honoring it 2. Reg. 6. VVho further considering that himself dvvelt in a house of cedar and the Arke of God remained in the tabernacle couered vvith skinnes intended to build a more excellent house for God 2. Reg. 7. But his godlie purpose vvas differred by Gods appointment and his sonne king Salomon builded the famous Temple in Hierusalem 3. Reg. 6. VVhich succeding in place of the Tabernacle ech of them one after the other was the only ordinarie place of Sacrifice The law commanding Leuit. 17. If anie man of the house of Israel kil an oxe or a sheepe or a goate towit for Sacrifice as S. Augustin and other fathers expound it and offer it not at the dore of the tabernacle afterwards at the dore of the Temple he shal be guiltie of bloud as if he had shed bloud and so shal he perish out of the middes of his people Neuertheles vpon occasions and by special reuelation sacrifice was lawfully offered in other places For so in the time of the tabernacle Samuel the prophet offered Sacrifice in Masphath 1 Reg. 7. And the prophet Elias offered Sacrifice without the Temple vvhen he conuinced the false prophetes of Baal 3 Reg. 18. whose fact as S. Augustin noteth the miracle sufficiently shewed to be donne by Gods dispensation And as pecultar places were dedicated so also special times were sanctified and diuers feastes and festiuities partly ordained before as the Sabbath Gen. 2. and Pasch Exod. 12. were confirmed by the Law Exod. 20. 23. and others likevvise instituted Exod. 23. Leuit. 23. Num. 28. 29. and Deut. 16. with proper sacrifices for euerie sort First and most general was the dailie sacrifice of a lambe euerie day twise at morning and euening Exod. 29. which was not properly a feast but a sacred perpetual office in the tabernacle and after in the temple At the rest were festiual dayes in which it was not lawful ordinarily to do seruile worke The first of these was the Sabbath that is the seuenth and last day of euerie weke which is our saturday Kept stil solemnly by the Iewes euen at this time in al places vvhere they dvvel but not by Christians because the old Lavv is abrogaeed and vve kepe the next day which is Sunday holie by institution and tradition of the Church The second Neomenia or new moone in which day they alwaies beganne the moneth and twelue such monethes made a yeare by the course of the moone for by the course of the sunne the yeare conteineth eleuen dayes more which in three yeares make aboue a moneth And so euerie third yeare and sometimes the second for it happened seuen times in nintene yeares had thirtene monethes and was called Annus embolismalis being increased by meanes of those eleuen dayes The third feast was Pasch or Phase first instituted at the parting of the children of Israel out of Aegypt in the ful moone of the first moneth in the spring in which the Paschal lambe was eaten as is prescribed Exod. 12. The fourth feast was Pentecost or first fruites the fiftith day after Pasch when Moyses receiued the Lavv in mount Synai The fifth the feast of Trumpets the first day of the seuenth moneth in grateful memorie that a ramme sticking by the hornes vvas offered in sacrifice by Abraham in place of Isaac The sixth vvas the feast of Expiation the tenth day of the seuenth moneth vvherein solemne fast vvas also prescribed from euening of the ninth day to euening of the tenth for remission of sinnes in general besides particular sacrifices and satisfaction for euerie sinne wherof anie man found himself guiltie The seuenth vvas the feast of Tabernacles seuen dayes together beginning the fiftenth of the seuenth moneth in memorie of Gods special protection vvhen they remained in â—abirnacles fourtie yeares in the desert The eight feast vvas of Assemblie and Collection the next day after the forsaid seuen in commemoration of vnion in the people and peaceable possession in the promised land In this day general collection vvas made for necessarie expences in the publique seruice of God Moreouer the seuenth yeare vvas as a Sabbath of rest Leuit. 25. in vvhich no land vvas plowed no vines pruined nor those fruites gathered that sprong vvithout mans industrie of the earth Againe the fiftith yeare vvas peculiarly made holie and called the Iubiley or ioyful yeare In it al bondmen vvere sette free al inheritances amongst the Israelites being for the time sold or otherwise alienated returned to the former ovvners Besides Sacrifices Sacramentes holie places holie times and manie other sacred things belonging therto there were yet more ceremonial Obseruances commanded by Moyses law as vvel perteyning to the seruice of God in that time as signifying christian life and maners So certaine beastes birdes and fishes were reputed vncleane Leuit. 11. and Gods people forbid to eate them as also that they should not eate anie bloud at al nor fatte Leui. 3. The reason of al which vvas not as though anie creature were il in nature but partly to auoide idolatrie partly to exercise them in obedience and temperance partly for that the same thinges signified vices and corruptions from which Christians especiâ—lly ought to resraine Likewise Leuit. 19 they were commanded not to sovv their fieldes vvith tvvo sortes of seede nor to vveare garmentes wouen of tvvo sortes of stuffe that they might be more distinguished from Infidels by external signes and not only by Circumcision but especially to teach christians to practise simple innocencie to auoid duble deciptful dealing Aâ— vvhich and other preceptes as wel moral as ceremonial and iudicial vvere most strictly coÌ„manded the obseruers blessed rewarded transgressours seuerly threatned vvith great curses Leuit. 20. 26. Deut. 4. 27. 28. and diuers actually punished Exod. 32. three thousand slaine for committing idolatrie Manie swallovved vp in the earth Num. 16. descending quicke into hel manie more burned vvith fire from heauen for making and fauoring Schisme Yea by one meanes other al that vvere aboue twentie yeares of age coming forth of Aegypt except tvvo onlie Iosue Caleb died in the desert for the general murmur of the people Num. 11. 14. 25. 26. Al Israel beaten in battle til one malefactor Achan was discouered punished Ios 7. Al the tribes were punished for suffering publique idolatrie in Dan and Beniamin almost extirpate for not punishing certaine malefactours Iudic. 20. And the vvhole people verie often inuaded sore afflicted for their sinnes as appeareth in the booke of Iudges In particular also diuers were aduanced prospered for their vertues as Iosue Caleb Phinees Samuel Dauid and others Contrariwise Nadab and Abiu priests were miraculously burnt for offering strange â—â—re Leuit 10. One stoned to death for gathering stickes on the sabbath day Num. 15. King Saul deposed for presuming to offer sacrifice not destroying Infidels 1. Reg. 13.
the children of Herem Eliezer Iosue Melchias Semeias Simeon †Beniamin Maloch Samarias †And of the children of Hasom Mathanai Mathatha Zabad Eliphelet Iermai Manasse Semei †Of the children of Bani Maaddi Amram and Vel †Baneas and Badaias Chelia◠†Vania Marimuth and Eliasib †Mathanias Mathanai and Iasi †and Bani and Bennui Semei †and Salmias and Nathan and Adaias †and Mechnedebai Sisai Sarai †Ezrel and Selemiau Semeria †Sellum Amaria Ioseph †Of the children of Nebo Iehiel Mathathias Zabad Zabina Ieddu and Ioel. and Banaia †Al these had taken strangers to wife and there were of them that had borne children THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS THIS booke beareth Title both of the author Nehemias who writ it and of the second booke of Esdras who in the former writ the historie of the Israelites after theyr relaxation from captiuitie to the building againe of the Temple with other thinges done the same time VVhereunto Nehemias ioyneth thinges succeding especially the new erection of walles and towers about the citie of Ierusalem And it may be diuided into three partes In the two first chapters he sheweth his compassion of his countries misserie and his coÌ„ming to assist them In the tenne folowing he reciteth the good effectes in repayring and strengthning the citie with wallâ—s and people In the last chapter the correction of errors euil maners which he found amongst them THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS which also is called THE SECOND OF ESDRAS CHAP. I. Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrie men in Iurie 4. lamenteth fasteth and prayeth God for their relief THE wordes of Nehemias the sonne of Helchias And it came to passe in the moneth of Casleu the twenteth yeare and I was in Susis the castel †And Hanani one of my brethren came him selse and men of Iuda and I asked them of the Iewes that remayned and were left aliue of the captiuitie and of Ierusalem †And they sayd to me They that remayned and are left of the captiuitie there in the prouince are in great affliction and in reproche and the wal of Ierusalem is broken downe and the gates therof are burnt with fire †And when I had heard these maner of wordes I sate and wept and mourned many dayes and fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heauen †And I sayd I besech thee Lord God of heauen strong great and terrible which keepest couenant mercie with them that loue thee and keepe thy coÌ„mandmentes †let thine eares be harkning and thine eyes open to heare the prayer of thy seruant which I pray before thee this day night day for the children of Israel thy seruantes and I confesse for the sinnes of the children of Israel in which they haue sinned to thee I my fathers house haue sinned †we haue bene seduced with vanitie and haue not kept thy commandments and cerimonies and iudgement which thou hast commanded to Moyses thy seruant †Remember the word that thou didst command vnto Moyses thy seruant saying When you shal transgresse I will depresse you into peoples †and if you returne to me and keepe my precepts and doe them although you shal be led away to the vttermost partes of heauen thence wil I gather you and bring you backe into the place which I haue chosen that my name should dwel there †And they are thy seruantes and thy people whom thou hast redemed in thy great strength and in thy mighty hand †I besech thee Lord let thine eare be attent to the prayer of thy seruant and to the prayer of thy seruants which will feare thy name and direct thy seruant this day and giue him mercy before this man for I was the kings cupbearer CHAP. II. Nehemias obtaining commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Ierusalem 11. secretty vieweth the broken walles and ruines of the citie 17. and exhorteth al the Iewes to the reedifying therof AND it came to passe in the moneth of Nisan the twentith yeare of Artaxerxes the king and there was wine before him and I lifted vp the wine and gaue to the king and I was as it were languishing before his face †And the king sayd to me Why is thy countenance sad whereas I doe not see thee sicke this is not without cause but some euil I know not what is in thy hart And I was very much and excedingly afrayd †and I sayd to the king O king for euer mayst thou liue why should not my countenance be heauie because the citie of the house of the sepulchres of my fathers is desolate and the gates therof are burnt with fire †And the king sayd to me For what thing makest thou request And I prayed the God of heauen †and I sayd to the king If it seme good to the king and if thy seruant do please before thy face thou send me into Iewrie to the citie of the sepulchre of my father and I wil build it †And the king sayd to me and the Queene that â—ate by him Vnto what time wil thy iourney be and when wilt thou returne And it pleased before the king and he sent me and I appoynted him a time †And I sayd to the king If it seme good to the king let him geue me letters to the gouernours of the country beyond the Riuer that they conduct me til I come into Iewrie †and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the kings forest to geue me timber that I may couer the gates of the towre of the house and the walles of the citie and the house that I shal enter into And the king gaue according to the good hand of my God with me †And I came to the dukes of the countrie beyond the Riuer and gaue them the kings letters And the king had sent with me captaynes of soldiers and horsemen †And Sanaballat an Horonite and Tobias a seruant an Ammonite heard it and were greiued with great affliction that a man was come which sought the prosperitie of the children of Israel †And I came to Ierusalem and was there three dayes †and I arose in the night I and a few men with me and I told not anie man what God had put in my hart to doe in Ierusalem and there was no beast with me but the beast wheron I sate †And I went out by the gate of the valley by night and before the fountayne of the dragon and to the gate of the dung and I viewed the wal of Ierusalem broken downe and the gates therof consumed with fire †And I passed to the gate of the fountayne and to the kinges conduite and there was no place for the beast where on I sat to passe †And I went vp by the torrent in the night and viewed the wal and going backe I came to the gate of the valley and returned †But the magistrastes knew
