planted the eare shal he not heare Or he that made the eie doth he not consider †He that chastiseth nations shal he not rebuke he that teacheth man knowledge †Our Lord knoweth the cogitations of men that they be vaine †Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct ô Lord and shalt â—each out of thy lawe †That thou maist geue him quietnes from the euil daies til a pitte be digged for the sinner †Because our Lord wil not reiect his people and his inheritance he wil not forsake †Vntil iustice be turned into iudgement and they who are neere it are al that are right of hart †Who shal rise for me against the malignant or who shal stand with me against them that worke iniquitie †But that our Lord hath holpen me within very litle my soule had dwelt in hel †If I said My foote is moued thy mercie ô Lord did help me †According to the multitude of my sorrowes in my hart thy consolations haue made my soule ioyful †Doth the seat of iniquitie cleaue to thee which makest labour in precept †They wil hunt after the soule of the iust and wil condemne innocent bloud And our Lord became my refuge and my God the helpe of my hope †And he wil repay them their iniquitie and in their malice he wil destroy them the Lord our God wil destroy them PSALMES XCIIII An inuitation to serue and adore Christ our Lord and Messias 3. aswel for the benefites of creating al thinges 7. as for his Incarnation and not to harden our hartes as the Iewes did Praise of Canticle to Dauid him selfe COME let vs reioyce to our Lord let vs make iubilation to God our sauiour †Let vs preuent his face in confession and in Psalmes let vs make iubilation to him †Because our Lord is a great God and a great King aboue al goddes †Because in his hand are the endes of the earth and the heightes of the mountaines be his †Because the sea is his and he made it and his handes formed the drie land †Come let vs adore and fal downe and wepe before our Lord that made vs. †Because he is the Lord our God and we the people of his pasture and the shepe of his hand †To day if ye shal heare his voice “ harden not your hartes †As in the prouocation according to the day of the tentation in the desert where your fathers tempted me proued me and saw my workes †Fourtie years was I offended with that generation and said These alwaies erre in hart †And these haue not knowne my waies as I sware in my wrath if they shal enter into my rest ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIIII 8. Harden not your hartes VVhatsoeuer God proposeth by preaching or inspiration to a sinner it resteth stil in the powre of his freewil to harden his harte and to reiect al such good motions and so he doth not only frustrate Gods grace and hinder his owne iustification but also increaseth his former sinnes But by not resisting when deliberating therupon he could resist he disposeth himselfe and cooperateth to first iustification And therfore the royal Prophet here admonisheth and earnestly exhorteth al men to do this which God hath put in our powre not to harden our owne hartes when we heare his voice by resisting and reiecting his grace freely offered without al merite of our part PSALME XCV Al peoples nations are inuited to praise the blessed Trinitie 3. for Christs Incarnation and spiritual kingdom in al the world â—â— euen sensles creatures acknowledging his maiestie 13. and iudicial powre A Canticle to Dauid * himselfe when the house was built after the captiuitie SING ye to our Lord a new song sing to our Lord al the earth †Sing ye to our Lord and blesse his name shewforth his saluation from day to day †Shewforth his glorie among the Gentiles his meruelous workes in al peoples †Because our Lord is great and exceeding laudable he is terrible aboue al goddes †Because al the goddes of the Gentiles are diuels but our Lord made the heauens †Confession and beauty in his sight holinesse and magnificence in his sanctification †Bring to our Lord ye families of Gentiles bring ye to our Lord glorie and honour †bring to our Lord glorie vnto his name Take vp hoastes and enter into his courtes †adore ye our Lord in his holie court Let al the earth be moued before his face †say ye among the Gentiles that our Lord hath reigned For he hath corrected the round world which shal not be moued he wil iudge peoples in equitie †Let the heauens be glad and the earth reioyce the sea be moued and the fulnesse therof †the fieldes shal be glad and al things that are in them Then shal the trees of the woodes reioyce †before the face of our Lord because he cometh because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round world in equitie and peoples in his truth PSALME XCVI Al the earth is inuited to reioyce in Christs kingdom 3. with description of the signes coming before the day of Iudgement 7. Idolaters shal be confounded 8. Holie Angels and iust men shal adore Christ and reioyce To this Dauid when his land was restored agane to him OVR Lord hath reigned let the earth reioyce let manie Ilands be glad †Cloude and mist round about him iustice and iudgement the correction of his seat †Fire shal goe before him and shal inflame his enimies round about †His lightninges shined to the round world the earth sawe and was moued †The mountaines melted as waxe before the face of our Lord before the face of our Lord al the earth †The heauens haue shewed forth his iustice and al peoples haue seene his glorie †Let them al be confounded that adore sculptils and that glorie in their idoles Adore him al ye his Angels †Sion heard and was glad And the daughters of Iuda reioyced because of thy iudgements ô Lord. †Because thou Lord most high ouer al the earth thou art exalted excedingly aboue al goddes †You that loue our Lord hate ye euil our Lord keepeth the soules of his saintes out of the hand of the sinner he wil deliuer them †Light is risen to the iust and ioy to the right of hart †Be glad ye iust in our Lord and confesse ye to the memorie of his sanctification PSALME XCVII Al men are againe inuited ioyfully to celebrate the meruelous conquest of Christ in al nations 4. with hart voice and instruments 8. al creatures acknowledging his coming to iudge the world A psalme to Dauid himselfe SING ye
backe they haue prolonged their iniquitie †Our iust Lord wil cut the neckes of sinners †let them al be confounded and turned backward that hate Sion †Let them be made as grasse in the toppes of houses which is withered before it be plucked vp †Wherof the reaper hath not filled his hand and he that gathereth the sheaues his bosome †And they sayd not that passed by The blessing of our Lord be vpon you we haue blessed you in the name of our Lord. PSALME CXXIX The Iewes or other people in tribulation for sinne or temporal captiuitie crie to God to be deliuered 4. trusting and encoreging ech other in Gods accustomed mercie assuredly hoping that he wil redeme deliuer them A gradual Canticle FROM the depthes I haue cried to thee ô Lord †Lord heare my voice Let thine eares be intent to the voice of my petition †If thou shalt obserue iniquities ô Lord Lord who shal susteyne it †Because with thee there is propiciation and for thy law I haue expected thee ô Lord. My soule hath expected in his word †my soule hath hoped in our Lord. †From the morning watch euen vntil night let Israel hope in our Lord. †Because with our Lord there is mercie and with him plenteous redemption †And he shal redeme Israel from al his iniquities PSALME CXXX Anie iust soule in humble confidence offereth his innocencie as a spiritual and gratful sacrifice to God 3. exhorting al Gods seruants euer to hope in him A gradual Canticle of Dauid LORD my hart is not exalted neither are mine eies loftie Neither haue I walked in great matters nor in meruelous thinges aboue me †If I was not humbly mynded but exalted my soule As the weaned childe is toward his mother so retribution in my soule †Let Israel hope in our Lord from henceforth now and for euer PSALME CXXXI The Psalmist earnestly prayeth God to geue him leaue to shew him where to build a Temple But more especially prayeth for and prophecieth the coming of Christ the promised Sonne of Dauid 14. signifying Gods promise therof and of establishing his Church A gradual Canticle REMEMBER Dauid ô Lord and al his meekenes †As he sware to our Lord vowed a vowe to the God of Iacob †If I shal enter into the tabernacle of my house if I shal ascend into the bed of my couch †If I shal geue sleepe to mine eies and slumbering to mine eie liddes †And rest to my temples vntil I finde a place for our Lord a tabernacle for the God of Iacob †Behold we haue heard of it in Ephrata we haue found it in the fildes of the wood †We wil enter into his tabernacle we wil adore in the place where his feete stood †Arise Lord into thy rest thou and the arke of thy sanctification †Let thy Priestes be clothed with iustice let thy sainctes reioyce †For Dauid thy seruants sake turne not away the face of thy Christ †Our Lord hath sworne truth to Dauid and he wil not disapoint it Of the fruite of thy wombe I wil set vpon thy seate †If thy children shal keepe my testament and these my testimonies which I wil teach them Their children also euen for euer shal sit vpon thy seate †Because our Lord hath chosen Sion he hath chosen it for an habitation to himself †This is my rest for euer and euer here wil I dwel because I haue chosen it †Blessing I wil blesse her widow her poore I wil fil with breades †Her Priestes I wil clothe with saluation and her sainctes shal reioyce with ioyfulnes †Thither wil I bring forth a horne to Dauid I haue prepared a lampe to my Christ †His enemies I wil clothe with confusion but vpon him shal my sanctification florish PSALME CXXXII Fraternal concord is commended to al in the Church as necessarie and delectable in it self and blessed of God A gradual Canticle of Dauid BEHOLD how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwel in one †As oyntement on the head which ranne downe vpon the beard the beard of Aaron which ranne downe vnto the hemme of his garment †As the dew of Hermon which runneth downe vpon mount Sion Because there hath our Lord commanded blessing and life euen for euer PSALME CXXXIII Al and especially clergie men that serue the Church are inuited to prayse God by day and by night so shal they be blessed of God A gradual Canticle LOE now blesse our Lord al ye the seruantes of our Lord Which stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God †In the nightes lift vp your handes vnto the holie places and blesse ye our Lord. Our Lord out of Sion blesse thee who made heauen and earth PSALME CXXXIIII God who only is omnipotent and fountaine of algoodnes is of al to be praised 8. He is the special protector of his elected people 15. Contrariwise false goddes are impotent vaine and can not helpe those that serue them 19. Only the Church doth rightly praise him Alleluia PRAYSE ye the name of our Lord ye seruantes prayse our Lord. †Ye that stand in the house of our Lord in the courtes of the house of our God †Prayse ye our Lord because our Lord is good sing ye to his name because it is sweete †Because our Lord hath chosen Iacob to himself Israel for his owne possession †Because I haue knowne that our Lord is great and our God aboue al goddes †Al thinges whatsoeuer our Lord would he hath done in heauen in earth in the sea and in al the depthes †Bringing forth clowdes from the vttermost of the earth lightenings he hath turned into rayne Who bringeth forth the windes out of his treasures †who stroke the first begotten of Aegypt from man euen to beast †He sent â—orth signes and wonders in the middes of thee ô Aegypt vpon Pharao and vpon al his seruantes †Who stroke manie nations and slew strong kinges †Sehon the king of the Amorrheites Og the king of Basan and al the kingdomes of Chanaan †And he gaue their land for inheritance for an inheritance to Israel his people †Lord thy name is for euer Lord thy memorial is vnto generation and generation †Because our Lord shal iudge his people and wil be intreated toward his seruantes †The idoles of the Gentiles are siluer and gold the workes of mens handes †They haue mouth and shal not speake they haue eies and shal not see †They haue eares and shal
loaues and fishes Ioan 6. And some real effect Christs blessing must nedes worke also in the blessed Sacrament Mat. 26. VVhich can be no other but changing bread and wine into his bodie bloud seing him selfe expresly sayeth This is my bodie this is my bloud And though Gods blessing in this place be also a precept yet it is not to al men for euer but for the propagation of mankind which being long since abundantly propagared the obligation of the precept ceaseth the cause ceasing So S. Cyprian S. Ierome S. Augustin and other Fathers expound this place And confirme the same by the text for immediatly God signifying to what end he spoke saith and replenish the earth VVhich benig replenished Gods wil is therin fulfilled CHAP. II. The worke of six dayes being finished God rested the seueÌ„th day blessed it 8. Then placing man in paradise planted with bewtiful swete trees witered with foure riuers 16. comandeth him not to eate of the tree of knowledge of good euil 18. formed a woman of a ribbe of Adam THE heauens therfore the earth were fully finished and al the furniture of them †And the seuenth day God ended his woorke which he had made rested “ the seuenth day from al woorke that he had done †And he blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it because in it he had ceased from al his woorke which God created to make †These are the generations of heauen earth when they were created in the day when our Lord God made the heauen and the earth †And euery plant of the filde before it shotvp in the earth And euerie herbe of the ground before it sprang for our Lord God had not rayned vpon the earth and man was not to til the earth †But a spring rose out of the earth watering al the ouermost part of the earth †Our Lord God therfore formed man of the slyme of the earch and breathed into his face the breath oflife man became a liuing soule †And our Lord God had planted a Paradise of pleasure from the beginning wherin he placed man whom he had formed †And our Lord God brought forth of the ground al maner of trees fayre to behold and pleasant to eate of the tree of life also in the middle of Paradise and the tree of knowledge of good euil †And a riuer issued out of the place of pleasure to water Paradise which from thence is diuided into four heades †The name of the one is Phison that is it which compasseth al the land of Heuilath where gold groweth †And the gold of that land is very good there is sound bdelium the stone onyx †And the name of the second riuer is Gehon that is it which compasseth al the land of Ethiopia †And the name of the third riuer is Tygris that same passeth along by the Assirians And the fourth riuer the same is Euphrates †Our Lord God therfore tooke man put him in the Paradise of pleasure to woorke keepe it †And he commanded him saying Of euerie tree of Paradise eate thou †But “ of the tree of knowledge of good euil eate thou not For in what day soeuer thou shalt eate of it “ thou shalt dye the death †Our Lord God also said It is not good for man to be alone let vs make him a helpe like vnto him selfe †Our Lord God therfore hauing formed of clay al beastes of the earth and foules of the ayre brought them to Adam that he might see what to cal them for al that Adam called any liuing creature the same is his name †And Adam called al beastes by their names and al foules of the ayre and al cattel of the filde but vnto Adam there was not found an helper like him selfe †Our Lord God therfore cast a dead sleepe vpon Adam and when he was fast a sleepe he tooke one of his ribbes filled vp flesh for it †And our Lord God built the ribbe which he tooke of Adam into a woman and brought her to Adam †And Adam said This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shal be called woman because she was taken out of man †Wherfore man shal leaue his father mother shal cleaue to his wife they shal be two in one flesh †And they were both naked to wit Adam his wife and were not ashamed ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 2. The seuenth day Al creatures benig made in their kindes in six dayes complete and perfect God not neding as men often do in their workes to perfect poolish or amend the same rested the seuenth day and therfore the natural perfection of Gods workes is attributed to the seventh day and the supernatural perfecting of men in eternal life after the Resurrection is attributed to the eight day as S. Augustin and other fathers teach And for this cause God blessed and sanctifyed the seuenth day and after we haue in the Decalogue or tenne commandments that this day al should rest and abstaine from workes yea and kepe it festiual occupying them selues in spiritual exercises seruice and special worshipe of God as the Iewes did euen til Christs and his Apostles time praying and hearing the word of God read and expounded in the Sabboth day VVherby we see that distinction of dayes pertayneth to Religion the people of God thus obseruing the Sabboth in memorie of the Creation diuers other feastes in memorie of other benefites And we now kepe the Sunday holie in memorie of Christs Resurrection and other feastes in gratful remembrance of other Mysteries of Christs Natiuitie the coming of the Holie Ghost and the like Yea also feastes of his blessed Mother and other Sainctes for the benefites receiued from Christ by them and for more honour to Christ in them So this Catholique obseruation of feastes is neither Iudaical which also in the law was good but now is abrogated nor heathnish for we honour not Iupiter nor Iuno noranie false god or goddesse but our Lord God Creator Redemer for his sake his best seruants VVherof see the Annotations in the English new Testament 4. chap. to the Galathians VVherto we here only adde these wordes of S. Basil VVhich may serue for a general answer to the most common obiection Honor seruorum redundat in communâ—m Dominâ—m The honour of the seruantes redoundeth to the common Lord or Maister So saith he the honour of Sainctes is the honour of Christ their Lord and ours 17. Of the tree of knovvledge Besides the law of nature by which Man was bound to direct al his actions according to the rule of reason and besides the supernatural diuine law by which he was bound to beleue and trust in God and to loue him aboue al things hauing receiued the giftes of faith hope and
of oath †And Abimelech arose and Phicol the general of his armie and they returned to the land of the Palestines But Abraham planted a groue in Bersabee and called therupon the name of our Lord God eternal †And he was a seiorner in the land of the Palestines manie dayes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXI 12. Let it not It semed so hard inhumaine and vniust to cast Agar and Ismael out of the house that Abraham would not haue done it onles God had commanded him in this to heare the voice of Sara But when he knew Gods wil therin not respecting flesh and bloud nor disputing further of the lawfulnes of the fact sent them both away commending them to Gods protection and so by this separation the familie was made quiet It represented also a notable Mysterie of the Synagog of the Iewes Church of Christ As S. Augustin doth excellently expound the same according to S. Paul Gal. 4. That Ismaels playing with Isaac was persecution because it tended to peruert him shewing it to be a greater iniurie to delude and deceiue anie in drawing them to new and particular companies then corporally to persecute them and that the Church and Catholique Princes punish heretikes for their good to make them returne to the truth or finally to cease from seducing others Ecce libera afflixit ancillam non illam vocat persecutionem Apostolus ludit seruus cum domino persecutionem vocat Afflictio ista non vocatur persecutio lusi◠illa vocatur persecutio Behold the freewoman afflicted the handmaide and the Apostle calleth it not persecution the seruant playeth with the maister and he calleth it persecution This affliction is not called persecution and that play is called persecution Againe he sayeth of Sara Illusionem vidit in illo lusu animaduertit serui superbiam displicuit illi eiecit soras She saw foule play in that play she noted the seruants pride it displeased her she cast him forth of the dores S. Hierom also teacheth that the spiritual neuer persecuteth the carnal but spareth him as his rustical brother knowing that he may in time be profitable CHAP. XXII The faith and obedience of Abraham is proued in his redines to sacrifice his sonne Isaac 11. He is stayed from the act by an Angel 16. Former promises are renewed to him 20. And his brother Nachor hath also much issue VVHICH things being done God “ tempted Abraham and said to him Abraham Abraham But he answered Here I am †He said to him Take thy only begotten sonne whom thou louest Isaac and goe into the Land of vision and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust vpon one of the mountaines which I wil shew thee †Therfore Abraham rising vp in the night sadled his asse taking with him two young men and Isaac his sonne and when he had cut wood for the holocaust he went his way to the place which God had commanded him †And the third day lifting vp his eyes he sawe the place afarre of †and he said to his young men Tarie you here with the asse I and the boy going with spede as farre as yonder after we haue adored wil returne to you †He tooke also the wood of the holocaust and laid it vpon Isaac his sonne and him selfe caried in his hands fire and a sword And as they went on together †Isaac said to his father My father And he answered What wilt thou sonne Behold saith he fire and wood where is the victime of the holocaust †And Abraham said God wil prouide vnto him selfe the victime of the holocaust my sonne They went on therfore together †and they came to the place which God had shewed him wherin he builed an altar and laid the wood in order vpon it and when he had bound Isaac his sonne he laid him on the altar vpon the pile of wood †And he stretched forth his hand and caught the sword for to sacrifice his sonne †And behold an angel of our Lord from heauen cried saying Abraham Abraham Who answered Here I am †And he said to him Stretch not forth thy hand vpon the boy neither doe thou any thing to him now haue I knowen that thou fearest God and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake †Abraham lifted vp his eyes and saw behind his backe a ramme amongst the briers sticking fast by the hornes which he tooke and offered an holocaust in stede of his sonne †And he called the name of that place Our Lord seeth Wherupon euen to this day it is said In the mountaine our Lord wil see †And the angel of our Lord called Abraham the second time from heauen saying †By my owne selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake †I wil blesse thee and I wil multiplie thy sede as the starres of heauen and as the sand that is by the sea shore thy sede shal possesse the gates of his enemies †and in thy sede SHAL BE BLESSED al the nations of the earth because thou hast obeyed my voice †Abraham returned to his young men and they went to Bersabee together and he dwelt there †These things so being done it was told Abraham that Melca also had borne children to Nachor his brother †Hus the first be gotten Buz his brother and Camuel the father of the Sirians †and Cased and Azau. Pheldas also Iedlaph †and Bathuel of whom was borne Rebecca these eight did Melcha beare to Nachor Abrahams brother †And his concubine named Roma bare Tabee and Gaham and Tahas and Maacha ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXII 1. Tempted God tempteth none to euil as S. Iames teacheth but by trial and experiment maketh men knowen to the world as here Abrahams faith and singular obedience were manifested when he doubted not To offer his only begotten in Sacrifice accounting that God is able to raise vp euen from the dead VVherupon he receiued his sonne againe in parable that is in figure and mysterie of Christ dead and aliue againe Isaac also in this action signified the diuinitie of Christ which suffered not and the ramme among the briers figured his humanitie that should be offered in Sacrifice to God CHAP. XXIII Sara dying Abraham solemnizeth her funeral 4. byeth a field with a duble caue of Ephron 15. for four hundreth sicles 19. and there burieth her AND Sara liued an hundred twentie seuen yeares †And she died in the citie of Arbee which is Hebron in the land of Chanaan And Abraham came to mourne and weepe for her †And after that he was risen vp from the funeral obsequies he spake to the children of Heth saying †I am a stranger and pilgrime among you geue me the right of a sepulchre with you that I may burie my dead †The
children of Heth answered saying †My lord heare vs thou art a prince of God among vs in our principal sepulchres burie thou thy dead and no man can let thee but that in his owne monument thou mayest burie thy dead †Abraham rose vp and adored the people of the land towit the children of Heth †and he said to them If it please your soule that I burie my dead heare me and be intercessors for me to Ephron the sonne of Seor †that he geue me the duble caue which he hath in the vttermost part of his field for money to the worth therof let him deliuer it to me before you for possession of a sepulchre †And Ephron dwelt in the middest of the children of Heth. And Ephron made answer to Abraham in the hearing of al that went in at the gate of the citie saying †No it shal not be so my lord but thou rather harken to that which I doe say The field I deliuer to thee and the caue that is therin in the presence of the children of my people burie thy dead †Abraham adored before the people of the land †And he spoke to Ephron his people standing round about I beseech thee to heare me I wil geue money for the field take it and so I wil burie my dead in it †And Ephron answered †My lord heare me The ground which thou desirest is worth foure hundred sicles of siluer this is the price between me and thee but how much is this burie thy dead †Which when Abraham had heard he weyed the money that Ephron had asked in the hearing of the children of Heth foure hundred sicles of siluer of common currant money †And the field that before time was Ephrons wherin was the duble caue looking towards Mambre aswel it as the caue and al the trees therof in al the lymits therof round about †was made sure to Abraham for a possession in the sight of the children of Heth and of al that went in at the gate of his citie †And so Abraham buried Sara his wife in the duble caue of the field that looked towards Mambre this is Hebron in the land of Chanaan †And the field was made sure to Abraham and the caue that was in it for a possession to burie in of the Children of Heth. CHAP. XXIIII Abrahams seruant adiured and sent by him into Mesopotamia to seke a wife for Isaac 12. prayeth to God for a signe findeth Rebecca 34. and demanding her for this purpose 50. with her parents 58. and her owne consent she goeth with him 67. is maried to Isaac who therby is comforted for the death of his mother AND Abraham was old and of manie dayes and our Lord had blessed him in al things †And he said to the elder seruant of his house which was ruler ouer al that he had Put thy hand vnder my thighe †that I may adiure thee by our Lord God of heauen and earth that thou take not a wife for my sonne of the daughters of the Cananites among whom I dwel †but that thou goe vnto myne owne countrie and kindred and thence take a wife for my sonne Isaac †The seruant answered If the woman wil not come with me into this land whether must I bring thy sonne backe againe to the place from whence thou didest come forth †And Abraham said Beware thou neuer bring my sonne backe againe thither †Our Lord God of heauen which tooke me out of my fathers house and out of my natiue countrie which spake to me and sware to me saying To thy sede wil I geue this land he shal send his angel before thee and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my sonne †but if the woman wil not folow thee thou shalt not be bound by the oath only bring not my sonne thither againe †The seruant therfore put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his lord and sware to him vpon this worde †And he tooke tenne camels of his lords heard and departed of al his goods carying something with him and setting forward went on into Mesopotamia to the citie of Nachor †And when he had made the camels lye downe without the towne beside a wel of water at euen at the time when wemen are wont to come forth to drawe water he said †O Lord God of my lord Abraham mete me to day I beseech thee and doe mercifully with my maister Abraham †Behold I stand nigh to the fountaine of water and the daughters of the inhabiters of this citie wil come forth to drawe water †Therfore “ the maid to whom I shal say Bowe downe thy tankard that I may drinke and she shal answere Drinke yea to thy camels also wil I geue drinke she it is whom thou hast prouided for thy seruant Isaac and by this I shal vnderstand that thou hast delt mercifully with my maister †Neyther had he yet ended these wordes within him selfe behold Rebecca came forth the daughter of Bathuel the sonne of Melcha wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham hauing a tankard on her shoulder †a passing comely maide most beautiful virgin not knowen to man and she was gone downe to the fountaine and had filled her tankard and came backe †And the seruant ranne to mete her and said Geue me a little water to drinke of thy tankard †Who answered Drinke my lord And quickly she let downe the tankard vpon her arme and gaue him drinke †And when he had druncke she added but for thy camels also I wil drawe water til al doe drinke †And powring out the tankard into the troughes she ranne backe to the wel to drawe water and being drawen gaue it to al the camels †But he musing beheld her with silence desirous to know whether our Lord had made his iourney prosperous or not †And after that the camels had drunck the man plucked forth golden earelettes weying two sicles and as manie braceletts of tenne sicles weight †And he said to her whose daughter art thou shew me is there anie place in thy fathers house to lodge †Who answered I am the daughter of Bathuel the sonne of Melcha whom she bare to Nachor †And she added saying Of strawe also and hay we haue good store and a large place to lodge in †The man bowed him selfe and adored our Lord †saying Blessed be the Lord God of my lord Abraham that hath not taken away his mercie truth from my lord and hath brought me the streight way into the house of my lords brother †The maide therfore ranne and reported into her mothers house al things that she had heard And Rebecca had a brother named Laban who in al haist went forth to the man where the fountaine was †And when he had seene the eareletts and braceletts in his sisters hands and had heard al her words reporting These words spake
