end the Citties of refuge are appointed and the fieldes of the Leuites neere to the cittie then Rub. Gad and the tribe of Maâ—asses are sent away to their owne possessions according to the couenant Num. 32 Afterwardes the care of Iâ—suâ— touching his posteritie is shewed by a notable exhortation and forbiding them to haue societie with the Gentiles and he shewes a lardge rehearsall of Gods benefites and making a couenant betwene them and God he calleth backe the people vnto God Lastly is declared the death of Iosua and Eleazar the sonne of Aron and the burying of Iosephes bones ⧠The booke of Iudges THe booke of the Iudges is named of those Iuges which after the death of Iosua Gouerned Israell For it contayneth a discription of Israells proceeding after Iosuahes death vnder the Iudges who maruailouslie defended the people from their enemies wherein is to bee obserued that God preserued the comon weale of Israell for the same cause for which he did establish it Namely for his sonnes sake that should be borne of the Ieweish people also this is to be noted that the people of the old Testament were vnder fower kindes of Gouernement according to the diuersitie of the times 1 Vnder a Fatherlye Aucthoritie in the time of the Patriarches Moses and Aaron 2 Vnder the aucthoritie of Iudges during the time of these Iudges 3 Vnder the gouernement of Kinges in the time of the Kinges 4 Vnder the gouerment of the Priestes in the time of the Priestes vntill Christe Who one for all is 1 Eternall Father 2 Iudge of the quicke and dead 3 King of Kinges 4 Euerlasting hie priest There were in number as Iudges 16. 1 Iudas 2 Simeon 3 Othoniell 4 Aroth 5 Samgar 6 Deborah the Prophetise 7 Baruck 8 Gedeon alias Ierobabell 9 Abimelech 10 Thola 11 Iair 12 Iepthe 13 Abesau 14 Achialâ—n 15 Abdon 16 Samson Now the booke of Iudges is deuied according to the order of the persons as they ruled in Israell From the begining of the booke to the 6 chap. 7. histories are discribed of the Iudges Iudas Simion c. Amongst whom Deborah the prophetis singeth a notable song in the 5. chap. From the 6. to the 13 besides the storie of Giddeon and his sonne three other Iudges are discribed Thola Iair and Iepthe of the Sacrifising of his daughter chap 11 from the 13 to the 17 is described an exelent storie of Samson and heere is Samson peculiarly comended in it hee was a figure of Christe From the 17. to the end of the booke beside the Idoll of Mica and the children of Dan is set forth a fearefull and a lamentable story of a Leuites wise for whom being rauished fallen downe dead and cut into 12. peeces the whole trâ—be of Beniamin was al most extinguished that by this one example we may learne that God doth seuerely fearfully punish adulteries Thus farre goeth the Booke of Iudges wherein are set before vs many examples to stirre vs vppe to repentance in which we also see that God hath alwaies sharpely punished Idolatry and other feareful sinnes but hath beene mercifull to the repentant that this booke may well be called the booâ— of the VVrath and Mercy of God The booke of Ruth THe booke of Ruth is so named of Ruth a woman that was a gentile to wit a Moabite of the people of Moab who was the sonne of Lotte Gen. 16 This booke containeth only 4 chap besides that it is an example of domesticall care wherein it also declares that God euen then had care of the Gentiles and that the Gospell was reuealed to the Gentiles after these things Ruth and other of the Gentiles are ioyned to the seed of Abraham This booke containeth part of the genealogy of Dauid which by the Euangelist is translated into the genealogie of Christ so that you may say that this booke also hath reference to Christ and thou mayst know that it was decreed long before that Christ should be borne of sinners harlots for the abolishing of sinnes And furthermore thou shouldst not doubt saluation also to bee ordained for the Gentiles It is deuided into 2 partes JN the two former chap Ruth is set down for an example how all Daughters in law ought to behaue themselues Humblie and dutifully towardes their Mothers in-lawe 2 In the other chapt is an example of Chastitie in Booz The