held with Rehoboam and dwelt at Ierusalem did serue the Lord and worshipped him according to the religion of their fathers Par. Seeing this great and royall kingdome was so diuided I would know what kings successiuely raigned in the one and in the other I pray you therefore distinguish them Past I thinke the knowledge therfore wil be very necessary and very much for your good Therefore I will lay them downe particularly as they were diuided the Kings of Iudah by themselues and the Kings of Israel by themselues with such prophets one or more as liued in their times The first particular concerning the Kings of Iudah at Ierusalem Rehoboam was crowned king at Sichem 1 King 12.1 to 25.14.21 to 31. as heire apparant to Salomon his father All the people with great applaudite and gladnesse receiued him desiring onely some mittigation of their taxations which his father had laid vpon them But he refusing the counsell of the old graue Councellours and admitting of young mens Counsell answered them with words of great cruelty and disdaine Whereupon the people answered with one consent and with great resolution What portion haue we in Dauid We haue no inheritance in the sonne of Ishai to your tents O Israel Now sée to thy owne house Dauid Then fled King Rehoboam to Ierusalem And two tribes onely held with him to wit Iuda and Beniamin The other ten tribes held with Ieroboam and chose him to be their King The people of Iudah committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord they sinned as did their fathers and there were Sodomites in the land whose abominations they followed Therefore in the first yeare of Rehoboams raigne the King of Egypt came vp against the citie Ierusalem tooke the treasures of the Lords house and the Treasures of the Kings house and caried away all the shields of gold which Salomon had made In stead whereof Rehoboam afterwards made brasen shields This King was one and forty yeares old when he began to raigne hée continued seauentéene yeares hée slept with his fathers and was buried in the house of Dauid Par. Was it well done of the subiects so to answer their lawfull king and afterwards to rebell as you haue set downe Past I must néedes say that they did euill in respect of their owne sinfull inclinations 1 Kin. 12.15 to 25. and rebellious hearts And yet it is most certaine that God did accomplish his absolute will and decrée therein which he had spoken by his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite as appeares also by the retraite which the King made vpon the Lords commandement that he should not striue with them Par. Who was the next King Past Abijah 1 Kin. 15.1.2 to 10. 2 Chr. 13. who liued wickedly in the sight of his subiects and his heart was not vpright in the sight of God He raigned thrée yeares and died Par. Who was the third King Past Asa his sonne and he did that which was right in the sight of God For he droue the Sodomites out of the land 1 Kin 15.8 to 25. and did put away Idols So vpright was he in the execution of iustice and so zealous in the Lords worke that he fauoured not his mother when she was taken with Idolatry And though all the monuments of Idolatry were not taken away by him because indéede hée could not yet his heart was vpright in Gods sight in respect of his desire and good will Hée established religion and brought such things into the house of God as his father had dedicated to that vse It happened in his time that Baasha King of Israell came vp against Iudah and built Ramah so that none could goe in nor out to Asa their King Thereupon Asa tooke great treasures and sent vnto the King of Aram with speciall request that hée would deliuer him and his people out of the hands of Baasha whereunto the King of Aram harkned and sent his captaines and smote diuers cities in Israell Hereupon Baasha left Asa and returned Afterwards Asa being very old became diseased in his féete and when hée had raigned one and forty yeares he died and was buried with his fathers Par. Who was the fourth King Past Iehosaphat his sonne who raigned in his stead In the third yeare of his raigne 1 King 15.24.22 1 to 55. he and Ahab King of Israell consented together against the King of Aram for the winning and recouering againe of Ramoth Gilead but Iehosaphat would first know the Lords pleasure therein from the mouth of one of his Prophets He was fiue and thirty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned two and fifty yeares in the good wayes of Asa his father He died and was buryed with his fathers Par. Who was the fift King Past Iehoram 1 King 22.50 2 King 8.16.17 to 25. the sonne of Iehosaphat who began his raign when he was two and twenty yeares old He behaued himselfe as the kings of Israel he maried with the daughter of wicked Ahab and liued as the house of Ahad did Yet the Lord being mercifull 2 King 8.24.25.26.27.28.9.27.28 would not destroy Iudah for Dauids sake So Iehoram died and was buried in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the sixt King Past Ahaziah the sonne of Iehoram who succéeded in the kingdome His mothers name was Athalia the daughter of Omri King of Israell and hée also walked in the wayes of Ahab as did his father being the rather drawne thereunto through his vnlawfull match in mariage He went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab to warre against Hazaell the King of Aram but Iehu slew him in the pursuite of Iehoram his brother in law And he was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the seauenth King Past Iehoash the sonne of Ahaziah He through the great prouidence of God 2 King 11 1. to the end 12.1 to the end was preserued from Iehu who slew all his brethren and from Athalia the mother of Ahaziah who also slew all the kings séede because she might raigne ouer Israell as Quéene But when he was sixe yéeres old Iehosheba his Nurse who had kept him secretly brought him to Iehoiada the priest who tooke captaines ouer hundreds with the guard and gaue them an order for their places and what they should doe in the behalfe of the yong heire apparant And when all things were wel contriued they brought forth Iehoash and proclaimed him king and forth with they slew Athalia the vsurping Quéene Then Iehoâ—ada the priest being the protector of the King went and destroyed the house of Baal with the Altars and Images that were in the Land Which being done the King was established and the subiects were quiet He did that which was right in the sight of God as Iehoiada the priest had taught him For he caused a chest with a hole bored therein to be set néere the Altar wherein such as would might cast a piece of siluer towards
