Air Clouds Abysses Precipices listen to the Voice and Command of God of the Word and of their Love O God! O Power O Love What Word What Speech and what Voice In fine this glorious and happy moment which saw the Birth of Times and Seasons being arrived the Eternal God seeing no Object out of Himself which could deserve his Love and besides this Love being incited by a holy desire of communicating it self that Nothing which has but the bare Name given it became immediately a fruitful Abyss of Essences and Nature was engendred out of it by the sole power of the Divinity Talon's Holy History cap. 1. GENESIS CHAP. I. THE World had a Beginning which was by Creation and it was made in the space of six days On the first day was made the rude Mass or Matter of all things and afterwards the Light On the second the Firmament or space from the Earth to the Highest Heavens On the third the Sea and Dry Land stockt with all sorts of Trees Herbs and Plants and more especially the Garden of Eden On the fourth he furnish'd the Heavens with their Host of Sun Moon and Stars On the fifth he stockt the Air and Waters with Fowl and Fish On the sixth he stor'd the Earth with all sorts of Creatures that live upon it and then having thus furnish'd the World in all the parts of it he made Man after his own Image and made him King of this lower World giving him Dominion over the Works of his Hands CHAP. II. On the seventh day God rested from the Work of Creation and blessed and sanctify'd it for a Sabbath-day The Man which he had made he called Adam and plac'd him in Eden forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge under pain of death He brought all the Beasts and Birds to him to give 'em Names He cast him into a deep sleep took out one of his Ribs built it into a Woman and gave her to Adam to Wife whom he was hereby taught to look upon still as part of himself He called her Name Eve CHAP. III. This first Couple being tempted by Satan in the Serpent transgress'd the Command of God and did eat of the forbidden Fruit whereupon being arraigned by God he first dooms the Serpent to a more ignominious kind of Food and Motion and especially the Devil that his Head should be broken by the Seed of the Woman the Messiah who was now promis'd to our first Parents as the Restorer of the Creation and Destroyer of the works of the Devil Then he dooms the Woman to pain in Child-bearing and to a more uneasie subjection to her Husband And lastly he dooms the Man to labour and travel in tilling and dressing the ground which was now curst for his sake and afterwards drives 'em out of Paradise CHAP. IV. To Adam and Eve were born first Cain a Tiller of the Ground then Abel a Keeper of Sheep These brought Offerings to the Lord who accepted Abel's but rejected Cain's whereupon Cain was wroth and slew his Brother Abel for which God curst him and made him a Vagabond yet set a mark upon him that none should kill him Lamech one of his Posterity was the first that transgrest the Institution of Marriage by having two Wives CHAP. V. Afterwards Adam had another Son called Seth one of whose Posterity was Enoch who was one that had much communion with God and so God translated him Soul and Body to Heaven to assure us that there is a state of happiness in another World both for Soul and Body CHAP. VI VII God being provok'd by Man's wickedness threatens to destroy all Mankind by a Flood commands Noah to make an Ark into which himself Wife and Children and some of every sort of Cattel Fowl and Creeping things entring were shut in by God and preserved when all the rest of Mankind and all on the Land were drowned in the Flood CHAP. VIII IX At length the Earth being dried God bids Noah come forth and bring out all with him whereupon Noah built an Altar and offered Burnt-offerings thereon wherewith God was well-pleased and blessed Noah and his Sons and made a Covenant with 'em that he 'd no more destroy the Earth by Water of which the Bow in the Clouds was made a Token After this Noah being drunk lay uncovered in his Tent which Cham espying tells his two Brethren of it in derision but they going backwards carried a Mantle and covered him for which Noah curses Cham and his Posterity and blesses Shem and Japhet CHAP. XI I IX All the Earth being now of one Language they consulted to eternise their memory before they were separated one from another by building a City and Tower which should reach up to Heaven but God defeats their design by confounding their Language whereupon the place was called Babel and they were scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth CHAP. X. One of Cham's Grandchildren was Nimrod who was a great Tyrant and laid the Foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy which ended in Belshazzar Dan. 5.30 31. CHAP. X XI Among the Posterity of Shem was Terah who was Abram's Father Abram took Sarai to Wife and they came to Haran with their Father Terah who died there CHAP. XII Then God appears to Abram and calls him from Haran to go to Canaan and promises to make him a great Nation and that in him all the Families of the Earth should be blessed accordingly Abram goes into Canaan with Lot his Nephew to Sichem where God appeared to him and promis'd to give that Land to his Seed A Famine coming upon that Land Abram goes into Egypt to sojourn where he denies his Wife and Pharaoh takes her but finding that she was Abram's Wife he sends her to him and away they go CHAP. XIII And came to Bethel But Abram's Cattel and Lot's being so numerous they could not continue together and therefore agreed to part Abram gives Lot his Choice who chooses the Plain of Jordan towards Sodom and Abram continued in Canaan God renews his Grant of Canaan to him and his Seed which he promis'd should be as the dust of the Earth Then Abram came to Mamre CHAP. XIV After this there rose war between the King of Elam and the Kings of Sodom and the other Cities of the Plain wherein the King of Elam had the better and plundered Sodom and Gomorrah carrying away Lot among others and his Goods News whereof being brought to Abram he pursues after them with his trained Servants and recovers all again At his return Melchesideck King of Jerusalem and Priest of the true God meets him with Bread and Wine and blesses him to whom Abram gave the Tenth of all the Spoils he had taken and then restores all to the King of Sodom without reserving any thing to himself CHAP. XV. After this God appears again to Abram promising to be his Shield and exceeding great reward and upon Abram's bemoaning the want of a Child to be his
