that they eat the Blood with the Flesh Afterwards Saul enquired of God whether he should any further pursue the Philistines but God answered him not Whereupon he concluded there had been some transgression among 'em and cast Lots to find it out and the Lot falling upon Jonathan Saul would have put him to Death but the People rescued him So Saul fought against all his Enemies and prevail'd and when he saw any strong and valiant Man he took him to him CHAP. XV. Samuel by Gods appointment sends Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites both Man Woman and Child and all their Cattel So Saul smote 'em and took their King Agag and utterly destroyed all the People but spared the King and the best of the Cattel and of the Prey Whereupon God tells Samuel That he repented of making Saul King Then Samuel went to Saul and reproved him severely for not obeying the Voice of the Lord And whereas Saul pretended they kept the best of the Cattel for Sacrifice Samuel tells him that To obey is better than Sacrifice and to harken than the fat of Rams and that Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft And because he had rejected the Word of the Lord God had also rejected him from being King And as Samuel turned about to go away from him Saul laid hold on the Skirt of his Mantle and rent it at which Samuel said God has rent the Kingdom from thee this day and given it to a Neighbour of thine that is better than thou Then Samuel commanded Agag to be brought to him and he hewed him in pieces before the Lord in a Sacrifice to him CHAP. XVI Then God commanded Samuel to take an Horn of Oyl and anoint one of the Sons of Jesse and to go to Bethlehem to offer Sacrifice and to call Jesse and his Sons to the Sacrifice that the Design might not be perceived by Saul So Jesse being come and making seven of his Sons pass before Samuel he said it was none of them that his business was withal Then he call'd the youngest who was keeping of Sheep and when he came Samuel anointed him in the midst of his Brethren And the Spirit of God came upon him and departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him whereupon he sent for David to play before him and so the evil Spirit departed from him CHAP. XVII After this the Philistines and Israelites set their Battel in array one against another and there was a Valley between ' em Then a Champion of the Philistines a Giant whose Name was Goliath came and stood between the two Armies and challenged any of the Israelites to fight with him and defied their Armies Thus he did forty days together At last David being sent by his Father to his three eldest Brethren that were in the Army to carry 'em some Provision and see how they did hearing the vaunting blasphemous Speeches of this Philistine and being told that whosoever could kill him the King would give him his Daughter and make him a great Man David undertakes to sight with him So Saul sent for him and told him he was a very unequal Match for the Philistine But David told him how he had slain both a Lion and a Bear and that God who had deliver'd him from them would also deliver him from this Philistine So he took only his Shepherds Staff and a Sling in his Hand and went against the Philistine But when the Philistine drew near and saw him he despised him But David told him he came to him in the Name of the Lord of Hosts who would deliver him into his hand and discomfit their Host that all the Earth may know there is a God in Israel So David slang a Stone which sank into his Forehead and he fell down Then David ran and took Goliath's own Sword and cut off his Head Whereupon the Army of Israel set upon the Philistines and routed 'em and David brought the Head of Goliath in his hand to Saul Hereupon CHAP. XVIII Jonathan entred into a strict League of Friendship with David and lov'd him as his own Soul And David was set over the Men of War and accepted of all the People And as David return'd from the Slaughter of the Philistine the Women came out of all the Cities saying Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands for which Saul envied him from that day forward so that the next time that the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him Saul threw a Javelin at him to have slain him But David avoided twice out of his Presence and he was beloved by all the People and also Michal Saul's Daughter fell in love with him for her Husband to which Saul readily consented requiring only an hundred Fore-skins of the Philistines for a Dowry designing thereby to have him slain by the Philistines But David and his Men slew two hundred Philistines and brought their Foreskins to Saul So Saul's Jealousie of David still increased And CHAP. XIX Saul spake to Jonathan his Son and all his Servants to kill David which Jonathan acquainted David with and bids him hide himself and then vindicates David to his Father whereupon Saul sware to him not to hurt him so they