bookes of Kinges THe 4 Historicall bookes which are intituled the bookes of the Kinges after the vsuall edition are in Hebrue onely two whereof the first is named SAMVELL and is deuided of the Latines into 2 bookes the which are called the bookes of Samuell The later of them is called the booke of Kinges which in like maner is deuided into 2 bookes which are called the bookes of the Kinges This Samuell was a most faithfull constant Prophet of God vnder King SAVL of whoÌ„ the 2 first bookes do take their names and in the one of them the storie of Saul in the other the storie of Dauid is larglie discribed The two latter bookes are commonlie called the bookes of the Kings because they conteyne the Historie of all the other kings both in Israell and in Iudah In the first booke of Samuell is discribed the beginning of the third kinde of gouernment namely the Kinges vnder wicked K. Saul vnder whom the kingdome and monarchie was ordeyned in Israell In the second booke of Samuell the kingdome is translated from Saules house vnto Dauids the most godly king and Prophet which is worthiely called the crowne of prophets In the 1. booke of the kinges it is according to the vulgar edition and in the thirde of the Kinges is discribed first the storie of SallomoÌ„ the king in whose time the TeÌ„ple was built vnto the Lorde in Ierusalem 2. the deuiding of the kingdome into two partes namely Iudah and Israell in the histories some of the Kinges of both partes are largely discribed In the 2. booke of Malchim that is to say in the 4. booke of the kinges according to the vulgar all the kinges in Israell and in Iudah are discribed also the wasting carying away the people of Israell captiues into Assiria Iudah into Babilon In the mean while the bookes are garnished with the promise concerning Christ which were made vnto Dauid 2. Kinges 3 ¶ A Catalogue of the Kinges of the People of Iudah Saul Dauid 1. Kinges 9 2. Kinges 3 Sala These 3. reigned ouer all the People of Israell Iudah before the discription of the Tâ—â—bes Afterwardes ten tribes sell away from the ten and they became two kingdomes as the Kingdome of Iud with the two tribes Iudah and Benieamin the kingdome of Israell with other ten Tribes The Kinges of Iudah 1 Roboam 3  12. 14 2 Abias wicked 3   15. 3 Asa 2 〈◊〉  15. 4 Iehosop Godly 2   16. 5 ZaÌ„bnas 3   12. 6 Ioram wicked 4   11. 7 Ochozlâ—s    Â
8 Ioas. Godly     9 Amasias partly wicked partly Godly     10 Azarias like father like sonne     11 Ioathan such an other 4  14. 15. 12 Achas wicked 4  15. 16. 13 Iachi as Godly 4  18. 21. 14 Manasses wicked 4  21. 22. 15 Anion like father like 4   23. 16 Iosias 4   24. 17 Ioachas Godly 4   24. 18 Ioachim wiiked    22 19 Ioachim a childe like the father     20 Zedechias wicked 4    This Zedechias the last captain and king of Iudah was with the people of Iudah caried into Babylon 4. Kin 25 and the people of Iudah remained in captiuitye 70. yeares according to the prophesy of Ieremy The kings of Israell 1 Hieroboam wicked 4 book of Kings 13 2 Nadab 3 15 3 Baasa 3 15 4 Hela 3 16 5 Lambti 3 16 6 Achab. 3 18 7 Ochozias wic 4 kin 3 8 Ioram 4 9 Iehu partly god part wic 4 kin 10 10 Ioachim wic 4 kings 12 11 Ioas. 4 13 12 Ieroboam wicked 4 k. 14 13 Zacharias part good part bad     14 Sellon wicked 4 kings 15 15 Manachem 4 15 16 Phaceas 4 15 17 Phasea 4 15 18 Ose 4 15 In the daies of this last king Israell was caried into Assyria where they remained in captiuity 4. king 17 The first booke of Sammuell may fitly be deuided into three principall partes From the beginning thereof to the ninth chap is set forth the storie of Samuell which was both a Iudge and a Prophet in Israell namely the Birth Of Samuell Calling Of Samuell Oblation Of Samuell Olde age Of Samuell The sight also of Gods people against the the Phillistians is discribed and the Mirracle done about the Arke and the hard hap of Helie the priest for the cockering of his sons is by Samuell foretolde to the People in the end of this parte 2 From the 9. chapter to the 16. the first parte of Saules historie is discribed 1 the Calling of Saul 2 the Annointing of Saul 3 the Prophesing of Saul 4 the Confirming