princes releeuing them that had bene oppressed †Who reueleth profound things out of darkenesse and bringeth forth the shadow of death into light †Who multiplieth nations and destroyeth them and restoreth the destroyed whole agayne †Who changeth the hart of the princes of the people of the earth and deceiueth them that they may goe in vayne where is no passage †They shal grope as in the darke and not in the light and he shal make them goe amis as druncken men CHAP. XIII Of their owne wordes Iob confuteth his aduersaries that they haue spoken that which they know not 13. defendeth his owne innocencie 22. desiring of God if he be afflicted for secrete sinnes that he may know them BEHOLD mine eie hath seene al these thinges and mine eare hath heard I haue vnderstood euerie thing †According to your knowledge I also do know neither am I inferiour to you †But yet I wil speake to the Omnipotent and I couet to dispute with God †First shewing you to be forgers of lying and mainteyners of peruerse opinions †And would God ye would hold your peace that you might be thought to be wise men †Heare ye therfore my correptions and attend the iudgement of my lippes †Hath God neede of your lye that for him you speake guiles †Doe you take his person and doe you endeuour to iudge for God †Or shal it please him from whom nothing can be concealed or shal he be deceiued as a man with your fraudulent dealings †He shal reproue you because in secrete you take his person †Forth with as he shal moue himself he shal truble you and his terrour shal come violently vpon you †Your memorie shal be compared to ashes and your neckes shal be brought into clay †Hold your peace a litle while that I may speake what soeuer my minde shal prompt me †Why doe I teare my flesh with my teeth carie my soule in my handes †Although he shal kil me I wil trust in him but yet I wil reproue my waies in his sight †And he shal be my sauiour for no hypocrite shal come in his sight †Heare ye my word and receiue the obscure sayings with your eares †If I shal be iudged I know that I shal be found iust †What is he that wil be iudged with me let him come why am I consumed holding my peace †Two things only do not to me and then shal I not be hid from thy face †Make thy hand far from me and let not thy feare terrifie me †Cal me and I wil answer thee or els I wil speake and doe thou answer me †How great iniquites and sinnes I haue my wicked deedes and my offences shewe thou me †Why hidest thou thy face and thinkest me thine enemy †Against the leafe that is violently taken with the wind thou shewest thy might and persecutest drie stuble †For thou writest bitternes against me and wilt consume me with the sinnes of my youth †Thou hast put my feete in the stockes and hast obserued al my pathes and hast considered the steppes of my feete †Who as rottenes am to be consumed and as a garment that is eaten of the moth CHAP. XIIII Againe Iob describeth the miseries of mans life 3. Neuertheles Gods great prouidence towards him 7. professeth his beleefe of the Resurrection MAN borne of woman liuing a short time is replenished with many mseiries †Who as a flowre cometh forth and is destroyed fleeth as a shadow neuer abideth in the same state †And doest thou counte it a worthy thing to open thine eies vpon such an one and to bring him with thee into iudgement †Who can make cleane him that is conceiued of vncleane seede is it not thou which onlie art †The daies of man are short the number of his monethes is with thee thou hast appointed his limittes which can not be passed †Depart a litle from him that he may rest vntil his day wished for come euen as the hyred man †A tree hath hope if it be cut it waxeth greene agâ—iâ—e and the boughes thereof spring †If his roote be old in the earth and the truncke therof be dead in the dust †At the sent of water it shal spring and bring forth leaues as when it was first planted †But when man shal be dead and naked and consumed where is he I pray †As if the waters should deparr out of the sea and a riuer made emptie should be dried vp †So man when he is a sleepe shal not rise agayne til heauen perish he shal not awake nor rise vp out of his sleepe †Who wil grant me this that in hel thou protect me and hide me til thy furie passe and appoynt me a time wherin thou wilt remember me †Shal man that is dead thinkest thou liue agayne al the daies in which I am now in warfare I expect vntil my change do come †Thou shalt cal me and I shal answer thee to the worke of thy handes thou shalt reach thy right hand †Thou in dede hast numbred my steppes but thou wilt spare my sinnes †Thou hast sealed my offences