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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
king_n	aaron_n	account_v	moses_n	47	3	6.8826	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11058	An exposition on the fourteene first chapters of Genesis, by way of question and answere Collected out of ancient and recent writers: both briefely and subtilly propounded and expounded. By Abraham [sic] Rosse of Aberden, preacher at St. Maries neere South-Hampton, and one of his Maiesties chaplaines.	Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654.; Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654. First booke of questions and answers upon Genesis. aut; Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654. Second booke of questions and answers upon Genesis. aut	1626 (1626)	STC 21324; ESTC S116181	141,572	354

if it is lawfull to defend the poore to releeue the oppressed to punish the wicked to preserue our selues friends children and goods if the Magistrate beareth not the sword in vaine if God himselfe hath prescribed the manner and forme of fighting if Abraham Moses Iosuah Dauid and other holy men haue made warres then it is lawfull for Kings and Princes to raise warres the former conditions being obserued but because peace is better then warres as saith the Poet. Pax vna triumphis innumeris potior Kings must be slow to vndertake warres as Hozekias was with the kings of Assyria and some iniuries must be winked at which doth show the magnanimitie of a King not for euery small iniurie to be inflamed with wrath but rather to forget them as Caesar by Cicero was commended that hee did vse to forget nothing except iniuries and aboue all things crueltie in warres is to be hated for Pax homines suas trux decet iraferas Q. But may Christians vnder the Gospel raise warres A. Yes but they must be very carefull to auoide warres and to vse all the lawfull meanes they can to maintaine peace For Christ the Prince of peace hath left his peace with vs. Ioh. 5. It was foretold that wee shovld beat our swords into plow shares and our speares into pruning hookes Esay 2. It was Christs commandement that wee loue one another Ioh. 15. We must not resist euill Matth. 5. Wee must not reuenge but giue place to wrath Rom. 13. Our greatest strife and warres must be against our spirituall enemies therefore we are exhorted to put on the whole armour of God Eph. 6. This spirituall armour did the Christians vse in the Primitiue Church to subdue the greatest Monarches in the world and to propagate the Gospel Peter is commanded to put his sword into his sheath Matth. 26. And we are all commanded to loue our enemies to blesse them that curse vs to doe good to them that hate vs. Matth. 5. Which testimonies doe alleadge not altogether to condemne warres in case of necessitie but to show how loath Christian Princes should bee to raise warres and how rather they should loose some of their right and dignity then to trouble the peace of Ierusalem to shed the blood of their brethren whom Christ hath bought with his owne blood to bereaue parents of their children wiues of their husbands to defloure virgins ouerturne Churches and Chappels destroy religion extinguish learning and discipline lawes and iustice and to make away for the Turke the Diuels eldest sonne the professed enemie of our Sauiour the scourge of Christians the rod of Gods indignation to sweepe away that little remnant of the Christian world which is left and to ouerthrow all with that not Aegyptian but Tartarian darkenesse of Mahomets doctrine as he hath already done these glorious Countries and Churches which wee haue shamefully lost through our pride and contention Heu quo discordia ciues perduxit miseros Q. Why did Chedorlaomer raise armies against these other kings A. Because they rebelled against him and here we may see that it is not lawfull for any people to rebell against their kings although their gouernment be vniust Secondly they deserued to be tributaries and seruants to a strange king because they were the seruants of filthy and strange sinnes neither are they worthy to be a free people whom the sonne hath not made free Thirdly the truth of Noahs prophesie may here be seene that Canan is Sems seruant Chedorlaomer of Sem is king at this time ouer the Cananites Fourthly here we may see what a dangerous thing it is for a people to rebell against their kings for by this meanes vnitie is broken order and discipline is euerted lawes and religion are extinguished and all things turned vpside downe and therefore the authors of rebellion haue beene most fearefully punished as the examples of Core Dathan and Abiram against Moses and Aaron Absalom and Seba against Dauid and many more can witnesse Therefore kings must be obeyed in all matters indifferent but not in those things that are against the glory of God for it is better to obey God then man and they who doe not obey their kings in matters