from one man that is Christ Iesus For as by the first Adam sin came into the world and by sin death and damnation so by the second Adam that sinne is pardoned and man made partaker of eternall happinesse And that these things might be the more apparant vnto thee I haue described the Townes Cities and places mentioned in their seuerall Trauels both what they were in former times and what they are at this present That so by the due consideration of both thou mightst obserue the mutation and change of estates since through the revolution of times those things which seeme most permanent haue within the compasse of a few yeares beene subuerted and the ruines of those Cities which haue been greatest left to make euident lamentable examples of vast and vnheard of destructions from whence such as haue any small knowledg of the Spirit may draw such comfortable resolutions that neither pouerty can subuert them nor riches and honor exalt them but according to S. Iames ca. 1. They may possesse themselues in peace since neither the prosperitie of the world is permanent nor the aduersitie thereof intolerable The knowledge of both which how soeuer to some it may seeme ridiculous yet to such as are at all touched with the sence of worldly affaires it cannot chuse but take a deep impression and draw them thence to the knowledge of Christ Iesus and of his doctrine To which end and for which purpose I haue principally endeauored to publish this Treatise that so comparing the estate of man in this present world with the estate of grace in the world to come they might perceiue the impotencie of the one and the permanencie of the other and from both draw immoueable Axiomes That there can be no saluation where there is no humilitie nor no prosperity where there is not a knowledge of Christ Iesus in his humanitie and thence gather That the afflictions of this world to which hee is most subiect through the whole course of his life is the ready means to honor and immortal glory But that these things may the better appeare vnto thee I will endeauor to lay before thee the beginning and so farre as the holy Scripture leads mee the ending of our Sauiour From whence thou mayst draw such comfortable resolutions that in what estate soeuer thou art whether in prosperitie or aduersitie thou mayst therewith rest content c. Of Zacharias the father of Iohn Baptist ZAcharias or Zachariahu signifies Gods remembrance This man was the father of Iohn the Baptist being a Priest of the Tribe of Aaron and dwelling at a Towne called Abia of which you may reade 1 Chr. 24. There were three famous men of this name as Basilius saith One that was a Prophet of the Lord and liued 520 yeares before the birth of Christ Zachar. 1. And another that was the sonne of Iehoiada the high-Priest who at the command of that ingrateful King Ioas was stoned to death in the vpper Court of the Temple 2 Chr. 24. And a third which was this Zacharias the father of Iohn Baptist and son of Barachias that is The Blessed who according to the opinion of Basil was slain for no other cause but for saying that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary This man had to wife Elizabeth of the posteritie of the high-Priest Aaron and by her had a son called Iohn so 〈◊〉 of the Lord who was afterward called Iohn the Baptist Elizabeth signifies The Rest of God being deriued of Eli and Scabbath that is The Rest and Sabbath of the Lord. The inhabitants of the Holy land take vpon them euen to this day to shew the house where Zacharias Elizabeth dwelt in a town that standeth on the right hand of the way as you go from Emmaus to Ierusalem But saint Luke ca. 1. saith That Zacharias dwelt not in a town or field but i◠the city of Iudah which was scituated in the mountain of Iudah Risnerus and Iohannes Hedenus write That Zacharias dwelt in Ierusalem in that part of the city scituated vpon mount Bezetha as in the first booke of the description of Ierusalem hath bin declared And this seemeth to be verified out of Nehemia cap. 3. Yet there are some of opinion that hee dwelt at Hebron because that was the chiefe city of the tribe of Iuda and a town of the Priests The Trauels of the Virgin Mary MAry if it be deriued of Marah signifieth such a person as is oppressed with carefulnesse and griefe one that is layd open to all miserie and calamity prest with continual vexation and mourning She was born vpon the 8 day of September 14 yeares before the birth of Christ and in the fifteenth of her age brought forth her only begotten son according to S. Hierome and others Her fathers name was Eliakim of the house of Dauid Vpon the fiue and twentieth day of March in the same yeare that our Sauior Christ was born Mary being then 14 yeares old and the Angel Gabriel declared vnto her the embassie of the Conception of our Lord Iesus Christ A little after about the beginning of April an M. 3967 she went from Nazareth in great haste ouer the hils to Ierusalem 64 miles to the house of Zacharias and there saluted her cousin Elizabeth Luk. 1. From thence she returned back again to Nazareth which was 64 miles And when the command came out from Augustus that all the world should be taxed then Ioseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethlehem 72 miles and there the time of Maries deleuerance drew neere and lo she bare the Son of the liuing God our Lord and Sauior Christ Luke 2. From Bethlehem Ioseph and Mary brought the childe Iesus to Ierusalem and presented him in the Temple which was 6 miles Luke 2. And when they had accomplished all things according to the Law they returned backe again to Nazareth a towne in Galilee 64 miles From Nazareth they went backe again to Bethlem 72 miles Thither the Wise men comming out of the East brought the childe Iesus Gold Frankincense and Myrrh Mat. 2. From Bethlehem the same night that Herod caused all the infants of two yeares old and vnder to be slain Ioseph and Mary fled with the childe Iesus to Hermopolis a city in Egypt which was 296 miles Mat. 2. Zozom lib. 6. From thence they returned back again with the child Iesus to Nazareth 368 miles for they were greatly afraid lest Archilaus who succeeded his father Herod in the gouerment of the Iews would seeke the childes life Mat. 2. From Nazareth Ioseph and Mary came euery yere to Ierusalem which was 64 miles to the feast of the Passeouer and so many miles backe againe which for ten yeares continuance came to 1280 miles When Christ was twelue yeares of age and at the beginning of the thirteenth he went with his parents from Nazareth to the feast of the Passeouer which was 64 miles Luke 2. And when the daies of the feast of the Passeouer were
from thence the red sea the arme therof where Pharaoh was drowned when he followed the children of Israel may easily be discerned Mount Sina is much higher than this and lyeth two daies journey from the Red sea Vpon the top whereof are many rocks and great stones From thence you may see sundry places as a mountain lying in Thebaidaes the great hauen of the red Sea the Desart of Elim and Sur with many others The desarts round about take the name from the height thereof and are called The desarts of Sina Of the Graues of Concupiscence THese Graues are 112 miles towards the South from Ierusalem where the children of Israel lusting after meat were fed by the Lord with Quailes and for their disobedience died miserably It was also called Tabarah which signifies an inflammation being deriued from Baar to burne because here the wrath of the Lord was kindled against them and he strooke the vttermost parts of their Tents with fire from heauen and consumed them Numb 11. Of Hazeroth THis is a place in the desart some 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the South the name thereof being deriued from Chazer which signifieth a Caue about the mouth whereof there groweth long Grasse And therefore from hence Chazer is also taken for Grasse Here Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron was strooke with leprosie Of Rithmah RIthmah takes name from Iuniper for Rothaem in Hebrew signifies Iuniper It is distant from Ierusalem 112 miles toward the Southeast Heere the children of Israel pitched their Tents Num. 33. and here it is very likely the Angell of the Lord appeared to the prophet Eliah and brought him meat and drinke Of Rimmon Parez IN this place the children of Israel the 16 remoue made their abiding being 108 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-East Here it is thought the children of Israell found great store of Pomegranats whereof diuision was made amongst them For Rimmon is as much as a grained apple or a Pomegranat Parez He hath diuided Of Libnah LIbnah is the 17 place where the children of Israel stayed and was so called of the aboundance of Frankincence that was found there for Libnah signifies white Frankincense This is 104 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Of Rissa HEere the children of Israel pitcht their Tents being about 100 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast it took the name from the fruitfulnesse and aboundance of floures herbes that grow there and is deriued from Rasa which signifies to make moist for there were vsually exceeding pleasant and sweet dewes Of Chehelah CHehelah was the nineteenth place where the children of Israel made their abiding in the desart being 92 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Num. 33. and signifies a Congregation or Church being deriued from Rahal that is He hath assembled This was a type of the Church where all the Elect and faithful people of God trauel through the wildernes of this wicked world Of Saphar SAphar is a mountaine in the desart of Arabia Petraea 88 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest This was the twentieth Remoue the name of the place beeing so called partly of their tents partly of the roundnesse of the mountains Of Harada HArada was full of wilde beasts which strook the people into a mighty feare so called as beeing deriued from Charada which signifies terror or trembling Here the children of Israell stayed the 21 time it being 80 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Of Thahath THis is a certain valley 68 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest and is deriued from Tachath which signifieth a ceriain Plaine or low place Of Maceheloth THis was the 22 abiding of the Israelites beeing 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Here a congregation of the tribes of Israel was called for Maccheloth signifieth a congregation or meeting together Somtimes it is taken for the Church being deriued from Rahal i. He assembleth together Of Tharah THis was a memorable place in the Wildernesse where the Israelites had a breathing time for now growing neere to the borders of the land of Canaan after so many journies they began to rest themselues because of the warres they were shortly to vndertake And it is deriued of Roah and Tarah which signifieth a breathing time Here was the 24 mansion of the Israelites Of Mithca HEre was the 25 mansion of the Israelites being but 56 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest in the vtmost borders of the land of Canaan and no doubt tooke the name from the delightfull and pleasant taste of Grapes For Mitka signifies the same that Mithetk that is to say sweetnesse and pleasantnesse Of Cades Barnea CAdes Barnea a citie of the Idumaeans being deriued of Kadas and Barah that is A holy place is fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the South from this place Moses sent spies into the land of Canaan who brought of the fruit of the Land but all of them discouraged the people onely Caleb wherefore they murmured and the Lord was angry and would not suffer them to enter into the land of Promise So turning their journey they went to Exeongaber 148 miles so that they trauelled in the desart 40 yeares before they could enter into the land of Promise Of this you may reade Gen. 14.16.20 Num. 13.27.33.34 Deut. 1. Psal 29. Ezech. 