of Saul 5 the Victorie of Saul 6 the Kingdome of Saul 7 the Meekenes of Saul 8 the Offence of Saul 1 From the 16. chap to the ende is the other parte of Sauls storie described how vntill his death hee was imployed not onely in the warr against the Philistians but much more in pursuing of Dauid where not only Dauids beeing anoynted ouercomming of Goliah and league with Ionathan Sauls sonne but also the manifold and dangerous fights of Dauid and his deliuerance is described that euerie one may see how the Lord made his seruant admirable carried him to the pit of destruction and brought him backe againe til at length being strengthened with the crosse hee obtained the â—ingdome and proued a most godlye King and Prophet The 2 booke of Sam which contayneth the whole storie of Dauid may well bee deuid into 3. principall parts From the beginning to the 11. cha besidâ— the reuenge vpo the traitors murtheren of Saule is described the annointing the consecrating of Dauid vnto his Kingdome after the death of Saul and his happy successe being full of humilitie of pietie forwardnes to the building of Gods house victories against the Philistians others mercie fidelitie benefits c. to whom also was made the promise of Christ chap. 7. wherof mention is made in the 10. to the Heb. From the 11. to the 22. are described the the adulterie murther of Dâ— his hard hap after his repentance at the parable and preching of the Prophet Nathan thorow his owne sonnes who committed whoredome with his wiues And namely the danger of sedition by his son Absolon with other punishmeÌ„ts of his sin decay of his kingdom Also the famine other calamities that followed the adulterie and murther of Dauid From the 22. cha to the end doe follow first the song thaÌ„ksgiuing theÌ„ yâ— last words of D. his great offence coÌ„mitted against god in numbring the people with the great punish meÌ„t of his sin which Da. chose before yâ— rest of 3. kinds of punishmeÌ„t set before him hauing his choyse so that heere also we may haue an especiall booke concerning the wrath and mercie of God The 3. booke of Kings which is called the first of the kings contayning both the story of Salo. of some other kings is deuided into 3 principall parts the 1. of Sal. the 2. of Roboam Salo. son of some other kings the 3. of the wicked K. Achab of the most vngodly Q. Ies also of Eliah the prophet The storie of Sal. is deuided into three parts 1. Before the building of the Temple 2. In his building the c 3. After the building Before his building the temple from the beginning of the 5. chap. besides the storie of Dauids olde age in the 1. chap. and of his death in the 2. is discribed the consecration of King Sallomon his wisdome Iustice and renowne whereof Christ also maketh mencion in the 6. chap of Mathew In the building of the Temple first how he dealeth with King Hiram about the matter then the fashion and lastly the frame buildings from the 5. to the 8. Chap. After the building of the Temple from the 8. chap to the 12. doth follow First the hallowing of the Temple and prayer of Salomon then the building of Citties and the magnificence of Salomon after which both lust and fearefull Idollatrie did ensue for the same the kingdome of Israell was deuided into two partes and Ieroboham was stirred vp againste Salomon so florishing kingdomes are wont to decay faint and in the end by Idollatrie to perish altogether lastly Salomon is saued through the blessed seede of the woman He dieth in peace is buried in the Cittie of his father Dauid The 2. parte from the 12. to the 17. besides the storie of certaine kinges coÌ„teyneth the seperatioÌ„ of the kingdome of Israell from the kingdome of Iudah The 3. part from the 17. chap vnto the ende of the booke conteyneth both the inâ— pietie wrong and tyranie of King Achab Queene Iâ—â—abell and also the prayer constaÌ„cie and flight of the Prophet Elias and his personall fasting 40. daies this booke may be very famous because of king Salomon the prophet Elias who reigned not only in earth but in heauen also The fourth booke of the kinges is called the second of the kinges Conteyneth the histories of others the kings of Israell and Iudah after the wicked king Achab and is famous for both captiuities in the caryinges away one of Israell into Assiria in the 17. chap. the others Iudah into Babilon in the last chap. Also besides the histories of Helias Elizeus the prophets vnto the 10. chap. by order of succession do follow one an other the kinges