against God are not to be accounted rebels except we will make Moses and Aaron who resisted Pharaoh Christ Iohn Baptist and the Apostles who resisted the Iewes the Christians who resisted Idolaters to be rebels which to thinke is impious Q. Why did the king of Elam with his confederates kill the Rephaims A. These Rephaims or Gyants with the Zuzims Emims and Horites tooke part as it is thought with the Sodomites and did hinder the king of Elam from taking Sodome and Moses here mentioneth their ouerthrow to show vs of what great power the king of Elam was then that he was able to ouerthrow so many nations now these Rephaims were a people then dwelling in Canan Gen. 15. And are here ouerthrowne in Ashteroth a citie in Basan where Og afterward was king Iosh. 13. 31. The Zuzims are these people as it is thought who in Deut. 2. 20. Are called Zamzummims and they are ouerthrowne at the citie Ham where they dwelt the Emims were a great people and accounted Gyants Deut. 2. 10. These are ouercome in Shaneth or the plaine of Kiriathim the Horites were a people that dwelt in Seir where they are now ouercome Esau and his sonnes afterward droue them out from thence and this mount was called not Seir at this time but afterward had this name from Esau. Seir signifieth Heary these then were chased by Chedorlaomer his confederates vnto El-paran or the plaine of Paran which is a barren or comfortlesse wildernesse neere to the desart of Sinai and heere the Israelites wandered thirty eight yeares Q. What was En-mishpat A. The name of that place where the Israelites were iudged and reprooued by God because they murmured for want of water for En-mishpat doth signifie the wel of iudgment this is called also Cades which is a city in Arabia where Mirian Moses sister was buried the desart next adiacent is called Cades and Cades-barne from whence Moses sent the twelue spyes to Canaan Hither Chedorlaomer returned with his confederate kings and smote the Amalakites and Amorites in Hazezon Thamar a city in Canaan which afterward fell to the tribe of Iuda and was called Engedi Ios. 15. 62. Here wee may see what happy successe Chedorlaomer hath ouer his enemies which is neither to be ascribed to fortune or his courage but to him who is the Lord of hosts there is no king saued by the multitude of an host a mighty man is not deliuered by much strength Psal. 33. 16. Yet this we must commend in him that he vsed such diligence and expedition in suppressing these rebels before they grew stronger It was the praise of Alexander Macedo that whatsoeuer battell hee vndertooke he did it with wonderfull celerity and expedition Curtius lib. 5. And that was a meanes that

the diall of Achaz the conception of the Virgin c. or els they are mixt miracles which in respect of the thing it selfe which is produced are naturall but in the maner of producing and in respect of other circumstances are supernaturall such as the thunderings that discomfited the Philistines at Samuels prayer 1. Sam. 7. 10. the raine that fell at the prayer of Elias 1. King 18. 45. and such like then this propagation of mankinde in so short a space is a mixed miracle for it is naturall in respect of the worke it selfe but in respect of shortnesse of time and the multitude that were begotten it is supernaturall Q. Doth Moses rehearse here all the heads or fathers of the Nations A. No but those onely that were most famous Then of Sems progenie hee reckoneth 26. of Chams 31. of Iapheths 14. which in all are 71. and many of these names here mentioned were changed by the Greeks who not onely changed their rites and ceremonies but also in signe of seruitude altered their names Q. What order keepeth Moses in rehearsing this Genealogie A. He beginneth first at Iapheth because he was last spoken of in the precedent chapter and here he speaketh last of Sem because the rest of this historie is spent about his posterity and in the middle Cham is placed which doth represent to vs the state of the Church visible in this world which hath in her bosome many hypocrites and reprobate Chams Q. What was Gomer A. The father of the Cimmerians as Herodotus thinketh or rather as Iosephus the father of the Galatians who first were called Galles and hauing left their owne countrie seated themselues in Asia-minor where being mingled with the Greeks they were called Gallo-greci and afterwards Galatae vnto these Galatians Peter writ his first epistle in this country Paul trauelled sundry times and preached afterward hee beeing captiue at Rome from thence writ an epistle to them Gomer also was the name of Diblaims daughter the wife of Hosea Hos. 1. Q. What was Magog A. The father of the Scythians a rude and barbarous people inhabiting many countries in the north part of the world from them the Turkes haue their originall which now to the great shame of Christians and ouerthrow of our religion haue by our vnnaturall discords obtained those kingdomes and glorious Churches in Europe and Asia sometimes famous and sanctified with the presence of Christ and preachings of the Apostles beautified with miracles adorned with all arts and sciences illustrated with the learned pens of many orthodox fathers and besprinckled with the blood of many thousand martyrs but now alas their habitation is desolate their Churches are become habitations for diuels the holds of euery foule spirit and cages of vnc●…ane and hatefull birds Magog is taken for the hidde and secret enemies of the Church Eze. 38. 