47. Of Chasmona IN this place the children of Israel set vp their tents a little before they sent spies into the land of Canaan it is not far from Cades Barnea towards the South For the twelue Spies were not sent from the Citie of Cades Barnea but from their Tents and of this still distribution or sending for one out of euery Tribe was chosen it tooke the name For Casmona signifies a still distribution being deriued of Chasca and Manah hee stilly distributed Of Moseroth MOseroth was the 27 mansion of the children of Israel in the wildernesse and distant from Ierusalem 72 miles towards the South where the Lord caused them to returne backe for their murmuring towards the South that so they might liue just forty yeares in the wildernesse Num. 14.33 This place seemeth to take the name therof from Traditions for there Moses repeated to the Israelites the Law of the Lord and for this cause their tents were called Moseroth which signifies Traditions and is deriued of Masar that is to Preach Of Benei Iaacon THis was the 28 mansion of the Israelites so called because there their tents were fairly set vp with pleasant walkes and places about them for Benei Iaaecon signifieth a Building or faire walk being deriued of Bana and Akah that is Hee hath set vp an house and was 96 miles from Ierusalem Southward Num. 33. Of Hor Gidgad AT this mountaine the children of Israel staied a while because it was a fertill and pleasant place as Moses himselfe witnesseth It is 112 miles from Ierusalem toward the South being deriued of Harar a Mountain and Glebam a Plough Plin. l. 20 cp 20. Of Iotbatha THis
all speed pursued the enemy and in the way as hee went he found an Aegyptian who a little before the Amalekits had left there because he was vnable to follow them This Aegyptian guided Dauid to the tents of the Amalekits who suspecting no such euill were making merry with the booty that they had taken But Dauid with the rest of his company so manfully behaued themselues that they gaue the Amalekites a sudden ouerthrow and as it often hapneth to such as are negligent and carelesse he tooke away from them their former bootie and put most of them to the sword This battell was fought some 8 or 12 miles from Ziclag as by the circumstance of the history may appeare From this slaughter he returned backe to Ziclag which is 12 miles and repaired it to euery neighbouring citie sending a part of the prey Here hee had certaine intelligence of the successe of the Israelites in their wars against the Philistins and of the death of Saul and Ionathan which hee bitterly lamented 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 1. These things hapned in the 10 yeare after Samuel had annointed Dauid King From Ziclag he went to Hebron a metropolitane Citie of the tribe of Iuda being a towne of refuge belonging to the Leuites which was 16 miles At this time Dauid was about the age of thirtie yeares and was annointed King by the Tribe of Iudah in the yeare of the World 2891 and before Christ 1077. Here he kept his Court seuen yeares and six moneths From hence also he sent messengers to Iabes in Gilead 44 miles to signifie his gracious acceptance of that fauour which they shewed vnto Saul in burying of his body there 2 Sam. 1. 1 Chr. 12. From Hebron Dauid went to Ierusalem 22 miles which then was called Iebus being possessed of the Iebusites but he woon it with strong hand and thrust them out of it and in mount Sion set vp the city Millo which was after called the city of Dauid and signifies A place of plenty He began his raigne in Ierusalem in the 38 yere of his age and 7 of his raigne In this place also he set vp his house made of Cedar wood of which Hyram King of Tyrus sent him great plenty from Mount Libanus distant from thence 104 miles 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 12. From thence he went to the valley of Rephaim some 3 miles from Ierusalem in the way that leadeth to the citie of Bethlem where he fought a memorable fight against the Philistines and ouercame them for which cause it was also called Baal-Perizim because by the helpe and assistance of God he had conquered the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 5. After he had dispersed the enemies hee returned to Ierusalem which is 4 miles The Philistines came the same yeare into the valley of Rephaim againe and pitched their tents within three miles and a halfe of Ierusalem and the Lord gaue Dauid a signe that when he heard a noyse in the mulberry trees hee should set vpon the enemy so Dauid went forth and close by the towne of Gaeba and Kiriath-jearim about two miles from Ierusalem Westward he set vpon the enemie and gaue them the second ouerthrow 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 15. From thence Dauid followed the enemy to Gaza which was 18 miles 2 Sam. 5. In the 10 yeare of his raigne from his first beginning in Hebron Dauid assembled all the Princes Priests and chiefe men of Israel to the number of 30000 which inhabited from Sechor till you come to Chaemah a citie of Nepthalie at the foot of mount Libanus euen 163 miles off These men assembled themselues in the citie of Ierusalem and from thence they with Dauid went to Kiriath-jearim which was about a mile to fetch the Arke of the Couenant from thence into the city of Dauid 1 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. From Kiriath-jearim Dauid and all his traine returned backe again to Ierusalem which was about a mile and they placed the Arke of the Lord in a new cart and caused it to be drawne with Oxen which turned out of the way to the threshing floure of Nachon where Vza rashly and inconsiderately touching the Arke of God contrary to the Diuine Law was presently slaine by the Lord in the way and that place was called Paeri-Vza that is The breach of Vza For he was not of the Tribe of Aaron to whom it was only lawfull to touch the Arke therfore the Lord strooke him that he died miserably wherefore Dauid being terrified by this example of Gods seueritie would not that day bring the ark of the Lord into Ierusalem but carried it to the house of a certaine Nobleman called Obed-Aedom a Gittite who dwelt not far from Ierusalem but when it was told Dauid that the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Aedom and all his family because the arke was there Dauid went from Ierusalem with a great multitude of people to the house of Obed-Aedom who as is said before dwelt not farre from Ierusalem yet there are some that say he was an excellent musitian in Ierusalem and dwelt in Mount Acra that is in the lower citie and from thence Dauid fetcht the Arke of the Lord into the vpper citie which stood vpon mount Sion but I hold the other opinion to be the more probable When the Arke was carried by the Priests Dauid girt himself with a linnen Ephod which kinde of garment the Priests of the inferior order vsed to weare and danced before it singing Psalms and hymnes to the praise and glory of God and with great state brought it to the citie of Ierusalem with the sound of Trumpets and instruments of musick and placed it in the middle of the Tabernacle which they had curiously erected in Mount Sion in the vpper citie which was also called the citie of Dauid This hapned in the tenth yere of his raigne at which time Michal Sauls daughter despised him in her heart and laughed at him but God gaue her a due recompence as you may reade 2 Sam. 6. and him a just reward for he promised by the Prophet Nathan That of his posteritie and bloud the King of Kings and Sauiour of the world should be borne In the yere following Dauid inuaded the land of the Philistins and the citie of Gath which with strong hand he woon this was 34 miles from Ierusalem From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem 34 miles In the twelfth yere of his raigne he afflicted the Moabits with cruel war and destroyed two of their armies with the sword and the rest of the multitude made tributarie which was 24 miles 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19. He returned thence to Ierusalem with great triumph and joy 24 miles In the 13 yeare of his raigne Anno mundi 2903 and before Christ 1065 he made an expedition vnto Zoba which Iosephus calleth Sophenam and is in Armenia neere to Masia or Mount Taurus 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which you may reade before Dauid in this place woon
lower he gaue Nicanor a great ouerthrow and put him with 35000 of his host to the sword 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. From Adara and Bethoron the lower hee followed the enemies to Gaza a Citie of the Philistines which was 44 miles 1 Mac. 9. From Gaza he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles there he caused the arme of Nicanor whom a little before he had slaine at the battell of Adarsa to be cut off his tongue to be cut out of his head shred small and giuen to the fowles of the heauen and his head to be cut from his shoulders because therewith he had blasphemed the Lord and the temple swearing desolation and destruction to it and the Iewes 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. A little after that is to say almost at the end of the 6 yere of his gouernment Iudas Macchabeus went out with 3000 chosen men in his army and pitched his tents neere Laisa 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the West But when the Iewes perceiued the mighty armie of Bacchides for hee had 20000 foot and 2000 horse in his hoast there were many of them discouraged so that all left him but 800 men Yet neuerthelesse Iudas constrained by necessitie withstood Bacchides and so manfully behaued himselfe in the battaile that hee ouercame him and put him to flight 1 Mac. 2. His enemies being thus put to flight he pursued them to the mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron which was 6 miles where being oppressed with the multitude and hemmed in amongst them was slaine He died in the moneth Nisan which answers to our April Anno mundi 3810 and before Christ 158 1 Mac. 9. From the Mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron his dead body was carried hacke againe to Modin which was 6 miles and there buried So his Trauels were 915 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Mispa Iamnia and Laisa you may reade before Of Caspin THis city stood not far from Iamnia 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This towne though it was strongly fortified yet Iudas Macchabeus woon it 2 Mac. 12. It is called Caspin of Keseph which signifies siluer