were reconciled again Then David made War with the Philistines again and overcame 'em And the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him and he threw a Javelin again at him but David slipt aside and escap'd But Saul sent Messengers to watch him in his House then Michal his Wife let him down thro' a Window and laid an Image in the Bed so that when Saul sent for him they found only an Image So David came to Samuel to Ramah and Saul hearing of it sent Messengers once and again to take him but when they came to the place among the Prophets they fell a prophesying also and Saul going thither himself prophesied in like manner wherefore they say Is Saul also among the Prophets CHAP. XX. So David fled from thence and came to Jonathan and advises with him about the best way for his safety and they agree that he should absent himself from the Feast at the New Moon and see how Saul resented it Then they went out into the Field together and renewed their Covenant of Friendship not only for their Persons but for their Posterity and Jonathan gave him a Signal whereby he should know his Fathers Affection towards him So when the New Moon was come and David's Place was empty two days together Saul enquired the reason of it and Jonathan made an excuse for him Whereupon Saul fell into a great Rage and reviles him and threw his Javelin at him Then Jonathan rose from the Table in great anger and went into the Field and discover'd all to David so they parted CHAP. XXI Then David came to Ahimelech the Priest at Nob who entertain'd him and gave him the Sword of Goliath From thence he went to Achish King of
years so that David long'd to see him CHAP. XIV Whereupon Joab employs a Widow of Tekoah a subtle Woman who by a Parable of her two Sons slaying one the other and David promising her to indemnifie the Man-slayer and secure him from the Revenger of Blood fetches about the matter so as to incline David to recall Absalom and bids Joab send for him So he brought him to Jerusalem but David would not see him but commanded him to go to his own House So he dwelt there two years and saw nor the King whereupon he sent for Joab to plead with the King and make his Peace which he did and brought him into his Presence and he was admitted into favour again CHAP. XV. After this Absalom inveigled the People by his flattering and fair Speeches and stole away their Hearts from his Father and under pretence of a Vow gets leave to go to Hebron and gathered the People to him there and had Ahitophel for his Counsellor and the People flockt to him from all parts which David hearing of flies from Jerusalem and they carried the Ark with him but he sent Zadok with it back again and hearing that Ahitophel was with Absalom he prays God to turn his Counsel into Foolishness and also sent Hushai his Friend to offer his Service to Absalom that he might defeat Ahitophel's Counsel and give him intelligence by Zadok and Abiathar CHAP. XVI As David travelled along Zibah came to him with Presents and slandered his Master Mephibosheth whereupon David gave him all Mephibosheth's Lands Afterwards Shimei met him and revil'd and curst him and cast stones at him which David takes patiently owning Gods hand in it and that since his Son sought his Life no wonder if a Stranger us'd him so Then Absalom and all his Party came to Jerusalem and call'd a Council what they should do and Ahiâ—ophel counsell'd him to go in to his Fathers Concubines which would make the Breach between 'em irreconcileable so he went in to them in the sight of all Israel CHAP. XVII After this Ahitophel counsels Absalom to pursue David speedily and to give him no time to recruit himself and so they should make short work of it But Hushai advises rather to gather all the People together and so to oppress him by their multitude and this Counsel Absalom hearkned to which Zadok gives David notice of But when Ahitophel saw that his Counsel was rejected he went and hang'd himself CHAP. XVIII David draws up the Army for the Battel and intends to go with 'em himself but the People hindred him so he sate in the Gate as they pass'd out and gave 'em a charge to deal gently with Absalom So the two Armies met and David's Men made a great Slaughter among Absalom's and they met with Absalom and found him hanging by the Head in the thick Boughs of an Oak which one told Joab of who came presently and stab'd him to the Heart Then Joab sounded a Retreat and they cast Absalom into a Pit Then Ahimaaz and Cushi ran to carry the Tidings to David which when he heard he fell into a great Passion of Lamentation saying O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my Son my Son CHAP. XIX So David took no joy in the Victory but turn'd it into Lamentation and the People stole into the City as being asham'd of what they had done Whereupon Joab goes and chides him for his Carriage and causes him to shew himself to the People in a more chearful