second day after he was warme with wine What is thy petition Esther that it may be geuen thee and what wilt thou haue done although thou shalt aske the half part of my kingdome thou shalt obteyne †To whom she answered If I haue found grace in thyne eies ô king and if it please thee geue me my life for the which I make request and my people for the which I besech †For we are deliuered I and my people to be destroyed murdered and to perish And would God we were sold for bondmen and bondwemen it were a tolerable euil and mourning I would hold my peace but now it is our enemie whose crueltie redoundeth vpon the king †And king Assuetus answering said Who is this and of what might that he dare doe these things †And Esther said It is this Aman out aduersarie and most wicked enemie Which he hearing forthwith was astonished not enduring to beare the countenance of the king and of the queene †But the king being wrath rose vp and from the place of the banket went into the garden set with trees Aman also rose vp to intreate Esther the queene for his life for he vnderstood that there was euil prepared him of the king †Who when he was returned out of the garden set with trees and had entered into the place of the banket he found Aman to haue fallen vpon the bed wherin Esther lay and he said The queene also he wil force in my presence in my house Neither was the word yet passed from the kings mouth and immediatly they couered his face †And Harbona one of the eunuches which stood wayting on the king sayd Behold the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus that spake for the king standeth in Amans house hauing in height fiftie cubites To whom the king said Hang him vpon it †Aman therfore was hanged on the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus and the kings wrath ceased CHAP. VIII Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle he is aduanced in authoritie 3. and contrarie letters are sent that the Iewes be saued 11. and their enemies slayne 15. Mardocheus is in high honour and his whole nation is estemed and feared by other people THAT day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle †And the king tooke the ring which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman and deliuered it to Mardocheus And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house †Neither content with these things she fel downe at the kings feete and she wept and speaking to him prayed him that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite and his most wicked deuises which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes should be of none effect †But he after the maner put forth the golden scepter with his hand by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed and she rysing vp stood before him †and said If it please the king and if I haue found grace in his eies and my request seme not contrarie to him I besech thee that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish may by new letters be corrected †For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people †And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene and Mardocheus the Iewe Amans house I haue geuen to Esther and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes because he durst lay handes on the Iewes †Write ye therfore to the Iewes as pleaseth you in the kings name signing the letters with my ring For this was the custome that no man durst speake against the lettes which were sent in the kings name and were signed with his ring †And the kings scribes and secretaries being cald for and it was the time of the third moneth which is called Siban the three and twenteth day therof letters were written as Mardocheus would to the Iewes and to the princes and the lieuftenantes and iudges which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces from India euen to Aethiopia to prouince and prouince to people and people according to their languages and characters and to the Iewes according as they could read and heare †And the said letters which were sent in the kings name were signed with his ring and sent by ryding postes which running through al the prouinces should preuent the old letters with the new messages †To whom the king gaue commandment that they should speake to the Iewes in euerie citie and should command them to be gathered together in one that they might stand for their liues and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses and to take the spoyle of them †And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge that is the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar †And this was the content of the letter that in al landes and peoples which were subiect to the empire of king Assuerus it should be notified ' the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies †And there went forth swift postes cariyng the massages and the kinges edict hong in Susan †But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace and from the kinges presence shining in royal garmentes to wit hyathinthine and skie colour bearing a golden crowne on his head and clothed with a silke and purple cloke And the citie reioysed and was glad †But to the Iewes there semed a new light to rise ioye honour and dauncing †With al peoples cities and prouinces whither soeuer the kinges commandmentes came meruelous reioysing feastes and banketes and holie day in so much that manie of the other nation and sect were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. CHAP. IX The Iewes kil their enemies which would haue killed them 6. namely the tenne sonns of Aman are hanged on gallowes 13. more slaine the next day 17. the day folowing is made holie and so to be kept euerie yeare THERFORE in the thirtenth day of the twelth moneth which we haue said now before to be called Adar when slaughter was prepared for al the Iewes and their enemies gaped after their bloud “ the case being changed to the contrarie the Iewes began to be superiours and to reuenge them selues of their aduersaries †And they were gathered together in euerie citie and towne and place to extend their hand against their enemies and their persecutors And none durst resist because the feare of their greatnes did penetrate al peoples †For both the iudges of the prouinces and captaynes and lieutenantes and euerie dignitie that was chiefe ouer euerie place and worke
into the land of Chanaan †At that time Laban was gone to sheare his sheepe and Rachel â—â—ole the “ idols of her father †And Iacob would not confesse to his father in lawe that he fled †And when he was gone as wel him selfe as al things that were his right and hauing passed the riuer was marching on to Mount Galaad †it was told Laban the third day that Iacob fled †Who taking his brethren vnto him pursued him seuen dayes and he ouertoke him in the Mount Galaad †And he saw in his sleepe God saying vnto him Take hede thou speake not roughly anie thing against Iacob †And Iacob had now pitched his tent in the mountaine and when he with his brethren had ouertaken him he pitched his tent in the same Mount Galaad †And he said to Iacob Why didest thou so that vnwitting to me thou wouldest carie away my daughters as captiues with the sword †Why wouldest thou flee without my knowledge and not tel me that I might haue brought thee on the way with ioy and songues and timbrels and eithernes †Thou hast not suffred me to kisse my sonnes and daughters thou hast donne foolishly now also in dede †my hand is able to requite thee euil but the God of your father said vnto me yesterday Take hede thou speake not any thing against Iacob roughly †Suppose thou diddest desire to goe to thy freinds and hadest a longing to thy fathers house why didest thou steale my goods †Iacob answered In that I departed vnwitting to thee I feared lest thou wouldest take away thy daughters by force †But wheras thou chargest me with theft with whom soeuer thou shalt find thy goddes let him be slaine before our brethen search what soeuer of thy things thou shalt finde with me and take away Saying this he knew not that Rachel had stollen the idols †Laban therfore hauing gone into the tent of Iacob and of Lia and of both the hand-maides found them not And when he was entred into Rachels tent †she in hast hid the idols vnder the camels litter and satte therupon and when he had sought al the tent and found nothing †she said Let not my lord be angrie that I can not rise vp before thee because according to the custome of wemen it is now chanced to me so his carefulnes in seeking was deluded †And Iacob being angrie said in chiding maner For what fault of myne and for what offence of my part hast thou so chaffed after me †and searched al my houshould stuffe What hast thou found of al the sabstance of thy house lay it here before my brethren and thy brethren and let them iudge betwen me thee †Haue I therfore bene with thee twentie yeares thy ewes and goates were not barren the wethers of thy flocke I did not eate †neyther that which the beast had caught did I shew to thee I made good al the damage whatsoeuer perished by theft thou didest exact it of me †day and night was I parched with heate and with frost and sleepe did flye from myne eyes †And in this sorte haue I serued thee in thy house twentie yeares fourtene for thy daughters and six for thy flockes thou hast changed also my wages tenne times †Vnles the God of my father Abraham and the feare of Isaac had holpe me peraduenture now thou hâ—â—â—â—st sent me away naked God beheld my aâ—â—â—iction and the laboure of my hands and rebuked thee yesterday †Laban answered him The daughters are mine and the children and thy flockes and al things that thou seest are mine what can I do to my daughters and nephews †Come therfore let vs enter in league that it may be for a testimonie betwen me and thee †Iacob therfore tooke a stone and erected it for a title †and he said to his brethren Being hither stones Who gethering them 〈…〉 mâ—â—e a heape and they did eate vpon it †Which Laban called The witnesse heape and Iacob called The hillock of testimonie either of them according to the proprietie of his language †And Laban said This heape shal be a witnes betwen me and thee this day and therfore the name therof was called Galaad that is The witnes heape †Our Lord behold and iudge betwen vs when we shal be departed one from the other †if thou shalt afflict my daughters and if thou bring in other wiues ouer them none is witnes of our talke but God who is present and beholdeth †And he said againe to Iacob Behold this heape and the stone which I haue erected betwen me and thee †shal be a witnes this heape I say and the stone be they for a testimonie if either I shal passe beyond it going towards thee or thou shalt passe beyond it thinking harme to me †The God of Abraham and the God of Nachor iudge betwen vs the God of their father Iacob therfore sware by the feare of his father Isaac †and after he had offred victimes in the mountaine he called his brethren to eate bread Who when they had eaten lodged there †but Laban arising in the night kissed his sonnes and daughters and blessed them and returned vnto his place ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXI 19. Idâ—ls Images of false goddes as these were are most properly called idols And so the hebrew word Teraphim is here rightly translated idols which in other places signifieth other things As The statua which Michol put in Dauids bed couering the head therof with a hearie goates skinne to deceiue Saules seriants who sought Dauids death is called Teraphim and may there be translated a statua image or similitude but not an idol Againe Osee the Prophet fortelling the lamentable state of the Israelites sayeth they shal be long without King prince sacrifice altar ephod and Teraphim which last word in the Protestants English Bibles remaineth vntranslated VVhere if they had translated Images as here they doe it would proue that some images pertaine to true religion the want wherof is lamented among other principal things These idol Rachel stole from her father to withdraw him from idolatrie as S. Basil in lib. Prouerb S. Gregorie Nazianzen orat de Paschaâ—e and Theodoret q. 89. in Gen. expound it And in this saith Theodoret she was a right figure of the Catholique Church which depriueth idolaters of their idols It is probable also by her base vsing of them that she held them not for goddes when she put them vnder the camels litter and sate vpon them Finally that she reserued them and did not cast them away nor burne nor burie them argueth that they were perhaps of precious mettal or other matter which she might turne to profite and that lawfully in part of recompence that she and her sister had no other dowrie but rather were sold toâ—acob VVho also had suffered much iniurie at their fathers handes CHAP. XXXII Angels mete Iacob by
were manie moe whom the forest had consumed of the people then they whom the sword deuoured in that day †And it chanced that Absalom mette the seruantes of Dauid sitting on a mule and when the mule was gone in vnder a thicke oke and a great his head stucke to the oke and he hanging betwen heauen and earth the mule that he rode vpon passed through †And one sawe this told Ioab saying I saw Absolom hang vpon an oke †And Ioab sayd to the man that told him If thou sawest him why didst thou not nayle him to the earth and I had geuen thee ten sicles of siluer and one belt †Who sayd to Ioab If thou wouldest pay downe in my handes a thousand peeces of siluer I would not lay my handes vpon the kinges sonne for in our hearing the king commanded thee and Abisai and Ethai saying Keepe me the child Absalom †Yea and if I had done agaynst my life boldly this could not haue beene hid from the king and thou wouldest haue stand agaynst it †And Ioab sayd Not as thou wilt but I wil set vpon him before thee He tooke therefore three lances in his hand and thrust them in the hart of Absalom and when as yet he panted for life sticking on the oke †there ranne ten yong men the squyers of Ioab and striking they killed him †And Ioab sounded the trumpet and stayed the people that they should not pursew Israel fleeing willing to spare the multitude †And they tooke Absalom and cast him in the forrest into a great pitte and they heaped vpon him an exceding great heape of stones but al Israel fled into their tabernacles †Moreouer Absalom had erected to himself whiles he yet liued a title which is in the kinges Valley for he said I haue no sonne and this shal be a monument of my name And he called the title by his name and it is called The hand of Absalom vntil this present day †And Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said I wil runne and tel the king that our Lord hath done him iudgement of the hand of his enemies †To whom Ioab said Thou shalt not be messenger this day but thou shalt carie the message an other day to day I wil not haue thee carie the message for the kinges sonne is dead †And Ioab said to Chusai Goe and tel the king what thou hast seene Chusai adored Ioab and ranne †And againe Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said to Ioab What letteth if I also runne after Chusai And Ioab sayd to him Why wilt thou runne my sonne thou shalt not be caryer of good tydinges †Who answered But what if I runne And he said to him Runne Achimaas therfore running a nere way out went Chusai †And Dauid sate betwen the two gates and the watchman that was in the toope of the gate vpon the wal lifting vp his eies saw a man running alone †And crying out he told the king and the king said If he be alone there are good tydinges in his mouth And he making hast and coming neerer †the watchman saw an other man running and crying alowde in the toppe he said There appeareth vnto me an other man running alone And the king said And this is a good messenger †And the watchman I behold said he the running of the former as it were the running of Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc And the king said He is a good man and cometh bringing good newes †And Achimaas crying sayd to the king God saue thee ô king And adoring the king before him flatte to the earth he said Blessed be our Lord thy God who hath shut vp the men that haue lifted vp their handes against my lord the king †And the king said Is the child Absalom safe And Achimaas sayd I saw a great tumult when thy seruant Ioab sent ô king me thy seruant other thing I know not †To whom the