to stand still over Gibeon which it did for about a whole day But the five Kings fled and hid themselves in a Cave which Joshua being told of he sent for 'em and made the great Officers set their Feet upon their Necks in token that they should deal so by all their Enemies Then he commanded 'em to be hang'd till the Evening Afterwards he took several other Towns with the Kings thereof and then returned to the Camp to Gilgal CHAP. XI Divers other Kings joyning together to fight against Israel God delivers 'em into their hands and they smote 'em till they left none remaining They also took their Cities and slew the Inhabitants but took the Spoil for themselves CHAP. XII A Rehearsal of the Kings that Moses took on the other side Jordan and of the thirty one Kings that Joshua took on this side Jordan CHAP. XIII Tho much of the Land was yet unconquer'd yet God bids Joshua divide it all among the Nine Tribes and an half CHAP. XIV Caleb challenges a certain share in the Land by the promise of Moses which Joshua allowed and gave him Hebron for his Inheritance CHAP. XV. The Borders of the lot of Judah are set down among which was the Inheritance of Caleb who promis'd his Daughter Acsah to whomsoever should take Kinjath-sepher This Othniel perform'd and obtain'd her for his Wife She beg'd of her Father some Land that had Springs in it so he gave her the upper Springs and the nether Springs The Children of Judah could not wholly drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem CHAP. XVI The Borders of the Lot of the Children of Joseph viz. Ephraim and ch 27. Manasseh CHAP. XVIII The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh and there being seven Tribes that had not yet received their Inheritance certain Persons are appointed to describe the remaining part of the Land into seven parts for which they cast Lots before the Lord in Shiloh for Benjamin and ch 19. for Simeon Zebulon Issachar Asher Nepthali and Dan. Then they allotted an Inheritance to Joshua CHAP. XX. Six Cities of Refuge are set out CHAP. XXI Forty eight Cities are given by Lot to the Levites So they possess'd all the Land that God promis'd 'em and had rest CHAP. XXII Then Joshua call'd the two Tribes and an half and blessed them and sent them away and they went homewards but when they came to the Borders of Jordan in Canaan they built there a great Altar which when the other Tribes heard of they gathered together to make war with 'em but first sent Phineas and ten Princes to 'em to expostulate with 'em as if they intended thereby to apostatize from God But the two Tribes and half replied That the design of that Altar was not for Sacrifice or Offerings but for a witness between 'em That tho they dwelt without Jordan yet they were of the same People and worship'd the same God with the Israelites on the inner side Jordan Which when Phineas and the Princes related to the Congregation they were very well pleas'd and called the Altar Ed i. e. Witness CHAP. XXIII Joshua being old calls for the Rulers of the People and exhorts 'em to obedience as they desire God should continue with 'em and that as God had fulfilled his Promises to a tittle to them so if they should depart from him and serve other Gods then he 'd bring all sorts of Evils upon â—em and they should be rooted out of the Land CHAP. XXIV He further gives 'em a brief Narrative of God's signal Providence and singular Benefits to them and their Fathers from his first calling of Abraham to the present time and thereupon earnestly exhorts 'em to fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth declaring his own fixt resolution That both himself and his Family would serve the Lord which the People likewise engage themselves to do So Joshua made a Covenant between God and the People that day and wrote it in the Book of the Law and set up a great Stone in testimony thereof After which he died being an hundred and ten years old and Eleazar died also and Joseph's Bones were buried in Shechem according to his commandment JUDGES CHAP. I. AFter Joshua's Death the Tribes of Judah and Simeon make War with some of the Cannanites and flew ten thousand in Bezek and took their King Adonibeâ—ek and cut off his Thumbs and great Tâ—â—â— which he acknowledges as a just requital from God for having served seventy Kings in that manner Afterwards they fought against others of the Canaanites and slew three Giants at Hebron and took several places because God was with ' em The Children of Joseph also took Luz or Bethel and slew all the Inhabitants except one Man and his Family that shew'd him the entrance into the City But yet many of the old Inhabitants remained still among the Tribes of Ephraim Manasseh Asher and Nepthali whom they could not drive out CHAP. II. An Angel reproves the Israelites for making Leagues with the People of the Land and sparing their Altars and thereupon threatens not to drive 'em out Then the People lift up their Voice and wept so the place was called Bochim Afterwards they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth then God delivered them into the hands of Spoilers and they were greatly distrest but upon their Repentance God rais'd up Judges who deliver'd 'em yet they soon returned to Idolatry again And thus they did time after time therefore God left many of the Canaanites among ' em And CHAP. III. The Children of Israel dwelt among 'em and made Marriages with 'em and served their Gods Then God delivered them into the hand of Cushan â—ishathaim Eight Years But when they cried to the Lord he raised up Othniel who prevail'd against Cushan Rishathaim so the Land had rest Forty Years Then they did evil again and the Lord strengthned the hand of Eglon King of Moab who smote 'em and rul'd over 'em eighteen years but when they cried to the Lord he raised up Ehud who being sent with a Present to Eglon smote him with a Dagger and slew him and afterwards raised an Army and slew about ten thousand Moabites whereupon the Land had rest eighty years And after him was Shamgar who slew six hundred Philistins with an Ox Goud and delivered Israel CHAP. IV. Then they did evil again and God sold 'em into the hand of Jabin whose Captain was Sisera and he oppress'd 'em twenty years and they cried to the Lord. Now Deborah a Prophetess judged Israel at that time and she called Barak and sent him against Sisera but he would not go except she went with him So they went together and ten thousand Men with 'em and Sisera came with nine hundred Charets of Iron and a great Host But the Lord discomfited them before Barak who slew 'em that there was not a Man left only Sisera escaped on his Feet and fled to the Tent of Heber the Kenite and