as it were in a bag but hast cured mine iniquitie †A mountaine falling slideth downe and a rock is remoued out of his place †Waters make stones holow and with inundation the earth by litle and litle is consumed and men therfore thou shalt destroy in like maner †Thou hast strengthened him a litle that he might passe away foreuer thou shalt chaÌ„ge his face and shalt send him forth †Whether his children shal be noble or vnnoble he shal not vnderstand †But yet his flesh whiles he shal liue shal haue sorow his soule shal mourne vpon himself CHAP XV. Eliphaz againe chargeth Iob to haue spoken presumptuously blasphemously 14. auoucheth that no man is innocent nor iust 20. describing the malediction of impious and hypochrites BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering sayd †Wil a wise man answer as it were speaking into the wind and fil his stomacke with burning †Thou reprouest him in wordes that is not equal to thee and speakest that which is not expedient for thee †As much as is in thee thou hast euacuated feare and hast taken away prayers before God †For thine iniquitie hath taught thy mouth and thou doest imitate the tongue of blasphemers †Thine owne mouth shal condemne thee and not I and thy lippes shal answer thee †Wast thou the first man borne and formed before the litle hilles †Hast thou heard Gods counsel and shal his wisedome be inferiour to thee †What doest
thinke as if thou were to pay it †Iudge not agaynst a iudge because he iudgeth according to that which is iust †With the audacious goe not on the way lest perhaps he burden thee with his euils for he goeth according to his owne wil and thou shalt perish together with his follie †With an angrie man make no brawle and with the audacious goe not into the desert because bloud is as nothing before him and where there is no helpe he wil ouerthrow thee †Conferre no counsel with fooles for they can not loue but such thinges as please them †Before a stranger doe no matter of counsel for thou knowest not what he wil bring forth †Make not thy hart manifest to euerie man lest perhaps he repay thee false kindnes and speake reprochfully to thee CHAP. IX Great prudence is required in conuersation betwen men and wemen 14. Esteme old freindes 16. Emulate not sinners 18. Auoide the companie of malicious 21. Consult with the prudent hauing God euer before thyne eyes BE not ielous ouer the wife of thy bosome lest she shew vpon thee the malice of wicked doctrine †Geue not to a woman the power of thy soule lest she goe in thy strength and thou be confounded †Looke not vpon a woman that is desirous of manie lest perhaps thou fal into her snares †With her that is a dauncer be not daily conuersant nor heare her lest perhaps thou perish in her efficacie †Behold not a virgin lest perhaps thou be scandalized in her beautie †Geue not thy soule to harlottes in any poynt lest thou destroy thyself and thine inheritance †Looke not round about in the waves of the citie nor wander vp and downe in the streates therof †Turne away thy face from a trimmed woman and gaze not about vpon an others beautie †By the beautie of a woman manie haue perished and hereby concupiscence is inflamed as a fire †Euerie woman that is an harlot shal be troden vpon as dung in the way †Manie hauing admired the beautie of an other mans wife haue become reprobate for her communication burneth as fire †Sit not at al with an other mans wife nor repose vpon the bed with her †and striue not with her at the wine lest perhapes thy hart decline toward her with thy bloud thou fal into perdition †Forsake not an old frend for the new wil not be like to him †A new frend is as new wine it shal waxe old and thou shalt drinke it with sweetnes †Doe not zelousely desire the glorie and the riches of a sinner for thou knowest not what his subuersion shal be †Let not the iniurie of the vniust please thee knowing that euen to hel the impious shal not please †Be far from the man that hath power to kil and thou shalt not suspect the feare of death †And if thou come to him committe nothing lest perhaps he take away thy life †Know it to be communication with death because thou shalt goe in the middes of snarres and shalt walke vpon the weapons of the sorowful †According to thy powre beware thee of thy neighbour and treate with the wise and prudent †Let iust men be thy ghests and let thy gloriation be in the feare of God †and let the cogitation of God be in thy vnderstanding al thine enarration in the precepts of the Highest †Workes shal be praysed in the handes of artificers and the prince of the people in the wisdom of his speach but the word of the