There was another city called Casphor that is The siluer mountaine this stood in the land of Giliad neere Mispa which Iudas also woon 1 Mac. 4. Of Asseremoth otherwise called Gazaron GAzaron or Gazera was a citie of the Philistines neere Ecron 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It is so called from the cliffe of a rocke being deriued of Gezer which signifies a Cliffe Here Iudas Macchabeus was slaine 1 Mac. 6. Of the Tubiani TVbiani are a people that dwelt beyond Iordan in that part of Arabia Petraea which is called Nabathea of Nabaioth the sonne of Ishmael neere to a Mountaine of the Gileadites not farre distant from Abel of the Vines where it is thought Balaams Asse spoke This land is called Thubin and the inhabitants Tubiani because all that Countrey bringeth forth very pleasant and excellent Wine beeing deriued of Zob which signifieth good and Iaijn wine In this country Iudas Macchabeus continued three daies with his army Of Caphar-Salama THis town stood 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In Herod the greats time it was inlarged and made a very faire city which he caused to be called Antipatridis after the name of his father Antipater of which you may reade more in the Trauels of the Apostle Paul Of Adarsa THis was a towne in the tribe of Ephraim betweene Antipatridis and Bethoron the lower twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest It seemeth to be thus called from a noble gift for it is deriued of Adar which signifies illustrous and Schal a gift The Typicall signification of Iudas Macchabeus IVdas Macchabeus is a type and figure of our Lord Iesus Christ and Antiochus of that wicked Antichrist as the interpretation of their names do euidently declare for Iudas signifies a Confessor praysing God and glorifying his name for all his benefits so Christ the sonne of God is the praise and glory of his father for that in him and by him God the father praised as is euident in the song of Simeon In like manner our Lord Iesus Christ is worthily called Macchabeus for Macchabeus is a syrname of the Iewes which is written after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Machabai euery letter of which signifieth a seuerall word according to the Song of Moses in the fifteenth chapter of Exodus where are these words Michamocha baelim Iehouah that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods O Lord Thus did the children of Israel sing with Moses when God led them out of the land of Aegypt through the Red Sea and this sentence Iudas Macchabeus continually vsed as an Adage and the letters at the beginning of these words being joyned together into one word make the syrname Macchabai Therefore as he had alwaies this golden sentence in his mouth so had he it likewise in his name yea in his ensignes Wherefore this name likewise is worthy to be attributed to Christ for hee is that perfect image and glory of his eternall father Heb. 1. who is called Michael that is Who is like vnto God and Macchabeus or Machabai that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods ô Lord. Therfore he saith thus I am that great God that will deliuer you from al euil Ecce Deus fortis foelix de morte resurgo Tartareosque vnguens Daemona ipse ligo Behold I am the God of might from death to life that rose I binde the Diuell to my will his furies I oppose But Antiochus signifies an aduersarie or an opposer or one that fighteth against God The same also doth Sathan signifie in Hebrew He is therefore a fit type of that great opposer of God and Man Antichrist who fighteth against Christ that Iudas Macchabeus and true Captaine of the Church For as the one viz. Antochus was an aduersary against the Iewes the children of God so the other that is Antichrist is an aduersarie and enemy against Christ and his Church c. The Trauels of Ionathan the brother of Iudas Macchabeus IOnathan or Ionathas and Theodorus hath but one signification that is The gift of God This man the same yeare that Iudas his brother died succeeded him in the principalitie and gouerned the Iewes 18 yeares 1 Mac. 9. Ios lib. antiq 3. But vnderstand that Bacchides chiefe captaine of Demetrius King of Syria went about to take his life by craft hee and his brother Simon went from Modin and pitched their tents in the wildernesse of Tecoah neere to the lake of Asphar which was 20 miles From thence they sent their brother Iohn with certaine riches to the Nabathians which dwelt in Medaba in Arabia 28 miles desiring them in friendship to receiue their goods into the town and to keepe them for their vse but the sonnes of Iambri and the Nabathians issued out of Medaba and vnawares fell vpon Iohn put him to death tooke away
commandement of the Lord he made a league with him Gen. 31. 4 From mount Gilead hee went to Mahanaim which is 16 miles and there he met with the Angels of God Gen. 31. 5 From Mahanaim he passed the water and went to Penuel which is foure miles and there wrestled with the Angel of God Gen. 32. 6 From Penuel hee went to Succoth where hee pitched his Tents 2 miles Gen. 33. 7 From Succoth hee passed the riuer of Iordan and went to Sichem not far from Salem about eight miles where his daughter Dinah was rauished Gen. 33. 8 From thence he went to Bethel which is eight and twenty miles Gen. 31. 9 From Bethel he went to Bethlehem Euphrata which is twelue miles in which way Rachel died and was buried not farre from Bethlehem then Iacob went forward and set vp his Tents neere to the Tower of Eder a mile from Bethlehem towards the South Gen. 35. 10 From Bethlehem Euphrata and the Tower of Eder he returned againe to the valley of Mamre neere Hebron to his father Isaac which is 20 miles Gen. 35. 11 From Hebron hee went to Beersaba which is 16 miles Gen. 38. 12 From Beersaba he went to the Towne of Ony a little off Aegypt in the land of Gossen which is 168 miles where Ioseph his sonne gaue him honourable entertainement Gen. 46. 13 From Ony he went to the citie * This was the chiefe Citie of Aegypt Zoan which is also called Tanis 28 miles where he was presented to K. Pharaoh Gen. 47. 14 From Tanis he returned to Ony which is 28 miles and there he dwelt and dyed in the land of Gossen Gen. 49. The Description of the Townes and places to which Iacob trauelled Of Bethel BEthel was a Towne in the Tribe of Benjamin eight miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifies The house of God In times past it was called Luz but Iacob seeing in that place the vision of the Ladder with the Angells ascending and descending vpon it and because there the Lord renued the couenant with him concerning his seed and the comming of Christ he therefore called it Bethel Afterward Ieroboam hauing vnlawfully vsurpt the kingdome of Rehoboham caused a calfe to be set vp there for which cause it was then called Bethauen which signifieth the house of sinne and abhominable offence Vatablus is of opinion that there are two Bethels one in the tribe of Benjamin the other in the tribe of Ephraim both not far from Hay but if this should be granted then these two townes should stand within two miles one of the other which seemeth very absurd therefore I dare boldly affirme that there was but one Bethel which stood vpon the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim both tribes bordering vpon the South side of the towne of Luz Iosh 16. 18. This towne of Bethel was at first in the Suburbs of Lue vntill the diuision of the tribes for then both these Tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin ending in that place so much increased this town that they became both one city and so were called Bethel Ie. 28. 35. Iosh 7. 18. From hence there is a two-fold mistery to be apprehended the first of Iacob whose sleeping in this place vpon a stone caused this Citie or Towne to be built and to retaine the name of Bethel that is The house of God So whosoeuer seekes to haue eternall life must rest vpon that corner stone Christ Iesus the sonne of the euerliuing God and by faith bee incorporated into the Church which is the house of God of which Christ the Annointed of the Lord is both King and Priest for euer Secondly as Iacob resting vpon this corner stone saw the Angels ascending and descending from heauen vnto earth so by this incorporation into the body of the Church of which Christ is the head by Faith and Baptisme our soules are made capable to ascend into that heauenly Tabernacle which he hath prepared for all those that beleeue according to that in Iohn 14. I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth vnto the father but by me only And whosoeuer is assured of this ladder that reacheth from heauen vnto earth may well say with Iacob surely the Lord Iesus Christ is in this place here is nothing but the house of God and here is the gate of heauen as Christ himselfe testifieth in the tenth of Iohn I am the doore and whosoeuer entreth not by me c. So that Christ is the head of his Church the ladder that ascendeth into heauen and the doore whereby we may enter into eternall life Of Gilead THis land of Gilead was a country that lay betweene Iordan and the mountaine of Gilead or rather betweene the sea of Galilee and the mount Gilead sixtie miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast for the mountaines of Gilead beginning at mount Gilead extended thence vnto Arabia the stony and seperated the countrey of Israel beyond Iordan from the countrey of the Amonites But that part which lyeth betweene the Sea of Galilee and Ammon is properly called Gilead for when Iacob and Laban made a couenant either with other in the mount Gilead they gathered a heape of stones and making a banquet eat together vpon it Gen. 13. and from thence that mountain and all the countrey thereabouts tooke the name For Laban in the Syrian tongue is called IEGAR SAHADVTA the heap of couenant But Iacob in the Hebrew language called that mountain together with all the Countrie thereabouts Galeed or Galaad the heape of testimonie for Gal signifieth a heape or graue and Galal He rolled or hee thrust into a round heape From whence the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to roule and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a circle is deriued Also Edah signifies testomonie with the Hebrewes being deriued from Id which signifies testaetus est that is he beareth witnesse and from hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Grecians is deriued which signifieth a witnesse This land of Gilead was very fertile and pleasant being adorned with many Castles and strong Cities And in this countrey the Prophet Eliah was taken vp into heauen in a fierie Chariot 1 Reg. 17.2 Reg. 2. The Graecians call this Decapolin from ten cities that are strongly built in that countrey Marc. 7. Of Machanaim MAchanaim was a Citie of the Leuites in the Tribe of Gad neere to the floud of Iordan and Iaboch fortie foure miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast and scituate in the land of Gilead beyond Iordan being so called of the Patriarch Iacob because there he saw the Tents and Armie of Angels which he vnderstood to be his assistants against his brother Esau whom hee feared Genesis 31. For Chana signifieth Castrametatus est that is the Tents are measured out from whence Machanaim is the proper name of a place being deriued from two Tents of Angels which appeared to Iacob That they might defend him in his journey For the Angels of God compasseth