his Court in all respects she was even astonish'd with Admiration and tho Fame uses to be lavish enough of its Tongue yet she tells him Tho more was told her than she believ'd yet half was not told her of what she found Then she made him great Presents of Gold Spices and precious Stones He likewise gave to her whatsoever she desired and so return'd into her own Country Then Solomon made two hundred Targets of beaten Gold and three hundred Shields of Gold and a great Ivory Throne damask't with Gold and gather'd Charets and Horses in great abundance and he made Silver in Jerusalem as Stones and Cedars as Sycamore-trees CHAP. XI Solomon notwithstanding all these extraordinary Gifts and Favors to him both inward and outward and God's appearing twice to him loved many Women of the Heathen Nations and took him seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines and did so dote upon 'em even in his old Age that they turn'd away his Heart from God so that he tolerated the publick Exercise of their Idolatrous Worship whereupon God was angry with him and threatned to rend the greatest part of the Kingdom from him in his Sons days and give it to his Servant and stirr'd up several Adversaries against him and likewise by the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite declar'd to Jeroboam that held give him Ten Tribes and Solomon's Posterity should have but one Tribe besides the Tribe of Judah because he had forsaken him and worship'd strange Gods So Solomon having Reign'd forty years died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XII Then all the Tribes met together at Shechem and Jeroboam came along with 'em and they petitioned Rehoboam to ease 'em of their Taxes which Solomon had impos'd on ' em He takes three days time to consider of it and advises with his Fathers old Counsellors They perswade him by all means to humour the People and comply with their desires at present which would be the way to oblige 'em to him for ever after But this Counsel he lik'd not and therefore consulted with some young giddy Persons his Companions and Flatterers and they advise him to answer 'em roughly and tell 'em That his little Finger should be thicker than his Fathers Loyns and whereas his Father had chastis'd 'em with Whips he 'd chastise 'em with Scorpions And this Counsel he followed being forsaken of God and left to his own folly and rashness and answer'd 'em accordingly Whereupon ten of the Tribes immediately revolted from him and chose Jeroboam for their King and only the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin stuck unto Rehoboam Then Rehoboam raised an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand to reduce 'em to their obedience But God sent the Prophet Shemajah to forbid 'em to fight against their Brethren but to return to their own Homes because it was Gods doing And so they did Then Jeroboam fearing lest if the People went up to Jerusalem to worship their Hearts might in time be alienated from him and they might submit to Rehoboam made two golden Calves and set 'em up one in Dan the other in Bethel for the People to worship and built High Places and ordained Priests and appointed Feasts and so chang'd and innovated the Worship of God in all the parts of it CHAP. XIII Jeroboam standing by the Altar at Bethel to burn Incense a Prophet was sent out of Judah by God to denounce Judgments against the Altar which should be executed by King Josiah who should burn the Bones of the Idolatrous Priests upon it and defile it and in token of the truth of this Prophecy the Altar should be rent in twain When Jeroboam heard this he stretch'd out his hand to lay hold on him but immediately his hand withered so that he could not pull it in to him again and also the Altar was rent in twain Then Jeroboam intreated the Prophet to pray for him that the use of his hand might be restor'd to him again which he did and his hand was heal'd whereupon Jeroboam invites him to go home with him but he refus'd being forbidden by God to eat or drink or return the same way he came Now there was an old Prophet that dwelt in that City and his Sons told him all these passages then he went after him and invited him to go back with him which he refusing as being forbidden by God the old Prophet told him That he was commanded by an Angel to bring him back but he lied to him So he went back and did eat and drink in the old Prophets House Then as they sat at Table the Word of the Lord came to the old Prophet to threaten this other for his Disobedience So as he went away a Lion met him and slew him which being nois'd in the City the old Prophet went and fetcht his Body and buried it in his own Grave and commanded his Sons to bury him there by the Prophet because all his Threatnings against those Idolatrous places should come to pass But notwithstanding all these Providences Jeroboam continued his Idolatrous practices which in the issue prov'd the ruine of him and his Family CHAP. XIV Jeroboam's Son Abijah being sick he sends his Wife in disguise to Ahijah the Prophet to enquire concerning his recovery But God told Ahijah who she was and what was her Errand So when she came to the Door he said Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam and bids her tell her Husband That because he had provok'd God by his Idolatry God would cut off all his House and his Child should die and all Israel should mourn for him because in him only of all the House of Jeroboam some good thing was found and he 'd root up Israel out of their Land because of the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin So when she came back to the Threshold of her House the Child died Thus Jeroboam Reigned twenty two years and died During his time the People of Judah under Rehoboam provok'd God with their Images High-Places Groves and the like sins So in the fifth year of his Reign Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the Treasures of the Lord's House and of the Kings House and the Shields of Gold instead whereof Rehoboam made Shields of Brass At last he died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XV. Rehoboam being dead Abijam his Son succeeds him walking in all the sins of his Fathers He Reigned but three years and died and Asa his Son Reigned in his sted Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and destroyed Idolatry and depos'd his Grandmother Maacha from being Queen-regent Then there was War between him and Baasha King of Israel so he hired Benhadad King of Syria to take his part so they made a League together and Benhadad smote some of the Cities of Israel In his old Age he was troubled with the Gout in his Feet and sought to the Phisitians more than