2. and 39. 6. Reu. 20. 8. Q. What people came of Madai A. The Medes a mightie people who did inhabite the country lying betweene the Caspian sea and Persia they were first subiect to the Assyrians afterward refusing the gouernment of the effeminate Sardanapalus they made Arbactus their King who with his successours for the space of 350. yeares did gouerne Media vntill Cyrus the Persian who obtained the Empire of the East Then Media was annexed to Persia and Assyria in the cities of the Medes the Israelites were kept as captiues 2. King 18. 11. to the Medes and Persians the Babylonian Monarchie was giuen Dan. 5. 28. the Medes who were at Ierusalem with many other strangers heard the Apostles speake in their owne language Act. 2. 9. Q. Of what people was Iauan the father A. Of the Greeks a people sometime infamous for their inconstancy and vanity yet glorious for their lawes and gouernment their arts and sciences their mightie townes and cities for the Monarchie of the world that was stablished the●… but especially for the light of the Gospell but now in stead of science there is nothing but ignorance in stead of ciuility light and liberty barbarity darkenesse and thraldome haue seated themselues there so that they haue forgot to speak their owne language and where the Muses sometimes did raigne now there is not a schoole to be seen First they were a free people till they warred one with another then they were made seruants for Cyrus Xerxes and other persian Kings did vexe them the Macedonians did subdue them afterward the Romans then the Empire being deuided they became to be vnder Constantinople till the Gothes Bulgares and Saracens had wasted them and at last they are subdued and liue in slauery vnder the Turke the Christians scourge except a few Ilands subiect to the Venetians The Grecian King is resembled by a Goate Dan. 8. 21. vnto the Grecians the Israelites were sold. Ioel 3. 6. Q. What people came of Thubal A. The Italians as the Iewes thinke and Spaniards as Iosephus which people inhabited that country which of old was called Hesperia which name was common both to Italy and Spaine it hath beene fatall for these many yeares for Thubals posterity to be great the Italians in subduing the old world and the Spaniards in subduing of the new not known nor heard of by the ancient Romanes So then we see that God hath enlarged lapheth and not onely hath perswaded him to dwell in the tents of Sem for now Iesus Christ the sonne of Sem is knowne amongst the barbarous Indians but as Thubal was an enemy against the Iewes in Ezechiels daies Ezech. 38. 2 3. so Thubal is an enemy still against the Christians who doe not approoue of their doctrine and ceremonies Q. What people came of Meshec A. The Moscouians who first dwelt in Asia afterward they remooued farther North and doe at this day inhabite that great continent lying betweene Tartaria Liuonia Polonia and the North sea they are of the grecian religion they giue the sacrament in leauened bread and doe not deny the cup to the lay-people they thinke it in vaine to pray for the dead they beleeue no purgatory they reade the bible in their owne language Augustine Ambrose Hierome and Gregory are in great request amongst them their Metropolitan is subiect to the Patriarch of Constantinople and aboue all things they cannot abide to here Rhetoricall sermons in their pulpits accounting these verball preachers which doe study more for fine words then true diuinity not worthy of the name of preachers and I wish they were so accounted amongst vs who no●… being contented with the plaine and simple stile of Gods word doe spend much time in filling the itching eares of phantasticall people with their owne words Q. Who were the sonnes of Thiras A. The Thracians a people sometimes famous for their strength in warres they doe inhabite the country Thracia otherwise called Romania where Constantinople is situated the Gospell shined sometimes in this country and happy might they haue beene if they could haue knowne their owne happinesse but by their miserable