them about that feare him Psal 33. and therefore Iacob with great joy brake out and said The tents of God are here and called it Machanaim This was assigned to the Leuits Iosh 21. and here Dauid was receiued when he fled from his sonne Absalon 2 Sam. 17. Here Iacob wrastles with the Angell Gen. 32. Of Pnuel or Penuel THis Towne was vpon the East side of Iordan close by the mouth of the riuer Iaboch in the tribe of Gad fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast and is deriued from Panah and El which signifies He beheld the Almighty God face to face and for that cause he called it Penuel or Pnuel which is the face of God Gen. 32. The Tower of this Towne was destroied in Gedeons time Iudg. 8. Of Succoth THis is a towne beyond Iordan not farre from Penuel in the tribe of Gad 40 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast Here Iacob set vp his tabernacles and continued for a while from whence it borrowes the name For Sachach signifies A couering and from thence it is called Succha and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Greeks which signifies A shield couering defence or tabernacle Of this towne there is mention in Iosh 13.2 Chr. 4. Gedeon caused the Citizens of this towne of Succoth to be torne to pieces with thornes Iudg. 8. Of Salem SAlem is a town of the Sichamites lying towards the East side of the riuer Iordan and in the midst of the tribe of Manasses fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Sichem where Dinah Iocobs daughter was rauished Gen. 33. 34. in Aenon neere to this place Iohn Baptist baptised and signifies A Citie of Peace and integritie Of Bethlem Euphrata THis town was distant from Ierusalem towards the South six miles it was scituated in a pleasant and fruitfull countrey and from thence tooke the name for Bethlachem is called The house of bread Euphrata signifies fruitfull being deriued from Parah that is to fructifie and Baith signifieth a house from the affinitie that it hath to Banah that is to build so that Baithlaechem doth denote vnto vs The house of bread and other fruits and meats that are fit to be eaten Here was Christ the sonne of God borne that bread of life of which whosoeuer eateth shall liue eternally Io. 6. And here Dauid was the second time annointed King 1 Sam. 16. Of this towne you may reade more in the second of Luke Of Rachels graue ABout a mile from Bethlem towards the North Rachel the wife of Iacob was buried ouer whom hee set a stately sepulchre made of twelue marble stones or Pyramides these stones are seene to this day vpon the right hand of the way as you goe from Bethlem to Ierusalem and from thence all the land thereabouts is called the land of Rachel For when Herod killed the innocent children all the inhabitants thereabouts wept and would not be comforted Matth. 2. Ierem. 31 Of the Towne of Aeder THis was a watch Tower of the Bethlamites about a mile from Bethlem towards the South and was so called from the flockes of Sheepe that resorted thither for Migdal signifies a Tower and Aeder a flocke or heard for thereabouts were very fertile pastures Here the Angels told the sheepheards of the natiuitie of Christ lying at Bethlem in a manger and in the place of that tower there was a Church built which in Ieroms time was called Angelus ad Pastores because the Angels there appeared to the sheepe-heards Here Iacob dwelt for a time and in this place Reuben lay with Billah his wife Gen. 36. Of Gosen and Ony. GOsen was a very delectable and fruitfull country in the land of Aegypt the Metropolitane whereof was Ony two hundred miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest in this Citie Iacob dwelt The typicall signification of the Patriarch Iacob IAcob signifies a supplanter and was a type of Christ who is that supplanter of Sathan and by his death hath broken his head in pieces Againe he is the type of a Christian man For as he wrestling with the Angell obtained a blessing so euery good man continually striuing with perseuerance in prayer shall at length obtaine an euerlasting blessing for for this cause was Iacob called Israel that is the Prince of God in that he preuailed with God so all those that beleeue in Christ are called Princes of the kingdome of heauen because by his mediation they haue preuailed with God and are made partakers of eternall life Iacob had two wiues Leah and Rachel Leah signifies wearied and was a type of the old Mosaicall Church for that was oppressed and wearied with the lawes of Moses and brought forth Priests Leuites Kings and warlike Princes by which the people of the Iewes became oppressed and wearied by extreame labors and at length were miserably extinguished for as it is in the 15 of the Acts of the Apostles The law of Moses was an intollerable and troublesome burthen But Rachel signifies a Sheepe and is a type and signe of the Church of God in the New Testament as Christ himselfe speaketh in the tenth of Iohn My sheepe heare my voice and follow me and I will giue them eternall life Sheepe are naturally patient and peaceable so all such as are of Christs Church seeke after patience and peace Leah was nothing so faire but much more fruitfull Rachel was nothing so fruitfull but a great deale fairer Leah was the mother of Benjamin which signifieth sorrow Rachel of Ioseph who was a type of Christ Of the Trauels of Esau ESau trauelled from mount Sier in Mesopotamia to the towne of Pnuell or Penuell eightie miles to meet his brother Iacob where the singular ciuilitie and humilitie of Iacob towards him is worthy obseruation For hee first sent to meet him then hee did him obedience to the ground seuen seuerall times and so saluted him saying Loe these are the children which God of his grace haue giuing his seruant From whence it may be gathered That it becommeth euery man if it be possible to win his enemy to peace and concord rather by humanitie and humilitie than by force for Esau seeing this kind of reuerence though before he had a full determination to doe him violence yet now he comes to meet him embraces him takes him about the necke beginnes to weepe and kisses him yea such was their loue that they both wept with joy Gen. 35. After Esau returning went home to Sier backe againe eightie miles these things hapned in the yeare of the World 2206 when both brethren were about 89 yeares of age and in the yeare before Christ 1762. Of mount Sier MOunt Sier where Esau and his posteritie dwelt is forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South and was so called of Sier the King or Lord thereof of whom came the Horrites who being driuen thence by the fourteene sonnes of Esau into Arabia the stony where they continued Gen. 36. It was called Edom of Esau and then Idumaea Gen.
much the more remarkable for that as some say snow lieth continually vpon the top of it so that a far off it seemeth white Of the riuer Iordan IOrdan is a pleasant sweet riuer watering the holy land whereof you may read before It is named Iorden at Caesarea Philippi a little from the foot of Antelibanus 104 miles from Ierusalem Northward it passeth through the lake Samachoniten and diuiding it into two equall parts from thence running thorow a great part of Galilee it falls into the sea Tyberias there as it were diuideth it into two parts it watereth that part of Iudaea called Samaria and about Easter which is the beginning of that haruest it floweth ouer the banks and fructifies many countries lying neere it at length it falleth into the lake Asphaltites and there endeth about 14 miles from Ierusalem Eastward So that from the first beginning of this Riuer to the end of it is 92 miles It is called Palah by the Hebrewes which signifieth swift and hidden because it riseth from a certain wel or pit called Phiala which is alwaies full of water but from whence it springeth is vnknown Ioshuah about Easter passed vpon dry ground through this riuer euen then when it was fullest of water Ios 3. So did Eliah Elisha 2 Reg. Here Naaman the leper washt himself 2 Reg. 5 Here Christ was baptised by S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. Luke 3. Of Hazor THis was a town in the vpper Galilee belonging to the tribe of Nepthali it was the chiefe Hold and city of the king of the Canaanites being distant from Ierusalem 80 miles towards the North. This Ioshuah destroyed with fire and sword Deborah also the Prophetesse besieged it tooke it and put Iabin the King thereof to death In times past it was a very strong city as the ruines thereof testifie Of Siloh SIloh the city and house of God was scituate on a high mountain in the tribe of Ephraim 4 miles and somwhat better from Ierusalem towards the North. Here the Arke of the Couenant continued from the time that the Israelites first entred into the land of Canaan till Eli the Priest fetcht it thence in whose time it was taken by the Philistims and he for very griefe therefore fel downe and brake his necke against a stone 1 Sam. 4. The inhabitants hereabouts shew the ruines of a certaine sepulchre standing vpon the top of this mount where they say Samuel was buried but that canot be true for he was buried at Ramath which now is called Arimathea Therefore it seems to be either the ruins of Elies sepulchre who died miserably in that place or else of the House of the Lord which many yeares past stood there Schiloh signifies Happy and peaceable being deriued from Schalah that is to liue at ease and in peace Of Timnah Of this you may reade in the Trauels of IVDAH The type and mysterie of IOSHVAH IOshuah and Iesus is all one in signification that is Sauour or a Defender and did typically represent our Sauior Christ that as this Ioshuah brought the children of Israel through Iordan into the land of Canaan so Iesus Christ the true Ioshuah and Sauiour of the world through that Iordan of Baptisme bringeth vs into that place of Promise Eternall life Where the one and thirty Kings dwelt ouercome and slain by IOSHVAH Ios 10. AS the Prophet Moses won all the land vpon the one side of Iordan so Ioshuah won all the Countrey on the other from the towne of Baalgadan beginning at mount Libanus not farre from Mount Hebron till you come to the town of Caesarea Philippi and to the hill Seir where somtime Esau dwelt all which is 160 miles long and 28 or 32 miles broad The first King that Ioshuah ouercame dwelt in Iericho The second King held his court in Ai. The third King dwelt in Ierusalem and was called Adoni-Zebec that is a Lord of Righteousnesse This King Ioshuah hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fourth King called Hoham dwelt at Hebron and was likewise hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fift King called Percam dwelt at Iarmouth in the tribe of Iuda 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 6 King called Iaphia dwelt at Lachis 2 miles from Iarmouth Southward He was also hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The seuenth King dwelt at Eglon called Debir and was also hanged at Makeda The 8 King was called Horam and held his princely seat in the tribe of Dan in the town of Gezer 16 miles from Ierusalem westward