and seruants of Christ being ouercome not by force of armes but by patience peacable endeuours of those whom they most hated VVherof excellently saith S. Leo Ser. 1. in Natali Apost Although Rome renowmed by manie victories dilated her Empyre by land and by sea yet was it lesse that martial trauel subdued then that which Christian peace hath obtained The Bishops of Rome hauing larger Iurisdiction spiritual then euer the Roman Coesars had temporal Dominion CHAP. XXVII Iacob by his mothers counsail getteth his fathers blessing in place of Esau 42. And by her is aduised for auoiding Esaus wrath who threatned to kil him to flie to his vncle Laban in Haran of Mesopotamia AND Isaac was old and his eyes were dimme and he could not see and he called Esau his elder sonne and said to him my sonne Who answered Here I am †To whom his father Thou seest quoth he that I am old and know not the day of my death †Take thy instruments thy quiuer and bowe and goe abrode and when thou hast taken any thing by hunting †make me broth therof as thou knowest I like and bring that I may eate and my soule may blesse thee before I dye †Which when Rebecca had heard and he was gone into the field to fulfil his fathers commandement †she said to her sonne Iacob I heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother and saying to him †Bring me of thy hunting and make me meates that I may eate and blesse thee in the sight of our Lord before I dye †Now therfore my sonne assent to my counsel †and go thy way to the flocke bring me two kiddes of the best that I may make of them meat for thy father such as he gladly eateth †which when thou hast brought in and he hath eaten he may blesse thee before he dye †To whom he answered Thou knowest that Esau my brother is an hearie man and I am smooth †if my father shal feele me and perceaue it I feare lest he wil thinke I would haue deluded him and I shal bring vpon me a curse for a blessing †To whom his mother said This curse my sonne light vpon me only heare thou my voice and go fetch me the things which I haue said †He went and brought and gaue them to his mother She dressed meats euen as she knew his father liked †And she did on him the garments of Esau verie good which she had at home with her †and the litle skinnes of the kidds â—â—e put about his hands and couered the bare of his necke †And she gaue him the broth and deliuered him bread that she had baked †Which when he had caried in he said My father But he answered I heare Who art thou my sonne †And Iacob said I am thy first begotten Esau I haue done as thou didest command me arise sit and eate of my hunting that thy soule may blesse me †And againe Isaac to his sonne How couldest thou said he find it so quickly my sonne Who answered It was the wil of God that that which I would came quickly in my way †And Isaac said Come hither that I may feele thee my sonne and may proue whether thou be my sonne Esau or no. †He came nere to his father and when he had felt him Isaac said The voice verely is the voice of Iacob but the hands are the hands of Esau †And he knew him not because his hearie hands had made him like vnto the elder Blessing him therfore †he said Art thou my sonne Esau He answered I am †But he said Bring me the meats of thy hunting my sonne that my soule may blesse thee Which when they were brought and he had eaten he offred him wine also which after he had drunke †he said to him Come nere me and geue me a kisse my sonne †He came nere and kissed him And immediatly as he felt the fragrant sauoure of his garments blessing him he said Behold the sauoure of my sonne is as the sauoure of a plentiful field which our Lord hath blessed †God geue thee of the deaw of heauen and of the fatnes of the earth abundance of corne and wine †And let peoples serue thee and tribes adore thee be thou lord of thy brethren and thy mothers children bowe they before thee He that shal curse thee be he cursed and he that shal blesse thee be he replenished with blessings †Isaac had scarce ended his wordes and Iacob now gone forth abroad but Esau came †and brought in to his father meates made of his hunting saying Arise my father and eate of thy sonnes hunting that thy soule may blesse me †And Isaac said to him Why who arth thou Who answered I am thy first begotten sonne Esaù †Isaac was amazed and astonied exceadingly and marueling more then a man can beleue said Who is he then that euen now brought me venison that he had taken and I did eate of al thinges before thou camest and I haue blessed him and he shal be blessed †Esau hauing heard his fathers wordes roared out with a great crye and being dismaied said Blesse me also my father †Who said Thy brother came deceiptfully and tooke thy blessing †But he said again Rightly is his name called Iacob for he hath supplanted me loe the second time my first-birth-right he tooke before and now the second time he hath stollen my blessing And againe to his father he said Hast thou not reserued me also a blessing †Isaac answered I haue appointed him thy Lord and al his brethren I haue made subiect to his seruice with corne and wine I haue established him and for thee my sonne what shal I doe more after this †To whom Esau said Hast thou one only blessing father I besech thee blesse me also And when he wept that he howled againe †Isaac being moued said to him In the fat of the earth and in the deaw of heauen from aboue †shal thy blessing be Thou shalt liue by the sworde and shalt serue thy brother and the time shal come when thou shalt shake of and loose his yoake from thy necke †Esau therfore alwaies hated Iacob for the blessing wherwith his father had blessed him and he said in his hart The daies wil come of the mourning of my father and I wil kil Iacob my brother †These things were told to Rebecca who sending calling Iacob her sonne said to him Behold Esau thy brother threatneth to kil thee †Now therfore my sonne heare my voice and get thee vp and flye to Laban my brother into Haran †and thou shalt dwel with him a few daies til the furie of thy brother be asswaged †and his indignation cease and he forget those things which thou hast done to him afterward I wil send and bring thee from thence hither Why shal I be depriued of both
Philisthimes six hundred men with the culter of a ploughe and he also defended Israel CHAP. IIII. Againe the people sinning are oppressed and crying to God 4. by direction of Debbora a prophetesse Barac fighteth against Sisara their enemie 15. who stricken with feare and fleeing away 17. Iahel pretending his saftie killeth him in her house AND the children of Israel added to doe euil in the sight of our Lord after the death of Aod †and our Lord deliuered them into the handes of Iabin the king of Chanaan which reigned in Asor and he had a captaine of his armie named Sisara and he dwelt in Haroseth of the gentiles †And the children of Israel cried to our Lord for he had nine hundred yron hooked chariottes and for twentie yeres had vehemently oppressed them †And there was one Debbora a prophetese the wife of Lapidoth which iudged the people at that time †And she sate vnder a palme tree which was called by her name betwen Rama and Bethel in the mount of Ephraim and the children of Israel went vp to her for al iudgement †Who sent and called Barac the sonne of Abinoem of Cedes in Nepthali and she said to him Our Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee Goe and lead an armie into mount Thabor and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nepthali and of the children of Zabulon †and I wil bring vnto thee in the place of the Torrent Cison Sisara the prince of the hoste of Iabin and his chariotes and al the multitude and wil deliuer them in thy hand †And Barac said to her If thou come with me I wil goe If thou wilt not come with me I wil not goe †Who said to him I wil goe in deede with thee but at this time the victorie shal not be imputed to thee because Sisara shal be deliuered into the hand of a woman Debbora therfore arose and went with Barac into Cedes †Who calling vnto him Zabulon and Nepthali went vp with ten thousand fighting men hauing Debbora in his companie †And Habet the Cineite was in time past departed from the rest of the Cineites his brethren of Hobab the cosin of Moyses and had pitched his tentes vnto the valley which is called Sennim and was nere Cedes †And it was told Sisara that Barac the sonne of Abinoem was gone vp into mount Thabor †and he gathered nine hundred yron hooked chariottes and al his armie from Haroseth of the gentiles to the torrent Cison †And Debbora said to Barac Arise for this is the day wherin our Lord hath deliuered Sisara into thy handes behold he is thy leader And Barac went downe from mount Thabor and ten thousand fighting men with him †And our Lord terrified Sisara and al his chariotes and al the multitude in the edge of the sword at the sight of Barac in so much that Sisara leaping downe from his chariote fled a foote †and Barac pursewed the chariotes fleeing and the armie vnto Haroseth of the gentiles and al the multitude of the enemies was vtterly destroyed †But Sisara fleeing came to the tent of Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite for there was peace betwixt Iabin the king of Asor and the house of Haber the Cineite †Iahel therfore going forth to meete Sisara said to him Come in to me my Lord come in feare no◠Who being entred into her tabernacle and couered of her with a cloke †said to her Geue me I beseech thee a little water for I am very thirstie Who opened a bottle of milke and gaue him to drinke and couered him †And Sisara said to her Stand before the doore of the tabernacle and when any shal come asking thee and saying Is there any man here Thou shalt say There is none †Iahel therfore the wife of Haber tooke a nayle of the tabernacle taking with al a hammer also and going in secretely and with silence she put the naile vpon the temple of his head and striking it with the hammer fastened it into his braine euen to the ground who ioyning deepe sleepe and death together faynted and died †And behold Barac folowing Sisara came Iahel going forth to meete him said to him Come and I wil thew thee the man whom thou seekest Who when he was entered in vnto her saw Sisara lying dead and the nayle fastened in his temples †Therfore God that day humbled Iabin the king of Chanaan before the children of Israel †which increased daily and with strong hand oppressed Iabin the king of Chanaan til they destroyed him CHAP. V. The Canticle of Debbora and Barac geuing thankes after their victorie AND Debbora and Barac the sonne of Abinoem sang in that day saying †You that of Israel haue voluntarily offered your liues to peril blesse our Lord. †Heare you kinges and geue eare ye princes I am I am she that wil sing to our Lord I wil chaunte to our Lord the God of Israel †Lord when thou wentst out of Seir and didst passe by the countries of Edom the earth was moued the heauens and cloudes distilled waters †The mountaines melted before the face of our Lord and Sinai before the face of our Lord God of Israel †In the daies of Samgar the sonne of Anath in the daies of Iahel the pathes rested and they that went by them walked by by waies The valiantes in Israel ceased and rested vntil Debbora arose a mother rose in Israel Our Lord chose new warres and the gates of the enemies him selfe subuerted shield and speare if there appeared among fourtie thousand of Israel †My hart loueth the princes of Israel you that of your owne good wil offered your selues to danger blesse our Lord. †You that ride vpon your faire asses and sitte in iudgement and walke in the way speake †Where the chariottes were frushed together and the armie of the enemie was suffocated there let the iustices of our Lord be told and his clemencie toward the valiantes of Israel then did the people of our Lord goe downe to the gates and obteyned the principalitie †Arise arise Debbora arise arise and speake a canticle Arise Barac and apprehend thy captiues thou sonne of Abinoem The remnant of the people is saued our Lord hath fought in the valiantes Out from Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec and after him out from Beniamin into thy peoples O Amalec Out from Machir there descended princes and our from Zabulon they that led the armie to fight †The captaines of Issachar were with Debbora and folowed the steppes of Barac who as it were into a headlong and bottomeles pitte gaue him self to danger Ruben being diuided against it self there was found contention of couragious persons Why dwellest thou betwen the two boundes that thou mayest heare the whistlinges of the flockes Ruben being diuided against it self there was found contention of
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
Goe ye forth into the mount and fetch branches of the oliue tree and branches of the most fayre tree branches of the mirtle tree and boughes of the palme trees and branches of the thicke leaued tree that tabernacles may be made as it is written †And the people went forth and brought And they made themselues tabernacles euery man in his house toppe and in his courtes and in the courtes of the house of God and in the streate of the water gate and in the streate of the gate of Ephraim †Therefore al the church of them that were returned from the captiuitie made tabernacles and dwelt in tabernacles For from the daies of Iosue the sonne of Nun the children of Israel had not done it in such sort vntil that day and there was exceeding great ioy †And he reade in the booke of the law of God day by day from the first day til the last and they made the solemnitie seuen dayes in the eight day a collect according to the rite CHAP. IX The people repenting in fasting and sakcloth put away their wiues of strange nations 5. Esdras confesseth Gods benefites and the peoples ingratitude 32. prayeth for them and maketh league with God AND in the foure and twenteth day of the moneth the children of Israel came together in fasting and sackeclothes and carth vpon them †And the seede of the children of Israel was seperated from euerie strange childe and they stood and confessed their sinnes and the iniquities of their fathers †And they rose vp to stand and they read in the volume of the law of our Lord their God foure times in a day and four times they confessed and adored our Lord their God †And there arose vpon the steppe of the Leuites Iosue and Bani Cedminel Sabania Bonni Sarebias Bani and Chanani and they cried with a lowde voice to our Lord their God †And the Leuites Iosue and Cedmihel Bonni Hasebnia Serebia Odaia Sebnia and Phathahia said Arise Blesse our Lord your God from eternitie to eternitie and let them blesse the high name of thy glorie in al blessing praise †Thou the same o Lord alone thou hast made heauen al the host therof the earth al thinges that are in it the seas and al thinges that are therin and thou dost giue life to al these thinges and the host of heaueÌ„ adoreth thee †Thou the same o Lord God which didst choose Abram broughtest him out of the fire of the Chaldees and gauest him the name Abraham †And thou didst finde his hart faithful before thee and thou madest a couenante with him that thou wouldest geue him the land of the Chananite of the Hetheite and of the Amorrheite and of the Pherezeire and of the Iebuseite of the Gergeseite to geue vnto his seede and thou hast fulfilled thy wordes because thou art iust †And thou sawest the afflicton of our fathers in Aegypt their crie thou didst hearâ— vpon the Read sea †And thou gauest signes wonders in Pharao and in al his seruants and in al the people of his land for thou didst know that they had done proudly against them and thou madest thyself a name as also at this day †And thou didst diuide the sea before them and they passed througth the midst of the sea in drie land but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth as a stone into the rough waters †And in a piller of a cloude thou wast their leader by day and in a piller of fire by night that the way might appeare to them by the which they went †To mount Sinai also thou didst descend and spakest with them from heauen and thou gauest them right iudgements and the law of truth ceremonies and good preceptes †Thy sanctified Sabbath thou didst shew them and the commandements and ceremonies and the law thou didst command them in the hand of Moyses thy seruant †Bread also from heauen thou gauest them in their hunger and water out of the rocke thou didst bring forth to them thirsting and thou saidest to them that they should enter in and possesse the land vpon which thou didst lift vp thy hand to diliuer it them †But they and our fathers did proudly and hardned their neckes and heard not thy coÌ„mandements †And they would not heare and they remembred not thy merueylous workes which thou hast done to them And they hardned their neckes and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude as it were by contention But thou a propitious God and gratious and merciful long suffering and of much compassion didst not forsake them †Yea and when they had made to them selues a molten calfe and had said This is thy God which brought thee out of Aegypt and they did great blasphemies †But thou in thy manie mercies didst not leaue them in the desert the piller of the cloude departed not from them by day to lead them into the way and the piller of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should goe †And thou gauest them thy good spirite which should teach them and thy Manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth and thou gauest them water in thirst †Fourtie yeares didst thou feede them in the desert and nothing was wanting to them their garmentes waxed not old and their feete not worne †And thou gauest them kingdomes and peoples and didst part lottes vnto them and they possessed the land of Sehon and the land of the king Hesebon and the land of Og the king of Basan †And thou didst multiplie their children as the starres of heauen brought them to the land wherof thou hadst said to their fathers that they should enter and possesse it †And the children came and possessed the land and thou didst humble before them the inhabiters of the land the Chananâ—ites and gauest them into their hand and their kinges and the peoples of the land that they might doe to them as it pleased them †They therfore tooke the fensed cities and fatte ground and possessed houses ful of al goodes cesternes made by others vineyardes and oliuetes manie trees that bare fruite and they did eate and were filled and became fatte and abounded with delicious thinges in thy great goodnes †But they prouoked thee to wrath departed from thee and threw thy law behind their backes they killed thy prophetes which admonished them ernestly to returne to thee and they did great blasphemies †And thou gauest them into the handes of their enemies and they afflicted them And in the time of their tribulation they cried to thee thou from heauen didst heare and according to thy manie coÌ„passions gauest them sauiours that should saue them from the hand of their enemies †And when they had rested they returned to do euil in thysight thou didst leaue them in the hand of their enemies and they possessed them And they
together to Ozias al together with one voice †said God iudge betwen vs and thee because thou hast done euil agaynst vs in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes †And there is none to helpe wheras we lye prostrate before their eies in thirst great destruction †And now assemble ye al that are in the citie that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes †For it is better that captiues we blesse our Lord liuing then we should die and be a reproch to al flesh when we shal see our wiues and our infantes die before our eies †We cal to witnes this day heauen and earth and the God of our fathers which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes that now you deliuer the cirie into the hand of Holofernes armie that our end may be short in the edge of the sword which is made longer in the drught of thirst †And when they had said these thinges there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God saying †We haue sinned with our fathers we haue done vniustly we haue committed iniquitie †Thou because thou art gracious haue mercie vpon vs or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee †that they say not among the Gentiles Where is their God †And when they wearied with these cries and tyred with these weepings had held their peace †Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares said Be of good chere bretheren and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord. †For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation and wil geue glorie to his name †But if after fiue dates be past there come no aide we wil doe these wordes which you haue spoken CHAP. VIII Iudith a most veriuous rich fayre renowmed widow 9. rebuketh the high priest and ancientes for their determination to deliuer the citie if ayde come not in fiue dayes 14. exhorteth al to penance 28. They al agree to her godlie aduise 30. praying for good sucesse of her intention which they yet know not AND it came to passe when Iudith a widow had heard these wordes which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Idox the sonne of Ioseph the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Elai the sonne of Iamnor the sonne of Gedeon the sonne of Raphaim the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Melchias the sonne of Enan the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Salathiel the sonne of Simeon the sonne of Israel †and her husband was Manasses who died in the daies of barley haruest †for he was occupied with them that bound sheues in the field and the heate came vpon his head and he died in Bethulia his citie and was buried there with his father †And Iudith was leaft his widow now three yeares and six monethes †And in the higher partes of her house she made her self a secrete chamber in which she abode shut vp with her maides †and hauing cloth of heare vpon her loynes she fasted al the daies of her life but Sabbathes and new-moones and the feastes of the house of Israel †And she was of an exceding beautiful countenance to whom her husband had leaft much richesse and a great familie and possessions ful of heardes of oxen and flockes of sheepe †And she was among al most famous because she feared our Lord very much neither was there that spake an il word of her †When she therfore had heard that Ozias had promised that after the fifth day were past he would yeld the citie she sent to the ancientes Chabri and Charmi. †And they came to her and she said to them What is this word wherein Ozias hath consented to yeld the citie to the Assyrians if within fiue daies there come no ayde to vs †And what are you that tempt our Lord †This is no word that may prouoke mercie but rather that may rayse vp wrath and inflame furie †You haue set a time for the mercie of our Lord and according to your pleasure you haue appointed him a day †But because our Lord is patient let vs be penitent for this same thing and sheding teares let vs desire his pardon †for not as man so wil God threaten neither as the sonne of man wil he be inflamed to anger †And therfore let vs humble our soules to him and being setled in an humble spirit seruing him †let vs say weeping to our Lord that according to his wil so he doe his mercie with vs that as our hart is trubled in their pride so also we may glorie in our humilitie †because we haue not folowed the sinnes of our fathers which forsooke their God and adored strange goddes †for which abomination they were geuen into the sword and into confusion to their enemies but we know no other God but him †Let vs humbly expect his consolation and he wil require our bloud of the afflictions of our enemies and he wil humble al Nations what soeuer shal rise vp against vs and the Lord our God wil make them without honour †And now bretheren because you are ancientes in the people of God and their soules depende of you by your speach comforte their hartes that they be mindful that our fathers were tempted to be proued whether they did worshippe their God truly †They must be mindful how our father Abraham was tempted and by many tribulations proued was made the freind of God †So Isaac so Iacob so Moyses al that haue pleased God through manie tribulations haue passed faithful †But they that did not receiue the tentations with the feare of our Lord and vttered their impatience and reproch of their murmuring against our Lord †were destroyed of the destroyer and perished by serpents †And we therfore let vs not reuenge ourselues for these thinges which we suffer †but reputing these verie punishments to be the scourges of our Lord lesse then our sinnes wherwith as seruantes we are chastised let vs thinke them to haue chanced to our amendement and not to our destruction †And Ozias and the ancientes sayd to her Al thinges which thou hast spoken be true and there is no reprehension in thy wordes †Now therfore pray for vs because thou art a holie woman and fearing God †And Iudith said to them As you know that which I could speake to be of God †so that which I haue disposed to doe proue if it be of God and pray that God establish my counsel †You shal stand at the gate this night and I wil goe out with myne abra and pray ye that as you haue said in fiue dayes our Lord respect his people Israel †But I
and watch †And Iudith stood before the bed praying with teares and with mouing of her lippes in silence †saying Confirme me o Lord God of Israel and in this houre haue respect to the workes of my handes that as thou hast promised thou mayst aduance Ierusalem thy citie and I may bring to passe that which I beleuing that it may be done by thee haue purposed †And when she had sayd these thinges she went to the piller that was at his beds head and his sword that hong tyed on it she loosed †And when she had drawen it out she tooke him by the heare of his head and sayd Confirme me ô Lord God in this houre †and she stroke twise vpon his necke and cut of his head and tooke his canopie from the pillers and rolled aside his bodie a truncke †And after a while she went out and deliuered the head of Holofernes to her mayde and bad her put it into her wallet †And they two went forth according to their custome as it were to prayer and they passed the campe and compassing the valley they came to the gate of the citie †And Iudith a far of said to the keepers of the walles Open the gates because God is with vs which hath wrought power in Israel †And it came to passe when the men had heard her voyce they called the ancientes of the citie †And they ran al to meete her from the least to the greatest because they hoped not that now she would come †And they lighting lightes gathered round about her euerie one and she going vp into a higher place commanded silence to be made And when al had held their peace †Iudith said Prayse yee the Lord our God who hath not forsaken them that hope in him †and in me his handmayde he hath sulfilled his mercie which he promised to the house of Israel and he hath killed by my hand the enemie of his people this night †And bringing forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet she shewed it them saying Loe the head of Holofernes the general of the armie of the Assyrians and behold his canopie wherein he lay in his drunkennes where the Lord our God stroke him by the hand of a woman †But the same our Lord liueth that his Angel hath kept me both going hence and abyding there and from thence returning hither and our Lord hath not suffered me his handmayde to be defyled but without pollution of sinne he hath called me backe to you reioysing in this victorie in my escape and in your deliuerie †Confesse ye al to him because he is good because his mercie is for euer †And they al adoring our Lord said to her Our Lord hath blessed thee in his power because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nothing †Moreouer Ozias the prince of the people of Israel said to her Blessed art thou daughter of our Lord the high God aboue al wemen vpon the earth †Blessed be our Lord which made heauen and earth which hath directed thee vnto the woundes of the head of the prince of our enemies †Because this day he hath so magnified thy name that they prayse shal not depart out of the mouth of men which shal be mindeful of the power of our Lord for euer for that thou hast thy life for the distresses and tribulation of thy kinred but hast holpen the ruine before the presence of our God †And al the people sayd So be it so be it †Moreouer Achior being called came and Iudith said to him The God of Israel to whom thou gauest testimonie that he reuengeth him self of his enemies he hath cut of the head of al the vnfaithful this night by my hand †And that thou mayst proue that it is so loe the head of Holofernes who in the contempt of his pride contemned the God of Israel and threatened thee death saying When the people of Israel shal be taken I wil command thy sides to be pearsed with a sword †But Achior seing the head of Holofernes being in anguish for feare fel on his face vpon the earth and his soule was sore trubled †But after taking spirit agayne he was refreshed fel downe at her feete and adored her and sayd †Blessed art thou of thy God in euerie tabernacle of Iacob because in euerie nation which shal heare thy name the God of Israel shal be magnified in thee CHAP. XIIII Holofernes head is hanged on the wall 6. Achior is circumcised 7. The Israeelites assault the Assyrians 8. who going to awake their General 14. finde him slaine 17 and are al confounded with feare AND Iudith said to al the people Heare me brethren hang ye this head vpon our walles †and it shal be when the sunne shal rise let euerie man take his armour and yssue ye forth with violence not that you goe downe beneath but as it were inuading violently †Then the watchmen must of necessitie runne to rayse vp their prince to battel †And when the captaynces of them shal runne to the tabernacle of Holofernes and shal finde him headles rowled in bloud feare wil fal vpon them †And when you shal know that they flee goe after them securely because our Lord wil destroy them vnder your feete †Then Achior seeing the power that God of Israel wrought forsaking the rite of gentilitie beleued God and circuncided the flesh of his prepuce and was ioyned to the people of Israel and al the succession of his kinred vntil this present day †And immediatly as day brake they hong the head of Holofernes vpon the walles and euerie man tooke his armour and they went forth with great noyse and shouting †Which the watchmen seing ranne to the tabernacle of Holofernes †Moreouer they that were in the tabernacle coming and before the dore of the tabernacle making a noyse to rayse him they endeuored by art to disquiet him that Holofernes might awake not by them raysing him but by them making a noyse †For no man durst by knocking or entring to open the chamber of the chiefe of the Assyrians †But when his dukes and tribunes were come and al the chiefe of the armie of the king of the Assyrians they said to the chamberlayns †Goe in and awake him becaufe the mice yssuing out of their holes haue presumed to prouoke vs to battel †Then Vagao entring into his chamber stoode before the cortine and made a clapping with his handes for he thought that he slept with Iudith †But when with the sense of his eares he percieued no motion of person lying he came neere to the cortine and lifting it vp and seing the bodie without the head of Holofernes weltred in his bloud lye vpon the ground cried out in a lowd voyce with weeping and rent his garmentes †And going into the tabernacle of Iudith he found her not and he lept