Heir God renews his promise of an Heir to come out of his own Loyns and of a numerous Posterity which he firmly believing tho so unlikely God thereupon accounts him a righteous person and this an Act of Righteousness and promises Canaan again to him and that his Posterity after four hundred years sojourning in Canaan and Egypt should possess it and confirms this by a Sign upon Abram's request and Vision CHAP. XVI Sarai to obtain the accomplishment of the promise being barren her self gives Hagar her Handmaid to Abram to be his Concubine who conceiving by him grows insolent and despis'd her Mistress which Sarai not brooking complains of her to Abram he leaves her to her disposal who dealing hardly with her she ran away for which she was rebuked by an Angel and required to return and submit her self to her Mistress and withal promises her a numerous Seed and tells her she was with Child of a Son whom she should call Ismael and accordingly when he was born Abram called him so which was in the eighty sixth year of Abram's Age. CHAP. XVII Thirteen years after this when Abram was ninety nine years old God appears to him again renews his Covenant with him that he should be a Father of many Nations and as a pledge thereof changes his Name from Abram to Abraham signifying A Father of a multitude Institutes the Sacrament of Circumcision Changes Sarai's Name to Sarah Promises him a Son by her Abraham intercedes for Ismael God promises to bless and multiply him exceedingly but his Covenant should be with his Son by Sarah Then Abraham circumcised himself and Ismael being thirteen years old and the rest of his Family CHAP. XVIII Abraham sitting in his Tent-door spies three Men whom he invites to his House to refresh themselves which they accept of enquire for Sarah and one of them who was the Second Person of the Trinity tells him she should have a Son which she over-hearing disbelieves at present and laughs at with which being charg'd she denies it They departing Abraham brings them on their way to whom the Lord Christ discovers his intent of destroying Sodom and the other Cities for their grievous sins Whereupon Abraham intercedes for 'em and God yields so far that if there had been but ten righteous persons found in Sodom he 'd have spar'd it CHAP. XIX While Christ staid talking with Abraham the other two Angels in humane Shape past on and came to Sodom at Even Lot seeing 'em salutes 'em invites 'em to his House and makes 'em a Feast But presently the Men of the City gathered about the House and called to Lot to bring out those two Strangers that they might abuse 'em which he refusing they prest near to break the door Whereupon the Angels smote 'em with blindness and warn Lot to bring out his Children and whatsoever he had in the City because they were come to destroy it But while he lingred they laid hold upon him his Wife and two Daughters and brought 'em forth commanding 'em to escape for their lives and not look back which his Wise not observing was turned into a Pillar of Salt Lot entring into Zoar about Sun-rising presently the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon those Cities and destroyed ' em But Lot removed from Zoar and dwelt in a Cave in a Mountain where his two Daughters made him drink Wine and lay with him and so were with Child by their Father from whence descended the Moabites and Ammonites CHAP. XX. Abraham sojourning in Gerar calls Sarah his Sister whereupon the King takes her but being warned of God in a Dream he restores her to her Husband with a great Present CHAP. XXI Sarah now bears Isaac his Father Abraham being an hundred years old At his weaning Abraham makes a great Feast Ismael falls a jeering Isaac whereupon he and his Mother are sent away In their travel the water being spent the Boy was ready to perish with thirst but God shew'd her a Well of Water encourages her and blesses the Child So they dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran and his Mother took him a Wife out of Egypt Abimelech King of the Philistins made a Covenant with Abraham at Beersheba who sojourned in their Land many days CHAP. XXII Isaac being grown up God for the trial of Abraham's Faith and Obedience commands him to offer his only Son Isaac for a Burnt-offering upon a Mountain which he 'd shew him Presently the next morning Abraham begins the Journey and when he came to the place he bound Isaac upon the Altar and lift up his hand to slay his Son But God called to him out of Heaven and bad him hold his hand And there was a Ram behind him which he took and offered instead of his Son Whereupon God swears to bless and multiply his Seed and that in it all Nations should be blessed CHAP. XXIII Sarah dying at a hundred and twenty years old Abraham buys a burying place for her in Macpelah of the Sons of Heth. CHAP. XXIV Abraham growing old obliges his chief Servant to take a Wife for Isaac from among his Kindred The Servant goes to Nahor Abraham's Brother When he came to the City to a Well where they used to draw water he begs of God good success in his business and that the Virgin who should treat him kindly might be the Person design'd for his Masters Son Presently comes Rebecca out by whom his sign was fulfilled whereupon being invited he goes to her Father's House tells his errand and desires their Answer They seeing Gods hand in it could not gainsay it Then he presents 'em all especially Rebecca and takes her away the next day In the evening Isaac walking abroad to meditate meets the Servant and Rebecca with him whom he brought into his Mother's Tent and took her to be his Wife CHAP. XXV Abraham marries Keturah and has many Children by her to whom he gave Gifts At length being sevenscore and fifteen years old he dies and was buried in Machpelah with Sarah Rebeccah being barren about twenty years Isaac prays for her whereupon she conceived Twins which strugled in her Womb. When they were born the eldest was hairy and thereupon called Esau the younger took hold of his Brothers Heel and so was called Jacob. Esau was a Hunter and killed Venison for his Father which drew his affection to him Jacob was a plain Man Jacob having made Pottage Esau comes home from Hunting hungry and saint and so sold his Birthright to Jacob for some of his Pottage CHAP. XXVI A Famine being in the Land Isaac goes to Gerar among the Philistines where God appears to him and makes him the same promises he had made to Abraham of a numberless Seed and those Countries Here Isaac dasht against the same Rock his Father Abraham had done calling his Wife his Sister But at length Abimelech observ'd some familiar carriage between 'em whereby he discern'd she was his Wife so none of the People