king Passe sayd he and stand here †And when he had passed and stood †Chusai appeared and coming he sayd I bring good tydinges my lord king for our Lord hath iudged for thee this day of the hand of al that haue rysen against thee †And the king sayd to Chusai Is the child Absalom safe To whom Chusai answering sayd Let the enemies of my lord the king become as the child and al that ryse against him vnto euil †The king therfore being made sorie went vp into the high chamber of the gate and wept And thus he spake going My sonne Absalom Absalom my sonne who would graunt me that I might die for thee Absalom my sonne my sonne Absalom CHAP. XIX Dauid moued by Ioabs admonition 8. ceaseth mourning for Absalom and reconcileth the rebels 19. Semei is pardoned 24. Mipbiboseth clereth him self of his seruantes false accusation yet recouereth not his whole right 32. Berzellai is courteously intreated 40. The other tribes contend with Iuda for their affection to the king AND it was told Ioab that the king wept and mourned for his sonne †And the victorie was turned into mourning that day to al the people for the people heard it sayd in that day The king soroweth vpon his sonne †And the people shunned that day to enter into the citie as a people turned fleing out of battel is wont to shrinke aside †Moreouer the king couered his head and cried with a lowd voice O my sonne Absalom o Absalō my sonne o my sonne †Ioab therfore entring in to the king into his house sayd Thou hast cōfounded this day the countenances of al thy seruantes that haue saued thy life and the life of thy sonnes and thy daughters and the life of thy wiues and the life of thy concubines †Thou louest them that hate thee and thou hatest them that loue thee and thou hast shewed this day that thou carest not for thy nobles and for thy seruantes and in deede I knowe now that if Absalom liued and al we had beene slayne then it would please thee †Now therfore arise and come forth and speaking vnto them satisfie thy seruantes for I sweare to thee by our Lord that if thou wilt not goe forth not one verely wil remayne with thee this night and this shal be worse for thee then al the euils which haue come vpon thee from thy youth vntil this present †The king therfore arose and sate in the gate and it was told al the people that the king sate in the gate and al the multitude came forth before the king but Israel fled into their tabernacles †Al the people also stroue in al the tribes of Israel saying The king hath deliuered vs out of the hand of our enemies he hath saued vs from the head of the Philistianes and now he fled out of the land for Absalom †But Absalom whom we annoynted ouer vs is dead in the battel how long are you stil and reduce not the king †But
the number of the description of the people to the king and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand strong men that could drawe sword and of Iuda fiue hundred thousand fighting men †But Dauids hart strooke him after the people was numbred and Dauid sayd to our Lord I haue sinned very much in this fact but I pray thee Lord to transferre the iniquitie of thy seruant because I haue done exceding folishly †Dauid therfore arose in the morning and the word of our Lord was made to Gad the prophete and Seer of Dauid saying †Goe and speake to Dauid Thus sayth our Lord Choyse is geuen thee of three thinges choose one of them which thou wilt that I may do it to thee †And when Gad was come to Dauid he told him saying Either famine shal come to thee seuen yeares in thy land or three monethes thou shalt flee thy aduersaries and they shal pursew thee or certes three dayes the pestilence shal be in thy land Now therfore deliberate and see what word I shal answer to him that sent me †And Dauid sayd to Gad I am distressed excedingly but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord for his mercies be manie then into the handes of men †And our Lord sent the pestilence in Israel from morning vnto the time appoynted and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seuentie thousand men †And when the Angel of Our Lord had stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem to destroy it our Lord had pitie vpon the affliction and sayd to the Angel that stroke the people It is sufficient now hold thy hand and the Angel of our Lord was beside the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid sayd to our Lord when he saw the Angel striking the people I am he that haue sinned I haue done wickedly these that are the sheepe what haue they done let thy hand I beseche thee be turned agaynst me and agaynst my fathers house †And Gad came to Dauid in that day and sayd to him Goe vp and build an altar to our Lord in the â—â—oore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid went vp according to the word of Gad which our Lord had coÌ„manded him †And Areuna looking perceiued the king and his seruantes to come towards him †And going forth he adored the king with his face bowing to the earth and sayd What is the cause that my lord the king cometh to his seruant To whom Dauid sayd That I may bye of thee the floore and build an altar to our Lord and the slaughter may cease which rageth among the people †And Areuna sayd to Dauid Let my lord the king take and offer as it pleaseth him thou hast the oxen for holocauste and the wayne and the yokes of the oxen for prouision of wood †Areuna gaue al thinges to the king and Areuna sayd to the king The Lord thy God receiue thy vowe †To whom the king answering sayd Not so as thou wilt but I wil bye it of thee at a price and I wil not offer to our Lord my God holocaustes geuen gratis Dauid therfore bought the floore and the oxen for fiftie sicles of siluer †and Dauid built there an altar to our Lord offered holocaustes and pacifiques and our Lord became merciful to the land and the plague was stayed from Israel THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES VVITH commemoration of king Dauids old age of his appointing a successour and of his death in the first and part of the second chapters this booke conteyneth two other principal partes the former is of king Salomon of his entrance to the kingdom his deuotion wisdom magnificence richesse great familie building of the Temple and other sumptuous palaces of his fal also into luxurie and idolatrie in the rest of the second chapter to the end of the eleuenth The other part sheweth the diuision of the kingdom onlie two tribes remayning to Roboam Salomons sonne with title of king of Iuda and tenne passing to Ieroboam his seruant called king of Israel So folow the seueral reignes of Abias Asa and Iosaphat kinges of Iuda and of Madab Baasa Ela Zambri Amri Achab with Iezabel and Ochosias kinges of Israel with the preaching miracles and other actes of Abias Elias Eliseus and other prophetes in the other eleuen chapters THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE FIRST OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. King Dauid waxing old Abisag a Sunamite is brought to him 5. Adonias pretending to reigne 11. Nathan and Bethâ—abee obtaine 28. that Salomon is declared and annointed King 41. VVherupon Adonias his folowers parting to their houses 50. fleeth to the altar in the tabernacle but vpon promise of safeâ—â—â— doth homage to Salomon AND king Dauid was old and had manie daies of age and when he was couered with clothes he was not warmed †His seruantes therfore sayd to him Let vs seeke for our lord the king a yong woman a virgin and let her stand before the king and cherishe him and sleepe in his bosome and warme our lord the king †They sought therfore a beautiful yong woman in al the costes of Israel and they found Abisag a Sunamite and brought her to the king †And the damsel was exceding beautiful and she slept with the king and serued him but the king did not know her †And Adonias the sonne of Haggith was eleuated saying I wil reigne And he made him self chariotes and horsemen and fiftie men that should runne before him †Neither did his father controwle him at any time saying Why didst thou this And he also was very beautiful the second borne after Absalom †And he had talke with Ioab the sonne of Saruia with Abiathar the priest who furthered Adonias side †But Sadoc the priest and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Nathan the prophet and Semei and Rei and the strength of Dauids armie was not with Adonias †Adonias therfore hauing immolated rammes and calues and al satte beastes beside the Stone zoheleth which was nigh to the Fountaine Rogel called al his brethren the sonnes of the king and al the men of Iuda the seruantes of the king †But Nathan the prophet and Banaias and al the strong ones and Salomon his brother he called not †Nathan therfore sayd to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon Hast thou not heard that Adonias the sonne of Haggith hath reigned and our lord Dauid is ignorant therof †Now therfore come take counsel of me and saue thy life and thy sonne Salomons †Goe and enter in to king Dauid and say to him Didst not thou my lord king sweare to me thy handmayd saying Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me and he shal sitte in my throne Why then reigneth Adonias †And whiles thou art yet speaking there with the king I wil come after thee and make vp thy wordes â€
compassed it ten cubites going about the lauatorie there were two rewes of chamfered forowed grauinges cast †And it stood vpon twelue oxen of which three looked to the North and three to the West and three to the South and three to the East and the sea was ouer them whose hinder parâ—â—â— were al â—id inward †And the thickenes of the lauatorie wâ—â— of â—lrâ—â— câ—â—â—â—s and the brimme therof as it were the brimme of a chalice and the leafe of crisped lilie it contayned two thousand bates †And he made ten brasen seete of foure cubites in length euerie foote and foure cubites in bredth and three cubites in height †And the verie worke it selfe of the feete was entergrauen and enterg 〈…〉 betwen the ioyntures †And betwen the litle crownes and the playtes lions and oxen and cherubs and in the ioyntures likewise aboue and vnder the lions and oxen as it were â—â—â—des of brasse hanging downe †And foure wheeles at euerie foote and axeltrees of brasse and at foure â—ides as it were litle shoulders vnder the lauatorie cast looking one against an other †The mouth also of the lauatorie was inward in the toppe of the head and that which appeared outward was of one cubite al round and together it had one cubite a halfe and in the corners of the pillers were diuers engrauinges and the middle enterpillers square not round †The foure wheeles also which were at the foure corners of a foote ioyned one to an other vnder the foote one wheele had in height a cubite and a halfe †And they were such wheeles as are accustomed to be made in a chariote and their axeltrees and spokes and strakes and naues al cast †For those foure litle shoulders also at euerie corner of one foote were cast out of the foote and ioyned together †And in the toppe of the foote was a certayne roundnes of halfe a cubite so wrought that the lauatorie might be put thereon haâ—â— the engrauinges therof and diuerse caruinges of it self 〈…〉 graued also in those fielinges which were of brasse and in the corners cherubs and lions and palmetrees as it wâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the similitude of a man standing that they semed not to be engrauen but put to round about †After this maner made he ten feete of one casting and measure like grauing 〈…〉 made also ten lauatories of brasse one lauatorie conteyned fourtie bates and it was of foure cubites also at euerie foote that is ten he put so manie lauatories †And he sette the ten feete fiue on the right side of the temple and fiue on the leaft and the sea â—e put on the right side of the temple against the East toward the South †Hiram therfore made cauldrons and thoueles and litle pottes and perfected al the worke of king Salomon in the temple of our Lord. †Two pyllers and two cordes of the litle heades vpon the litle heades of the pyllers and two litle nettes to couer the two cordes that were ouer the heades of the pyllers †And foure hundred pomegranates in the two nettes two rewes of pomegramates in euerie nette to couer the cordes of the litle heades which were vpon the heades of the pyllers †And tenne feete and tenne lauatories vpon the feete †And one sea and twelue oxen vnder the sea †And cauldrons and shouels and litle pottes Al the vessels that Hiram made to king Salomon in the house of our Lord were of bright latten †In the champayne countrie of Iordan did the king cast those thinges in a clay ground betwen Sacoth and Sarthan †And Salomon placed al the vessel but for the exceding great multitude the brasse could not be weyed †And Salomon made al the vessels in the house of our Lord an altar of gold and a table wherupon the loaues of proposition should be put of gold †and candlestickes of gold fiue on the right hand and fiue on the leaft against the oracle of pure gold and as it were lilie floures and lampes aboue of gold and golden snuffers †and water pottes and fleshehookes and phiales and morters and censars of most pure gold and the â—ndges of doores of the inner Sanctum sanctorum and of the doores of the house of the temple were of gold †And Salomon perfected al the worke that he did in the house of our Lord and brought in the thinges that Dauid his father had sanctified siluer and gold and the vessel and layed them in the treasures of the house of our Lord. CHAP. VIII The arke is brought in and the temple dedicated 10. a glorious cloyvde replenisheth it 14. Salomon prayeth long to God 55. blesseth the people 62. and manie victimes are offered in this solemne festiuitie THEN were gathered together al the ancientes of Israel with the princes of the tribes and the heades of the families of the children of Israel to king Salomon into Ierusalem that they might carrie the Arke of the couenant of our Lord out of the citie of Dauid that is out of Sion †And al Israel assembled to king Salomon in the moneth of Ethanim on a solemne day that is the seuenth moneth †And al the ancientes of Israel came and the priestes tooke the arke †and caried the arke of our Lord and the tabernacle of couenant and al the vessels of the Sanctuarie that were in the tabernacle and the Priestes and the Leuites caried them †And king Salomon and al the multitude of Israel which was assembled vnto him went with him before the arke and they immolated sheepe and oxen without estimation number †And the priestes brought in the arke of the couenant of our Lord into his place into the oracle of the temple into Sanctum sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs †For the cherubs spred their winges ouer the place of the arke and couered the arke and the barres therof aboue †And whereas the barres stood out and the endes of them appeared without in the Sanctuarie before the oracle they appeared no farder outward which also were there vntil this present day †And in the arke there was nothing els but two tables of stone which Moyses put in it in Horeb when our Lord made the couenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the Land of Aegypt †And it came to passe when the priestes were gone out of the Sanctuarie a clowde filled the house of our Lord †and the priestes could not stand and minister for the clowde for the glorie of our Lord had filled the house of our Lord. †Then sayd Salomon Our Lord sayd that he would dwel in a clowde †Building I haue built a house for thy habitation thy most firme throne for euer †And the king turned his face and blessed al the church of Israel for al the church if Israel stood †And Salomon sayd Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel who spake