†For our Lord knoweth the way of the iust and the way of the impious shal perish ANNOTATIONS PSALME I. 1. Hath not gone not stood not sitte The Hebrew stile and maner of discourse differeth here from other nations in mentioning first the lesse euil and the greatest last VVhereas we would say in the contrary order He is happie that hath not sitte that is hath not setled himselfe in wickednes nor finally persisted obstinate more happie that hath not stood anie notable time continued in sinne and most happie that hath not gone not geuen anie consent at al to euil suggestions 2. His vvil in the vvay of our Lord. As one part of happines consisteth in declining from euil so the other is in doing good the wil desiring and diligently endeuoring to walke in the way of vertue and law of God VVhich is true iustice and right forme of good life proposed in this Psalme for attayning eternal beatitude PSALME II. Christs glorie the world repining therat 4. shal be propagated in al the world 7. His diuine powre as wel spiritual in conuerting mens hartes as external in seuere iustice is prophecied VVHY did the Gentiles rage and peoples meditate vaine things †The kings of the earth stood vp and the princes came together in one against our Lord and against his Christ †Let vs breake their bondes a sunder and let vs cast away their yoke from vs. †He that dwelleth in the heauens shal laugh at them and our Lord shal scorne them †Then shal he speake to them in his wrath in his furie he shal truble them †But I am appoynted king by him ouer Sion his holie hil preaching his precept †The Lord said to me Thou art my Sonne I this day haue be gotten thee †Aske of me and I wil geue thee the Gentiles for thyne inheritance and thy possession the endes of the earth †Thou shalt rule them “ in a rod of yron and “ as a potters vessel thou shalt breake them in peeces †And now “ ye kings vnderstand “ take instruction you that iudge the earth †Serue our Lord in feare and “ reioyce to him with trembling †Apprehend discipline lest sometime our Lord be wrath and you perish out of the iust way †When his wrath shal burne in short time blessed are al that trust in him ANNOTATIONS PSALME II. 2. Kinges and Princes against Christ VVhen Christ and his Apostles preached the Gospel both Iewes and Gentiles with their Princes Kinges and Emperors most furiously resisted but al in vaine For they could not hinder the wil and powre of God But the more they persecuted the more was increased the zele and number of Christians 8. The gentiles thyn inheritance By this promise of God to Christ S. Augustin conuinced the Donatistes in them the Protestantes that say the Church of Christ failed and became smal or inuisible as though Christ the Sonne of God could sometimes lose his inheritance which is the Catholique Church gethered of the Gentiles and his possession extended to the endes of the earth 9. As a potters vessel If a potters vessel saith S. Ierom in hunc Psal tom 8. be broken whiles it is soft it may easily be repared but after it is hard it can not be made whole againe So sinners are more easily restored to grace shortly repeating then long obdurate yet that which is vnpossible to man is possible to God Mat. 10. For as clay in the potters hand so are you in my hand saith our Lord. Iere. 18. 10. Ye kinges vnderstand Not onlie innumerable other people of al nations but also after a while Kinges and Emperors beleued in Christ And such as at first persecuted became most Christian Catholique Defenders of the faith 10. Take instruction you that iudge the earth Petilianus Gaudentius other Donatistes inueyghing against Christian Kinges for punishing heretikes most falsly auoched that Christianitie neuer found kinges but inuious enimies and persecuters To whom S. Augustin answereth in seueral bookes that Christian Kinges and Princes are not enemies to Christianitie but are enemies to heretikes the rebelles of Christ and his Church For according to this prophecie of king Dauid Christian kinges are instructed and know it is their dutie â—â— the seruice of God to defend the Church against Heretikes and other Infidelles And it is the propertie of Apostataes to fauour heretikes So good Constantin the great maintained Catholique vnitie and Iulian the Apostata to make greater diuision tooke Churches from Catholiques and gaue them to Donatistes to nourish dissention and so to oâ—eâ—â—â—row al Christians But God stil protecteth the true Church againâ—â— al such suttle and malicious dâ—uiâ—es because it is Christs inheritance 11. Râ—â—oyâ—e vvith trembling Gods seruice is tempeted with two affections with ioy in consideration of his goodnes mercie meeknes and with feare in respect of his â—ustice and â—euere iudgement The one is a remedie against desperation the other against presumption PSALME III. King Dauid recounteth his danger when his sonne Absalom conspired against him 4. and thanketh God for his deliuerie 9 acknowledging al helpe to be from God Mistically Christs persecution Death Burial and Resurrection †The “ Psalme of Dauid “ when he fled from the face of Absalom his sonne 2. Reg. 15. LORD why are they multiplied that truble me manie rise vp against me †Many say to my soule There is no saluation for him in his God †But thou Lord art my protectour my glorie exalting my head †With my voice I haue cried to our Lord and he hath heard me from his holie hil †“ I haue slept and haue bene at rest and haue risen vp because our Lord hath taken me †I wil not feare thousandes of people compassing me arise Lord saue me my God †Because thou hast stroken al that are my aduersaries without cause thou hast broken the teeth of sinners †Saluation is our Lordes and thy blessing vpon thy people ANNOTATIONS PSALME III. 1. Psalme of Dauid Al Interpreters agreably teach that king Dauid made not the titles which are before the Psalmes Neuertheles they are authentical as endited by the Holie Ghost And it is most probable Esdras added those titles which are in the Hebrew and the Seuentie interpreters writte the other in their Greke Edition Both which S. Ierom translated into Latin In these titles fiue thinges may be noted First the former two hauing no title at al the general name of Psalme common to al is particularly appropriated to some and other names to others VVhich in al are twelue to witte Psalme Inscription Prayer Canticle Psalme of Canticle Canticle of Psalme Hymne Testimonie
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
Ammon and Amalec the for eners with the inhabitantes of Tyre †Yea and Assur also is come with them they are made an aide to the children of Lot †Doe to them as to Madian and Sisara as to Iabin in the torrent Cisson †They perished in Endor they were made as the dung of the earth †Put their princes as Oreb and Zeb and Zebee and Salmana Al their princes †which haue saide Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance †My God put them as a wheele and as stubble before the face of the winde †Euen as fire that burneth a wood as a flame that burneth the mountaines †So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them †Fil their faces with ignominie and they wil seeke thy name ô Lord. †Let them be ashamed and trubled for euer and euer and let them be confounded and perish †And let them know that Lord is thy name thou onlie the Highest in al the earth PSALME LXXXIII Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie 6. accounting it in the meane time a happie state to be in the militant Church 12. where God first geuing grace wil geue glorie in the triumphant †Vnto the end for wine presses t the children of Core a Psalme HOW beloued are thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes †my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the courtes of our Lord. My hart and my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God †For the sparow also hath found her an house and the turtledoue a nest for her selfe where she may lay her young ones Thine altars ô Lord of hoastes my King and my God †Blessed are they that dwel in thy house ô Lord for euer and euer they shal praise thee †Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee he hath disposed ascension in his hart †in the vaile of teares in the place which he hath appointed †For the lawgeuer shal geue blessing they shal goe from vertue into vertue the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion †Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob †Behold ô God our protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ †Because better is one day in thy courtes aboue thousands I haue chosen to be an abiect in the house of my God rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners †Because God loueth mercie and truth our Lord wil geue grace and glorie †He wil not depriue them of good thinges that walke in innocencie ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man that hopeth in thee PSALME LXXXIIII With commemoration of Gods former benefites 5. Christs Incarnation is prophecied 9. bringing peace and saluation 11. mercie and iustice concurring together Vnto the end to the children of Core a Psalme O Lord thou hast blessed thy land thou hast turned away the captiuitie of Iacob †Thou hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes †Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation †Conuert vs ô God our sauiour and auert thy wrath from vs. †Wil t thou be wrath with vs for euer or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation †O God thou being turned shalt quicken vs and thy people shal reioyce in thee †Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation †I wil heare what our Lord God wil speake in me because he wil speake peace vpon his people And vpon his saincts and vpon them that are conuerted to the hart †But yet his saluation is nigh to them that feare him that glorie may inhabite in our land †Mercie and truth haue met each other iustice and peace haue kissed †Truth is risen out of the earth and iustice hath looked downe from heauen †For our Lord certes wil geue benignitie and our land shal giue her fruite †Iustice shal walke before him and shal set his steppes in the way PSALME LXXXV In consideration of his owne imperfections the royal prophet or other faithful person prayeth God 5. according to his mercie and goodnes 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies †A praier to Dauid him selfe Incline thine eare ô Lord and heare me because I am needie and poore †Keepe my soule because I am holie saue thy seruant my God that hopeth in thee †Haue mercie on me ô Lord because I haue cried to thee al the day †make ioyful the soule of thy seruant because to thee ô Lord haue I lifted vp my soule †Because thou ô Lord art swete and milde and of much mercie to al that inuocate thee †Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears and attend to the voice of my petition †In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee because thou hast heard me †There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord and there is not according to thy workes †Al nations what soeuer thou hast made shal come and shal adore before thee ô Lord and they shal glorifie thy name †Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges thou onlie art God †Conduct me ô Lord in thy way and I wil walke in thy truth let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name †I wil confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart and wil glorifie thy name for euer †Because thy mercie is great vpon me and thou hast deliuered my soule out of the lower hel †O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule and they haue not set thee in their sight †And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful patient and of much mercie and true †Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me giue thine empire to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handmaide †Make with me a signe vnto God that they may see which hate me and may be confounded because thou ô Lord hast holpen me PSALME LXXXVI The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem 3. is extended to al Nations 5. glorious 6. and permanent 7. in holie ioy To the children of Core a Psalme of Canticle THE fundations thereof in the holie mountaynes †our Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue al the tabernacles of Iacob †Glorious thinges
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
the time of death 9 He vvil not be angrie alvvayes Origen misunderstood this place and some other like holding an erronius opinion that al euen the most wicked sinners both men and dâ—uels shal at last be saued and not eternally damned which is a condemned heresie contrarie to euident places of holie Scriptures Psal 9 v 6. The impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer for euer euer Mat. 2â— The wicked shal goe into fire euerlasting into euerlasting punishment Apoc. 20. The beast and the false prophet and the same reason is for al the vvicked shal be tormented day and night for euer and euer Neither are theâ—e vvordes God vvil not be angrie alvvayes spoken vniuersally touching al sinners vvhosoeuer but are limited v 13 17 to those that seare him and kepe his testament vvheras al those that dye in mortal sinne are stil oâ—â—â—â—naâ—e in malice and can neuer rightly repent nor rightly feare God nor kepe his commandments PSALME CIII The Psalmist inuiteth himself and others to praise God for his meruelous workes in the heauens 5. the earth and water 9. limiting their bondes producing al thinges necessarie for al liuing creatures in conuenient seasons 27. With continual prouidence of al. †To Dauid him self MY soule blesse thou our Lord ô Lord my God thou art magnified excedingly †Thou hast put on confession and beautie being clothed with light as with a garment Stretching out the heauen as a skinne †which couerest the higher partes therof with waters Which makest the cloude for thee to ascend on which walkest vpon the winges of windes †Which makest spirites thine Angels and thy ministers a burning fyre †Which hast founded the earth vpon the stabilitie therof it shal not be inclined for euer and euer †The depth as a garment is his clothing vpon the mountaines shal waters stand †At thy reprehention they shal flee at the voice of thy thunder they shal feare †The mountaines ascend and the plaine fildes descend into the place which thou hast founded for them †Thou hast set a bound which they shal not passe ouer neither shal they returne to couer the earth †Which sendestforth fontaines in the valles betwen the middest of mountaines shal waters passe †Al the beastes of the filde shal drinke the wilde asses shal expect in their thirst †Ouer them shal the foules of the ayre inhabite out of the middes of rockes they shal geueforth voices †Watering the mountaines from his higher places of the fruite of thy worke shal the earth be filled †Bringing forth grasse for beastes and herbe for the seruice of men That thou mayst bring forth bread out of the earth †and wine may make the hart of man ioyful That he may make the face chereful with oile and bread may confirme the hart of man †The trees of the silde shal be filled and the ceders of Libanus which he hath planted †there sparowes shal make their nest The house of the hearne is the leader of them †the high mountaines for hartes the rocke a refuge for the Irchins †He made the moone for seasons the sunne knoweth his going downe †Thou didst appoint darkenes and night was made in it shal al the beastes of the wood passe †The whelpes of lions roaring to rauen and to seeke of God meate for themselues †The sunne is risen and they are gathered together and in their couches they shal be placed †Man shal goe forth to his worke and to his working vntil euening †How magnified are thy workes ô Lord thou hast made al thinges in wisedom the earth is filled with thy possession †This great sea and very large there are creeping beastes wherof there is no number Litle beastes with great †there shippes shal passe This dragon whom thou madest to delude †al expect of thee that thou geue them meate in season †Thou geuing vnto them they shal gather it thou opening thy hand al shal be filled with bountie †But thou turning away the face they shal be trubled thou shalt take away their spirite and they shal faile and shal returne into their dust †Thou shalt sendforth thy spirit and they shal be created and thou shalt renewe the face of the earth †Be the glorie of our Lord for euer our Lord wil reioice in his workes †Who looketh vpon the earth maketh it to tremble who toucheth the mountaines and they smoke †I wil chaunte to our Lord in my life I wil sing to my God as long as I am †Let my speach be acceptable to him but I wil take delight in our Lord. †Let sinners faile from the earth and the vniust so that they be not my soule blesse thou our Lord. PSALME CIIII. The Israelites are exhorted to sing praises to God 5. for his meruelous benefites towards Abraham Isaac and Iacob 11. whose particular familie being then smal went from Chanaan into Aegypt 17. Whither Ioseph by Gods prouidence was caried before there increased in number was persecuted 26. deliuered by Moyses and Aaron working manie great miracles 36. protected and fedde in the desert 44. and finally possessed Chanaan Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord and inuocate his name shewforth his workes among the Gentiles †Chaunt to him and sing to him tel ye al his meruelous workes †Prayse ye him in his holie name let the hart of them reioice that seeke our Lord. †Seeke ye our Lord and be confirmed seeke his face alwayes †Remember ye his meruelous workes which he hath done his wonders and the iudgments of his mouth †The seede of Abraham his seruantes the children of Iacob his elect †He is the Lord our God in al the earth are his iudgementes †He hath bene mindeful for euer of his testament of the word which he commanded vnto a thousand generations †Which he disposed to Abraham and of his oath to Isaac †And he appointed it to Iacob for a precept and to Israel for an eternal testament †Saying To thee wil I geue the land of Chanaan the corde of your inheritance †When they were of smal number very few and seiourners therof †And they passed from nation into nation from kingdom to an other people †He leift not a man to hurt them and he rebuked kings for their sake †Touch not my annointed and toward my prophetes be not malignant †And he called a famine vpon the land and he desstroyed al the strength of bread †He sent a man before them Ioseph was sold to be a seruant †They humbled his feete in fetters yron passed through his soule †vntil his word came The word of our Lord inflamed him †the king sent and
and his iustice contineweth for euer and euer †He hath made a memorie of his meruelous workes a merciful and pittiful Lord †he hath geuen meate to them that feare him He wil be mindful for euer of his testament †the force of his workes he wil shewforth to his people †To geue them the inheritance of the gentiles the workes of his handes truth and iudgement †Al his commandmentes are faithful confirmed for euer and euer made in truth and equitie †He sent redemption to his people he commanded his testament for euer Holie and terrible is his name †the feare of our Lord is the beginning of wisedom Vnderstanding is good to al that doe it his prayse remaineth for euer and euer PSALME CXI True happines consisteth in fearing God keping his commandments 5. and in doing workes of mercie 10. The contrarie bringeth to miserie Alleluia Of the returne of Aggeus and Zacharie BLESSED is the man that feareth our Lord he shal haue great delight in his commandmentes †His seede shal be mightie in the earth the generation of the righteous shal be blessed †Glorie and riches in his house and his iustice abideth for euer and euer †Light is risen vp in darkenes to the righteous he is merciful and pitiful and iust †Acceptable is the man that is merciful and lendeth that shal dispose his wordes in iudgement †Because he shal not be moued for euer †The iust shal be in eternal memorie he shal not feare at the hearing of euil †His hart is readie to hope in our Lord his hart is confirmed †he shal not be moued til he looke ouer his enemies †He distributed he gaue to the poore his iustice remaineth for euer and euer his horne shal be exalted in glorie †The sinner shal see and wil be angrie he shal gnash his teeth and pine away the desire of sinners shal perish PSALME CXII God is to be praised who being hiegh regardeth and prouideth for the needie in this world Allelu ia PRAYSE our Lord ye children praise ye the name of our Lord. †Be the name of our Lord blessed from henceforth now and for euer †From the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe the name of our Lord is laudable †Our Lord is high aboue al nations and his glorie aboue the heauens †Who is as the Lord our God that dwelleth on high †and beholdeth the low thinges in heauen and in earth †Raising vp the needie from the earth and lifting vp the poore out of the dung †To place him with princes with the princes of his people †Who maketh the d barren woman to dwel in a house a ioyful mother of children PSALME CXIII For the meruelous passage of I srael out of Aegypt 3. the red sea the riuer Iordan 7. and the hilles geuing them place 8. the rockes yelding them water 9. God not themselues is to be praised 12. Idoles and Idolaters are vaine and shal be confounded 17. the faithful trust in God 20. are blessed and for euer praise God Allelu ia IN the comming forth of Israel out of Aegypt of the house of Iacob from the barbarous people †Iewrie was made his sanctification Israel his dominion †The sea saw and fled Iordan was turned backeward †The mountaines leaped as rammes and the litle hilles as the lambes os sheepe †What ayleth thee ô sea that thou didst flee and thou ô Iordan that thou wast turned backeward †Ye mountaines leaped as rammes and ye litle hilles as the lambes of shepe †At the face of our Lord was the earth moued at the face of the God of Iacob †Who turned the rocke into pooles of waters and stonie hil into fountaines of waters †NOT TO VS O LORD NOT TO VS but to thy name geue the glorie †For thy mercie and thy truth lest at any time the Gentiles say Where is their God †But our God is in heauen he hath done al thinges what soeuer he would †“ The idols of the gentiles are siluer and gold the workes of mens handes †They haue mouth and shal not speake they haue eies and shal not see †They haue eares and shal not heare they haue nosthrels and shal not smel †They haue handes and shal not handle they haue feete and shal not walke they shal not crie in their throte †Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them †The house of Israel hath hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector †The house of Aaron hath hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector †They that feare our Lord haue hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector †Our Lord hath beene mindful of vs and hath blessed vs He hath blessed the house of Israel he hath blessed the house of Aaron †He hath blessed al that feare our Lord the litle with the great †Our Lord adde vpon you vpon you vpon your children †Blessed be you of our Lord which made heauen and earth †The heauen of heauen is to our Lord but the earth he hath geuen to the children of men †The dead shal not prayse thee ô Lord nor al they that goe downe into hel But we that liue doe blesse our Lord from this time and for euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME CXIII 12. The Idols of the Gentiles are siluer and gold Al Catholique Diuines agree in this authentical definition of Idolattie that it is diuine honour geuen to anie creature as to a god Of the diuers so tâ—s also of Idolatrie the ancient lerned Doctors haue vvritten much Namely Iustinus Martyr in his Orations against the Gen iles Tertullian in Apologetico Arnobius Orat. ad Gentes Lactantius li. 2. c 17. Diuinar Instit and manie others But most copiously and profoundly S Augustin especially in his tenne first bookes de Câ—uitate Dei Into vvhich error crime the Platonistes sel holding that spiritual inuisible createdsubstances to vvitte Angels good and euil vvhom they called Intelligentias separatas had diuine povvre so gaue to them diuine honour O hers honour dead men and some before their death as goddes for their notable actes atchiued in this life as Saturne â—uppiter Hercules and the like Some yeld diuine honour to mere corporal creatures liuing or vvithout life as to beastes and serpentes the sunne the moone fire vvater earth the vvhole machin of the vvoâ—ld as if it vvere animate and that vvith diuine spirite or soule Againe al these haue bene vvorshipped as gods not only in them selues but also in their imagees But to omite other diuersities the most grosse
bene long a seiourner †With them that hated peace I was peaceable when I spake to them they impugned me without cause PSALME CXX The iust reioyce that their prayer is heard and that God continually protecteth them A gradual Canticle I HAVE lifted vp mine eies vnto the mountaines from whence helpe shal come to me †My helpe is from our Lord who made heauen and earth †Geue he not thy foote to be moued neither doe he slumber that keepeth thee †Loe he shal not slumber nor sleepe that kepeth Israel †Our lord kepeth thee our Lord is thy protection vpon thy right hand †By day the sunne shal not burne thee nor the moone by night †Our Lord doth kepe thee from al euil our Lord kepe thy soule †Our Lord kepe thy coming in and thy going out from hence forth now and for euer PSALME CXXI Vnder the figure of returne to Ierusalem vehemently desired by the Iewes in captiuitie the Psalmist describeth the desire and hope of the iust â—o possesse heauen A gradual Canticle I REIOYCED in these thinges which were sayd to me We shal goe into the house of our Lord. †Our feete were standing in thy courtes ô Ierusalem †Ierusalem which is built as a citie whose participation is together in it self †For thither did the tribes ascend the tribes of our Lord the testimonie of Israel to confesse vnto the name of our Lord. †Because seates sate there in iudgement seates vpon the house of Dauid †Aâ—ke ye the thinges that are for the peace of Ierusalem and abundance to them that loue thee †Peace be made in thy strength and abundance in thy towers †For my bretheren and my neigbours sakes I spake peace of thee †For the house of our Lord God I haue sought good thinges to thee PSALME CXXII A feruent and attentiue prayer to be deliuered from captiuitie or anie other affliction A gradual Canticle TO thee haue I lifted vp mine eies which dwellest in the heauens †Behold as the eies of seruantes are on the handes of their masters As the eies of the handmaide on the handes of her mistresse so are our eies to our Lord God vntil he haue mercie on vs. †Haue mercie on vs ô Lord haue mercie on vs because we are much replenished with contempt Because our soule is much replenished reproch to them that abund and contempt to the prowde PSALME CXXIII The whole Church and euerie iust person gratfully confesseth that by Gods protection they are secure without which none could escape ruine A gradual Canticle BVT that our Lord was in vs let Israel now say †but that our Lord was in vs When men rose vp against vs †perhaps they had swalowed vs aliue When their furie was angrie against vs †perhaps water had swalowed vs. †Our soule hath passed through a torrent perhaps our soule had passed through an intolerable water †Blessed be our Lord which hath not geuen vs for a pray to their teeth †Our soule as a sparow is deliuered from the snare of the fowlers The snare is broken and we are deliuered †Our helpe is in the name of our Lord who made heauen and earth PSALME CXXIIII The Church and holie members therof are alwayes protected by God 5. The wicked being suffered for a while are at last punished A gradual Canticle THEY that trust in our Lord as mount Sion he shal not be moued for euer that dwelleth †in Ierusalem Mountaines round about it and our Lord round about his people from hence forth now and for euer †Because our Lord wil not leaue the rod of sinners vpon the lote of the iust that the iust reach not their handes to iniquitie †Doe wel ô Lord to the good and right of hart †But those that decline into obligations our Lord wil bring with them that worke iniquitie peace vpon Israel PSALME CXXV Isralites released from captiuitie of Babylon much more the blessed both of the old and new testament deliuered by Christ from captiuitie of sinne de reioyce 5. Who neuertheles must passe through tribulation to eternal felicitie A gradual Canticle VVHEN our Lord turned the captiuitie of Sion we were made as men comforted †Then was our mouth replenished with ioy and our tongue with exultation Then shal they say among the Gentiles Our Lord hath done magnifically with them †Our Lord hath done magnifically with vs we are made ioyful †Turne our captiuitie ô Lord as a torrent in the South †They that sow in teares shal reape in ioyfulnesse †Going they went and wept casting their seedes †But coming they shal come with exultation carying their sheaues PSALME CXXVI Neither house nor citie can be built or kept without Gods special prouidence and helpe 3. those that trust in him shal prosper in their endeuours A gradual Canticle of Salomon VNLESSE our Lord build the house they haue laboured in vayne that build it Vnlesse our Lord kepe the citie he watcheth in vayne that kepeth it †It is vaine for you to rise before light rise ye after ye haue sitten which eate the bread of sorow †When he shal giue sleepe to his beloued behold the inheritance of our Lord are children the reward the fruite of the wombe †As arrowes in the hand of the mightie so are the children of them that are shaken †Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire of them he shal not be confounded when he shal speake to his enemies in the gate PSALME CXXVII Happines both of this life and of the next is obtayned by fearing and sincerely seruing God A gradual Canticle BLESSED are al that feare our Lord that walke in his wayes †Because thou shalt eate the labours of thy handes blessed art thou and it shal be wel with thee †Thy wife as a fruitful vine in the sides of thy house Thy children as young plantes of oliuetrees round about thy table †Behold so shal the man be blessed that feareth our Lord. †Our Lord out of Sion blesse thee and that thou mayst see the good thinges of Ierusalem al the dayes of thy life And that thou mayst see thy childrens children peace vpon Israel PSALME CXXVIII The Church often 3. and much impugned is not ouercome 4. Her persecuters are destroyed 6. contemned 8. and cursed A gradual Canticle OFTEN haue they impugned me from my youth let Israel now say †Often haue they impugned me from my youth but they haue not preuailed against me †Sinners haue builded vpon my
not returne neithet shal they apprehend the pathes of life †That thou mayst walke in a good way and mayst keepe the pathes of the iust †For they that are right shal dwel in the earth and the simple shal continue in it †But the impious shal be destroyed from the earth and they that doe vniustly shal be taken away from it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 13. VVho leaue the right vvay Generally this description of wicked men agreeth to al that committe and persist in mortal sinne whether they walked right at anie time before or no but most especially sheweth the properties of heretikes who forsake and leaue the direct ancient beaten knovvne vvay of the Catholique Church and teach nevv obscure doctrines not heard of or not approued in our forefathers time Secondly v. 14 they glorie in their ovvne deuises and reioyce in most vvicked thinges as in seducing multitude of peoples to rebel against their Catholique Princes and other Superiors spiritual and temporal in breaking vovves in despising good vvorkes trusting to only faith and that not the Catholique faith of al true Christians but euerie one his particular persvvasion that himself is iust shal be saued vvhich by their ovvne doctrin none is bond to beleue of an others state but of his owne only In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestants imagined faith is not a general Article which al do or should beleue but a most particular and singular phantasie which each one must conceiue of himself or herself Thirdly v. 16. Heresie called here the strange and forrene woman tempereth her vvordes to please the itching eares of her auditorie framing her doctrine to the humour of those vvhom she seeketh to peruert The same vvich the Apostle saith in other vvordes by svvere speaches and benedictions they seduce the hartes of innocents Fourthly v. 19. Those that do enter into error of heresie shal not returne that is very hardly and rarely returne into the right vvay of life the reason whereof the same Apostle yeldeth because an heretike is condemned by his ovvne iudgement For being in error and admitting no iudge but himself he parteth from the Church excludeth the meanes of better iustruction through his erronious iudgement remaineth in damnable opinion and so in the state of damnation CHAP. III. Wisdom exhorteth to kepe Gods law geuing long life to obserue mercie and truth 5. to confide in God 7. to feare 9. and honour him 11. to take his correction gladly 13. for al good thinges folow wisdom 27. to releue the needie without delay 30. not to contend with the wicked nor to imitate them 33. The euil shal faile and the godlie shal prosper MY sonne forget not my law and let thy hart keepe my precepts †For they shal adde to thee length of dayes and yeares of life and peace †Let not mercie and truth leaue thee put them about thy throte and write them in the tables of thy hart †and thou shalt finde grace and good discipline before God and men †Haue confidence in our Lord with al thy hart and leane not vpon thyne owne prudence †In al thy wayes thinke on him and he wil direct thy steppes †Be not wise in thyne owne conceipte feare God and depart from euil †for it shal be health to thy nauil and watering of thy bones †Honour our Lord with thy substance and geue to him of the first of al thy fruites †and thy barnes shal be replenished with fulnes and thy presses shal runouer with wine †My sonne cast not away the discipline of our Lord neither doe thou faint when thou art chasteâ—â—d of him †for whom our Lord loueth he chasticeth and as a father in the sonne he pleaseth himself †Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and floweth with prudence †better is the purchasing therof then marchandise of siluer and her fruite then chiefe and the purest gold †she is more precious then al riches and al thinges that are desired are not able to be compared with her †Length of dayes in her right hand in her left hand riches and glorie †Her wayes are beautiful wayes and al her pathes peaceable †She is a tree of life to them that shal apprehend her and he that shal hold her is blessed †Our Lord by wisdom founded the earth established the heauens by prudence †By his wisdom the depthes haue broken forth and the cloudes waxe thicke with dew †My sonne let not these thinges depart from thyne eies kepe the law counsel †and there shal be life to thy soule and grace to thy iawes †Then shalt thou walke confidently in thy way and thy foote shal not stumble †if thou sleepe thou shalt not feare thou shalt rest and thy sleepe shal be sweete †Dread not at soden terrour and the power of the impious falling vpon thee †For our Lord wil be at thy side and wil keepe thy foote that thou be not taken †Doe not prohibite him to doe good that is able if thou be able thy selfe also doe good †Say not to thy frend goe and returne and tomorow I wil geue to thee wheras thou mayest geue forth with †Practise not euil against thy freind when he hath affiance in thee †Contend not against man without cause wheras he hath done thee no euil †Doe not enuie an vniust man nor imitate his waies †because euerie deluder is an abomination of our Lord and his communication is with the simple †There is pouertie from our Lord in the house of the impious but the habitations of the iust shal be blessed †He shal delude the deluders and to the milde he wil geue grace †The wise shal possesse glorie the exaltation of fooles ignominie CHAP. IIII. The wiseman exhorteth others by his owne example to seeke wisdom 14. to decline from the wicked and to imitate the iust 23. to guide wel the hart mouth and feete CHILDREN heare ye the fathers discipline and attend that you may knowe prudence †I wil geue you a good gift forsake not my law †For I also was the sonne of my father tender and as onlie begotten in my mothers sight †and he taught me sayd Let thy hart receiue my wordes kepe my preceptes and thou shalt liue †Possesse wisedom possesse prudence forget not neither decline from the wordes of my mouth †Leaue her not and she wil keepe thee loue her and she wil preserue thee †The beginning of wisdom possesse wisdom and in al thy possession purchase prudence †take quickly and she wil exalt thee thou shalt be glorified of her when thou shalt embrace her †She wil geue to thy head increase of graces and with a noble crowne she wil protect thee †Heare my sonne and receiue my wordes that yeares of life may be multiplied to
