Mathathias tooke vpon him the name of a king neuer before vsed since their captiuitie in Babilon and dying without issue a yeere after hee beganne his raigne leaft his wife according to their lawes as well as his kingdome vnto his brother Alexander who had by her two sonnes the elder was named Hircanus who after his fathers decease during his mothers widowhood was high priest and after her death was also king of the Iewes the yonger who was called Aristobulus aspiring to the kingdome by force of armes made his elder brother to yeeld it vnto him and to content himselfe with the high priesthood which also not long after hee demaunded in like sort as he had demaunded the kingdome Wherefore Hircaâ—â— beeing too weake to resist his forces fledde for ayde vnto Pompey a noble Romane well experienced in wars and had alreadie beene a 〈◊〉 of many Kings who â—ay with a great armie at that time in 〈◊〉 a principall citie of Siria bordering vpon the north side of Palestina This did Hircaâ—â—s partly because not long before had beene a great league of friendship concluded and kept betwixt the Iewes and the Romanes and partly by the perswasion of one in some credite with him whose name was Anâ—ipater hee was no Iew but of Idumea or as some say of Ascalon one of the fiue Dutchies of the Philistins neere vnto the middle earth sea and some to one of those Idolatrous priests which belonged to Apollo or some other which kept his temple and was stolne away by the theeues of Idumea whence because his friends were either not able or not willing to redeeme him he remained vntill in the ende hee was one of their cheefe leaders and in a 〈◊〉 betwixt them and the Iewes taken prisoner but beeing found by Alexanderâ—ing â—ing of the Iewes to be both valiant and wiâ—e he was made gouernor of Idâ—mea in which office he behaued himselfe so well as the Arabians â—ought his friendship and to confirme it gaue him to wife a noble woman of their country named Cyprâ—s and for his sake were euer after readie to ayde the Iewes vntill some priuate quarrelles chanced to be betweene them and when hee returned againe to Palestina he alwaies fauoured Hircanus eldest sonne to Alexander and encouraged him to maintaine his right against Aristobulus his yonger brother Nicholas of Damascus who when neede was pleaded before Caesar for Herod and Arthelâ—â—â— laboured to shew that this Antipater was descended of the kings of Palestinâ— fetched his pedigree from the chiefest of those Iewes which returned after their captiâ—â—itie from Babilon but if Antipater or his children were the first which would seeke to gentilzie a base bloud Nicholas will not be the last which will find it Pompey hauing giuen Aristobulus the ouerthrow carryed him away captiue to Rome although hee restored Hircanus to his kingdome yet he made the Iewes tributarie to the Romanes left Antipater as a president ouer the countrey who because hee was in yeeres committed Galile which contained al the north end of Palestina vnto his sonne Herod and Iudea which contained all the South part vnto his sonne Phaselus himselfe ruling onely in Samaria which was the heart of the countrey which when Antigonus Aristoâ—â—lâ—s his sonne perceiued and conceiued small hope of any helpe from the Iewes to recouer the dignitie which his father lost he requested ayde of the Parthians who comming with a great power set vp Antigonus in Hircanus his rome and led away Hircanus prisoner also Phaselus but Antigonus to the end that Hircanus should neuer after be capable of the high preisthood disfigured him by cutting or biting off his eares and Phaselus hearing that his brother had escaped hoping that he would reuenge his death beate out his owne brains against a stone Antipater not long before was poysoned by Malchus a Iew and Herod escaping although verie hardly trauailed with great paine to Rome notwithstanding the time of the yeere was vnseasonable for so long a iourney where declaring vnto Augustus Caesar and vnto the Senate what had chanced in Palestina he was created in the capitoll king of the Iewes and returning with a great power of men after much bloudshed against Antigonus whom Antony Emperour of the East by an agreement made betwixt him and Augustus Emperour of the west against which Antony Tully thundred out in vain to his cost so many phillipics after he had whipped and crucified him caused to be heheaded and established Herod in the kingdom of the Iewes But although many were so besorted with Herod as to take him to be the Prince of which they had so many prophesies yet many others which see the seepâ—er â—ayle in Iudas his familie and knew that hee who was promised vnto them should not onelye come when the 〈◊〉 fayled but be also of that family and of Dauidâ— stocke expected dayly when he would shew himselfe and set them at libertie who liued vnder Herod in too much sauery but Marie and Ioseph kept al things most secret awaking themselues often with the consideration of this heaueÌ„ly misterie waiting the wished time of her happie deliuery And when the virgin had made prouision not such as princes commonly affect but such as their pouerty could conucnieÌ„thy afford she gaue her self wholy to the meditation of that which had 〈◊〉 ofteÌ„ broken her sleep without any trouble bereaued her of her senseâ— without any paine and poore Ioseph was as forward in will although he were not sâ— highly fauoured as his wife when suddenly did a speach arise which wrought in him an vnspeakable 〈◊〉 and would also haue amased her had she not beene well armed against all weather Augustus Caesar sole Emperour both in the East and West hauing ouercome Anthonie at Acâ—â—um in Greece as at other times before so now sendeth order to the Presidents of euerie pâ—ouince to gether the tribute due vnto him the maner wherof was in Palestina as it seemeth at that time to take the names of the people not where they dwelled but where was the portion of land alotted to the tribe of which they were and as neare as they could in the citie which principally belonged to that family which exquisite course of eâ—acting the tribute hath giuen a probable cause of suspition that this was the first description which was made of Palestina by cause afterward we read that one of the tribe of Iudah and of the familie of Daâ—id borne in 〈◊〉 belonging vnto the same tribe and familie and brought vp in a citie of Zabulon paied tribute in 〈◊〉 a Citie of Nepthalim But whether this were the first description of Palestina or no it is not materiall Ioseph being of the tribe of Iudah and of the family of Dauid was forced to depart from Nazareth toward his country there to giue vp his name and to pay the tribute demaunded which was ordinarily euerie fiue yeares for euery man two grotes sterling or foure groates as
the aire that neuer came any winde or raine at the toppe thereof as appeared by that certaine Philosophers left there some caracters in dust which they found in the same maner after a yeare but neither could any bird mount vp vnto the toppe thereof because the aire was too pure for any inferiour creature for which cause the Philosophers which went vp caryed with them spunges full of water through which they might take ayre more agreeable to their nature In these games was nothing worthie praise vnpractised and both warriours were rewarded for their worthy courses and wise men regarded for their wittie discourses These were first deuised by Hercules in honour of his father Iupiter and euerie fift yeeere so precisely obserued that after they were once begun no other account was made of the yeere then from such an Olimpye game or such a yeere after it and these were alwayes vsed in summer when the dayes were at the longest Other games were followed by the Grecians in the worship of other Gods as their Pythiâ—â— in honour of Apollo at Delphos and their Isthmia in honour of Neptune or Palaemon or both neere vnto Corinth The Romanes also beside running with horses and with chariots and fighting naked with swords to this end that being in warres it should bee no wonder vnto them to see woundes had other games as their Saturnallâ— in honour of Saturne which they kept fiue daies in December in feasting sporting and mutuall presenting with gifts and in remembrance of the golden world when Saturne was king they reckoned all things so in common for those fiue dayes as there was neither owner of any substance nor maister of any seruant These were first deuised by Ianus a king of Italy and dedicated yeerely vnto Saturne They had other games which they called Lâ—percals in which the young nobilitie ranne naked vp and downe with such beasts skinnes as were then sacrificed striking euerie one whom they met and women offered themselues in their way hoping by their strokes to haue the easier trauaile if they were with childe or to waxe bigge if they were before barren These were vsed in the honour of Pan and were named Lupercalles either because they offered sacrifice to Pan for the preseruing of their flocks from the wolfe or because they sacrificed dogges to gratifie the wolfe which nursed Romulus and Rhemus or thirdly because the sacrifice was offered at the foote of mounte Palatine in Rome where there was a caue consecrated to Pan which in remembrance that Romulus and Rhemus were there nursed by a wolfe was named Lupercall Some say these games were so called because the sacrifices then offered were to purge the hellish spirits with the bloud of goates and that for this cause the moneth was called Februarie in which these games were vsed Others say they had their name of a mountain in Arcadia called Lycea where they were first inuented and were afterward brought into Italy by Euander the Arcadian king at what time hee was banished out of his owne countrey and hereupon they say the games were performed by naked men because they were deuised in Arcadia when the people were both bare of cloathing and of barbarous condition and so continued also afterward when they were of a more ciuill conuersation Others say that Pan mistaking Hercules for Iole who vpon some occasion at that time slept in he Lions skinne was once so discouered before hee got his wished pray that he departed with nought but shame of his wanton purpose and could neuer after that his conceited euil spâ—ed abide any aparrel in his sports Other some say this naked running vp and down was in remembrance of a worthie victorie which Romulus had ouer certaine theeues who while the people were busie in these sports draue away a great companie of their cattell and Romulus vnderstanding thereof naked as he was vpon some other occasion pursued them and brought back the stoln pray for which cause those which ran thus naked had their faces stayned with bloud and other followed after with wooll dipped in milke to wash them but whatsoeuer was the cause of their sports thus was the course of their life spent After these were other deuised in honour of Ianus who was sometime a king of Italy to whoÌ„ they built a famous temple and set therein his picture which they made with two faces to signifie the concord which was made betwixt Romulus king of the Romanes and Titus Tatius king of the Sabins at what time a bloudy warre being begun to one or others ouerthrow the maidens which were stolne by the Romanes and for reueÌ„ge of which rape the Sabians vowed the vtter ruine of the Romanes came into the fielde and offered themselues to death rather then they would liue to see for theyr cause either their parents slaine on the one side or theyr husbandes whome they now fancyed on the other side This Temple of Ianus the Romanes did leaue open so long as they had any warres abroade with forraine nations either because that going foorth to warre they should also haue a care of their countrey they left behind them as the Idoll looked both forward and backward or else in hope of some extraordinarie helpe by Ianus his protection when they should bee driuen to any extremitie because that the Sabiâ—ns hauing compelled Romulus to take this Temple for his best defence were forced to retyre by a whole water which sprunge in great aboundance from before the Temple against them Many other things are recorded of Ianus which many thinke are to bee applyed to diuers of the same name but hee in whose honour the first of the two moneths which Numa Pompilius Romulus his successor added vnto Romulus his yeere was Ianus king of Italie who built a Citie not far from the place where afterward Rome was built and called it Ianiculum and him they thought they did so gretly honor when they were either ouer lauish in expences or too lasciuious in their sports that when his calends came that is the first day of that month hee seemed the deuoutest in this rite who shewed by his ryot that hee neither deemed it a shame at any time afterward to bee in want nor a sinne to be at all times wanton These as the first in the yeere and other abuses as they fell came the Prince this day to abolish as hee shewed both by the shedding of his precious bloud and the sound of his princely name Yet notwithstanding that he was a prince and therefore freeborne and a priest and therefore to be forborne so soone as his name was giuen him he was sessed by the officers and paid a tribute vnto his owne subiect for as yet the infants of Palestina were not exempted from this taxe and the mother was the more willing to conceale her sonnes deitie because she thought it would nothing derogate from his dignitie being at that time taken for a priuate person not for a prince But not