Temper Then all the People were at strife who should shew most forwardness in recalling the King So the King return'd and the Tribe of Judah came to meet him at Jordan And Shimei came to beg his pardon and obtain'd it and Mephibosheth came likewise to meet him and gave him an account why he went not with him and how his Servant Zibah had slandered him But however the King gave Mephibosheth but half his Lands again and gave the other half to Zibah Barzillai also came to him and the King invited him to go with him to Jerusalem but he excus'd it by reason of his Age So the King dismiss'd him and took his Son Chimham into his Service Then the Men of the other Tribes came and expostulated with the Men of Judah for fetching the King back without them but the Men of Judah were too hard for ' em CHAP. XX. Upon this Quarrel one Sheba draws all the Men of Israel away from David and raises a Rebellion against him Then David makes Amasa General and appoints him to pursue after Sheba But Joab under pretence of Friendly Discourse with Amaza slaies him Then Joab â—nd Abishai pursue after Sheba and came to Abel and besieged him there But a wise Woman gets his Head to be thrown over the Wall to Joab so he drew off his Forces and returned to Jerusalem CHAP. XXI Then there was a Famine for three years together and David enquiring of God the reason of it was told It was because Saul had slain the Gibeonites So the Gibeonites being demanded what satisfaction they 'd require desir'd only that seven of his Sons should be de deliver'd to 'em to be hang'd before the Lord which was done accordingly Then David commanded that the Bones of Saul and Jonathan and these seven should be all buried together in the Sepulcher of Kish After this David and his Men had four Battels with the Philistines wherein four valiant Men of David's slew four Giants of the Philistines CHAP. XXII When God had thus delivered David out of the hands of all his Enemies he compos'd a Psalm of Thanksgiving for God's powerful deliverance and manifold blessings CHAP. XXIII And likewise towards the Close of his days professes his Faith in Gods Promises and the Covenant he had made with him After which follows a Catalogue of David's Worthies CHAP. XXIV God being angry with Israel permitted Satan to tempt David to number the People So he sent Joab about it and tho' Joab disswaded him from it yet David's word prevail'd So Joab brought the number of 'em But David's heart smote him for it and he confess'd his sin to God and begg'd pardon But in the morning God sent Gad to him to choose whether there should be seven years of Famine or to flee three months before his Enemies or three days Pestilence and he chose this last So God sent a Pestilence and there died seventy thousand Men. And when the Angel stretch'd out his hand over Jerusalem as he was by the threshing place of Araunah David seeing of him intercedes to God for mercy So Gad appointed him to build an Altar there Then he came and bought the Threshing-floor of Araunah and built an Altar there and offered Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings So God was intreated and the Plague was stayed I. KINGS CHAP. I. DAVID being old Adonijah aspires to the Kingdom and gets Joab and Abiathar to assist him whereupon Nathan
as for Josiah because his Heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord he should die in peace and not see the evil that should befal ' em CHAP. XXIII 2 Chron. 34. Then the King gathered the Rulers and all the people together and went up to the House of the Lord and caused the Book to be read and made a Covenant with the Lord to keep his Commandments according to what was written in that Book and then purged the Temple of all Idolatrous Relicks and made a general Reformation among ' em Then he went to Bethel and brake down the Altar and High Place and burnt the Grove and burnt the Bones of the Priests upon the Altar as it was foretold he should do And so he did likewise in all the Cities of Samaria and slew the Priests of the High Places upon their Altars 2 Chron. 35. Then he commanded and they kept a Passover in a most solemn manner so as had not been from the days of the Judges Notwithstanding the Lord turn'd not from the fierceness of his great Wrath against Judah because of the Provocations of Manasseh After this the King of Egypt went to fight with the King of Assyria at Carchemish and Josiah went out against him but he sent to him to perswade him not to concern himself in that quarrel because the War was undertaken by God's Command But Josiah would not be disswaded but went to fight with him and in the Fight he was wounded and died of his Wounds Then all the People mourned for him and Jeremy the Prophet lamented for him and the People made Jehoahaz King in his Fathers sted He did Evil in the sight of the Lord and Pharaoh depos'd him and made Eliakim his Brother King and chang'd his Name to Jehojakim who also