whom Ioshuah slew with all his men Ios 10. The ninth King dwelt at Debir The tenth King held his court at Gerar in the tribe of Iudah 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 11 King dwelt at Harma in the Tribe of Iudah which is vpon the borders of Arabia deserta not far from Ziclag 40 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward this town in times past was called Zephal that is a watch-tower because it stood vpon a hill But when the children of Iuda had ouerthrowne the whole army of the Canaanites they called it Haram a Curse Iud. 1. The 12 King dwelt at Arat 22 miles from Ierusalem Southward which was a towne of the Ammorites and tooke the name from the Asses that were in great troups within the woods thereabout It lay in the tribe of Iuda The 13 King dwelt at Libnah in the tribe of Iuda The 14 King dwelt at Odullam The 15 King dwelt at Makeda In this towne Ioshuah hanged fiue Kings Ios 10. The 16 King dwelt at Bethel The 17 King dwelt at Tapnah not far from Iordan Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward The 18 King dwelt at Hepher 6 miles from Ierusalem Northward part of this towne was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ionas the Prophet was borne in this towne 2 Reg. 14. and is 4 miles distant from the town of Nazareth Southward The 19 King dwelt at Apheck 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward and 2 miles from Iesreel There also the Arke of the Lord was taken and there also the sons of Eli the high priest were slain 1 Sam. 4. This town was in the halfe tribe of Manasses The 20 King dwelt at Lazaron 18 miles and a half from Ierusalem Northwestward not far from Ioppen and Lidda The 21 king dwelt at Nadan 14 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward The 22 King dwelt at Hazor The 23 King dwelt at Simron which town was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ioshuah 14. It lieth sixty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward not farre from the town of Nazareth in Galilee The 24 king dwelt at Achsap 88 miles from Ierusalem Northward which town was allotted to the tribe of Aser The 25 King dwelt at Tanaach 44 miles from Ierusalem this town belonged to the Levits and stood in the tribe of Manasses 6 miles from Iesreel Southward Ios 21. The 26 King dwelt at Megiddo 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward scarce 4 miles from Taanach By this towne of Megiddo Iosias King of Iuda was ouerthrown by Pharaoh Necho
a palme tree between Bethel and Ramath in mount Ephraim eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North the inhabitants thereabouts shew this tree euen to this day Barak the sonne of Abineam a noble Captaine liued in her time at Kades a citie of refuge belonging to the Leuites She succeeded Ehud in An. man 2632 and before Christ 1336 yeares The Trauels of Deborah and Barak BArak went first from Kades Naphtaly to the Palme tree where Deborah dwelt which are 84 miles From thence he went with Deborah backe againe to Kades which are 84 miles From Kades with 10000 men they went to the hill Thabor 36 miles Here as Iosephus writeth lib. antiq 4. there fell such a shoure of raine and haile vpon the enemies of the Israelites that through the extreme violence thereof they were dispersed and Sisera their captaine constrained to leaue his chariot and to saue himselfe by flight neuer staying till he came to the Tabernacle of Iael the wife of Hebar the Kenite scituated in the valley of Zaaenaim 36 miles from the foot of the mountaine Thabor where being asleep by reason of his great journey Iael strooke a naile into the temple of his head so he died From thench Barak pursued the enemies with great slaughter to Haraseth of the Gentiles a Citie in the vpper Galile neere to the lake of Samachoniten 28 miles This citie is 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North Ioseph Ant. lib. 5. From Haraseth he went to the plaine of Zaaenaim where hee found Sisera slain in the tabernacle of Iael as Deborah the prophetesse had told him From thence Barak with all his armie went to Hazor where Iabin king of the Canaanites kept his court and of a sudden conquered the citie and put to death all the inhabitants Ioseph Antiq. lib. 5. Of Thabor THabor is a round high hill scituated vpon the borders of the tribes of Issacher and Zabulon 56 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and extendeth it selfe to the riuer Kison towards the South and taketh the name of light or a pure aire being deriued of Bo To goe and come Tebuah To bring forth fruit and To giue light For this mountaine Thabor by reason of the puritie of the aire is wonderfull fertile and fruitfull There was also a towne at the foot of it called by the same name Here the kingâ— of the Midianites Zeba and Zalmuna were slaine by Gideon Of Hazor THis is a great citie in the tribe of Nepthali 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North which Ioshuah destroyed with fire and sword so did Barak also The ruines of this citie is to be seene to this day The Mistery of Deborah THe word Deborah signifies a Bee and is a memorable type of the Church For as a Bee in all her actions soundeth pleasantly so the members of Gods Church in all their actions sing and sound forth the praises of God or by continuall prayers implore his ayde and assistants with the Bee sucking from the floures of the holy Scriptures the sweet and acceptable doctrine of faith by which the hope of euerlasting life is strengthned in vs with the sting of Gods word repulsing all vaine delusions and idle imaginations the temptations of the Diuel and those waspish affections of cruell and wicked men according to that of Ecclesiasticus The Bee is but small yet bringeth forth most pleasant fruit and presenteth vnto man many memorable instructions And as Plato saith The King of Bees although without a sting yet ruleth and gouerneth his Commonwealth with great seueritie and justice So Christ the head of the Church though he be a delectable Sauiour of soules and without any sting of bitternesse yet doth hee rule and gouerne it with singular justice and sinceritie Of Barak AFter Deborah was appointed Iudge of Israel shee ordained Barak for her chiefe Commander or Captaine He taketh his name from Thunder and Lightning typically representing the glory of Christ Iesus as chiefe Captaine of the Church who with the thunder of the Law and the bright shining glory of the Gospell destroyed the enemies thereof and by the hosts of Angels and Saints at the end of the World will cast them downe with thunder and lightning into that bottomlesse pit there to remaine for euer Of the trauels GIDEON DEborah being dead Zaeba and Zalmuna Kings of the Medianites cruelly inuaded the Land of Iudaea but the Lord taking compassion vpon his People sent them a helper one GIDEON the sonne of Ioas of the family of Abiezer who was borne at Ophra or Ephron a Citie in the Tribe of Manasses not far from Mahanaim on the East side of Iordan some foure and forty miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East and signifieth a Rooter out from GADA That is Hee hath rooted out This man at the appointment of the Lord tooke vpon him the charge of the people and at Ophra which signifies Dust he destroied the Idol Baal pitching vp in that place an Alter to the Lord wherefore he was after called Ieru-Baal taking that name from Reuenge because he had destroied the Idol He began to rule in Israel in the yeare of the World 2672 and before Christ 1296. From Ophra Gideon went to Harad which standeth in the halfe Tribe of Manasseth where he blew the Trumpet From this place he sent back 22000 of his army because the Lord had so appointed But the Midianites hearing of this preparation prouided a great host and pitched in the valley of the hill Moreh so Gideon taking onely 300 with him went ouer Iordan and came to the towne of Iesrael for Iosephus saith 16 miles from Harod where he gaue the Midianites a wonderfull ouerthrow Iudg. 7. hee also tooke there two princes Oreb and Zeb and returned to the riuer Iordan where he put them to death From thence he went to Succoth with his army in expectation to haue refreshed themselues but the inhabitants shut him out of the towne and gaue him many despightfull words This towne lay close by Iordan and here Iacob sometime pitched his Tent. From thence he went to Penuel which is two miles there also they vsed him vnkindly and gaue him bad language From thence he went to Nobach with his army which is two miles From thence he went to Iagbetha which is 4 miles where he conquered Zaeba and Zalmuna Kings of the Midianites who thinking themselues secure made no preparation for warre till they were besieged This was a memorable battell and here the two Kings were put to death From thence he followed the enemy with a great slaughter to Carkor which is foure miles From thence he went backe to Succoth which is 8 miles here he put the inhabitants of this Towne to the sword and all the Elders and Princes he tore to pieces with thornes because they had formerly denied him entrance into the citie From thence hee went to the Castle of Penuel which is two miles and vtterly destroied it euen to the ground and put all
and the Canaanites lâ—sem Dan being deriued of Laeschaem which signifieth a Lion The trauels of the Danites THe army of the Danites went from Zarea and Esthaol to Kiriathiearim and there pitched their tents which is 16 miles Iudg. 15. From thence they went to mount Ephraim to the house of Micha and tooke his carued Image and his Leuite from him which was eight miles Iudges 15. From thence they went to Lais 104 miles So all the Trauels were 128 miles Of Kiriath-jearim KIriath-jearim was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Iuda vpon the borders of the tribe of Benjamin about a mile from Ierusalem Westward It somtime belonged to the Gibeonites Ios 9. and signifies a city of the desart or woods beeing deriued from Kiriah which signifies a city and Iaar a wood or Forrest Here stood the arke of the Couenant after it had bin in the land of the Philistines seuen moneths and stood in the house of Abinadab whose son Eliazer because he was of the family of the Leuites by consent of the children of Israel was consecrated priest thereof to attend and keep it here it remained 48 yeares till Dauid fetched it thence with great ioy 1 Sam. 7. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. Here Saul was anointed King by Samuel here the company of the Prophets that is the scolers of the Wise came downe from the more eminent places where the arke of God was with holy songs and instruments of musick and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul and he sung and praised God with them They called this the Hill of God because the Arke of the Couenant stood in it 1 Sam 10. Here Ionathan the sonne of Saul thrust out a garrison of the Philistimes which held this towne in subiection 1 Sam. 14. Neere to this place was the valley Rephaim or of the Gyants where Dauid won a memorable battel against the Philistims and pursued them with great slaughter euen to the plain of Perizim 2 Sam. 15. The Trauels of the Leuite whose Concubine the Inhabitants of Gibeon most wickedly abused THis Leuite dwelt in Ramath in mount Ephraim from whence he went to Bethlehem Iuda which is 16 miles to fetch back his concubine or rather his wife which was the daughter of a certain citizen in Bethlehem but a bond seruant not free such they called concubines because they had neither the honor to be mistresse of the house neither could their posteritie inherit in lands or goods of their father although before God they were lawfull wiues Iudg. 19. From Bethlehem they returned back again on foot to Ierusalem which then was called Iebus because the Iebusits inhabited there Which is 6 miles Iudg. 19. From thence they went to Gibeah not far distant from the city Gibeon where after Saul kept his Royall seat 1 Sam. 22. Here the Gibeonites abused the Levits concubine Which was almost 4 miles From thence he went home to his own city Ramath in Mount Ephraim and there cut the dead body of his wife in 12 parts and sent them throughout all the tribes of Israel Which is 8 miles So all his trauels were 34 miles Of Ramath THis was a city in Mount Ephraim some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifieth a high and lofty Citie being deriued of Rom that is It was high This towne Baësa King of Israel would haue fortified and repaired after it had bin decayed but hee was hindred by Benhadad King of the Syrians that he could not finish what hee had begun There were many townes and Cities of this name as Ramoth where Ahab dwelt 1 Reg. 22. Ramathaim Sophim or Arimathia where the prophet Samuel dwelt 1 Sam. 1. and there where the Ark of God stood not far from Gibeah was called Ramah also Iudg. 19. There was another Ramath in the tribe of Nepthali Ios 19. all of them being so called because they stood vpon very high mountains The Trauels of the Children of Israel when they fought against the Benjamites FRom Mizpah in the land of Gilead where they appointed to meet for in the enemies land they could not assemble themselues the whole army of the Israelites went to the Arke of God in Shilo which was about 48 miles From thence they went with their army to Gibeah where they lost 22000 of their men which is 2 miles From thence they returned to Shilo and intreated God for aid which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence they went the second time to Gibeah and entred battell againe with the enemy but because they trusted in their own strength therefore in this second expedition there were slain 18000 of their men Which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence the whole Army of the Israelites returned backe again and before the Lord in Shilo lamented the ouerthrow they had twice sustained and with earnest prayers implored his ayd that they might obtain the victorie Which was 2 miles Iud. 20. From thence they returned the third time to Gibeah there with great expedition renued the war because they trusted in God and not to their own strength they put to the sword 25000 of the Benjamits and won a notable victorie Iudg. 20. which was 2 miles Hauing taken and burnt the city of Gibeah with fire they returned backe vnto the town of Shilo which is two miles there before the Lord they began to lament the calamitie of the tribe of Benjamin saying Wherefore hath this thing hapned that one of the Tribes should be rooted out before thee Iudg. 21. From thence they went to Iabes in Gilead and besieged and tooke it and destroyed it to the ground which is 52 miles From thence they returned back again to Shilo with them brought 400 maids which they gaue to the Benjamites to bee their wiues Iudg. 21. Which was 52 miles So all the trauels of the children of Israel were 164 miles Of Iabes THis was a city in the land of Gilead 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast the inhabitants whereof buried the bones of Saul and Ionathan his son 1 Sam. 31. it is deriued of Iabesh which signifieth a dry city Here endeth the booke of IVDGES The trauels of ELIMELECH and his wife NAOMI ELIMELECK and his wife went from Bethlehem Iuda into the Land of the Moabites where he died which is 40 miles From thence she returned with her daughter in law Ruth to Bethlehem Iuda where Boez married Ruth which was fortie miles So their Trauels were 80 miles The first Booke of SAMVEL The Trauels of HANNA the mother of the Prophet SAMVEL HEr husband Elkana and she went from Ramathaim Sophim in mount Ephraim to Shilo the house of the Lord which was 12 miles where by earnest prayers she obtained of the Lord a sonne 1 Sam. 1. From thence shee returned backe againe to Ramathaim Sophim and there Samuel was borne 1 Sam. 1. which was 12 miles From thence she went to Shilo to present her sonne before the Lord and hee remained
therewith Eli to serue God all his life 1 Sam. 1. which is 12. miles From Shilo she returned backe againe to her house and bare Elkana a sonne and two daughters more which is 12 miles So all her trauels were 48 miles Of Ramathaim Sophim THis Citie stood in mount Ephraim not far from Lidda and Ioppa some 16 miles distant from Ierusalem Northeastward and was sometimes called Ramah Here Ioseph whose addition was Arimathia dwelt that demanded the body of our Sauiour to bury in his own sepulchre It seemeth to be called Ramathaim Sophim which signifies the high places of the prophets because there was an Academy or publique schoole of Prophets which serued for the whole land in this city At this day it is called by the name of Ramath hauing some affinitie to the antient name Ramah How the Arke of God was borne from place to place after it was won from the children of Israel by the Philistines 1 Sam. 4.5.6 THe two sons of Eli the Priest Hophney and Phineas carried the Arke of the Lord to Ebenezer which signifies the stone of my help which was 42 miles and is not far from Aphec some 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward Here the Arke of God was taken and Hophney and Phineas died old Eli also broke his necke at this time about the 98 yeare of his age and the fortieth of his rule for hee ruled from the time of Sampson vntill then 1 Sam. 4. This hapned Anno mundi 2850 and before Christ 1117. The prophet Samuel succeeded him in the gouernment of the church and ruled 40 yeares From Aphecke the Philistines carried it to Asdod or Azotus and set it in the temple of their god Dagon but the Idol fel down in the night was broken to pieces before the Ark of the Lord 1 Sam. 4. which was 160 miles From thence to the city Gath which was 4 miles From Gath to the sea town Gaza 12 miles From Gaza to Ekron 32 miles From Ekron they placing it vpon a new cart drawne with two new milch Kine it was brought back again to Bethsemes which was 12 miles From thence it was caried to Kiriath jearim and placed in the house of Abinadab where it was kept vntill Dauids time who fetched it thence to Ierusalem with great joy about the yere of the world 2900 and before Christ 1068 which was two miles So all the while the Arke was from Shilo it was caried hither and thither some 276 miles ¶ Of the Townes and places to which the Arke of the Lord was carried Of Aphek THis was a city of Samaria alotted to the halfe tribe of Manasses some halfe a mile from Israel toward the South and 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward It signifieth an impetuous or violent act being deriued of Aphak which is as much as Hee worketh violently or offereth violence In this city Benhadad king of the Syrians going from one place to another to hide himselfe was at length constrained to fly to Ahab King of Israel to saue his life and craue his aid 1 Reg. 20. Of Asdod Ascalon and Gaza you may reade before Of Gath. THis was a hauen town scituated vpon the bankes of the Mediterranian sea distant from Ierusalem 34 miles toward the West It seemeth to take the name of the aboundance of Vines that grow thereabouts for Gath signifieth a presse or such an instrument wherwith grapes are pressed This was Goliahs country Here Achis to whom Dauid fled gouerned 1 Sam. 21.27 and it is very like that all the Kings of this city were called Achis as somtime the Emperors of Rome were called Caesars There were other Kings of the Philistines that were also called by this name Of Ekron THis also was a city of the Philistins not far from the Mediterranian sea and neere to Asdod some 16 miles from Ierusalem Westward At this day it is but a smal town and called by the name of Accaron hauing some affinity with the antient name Ekron The inhabitants of this towne worshipped Baalzebub for their god It taketh the name from Extirpation or such a towne as Penitus distruit Hath rooted out euen the foundation being deriued of Akar which signifieth To extirpate Of Bethsemes THis was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Iuda Ios 15.21 4 miles from Ierusalem Westward and signifies the house of the Sun Of this you may reade more before The Trauels of the Prophet Samuel SAmuels mother brought him from Arimathia to Shilo being 12 miles where he was to serue the Lord God all his life From Shilo Samuel went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead 48 miles Here Samuel called a congregation and made a solemn sacrifice vnto the Lord of a sucking lambe and the Lord at the same time thundred from heauen and dispersed the army of the Philistines so that they fled 1 Sam. 7. From Mizpa he went to Arimathia 56 miles There he dwelt and built an altar vnto the Lord 1 Sam. 7. From thence he went yearely to Bethel 16 miles 1 Sam. 7. From Bethel he went to Gilgal 2 miles 1 Sam. 7. From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead 36 miles 1 Sam. 7. From Mizpa he went again to Arimathia 56 miles Thither came vnto him the Elders of the children of Israel desiring him to chuse them a King 1 Sam. 8. Therefore he went out of the towne of Arimathia about 16 miles to Ramath which lieth in the land of Ziph not far from Bethlehem Euphrata and there Samuel anointed Saul the son of Kish to be their King 1 Sam. 10. From Ramath he went to Gilgal 16 miles There he offered and shewed Saul what he should do 1 Sam. 10. From Gilgal hee went to Mizpah in the land of Gilead 36 miles there Saul by casting of lots was chosen King 1 Sam. 10. From Mizpa he returned to Arimathia 56 miles 1 Sam. 10. From Arimathia he went to Beseck about 44 miles where Adoni-Beseck was taken whose fingers and toes the children of Israel cut off There Samuel and Saul caused an army of men to issue out against the children of Ammon 1 Sam. 11. From Besecke Samuel and Saul passed ouer Iordan to Iabes in Gilead 16 miles and there ouerthrew Nahas King of the Ammonites and all his host which done Samuel said vnto the souldiers Let vs now go vnto Gilgal and there renew the Kingdome From Iabes in Gilead he went to Gilgal 36 miles There Saul was placed in his Throne royal 1 Sam. 11. From Gilgal Samuel went to Arimathia which is 20 miles From Arimathia he went again to Gilgal 20 miles and there he sharply rebuked King Saul because he had offered a Sacrifice contrary to his command 1 Sam. 13. From Gilgal he went to Gibeon 12 miles 1 Sam. 13. From Gibeon he went to Arimathia 12 miles From Arimathia he went to Gilgal 20 miles there rebuked king Saul because he did not wholly destroy the Amalekites and Samuel himselfe hewed the body of Agag King of the
