thy sins here is the golden candle sticke if thou wilt wash thy handes and feete here is the brazen lauer wilt thou bee Purged from they Leprosie here is the riuer Iordan wilt thou florish like a Bay tree thou must be planted by this riueâ—… wilt thou bring forth much fruite thou must be sowne with this seed wilt thou sacrifice thy sins to God thou must kill them with this sword wilt thou goe to the kingdome of heauen this is the only way here is the fiery Pillar and the cloud to conduct thee to Canaan and â—…ere is the Star that will leade the to find out the Son of righteousnesse Iesus Christ that bright morning Starte with whome we shall shine in eternity of glory as Stars in the firmament In this word then must we conucrse both day and night not in curious â—…earching and prodigious speculation but in serious weeping and religious aâ—…oration neither must our minds be opâ—…ressed with terrestriall and infernal occupations but they must be filled with â—…elestall and supernall meditations Therefore if we will profit here we must last off all carnall affection that wee â—…ay receiue for our weary soules eternall refection for if no beast could â—…uch the mountaine and heare Gods â—…aw why should beastly minds touch â—…e bible and read Gods Law And in â—…arching this Word let vs not in it â—…arch for riches and honour to our selues which is to seeke for dirt amongâ—… Iewels and poyson amongst medicaâ—… ments to ouerthrow our selues but lâ—… vs search for him who only is sufficienâ—… to content our soules within our bodies as hee was the only efficient to presenâ—… our soules into our bodies Therfore wâ—… conclude with Augustine Scripturâ—… creatura ad hoc sunt vt â—…pse quâ—…ratur ipse diligatur qui ipsam creauit qâ—… illam iâ—…spirauit The internall and eternall generation of the word was not knowne to thâ—… Gentiles but was obscured with an obscure fable of Minerua begotten of Iâ—…piters braine by the which also they diâ—… signifie learned notions conceaued iâ—… the mind expressed by word or writ Then to be short right Honourable heere I doe offer to your tuition anâ—… fruition my Minerâ—…a not begotten oâ—… my braine but in my braine neither iâ—… shee armed with a helmet 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 speare to terrifie Mâ—…mus and therefore â—…e more desirous shee is to shelter herâ—…lfe vnder the shadow of your Honors â—…tronage being perswaded that you â—…e both a Patrone a patterne of learâ—…ng the fruits whereof haue not only â—…freshed the-hearts and eares of great â—…rittaine but with Dedalean wings they â—…ue bin transported beyond the Ocean 〈◊〉 that Rhodanâ—…s Betis and Rhenâ—…s haue â—…asoned their siluer streames with the â—…licious taste of your learned fruits â—…hen what remaines quam vt ocior Icarâ—… Visas gementis littora Bospâ—…ri Sirtâ—…sque Getulas câ—…norus Ales Hyperebâ—…rosque campos Moreouer your Honor being a Father â—…d Patrone of iustice if any wrong be â—…fered to her by Mâ—…mus she may boldâ—… fly to the Chancery for succor thereâ—…re I hope that as your Honor hath â—…rmitted your glorious titles to grace â—…r Frontispice so you wil not refuse to beautifie her with your gracious aspecâ—… and respect That GOD which hatâ—… exalted you to so great dignities in thiâ—… world preserue your body and soule and crowne you in the World to come with blessed Immortality Your Honours in all duty euer to command ALEXANDER ROSSâ—… THE ARGVMENT Q. WHo wrote these bookes of Moses A. Himselfe proofe hee was the first â—…at writ in the world Secondly The holy â—…host testifieth the same Exo. 24. 4. Deu. â—…1 9. and Christ Iohn 1. 45. and 5. 46. Q. When wrote he this first booke A. Before the Israelites went from Eâ—…ypt Râ—…as 1. Because then feeding his â—…ather in-lawes sheepe 40. yeeres in Maâ—…ian he was most at leisure to write Rea. 2. â—…o comfort the Hebrewes beeing oppressed â—…ith Egyptian seruitude for in this Booke 〈◊〉 read the life and death of their Anceours their courage patience vertue affliction Gods promises to Abraham that after 400. yeeres seruiâ—…de in Egypâ—… they should be deliuered and inioy the laâ—… of Canaan Q. How came Moses to the knowledge of these things contained in thâ—… Booke A. Either by reuelation from God 〈◊〉 by tradition of his Ancestors for the knowledge of these things Moses â—…ad from Iosephs children they of Ioseph he of Iacob Iacob of Isaac he of Abraham and he of Shem Shem of Noe hâ—… 〈◊〉 Methusalem and he of Adam with whâ—… be liued 243. yeeres Questions on the first Chapter Questions WAs the world created or eternal Answ. Created 1. There can bee but one eternall 2. Almost all the Philosophers are against the eternitie of the world 3. They that hold it â—…ternall can bring no sound reason 4. Thâ—… most ancient monuments or records amongst â—…he heathen are not so olde as the fâ—…ood of Noah Q. Could God make more worlds then one A. Yes for he is Almighty and hee made it â—…ot of any matter for that should haue bin exâ—…austed but