might deliuer them into the handes of Moab †And Eliseus said to him The Lord of hostes liueth in whose sight I stand If I did not reuerence the face of Iosaphat the king of Iuda I would not certes haue harkened to thee nor looked on thee †But now bring me hither a plaier on instrumentes And when the player sang the hand of our Lord came vpon him and he said †Thus saith our Lord Make the chanel of this torrent diches and diches †For thus saith our Lord You shal not see winde nor raine and this chanel shal be filled with waters you shal drinke and your families your beastes †And this is a smal thing in the sight of our Lord moreouer he wil deliuer also Moab into your handes †And you shal strike euerie fensed citie and euerie principal citie and shal cut downe al fruiteful trees and shal stoppe vp al fountaines of waters and euerie goodlie field you shal couer with stones †It came to passe therfore in the morning when they vsed to offer the sacrifice and behold water came by the way of Edom and the ground was filled with waters †But al the Moabites hearing that the kinges were come vp to fight against them they called together al that were girded with a belt vpon them and they stoode in the borders †And rysing early in the morning and the sunne being now risen ouer against the waters the Moabites saw the waters ouer against them red as it were bloud †and said It is the bloud of the sword the kinges haue fought among them selues and are slaine one of an other now goe on forward to the pray Moab †And they went forward into the campe of Israel Moreouer Israel rysing vp stroke Moab but they fled before them They therfore that had ouercome came and stroke Moab †and destroyed the cities euerie principal field they filled euerie man casting stones and they stopt vp al the fountaines of waters and cut downe al trees that bare fruite so that there remained onlie brike walles and the citie was besette of the slingers and for a great part therof was strooken †Which when the king of Moab had seene to witte that the enemies had preuayled he tooke with him seuen hundred men that drew sword to breake in vpon the king of Edom and they could not †And taking his first begotten sonne that should haue reigned for him he offered him an holocaust vpon the wal and there was great indignation in Israel and forthwith they retyred from him and returned into their countrie CHAP. IIII. Eliseus so multiplieth a poore widowes oyle that she payeth her debtes and liueth of the rest 8. By his prayers a Sunamite Woman hath a sonne 18. which dying he rayseth to life 38. He taketh away the bitternes of coloquintida which by chance was put in the potte 42. and feedeth manie with few loaues AND a certayne woman of the wiues of the prophetes cried to Eliseus saying Thy seruant my husband is dead and thou knowest that thy seruant was one that feared God behold the creditour is come to take away my two sonnes to serue him †To whom Eliseus sayd What wilt thou that I doe for thee Tel me what hast thou in thy house But she answered I thy handmaid haue nothing in my house but a litle oyle to anoynt me withal †To whom he sayd Goe borrow of al thy neighbours emptie vessels not a few †And goe in and shut thy doore when thou art within thou and thy sonnes and powre therof into al these vessels and when they shal be ful thou shalt take them away †The woman therfore went and shut the doore vpon her and vpon her sonnes they brought her vessels and she powred in †And when the vessels were ful she sayd to her sonne Bring me yet a vessel And he answered I haue none And the oile stood †And she came and told the man of God And he sayde Goe sel the oyle and pay thy creditour and thou and thy sonnes liue of the rest †And there came a certayne day and Eliseus passed by Sunam and there was there a great woman which held him to eate bread and when he passed often that way he turned in to her to eate bread †Who sayd to her husband I perceiue that this is a holie man of God which passeth by vs often †bet vs therfore make him a litle chamber and sette him a litle bed in it and a table and a stoole and a candlesticke that when he cometh to vs he may tarie there †There came therfore a certayne day and coming he turned in to the chamber and rested there †And he sayd to Giezi his seruant Call this Sunamite Who when he had called her and she stoode before him †he sayd to his seruant Speake to her Behold thou hast diligently ministred to vs in al thinges what wilt thou that I doe for thee hast thou any busines and wilt thou that I speake to the king or the general of the warrefare Who answered I dwel in the middes of myne owne people †And he sayd What wil she then that I doe for her And Giezi sayd Aske not for she hath no sonne and her husband is old †He therfore cōmanded him to cal her who when she was called and stoode before the doore †he sayd to her At this tyme this self same houre if life accompanie thou shalt haue a sonne in thy wombe But she answered Doe not I besech thee my lord man of God doe not lie to thy handmayd †And the woman conceiued and brought forth a sonne in that time and in the self same houre that Eliseus had sayd †And the childe grewe And vpon a certaine day when going forth he went to his father vnto the reapers †he sayd to his father My head aketh my head aketh But he said to his seruant take him and bring him to his mother †who when he had taken him and brought him to his mother she sette him vpon her knees vntil noone and he dyed †And she went vp and laid him vpon the bed of the man of God and shut the doore and going forth †called her husband and sayd Send with me I besech thee one of the seruantes and an asse that I may runne to the man of God and returne †Who sayd to her For what cause doest thou goe to him The Calendes be not to day nor the Sabbath Who answered I wil goe †And she sadled the asse and commanded her seruant driue and make hast make no stay in going And doe that which I command thee †She therfore went forward and came to the man of God into mount Carmel and when the man of God saw her ouer against him he said to Giezi his seruant Behold that Sunamite †Goe therfore to meete her and say to her Is al wel about thee
euerie naile weighed fiftie sicles a peece the vpper chambers also he couered with gold †He made also in the house of Sanctum sanctorum two Cherubs of statuarie worke and he couered them with gold †The winges of the cherubs were extended twentie cubites so that one wing had fiue cubites and touched the wal of the house and the other hauing fiue cubites touched the wing of the other cherub †In like maner the wing of the other cherub had fiue cubites and touched the wal and his other wing of fiue cubites touched the wing of the other Cherub †Therfore the winges of both the cherubs were spred forth and were extended twentie cubites and they stoode vpright on their feete and their faces were turned to the vtter house †He made also a vele of hyacinth purple scarlet and silke woue in it cherubs †Before the doores also of the temple two pillers which had fiue and thirtie cubites in height moreouer their heades of fiue cubites †Moreouer also as it were litle chaynes in the oracle he put them to the heades of the pillers pomegranates also an hundred which he put betwen the litle chaynes †The pillers also them selues he put in the entrance of the temple one on the right hand and the other on the left that which was on the right hand he called Iachin and that on the left hand Boz CHAP. IIII. The formes of the brasen altar 2. of the lauatorie or Sea with figures of twelue oxen 6. of other tenne smal lauatories 7. tenne candlestickes 8. tenne tables and an hundred bassens a great hal for the Priestes 10. and other vessel and ornamentes of the Temple are described HE made also an altar of brasse of twentie cubites in length and of twentie cubites in bredth and of ten cubites in height †A Sea also cast ten cubites from brimme to brimme round in compasse it had fiue cubites in height and a corde of thirtie cubires did compasse it round about †There was also vnder it the similitude of oxen and certaine engrauinges of ten cubites on the outside compassed the bealie of the Sea as it were with two rewes †And the oxen were cast and the Sea it self was sette vpon the twelue oxen of the which three looked toward the North and other three to the West moreouer other three to the South and the three that remayned to the East hauing the Sea put vpon them and the hinder partes of the oxen were inward vnder the sea †Moreouer the thicknesse therof had the measure of a palme and the brimme therof was as it were the brimme of a chalice or of a crisped lilie and it held three thousand metretes †He made also ten lauatories and set fiue on the right hand and fiue on the left that they might wash in them al thinges that they would offer for holocaust moreouer in the Sea the priestes were washed †And he made also ten golden candlestickes according to the fashion which they were commanded to be made by and he set them in the temple fiue on the right hand fiue on the left †Moreouer also ten tables and he set them in the temple fiue on the right hand and fiue on the left Phials also of gold an hundred †He made also the court of the priestes and a great hal and doores in the hal which he couered with brasse †Moreouer he set the Sea on the right side agaynst the East toward the South †And Hiram made cauldrons and flesh hookes and phials and accomplished al the kinges worke in the house of God †that is to say two pillers and the chapiters and the heades and asit were certayne litle nettes which should couer the heades ouer the chapiters †Pomegranates also foure hundred and two litle nettes soe that two rewes of the pomegranates were ioyned to ech litle nette which couered the pommels and the heades of the pillers †He made feete also and lauatories which he put vpon the feete †one sea also twelue oxen vnder the sea †And the cauldrons and flesh hookes and phials Al the vessels did Hiram his father make for Salomon in the house of our Lord of most pure brasse †In the countrie of Iordan did the king cast them in a clay ground bewen Socot and Saredatha †And the multitude of vessels was innumerable so that the weight of the brasse was not knowen †And Salomon made al the vessels of the house of God and the golden altar and the tables vpon them the loaues of proposition †the candlestickes also with their lampes to giue light before the oracle according to the rite of most pure gold †and certayne florishing thinges and lampes and golden tonges al were made of most fine gold †The vessels also of persume and censars and phials and litle mortars of most pure gold And he graued the doores of the inner temple that is in Sancta sanctorum and the doores of the temple without of gold And so al the worke was finishd which Salomon made in the house of our Lord. CHAP. V. Manie giftes are offered 4. The Arke is brought with great solennitie into the Temple 6. Innumerable hostes are offered 11. with excellent musick the Temple is replenished with the glorie of God SALOMON therfore brought in al the thinges that Dauid his father had vowed the siluer and gold and al the vessels he put in the treasures of the house of God †After which thinges he gathered together al the ancientes of Israel and al the princes of the tribes and the heades of families of the children of Israel into Ierusalem to bring the Arke of the couenant of our Lord from the Citie of Dauid which is Sion †There came therfore vnto the king al the men of Israel in the solemne day of the seuenth moneth †And when al the ancientes of Israel were come the Leuites caried the Arke †and brought it in and al the furniture of the tabernacle Moreouer the Priestes with the Leuites did carrie the vessels of the Sanctuarie which were in the tabernacle †And king Salomon and al the assemblie of Israel and al that were gathered before the Arke immolated rammes and oxen without anie number for so great was the multitude of victimes †And the priestes brought in the Arke of the couenant of our Lord into his place that is to the oracle of the temple into Sancta sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs †so that the cherubs spred their winges ouer the place wherin the Arke was set and couered the Arke it selfe with his barres †And the heades of the barres wherwith the Arke was caried because they were a litle longer appeared before the oracle but if a man had beene a litle outward he could not see them The Arke therfore was there vntil this present day †And there was nothing in the