long after it was blowne abroad that such a prince was borne and princes hastened to do their homage An old prophesie was in Arabia that a starre should rise in Iacob and a rod spring in Israel which should both strike the princes of Moab and destroy the sonnes of Seth with many other so great prerogatiues that the prophet sighed to thinke hee should not liue to see it and the king of Moab was frighted fearing that hee had liued to feele it for the Israelites comming out of the desart of Pharan towarde Palestina encamped themselues neere vnto the riuer Iordan so strongly in middle of the Moabites that Balaac the king of Moab had better courage to fight against them with shrewde wordes then with sharpe weapons and therefore vnderstanding that in Mesopotamia was one who did so forspeake people as they neuer after prospered sent speedily vnto him to come and curse the Israelites but Balaam so was the southâ—ayer called being taught before by diuine inspirations when he came to the top of the mountaine from whence Balaac shewed him the Israelites performed what God and the angell had enformed him and to the great preiudise of Balaac king of the Moabites hee pronounced many blessinges ouer the Israelites and prophesied of this yong prince as is before shewed Hereupon Makida the Queene of Sâ—ba Ethiopia Egâ—pt vnderstanding of Salomon his wisdome wealth worthines large dominions came with exceeding great pompe vnto Ierusalem to see him and presented him with 120. talents of gold many iewels and infinite store of frankencense being perswaded that he was the man who was meant by the prophesie in Arabia for Saba was a prouince in the south side of Arabia and tooke the name of Saba grand-child vnto Abraham by Iecsan whom Abraham had by Caethura as also Madian father vnto Epha and others whom he sent away out of Chanaan afterward called Palestina into the East countries as also he sent Ismael whom hee had by Agar southward not suffering any of them to haue part with Isaac in the lande promised vnto him yet did he not send them away emptie handed but bestowed vpon them great riches apparell and iewels which he had taken from the foure kings whom hee conquered in the rescue of his nephew Lot among which giftes some write that Abraham gaue vnto them mirrhe and frankencense not without some misterie then knowne vnto him and now openly shewed by three princes which came out of the East parts at this time vnto Bethleem of Iuda which iourney they did the more willingly take because probablie their ancestors were also Iewes for the Queene of Saba among other great fauours which she receiued of king Salomon was accepted for his wife and returned into her countrey with childe and carried with her twelue thousand Iewes of euerie tribe one thousand and did them that honor that after a while the chiefest in the countrey vaunted that their fathers were Iewes and â—he sonne which she had by Salomon she crowned king surrendering all her dominions vnto him and of that stocke vnto this day as some say remayneth the great monarch of those coastes commonly called Priest Iohn But the principall motiue of these three kinges their voyage was the sight of a starre which did penetrate so farre into their vnderstanding that by that extraordinarie light and what they had by the prophesie they resolued that the prince was now at the last borne of which had beene so great expectation for although they were men of great learning yet could not their skill attaine to the perfect meaning of the star which appeared vnto them without farther helpe then they could haue by Astronomie wonder they might to see so neere vnto them so bright a shining starre because it was much lower then where exhalations fiered doe appeare blasing like starres and comparable with the Sunne for brightnesse as it receyued no light from the Sunne as other starres doe so neyther did the brightnesse of the sunne drowne the clearnesse thereof as it doeth of other starres where it selfe doth shine and the greater might their wonder bee because that all such tokens as were commonly in all other extraordinarie starres or commets to signifie eyther diseases or death were so farre from this starre that it betokened nothing but health and life and that the authour of life had taken vpon him a new kind of life although perchance in some secondarie sort it might also pretend the death of the prince whose life it shewed as may appeare by some of the presentes which the kinges brought who were both warned by this starre to seeke him and warranted to finde him out yet was it no Angell as many haue thought but a starre as much superior to other starres in brightnesse as inferior in bignesse made of some former matter or created of nothing by him to whome all thinges are possible and afterward eyther resolued into that of which it was made or if created for this purpose the cause thereof ceasing the effect came againe to nothing but it kept such a course as the kinges following it were no more subiect to bee deceiued of their purpose then were the Israelites when trauelling from Egipt vnto the lande of promisse they were guided by a cloude which alway went before them in the daye time and a fierie pillar in the night for the starre neuer ceased to shine but to their greater light nor to conduct them but to their greater comfort wherefore not without the prouidence of the stars guide they entred Ierusalem where they were both confirmed in the truth of their former prophesie and comforted with the shortnes of their following iorney but not without the amasing both of Herod and all the cittie because the last thing which the Iewes had done was an oath sworne to accept Herod for their king which althougb hee had laboured both with curtesie and with crueltie for the space of thirty years little more or lesse hee neuer obtained it of the whole countrie vntill this time The three princes as soon as they came into the cittie demaunded boldely what they doubted not euery man knew a kinges seate fitting best a princes birth and such a birth being commonly celebrated with a publike triumph they demaunded for him by his title not knowing as yet his name where is hee who is borne king of the Iewes wee see his starre in the East and are come with presentes to adore him was it then any wonder that Herod was troubled who wrongfully entered into the soueraigntie and the Iewes touched deepelie who had rashly sworne themselues his subiectes the one hauing iust cause to feare that he should be put down as a tyrant and the others no hope but to bee punished as traytors and although Herod coulde haue beene very well contented neuer to haue heard any thing more concerning this matter yet feare in the ende first encreased a desire to know the rest then to deuise some mischiefe fot a
Mount Libanus it was sometime called Chanaam after the name of Noah his grand-child by Cham who possessed this couâ—trey after the great floud which drowned all the world except Noah and his familie but by the principall Lord thereof it was promised to Abraham the great Patriarch and to his ofspring whereupon he forsooke Chaldea his owne countrey and came into Chanaam where hee and after him his children continued untill the famous dearth which was in all the world for the space of seuen yeares draue them into Egypt whereafter 400. yeares as some say or as other some say after 200. yeares their children returning guided first by Moses then by Iosue ouerthrew aboue thirtie kings destroying many nations made a reentrie into the land and euerie familie tooke a portion vnto them and theirs as Iosue by cordes allotted it which hee did with the greater facilitie because it lay in length with litle breadth betwixt the riuer Iordan and the middle earth sea for Iordan hauing two heades the one from the mount Libanus not farre from the tower of Libanus and was called Ior the other from a mountaine not farre off also from Libanus which was called Dan both met at a city called Dan afterward Caesarea Philippi and made one riuer which is called Iordan and runneth from these north partes of Palestina by the East beâ—weene Iturea and Traconitis into the sea of Galile otherwise called the poole of Genazereth through which it runens keeping a streight course vntill it came to the dead sea which also was on the East side of the countrie and reached vnto the mountaines which parted the south borders of Palestina froÌ„ the desart of Pharan The place where this sea is was sometime both so pleasant and profitable as it was compared vnto the highest his Paradise insomuch as Abraham giuing his nephew Lot his choise where he would go feed his flockes willing to preuent such strife as was likely to grow between them by the falling out of their shepheards Lot preferred this part before all the rest of the countrie but the inhabitants increasing in wickednesse as much as in wealth prouoked God to so great wrath against them that he consumed them all with fire and all the countrie for the space of foure or fiue dayes iourney in length and fiue or sixe miles in breadth and this is the quantitie of the dead sea which casteth vp many times great clods of clay in colour like pitch in smell like Brimstone in holding togither that to which it is vsed for it was long before vsed in place of mortar in their buildings so strong as neither any force fire or water could dissolue it and these valleyes where the sea is were verie full of this kinde of clay before the countrie was destroyed This sea breathed out very often great flames of fire as if it had within it many furnaces that what with fire and the filthinesse of the water the trees within fiue miles compasse did either beare nothing or onely a likenes of fruit for when it was touched or opened nothing appeared but ashes although before it were touched it had an exceeding fresh and liuely colour Moreouer this qualitie had this sea that what heauy thing soeuer was cast into it so that it were no dead thing it would neuer sinke for triall whereof Vespafian the Roman Emperour by whom the countrie was last spoiled of her peerlesse beautie caused certain men to be cast aliue into the sea with their hands bound behinde them who risse presently vnto the top and lay there as securely from drowning as they could haue beene vpon any drie land and therefore perchance is it called the dead â—ea not because no quicke thing liueth in it but because it will not brooke any quicke thing nor any thing which hath any similitude with lite as sufficient triall hath beene made by those who when they threw in one candle lighted another not lighted saw the candle which was lighted swim and the other sinke The middle earth sea kept as streight a line vpon the west side of the countrie so that Reuben beeing seated without the riuer Iordan vpon the south and halfe the tribe of Manasse vppon the North and Gad in the middle betwixt them the rest of the twelue tribes or familyes for so were the people distinguished tooke their portions in this sort betweene the riuer Iordan and the middle earth sea Iudah and Simeon had the farthest south partes next vnto whome were Beniamin and Dan Nephtalim and Aser were placed in the farthest North partes and Zabulon bordered vpon them the other halfe tribe of Manasse enioyed the middle of the land and was neighboured on the south by Ephraim and on the North side by Issaehar Leui who had the Priesthoode had no portion of land in this diuision but had out of euerie portion certaine townes and commons about them and in the diuision of the countrie one of Ioseph his sonnes supplied his roome