desired that forasmuch as he was grown ancient and his sonnes did not walke in his waies hee would grant and appoint them a King whom they might make use on for a Judge that saying displeased Samuell and therefore he thought it best to advise with God God bade him doe as they had desirod for that they had not rejected and cast off Samuell but himselfe that he might not rule over them And he showed him Saul the sonne of Kish whom he should annoint and ordaine King 1 Sam. 10. when he had found him because he was taller then any man by the shoulders he bad all the people see how that none was like him whom God had chosen and when they had cried God save their new King verse 24. after he had told them the Law of the Kingdome and writ it and laid it up in the Tabernacle he blessed the people After this by recitall of Gods benefits which they and their fathers had alwayes neglected he made knowne to them what a grievous sin they had committed when they asked a King Which that they might the better understand there were thunder-claps heard raine poured downe at his request as he had told them aforehand it should come to passe at which so strange and usuall a matter being much affrighted they speake to him that he would beseech God that they might not dy forasmuch as they confessed they had grievously sinned in asking a King Samuell exhorted them at large to be of good courage and not to fear 1 Sam 12.3 for that they indeed had sinned exceedingly yet ought not to forsake God but serve him with all care earnestnes of Spirit scorning and neglecting the worship of strange Gods who seeing they were vaine and unprofitable could not be able to deliver from evill For thus it should come to passe that God would not forsake them for his great name seeing especially he had made it good with an oath that he would make them his people but it they should goe on to sin that both they and their King should perish Sect. 7. Saul being King had offered Sacrifices shortly after contrary to Gods command because Samuell came not within the 7 days 1 Sam. 13. in which time he had said that he would come and the Jewes slipt away for feare of the huge company of Philistines that came to battell when as Samuell coming in the mean while rebuked him sharply and foretold that the end of his Kingdome was at hand and that in his stead there should succeed a man that should be pleasing to God ver 13. A second time as Gods Propher he told Saul of the end or downfall of his Kingdome for the very same cause 1 Sam. 13. The Amalekites had made resistance to the Jews as they came out of Aegypt whose wrongs when God had purposed to revenge by Saul he sent Samuel to him to charge him that he should raise a mighty Army and utterly destroy Amaleck and all things that belonged to them But he spated King Agag when he was taken and reserved the Heards and the Flocks and all the things that were of any value Hereupon God told Samuel that he was displeased and that he repented that he had made Saul King who set light by his Commandements 1 Sam. 15. Upon these words of God and the thing which Saul had committed Samuel took such griefe that he spent the rest of the night in crying and praying and carely in the morning he hasted by long journeys to Saul whom when he had soundly chid having reckoned up Gods benefits towards him because he had not againe observed God and he on the contrary maintained that he had obeyed him and the people only had reserved the richest of the spoile that they might offer it to God he said that God did not desire sacrifices but willed rather that men should obey and keep his Commandements for obedience is better than sacrifice Therefore he should know and perswade himselfe thus much that he had rejected God and that he also was rejected by God from being King When Saul confessed that he had sinned against God and him for feare of the people and entreated him that he would also beare with his fault and go back with him to worship God and Samuel said he would not do so because God had despised him that he should not now be King over Israel he caught hold on the skirts of his mantle as he was going away with such a force as that it rent by which passage as by a token aforehand Samuel told him that God had rent away his Kingdom and given it to one better than he when againe he confessed that he had sinned and entreated Samuel that he would do him honour in the sight of the Princes and of his people and that he would returne with him that he might worship God he followed him and cut in peeces King Agag who was a corpulent man with these words As thy sword hath made mothers childlesse so shall thy mother be childlesse amongst women Sect. 8. After that Samuel went to his house in Ramath neither did he from that day forward see Saul whose chance and misfortune neverthelesse he was sorry for 1 Sam. 16. God rebuked him when he sorrowed and asked how long he would mourne for him whom he had put from his Kingdome And therefore he should fill a horne with oyle that he might send him to Jesse the Bethlehemite whose Son he had chosen King when he asked how he could go but he should be quickly killed by Saul when he knew it he shewed a way and a meanes how he might easily avoid his fury Thus at the last being very consident he went diligently and dutifully to execute what God had commanded him and he annointed David King whom God had manifested and shewed to him Sect. 9. Samuel after all these famous and holy performances dyed in a good old age at his own house in Ramath 1 Sam 25. which when the Jews knew of they all met and mourned for him and buried him there if we follow the Scries of those things which are written in the first booke of the Kings he will seeme to have dyed before Sauls death and the beginning of Davids Raigne or his taking upon him the Government and Kingly Office but if we respect those things which are written in the first booko of the Chronicles how that David and Samuel the Seer that is the Prophet chose two hundred and twelve Porters which are there reckoned a thing which doth not seem to ha have been done whilst Saul was living he did not die till after Sauls death Nathan the Prophet CHAP. III. Section 1 NAthan was Prophet when David was King of the kindred of Thot as Epiphanius saith who who also writeth that he was a man of Gabath and that he knew beforehand that grievous sin which David was to commit with Bersheba and that as he came a long journey to keep the King from
such an evill act he was hindred by a villaine who had slaine a man whom when he found lying naked upon the ground he tarried there to bury him lest he should be eaten up of wild Beasts and that he knew that very same night that David committed that foul Act and that therefore he went back with sorrow to Gabath and that as soone as ever David had killed Vriah the Husband of Bershebah God sent him to him to reprove him And this is that which Epiphanius writeth concerning Nathan Now will I tell what is writ of him in the Scriptures S. 2. King David had taken order that the ark of God should be brought with exceeding Pompe and reverence all sorts of Musicall instruments being made use of and 3000 chosen men made to attend it first to the House of Obed-Edom because of the sudden death of Vzza who had touched it 2 Sam. 6 and after to his own house when he perceived that al things went well with Obed-Edom for the Arkes sake A little while after he conceiving it unsit for him to dwell in houses of Cedar and the Arke in skins viz. in the Tabernacle he asked Nathan his advise and told him the thing Nathan at the first who yet knew not Gods intent thought that he might doe what he was resolved as touching that matter The night following God commanded him to go to David and tel him that he should not build the House which he had in his thoughts but his sonne whose Throne he would establish after his decease which when Nathan had told him he sorbare the worke which he had resolued to doe and gave God hoarty thanks as he was bound for his especiall favour towards him Sect. 3. A second time God sent him to David in a case altogether differing from this for when he having committed adultery with Bersheba had ordered that Vrias her Husband should be slaine in the battell God did by Nathan tell him in this Parable the hainousnesse of his crime so home that he not understanding the drift of it condemned himselfe before he was aware Nathan at Gods bidding told him that there were two men in one City whereof he that was rich and had store of Sheep and Oxen had taken from a poor man a Sheep which was all he had and had set it before a stranger to eat and that he was come to him to know what judgement he would have to be passed upon him David being moved with anger towards him who as he thought had done this said he deserved to die and be made to restore four-fold Nathan affirmed him to be the man because he had taken * Bersheba * Bathshebah whom he had defiled to Wife and had killed Vrias her Husband and that therefore evill should never depart from his House And he foretold all those evils and adversities which befell him shortly after Then at the last David confessed that he had grievously sinned against the Lord which Repentance of his God knowing to be true he bad Nathan tell him that for that reason his sin was put away and that he should not die but the child which should be borne to him because the enemies being moved by this his wickednesse did speak evill of God and dishonour him which when Nathan had spoken he went home and all those things which he had foretold fell out accordingly Sect. 4. David was very aged insomuch as when he was covered with cloaths he could get no heate 1 Kin. 1. Adonijah his sonne by Haggith who by this concluded that his Father could not live long had unknown to him seised on the Kingdome nor did his Father blamed him when he knew it yet Nathan would not side with him and therefore he perswaded Bathsheba Solomons Mother that if she would take order for her or her Sonnes safety she should goe to the King and put him in minde that it was Adonijah who whilst he was alive and whether he would or no had usurped the Kingdome whereas he had sworne that Solomon should succeed him and he promised her that he would come in the interim and helpe her out with what she had begun to say she being first let in acquainted the King with matters to that purpose when withall newes is brought to the King that Nathan is there he comming in doth aggravate the hainousnesse of the matter at large and giveth his judgement that Solomon should rather be preferred as he had heard him say Which when it liked the King againe he gave order to Nathan and Zadock the Priest and other three that they should set Solomon upon his Mule and bring him to Gihon and that there Zadock should him with oyle which thing was done as fast as could be every man shouting God save the King And these things are all that I have found concerning his life now he dyed very ancient and was buried in Gabath his owne Country as Epiphanius writeth Gad the Prophet CHAP. IIII. Section 1. THE Prophet Gad had bestowed upon him and discharged the Office of a Prophet at the same time almost that Nathan Although I finde that God sent him to David once before Nathan for when David slying from Sauls sight to avoid present death was come to Achish King of the Gothites and he lied neglected him seeing he counterfeited himselfe mad to preserve himselfe And eseiping thence into the Camp of Adullam was chosen the Commander over five hundred men that were indebted and going thence into Maspha which was under the Authority and power of the King of Moab had intreated the King that he would suffer his Father and Mother to abide with him till he knew what God would doe for him which when he had obtained he might remaine in the hold This Prophet God his opinion was that he ought to goe thence and come into that part of Judea which at the dividing fell to Judah and his posterity whose advise and command or Gods rather he obeyed and betook himselfe into the Forrest of Haveth Sect. 2. Another time God sent him to David David had given order that Ioab the Captaine of the Hoste should number all his Subjects that could beare Armes in which when he found he had offended God by putting him upon this service both acknowledged that he had done amisse and besought God that he would remove his sin when he was got up very timely God sent the Prophet Gad who as it is written did use to prophesie of all things to David that he might offer the choise of three things either of seven yeares famine in his own Dominion or to fly before his enemies who should pursue him for three mōths together or at least the Pestilēce for three daies in his Kingdome which when he had told him he desired him to make answer which of those three he would rather have that he might beare word back againe to him that had sent him when he had made choise of the Pestilence saying that he had