prophane vses to the seruice of the liuing God appointed at the Altar by praying by praising and by sacrificing for themselues and for the people in and about the Tabernacle whiles it was in vse and afterwards in the temple of Salomon Par. What is the seauenth and last particular to wit the Sabaoth Past The Sabaoth signifieth according to the deriuation thereof rest peace and quietnesse It was precisely kept thorow out all generations amongst the people of Israel vpon diuers and sundry expresse commandements so as neither man nor beast might be séene doing any bodily labour therein which outward rest had relation and reference to the inward affections of the Soule wrought by the spirit resting from sinne and all prophanenesse Therein also was an absolute representation of heauenly rest and peace of soule and of body in the life to come They might not gather Manna on the Sabaoth day though it came from heauen miraculously for the nourishment of their hungry bodies because they might be occupied in a more speciall businesse to wit in gathering spirituall Manna a foode for their soules The Lord of the Sabaoth vouchsafed to dignifie the Sabaoth with his owne personall presence and to make it a signe or pledge of warrantise betwixt his people and himselfe And this was published first by God himselfe secondly by Moses thirdly by Iesus Christ and fourthly by the Church This ceremoniall Sabaoth did properly point out a time publike for the ministration of the Law which immediate Sabaoths instituted by Moses are of diuers sorte A Sabaoth of yeares to wit euery seauenth yeare in which the Israelites might not till nor sow There was a Sabaoth euery fifty yeare in which was proclaimed a generall fréedome which yeare was called a yeare of Iubile The Noëmian is seauen months There is another externall and immediate Sabaoth to wit the Sunday or Lords day which God appointed to his Church There is also a spirituall Sabaoth to wit an holy rest from sin which only appertains to the elect such as of whom S. Paul speakes who liue not after the flesh but after the spirit these shal enioy the celestiall Sabaoth which is that most pure and perfect Sabaoth which was begun in the old Ceremoniall Law continued in the new Law and which shall be accomplished in the kingdome of heauen Par. What vse or profit haue we by the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall lawes Past The vse and profit is twofold one is an humbling of all sorts at the feet of God For when our sinnes are gathered together as it were on an heape and the entrance into our owne vnablenesse to make a kinde of satisfaction it must néedes strike a feare and a confusion into our hearts and thereby prostrate vs before God The other is the simple submission and yéelding vp of all the functions and offices of soule and body which is vnpossible for man to doe because the soule doth consist of a minde and of affections and the minde doth consist of vnderstanding iudgement and memory all which are decaied and to no purpose for the worke of our redemption Yea all the members of mans body and all the parts thereof which should be imployed in his holy worship doe easily and plainely bewray their stubbornenesse negligence and contempt Par. What is the sum or principall matter in the booke of Numbers besides the numbring of the people which maketh the booke called Numbers Past Moses therein setteth down diuers Lawes some for the Nazarits some against fornication People sedition Leuites ignorance Priests incredulity Sabaoth murmuring Sanctuary  The fift Particular concerning Iosua Par. Now I desire to know who wrote the booke of Iosua Past Iosua or Iesus the sonne of Nun carieth the title of this Booke because he and Eliazar did penne the same He was a most feruent follower of the faith therefore by faith most admirably he slew mighty Kings Iosua 10.26 euen one and thirty in number and deuided their dwellings and their lands by lots amongst the people of Israel 11.12 according to the word of the Lord many hundred yeares before He resembled Iesus Christ the ouer-ruling and euerlasting Conquerour He was thrée and fifty yeares old before he came from Egypt he ruled seauent éene yeares 24.29.30 he died when he was one hundred and tenne yeares old and was buried in mount Ephraim which was his owne limitation border or lot Par. What speciall matter haue I to marke therein Past The booke deuides it selfe by chapters after this manner in regard of the matter From Chapter the 1 to chapter the 6 comprehending Iosua hisstory the story of the Spies the story of Iordan Circumcision and Passeouer 6 13 the story of the Gibeonites Sacriledge the sacking of Cities and killing of Kings 13 20 Cities of refuge the Leuites portion Manasses tribe Iosua his zeale 20 24 Israel haue now rest Ruben Gad and Manasses are sent to their inheritances Iosua exhorts the people and dieth The sixt Particular concerning the booke of Iudges Past This booke according to the Gréeke and Latines is called Iudicum because indéede the matter principall is concerning the gouernment of Gods people vnder Iudges from the death of Iosua vnto Hely the high priest about 299. yeares and Samuel wrote it Par. Declare vnto me the Iudges in their order and by their names Past As I haue set them down so haue you néede to be perfect in their particular stories Othoniel of the tribe of Iudah who gaue them rest 40. yeares Ehud of the tribe of Beniamin who gaue them rest 18. yeares Deborah and Barack of the tribe of Ephraim who raigned 40. yeares Gedeon of the tribe of Ephraim who slew his brethren was slaine himselfe ruled 40. yeares Abimelech of Isachars tribe 23. yeares Tola of Manasses tribe 22. yeares Iair of Ephraim 16. yeares Iepthe and Abesan of Iudah 7. yeares Eglon of the tribe of Zabulon who ruled 10. yeares Abden of the tribe of Manasses who ruled 8. yeares Sampson of the tribe of Dan who ruled 20. yeares Hely of the tribe of Leui who ruled 40. yeares These Iudges continued in story 450. yeares reckoning withall the yeares of the oppressors Par. Who were the oppressors Past These they were by their names and by their succession Philistines Cananites Sidonians Heuites Chusan vnder whom Israell were in bondage 8. yeares Eglon King of Moab vnder whom they liued in bondage 18. yeares Iabine and Sisera King of Canaan vexed them 20. yeares Madianites vexed them 7. years Amalekites they of the East with their Captaines Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Zalmana Kings of Madian Philistines who vexed them 18. yeares Ammonites who vexed them 40. yeares Par. Who wrote the Booke of Ruth Past Samuell the Prophet is said to write this Booke because the Hebrewes doe reckon it and the Booke of Iudges as one for Ruth liued when Deborah ruled Israell Par. What was this woman of what Nation or kindred Past Shée was a Moabitish
of their enemies and they shall be robbed and spoyled Manasses was twelue yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned fiue and fifty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the next king Past 2 King 21.18.19.20 to the end 22.23 Ammon his sonne such a father such a sonne The Lord stirred vp his seruants against him who slew him in his own house He was twenty years old when he began to raigne and he raigned two yeares Par. Who was his successour Past Iosiah his sonne He did vprightly in the sight of the Lord as did his father Dauid he turned not to the right hand nor to the left And he tooke seuere order for the reformation of religion Wherefore the Lord reuealed vnto him the booke of the Law which was hid in the Temple And when he heard it read for griefe that Religion had so long béene extinguished and the name of God abused he rent his cloathes and wept sore Then he commanded his officers to inquire after the Lord by some Prophet And they found a Prophetesse in Ierusalem who answered them that the Lord would plague Iudah and Ierusalem for their idolatry but would spare Iosiah the King Then he with all the Elders of the people went into the Temple where he read the booke of God with a tender heart vnto them And afterwards he entred into couenant with the Lord for the people that they should serue him all the dayes of their liues and the people yéelded vnto it with one consent Then did the king purge the Temple and all his kingdome of Baall and of all that did appertaine vnto his seruice He brake downe also the Altar at Bethell and all the monuments of idolatry which Ieroboam