out of garments cometh forth the moth and from a woman the iniquitie of a man †For better is the iniquitie of a man then a woman doing a good turne and a woman shaming vnto reproche †I therefore wil be mindeful of the workes of our Lord and I wil shew forth which I haue seene By the words of our Lord are his workes †The sunne illuminating hath looked through out al and ful of the glorie of our Lord is his worke †Hath not our Lord made the sainctes to declare al his meruelous thinges which our Lord the omnipotent confirmed to be established in his glorie †He hath searched out the depth and the hart of men and in their subtilitie he hath considered †For our Lord hath knowen al knowlege and hath beheld the signe of age declaring what thinges are past and what are to come reueling the tokens of secret thinges †No cogitation escapeth him and no word hideth it self from him †The glorious workes of his wisdom he hath beautified who is before the world and world without end neither is there added †nor diminised and he needeth not anie mans counsel †How are al his workes to be desired and which is as it were a sparke to consider †Al these liue and remaine for euer and in al necessitie al thinges obey him †Al thinges duble one against one and he hath made nothing to want †He hath confirmed the good thinges of euerie one And who shal be filled seeing his glorie CHAP. XLIII Gods incomparable excellencie appeareth in the heauens 2. in the sunne 6. moone 9. other starres 12. rainebow 14. snow 15. cloudes 16. hayle 17. winde 18. thunder 21. frost 22. christal 24. dew 26. the sea and innumerable thinges therin 29. No man is able to praise God sufficiently THE firmament of height is his beautie the beautie of heauen is in the vision of glorie †The sunne in sight declaring at his coming forth a meruelous instrument the worke of the Highest †At noone it burneth the earth and who can abide in the presence of the heate thereof kepeing a fornace in the workes of heate †the sunne three times so much burning the mountaines casting out fyrie beames and shining with his beames blindeth the eyes †Great is our Lord that made it and by his wordes it hath hastened his course †And the moone in al in her time is the shewing of season and the signe of age †By the moone is the signe of a festiual day a light that diminisheth in consummation †The moneth is according to her name increasing meruelously in consummation †An instrument of the campe on high shining gloriously in the firmament of heauen †The glorie of the starres is the beautie of heauen our Lord illuminating the world on high †In the words of the holie one they shal stand to iudgement and shal not faile in their watches †See the bow and blesse him that made it it is very beautiful in his brightnes †It hath compassed heauen in the circuite of his glorie the handes of the Highest haue opened it †But by his commandement he hath hastened snow he hasteth to send forth the lightninges of his iudgement †Therefore are the treasures opened and the cloudes flie forth as birdes †By his greatnes he hath set the cloudes and the hailestones are broken †In his sight the mountaines shal be moued and at his wil the south winde hath blowen †The noyse of his thunder shal beate the earth the tempest of the northwind and the gathering together of wind †and as the bird lighting downe to sitte he scatereth snow and the falling thereof is as the locust dyuing downeward †The eye shal admire the beautie of the whitenes thereof and the hart quaketh at the shower thereof †He shal power out frost vpon the earth as salt and when it freeseth it shal be made as the toppes of a thistle †The cold north winde blewe of water there frose chrystal vpon al gathering together of waters it shal rest as a brest plate it shal put it self vpon the waters †And it shal deuoure the mountaines burne the desert extinguish that which is grene as fire †The remedie of al is in the hastie coming of a cloude and a dew meeting it by the heate that cometh shal make it quaile †At his word the wind was stil and with his thought he appeased the depth and our Lord planted Ilandes therein †They that saile on the sea tel the perils ther of hearing with our eares we shal meruel †There are goodly workes meruelous diuers kindes of beastes of al cattel the creature of mightie beastes †Through him is the end of their iourney confirmed and by his word al thinges are set in order †We shal say manie thinges shal faile in wordes but the summe of our wordes is he is in al. †Glorifying him how far shal we be able for the omnipotent himself is aboue al his workes †Our Lord is terrible exceeding great his might is meruelous †Glorifying our Lord as much as euer you can he shal yet surpasse and his magnificence is meruelous †Blessing our Lord exalt him as much as you can for he is greater then al praise †Exalting him be ye replenished with strength Labour not for you shal not comprehend †Who shal see him and shal declare him and who shal magnifie him as he is from the beginning †Manie thinges hid are greater then these for we haue seene few of his workes †But our Lord made al thinges and to them that liue piously he hath geuen wisdom CHAP. XLIIII Praises of holie fathers in general 16. and in particular of Enoch 17. Noe 20. Ahraham 24. Isaac and Iacob LET vs praise glorious men and our fathers in their generation †Much glorie hath our Lord made by his magnificence from the beginning of the world †Ruling in their dominions men great for force and endued with their wisdom declaring in the prophetes the dignitie of prophetes †and ruling in the people that was present and by the vertue of wisdom most holie wordes to the peoples †In their kil seeking out musical melodies vttering songnes of scriptures †Rich men in force studying beautifulnes liuing at peace in their houses †Al these in the generations of their nation haue obteyned glorie and in their daies are praised †They that were borne of them haue leaft a name to tel their praises †and there are some of whom there is no memorie they are perished as they that neuer were are borne as not borne at al their children with them †But they are men of mercie whose godlie deedes haue not failed †good thinges continew with their seede †their nephewes are an holie inheritance and their seede hath stoode in the
thinges of old I haue declared and they proceded out of my mouth and I haue made them to be heard sodenly I haue wrought and they came †For I knew that thou art stubburne and thy necke is an yron sinew and thy forehead of brasse †I foretold thee of old before they came I told thee lest perhaps thou shouldest say My idols haue done these thinges and my sculptils and moltens haue commanded these thinges †See al the thinges which thou hast heard but haue you declared them I haue made thee know new thinges of old and the thinges are kept which thou knowest not †now they are created and not of old and before the day and thou heardest them not lest perhaps thou mighrest say Behold I knewe them †Thou hast neither heard nor knowen neither was thyne eare opened of old For I know that transgressing thou wilt transgresse and I haue called thee a transgressour from the wombe †For my names sake I wil make my furie far of and for my prayse I wil bridle thee that thou perish not †Behold I haue fined thee but not as siluer I haue chosen thee in the fornace of pouertie †For myself for my self wil I do it that I be not blasphemed and I wil not geue my glorie to an other †Heare me ô Iacob and thou Israel whom I cal I the same I the first I the last †My hand also hath founded the earth and my right hand hath measured the heauens I shal cal them and they shal stand together †Assemble ye together al you and heare which of them hath shewed these thinges The Lord hath loued him he wil do his wil in Babylon and his arme in the Chaldees †I euen I haue spoken and called him I haue brought him and his way is directed †Come ye to me and heare this I haue not spoken in secrete from the begynning from the time before it was done I was there and now the Lord God hath sent me and his spirite †Thus sayth our Lord thy redemer the holie one of Israel I the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable thinges that gouerne thee in the way that thou walkest †I would thou hadst attended to my commandments thy peace had bene as a floud and thy iustice as the waues of the sea †And thy seede had bene as the sand and the stocke of thy wombe as the grauel stones therof his name had not perished neither had it bene destroyed from before my face †Come forth out of Babylon flee from the Chaldees shew it forth in the voice of exultation make this to be heard and speake it out euen to the endes of the earth Say Our Lord hath redemed his seruant Iacob †They thirsted not in the desert when he brought them forth water out of the rocke he brought forth to them and he cloue the rocke and there flowed waters †There is no peace to the impious sayth our Lord. CHAP. XLIX Christ shal lead the Gentiles to saluation euen of the ilandes and vttermost partes of the world 10. By him the faithful shal receiue much grace 14. and comforth 18. The Church stil increasing 21. admiring herowne felicitie 25. and the destruction of her enimies HEARE ye ilands and attend ye peoples from a farre The Lord hath called me from the wombe from my mothers bellie he hath bene mindful of my name †And he hath made my mouth as a sharpe sword in the shadow of his hand he hath protected me hath made me as a chosen arrow in his quiuer he hath hidden me †And he sayd to me Thou art my seruant Israel because in thee wil I glorie †And I sayd I haue laboured in vayne without cause and in vayne haue I spent my strength therfore my iudgement is with the Lord and my worke with my God †And now sayth the Lord that formed me from the wombe to be his seruant that I may reduce Iacob vnto him and Israel wil not be gathered together and I am glorified in the eies of the Lord and my God is made my strength †And he sayd It is a smal thing that thou shouldest be my seruant to rayse vp the tribes of Iacob and to conuert the dregges of Israel Behold I haue geuen thee to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayst be saluation euen to the fardest part of the earth †Thus sayth our Lord the redemer of Israel the holie one therof to the contemptible soule to the nation that is abhorred to the seruant of lordes kinges shal see princes shal rise adore for our Lords sake because he is faythful for the holie one of Israel who hath chosen thee †Thus sayth our Lord In time acceptable I haue heard thee and in the day of saluation I haue holpen thee and I haue kept thee and geuen thee to be a couenant of the people that thou mightest rayse vp the land and possesse the inheritances dissipated †that thou mightest say to them that are bound Come forth to them that are in darknesse Be ye discouered Vpon the wayes shal they feede their pastures shal be in al plaines †They shal not hunger nor thirst heate and sunne shal not strike them because he that is merciful to them shal gouerne them and al the fountaines of waters shal geue them drinke †And I wil make al my mountaines to be a way my pathes shal be exalted †Behold these shal come from farre behold they from the North and the sea and these from the South countrie †Ye heauens prayse and earth reioyce ye mountaynes geue prayse with iubilation because our Lord hath comforted his people and wil haue mercie on his poore ones †And Sion sayd Our Lord hath forsaken me our Lord hath forgotten me †Why can a woman forget her infant that she wil not haue pitie on the sonne of her wombe And if she should forget yet wil not I forget thee †Behold I haue writen thee in my handes thy walles are before myne eies alwayes †Thy builders are come they that destroy thee and dissipate thee shal goe out of thee †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee I liue saith our Lord for thou shalt be clothed with al these as with an ornament and as a bride thou shalt put them about thee †Because thy deserts and thy solitarie places and the land of thy ruine shal now be straite by reason of the inhabitants and they shal be chased far away that swalowed thee vp †As yet shal the children of thy barrennesse say in thine eares The place is straite for me make me space to dwel †And thou shalt say in thy hart Who hath begot me these I am barren not bearing ledde into transmigration and captiue
and these who hath brought vp I destitute and alone these where were they †Thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil lift vp my hand to the Gentiles to the peoples I wil exalt my signe And shal carie thy sonnes in their armes and thy daughters vpon their shoulders †And kinges shal be thy nourcing fathers queenes thy nources with countenance cast downe toward the ground they shal adore thee they shal licke vp the dust of thy feete And thou shalt know that I am the Lord vpon whom they shal not be confounded that expect him †Shal a praye be taken from the strong or can that which was caught of the mightie be saued †Because thus sayth our Lord Yea verely euen the captiuitie shal be taken away from the strong and that which was taken by the mightie shal be saued But those that haue iudged thee wil I iudge and thy children I wil saue †And I wil feede thine enemies with their owne flesh and as with new wine so shal they be embrewed with their owne bloud and al flesh shal know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the mightie one of Iacob CHAP. L. The Sinagogue shal be diuorced for her iniquities 4. Christ wil omite no ordinarie meanes but for her sake wil indure ignominious afflictions 10. Al which she contemning shal perish THVS sayth our Lord What is this bill of the diuorce of our mother wherwith I haue dismissed her or who is my creditour to whom I sold you Loe you are solde for your wicked deedes I haue dismist your mother †Because I came and there was not a man I called and there was none that would heare Why is myne hand abridged and made a litle one that I can not redeme or is there no strength in me to deliuer Behold in my rebuke I wil make the sea desert I wil turne the floodes into drie land the fishes shal rot without water and shal dye for thirst †I wil clothe the heauens with darknes and wil make sackcloth their couering †The Lord hath geuen me a learned tongue that I may know to stay him vp that is wearie with a word he stirreth vp in the morning in the morning he stirreth vp mine eare that I may heare him as a master †The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I doe not gaynsay I am not gone backward †I haue geuen my bodie to the strikers my cheekes to the pluckers I haue not turned away my face from the rebukers spitters †The Lord God is mine helper therfore am I not confounded therfore haue I set my face as a most hard rocke and I know that I shal not be confounded †He is neere that iustifieth me who shal gaynesay me let vs stand together who is myne aduersarie let him come to me †Behold the Lord God my helper who is he that shal condemne me Loe they shal al be destroyed as a garment the mothe shal eate them †Which of you feareth our Lord heareth the voice of his seruant who hath walked in darkenes and hath no light let him hope in the name of our Lord and leane vpon his God †Loe al you doe kindle a fyre are compassed with flames walke in the light of your fyre and in the flames which you haue kindled of my hand is this done to you you shal sleepe in sorrowes CHAP. LI. God encoregeth Sion to trust in his promised comfort◠by example of Abraham 3. For the spiritual Sion the Church of Christ shal receiue much grace by his Euangelical law 12. and her children shal not feare persecution nor be ouercome 23. but her enemies shal faile HEARE me ye that folow that which is iust and that seeke our Lord attend to the rocke whence you are hewen out to the caue of the lake from the which you are cut out †Attend to Abraham your father and to Sara that bare you because I called him alone and blessed him multiplied him †Our Lord therfore wil comfort Sion and wil comfort al the ruines therof and he wil make her desert as delicacies and her wildernes as the garden of our Lord. Ioy and gladnes shal be found in it geuing of thankes and voice of prayse †Attend vnto me ô my people and my tribe heare ye me because a law shal proceede from me and my iudgement shal rest to be a light of the peoples †My iust one is nigh at hand my sauiour is gone forth and mine armes shal iudge peoples the ilands shal expect me and shal patiently wayte for mine arme †Lift vp your eies into heauen and looke downe to the earth beneath because the heauens shal melt as smoke and the earth shal be worne away as a garment and like to these thinges shal the inhabitants therof perish but my saluation shal be for euer and my iustice shal not faile †Heare me ye that know that which is iust my people which haue my law in their hart feare ye not the reproch of men and be not afrayd of their blasphemies †For as a garment so shal the worme eate them and as wool so shal the moth deuoure them but my saluation shal be for euer and my iustice vnto generations of generations †Arise arise put on strength ô arme of our Lord arise as in the old dayes in the generations of worldes Hast not thou striken the proude wounded the dragon †Hast not thou dried the sea the water of the vehement which madest the depth of the sea a way that the deliuered might passe †And now they that are redemed of our Lord shal returne and shal come into Sion praysing and ioy euerlasting vpon their heades they shal possesse ioy and gladnes sorrow and mourning shal flee away †I euen I my self wil comfort you who art thou that thou shouldest be afrayd of a mortal man and of the sonne of man which as grasse so shal wither †And thou hast forgotten our Lord thy maker which stretched out the heauens and founded the earth and thou hast bene afrayd continually al the day at the face of his furie which afflicted thee and had prepared to destroy where is now the furie of the affliction †He shal quickly come going to open and he shal not kil vnto vtter destruction neither shal his bread faile †But I am the Lord thy God which truble the sea and the waues therof doe swel the Lord of hostes is my name †I haue put my wordes in thy mouth and in the shadow of my hand I haue protected thee that thou mightest plant the heauens and found the earth mightest say to Sion Thou art my people †Be lifted vp be lifted vp arise Ierusalem which hast drunken of the hand of our Lord the cuppe of his wrath euen to the botome of the cuppe of drousines hast thou
nation and manie kinges shal rise from the endes of the earth †They shal take bow and shield they are cruel and vnmerciful their voice shal sound as the sea and they shal mount vpon horses as a man prepared to battel against thee ô daughter of Babylon †The king of Babylon hath heard the fame of them and his handes are dissolued anguish hath caught him sorow as a woman in trauel †Behold as a lion he shal come vp from the pride of Iordan to the strong beautifulnes because I wil make him runne sodenly to her and who shal be a chosen one whom I may appoint ouer her For who is like to me and who shal abide me and who is this pastour that can resist my countenance †Therefore heare ye the counsel of our Lord which he hath conceiued in his minde against Babylon and his cogitations which he hath thought vpon the land of the Chaldees Vnles the litle ones of the flockes shal plucke them downe vnles their habitation shal be destroyed with them †At the voice of the captiuitie of Babylon the earth is moued and the crie is heard amongst the Nations CHAP. LI. More misories shal fal vpon Babylon 11. by the Medes with destruction of her idoles THVS saith our Lord Behold I wil raise vpon Babylon and vpon the inhabitants thereof which haue lifted vp their hart against me as it were a pestilent winde †And I wil send vpon Babylon â—anners and they shal fanne it and shal destroy her land because they are come vpon her on euerie side in the day of her affliction †Let not him that bendeth bend his bow and let not him goe vp that is in a brigandin spare not her young men kil al her host †And the slaine shal fal in the land of the Chaldees and the wounded in the countries thereof †Because Israel and Iuda haue not bene left as a widow of their God the Lord of hostes but their land hath bene replenished with sinne from the holie one of Israel †Flee ye out of the middes of Babylon and let euerie one saue his owne life hold not your peace vpon her iniquitie because it is the time of reuenge from our Lord he wil requite her the like †Babylon is a golden cuppe in the hand of our Lord inebriating al the earth of her wine haue the Nations drunke and therefore they are in commotion †Babylon is fallen sodenly and is destroyed howle ye vpon her take resine for her sorow if perhaps she may be healed †We haue cured Babylon and she is not healed let vs forsake her let vs goe euerie man to his owne land because her iudgement hath reached euen to the heauens is lifted vp vnto the clowdes †Our Lord hath brought forth our iustices come and let vs tel in Sion the worke of the Lord our God †Make sharpe the arrowes fil the quiuers our Lord hath raysed vp the spirite of the kinges of the Medes and against Babylon his minde is to destroy it because it is the reuenge of our Lord the reuenge of his temple †Vpon the walles of Babylon lift vp the ensigne increase the watch set vp watchemen prepare embushments because our Lord hath meant and hath done what soeuer he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon †Thou that dwellest vpon manie waters rich in treasures thine end is come with in a foote of thy cutting of †The Lord of hostes hath sworne by his soule that I wil replenish thee with men as it were with the locust and vpon thee shal the merie shoute be song †He that made the earth in his strength hath prepared the world in his wisedom and with his prudence stretched out the heauens †He geuing a voice the waters are multiplied in heauen who lifteth vp the clowdes from the extreme part of the earth lightenings he hath turned into rayne and he hath brought forth the winde out of his treasures †Euerie man is become a foole by knowlege euerie mettal caster is confounded in his sculptil because his casting is counterfet neither is there spirite in them †They are vaine workes and worthie to be laughed at in the time of their visitation they shal perish †The portion of Iacob is not as these thinges because he that made al thinges he it is and Israel is the scepter of his inheritance the Lord of hostes is his name †Thou doest knocke together the vessels of warre for me and I wil knock together in thee the Gentiles and I wil destroy in thee kingdomes †And I wil breake in thee the horse and his rider and I wil knock together in thee the chariot and the rider thereof †And I wil knocke together in thee man and woman and I wil knocke together in thee the old man and the child and I wil knock together in thee the young man and the virgin †and I wil knocke together in thee the pastour and his flocke and I wil knocke together in thee the husbandman and his draweing cattle and I wil knocke together in thee dukes and magistrates †And I wil render to Babylon and to al the inhabitants of Chaldee al their euil that they haue done in Sion before your eyes saith our Lord. †Behold I to thee thou pestiferous mountaine saith our Lord which corruptest the whole earth and I wil streatch out my hand vpon thee and wil roll thee out of the rockes and wil geue thee to be a mountayne of burning †And they shal not take of thee a stone for the corner and a stone for foundations but thou shalt be destroyed for euer saith our Lord. †Lift ye vp an ensigne in the land sound with the trumpet among the Gentiles sanctifie the Gentiles vpon her declare against her to the kinges of Ararat Menni and Ascenez number Taphsar against her bring the horse as the stinging locust †Sanctifie the Gentiles against her the kings of Media the dukes thereof and al the Magistrates thereof al the land of his dominion †And the land shal be in a commotion and shal be trubled because the cogitation of our Lord shal awake against Babylon to lay the Land of Babylon desert and inhabitable †The valiants of Babylon haue ceased from battel they haue dwelt in holdes their strength is deuoured and they are become as wemen her tabernacles are burnt her barres are broken †A runner shal come to meete the runner and messenger to meete messenger to tel the king of Babylon that his citie is taken from one end to the other †and the fordes are taken before hand and the fennes be burnt with fire and the men of warre be trubled †Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel The daughter of Babylon is as a barne floore the time of her threshing yet a litle and the time of her reaping shal come
deliuer vs. †But if he wil not be it knowen to thee ô king that we worshipe not thy goddes the golden statua which thou hast erected we adore not †Then was Nabuchodonosor replenished with furie and the looke of his face was altered vpon Sidrach Misach and Abdenago and he commanded that the fornace should be heated seuen times more then it had bene accustomed to be heated †And commanded the strongest men of his host to binde the feete of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago and to cast them into the fornace of burning fyre †And forth with those men being bound with their breeches and head attire and shoes and garments were cast into the fornace of burning fyre †For the commandent of the king did vrge and the fornace was heated excedingly Moreouer the flame of the fyre slew those men that had cast in Sidrach Misach and Abdenago †But these three men that is Sidrach Misach and Abdenago fel in the middes of the fornace of burning fire bound together That vvhich folovveth I found not in the Hebrevve volumes †And they walked in the middes of the flame praysing God and blessing our Lord. †And Azarias standing prayed thus and opening his mouth in the middes of the fire he sayd †Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of our fathers and laudable and glorious is thy name for euer †because thou art iust in al thinges which thou hast done to vs and al thy workes are true and thy wayes right and al thy iudgements true †For thou hast done true iudgements according to al thinges that thou hast brought in vpon vs and vpon the holie citie of our fathers Ierusalem because in truth in iudgement thou hast brought in al these thinges for our sinnes †For we haue sinned and done vniustly reuolting from thee and we haue offended in al thinges †and thy precepts we haue not heard nor obserued nor done as thou hadst commanded vs that it might be wel with vs. †Al thinges therfore that thou hast brought in vpon vs and al thinges that thou hast done to vs thou hast done with true iudgement †and thou hast deliuered vs into the handes of our enemies vniust and most wicked and preuaricatours to an vniust king and most wicked aboue al the earth †And now we can not open the mouth we are become a confusion and reproch to thy seruants to them that worshipe thee †Deliuer vs not for euer we besech thee for thy name sake and dissipate not thy testament †neither take thou away thy mercie from vs for Abraham thy beloued and Isaac thy seruant and Israel thy holie one †to whom thou hast spoken promising that thou wouldest multiplie their seede as the starres of heauen and as the sand that is in the sea shore †Because ô Lord we are diminished more then al nations and are abased in al the earth this day for our sinnes †And there is not at this time prince duke and prophet nor holocaust nor sacrifice nor oblation nor incense nor place of first fruits before thee †that we may finde thy mercie but in contrite minde spirit of humilitie let vs be receiued †As in holocaust of rammes and bulles and as in thousands of fat lambes so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day that it may please thee because there is no confusion to them that trust in thee †And now we folow thee in al our hart and feare thee and seeke thy face †Confound vs not but doe with vs according to thy meekenes and according to the multitude of thy mercie †And deliuer vs in thy meruels and geue glorie to thy name ô Lord †and let al be confounded that shew euils to thy seruants let them be confunded in al thy might and let their strength be broken †and let them know that thou art the Lord the onlie God and glorious ouer the round world †And the kings seruants that had cast them in ceased not to heate the fornace with Naphtha tow and pitch and drie stickes †and the flame mounted out aboue the fornace nine and fourtie cubits †and it brake forth and burnt them whom it found by the fornace of the Chaldees †But the Angel of our Lord descended with Azarias and his felowes into the fornace and he shooke the flame of the fire out of the fornace †and made the middes of the fornace as a winde of dew blowing and the fire touched them not at al nor payned them nor did them anie greuance †Then these three as out of one mouth praysed and glorified and blessed God in the fornace saying †Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of our fathers and laudable and glorious and superexalted for euer and blessed is the holie name of thy glorie and laudable and superexalted in al ages †Blessed art thou in the holie temple of thy glorie passing laudable and passing glorious for euer †Blessed art thou in the throne of thy kingdom and passing laudable and superexalted for euer †Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubs and laudable and superexalted for euer †Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and laudable and glorious for euer †Al workes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord prayse superexalt him for euer †Ye heauens blesse our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al waters that are aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Sunne and moone blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Starres of heauens blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Euerie shower dew blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al spirits of God blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Fire and heate blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Colde and heate blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Dewes and hore frost blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Frost and cold blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Yse and snowes blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Nightes and dayes blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer Light and darknes blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Lightenings and cloudes blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Let the earth blesse our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al things that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer â€