more he would not because hee â—…eing one delights in vnitie Q. Why in Hebrew saith Moses Gods created joyning the noune plurall with the verbe singular A. To signifie the mystery of the Trinitie one essence in three persons 2. It is the propertie of the Hebrew phrase Q. Why in the beginning of this booke speaketh Moses only of heauen and earth A. Because by the name of heauen he comprehends all celestiall bodies and by the name of earth the 4. elements for water is in the earth fire and aire as witnesse the springs exhalations or earthquakes and burning mountaines or hote waters Q. Did God create the earth moveable or not A. Immoueable Iob. 38. Psal. 39. and 104. this is vnderstood in respect of the whole earth yet it is moued in respect of parts by earthquakes Iob. 9. Q. Of what figure is the earth A. Round Esay the 40. This figure is most perfect capable ancient Q. Is the earth vnder the water or not A. Vnder because heauiest yet Exo. 20. Ps. 24. and 136. it seemes the water is vnder the earth but it is to be vnderstood that a great part of the earth was made higher then the waters for mans habitation Q. Why cannot the whole earth moue A. Because hee is in his naturall place which if it should moue it should ascend and this is against the nature of the earth Q. What is vnderstood by the spirit that moued vpon the waters A. A winde which often in Scripture is called a spirit or the holy Ghost or the power and mighty operation of God which also is often called by the name of Spirit in this sense the Spirit of God is sayd to carry Elias to heauen and to haue caught away Philip Acts 8. Q. Why is God brought in speaking in the creation A. To shew his absolute power whose word is his worke 2. The second person
the most famous city in all the east Plin. lib. 5. cap. 14. This is that city gouerned by Melchisedech repaired by Dauid beautified by Salomon with the goodliest temple in the world adorned with the miracles and preaching of the Prophets sanctified with the life miracles doctrine blood and resurrection of our Sauiour and with the sending downe of the holy Ghost honoured to bee the figure of Christs Church millitant in the old Testament and of the Church triumphant in the new watered with the blood of Steuen Iames and other holy Martyrs and happy in that the light of the Gospell did first shine there for out of Sion came the law and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem but most vnhappy in that she killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent to her in that she would not bee gathered vnder the wings of Christ therefore many yeares agoe she is left desolate Mat. 23. Q. Wherein was Melchisedec the type of Christ A. Melchisedec was a king so is Christ the king of kings Secondly Melchisedec was a priest so is Christ a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Thirdly hee was King of peace so is Christ the Prince of peace Fourthly he was King of righteousnesse so is Christ Iehouah our righteousnes Fifthly he was without father and mother so is Christ as God without a mother as man without a father Sixthly as he was without generation so none can declare Christ his generation Seauenthly as he was without beginning or end so is Christ because hee is the beginning and the end Eightly he was an extraordinarie Priest not being in the line of Sem so was Christ not being of the tribe of Leui. Ninthly he was a greater priest then Aaron and so was Christ. Tenthly hee was not annointed with externall oyle neither was Christ but but with the oyle of gladnesse Eleauenthly hee refreshed Abraham with bread and wine so hath Christ with his owne body which is that bread of life that came downe from heauen Twelfthly he in his Priesthood had no successour neither Christ but hath an euerlasting Priesthood Thirtenth he blessed Abraham and so hath Christ vs withall spirituall blessing Fourteenth he was made like to the Sonne of God and Christ is the true and onely begotten Son of God Fifteenth he was king of Salem which is Ierusalem so was Christ annointed king vpon the holy hill of Sion which is Ierusalem Sixteenth he did not blesse Abraham till he returned from the slaughter of his enemies neither will Christ vs till we haue ouercome our spirituall enemies Seauenteene Melchisedec did vse to sacrifice at Ierusalem so did Christ sacrifice his blessed body on the crosse at Ierusalem Q. Why did Abraham giue tithes to Melchisedec A. To testifie his thankfulnesse to God who had sent such an excellent Priest to blesse him for he was bound to minister to him in carnall things seeing he was pertaker of Melchisedechs spirituall things Rom. 15. 27. Secondly he gaue tithes in signe of homage and to show how inferiour he was to Melchesedec consider how great Melchisedec was to whom euen the Patriarch Abraham gaue the tenth Heb. 7. 4. Thirdly he gaue tythes because hee knew although not by a positiue law as yet but by diuine inspiration that the tithes did belōg to God and to his Priests and therefore was sacriledge to keepe them backe for we must giue vnto God that which is Gods Matth. 