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
parts CHAP. XXXIV God commands Moses to hew two Tables more of Stone which he carried up into the Mount Then God passed by before him and proclaimed his Name Moses begs again for pardon and God's Presence to go with 'em God makes a Covenant with 'em writes the Ten Commandments in the two Tables Then Moses came down from the Mount and his Face shone so that he was feign to put a Vail upon it CHAP. XXXV The Sabbath is again commanded and Free-will Offerings for the Tabernacle which the People chearfully offer Then Moses sets Bezaleel and Aholiab about the Work which they perform in all the parts of it and as to all things belonging to the Tabernacle as was before directed ch 36 37 38. together with all the Holy Garments for Aaron and his Sons all which Moses viewed and approv'd ch 39. CHAP. XL. On the first day of the first Month of the second year after they came out of Egypt was the Tabernacle rear'd and all things put in order about it by Moses which being done the Glory of the Lord filled it and a Cloud covered it so that Moses could not enter into it LEVITICUS CHAP. I IX THE Tabernacle the place of solemn Worship being set up God spake unto Moses out of it and gave him directions concerning the several sorts of Sacrifices and Offerings upon several Occasions CHAP. X. Nadab and Abihu offering strange Fire were consumed by Fire from God but Aaron their Father and his Sons are forbidden to mourn for ' em They are also forbidden to drink when they were to Minister in the Tabernacle CHAP. XI God declares what kind of Food should be clean and what unclean CHAP. XII He gives Rules concerning the Purification of Women after Child-birth and CHAP. XIII Rules for the Priests in judging of Leprosie and how it is to be cleansed and CHAP. XIV Signs of Leprosie in a House CHAP. XV. Concerning uncleanness by Issues CHAP. XVI Other Offerings are directed and the Feast of Expiation CHAP. XVII Blood must not be eaten CHAP. XVIII Shews what are unlawful Marriages CHAP. XIX XX. A Repetition of sundry Laws CHAP. XXI XXII Several Laws concerning Priests CHAP. XXIII Several Solemn Feasts prescribed CHAP. XXIV Some Ceremonial Laws and concerning Blasphemy CHAP. XXV Concerning the Jubilee CHAP. XXVI Blessings of Obedience and Curses of Disobedience CHAP. XXVII Laws concerning Vows and things Dedicated and Tithes NUMBERS CHAP. I. THE people were numbred all but the Levites and they were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty CHAP. II. The order and method wherein the Tribes were to pitch their Tents CHAP. III. The Levites are given to the Priests for the Service of the Tabernacle insted of the First-born being almost equal in number and the overplus of the First-born were to pay so much a Man for their Redemption CHAP. IV. The several charges and offices of the Levites CHAP. V. The Trial of Jealousie CHAP. VI. Laws concerning the Nazarites The Form of the Priests blessing the people CHAP. VII The Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Tabernacle and Altar CHAP. VIII Directions about lighting the Lamps and Levites Consecration and the time of their Service CHAP. IX The Passover was kept and directions are given for those that could not keep it in its season The Cloud and Pillar of Fire guide the Israelites removings and encampings CHAP. X. Silver Trumpets are commanded to be made and their use shew'd By direction of the Cloud they removed from Sinai to Paran CHAP. XI God kindles a Fire among the people for their complaining which upon Moses's prayer was quench't They despise Manna and fall a lusting for Flesh which Moses being disturbed at begs of God to take away his Life Whereupon God provides him Seventy Men for his Assistants and promises to satisfie them with Flesh for a whole Month together which Moses cannot tell how to believe But God sent 'em Quails in abundance but withal smote 'em with a very great Plague CHAP. XII Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because of an Ethiopian Woman whom he had married which God himself chides them for and smites Miriam with Leprosie but upon Moses's intercession she is healed CHAP. XIII Spies are sent to search the Land of Canaan who brought a bunch of Grapes of such a prodigious bigness that it was carried between two Men but withal they give a discouraging account of the Inhabitants and so brought up an evil Report of the Land Whereupon CHAP. XIV The people murmured and talkt of returning again