hostes of sacrifices in the solemne feastes 14. disposeth the Priestes and Leuites in their offices as Dauid had ordained 17. and sendeth shippes to fetch gold from Ophir AND twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon built the house of our Lord and his owne house †he built the cities which Hiram had geuen to Salomon and made the children of Israel dwel there †He went also into Emath Suba and obteyned it †And he built Palmira in the desert and he built other cities very wel fensed in Emath †And he built Beth horon the vpper and Beth horon the nether walled cities hauing gates and barrigates and lockes †Balaath also and al the strongest cities that were Salomons and al the cities of the chariotes and the cities of the horsemen Al thinges whatsoeuer Salomon would disposed he built in Ierusalem and in Libanus and in al the land of his dominion †Al the people that was leaft of the Hetheites and Amorrheites and Pherezeites and Heueites and Iebuseites which were not of the stocke of Israel †of their children and of the posteritie which the children of Israel had not slaine Salomon subdewed to be tributaries vntil this day †Moreouer of the children of Israel he sette not to serue the kinges workes for they were men of warre and the chiefe captaines and princes of his chariotes and horsemen †And al the princes of king Salomons armie were two hundred fiftie which taught the people †But the daughter of Pharao he remoued from the citie of Dauid into the house which he had built for her For the king sayd My wife shal not dwel in the house of Dauid the king of Israel because it is sanctified because the Arke of our Lord is entered into it †Then Salomon offered holocaustes to our Lord vpon the altar of our Lord which he had built before the porch †that euerie day there might be offering on it according to the precept of Moyses in the Sabbathes and in the Calendes and in the festiual daies thrise a yere that is to say in the Solemnitie of Azymes and in the Solemnitie of weekes and in the Solemnitie of tabernacles †And he appoynted according to the disposition of Dauid his father the offices of the Priestes in their ministeries the Leuites in their order that they should prayse and minister before the Priestes according to the rite of euerie day the porters in their diuisions by gate and gate for so Dauid the man of God had commanded †Neither did they trangresse of the kinges commandementes as wel the Priestes as the Leuites touching al thinges that he had commanded and in the custodies of the treasures †Salomon had al expenses prepared from the day that he founded the house of our Lord vntil the day wherein he perfitted it †Then went Salomon into Asiongaber and into Ailath to the coast of the Red sea which is in the Land of Edom. †And Hiram sent vnto him by the handes of his seruantes shippes and cunning mariners and they went with Salomons seruantes into Ophir and they tooke from thence foure hundred fiftie talentes of gold and brought it to king Salomon CHAP. IX The Queene of Saba admireth Salomons wisdom 9. giueth and receiueth presents 13. Of the great store of treasure which is yearely brought in 13. king Salomon maketh pretious armour 17. a throne 20. and plate 24. Other kinges send him giftes so he abundeth in glorie and riches 29. After fourtie yeares reigne he dieth and his sonne Roboam succedeth THE queene of Saba also when she had heard the fame of Salomon came to proue him in hard propositions in Ierusalem with great riches and camels which caried spices and very much gold and pretious stones And when she was come to Salomon she spake to him what thinges soeuer were in her hart †And Salomon expounded to her al thinges that she propounded neither was there anie thing that he made not playne vnto her †Who after she saw to witte the wisedom of Salomon and the house which he had built †moreouer also the meates of his table and the habitations of his seruantes and the offices of his ministers and their garmentes the cupbearers also and their garmentes and the victimes which he immolated in the house of our Lord there was no spirit in her anie longer she was soe astonied †And she sayd to the king The word is true which I heard in my countrie of thy vertues and wisdom †I did not beleue them that told it vntil my self was come and mine eies had seene and I had proued scarce the half part of thy wisedom to haue beene told me thou hast passed the fame with thy vertues †Blessed are thy men and blessed are thy seruantes which assist before thee at al time and heare thy wisedom †Be the Lord thy God blessed who would ordayne thee ouer his throne king of the Lord thy God Because God loueth Israel and wil preserue it for euer therfore hath he sette thee king ouer it to doe iudgementes and iustice †And she gaue to the king an hundred twentie talentes of gold and spices exceding much and most pretious stones there were not such spices as these which the Queene of Saba gaue to King Salomon †But the seruantes of Hiram also with the seruantes of Salomon brought gold from Ophir and Thymtrees and most pretious stones †wherof the king made to witte of the Thymtrees stayers in the house of our Lord and in the kinges house harpes also and psalteries for the singing men neuer were there seene such trees in the Land of Iuda †And king Salomon gaue to the Queene of Saba al thinges that she would and that she asked and manie moe thinges then she brought to him who returning went into her countrie with her seruantes †And the weight of the gold that was brought to Salomon euerie yeare was six hundred sixtie six talentes of gold †beside that summe which the legates of diuers nations and the merchantes were accustomed to bring and al the kinges of Arabia and the Dukes of the landes which brought gold and siluer to Salomon †King Salomon therfore made two hundred golden speares of the summe of six hundred peces of gold which were spent in euerie speare †also three hundred golden shieldes of three hundred peces of gold with which euerie shield was couered and the king put them in the armarie which was besette with a wood †The king also made a great throne of iâ—orie and couered it with most fyne gold †Six steppes also wherwith the going vp was to the throne and a foote stoole of gold and two litle armes on either side and two lions standing by the litle armes †yea and other twelue litle lions standing vpon the steppes on both sides there was not such a throne in al kingdomes †Al the vessels also of the kinges table were of gold
not whither I went or what I did yea and to the Iewes and the Priestes and the nobles and the magistrates and the rest that did the worke vntil then I had shewed nothing †And I sayd to them You know the affliction wherin we are because Ierusalem is made desolate and the gates thereof are consumed with fire Come and let vs build the walles of Ierusalem and let vs be no longer a reproch †And I shewed them the hand of my God that it was good with me and the kings wordes which he had spoken to me and I sayd Let vs rise and let vs build And their handes were incouraged in good †But Sanaballat the Horonite and Tobias the seruant an Ammanite and Gosem an Arabian heard of it and they scorned vs and despysed vs and sayd What is this thing that you doe Why do you rebel against the king †And I answered them and sayd to them The God of heauen he helpeth vs and we are his seruants let vs rise and build but you haue no part nor iustice nor memorie in Ierusalem CHAP. III. The High Priest and others beginne to repaire Ierusalem streingthning it with an vttermost 19. middle 28. and innermost wall with towres and gates AND Eliasib the high Priest arose and his bretheren the Priestes and they built the gate of the flocke they sanctified it and set the doores therof and vnto the towre of an hundred cubites they sanctified it vnto the towre of Hananeel †And besides him did the men of Iericho build and besides him built Zachur the sonne of Amri †But the fishgate the children of Asnaa did builde they couered it and set vp the doores therof and the lockes and barres And besides them built Marimuth the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Accas †And besides him built Mosollam the sonne of Bazachias the sonne of Merezebel and besides them built Sadoc the sonne of Baana †And beside them builded the Thecuenes but their great men did not put vnder their neckes in the worke of their Lord. †And Ioiada the sonne of Phasea and Mosollam the sonne of Besodia built the old-gate couered it and set vp the doores therof and the lockes and barres †And beside them built Meltias a Gabaonite and Iadon a Meronathite men of Gabaon and Maspha for the duke that was in the country beyond the Riuer †And beside him built Ezrel the sonne of Araia a goldsmith and beside him built Ananias the sonne of a Pigmentarie and they leift Ierusalem vnto the wal of the broder streate †And beside him built Raphaia the sonne of Hur prince of the streate of Ierusalem †And beside them Iedaia the sonne of Haromaph against his house and beside him built Hattus the sonne of Hasebomia †The halfe part of the streate built Melchias the sonne of Herem and Hasub the sonne of Phahath Moab and the towre of the fornaces †And beside him built Sellum the sonne of Alohes prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ierusalem he and his daughters †And the gate of the valley built Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoe they built it and sette vp the dores therof and the lockes and barres and a thousand cubires in the wal vnto the gate of the dunghil †And the gate of the dunghil built Melchias the sonne of Rechab the prince of the streate of Bethacaram he built it and sette vp the dores therof and the lockes and barres †And the gate of the fountayne Sellum builded the sonne of Colhoza prince of the village of Maspha he built it and couered it and set vp the doores therof the lockes barres and the walles of the poole of Siloe vnto the kings gardē and vnto the steppes that goe downe from the citie of Dauid †After him built Nehemias the sonne of Azboc prince of the halfe part of the streate of Bethsur as far as ouer against the sepulchre of Dauid and vnto the poole that is built with great worke and vnto the house of the valiants †After him the Leuites builded Rehum the sonne of Benni After him built Hasebias prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ceila in his streate †After him built their bretheren Bauai the sonne of Enadad prince of the halfe part of Ceila †And beside him built Azer the sonne of Iosue the prince of Maspha the second measure against the visiting of the most sure corner †After him in the mount built Baruch the sonne of Zachai the second measure from the corner vnto the gate of the house of Eliasib the high Priest †After him built Merimuth the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Haccus the secōd measure from the gate of the house of Eliasib as far as the house of Eliasib extended †And after him built the Priests men of the champayne of Iordan †After him built Beniamin Hasub against their house after him built Azarias the sonne of Masias the sonne of Ananias against his house †After him built Bennui the sonne of Hanadad the second measure from the house of Azarias vnto the bending and vnto the corner †Phalel the sonne of Ozi against the bending and the towre which appeareth from out of the kings high house that is in the court of the prison after him Phadaia the sonne of Pharos †And the Nathineites dwelt in Ophel as far as ouer against the gate of waters toward the East and the towre that stoode out †After him the Thecuenes builded the second measure ouer against from the great and eminent towre vnto the wall of the temple †And vpward to the gate of horses the Priestes built euery man against his house †After them built Sadoc the sonne of Emmer against his house And after him built Semaia the sonne of Sechenias keeper of the East gate †After him built Hanania the sonne of Selemia and Hanun the sonne of Seleph the sixth the second measure after him built Mosollam the sonne of Barachias against his treasurie After him Melchias a goldsmith sonne vnto the house of the Natheneites and of them that sold old stuffe against the iudgement gate and vnto the vpper chamber of the corner †And within the vpper chamber of the corner in the gate of the flocke the goldsmithes and marchants builded CHAP. IIII. Notwithstanding the enimies rage and oppose against the building of walles 4. the Iewes build with one hand and hold their swordes in the other Nehemias encorageth them and the worke proceedeth AND it came to passe when Sanaballat had heard that we builded the wal he was very angrie and being moued excedingly he scorned the Iewes †and sayd before his bretheren and the multitude of the Samaritanes What doe the sillie Iewes Wil the gentiles let them alone Shal they sacrifice and accomplish in one day Why are they able to build vp the stones out of the heapes of dust that are burnt †Yea Tobias also
Say ye to God How terrible are thy workes ô Lord in the multitude of thy strength thine enimies shal lie to thee †Let al the earth adore thee and sing to thee let it sing a psalme to thy name †Come ye and see the workes of God terrible in counsels ouer the chidren of men †Who turneth the sea into drie land in the riuer they shal passe on foote there we shal reioyce in him †Who ruleth in his strength for euer his eyes looke vpon the gentiles they that exasperate him let them not be exalted in themselues †Ye Gentiles blesse our God and make the voice of his prayse hearde †Who hath put my soule in life and hath not geuen my feete to be moued †Because thou hast proued vs ô God by fire thou hast tried vs as siluer is tried †Thou hast brought vs into a snare thou hast laide tribulations on our backe thou hast set men vpon our heades †We haue passed through fire and water and thou hast brought vs out into refreshing †I wil goe into thy house with holocaustes I wil render thee my vowes †which my lippes haue distinguished And my mouth hath spoken in my tribulation †Holocaustes with marrow wil I offer to thee with incense of rammes I wil offer to thee oxen with bucke goates †Come ye heare and I wil tel al ye that feare God what great things he hath done for my soule †To him haue I cried with my mouth and haue exulted vnder my tongue †If I haue beheld iniquitie in my hart our Lord wil not heare †Therfore hath God heard and hath attended to the voice of my petition †Blessed be God who hath not remoued my prayer and his mercie from me PSALME LXVI The prophet prayeth for and withal foreshoweth the propagation of the Church of Christ Vnto the end in hymes a Psalme of Canticle to Dauid GOd haue mercie vpon vs and blesse vs illuminate his countenance vpon vs and haue mercie on vs. †That we may know thy way vpon earth in al nations thy saluation †Let peoples ô God confesse to thee let al peoples confesse to thee †Let nations be glad reioice because thou iudgest peoples in equitie and the nations in earth thou doest direct †Let peoples ô God confesse to thee let al peoples confesse to thee †the earth hath yelded her fruite God our God blesse vs †God blesse vs and let al the endes of the earth feare him PSALME LXVII Notwithstanding great persecutions the Church prospereth 10. Especially in the new testament by Apostolical function 18. ministerie of Angels Christs Ascension coming of the Holie Ghost 31. confirming the faithful repressing the insolent and conuerting manie 35. For al which the prophet inuiteth al men to praise God Vnto the end a Psalme of Canticle to Dauid himself LEt God arise and let his enimies be dispersed and let them that hate him flee from his face †As smoke vanisheth let them vanish away as waxe melteth at the presence of fire so let sinners perish at the presence of God †And let the iust make merrie and reioyce in the sight of God and let them be delighted in mirth †Sing to God say a Psalme to his name make way to him who mounteth vpon the west Lord is his name Reioyce ye in his syght they