22. 21. Fourthly because it was the custome euen before the law amongst holy men to pay their tythes euen as sacrificing building of Altars distinction of cleane and vncleane beasts therefore wee reade here not onely of Abraham but also of Iacob that promised to pay tythes of all he had to the Lord. Gen. 28. 22. Fifthly he paide his tythes as other holy men vse to doe because he knew that those who serue at the Altar must liue by the Altar 1. Cor. 9. 13. Sixthly he paide his tythes because hee knew that God would giue an hundred fold more then his tythes were worth according to that bring yea all your tythes vnto the store-house and prooue me saith the Lord if I will not open to you the windowes of heauen and poure you out a blessing that there shall not be roome y◅ough to receiue it Malac. 3. 10. Q. What kinde of tythes were vsed amongst the Hebrewes A. Hierome vpon Ezechiel cap. 5. 40. Affirmeth that there were some tythes which the people did owe to the Leuites Againe there were other tythes which the Leuites that is the inferiour order of ministers out of their tythes did owe to the Priests also there were other tythes which euery one of the people put a part in their barnes appointed to be eate by the Priests Leuites and people together in the entrance of the Temple moreouer there were other tythes which were laide vp for the poore but Vincentius in spec moral lib. 1. distinct 66. Maketh mention onely of three sorts of tythes vsed in the old Law the one sort were these which were paide to the Leuites spoken off Numb 18. 24. The other sort were these which were publikely eaten in the Temple mentioned Deut. 14. 23. The third sort were these which were laide vp at the end of euery three yeares for the poore strangers spoken of Deut. 14. 28. Of these three sorts of tythes the first onely remaineth amongst Christians the second sort which were publikely eaten and sacrificed are abolished being a meere ceremonie the third sort also for the proportion is taken away for wee are not bound to giue the tythes of our goods to the poore but to releeue them according to our abilitie and giue them such as wee haue Luk. 11. 41. Q. Then is it lawfull to pay tythes to the preachers of the Gospel A. It is not onely lawfull to pay them but sacriledge to withhold them for wee must giue vnto God that which is Gods and hee who bestoweth all things onvs doth require no more but his tithes of vs for the tithes doe not principally belong to the preachers but to God and he who setteth them a worke is their pay-master Therefore hee who withholdeth the tithes from the preachers doth not so much wrong the preachers as God to whom they properly belong Moreouer the precept of paying tithes is not altogether ceremoniall but partly morall partly iudiciall morall in that the labourer is worthy of his hire especially they who labour in the word are worthy of double honour for he that serueth at the Altar must liue by the Altar Iudiciall in that the paying of tithes to the labourers in the word belongs to the externall gouernment of the Church and common wealth and therefore Christian Kings and counsels haue established that vnder paine of excommunication the tithes should bee paid to the ministers as a due which God himselfe hath demanded Constantine and Charles the great did command the same the counsells Ma◅isconense held anno 587. can 5. Duriense an
Henoch and not by his owne name Caine A. Because his owne name was odious to the world in respect of his murther therefore he would not disgrace his Citie and those that dwelt therein secondly because he loued Henoch exceedingly therefore he would immortalize his name Q. How is it vnderstood that Iabel was the father of them that dwelt in Tents and had Cattell A. He was the inuenter of Shepheardry and of feeding of Cattell now Abel being dead for Tents heere signifie such Tents as Shepheards doe vse and not those that Souldiers doe vse in Warres Q. Who were the first Inuenters of Musicke and Smiths Craft A. Not Pythagoras Linus Orpheus or Uulcan but Iubal and Tubal-Caine the posteritie of Caine so wee see that in externall things Caine and his posteritie were blessed as the wicked are generally in this life but the inheritance of the Saints is in heauen Q. Was it lawfull for Lamech to haue two wiues A. No for it was against the first institution of Marriage secondly against the Law of Nature which doth shew that one should be content with one thirdly this pluralitie of wiues did arise of incontinencie and lust and not of desire to propagate to the encrease of the Church as many Saints haue done Q. What is meant by these words I would slay a man in my wound c A. Heerâ—… Lamech perceiuing that he was hated for his crueltie bâ—…aggeth to his wiues of his strength That although he were wounded yet hee were able to kill a man this hee did speake to make his wiues and others feare him the more The Hebrewes