4. Men thinke that Amos the Father of Esay was the brother of king Amazia of whose line Christ is Moreouer hee writes not onely more sermons then other proph concerning Christ and his kingdome but also more cleare more excellent then the Euangelistes therefore he is rather to bee called an Euangelist then a prophet Esay learned in the time of the transmigration of the ten tribes vnder Vriah Ezechia kings of Iudah he liued about the age of the world 3200. with Osea Ioel Amos Micha he prophesied aboue 100. yeares The book of Esay the prophet contains 1 prophesy Legal Euangelical 2 Historical as that of Ezechias the K. 3. exhortations vnto the Iewes pentiles 4. Consolations 5 praiers 6 giuing of thanks In the book of Esay there are 66. chap. which are thus deuided 1 From the beginning vnto the 13. cha he deals with the Iewes somtimes he sharply reproues them sometimes he prophesieth with them sometimes against them he threatneth the obstinate with horrible euils He putteth down most excellent promises concerning Christ to them that repent to comfort them which part he shuâ—â—eh vppe with giuing of thanks From the 13 ch to the 24 he passeth ouer vnto the Gentils preacheth prophesieth against them wherby mine he taxeth fusle the Babylonians 2. the Philistians 3. the Moabits 4. the Damascens 5. The Ismaclites 6. the Egyptians 7. the TitiaÌ„s 8. the Sidonians as the euill neighbours of the Iewes and alwaies offensiue to the people of God in which he prophesieth deuastation and other horrible euils to fall on them neither doth he in the meane while neglect the promises made to the gentiles that they should be conuerted to the saith 3 From the 24 chap vnto the 36 chap he returnes to the Iewes to whom againe hee prophesyeth hard thinges because of their incredulity He threatneth the captiuity of that proud Sinagogue the wicked Iews other hard fortunes and that they were altogither forsaken of God But the godlie and good men he comforteth in that God would keepe preserue his remnant and little flocke In the meane time hee omitteth not thankesgiuing for the Gospel that should be reuealed in the new testament 4 From the 36 cha vnto the 40 cha he reciteth the histories of Ezechias the K. of Iudah who as a godly feruent beseecher of God was heard both againste Senacherib that wicked king of Assyria for himselfe being greeuouslye sicke with a pestiserous disease From the 40 chap vnto the end he again deals with the Iewes sometimes most sharply rebuking them for their incredulity and Idolatrie sometimes comforting them as being to be brought captiue into Babilon In the meane while he puttes downe manie excellent prophesies and promises concerâ—ing the kingdome of Christ and the calling of the Gentiles ioining the Gospell to the Law to reprehension consolation by the Gospel that he might be said more truly to be an Euangelist then a prophet So much concerning the book of Esay The Booke of Ieremy IEremy the sonne of Helchia the priest began to prophesie the 13 yeare of the raign of king Iosiah when the king the priests and the people liâ—ed most wickedly vntil the booke of the â—ruine law was founde in the house of the Lorde by Helchia the father of Ieremye Then the king being moued with pitty and â—ompassion did restore the worship of god â—nd did root out Idolatry as the last book of the Kings doth witnesse in the 22 chapâ—â—r Ieremy prophesied from the 13 yeare 〈◊〉 Iosias vnto the time of the Babylonian câ—tiuity almost 41. yeares He also prophesieâ— concerning the captiuity of Babylon tiâ—â— ouerthrow of the city of Ierusalem he foâ—â— told the time of the captiuity almost 70. yeares where we are to obserue by hoâ— much the neerer punishments doo hast 〈◊〉 draw on by so much the more the wickâ—â— are worser more obstinate which appâ—reth by Ieremy by our time to be true