ancients in the sense †A man ful of tongue is terrible in his citie and he that is rash in his word shal be odious CHAP. X. Wise superiors are very necessarie because the multitude folow their example 6. Remitte and forget iniuries detest pride iniustice contumelie and auarice 12. Life is short 14. Pride is the roote of al sinnes 23. Iust pouertie is better then sinful riches 31. Mekenes and modestie are necessarie in al men A wise iudge shal iudge his people and the principalitie of the wise shal be stable †According to the Iudge of the people so also are his ministers and what maner of man the ruler of a citie is such also are the habitants therein †An vnwise king shal destroy his people and cities shal be inhabited by the vnderstanding of the prudent †The powre of the earth is in the hand of God and he wil rayse vp a profitable ruler for a time ouer it †The prosperitie of man is in the hand of God vpon the face of the scribe he wil put his honour †Anie iniurie of thy neighbour remember not and doe nothing by workes of iniurie †Pride is odious before God and men and al the iniquitie of the nations is execrable †A kingdome is translated from nation vnto nation because of iniustices and iniuries and contumelies and diuerse deceites †But nothing is more wicked then the couetous man Why is earth and ashes proud †Nothing is more wicked then to loue money For he hath his soule also to sel because in his life he hath cast forth his most in ward thinges †Al power is of short life Long sicknes greueth the Physicion †Short sicknes the Physicion cutteth of at the first so also the king is to day to morow he shal die †For when a man shal die he shal inherite serpents and beasts and wormes †The begynning of the pride of man is to apostatate from God †because his hart is departed from him that made him for pride is the begynning of al sinne he that holdeth it shal be filled with curses it shal subuert him in the end †Therfore hath our Lord dishonoured the congregations of the euil hath destroyed them euen to the end †God hath destroyed the seates of proud princes and hath made the meeke sitte in their stead †God hath made the rootes of the proud nations to wither and hath planted the humble of the nations themselues †Our Lord hath subuerted the landes of the gentiles and hath destroyed them euen to the fundation †He hath made of them to wither and hath destroyed them and hath made the memorie of them to cease from the earth †God hath destroyed the memorie of the proud and hath left the memorie of them that are humble in vnderstanding †Pride was not created to men nor wrath to the nation of wemen †That seede of men shal be honoured which feareth God but that seede shal be dishonoured which transgresseth the commandments of our Lord. †In the middes of brethren their ruler shal be in honour and they that feare our Lord shal be in his eyes †The glorie of the rich of the honourable and of the poore is the feare of God †Despise not the iust man that is poore and magnifie
not the sinful man that is rich †The great one and the iudge and the mightie is in honour and there is none greater then he that feareth God †Free men wil serue a seruant that is wise and a man that is prudent and hath discipline wil not murmur being rebuked and the ignorant shal not be honoured †Extol not thyself in doing thy worke and linger not in the time of distresse †better is he that worketh and abundeth in al thinges then he that glorieth and lacketh bread †Sonne in mildenes keepe thy soule and geue him honour according to his desert †Him that sinneth agaynst his owne soule who shal iustifie and who shal honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule †The poore man is glorified by his discipline and feare there is a man that is honoured for his substance †But he that is glorified in pouertie how much more in substance and he that is glorified in substance let him feare pouertie CHAP. XI Wisdom by humilitie meriteth exaltation 7. Iudge not before examination 16. Trust not in riches 14. God sendeth both prosperitie and aduersitie for the good of his seruants 31. Take heede of the deceiptful THE wisdom of the humble shal exalt his head shal make him sitte in the middes of great men †Prayse not a man in his beautie neither despise a man by his looke †The bee is smal among fowles and her fruite hath the beginning of sweetnes †In apparel doe not glorie at any time nor be extolled in the day of thine honour because the workes of the Highest onlie be meruelous and his workes are glorious and secrete and not seene †Manie tyrantes haue sitte in the throne and he whom no man would thincke