had made He held a Passeouer the like was not holden since the daies of the Iudges nor the like in any Kings dayes Yet would not the Lords wrath be appeased towards the people because they had so long wallowed as it were in wickednesse Pharao Necho king of Egypt slew Iosiah at Megiddo He was eight yeares old when he entred into the kingdome and he raigned one and thirty yeares He was buried at Ierusalem in the sepulcher of his fathers Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the sixteenth king Past Iehoahaz his sonne 2 King 23.31.32.33 He did euill in the sight of the Lord. Wherefore he sent Pharao the king of Egypt against him who imprisoned him thrée moneths which was all the time of his raigne And he did put the land to an excéeding great tribute Par. Who was the next king Past Eliakim 2 King 23.34.24.1 to 7. the second sonne of Iosiah who was made king by Pharao Necho the king of Egypt and he turned his name to Iehoiakim the rather because he was a wicked man Then came Nabuchadnezar King of Babell and tooke him but afterwards he rebelled against the King Wherefore he sent an hoste of the Chaldeans and of the Aramites Moabites and Ammonites against Ierusalem and Iudah to destroy it as the Lord had spoken by his Prophets Ichoiakim was fiue twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and he raigned 11. yeares in Ierusalem and then dyed Ieremy and Zophony were Prophets in his time Par. Who was successour to Ichoiakim Past 2 King 24.8 Ichoiakim his sonne He was eightéene yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned thrée moneths wickedly The second Particular of the fift Obseruation concerning the captiuitie of Iudah and Ierusalem Then came Nabuchadnezar the King of Babell against Ierusalem and besieged it And hauing wonne the Citie with great losse of bloud he tooke the King his Mother and the Nobilitie with tenne thousand such as hée liked and carryed them to Babilon with all the treasures of the Lords house And Nabuchadnezar made Mattaniah his Vncle King in his stead whose name hée changed to Zedechiah 2 Kings 24 17.25 who then was one and twentie yeares olde and hée raigned eleauen yeares in Ierusalem wickedly insomuch that the Lord was fiercely bent against Iudah and Ierusalem to destroy them vtterly Hée therefore stirred vp Nabuchadnezar againe with all his hoast to ransacke and vtterly to destroy Ierusalem the house of Dauid and the Temple Thus you may sée Ierusalem was destroyed thrée times Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time of whom he might haue heart and knowne the will waies of the Lord. Par. Now I pray you set mee downe in like manner the particular stories of the Kings of Israel whose place and seate was at Samaria with the Prophets one or more as they liued Past 1 King 11.26 to 49. 2 King 12.12.13.14 to 21. Ieroboam was the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons Seruant He was a strong man and valiant The Prophet Ahijah fore-tolde him by a signe that the Kingdome of Israel should be diuided into two parts and that he should be king of the one part Salomon hearing thereof sought to kill him which made him to flye into Egypt But when Salomon was dead it fell out so indéede as you may read for hée had ten Tribes that held with him where as Rehoboam the lawfull heyre and the Kings sonne had but two Tribes Which fauour at Gods hands might haue made him humble and zealous after religion but hée imagined that if the people did serue the Lord as they vsed at Ierusalem they would turne and rebell Therefore hée made them Idols at Bethel and Dan and ordained them priests of the inferiour sort of people and commanded the people to worship those Idols for their God Herein he thought to haue done wisely but the Prophet reprehended him in the open congregation and the Lord strucke that hand of his wherewith he would haue stricken the Prophet with such numnesse or drinesse as he was not able to helpe himselfe And the Altar claue a sunder at that time as the man of God desired Then the King was fayne to make intercession vnto the Prophet that God would restore him his hand And at another time the Prophet Ahijah tolde him as from the Lord that for the wickednesse hée had done to prouoke his Maiestie withall there should not be left of him nor of his generation so much as one Dogges should eate his stocke in the Citie and the Fowles of the ayre in the field Hée raigned two and twenty yeares and then dyed Ahijah was a Prophet in his dayes Par. Who was the second King of Samaria Past 1 King 14 20.15.25 to 29. Nadab his sonne He raigned two yeares and did that which was wicked as did his father Ieroboam And Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of the house of Isachar conspired against him and slew him at Gibbethon which did belong to the Philistines Ahijah and Iehu were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the third King of Samaria Past Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of Isachar 1 King 15 16. to the end 16.1 to 7. who warred against
promise or blessing Past It was that in his séede all nations of the earth should be blessed in which words was Christ Iesus the Messiah closely and secretly promised The third Particular Par. Declare briefely the story of Zodomes burning Past After the Lord had béene with Abraham to renue the promise vnto him concerning a Sonne his Maiesty imparts vnto him the desolation and destruction hanging ouer Zodom and Gomorrha because of their sinnes Whereupon Abraham being moued with pity intreateth the Lord for them whose request was heard vpon condition that if there were found ten righteous he would not destroy the wicked for their sakes which ten not being found the fire came downe from heauen and destroied all sauing Lot his wife and two daughters Par. Why did God impart the destruction of these wicked men to him might not he haue done it without his priuity Past Yea God might haue done then as now Gen. 18.18.19 what he would and without the knowledge of any sauing that Abraham was to be a great Nation and I know him saith the Lord that he will command his household that they kéepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse Par. What is meant by this that is said Gen. 18.1.2 The Lord appeared to Abraham and in the next verse Behold three men appeared vnto him as he sat in his Tent Past Therein was declared the singularity and plurality of persons in the Deity one in thrée and thrée in one which the holy man Abraham manifested by their entertainment For it is said hée saw thrée but he reuerenced and worshipped one Par. How came it to passe that Lot hauing had such speciall fauour committed incest with his owne daughters a double sin doubly performed Past Almighty God in the vprightnesse of his iustice gaue him and his daughters into their owne wils or rather into reprobate mindes to worke such vncleannesse of the flesh shewing thereby how greatly he had sinned by infidelity when he forsooke the citie Zoar which God had granted him for feare of the fire which was round about him but nothing neare to hurt him and would rather depend and relie vpon his owne wits and prouision The fourth Particular Par. Rehearse briefely the story of Isaac Past This Isaac is he of whom the promise was made Gen. 21.1 to Abraham his father in the chapters going before who should multiply in number as the sand at the shore of the Sea and as the Starres in heauen out of whose séede also Christ should be expected for The manner of his conception and birth was so admirable as did in some sort