Blesse our Lord ye fountaines prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seas and riuers blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Whales and al things that moue in the waters blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Blesse our Lord al ye foules of heauen prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Sonnes of men blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Let Israel blesse our Lord prayse and superexalte him for euer †Priests of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Holie and humble of hart blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer Because he hath deliuered vs from hel and saued vs out of the hand of death and deliuered vs out of the middes of the burning flame and out of the middes of the fire hath he rid vs. †Confesse ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer †Al religious blesse ye our Lord the God of goddes prayse and confesse ye to him because his mercie is vnto al worldes Hitherto it is not in the Hebrevv and that vvhich vve haue put is translated out of the Edition of Theodotion †Then Nabuchodonosor the king was astonied and he arose hastely said to his nobles Did we not cast three men fettered into the middes of the fire Who answering the king said It is true ô king †He answered and said Behold I see foure men loose and walking in the middes of the fire and there is no corruption in them the forme of the fourth is like to the sonne of God †Then came Nabuchodonosor to the doore of the fornace of burning fire and said Sidrach Misach Abdenago seruants of the high God goe ye forth and come And forthwith Sidrach Misach and Abdenago went out of the middes of the fire †And the nobles and the magistrates and iudges and the potentates of the king being gathered together beheld those men that the fire had no powre on their bodies not a heare of their head was singed yea their breeches were not altered the sent of the fire had not passed by them †And Nabuchodonosor breaking forth said Blessed be the God of them to witte of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago who hath sent his Angel and hath deliuered his seruants that beleued in him and they changed the kings word deliuered their bodies that they might not serue and might not adore anie god except their owne God †By me therfore this decree is made that euerie people tribe and tongue whatsoeuer shal speake blasphemie against the God of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago he perish and his house be wasted for there is none other God that can so saue †Then did the king promote Sidrach Misach and Abdenago in the prouince of Babylon †Nabuchodonosor the king to al peoples nations and tongues that dwel in the whole earth peace be multiplied vnto you †The high God hath wrought signes and meruelous thinges with me It hath pleased me therfore to publish †his signes because they are great and his meruels because they are strong and his kingdom an euerlasting kingdom his powre in generation and to genaration CHAP. IIII. King Nabuchodonosor hauing an other dreame telleth it to Daniel demanding of him the interpretation 16. who encoreged and warrented to speake freely sheweth that the king shal become like a beast in forme seuen yeares 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heauen 30. and being fulfilled he is at last restored to his owne forme and state I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house and florishing in my palace †I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd and my cogitations in my bed and the visions of my head disturbed me †And by me there was a decree setforth that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame †Then came in the southsayers magicians Chaldees and diuiners and I told the dreame in their sight the solution therof they shewed me not †til their collegue Daniel came into my fight whose name is Baltassar according to the name of my God who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself and I told the dreame before him †Baltassar prince of the southsayers because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee and no secrete is impossible to thee tel thou the visions of my dreames which I haue sene and the solution of them †The vision of my head in my bed I saw and behold a tree in the middes of the earth and the height therof exceding †A great tree and strong and the height therof touching the heauen the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth †The leaues therof most fayre and the fruit therof exceding much and the foode of al thinges in it vnder it dwelt cattel and beasts and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen and of it al flesh did eate †I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed behold a watchman and an holie one descended from heauen †He cried mightely and thus he sayd Cut ye downe the tree choppe of the boughes therof shake of the leaues therof and scatter the fruits therof let the beasts flie that are vnder it and the foules from the boughes therof †But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth and let it be tyed with yron and brasen band among the grasse that is without and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth †“ Let his hart be changed from humane let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him and let seuen times be changed ouer him †In the sentence of the watchman is the decree and the word of saintes and the petition til the liuing know that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men and to whom soeuer it shal please him he wil geue it the basest man he wil appoint ouer it †This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me but thou canst because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee †Then Daniel whose name was Baltassar began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre his cogitations trubled him But the king answering said Baltassar let not the dreame
and hath spared his people †And our Lord answered and sayd to his people Behold I wil send you corne and wine and oyle and you shal be replenished with them and I wil geue you no more to be a reproch in the Gentils †And him that is from the North I wil make far from you and I wil expel him into a land vnpassable desert his face against the east sea and his extreme part to the last sea his stinke shal ascend his rotennes shal ascend because he hath done proudly †Feare not ô land reioyce be glad because our Lord hath magnified to doe †Feare not ye beastes of the region because the beautiful thinges of the desert are sprung because the tree hath brought his fruite the figtree and the vine haue geuen their vigour †And ye children of Sion reioyce and be ioyful in the Lord your God because he hath geuen you a doctor of iustice and he wil make the early and the late showre to descend to you as in the beginning †And the floores shal be filled with wheare and the presses shal ouerflow with wine and oyle †And I wil render you the yeares which the locust the bruke and the blast and the eruke hath eaten my great strength which I haue sent vpon you †And you shal eate eating and shal be filled and you shal praise the name of the Lord your God that hath done meruels with you and my people shal not be confounded for euer †And you shal know that I am in the middes of Israel I the Lord your God and there is none besides and my people shal not be confounded for euer †And it shal be after this I wil powre out my spirit vpon al flesh and your sonnes your daughters shal prophecie your ancients shal dreame dreames and your yong men shal see visions †Yea and vpon my seruants and handmayds in those dayes I wil powre out my spirit †And I wil geue wonders in heauen and in earth bloud and fire and vapour of smoke †The sunne shal be turned into darkenes and the moone into bloud before the great and horrible day of the Lord doth come †And it shal be euerie one that shal inuocate the name of the Lord shal be saued because in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be saluation as our Lord hath sayd and in the residew whom our Lord shal cal CHAP. III. After the conuersion of the Iewes to Christ 2. shortly foloweth the general Iudgement 3. where euerie one according to their desertes shal receiue expressed here in parabolical speach 7. 19. the wicked euerlasting paine 18. 20. and the blessed eternal ioy BECAVSE loe in those dayes and in that time when I shal conuert the captiuitie of Iuda and Ierusalem †I wil gather together al Nations wil lead them into the valley of Iosaphat and I wil plead with them there vpon my people and myne inheritance Israel whom they haue dispersed in the nations and haue diuided my land †And vpon my people they haue cast lot and boy they haue geuen to be a strumpet and wench they haue sould for wine that they might drinke †But what is to me and to you ô Tyre and Sidon and al the border of the Palesthines what wil you render me reuenge and if you doe reuenge against me I wil soone render you quickly recompence vpon your head †For my siluer and my gold you haue taken and my desiderable thinges and most beautiful you haue caried into your temples †And the children of Ierusalem you haue sold to the children of the Greekes that you might make them far of from their coasts †Behold I wil rayse them vp out of the place wherin you haue sold them and I wil turne your retribution vpon your owne head †And I wil sel your sonnes your daughters into the handes of the children of Iuda and they shal sel them to the Sabaeans a nation far of because our Lord hath spoken †Proclaime ye this in the Gentils sanctifie battel rayse vp the strong let them come let al the men of warre come vp †Cut your ploughes into swordes and your spades into speares Let the weake say That I am strong †Breake out and come al ye nations from round about and be gathered together there wil our Lord make al thy strong ones to be slaine †Let them arise and let the Gentils ascend into the valley of Iosaphat because there I wil sit to iudge al nations round about †Put in the sithes because the haruest is ripe come and descend because the presse is ful the presses runne ouer because their malice is multiplied †Peoples people 's in the valley of d concision because the day of our Lord is nigh in the valley of concision †The sunne and the moone are darkened and the starres haue withdrawen their shining †And our Lord wil roare out of Sion and out of Ierusalem he wil geue his voice and the heauens the earth shal be moued and our Lord the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel †And you shal know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion my holy mount and Ierusalem shal be holie strangers shal passe through it no more †And it shal be in that day the mountaines shal distil sweetnes and the hilles shal flow with milke and through al the riuers of Iuda shal runne waters a fountaine shal issue out of the house of the Lord and shal water the torrent of thornes †Aegypt shal be into desolation Idumea into a desert of perdition for that they haue done vniustly against the children of Iuda and haue shed innocent bloud in their land †And Iewrie shal be inhabited for euer and Ierusalem vnto generation and generation †And I wil clense their bloud which I had not clensed and the Lord wil dwel in Sion THE PROPHECIE OF AMOS AMOS a heardesman of Thecua in the tribe of Zabulon was indued with the spirite of prophecie about the same time with Osee and Ioel in the reigne of Ozias king of Iuda and of Ieroboam sonne of Ioas king of Israel in Metaphores and other obscure speaches agreable to his pastoral education but profound in sense prophecieth especially against the kingdom of Israel and diuers Gentiles partly also against Iuda foreshewing their afflictions for their sinnes but at last the vocation of al Nations to Christ with abundance of spiritual graces in his Church CHAP. I. In the reigne of Iozias in Iuda and of Ieroboam in Israel this prophet Amos 3. threatneth Damascus 6. Gaza 8. Azotus and other Philistians 9. Tyre 11. Idumea 13. and Ammon for their obstinacie in sinne abusing his long patience THE wordes of Amos who was among the pastours of Thecua Which he saw vpon
God sent him to them the people feared at the face of our Lord. †And Aggeus the messenger of our Lord of the messengers of our Lord spake saying to the people I am with you sayth our Lord. †And our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel duke of Iuda and the spirit of Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest and the spirit of the rest of al the people and they went in and did the worke in the house of the Lord of hostes their God CHAP. II. They are encoreged to procede in building the temple 6. with promise that Christ by his personal presence wil bring more glorie to this then was in the former temple 11. Their former slacknes in this worke was the cause of their wantes 19. and now they shal haue abundance IN the foure and twenteth day of the moneth in the sixth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king †In the seuenth moneth the one and twentith of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet saying †Speake to Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel the duke of Iuda to Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grand priest and to the rest of the people saying †Who among you is left that saw this house in the first glorie therof what do you see this same now Why is it not so as if it were not in your eyes †And now take courege Zorobabel saith our Lord and take courege Iesus the sonne of Iosedec grand priest and take courege al ye people of the land saith the Lord of hostes and doe because I am with you sayth the Lord of hosts †the word that I did couenant with you when you came out of the Land of Aegypt and my spirit shal be in the middes of you feare not †Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet there is one litle while and I wil moue the heauen the earth and the sea and the drie land †And I wil moue al nations AND THE DESIRED OF AL NATIONS SHAL COME and I wil fil this house with glorie sayth the Lord of hosts †Mine is the siluer and mine is the gold sayth the Lord of hostes †“ Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first sayth the Lord of hosts and in this place wil I geue peace sayth the Lord of hosts †In the foure and twentith of the ninth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Aggeus the prophet saying †Thus saith the Lord of hosts Aske the priests the law saying †If a man take sanctified flesh in the skirt of his garment and touch with the skirt therof bread or broth or wine or oile or any meate shal it be sanctified And the priests answering said No. †And Aggeus sayd If one polluted on a soule touch any of al these shal he be contaminated And the priests answered and sayd he shal be contaminated †And Aggeus answered and sayd So this people and so this nation before my face sayth our Lord and so al the worke of their handes al that they haue offered there shal be contaminated †And now set your hartes from this day and vpward before there was stone layd vpon stone in the temple of our Lord. †When you went to an heape of twentie bushels they became ten and entered into the presse to presse out fiftie flagons they became twentie †I stroke you with the burning winde and with the blast and with haile al the workes of your handes and there was none among you that returned to me saith our Lord. †Set your hartes from this day and hence forward from the foure and twenteth day of the ninth moneth from the day that the fundations of the temple of our Lord were layd lay it vpon your hartes †Is there the seede now abreward and as yet the wine and the figtree and the pomegranate and the oliue tree hath not florished from this day I wil blesse †And the word of our Lord was made the second time to Aggeus in the foure and twentith of the moneth saying †Speake to Zorobabel the duke of Iuda saying I wil moue the heauen and also the earth †And I wil ouerthrow the throne of kingdoms wil destroy the strength of the kingdom of the Gentils and I wil ouerthrow the chariote and the rider therof and the horses shal come downe and the riders of them euerie one by the sword of his brother †In that day sayth the Lord of hosts I wil take thee ô Zorobabel sonne of Salathiel my seruant saith our Lord and wil put thee as a signet because thee haue I chosen sayth the Lord of hosts ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 10. Great shal be the glorie VVhen according to the prophets exhortation the temple vvas built againe Esdras ch 3. v 12 vvriteth that such ancient men as had sene the former lamented because this nevv one vvas not so excellent as the former had bene vvhich is also clere by other places of holie scripture For amongst other differences Salomons temple had in height and in breadth an hundred and twentie cubites 2 Paral. 3. v. 4. this nevv temple had but sixtie cubites 1 Esd 6. v. 3. Likevvise balomons temple vvas built of stones hevved and perfectly polished 3. Reg 6. v. 7. vvhich vvere also couered on the innerside vvith seeling vvorke of ceder vvood v. 18. This nevv temple vvas built of rugh and vnpolished stones 1. Esd 5. v. 8 As for the same temple long after enlarged and adorned by Herod it continued not long in that state the chiefest glorie therof vvas by our Sauiours presence therin vvhen he vvas presented by his mother and ioyfully receiued into the armes of Simeon and often preached there And therfore S. Augustin proueth li. 18. c. 45. ciuit that the prophet here foreshevveth the glorie of Christs mystical temple faithful Christian soules of al nations in whom God dwelleth by grace of the nevv Testament farre more glorious in liuing stones then that temple vvhich king Salomon built or that vvhich vvas restored after the captiuitie THE PROPHECIE OF ZACHARIAS ZACHARIAS the sonne of Barachias and nephew of Addo beginning two monethes after Aggeus exhorteth also to reedifie the Temple and sheweth by diuers visions that the Church shal floorish partly in that time of the old Synagog but much more after Christs coming whos 's first and chiefe promulgators of his Gospel shal be of the Iewish nation but the farre greatter number shal be of the Gentiles the Iewes for their obstinacie reiected Yet they also in the end shal returne to Christ CHAP. I. The prophet exhorteth the people to conuert to God and not to imitate the euil examples of their fathers 7. by a vision of an horseman and diuers
colored horses he prophecieth bitter times 18. confirming the same by an other vision of foure hornes IN THE eight moneth in the second yeare of king Darius the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophet saying Our Lord hath bene wrath vpon your fathers with wrath †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith the Lord of hosts Conuert to me sayth the Lord of hosts and I wil conuert to you sayth the Lord of hosts †Be not as your fathers to whom the former prophets cried saying Thus saith the Lord of hosts Conuert from your euil wayes from your most wicked thoughts and they heard not neither attended to me sayth our Lord. †Your fathers where are they and the prophets shal they liue for euer †But yet my wordes mine ordinances which I gaue in commandment to my seruants the prophets did they not take hold of your fathers and they conuerted sayd As the Lord of hosts thought to do to vs according to our wayes according to our inuentions he hath done to vs. †In the foure twentith day of the eleuenth moneth Sabath in the second yeare of Darius the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophet saying †I saw by night and behold a man mounting vpon a red horse he stood among the myrtletrees that were in the botome and after him horses red speckled and white †And I sayd What are these my Lord and the Angel that spake in me sayd to me I wil shew thee what these thinges are †And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered sayd These are they whom our Lord sent to walke through the earth †And they answered to the Angel of our Lord which stood among the mirtle trees sayd We haue walked through the earth and loe al the earth is inhabited and at rest †And the Angel of our Lord answered and sayd ô Lord of hosts how long wilt thou not haue mercie on Ierusalem and on the cities of Iuda with which thou hast bene angrie this now is c the seuentith yeare †And our Lord answered the Angel that spake in me good wordes comfortable wordes †And the Angel that spake in me sayd to me Crie saying Thus sayth the Lord of hosts I haue bene zelous for Ierusalem and Sion with great zele †And with great anger am I angrie vpon the welthie nations because I was angrie a litle but they helped toward the euil †Therfore thus saith our Lord I wil returne to Ierusalem in mercies my house shal be built in it saith the Lord of hosts the plumme line shal be stretched forth vpon Ierusalem †As yet crie thou saying Thus saith the Lord of hosts As yet shal my cities flow with good thinges and the Lord wil yet comfort Sion and he wil yet choose Ierusalem †And I lifted vp mine eyes and saw and behold foure hornes †And I sayd to the Angel that spake in me What are these And he sayd to me These are the hornes that haue scattered Iuda and Israel and Ierusalem †And our Lord shewed me foure artificers †And I sayd What come these to doe Who spake saying These are the hornes that scattered Iuda euerie man a part none of them lifted his head and these are come to fray them to cast downe the hornes of the nations that haue lifted the horne vpon the land of Iuda to scatter it CHAP. II. Vnder the name of Ierusalem he prophecieth the progresse of the Church of Christ 6. by the conuersion of some Iewes 8. and manie Gentiles AND I lifted vp mine eyes and saw and loe a man and in his hand a corde of measurers †And I sayd Whither goest thou And he sayd to me To measure Ierusalem and to see how great the breadth therof is and how great the length therof †And behold the Angel that spake in me came forth and an other Angel went out to meete him †And he sayd to him Runne speake to this yongman saying Without wal shal Ierusalem be inhabited for the multitude of men and of beasts in the middes therof †And I wil be to it sayth our Lord a wal of fire round about and I wil be in glorie in the middes therof †O b flee ye out of the land of the North saith our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you sayth our Lord. †O c Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon †because thus sayth the Lord of hosts After glorie he sent me to the nations that haue spoiled you for he that shal touch you toucheth the apple of myne eye †because loe I lift vp my hand vpon them and they shal be a praye to those that serued them and you shal know that the Lord of hosts sent me †Prayse and reioyce ô daughter of Sion because loe I come and wil dwel in the middes of thee sayth our Lord. †And manie nations shal be ioyned to our Lord in that day and they shal be my people and I wil dwel in the middes of thee and thou shal know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee †And our Lord wil possesse Iuda his portion in the sanctified land and he wil yet choose Ierusalem †Let al flesh be silent at the presence of our Lord because he is risen vp out of his holie habitation CHAP. III. In a vision the diuel appeareth accusing the hiegh Priest 4. He is clensed from his sinnes 8. Christ is promised and great fruite of his passion AND our Lord shewed me Iesus the grand priest standing before the Angel of our Lord and Satan stood on his right hand to be his aduersarie †And our Lord sayd to Satan The Lord geue rebuke on thee Satan and the Lord that chose Ierusalem geue rebuke on thee Why is not this a firebrand taken out of the fire †And Iesus was clothed with filthie garments and he stood before the face of the Angel †Who answered and sayd to them that stood before him saying Take away the filthie garments from him And he sayd to him Behold I haue taken away thine iniquitie and haue clothed thee with change of garments †And he said Put a cleane mitre vpon his head they put a cleane mitre vpon his head and clothed him with garments and the Angel of our Lord stood †And the Angel of our Lord contested Iesus saying †Thus saith the Lord of hosts If you wil walke in my wayes and keepe my watch thou also shalt iudge my house and shalt keepe my courts and I wil geue thee walkers of them that now assist here †Heare ô Iesus thou grand priest thou and thy frendes that dwel before thee because they are portending men for behold
hundred †But Timothee fled into Gazara a strong hold wherof Chaereas was the captaine †And Machabeus and they that were with him ioyfully besieged the hold foure dayes †But they that were within trusting to the place blasphemed aboue measure cast forth abominable wordes †But when the fifth day appeared twentie yong men of them that were with Machabeus incensed in their mindes because of the blasphemie went manfully to the wal and with fierce conrege going on they scaled to the top †Yea and the others also mounting vp attempted to set the towres and the gates on fire and to burne the blasphemers themselues aliue †And the hold being sacked for two dayes together they slewe Timothee that was found hyding himself in a certaine place and his brother Chaereas and Apollophanes they killed †Which thinges being done they blessed our Lord in hymnes and confessions who did great thinges in Israel and gaue them the victorie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 8. They decreed Beza in his Annotations in Ioan. 10. v. 22. set forth in English in the yeare 1603. confesseth that the feast vvhich our Sauiour obserued vvas instituted by Iudas Machabius and his bretheren after the restoring of Gods true religion by easting out Antiochus his garrison It is also cleare that this feast vvas in vvinter ibidem agreable to the text in the moneth of Casleu which is Nouember vvheras the feast of tabernacles vvas in September before vvinter and the feast of restauration of the temple after the captiuitie of Babylon vvas in Adar 1. Esd 6. vvhich is Februarie betwen vvhich time and middes of March vvas not competent space for those thinges vvhich Christ did after this feast before his Passion And therfore it is very strange that Beza or other Protestantes vvil denie these bookes to be Canonical vvhich haue so excellent a testimonie by the Euangelist of our Sauiours ovvne fact CHAP. XI Lysias supposing with his armie of fourescore thousand footemen a great band of horsemen to subdue Ierusalem 6. Iudas with his few praying God and going to fight an Angel in forme of an horsemen goeth before them 10. so they setting vpon the enemies kil manie the rest flee 13. Lysias perceiuing Gods powre offereth to procure peace 22. Wherto the king agreeth writting to him 27. and to the Iewes 34. The Romanes also write to the Iewes BVT a litle after Lysias the kings procuratour and cosin and chiefe ouer the affayers being greatly offended with these thinges that had hapened †hauing gathered foure score thousand and al the horsemen came against the Iewes thincking that taking the citie he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles †and he should haue the temple to make gayne of money as the rest of the temples of the Gentiles and euerie yeare the priesthood to be sold †neuer recounting the powre of God but furious in minde he trusted in the multitude of foote men and thousandes of horsemen and in foure score elephants †And he entred into Iurie and approching to Bethsura which was in a narrow place from Ierusalem the space of fiue furlongs he expugned that hold †But as Machabeus and they that were with him vnderstood that the holdes were ex pugned they besought our Lord with weeping and teares and al the multitude together that he would send a good Angel to the sauing of Israel †And Machabeus him self first taking weapons exhorted the rest together with him to aduenture and to geue ayde to their bretheren †And when they went forth together with prompt corege at Ierusalem there appeared going before them an horseman in white clothing with armour of gold shaking a speare †Then al they together blessed our merciful Lord and tooke great corege being readie to penetrate not only men but also most fierce beastes and walles of yron †They went therfore promptly hauing an helper from heauen and our Lord hauing pitie vpon them †And like lyons running violently vpon the enimies they ouerthrew of them eleuen thousand footmen and of horsemen a thousand six hundred †and they put to flight al very many of them being wounded scaped a way naked Yea and Lysias him selfe shamefully fleeing escaped †And because he was not senselesse recounting with him selfe the diminution made on his side and vnderstanding the Hebrewes to be inuincible because they rested vpon the help of the almightie God he sent vnto them †and promised that he would consent to al thinges that are iust and that he would force the king to be their freind †And Machabeus granted to Lysias requestes in al things hauing respect to the commonwealth and whatsoeuer Machabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Iewes the king granted it †For there were epistles written to the Iewes from Lysias conteyning this tenure LYSIAS to the people of the Iewes health †Iohn and Absalom that were sent from you deliuering the wrytings requested that I would accomplishe those thinges which by them were signified †Therfore whatsoeuer might be brought to the king I declared vnto him and that which the matters permitted I granted †If therfore you kepe fideletie in the affayres hence forward also wil endeuour to be a cause of doing you good †And concerning the rest word for word I haue geuen commandement both to theise and to them that are sent of me to commune with you †Fare ye wel In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight of the moneth Dioscorus the foure twenteth day †But the kings epistle conteyned these thinges King Antiochus to Lysias his brother health †Our father being translated amongst the goddes we being willing that they that are in our kingdome should liue without truble and employ diligence to their owne matters †we haue heard that the Iewes consented not to my father to turne to the rite of the Greekes but that they would keepe their owne institution and therfore that they request vs their rites to be granted them †Being therfore desirouse that this nation also be quiet oradyning we haue decreed that the temple be restored vnto them that they might doe according to the custome of their ancestours †Thou shalt do wel therfore if thou send to them geue the right hand that our pleasure being knowen they may be of good cheere looke to their owne commodities †But to the Iewes the kings epistle was in this manner KING Antiochus to the senate of the Iewes and to the rest of the Iewes health †If you fare wel you are so as we would yea our selues also fare wel †Menelaus came to vs saying that you would come downe to your countrie men that are with vs. †To them therfore that come and goe vntil the thirtith day of the month Xanthicus we geue the right handes of securitie †that the Iewes may vse their owne meates and their owne lawes as also before and that none of them by any meanes