did Evil as his Fathers had done CHAP. XXIV In his days Nebuchadnezzar came up and made him Tributary but he rebell'd against him and the Lord raised up many Enemies of the Nations round about to destroy them for the sins of Manasseh Then Nebuchadnezzar came and bound him in Fetters and carried away part of the Vessels of the Lord's House to Babylon and put 'em in the House of his God And Jehojakim died and Jehojachin succeeded him and did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the King of Babylon sent his Servants against Jerusalem to besiege it But Jehojachin render'd himself to them and they carried him to Babylon with the Vessels of the Temple and the people of the Land And the King of Babylon made Zedekiah King in his stead But God in Judgment suffer'd him to rebel against the King of Babylon CHAP. XXV Then Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem and after two years Siege the Famine prevailing it was taken but the King escap'd by night But the Chaldeans pursued and took him and brought him to the King of Babylon at Riblah where they slew his Sons before his Face then put out his Eyes and carried him bound to Babylon And soon after came Nebuzaradan and burnt the Temple and City and brake down the Walls round about and carried the rest of the People all but the poor whom he left to husband the Land and the remainder of the Vessels of the Lord's House and several of the chief Men of the City to the King of Babylon to Riblah who slew 'em there And over those that remained in the Land he set Gedaliah to be Governor But Ismael came privately and slew him Afterwards in the seven and thirtieth year of Zedekiah's Captivity Evilmerodac King of Babylon set him at Liberty and gave him a daily allowance at his own Table all his days EZRA CHAP. I. CYRUS being come to the Kingdom of Persia proclaims Liberty to the Jews to return to their own Country and build the Temple at Jerusalem and likewise gives 'em all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away which were great and small five thousand four hundred CHAP. II. Hereupon there returned forty two thousand three hundred and sixty besides seven thousand three hundred thirty seven Servants When they came to Jerusalem the chief of 'em gave freely for repairing of the Temple CHAP. III. Then Joshua and Zerubbabel built the Altar and offered the daily Sacrifice thereon and all other Sacrifices according to the Law Then in the second year after their return they laid the Foundation of the Temple with great rejoycing But some of the ancient Men that had seen the first Temple wept when they saw this Foundation laid CHAP. IV. The Samaritans enemies of the Jews hearing that they were about to build the Temple came and offered their assistance but the Jews would not accept of it whereupon they made Friends at Court who prevailed to hinder the Work till the Reign of Darius The chief of 'em wrote to Artaxerxes and charge the Jews with Rebellion whereupon he sends a Command that the building should cease CHAP. V. But Darius coming to the Throne the Jews were encouraged by Haggai and Zechary to set about building the Temple again which they did and were opposed again by the Samaritans who demand by what Authority they go on with this work They alledge for themselves the Decree of Cyrus This they acquaint the Emperour withal desiring that search may be made whether there were any such Decree and to send 'em his pleasure CHAP. VI. Search being made the Decree was found which Darius confirms with a severe Penalty and Curse upon the Infringers of it Then the Jews went on vigorously and finish'd the House and kept the Dedication of it and kept the Passover at the time appointed CHAP. VII Artaxerxes being come to the Throne in the Seventh year of his Reign Ezra goes to Jerusalem having a new Commission from the King to take as many more Jews with him as were willing to go and all the Gold and Silver which the King and his Princes had offered for the Service of the Temple and whatsoever else he could collect among the Jews with Authority to reform all Abuses and Disorders there to appoint such Magistrates as he thought fit to free the Priests from Taxes and to punish Offenders CHAP. VIII Ezra having gathered all his Company together that were to go with him appoints a Fast to seek direction and a blessing on their Journey Then he delivered the Vessels and Offerings for the Temple to certain Priests to take charge of 'em and carry 'em to Jerusalem So they came to Jerusalem and deliver'd the King's Commissions to his Leiutenants and Officers who further'd the People and the House of God CHAP. IX Ezra being come to Jerusalem complaine was made to him that many of the People yea of the Priests had married strange Wives of the Idolatrous Nations contrary to the Law This Ezra was mightily affected with and doe largely confess and bewail their sins unto God CHAP. X. Hereupon a great Congregation were met together and wept very