thinke that Lamech did kill Caine in the Wildernesse thinking him to be a wilde beast and perceiuing that it was Caine he killed also the young man that deceiued him Q. What meaneth these words If Caine shall be auenged seuen-fold then Lamech c. A. Eyther hee speaketh this to affray others from killing him although he was a murtherer and so making a derision of Gods iudgement hee had layd vpon Caine as if hee would say If hee that killeth Caine shall be punished seuen-fold then hee that killeth me shall be punished seuentie seuen-fold that is a great deale more or else by these wordes hee seemeth to repent for his murther as if hee would say Was Caine punished so hardly for his murther then I am worthie of a seuentie seuen-fold worse punishment Q. Was Sheth the third sonne of Adam or had he any more besides those three mentioned in Genesis A. It is credible that in the space of an hundred and thirtie yeeres for in the hundred and thirtieth yeere Sheth was borne Adam had many more children than those three because that Adam and Eue were created perfect and apt for procreation So also it was necessary that the world should be multiplyed according to Gods Decree Increase and multiplie But these three Moses onely nameth because of all the rest they were most eminent Abel the type of Christ and the Church which are Abels that is mourners in this life Caine the type of the Diuell and his Church and the father of the wicked Sheth the origin and roote of the Church the Father of Christ yea the origin of all mankind after the floud for Abel was killed and Caines posteritie drowned Q. Why doth Eua say that God hath put another Seed to me in stead of Abel speaking of Sheth and not of any other of her sonnes A. Because Sheth was likest Abel of all Eua's children both in Religion toward God vprightnesse of life towards men and in loue and reuerence towards his Parents Q. What did Enoch signifie A. Sorrowfull or miserable he also was a type of the Church which is pressed although not oppressed with sorrow and miserie in this life Q. Why doth Moses say that in his dayes men began to call on the Name of the Lord A. To signifie that now men began to worship God more publikely then they did before to exhort the people to repentance to preach openly But wee must not thinke that God was not worshipped at all till now for Adam did worship God and taught his sonnes Abel and Came to sacrifice and Sheth also was an holy man and a type of Christ and of the Church Questions on the fift Chapter Q. WHy doth Moses rehearse the ten generations of Adam A. First to shew the Genealogie of Christ the promised Seed Secondly because hee is to speake of Enochs translation therefore hee would shew his generation Thirdly to shew that amongst these multitudes God had his Church although it was then small for God hath neuer wanted some since the Creation who doe worship him and call vpon his Name Q. Why doth Moses say here that God did both create and make man and what is meant by Adam here A. He doth distinguish creation from making for to be made is to be formed of some pre-existant matter but to be created is to be produced of nothing then both these words he vsed to signifie the diuers producing of the soule and body The soule is created because it is produced of nothing the body is made because of something And by Adam hee meaneth both the man and the woman giuing them one name to signifie that they are both of one flesh Q. How is it vnderstood that Adam begat a sonne after his image A. First by his image we vnderstand his nature and substance secondly his reason and power he had ouer all other creatures thirdly the corruption of his nature so that now Adam being sinfull and mortall begetteth sinfull and mortall children Then Sheth was begotten after the image of Adam a man indued with reason and dominion ouer the creatures subiect to sinne and death as Adam Q. Why is it not sayd that Adam did beget Caine and Abel after his image A. Because a part of this image doth consist in bearing rule ouer the creatures which dominion Abel had not being taken away by vntimely death and from Caine this power was taken away because he was accursed and the Earth commanded not to yeeld her encrease Q. What doth this name Sheth signifie A. To be set or appointed in stead of Abel and as Abel was the type of mortalitie so Sheth is the type of our resurrection for Adam seemed to be dead Abel being killed and Caine accursed but in the birth of Sheth hee seemes to reuiue againe and as he in Sheth was reuiued so we all in Christ shall be made aliue and in that Adam giueth the same name to his sonne that Eua did they both testifie their faith and hope they haue in the promised Seed Q. Why are the yeeres of Adam and the rest called Dayes A. To signifie that although our life bee neuer so long it shall consume as dayes for all yeeres are composed of dayes therefore euerie day wee should be mindfull of Mortalitie and thinke that euerie day is the last and wee must beseech God that hee would teach vs to number our dayes