and the other his owne fathers The whole country from Dan to Barsabee that is from the farthest citie north vnto the farthest citie south containeth 67 myles and the breadth betwixt Iordan and the middle earth sea is in some places sixteene miles in other eighteene which euery mile esteemed a long houres iourney seemeth to bee of no great quantitie But this small compasse was sufficientlie recompensed with the great commoditie which the countrye did yeelde for neither did the seas want great store of fish nor the land great plentie of fruit both of such things as did breed and also of such as did bud for proofe of the latter two of these which were sent to take a view of the land while the rest of the Israelites remained in the desart of Pharan brought betwixt them but one bunch of Grapes vpon a Leuer and thought that both had their full loade yet were they not the least of such a stocke as people nowe liuing are nothing like vnto them either for strength or stature And Ionathan Sauls son by no lesse then the losse of his life had not the people saued him prooued the Oracle true which sayde it was a land flowing with milke and honie To conclude what soeuer the world could afford either to please mans sense or delight mans mind was within the compas of this little portion of land which hauing equally round about it the East west north and south it self like a Princesse sat in the midst of the whole world to be admired by all for her beautie and honoured for her soueraigntie nowe lately triumphing that it could yet excell it selfe in bringing forth a flower which passed al the rest in vertue beautie and sweetnesse the fruit whereof being beaten downe would of it selfe rise againe and being eaten would neuerthelesse remaine for euer it would giue sight to the blind lims to the lame ease to euery diseased and life to those who are dead This flower grew in the top of a
two vpper roomes were kept the chiefest riches belonging to the temple It was built with square white stone to the top which was flat couered with cedars as the maner of building was in Palestina and had battlements round about it fiue cubits high About this except the east side were other buildings as great as the narrownes of the mountaine would suffer 3. stâ—â—â—es high whereof the lowest was 5. cubits broade the middle 6. the highest 7. they were all of them seuerally fiue cubits long and 20 cubits high they had windows only northward southward but they were verie great because through theÌ„ came the light to the middle building which was diuided in two parts with a wall which left a roome of 20 cubits square toward the west The outmost part had the walles couered within with Cedar which was carued with image work of Cherubins palmtrees and other deuises vpoÌ„ which were plates of gold carued in the like maner layd so close as if all had bin but one peece of work euery image in the wood had the like in gold so fitted vnto it that when al were couered with the gold they shewed as perfitly as before the golde was fastened vnto them It had a roofe 30. cubits high of Cedar carued after the same maner couered with golde the wall next vnto the porch was 10. cubits thicke wherin were two double folded doores of firre-tree both the foldeâ— of equall breadth fiue cubites which were couered as the walles were and so artificially made as whether they stood wide open or close shut they could not be perceiued to be dorâ—s for being shut they seemed part of the fore-front of the wall and being opened they couered the thicknes of the wall in such sort as by no meanes it could be seene where they hung or where they were ioyned Some say that in euery one of the 4. corners of the entry was a single doore fiue cubits broad that the inside toward the teÌ„ple when these doores were shut was as one wall as well as the out-side toward the porch The windowes were only in the South north-wals verie broad within narrow in the out-side right against the great windowes in the out-buildings Within the south part of the wal which was ten cubits thicke was a paire of round turning stayres which seâ—â—ed to all the out-buildings for they were so made as one opened into another euen vnto the farthest on the same floure In the north part of the same wall was another paire stayres to goe vp into the middle roomes which were right ouer the temple yet some are of opinion that the former stairs did serue also for those rooms In the middle of this temple neere vnto the inward roome was an altar of Setim which is acconnted the lightest cleerest and most beautifull of all trees and hath this propertie that it neuer rotteth it was one cubit square and two cubites high it was couered within without with gold and made like vnto a censor but that at the foure corners for the greater ornament were foure pillars of the same wood couered likewise with golde Some do say that this altar stood within the inmost Temple and that in this place was an altar made of Cedar by Salomon and couered with gold as the other others say that Salomon onely couered that of Setim with Cedar and gold so that both were but one altar and stood in the middle of this outmost temple It was sometime called the golden altar somtime the altar of incense In the south side toward the west stood a candlestick of gold wherin on each side were 3. branches or armes carued as also the bodie thereof with lillies cups and balles in this candle-sticke were seuen lights maintained day and night the snuffers the vessell that held the oyle that which receiued the snuffings whatsoeuer els belonged vnto the candlestick were of gold In the north side right against the caÌ„dlestick was a table of Setim 2. cubits long one cubit broad and a cubit a half high it was couered top sides with golde round about vpon the top of the edges of the table were two crowns of gold the vndermost was wrought the vppermost was plaine Vpon this table euery Sabaoth day were set 12. new loaues of vnleuened bread euery loafe of 8. pound weight 6. in a heap one vpon another were called bread â—f proposition because they were alwaies sette by the Iewes in Gods sight in the temple to acknowledge that they liued by him vpoÌ„ the tops of those heaps stood 2. cups of gold full of most pure incense at the end of the weeke the bread was taken away for the priests vse fresh set in their places but al the incense was burned Heere also were tenne other tables little worse then that fiue stood in the North side and fiue in the South side whereon stood a hundred cuppes of gold for the Priests to drinke in also here were tenne other candlesticks of gold which stood in the like order before the doore of this temple hung a vayle of image worke in foure most liuely and rich colours white scarlet redde and skie-colour The inmost building diuided with a wall full west from the former temple was twentie cubits square and differed nothing from it but onelie that the doores were of oliue and the pauement of Cedar but couered with golde as the other were it was accounted the holyest place in all the temple and no man might enter into it but the high Priest nor hee but once in the yeere In the middle of this temple stood the Arke which God taught Moyses to make in the wildernes after hee had led the Israelites out of Egypt through the redde sea dry-foote at what time Pharao King of Egypt pursuing them was drowned and all his armie It was made of Setim two cubites and a halfe long one cubite and a halfe broade and so high it was plated within and without with most pure gold at euery corner was a ring of gold so bigge as on each side of the Arke a strong barre of Setim couered with gold might go through them for the conuenient carriage thereof when it was remooued The couer of the Arke was plaine and of fine gold so long and broade as the Arke was vpon which stoode two Cherubins of gold with their winges spread from one end of the couer vnto the other and they stood as if they were one loking toward the other This couer to the Arck they called a propitiatorie because from thence did God promise mercy vnto his people when he was sued vnto by the high priestes Within this Arke were the two Tables of the law which God himselfe carued in a stone and gaue to Moses Here was also a golden pot with Manna which was the onely food by which the Israelites liued after they came forth of Egypt for the space of 40 years it was of that qualitie
as some say that in the eating what delicious meate soeuer the eater desired hee found the tast thereof in his mouth certaine it is that it was a most pleasant food and although it would not remaine aboue one day vncorrupted except onelie when they gathered to keepe for their Sabboath dayes victuall yet not without a speciall miracle it continued in this pot many hundred yeares Aaron his rod was here likewise kept which was set in the tabernacle with twelue other by the florishing of which his election to the Priesthood was manifested vnto the people and he preferred before the other twelue princes which stoode in contentiou with him In this Temple stoode also two other Cherubins of Oliue couered with gold 10. cubites high their winges spread in bredth euery one fiue cubits they looked both towarde the east on each side of the arke stoode one so that they filled the whole bredth of the Temple with their winges couered with them the toppe of the Arke The dores stoode alwaies open and before the entrance hong such a vaile as hung before the dores of the outmost Temple Foure hundred yeares and more continued this Temple in this glorie vntill Sedechias who was left king of the Iewes by Nabuchadonosor king of the Chaldees rebelled against him encouraged perchance by mistaking the Oracle that hee should neither be slain in fight nor see Babilon for which cause Nabuchadonoser pressing the Cittie with famine forced him his children with others to flie by night and vnderstanding so much afterward by his espials followed them and tooke them in the chase and when they were brought before him hee slew Sedechias his children in their Fathers sight then put out his eyes and led him captiue to Babilon whether before hee had carried Ioachim otherwise called Ieconias who was nephew to this Sedechias and king of the Iewes and had yeelded himselfe vnto Nabugodonosor The victorie obtained against Sedechias the Chaldees returned to Ierusalem and tooke the spoile of the Temple and afterward burned it down to the ground for which cause and other abuses offred by Nabuchodonosor and his childreÌ„ vnto those holy thinges which belonged vnto the Temple himselfe liued abroad seauen years amongst beasts eating nothing but what they eate nor hauing any other defence against hard weather then what they had and his grandchild in short time lost his life and left his kingdome to the Medes and Persians who setting the Iewes at libertie gaue them leaue to build their Temple againe but not in that ample maner as before it was being enformed by those who were bad neighbours to the Iewes that the maiesty and strength thereof would encourage them to reuolte from their obedience but neither had they been able to perform it if they might haue had licence hauing beene in captiuity seauenty yeares and spoiled of all their substance yet had they to helpe them vntil it was built thirty talentes yearely allowed them by king Darius whereof 20. were for the setting it vp and tenne for their sacrifice and all the vessels which were remaining of the spoile which Nabuchodonosor carried out of the first temple were restored vnto them Being this second time builte it continued aboue fiue hundred yeares but it was many times in danger of vtter ruine as by Alexander the greate king of Macedon who in his voiages in which he conquered all those east partes of the world came with a full resolution to spoile Ierusalem and the temple although at the sight of Iaddus the high Priest attired in his priestly ornaments he altered his purpose and allighted from his horse and worshipped him on his knees saying that in the same attire God appeared vnto him and encouraged him in his valourous enterprise It was also in daunger when Antiochus called Epiphanes did tyranize ouer them for they were oppressed sometime by one somtime by an other and in the end became subiect to the Romaines who were contented they shold obserue the rights of their law but appoynted Herod a stranger to bee their king yet was he much worse welcome then acquainted in the countrey for hee had borne office before in some part thereof vnder Antipâ—ter his father but hee was willing