Esther charging her to use her Interest with the King for their preservation But she making an excuse in regard of the danger of going into the King uncall'd he sends her word That if she refus'd he did not doubt but God would deliver 'em some other way but probably God brought her to this place for this very end Whereupon she resolves to go to the King whatever came of it only desires That all the Jews at Shushan would seek God by Fasting and Prayer on her behalf which they did CHAP. V. Then Esther went unto the King who held out his Golden Scepter to her and ask'd what her business was with him She desires that the King and Haman would come to a Banquet that day which she had prepared for ' em Which they did and then the King ask'd her again what she had to say to him She desir'd the same favour the next day of their coming to a Banquet and then she 'd acquaint him with her request Haman as he went home not meeting with that respect from Mordecai that he expected was full of Wrath but conceal'd it for the present and boasted of his Honour and Wealth to his Wife and Friends yet he took little content in all because of that disrespect he met with from Mordecai Whereupon his Wife advis'd him to make a Gallows of Fifty Cubits high and the next day to get leave of the King to hang him thereon CHAP. VI. That Night the King being restless calls for the Chronicles to be read to him and lights upon that Story how Mordecai had discover'd a Conspiracy against him and enquires what Honour had been done to Mordecai for it They answer'd None at all Then the King asks Who was in the Court they said Haman who was now come to beg leave to hang Mordecai The King sends for him and asks him What shall be done to the Man whom the King has a mind to honour Haman thinking this could be none but himself directs Honour enough in several particulars The King commands him to do all this immediately to Mordecai which he was feign to do in spite of all his regret But as soon as he had done he hastned home to acquaint his Wife and Friends with what had befaln him They conclude That if Mordecai before whom he had begun to fall were a Jew he should certainly fall before him Then Messengers came to hasten Haman to the Banquet CHAP. VII The King and Haman being come to the Banquet the King renews his instance to Esther to know her request She then begs that her Life and the Life of her People might be given her which were all destin'd to destruction The King was mightily surprized at this and fell into a great Rage and asks Who durst presume to do such a thing The Queen replies 'T is Haman The King being enraged walk't into the Garden to cool and quiet himself Haman in the mean while prostrates himself to the Queen to beg her favour The King coming in again and seeing him in this posture saith What will he force the Queen before my face So they took Haman out of the King's Presence and one told the King how that Haman had prepar'd a Gallows fifty Cubits high for Mordecai whereupon the King commanded him to be hang'd thereupon himself Which being done the King's anger was appeas'd CHAP. VIII Then the King gave Haman's House and Estate to Esther who sets Mordecai over it and the King made him also Keeper of the Seal Then Esther further beg'd of the King with Tears That some course mighr be taken to prevent that mischief that Haman had design'd against the Jews who gave them leave to frame another Decree as it lik'd them Then they made a new Decree and sent it into all the Kings Dominions to give leave to the Jews to gather themselves together on the day appointed for the Massacre and to stand upon their Guard and to kill and slay all that should assault them which caus'd great rejoycing among all the Jews CHAP. IX The day appointed for the slaughter of the Jews by Haman's Decree being come they gathered themselves together both to defend themselves and slay their Enemies and in Shushan alone they slew five hundred of their Enemies among which were Haman's ten Sons And upon Esther's request the King gave 'em leave to do the like again the next day in Shushan and then thy slew three hundred more and Haman's Sons were hanged upon the Gallows Hereupon they appointed that the fourteenth and fifteenth days of this Month should be kept yearly as days of rejoycing by all the Jews in memorial of this Deliverance And this was confirmed both by Esther and Mordecai DANIEL The six first Chapters of Daniel being Historical I must according to the Rules of my design give a brief account of ' em CHAP. I. NEbuchadnezzar having taken Jerusalem and carried many of the People Captives to Babylon gave commandment to the Master of the Eunuchs to seek out some young Men of the Jews of Noble Birth comly persons and of good parts who might be train'd up in the Learning of the Chaldeans and fitted for the King's Service Among others he pitch'd