Q. What is the cause that Adam and the rest here named before the Floud liued so long A. First because they liued soberly and were contented with simple dyet not pampering their bellyes as now with varietie of Dishes Secondly the constitution of their bodyes were better than ours stronger and not subiect to Diseases Thirdly they had more experience and skill in the nature of Hearbes and Fruits which they did eate than wee haue Fourthly the Earth then brought foorth excellenter Hearbes for the food of man than it hath done after the Floud Fiftly God would haue them liue so long that Man-kinde might the more be multiplyed Sixtly that man might the more commodiously finde out Arts and Sciences which they could not doe without long experience Seuenthly the moderate temperature of the ayre was then greater Eightly they did liue so long that Adam night teach them the Creation of the World his happinesse in Paradise and reiection from thence c. that the knowledge of God and Religion might the better be established amongst them and propagated by them Q. What kind of yeeres were those that Moses mentioneth here A. Not the yeeres of the Moone which we call Moneths for by this computation we should confesse that Kenan and Enoch did beget sonnes and daughters before they were seuen yeeres old and that Abraham being 17. yeeres of age was a very old man but Moses meaneth the yeeres of the Sunne which were equall with our yeeres as we haue prooued in the Preface vpon the second book of our Iewish Historie Q. Why did Moses subioyne vnto euery one of their liues this Particle and he died A. First to shew the ineuitable punishment and consequent of sinne vpon all Man-kinde And from hence we may conclude that euerie one that dyeth is a sinner euen children for death is the wages of sinne I except Christ who dyed not because he sinned but because he came to destroy sinne and death and Satan that hath the power of death Secondly to shew the vanitie of this life which is so short Thirdly to put vs in minde of our mortalitie that wee might prepare our selues for our end All must die euen those are gone that liued so long and although that we thinke they liued many yeres yet we may truly say that they did not liue one whole day for none of them liued 1000. yeeres which to God is as one day Q. What is the cause of the great difference betweene the Hebrew Copies and the translation of the Septuagints in the computation of the yeeres betweene Adam and the Floud A. Wee cannot say that those seuentie Interpreters which Ptolomey did imploy in translating the Hebrew Bible into the Greeke Tongue did erre in their computation seeing they vse no figures as the Greekes and Latines doe in this computation but they vse the names of their numbers But rather wee thinke that those that copyed out the translation of the Septuagints out of Ptolomeus Librarie did erre in mistaking the Greeke figures for one letter or figure may easily be mistaken for another or else they were somewhat negligent because they thought these numbers of yeeres not to be necessarie But we must adhere to the Hebrew veritie or else if wee follow the Septuagints in their computation wee must yeeld that Methusalem did liue after the Floud sixteene yeeres which is directly against the truth of Gods Word which affirmeth that eight soules did onely escape the Floud that is Noah and his Family Q. Did Henoch die or not A. Hee did not die so witnesseth Paul Heb. 11. and Moses also in this place for hee subioynes to euery one of their liues that liued before and after Henoch vntill the Floud and he died but of Henoch hee speaketh no such thing Q. Why did God translate Henoch that hee should not see death A. First that he might assure the faithfull of their resurrection and life eternall secondly because the World did degenerate and came as it were to the height of impietie therefore hee tooke him away lest he had beene desiled with their wickednesse and so be made partaker of their plagues thirdly because God would shew the World how highly he esteemeth those that walke with him that is that obey loue and feare him Q. Whither was Henoch translated A. Not to the earthly Paradise for that was destroyed with the Floud but he was translated to that heauenly Paradise whereof Christ speaketh to the good Theese on the Crosse and whither Elias was caught now although hee dyed not yet his translation was in stead of death Q. What signifieth Noe A. Rest which name his father Lamech gaue him because of the comfort hee should haue of him thinking that he was the promised Seed that should tread downe the Serpents â—…ead or rather because that he perceiued by the Spirit of Prophecie that he should be the type of Christ for as Noe restored the World after the Floud so did Christ after the floud of his Fathers wrath restore the World to spirituall life secondly as Noe did build the Arke so hath Christ built the Church thirdly as Noe offered sacrifice