Signet and Bracelets as a Pledg of the reward he promis'd her and goes away with ' em Afterwards being found to be with Child her Father-in-law Judah was acquainted with it who thereupon sentences her to be burnt But she producing the Staff Seal and Bracelets Judah acknowledges his Fault and acquits her When she fell in Travel she brought forth Twins the eldest of which was Pharez who was one of Christs Ancestors CHAP. XXXIX Joseph being sold to Potiphar and behaving himself with great prudence was made Ruler over all his House and being a goodly Person his Mistress fell in love with him and tempts him to lie with her which he constantly refusing at length watching a fit opportunity she laies hold on him to force him to it But he made a shift to get away leaving his Upper Garment in her hands Hereupon she accuses him to her Husband that he had made an attempt upon her Chastity which he believing without more ado cast him into Prison But God inclin'd the Keepers Heart to shew him kindness and he committed the Government of the Prisones and management of all his Affairs to Joseph and God prospered all that he did CHAP. XL. During his Imprisoment two of the Kings chief Officers were committed to Prison the chief Butler and the chief Baker One night they dreamt each of them a Dream which in the morning they told to Joseph and he interpreted them to 'em and the event made it good CHAP. XLI After this the King himself dreamt a Dream of Seven Fat Kine and seven Lean Ones which eat up the Fat Ones And another Dream of seven full Ears of Corn and seven thin ones which devour'd the seven full Ones These Dreams he related in the Morning to the Magicians and Wise Men but they could not understand the meaning of ' em Then the chief Butler acquainted the King how Joseph had expounded his Dream and his Fellow 's to them So Joseph was sent for to whom the King relating his Dreams he expounded them and likewise gave him prudent advice thereupon The King finding Joseph a Personage of such extraordinary Sagacity and Prudence made him Ruler over his House and over all the Land of Egypt and gave him an honourable person to be his Wife Hereupon Joseph travels all over the Land and appoints Officers and prepares Granaries and in the seven years of plenty laid up vast quantities of Corn in the Store-cities During this time he had two Sons Manasseh and Ephraim Then came the years of Famine and Joseph supplied both the Egyptians and Neighbour Countries with Corn. CHAP. XLII Jacob hearing there was Corn in Egypt sends all his Sons but Benjamin thither to buy Corn who coming before Joseph made a lowly Obeysance to him according to his Dream ch 37.5 but they knew him not tho he knew them He question'd them about several things spake roughly to 'em charg'd 'em to be Spies and imprison'd 'em three days but at last lets 'em go and sends 'em all away but one whom he detained as an Hostage till they brought their youngest Brother Benjamin with their Sacks full of Corn and their Mony in every Mans Sack When they came to their Father they relate all these passages to him and emptying their Sacks found every Mans Mony in his Sack which they were concerned at for fear of some design therein against ' em But Jacob would not hear of letting Benjamin go CHAP. XLIII The Famine continuing Jacob spake to 'em to fetch more Corn out of Egypt and upon their importunity suffers 'em to take Benjamin along with ' em They carry also a Present and double Mony When they came before Joseph and he saw Benjamin with 'em he caused 'em to be entertained at his House and Simeon to be brought out to 'em and when he came home he treated 'em very courteously especially Benjamin CHAP. XLIV And commanded their Sacks to be filled again with Corn and every Man's Mony put into his Sack and his Drinking Cup to be put into Benjamin's Sack so they departed But presently Joseph sends his Steward after 'em to charge 'em with stealing his Cup and makes search for it and finds it in Benjamin's Sack whereupon they all came back to Joseph's House and Judah relates to him what passed between their Father and them concerning Benjamin's coming with 'em and that if they should now return without him it would certainly break their Fathers Heart and bring down his Grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave CHAP. XLV Upon this affecting Discourse Joseph was so overcome with tenderness of affection that he could refrain no longer but makes himself known to them saying I am Joseph Which struck 'em with such surprize and terror that they had not power to speak a word But he encourages 'em and ascribes all they had done to him to the Providence of God for their good and bids 'em hasten to their Father to acquaint him that he was not only alive but Lord of all Egypt and therefore he should come down immediately and he 'd sustain him and his Family the five remaining years of the Famine And then he embrac'd his Brother Benjamin and kiss'd him and accomodated them with Waggons and all necessaries for their Journey and bids 'em not to fall out by the way They being come to their Father and relating these passages to him he was ready to faint and swoon away with the Surprize and could not believe ' em But afterwards upon further Discourse and sight of the Waggons he was satisfied saying It is enough Joseph my Son is yet alive I 'll go and see him before I die CHAP. XLVI Jacob having received this Message removes towards Egypt with his whole Family At Beersheba God appears to him and encourages him to go into Egypt promising to make him a great Nation and to bring up him and his Posterity again out of that Land Then Jacob sends Judah before him to Joseph who comes to meet his Father and instructs his Brethren what to say to Pharaoh to encline him to grant 'em the Land of Goshen for their dwelling CHAP. XLVII Joseph presents his Father and some of his Brethren to Pharaoh who questions 'em about their Occupation and gives order to appoint 'em the best part of the Land viz. Goshen for their Abode So he plac't them in Rameses and provided for 'em and likewise supplied all the Land of Egypt and Canaan with Corn first for Mony then for their Cattel and lastly for their Bodies and Lands After this Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years and drawing towards his end he sends for Joseph and obliges him by Oath not to bury him in Egypt but to carry him to Canaan and bury him with his Fathers CHAP. XLVIII Jacob being sick Joseph comes to visit him and brings his two Sons with him that they might receive their Grandfathers Blessing which Jacob having notice of sits up and tells Joseph that his two Sons