upon Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah who had a portion of Meat and Drink allow'd 'em of the King's Provision But Daniel and his three Companions refus'd the Court-dyet and contented themselves with Pulse and Water and yet were found to look better than those that fed of the Kings Fare And when they were brought to attend the King they were found in all matters of knowledge wisdom and sciences to excel all the Magicians and Astronomers that were in the Kingdom CHAP. II. Nebuchadnezzar dreamt a Dream which caus'd a great discomposure of mind in him but he had forgot it So he sent for all that were skilled in such matters to tell him his Dream but they all agreed that it was impossible for any man to do Whereupon the King was very angry and commanded they should all be put to death as Impostors So some sought to bring Daniel and his Fellows within the compass of that Command But Daniel desired time and undertook to give the King satisfaction both concerning his Dream and the Interpretation of it So he went home and he and his Companions sought unto God to reveal this Secret to 'em whereby their Lives might be preserved Then God revealed it to Daniel in a Night Vision for which he return'd thanks to him So he desir'd he might be brought to the King which being done he told the King that none of the wise Men could reveal this Secret but God only and so tells the King both his Dream and the Interpretation of it Then the King promoted Daniel and his three Companions upon his request CHAP. III. Nebuchadnezzar made a Golden Image and commanded all persons whatsoever to worship it upon pain of being cast into a Fiery Furnace Then certain men accus'd Daniel's three
Companions for not worshiping the Image so Nebuchadnezzar sent for 'em to know whether they would worship it or no but they gave him a peremptory denyal whereupon in a great rage he commanded 'em to be cast into the Fiery Furnace But presently the King saw four Men walking in the Fiery Furnace without any hurt and the fourth look'd like a Divine Person Then he call'd 'em to come forth and they came out and not so much as the smell of fire had pass'd upon ' em Then Nebuchadnezzar made a Decree that none should dare to speak against this God and he promoted these persons CHAP. IV. Nebuchadnezzar dreamt another Dream which the Magicians could not interpret there he relates it to Daniel concerning a Tree which was commanded to be cut down only the Stump was to be left in the Earth which Daniel interprets of himself that he should be driven from among Men and feed amon the Beasts but at last his Understanding should return to him and he should be restor'd to his Kingdom again Which accordingly came to pass For walking in his Palace and admiring his own greatness there came a Voice from Heaven saying Thy Kingdom is departed from thee Whereupon he was driven from among Men and lived among the Beast till his Understanding returned to him and then he owned the Sovereignty and Dominion of God and did extol him and acknowledged That those that walk in pride he is able to abase CHAP. V. Belshazzar at a great Feast profaning the Vessels of the Temple by quaffing and carousing in 'em there was a hand appeared writing upon the Wall over against him whereat he was extremely appal'd and sends for the wise Men to read the Writing but none of 'em could do it Then the Queen-Mother informed him concerning Daniel who being sent for read the Writing to the King which contained his doom That his Kingdom should be taken from him and given to the Medes and Persians which was soon fulfilled for that Night he was slain and his Kingdom possessed by Darius the Mede CHAP. VI. This Darius advanc'd Daniel to be the prime Minister of State which the rest not brooking and envying him for since they could find no fault in his Administration they laid a Snare for him in matters of Religion which was thus They procure a Decree from the King that none should ask any Petition of any God or Man for thirty days but only of the King Then they watch't Daniel and finding that he prayed to God thrice a day they accuse him to the King at which the King was much griev'd and endeavour'd all he could to deliver him But they urg'd the Law and so he was cast into the Lion's Den. But the King could not sleep all Night but rose early and came to the Lions Den and called to Daniel who answer'd him That God had shut the Lions Mouths that they had done him no hurt Whereupon the King commanded him to be taken out of the Den and his Accusers to be cast into it and made an open acknowledgment That this God is the Living God and therefore commanded all to tremble and fear before him JONAH CHAP. I. JOnah being commanded to preach against Nineveh flies to Tarshish but God sent a Storm after him which continuing the Mariners cast Lots to find out who was the cause of it and the Lot fell upon Jonah Then he confess'd he fled from the presence of God and