to Egypt but Caleb and Joshua laboured to satisfie 'em but the people mutiny against them whereupon the Glory of God appeared in the Tabernacle and God threatens to destroy 'em all with a Plague but Moses intercedes for 'em and prevails for pardon but God resolves that those Murmurers shall never see the Land but die in the Wilderness and those that slandered the Land died by the Plague Whereupon some of them would needs go and fight with the Canaanites and take possession of the Land but Moses forbids 'em yet they will go and are worsted by the Canaanites CHAP. XV. Divers Laws about Offerings The Sacrifice for sins of Ignorance The punishment of presumption A Man that was found gathering Sticks on the Sabbath-day was by God's Command ston'd to Death Fringes to be worn on the borders of their Garments CHAP. XVI Corah Dathan and Abiram with two hundred and fifty Nobles make a Mutiny against Moses and Aaron because the other Tribes had not a share in the Priesthood as well as the Tribe of Levi and because the other Families of the Tribe of Levi were not taken into the Priesthood as well as the Family of Aaron Whereupon Moses bids 'em bring their Censers with Incense in them to the Tabernacle that it might appear whom God had chosen When they came to the Tabernacle God commanded Moses that the Congregation should separate themselves from the Tents of those persons then the Earth opened and swallowed 'em up and also Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty that offered Incense The next day the people murmured against Moses and Aaron for killing the people of the Lord and gathered together against them but the Glory of God appeared upon the Tabernacle and he smote them with a Plague whereof there died fourteen thousand and seven hundred Then Aaron made attonement for them and so the Plague was staid And CHAP. XVII For a further confirmation that God had chosen the Tribe of Levi peculiarly for the Priesthood he commanded that every Head of each Tribe should bring a Rod to be laid up in the Tabernacle before the Lord and the Rod belonging to that Tribe which God did choose should blossom On the morrow when they brought out the Rods the Rod of Aaron was budded blossomed and had Fruit on 't which Rod God commanded to be laid up before the Testimony for a Token of
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
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
Jael his Wife invited him into her House and gave him Milk to drink and covered him Then he fell asleep and Jael took a Nail and drove it into his Temples and he died And as Barak pursued him she called him in to see Sisera So God subdued Jabin CHAP. V. Upon this Victory Deborah composes a Song which she and Barak sang wherein they commend Jael's Fact and pronounce her blessed for it whereby it appears she had a special Warrant from God for it CHAP. VI. The Children of Israel did evil again and the Lord delivered 'em into the hand of Midian who opprest 'em seven years Then they cried to the Lord and he sent a Prophet to 'em who upbraids 'em for their Idolatry and other Sins and God appeared to Gideon and sent him to deliver ' em Gideon desires a Sign The Angel makes Fire to rise out of the Rock and consume the Flesh and Cakes that Gideon had brought to him and then departed out of his sight Then Gideon built an Altar there That Night God appeared again to him and commands him to throw down the Altar of Baal and cut down the Grove and build an Altar to God which he did In the morning when the Citizens saw what was done they made enquiry about it and understanding it was Guideon they would have had him put to death But his Father defends the Fact and calls him Jerubbaal Then when the Midianites and Amalekites brought a great Army Gideon also rais'd an Army and desired a Sign from God of his good Success That his Fleece might be wet with dew when the rest of the Earth was dry and afterwards That it might be dry when the rest was wet both which came to pass accordingly CHAP. VII Gideon having an Army of thirty two thousand God would not make use of 'em lest they should think their own Power sav'd 'em and therefore appoints him to dismiss 'em all but three hundred That Night Gideon went down to the outside of the Camp of the Midianites and Amalekites who were like Grashoppers for multitude there he over-heard one telling a Dream to his Fellow of a Barly Cake tumbling into the Host of Midian and overturning a Tent that it lay along To whom his Fellow