him in that solemnitie But this voice of our Lord vpon vvaters is rather verified of our Blessed Sauiours owne preaching with g maiestie h thundering by his Apostles vpon i manie vvaters manie nations k in povvre of miracles l in magnificence preaching as hauing in dede powre not as the Sâ—râ—hes and Pharises Mat. 7. v. 29. m breaking cedars among innumerable others conuerting highest Potentates n of Libanus Emperoures kinges and greatest Princes of the world o as a calfe of Libanas so meekly submitting them selues to Christs yoke and spiritual obedience of his Church p Al which is done by Christ our Lord the beloved of God q as the sonne of vnicornes is most tenderly beloued by the parentes r This voice of our Lord diuiding the flame of fire the Holie Ghost proceding from the Father and the Sonne came vpon the Apostles as in diuided tongues of fire Å¿ wherwith the dâ—â—â—rt the Gentiles of the wide and wild world vvere shaken and moued t the desert of Cades some of the Iewes also compunct in hart with remorse of conscience hearing the voice of S. Peter and other Apostles v The same voice of our Lord preparing hartes inspiring the mindes of men with spede like hyndes and does to ascend the high hilles of free and perfect life in contemplatiue vertues vv So our Sauiour shal discouer the thicke vvoodes reueile the hidden Mysteries of the old Law by preaching Christian doctrine and vse of Christian Religion x in his holie Temple the Catholique Church wherin al true Christians shal glorifie God y making the great abundance of people who are like the sea vvhen it ouerflovveth the land to dwel in the same Church z Christ our Lord sitting ruling king ouer al foreuer a by his grace geuing streingth to his people to passe through the tentations of this life b and blesse the iust vvith eternal peace in heauen 〈…〉 Dauid rendereth thankes for his establishment in his kingdome The 8. key a The general name of Psalme common to this whole booke conteyning in al 150. is more particularelie appropriated to some which more specially were playde vpon musical instruments as on the Psalter Harpe c. Others are called Canticles which were most vsuallie songue with humaine voices So this called a Psalme of Canticle signifieth that voyces begane the musike and instruments were adioyned As contrariwise others are called Canticles of Psalmes where instruments begane and voices folowed b After manie great tribulations King Dauid prospering built an excellent house or palace 2. Reg. 5. v. 11. Paralip 14. v. 1. And at his first dwelling therein made this Psalme beginning himselfe to sing the same with voice other musitians ioyned with him in the praises of God and thankesgeuing for his benefites c Though God in himselfe is most high and neither nedeth nor can be exalted by men yet the royal prophet knew it vvas his dutie to sing thankes and praises to him d for his deliuerie from manie trubles and dangers e not suffering his enemies to be delighted in his ruine f conserued my bodie in health amoÌ„gst innumerable dangers g Preserued my soule from greater daÌ„gers of sinnes and so from hel h Ye that are iust and holie praise God for it from vvhom it cometh and not from your selues i confesse his mere goodnes vvithout your desertes k vvhen he is angrie l yet he meaneth vvel vnto vs. m The state of a iust mans life is often changed from sorovv to comforte and from comforte to sorovv n Though vve suppose our selues firmly established o yet God of his good vvil tovvardes vs sometimes geueth strength and corege p sometimes suffereth vs to our ovvne vveakenes q therfore we must stil crie and pray for Gods helpe r in manner here expressed of the like Å¿ finally in this my good state t I shal alvvayes confesse and praise thee How to pray in affliction The 7. key a Perteyning to the new Testament b especially to the iust trubled and almost distracted in mind in great affliction See v. 23. c How greuously soeuer I am afflicted yet I trust in thee d therfore I pray thus 〈◊〉 70. e I offer and resigne my selfe to thee f The first preceptis to lerne of our elders â—â—â— 23. g not suffered me to be shut vp h al my partes external and internal body and mind are trubled i My freindes dare not conuerse with me lest they incurre displeasure for my sake k Make thy â—â—â—ht so â—hine in my soule that I may vnderstand that is right l and through thy mercie deliuer me from the force of myne aduersaries m 〈…〉 ly â—â—hauing themselues â—â— if they had no superior neither in earth nor in heauen to whom they shal at last render account n and abusing their present powre and authoritie which they haue of God o As yet in this present life the reward of the iust is hidde p but shal be made manifest in sight of al men q In the meane time the iust is in great estimation in the secrete knowledge of God r title of honoure as we speake to a king your maiestie or to a noble man your Lordâ—hippe Å¿ in myn extreme affliction being almost distracted in my mind I said that in reason I would not haue sayd Holie Iob spake some thinges in such state of affliction ch 3. 42. t the prophet or other iust person exhorteth al the seruants of God v to constancie vv long animitie x and final perseuerance to the end The second poeâ—â—tential Psalme The 7. key a This Psalme sheweth how Dauid was brought to vnderstand his sinnes to confesse bewayle and obtaine remission of them b The first blessing of a sinner is the forgeuenes of his sinnes â—om 4. â— Pâ—â— 4. c by charitie which couereth themultitude of sinnes 1. Pet. 4. d Satisfaction beâ—â—g made e VVhen sinners repent sincerly without guile then God forgeueth without which cooperation nonâ— is iustified f because I acknowledged not my greuous sinnes I was stil sore afflicted “ Waxed as if they vvere old g though otherwise I ceased notto pray but without any fruict or good effect h thy diuine prouidence reducing me i by remorse of myn owne conscience which telleth me that I deserue al this affliction k therfore I do no longer disseÌ„ble with men nor am silent to thee but expresly acknowlege my sinnes l As I do now recal my selfe being stricken with Gods heauie hand so must euerie one that wil be purged from his sinnes and sanctified pray to thee when he is afflicted m Though calamities be meruelous great like to a diluge n yet they shal not opresse him that relieth vpon God o God speaketh promising by these tribulations to geue his seruants vnder standing and instruction p with perpetual protection q Be not therfore careles like to brute beastes but consideratiue of your actions r The Prophet or anie iust soul besecheth God to held this
And they went forth the king of Sodome and the king of Gomorra and the king of Adama and the king of Seboim moreouer also the king of Bala which is Segor and they set themselues against them in battaile aray in the Woodland vale †to wit against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites and Chadal king of nacions and Amraphel king of Sennaar and Arioch king of Pontus foure kings against fiue †But the Woodland vale had many pitts of bitume Therfore the king of Sodome and of Gomorra turned their backes and were ouerthrowne there and they that remained fled to the mountaine †And they tooke al the substance of the Sodomites and Gomorrheans and tooke al kind of victuales and went their way †and Lot also and his substance the sonne of Abrams brother who dwelled in Sodom †And behold one that had escaped told Abram the Hebrew that dwelt in the vale of Mambre the Amorrean brother of Eschol and the brother of Aner for these had made a league with Abram †Which when Abram had heard to witt that his brother Lot was taken he numbred of the seruantes borne in his house wel appointed three hundred and eightene and pursued them vnto Dan. †And diuiding his companie he ranne vpon them in the night and stroke them and pursued them vnto Hoba which is on the left hand of Damascus †And he brought backe al the substance and Lot his brother with his substance the wemen also and the people †And the king of Sodom went forth to meete them after he returned from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor and of the kinges that were with him in the vale Sauee which is the kings vale †But “ Melchesidech the king of Salem “ bringing forth bread and wine for he was the Priest of God most highe †“ blessed him and said Blessed be Abram to God the highest which created heauen and earth †and blessed be God the highest by whose protection the enemyes are in thy hands And “ he gaue him the tythes of al. †And the king of Sodom said to Abram Geue me the soules and the rest take to thee †Who answered him I lift vp my hand to my Lord God most hiegh possessor of heauen and earth †that from the very woofe-thread vnto the shoe latchet I wil not take of al that are thine lest thou say I haue enriched Abram †except such thinges as the young men haue eaten and the shares of the men that came with me Aner Eschol and Mambre these shal take their shares ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 18. Melchisedech S. Hierom being earnestly requested by Euagrius to geue his iudgement touching Melchisedech whom a nameles author had endeuored to proue to be the Holie Ghost plainly confuteth that error as also an other error of Origen and Didymus saying he was an Angel Likewise S. Epiphanius heresi 55. 76 relateth and condemneth a third error of some that thought him to be the Sonne of God These two Fathers and S. Augustin li. de heresibus her 34. and diuers others whom S. Hierom alleageth proue euidently that he was a very man a Priest and a king yea the hiegh Priest at least of that countric Superior to Abraham and a figure of Christ Besides these heresies the same S. Hierom relateth two probable opinions The Iewes Rabins generally hold that Melchisedech was Sem the sonne of Noe from whom Abraham and al the Hebrewes descended VVhich they seme rather to affirme as loath to confesse that anie man of other nation then their owne should haue bene greater and more excellent then Abraham in spiritual causes then for anie reason they do or can alleage Yet manie especially latter writers as Liranus Tostatus Genebrardus and others do embrace this opinion as most probable Though S. Hierom semeth only to haue added the Hebrewes opinion as he saith because he would intimate al to his freind when he had first cited grauer authores S. S. Ireneus Hypolitus Eusebius Cesariensis Eusebius Emissenus Apolinarius and Eustathius al agreably affirming that Melchisedech was a Chananite king of Salem which was afterwards called Ierusalem To this opinion agreeth Philo Iudaeus continually speaking of him as of a stranger to the Iewes nation Iosephus also a Iew writeth plainly li. 7. de bello Iudaico c. 18. that he was of Chanaan and Prince of the Chananites Also S. Dionysius Ariopagita Caelest Hier. c. 9. S. Epiphanius her 55. 67 Theoderetus q. 63. in Gen. and Suidas are of the same mind and manie other christitian Doctors VVho confirme their assertion by that S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes He vvhose generation is not numbred among them tooke tithes of Abraham For what els can S. Paul meane but that Melchisedechs kinred and people was diuers from the kinred and people of the Iewes which he could not say of Sem from whom Abraham al Iewes descended as it can not be said that Adam and Noe are of diuers genetation from anie people that now liueth because we al come of them Of this difficultie not pettaining to anie controuersie of our time the studious may see more in F. Pererius his commentaries vpon this 14. chap. of Genesis disp 3. 18. Bringing forth Seing the Royal Prophet Dauid and S. Paul say Christ is a Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech we demand of Protestants if Christ fulfilled not Melchisedechs figuratiue Sacrifice offered in bread and wine by offering his owne bodie and bloud at his last supper in formes of bread wine and by instituting the same to be offered by his Priests til the end of the world what other figuratiue sacrifice of Melchisedech they can find performed by Christ by which it may appeare that he is a Priest for euer according to that order Caluin li. 4. Instit c. 18. para 2. Kemnisius par 2. exam pag. 740. 747 Peter martyr in 1. Cor. 5. and most English Protestants grant that Melchisedech was a Priest and that the peculiar function of a Priest is to offer Sacrifice wherfore they hauing no sacrifice wil haue only ministers and no Priests but they denie that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and wine VVherupon we ioyne issue with them to proue that he did and that by this place amongst others of holie Scripture Kemnisius complayneth that the Latin text hath Obtulit for Protulit Offered for Brought forth And to disproue the same he alleageth the Hebrew Chaldee Greke and S. Cyprian But Catholiques more iustly complaine of him for lying For al Latin Editions haue Proferens bringing forth The question therfore in controuersie is to what end and vse Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine Caluin and Kemnisius say it was only to refresh or feede Abraham and his men and not for sacrifice which their bare saying is without reason for that there was store of victuals in the pray v. 11. and they had
euidently fulfilled in the Iewes and Christians An other great document of grace S. Paul geathereth vpon this Mysterie that the twinnes being not yet borne nor hauing done any thing good or euil without anie good merites the younger is elected the elder reprobate For doubtles saith S. Augustin touching original sinne they were both equal and concerning proper sinne neither of them had anie at al. By which example he sheweth Gods mere mercie in the elect and iustice in the reprobate as is more largely noted in the English New Testament vpon the ninth chapter to the Romanes 31. Sel me thy first birth right Iacob instructed by his mother that God had chosen him in place of his brother Esau for to her God had reueled that the elder should serue the younger did lawfully vse this oportunitie to get Esaus grant of the right pertaining to the first borne but Esau in selling it finned shewing himselfe an intemperate prophane man Heb. 12. CHAP. XXVI Isaac by reason of famine goeth into Gerara 3. where God reneweth to him the promises made to Abraham 9. King Abimelech blameth him for calling his wife his sister 15. the people enuying his Wealth quareleth for his welles 26. At last Abimelech maketh league with Isaac AND when a famine was risen in the land after that sterilitie that had chanced in the dayes of Abraham Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Palestines into Gerara †And our Lord appeared to him and said Goe not downe into Egypt but rest in the land which I shal tel thee †And seiourne in it and I wil be with thee and wil blesse thee for to thee and to thy seed I wil geue al these countries accomplishing the oath which I sware to Abraham thy father †And I wil multiplie thy seed as the starres of heauen and I wil geue to thy posteritie al these countries and in thy seed SHAL BE BLESSED al the nations of the earth †for because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my preceptes and commandements and obserued “ my ceremonies lawes †Therfore Isaac abode in Gerara †Who when he was asked by the men of that place concerning his wife answered She is my sister for he was afraid to confesse that she was married to him thinking lest peraduenture they would kil him because of her beautie †And when verie manie days were passed and he abode there Abimelech the king of the Palestines looking forth through a windowe sawe him sporting with Rebecca his wife †And calling for him he said It is euident that she is thy wife why didest thou faine her to be thy sister He answered I feared lest I should die for her †And Abimelech said Why hast thou deceaued vs some man of the people might haue lyen with thy wife thou haddest brought vpon vs a great sinne And he commanded al the people saying †He that shal touch this mans wife dying shal dye †And Isaac sowed in that land and he found that same yeare “ an hundred fold and our Lord blessed him †And the man was made rich and he went prospering and encreasing til he was made exceeding great †and he had also possessions of sheep and of heards and a verie great familie For this the Palestines enuying him †stopped at that time al the welles that the seruants of his father Abraham had digged filling them vp with water †in so much that Abimelech himselfe said to Isaac Depart from vs because thou art become mightier then we a great deale †And departing to come to the Torrent of Gerara and to dwel there †againe he digged other welles which the seruants of his father Abraham had digged and which after his death the Philistines had stopped vp of old and he called them by the same names which his father before had called them †And they digged in the Torrent and found liuing water †but there also the pastors of Gerara made a brawle against the pastors of Isaac saying It is our water for which cause he called the name of the wel by occasion of that which had hapned Calumne †And they digged also an other for that they brawled likewise and he called the name of it Enmitie †Going foreward from thence he digged an other wel for which they contended not therfore he called the name therof Latitude saying Now hath our Lord dilated vs and made vs to encrease vpon the earth †And he went vp from that place vnto Bersabee †where our Lord appeared to him that same night saying I am the God of Abraham thy father do not feare because I am with thee I wil blesse thee and multiplie thy seed for my seruant Abrahams sake †Therfore he builded there an altar and hauing called vpon the name of our Lord he pitched his tent and commanded his seruants that they should digge a wel †To the which place when there were come from Gerara Abimelech and Ocozath his freind and Phicol chieffe captaine of his souldiers †Isaac spake to them Why are ye come to me a man whom you hated and haue thrust our from you †Who answered We saw that the Lord is with thee and therfore we said Let there be an oath betwen vs and let vs make a league †that thou do vs no harme as we also haue touched nothing of thine neither haue we done that which might hurt thee but with peace haue we dismist thee encreased with the blessing of the Lord. †Therfore he made them a feast and after they had eaten and drunken †arising in the morning they sware one to an other and Isaac dismissed them peaceably into their place †And behold the same day came the seruants of Isaac telling him of a wel which they had digged and saying We haue found water †Wherupon he called it Abundance and the name of the citie was geuen Bersabee euen vnto this present day †But Esau being fourtie yeares old married wiues Iudith the daughter of Beeri the Hethite and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place †both which had offended the mind of Isaac and Rebecca ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXVI 5. My ceremonies These were not the same ceremonies and lawes which were afterwards prescribed by God and deliuered by Moyses but other obseruances by which Abraham and other holie Patriarches before him serued God with certaine external worship differing from the rites of the Gentiles especially from Enostime Gen. 4. and so forward 12. An hundred fold For this increase of wealth the King and people at first enuied Isaac but afterwards perceiuing that God almightie whom he serued so blessed him the rest of the land remaining barren they sought to make league with him v. 28 Euen so the Kings and nations of the world first enuying and persecuting Christs Church at leingth seing it stil prosperous became with al humilitie children of the same Church
wash his stole in wine and in the bloud of the grape his cloke †His eyes are more beautiful then wine and his teeth whiter then milke †Zabulon shal dwel in the shore of the sea and in the road of shippes reaching as farre as Sidon †Issachar a strong asse lying at rest betwen the borders †He saw rest that it was good and the earth that it was very good and he put vnder his shoulder to cary and became seruing vnder tributes †Dan shal iudge his owne people as also an other tribe in Israel †Be Dan “ a snake in the way a serpent in the path byting the hoosses of the horse that his ryder may fal backward †I wil expect THY SALVATION O Lord. †Gad the gyrded shal fight before him and himself shal be gyrded backward †Aser his bread is sat and he shal geue daynties to kinges †Nepthali a â—art let forth geuing speaches of beautie †Ioseph a child encreasing encreasing and comelie to behold the daughters coursed to and for vpon the wall †But the dart men did exasperate him brawled and enuied him †His bowe sate vpon the strong the bands of his armes and his handes were dissolued by the handes of the mightie of Iacob thence came forth a pastour the stone of Israel †The God of thy father shal be thy helper the Almightie shal blesse thee with the blessinges of heauen from aboue with the blessinges of the deapth that lieth beneath with the blessings of the pappes and of the wombe †The blessinges of thy father were strengthned with the blessings of his fathers vntil the desire of the eternal hilles came be they vpon the head of Ioseph vpon the crowne of the Nazarite among his brethren †Beniamin a rauening woolfe in the morning shal eate the pray and in the euening shal diuide the spoile †Al these in the tribes of Israel twelue these things spake their father to them and he blessed euerie one with their proper blessings †And he commanded them saying I am geathered vnto my people burie you me with my fathers in the duble caue which is in the field of Ephron the Hethite †against Mambre in the Land of Chanaan which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to burie in †There they buried him Sara his wife there was Isaac buried with Rebecca his wife there also Lia doth lie buried †And when he had finished the precepts wherwith he instructed his sonnes he plucked vp his feet vpon the bed and died he was put vnto his people ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLIX 4. Because thou didest ascend thy fathers bed For this crime of incest Ruben was depriued of his first birth-right VVho being by order of birth former in guiltes wherby he should haue had duble portion and greater in Empire wherby he should haue bene Prince or Lord ouer his bretheren the former prerogatiue was geuen to Ioseph whose two sonnes were heades of two Tribes the other was geuen to the Tribe of Iuda in Dauid and his posteritie He was also depriued of his prerogatiue in Priesthood which was after annexed to the Tribe of Leui wherupon the Chaldee paraphrasis speaketh thus to Ruben It belonged to thee to haue receaued three better lettes then thy brethren Priesthood Best portion and the Kingdome But because thou hast sinned the duble portion is geuen to Ioseph the Kingdome to Iudas and Priesthood to Leui. 5. Veselles of iniquitie Albeit Simeon and Leui were moued with iust zeale to punish the soule crime committed by Sichem against their sister and whole familie yet in their maner of reuenging were manie sinnes worthely condemned by Iacob both immediatly after the fact and here at his death For before the slaughter they committed there greate sinnes in that they rashly did it vnknowne to their father therby putting him themselues in extreme danger if God had not maruelously protected them in falsly pretending agreement and league with the Sichamites which they ment not to performe and in sacrilegiously abusing the Sacrament of Circumcision making it a cloke to deceiue their ennemies In the fact also they committed other foure grosse crimes cruelly killing those that offered other abundant satisfaction murthering others that were altogether innocent sacking and destroying the citie and carying away wemen and children captiue Mystically S. Ambrose Ruffinus Isidorus and others vnderstand this prophecie of the Scribes and the Priestes descending of Simeon and Leui who were most eagre against our Sauiour as himself more plainely fortold saing The sonne of man balbe betrayed to the chiefe Priestes and to the Scribes and they shal condemne him to death Their furic was cursed aboue al surie Because as Iacob here saith it vvas stubborne or obstinate for they did not only condemne Christ to death in their wicked councel but also vrged and pressed Pilat endeuoringe to saue him sturred vp the people to crye Take him avvay Crucisie him Yea their indignation was so hard that they preferred Barabbas before Christ 10. The scepter shal not be taken avvay Here the Patriarch Iacob fortelleth the time when the promised Messias should come into the world by this signe that the scepter should not be taken from Iuda til the same Redeemer of mankind were at hand Not that the regal scepter should remaine in the Tribe of Iuda from Iacobs death â—il Christes comming for that Kingdome beganne first in Dauid aboue six hundred yeares after Iacobs death and after the captiuitie of Babylon the highe Priests of the Tribe of Leui did gouerne also the state not only the Church other six hundred yeares But the sense is that of the Tribe of Iuda should rise most gloriouse Kinges whose crowne and Kingdome should remaine with the Iewish Nation vntil their expected Messias should drawe nere and then be taken from them by the Gentiles VVhich was downe by Herod whose father was an Idumean his mother an Arabique Thus the Ancient fathers with one accorde vnderstood this prophecie S. Iustinus Martyr Ser. cum Triphone Eusebius Cesarien lib Hist Eccles. cap 6. S. Athanasius lib. de Incarnat S. Ambrose lib de Benedict Patriarch c. 4. S. Chrysostom Ilo 67. in Gen. S. Augustin lib. 18. c. 45. de ciuit Theodoretus q. vlt. in Gen. 11. He shal vvash hisstole in vvyne By wine and bloud of the grape what other thing is shewed saith S. Cyprian Epist ad Coecil 63 but the wine of the Chalice of our Lordes bloud Likwise Tertullian lib 4. contra Marcionem expoundeth the stole to signifie Christs flesh and the wine his bloud In al which booke his drift is to shewe that Christ did not destroy the olde Testament but fulfilled the figures and prophecie therof And not that Christ gaue his bodie in figure only as our aduersaries alleadge him 17. Be Dan a snake in the vvay This prophecie most
counsel not of precept The eight Tobias obserued that which the Angel aduised him in burning the liuer of the fish vpon coales in their chamber ch 6. v. 19. ch 8 v. 2. So deuout persons commonly obserue that which spiritual men exhort them vnto though it be not a commandment The ninth Priuate prayer of the new maried persons ch 6. v 18. c. 8. v. 4. The tenth the sending away of the spouse to her husbands house or dwelling place with good wishes due payment of the promised dawrie and godlie admonitions by her parentes ch 10. v. 10. 11. 12. 13. CHAP. XI â—eauing Sara with the rest of the companie and the flocke to folow the Angel Raphael and Tobias goe before 5. are ioyfully receiued 8. Tobias annointeth his fathers eyes with the fishes gal and he seeth 18. Sara arriueth seuen dayes after with her familie and cattle AND when they returned they came to Charan which is in the middeway agaynst Niniue the eleuenth day †And the Angel said Brother Tobias thou knowest how thou didest leaue thy farher †If it please thee therfore let vs goe be ore and let the families folow softly after vs together with thy wife and with the beastes †And when this pleased him that they should goe Raphael said to Tobias Take with thee of the gal of the fish for it shal be necessarie Tobias therfore tooke of that gal and they departed †But Anna sate beside the way dayly in the toppe of a hil from whence she might see afar of †And whiles she watched his coming out of that place she saw afar of and by and by perceiued her sonne coming and running she told her husband saying Behold thy sonne cometh †And Raphael said to Tobias But when thou art entred into thy house forthwith adore our Lord thy God and geuing thankes to him goe to thy father and kisse him †And immediatly annointe vpon his eies of this gal of the fish which thou cariest with thee For know thou that forthwith his eies shal be opened and thy father shal see the light of heauen and shal reioice in the sight of thee †Then ranne the dogge before which had beene with them in the way and coming as it were a messenger with the fawning of his tayle reioysed †And his father that was blind rysing vp began to runne stumbling with his feete and geuing a seruant his hand went to meete his sonne †And receiuing him kissed him with his wife and they began both to weepe for ioy †And when they had adored God and geuen thankes they sate downe together †Then Tobias taking of the gal of the fish annoynted his fathers eies †And he stayed as it were almost halfe an houre the white bleâ—â—â—h began to come out of his eies as it were the skine of an egge †Which Tobias taking drewe from his eies and immediatly he receiued sight †And they glorified God to wit himselfe and his wife and al that knewe him †And Tobias said I blesse thee Lord God of Israel because thou hast chastised me and thou hast saued me and behold I see Tobias my sonne †After seuen dayes also came in Sara his sonnes wife and al the familie safe and cattel and the camels and much money of his wiues and that money also which he had receiued of Gabelus †and he told his parentes al the benefites of God which he had done to him by the man that conducted him †And Achior and Nabath Tobias sisters sonnes came reioysing at Tobias and congratulating him for al good thinges that God had shewed towards him †And for seuen daies making good chere they reioysed al with great ioy CHAP XII Old Tobias and his sonne offer the half of al the goodes which they had newly receiued to Raphael for his wages 6. VVho then declareth to them that he was sent from God to helpe them 15. and that he is an Angel â—0 He parteth â— way and they render thankes to God THEN Tobias called to him his sonne and sayd to him What may we geue to this holie man that is come with thee †Tobias answering sayd to his father Father what reward shal we geue him or what can be worthie of his benefittes †He hath led me and brought me agayne safe he receiued the money of Gabelus he caused me to haue my wife and the euil spirit he chased from her he made ioy vnto her parentes my self he deliuered from being deuoured of the fish thee also he hath made to see the light of heauen and we are replenished with al good things by him What can we geue him worthie for these things †But I beseech thee my father that thou desire him if perhaps he wil voutsafe to take vnto him the one halfe of al thinges which are brought †And they calling him to wit the father and the sonne tooke him aside began to desire him that he would voutsafe to accept the halfe part of al thinges that they had brought †Then he sayd to them secretely Blesse ye the God of heauen and before al that liue confesse to him because he hath done mercie with you †For to hide the secrete of a king is good but to reueale confesse the workes of God is an honorable thing †Prayer is good with fasting and almes rather then to lay vp treasures of gold †because almes deliuereth from death and that is it which purgeth sinnes and maketh to finde mercie and life euerlasting †But they that committe sinne and iniquitie are enemies to their owne soule †I open therfore vnto you the truth and I wil not hide from you the secrete word †When thou didst pray with teares and didst burie the dead and leaft thy dinner and didest hide the dead by day in thy house and by night didst burie them “ I offered thy prayer to our Lord. †And because thou wast acceptable to God it was necessarie that tentation should proue thee †And now our Lord sent me to cure thee and to deliuer Sara thy sonnes wife from the diuel †For I am Raphael an Angel one of the seuen which assist before our Lord. †And when they had heard these thinges they were trubled trembling fel vpon the ground on their face †And the Angel sayd to them Peace be to you feare not †For when I was with you by the wil of God I was so blesse ye him and sing to him †I seemed indeede to eate with you and to drinke but I vse an inuisible meate and drinke which can not be seene of men †It is time therfore that I returne to him that sent me but blesse ye God and tel al his maruelous workes †And when he had sayd these things he was taken from their sight and they could see him no more †Then prostrate for three houres vpon their