discords they haue lost their ancient glory and Constantinople which was the Queene of the Easterne Cities and sometimes the house of God and vineyard of Iesus Christ is become now a cage for Mahomet the diuell and his excrements the Turkes who as it seemes were only borne to be a plague to Gods people Q. Which are the three sonnes of Gomar here mentioned A. Ascanaz of whome came a people which did inhabite Ascania a countrey in Asia-minor in which there was a lake of the same name euen in the time of the 〈◊〉 Kiphath of him came the Paphlagons a people also in Asia which name they had of Paphlagon the sonne of Phi●…eas Thogar●… of him came the Phrygians a people in Asia neere to Bithinia Lydia and Misia they are called by the Hebrewes as Iosephus saith Thygrammanes from this Thogarma Q. Which are the foure sonnes of Iauan A. The first is Elishah of him came the Aeolians a people of greece who leauing their country went to Asia and seated themselues in Mysia which they called Aeolia from their owne name Elishah sold blew and purple to the Tyrians Ezech. 27. 7. His second sonne is Tharshish whose posterity inhabited Cilicia now called Turcomania where that famous City Tarsus was built as is thought by Sardrnapalus in which Paul was borne Act. 21. 39. hither 〈◊〉 fled 〈◊〉 1. 3. the people of Tharshish were famous for shipping Ezech. 27. 12. therefore Pompeius vsed their helpe in his sea fight against Caesar and the medeteranean sea is called Tarsis from them Psal. 48. 7. The third sonne is Citti●… of whom came the Cyprians who did inhabite the Iland Cyprus not farre from Syria and Cilicia therefore the Iland was called Citica the Hebrewes call it Chitti●… and here was the city Citiu●… This Cyprus was many yeares vnder the gouernment of the Venetians but now they are vnder the seruitude of Magog the Turke His fourth sonne is D●…danim of whom the Rhodiant came who inhabited Rhodus an Iland in the Carpathian sea famous for the citie Rhodos which was possessed by the Christians many yeares But at last proud Nabuchadnezzar the Turke by our negligence tooke both the city and the Iland Q What is meant by the Iles of the Gentiles A. Not onely the plots of ground which are compassed about with the sea but also countries and regions within the continent for the whole earth may be called an Iland because it is all compassed with the sea the Iles are giuen them with the rest of the earth to the sonnes of men the Iles are inuited to praise God Isa. 42. 10. The Iles shall waite for Christ. Isay 51. 5. the kings of the Iles shall offer gifts to Christ. Psal. 72. 10. and this was accomplished when God perswaded Iapheth to dwell in the tents of Sem. Gods children in this world may be likened to Iles for as Iles are separated from the rest of the earth so Christ hath chosen his Saints out of the world Ioh. 15. Secondly as Iles are compassed about with the sea and most subiect to stormes so the the Saints in this world are most subiect to afflictions Ioh. 16. Q. Which was Chams first sonne A. C●…sh the father of the Aethiopians of whorn mention is made Isa. 11. Ezec. 29. and 30. Amos 9. Nah●…m 3. Soph. 2. and else-where but the name of Aethiopia is sometime giuen to Arabia sometime to India because of the commerce that was betweene the Aethiopians these countries as also because they in s●…merare both black but Aethiopia properly 〈◊〉 in Affrica vnder which name not only the country of the Abissines is cōprehended but also the Southeast part of Affrica from the meridionall line to caput bon●… spei and this confusion of the name hath caused many errors amongst the learned then this name of Cush and Aethiopia so often vsed in Scripture is rather to bee vnderstood of Arabia which was neere to India then of the remote countries of Affrica therefore Moses wife being a Madianite is called an Aethiopian Numb 12. Theodoretus thinketh that the Queene of Saba who came to see Salomon was Queene of Aethiopia Quest. 22. in Num. The Aethiopians did vse to call their Queenes Candaces whose chiefe gouernour the Eunuch was conuerted by Philip. Act. 8. Mathiac the Apostle did preach the Gospell to the Aethiopians as thinketh Sophronius Q. What was Mizraim A. The father of the Aegyptians who are still called by this name in the new Testament but in the old Mizraim and because Mizraim was Chams son therefore in Scripture Aegypt is called the land of Ch●… Psal. 105. 23. and 78. 51. If Mizraim was the father of the Aegyptians they neede not brag so much of their antiquity This country was first gouerned by their owne kings wh●… they called Pharaoh then they were subdued by the Aethiopians in the dayes of Hezekias After that Cyrus the Persian ouercame them But vnder Darius Nothus they fell away from the Persian and were gouerned by their owne kings till Alexander subdued them After his death it fell to Ptolomeus by whose name their kings were called till Cleopatra after whose death the Romans made it a Prouince after them the Saracens had it and now it is vnder the Turkish slauery This country was famous for Abraham Ioseph the Patr●…kes the birth of Moses the deliuery of the Israelites for arts and sciences fruitfulnesse and riches townes and schooles for Christ and his mother who fled thither for many Martyrs and Christian professors