foretell and prefigure Christ For it is said that he was an hundred yeares old when Isaac was borne yea so old was he and his wife that they had left off to be together as man wife which made her to laugh when the matter was moued vnto her Neuerthelesse according to the time which the Lord God had foretold Sarah conceiued and Isaac was born According to which admirable conception Christ was conceiued and according to which wonderfull birth Christ was borne both the one and the other were performed duely and substantially beyond the vse of reason and beyond the vnderstanding of all men Par. What haue we to learn herein to wit by the strangenesse of Isaacs conception and birth Past By the conception birth of Isaac which was not to be déemed in the vse of reason all men are driuen from themselues as it were to abiure the expostulation with flesh and bloud when as the Lord hath giuen out his word For howsoeuer it may séeme vnto the naturall man vnpossible and incredible yet to the spirituall man who hath the eyes of faith fixed on Gods promises the same things are easte Par. It is said that Isaac was circumcised the eight day after he was borne Gen. 17.10 I would know of you what was meant by it Past Circumcision was a couenant betwéen God and Abrahams séed Or circumcision was called a couenant because it signified or was a sacrament of a Couenant had the promise of grace annexed vnto it This couenant of circūcision in the particular consideratiōs therof hath relation to the Sacrament of Baptisme by comparison the one doth expound the other and by the right vse or nature of both the latter doth abolish the former The fift Particular Par. Declare first in some sort briefely the storie of Iacob Past Gen. 27.28.29 Isaac had two sons Esau his eldest and Iacob his yongest This Iacob hauing gotten the blessing of his father which by birth-right was due to Esau he fled away into a strange land for feare of his brother and hauing nothing but his staffe when hée went ouer Iordane was faine to lie all night in the maine fields where appeared vnto him a vision of Angels ascending and descending vpon a ladder and withall hée heard a voyce that said vnto him I will not leaue thée nor forsake thée vntill I haue brought my purpose to an end This Iacob by the diuine prouidence of God was brought to Haran where Laban his Vncle dwelt with whom he continued 21. yeares In which time hée had gotten twelue Sonnes and exceeding great store of goods and cattell and then returned vnto his own land as the Lord commanded him and as hée trauailed the Lord appeared vnto him againe after another sort to his comfort When he came safe to his owne land immediately he built an Altar for the seruice of the Lord. Par. Declare vnto me what is to be obserued in his twelue Sons Past You shal sée in these twelue holy Fathers descending of Iacob the performance of Gods promises made vnto Abraham for in them hée reneweth his Church stablisheth the same and beautifieth it with diuine ceremonies Sacrifices and Sacraments to be solemnized vntill Christ promised Messiah Reade their stories in Gen. 49. Par. Declare them by their names Past 1 Ruben 2 Simeon 3 Leui. 4 Iudah 5 Dan. 6 Nepthalie 7 Gad. 8 Asher 9 Isachar 10 Zabulon 11 Ioseph 12 Beniamin The sixt Particular Par. Declare vnto me the story of Ioseph Past Gen. 37. and 39. Iacob loued Ioseph his yongest sonne exceeding tenderly wherefore his brethren hated him and deuised to haue starued him in a pit but when they saw Carriers passing by they tooke him vp againe out of the pit and sold him vnto them who brought him to Egypt where in short time he grew in such fauour with the King as that he was made Lord and gouernour ouer all the land of Egypt By meanes whereof Iacob his father and his brethren came and dwelt in Goshen being the best place of the land because of the excéeding great famine that was in all the world Par. What are we to learne out of this historie of Ioseph and his brethren Past We are first to obserue the vnnaturall affection of Iosephs brethren in hating of him when he had done them no hurt at all
siluer and iewels of gold and raiment and immediately after they had eaten the Passeouer they went their way out of Egypt And Moses commanded the people to dedicate that day in which they were deliuered from Egypt for a remembrance Exod. 13.17.18 that GOD might be honoured God guided them in their way towards Canaan by a cloudy pillar in the day and by a pillar of fire in the night not the next way which was but forty dayes iourney but by the way of the Wildernesse which was forty yeares iourney Par. Moses saith in Genesis and in Deut. that 70. Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 Acts 7.14 persons came to Egypt and no more how comes it to passe that S. Luke saith that there came 75. persons and how can you reconcile them Past S. Luke speaketh not exactly of the time in which they came into Egypt but rather of the time of Iacobs continuance in Egypt therefore hée taketh a large scope in his computation to make vp his number of 75. persons to wit by reckoning Er and Onan who dyed in Canaan and Manasses and Ephraim the sonnes of Ioseph being already in Egypt with the Patriarch Iacob himselfe and thus Moses and Luke are reconciled plainely Par. How can it be said by Moses Gene. 15.13 Acts 7.6 that the people of Israel were but 215. yeares in Egypt whereas Saint Luke saith they were 400. yeares there Past The 400. yeares must néedes beginne when the seede of Israel was first in affliction vnder Ismael who at the birth of Isaac was reiected and cast out so it fals out right and not otherwise Par. How can this act of Gods people be allowed or tollerable to wit that they should borrow the Egyptians goods and so carry them away deceitfully Past The people of Israell indéede had iewels of siluer and iewels of gold and rayment of the Egyptians but not as borrowed and lent For thus said the Lord Exod. 3 21 22. I will make this people to be fauoured of the Egyptians so that when they goe they shall not goe empty Exod. 11.2.3 For euery woman shall aske of her neighbours Iewels of siluer Iewels of gold and raiment and put them on their sonnes and daughters and so shall you spoyle the Egyptians Thus the people Israell were charged to doe by Moses their gouernour and this charge hee receiued from the Lord and they did accordingly So thus you sée plainely how God disposed of his owne goods to his owne special people which was iust in him and holy obedience in them Par. Why did God lead the people as it were round about and not the next way to Canaan Past Exod. 13.17.18 God himselfe answereth it thus because the Philistines being a fierce and a most sauage cruell people who would haue spoyled them by wars because they might not be discouraged thereby therefore the Lord sent them the farther way about and withall because in their iourney thorow the wildernes they might sée the wonderful works of God miraculously féeding with bread from heauen with water out of flint stones and preseruing them from the rage of wilde beasts The third Particular Par. Declare vnto me the story of Pharaohs drowning briefly Past When it was tolde the King that all Israell was gone out of his land Exod. 14.5 c. he was in a great wrath and therefore he tooke 600. chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt Captaines ouer euery one of them and ouertooke the hoast of Israel as they were camping by the great Sea The people of Israel being excéedingly afraid at his comming cryed out vnto the Lord and murmured against