shal be trubled at the presence of him †the father of orphanes and iudge of widowes God in his holie place †God that maketh men to inhabite of one manner in a house That bringeth forth them that be bound in strengh likewise them that exasperate that dwel in sepulchers †O God when thou wentest forth in the sight of thy people when thou didst passe through the desert †The earth was moued and the heauens also distilled at the presence of the God of Sina at the face of the God of Israel †Voluntarie rayne shalt thou seperat ô God to thine inheritance and it was weakned but thou hast persited it †Thy liuing creatures shal dwel in it thou hast prepared in thy swetnes for the poore ô God †Our Lord shal geue the word to them that euanglize with great powre †The king of hoastes the beloued of the beloued and to the beautie of the house to diuide the spoyles †If ye sleepe among the middest of the lottes the winges of a doue layde ouer with siluer and the hinder parts of her backe in the palenes of gold †Whiles the heauenlie discerneth kings ouer her with snow they shal be made white in Selmon †“ The mountane of God a fat mountane A mountane crudded as cheese a fatte mountane †“ why suppose you crudded mountanes A mountane in which it hath wel pleased God to dwel therin for in dede our Lord wil dwel euen to the end †The chariote of God is ten thousand folde thousands of them that reioyce our Lord in them in Sina in the holie place †Thou art ascended on hygh thou hast taken captiuitie thou hast receiued gifts in men for euen those that do not beleue our Lord God to inhabite †Blessed be our Lord day by day the God of our saluations wil make vs a prosperous iourney †Our God is the God of sauing and the issues of death are of our Lord our Lord. †But yet God stil breake the heads of his enimies the hearie croune of them that walke in their sinnes Our Lord Said Out of Basan I wil conuert I wil conuert into the depth of the sea †That thy foote may be dipped in bloude the tongue of thy dogges made redde with * the same bloud of the enimies †They haue seene thy entringes in ô God the entrings of my God of my King Who is in the holie place †Princes came before ioyned with them that sang in the middes of young wemen plaing on tymbrels †In churches blesse ye God our Lord of the fountains of Israel †There Beniamin a youngman in excesse of minde The Princes of Iuda their leaders the Princes of Zabulon the Princes of Nephthali †Command thy strength ô God confirme this ô God which thou hast wrought in vs. †From thy temple in Ierusalem kinges shal offer giftes to thee †Rebuke the wilde beasts of the reede the congregation of bulles in the kine of thy peoples that they may exclude them which are tried with siluer Dissipate the nations that wil warres †Legates shal come out of Aegypt Aethiopia shal prevent his handes
that neither running is of the swift nor warre of the strong nor bread of the wise nor riches of the lerned nor grace of the artificers but time and chance in al. †Man knoweth not his owne end but as fishes are taken with the hooke and as birdes are caught with the snare so men are taken in the euil time when it shal sudenly come vpon them †This wisdom also I haue sene vnder the sunne and haue proued it to be very great †A litle citie and few men in it there came against it a great king and compassed it and builded fortes round about and the siege was perfired †And there was found in it a man poore and wise and he deliuered the citie by his wisdom and no man afterward remembred that pooreman †And I sayd that wisdom is better then streingth how then was the wisdom of the pooreman contemned his wordes were not heard †The wordes of the wise are heard in silence more then the crie of a prince among fooles †Better is wisdom then weapons of warre and he that shal offend in one point shal lose manie good thinges CHAP. X. Considering the great difference betwen wisdom and follie 4. it behoueth to resist vehement tentations diligently 5. As when euil ignorant men haue auctoritie ouer the wise 8. The wicked often fal into their owne snares 10. are hard yet not vnpossible to be corrected 11. Detracters are like serpents 12. wise graue princes are profitable childish are hurtful to the commonwealth 18. which by their negligence tendeth to ruine 20. yet subiectes ought not to iudge euil of them FLIES dying marre the sweetnes of ointment Wisdom and glorie is more precious then a litle and temporal follie †The hart of a wiseman is in his righthand and the hart of a foole is in his lefthand †Yea and the foole walking in the way wheras himself is vnwise estemeth al men fooles †If the spirite of him that hath powre ascend vpon thee leaue not thy place because carefulnes wil make the greatest sinnes to cease †There is an euil that I haue sene vnder the sunne as it were by errour proceding from the face of the prince †a foole set in high dignitie and the rich to sitte beneth †I haue sene seruants vpon horses and princes walking on the ground as seruants †He that diggeth a pitte shal fal into it and he that breaketh the hedge a serpent shal bite him †He that remoueth stones shal be afflicted in them and he that cutteth trees shal be wounded of them †If the iron shal be blunt and that not as before but shal be made blunt it shal be sharpened by great labour and after industrie shal wisdom solow †If a serpent bite in silence nothing lesse then it hath he that detracteth seoâ—etly †The wordes of the mouth of a wiseman grace and the lippes of the vnwise shal throw him downe headlong †The beginning of his wordes is follie and the later end of his mouth is most wicked errour †A foole multiplieth wordes A man is ignorant what hath bene before him and what shal be after him who can tel him †The labour of fooles shal afflict them that know not to goe into the cittie †“ Woe to thee ô land whose king is a childe and whose princes eate in the morning †Blessed is the land whose king is noble whose princes eate in their time to refection and not to riotousnes †In slouthfulnes the roofe of the house shal goe to ruine in the infirmitie of the handes the house shal droppe through †They make bread for laughter and wine that liuing they may make merie and to money al thinges obey †In thy cogitation detract not from the king and in the secret of thy chamber curse not the richman because euen the birdes of the ayre wil carie thy voice and he that hath winges wil declare the sentence ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 16 VVoe to thee o land vvhose king is a childe S. Ierom as in most part of his commentaries vpon this booke expoundeth this passage in two senses simply according to the first apparance of the letter and mystically concerning the Church The wiseman semeth in dede sayth he to reproue the principalitie of yongmen and to condemne luxurious iudges for that in the one by want of age is infirme wisdom in the other mature age is weakened by delicacies And contrary wise he approueth a prince of good partes liberal education commendeth those Iudges which do not preferre voluptuousnes before publique affayres but after great labour and administration of the commonwealth are constrained as by necessitie to take meate Yet to me saith this great Doctor something more sacred semeth to lye hidde in the letter that in Scripture they are called yongmen who forsake old auctoritie and contemne ancient precepts of forefathers who neglecting Gods commandment desire to establish traditions of men Touching which points our Lord threatneth Israel by Isaias for that this people hath refused the water of Siloe that runneth with silence and hath turned away the old fishpond choosing the streames of Samaria and gulfes of Damascus I wil geue yongmen to be their princes and deluders shal rule ouer them Read Daniel Thou shalt finde God ancient of dayes Read the Apocalips of S. Iosu Thou shalt finde the head of our Sauiour white as snow and as white wool Ieremie also because he was wise and grauitie was reputed in his wisdom was forbid to cal himself a childe VVoe therfore to the land whose king is the diuel who alwayes couering nouelties rebelled in Absalom against the father VVoe to that land whose Iudges and Princes loue the pleasures of this vvorld VVho vntil the day of death come say Let vs eate and drinke for to morow we shal dye Contrarivvise blessed is the land of the Church vvhose King is Christ the Sonne of the freeborne descending from Abraham Isaac and Iacob the stock of Prophetes and of al Saintes ouer vvhom sinne ruled not and for that cause they vvere truly free of vvhom vvas borne the holie Virgin Marie more free hauing no shrubbe nor branch out of the side but her vvhole fruite sprungforth into a floure saying in the Canticles I am the floure of the filde the lillie of the valles The princes also of this land are the Apostles and al sainctes vvho haue their king the sonne of the freeborne the sonne of the freevvoman not of the bondvvoman Agar but borne of the freedom of Sara Neither do they eate in the morning nor quickly For they seke not pleasure in this present vvorld but shal eate in their due time vvhen the time of revvard shal come and they shal eate in fortitude and not in confusion Al the good of this present vvorld is confusion but of the future vvorld is perpetual fortitude Thus farre
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie †They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice †Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes †Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes †They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace †For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes †We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead †We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. †For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen †to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying †And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in †And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement †And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him †He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele †As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes †And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth †and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. †This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee †Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee †And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side †Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee †The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. †Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie †Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes †For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee †And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee †And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought †For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation †The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie †And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel †For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a â—oy vnto generation and generation †and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob †For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice †Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates †Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie †Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended †And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
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
holie law of God they were murdered †and there was made great wrath vpon the people excedingly CHAP. II. Mathathias with his fiue sonnes lamenteth the calamities of the people 8. and prophanation of holie thinges 15. resisteth the kings wicked decrees 23. killeth an idolater and the kings commissioner so flyeth into the mountaines with others 31. Manie are slaine not resisting in battel on the sabbath dayes 40. Vpon further consideration the rest defend themselues in the sabbath 45. kil their enimies and destroy idolatrie 49. Mathathias dying exhorteth his sonnes to be zelous in the law 65. appoynting Simon their counseler and Iudas their capitaine IN those dayes arose Mathathias the sonne of Iohn the sonne of Simeon priest of the sonnes of Ioarib from Ierusalem and he sate in the mountayne of Modin †and he had fiue sonnes Iohn who was surnamed Gaddis †and Simon who was surnamed Thasi †and Iudas who was called Machabeus †and Eleazar who was surnamed Abaron and Ionathan who was surnamed Apphus †These saw the euils that were done in the people of Iuda and in Ierusalem †And Mathathias sayd Wo is me wherfore was I borne to see the affliction of my people and the affliction of the holie citie and to sitte there when it is geuen in the handes of the enemies †The holie places are come into the hand of strangers the temple therof as an ignoble man †The vessels of her glorie are caried away captiue her old men are murdered in the streets and her youngmen are fallen by the sword of the enemies †What nation hath not inherited her kingdom and hath not obteyned her spoiles †Al her beautie is taken away She that was free is made a seruant †And loe our holies and out beautie and our glorie is desolate and the Nations haue defiled them †Whereto then is it for vs yet to liue †And Mathathias rent his garments his sonnes and they couered themselues with heareclothes and lamented excedingly †And there came thither they that were sent from king Antiochus to compel them that were fled into the citie of Modin to immolate and to burne frankincense and to depart from the law of God †And manie of the people of Israel consenting came to them but Mathathias and his sonnes stood constantly †And they that were sent from Antiochus answering sayd to Mathathias Thou art the prince and most honorable and great in this citie and adorned with sonnes and bretheren †Therfore come thou first and doe the kings commandement as al Nations haue done and the men of Iuda and they that are remayning in Ierusalem thou shalt be and thy sonnes among the kings frends amplified with gold and siluer and manie giftes †And Mathathias answered sayd with a lowde voice Although al Nations obey king Antiochus that euerie man reuolt from the seruice of the law of his fathers and consent to his commandements †I and my sonnes and my bretheren wil obey the law of our fathers †God be merciful vnto vs it is not profitable for vs to forsake the law and the iustices of God †we wil not heare the wordes of king Antiochus neither wil we sacrifice transgressing the commandments of our law to go an other way †And as he ceased to speake these words there came a certayne lewe in the eyes of al to sacrifice to the idols vpon