in what hee could to win them vnto him and for that cause hee circumcised himselfe and became a Iew in profession who was an Idumean by birth framed a new temple of square white stone some 25. cubits long some 4â— with breadth thicknes correspondent which appeared a farre off like vnto a mountain of snow where it was not couered with gold when it was al framed he pulled down the other set vp this for the Iewes would not suffer him to destroy the old temple vntill they see a new readie to bee erected in the place thereof which was so goodly a thing that it was reuerenced by the heauens for neuer fell any raine in the day time while men were at worke about it but onely in the night some small showres lest their worke should be hindered It was much bigger then was that which Salomon built for the people in time had enlarged the mountaine with earth which they raised 400. cubits high but Herod altogether obserued the same order in the temple the courts sauing that he enclosed one court round about the temple which was curiously paued with all manner of rich stone and compassed it with double walkes diuided with white marble pillars one stone in a pillar 25. cubits hie out of which were some gates opening toward euerie quarter In the east part hung such spoyles as the Iews had taken from barbarous nations dedicated vnto the temple where also Herod placed such as himselfe had taken from the Arabians but in the south side were the principall walkes for they were diuided with such pillars as the other were but where the other were double in this side they were triple and the middle much higher then the other two yet all made so stately as it was a wonder to behold them and into this court might any whosoeuer enter He made also the entrance out of one court into another with stayres for out of this court the Iewes did ascend fourteene steps round about the temple vnto a plaine which contained ten cubits in breadth from which they ascended againe fiue steps to come to the porch wherein were the gates by which they entred into their court which they called holy and into which no Gentiles might come vppon paine of death and because no man should pleade ignorance being deprehended past his limits this law was written both in Greeke and Latin and hung in a table at the foote of the lower stayres that all the Gentiles might reade it Euerie Alien which shall presume to enter into the holy place lette him die which lawe was so straightly obserued that the Romanes who were their rulers dared not to goe any farther then the first Court but neither could the Iewes enter into
it which were not pure according vnto their Lawes To this Court were foure gates in the North side and foure in the South side◠couered with siluer and gold as also the posts ouer the gates and on which they hung but two gates which stood in the East one right before the other farre exceeded them all by the first whereof entred both men and women into the porch and from thence by two priuate doores into the place allotted to thēselues this was called the great gate of the Temple by the other onely men vsually did enter into their Court and this gate was of brasse called brasse of Corinth a confused mettal of gold siluer and other mettals of which they of Corinth framed their Idols and with which they adorned their temples melted altogether when the Romanes tooke the Citie and burnt it downe to the ground This gate for the woorth and curious workmanship aboue the rest was called the beautifull gate and was so great that 20. men could hardly shut it To this gate the men ascended by fifteene steps and entred into their court which was diuided from the court where the Priestes offred sacrifice as in the first Temple but although it were not lawfull for the women to passe through the beautifull gate yet they might come vnto it to deliuer vp what they offered Heere did Ioachim deliuer vp his charge and dedicate his childe to the seruice of God and Anna his wife was not a little proude when shee had wherewith to performe her promise wherefore with no lesse ioy then Ioachim shee fulfilled her vow and made a present vnto God of the first fruits of her wombe for many places were prepared in the Temple for such purpose seuerall from the Priests and Leuits who lay there while they performed theyr weekely function for whome during the time it was not lawfull to drinke any wine nor accompanie with their wiues much lesse might they bee in continuall daunger of committing sinne such puritie and sobrietie was required of those which ministred at theyr altar and in those places liued many both young maidens and graue matrons such no doubt as hauing forsaken the world and the pride thereof continued at the doore of the tabernacle before the Temple was built in fasting and prayer yet was this difference among them that the yonger sort might after their religious education bee giuen in marriage by the Priestes according to the accustomed manner but the elder women continued there vntill theyr dying day as appeareth by Anna the daughter of Phanuel It is manifest also that those places were not open indifferently to all commers because that Iosabe wife vnto Ioiada the high Priest and sister vnto Ochesias king of the Iewes stole away Ioas who was sonne to Ochesias and hidde him and his nurse for as yet hee was an infant sixe yeeres in the Temple lest that Athalia Ochesias his mother should also murther him as shee had many of the kings linage because shee would both bee sole Queene and rule the more securely But now the tēple is not a secret receptacle for Ioas who after should bee king of the Iewes but it is a stately habitacle for Marie who afterward should be the mother of God and therefore inferiour to none who was no better then a creature Both censors and sents altars and sacrifice golde siluer and setim and whatsoeuer was valued precious in the Temple was nothing woorth in comparison of this virgin A person worthie so noble a house and a most rich house enriched by the presence of so noble a personage A common thing it was among the Iewes to lay vp in their temple in a dangerous times their chiefest Iewels but now the temple is become Gods chiefest treasure-house and a defence for a more sacred temple That temple was built by Salomon and this by a greater then Salomon that was dayly ransacked yea and sometime raised to the earth This dayly rose vntill it reached aboue the heauens The treasure of that was such as it allured men to vice but the treasure of this was such as it prouoked all to vertue And it was so much more excellent in all poynts then the temple of Salomon by how much it is a more worthy thing to be Gods mother then his manour although also she wanted not this title of honour which euery faithfull soule is sayd to haue when it is called Gods temple for being pronounced full of grace no doubt she was accounted also the chiefest of Gods temples in that degtee In that temple was the arke wherin were kept the tables of the law which God deliuered to Moses but she was temple and arke wherein was the Law giuer himselfe to bee included There also was kept part of that Manna which fed the Israelites in the desart but now is she presented in the temple who was to keepe a bread of so much more perfection As Manna was but a shadow of bread in comparison of it and to counteruaile Aaron his rod a rod of more fauour then was that which King Ahasuerus held out to Queene Hester and which hath giuen more incouragement to demaund whatsoeuer wee want and hope to obtaine it She remained in the temple vntill shee was fourteene yeares of age in praier and meditation carrying as much lowlines in her mind as chastitie in her thoughts neuer lesse idle then when she was alone and yet neuer weary of her company for in that she seemed afterward to be troubled onely at the angels maner of salutation it appeareth she was as well acquainted with such a presence as others to whome as infallible true hystories affirme it was nothing so dainty as now to vs to see an angel otherwise no doubt he had manifested himselfe vnto her as before he had done elsewhere when he told Zacharias that he was Gabriel and one of those which stoode continually before God Nowe began the Priestes to thinke vpon the bestowing her but they could not thinke on any whō they iudged worthie to match with her shee made them acquainted with her vow to remaine perpetually a virgin and they were afraid to put her in daunger of breaking it The Scribes who were interpreters of the lawe and other of the same sect but of more subtile learning and therfore also differing from them in name and were called Pharisies vowed many times virginitie or chastitie for certaine yeares which they obserued most strictly and for that purpose as at all other times so especially at these they neither tooke much ease nor eate much meate but day and night applied themselues wholy to prayer Also some of the Esseni which were diuided into foure sects liued all their life time virgins but neuer vntil this time did any of the other sexe professe such a kinde of life which troubled the Priestes the more yet in the ende being resolued by diuine inspiration to bestow her they found out one of the same tribe of which shee was
king Dauids messenger when hee sent to demaund her consent vnto him in marriage shee sayde vnto this Prince Embassadour Behold the handmaid of my Lord bee it done to me according to thy word Her consent obtained the Embassadour gaue her a farewell mixed with such ioy and reuerence as if hee had beene loth to detract time to be gone with so great good newes and yet could not but stay a while to doe his dutie but being of that agility that hee could passe so much space in a moment as is betwixt heauen and earth dispatched himselfe wirh that speede that in a trice hee both encreased a ioy in the place where hee was began another in the place from whence hee came Whereupon Loue who is impatient of delaye caused him from whom as well as from his father proceed infinit loue with all his might to pursue this matter the wole Trinitie working miraculously in the wombe of the Virgin gathering of her most pure bloud together framed therof in one instant a perfect body no sooner could that body enioy the soule which was created for it then the emperor his son vnited the whole vnto him a work as worthy praise as wonder so wonderful as reason hauing tyeâ—d it selfe in discourse of this worke leaueth off beginneth to do nothing but wonder for which cause one among the rest being wearied with ouer much musing began to refresh himselfe a little with his Muses In this maner Whom earth the sea the heauens doe worship praise adore King of this threefolde frame the wombe of Marie bore To whom Moone sunne and all do seruice in their turnes Chast bowels be are with fall of grace which from heauen comes Blessed such a mother within whose wombe is closde Her heauenly maker holding from being losde With ease the world and blest for that she had receiude By angels mouth addrest a message she belieude That she conceiuing by the helpe of holy Ghost He should within her lie Whom Gentils wished most But although others lost themselues in the consideration of this diuine mysterie the Virgin no doubt was so perfectly instructed in it that shee sound as much knowledge as she had felt comfort and her comfort was the more because her knowledge was so great and remembring that the higher shee was in calling the more lowly best beseemed her to bee in her carriage shee did alwayes with most humble thoughts attend vpon high conceits neither thinking at any time too well of herselfe for that shee should mother so worthy a prince nor yet so vnwary as to giue any cause why from thence forth hee should disdaine her to bee his mother Among other her comforts she remembred what the Embassador had said vnto her of her cosen Elizabeth whome before shee loued but now she longed to see and if the wayes presented themselues in her imagination very long her desire looked to bee preferred which was in heart also very great and the time of the yeare being both fit and pleasant to trauel in enuited her ernestly to the iorney to a citie called Hebron in the mountaines of Iuda liing southward from Ierusalem 22. miles one of the most famous cities in Palestina for antiquitie and of greatest renown because it was sometime the kings seat The inhabitants of this place were sometime such men or rather monsters as neither eye coulde without horrour beholde nor eare without feare heare speake here was Dauid who slew Goliah