Moses And Moses being a faithfull man and valiant encouraged them saying Stand stil feare not behold the saluation of the Lord which he will shew to you this day For the Egyptians whom ye see this day yee shall neuer see againe the Lord shall fight for you therefore hold your peace And the Lord said vnto Moses Stretch out thine hand with thy rod vpon the Sea and diuide it and let the children of Israell goe on dry ground thorow the middest thereof And so Moses did as the Lord commanded him and the sea ranne together in heapes or as bankes on both sides so as the people of Israell went ouer dry shod and the Egyptians séeing them passe pursued after them and were all drowned For at the commandement of the Lord the Seas returned in the former place Par. What shall we learne out of this Past There are many things well worth the marking specially thrée things First his diuine prouidence in preuenting the slaughter of his people Israel by the Egyptians who fiercely followed after them Secondly that he vseth to tempt and to try his owne people how they will behaue themselues in dangers Thirdly it did declare the omnipotent power of Gods glorious Maiesty mastring and ouer-ruling the raging Seas hurling them on heapes this way and that way as he would opening and shutting dispersing and gathering together to the preseruation of his holy people and to the vtter destruction of the wicked Wherein is shewed that how great soeuer the power and deuises be against the Church or any part therof it auails nothing The Fourth Particular Concerning the 42. standings stations or habitations of the people Israell as they trauelled in forty yeares space towards Canaan Which progresse or iourney of theirs serueth very well to direct a mans memory in all things that were done during that time whereof some of them were pleasant and some vnpleasant And also it serueth to put vs in minde of our trauell or peregrination towards the land of the liuing Some of which standings stations or habitations being Emphaticall I will set downe with their deriuations and what was famously done in euery of them Par. What is the first Standing or place of their Habitations Past The first place where they rested is called Ramases Exod. 12. Numb 33.1.2 which signifieth wormes meate giuing vs to vnderstand that such is the nature of mankinde to wit subiect to corruption and to perishing that trauel towards the celestial kingdome of heauen and therefore he that will haue a prosperous progresse must wholly depend vpon the power of God Here the people of Israell did eate the Passeouer being girded about hauing staues in their hands and shooes on their féete the 15. day of the moneth Abib at euening which moneth was part of Aprill and part of May according to the computation of the Hebrewes And it was called the first moneth of the yeare which pointed vnto the time of the yeare in which Adam fell and in which Christ should die This Passeouer had relation to the promised Messiah Iesus Christ who iust according to this time in which Adam fell should be sacrificed for the sinnes of those that did expect for him in the flesh by faith They did eate it being girded about with slaues in their hands and hauing shooes on their
ten Fathers before the Flood by the ten Fathers after the Flood and by the twelue Patriarches succéeding them Par. What particular obseruation shall I make for the better vnderstanding of this Ceremoniall Law Past There are diuers necessary obseruations but specially these sixe which by way of interrogation you must finde out 1 The Tabernacle 2 Feast dayes 3 Sacrifices 4 Sacraments 5 Sacrificers 6 Sabaoth Par. Tell me first of all what the Tabernacle was Past The Tabernacle was a place principally dedicated for religion whiles they were in the wildernesse trauelling towards Canaan It was made by the Lords commandement of brasse of siluer and of gold as an whole entire worke or one thing to containe diuers things but parted with vaâ—es into thrée roomes Par. What was the first roome of the Tabernacle Past The first roome was Southward containing an Altar of earth whereon burnt offerings were made by the people themselues and also by the priests on the Sabaoth day and on feast dayes Par. What was the second roome of the Tabernacle Past It stood Northward it was called holy and it was made and framed with Sethim wood and couered with gold that it might not rot and that the priests might burne incense thereon both morning and euening There was the table of gold whereon was set the shew bread which was not lawfull for any man to eate but for the priests when it was stale and they were to supply it with new against euery Sabaoth In this roome were set diuers instruments which were for the seruice and dedication of the Temple Par. What was the third roome or part of the Tabernacle Past The third part of the Tabernacle was Westward called the holiest of all made of Sethim wood but couered within and without with fine gold In this roome was the Arke of the couenant which represented God himselfe Therein were the two Tables of the law the golden pot Aarons rod and the Mercy seat couered with Cherubins and shadowing the Arke This most excellent workmanship of the Almighty with the Arke and all the appurtenances continued amongst the people of Israell vntill the death of Eli the high priest at which time the Arke was taken by the Philistines in a great battell and it continued as a pilgrime tossed too and fro in priuate mens houses vntill the death of Saul the king then king Dauid being moued with the zeale of God and being grieued that the Arke of his Maiesty was so exiled and banished ioyned with the Leuites the priests and Nobles of the land to fetch it to Ierulalem Par. Now I would heare what is conuenient concerning feast dayes which you spake of Past There were diuers feasts vsed in the ministrations of the law especially these fiue The feast of Easter Pentecost Trumpets Tabernacles New Moone Par. Tell me briefely concerning the feast of Easter Past Easter was one of the great solemne feast dayes in the which all the people of Israell were commanded to come vnto Ierusalem wheresoeuer they inhabited ouer the world that then and there they might eate the Passeouer in the commemoration of their deliuerance out of Egypt and also in expectation of the holy Messiah which was for to come who in Ierusalem according to that time should be the true Passeouer or Pascall lambe offered vpon the crosse Par. What was the feast of pentecost Past The feast of Pentecost or Whitsontide was another such like feast or holy assembly full 〈◊〉 dayes after Easter thereby to continue the remembrance of that time in which God gaue them the two Tables of stone written with his owne hand and also to haue relation by a spirituall expectation to the abundant graces of God in Christ which shortly after his Ascention was to be sent downe vpon his Apostles in signe of clouen tongues Par. Set me downe I pray you the feast of Tabernacles Past It was a feast of seauen dayes continuance which was solemnized for to put the people in remembrance of their estate when they were in bondage vnder Pharao and when afterwards they were in the wildernesse without house or habitation full fortie yeares that thereby they might be taught to endure with the greater patience in the consideration of their better and more continuing habitaon which in time to come they should haue in Canaan and afterwards in the holy kingdome of heauen Par. There remaineth yet one more of the feasts which you named to wit the feast