replied This is nothing else save the Sword of Gideon into whose hand God has delivered the Host of Midian Hereupon he took the three hundred Men and divided 'em into three Companies and gave unto every one of 'em a Trumpet in one hand and an empty Pitcher with a Lamp in it in the other and bad 'em when they came to the out-side of the Enemies Camp to do as he did saying The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon So when they came to the out-side of the Camp they blew their Trumpets and brake their Pitchers and stood round the Camp and all the Host ran and fled and slew one another And they took two Princes of the Midianites Oreb and Zeeb and slew them and brought their Heads to Gideon who pursued after the rest CHAP. VIII Then the Ephraimites quarrel'd with Gideon because he did not call them to the Battel but with mild words he pacify'd 'em and still proceeded in the pursuit of the Midianites and came to Succoth and to Penuel who refus'd to relieve him Then he took the Kings of Midian Zeba and Zalmunna and came back to Succoth and took seventy seven of the Magistrates and taught 'em with Briers and Thorns of the Wilderness and rased the Tower and slew the Citizens He slew also Zeba and Zalmunna Hereupon the Israelites offer him the Kingship for himself and his Posterity but he refus'd it because God was their cheif Ruler After this Gideon desir'd the People to give him their golden Ear-rings which they took from the Midianites wherewith he made an Ephod and put it in the City of Ophrah and all Israel went thither a whoring after it whereby it became a Snare to him and his House Gideon had seventy Sons by several Wives and one by a Concubine whom he called Abionilech After Gideon's Death the People made Baal-berith their God and did not shew kindness to the House of Gideon for all his kindness to them CHAP. IX Abimelech by the Assistance of his Mothers Friends inveigles the Men of Shechem to choose him King which they did and furnish'd him with Mony wherewith he hired vain and light Persons and went to Ophrah and slew his seventy Brethren all but Jotham the youngest who hid himself and escap't Then the Men of Shechem install'd him King But Jotham by a Parable of the Trees choosing a King rebukes 'em and foretells their ruine and that they should be the cause of one anothers destruction After which God sent a Spirit of Dissention between Abimelech and the Men of Shechem who dealt treacherously with him and set Liers in wait for him and entertain'd Gaal who sent a Challenge to Abimelech to come and fight with him But Zebul the Governour of the City under Abimelech gave him notice that he should come and lie in wait for Gaal and set upon the City which accordingly he did and prevailed against Gaal and took the City and demolish'd it and slew the Inhabitants but many of 'em retired into the Idol-Temple which Abimelech set on fire and burnt 'em all Then he came to Thebez and took it only there was a strong Tower whether the People fled for safety but Abimelech had like to have set that on fire also but a certain Woman threw a piece of a Milstone upon his Head and so slew him Then they all went to their own Houses And thus God brought the Curse of Jotham upon ' em CHAP. X. After Abimelech arose Tola who judged Israel twenty three years After him arose Jair who judged Israel twenty two years Then they did evil again and served other Gods and he deliver'd 'em into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites and they were sore distressed Then they cried unto the Lord and acknowledged their sin But God bids 'em seek to the Gods whom they had chosen for he 'd deliver 'em no more Then they put away their strange Gods and served the Lord and gathered together to fight against Ammon But CHAP. XI Wanting a General the Elders of Gilead chose Jephthah promising if he conquered the Ammonites to make him their Head Then Jephthah sent Messengers to the King of Ammon to know the reason of his Invasion of them Who answer'd It was because they had taken away his Land when they came out of Egypt But Jephthah replied That they medled not with his Land but took only the Land of Sihon who came out to fight with 'em therefore the King of Ammon did 'em wrong to war against ' em But he harkned not to ' em Then Jephthah vow'd That if God would deliver 'em into his hands whatsoever came first out of his Doors to meet him should be the Lords and he 'd offer it
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