Although the order of chapters cannâ—â— be obserued in the bookes of the prophers because they seeme rather to be sayings gathered out of the Prophets mouthes as thâ—â— vttered them then to haue byn written by them It is somewhat to go thus farre if wâ—â— can go no further as to obserue that notâ—â— Ieremy doth handle chiefly 3. things in order but with often repetitions mingled â—mongst themselues First he preacheth and chideth vehemently the wicked Iewes afterwardes bâ— foretels their punishments to wit the saâ— king and wasting of the City of Ierusalâ—â— Lastly he prophesyeth as other Prophets concerning Christ and his kingdome and of the new Testament 1 From the beginning vnto the 20 cha â—esides the history in which he is called of God by a vision by a signe to wit a flaâ—ing rod a seething pot In which God â—ewes his sudden and vehement wrath aâ—ainst this peruerse rebellious people by â—â—e king of Babylon the rod reuenger of â—od Besides I say this history Ieremy â—eproues the impiety of the Iewes theyr â—dolatry offences wickednesse cruelty aâ—ainst yâ— prophets so as al these sermoÌ„s for yeâ—ost part are for penitency or graue exhorâ—tions to repentance Besides the propheâ—es concerning the captiuity of Baby and â—esides consolations with which God doth â—omfort the prophet against tentations and â—he prophet the people to be deliuered froÌ„â—he captiuity From the 20. to the 40. ch besides the hiâ—â—ory of the crosse calamity of the prophet 〈◊〉 besides those most excellent promises of â—â—turn from captiuity concerning christ â—â—ee threateneth the people of Iuda speciâ—â—ly the prin with al euil which is agrauated â—y this â—hat God signifies that he wil stand â—ith the Chald. against his own people and â—ith the Chal. afflict his people which is of 〈◊〉 other things most horrible to wit God is not to be with his people but againste 〈◊〉 people After that he threatneth false pâ—â—phets and preachers who preached to 〈◊〉 Princes and people thinges pleasing theâ—â— and not according to the word of the Lord. Lastly he recites the history of Zededâ— the king that as contemning Gods wordâ— he fled to mans ayd and helpe euen so â—â—â—sery and calamity hapned vnto him whiâ—â— is the reward of Tyrants From the 40 chap. vnto the ende of thâ— booke besides diuers examples that is 〈◊〉 wit God deliuereth and keepeth the Prophet that God is true in his word that hâ— punisheth the contemners of his worde afterwards besides admonitions to the Iewâ— in Egypt and consolation with which Ieremy comforted Baruch his scribe he prophetsieth against the Gentiles his neighbors the Egyptians Philistians Moabites and other kingdomes then hee prophesieth the destruction of the kingdome of Babylon by the Meades and Persians Last of all hee concludes the booke with the historye of the deuastation or destruction of Ierusalem and with the leading away of the people in to Babylon that euery man may see the order of the Almighty in which he is
won◠to punish thē who in contempt of his word do not amend their liues neither yet repēt So much briefly concerning the book of Jeremy The Lamentations of Ieremy the Prophet IN the booke which men intitle Threnos that is to say the Lamentations of Ieremy The Prophet bewaileth the destruction of Ierusalem and the kingdome of Iudah and the miserable captiuity of the people whome he coulde not conuert by threatnings nor by promises by reason of the vnbeleefe or incredulity of the people and contempt of Gods worde then he comforteth himselfe and the people with the promises of God and by his praiers he recommends his cause to God These Lamentations are written after this order in Hebrue so as the first verse begins of Aleph the second of Beth the thirde of Gimel c. following obseruing the order of the alpha for the help of memory the same is obserued by some euen to this day Furthermore as there are 4. chap besides the prayer of Ieremy in the 5. chap. euen so there are 4. verses according to the repetition of the Alphabet in euery chapter In the 1 Chapter the vnfortumate estate of the people and kingdom of Iudah 2 Chapter the negligence of the prophets 3 Chapter the mercy