Jehu the Prophet and messenger of God he also greatly blamed Josaphat the King of Juda when he came back from the battail wherein he had assisted Ahab and told him that for so doing he had deserved Gods wrath but with all that there were good things found in him Azarias the Prophet the son of Obed 2 Chro. 15 Oded CHAP. IX THis Prophet came by Gods appointment to Asa King of Judah in the fifteenth year of his Raign when having overthrown the Altars of strange gods taken away their worship and taught his people to seek and serve the Lord and with prayer obtained Gods assistance 2 Chro. 14.11 by an army of his owne subjects he had overthrowne a huge multitude of Arabians that had invaded him to tell him that because he and his people had been with God God also had been with them and to foretell him that for a long time together the people of Israel * This is spoken as a thing past in the 2 Chro. 15.35 should be without the true God without a teaching Priest and without the Law but when in adversity they should seeke the Lord and return to him he should be found of them and that then there should be no peace to him that went out or came in But great feare and terror upon all the inhabitants of the Land Therefore that they should be strong and not hang downe their hands for their worke should be rewarded Upon these words of Azariah Asa took courage to goe on in putting downe the Worship of strange Gods every where and restoring the service of the Lord and setting his people in the same Hanani the Prophet CHAP. X. HAnani Father of Jehu the Prophet served in the * Cajetan says it should be 26. thirtie sixt year of the Raign of Asa K. of Iudah Now this was the cause of his sending Baosha King of Israel came with an hostile Army against Judah and fortified Ramah that none might come in or go our of the Kingdome of Iudah When this was told Asa he took all the treasures out of the Lords house and out of his own house and sent the silver and gold to * Benhadad 2 Chr. 19. Benhadab King of Syria who had seated his Palace-Royall at Damascus desiring aid of him Hereupon the King of Syria sent his Princes with a great Host which destroyed many fenced Cities of Israel When this was told Baasha he left worke at Ramah and so Asa called all his people together and pull'd downe what Baasha had set up But God abhorring this deed of Asa's sent Hanani the Prophet unto him to tell him that because he had put his trust in the King of Syria and not in his God who had delivered into his hand the Hoste of the Aethiopians which was greater then that of the Assyrians Therefore was the Army of the Syrians escaper out of his hands and to foretell him that thence forward he should have wars Asa who I said before did better and better at the words of Azarias the son of Hanani was so far from recovering his former degree of goodnes by the words of Hanani his Father that he cast the Propher into prison The life of Michaiah Son of Imlah or Jimlah 1 Kings 22. 2 Chron. 18. CHAP. XI MIchaiah son of Imlah was famous for his gift of Prophesie in the Raign of Jehosaphat King of Judah And this was the cause of one of his prophesies Jehosaphat being joyned in Affinity with Ahab King of Israel was also perswaded by him to joyne with him in the war against Ramoth Gilead and when Jehosaphat and his forces were come up to him he desired that the Lord might be consulted whether it was meet for them to go thither or no Ahab sent for foure hundred false Prophets to advise with about the seat of war who when they answered All Go thither prosper Ichosaphat not trusting them asked if there was not there a Prophet of the Lord of whom they might also ask directions Ahab told him there was indeed one Michaiah the son of Imlah but he was alwais wont to prophesie some evill or other unto him And when Ichosaphat said Let not Ahab say so an Eunuch or Officer was sent to call Michaiah who having found him said thus to him Behold all the Prophets with one assent declare good speed to the Kings designe I pray thee let thy words be like unto theirs But Michaiah swore sadly that whatsoever God said that he would speake And when he was come the King asked him whether they should go to Ramoth Gilead to battell or should they forbeare He answered they should go and prosper Then said Ahab How often shall I adjure thee in the name of the Lord that thou say nothing but the truth to me Then Michaiah answered I saw all Israel scatered upon the Hils as sheepe that have no shepheard and the Lord said Returne every one to his own House these have no Master Then said Ahab to Ichosaphat Said I not true before that this man would prophesie no good to me but only evill But Michaiah not terrified with his words seeing also that Ahab beleeved him not went on and told Him that he had seen the Lord sitting on his Throne and all the Hoste of Heaven on his right hand and on his left and when he asked who will go and deceive and make Ahab go to Ramoth Gilead and fall there And one spake after this manner and another after that then came there forth an evill Spirit and desired that that businesse might be left to Him and when God asked him how or wherewith he would deceive him He answered I will go and sit a Lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets Then Zedekiah one of Ahabs talse Prophets stroke him on the Face asking him What way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to thee Michatab told him he should know that to his cost when he run from chamber to chamber to hide himselfe Hereupon Ahab commanded him to be carried to Amon the Governour of the City and Ioas * The Kings Son the son of Amelech 2 Chron. 18. who should put him in prison and feed him with bread and water till the King came back safe and had dispatched his businesse according to his mind But Michaiah knowing assuredly that God had revealed this unto him answered If thou returne in peace God hath not spoken by me and bad all that heard heare witnesse what he had said So went Ahab and Ichosaphat with their Armies to Ramoth Gilead In the way Ahab disguised himselfe but Ichoshaphat kept on his Robes Now the King of Syria had charged his Chiefetaines only to make at the King of Israel They therefore guessing by the Robes fell all upon Ichashaphat with might and maine He seeing himselfe in such eminent perill of death cried unto the Lord who heard him For the Spians seeing their mistake forbore and left him yet one of the common Souldiers
they were not taken in war but he commanded that all manner of necessaries should be given them and sent them away satisfied Sect. 11. After those things Benhadad King of Syria having got a great army besieged Samaria and besieged it so long that when all things necessary for food were spent there grew such a dearth of provision that an Asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver 2 Kings 24. In this so great scarcity of provision two women constrained with hunger had made a covenant betwixt themselves to eat their children by turnes now when one of them had given her childe to be eaten and the other would not stand to agreement but on the day after hid her child That woman pined with hunger besought the King of Israel with cryes and teares that he would help her and take some order for her life and told him this story of the children hereupon he rent his garment in all their sight swore bitterly that Elisha should die that day And for that end he dispatched away an executioner but before he came to the house of Elisha Elisha told the Elders that sate with him that purpose of the King and charged them that they should not open the door to the messenger because the sound of his masters feet followed He had not yet made an end of speaking those words when as the King prevented the messenger and said Behold this evil is of the Lord what should I wait on the Lord any longer 2 Kin. 6.33 The Prophet at Gods appointment foretold that the next day about that very hour a measure of fine flower should be sold fora shekell and two measures of Barlie for a shekel in the gate of Samaria 2 Kin. 7.1 the matter seemed so incredible to a certaine Lord upon whose hand the King leaned that he said that could not be although God should open Heaven whereas the Prophet assured him that it should come to passe that he should see the thing but should not eat thereof At that time four Lepers constrained with hunger going into the enemies campe in such apparent danger of death when they were come to the entrance of the Campe they found no body for God had caused the enemies to heare a rushing and a noise of Chariots and horses and of a great army which when they heard they left their luggage and ran away Now when the Lepers had told these things in the City the King at the first interpreted it to be a Stratagem afterwards having sent two horses of the six that were onely left when the scouts had found it to be so all the people came thither for bootie and when the tents were spoiled that cheapnesse of provision followed which Elisha had foretold and then that Lord of whom I made mention before to whom the King had given charge of the Gate was trod to death by the multitude Sect. 12. The Prophet had perswaded that woman whose Son as is shewed before 2 Kings 8.1 he raised from death when he foretold the seven yeares famine that she should go some whither else and sojourne with her Family to avoide it She followed his counsell but at the seven yeares end when she came back she found her house and land seized on therefore she petitioned the King that she might recover her owne King Ioram then opportunely at that nick of time commanded Gehazi Elisha's servant to relate the great and strange workes that his Master had done for besides other things which he told him he affirmed that this was the woman whose son that was also present there he had raised from the dead Thereupon when she being asked had affirmed that it was so the King commanded an Officer or Eunuch to restore her not only all her Land but all the profits of it also And no doubt but the woman avoided the inconveniencies of