the Giant in a single combat with his sling annointed king and ruled all Israell by the space of seauen yeares a place also for this cause had in reuerence by all the worlde for that Adam the first parent of all mankind here is said to haue forsooke the world here also was Iacob the great Patriarke buried his father Isaack who was miraculously in this place coÌ„ceiued by Sara when shee was by natures course past childbearing from hence Abraham issued with 318. of his men and ioyned with him the 3. brethreÌ„ maÌ„bre who gaue name to the valley ioyning vnto it Aner and Escoll pursuing 4. kings conquerors ouerthrew them neare vnto mount Libanus and broght back all the spoile which they had taken out of the richest part of the country and was here also afterward buried A place notoriously 〈◊〉 froÌ„ the beginning of the world with an oak which continued there 400. years after the incarnation of the young prince we spake of it was one of the 46. cities which were allotted vnto the priests to dwel in Hether hastened the virgin if not so well accompayned as noble welthie parents could send their only daughter aswel for her gard as theit own credite yet neither was it likely she wold caresly of her selfe haue strayed so far alone nor her parents suffer her to go without some company being so far froÌ„ the basest blood in Palestina as they were of the best none of the poorest who coulde spare vnto the temple one third part of what they had an other to relieue the poore but her chiefest gard was inuisible and therefore it was inuincible for if euer any princes with child trauelling was choisely attended on least any hurt should befal vnto her or vnto that shee wente with much more was shee and euery thing so well ordered as she neither felt any inconuenience in long vneasie wayes being a yong maiden nor found any 〈◊〉 in her iorney by her burden being lately become a mother for it is not to be thoght that he which came to bring ease for his enemies would breede any paine in his best friendes But no sooner had shee set fooâ—e into her cosens house and saluted her but the child within her cosens wombe be wrayed who shee was and Elizabeth by diuine instinct cried out with a loud voice beginning where the Prince Embassador had ended his salutation and saide vnto her Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy wombe whence is this to mee that the mother of my Lord doth come vnto mee for beholde as the voice of thy salutation sounded in myne eares the infant in my wombe did leape for ioy blessed art thou which didst belieue because those things shall be accomplished which were spoken vnto thee by our Lord. The sunne although it appeare vnto vs to bee in a cloude because there is a cloude betwixt it and vs is not altogether depriued of his power but giueth some light and by his light life where it lighteth and the sonne of iustice hauing builte his glorious throne in the wombe of a virgin where hee did as it were ascend vppon a thinne cloude shall he lease his vertue and not rather worke not of any necessitie as a natural cause of such like qualited effects but voluntarilie as a liberal and free agent of supernaturall graces How may wee thinke woulde hee draw vnto him if hee were once exalted who drewe so mightilie being imprisoned for
before to brooke the fault which he found he held it not without cause the gretest happines he could haue in this worlde to enioy the loue of her whose vertue surmounted all who were vertuous were not vertue it selfe She was a yong maiden but of graue dedemeanor able to haue prouoked the best mortified to loue but she reproued euen in her face all maner of lust for whom her modestie drew to admire her her maiestie draue from thought of sinning by her although her pouertie sought to conceale it her properties shewed her princely desent Wherefore he thanked the heauens for his good hap began to thinke how he should make her amends of whom he had conceiued so hardly But when he came againe vnto her he stood stone still as though either his soule had forsaken him or his sences forgotten her if only sorrow for his suspition past ioy of his present resolution had fought the combat the quarrell might haue beene quickly ended poore Ioseph wold with teares either haue confessed vnto her his fault or haue congratulated his owne good fortune bâ—t a reuerence entring into the lists preuailed against both which made him as backward in his paces as loue could make him forwarde in his lookes wherefore shee perceyuing his eyes fixed so vpon her as if he meant they shoulde not straye and his heeles so fastened to the ground as if he had beene minded they should neuer stirre she beganne to be abashed at this so sodaine an alteration and blushed to thinke whether she had giuen him any iust cause of so strange a salutation but her conscience assuring her that shee had beene alwaies as forwarde in shewing him all manner of curtesie as she was free from suffering any maner of corruption she encountred him with such sweet piercing lookes as she encouraged him to prosecute his former professed loues but in such sort as ioy griefe and reuerence were moderators in his wordes countenance and behauiour He confessed his iealousie and suspition he had of her humblie craued pardon therefore vowing himselfe for his pennance vntill his dying day in sight of the world a true and faithfull spouse and in all his actions a most diligent and obedient seruant he vttered his intention to dismisse her and being so fully satisfied in the misterie wrought in her he was now become a suter vnto her that she wold vouchsafe to accept of him And she perceiuing that this worke could not possiblie proceed without his knowledge recounted vnto him what had chanced vnto her but with such humilitie lowlines of mind as was sufficient to haue perswaded a truth disswaded him from his determined purpose if he had before discouered his iealousie vnto her Wherfore after humble thanks to her Lord who in such sort had supplied her bashfull backwardnes she embraced her spouse who trembled for reuerence to touch her and she did not onely pardon his offence past but dispensed also with that pennance which hee had enioyned himselfe so farre foorth as it concerned her owne person but craued most careful attendance on him whome shee had conceiued Many wordes passed not betwixt them at this meeting because they both were willing that this his fault as it was quietly forgiuen so it should also be quickly forgotten but they could not parte without many ioyes because they both had their wish that this sacred conception as it cleared her from all suspected faultes so it should clense him from all superfluons fancies and they liued euer after with such contentment happinesse that they neither enuied at the statelie port of earthly princes nor desired the highest estate of the heauenly spirites yet coulde they not but wish euery day her time were expired that not onely they but the whole world also might enioye whome they expected for although a speciall choice was made of the Iewes yet were not the geÌ„tiles abandoned being each as nobly born as other and both as one They both had their Prophetes which did forshew his birth that both might take like profite by his death Among the Gentiles were Trimegistus Hidaspes and the Sibilles and the Iewes were not without those which foretolde both the time and the circumstances most iustlie The Gentiles vnderstood that about that time a king should be born by whome onely as the most eloquent Orator that euer spake in Rome saide all people should be saued but they vnderstanding no more then hee did what this saying ment some of them which thought well of themselues beganne to cast how they might bee kinges hoping that the Prophetes spake of them for this cause did Lentulus ioyne himselfe in Catalines conspiracie and Anthony boldly set a crown vpon Iulius Caesar his head when they sported themselues at their Lupercals at which Caesar seemed to grieue and the Senate to grudge and Caesar refusing the crowne Anthony to the dislike of all the Romaines set it vppon Caesar his Image others thougâ—t that Augustus Caesar was the man and the rather because hee was borne aboute such a time as vppon a strange accident coniecture was made a mighty prince should arise for the Image of Iupiter which stoode in the Capitoll and the image of the Wolfe which nursed Romulus and Rhemus as also many other Idols were either broken or melted yet was Aâ—gustus a fauourer of Idols and by sacrificing vnto them acknowledged himselfe rather a bearer of them out then a breaker of them down but whosoeuer was born that yeare by the Senates decree was murdered because the very name of a king was hated amongst them All thought the appeariâ—g of the sunne in a rainebow when the skie was rounde aboute then cleare at Caesar his returne to Rome from Apollonia was a confirmation of this Empire so likewise did they enterprite the flowing of oile by the space of one whole daye out of a well on the foreside of Tiber a famous riuer that runneth thorough Rome in a place hetherto permitted to the Iewes to inhabite and to liue according vnto their lawes but the well stoode in a Tauerne sometime vsed by aged soldiers to soiourne in when they had serued in the warres in defence of the common wealth for after that a souldier came to his threescore yeare hee had his certaine allowance vntill his death which commonly was spent in that place And when they sawe the sunne in the middle of three circles vpon one of which was a crowne burning made as it were of eares of corn they applied it to their Triumâ—â—â—â— that is to signifie that three men shoulde sitte vppon capitall matters on which onely two satte before and were called â—â—â—umuiri But Augustus Caesar who had searched their olde southsayers saw hee was to waite for a greater then eyther they or himselfe was or the Gods whome hee worshipped and Apollo whose sonne hee was accounted confirmed the same insomuch as hee refused the title of a Lorde and hauing great treasure brought vnto him
of one by nature and of another by the law Hereof Ioseph is said in one petigree to bee the son of Iacob and in another petigree the son of Hely as being the naturall son of Iacob and called the son of Hely because Iacob had hâ—m by Helies wife whom Hely left a widow and without any children for Hely and Iacob were brethren of one wombe although of diuerse fathers that is to say of Mathaâ— who was father vnto Iacob and Mathat who was father vnto Hely But although it be most true that the yong prince did descend of the princes of the Iewes and that he was of the familie of Dauid yet these petigrees of Ioseph proue nothing but that the prince his mother was of the tribe of Iuda because Ioseph who in these petigrees is proued to be of that name did espouse her it being a thing vnlawful among the Iewes that any shuld match but in their own tribe but neither doth this proue that this prince was of the tribe of Iuda because notwithstanding diuerse tribes should not ioyne togither in mariage the tribe of Iuda and Leui might and therefore the the proofe that Ioseph was of the tribe of Iuda and of the family of Dauid sheweth notâ—â—ng for the yong prince but that hee did by his mother discend either of the tribe of Iuda or of the tribe of Leuy For this cause many take the seconde petigree for the petigree not of Ioseph but of the yong prince by his mothers auncesters Thus beginneth that petigree Iesus was entring into his 30. yeare who was thought to be the son of Iâ—seph who was the sonne of Hely that is to say Iesus was accounted the sonne of Ioseph but he was the sonne of Hely by Mary daughter to Hely otherwise called Heliachim or Ioacâ—im for all is one name among the Iewes and although by this account the Prince should haue but one King among his auncesters yet hee had manie absolute Princes and gouernours of the people descending from Zorobabel vnto Iamnes otherwise called Ioannes Hircanus who not brooking the miserie in which hee and his people lyued through the oppression of the Syrians at the beginning of Antiochus Epiphanes his raigne who forced them to doe manie thinges agaynst their lawes slewe himselfe for which fact all his wealth was confiâ—cate which was a cause that the familie of Dauid liued afterwarde somewhat obscurely But in these petigrees appeareth a verie intricate difficultie For if Salathiell and Zorobabel mencioned in the seconde petigree are the same which are mencioned in the first why doth not the seconde petigree name the princes auncestours