in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them †This their way is a scandal to them and afterward in their mouth they shal take pleasure †As sheepe they are put in hel death shal feede vpon them And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning and their aide shal waxe old in hel from their glorie †Neuerthelesse God wil redeme my soule out of the hand of hel when he shal take me †Feare not when a man shal be made rich and when the glory of his house shal be multiplied †Because when he shal dye he shal not take al thinges neyther shal his glorie goe downe with him †Because his soule in his life shal be blessed he wil confesse to thee when thou shalt do him good †He shal enter in euen to the progenies of his fathers and he shal not see light for euer †Man when he was in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them PSALME XLIX Christ in his first coming calleth al Nations 3. in his second wil iudge the world 7. In the meane time God exhorteth al men to serue him in puritie of vertue which he much preferreth before external sacrifice of the old law 17. reprehending such as professe or teach the right way and liue wickedly †A Psalme to Asaph THE God of goddes our Lord hath spoken and he hath called the earth from the rysing of the sunne euen to the going downe †Out of Syon the beauty of his comelines †God wil come manifestly our God and he wil not kepe silence Fire shal burne forth in his sight and round about him a mighty tempest †He shal cal the heauen from aboue and the earth to discerne his people †Gather ye together his saincts vnto him which ordaine his testament aboue sacrifices †And the heauens shal shew forth his iustice because God is Iudge †Heare ô my people and I wil speake Israel and I wil testifie to thee God thy God am I. †I wil not rebuke thee in thy sacrifices and thy holocaustes are in my sight alwaies †I wil not take calues out of thy house nor buckegoats out of thy flockes †Because al the wilde beasts of the woods be myne the cattle in the mountaines and oxen †I haue knowne al the foules of the ayer and the beauty of the fielde is with me †If I shal be hungrie I wil not tel thee for the round earth is myne and the fulnes therof †Wil I eate the flesh of oxen or wil I drinke the blood of bucke goats †Immolate to God “ the sacrifice of praise and pay thy vowes to the Highest †And inuocate me in the day of tribulation I wil deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me †But to the sinner God hath sayde Why doest thou declare my iustices and takest my testament by thy mouth †But thou hast hated discipline cast my words behind thee †If thou didst see a theefe thou didst rune with him and with adulterers thou didst put thy portion †Thy mouth hath abounded with malice and thy tongue fourged guiles †Sitting thou spakest against thy brother and against thy mothers sonne thou didst put a scandal †these things hast thou done and I haue held my peace †Thou hast thought vniustly that I wil be like thee I wil reproue thee and set it against thy face †Vnderstand these things you that forget God lest sometime he take you violently and there be none to deliuer you †The “ sacrifice of prayse shal glorifie me and there is the way by which I wil shew him the saluation of God ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIX 14. 23. The sacrifice of praise For better and more due performing of external sacrifice it is requisite that those which offer it or desire to participate do bring with them necessarie internal vertues or disposition as sorow and repentāce for their sinnes which is a kind of improper sacrifice mentioned in the next Psalme the sacrifice of iustice which rendereth ro euerie one that is due Psal 4. and sacrifise of praise or thankes geuing for al Gods benefites receiued or expected which kindes of internal and improper sacrifices do nothing preiudice but rightly prepare men to the fruict of external sacrifice euer vsed in the law of nature the law of Moyses and of Christ This place also hath an other higher and prophetical sense of the Sacrifice of Christs bodie in the Eucharist which is both propitiatorie and Sacrifise of praise and thankes geuing So S. Augustin orat aduersus Iudeos c. 6. teacheth that here certainly is a plaine change of the old sacrifices The same he affirmeth Ep. 120. c. 18. God foreshewing that the old sacrifices should be changed which were offered in shadow of a sacrifice to come I wil not take faith God to Israel calues nor goares at thy hand c. but appointeth that al Israel al nations from the rysing of the sunne to the setting shal immolate the sacrifice of praise the same Christ whom old Simeon knew an infant whom he receiued into his handes Likewise li. contra aduers legis prophet c. 20. The Church offereth to God in the bodie of Christ the sacrifice of praise PSALME L. King Dauid in great sorow for his sinnes of adultrie and murder most seriously prayeth God of his manifold mercies to remitte and purge al his offences and paines due for them 12. to restore vnto him the grace of the Holie Ghost lost by his sinnes 15. that he may teach others as in deede his singular example may teach the whole world true penance 19. contrition of hart worthely to offer sacrifice for the whole Church †Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid †“ when Nathan the Prophet came to him after that he had sinned with Bethsabee 2. Reg. 12. HAVE mercie on me ô God according to thy great mercie And according to the multitude of thy commiserations take away myne iniquitie †“ Wash me more amply from mine iniquitie cleanse me from my sinne †Because I do know myne iniquitie and my sinne is before me alwaies †To thee onely haue I sinned and haue done euil before thee that thou mayst be iustified in thy words and mayst ouercome when thou art iudged †For behold “ I was conceiued in iniquities my mother conceiued me in sinnes †For behold thou hast loued truth the vncertaine and hidden thinges of thy wisdome thou hast made manifest to me †Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssope and I shal be clensed thou shalt wash me and I shal be made whiter then snow †To my hearing thou shalt
to God †Ye kingdomes of the earth sing to God sing to our Lord †Sing ye to God that mounteth vpon the heauen of heauen to the East Behold he wil giue to his voice the voice of strength †giue you glorie to God vpon Israel his magnificence and his powre in the cloudes †God is meruelous in his saintes the God of Israel he wil giue powre and strength to his people God be blessed ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXVII 16. The mountaine of God For better discerning the true Church from other congregations the Prophet here describeth certaine proprieties therof for he calleth it a mountane because it is most visible to al men Secondly a fatte mountane that is replenished vvith al vertues and giftes of the Holie Ghost vvherof it is called Holie Thirdly it is crudded or consolidated in vnitie of faith and Religion vvhich conioyne the vvhole bodie making it solide and firme as the ruen turneth liquide milke into curde and so into cheese Fourtly it is the Congregation vvherin God alvvayes remaneth euen to the end for euer vvhich shevveth tvvo other proprieties that the Church neuer faileth nor erreth in doctrin God stil dvvelling therin and consequently conserueth it from error in doctrin 17. VVhy suppose you crudded montaines As for other congregations it is certaine and euident that they are not the Church of God because they are not crudded that is not vnited in the same pointes of faith but only in negatiue pointes and in general opposition against the Catholique Church and among themselues notoriously disagreing and diuided As they also vvant the other markes of the true Church PSALME LXVIII Christ in middes of afflictions as one in dangerous waters 5. describing the malice of persecutors and his owne true zele 14. prayeth his heauenlie Father for helpe 23. By way of iust imprecation forsheweth the seuere punishment of his aduersaries 30. his owne glorious Resurrection and prosperous building of his Church For which he inuiteth al creatures to praise God Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to Dauid SAVE me ô God because waters are entered into my soule †I sticke fast in the myre of the depth and there is no sure standing I am come into the depth of the sea and a tempest hath ouerwhelmed me †I haue labored crying my iawes are made hoarse my eies haue failed whiles I hope in my God †They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head that hate me without cause Mine enimies are made strong that haue persecuted me vniustly then did I pay the thinges that I tooke not †O God thou knowest my foolishnes and mine offences are not hide from thee †Let them not be ashamed vpon me which expect thee ô Lord Lord of hostes Let them not be confounded vpon me that seeke thee ô God of Israel †Because for thee haue I sustained reproch confusion hath couered my face †I am become a forener to my brethren and a stranger to the sonnes of my mother †Because the zele of thy house hath eaten me and the reproches of them that reproched thee fel vpon me †And I couered my soule in fasting and it was made a reproch to me And I put heare cloth my garment I became a parable to them †They spake aganst me that sat in the gate and they soong aganst me that dranke wine †But I my prayer to thee ô Lord a time of thy good pleasure ô God In the multitude of thy mercie heare me in the truth of thy saluation †Deliuer me out of the myre that I stick not fast deliuer me from them that hate me and from the depthes of waters †Let not the tempest of water drowne me nor the depth swallowe me neyther let the pit shut his mouth vpon me †Heare me ô Lord because thy mercie is benigne according to the multitude of thy commiserations haue respect to me †And turne not away thy face from thy seruant because I am in tribulation heare me speedily †Attend to my soule and deliuer it because of mine enimies deliuer me †Thou knowest my reproch my confusion my shame †In thy sight are al they that afflict me my hart hath looked for reproch and miserie And I expected some bodie that would be sorie together with me and there was none and that would confort me and I founde not †And they gaue gal for my meate in my thirst they gaue me vinegre to drinke †Let their table be made a snare before them for retributions and for a scandal †Let Their eies be darkned that they see not and make their backe crooked alwaies Poure out thy wrath vpon them and let the furie of thy wrath ouertake them Let their habitation be made desert and in their tabernacles let there be none to dwel Because whom thou hast striken they haue persecuted and vpon the sorrow of my wounds they haue added †Adde thou iniquitie vpon their iniquitie and let them not enter into thy iustice †Let them be put out of the booke of the liuing and with the iust let them not be written I am poore and sorowful thy saluation ô God hath receiued me †I wil praise the name of God with canticle and wil magnifie him in prayse †And it shal please God more then a young calfe that bringeth forth hornes and hoofes †Let the poore see and reioyce seeke ye God and your soule shal liue †Because our Lord hath heard the poore and he hath not despised his prisoners †Let the heauens and earth praise him the sea and al the creeping beastes in them †Because God wil saue Sion and the cities of Iuda shal be built vp And they shal inhabite there by inheritance they shal get it †And the seede of his seruants shal possesse it and they that loue his name shal dwel in it PSALME LXIX An other prayer of Dauid when he was persecuted by Absolom made in a Psalme after his deliuerie Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid in remembrance that our Lord saued him O God intend vnto my helpe Lord make hast to helpe me †Let them be confounded and be ashamed that seeke my soule †Let them be turned away backeward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them be turned away forthwith ashamed that say to me Wel wel †Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad in thee and let them say alwayes Our Lord be magnified which loue thy saluation †But I am needie and poore ô God helpe me thou art my helper and deliuerer ô Lord be not slacke PSALME LXX King Dauid or anie other iust person prayeth God to
†and shal open her mouth in the churches of the Highest and shal glorie in the sight of his power †and in the middes of her people she shal be exalted and in the holie assemblie she shal be admired †and in the multitude of the elect she shal haue praise and among the blessed she shal be blessed saying †I come forth from the mouth of the Highest the first begotten before al creatures †I made that in the heauens there should rise light that faileth not and as a cloud I couered al the earth †I dwelt in the highest places and my throne is in the pillar of a cloude †I alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen and haue penetrated into the bottome of the depth and haue walked in the waues of the sea †and stood in al the earth and in al people †and in euerie nation I haue had the primacie †and I haue by strength troden downe the hartes of al the excellent and the base and in al these thinges I sought rest I shal abide in the inheritance of our Lord. †Then the creatour of al commanded and said to me he that created me rested in my tabernacle †and he said to me Inhabite in Iacob and inherite in Israel and take roote in myne elect †From the beginning and before the worlds was I created and vnto the world to come I shal not cease and in the holie habitation I haue ministred before him †And so in Sion was I established and in the sanctified cittie likewise I rested and my power was in Ierusalem †And I tooke roote in an honorable people and in the portion of my God his inheritance and my abiding is in the ful assemblie of saintes †I am exalted as a cedar in Libanus and as a cypres tree in mount Sion †As a palme tree in Cades am I exalted and as a rose plant in Iericho †As a faire oliue tree in the fieldes and as a plane tree by the water in the streates am I exalted †I gaue an odout as cinnamon aromatical balme as chosen myrrhe haue I geuen the sweetenes of odour †and as storax and galbanum and onyx and aloes and as Libanus not cut haue I perfumed myne habitation and myne odour is as baulme non mingled †I haue spred out my boughes as the terebinth and my boughes are of honour and grace †I as a vine haue fructified sweetenes of odour and my flowers are fruite of honour and honestie †I am the mother of beautiful loue and of feare and of knowledge and of holie hope †In me is al grace of way and truth in me al hope of life and vertue †Passe to me al ye that desire me and be filled of my generations †For my spirit is sweete aboue honie and myne inheritance aboue honie and the honie combe †My memorie is vnto generations of worldes †They that eate me shal yet hunger and they that drinke me shal yet thirst †He that heareth me shal not be confounded and they that worke in me shal not sinne †They that explicate me shal haue life euerlasting †Al these thinges are the booke of life and the testament of the Highest the knowlege of truth †Moyses commanded a law in the preceptes of iustices and an inheritance to the house of Iacob and the promises to Israel †He appointed to Dauid his seruant for to raise vp a king of him most strong and sitting in the throne of honour for euer †Who filleth wisdom as Phison and as Tigris in the daies of new fruites †Who replenisheth vnderstanding as Euphrates who multiplieth it as Iordan in the time of haruest †Who sendeth discipline as the light and assisting as Gehon in the day of vintage †Who first hath perfect knowledge of it a weaker shal not searche it out †For her cogitation shal abound aboue the sea and her counsels aboue the greate depth †I wisdom haue powred out riuers †I as a sluse of a mightie water out of the riuer I as the riuer Dioryx as a water coundite I came out of paradise †I said I wil water my garden of plantes and wil inebriate the fruite of my medow †And hehold my sluse was made aboundant and my riuer came neere to a sea †Because I illuminated doctrine to al as the morning light I wil declare it far †I wil penetrate al the inferiour partes of the earth and wil behold al that sleepe and wil illuminate al that hope in our Lord. †I wil yet powre out doctrine as prophecie and wil leaue it to them that seeke wisdom and wil not cease vnto their progenies euen to the holie age †See ye that I haue not laboured for myself only but for al that seeke out the truth CHAP. XXV Concord betwen bretheren neighboures and man and wife much pleaseth God 3. A poore man proud a richman a lier and an old man doting in carnal or worldlie thinges are very hateful 9. He that seeth his children good and his enemies ouerthrowne hath a good wife offendeth not in speach consenteth not to sinne hath a true freind teacheth good doctrine hath sacred and humane knowlege hath vndoubtedly nine happie thinges but to feare God conteyneth 14. and excelleth al. 17. A wicked woman heresie is very detestable 30. and most vntolerable if she haue supreme dominion IN three thinges my spirit is pleased which are approued before God and men †The concord of bretheren and the loue of neighboures and man and wife wel agreeing together †Three sortes my soule hateth and I am greatly greeued at their life †A poore man proud a rich man a lyer an old man a foole and doting †The thinges that thou hast not gathered in thy youth how shalt thou find them in thy old age †How beautiful is iudgement for a grey head and for ancientes to know counsel †How beautiful is wisdom for the aged vnderstanding glorious and counsel †Much cunning is the croune of old men and the feare of God is their glorie †Nine thinges not to be imagined of the hart haue I magnified and the tenth I wil tel vnto men with my tongue †A man that hath ioy in his children liuing and seeing the subuersion of his enemies †Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman that hath not offended with his tongue and that hath not serued such as are vnworthie of him †Blessed is he that findeth a true freind and that declareth iustice to an eare that heareth †How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowlege but he is not aboue him that feareth our Lord. †The feare of God hath set it self aboue al thinges †blessed is the man to whom is geuen to haue the feare of God he that holdeth it to
Depart from me approch not to me because thou art vncleane these shal be smoke in my furie a fyre burning al the day †Behold it is written before me I wil not hold my peace but I wil render and repay into their bosome †your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together sayth our Lord that haue sacrificed vpon the mountaines and vpon the litle hilles haue reproched me I wil remeasure their first worke in their bosome †Thus saith our Lord As if a berrie be found in a cluster and it be said Destroy it not because it is a blessing so wil I doe for my seruants sake that I destroy not the whole †And I wil bring forth seede out of Iacob out of Iuda a possessour of my mountaines and mine elect shal inherite it and my seruants shal inhabite there †And the champaine countries shal be into foldes of flockes and the valley of Achor for the couche of heardes vnto my people that haue sought after me †And you that haue forsaken the Lord that haue forgotten my holie mount that sette a table to Fortune and offer libaments vpon it †I wil number you in the sword and you shal al fal by slaughter because I called and you haue not answered I spake and you haue not heard and you did euil in mine eies and you haue chosen the thinges that I would not †For this cause thus sayth our Lord God Behold my seruants shal eate and you shal be hungrie behold my seruants shal drinke and you shal be thirstie †Behold my seruants shal reioyce and you shal be confounded behold my seruants shal prayse for ioyfulnes of hart and you shal crie for sorow of hart and for contrition of spirit you shal howle †And you shal leaue your name for an othe to mine elect and the Lord God shal kil thee and wil cal his seruants by an other name †In which he that is blessed vpon the earth shal be blessed in God amen he that sweareth in the earth shal sweare by God amen because the former distresses are forgotten and because they are hid from myne eyes †For behold I create new heauens and a new earth and the former thinges shal not be in memorie and they shal not ascend vpon the hart †But you shal be glad and reioyce for euer in these thinges which I create because loe I create Ierusalem exultation and the people therof ioy †And I wil reioyce in Ierusalem and be glad in my people and there shal no more be heard in it the voice of weeping and the voice of crying †There shal no more be a childe of daies and an old man that shal not fil vp his dayes because the childe of an hundred yeares shal die and the sinner of an hundred yeares shal be accurst †And they shal build cities and inhabite and they shal plant vineyardes and eate the fruites therof †They shal not build and an others shal dwel they shal not plant and an other shal eate for according to the daies of the tree shal be the dayes of my people and they shal make old the workes of their handes †Myne elect shal not labour in vayne nor ingender in conturbation because it is the seede of the blessed of the Lord and their posteritie with them †And it shal be before they cal I wil heare as they are yet speaking I wil heare †The wulfe and the lambe shal feede together the lion and the oxe shal eate straw to the serpent dust shal be his bread they shal not hurt nor kil in al my holie mountaine sayth our Lord. CHAP. LXVI God who filleth heauen and earth wil dwel in the hart of the humble 3. For the sinnes of the Iewes Ierusalem shal be destroyed 5. The faith of Christ shal be propagated by the preaching of the Apostles 15. And Christ coming to iudge 19. al shal receiue according to their desertes THVS sayth our Lord “ Heauen is my seate and the earth my foote stoole what is this house that you wil build to me and what is this place of my rest †My hand hath made al these thinges al these thinges haue bene done sayth our Lord. But to whom shal I haue respect but to the poore litle one and the contrite of spirit and him that trembleth at my wordes †He that immolateth an oxe is as he that should stay a man he that killeth a sheepe in sacrifice as he that should braine a dog he that offereth oblation as he that should offer swines bloud he that remembreth frankincense as he that should blesse an idol Al these thinges haue they chosen in their wayes and in their abominations their soule is delighted †Wherfore I also wil choose their delusions and the thinges that they feared I wil bring to them because I called and there was none that would answer I haue spoken and they heard not and they haue done euil in mine eies and haue chosen the thinges that I would not †Heare the word of our Lord ye that tremble at his word your brethren that hate you and reiect you for my name sake haue sayd Let the Lord be glorified we shal see in your ioy but they shal be counfounded †A voice of people from the citie a voice from the temple the voice of our Lord repaying retribution to his enemies †Before she traueled she brought forth before her time came to be deliuered she brought forth a man childe †Who euer heard such a thing and who hath sene the like to this why shal the earth trauel in one day or shal a nation be brought forth together because Sion hath traueled and brought forth her children †Shal not I that make others to bring forth children my self bring forth saith the Lord shal I that geue generation to others be barren sayth the Lord thy God †Reioyce with Ierusalem and be ioyful in her al ye that loue her be glad with her in gladnes al ye that mourne vpon her †that you may sucke and be filled of the breast of her consolation that you may milke and flow with delightes in al maner of her glorie †Because thus saith our Lord Behold I wil decline vpon her as it were a floud of peace and as a torrent ouerflowing the glorie of the Gentiles which you shal sucke at the breasts you shal be caried vpon the knees they shal speake you fayre †As if the mother would speake one fayre so wil I comfort you and in Ierusalem you shal be comforted †You shal see and your hart shal reioyce and your bones shal spring as an herbe and the hand of our Lord shal be knowen to his seruants and he shal be wrath with his enemies †Because loe our Lord wil come in fyre and his chariotes as
of my life Thou hast seene ô Lord their iniquitie against me iudge my iudgement Thou hast seene al their furie al their cogitations against me Thou hast heard their reproch ô Lord al their cogitations against me The lippes of them that rise vp against me and their cogitations against me al the day See their sitting downe and their rysing vp I am their psalme Thou shalt render them a recompence ô Lord according to the workes of their handes Thou shalt geue them a shild of hart thy labour Thou shalt persecute in furie and shalt destroy them from vnder the heauens ô Lord. CHAP. IIII. HOW is the gold darkned the best colour changed the stones of the sanctuarie dispersed in the head of al streetes The noble children of Sion they that were clothed with the principal gold how are they reputed as earthen vessels the worke of the potters handes Yea euen the lamiaes haue opened their breast they haue geuen sucke to their yong the daughter of my people is cruel as the ostrich in the desert The tongue of the suckling hath clouen to the roofe of his mouth for thirst the litle ones haue asked bread and there was none that brake it vnto them They that fed volâ—ptuously haue dyed in the wayes they that were brought vp in scarlet haue imbraced the dung And the iniquitie of the daughter of my people is become greater then the sinne of Sodom which was ouerthrowen in a moment and handes tooke nothing in her Her Nazareites whiter then snow purer then milke â—uâ—dier then the old yuorie fayrer then the sapphire Their face is made blacker then coales and they are not knowne in the streetes their skinne hath clouen to their bones it is withered and is made as wood It was better with them that were slaine with the sword then with them that were killed by famine because these pyned away consumed by the barrennes of the countrie The handes of pitiful wemen haue sodden their owne children they were made their meate in the destruction of the daughter of my people Our Lord hath accomplished his furie he hath powred out the wrath of his indignation and he hath kindled a fyre in Sion and it hath deuoured the fundations therof The kinges of the earth and al the inhabitants of the world did not beleue that the aduersarie and the enemie should enter in by the gates of Ierusalem For the sinnes of her prophets and the iniquities of her priestes which haue shed the bloud of iust men in the middes of her The blind wandered in the streetes they were polluted with bloud and when they could not they held their skirtes Depart ye polluted they cryed to them depart get ye hence touch not for they brawled were moued they said among the Gentiles He wil adde no more to dwel among theÌ„ The face of our Lord hath diuided them he wil not adde to respect them they haue not reuerenced the faces of the priests neither had they pitie on the ancients Whiles we yet stood our eyes fayled towards our vaine helpe when we looked attentiue to a nation that was not able to saue Our steppes slipped in the way of our streetes our end draweth nere our dayes are accomplished because our end is come Our persecuters were swifter then the eagles of the heauen vpon the mountaines they pursued vs in the desert they lay in waite against vs. The spirit of our mouth Christ our Lord is taken in our sinnes to whom we haue said In thy shadow shal we liue among the Gentiles Reioyce and be glad ô daughter of Edom which dwellest in the Land of Hus to thee also shal the cuppe come thou shalt be made drunken and naked Thine iniquitie is accomplished ô daughter of Sion he wil adde no more to transport thee he hath visited thine iniquitie ô daughter of Edom he hath discouered thy sinnes CHAP. V. The prayer of Ieremie the Prophet REmember ô Lord what is fallen to vs behold and regard our reproch †Our inheritance is turned to aliens our houses to strangers †We are made pupils without father our mothers are as it were widowes †Our water we haue drunke for money our wood we haue bought for a price †We were led by our neckes no rest was geuen to the wearie †We haue geuen our hand to Aegypt and to the Assyrians that we might be filled with bread †Our fathers haue sinned and they are not we haue borne their iniquities †Seruantes haue ruled ouer vs there was none that would redeme vs out of their hand †In peril of our liues did we fetch vs bread at the face of the sword in the desert †Our skinne was burnt as an ouen by reason of the tempests of famine †They humbled the wemen in Sion and the virgins in the cities of Iuda †The princes were hanged vp by the hand they did not reuerence the faces of the ancients †Yongmen they abused vnchastly and the children fel in wood †The ancients decayed out of the gates the yongmen out of the quier of the singers †The ioy of our hart hath fayled our quyre is turned into mourning †The crowne of our head is fallen wo to vs because we haue sinned †Therfore is our hart made sorowful therfore are our eyes darkned †For mount Sion because it is perished foxes haue walked on it †But thou ô Lord shalt remaine for euer thy throne in generation and to generation †Why wilt thou for euer be forgetful of vs wilt thou forsake vs in length of daies †Conuert vs ô Lord to thee and we shal be conuerted renew our dayes as from the beginning †But reiecting thou hast reiected vs thou art angrie against vs excedingly THE ARGVMENT OF BARVCHS PROPHECIE MANIE ancient Fathers supposed this Prophecie to be Ieremies though none doubted but Baruch his scribe was the writer therof So S. Xistus Epist ad omnes fideles S. Ireneus li. 5. c. 35. S. Clement of Alexandria li. 1. c. 10. li. 2. c. 3. Pedag. S. Cyprian li. 2. c. 5. 6. contra Iudaeos Eusebius Coesariensis li. de Propheticorum libor appellationibus Cap. de Ieromia li. 6. c. 19. Demonst Euangel Lactantius li. 4. c. 13. Diuin Instit The first Councel of Nice li. 2. fol. 105. 109. S. Hilarie li. 5. de Trinit sub finem S. Cyril of Ierusalem Catechesi 4. 11. de Concursu Domini S. Basil li. 4. cont Eunomium S. Ambrose li. de fide c. 7. cont Arianos li. de Paenit c. 8. li. 3. Examer c. 14. S. Gregorie Nazianzen Orat. 49. deside Epist. 2. ad Cledâ—nium S. Epiphanius cont