the Famine and recovered her own estate through Elisha's goodnesse Sect. 13. When Benhadad King of Syria was sick Elisha was at Damascus 2 Kings 8.7 of whose comming when the King was certified he sent Hazael to him who was one of his chiefe servants with presents to aske of him whether he should recover from his disease he answered that he indeed should recover but neverthelesse God had told him that he should die shortly whereupon whilest Hazael stood in his sight Elisha began to weepe And when Hazael asked him why he wept He answered that when he should be King of Syria he would afflict the Israelites therefore the next day after he had brought his Master Benhadad newes of recovery he smothered him and seized upon the Kingdome and soone after he oppressed the Israelites with many sad overthrowes the same Elisha tooke order to anoint John King of Israel 2 Kings 9. who should root out the Family of Ahab with Iezabel his wife as Elias had foretold after this manner he bad one of the sons of the Prophets which he had called take a boxe full of oyle and go to Ramoth Gilead and when he had found Iohn there to consecrate him with oyle according to Gods command in an inner Chamber where no body was by that he might afterwards utterly destroy the whole Family of King Ahab together with Iezabel when he had done as Elisha bad him Iohn being King lid execute all those things which Elisha had appointed him by Gods command After these so excellent uncouth and unheard of things were done Elisha fell into the disease of which he died 2 Kings 13. when he was sick Ioas King of Israel came to visit him and perceiving the danger of his disease he wept before him with these words My Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the Chariot man thereof He first commanded the King that he should bring his bow and arrowes and afterwards that when they were brought he should lay his hand upon the bow being bent and lastly that when his hand was laid upon the Kings he should shoot out of a window which he had towards the East which when he had done he said that was the Arrow of Gods deliverance even the Arrow of salvation against Syria whom he should smite till he had destroyed them in Aphet Againe he commanded him that he should take an Arrow and strike the ground Now the King when he had struck the ground three times gave over whereupon he being angry foretold him that if he had struck five sixe or seven times it should have come to passe that he should utterly destroy Syria But because he had only struck the ground three times he should only smite it three times Epiphanius writeth that he was buried in Sebastopolis a City of Samaria Now he that when he was alive had raised a dead man as I have shewed after he was dead also raised a man from the dead for when some were burying a dead man and for feare of some free-booters Moabites who that yeare in which Elisha died had thrown the Corpes into Elisha's Sepulchre
fare and got into the Ship he failed with others towards Tharsis but presently by Gods permission there arose a mightie winde and so great a tempest that the Ship was in great danger hereupon the rest being greatly afraid prayed every one to his God and threw their goods into the Sea that the burden of the Ship might be lighter but hee was asleep in the side of the Ship Therefore the master of the Ship who thought him extreame negligent and retchlesse that when others were afraid and all at prayers for all that was asleep in so manifest a danger roused him up and bad him get up and pray unto his God as others did In the mean time they all agreed to try by lots what might be the cause why that disaster happened and the lot sell upon Jonas Whereupon they intreat him that he would tell them for what cause and fault such a mischiefe had lighted on them all and they askt him whence he came whither he went what country man he was and what trade he used Hee told them that he was a Hebrew and that he feared and worshipped the God of Heaven who made the earth and the sea and that he fled from his presence Then they being mightily afraid begun to aske him why he had done this evill and what they should doe to him that they might be freed from that danger when he had told them that that evill had happened because of him and through his default and that therefore if they would throw him into the Sea they should have a prosperous winde and a calm sea they cast him into the Sâ—a beseeching God that he would not lay this sin to their charge And so which was strange a wonderfull stilnesse of the Sea followed upon his casting in which when they had observed having offered Sacrifices to God whom they greatly feared for this that was done they made vowes to him But God neglected not nor forsook Jonah his servant but provided a great fish who took him and swallowed him up but yet did not consume or digest him but kept him whole in his bellie till the third day on which he vomited him out of his belly safe and sound upon the Land Now perceiving out of the fishes belly such a great favour of God towards him he gave thanks to him having recounted the dangers from the which he had delivered him When he was delivered from that danger God commanded him againe that he should goe to Nineve the great City in which he should tell the Citizens what God had prescribed him There when he had dispatched one dayes journey he told this openly to all that the City should be destroyed within fortie daies The Ninevites did not neglect or contemne the speech of Jonah that is of one that was a stranger and of low degree and one whom they had seen before but believing it they publikely proclaimed a Fast and repented them of the wickednesse of their former life being clad in sacking and hairecloth Nor indeed was this chang of life onely in private men but of all the Magistrates and Princes For when as it uses to be by talke and report that praediction concerning the overthrow of the City was brought to the King he did not fal to delights and pleasures after the manner as others doe usually having prescribed a forme of repentance to others hold themselves excused but having abandoned his Throne prostrated himselfe and cast off his Royall apparell he was first cloathed in sackcloth and sate in ashes and afterwards gave charge by proclamation that not onely men and women but the children also and not the children onely but also the beasts which by their nature are void of reason should abstaine from food or fodder or drinke but that all being clad in sackcloth and haire cloath should intreat the Lord and all should change the course of their wicked lives for that none knew whether God being pacified would pardon their sins In this place I could commend and set out the great wisdome of the Ninevites seen in the alteration of their lives but that I write the life of Jonas that is I set downe the bare narration of the thing how it was done Now the King was not mistaken in that apprehension he had touching God for when he saw them all turned at the Kings commandement from their vile and wicked way of living he took pitty on them neither did he overthrow the City as he had determined which mercy of Gods caused a deale of griefe to Jonas either lest he should seeme to have told a lye to the Ninevites because he absolutely said that Nineve should be destroyed within forty daies or because he understood that the people of Israel should be destroyed and therefore he besought God that he would take away his life because he had rather dye than that should come to passe although he knew that he was exceeding mercifull being asked by God whether he thought he did well to grieve he went out of the City and having got him a shady place which looked towards the East from whence he might safely see what befell the City God had raised up an Ivy or a Gourd which overshadowed him in the beholding whereof he was extraordinarily delighted But when God had also the next day by breake of day raised up a worme which stealing and creeping did so devoure the Gourd and Jonas feeling the heat of the Sun wished for death and God asked him whether he did well to be angry for the Gourd that was eaten And he had answered that he was grieved to the death Then God spake those words unto him which most plainly discovered his exceeding great mercy to mankind For he demanded of him whether it was fit that he should be troubled at the fading of a Gourd which he had not set nor made to grow and that he should not himselfe pardon that City in which there were above six score thousand persons who could not discerne good from evill What answer Jonas made to these words or what he did afterwards is nor recorded Although Epiphanius writeth that he afterwards returned into his Country wherein now he thought there was no dwelling for him lest his own fellow Citizens should object unto him that his Prophesie concerning Nineve was false and that therefore he went with his mother to Sura and dwelt in Saar and there died and was buried in the Cave of Ceneseus the Judge Jehaziel the Prophet CHAP. XVII I find that Jehaziel did once only do the Office of Prophesie 2 Chron. 20.14 and that was unto Jehosaphat the King of Judah after this manner The Ammonites and Moabites having gathered a great Army resolved to fight with Jehosaphat the King of Judah when this was told him and that the enemies were now already entred his Kingdome he not trusting himselfe and his own strength betook himself wholly unto God and besought him that he who had driven out all the Nations in
former times out of their Countries that he might place his own people in them as he had promised Abraham would heare him and his in this sad time of danger that the Ammonites and Moabites came against him with an hostile Army being unthankfull for and unmindfull of their deliverance when at his command their Elders coming out of Egypt under the Conduct of Moses spared those two Nations when other people were destroyed He knew well that he was not able to stand against such a Multitude unlesse God Almighty did help him nor did the King alone pray to God but also all the Jewes with their wives and children There was amongst them this Jehaziel the son of Zachary a Levite who by a long descent was come from Asaph Davids singer He being moved by the Spirit of God came from amidst the multitude and foretold to Jehosaphat and others by Gods Command that they should not feare such a multitude forasmuch as the battle was not theirs but Gods who the next day would overthrow their enemies This very thing fell out the next day not in that manner as one would have expected for Iosaphat and his Army did not overcome their enemies by sight but they overthrew themselves by fighting wounding and killing one another which when the Jews had observed they found so much booty that they could not carry it away in three daies Triumphing hereupon they returned to Ierusalem with Lutes and Timbrels praising God Eliezer the Prophet CHAP. XIX ELiezer the Prophet was the Son of Dodavah of Maresha 2 Chron. 