from king Dauid by king Salomon as the first doth but by Nathan an other of Dauids sonnes by Bersabe king Salomon his mother Againe if Salathiel and Zorobabel mentioned in the second petigree are not the same which are mencioned in the first petigree how came they which are reckoned in the second petigree to be princes of the people and their posterity vntill Iamnes slue himselfe A sacred history affirmeth that Zorobabel who is saide to descend from Iechonias the last king of the Iewes by Salathiel did carrie the people home out of Babylon where they had beene captiues And other hystories of authoritie continue this gouernment by Mosullam or Misciola Zorobabels sonne and such as are reckoned in the seconde petigree to bee the prince his ancesters The difficultie will bee easilie solued if we may say that Salathiel and Zorobabel mencioned in the one petigree were the same which are mentioned in the other and that Salathiel was not sonne vnto Iechonias but vnto Neri And this is agreeable vnto the Oracle which said that Iechonias should be barren and one who should neither prosper nor haue anie ofspring which shoulde sit in the throne of Dauid or haue any authoritie euer after in Iudah Which shoulde not haue beene true if hee shoulde haue children to succede him and to say that a man is barren or that the sonne dooth not succeed his father when the sonne hath not that pompe and maiestie which his father had is to say that most men are barren and few sons succeed their fathers so we may say that neither Salomons sonne did succeed him from whom ten tribes fell and followed Ieroboam nor Ioachas succeed his father Iosias because that Pharaoh king of Egypt within three moneths after tooke him sent him into Egypt where he died prisoner nor Ioachim brother to Ioachas who after that he had for a space paide to Pharaoh a yeerly tâ—ibute of a 100. talents of siluer and one of gold paide tribute for the space of three yeeres to Nabuchodonosâ—r king of Chaldea and rebelling against him was taken and slaine and throwne out of Hierusalem and lay vnburied according to the Oracle which sayd that hee should haue no other then the buriall of an Asse Nor his sonne Iechonias who was within three moneths after caried prisoner into Chaldea least perchance he should by some meanes haue reuenged his fathers death yet notwithstanding is this Iechonias sayde to haue sitten in the throne of Dauid and Zorobabel and his children hauing authoritie in Iudah as Kinges although for some cause they woulde not bee called Kings it is euident the Oracle being of infallible truth that Salathiel father to Zorobabel was not naturall sonne to Ieconias but to Neri and accounted the sonne of Ieconias as descending of Ieconias his wife who was left to Neri the next of kinne to Ieconias and to raise seed to Ieconias who according to the Oracle was barren Some woulde seeme to solue this difficultie by saying that Salathiel was the naturall sonne of Ieconias and adopted by Neri after Ieconias his death but why then were the princes his auncestors reckoned from King Dauid by Nathan the other beeing both a more true and more honourable petigree By this pedigree also is shewed how the prince was high priest for Onias the high priest hauing one onely daughter and one sonne hee gaue his daughter in marriage vnto Tobias otherwise called Mathathias Siloa who was grandfather vnto Iamnes the last prince which the Iewes had immediately before the Machabees and one of the yong prince his anncestors but his sonne Onias some call him Ananias and say that hee was not his sonne but his brother fledde from Hierusalem into Egypt where by Philomater the King of Egypt his lycense hee built in Hieropolis a Temple like vnto the temple in Hierusalem and there ended his life in scisme Onias the Father hadde also twoo brethren who after they hadde brought him out of the high-priesthood were themselues as they bribed Antiochus Epiphanes the King of Siria nowe one of them high priest nowe another and in the ende both shutte out and slaine Some doe say that those three brethren were sonnes to Simon who was high Priest and sonne vnto that Onias which fled into Egypt but whosoeuer they were all perished and oue succeeded them in that dignitie whose name
was Alcintus but had no title or right vnto it and after him did Mathathias hold it who was of the familye of Ioiarib to whom fell the first lot to serue in the temple according vnto that order which King Dauid appoynted to bee kept among the Priests and therefore was but an ordynarie Priest dwelling in the Cittie of Modin Hierusalem being alwayes the seate of the high Priest and the Machabees his Sonnes were extraordinarily accepted of by the people in respect that no man who was neerer would challenge the high-priesthood and they were admitted for cheefe Princes not because the right line of Dauid was cleane extinguished but because it was brought to so lowe an estate that it could not and no other would right the peoples wronges which no doubt was Gods speciall prouidence that for some fiue or sixe descents both the high priesthood and the scepter should goe from the true heyre although not from the right familie that when this yong Prince came he might in the more secret maner bring his purpose to good passe That this infant was a naturall man notwithstanding any dignitie whatsoeuer was in him it was euident for that alreadie thereof had beene sufficient proofe made by the griefe he felt as well in his circumcision as in cold whatsoeuer occasion else might chance to trie it And although the virgin very wel vnderstood no lesse before yet this offring of mirre a thing which was vsed about the body in the last obsequie done vnto it after death did so refresh it in her minde that in all this ioye which was made for three Kinges presence shee coulde not choose but grieue yet in the end vsing some kinde of patience in a matter shee coulde not helpe shee conformed her selfe into the rest of the princely companie who nothing abashed either at the childes present lowe estate nor daunted with the consideration of his death which was afterwarde to followe at the time appoynted performed that for which they came with all dutie reuerence and worship as if they had not beene absolute Kinges but subiectes vnto this young Prince and helde it no abasing of themselues to do it Well woorthie were yee noble princes of the highest welcome hauing made such haste to visite whome the worlde disdayneth and to followe one who is so little fauoured But howe can yee frame your selues to him who hath set defiaunce what yee esteeme most fortunate and hath expressed by his woorke because as yet he would not by his woorde that riches estimation and what earthlie pompe soeuer the worlde breedeth bringeth not so much ornament vnto the bodie as anguish vnto the minde and therefore lyeth and lamenteth the miserie in which man liueth as though hee were alreadie wearie of such estate and more willing to leaue it then to linger anie longer in it Had ye wist ye should haue found so bare parents so base a place so small a companie you would perchaunce either not haue come or not with so great speede so great pompe so great presentes but the wordes of your prophesie could not stande as yee thought with so great a pouertie the brightnes of the starre be a signe of any obscurity the expectation of the whole world bee satisfied without some great maiestie This and not vnlikely this might be the cause why so confidently yee alighted at Ierusalem because yee measured with mans witte the wayes of an eternall wisedome but thryse happie were yee when hearing he was not to bee found among such as liued delitiously yee hastened to honour him where he lay throwne out disdainefullie and where yee saw that not without iust cause wisedome is said to crie out in the streetes since that as wel great pallaces as little cottages were aunswered to bee to narrow straytes but take him as yee find him and as yee now can tast him hereafter fancie him The Queen of Saba saw in Salomon more wisedome then she thought shee founde more fauour then she sought shee returned with greater riches then she brought and behold a greater then Salomon here Salomon his wisedome was such as all might bee seene his fauours such as all might bee wonne his riches such as all might bee wanting thinke then your pains in this iorney well bestowed since that yee haue found a greater then Salomon here This his infancie this pouertie this rude place are but emboldnings to princes to command and warrants to preuaile hee is able to giue more then yee are able to aske for although hee seemeth to bee in the extreamest misery yet neuer was Salomon to be compared with him when hee was in his chiefest maiesty make proofe of that which appeareth not in him and make your profite of that for which others despise him King Salomon was no more then a shadow of this young prince and the Queene of Saba no other then a figure of your selues King Salomon was no more then his shadow whether ye respect his power or his wisedom his princely seat or his peaceable gouernment his stately Temple or whatsoeuer was called his which might eyther winne him grace or worke his glorie for this prince his power is such as by his word only he can make or marre his wisedome such as hee can both propose and dispose not onely of all this world but thousands of worldes his princely seate so strong as no man can daunt him his peaceable gouernment so secure as no man can endanger him his temples as low founded as high framed and as pure golde within as they shew goodly without his glory may be worthily wondâ—ed at because it cannot be worthily written of The Queen of Saba so called because her chiefeest seat gaue that name vnto her countrie round about her came to seeke whome yee haue founde fame supplying to her the place of the starre which appeared vnto you shee presented the king with gifts and with problemes made triall of his wisedome shee was aunswered to euery thing shee could demaunde and shee was astonied to see what he could commaunde and in the end being accepted for his wife departed leauing with him seauen hundred other Queenes and carried with her so much treasure as that which she brought seemed to be but borrowed of her for a short time and paid againe with vnreasonable vsury Noble princes yee haue brought worthy presents haue proposed no easie problemes but if he can without long discourse shew the meaning of three kinges adoring one silly poore infant iustly ye may admire his wisedome and wonder at his might and because the Queene of Saba shall not triumph ouer you in being made Queene of Ierusalem by her matching with Salomon the prince hath espoused you al and in you three as a most sacred number all forraine nations and made you coheires with him of a celestiall Ierusalem but the treasure with which yee shall returne into your countries shal bee such as neuer could be valued with any priâ—ce nor before this time