of new Moones Past The feast of new Moons was the beginning of euery month in which the people were bound to offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord. Par. You spake vnto me of Sacrifices I pray you tell me somewhat thereof and how many kindes or sorts there be Past Sacrifices were of sundry sorts or kindes especially foure The first kinde was a burnt Sacrifice or oblation which was offered by the common people vpon the Altar as they would and as they were able The second kinde of Sacrifice was that which the priests onely offered for the sinnes of the people according as euery man was able after this manner for the gouernors they offered a Goat The third for the poore they offered a payre of Turtle doues or two yong Pigeons The fourth for other of lesse ability the tenth part of an Epha Par. What was the third kinde of Sacrifice Past The third kinde for sanctification or consecration of the priests was of thrée sorts 1 a Calfe 2 Ramme 3 red Cow Par. What was the fourth kinde of Sacrifice Past The fourth kinde was a Sacrifice or oblation of reconciliation or of attonement which the high priest offered for himselfe when he appeared before God in the holy place vnder these speciall kindes to wit A yong Cow A Bullocke Two hée Goates Aaron was to cast lots which of these two hée Goats were to be offered and which should escape Par. You spake of Sacraments tell mee I pray you how many Sacraments there be the difference betwixt the old and the new and how I may know the difference betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past Sacraments in the time of the Law as in the time of the Gospell were in number two Circumcision and Paschal Lambe before Christ Baptisme the Lords Supper after Christ Par. Now declare the difference betwixt the old Sacrament and the New Past The old did promise Christ for to come the new doth performe him already come Againe the old were but figures shadowes and relations of things to come The new are the very same indeede the most perfect and most substantiall matter Par. What difference is there betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past In Sacrifices men offer and giue vnto GOD in Sacraments GOD offers and giues vnto men Par. Declare vnto me the sixt particular to wit of Sacrificers who they were and what else is fit to be learned therein Past Sacrificers were the priests as was Aaron and his sonnes They were men seperated and segregated from ill and
was euill in the sight of the Lord to wit in offering a burnt offering Leuit. 1. which was not lawfull for any to doe saue for the Priests vpon paine of death Therefore the Prophet Samuel told him plainely from the Lord that therein hée had done foolishly and that his kingdome should not continue and so Samuel departed from him in great indignation for the zeale hée bare to the Lord and for the loue he bare to the kingdome Par. Saul as we read was in great distresse 1 Sam. 13. by reason of many thousands of the Philistines that were come against his people Israell and they by reason of Samuels long tarrying at Gilgall 12 were scattered and fled saue sixe hundred men that remained with the King Therefore Saul fell to his prayers and did offer as hee said a burnt Offering vnto the Lord tell me what offence was this as the present necessitie required Past 1 Sam. 13. Saul in like manner transgressed the voyce of the Lord in keeping the King of the Amalekites aliue whereas hée was commanded to kill him and in reseruing for Sacrifice the best of the Oxen and the best of the Sheepe which was also directly forbidden Out of which place I will answere your demaund or question from the mouth of Samuel the holy Prophet When thou wast little in thine owne sight wast not thou made King ouer Israell The Lord commanded thee to kill the Amalekites and to let none remaine Now thou hast not obeyed the Lords voyce but hast turned to the prey wherein thou hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord. Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatry Behold thou hast cast away the word of the Lord therefore hee hath cast away thee Hereby you may sée that sinne or transgression is not reckoned for the smalnesse or greatnesse thereof with God as it is with men for many times small sinnes in our sights are great sinnes in Gods fight and great sinnes in our fight are small in his sight Men must rule themselues by his word by his holy Lawes and not according to good intents or earthly mens directions Par. How did Saul behaue himselfe towards his subiects Past Saul enuied Dauids good report and iust desert When Dauid returned from the slaughter of the Philistines the women by one consent and as it were by Gods appoyntment met Dauid crying and saying 1 Sam. 18. Saul hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his tenne thousand and for this cause onely Saul was excéeding wroth with Dauid and euer after sought to kill him and in the persecuting of him he slew euery of the Priests that fauoured him and tooke an oath of all his subiects to betray him It were too long to particulate his cruelties towards others his poore subiects whom he should haue defended and maintayned Par. What was Sauls end Past The Spirit of God being departed from him and his owne heart giuen him hée euer after followed that euen to the wars of the Philistines at which time hée desperately slew himselfe The ninth Particular concerning Dauid Par. Next in order remaineth to speake of Dauid Past Dauid was of the tribe of Iudah of the roote of Iesse borne in Bethlehem As it was said of Ierusalem 1 Sam. 16. Many excellent things are spoken of thee O thou Citie of God euen so many excellent things are spoken of Dauid Saul being reiected of God for his sinnes Dauid was annoynted King in his roome by the same Prophet Samuel 17. and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon him insomuch that though he were but a little simple man yet hée slew Goliah that defied Israell hée slew many of the most mighty Philistines 2 Sam. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 c. who were enemies to Saul and his people When Saul was dead hée succéeded in the Kingdome according to the Lords ordinance and valiantly subdued mighty kings that made warre against him Dauid renued religion offered to build an house for the Arke of God Dauid sinned grieuously in Gods sight therefore the Lord punished him excéedingly many wayes and afterward vpon repentance he receiued him into speciall fauour Par. Dauid being annointed king and being so valiant in the warres hauing also the fauour of the people why did hee runne away and hide himselfe from Saul and why did he not withstand him Past Dauid hauing Gods Spirit knew very well that hée might not resist nor rebel against Saul the Lords annoynted and though hée were to succéede him in the kingdome yet hée knew that he was not to enioy it before him nor to be partner with him and to auoid the rebellion and disorder of the people the Lord commanded Samuel to annoynt him King secretly lest the people should offer him helpe and rebellion against Saul And farther so godly and vpright in heart hée was towards the King that when hée most iniuriously and fiercely sought to kill him in all lands yet hée would neuer carry a thought to vse bloudy hands against his King though many times he might haue done it Hée was so farre from causing any other to doe it 2 Sam. 1. as that hée slew those that brought him word that Saul was dead The tenth Particular concerning Salomon Par. Now impart vnto me briefly the story