20.37 I find that he also executed the office of a Prophet only once and that unto the same King Iehosaphat for when the King had made friendship with Ahaziah Iniisset inimicitias that ungodly King of Israel and been partaker with him in the designe of rigging a Navy which should go to Tharsis but the hand of God was lost at Sea this Eliezer was sent by God to tell him that because he had made a Covenant with Ahazias by Gods providence the Navy was cast away at Sea and could not reach Tharsis The life of the Prophet Esaias CHAP. XX. ESaias the Prophet was the Son of Amoz the Prophet whose Prophesie is extant as Epiphanius would have it or another * Am. 1. Amos Esa 1. Amoz Amoz because of the unlike spelling in St Hieroms opinion he discharged the duty of a Prophet in the Reigne of Iotham Ahaz and Hezekias Kings of Iudah and his Prophesie doth chiefly concerne Iudah and Ierusalem what he foretold in every Kings Raigne is uncertaine except in Ahaz his and Hezekias unto whom he was sent as I shall tell you anon Although we may conceive this that he prophesied those things which he treateth of from the beginning of his book * From the first chap. to the seventh to that place where he mentioneth King Ahaz when Vzziah and Iotham were Kings And those things that follow to that place Ezech. 3.6 wherein he speakes of Hezekiah when Ahaz was King and the rest to the end of his Prophesie whilest Hezekiah raigned Sect. 1. He was sent to Ahaz upon this occasion Rezin King of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah King of Israel joyned forces and besieged Hierusalem yet could they not take it And God had Esaias tell this before their Army was on march to Ahaz who was exceedingly afraid that Pekah King of Israel had made a confederacy with Rezin King of Syria that they seizing on the kingdome of Iudah might drive Abaz thence and make the son of Tabell King in his stead but that he should not seare for it should not so come to passe as they had devised He bad him also by Gods command that he should aske a signe of God either in heaven or earth and when he said he would not aske or tempt God not in that he behaved himselfe humbly but in that he worshiping strange gods did not believe God and yet dissembled it Esaias chiding him and them that obeyed him because they had not only wearied men but God also Esa 7.13 foretold that such a signe as this should be given them He said a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Son whose name they should call Emmanuel that is God with us Sect. 2. And when Hezechiah was King Esaias was sometime consulted withall and sent unto by the King who intreated his prayers for him and other times sent by God on messages to the King which how and wherefore it was done I will declare in few words Isa 3.6 Senacherib King of Assyria invading Iudah had taken all the fenced Cities thereof and had sent Rabshacheh Generall of his Army to Hierusalem that he might treate with Hezechiah concerning the surrender of the City Hezechiah being mightily afraid sent Eliakim the son of Helkiah the Steward of his house Shebna the Scribe and Ioah the son of Asaph the Recorder who when they had heard many words tending both to the disgrace of the King and the dishonour of God as though he was not able to help his own people and had told them to Hezechiah he rent his cloaths and being clad with sackcloath went into the Temple of God and sent those three in the same habit to Isaiah First to relate to him those things and afterwards to increat him that he would pray to God for them that persevered trusting in him Esaias at Gods Command bad them toll Hezechiah that he should not feare for God would send a blast upon Senacherib and he should heare a Rumour upon which he should returne into Assyria and there dye by the sword These things they told to the King but because in the meane time Senacherib sent messengers who brought Letters to Hezechiab containing yet more grievous railings against God he first read them over as soone as he had taken them from the hands of the Embassadours and afterwards going into the Temple he humbly besought God and that at large to revenge the wrongs and reproaches of Senacherib and deliver his own people God being intreated with those prayers of the King declared at large by Esaias that there should be a great deliverance and shewed the tokens by which he should know the things for certaine which when they had all come to pass accordingly a hundred fourscore five thousand of the Assyrians were slaine and Senacherib himselfe also a while after in Assyria whereupon ensued a happy peace Sect. 3. The occasion afterwards why he was sent unto the King was this Hezechias was sick and that with danger of life therefore God sent Esaias to him to put him in mind of ordering himselfe and his affaires because he was to dye He being affrighted with this message besought God presently that he would have mercy on him whereupon Esaias was againe sent by God having not yet gone out of the Court-yard to tell him that his prayers were heard and his teares seene and that therefore he should live fifteen yeares
in that felicity that both he and the City should be free from the King of Assyria and that he should hence know this for that the shadow of the sun in Ahaz his Diall should go back ten degrees and so the King recovered having by Esaias direction laid to the wound a plaister of dry figs. Sect. 4. Mcrodach King of Babylon had heard that Hezechiah was recovered from that sicknesse and he sent him Letters Congratulatory and Presents by Embassadours unto whom Hezechiah shewed all things that were brave and costly in his Treasuries This deed of his being full of arrogancy and glory was so displeasing to God that he sent his Prophet Isaiah to tell him that because he had done this very thing it should come to passe that all those things should be carried away and his Posterity become Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon To these things Hezechiah made no answer but that the word of God was right and good only might there be peace while he lived And these things have I found concerning Esaias in the Scriptures But Epiphanius writeth that he was cut in two pecces by Manasses and buried under an Oake at Rogel He also spake so plainly and openly concerning the mysteries of our Religion as of the Conception Birth Sermons or Preaching wonderfull workes in curing diseases Death Resurrection and Ascention of Christ that he seemeth not to foretell them as things to come but to relate them as things present or done and past Therefore St Hierom will have him reckoned not so much a Prophet as an Evangelist The Life of the Prophet Joel CHAP. XXI JOel the Prophet as Epiphanius saith was a Bethorian of the Tribe of Ruben and the son of Phatuel It doth not appeare out of the Book of his Prophesie under what King he prophesied or lived But St Hierom writeth that he prophecyed under the same Kings that Hosea did that is Vzziah Joatham Ahaz and Hezekiah and he will have all his Prophesie to belong to the Kingdome of Judah only and not also to Israel Act. 2.16 Ioel 2.28 he spake much concerning the comming of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles which St Peter the Apostle interpreted and many concerning that repentance which God requires in his Children Moreover as Epiphanius saith he was buried honourably in his own Country The Life of the Prophet Micha CHAP. XXII MIcha the Morastite so called of Morasthi a little Town of Palestina of th◠Tribe of Ephraim as Epiphanius writeth he ministred when Ioatham Ahaz and Hezekiah were Kings of Iudah we find nothing written concerning the Life of this Prophet nor concerning many others only there is extant a little booke wherein his Prophesie is set downe and that indeed chiefly relates to Samaria and Hierusalem and somewhat also to the Birth of Christ St Matthew an Apostle and Evangelist so interprets that place of Bethlehem the place where Christ was borne and forasmuch as he rebukes the wickednesse both of Jews and Israelites first against God and then against their neighbours in his disallowing those things he sheweth and declareth not only to them but also to all men what they ought to doe For he saith this is good and this God requires doe judgement that is that we performe what we rightly determine and that we love mercy and bounty and that we carefully and diligently walke with God Epiphanius writeth that because he reprehended and blamed the wicked villanies of Ioram King of Iudah he was throwne by him from a steep place and was afterwards buried in his own Country with honour Joram was Father to Vzziah is it not Jotham and how could Jotham kill him he prophesied in Ahazia's and Hezekia's dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The life of Oded the Prophet CHAP. XXIII ODED the Prophet was found once discharging the duty of a Prophet when Ahaz was King of Judah For when Zizchria mighty man of Ephraim had killed Maaseiah the Kings sonne and Azrica the ruler of his house and Elkana who was next to the King and the Isralitos besides had taken captive two hundred thousand women and children of Judah and an infinite bootie and carried all to Samaria Then this Oded who was there going out to meet the victorious army comming in told them that that deed was not acceptable to God who had suffered the Jewes to be killed for their wickednesse whose wives children and goods they took away and spoiled contrary to all right and therefore they should follow his advice to carrie their captives back againe for feare the wrath of God grew hot upon them These things he spake to Azaria Berechia Ichizkiah and Amosa the commanders in chiefe who presently told the same to their companies and caused them to bring back their prisoners and restore all the booty as sacred lest the wrath of God should rage against them which thing they did with so great devotion and affection that they sent back those that were naked cloathed and set them that were weak upon beasts after that they had well refreshed them Nahum the Prophet CHAP. XXIV Nahum the Elkeshite so called of Elkesis a small Village in Galilee which St Hierome writeth was shewed unto him of the tribe of Simeon as Epiphanius writes he foretold the destruction of Nineve and the Ninevites who before as I have told you perswaded by the Prophet Ionah had obtained pardon from God upon their repentance he prophesied in the reigne of Hezekiah the King as St Hierome will have it at the last he died in his owne country and there was buried The life of the Prophet Jeremiah CHAP. XXV Section 1 JEremiah the Prophet Ieremiah's Father was of the Priests that were in Anathoth in Terra Benjamin was the son of Halchiah of the Tribe of Benjamin a Priest of Anathoth he prophesied as may be gathered from the beginning of his prophesie from the eleventh year of Iosiah the sonne of Amon King of Iudah to the eleventh yeare of Zedekiah who then was led away to Babylon after Ierusalem was taken with the remnant of Judah as Ieremiah had constantly foretold by Gods command which thing occasioned him great trouble For he was both laid in Irons and cast into a prison and a most nastie dungeon and yet by all these duresses his undaunted spirit could not be brought either to think or Prophesie otherwise then God commanded though the false Prophets told the contrary This because it much commends him I have resolved to set downe in what manner it was done God had sent him to Topeth to foretell those things which he had given him in charge and when he was come back from thence to Hierusalem and standing in the Court of the Temple told all the people plainly that all those evils should befall both the City and the Inhabitants thereof which God had spoken because they obeyed not his Commandements Phashur the Priest could not endure such words with patience but presently cast him after he