comprehended in any place the depth saide it is not in mee and the sea disclaimed it and other places of treasure were altogether vnknown whence then commeth it or what where hath it had it hath beene hidden from mens eyes and the Angels could neuer attaine vnto it Death and destruction said they had heard of it and now that same wisedom which hath been concealed froÌ„ so many is reuealed vnto you yee heard of it in Ephrata imbraced it in Bethleem althogh in so poore an estate as of all his state lines he seemeth to haue nothing remaining but what might moue both him and his to mourning How happie did these princes iudge all those which might dayly attend vpon this young prince whose wisedome might verie well be wondred at although hee had no wordes as also his conquests which afterward hee obtained without any weapons all his lookes and gestures did these princes maâ—ke euery thing they saw and heard impâ—â—ting some maruelous great mysterie and now nothing seemed grieuous vnto them after this long iorney but that they must part from this so much desired companie not because they would but because it was necessarie they should least their too long abode in such a place might cause to soâ—e to open a speech abroade of the prince but determining to take their leaues hauing now done their fealtie vnto a new king of whome they acknowledged they held their kingdomes they were warned in a vision not to goe backe againe to Herod but to returne by some other waye into their countrie not because that Herod should not know of their going but because that Herod knowing the manner of their going which was through such obscure places as manie times they were constrained to lie in the hollowes of mountaines shoulde thinke that these princes had committed some greate follie in comming so farre with such iolitie and triumph to seek a prince which was not to be found and were therefore so ashamed of themselues that they would not be seen again of him nor of any other which see them wheÌ„ they came for it is not credible that three kinges knowne to be in Palestina and whether they went could passe through it with their traine although it were not very great and with their dromedaries Herode not heare of it Herode therefore being thus perswaded of these kings their voyage rested resolued vpon this matter that since they had lost their labour in seeking out the prince to honour him he would not also be laughed at in the like enterprise to murder him Wherefore this iourney of the three kinges was quickly past and Herode well pacified but the kings their guide their offerings the place where and to whom the offeringes were made are briefly recorded for all posteritie to know them by a deuout of the young prince in this Himne O onely Cittie of great worth Bethleem greater then the rest Whose chance it was for to bring forth A heauenly guide of health inflesht Whom shining starre more theÌ„ the sun And of more comely portraicture Doth shew that to the earth is come God in an earthly creature Whom when as that the Magi see Their Easterne presents they vnfold And prostrate offer him on knee Frankencense mirrh princely gold By gold th' acknowledgde him a king A God by their sweet frankencense By mirrh they shewd a mortall thing Vnited was to Gods essence The maiden mother who slept not when shee heard the poore shepheards discourse no doubt was wrathfull at those princes deeds and both marked well the maner of her sonne his disclosing himselfe vnto the world and mused that he would so soone diuulge so secret a word but vnderstanding that the nearest of these princes which came vnto him was a farre dweller she hoped her sonne might be talked of in their countries without any danger therefore she staid the more secâ—rely in her caue vntill her time came to go vnto the temple when both she was expected to be purified and her yong infant to bee presented for the Iewes accounted all women vncleane which according to natures course were deliuered of children either male or female with this difference that of a manchild she remaine vncleane fortie dayes and of a woman-child double so much And God challenged the first begotten among the Iewes to bee his whether it were man or beast which dutie vnto God in diuers times was diuersly performed for at the first euerie manchild did offer sacrifice as appeareth by the historie of Cain and Abell Afterward the first begotten onely as the chiefest was priest and offered for the whole familie but in the family of Iacob who by a supernaturall dispensation got the eldership and the priesthood from his brother Esau the tribe of Leui as the most faithfull to God sufficiently proued in reuenging the wrong done vnto him by those who adored the golden calfe in the desert being accepted and assumpted vnto this dignitie and to serue at the altar without any redemption the rest of the people might according as they were appointed by their law after a presentation made of their first begotten sonne 10. dayes after his birth redeeme him of God for fiue sicles The first breed of beastes such as were not admitted for the sacrifice were to be redeemed by being chaunged for other beastes which were lawfully sacrificed as the first breed of an Asse was redeemed for a sheep and other beastes for a sicle and a halfe and if they were not redeemed they were to bee killed which was freely granted by the consent of all the Iewes in remembrance that God slew the first begotten of the Egiptians both man beast wheÌ„ after many other plagues they wold not suffer the Iewes to depart According vnto this law as also to fulfill the law of purifying women after their deliuerie the maiden mother although she knew both her selfe to be a virgin therfore without need of any such ceremony her son to be the son of God therfore in that respect aswell as for that he opened not his mothers womb not to be subiect vnto that law yet she thought it most fit to present her selfe and her sonne at the temple carrying with her 5. sicles to redeeme her son a paire of yong pigeons or turtles for her own offering for such was the law that who were able should offer a lambe and a turtle or another pigeon and who were not able to buy a lambe should bring a paire of turtles or yong pigeons for old pigeons would not be accepted of nor young turtles because they are not so good as the other and the best were thought bad enough to offer vnto God And in this sort was this offering made The whole lambe if a lambe were offered or one of the turtles or doues if the partie were not able to buy a lambe was consumed with fire in the sacrifice a turtle doue was offered as a sacrifice for sinne for
others say that onely one in euerie Temple as at the departure of the Israelites from Egypt one dyed in euerie house some write that onely those fell downe which wer at Heliopolis in Thebais whether the virgin went with her sonne to dwell certaine it is that a huge great tree was not farre from the Citie whose fruit leaues or barke did heale many diseases and no other cause was euer giuen thereof then that it receiued this vertue myraculously when the yong prince passed by it at his first comming at what time it bowed downe vnto the ground and was dispossessed of an euill spirite which was woont there to bee honoured by the Egyptians and all this is no wonder to those who read that Dagon the Idoll which the Philistins adored was founde first lying vpon the ground before the Arke of God which they took in a battell from the Iewes and had placed it in Dagons temple at Asoâ—â—s and the second time the body of the Idoll was in his place as they had set it vp againe but the head and hands were off and lay before the arch If the arch were of such vertue being a thing made of wood made by Moses at Gods commaundement to keep the law which he gaue vnto the Israelites that an Idoll could not stand in the presence therof how coulde any Idols stande in the presence of an arch made without mans hand and where God himselfe was personally present For into Egypt came now neither Abraham Iacob Moses nor Ieremie but one who was greater then euer was any of the patriarks or prophets and therefore no wonder if Egypt felt such an alteration as neuer before That this yong prince dwelt in Heliopolis a worthy fountaine not far from thence witnessed wherein it is said the virgin washed the yong prince and such things as she vsed about him it was in a garden where grewe nothing but that which was most precious For in the gardeÌ„ was nothing but Balsam it had no other water but of that fountain to water it the garden being afterward made greater the inhabitants thereabout digged a greater place for the watering thereof near vnto the other little fountaine perswading themselues that there was some speciall vertue therein for this purpose and that their Well which they digged being neare vnto it might be the better for it but they all were deceyued of their expectation vntill they made certaine Pipes by which they conueyed water out of the little fountane into their Well and mingled it with other water which sprung fast by it in remembraunce of which both that place and the place where the virgin dwelled were had in great reuerence by the heathen people for they sawe a manifest signe that his bodie gaue vertue vnto that fountain when as the water which was digged close by it had no such vertue in it This sequell perchance made the Egyptians to reflect the more vpon their Idols fall both in their Temples and elsewhere and called to minde what they had beene before also informed by one who although he were a Iew and stoned to death by his owne countrymen in Egypt because hee foretolde them they should all die by sworde and famine which descended into Egypt after the destruction of their Temple by the Chaldees yet he was highly esteemed of by all the Egyptians for that by his prayers hee deliuered all that coast where he came from Cocatrices pernitious water serpents from Aspides which were so wily that if at any time the enchanter were about to charme them thereby to take away their force in hurting them they woulde lay one of their eares so close to the ground and stop the other so fast with their taile that the enchanter could not in any sort preuaile against them The Oracle which this prophet gaue them was that when a virgin should bring forth a sonne their Idols should be destroied which being beleeued by the priests they erected in the most secret place of their teÌ„ple the Image of a virgin with a child in her arms adored it which Ptolomeus their K. for Alexander the great made Ptolo. K. of Egypt after him the K. of Egypt were called Ptolome as before they all called Pharao when hee demaunded what it meant they sayde as before is shewed and that their predecessors had left such a tradition amonge them and that they beleeued it and no doubt that Image did stand still in their temple for the honor they bore vnto the Prophet whom after the Iewes had stoned the Egyptians buried close by theyr Kings but afterward Alexander the Great translated his body with exceeding great pompe vnto Alexandria that by the presence thereof those Serpents shoulde auoyde which by no other pollicie hee could ouercome notwithstanding that hee had brought other kind of sepents out of Greece to destroy them But after that this blessed virgin and her childe were come into Egypt Herod returning from Rome as most men affirme either from making complaint of his sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus or from aunswering to theyr complaints made vppon him to the Emperor and not knowing this yong prince where to finde but mistrusting onely that hee was some where about Bethlcem sent to murder all the infants which were in Bethleem neere about so that Beniamin as some doe thinke bordering vpon that part of Iuda lost also some of their infants according to the olde prophesie A voyce of weeping and howling was heard in Rama Rachel bewayling her children and would not bee comforted because they were not that is to say because shee was spoyled of them for Beniamin was the yongest sonne of Rachel and the yongest of the twelue patriarches some doe thinke that Rama was a towne betwixt Bethleem and Hebron and that Zacharias vpon ryot of this murder conuayed away his sonne for which hee was afterward slaine himselfe Some say that this Rama was a towne in Arabia whose name was vsed to shewe how farre in a short time this crueltye was spred abroade Some do thinke that Rama signified nothing but the vehemencie of the crye which might very well bee for 14000. infants were slain in this massacre and as some do thinke onely the infants of Iuda and that Rachel is by the Prophet sayd to lament her children not because that anie of the tribe of Beniamin were slaine but because that shee lay buried neere vnto the place where this murder was principally doone which was doone vpon all of twoo yeeres old to fiue yeeres old as some haue thought because the childrens bones which were after seene seemed to bee of a greater growth then twoo yeeres others who thinke that children were bigger at that time then they were in a short time after say all were slaine which were of two yeeres and vnder which also some do limit saying that none were slaine who were vnder 40. dayes olde because Herod vnderstood that the Prince was borne when the three Kings