Ephraim and Manasseh should be reckoned as his own being Heads of distinct Tribes as his other Sons were Then laies his Right Hand upon Ephraim's head the younger and his Left upon Manasseh's the Elder to shew that Ephraim tho the Younger should have the preheminence and bestow his Patriarchal Blessing on them and gives Joseph a parcel of Land in Canaan all that he had there as his Heir CHAP. XLIX Afterwards he calls all his Sons together and by the Spirit of Prophecy blesses them and foretels their future Estate and what should betide each Tribe particularly in their succeeding Generations Then commands 'em to bury him with his Fathers and so yields up the Ghost CHAP. L. Then Joseph commands his Body to be embalmed which being dispatch'd having crav'd leave of the King he carries his Father's Body into Canaan to his Sepulcher there according to his appointment The Funeral Solemnity being over Joseph's Brethren began to fear that he 'd reckon with 'em for their misusage of him formerly But he was so far from that that he comforts and speaks kindly to 'em and promises to nourish them and all theirs After which Joseph and his Brethren lived long in Egypt and when he was ready to die he told them that God would certainly visit them in mercy and bring 'em out of Egypt into Canaan and therefore they should not bury his Body there but carry it along with 'em whensoever they went out So he died being an hundred and ten years old and they embalmed him and put him in a Coffin EXODUS CHAP. I. JOseph being dead and the Children of Israel being multiplyed exceedingly there arose a new King who not regarding the eminent Service Joseph had done to that Crown fearing their Strength contrives several ways to keep 'em under endeavouring first to wear 'em out with hard Labour and rigorous Bondage which not succeeding he commands the Midwives to strangle all the Male Children in the Birth but they not obeying this barbarous Edict he next commands all his People to throw every Male Child they met with into the River CHAP. II. During this Distress Moses was born and concealed by his Parents but when they could hide him no longer they put him in an Ark of Bull-rushes and laid him among the Flags by the River side and set his Sister to watch the event Pharaoh's Daughter coming that way and spying the Ark sent for it and found a Child therein Then she sent the Childs Sister to fetch an Hebrew Nurse who called the Child's Mother so she nurst it and when he was grown up brought him to Pharaoh's Daughter who adopted him for her Son called his Name Moses and trained him up in all the Wisdom and Learning of the Egyptians whereby he was fitted by God's singular Providence for those great Services he was afterwards employed in In this capacity he continued in Pharaoh's Court till he was forty years old but then he forsook the Court and joyned himself to his afflicted Brethren resolving to afford 'em what help he could So going among 'em one day and seeing an Egyptian cruelly beating one of his Brethren he slew the Egyptian which being known to Pharaoh he was fain to fly into the Land of Midian where he dwelt with a Priest of that Land and married one of his Daughters by whom he had a Son Here he continued forty years till that King of Egypt was dead But still the Israelites were exceedingly opprest which made 'em cry to God and he took notice of it CHAP. III. As Moses kept his Father-in-law's Flock by Horeb he had a Vision of a Bush Burning yet not consum'd out of which God calls to him and tells him he heard the Cry of the Israelites and was come down to deliver them and would send him to bring 'em forth from which employment Moses excuses himself but God encourages him Moses asks his Name God bids him say to the Israelites I AM THAT I AM hath sent me to you and bids him and the Elders of Israel go to Pharaoh to ask his leave to go into the Wilderness to offer Sacrifice and Promises tho Pharaoh did refuse to bring 'em out by Power and with much Wealth CHAP. IV. Moses further excuses himself and God encourages him again by two Miracles but still he is loath to venture and frames new excuses till God was angry with him and to encourage him joyns his Brother Aaron in Commission with him to be his Spokesman to Pharaoh and the People Hereupon Moses with his Family return into Egypt and in an Inn by the way the Lord had like to have slain him for not circumcising his Child In the Wilderness he meets with his Brother Aaron and so they went and called together the Elders of the People and rehears'd these things to them who rejoyc'd at it CHAP. V. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to demand leave for the People to go to keep a Feast in the Wilderness to the Lord. Pharaoh proudly demands Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go and chides 'em for their message and encreases the Peoples task which when they complain of they are chidden and get no redress whereupon they cry out upon Moses and Aaron and Moses complains to God CHAP. VI. Then God encourages him and renews his Promise by his Name Jehovah assuring him that he 'l bring the People out of Egypt and bring 'em into Canaan And this Moses relates to 'em but they minded it not by reason of their oppression CHAP. VII Then God sent Moses and Aaron again unto Pharaoh who requires a Sign whereby he might know that God sent ' em Aaron throws down his Stick before Pharaoh and it became a Serpent The Magicians did also in like manner So Pharaoh's Heart was hardned that he would not let 'em go Then God sends Moses and Aaron again and in case Pharaoh would not yet be perswaded that they should smite the Waters with the Staff and turn 'em to Blood which accordingly they did and the Magicians did the like So that Pharaoh was hardned still CHAP. VIII God sends 'em again and upon Pharaoh's refusal sends Frogs all over the Land and the Magicians did the like But now Pharaoh seeks to Moses and Aaron to have the Frogs remov'd and promises to let 'em go but when the Frogs were taken away he refuses still Then God sends Lice upon Man and Beast which the Magicians could not do and so were convinc't that it was Gods work yet Pharaoh stands out still Then God sends Swarms of Flies which corrupted the Land Pharaoh then would let 'em go with some Limitations and prays that this Judgment might be remov'd which being done he was hardned still CHAP. IX Next God sends a Murrain upon the Cattel so that they died next Boils upon Man and Beast so that the Magicians could not stand before Moses next Thunder Lightning and Hail which destroyed all that was in the