bad 'em cast him over-board and the Storm should cease which tho they were very unwilling to yet at last were feign to do it and then the Storm ceas'd but a Fish swallow'd Jonah and he was three days and nights in the Fishes Belly CHAP. II. Then he prayed to God in the Fishes Belly and God caus'd the Fish to vomit him up upon dry Land CHAP. III. Then God sends him again to Nineveh and he went and proclaimed Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed Whereupon they sasted and prayed and turn'd from their evil ways and God repented of the evil he threatned 'em with CHAP. IV. Whereat Jonah was angry as making him a false Prophet and in a pet desires to die God to convince him of his foolish impatience caused a Gourd to spring up which shelter'd him from the heat of the Sun but afterwards caus'd it to wither Then Jonah was angry again but God replied If thou hadst pity upon the Gourd much more should I have pity upon Nineveh wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that can't distinguish between their right hand their left The Evangelical History 1 Luke 1. AS Zachary a Priest was ministring in the Temple an Angel appears to him and tells him he should have a Son called John who should be great in the sight of the Lord which he not believing is stricken dumb Six Months after his Wife had conceived the Angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary to tell her That by the Power of the Holy Ghost she should conceive and bring forth a Son whose Name should be Jesus After this Mary went to visit her Cosen Elizabeth the Wife of Zachary and assoon as Elizabeth heard Mary's Salutation the Babe leapt in her Womb and both of 'em prophecied concerning Christ When Elizabeth's time was come she brought forth a Son and his Father named him John and then he was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophecyed both concerning Christ and John 2 Matth. 1. Mary being found with Child her Husband Joseph to whom she was espous'd had thoughts of putting her away but he was warn'd in a Dream to take her to him she being with Child by the Holy Ghost and told that she should bring forth a Son who should be called Jesus 3 Luke 2. So Joseph and Mary being brought to Bethlehem by reason of the Taxing imposed by Augustus she was there delivered of a Son whom she laid in a Manger there being no room in the Inn the news whereof was told by an Angel to the Shepherds watching their Flocks by Night and a multitude of the Heavenly Host were there also praising God and saying Glory to God on the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Upon this the Shepherds went to Bethlehem and found it as it was told them and they returned glorifying and praising God When the Child was eight days old he was circumcized and named Jesus And when the days of his Mothers Purification were accomplish'd they presented him to the Lord as the First-born At that instant came Simeon and Anna to the Temple and prophecied concerning him 4 Matth. 2. About the time of his Birth some wise Men of the East seeing his Star came to Jerusalem and enquired for him that they might worship him at which Herod was startled and sent them privately to find out where he was they being guided by the Star went to the House and worship'd him and presented him and then returned back another way which Herod being
Buyers and Sellers out of it then went over the City for their impenitence and the destruction coming upon 'em by reason thereof 52 Joh. 12. Some Gretians desire to see Jesus whereupon he foretels his Death and the efficacy of it and earnestly exhorts 'em to a confession of him 53 Mat. 21. Jesus seeing a Fig-tree and finding only Leaves upon it curses it so it presently wither'd away whereupon he declares to his Disciples the power of Faith By the Parable of the two Sons he draws 'em to pass Sentence against themselves for their disobedience notwithstanding their profession of obedience and by the Parable of the Vineyard let out to Husbandmen and their slaying those that were sent to receive the Fruits thereof he shews the obstinate impenitency of the Jews notwithstanding all means for which God will destroy their Church and Common-wealth and set up a Church among the Gentiles 54 Mat. 22. By the Parable of the Marriage Feast for the King's Son and one that came without a Wedding-Garment he shews the rejection of the Jewish Nation for their refusal of the Gospel and the danger of making profession of the Gospel without a holy conversation He shews that Tribute ought to be paid to Cesar by the Mony which was currant among 'em that had his Superscription upon it He confuted the Sadduces who deny the Resurrection by that place of Moses where God said I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He declares unto a Lawyer That the Love of God and our Neighbour is the substance both of the first and second Table and poses the Pharisees with that difficulty