were with him which was about fortie dayes before this murder and these doe suppose that the murder was done presently after the presentation in the Temple but this limitation hath more pittie then pith in it for if the Souldiours were debarred from killing those who were but fortie dayes olde or vnder could they distinguish better betwixt one childes age 〈◊〉 another of fortie dayes and anothers of fortie fiue dayes or fiftie dayesx then betwixt one of fortie dayes and one of two yeeres old if they were so cunning to distinguish one age from another which differed but three or foure dayes why were children of two yeeres olde murdered for one little aboue fortie dayes olde if they were not so cunning to distinguish what securitie was it for Herod to kill some and leaue other aliue who might very well be taken for foure or fiue dayes yonger then they were Wherefore it is more probable that all were slaine which were twoo yeares olde or vnder for Herod assured himselfe as hee might verie well both by the Prince his presentation in the Temple and also by the appearing of the starre that the childe hee sought for was vnder those yeeres and not knowing howe to sette a limit vnder that time which could bee obserued for his purpose hee might thinke it little more crueltie then hee did principally intend to kill them all beside that hee might thinke that some for some bribes might bee fauoured the souldiours hauing so iust an excuse as a precise commaundement to kill such and no other and the younge Prince as well as any other might by these meanes escape beeing aboue a yeere olde and thought to bee verie forwarde in growth hauing in Herods conceite more helpe by the influence of the starres then other children and the more because hee vnderstoode that a starre did in a sort attende vpon him at his birth and this cause doe somegiue why hee took so large a scope in the age of those whome he caused to bee murdered for hee thought the starres would make him looke yonger or older then hee was for his aduantage although others impute it altogether to Herods crueltie which depriued him so much of reason as in this commission he would not except his owne sonne but suffered him also to bee murdered among the infants perchance hating him for this cause that being an infant he was like vnto the Prince whome hee feared The shepheards their tale was heard wher they had reported abroad this childs birth helde for no more then a tale because it chanced at such a time as whē Gentiles and Iewes by their imitation vsed to watch al the night For an ancient custome was among them to keep watches twice in the yeere at what time the nights were at the longest at the shortest and spent them perchance in some kinde of pastime and this watch did the Gentiles keepe as some doe write in honour of the sunne The three Kinges their so straunge a demaunde in Hierusalem for him who was borne King of the Iewes draue Herod into a little feare but theyr silent departure made him thinke that they missed what they sought for and therefore the more secure but when the Prince was openly proclaimed in no obscure place but in the tēple not in a corner but in an open assemblie Herod beganne to bee exceedingly troubled and hauing a present witte especially in any wicked practise determined rather then to misse him that all the children in Bethleem or neere about should bee murdered but deferred it vntill his returne from Rome as many doe say perchance because in his absence hee doubted eyther that it would not bee doone vnto his minde or else that it might cause some tumult among the people or thirdlye because hee would not haue this obiected against him when hee should come before Caesar. But heere may seeme some doubt why the Virgin should flie into Egypt for succour beeing at Nazareth for the sacred Historie sayth shee went thither so soone as all thinges were ended in the Temple which was foure dayes iourney from Bethleem where as it appeareth shee was in sufficient securitie with her childe to which may hee aunswered that although Herod were enformed that the Prince he feared was to bee borne in Bethleem and that from Bethleem the childe came of whom at his presentation in the Temple so many thinges both admirable and woorthie eternall memorie were spoken yet could hee not bee ignorant whome feare made ouer-curious and to search out whatsoeuer might make for his purpose of an olde prophesie that was amongst the Iewes that is to saye A sprig shall spring from the root of Iesse and out of this sprig shall come a floure or as some did reade it a Nazarene so that it was conuenient that the virgine shoulde remoue the Prince from Nazareth which Herode after his returne by diligent search hauing founde but not whither they were remoued and imagining that they were returned to Bethleem or thereabout because they were of the tribe of Iuda he resolued to send his soldiers thither to kill all the infants of two yeares old and vnder But after this murther Herode grew odious in Palestina and infamous in all the world in so much as the Emperor who had before a great conceit of the man said by way of mocking that he had rather be Herods hog then his sonne for the Iewes did not kill any swines flesh either for the temple or for their owne priuate vses because they accounted those beasts as vncleane and therefore not to be eaten for euery beast saith their law which doth not chew the cud hath not the foot clouē is vnclean by which the Hare although it chew the cudde yet because it hath an whole foote is counted vncleane the hog which hath a clouen foot because it doth not chaw the cud is also vncleane But neither were hogs kept in Palestina vntil such had power ouer it as were not vnder the Iewes lawes then were the Iewes contented being for this cause priuiledged in other things aboue others to keep hogs for others vses And these obseruations were not onely for beasts but for fishes which were al accounted vncleane which had not both fins scales also for fowles among which some were forbidden which among other people are vsed ordinarily some seldome either in respect of daintines of the meat or curiousnes of the eaters as Swan Puet a sea foule like to a sea gull Crowes Hawkes Owles many other which perchance in far countries elswhere were accounted good meat as Griffins Kites Ostriches Eagles other strange birds which breed in Egipt or thereabout Generally all flying things which had foure legs were iudged vncleane vnlesse they had their hinder legs longer thē their forelegs But Herode his good fortune was such as all things still chanced as he wished and whereas Caesar was thought by some to giue him a mocke Caesar he thought did highly
of his conception replenished with all grace by reason of that heauenly vnion which then was made but that as a man he encreased it by other kind of actions then he practised before he was a man which what they were more then his subiection to his mother and to the poore Carpenter his supposed father are not in any credible historie recorded except what hee did after he was thirty yeares of age and so forward vntill his returne from whence he first came But concerning the spending of his youth some affirme that he vsed the Carpenters art which hee seemed to haue learned of Ioseph because an infallible truth hath reuealed that men of that place where he dwelled such as in such a matter could not be deceiued after they heard him what he said and saw what he did when he shewed himselfe vnto the world maruelled whence he should haue so great power and so much knowledge one of them putting another in mind that he was the Carpenter who was Maries sonne and whose kinsfolke dwelled among them But how can it be that the virgine should bee an inheretrix aud to no small reuenewes and yet bee forced to liue vpon her sonnes labour for Ioseph liued not many yeares after his returne from Egipt it seemeth a very inconuenient thing that without any necessitie either she should giue from her selfe all that she had or he be subiect both to euill words and wâ—rse vsage To this some do easily make this answere that the virgine enioyed what her parents had before although after her sonne shewed himselfe vnto the world both he and she forced themselues to liue vppon the charitie of others lest in counselling others to sell all which they had and giue it to the poore if they would follow him hee might iustly haue beene challenged for preaching one thing and practising another wherefore the yong prince vsed an arte onely because he would not seeme to the world to liue idely for that was so scandalous a thing in that country that the chiefest men did train vp their children in one kind of trade or other but the young prince although hee could haue vsed what arte hee would being skilfull in all by his extraordinarie knowledge as well of the least matters as the greatest yet hee chose to bee a Carpenter rather then any other artificer first because he was not yet to shew himselfe vnto the world and therefore would do nothing but what people might thinke he was taught by Ioseph whom they tooke to bee his father Secondly for the affection he did beare vnto that arte aboue all other hauing vsed it from the first framing of the world a worke so much more excellent then euer any other Carpenter could make by how much the instrument by which it was made is incomparablie better then any Carpenters tooles Thirdly because it was the custome among the prophetes which were sent vnto the Iewes to shew before they did prophesie by some action what was the effect of their message and he would do the like The Prophete Ose being to foretell the ouerthrow of the house of Iehn who was king of Israel and also how Israel that is the ten Tribes which diuided themselues from Iuda and Beniamin was forsaken of God for their sinne and euill customes he tooke a wife which was before an harlot by which hee would signifie vnto the people that they liued in fornication and all manner of filth although because he married her he committed no sinne and when hee had gotten by her a sonne hee called his name Iesrael whereby hee would signifie that the blood which was shed in Iesrael should bee reuenged vpon Iehu for although Iehu pleased God well in ouerthrowing the house of Achab and Iezabell and therefore was rewarded with the kingdome of Israel and his posteritie vnto the fourth generation yet because he was not free from those vices of Ieroboam the first king of the Israelites which diuided themselues from the rest Zacharâ—as who was the fourth from him was slaine and the kingdome possessed by Sellum who was of another stocke And after the prophet had this sonne by his wife he had also a daughter which hee called without mercie because God would haue no mercie vpon Israel then he had also by her another sonne whom hee named Not my people whereby hee would shewe vnto them how that God had altogether forsaken them So that three yeares or thereabout at the least were past before hee ended his prophesie which without this action hee might haue ended in fewe more then three wordes In the same manner Ezechiel the prophet when hee was in Babilon carried out of his house all his substance by day in the sight of the Iewes who were captiues there at the same time and by night hee digged a hole in the wall of his house through which he crept and when hee was out he was taken vp and caried away by which he would shew vnto the Iewes which see this strange deuise how Hierusalem should be spoiled and Zedechias the king carried away captiue as afterward it proued although by night hee had thought to saue himselfe by flight through a priuate gate Ieremie also the Prophet after he had tried in vaine to stay the reliques of the people in Palestina who hastened into Egipt for feare that Nabuchodonosor would reuenge vpon them the death of Godolias who was left by him as president of the countrie and slaine by the Iewes when he came into Egipt for thither the Iewes carried him against his will he laid a great heape of stones in a caue which was vnder a bricke wal at Pharao his court gate and then he said vnto them that Nabuchodonosor who was king of Babilon should place his throne vpon these stones and when hee should strike Egipt they also should perish with the Egiptians Many other things are recorded which both this and other prophets did before they vttered their message but these suffice to shew their names of prophesying and the young prince perchance because he would obserue the 〈◊〉 course being the chiefest of all prophetes busied himselfe in such things before he preached as might very fitly bee applyed to his purpose for as some men do say he wrought nothing but yoakes and ploughes Hee made yoakes to shew that the perfection of his law consisted in mutuall loue and because in a yoake are as it were two parts in one wee should studie for nothing else but the true loue of God and our neighbour and this not so much for any our own interest or our neighbours as purely and onely for God in which yoake whosoeuer draweth tasteth first and then tryeth how sweete it is for hee which made this yoake sayde also my yoake is sweete and my burden light He made ploughes to shew that men must perseuere in that good woorke they beganne or else all the former gaine is to little purpose because he which holdeth the plough and