had beaten him into prison The next day very early when Phashur had brought him out whatever the cause was for I doe not finde it written Ieremiah constantly and freely maintained that he was not called Phashur by God but Magor-Missabib Ier. 20. feare on every side forasmuch as God would astonish him with feare and his friends so as that they should be run through with the enemies whilst hee looked on and that God would deliver all Iudah into the hands of the King of Babylon to be slaine and their riches for a spoile and Phashur himselfe should be led captive thither with all his family and die there and all his friends unto whom he prophesied lies What answer Phashur made to these words or what he did being moved with them is not foe down in the Scriptures Sect. 2. In the beginning of the raigne of Ichoiakim son of Iosiah as he stood in the court of the Temple he denounced to all that were come out of the Cities of Iudah and Ierusalem to worship God that unlesse they kept Gods Lawes both that should befall the Temple which besell Siloh and that all Nations should abhorre that City Ier. 26. The Priests false Prophets and people who had heard him speak these words apprehended him and said first among themselves afterwards to the Princes who having heard this doom of his went from the Palace into the Temple that for that matter he ought to be put to death But he having leave given him to speak told them that God had sent him to declare every word that he had spoken And therefore they should repent and observe Gods Commandements who thereupon also would repent and not bring the evill upon them that he had purposed ver 13. And as for him that he was in their hands that they might resolve what they would against him yet thus much they should understand know it they put him to death they should kill one that was innocent towards them and the City because God had sent him to prophesie all those things unto them ver 14. The great men and the Rulers being perswaded by these speeches perswaded the Priests and the false Prophets that they should not kill him that was sent by God And amongst these some Elders standing up altered their mindes by minding them of Micah the Prophet who when Hezekiah was King had foretold many things concerning the destruction of the City and for all that was not put to death but the men which lived that time appeased God by their repentance prayers and fears but herein the paines and diligence of Ahicam the son of Shaphan most of all appeared that he might not be put to death Sect. 3. In the same Kings Raigne God commanded Ieremiah to bring the posterity of Richab who were called Rechabites into the Temple and give them wine Now they had a command from Ionadah their father to abstaine from wine Therefore when Ieremiah had set wine before them at Gods cōmand they bringing this command of their Fathers for anexcuse refrained altogether from wine which had not been well done of them if he had said that God had commanded them this But God by this example of the Rechabites intended to show and shame the depraved and corrupted manners of the Jewes For he sent afterwards to Iieremias to tel them how grievously they offended because the Rechabites at their Fathers bidding abstained from wine all their whole life whereas he had endeavoured to draw them from their wicked course of life by his Prophets of whom he had sent a great many and could not because of their obstinate will hereupon also he denounced that the Jewes should be plagued with Famine Pestilence and captivity But to the Rechabites he promised that their posterity should never faile before him because they had obeyed their Fathers command with such constancy of spirit Sect. 4. And in the fourth yeare of the same King God commanded him that he should write in a booke all the miseries with which he would punish the Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah that when they should heare them read they might by repentance seek to appease Gods wrath against them Ier. 36. He was then as I said in prison therefore he sent for Baruch the sonne of Neriah a good man whom he bad first write in a book what he dictated and afterwards to rehearse it in the Temple whither he could not come on the fast day to all the people and all that came out of Iudah to worship that if they would believe those words which were rehearsed and live according to them they might find God more favourable unto them When he had done these things and at a set fast in the fifth yeare of the same King and the ninth month had rehearsed them all Michaiah the soune of Gemariah told them all to the chiefe men of the Court and they sent Iehudi the sonne of Nethaniah to command him that he should bring the role to them When he was come hee read all out of the writing as they commanded and that with such admiration or aftonishment rather that they said they would acquaint the King with all those words yet first they enquired of him how he writ all those words When he had told them that he had taken all those words from the mouth of Ieremiah who dictared them as if he had read them out of a book and that he had written them all with ink then they advised him that he and Ieremiah would hide themselves some where so as no body might know it they gave the book to Elishama the scribe Then Iehudi at the Kings command began to reade the booke but after three or foure pages only were read the King cut it with a penknife and afterwards threw it into the fire nor could Elnathan Delaiah and Gemariah disswade him but that he would needs do the thing nor was Ichojakim content with this so grievous a wicked act but he also commanded Ierahmiel Hammelech and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the sonne of Abdul to apprehend Baruch the Scribe and Ieremiah the Prophet but God hid them from the Kings wrath But God was so offended with the burning of the book that he bad Ieremias to write the same role over againe and to adde thereunto many other things and to tell the King front him that there should remaine none of his posterity that should sit upon the throne but withall that his carkasse should be throwne out and that he his posterity and servants should be punished for their wickednesse and those evils should befall them the City and people which when they were foretold they had so neglected and slighted Ieremiah as he was commanded by God delivered the other book to Baruch whether Baruch read to the King himselfe or the people or both or what the King did or the rest is not set downe in the Scriptures The same Ieremiah in the beginning of the Raigne of Ichotakim
had him in such veneration untill Epiphanius his time that they prayed in that place and with the dust which they took out of the Sepulchre they both healed the bitings of Asps and drove the Crocodiles out of the River Oswaldus hath recorded that he was at Tahpanhes the first day of May. The Life of the Prophet Baruch CHAP. XXVI BAruch the Prophet was the son of Neriah He was servant and assistant to Hieremiah the Prophet in taking the Book from him at Gods Command wherein God denounced the evils that should come upon them that went not out of the City Hierusalem to Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon and the good things that should befall them that went and in reading in the Temple on the Fast day to all the people that were come to Hierusalem our of the Cities of Iudah There is extant a Book which is not the very same he wrote then as may be conceived by the time and place For the former book was taken in the fourth yeare of Ichoiakim King of Iudah and in the fifth yeare in the ninth month when a Fast was appointed at Hierusalem it was read in the Temple and when it was cut in pieces by King Ichoiakim and thrown into the fire it was copied out againe by this same Baruch in the same words and more at Gods Command whilest the same Hieremias dictated or certainly it was delivered him by Hieremiah But this that is extant is said to be written by this Baruch and to be there read by him to Ieconias the son of Ioackim King of Iudah and to all the people that were carried Captive into Babylon so that this was writ later Concerning that former we have spoken sufficiently in the Life of the Prophet Hieremiah And when this was read they all wept fasted and prayed unto God But when the other was read they sent money that they gathered as every mans Estate would beare to Hierusalem to them that were there to buy sacrifices entreating them that they would both offer for the sins of all the people and beseech God that he would grant a prosperous life to Nebuchadnezzer and his son Balshazar and afford them favour in the sight of Nebuchadnezzer and his son that they might live and make their prayers before God against whom they had offended and whose wrath was not yet pacified They exhorted them also that they would take order that the book which they had sent should be rehearsed upon holy daies in the Temple The rest of his words is spent in detestation of the sins and wickednesse which they had committed reckoning up the evils with which they were rightly pressed There is also in the latter end of Hieremias book a Letter wherein as a Prophet of God he doth foretell the Captives of Hierusalem that they should be brought to Babylon by Nebuchadaezzar the King of Babylon and exhorts them that when they be there they should not worship the gods which they should see but the true God Now Baruch was of such familiarity and acquaintance with Hieremiah that when the City of Hierusalem was taken and the people lead away to Babylon with Zedechias and the great men He tarried with those which out of severall Countries returned to Iudah and dwelt there at the command of Nebuchadnezzer the King Gedaliah being Governour and after Gedaliah was slaine and the remnant had intreated Hieremiah to enquire of God whether they should go into Egypt or no and he had told them by Gods command that they ought not to go They said God did not forbid this but that Baruch was one who moved him against them and because they did not obey Gods Command the Commanders brought Hieremias and Baruch by force into Egypt with the rest and there as I suppose he died and was buried The Life of the Prophet Ezekiel CHAP. XXVII Section 1. Ezekiel a Prophet and a Priest was the son of Buzi He prophecyed at the same time that Hieremiah but with this difference that Hieremias began to prophesie in the thirteenth yeare of Iosiah King of Iudah but he in the fifth yeare after Iechoniah was led away to Babylon and Hieremias continued prophecying till the eleventh yeare of Zedechiah wherein he was taken and little more than so But Ezekiel unto the fourteenth yeare after the City was spoyled which he calls the five and twentieth after he himselfe was led away which that it may more easily be understood and the Life of Ezekiel better known I have a mind to fetch the order of times and things a little more from the bottome Sect. 2. Ichoiakim after his Father Iosiah was slain who raigned thirty one yeares 2 Chro. 36. and after Ichoahaz his brother who raigned only three months was led into Egypt was made King of Iudah in his brothers stead by Nechokin King of Egypt Iehoiakim dying in the eleventh yeare of his raigne left Ichoiakim who is also called Iechoniah the heire to his Kingdome This Ichoiakim in the third month of his raign when the City was vanquished and the Temple spoiled was taken and led away to Babylon with his mother wives and Eunuchs and a great many more and amongst these Ezekiel now began to prophesie in Babylon as himselfe saith in the fifth yeare after Ichoiakim was taken that is in the fifth yeare of Zedechias who was placed in his stead by Nebuchadnezzer the King And Zedechiah was taken in the eleventh yeare of his raigne and cast into bonds To these eleven yeares of Zedechiah wherein Ezekiel was now Captive if we adde the other fourteene after Hierusalem and Zedechiah were taken we shall find five and twenty yeares and that five and twentieth is the yeare of his Captivity unto which he continues all his Prophesies And therefore Ezekiel did not prophesie in Iudah but in Babylon and foretold first that other Captivity which befell when Zedechiah as I have said was King of all the people because of their wickednesse both old and new all which God shewed unto him though done by them not in Babylon he spake of their deliverance also He began to prophesie in the sixth yeare after Iehoniah was taken and carried to Babylon and that in the fourth month and the fifth day A yeare after that is to say in the sixth yeare on the fifth day of the sixth month God appeared to him and bad him fasten his eyes upon the way which looketh towards the North which when he had done he behold an Image The Image of Jealousie at the gate of the Altar in the very entrance of the Temple of Hierusalem which the Inhabitants worshipped that by this their villany they might even drive God away from them This was a great wickednesse but he shewed them another greater than this He brought him into the Court of the Temple and bid him dig through the wall when he had done this there appeared a doore by which when upon Gods commandement he had gone in he saw upon the wall the pictures of