whereby God smelled a sauour of Rest and said hee would curse the ground no more so in Christs Sacrifice which hee offered on the Crosse is the Father well pleased and he will not be angry with his Church for euer Q. How was Noe a comfort to Lamech concerning the sorrow and worke of his hands and touching the Earth which the Lord cursed A. By Sorrow and the workes of our hands may be vnderstood Sinne which is our owne worke as holinesse is the worke of God by the Earth which was cursed we vnderstand the barrennesse of the Ground and the hard labour of the Husbandmen for the Ground was cursed twice once for Adams sake and once for Caines but now Lamech comforteth himselfe that Noe shall be acceptable to God who for his sake appointed times and seasons for sowing and reaping and gaue Noe the skill to finde out Wine that comforts the heart 〈◊〉 man and also in his time God did sweepe 〈◊〉 way the sinnes of this age which did grieue 〈◊〉 mech with an vniuersall Floud Q. Which of Noes three sonnes were eldest A. Iapheth is the eldest as it is plaine Gen. 10. 21. C ham the youngest Gen. 9. 24. but Shem is first named First because in dignitie he is preferred before his brethren Gen. 9. 26. so Abraham is named before his elder brother Gen. 11. 26. Iacob before Esau Gen. 28. 5. Ephraim before Manasses Gen. 48. 20. Secondly Shem is first named because of him Abram and his posterity the Israelites descended of which Moses is purposed to speake most Q. Why did the Patriarchs here named â—…staine so long from begetting children as Noe till he was 500. yeeres old c A. As they liued longer then wee so they were not readie so soone to beget children as we are for now when a man is thirtie he is in the
prime of his yeeres but then none was sayd to come to mans estate till he had bin a hundred yeeres and more Secondly Moses drift here is not to set downe the names of all the sonnes of these Fathers but of such as Abraham and the Israelites came and therefore he omits those first borne of whom Abraham came not and â—…peakes of the youngest as Matthew in describing Christs Genealogie speaketh of Isaac not of Ismael of Iacob not of Esau of Iudas and Dauid not of their elder brethren because of them came not the Lord. Questions on the sixt Chapter Q. WHat is vnderstood by men that began to multiply A. By men we vnderstand the sonnes of Caine who because they tooke many Wiues did encrease faster then Sheths posteritie and as they multiplyed so did their sinnes multiply for the multiplication of mankind is a blessing but we see the more blessings God bestoweth on vs the worse we are Q. What is meant here by the sonnes of God A. Not Angels neither good nor bad neither with bodies nor without bodies for they being spirits are not moued with carnall lust neither was it to drowne them that God sent the floud but to destroy man therefore by the sonnes of God is vnderstood men for of them only doth God speake here throughout all the Chapter Q. What sort of men were these that are called the sonnes of God A. Some thinke they were very tall anâ—… mighty men therefore they are called the sonnâ—… of God as the Mountaines of God the Cedarâ—… of God that is high and tall Hills and Cedars others thinke they were the sonnes of Princes and Iudges which are called gods in Scriptureâ—… others againe say that they are those whereoâ—… Paul speaketh Rom. 8. They that are led by thâ—… Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God that they were holy and iust men but they are of soundest iudgement that by them vnderstand the posteritie of Sheth who although they degenerated yet Moses giueth them that honourable title to shew their ingratitude in forsaking their heauenly Father Q. Why is the posteritie of Sheth called the sonnes of God A Because God had separated them from the rest of the World as a peculiar people to himselfe they did serue him and reuerence him as their heauenly Father secondly because Sheth their father was an holy and iust man and by consequent the sonne of God both by adâ—…ption and imitation therefore God doth honour his posteritie in calling them the sonnes of God for their father Sheths sake So wee see what an honour it is to haue holy Parents Q. Was it vnlawfull for the sonnes of God to take to themselues wiues of the daughters of men A. Yes for those daughters of men were Caines posteritie excommunicated from the Church for they were the sonnes of old Adam because they were not borne againe by the immortall Seed of the Word now it was vnlawfull for Sheths posteritie to marry Caines daughters being of a contrarie Religion This kind of Matrimonie was forbidden afterwards Exodus 34. and Deuteronomy 7. For this cause Abraham and Isaac would not haue their sonnes marrie with Canaanites Secondly they tooke those wiues not for multiplication of Man-kinde but to satisfie their immoderate lust therefore this copulation was vnlawfull for they should not haue defiled their bodies as knowing they are the Temples of the Holy-Ghost