the altar in the citie of Modin according to the kings commandment †And Mathathias saw and was sorie and his reynes trembled and his furie was kindled according to the iudgement of the law and flying vpon him he slew him vpon the altar †yea and the man whom king Antiochus had sent which compelled them to immolate he slewe in that verie time and destroyed the altar †and zeled the law as did Phinees to Zamri the sonne of Salomi †And Mathathias cried out with a lowde voice in the citie saying Euerie one that hath zele of the law establishing his testament let him comeforth after me †And he fled himself and his sonnes into the mountaynes and left al thinges whatsoeuer they had in the citie †Then came downe manie seeking iudgement and iustice into the desert †and they sate there them selues and their children and their wiues and their cattel because the euils ouerflowed vpon them †And it was reported to the kings men and to the armie that was in Ierusalem in the citie of Dauid that certayne men which dissipated the kings commandment were departed into secrete places in the desert and manie were gone after them †And forthwith they went forwards towards them and set battel against them in the day of the Sabbaths †and they sayd to them Doe you resist now also as yet comeforth and doe accordidg to the word of king Antiochus and you shal liue †And they sayd We wil not come forth neither wil we doe the kings word to pollute the day of the Sabbaths †And they hastened battel against them †And they answered them not neither did they cast a stone at them nor stopped the secrete places †saying Let vs dye al in our simplicitie and heauen and earth shal be witnesses vpon vs that you vniustly destroy vs. †And they gaue them battel on the Sabbaths and there died they their wiues their children and their cattel euen to a thousand soules of men †And Mathathias vnderstood it and his freinds and they had lamentation vpon them excedingly †And euerie man sayd to his neighbour If we shal al doe as our bretheren haue done and shal not fight against the heathen for our liues and our iustifications now wil they quickly destroy vs from the earth †And they thought in that day saying Euerie man whosoeuer shal come vnto vs in battel on the day of the Sabbaths let vs fight against him and we wil not al dye as our bretheren died in secrete places †Then was there gathered to them the synagoge of the Asside ans strong of force out of Israel euerie voluntarie in the law †and al that fled from the euils were added to them were made a strength to them †And they gathered an armie and stroke the sinners in their wrath and the wicked men in their indignation and the rest fled to the nations to escape †And Mathathias went round about and his freindes and they destroyed the altars †and they circumcided the vncircumcised children as manie as they found in the costs of Israel and in strength †And they persecuted the children of pride and the worke prospered in their handes †and they obteyned the law out of the handes of the nations and out of the handes of the kinges they gaue not the horne to the sinner †And the dayes of Mathathias approched to dye he sayd to his sonnes Now is pride strengthned and chastisement and the time of
captiue from the land of Iuda in al my kingdom I dismisse free for nothing that al may be discharged also from tributes of their cattel †And al the solemne dayes and the sabbaths and the new moones and the dayes appointed and three dayes before the solemne day and three dayes after the solemne day let them al be of immunitie and remission to al the Iewes that are in my kingdom †and no man shal haue powre to do any thing and to make businesses against any of them in any cause †And let there be inrolled of the Iewes in the kinges armie to the number of thirtie thousand men and allowance shal be geuen them as behoueth to al the kings bands and of them there shal be ordayned certaine that shal be in the fortresses of the great king †and of these there shal be appoynted ouer the affayres of the kingdom that are done of trust and let there be princes of them and let them walke in their owne lawes as the king hath commanded in the land of Iuda †And the three cities that are added to Iurie of the countrie of Samaria let them be accounted with Iurie that they may be vnder one and obey no other powre but the high priestes †Prolomais and the confines therof which I haue geuen for a gift to the holies that are in Ierusalem to the necessarie charges of the holie thinges †And I geue euerie yeare fiftene thousand sicles of siluer of the kings accounts that belong to me †and al that is aboue which they had not rendred that were ouer the affayres the yeares before from this time they shal geue it to the workes of the house †And beside these fiue thousand sicles of siluer which they receiued of the account of the holies euerie yeare and let these perteyne to the priests that execute the ministerie †And whosoeuer flee into the temple that is in Ierusalem in al the coasts therof in the kings danger for matter let them be dismissed al thinges that they haue in my kingdom let them haue it free †And to build or repayre the workes of the holie places the charges shal be geuen of the kings account †and to build the walles in Ierusalem and to fortifie them round about the charges shal be geuen of the kings account and to build the walles in Iurie †But as Ionathas and the people heard these wordes they beleued them not nor receiued them because they remembred the great mischife that he had done in Israel and had afflicted them excedingly †And their liking was toward Alexander because he had bene the first mouer of the wordes of peace vnto them and him they ayded al dayes †And king Alexander gathered a great armie and moued the campe nere to Demetrius †And the two kinges ioyned battel and the armie of Demetrius fled and Alexander pursewed him and vrged them sore †And the battel grew very sore til the sunne went downe and Demetrius was slaine in that day †And Alexander sent legates to Ptolomee king of Aegypt according to these wordes saying †BECAVSE I am returned into my kingdom and am set in the seate of my fathers and haue obteyned the princedom and haue destroyed Demetrius and possessed our countrie †and haue ioyned battel with him and he is destroyed him self his campe by vs and we sit in the seate of his kingdom †and now let vs make amitie one with an other and geue me thy daughter to wife and I wil be thy sonne in law and I wil geue thee gifts and to her dignitie †And king Ptolomee answered saying HAPPIE is the day wherin thou art returned to the land of thy fathers and art set in the seate of their kingdom †And now I wil doe to thee that which thou hast writen but meete me at Ptolemais that we may see one an other and I may despouse her to thee as thou hast sayd †And Ptolomee went out of Aegypt he and Cleopatra his daughter and he came to Ptolomais in the yeare an hundred threescore and two †And Alexander the king mette him and he gaue him Cleopatra his daughter and he made her mariage at Ptolomais as kinges in great glorie †And king Alexander wrote to Ionathas that he should come to meete him †And he went with glorie to Ptolomais and he mette there the two kinges and he gaue them much siluer and gold and gifts and he found grace in their sight †And there assembled against him pestilent men of Israel wicked men soliciting against him and the king attended not to them †And he commanded Ionathas to be changed of his garments and that he should be clothed with purple and so they did And the king placed him to sit with him self †And he sayd to his princes Goe ye out with him into the middes of the citie proclame that no man solicite against him for any matter and that no man be trublesome vnto him for any cause †And it came to passe as they that solicited saw his glorie that was published him couered with purple they al fled †and the king magnified him and wrote him amongst his chiefe freindes and made him Duke and partaker of the princedom †And Ionathas returned into Ierusalem with peace and ioy †In the yeare an hundreth sixtie fiue came Demetrius the sonne of Denetrius from Crete into the land of his fathers †And Alexander the king heard it and he was verie sorie and returned to Antioche †And Demetrius the king made Apollonius general who was ruler of Coelesiria he gathered a great armie came to Iamnia and he sent to Ionathas the high priest †saying Thou onlie resistest vs and I am brought into derision and into reproch because thou doest exercise powre against vs in the mountains †Now therfore if thou trust in thy forces come downe to vs into the plaine let vs compare there one with an other because with me is the force of battels †Aske and learne who I am and the rest that ayde me who also say that your foote can not stand before our face because twise haue thy fathers bene put to flight in their owne land †and now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen so great an armie in the plaine where is no stone nor rocke nor place to flee †But as Ionathas heard the wordes of Apollonius he was moued in minde and he chose tenne thousand men and went forth from Ierusalem Simon his brother mette him to ayde him †And they moued the campe to Ioppe and it shut him out of the citie because the garison of Apollonius was in Ioppe and he assaulted it †And they that were in the citie being put in great feare opened to him and Ionathas obteyned Ioppe †And Apollonius heard it he tooke three thousand horsemen and a great armie †And
answer :: Euil wordes for curteous vsage heret o sore and for late gentil intreating by messengers :: Things tyeâ— in bundels are stronger and more secure then single and loose :: Dauid is resolute and often repeteth that it is not lawful for priuate subiectes to kil their prince no although him selfe was annointed to succede :: Gods prouidence sent this extraordinary sleepe and inspired Dauid to doe this fact for more iustification of his innocencie :: These countries were neither subiect to the Philistijms not to the Israelites and were also of those nations whom God had coÌ„manded to destâ—roy dwelling within the land of Chanaan Deut 25. The fourth part Of the ruine of Saul and exaltation of Dauid :: Not manie but one excellent person an old man come lie in apparel Saul adored not Samuel with diuine honour but with dulia reuerencedue to a blessed soule * â—iadagâ— cognouit Luevv :: In state of the dead in an other world not in the same particular state S. Augustin opinion whether Samuele soule appeared or no. More probable that his verie soule appeared not compelled by the euil spirite but obeying Gods secrete ordinance First proose 2 3 4 â— to â— pag. 210. Soules sometimes appeare after death loco 〈◊〉 tatâ— :: He speaketh by amplification to make his fact seme more reasonable whereas the time of Dauids abode with him was but foute monethes ch 27. v. 7. :: Consuit out Lord for me so Dauid by the priests mediation was instructed what to do :: It is not against Gods coÌ„mandment Deut. 4. 12. to make new lawes so they be conformable not contrarie to Gods former lawes Saul killing himself after that he was wounded 〈◊〉 his enimies signifieth those that being ouercome by tentations desperatly persist wilfully die in their sinne S. Greg. â—â—o 10 :: These men are coÌ„mendable for gratitude towards Saul who had deliuered them ch 11. for a vvorke of mercie in burying the dead for pietie towards their king and princes and for fortitude in atchiuing so heroical an act This booke is wholly of Dauid His succession to the kingdom His vertues Faultes Thankes and Prophecie :: He fained al this thincking to get fauoure for Saul killed himself li. 1. ch 31. but Dauid punished him as such a crime desetued v. 15. :: Exequies of Saul obserued with mourning weeping and fasting :: The Philisthijms were strong cunning archers therefore Dauid commanded that his subiectes should lerne and exercise the same maner of fight :: This second annointing as also the third ch â— was in confirmation and to put him in possession of the first mâ—â—â— long before 1. Reg. 16. :: He reigned two yeares before he beganne much to decline but in al seuen yeares and a half for so long Dauid reigned only in Iuda v. 11. :: Hence perhaps cometh the phraise that one armie playeth vpon an other vvith smal and great arâ—â—lane that is strike and kil their enimies with al sortes of gunnes Iosephus li. 7. c. 1. Antiq. :: Am I coâ—temptible in thy sight and yet head of them that oppose against Dauid I that haue donne so much for thee wil not indure to be reprehended for a smal fault So God suffereth the maintainers of an euiâ— quarel to fal out among them selues wherby the right cause is aduanced :: weake being newly receiued king and not able to punish strong offenders But Ioab others were afterwardes punished 3. Reg. 2. :: They annoint him againe in confirmation of their consent as Iuda had donne chap. 2 acknowledging Gods ordinance 1. Reg. 16. :: King Dauid now atcheued that the tribe of Iuda could not in the time of Iosue Iosue 15. :: Idoles that haue eyes and can not see feete and can not goe shal not enter into the Church of Christ * â—câ—lp â—â—lia :: 〈…〉 there 〈…〉 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 as he 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 S. 〈…〉 S. 〈…〉 :: To dance before the arke is to dance before our Lord. :: The tabernacle made by Moyses was a goodlie thing but being couered with skinnes and in manie respectes insufficient for Gods seruice Dauid desired to build a glorious Temple But was not permitted to do it for mysterie sake to signifie that Christ the true Salomon should build his Church that farre excelleth the Synagogue of the Iewes and old Testament S. Augustin li. 17. c. 8. deciuit a He that supposeth this great promise to be fulfilled in Salomon erreth much sayeth S. Augustin ibidem b S. Paul expoundeth this of Christ Heb. 1. v 5. c This can not be saied of Christ but of Salomon and of anie christian so this place hath manie literal senses d The Sea Apostolique priestly powre in the church of christ is this perpetual kingdom S. Epiphanius Heresi 29. e Here and in manie other places the Hebrew word is of the plural number Elohim Goddes signifying more diuine Persons f The worke of mans Redemption is appropriated to God the Sonne :: For 〈◊〉 â—â—pâ—â—â—â— Dauid compâ—ssing then with cordes as 〈…〉 are eâ—â—iâ—â—â—â—d cast them on the around and by lotte killed some and spared some aliue :: Sette 〈◊〉 an Arch in memorie of triumph * â—rchaâ—â—â—lâ—r :: These were archers and sling throwers of the guard Pharaâ—â—rasis â—hâ—ll :: Or priestes oâ— chief rulers See the annotation Gen 47. v. 22. 1. Paâ—â—l 18. v. 17. :: The partiâ—â—lar inhereâ—â—â—â— that perâ—â—ined to Sauls familie :: Not siâ—â—e 〈◊〉 table with the king but haue his diet of the kinges prouision besides the forsaide inheritance :: This Naas king of Ammon curtously intertained Dauids freindes which escaped from the king of Moab killing most of them that were coÌ„mended to him because Dauid had leift his countrie and was returned into Iuda 1. Reg. 22. Histor Eccles :: Then do sius the Eâ—â—rerour pretenâ—ing to be excused from punishment for his sinnes because king Dauid also was an adulter â— and a manslaver S. Ambrose replied saying Thou that hast solovveding Dauid evving folovv him â—epenting After which admonâ—tion the Emperour most humbly did publique penance inioyned him by the Bishop in vâ—â—a Theodâ—sij :: Now then some of thy seede shal be violently slaine so were slaine three of his owne sonnes Ammon chap. 13. Absalom chap. 18. Adonias 3. Reg. 2. six sonnes of Iosaphat and al Iorams sonnes saue one â— paralip 21. also Ochozias Amasias Iosias 2. Par. 24 25. 35. and the sonnes of Sedechias himselfe hauing his eyes put out and so brought into Babylon 4. Reg. 25. :: Praised and thanked the king :: These children died before him as appeareth cha 18. :: Concubines were lawfully maried but had not al priuilegies as other wiues See 〈◊〉 25. Iudiâ— 19. :: He couered his head that he might not be seene to weepe lest he should discorege the people neuertheles the people also wept and likewise couered their heades :: King Dauid was here abused by false information to which he ought not so easely to