concerning the Messiah how David could call him Lord seeing he is his Son 55 Mat. 23. Then he admonishes the People to follow the good Doctrin not the evil Example of the Scribes and Pharisees and to beware of their Ambition He denounces many Woes against them for their Hypocrisie and Blindness and foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple and the great Calamities that shall befall the Nation about that time and thereupon takes occasion to speak of the last Judgment and the security of the World before that time and therefore exhorts 'em to watch 56 Mat. 25. By the Parable of the ten Virgins he further presses 'em to Watchfulness and by the Parable of the Talents to a careful improvement of their Gifts and Opportunities Then describes the Process of the last Judgment 57 John 13. A little before his Sufferings he washes his Disciples Feer thereby to teach 'em Humility foretels and discovers to John by a token that Judas should betray him commands 'em to love one another and forewarns Peter of his Denyal 58 Mat. 26. Luke 22. The time of the Passover drawing nigh the Rulers consult how to take Jesus by subtilty and put him to death Then Salâ— entred into Judas-Iscariot and he went and agreed to deliver him to 'em for thirty pieces of Silver The time being come for the Passover Jesus sends his Disciples to prepare it for ' em 59 Joh. 14. Then he comforts 'em against his Departure from ' em 60 Mat. 26. Luke 22. Then he eats the Passover with 'em and at the end of it institutes the Sacrament of his Body and Blood 61 John 15. Declares himself to be the true Vine 62 John 16. Comforts 'em against Tribulation by the Promise of the Holy Ghost and by his Resurrection and Ascension Assures 'em that their Prayers made in his Name are acceptable to his Father and promises 'em peace in himself tho they have Tribulation in the World 63 Joh. 17. Then he offers up his mediatory Prayer wherein he prays to his Father to glorifie him to preserve his Apostles in Unity and Truth to glorifie them and all other Believers with him in Heaven 64 Mat. 26. Then he came to Gethsemane and bad his Disciples pray that they might not enter into temptation Then his Soul was exceeding sorrowful unto Death and he prayed that if it were possible that Cup of Sufferings might pass from him yet with resignation and submission to his Father 's Will. Then an Angel came to him to strengthen him he being in an Agony and sweating drops of Blood But his Disciples were asleep twice one time after another for which he gently reprov'd 'em and made an excuse for ' em Then came Judas with the Officers to apprehend him to whom when he said I am he they all fell down to the ground but being rison again Judas came to him and kiss'd him so they laid hold on him whereupon Peter drew his Sword and cut off Malcus's Ear but Christ healed it and bad Peter put up his Sword Then all the Disciples forsook him and fled Then the Officers bound him and led him to the High Priest and Peter follow'd ' em Then they suborned false Witnesses against him and condemned him to be guilty of death Then they smote him spit on his Face and derided him Mean while Peter being charg'd to be one of his Followers denied it and denied it a second time with an Oath and being charged again he began to curse and swear saying I know not the man whereupon the Cock crew and Peter went out and wept bitterly 65 Mat. 27. When the Morning was come they deliver'd him to Pontius Pilate the Governor and accused him of Sedition and Treason yet Pilate justified him and said I find no sault in this man at all But still they accused him the more fiercely and Pilate sent him to Herod who question'd with him about many things but he answered him nothing at all whereupon Herod with his Men of War mock'd him and sent him again to Pilate who would have releas'd him because he knew that for envy they had deliver'd him and his Wife sent unto him not to meddle with him but at last through their importunity he scourg'd him and deliver'd him to be crucified Then they put on him a Scarlet Robe and a Crown of Thorns and a Reed in his Hand in derision of his Kingship When Judas saw that he was condemned to death he repented and went and hang'd himself Then they led him away to be crucified and compell'd one to carry his Cross and when they came to Golgotha they crucified him at the third hour and set up this Writing over him THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS Then many of the People revil'd him and the Rulers derided him and the Soldiers mock't him and one of the Malefactors rail'd on him for which the other reprov'd him and made an open confession of him saying Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom At the sixth hour there was darkness all over the Land and at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud Voice Eli Eli Iama Sabacthani After that the said It is finish'd and crying again with a