Q. How doe we know that these were not Angels which are called here the sonnes of God A. Because Angels are Spirits not composed of any Physicall matter nor enclosed into bodies as the soules of men therefore they cannot be moued with carnall lust Q. Some do thinke they haue bodies and therefore are here vnderstood to haue taken them wiues of the daughters of men how then is it that they haue no bodies A. If they had bodies they should be eyther Celestiall or Elementall Celestiall they are noâ—… for heauenly bodies haue but one kind of motion which is to turne round but Angels ascend and descend haue all other kinds of mouing Elementarie they are not for whatsoeuer iâ—… composed of Elements is corruptible but the Angels are not If they say that Angels haue in them but one Element then I would know which it is againe they should graunt that the bodies of Angels are more ignoble then the bodies of men because in sublunarie bodyes the more Elements they are composed of the nobler and perfecter they are and if their bodies are baser then their mindes are imperfecter for there is a proportion betweene the forme and the matter Q. Cannot Angels beget children A. No for they haue no seede fit for procreation because they feede not for seede is a part of our foode Againe if they could procreate children they should be distinguished in male and female for both these must concurre in procreation Q. What is meant by these words My Spirit shall not alwayes striue with man A. By the word Spirit is not vnderstood Gods prouidence nor God himselfe taken essentially nor his wrath and indignation nor mans soule but Spirit is taken for God himselfe personally or for the Holy Ghost the third person in the Trinity by which Spirit Christ preached in Noe to the disobedient spirits of the old World 1 Pet. 3. The meaning then is My holy Spirit shall not contend alwayes or a long time with sinnefull man by exhorting conuincing outwardly and inwardly by the checkes of conscience because he is but flesh that is fleshly-minded walketh after the flesh and not after the spirit Q What then is meant by flesh heere A. Not flesh properly so called secondly nor as it is taken for the nature of man as Iohn 1. 14. Christ the Word is said to be made flesh but heere it is taken for the corruption of mans nature Here then God calleth man whome he hath made to his owne Image flesh to make him ashamed that he hath so miserably falne from his first integrity for Adam was made a liuing soule Q. Why saith God that the daies of man should be an hundred and twenty yeeres seeing that after the Floud many did liue till they were aboue A. It is true that Sem liued fiue hundred yeeres after the Floud some foure hundred some two hundred and many till Moses time liued an hundred and thirtie yeeres So that these words must not be vnderstood as though God after the Floud did prolong mans life onely to an hundred and twentie yeeres but these one hundred and twentie yeres are meant of that time that God gaue to the first world to repent in so long Noe preached and builded the Arke Q. It seemes there was an hundred yeeres from the vttering of this speech till the Floud for Sem after the Floud immediatly was an hundred yeeres old and hee was borne when this speech was vttered A. From the vttering of this speech vntill the Floud there was an hundred and twentie yeeres but this was spoken when Noe was foure
First for propogation Secondly for man to eate Thirdly for sacrifice Therefore God would haue more cleane then vncleane besides by this God would teach vs two things First that there should bee more cleane then vncleane in the Church as there was in the Arke that is more good then bad for we are chosen to be holy and without blame Ephes. 1. although it falles out otherwise that in Christs field there are more weedes then corne Secondly his loue and care in that he will haue but few of the vncleane saued because the most part of them are wilde and cruell to man and hurtfull to the cleane beasts therefore there are more Doues then Hawkes Sheepe then Woolfes yet some of these Sauadge beasts hee would preserue that hee might vse them as instruments to punish mans rebellion Q. How is it vnderstood that some beasts are cleane some vncleane A. By nature all beasts are cleane because good Gen. 1. 31. and there is nothing vncleane of it selfe Rom. 14. 