Ierusalem she returned backe again which was 964 miles So all her trauels were 1928 miles Of Aethiopia THis Countrey by the Hebrewes is called Chus of Chus the son of Cham who was the son of Noah and after Aethiopia ab astu torrida because of the great heate wherewith oftentimes the habitable land and people as also the wildernesse were sorely scorched and burned for it is scituated in the third part of the world called Africa lying vnder the torrid Zone and the Aequator which two by common experience are found to bee extreme hot Of Saba SAba is a metropolitan city in Ethiopia lying beyond Egypt 846 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and tooke the name from a certain pretious stone called Achates wherin might plainly be discerned in certain distinct colors the rising of fountains the chanels of riuers high mountains and somtimes of chariots and horses drawing them It is reported That Pyrrhus King of the Epirots had one of them wherein was liuely represented the nine Muses and Apollo playing on the Viol portrayed by naturall staines and colours so artificially as if they had bin don by some curious workman Of this stone you may reade more in Pliny li. 37. ca. 1.10 It was first found in Achates a riuer of Sicilia whence it tooke the name Afterward in India and Phrygia and of the Hebrewes was called Schaeba or Saba In this city that Queen dwelt who came to heare Solomons wisedom and gaue him for a present 120 talents of pure gold which at 3 pounds an ounce comes to 270000 pounds sterling Afterwards Cambyses King of Persia ouercame it and all the country round about it and after his sisters name called it Meroës It is a stately city to this day scituated in a plain country and compassed about with the riuer Nilus like an Island being now called Elsaba hauing some affinitie to the antient name Saba The Inhabitants of this towne goe naked all but their priuy parts which they couer either with Silke Cotton or some more costly matter and are of a blacke colour which as some thinke hapneth by reason of the extreme heat The land also is maruellously scortched and turned in many places to sand and dust So that the country is thereby wonderfull barren About Meroes or Saba which is made fruitful by the inundation of Nilus there is found plenty of salt brasse yron and some pretious stones Their sheep goats oxen and other cattell are of lesse stature than in other Countries Their dogs are very fierce and cruell In times past there were mighty princes that had the gouernement and command of it and the Country round about it But after as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 29. it was in the jurisdiction and gouernment of Queenes who for their noble resolutions courage were called Candaces One of which name in Tiberius the Emperours time was famous both for the extent of her dominions in which she exceeded all the rest of her predecessors as also in regard of her manly presence and noble spirit The Eunuch which Philip baptised Acts 8. was Treasurer or Chamberlain to this Queene and it is to be thought By him the doctrine of the Gospell of Christ was first made knowne in Saba and in the countrey of Aethiopia which afterwards was more largely propagated and dispersed by the Evangelist S. Mathew who taught there This city lieth to the longitude of 61 degrees and 30 scruples in the eleuation of the Pole Artick to the latitude 16 degrees and 25 scruples So that it seemes the inhabitants haue two winters two summers or rather a continual summer because their winter is much hotter than our summer But when the Sunne attaineth to the 15 degree of Taurus and Leo and in the Dog daies it then lies perpendicular ouer that country and neither their bodies nor houses giue any shadowes In the 61 of Esay it is said They shall come from Saba and bring gold frankincense to praise the Lord. From whence some some haue concluded That those wise men which came vnto the childe Iesus and brought Gold Frankincense and Myrrh were Aethiopians and came thence But this agreeth not well with the words of Mathew ca. 2. where it is written That the wise men came out of the East that is from the rising of the Sun to Ierusalem For Saba according to our Sauiors words Mat. 12. lieth towards the South for he saith The Queen of the South that is of Saba shall come forth in the day of Iudgement against this generation and condemne it for she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Solomon c. But if Saba lie vpon the South as here it plainely appeareth then it must needs follow they came not thence but rather from Persia which from Ierusalem lies Eastward For at Susa the metropolis of that country there was an Academy for the whole kingdom in which were chiefly studied Diuinity the Mathematickes and History So that it is likely by their Art they might attain to the knowledge of this diuine Mysterie and from thence come to Ierusalem which was 520 miles Eastward Therfore this place of the Prophet Esay is rather to be referred to the propagation of the church through the whole world where some of euery nation shall bring presents vnto the Lord. There is also another Saba in Arabia Foelix so called from Zaeba the son of Chus the son of Cham the sonne of Noah and it is distant from Ierusalem 1248 miles toward the Southeast In Hebrew it signifies the city of Drunkennesse or of Mirth but with the Syrians Antiquitie Some would haue it in the Arabian tongue to signifie a Mysterie But S. Ierom interprets it To sound their conuersion It is the metropolitan City of Arabia Foelix and by Strabo lib. 6. called Meriaba being scituated in a high and pleasant mountain full of fruitfull trees There inhabiteth in it the King of that countrey a mightie Prince his Gouernors and most of such as haue authority vnder him The land is called the Kingdome of the Sabaeans but generally Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie of the place for it yeeldeth twice euery yeare great plenty of Frankincense Myrrh Cinnamon Balsam and other odoriferous herbs The tree out of which this Myrrh commeth is fiue cubits high hairy and full of prickles and when you cut the barke there commeth forth a bitter gumme wherewith if you anoint a dead body it will continue long without rotting The frankincense also that is found there droppeth from Cedar trees like a glewie substance and so congealeth into a Gum. This happeneth twice euery yeare and according vnto the season it changeth colour in the Spring it is red in the Summer white This is the best Frankincense in all Arabia Foelix Through the whole country there is a very delectable smell by reason of the Myrrh Frankincense and Cinnamon that is found in it insomuch that if the winde blowes amongst the trees it
West and signifieth a Royall or loftie gift The Trauels of Baesa King of Israel BAesa is as much to say as An industrous and promt man in doing any thing This may hauing slaine his Master Nadab neere vnto Gibithon vsurped vpon the Kingdome of Israel about the end of the third yearo of Asa King of Iuda and began his raigne Anno mundi 2992 before Christ 974 and raigned ouer Israel almost 24 yeares two of which he raigned with his sonne 1 Reg. 15. He went from Gibithon to Thirza 36 miles where hee vtterly rooted out the whole stocke and family of Ieroboam After falling into Idolatrie he was sharply reprehended for it by Iehu the Prophet the son of Hanani of whom you may reade more 1 Reg. 15. From Thirza he went to Ramah which is 16 miles this towne he built and fortified it very strongly 2 Chr. 29. But when he heard that Benhadad King of Syria had inuaded Israel hee left his building at Ramah and with all possible speed that hee could went to Thirza where hee died and was buried 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 16. So all the Trauels of Baesa were 68 miles Of Ramah Of this Citie you may reade before Of Ella or Elah King of Israel ELah signifies a cruell man This was the son of Baasha King of Israel who was crowned King his father yet liuing about the beginning of the 26 yeare of Asa king of Iuda at such time as Benhadad king of Syria inuaded and wasted Galilee He raigned two yeares one of them during the life of his father the other alone in Thirza at the end of which hee was slaine by Simri his seruant 1 Reg. 15. 16. Of Zimri King of Israel SImri signifieth a singer and was a captain ouer king Elahs chariots hee raigned 7 daies in Thirza in which time he put to death and vtterly rooted out all the posteritie of Baasha and then Omri besieged the Citie so straitly that he had no hope to escape wherefore he set the citie and pallace on fire in which he also perished 1 Reg. 15. 16. The Trauels of Omri King of Israel OMri signifieth a souldier or one that deserueth his pay He was made King by the Israelites in his tent while he was at wars neere to Gibithon from whence he went to Thirza which was 36 miles and besieged the same vpon the very day that Simri had put the posteritie of Baasha to the sword and took it He began to raigne in Thirza Anno mundi 3017 and before Christ 951 and raigned ouer Israel 12 yeres the first six of which was in Thirza the latter six in Samaria 1 Reg. 16. From Thirza he went to mount Semer six miles there Omri built Samaria and made it the seat of his kingdome He went thither about the seuenth yeare of his raigne 1 Reg. 16. So these two journies were 42 miles Of Samaria SAmaria the chiefe seat and Metropolis of Israel was built by Omri in mount Semer 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and took that name of Semer who was Lord of that mountaine of whom K. Omri bought it for two talents of siluer which amounteth to 1200 crownes In this citie 14 Kings of Israel kept their Courts viz. Omri who was the first founder of it Ahab Ahasia Iehoram Iehu Ioachas Ioas Ieroboam Zacharias Sallum Menahem Pekahia Pekah and Hosea who was the last of the Kings of Israel that raigned in this citie and lost it together with his libertie Of all these Kings there were but fiue that died naturally for the Lord being moued to wrath by reason of their impietie and idolatrie either gaue them vp into the hands of forrein enemies or by ciuill war amongst themselues they cruelly murthered one another vntill such time as the Assirians destroied the land and led the people captiue Thus the Lord punished with a sharp and seuere punishment this obstinat nation because they contemned the admonitions and doctrines of the Prophets amongst which Elias and Elizeus were the chiefe So that although Samaria was a faire and beautifull city and the country for that cause was called the prouince of Samaria yet notwithstanding that great God the Iudge of all things for the iniquitie of the people caused this faire Citie to be left desolate the inhabitants of the land to be dispersed and the earth for want of due vsage to lie as a wildernesse 2 Reg. 17. This city in the old Testament according to the Hebrew phrase is called Shaemaer of Schomron which signifies To keepe or a Tower of strength You may reade of this 1 Reg. 2. 2 Reg. 1. 