for the first Monks and Eremites who from thence did ouerspreade all Europe But as before it was infamous for idolatry so now it is for Mahomet●… blasphemous herefie Q. What people came of Phut A. The Lyrians a people in Affrica neere Mauritania where there is a riuer called Phut They are called by this name Eze. 27. and 38. cap. But they are called by the name of Lybia Act. 2. and Dan. 11. in Lybia there hath beene famous Churches but especially Carthage renowned for that learned Bishop and glorious Martyr Cyprian Q. What was Canaan A. The cursed sonne of Cha●… of whom came the Canaanites which did inhabite that land which was called Canaan the land of promise Iudea and now the holy land it was deuided in Iudea Samaria and Galile in it God was once well knowne but now instead of God Mahomet is worshipped Q. What was Seba A. The sonne of Cush and father of the Sabeans a people in Arabia-felix but there is a twofold Sheba the one in Arabia the other in Aethiopia this in Hebrew is written with S●…mech that with Shi●… from this the Queene of Saba came to Salomon from that the wise men came to worship Christ both these places are mentioned Psal. 72. 10. the Kings of Sh●…ba and 〈◊〉 shall giue gifts Q. What other sonnes had Cush A. Hauilah the father of the Getulians Sabtah of whom came a people called Sabath●…i dwelling in Arabia-felix Raamah and Sabtecha whose posteritie also did

in so short a time he did subdue so many nations and from hence wee must learne with all expedition to subdue our sins for Periculum est in mora Q. What successe hvd Chedorlaomer and his confederates against the Kings of Sodome and Gomorrha A. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrha fled and fell into the slime pits not of ignorance for they were better acquainted with that ground then their enemies but of purpose that so they might escape the fury of their enemies in these pittes questionlesse a great many perished and others of them fled to the hils Secondly all the goods and victuals of Sodom Gomorrha were taken which was a very great spoyle because in Sodom there was both riches and abundance of bread Thirdly Lot is taken captiue and his goods taken from him which was the cause that Abraham made warre against them and ouercame them Here then we see that many are killed in the iudgement of God and some escape in his mercy Secondly the goods and the victuals of Sodom are made a prey to the hungry souldiers in Gods iust iudgement because they did not vse them eyther to Gods glory or the comfort of the poore but to pride and ryot Thirdly Lot is taken and so he is partaker of their misery because he desired to be partaker of their fruitfull country Q. What league made Abraham the Hebrew with Mamre Eschol and Aner A. Abraham the Hebrew for so he is called from Heber because he retained his faith or else from Habar because hee passed ouer Euphrates from which his posterity are called Hebrewes to put them in mind of their originall made a couenant with these three men or rather they with him because he was so highly beloued of God which couenant was not of the nature of those couenants that conquerours make with the conquered which are nothing els but lawes which the conquered must obey according to the pleasure of the law-makers neyther was this covenant to desist from warres and maintaine peace for there was no wars betweene them but it was onely a partition betweene themto defend and maintaine one anothers right against their enemies and questionlesse this couenant was made by the speciall direction of God for the comfort of Abraham who beeing a stranger there had notwithstanding the ayde and assistance of these great men when occasion serued and wee must note heere that Abraham is called an Hebrew and his posterity Hebrewes which name signifieth a pilgrime and stranger to put vs in minde what the children of God are in this life euen pilgrimes and strangers By which they shew that they seeke a country Heb. 11. Q. But did Abraham well to make a couenant with these Amorites being infidels A. Whether these three were infidels or notit is vncerten and I rather hold that they were not both because Abraham made 2 couenant with them rather then with others as also because wee cannot deny but there were some in these parts who knew the true God As Melchisedech who conuersed in these countries was both a king and priest of the most high God it is very like that his seruants and many more were of his profession and if there were why should we think that these three who were Abrahams speciall friends to be infidels seeing the holy man made a couenant with them but suppose they were infidels yet we cannot reprooue Abraham for this couenant made with them because as yet there was no positiue law to the contrary Secondly the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full Thirdly Abraham could not liue amongst them if hee had not had mutuall commerce and made some