require †They deliuer not a man from death nor saue the weake from the mightier †The blind man they restore not to his sight they shal not deliuer a man out of necessitie †They shal not pitie the widow nor doe good to the fatherlesse †Like vnto the stones of the mountaine are their goddes of wood and of stone and of gold and of siluer they that worship them shal be confounded †How then is it to be supposed or to be sayd that they are goddes †Moreouer the Châ—dees themselues not honoring them who when they heare that the dumme can not speake they offer it to Bel requesting of him that it may speake †As though they could feele that haue no motion and they when they shal vnderstand wil leaue them for their goddes them selues haue no sense †And wemen compassed with cordes sit in the waies burning the bones of oliues †And when one of them being drawen of some passenger shal lie with him she vpbraydeth her neighbour that she is not counted worthie as her self neither is her cord broken †But al thinges that are done about them are false how is it then to be thought or to be sayd that they be goddes And they are made by craftesmen by goldsmithes They shal be nothing els but that which the priestes wil haue them to be †For the artificers themselues that make them are of no long time Why can those thinges then that are made by them be goddes †But they haue left forged things reproch to them that shal come after †For when battel commeth vpon them and euils the priestes deuise with them selues where they may hide them selues with them †How then may they be thought that they are goddes which neither deliuer them selues from battel nor saue them selues from euils †For seing they be of wood layd ouer with gold and with siluer it shal be knowne afterwards that they are false thinges of al the Gentiles and kinges Which are manifest that they are no goddes but the workes of mens handes and no worke of God is with them †Whence then is it knowne that they are not goddes but the workes of mens handes no worke of God is in them †A king to the countrie they raise not vp neither shal they geue rayne to men †Iudgement also they shal not decerne neither shal they deliuer countries from iniurie because they can not do nothing as choughes betwen the heauen and the earth †For when fire shal fal into the house of the woodden and siluer and golden goddes their priestes in dede shal flee and be deliuered but themselues as beames shal be burnt in the middes †And king and battel they shal not resist How is it then to be supposed or to be receiued that they are goddes †Not from theeues nor from robbers shal the goddes of wood and of stone and layd ouer with gold and with siluer deliuer them selues stronger then which are the wicked men †The gold and siluer and the garment where with they are couered they shal take from them and shal depart neither shal they helpe themselues Therfore it is better to be a king shewing his strength or a profitable vessel in the house wherin he wil glorie that possesseth it or a doore in the house which kepeth the thinges that are therin then false goddes †The sunne certes and the moone and the starres wheras they are bright and sent forth for profitable vses obey †Likewise also the lightning when it shal appeare is perspicuous and the winde also bloweth the self same in euerie countrie †And the clowdes which when God shal command to walke throughout the whole world they doe that which is commanded them †The fyre also being sent from aboue to consume mountaines and woodes doeth that which is commanded it But these neither in shapes nor in vertues are like to one of them †Wherfore neither is it to be thought nor to be said that they be goddes wheras they can neither iudge iudgment nor doe anie thing for men †Knowing therfore that they are not goddes then feare them not †For neither shal they curse kinges nor blesse them †Signes also in the heauen to the Gentiles they shew not neither shal they shine as the sunne nor geue light as the moone †Beastes are better then they which can flie vnder the roofe and profite themselues †By no meanes therfore is it manifest vnto vs that they are goddes for which cause feare them not †For as in a garden of cucumbers a scarcrow keepeth nothing so are their goddes of wood and of siluer and layd ouer with gold †After the same sorte also in a garden the white thorne vpon the which euerie bird sirteth In like manner also their goddes of wood and layd ouer with gold and with siluer are like to a dead bodie cast forth in the darke †By the purple also and the murex colour layde vpon them which fadeth you shal know that they are not goddes At the last also they are consumed and shal be a reproch in the countrie †Better is therfore the iust man that hath not Idols for he shal be farre from reproches THE ARGVMENT OF EZECHIELS PROPHECIE EZECHIEL a Priest and a Prophet and at last a 〈…〉 as likewise Ieremie was nere of the same age prophecied for the most part the same thinges but Ieremie beganne to prophecie a childe in Ierusalem and finally in Aegypt Ezechiel when he was about thirtie yeares old in Babylon where he was in captiuitie with King lechonias and others The beginning and end of his Prophecie are so obscure that amongst the Hebrewes saith S. Ierom none may reade these partes nor the beginning of Genesis before the age of thirtie yeares The three first chapters conteyne a wonderful vision wherin the Prophet saw God as sitting in a glorious throne resting as it were vpon foure liuing creatures drawing strangely foure wheeles Secondly in one and twentie chapters folowing he prophecieth the destruction of Ierusalem and the Temple with the captiuitie of the people for their enormous sinnes Thirdly in eleuen more chapters he prophecieth the like of diuers other nations Fourtly in foure other chapters he foresheweth the reduction of the Iewes from captiuitie but more especially the Redemption of mankinde by Christ and the glorious state of his Church Finally in the other nine chapters he describeth but meruelous obscurely his last vision of the restauration of the Temple Sacrifices Priestes and other religious thinges perteyning therto but principally concerning the Church of Christ both militant and triumphant THE PROPHECIE OF EZECHIEL CHAP. I. By the riuer of Chobar nere Babylon Ezechiel seeth in vision a tempestious whirlewinde 5. and strange shapes 10. of a man a lion an oxe and an eagle 15. of foure wheeles 22. and of a man sitting gloriously on a
proued them for tenne dayes †And after tenne daies their faces appeared better more corpulent then al the children that did eate of the kings meate †Moreouer Malasar tooke away the meates and the wine of their drinke and he gaue them pulse †And to these children God gaue knowlege and discipline in euerie booke and wisedom but to Daniel the vnderstanding of al visions and dreames †The dayes therfore being accomplished after which the king had sayd that they should be brought in the gouernour of the eunuches brought them in the sight of Nabuchodonosor †And when the king had spoken to them there were not fond such of them al as Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias and they stood in the kings sight †And euerie word of wisedom and vnderstanding that the king demanded of them he found in them more by ten fold aboue al the southsayers magicians that were in al his kingdom †And Daniel was euen to the first yeare of Cyrus the king CHAP. II. Nabuchodonosor dreameth and forgeteth his dreame 4. which the magicians not able to tel 12. are adiudged to dye 14. But Daniel praying with his three felowes by reuelation 24. telleth 36. and interpreteth the dreame 46. the king adoreth him confessing his God to be the onlie true God and aduanceth him his felowes IN the second yeare of the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor Nabuchodonosor saw a dreame and his spirit was terrified and his dreame was fled from him †But the king commanded that the south sayers should be called together and the magicians and the sorcerers and the Chaldees to declare vnto the king his dreames who when they were come stood before the king †And the king sayd to them I saw a dreame being confounded in minde I know not what I saw †And the Chaldees answered the king in Syriach King for euer liue tel the dreame to thy seruants and we wil declare the interpretation therof †And the king answering sayd to the Chaldees The word is departed from me vnles you tel me the dreame and the coniecture therof you shal perish and your houses shal be confiscate †But if you tel the dreame the coniecture therof you shal receiue of me rewards gifts and much honour the dreame therfore and the interpretation therof tel you me †They answered the second time sayd Let the king tel his seruants the dreame we wil declare the interpretation therof †The king answered sayd Surely I know that you redeme time knowing that the word is departed from me †If therfore you shew me not the dreame there is one sentence of you that you haue also framed a guilful interpretation and ful of deceite to speake vnto me til the time passe away Tel me therfore the dreame that I may know that you speake a true interpretation also therof †The Chaldees therfore answering before the king sayd There is no man vpon the earth that can accomplish thy word ô king yea neither anie king great and mighty demandeth such a word of anie southsayer magician and Chaldee †For the word that thou askest ô king is weightie neither shal there be found any that can shew it in sight of the king except the goddes whose conuersation is not with men †Which thing being heard the king in furie and in great wrath commanded that al the wisemen of Babylon should perish †And the sentence being gone forth wisemen were slaine Daniel and his felowes were sougth for to perish †Then Daniel inquired concerning the law and the sentence of Arioch the prince of the kings warfar who was gone forth to kil the wisemen of Babylon †And he asked him that had receiued the powre of the king for what cause so cruel a sentence was gone forth from the face of the king When Arioch therfore had shewed the matter to Daniel †Daniel going in desired the king that he would geue him a time to tel the solution to the king †And he went into his house and he told the matter vnto Ananias Misael Azarias his felowes †that they should aske mercie at the face of the God of heauen vpon this sacrament Daniel and his felowes might not perish with the rest of the wisemen of Babylon †Then was the mysterie reueled to Daniel by a vision in the night and Daniel blessed the God of heauen †and speaking sayd The name of our Lord be blessed from euerlasting for euer more because wisedom and strength are his †And he changeth times and ages transporteth kingdoms establisheth them geueth wisedom to the wise and knowlege to them that vnderstand discipline †he reueleth profound hidden thinges and knoweth the thinges that are done in darkenes and light is with him †To thee ô God of our fathers I confesse and I prayse thee because thou hast geuen me wisedom strength and now thou hast shewed me the thinges that we desired of thee because the kings word thou hast opened to vs. †After these thinges Daniel being entered in to Arioch whom the king had appoynted to destroy the wisemen of Babylon spake thus vnto him Destroy not the wisemen of Babylon bring me in before the presence of the king I wil tel the solution to the king †Then Arioch in hast brought in Daniel to the king and said to him I haue found a man of the children of the transmigration of Iuda that can tel the solution to the king †The king answered and said to Daniel whose name was Baltassar Thinkest thou in very dede thou canst tel me the dreame that I saw and the interpretation therof †And Daniel answering before the king sayd The mysterie that the king demandeth the wisemen the Magicians and the southsayers and the inchanters can not declare vnto the king †But there is a God in heauen that reueleth mysteries who hath shewed vnto thee king Nabuchodonosor what thinges are to come in the later times Thy dreame and the visions of thy head in thy bed are these †Thou ô king beganst to thinke in thy bed what should be hereafter and he that reueleth mysteries shewed thee what thinges are to come †To me also not in the wisedom that is in me more then in al men aliue is this sacrament reueled but that the interpretation might be made manifest to the king and thou mightest know the cogitations of thy minde †Thou ô king didst see and behold as it were one great statua that statua great and high of stature stood ouer against thee and the sight therof was terrible †The head of this statua was of the best gold but the breast and the armes of siluer moreouer the bellie and the thighes of brasse †and the legges of yron of the feete a certaine part was of yron and a certaine of earth †Thou sawest so til a stone was cut out
This Iechonias or Ioachin remained in prison til the death of Nabuchodonosor the space of thirtie seuen yeares and was then deliuered by Euilmerodach and by him entertayned courteously as a prince 4. Reg. 25. v. 27. He maried there and had issue Salathiel and Salathiel hâ—d Zorobabel Who together with Iosue sonne of Iosedech highpriest Esdras Nehemias others recited 1. Esd 2. conducted the children of Israel from Babylon into their countrie There were also in a former transmigration Daniel and the other three children Ananias Misael Azarias of the royal or principal bloud in the third yeare of Ioakim otherwise called Eliacim sonne of Iosias 4. Reg. 23. v. 34 king of Iuda Dan. 1. v. 1. 6. These with others were caried â—s hostages into Babylon and brought vp more liberally Where seruing God sincerely abstayning from vnlawful meates were protected by God much also estemed and promoted in that place For Daniel about the age of twelue yeares conuinced the two wicked Iudges and deliuered Susanna from their cruel handes Dan. 13. And afterwardes for declaring and interpreting the kings dreame Dan. 2. and excellent wisdom and gift of prophecie was admired by al aduanced by the king but maligned by certaine enuious sorcerers and great men Wherby he was sometimes in great danger but stil deliuered by Gods powre protecting him Dan. 6. 14. The other three children were likewise aduanced Dan. 2. v. 49. and therfore by diuers enuied and for refusing to adore an idol set vp by Nabuchodonosor were cast into a hote burning furnace and there preserued Dan. 3. Ieremie who before this time begane to prophecie whiles he was a childe Iere. 1. continued in the time of captiuitie in Ierusalem and Iurie with much affliction and stil prophecying finally dyed in Aegypt Baruch his scribe and also a Prophete went sometimes into Babylon and returned into Iurie Baruch 1. instructing and exhorting the people Ezechiel was caried with king Iechonias and Iosedech into Babylon and there prophecied ch 1. v. 2. part of the same time with Daniel in great part the same thinges with Ieremie And during the captiuitie king Iechonias Iosedech the highpriest Ieremie Baruch Ezechiel prophetes innumerable others some Martyres and manie Confessors parted from this world But Daniel yet liued And in place of Iosedech Highpriest Iosue succeded and the progenie of king Iechonias continuing in Salathiel and Zorobabel the nation â—ad them and other eminent men with temporal dependence vpon forreine princes in the next Monarchie of the Medes and Persians For when Darius king of Medes had slaine Baâ—â—azar king of the Chaldees and so possessed Babylon with the whole countrie he brought the Monarchie to the Medes Persians Dan. 5. v. 31. and within the space of one yeare he dyed and Cyrus succeding granted leaue to al the Iewes to returne into Iurie and there to build vp their temple and citie of Ierusalem which Nabuchodonosor had destroyed At which time Daniel had his vision that Christ our Sauiour should come into the world within seuentie weekes of seuen yeares to the weke that is in foure hundred ninetie yeares after the perfect finishing of the temple and citie Dan. 9. v. 24. 25. But when they were so built againe that the wekes beganne to be counted is very obscure as it was the wil of God that the prophecie being certayne in itself should not be ouer clere to euerie mans vnderstanding but as likewise manie other prophecies shut and sealed Dan. 12. v. 6. 9. 13. In this time of the Medes and Persians Monarchie Mardocheus remayning in Chaldea after the relaxation had that vision in a dreame Esther 11. after which folowed the historie of him Quene Esther and wicked Aman with the danger and deliuerie of al the Iewes in those partes Some thinke it likewise probable that the historie of Iudith happened after the captiuitie though others suppose that it was in the time of Manasses king of Iuda which not being our purpose to discusse and decide we wil passe to thinges more certayne The prophetes Aggeus Zachatias nere twentie yeares after the relaxation earnestly exhorted the princes people to build vp the temple which had bene begunne and now was neglected vpon vaine feare thincking the time was not yet come of building the house of our Lord. Aggeus 1. v. 2. Wherupon the prophet reproueth them expostulating thus Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house of our Lord desert And assureth them v. 10. that their ground should remaine barren and ch 2. v. 15. their sacrifices vngratful til they should build the temple promising moreouer that this new temple should be more glorious by Christs personal presence therin then the former temple built by Salomon But especially the Church of Christ presigured by the temple should farre excel the Synagoge of the old testament ch 2. v. 10. Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first Which Zacharie confirmeth inuiting the Gentiles to come and the Iewes to returne into Christs Church ch 2. v. 6. O flee out of the land of the North sayth our Lord because into the foure windes of heauen haue I dispersed you v. 7. O Sion flee thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And by diuers other visions and prophecies they forshew the conuersion of the Gentiles and reiection of the Iewes for their obduration but in the end they also shal be conuerted Malachie prophecied after the finishing of the temple exhorting al to offer their sacrifices with puritie of hart reprehending both priestes and people for not so doing ch 1. He also foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles with the change of the old sacrifices and institution of a new farre more excellent and more effectual to be offered euerie where v. 10. 11. He concludeth his prophecie ch 4. foretelling the terrible day of Iudgement and life or death euerlasting These later prophetes yet liuing as Iosephus Eusehius Theodoretus and others testifie in their histories the Grecians obtained so great a Monarchie by king Alexander the Great of Macedo that being parted after his death amongst manie yet al were great kingdomes some longer some shorter time In the beginning wherof when king Alexander came to Ierusalem as Iosephus writeth li. 11. c. 8. Antiquit. Iaddus the highpriest going forth in his pontifical attyre to mete him the same king straightwayes fel downe at his feete with al reuerence And being demanded by his freindes the princes of his armie why he so much honored the highpriest he answered that he honored noâ— the man for himself but for his office and God in him who had appeared to him in slepe in that very habite and ornaments when he in Macedonia discoursed in his minde of making battel against the Persians promising him assured victorie Shortly
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
promised vvith an oath p and vvil performe q to sette one of Dauids sonnes vpon his Throne vvhich vvas not only fulfilled in Salomon vvho reigned in great peace and builded the Temple but especially in Christ the Sonne of Dauid to vvhom our Lord God gaue the seate of Dauid his father he shal reigne in the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdom there shal be no end Luc. 1. v. 32. 33. By this promise S. Peter also proueth Christs Resurrection Act. 2 v. 30. r Concerning the children of Christ members of his kingdom the Church the promise is conditional if they obserue Gods commandments they shal sit vpon his seate be coheyres of his kingdom Rom. 8 v. 17. Å¿ Sion the Catholique Church is a perpetual place where God dwelleth t The Church vvanting Christs visible presence is replenished vvith manie blessinges v and al her humble children are releeued vvith holie Sacraments w The Church hath alwayes some holie Priestes x and some holie people y Of this Church elected by God Christ is the Protector and strong defence z and the same Church shal be a perpetual lampe vvherby others may come to him Fraternal concord the 7. key a Dauid being a most peaceable man euen tovvard his enimies is added by Esdras in this title as an example for others to imitate b That concord is both good and pleasant nedeth no other proofe but only to conâ—ider to behold the fruict therof in euerie communitie and especially in the Church of God c The ointment vvhervvith Aaron and other High Priestes vvere consecrated vvas precious and most odoriâ—erous signifying grace bought by Christs blood and producing vertues vvhich make svvete sauoure d vvas povvred vpon the High Priests head vvho being head of the Church e vnitie and concord descended from him to other Priestes f and so to the people euen to the lovvest and meanest in Gods Church g An other similitude to declare the excellencie of concord As the devv of mount Hermon vvhich is perpetually couered vvith snovv that falleth from the heauen thence descending refresheth fructifieth the hil of Sion so mutual concord and fraternal charitie amongst the faithful nourisheth each other making them fructful in al good vvorkes h VVhere there is vnitie God geueth abundance of grace as vvhere the Apostles vvith other faithful vvere geathered and continued in prayer the Holie Ghost came vpon them al. And the multitude of beleuers then increasing had one hart and one soule Act 2. 4. v. 32. God continually to be praised the 1. key a This last Gradual Psalme as a conclusion exhorteth al to praise God b for to this end he made al creatures in heauen in earth Gods perfection and goodnes the 1. key a Gods seruantes b Clergie that serue in the Temple c and ye Laitie that attend to his seruice must praise him for these causes d â—â—â— goodnes e his benignitie f he hath adopted vs his children g he is omni potent as appeareth by his vvorkes here and elsvvhere recited and manie wayes knovvne to the vvorld Exo. 1â— Ios 12. Num. 21. Ios 13. Psal 113. Gods meruelous workes the 2. key a VVhose goodnes is incomparable b This second part of euerie verse first pronounced by the Priestes confessing praising Gods mercie aboue al his workes was stil repeted by musicians or other assistants in maner as now in Lâ—tanies ô Lord deliuer vs and VVe besech theeto heare vs And as Gloria Patri c. is added in the end of Psalmes and our Lords prayer and the Angelical salutation are often repeted in diuers Offices and in the Rosarie c VVhose diuine powre created al other thinges d By this inuitation to praise our Lord God thrise repeted we professe the blessed Trinitie who is one God in substance and three Diuine Persons e VVhose dominion is ouer al the world f Only God can do true miracles towit workes aboue the course of al nature g In admirable wisdom Gen. 1. h Made the waters aboue nature to remaine vvithin their bondes not to couer the earth Exo. 11. Exo. â—â— Exo. â—â— Num. â—â— i Al Gods benignitie as wel of particular benefites towards his people as general to them and al others procedeth from his mercie The Iewes lamentation in captiuitie the 4. key a By adding to this title for Ieremie the Septuagint Interpreters signifie that this Psalme treateth of the same captiuitie in which Ieremias writte his Lamentations b Nere the riuers in Chaldea wherof Babylon was the head citie c the Iewes remained mourning d remembring the holie rites and seruice of God which had bene in Sion wherof they were depriued in the captiuitie e Al their musical instruments as hauing no vse of them f Either in earnest or in scorne the Chaldees willed them to sing as they were accustomed in their countrie g They excused themselues and refused to sing sacred Psalmes before prophane people neither had they mind to sing in that mourning state of captiuitie h The people shew not only their feruent present desire to serue God in Ierusalem but also their firme purpose stil to desire the same wishing that if they forget it or lose this affection their right handes or what soeuer is most deare or necessarie for them may be forgotten not conserued but suffered to perish i If I lose this affection let me also lose the vse of my tongue k The Idomeans incensed the Chaldees to be cruel against the Iewes wherof they pray for iust reuenge and withal the Psalmist prophecieth that it wil be reuenged which Isaias also prophecieth c. 21. v. 11. l. for their reioycing in Ierusalems miserie m The voice of the Idumeans inciting the Babylonians vtterly to destroy Ierusalem n A prophecie that the people of Babylon should also be punished for their crueltie against the Iewes wherof Isaias likewise prophecieth c. 13. o God wil blesse or reward them that shal seuerly afflict the Babylonians p not sparing their children Morally he is blessed that mortifieth his owne passions cutteth of first il motions or punisheth venial sinnes that they grow not strong vvithin his soule and so draw it to committe mortal sinne S. Aug. hic S. Greg. in fine expos Psal 4. paeuit Thankes to God for benefites the 7. key a This Psalme is a fitte forme of thankes for Dauid or anie other seruant of God b I vvil render thankes and praise c God euer heareth the prayer that is rightly made for vvhich the supplicant is therfore to geue thankes d Angels are present vvhere the faithful pray obserue our prayers and offer them to God if they be sincere as the prayers of Tobias and Cornelius 1. Cor. 11. v. 10. Iob. 12. Act 10. Psal 24. v. 10. e VVhen there vvas not accesse to the Temple yet the Ievves praying in captiuitie turned themselues tovvards the Temple f The Name and Maiestie of GOD The VVORD which
his seâ—uâ—ce before vvorldlie cares b In one Sonne of Man Christ is saluation saith S. Augustin and in him not because he is the sonne of man but because he is the Sonne of God c He saith not that the spirit or soule shal turne into the earth but the soule shal depart from the bodie and so euerie one in whom worldlie men put their trust shal according to the bodie returne into his earth Gods excellencie in creating and gouerning the vvorld the 2. key a It is good to sing Psalmes of praise to God b A prophecâ—e of the estauratâ—on of Ierusalem after the captiuitie c Remitteth sinnes to the penitent d Besides experience of euerie one that shal behold the firmament in a clere night the holie Scripture Gen. 15. v. 5. sheweth that the starres are innumerable to man For albeit Pâ—olomaey other Astronomers numbereth certaine more notorious starres which serue especially for some knowlege in the science of Astronomie numbering 349. such in the Zodiach 316. in the South part therof and 360. on the North part which are in al 1025. Yet al acknowlege that no man can come nere to anie probable coniecture of the whole number nor is able to attaine anie perfect knovvlege of their natural influences and special proprietes And therfore the Psalmist proposeth here the admirable and vnsearchable knovvlege of God who both most exactly knovveth the number e and so perfectly their nature that his diuine Omniscience geueth to euerie starre a proper name according to their singular differences and proprieties f Thinges subiect to Gods knovvlege and vvisdom are innumerable g Al these and the like benefites do shevv Gods imcomparable greatnes vvisdom and goodnes h Both sacred and prophane auctors testifie that rauens seing their yong ones either vvithout fethers or to haue vvhitish vnlike to theirs as suspecting that they are not their ovvne birdes but of some other kinde leaue them destitute of meate therfore God the auctor of nature and conseruer of al kindes of creatures by his special prouidence feedeth them either by a certaine dew hanging nere them in the ayre as Isidorus supposeth or by litle beastes or flees sent by Gods prouidence vvhich they catching into their mouthes are nourished and brought vp as S. Chrysostom teacheth ser in Heliam or by vvhat other meanes soeuer al agree that yong rauens are neglected by their parents and are fedde meruelously by Gods ordinance by vvhich example the Psalmist shevveth that much more God hath care of men especially of Ho. in hunc Psalm such meu saith S. Chrysostom as honour him vvith hymnes and praises vvhom also he hath called to be his peculiar people and his ovvne portion or inheritance Gods prouidence especially tovvards the Church the 6. key a Ierusalem in the latter part of Dauids time al the time of Salomon and part of other kings reignes til the captiuitie had peace prospered Againe after the captiuitie the Citie was repared the Temple reedified and the whole land receiued and enioyed manie blessinges But al this was no more then a figure of the excellent benefites here prophecied and more euidently verified in Christs Catholique Church partly here militant in the whole world and especially in the glorious Ierusalem and Sion the perfect vision of peace and contemplation of God in eternal life The Hebrews ioyne this Psalme vvith the precedent b In comparison of other cities and peoples of the world the gates of Ierusalem were strongly fensed c and the citizens blessed much more the Church of Christ is built vpon a fure rock her faithful children indued with al spiritual graces and most of al heauen it â—â—lâ—â— is free from al danger of calamitie and the Sainctes are most secure most happie enioying eternal fruit on of God d Hath geuen peace in thy borders e and the very best corne and al other fruictes wine oyle milke honey and the rest Allegorically in the Church reconciliation with God by remission of sinnes and peace of conscience in the Sacraments of Baptisme Penance vvith the most spiritual food of Christs Bodie and Bloud in the Eucharist and graces of other Sacraments In heauen most assured peace and ioy without end f This perteyneth most specially to Euangelical doctrine preached g and quickely receiued in al the world Rom 10. v. 18. h Snow nourisheth the earth making it vvarme by Antiperistasis as is euident in natural Philosophie i and noysome ayre is changed into clere vveather In the Church by penance austere life men are purged from sinnes and vices euil spirites are also driuen avvay If your sinnes shal be as scarlet they shal be made vvhite as snovv and if they be redde as vermilion they shal be vvhite as vvool Isaâ—e 1. v. 18. k Yea some that are hardned in sinne as yse or chrystal shal be melted broken or made fitte to be ingraffed in Gods Church So S. Peter vvas admonished by a vision Act. â—0 v 1â— to kil and eate Othervvise vvithout Gods grace geuing remorse and sorovv no man can ouercome his ovvne vices m But Gods vvord preached n and his grace touching mens hartes o innumerable are conuerted p The Church only enioyeth these spiritual benefiâ—es q Considering that al mankind vvas in the masse of sinne and that God letteth manie iustly perish those to whom he geueth his grace to iustification are specially bond to praise him r And therfore the Prophet concludeth this Psalme and the rest folovving vvith Alleluia Our Creator to be praised by al creatures the 2. key a Al ye heauenlie spirites praise God for the excellencie of your nature b And for your innumerable multitude c Al creatures wanting sense or reason shewforth the Maiestie and excellencie of their Creator d Againe God is to be praised for the diuersitie of stares in men wherby the whole communitie is conserued gouerned e God only no false imagined god made disposed al thinges in order f More especially for that God hath so fortified his Church g Sanctified children h that by grace and free wil which he geueth them approch vnto him i Al this considered the Psalmist concluding with Alleluia inuiteth al to praise our Lord. The Church must euer praise God the 6. key a God our Lord whom al creatures are bond to praise only accepteth those mens praises that liue in his holie Church b eternal rest c Hieghest praises of God shal be continually vttered by Sainctes in glorie for stil as praises passe by their tongues and mouthes more like praises shal succede from their throte and hartie affection so out of the abundance of the hart their mouth shal stil speake Gods praise d Glorified Sainctes shal also haue iudiciarie povvre First al in general shal like and approue Gods iustice in punishing the vvicked Secondly the vvicked shal be iustly condemned in comparison of the blessed vvho passed through and ouercame the like yea and greater tribulations