for ten daies together in which they would onely eat pulse and drinke water he would looke upon his face whether he should grow leaner then others that made use of their allowance appointed accordingly Upon the tenth day at the last when the thing was taken notice of and tried the face of Daniel and his three companions appeared much fuller then the faces of others to the great admiration of Malasar whereas he had given them onely pulse and water And God gave unto Daniel besides the knowledge and skill of all bookes and wisdome which was common to him and his three fellowes Ananias Azarias and Misael skill of interpreting all dreames by helpe whereof as I said he came into great favour with Nebuchadonozer and his heires For when he was brought into the Palace and the King had seen a dreame in the second yeare of his raigne which no diviner or interpreter of dreames being made use of could interpret but Daniel alone he begun to be in very great request And what alike dreame this was and upon what occasion Daniel was consulted it will not be farre amisse to declare In the second yeare as I said of his raigne the King saw a dreame wherewith he was exceedingly affrighted but being slipt out it could never afterwards come into his mind againe Therefore having called together all the Magitians and diviners of his Kingdome he bad them first tell the dreame which was quite gone and afterwards interpret it They be sought the King that he himselfe would relate the dreame which they would interpret When the King began to presse them propounding a condition that unlesse they could tell the dreame and interpret it it should come to passe that both they should be destroyed and their houses should be sequestred but if they could tell and interpret it they should receive rewards and gifts and great honours Again either they had advised or intreated the King that he would tell his own dreame and then afterwards they would interpret it for no body could do what he demanded but onely the gods who converse not among men Whereupon the King being angry and furious gave sentence and commanded Arioch the chiefe Marshall that the diviners and south sayers should be put to death And now they were slaine and Daniel and his fellowes sought for to be killed when as he having understood that cruell bussnesse went to the King and besought him that he would give him time for the matter that he enquired after A time being allotted he went to his house and acquainting his three fellowes with the matter he besought God in common with them that he would declare to him and them the mysterie that they might not perish with the Caldaeans God heard them and discovered the thing to Daniel by night who not forgetfull of his benefit gave him thanks in these words Praised be the name of God for ever for wisdome and strength are his he changeth times and seasons and removeth Kingdomes and setteth them up he giveth wisdome to the wise and knowledge unto them that understand discipline he revealeth mysteries and hidden things and knoweth those things which are in darknesse and the light remaineth with him I praise thee and thank thee O God of my fathers because thou hast given me wisdome and strength and hast shewed me those things which we begged of thee in as much as thou hast revealed unto us the Kings dreame when he had given thanks to God he went to Arioch whom the King had commanded to kill the wise men he intreateth him that he would not destroy the wise men but bring him in unto the King to whom he would both tell his dreame and interpret it He bringeth him in to the K and tels him that he was there that would declare his dreame to him And when the King demanded of him whether he could interpret the dreame unto him then Daniel said the Magicians and South-sayers could not declare the mystery which he enquired after and he professed there was a God in Heaven which revealed secrets and discovered unto him things that should come to passe in the last times Now the dreame which he had seen was thus he seemed to see a great statue which stood with a terrible look before him his head was of gold his Breast and armes of silver his body and thighes of brasse his legs of Iron and his feet partly Iron partly clay He looked at it till a stone was cut out of a mountaine without any hands or labour which brake the feet of the Image which when they were broken the rost of the body was likewise throwne downe and broken into pieces but the stone which had broken the Image was turned into a very great mountain And this was the interpretation of the dreame propounded and told that he who excelled other Kings and to whose dominion the God of Heaven had subjected all things was that head of gold that another King who being a little inferiour to him should afterwards arise was the breast and armes of silver that the bellie and thighes were a third King that should rule over all the world and the Iron leggs a fourth King which like Iron should bring under and subdue all things that the difference of the feet in respect of the matter did signifie an Empire which should afterwards be divided and that withall the mixture of the matter did signifie that it should come to passe that they should be mingled amongst themselves but not agree that that stone which seemed to break all in pieces was a King which the God of Heaven would raise up in those times who should neither be disturbed nor driven out of his Kingdome that it might be given to another but that that King should have an eternall and perpetuall Kingdome and should overcome all The King who understood and knew that his dreame was to told as he had seen and rightly interpreted when he had cast himselfe downe at Daniels feer and worshipped him and commanded that sacrifices with frankincense should be offered to him professed that the God of Daniel was the God of gods and the Lord of Kings who revealed secrets Hereupon he set him being rewarded with many great gilts and presents over all the Provinces of Babylon and over all the Divines and South-sayers And at his intreatie he gave Babylon to be governed by his three comparions The same King afterwards saw a dreame with which though he was as much affrighted as with the former yet he retained the forme and the manner of it in his memory And therefore having called unto him the Magicians and South-sayers out of Babylon he did not as before demand of them the manner of it but onely the interpretation of it when he had told it them Now the dreame was thus He thought he saw a very tall tree whose top touched Heaven and whose leaves were very faire and fruite very much on which all things lived the beasts dwelt under
it and birds sate in the boughes of it he seemed also to see a watchman and a holy one who comming downe from Heaven commanded with a loud voice that the tree with its branches should be hewne downe and the leaves shaken off and the fruit scattered the birds being made to fly away out of its branches and the beasts that dwelt under it yet so as that the stump of the roots of the tree should remaine in the earth which should be bound with an Iron and brasse band in the grasse and should be wet with the heavenly dewe and that he should eat the grasse like the beasts and his mans habit and sense should be turned into a beasts for seven years He said the watchmen had decreed thus and the holy one had designed thus that men might understand that God was high who commanded men in Kingdome and disposed them to whomsoever he would When the rest could not interpret this dream upon the hearing of it at last they came to Daniel whom as I said a little before he had set over the Magicians and South-sayers He being asked his opinion at the first he begun silently with himselfe more heedfully to consider the interpretation of the thing and that with great perturbation of minde because of the event of the thing which was signified At the last when the King had taken notice of that for there appeared in him manifest tokens of astonishment and had bidden him utter the interpretation of the dreame freely then he wishing with a loud voice that the interpretation of that dreame might befall his enemies so interpreted that dream as he said that tall tree was the King himselfe who was so great and powerfull that his greatnesse reached to Heaven and his power to the ends of the world but he that was so great should in the time which God had appointed be driven out of his Kingdome and from the society of men and dwell amongst the wild beasts and eat hay like an Oxe and be wet with dew in the fields for seven yeares till he should understand that God is high who ruleth the Kingdome of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will But yet that his Kingdome should not be altogether taken from him but restored when he should have acknowledged the power of God After this he gave wife and profitable Counsell to the King which if he would follow he might avoid those evils which he conceived by these things were like to befall him for he perswaded him that by relieving the poore he would make amends for his sins for perhaps God would be mercifull to his sins Now all those things befell Nebuchadonosor in the twelfth month after when he bragged that Babylon was built by him only and when the seven yeares were fulfilled both his senses were restored to him and his Kingdome and his glory and dignity was greater than it had been formerly And then he was not unthankfull but with many excellent words he thanked God and professed himselfe to acknowledge his power nor was he ashamed to write a Letter to all people wherein he both told his dreame and how Daniel only gave the interpretation of it and the event of his dreame so declared as I have said and the restitution of his Kingdome at the last All which things ought to be before every bodies eyes but especially Kings and great men and those that are eminent in power left they