couenants with them Fourthly in this couenant Abraham did not offend God seeing otherwise he could not haue liued peaceably among them and in this he gaue no advantage to the Idolaters to blaspheme God Fifthly many holy men haue made such couenants with infidels and are not reprooued as Iaeob with Laban Gen. 31. Isaack with Abimelech Gen. 26. Salomon with Hiram 1. King 5. Yea the Israelites themselues had power to make couenants with their neighbours nationst except with those seuen mentioned Deut. 7. Q. Was it lawfull for Abraham being both a priuate man and a priest to raise warres A. A priuate man cannot raise armes except he will be counted seditious now Abraham was no priuate man because by Gods owne mouth he was appointed Lord of this land and it was his by right although not by possession neither were these three brethren priuate men with whom Abraham was confederate Yea although Abraham had beene a priuate man yet this fact of his is no president for priuate men to rayse armes except they haue the same measure and direction of the Spirit that he had for if he had not beene directed by God it is vnlike that with three hundred and eighteene domestick seruants hee would pursue foure mighty kings Moreouer although Abraham was a priest and a prophet also yet he rayseth armes lawfully beeing called by God so did Moses and the Leuites fight against the worshippers of the golden calfe Moses killed Og king of Sihon and Samuel Agag king of Amelec yet these are not presidents for the ministers of the Gospell to rayse armes for they were called extraordi●…arily vnto this function but the preachers ●…f the Gospell are not Againe the prea●…ers of the Gospell must eschew all things ●…hat hinder them in discharging of their fun●…tion especially warres which if they follow ●…hey must neglect prayers preaching and ec●…lesiasticall discipline Besides the Apostle ●…heweth that the weapons of our warrefare ●…re not carnall but mighty through God ●…asting downe euery strong hold 2. Cor. 10. Yet I deny not but the preachers may ex●…ort the magistrateto raysearmes against the enemies of God for the priests vnder the law ●…ounded the trumpets and carried the Arke when the people went to battle Q. How farre did Abraham pursue his enemies A. As farre as Dan a place in the North of Canaan and one of the springs of Iordan a hundred and foure miles from Ierusalem it was of old called Leshem but being wonne by the Danit●…s it was called Dan. Ios. 19. 47. And it seemes that eyther Moses now giueth it this name by way of prophesie or els Ezer as who set the bookes of the olde Testament in order did change the old name beeing out of vse into this other name D●… Here it was where Iereboam set vp the golden calfe and Peter confessed Christ to bee the Sonne of God and where the woman was miraculously healed of her bloody fluxe in memory of which miracle the woman caused a pillar to bee erected in that city on which the image of Christ was set and the woman behinde him touching the hem of his garment but Iulian caused this Image to bee pulled downe and his owne to be erected in the same place which shortly after was throwne downe with thunder from heauen Euseb. lib. 7. eccles hist. cap. 14.

This towne was also called Cesaria-Philippi by Philip Tetrac●… of Traco●…ites in honour of the Romane Casars Agrippa also inlarged this Citie and called it Neronia in honour of Nero. Iosep. ant 20. cap. 6. Now we must not thinke that this was rashnesse and temperitie in Abraham with so few men to follow so great an armie so farre but rather true courage and fortitude because he was led by Gods spirit and because hee was assured of Gods helpe therefore hee knew there were more with him then against him besides the iustnesse of the cause the good end that Abraham did ayme at in this fight his vpright life and the testimonie of his conscience made him bold to despise death it selfe Sapiens non metu frangitur non potestate mutatur non extollitur prosperis non mergitur tristibus Amb. ad Simpl. And if any thing make a man feare it is the guiltinesse of his conscience Nam ●…imidum nil facit animum nisi reprehensibili●… vit ae conscientia Sen. 4. de virtut Q. What successe had Abraham in this battle against the foure kings A. He smote them and persued them to Hoba he rescued Lot and his goods the Sodomites and their goods and here we may see Abrahams policie in diuiding his seruants and that in the night to teach vs that it is lawfull to vse policie and subtiltie against our enemies if there bee no falsehood and vniustice ●…ound in it We know that God commanded Ioshua to lay an ambush behinde the Citie Ai for to take it Iosh. 8. 2. He came suddenly vpon the fiue kings in the night Iosh. 10. 9. Gedion vsed the stratagem of trumpets pitchers and lampes to ouercome his enemies Iudg. 7. 16. And Dauid the meanes of an Amalekite to ouercome the Amalekites 1. Sam. 30. 