hath worne the crowne †Manie mightie men haue bene greatly oppressed and the glorious haue bene deliuered into the handes of others †Before thou enquire blame no man and when thou hast enquired chasten iustly †Before thou heare answer not a word and in the middes of ancients adde not to speake †Striue not for that thing which doeth not molest thee and consiste not in the iudgement of sinners †Sonne let not thy doings be in manie thinges and if thou be rich thou shalt not be free from sinne for if thou pursew thou shalt not attayne and if thou runne before thou shalt not escape †There is one that laboureth and hasteneth and is a sorowful impious man and so much the more he shal not abound †There is a lither man that wanteth recouerie more fayling in strength and abunding in pouertie †and the eie of God hath respected him in good and hath erected him from his low estate and hath exalted his head and manie haue merueled at him and haue honoured God †Good thinges and euil life and death pouertie and honestie are of God †Wisdom and discipline and the knowlege of the law are with God Loue and the wayes of good thinges are with him †Errour and darkenes are created with sinners and they that reioyce in euils waxe old in euil †The gift of God is permanent to the iust and his prospering shal haue successe for euer †There is that is enriched by doing sparingly and this is the portion of his reward †in that he sayth I haue found me rest and now I wil eate of my goods alone †and he knoweth not that time passeth death approcheth and he must leaue al to others and shal die †Stand in thy couenant and commen therein and grow old in the worke of thy commandements †Abide not in the workes of sinners But trust in God and tarie in thy place †For it is easie in the eies of God sodainly to enrich the poore man †The blessing of God hasteth to the reward of the iust and in a swift houre his prospering fructifieth †Say not What neede I and what good shal I haue by this †Say not I am sufficient for my self and what shal I be made worse by this †In the day of good thinges be not vnmindful of euils and in the day of euils be not vnmindful of good thinges †because it is easie before God in the day of death to reward euerie one according to his wayes †The malice of an houre maketh obliuion of great voluptuousnes and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his workes †Before death prayse no man because a man is knowen in his children †Bring not euerie man into thine house for there be manie traynes of the deceitful man †For as the stomakes belche of stinking breathes and as the partriche is brought in the cage and as the doe into the snare so also the hart of the proude and as a watche man that seeth the fal of his neighbour †For turning good thinges into euil he lyeth in wayte and on the elect he wil lay a blot †For of one sparke fire is increased and of a deceitful man bloud is increased and a sinful man lyeth in wayte for bloud †Take heede to thy self of the pestiferous person for he forgeth euils lest perhaps he bring vpon thee derision for euer †Admitte a straunger to thee and he shal ouerthrow thee in an hurlewind shal make thee an aliene from thine owne CHAP. XII Vse beneuolence towards good men 10. Trust not enemies ouer much IF thou wilt doe good know to whom thou doest it and there shal be much thanke in thy good deedes †Doe good to the iust and thou shalt finde great rewarde and if not of him assuredly of our Lord. †For it is not wel with him that is euer occupied in euil thinges and that geueth not almes because the Highest both hateth sinners and hath mercie on them that are penitent †Geue to the merciful and receiue not the sinner both to the impious to sinners he wil repay vengeance keping them vnto the day of vengeance †Geue to the good and receiue not a sinner †Doe good to the humble and geue not to the impious prohibite to geue him bread lest therin he be mightier then thou †for thou shalt finde duble euils in al the good whatsoeuer thou shalt do to him because the Highest hateth sinners and wil repay vengeance to the impious †A freind shal not be knowen in prosperitie and an enimie shal not be hid in aduersitie †In the prosperitie of a man his enimies are in sorow and in affliction a freind is knowne †Credite not thyn enemie for euer for as a brasse potte his wickednes rusteth †and if humbling himself he goe crouching be aduised in thy mind and beware of him †Place him not by thee neither let him sitte on thy right hand lest perhaps turning into thy place he seke after thy seate and at the last thou know my wordes and be pricked in my sayinges †Who