of almighty God 4 Chapter the destruction of the Temple with famin and other punishments of the Iewes deserued by sins Euery of these is set forth by waie of complaining and Lamentation The booke of Baruch THe booke of Baruch hath his name of the Author whosoeuer he be For it is not likely that hee was Baruch Ieremies scribe of whom is mention Iere 45. but a certain other man of that name although not indued with so large a spirit Therfore it is manifest this book is of no great momēt no more than the third fourth of Esdras This booke of Baruch doth contain besides the epistle cast off 5 cha of which this in the summe As he wrote this book in the captiuity of Babylon so he attributeth righteousnesse to God who worthily punished the Iewes Secondly he confesseth his sins and he accuseth his nation for their stifnecked disobedience and vi faithfulnes Furthermore he desires pardon that God would be merciful vnto his people returne them into their own countrey Lastly that he might stir them vp to faith in their harts he promiseth the restoring of Ierusalem The Epistle going vnder Ieremies name is added to the book of Baruch and is an admonition against Idolatry that the captiues in Babilon should not serue the goddes of the Babylonians and so to turne from the true God Therefore he vehemētly inueyeth against Idolatry perswading them to worship the true God and to serue him only Esay seemeth to haue his name of diuine vision and Ieremy of mighty supernal power The booke of Ezechiel the Prophet EZechiell who hath his name of fortitude prophesied in Chaldea beginning his prophesie about the riuer Chebar Hee was brought vnder Ieconia the king of Iudah whoe is called Ioachim the younger with DANIEL and the rest of the Iewes into captiuity or bondage six yoares before Ierusalem and the Temple was vtterly destroyed He was seruante to a prieste as was Ieremias and at the same time with Ieremias and also handling or intreating of the same argument to weet y◠captiuitie of Babilon vnlesse it were that Ierem. prophesied in Ierusalem Ezechiell in Chaldea or Babilon did foretell the calamitie of the Iewes Also Ezechiell in order followeth Iereremie the prophet so as Ieremie is the first in veeres and in office Ezechiell the latter and these did confirme the prophesie of ech other for whilest they which were departed into Babilon vnder Ieconiah being ouercome with vnpatience began to be sotiethas they had obayed the voice of Ieremie by whose perswasion they themselues had yeelded to the Babiloniās being solicited to this by salfe prophets as though they had bin deceiued by Ier. God raised vp this Ezechiell the prophet in Babilon that he might confirme the doctrine of Ieremie that he might comfort the captiues A Summarie diuision of the Prophesie of Ezechiell From the first chap. besides that obscure vision of 4. chariots concerning the inlargement of the kingdome of Christ in all the 4. corners of the world which Ezechiell receiued from the Lord by and by vpon his vocation which continueth vnto the 4. chap. he abideth chiefly in this one thing vnto the 25. ch which he foretelleth much more harder then Ieremy how Ierusalem and the people should be destroyed with their kin princes In the mean time hee addeth promises concerning their returne to Iudah Furthermore the prophet shewes first their sins 2 their vnfaithfulnes 3. their wie kednes 4. their punishments 5. the captiuity of Ezechias the king the people of Iudah somtimes by visions cha 1 9 10 11 then by figures cha 45. at another time by similitudes cha 12 15. Again by darke sayings or riddles cha 17. and also by verses cha 19. also by allegories chap. 23 24. somtimes by prophesies and manifest fore shewings rebukings as chap. 6 7 14 15 16 20 21 22. From the 25 vnto the 34. chap. he prophesieth many miseries as the other Prophetes didde againste the Gentiles beeing being neighbours to the Iewes because they with fowle mouthes contemptible speaches did deride the Iewes his speach doth appeare with the successe of the wicked and the oppression of beleeuers on the contrary the health and saluation of these with the distruction of them is set together