15. For if it be lawfull vpon iust occasion to raise warres against our enemies it is also lawful to vse such stratagems as may further vs in obtaining the victorie Secondly wee must not attribute this victorie of Abrahams to his strength or policie but to the Lord who made him rule ouer kings and gaue them as the dust to the sword c. Isay 41. 2. Thirdly God would haue Abraham to bring backe the Sodomites and their goods that both God might show his wonderfull mercy and patience as also make them inexcusable Fourthly this Hoba into which Abraham persued his enemies was a village in Hieromes time where certaine Ebeonite Hebrewes dwelt Fifthly as the foure kings troubled Canaan but are ouercome by Abraham So the foure great kingdomes of the world haue troubled the Church but are ouercome of Christ the Sonne of Abraham Q. What was Melchisedec A. Not the holy Ghost as some heretikes haue affirmed for the holy Ghost is not a man nor king of Salem nor a priest nor priest of the most high God except we will make him inferiour to God Secondly not an Angel for the Scripture showeth no such thing neither is an Angel a priest for euery high priest is taken from amongst men Heb. 5. 1. Thirdly not the Sonne of God for he is not Melchisedech the priest but a priest after the order of Melchisedech Psal. 110. 4. Fourthly not Sem the Sonne of Noah as the Hebrewes affirme rather of malice then sound iudgement because they cannot endure any stranger should be thought superiour in any thing to their father Abraham for is Sem was Melchisedech Moses had not concealed it being an honour to haue such a noble progenitor Secondly Melchisedechs genealogie is not mentioned in Scripture but Sems is Thirdly Melchisedechs descent is not counted from the Hebrewes progenitors Heb. 7. 6. Which plainely sheweth he descended of another stocke then the Iewes did who came of Sem. Fourthly all this country in which Melchisedech reigned was possessed by Canaans posterity Therefore Sem could not bare rule here to be both a king and a priest among them Fifthly if we should yeeld that Melchisedech was Sem wee must be forced to deny a chiefe relation betweene Melchisedech and Christ which Paul toucheth Heb. 7. Which is this as Melchisedech beeing a stranger from the family of Sem was notwithstanding a priest and king so Christ though a stranger from the tribe of Leui which onely was appointed for the priesthood is notwithstanding a king and priest for euer Sixthly Melchisedech had no successour in his priest-hood but Sem had for Abraham was a priest so was Isaac Iacob and the children of Leui. Seauenthly if Melchisedcch was Sem. Then whereas Leui payd tithes being in the loynes of Abraham he being also in the loynes of Sem because Abraham came of Sem did pay tithes to Sem which is absurd Eighthly if this be true then we must confesse that in the person of Sem both the priesthood of Aaron and Melchisedech was ioyned together for Aron was in the loynes of Sem and so we must yeelde that Christ in that he was a priest after the order of Melchisedech he was also after the order of Aaron Ninthly if Melchisedech had beene Sem it it is very like that Abraham all this while that he was in Canaan would not neglected to haue sought him out and conuersed with him both for his further comfort strength and instruction then the fift opinion is soundest which holdeth Melchisedech to haue beene a Cananite yet a true worshipper of God for it is very like that as God had his priests amongst the Iewes so he had some amongst the Gentiles and as Aaron among the Iewes was eminent so Melchisedech among the Gentiles for God is the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Iewes and besides that Philo and Iosephus are of this opinion the chiefest of the auncient Fathers doe defend the same Q. Where did Melchisedech and the king of Sodom meete Abraham A. At the valey of Saueth not farre from Ierusalem where Absolom set vp his pillar 2. Sam. 18. 18. This valley is called the kings dale eyther because the kings and princes did vse to exercise themselues heere in running or els because of the excellency and pleasantnesse thereof being a place fit for kings Herein the king of Sodom though a prophane man we see great humanity and thankfulnesse that hee would goe to meete Abraham and reioyce with him at his happy successe humanity and gratitude are commendable in al for Be●…eficiorum memoria non debet senescere Senec. lib. de benif Q. Of what place was Melchisedech king A. He was king of Salem which afterward was called Ierusalem from Iereth and Salem that is the vision of peace for Abraham called the hil on which he would haue sacrificed his Sonne Iebouah Iereth Gen. 22. Then Iereth being put to the old name Salem is made vp Ierusalem after Melchisedech the Iebusites had the dominion of this city and from them it was called Iebub Ios. 18. 28. Iud. 19. 10. But afterward Dauid conquered it and did enlarge it with many goodly buildings so that it became