of Salomon the third King of Israel Past There was neuer the like King before Salomon 1 King 3. neither the like shall be after him for his wisedome and riches So soone as euer he put foot into the kingdome he loued the Lord as the holy Ghost testifieth Wherefore the Lord appeared vnto him promising to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he would aske Of al the glorious things of this life he desired nothing but he desired wisedome whereby hée might gouerne his people prudently and religiously wherefore the the Lord gaue him wisedome and riches aboue all men both which great blessings he principally imployed to the building of a Temple for the Lord at Ierusalem where his holy Name might be called vpon in true religion Hée gouerned his kingdome all the dayes of his life quietly and peaceably Par. Some calles into question whether Salomon were saued or not because of his sinnes with so many outlandish women Past It is certaine that he sinned therein excéedingly Yet Almighty God séeing his repentance in his rich mercies forgaue him all according as hée promised his Father Dauid 1 Sam. 7.13.14.15 saying Hee shall build mee an house and I will stablish the throne of his Kingdome for euer I will be his Father and hee shall be my sonne If hee sinne I will chasten him but my mercy I will not vtterly take from him Par. Seeing that the fourth Obseruation doth end at the building of the Temple declare vnto mee briefly concerning the same Past Salomon tooke order with Hiram the King of Tyrus 1 King 5. for Cedar trées and Firre trées He had thirty thousand men whom hée sent to Libanon by
the repairing of the Temple And in short time there was found ouer and aboue the repairing such store of money as was sufficient to make bowles of gold and instruments of siluer in great abundance for the Temple At which time came Hazaell the king of Aram with a mighty army against Gath and intending also to come against Ierusalem Iehoash the King of Iudah tooke the hallowed things that his forefathers had prepared for the Temple and so he departed into his owne Land where he was slaine by two of his owne seruants And he was buried with his fathers in the city of Dauid after he had raigned forty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eight King Past Amaziah 2 King 14.1 to 21. the sonne of Ioash succéeded in the kingdome This King did behaue himselfe vprightly in the sight of God according to all which his father had done yet the people did sacrifice in the high places He slew them which had killed his father but not their children according to that which was written The fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children for the father but euery man shall die for his owne sinne Afterwards hée warred with the Edomites and slew many thousands And not being therewith content he also challenged the King of Israell who answered him disdainefully But Amaziah was wilfull and would not be quiet Whereupon the King of Israell in open field tooke Amaziah brake downe the wals of Ierusalem spoyled the Temple and the people of their treasure and then returned to Samaria Amaziah liued after that warre fiftéene yeares There was a conspiracy against him in Ierusalem whereupon he fled to Lachis and the conspiratours followed after him and slew him there and brought him to be buried at Ierusalem after he had raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. Who was the ninth King Past 2 Kin. 14.21.15.1 to 8. Azariah his sonne was made King when he was sixtéene yeares old He did vprightly in the Lords sight yet because the high places were not taken away where the people offered sacrifice the Lord smote him with Leprosie vntill his dying day and Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kingdome vnder him two and fifty yeares and so dyed Par. Who was the tenth King Past 2 King 15.7.32 to the end Ioathan the sonne of Azariah immediately after his father tooke the kingdome as lawfull heire He did vprightly in the Lords sight but yet he had not taken away the high places whereon they burnt Intense And then the Lord sent against him and Iudah Rozin the King of Aram and Pekah the sonne of Remeliah king of Israell And when hée had raigned sixtéene yeares he dyed and was buried with his fathers in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eleauenth King Past Ahaz 2 King 16.1 to the end the sonne of Ioathan raigned in his stead Hée walked in the wayes of the kings of Israell and made his sonne to goe through fire after the abhominations of the heathen and hée offered burnt incense Wherefore the Lord raysed the King of Aram and the King of Israell against him At which time he called not for Gods assistance but sent presents vnto the King of Ashur crauing his ayde whereunto the King of Ashur condescended He was twenty yeares old when he began his raign he continued 16. yeares most irreligiously and prophanely and so died Par. Who was the twelfth King Past 2 King 16.20.18.1.2.3.4 to 9.13 to the end 19.20 Hezekiah his sonne raigned and ruled so religiously so zealously and so faithfully as that the holy Ghost witnesseth none was like him amongst all the Kings of Iudah that went before him neither were any such after him And therefore the Lord God of heauen was with him which made him to prosper in all things that hée tooke in hand In his time euen in the fouretéenth yeare of his raigne Senacherib the King of Ashur came against all the strong cities of Iudah and tooke them Then Hezekiah sent vnto him desiring him to take those treasures which he had sent and to be at peace with him and his people He receiued the treasures and yet neuerthelesse most tyrannously and trecherously he sent Rabsaketh with an huge army against him who most blasphemously railed at reuiled the King and the Lord God of heauen Then the King of Iudah and his Nobility went into the house of the Lord with their cloathes rent and with teares to pray vnto the Lord for helpe Then Esay the Prophet as being sent from God comforted them saying Be not afraid for thus the Lord hath said The King of Ashur shall returne into his owne land and there shall be discomfited So Rabsaketh presently returned and found it so indéede For the King of Aethiopia was come vp to fight against him Neuerthelesse Rabsaketh sent men with railing Letters vnto Hezekiah the King Which Letters hée spreads open in the Lords sight with many prayers and teares The Lord heard him at large and sent an Angell which destroyed the Assirian army and as he was in the Temple worshipping his idoll god two of his owne sonnes slew him About that time Hezekiah fell sicke vnto death and through his great intercession to God he recouered within thrée dayes and liued fiftéene yeares after as the Prophet Esay had said vnto him The Lord promised also to defend him from the King of Ashur And because he might be assured thereof he gaue him a signe in Ahaz diall of ten degrées backward At the same time came the King of Babels sonne with letters and a present to visite him whom he entertained very royally and shewed him all his treasures At which déede the Lord was angry and sent Esay to tell him that in time to come all his treasures and his people should be carried away captiue into Babilon He was fiue and twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. What doe you specially obserue in these foure last recited Kings to wit Azariah Ioathan Ahaz and Hezekiah Past It appeares that almighty God did specially fauour them in that hée gaue them fiue Prophets of whom they might inquire for the Lords will Esay Ioel. Hosea Amos. Micha Par. Who was the thirteenth king Past Manastes his sonne 2 Kin. 20.21.21.1 to 19. He wrought wickednes in the Lords sight and liued in open view of his subiects after the abhominations of the Heathen whom the Lord had cast out before him For whatsoeuer his holy Fathers had done to the honour and seruice of God he wrought cleane contrary and gaue himselfe to witchcraft sorcery familiar spirits and such like He did leade the people from the Lord and he enforced Iudah to sinne and he shed much innocent blood Wherefore the Lord God of Israell said I will bring an euill vpon Israell that who so heareth it both his eares shall tingle I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance and I will deliuer them into the hands