Furthermore the Gētiles against whom he prophecied are 1. the Ammonites 2. the Moabites 3. the Idumeneās 4. the Palestins chap 13 5 Tires chap. 26.27.6 Sidoniās chap. 28.7 Egiptians chap 29.30.31.32 to whom he addes in the 33. chap a graue exhortation to repentance comparing the worde of God to the sounde of a Trumpet From the 32. chap vnto the 40. besides the taxacion of euill Persons the rebukes of the Idumeans he prophcieth sweeth of the Spirit and of the kingdome of Christe and of Tyrants that should come towardes the ende of the worlde into the kingdome of Christ namely Gog-magog that is by common interpretation the Turke In the meane time he vseth excellent Similitudes as in the 17. chap of the drie bones drawing his argument from the resurrection of the dead From the 40. chap he prophecieth concerning the re-edification of Ierusalem and the diuision of the lande according to the 12. tribes for the consolation of the Iewes whereby they shoulde not doubt of their returne into the lande of promise and concerning the restoring of religion pollicie all which thinges in that spirituall vision as in the beginning concerning the vision of the 4. chariots seemeth to shaddow or set foorth the celestiall Ierusalem in Reuel ⧠The Booke of Daniel the Prophet DAniel who hath his name from Diuine iudgment first of all hee is brought into Babilon vnder Ieconiah the King being yet a verie young man
Iews by Christ and his Apostles The Prophesie of Abacucke ABacuck hath his name of embracing as a mother embraceth her infant or as others embrace one another breast to breast heart to heart in comforting of them euen so Abacucke doth embrace the people of Israel and is greately comforted then exhorting them to remaine constant in the faith and in aduersiues So that the holy Apostle S. Paul Ro. 1. alleageth this most excellent sentence out of the second Chapter The iust shall liue by this faith It seemeth that Abacucke liued with Ieremy about the captiuity of Babylon seeing that hee as a Prophet of the Iewes firste of all prophesied againste the people and afterwardes against the Babylonians It is holden for a fable to saie that this man was that Abacucke which was taken of the Angell and did deliuer meate to Daniel beeing cast into the denne of Lyons There are 4 Chap vvhich are thus to be dâ—scerned IN the first cha he doth partly prech against the Iews preferring the preching of the Lawe before the Euangelicall doctrine which doth followe in the second chapter and he sheweth the power of the Babylonians to be great Partly he laboureth by a godly expostulation with GOD that his owne people being deliuered hee would take reuenge against the king of Babylon In the 2. chap. he addes Euangelicall consolation by the diuine promises and he shewes the promise of the speedye comming of the Mesâ—iah but in the mean time to be expected and looked for by faith In the third he prophesieth the destruction of the kingdome of Babylon foreshewing the diabolicall arogancy of the K. of Babylon againste God and his vniust gathering together of riches against his neighbour which are two horrible thefts to wit the spoiling of God of his glory men of their goods In the 4. chap. seeing that the giuing of thankes and the remembrance of GODS ancient benefites was pretermitted at the length hee prayeth that the Babylonian kingdome might be vtterly destroyed thorow diuine Iustice vnlesse that in the end another ioy doeth comfort the people of Israell In the 4. chapter after giuing of thaÌ„ks together with a large reckoning vp of gods benefies he prayes at the last that the kingdom of Babylon might tast of Gods curse and then againe in the ende he comforteth the people of the Iewes most cheerefully The Prophesie of Zophoniah SOphoniah seemeth to signify the secrets of God A name very sitte for Gods prophet whoe search the secretes of God that is to say the gospell and the eternal kingdome of Christ wrapped vp in propheticall promises visions and reuelations vntill the fulnesse of the time thereof be expired and accomplished For which cause Paule likewise cals it a mystery Rom. last The title in the first chapter shewes who