should attribute to themselves those things which they ought to ascribe to God When Nebuchadonosor was dead Balthasar his son succeeded him in the Kingdome He made a stately banquet to a thousand chiefe men of his Kingdome in which as every one was before another in yeares so he dranke and being overcome with wine and drunke he gave order that the golden and silver Cups which Nebuchadonosor his Father had caused to be carried out of the Temple of Hierusalem should be brought that all his Guests might drinke in them And now did he drinke and amongst his Cups as he dranke he praised his gods made of gold silver brass and other matter when behold on a sudden he beheld fingers like a mans which writ upon the wall over against the Candlestick in the very Palace of the King The King being afrighted at the sight of a thing so unusuall and strange gives order with a loud cry that the magicians and south-sayers should be brought in as soone as might be They being consulted could neither read nor interpret that which was written whereas the King promised such a reward as this that he that should read and interpret it should be clad in purple should weare a gold chaine about his neck and have the third place in his Kingdome Hereupon not only the King conceived much griefe but also the Princes nor had that griefe and sorrow been mitigated or laid aside unlesse the Queen had advised the King that he should be chearfull saying that he had Daniel whom his Father Nebuchadonosor had set over all the Magicians because he was very famous for Divining having found him still to be excellent in a matter of greater weight when he at the Kings commandement was brought in first the King told him that the Magicians could neither read nor explaine that which he saw written and then mentioned what he had heard touching the commendation of his skill and his fame for such like things which if they were true and that he could read those things which he saw and could interpret them he should have the same reward which as I have said was offered to the Magicians Daniel answered that the King might take his gifts to himselfe or give them to another for that he without inviting by any reward would interpret that which the writing had obscurely signified and therefore repeating the thing a little higher as far as from Nebuchadonosor the King his Father he told how he had received Kingdome glory and such great Power from God that because of it all men stood in awe of him and that he himselfe advanced and afflicted whom he listed but that he because he ascribed all these things to himselfe and not to God by Gods will was driven from his Kingdome and cast out of the society of men and was in the shape of a beast amongst beasts untill he had acknowledged the power and majesty of God And that because he his sonne who knew all these things had not humbled his heart but had lift up his mind against God the Ruler and Lord of heaven drinking in his cups of gold silver and praying the gods of gold and silver who doe not see nor heare nor perceive slighting and despising God in whose power all that he had estate life and Kingdome were God himselfe had sent one to write those things And that this was the meaning of those three words which were written God had numbred the years of his Kingdome and he was weighed in a ballance and his Kingdome divided
and given to the Medes and Persians And though this true interpretation of Daniel's was destructive to the King yet the King gave him his reward at the same moment of time And he was slaine that very night and Darius the Mede enjoyed the Kingdome This Darius had set over his Kingdome an hundred and twenty governours and over them three and amongst these Daniel to whom they were to give an account of what they did that he might the more freely take his ease and the King had so great an opinion of Daniels wisdome that he was resolved to set him onely over the whole Realme rather then the other governours which they did apprehend being angry and vexed that they were put from their places they began to take more strict notice of him When they could object nothing as I have said touching his trust in discharging his office and yet for all that their envie would not be quiet laying their plot together they resolved to bring him out of favour with the King because of his Religion wherewith he worshipped his God Therefore going to the King they perswade him that he would make a decree unalterable that if any one should aske any thing of God or man for thirty dayes together except of him he should be throwne into the Lyons den Darius made confirmed and writ the decree at their intreaty yet for all that Daniel ceased not to pray and worship God humbly three times every day and that he did too with his windowes open which when they by their diligent watching had found out thinking they had got an opportunity to satisfie their envie they returne to the King they put him in mind of his decree whereof when they observed that he was mindfull as also of the punishment which he had resolved against him that should violate it then at last they made it appeare that Daniel had violated it by worshipping of his God The King who as I have said made very great account of Daniel at the first conceived much sorrow in his mind at that report afterwards he strove by all means till the sun-set that he might deliver him from the punishment decreed but when they alleadged the custome of the Medes and Persians that no decree of the King could be altered he prevailed nothing And therefore at his bidding they brought him and cast him into the den of Lyons Now the King commended him to his God by whom he hoped he should be freed and that no wrong might be done him he laid a great stone upon the dens mouth which he sealed with his owne ring and with the rings of his Lords And took on so heavily for the fall of such a faithfull servant that returning into his Palace and for griefe going to bed supperlesse he could not rest but getting up very early in the morning he ran hastily to the place and calling Daniel by his name began to aske him whether his God was able to deliver him or no Daniel being safe and sound made answer out of the dungeon that his God had sent his Angel who had so stopt the mouths of the Lyons that they had done him no harm because he had found his actions honest and moreover he said he had never done any hurt against him Darius being very glad at Daniels welfare commanded him to be brought forth upon whom no hurt nor wound was found to the great admiration of the King and all men But when his accusers and their children and wives were at the Kings bidding cast into the den to be punished they were in a moment of time devoured and eaten up by the Lyons Darius the King being moved with so admirable an accident writ a letter to all Nations which signified that he had made a decree that all his subjects should feare and reverence the God of Daniel because he was the one and the eternall God whose Kingdome should never be removed and whose power was everlasting who gave salvation and did wonderfull works both in Heaven and in earth and had freed Daniel from the Lyons den I will relate also another accident of the like kinde and no lesse wonderfull When * P A R. Astyages the King was dead Cyrus the Persian had got his Kingdome with whom there was none more familiar none more dear and none in greater honour and esteem then Daniel He every day did worship to the image of the Babylonians Bel by name to which every day twelve great measures of fine flower in seventie and two sextaries forty Sheep and six vessels of wine were given as though it had taken and devoured them all but Daniel worshipped God which when the King had observed he began to aske him why he did not worship Bel he made answer that Images made by the hand and work of men were not to be worshipped but the living God who had made Heaven and earth when the King againe began to aske him whether he did not think Bel was alive whom he saw to eate and drink so much Daniel smiling at this advised the King that he would not continue longer in an errour as to think that that did live and eat which within was made of clay and without of brasse Whereupon Cyrus being moved with anger sent for the seventy Priests of Bel whom he threatned to slay unlesse they did show who did eat and drink those things which were every day set before Bel but if they could make it appeare that it was Bel Daniel should die for he had spoken against Bel Daniel liketh the motion he commeth into the Temple with the King the Priests likewise embracing the motion advise the King that the thing might be more openly manifest that he would set on meat and drinke shut the door and scale it with his ring and go in the next day and try the matter that when he had observed and found out the truth either they or Daniel might be put to death Now there was a table in the Temple upon which all those things were set and under it the Priests had made certaine passages under the ground by which they entring by night with their wives and children devouted all as they used to doe which when Daniel knew before the doores were shut he scattered ashes which his servants brought him in the Kings presence that their knavery might be found out And in the morning very early he followed the King into the Temple to find out the truth The King who was ignorant of the Priests cousenage after the door was opened when he saw the table empty before him câ—yed out that Bel was a great god and that he had no deceit or guile in him Daniel who as I said knew their knaverie smiled and held back the King as he was going in and willed him to minde whose foot stops those were which he saw set in the ashes Cyrus made answer that they were the prints of men women and childrens feet The Priests with their