continued the same as one Monarchie 1240. yeares And at the death of Sardanapalus the last and worst of those kings Arbaces the President of the Medes and Bellechus the President of Babilon so concluded together that the whole Monarchie was diuided betwéene them Arbaces was crowned king of the Medes and Persians and Bellechus was crowned king of Siria and Babilon whose Palace was translated from Niniuie to Babilon being the stronger citie Nabuchadnezar was the son of Nabuchadonosor which was the sonne of Benmerodach which was the sonne of Merodachbaladan which was the sonne of Asser Addon which was the sonne of Senacherib which was the sonne of Salmanasar which was the sonne of Phull-Asser which was the sonne of Phull-Belochus This Nabuchadnezer of whom you inquire is the same that subdued the Citie of Ierusalem burnt it with the Temple and captiuated the Nobilitie Par. What was signified by the great Image which Nabuchadnezer saw Past This Image consisted of fiue seuerall parts The first part was a head of gold which signified the great magnificence power and glory of thrée Monarches or Kings of Babilon to wit Nabuchadnezer Euilmerodach Baltasar whose Empire endured by the space onely of seuenty years then was this head of gold cut off and the glory of those kings quite extinguished then the people of Israell were fréed The second part was armes and breasts of siluer which signified the kings of the Medes and Persians who tyrannized 130. yeares after the end of the captiuitie Of which one hundred and thirty yeares these kings following raigned nine and twentie yeares Cyrus Darius Ahasuerus Darius Cambises Xerxes Ochus In the twentieth yeare of the first Darius the temple was finished being full nine and forty years in building as Daniel had foretolde in his seauenty wéeks Chap. 9. The other kings that made vp the 130. yeares are these Artaxerxes Ochus Arses Darius the Persian And at the end of these yeares are the armes and brest of Siluer cut off the glory also of those kings wholly extinguished The third was belly and thighes of brasse which signified Alexander the great Par. What signified the legges of iron Past The fourth was legges of iron which signified these ten Kings 1 Seleucus Nicanor 2 Antiochus Soter 3 Antiochus Theos 4 Seleucus Callicus 5 Seleucus Siranus 6 Antiochus Negas 7 Seleucus Philopater 8 Antiochus Epimanes 9 Ptolomeus Lagi 10 Ptolomeus Philadelphus These ruled cruelly and were strong as Iron 294. yeares vnto Cleopaters death who confirmed Herod the Idumean king in Israell The fift part was féete and toes being part of Iron and part of Clay which signified the same Kingdome to be partly strong and partly broken Par. What meant the King by that great Image of Gold which he did set vp in the plaine of Dura Past Chap. 3. Hée meant therein as he expressed in plaine tearmes and in his déedes to make himselfe reputed and taken as a great God which was most horrible blasphemy and plaine sacriledge Par. Might not Daniel haue yeelded vnto the time and present necessitie which was offered as others did and so haue worshipped the Image with his body keeping his Soule and conscience cleare for the seruice of the true knowne Almighty Past No. He might not haue so dallied with the seruice of God who sées and knowes all things and whose seruice is to be performed in body and in soule For that had béene in him blasphemy and sacriledge as in Nabuchadnezer He chose rather to dye a tyrannous death by confessing of gods true worship then to liue by the denyall thereof which he should haue done most plainely if he had yéelded But contrariwise when the king perswaded him to yéelde as others did he vttered thrée worthy spéeches méete for euery Christian The first was in these words Behold O King God is able to deliuer vs. In which he declared his beliefe in the power of God The second was 17.18 God will deliuer vs. In which he shewed his faith in things to come The third was If not O King be it knowne vnto thee we will not worship the golden Image which thou hast set vp In which he declared his Christian magnanimity and holy courage Par. There is mention made in the fourth chapter Chap. 4. of another vision or dreame which the King did see to wit a Tree whose boughes reached to the heauens whose branches ouerspread Sea and Land and whose rootes were fastned in the earth What was signified by that Past By this Trée was signified Nabuchadnezars territories and dominions and the excéeding great subiection that was yeelded vnto him of all nations Kings and Potentates of the whole world as was also signified by the head of gold before recited Par. What was signified by the cutting downe of the Tree and the fastning of the rootes thereof in the earth as with a chaine Past The holy Prophet Daniel saith that the cutting downe of the Trée signified Nabuchadnezar his seauen yeares of exilement and eiection among beasts And the fastning of the Trée by the rootes signified that he should returne to his Palace and Kingdome after that God had so corrected him for his pride Par. Why did almighty God so discomfort Baltashar with such a fearefull sight vpon the wall before all such as were assembled to his ioyall feast Past It was no maruell that God did so terrifie him For he and the most of his nobility riotously wasted the good creatures of God and therewith became drunken adulterous and sacrilegious For he was not content with the great abundance of plate that he had of his owne in great variety but he would néeds drinke in his drunkennesse out of the vessels that were brought from the Temple at Ierusalem and which were dedicated to the seruice of God Par. What was the writing and the signification Past The writing consisted of thrée words first Mene secondly Tekell thirdly Vpharsin The signification of the first word is that God had numbred the yeares of his kingdome and finished it The signification of the second was that God had considered of his conuersation and found it not answerable to his will And the signification of the third word was that his kingdome should be forthwith taken from him by Cirus and Darius Kings of the Medes and Persians According to which writing it came to passe the selfe same night Par. What was the decree or law that King Darius made by the perswasion of his Nobility Past It was that whosoeuer did call vpon or worship any other God saue Nabuchadnezar the King for thirty dayes space should be throwne into a den of Lyons Par. How came it to passe that the Lyons being a sauage sort of creatures did spare Daniel and so suddenly destroyed the conspiratours with their wiues and children Past Thereby almighty GOD did declare that all creatures of what sort or kinde soeuer they be are but as ministers or instruments of GOD in Mercy or in Iustice and