Sophoniah was of what parentes hee was borne and in what time he liued He was neere the age of Ieremy the prophet He prophesied almost the same thinges but more briefly and strictly to wit the deuastation of the City of Ierusalem and also of the enemy and the destruction of the whole kingdome of Iudah and the deliuerance of the Iewes by Christ Pcincipally he prophesieth the destruction of the wicked Iewes by their neighbors the gentiles 2. The rooting vp of the Gentiles by other Gentiles 3 The deliuerance of the beleeuing Iewes by the birth of Christ There are only three chapters which are thus to be discerned In the first chapter by way of checking and reprouing them he prophesieth the destruction or deuastation of the kingdome of the Iewes by the comming of the king of Babylon for the wickednesse and couetousnesse of the Iewes In the second chap. he preacheth repentance to the Iewes and afterwards he fortelleth the destruction of their neighbours the Gentiles to wit the Moabits Ammonites Philistiâ—ns Assirians and Nintunes Last of all he puts those Gentiles in hope that they should be partakers of Christes kingdome by shewing that God was to be worshipped in the Isles of the Gentiles In the third ch partly he sharply reprehendeth and reproueth the impenitent or vnreleating Iewes and partly hee comforteth the Iewes in a most excellent sermon concerning the kingdome of Christ which was to be spread ouer all the worlde Hee speakes concerning those who were heads or gouernors in religion and pollicye hee saith That for because they are princes they are to be honoured as princes notwithstanding in the meane time they are to be reproued as sinners The Prophesie of Haggei HAgge hath his name of mirth and ioye He prophesied after the captiuity of Babylon vnder Darius Histaspes and at length very seriously hee did vrge the people to reedisie the Temple and to restore againe the true worship of God There are two chapters onely in this booke In the first he reproues the ingratitude and couetousnesse of the people and hee threateneth manye euilles to fall vppon them to wit vnhappines and pouertie who cared to builde gorgiouslie their owne houses but they brought nothing to the reedysâ—ing of the Temple In the second is the same cominations for the same cause also promises that Christ himselfe will illustrate adorne his seconde Temple with his Presents Doctrine and Miracles ⧠The booke of Zacharie ZAcharias hath his name of diuine Memorie who was one of the last of all the prophets He liued in the same time with Hagge the prophet after the returne from the captiuitie of Babilon He handleth also the same argumeÌ„t with Hagge to wit ensorsing and vrging the reedisâ—ing of the Temple that for Christes sâ—ke who woulde shortly come to his holy Temple Therefore hee manifestly prophecieth of Christes Pompe that he should goe to Ierusalem vpon an Asse and the sole of an Asle which came to passe a little before his Passion on Paulme Sunday Afterwardes hee prophecieth of his selling for 30 peeces of siluer which was performed by Iudas the Traytor Also of the piercing of his sides which place S. Iohn the Euangellist doth alledge In the meane while hee hath certaine obscure Visiens in the which the Misteries of Christ are shadowed which at lengthe he interpreteth by the effusion of the Spirit of Grace chapt 12. Therein are fourteene chapters which are thus to be discerned IN the first chapter besides the begining in which hee doth most minifestlie exhort the Iewes to repentance and besides the prayer of the Angel for the Cittie of Ierusalem there are also three visions First concerning the red Horse Secondly of the foure hornes Thirdly of the foure Carpenters In the which hee prophecieth of the peace of the Iewes and exhorteth them to reedifie the Citie of Ierusalem In the second chapter is one only vision concerning a measuring Line by which he exhorteth the people againe to builde Ierusalem Afterwardes there are famous promises made concerning the kingdome of Christ the diuine presentes and protection of the godly And furthermore the vocation of the Gentiles whence the people are exhorted and admonished to