Law those two I Iders were punished with death By which Iudgement Daniel afterwards obtained great renowne and authority amongst the people God told him many things by Gabriel the Angel concerning the Kings of Persia-Greece and Egypt also concerning the Kingdome of Christ the restitution of Jerusalem and the bringing back of the Jewes which are set downe in the booke which by his name is reckoned amongst those of the Bible He died at Babylon and was buried in the Kings Cave as Epiphanius writeth who saith also that his sepulchre in his time was very well knowne to all Habbakkuk the Prophet CHAP. XXIX HAbbakkuk the Prophet was of the Country of Bezzocherene of the Tribe of Simeon as Epiphanius saith and he fled having left his Country into Ostracina a country of the Ismaelites when he heard that Nebuchadonosor came with a mighty Army to destroy the City Hierusalem There he dwelt untill he was certified that the Chaldees having taken and demolished the City were returned with spoiles and poisoners into their Country and the rest of the Jews amongst whom was Hieremias and Baruch were gone to dwell in Egypt as I have exprest in their life for than he returned into his Country After his returne in what yeare it is uncertaine he had sown some Barly and when the harvest came had let it out to reapers to be cut down and bound up in sheaves And when he carried them their Dinner an Angell of God appearing unto him bad him carry it to Daniel who was in the Lions Den in Babylon He made answer to the Angell that he had never seen Babylon and that he did not know the Den whereupon he carried him by the haire of his head and set him by the mouth of the Den calling Daniel by name from the mouth of the Den he told him of the Dinner that God sent him whereupon Daniel blessing God who was not unmindfull of them that trusted in him and having given him thankes for that benefit had taken the pottage and the bread sopt in it out of Habbakkuks hand the Angel of God in a moment of time set him againe in the same place There be some that affirme Epiphanius for one that he who knew that thing would be so before he was carried thither did tell his servants aforehand that he should go a great way off and come againe presently but if he should be too long away they should get the reapers some meat and that he came againe that very day and came in amongst the Reapers just as they were at their supper In the holy Bible there is reckoned a very little book intituled by his name In the beginning of the book he expostulates with God more earnestly why the wicked should overcome and afflict the Godly but after God had foretold of the comming of Christ who should free and preserve the good he became more patient and concludes with prayers which do shew the vertue and power of Christ He died in Judaea two yeares before the Jewes were brought back from Caldaea the fifteenth of January as Epiphanius saith and his body by Gods discovery was found when Arcadius was Emperour Sophonias the Prophet CHAP. XXX SOphonias the Prophet was the son of Cushi of the Tribe of Simeon He prophesied what is written in the book of holy Scripture which is called by his name when Josias the son of Amon was King of Judah First he terrifieth and afterwards comforreth he foretelleth the Captivity of the Jews for the wickednesses which he reckons up first of all and then of the Princes and Judges and for terrors sake he cals the day by such names as use to strike terror into men He foretels also the destruction of many Nations as of the Ethiopians Assyrians Moabites and Philistines In the latter end of his book he treats of the comming and resurrection of Christ and the conversion of the Centiles unto him He dyed and was buried alone in his owne country as Epiphanius saith Aggaeus the Prophet CHAP. XXXI AGgaeus at Gods Commandement underwent he duty of a Prophet when he was but a very young man in the second yeare of Darius Hystaspes first unto Zorobabell the sonne of Salathiel and Jesus the sonne Josedec the Priest and afterwards unto the Priests The occasion of his prophesie was this When in the first yeare of King Cyrus the people of the Jewes who were at his Command brought back againe to Hierusalem to build the Temple of God said that the time of building was not yet come God sent Aggaeus to tell Zorobabell the governour and Jesus the sonne of Jozedec that the people spake falsely that the time of building Gods house was not yet come seeing it was come and that for that reason because the building was omitted what they had sowne in great abundance had afforded slender profit the raine being withheld from it And that therefore they should diligently begin and dispatch the work These two men liked well of this word of Aggaeus or rather of God and by their meanes all the people And when the work was begun in the twentie fourth day of the sixth month of that same yeare hee was againe sent to these two whom I spoke of and to the rest of the people First to exhort these two to goe on because God would helpe them and then to tell them all that that new Temple should exceed the old one in glory because of Gods comming which was at hand In the twenty fourth day of the ninth month he was sent again to tell them having wrested a confession from the Priests by a simile and an induction that those gifts were not very welcome and acceptable which they brought to God in the Temple and that the worke of laying the foundation of the Temple was so pleasing to him that for the future he would increase their come Being sent againe the same day under the name of Zorobabell he foretold the comming and glory of Christ This Aggaeus at Gods bidding did not onely tell Zorobabel and Jesus the Priest that the time of building the Temple was come but also when they believed him he helped them in finishing the worke not onely as a workeman but also by a new kinde of singing for there he and Zacharias the Prophet are said to have first sung an Hallelujah which being an Hebrew word signifieth the same that praise yee the Lord. Therefore the hymne and praise of Aggaeus and Zacharias is called Hallelujah he died at that same place and was buried with honour by the Sepulchres of the Priests Zacharias the Prophet CHAP. XXXII ZAcharias the Prophet was the sonne of Barachias who was the sonne of Addon He began to prophesie the same yeare that Aggaeus that is in the second yeare of Darius the King but in the eighth month whereas he beganne the first day of the sixth month But he prophesied longer then he and to more For he performed the Office of a Prophet in the fourth
year of Darius and the booke that is intituled by his name reckoned amongst Scripture containeth many more verses In the beginning of the book at Gods bidding he chargeth the Iewes who were newly returned out of Babylon that they would return to him and so at last he would return to them and that they would not live as their forefathers had done who had contemned the Command of the former Prophets who perswaded them from their wickednesse to an holy course of life that they would not lie but speak the truth to their neighbours that they would judge truly and friendly that they would not devise evill in their mind against their neighbour that they would not love a false oath forasmuch as these were the things which God hated These things if they would doe that they should receive all things that they had sowne with increase and aboundance He foretold the comming of Christ to Hierusalem upon a shee Asse and the price of his betraying God shewed him Jesus the sonne of Josedec the high Priest standing before his Angell and Sathan standing at his right hand to withstand him whom when God had rebuked he signified by the Angell that his sins were pardoned by the change of his apparell and that he should become a judge if he would observe his Commandements In the fourth yeare of Darius in the fourth day of the month that is of November some amongst whom were Sarasar and Regemmelech had sent to Hierusalem to aske the Priests and Prophets whether they should weep and fast in the fifth month for the time to come as they had done already in former times and for many yeares Now God bad Zacharias being inspired and moved with a prophetick spirit to aske of the people of the Country and of the Priests whether they had fasted to God these seventy yeares in which they had been out of their land when they kept a fast the fifth and ninth month or when they eat and drank to him God declaring by these words that their fastings dinners suppers were not acceptable to him because they were not joyned with works of bountie and mercy as he had wished them by former Prophets and therefore it was come to passe that he being moved against them had scattered them abroad into all countries He prophesieth also many other things which are besides my present purpose he foretold also to Josedec as Epiphanius saith that he should have a sonne that should serve as a Priest in the Temple of God and to Salathiell how he should have Zorobabel There are some as Hierome saith that would have this to be the Zacharias whom Christ affirmeth in Mathew to have been slaine betwixt the Temple and the Altar But Epiphanius referreth this to Zacharias the father of John the Baptist in his life and writeth how that this man being very aged died in Judaea and was buried neer Aggaeus the Prophet The Life of the Prophet Esdras CHAP. XXXIII ESdras the Prophet and scribe of the Tribe of Levi was the sonne of Saraias He as himselfe saith was a Captive when Artaxerxes was King of Babylon and he beganne to prophesie in the thirtieth yeare almost after Jerusalem was destroyed He maketh mention in his book of the prophesying of Malachias the Prophet who neverthelesse is said to be born after the people were brought back againe from captivity And therefore he must be conceived to have foretold this as being moved with a prophetick spirit But because we write the life and acts of Esdras we must keep the order of the times as long as we can in setting them downe In the first year of Cyrus King of the Persians in which the seventy yeares of the captivity foretold by Hieremiah were fulfilled by his grant this Esdras went to Hierusalem to build the Temple with Zorobabel the governour and Jesus the sonne of Josedeck and others that had a minde to goe after them but how long he was there it is uncertaine For he came afterwards againe to Babylon and in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes he returned thence to Hierusalem by his grant with many others and so as that when they set out from Babylon the first day of the first month they came to Hierusalem the first day of the fifth month Which journy and returne of his why and how it befell or was procured because it pertaines to his exceeding commendation I have thought meet to be related The work of the Temple of Iierusalem which was begun by the edict of Cyrus had been intermitted by the hatred envy of the enemies of Ierusalem and compleated in the sixth yeare of Darius and the third day of the twelfth month And in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes the sonne of Darius seeing he by Gods blessings was in great favour with the King both because of his great vertues with which he was endowed and also because he knew him to be a scribe very skilfull in the Law of God hee not onely willingly granted his petition that he might goe to Hierusalem with his country men that had a mind to explain the law but also he gave him a Patent whereby it may easily be conceived how gratious he was with him Now the Copy of the Patent is thus Artaxerxees King of Kings to Esdras the Priest ascribe exceeding skilfull of the law of the God of Heaven greeting I have made a decree that he that will of the people of Israel the Priests and Levites may goe with thee to Hierusalem out of my Kingdome for thou art sent by me according to the advice and judgement of my seven Councellors that thou maiest teach and explaine in Judaea and Hierusalem the law of thy God which thou understandest and propound it to all and maiest carry the Gold and silver which I and my Councellers have of our selves and of our owne accord offered unto the God of Israel whose Temple is at Hierusalem And if the people which is in the country will give gold and silver I give thee leave to receive it all and buy with it Calves ramms lambs and other necessary sacrifices which thou maiest offer in the Temple of thy God and if there be any silver or gold left that ye may dispose of it as it liketh thee or thy people according to the will of God The vessels also which are delivered thee to doe sacrifice in the Temple of thy God doe thou there look to that they may be ready at hād But if thou want any thing besides I would that thou require of my Rulers whom I have set over my Treasurie beyond the river for this I have given them charge of in thy decree lest perhaps thy God should be angry at me and my children and also that they that attend Gods service may be altogether free Let it be also lawfull for thee to appoint some punishment either of banishment or death or prison or fine Esdras having received this Patent after he had thanked the King in