the Persons appointed to divide it CHAP. XXXV Forty eight Cities with their Suburbs were to be assigned to the Levites whereof six were to be Cities of Refuge and Laws are given to direct who should be received into those Cities and who should be accounted guilty of wilful Murder and that no satisfaction should be taken for such a one CHAP. XXXVI The Daughters of Zelophehad being Heiresses are appointed to marry within their own Tribe to prevent alienating the Possessions of one Tribe to another whereupon they married to their Cosin-Germans DEUTERONOMY This Book contains only a Repetition of what had pass'd and was related afore with little addition of Historical Passages and so may be omitted in this Abridgment most of it only CHAP. XXXI God foreseeing that the Israelites would break his Covenant and commit Idolatry and so provoke him to inflict many Evils upon 'em commands Moses to write a Song to be taught their Children from Age to Age which should be a Witness for him against them Which he did chap. 32. Then CHAP. XXXIII He blesses the Tribes and CHAP. XXXIV Afterwards goes up to the top of Pisgah from whence God shew'd him all the Land of Canaan and then he dies being an hundred and twenty years old and God buried him in a place that no man knew of His Successor was Joshua the Son of Nun. JOSHUA CHAP. I. AFter Moses's Death God commands Joshua to lead the Israelites over Jordan into Canaan promising to be with him and never to fail him nor forsake him According he prepares for their passage and puts the two Tribes and half in mind of their promise which they own and promise Obedience to him as they had done to Moses CHAP. II. Joshua sends two Men to spy Jericho who came to a Harlots House and lodged there which being known to the King he sends to Rahab to produce 'em but she hid 'em and made an excuse that they were gone Before they went away she treats with 'em about sparing her self and Family and Relations when God should deliver the Land into their hands Which they consent unto upon condition she conceal'd the Agreement and tied the Scarlet Thread by which they were to be let down to her Window So she let 'em down thro' the Window and they escap'd and came to Joshua CHAP. III. Joshua removes the Camp to Jordan and commands the Priests to take up the Ark and go before the People and as soon as the Priests Feet touch'd the Waters of Jordan they were divided and so the Priests and all the People pass'd thro' Jordan on dry ground CHAP. IV. The People being pass'd over but the Priests with the Ark standing still in the Chanel God commands Joshua to appoint twelve Men to take twelve Stones out of the midst of Jordan and set 'em on the other side for a memorial of this Miracle And likewise he set up twelve Stones in the midst of Jordan All this while the Priests with the Ark stood in the Chanel But when all was done and they were come away presently the Waters return'd to their place as before CHAP. V. When the report of this miraculous appearing of God for his People was heard among the Canaanites they were struck with such terror that they had no Spirit left in ' em As soon as the People were pass'd over Jordan God commands all the Males born in the Wilderness to be circumcised because they had not been circumcised by the way Then they kept the Passover and the morrow after did eat of the old Corn of the Land of Canaan and the Manna ceas'd God appears to Joshua with a drawn Sword in his hand as being come to his assistance CHAP. VI. God commands Joshua that seven Priests with Trumpets of Rams Horns going before the Ark and attended with the Militia before and behind them should go round about Jericho once every day for seven days together and on the seventh day should compass it about seven times and at the seventh time should shout which being done the Wall fell down flat so that every man went into the City strait before him and utterly destroyed all that was in it both Man and Beast it being devoted only Rahab and her Family was sav'd alive and all that she had and the Gold and Silver they put into the Treasury of the Lord. And Joshua laid a Curse upon whomsoever should ever after build that City again CHAP. VII But one of the Israelites converted some of the Spoils thereof to his own use all which should either have been destroyed or dedicated to God whereupon when some of the People were sent against Ai they fled before the Men of Ai and about thirty six were slain Joshua was much surpriz'd at this Discomfiture and expostulates with God about it who tells him It was because some body had taken of the accursed thing and converted it to his own use which must be discovered and punish'd and therefore they should all appear before the Lord and cast Lots and the person that was taken by lot should be burnt with Fire he and all that he had Which being done Achan was taken who thereupon confess'd that he took a goodly Babylonish Garment two hundred Shekels of Silver and a Wedg of Gold and hid 'em in his Tent So Joshua sent Messengers and fetcht 'em and took them and him and his Children and all that he had and burnt 'em with Fire and then the Lords Anger was appeas'd CHAP. VIII God encourages Joshua and promises to deliver Ai into his Hands and gives him the prey of it for themselves only directs him to lay an Ambushment behind the City which was done and so the City was taken sackt and burnt the King hang'd but they took the prey for themselves Then Joshua built an Altar on Mount Ebal and wrote the Law upon it and half of the People stood upon Mount Ebai and half on Mount Gerizim and read the Blessings and Curses of the Law as was commanded by Moses CHAP. IX The Gibeonites hearing of the taking of Jericho and Ai sent Messengers with mouldy Bread and clouted Shoes pretending that they came from a far Country and desired to make a League with the Israelites which they accepted of without asking Counsel of God and so clapt up a League with ' em But soon after they understood they were their Neighbours But the Princes having sworn to 'em the People let 'em alone only as a punishment for their Fraud they made 'em Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water for the House of God CHAP. X. Some of the Kings of the Canaanites hearing what Gibeon had done combin'd together to smite it whereupon they sent to Joshua for help who came suddenly upon the Kings and slew 'em with a great slaughter The Lord also cast down great Hail-stones upon 'em which slew many more than had been slain with the Sword And that the Victory might be compleat Joshua commanded the Sun