14. but some are called vncleane because men doe account them so Secondly because they are not vsed for meate Thirdly because afterward by Moses Law they were excluded from being offered vp in sacrifice Fourthly because in them are some euill qualities and properties which God will haue vs to shunne Q. Was there any distinction of cleane and vncleane beasts before the flood A. Yes Moses indeed did establish this distinction but it was in vse amongst the fathers before him and many things else As offering of the first fruits Gen. 4. building of Altars Gen. 8. paying of Tithes to the Priest Gen. 14. yet all things that Moses commanded were not obserued by the Patriarckes For Moses did forbid to marrie with two sisters yet Iacob did with Leah and Rachel Gen. 29. and he commanded to abstaine from some kinds of flesh yet God giues permission to Noe to eate of euery kinde of flesh Gen. 9. Q. How knâ—…w the fathers before Moses which were cleane and which vncleane A. Either by tradition of their Ancestors or by reuelation from God and not by any positiue law yet we must obserue that this distinction was not in vse in regard of meate for it was lawfull to eate of any flesh Gen. 9. but in regard of Sacrifice and so Beeues Sheepe and Goates were only cleane for Sacrifice of beasts and of fowles only Turtle-doues and Pigeons Q. Why would God haue seauen cleane beasts saued and neither more nor lesse A. Besides that the number of seauen signifieth sufficiencie and perfection in the Scripture especially in sacrifices as Numb 23. 1. 14. â—…9 1. Chron. 15. 26. c. these seauen did containe three couples and one odde one couple for procreation an other for foode and the third for sacrifice the odde one which was a Male was ordained for that sacrifice which Noe was to offer presently after the flood which was rather a Male then a Female because the Male is perfecter and so all that we offer to God must be perfect Q. Why in the sixt Chapter speaketh Moses but of two and here of seauen A. Here hee speaketh of the number of the cleane which is seauen there hee spake not of the number but of the order how they should be receiued which was two and two that is the Male and his Female and not either more Males or more Females Q. How were so many kinds of creatures brought into the Arke A. Noe did not wander vp and downe the world to gather them as Philo thought for that required long time and intollerable labour neither did they swimme to the Arke when the flood came as others thinke for they were in the Arke before the flood came and the doore of the Arke was shut vpon them also before the flood but they were driuen thither by the power of God and the ministry of Angels Non hominis actu Sed dei natu saies Augustin lib. 15. de Ciuit. cap. 17. Q. Why was God so carefull that euery Male should haue his Female A. By this God doth the second time confirme marriage for hee hath ordained it in Paradise and confirmed it now which to prohibite is impious Christ did honour it with his first miracle it is that type of that Vnion betweene Christ and his Church it is the meanes to propagate mankinde and enlarge the Church and a remedie against fornication c. therefore as here euery Male hath his Feamale so euery man must haue his wife Q. Why doth God giue to Noe yet 7. daies A. Not that Mathusalem should be honourable buried and mourned for seauen dayes as the Iewes doe babble but first that Noe now may make all things the sooner ready knowing the certaine day of the flood secondly to show how vnwilling God is yet to destroy the world if they will â—…epent therefore he giueth yet seauen dayes to see if they will forsake their euill waies Q. Why would God haue it raine fortie dayes A. So long time God did send raine because he would destroy all the creatures with water secondly hee would not drowne all the world at an instant but in the space of fortie dayes that they might now haue the more time to consider how iust God was in performing his promise and that it was no Fable that Noe did preach to them concerning the comming of the flood and as God was fortie daies in pooring down his wrath so was Moyses Elias and Christ forty dayes in fasting fortie yeares did the people wander in the Desart fortie dayes respit was giuen to Niniue fortie daies did Ezechiel beare the sinne of Iuda fortie daies did Christ conuerse with his Disciples after his resurrection and thrice fortie yeares that is a hundred and twentie were giuen to the old world to repent Q. What yeare of the world was the sloud sâ—…nt A. The 1656 yeare of the world which was the 600. yeare of Noah in the which yeare Mathusalem died then the computation of the Septuagints is false which maketh their yeare to be the 2242. yeare of the world Q. What month was this which Moses calleth the second month A. Some doe thinke that this is not the second moneth of the yeare but the second moneth of Noahs life So that now Noah was 600. yeare old and two moneths Others againe thinke that this is the second month of the yeare the which had two beginnings the one at the moone which was next the equinoctiall vernall the other at the equinoctiall autumnall that beginning of the yeare was sacred and appointed by God Exod. 12. 2. this beginning waâ—… ciuill then in ecclesiasticall matters April was the second moneth but in ciuill affaires October was the second and which of these two Moses meanes here it is vncertaine yet it is most probable that he meaneth of April 1. to exâ—…ol Gods power the more who did then send the â—…lood when naturally the springs doe begin to dry and the ayre to be clearer from cloudes 2. to aggrauate their