forced to promise libertie to the children of Israel vvhich he aftervvards denied e The read sea f when Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan g in remembring and reciting these singular benefites h Gods chosen people the Iewes did often exasperate God by their ingratitude murmuring and other sinnes whom the prophet therfore admonisheth i not to be proud lest they be subdued and brought lowe k By way of inuitation the Psalmist prophecieth the conuersion of Gentiles l The voice of the whole Church confessing Gods prouidence and protection that she neuer faileth for the Iewes falling from Christ the Gentiles beleued in him and some nations or countries falling from Religion others are conuerted m God suffereth his Church to be persecuted with al kindes of tribulation as some are here recited n But through Gods assistance his seruants passe through and ouercome al tentations o Sacrifice of thankes p and voluntarie vowes q that which anie promiseth to God in tribulation they must performe accordingly r Thâ—se were the best external sacrifices of the old law Å¿ But both then and now the internal sacrifices of contrite hart of iustice and of diuine praise best please God t from the hart which is vnder the tongue and directeth the tongue what to speake v VVhosoeuer wil be heard in prayer must repent of his sinnes Propagation of the Church the 6. key a This Psalme beginning to be songue by voices instruments were adioyned b God first remitte our sinnes c then geue vs thy manifold graces d grant faith and repentance e and so forgeuenes of sinnes f Al nations shal be conuerted g God the Fater h God the Sonne i God the Holie Ghost saue the peoples of al nations by Euangelical preaching of thee the most Blessed Trinitie The Church stil conserued The 6. key a In maner of praying that God wil vouchsafe to defend the Church the Psalmist prophecieth that God wil arise b and the enimies shal flee away not daring to abide the combate c As God is terrible to the wicked so he is comfortable to the iust d Resist not Gods inspiration but receiue it with ioy and thankes e who triumpheth ouer death f God is Lord not only of these or those nations countries or other creatures but absolutly and vniuersally of al. g That is the true holie Church which hath h vnitie in doctrin touching faith and maâ—ers i That be bond in sinne S. Cypr. ep 76. k euen rebellious willes are altered by Gods mercie and freely embrace his law l also the dead and drie hartes that cared not for spiritual thinges are softened and quickned with new grace m The benefites bestowed on the Israelites are written in the bookes of Moyses Iosue and Iudges n Not mans deseruing but Gods mere good wil and free grace caused Christ to come and by himselfe and his Apostles to preach the Euangelical doctrin which watereth the whole world o God chose the weake but made them strong p Those whom thou hast chosen and so made thyn owne peculiar people shal enioy this grace q Thou gauest Manna in the desert the B Sacrament in the new testament r God geueth to the preacher what to speake Å¿ and to some he geueth also powre to worke miracles in confirmation of their doctrin Mar. 16. t Some potent king or as it is in the Hebrew kinges being beloued of the beloued of God the only Sonne of God shal yeld themselues to the same beloued Sonne of God v which shal redound to the glorie and beautie of his Church gayning such spiritual prayes from the diuel w If you be in such danger that the aduersaries cast dice oâ— lottes for your persons and goodes yet you shal be deliuered as if a doue with her glistering fethers like siluer and gold flie away into a secure place without losse or diminution but rather with increase of vertues x VVhen the heauenlie king determineth thus of earthlie kinges y they shal be purged from their sinnes and made white like snow that falleth in mount Selmon which is a shadowed hil thicke with trees in mount Ephraim nere to Iordan z The Church of God is visible and durable like to a mountane a Combined or ioyned together as when milke is turned into curde and so into cheese b fructful enriched by spiritual giftes of the Holie Ghost c ye that are not of this Church do in vaine and erroniously imagine that anie other mountaines are vnited d Innumerable Angels ministers of Gods wil do continually attend vpon his Diuine Maiestie as if he who otherwise nedeth no seruice were caried by them as in a chariotte of infinite magnificence Dan 7. e So God appeared in Maiestie when he gaue his law in mount Sinai f Christ ascended with innumerable Angels attending vpon him g caried with him the fathers of the old testament that had benne captiue Ephes 4. h as man he receiued giftes of God in and for men his faithful seruantes i yea also he receiued for his merite that innumerable which before were incredulous were conuerted and God dwelt in their soules k Our Lord I say our Lord and none but he could ouercome death by dying l Though Christ died to deliuer al men from death yet he wil geue capital sentence of eternal death to al that obstinatly remaine his enimies and multiplie sinnes vpon sinnes to the end of their temporal life m Euen of the iudest barbarous nations manie shal be conuerted to Christiantie n namely Gods grace is extended into the Ilandes of the Ocean and other seas o But such seuere slaughter shal fal vpon the obstinate contemners of this grace that mens feete shal be defiled in their bloud and dogges shal lappe it Exiâ—iâ—â—â—â— ab â—â—â— p Manie haue sene or knowen in general but the faithful more exactly know how Christ came into this world his conuersation therin and his going forth q his reigning now in heauen our Mediatour by whom al other intercessors haue accesse to God r The Apostles sowing the first seede of Euangelical doctrin Å¿ with whom other Apostolical men t and other soules of al nations conuerted by their preaching most ioyfully sing together in hart voice and instruments especially in good workes shew their gratful affections to our Redeemer v And al this in the particular Churches of diuers Kingdomes and partes of the world vv beginning with the Israelites in Ierusalem and so proceding into al furie and Samaria and to the vt most of the earth Act. 1. x S. Paul of Iacobs yongest sonne Beniamin last called to Apostleship was chiefly sent to the Gentiles y Other Apostles of diuers tribes sent first to the Iewes secondarily to Gentiles z As the Church begane by the omnipotent powre of God so by the same only powre it is conserued a Chastice therfore ô God al persecuters of thy Church who are but as weake wauering reedes in comparison of thy powre
Ieremie prophecied ch 24. v. 9. I vvil geue them into reproch to be a parable and a prouerb c. :: Iewes by their sinnes prouoking God to punish them with captiuitie gaue occasion that other nations said God could not defend his people blaspheming against his powre when he exercised iustice :: Rabbi Dauid the Chaldee Paraphrasis expound this place of remission of sinne And al Christian Doctors vnderstand it of Baptisme which in dede is in water clensing sinnes Ephes 5. v. 26. â—it 3. v 5. :: An euident text that by Gods grace some men do kepe the commandments :: A duble prophecie of two great benefits the reduction of the Iewes from captiuitie and of the Gentiles from idolatrie to Christ wherein also is included the mysterie of resurrection a One cause of distrust that the people of Israel should not be restored from captiuitie was because they were like to drie bones b Secondly they had al generally lost their hope of restitution c Thirdly they semed like to trees or plantes cut of at the very root d Yet God by his powre and goodnes restored them e Before Christ ioyned the Gentils to his Church he first vnited the two kingdoms of Iuda Israel signifying that Catholiques which labour for conuersion of heretikes as now in England must first agree amongst themselues then shal their endeuoures be more effectual For so al shal sooner be made one fold vnder one shepheard :: Fulfilled by Christ the good Pastor who bringeth al nations into one folde vnder one pastor Ioan. 10. v. 16. :: Gog signifying hid or couered was the common surname of the Scithian kinges :: Mâ—gog out of the hid were the people and adherents of Gog persecuting the faithful :: Alluding to those that endeuoured to spoyle and oppresse the Iewes after their relaxation from captiuitie he prophecieth of Antichrist and al heretikes that seeke to peruert or to suppresse Catholique Christians who are deliuered rom the bondage of the diuel by Baptisme and other Sacraments of Christ :: Antichrist signified by Gog shal persecute the Church nere the end of the vvorld :: In euerie part of the vniuersal Church God wil at last destroy Antichrists powre confounding him and al his adherentes Gog and Magog the king and kingdom of Scithia Gâ—â— 10. Signifying al persecuters of the Church especially Antichrist Psal â— Isa 11. Dan. 1â— VVho shal be destroyed :: Antichrist persecuting the Church in al partes of the world shal be resisted by some in euerie place and at last vanquished :: Not vvith material fire but with zele and â—eruour Catholiques shal resist him and finally ouercome him :: Gods people vvere not made captiues by the povvre of their enimies as if God could not defend them but by his permission for punishment of their sinnes Foure expositions of this vision 1. Of the temple and citie reedified after the captiuitie 2. That Messias shal build a material temple and citie 3. That this prophetical vision was conditional ch 18 v. 23. ch 33. v. â—1 4. That it cannot al be expounded according to the historie but only mystically The fift part Restauration of the temple vvith thinges perteyning therto more especially the glorie of the Church militant triumphant :: Into the destroyed citie of Ierusalem :: Mount Sion :: called exceding heigh mystically in that it signifieth the Church of Christ for historically Sion vvas not so exceding hiegh :: In the Hebrevv text in the Chaldee Paraphrasis in the 70. Interpreters it is thus of six cubites in a cubite and a palme to signifie that these cubites vsed in measuring sacred thinges conteyned six palmes vvheras the ordinarie cubite conteineth but fiue palmes See ch 43. v. 13. :: Larger within then without to spread the light within the place to auoide the danger of hurt from abrode as the windowes of Salomons temple 3. Reg. 6. as also in casties and towres is commonly vsed In explicating this vision by reason of the obscuritie is great varietie amongst the expositors but al agree that God here reueled to the prophet that he vvil reward the good tevvitte in the old Testament temporally in the nevv spiritually first vvith grace in this life and with eternal glorie in life euerlasting :: To the gates of the vtter vval vvas ascent of seuen steppes but of the inner vval v. 32. of eight steppes to signifie that mâ—â—e perfection is required in the new Testament then was in the old for vvhich more grace is geuen and better revvard S. Greg. :: For that the pillers are not measured it semeth they were of the same height and bignes as the former vvere built by Salomon 3. Reg. 7. v. 1â— :: This description of the temple order of priesthood vvith the partition and fertilitie of the land is much more excellent then was in Salomons time the new temple reedified by Zorobabel was much meaner then Salomons and therfore this prophecie as likevvise the prophecies of Aggeus Zacharias cannot be vnderstood of the temple in Ierusalem but of the Church of Christ S. Ierom in ch 40 Ezec. S. Aug. li 18. c. 45. ciuit :: In the vval of the temple vvere interchangeably painted a Cherub signifying knovvlege a palmetree signifying victorie representing to men that they must be instructed in diuine knowlege â—o sight for victorie :: Signifying our Sauiour vvho in his humanitie suffered miseries but as a lion ouercame al enimies S. Ierom finding the Hebrevv text and the 70. interpreters and others to differ not only in vvordes but also in the sense explicating as semed to him most probable auoucheth vvithal that saying of Socrates Sciâ— quodnescio I knovv that I do not â—novv anie thing perfectly For it is a part of knovvlege saith he to â—novv that thou art ignorant :: Al the world is lightned by the preaching of Christs Apostles and their successors and the triumphant Church shal perfectly shine vvhen that vvhich is so vvne iâ— corruption â—hal â—â—â—e in incorruption â—â— c. 1. Cor. 1â— S. Ierom. S. Thomas also exponndeth this place of the â— virgin conceiuing the Sonne of God p 3. q 27. a 3. ch 9. ch 1. :: God hath left the house of the Ievves desolate â—aâ— 23. v. 38 but remaineth vvith the Church of Christ al dayes to the end of the vvorld Mat 28 v. 2â— And the perfect impolluted Church vvithout spoâ— or vvâ—â—ncle Eph 5 v. 27. is only the 〈…〉 hant Church :: The sacred cubite or cubite vsed in sacred thinges was longer then the common cubite by one palme :: The altar is called Ariel the lion of God because fire sometimes descending from God vpon the altar consumed the sacrifice as a lion consumeth his praye S. Ierom. S. Ierom expoundeth this of the hardnes of scripture which no man vnderstaÌ„ndeth fully but the sonne of God Mat. 11. v. 27. Likevvise of of our B. Ladie a perpeâ—ual virgin also