angry at sent and slew all the Children in Bethlehem from two years old and under But Joseph had carried Jesus and his Mother before into Egypt being warn'd by God in a Dream so to do And afterwards upon Herod's Death being warned again he returned into the Land of Israel and dwell at Nazareth 5 Luke â— When Jesus was twelve years old he went up with his Parents to Jerusalem and staid there behind them They missing of him went back to Jerusalem and there found him in the Temple among the Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions His Mother seem'd to blame him for putting them to such a fright But he replied Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business So he went with 'em to Nazareth and was subject to ' em 6 Luke 3. Matth. 3. Mark 1. In the fifteenth year of the Reign of Tiberius Cesar John was sent to preach the Baptism of Repentance for remission of sins whereupon multitudes were baptized of him confessing their sins And when the People were in doubt whether he were the Christ or no he plainly told 'em He was not the Christ nor worthy to untie his Shoes and gave an honourable character and testimony of him Then Jesus came to John to be baptized of him who knowing how much greater a Person he was than himself would have excus'd it but Christ put him upon it and as Jesus came up out of the Water the Spirit of God in the Shape of a Dove lighted upon him and a Voice came from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased 7 Matth. 4. Luke 4. After this Jesus was led of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil who tempted him to a distrust of God's Providence on the one hand and to a tempting of Providence on the other and to Divel-worship but Christ repulses him still by Scripture-arguments so the Divel departed from him and Angels came and ministred to him 8 John 1. Jesus being now entring upon his publick Ministry calls some Disciples as Andrew and Peter and Philip and seeing Nathaniel gives a good character of him 9 John 2. Then being invited with his Disciples to a Wedding-Feast it happened that they wanted Wine then he commanded to fill some Water-pots that stood there with Water and so draw out and the Water was turn'd into Wine After this Jesus went up to Jerusalem to the Passover and finding in the outer Court of the Temple those that bought and sold Cattel and Mony-changers he drove 'em all out thence that they might not profane and abuse that holy place to Merchandize and Fraud Then the Jews asking him How he could prove his Authority to do these things he replied Destroy this Temple and in three days I 'll raise it up Many other Miracles wrought he at that Feast so that many believed on him 10 John 3. Nicodemus coming to Jesus he instructs him in the mystery of Regeneration which before he was ignorant of and concerning his Passion and the necessity of Faith 11 Mat. 14. About this time John the Baptist having reproved Herod for taking Herodias his Brothers Wife he by her instigation put him into Prison whereupon Jesus went into Galilee 12 John 4. and in his Journey thither met with a Samaritan Woman to whom he told many private passages of her Life and likewise discover'd himself to her to be the Messiah whereupon she believed and many people thereabouts to believe in him also after which he went on and came into Galilee where was a Nobleman whose Son was sick who came unto Jesus desiring him to come and heal his Son Jesus saith Go thy way thy Son lives and as he was returning they brought him word that his Son was recovered Jesus being in Galilee preach'd that they should repent and believe the Gospel 13 Luke 4. Being at Nazareth he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and read in the Prophet Esay and expounded it and the People wondring at the gracious Words that proceeded from him yet he upbraided 'em for their unbelief and slighting of him whereupon they attempted to have thrown him down from the top of the Hill but he went away from ' em 14 Mark 1. Then he came and dwelt in Capernaum and there was a Man possess'd with the Divel but Jesus cast him out Then they went to Simon 's House and his Wife's Mother was sick of a Fever whom he took by the hand lift her up and healed her In the Evening they brought to him all that had any infirmities upon 'em and he healed 'em all The next morning rising up before day he went into a solitary place to pray but his Disciples and the People follow'd him importuning him not to depart from 'em But he travelled throughout all Galilee preaching and casting out Divels and healing all manner of Diseases so that multitudes followed him out of all parts thereabouts Among others a Leper came to him for cure Jesus put forth his Hand and healed him immediately and bad him shew himself to the Priest and offer what the Law required in that case 15 Mark 2. Another time being at Capernaum they brought a Palsie Man to him and because they could not come at the door for the throng they uncovered the Roof and let him down in his Bed before Jesus who thereupon said Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee This the Pharisees cavilled at but Jesus told 'em he said it that they might know he had power on earth to forgive sins 16 Mat. 4. Jesus walking by the Sea-side called Peter and Andrew and James and John then entring into a Ship he taught the People out of it and afterwards bad Simon let down the Net for a draught of Fishes which he did and they caught a great multitude of Fishes but Christ told him That hereafter he should catch Men. 17 Mat. 9. Mark 2. Luke 5. Afterwards he called Matthew or Levi who made him a Feast at which was a great company of Publicans and Sinners which the Scribes and Pharisees were offended at but Jesus answer'd They that are whole need not a Physician but they that are sick Then the Disciples of John and of the Pharisees found fault with his Disciples because they did not fast as they did But Christ vindicates 'em because as yet they enjoyed his bodily presence and besides they were very weak and raw and it was not a sit exercise for ' em 18 John 5. After this Jesus went up to Jerusalem and seeing an impotent Man who had lain at the Pool of Bethesday eight and thirty years for cure he bad him take up his Bed and walk which he did and it was the Sabbath day whereupon the Jews rebuk'd him for it and question'd with him about it and when he told 'em it was Jesus that had cured him and bad him do so