7. The Greekes and Latines call it Samaria which signifieth The castle of Iehouah or of God You may reade more of this in the second Volume Of Hiel that built Iericho againe AFter the death of Omri King of Israel when Ahab his sonne began to raigne Hiel a very rich man in the town of Bethel that hee might leaue behind him an eternall memorie of his name went to Iericho which had bin formerly destroied by Ioshuah the son of Nun had lien wast for the space of 536 yeres where contrary to the commandement of the Lord and curse of Ioshuah he caused the said citie to be rebuilt such was the impious securitie and incredulitie of this man but the Lord was angry with him and he strooke all his children that they died The eldest son called Abiram at the laying of the foundation and his yongest sonne called Segub at the hanging on of the gates Ios 6. 1 Reg. 16. The Trauels of King Ahab AHab went from Samaria to the hill Carmel where Elias put to death the Priests of Baal which was about 32 miles 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Iezreel which is sixteene miles there he told his wife how Elias had put the priests of Baal to the sword 1 Reg. 18. From Iezreel he went againe to Samaria 18 miles where being prest with a hard siege by Benhadad King of Syria he broke out of the citie for his better safety and by Gods great prouidence and assistance he assailed the Syrians put a great multitude of them to the sword the rest fled and hee went away with a noble victory as the Prophet of the Lord had formerly told him 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went with his army to Napheck which was 14 miles where he renewed a second battell and therein had good successe so that hee tooke Benhadad aliue and put to the sword 100000 Syrians In this place the Prophet of the Lord reproued him for his ingratitude and obstinacie wherefore Ahab being angry he went from Apheck to Samaria which was eight miles 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went io Iesreel 16 miles where that perfidious Queene Iesabel caused Naboth to be put to death and tooke possession of his Vineyard 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he went to Ramoth Giliad 24 miles and there in a fight that hee had against the Syrians was so sore-wounded with an arrow
Ierusalem Southward and fell by lot vnto the tribe of Iuda This tower was as it were a bulwark for the city of Ierusalem stood in the way as you go thence to Bethlem and so to Gaza Of Zareah THis was a city in the tribe of Iuda eight miles from Ierusalem toward the West which Rehoboam did also repaire and fortifie 2 Chr. 11. There was another city of this name scituated vpon the border of the tribes of Iuda and Dan 18 miles from Ierusalem Westward of which you may reade in the trauels of Sampson Of Adoraijm ADoraijm or Adarah was a city in the tribe of Iuda 44 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward which Rehoboam the son of Solomon also fortified 2 Chr. 11. It is scituated vpon the borders of Iudah and Arabia Petraea betweene Cades and Casmona It signifies a glorious City being deriued of Adar he was glorious The Trauels of King Abia. ABijah or Abia signifies The Father of the sea Hee began to reign in the 18 yeare of Ieroboam his Aduersary An. mundi 2988 before Christ 980 and reigned ouer Israel 3 yeres 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 17. He went from Ierusalem to the mount Zemeraim 8 miles After that hee went to Bethel and conquered all the countrey from thence to Ephron which was 36 miles From Ephron hee returned to Ierusalem 44 miles there hee tooke vnto him 14 wiues and begat 20 sonnes and 16 daughters 2 Chron. 13. The Trauels of ASA King of Iudah ASa signifies a Physitian He began to reigne about the end of the 21 yeare of Ieroboam King of Israel An. mundi 2990. before Christ 978. He gouerned Iudah with great commendations 41 yeares He went from Ierusalem to Maresa 16 miles where in the valley of Zephatha hee ouercame the Ethiopians in a memorable battell 2 Chr. 14. From thence he pursued the Ethiopians to Gerar being 22 miles and recouered many cities which the Ethiopians dwelt in 2 Chr. ca. 14. From Gerar he went to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and offered to the Lord of the spoiles that hee had taken 700 Oxen and 7000 sheepe 2 Chr. 15. These trauels of King Asa make 70 miles The journey and expedition of Saerah King of Aethiopia whom Asa King of Iudah ouercame in the valley of Zephatha SAerah or Saerach signifieth A noble and puissant Lord. This was a mighty and warlike Prince who gouerned Lybia and Aethiopia the King of which countrey at this day wee call Presbyter Iohn or rather Petro Iohannes who holdeth his Court in a faire and goodly city called Hamarich the Metropolitan of all Aethiopia and extendeth his gouernment beyond Meroes in Affrica Many though ignorantly suppose he is a Priest because he is called Presbyter though indeed he is not so but rather a puissant and mighty Emperor But to return to Saerah or Saerach who in hope to extend his Empire into these parts went with a great army out of Ethiopia to the valley of Zephatha in Iuda to fight with Asa King of Iudah 1200 miles but lost the day and returned with great shame 2 Chr. 15. It seemeth that this King was the mightiest of all his predecessors and a Prince of no vulgar estimation because of the multitude and great aboundance of soldiers which he brought in his army for it is reported that there were 1000000 that bore armor and 300 chariots but this great army was dispersed and most of them died miserably as did that great army of Xerxes which consisted of 1700000. From whence it may be concluded That it is not the strength of man which deliuereth him but the Lord. The Trauels of IEHOSAPHAT King of Iudah IEhosaphat signifies The Iudge of the Lord. He began his reign in the fourth yeare of Ahab 1 Reg. 22. The greatest part therfore of the first yeare of this King hapned in the yeare of the world 3033 and before Christ 935. Hee reigned ouer Israel 25 yeares that is from the 35 of his age till the 60. In the 7 yeare of his reigne hee went from Ierusalem to Samaria which was 32 miles to visit his kinsman Ahab King of Israel for Ioram his son some ten yeares before had maried Athaliah King Ahabs Sister 2 Reg. 8. From Samaria hee went with Ahab to the war at Ramoth in Gilead which was 24 miles where Ahab was slaine 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 18. From Ramoth he went safe from the wars to Ierusalem which was 48 miles From Ierusalem hee went to the city of Beersaba the vtmost bounds of his kingdome towards the South to instruct his people in the Law of the Lord which was 42 miles from Ierusalem Southward From Beersaba passing through all his kingdome hee came to Mount Ephraim which was 48 miles and the vtmost bounds of his kingdome Northward beeing some 8 miles from Ierusalem 2 Chr. 19. From Mount Ephraim he went to Ierusalem which was eight miles Thus Iehosaphat went through al his dominions to instruct his subjects in pietie and the true worship of God In euery Citie ordaining Iudges and Gouernours Magistrates Procurators and Assessors committing to their discretion the deciding of all controuersies saying to them Take heed what you doe for the office which you haue taken vpon you is not humane but Diuine and as you iudge so shall you bee iudged for the Lord is with you in iudgement Wherefore doe all things with diligence and in the feare of the Lord for with the Lord there is no iniquitie nor respect of persons neither taketh he any bribes And he himselfe remained chiefe Iudge in Ierusalem to whom any might appeale from the inferior Iudges that so there might be a iust end of controuersies 2 Chr. 16. Afterward Iehosaphat went forth with his army to Tecoa sixe miles from Ierusalem where by feruent prayers the sounding of trumpets and other musical instruments he obtained a memorable battell against the Moabites Ammonites and Idumaeans for the Lord turned the weapons of them one against another and they wounded one another to the death This fight happened in a faire vally between Tecoa and Engedi So Iehosaphat pursued the enemy for three daies with great slaughter and returned with a mighty spoile This was called the valley of Blessing because of this great victorie at Tecoa and began 8 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward and extended it selfe to the tower of Engedi neer to the banke of the red sea 20 miles From Engedi out of the valley of Blessing Iehosaphat and his army returned to Ierusalem 20 miles and went into the Temple with shalmes harpes timbrels and great joy thankfully acknowledging Gods mercifull fauor toward him in giuing him so great a victorie 2 Chr. 20. But as there is nothing in this life that can be said permanent so likewise the felicitie of Iehosaphat changed on a sudden the froward and aduerse frowne of aduersitie seising vpon his prosperitie for ioyning with that wicked and impious King of Israel Ahaziah vpon condition to build a certain navy of ships at Ezeongaber to
his trauels were 120 miles Of Ahaz King of Iudah AHAZ signifies Apprehending or a possessor He began to raigne after the death of his father Iotham about the end of the 17 yere of Pekah King of Israel Anno mundi 3206 before Christ 762. He raigned wickedly 16 yeares 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. For hee was a notorious hypocrite who out of a peruerse zeale worshipped many Idols and burnt his sonne in the valley of Gehinnon as an offering vnto Moloch Wherefore he was vnhappy in his gouernment for God stirred vp mighty enemies against him euen Resin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel who wasted and destroied his Kingdome and straightly besieging Ierusalem conquered Ahaz in a great battell and put to the sword 120000 of his men After that Resin returned to Elath and tooke it so that he lost more than his father had gotten Where being strucke into a great feare hy reason of these aduersities hee sent to craue the aid of Tiglasse Phulasser king of the Assirians who at his request sent a great Army from Niniueh to Damascus 520 miles and there ouercame Resin and put him to death and tooke captiue 242000 of the people of Damascus and sent them into Cyren a country of Africa 2 Reg. 16. The Trauels of Ahaz King Ahaz went from Ierusalem to Damascus which was 160 miles to meet Tiglath Phulasser King of the Assirians to rejoyce with him for his happy victory and giue him thanks for his aid and assistance where when he saw the Altar at Damascus to be very glorious he sent for Vrija the chiefe Priest who tooke a patterne thereof and carried it with him to Ierusalem where he made an Altar like vnto it 2 Reg. 16. From Damascus he returned backe againe 160 miles So his trauels were 320 miles But yet Ahaz continued in his peruerse impiety and idolatry without any regard or feare of God therefore he stirred vp other enemies against him viz. the Idumaeans who tooke a great multitude of them captiue and the Philistines who with their Army broke into the South part of the tribe of Iuda and tooke these cities following viz. Bethsemes Aialon Timnath Socho Gederoth and Gimso with their villages These Cities for the most part are mentioned in the precedent treatise except Gederoth and Gimso Gederoth commonly called Gederothaim is distant from Ierusalem eight little miles towards the South-west and stands neere to the castle of Emaus being compassed about with a hedge from whence it seemeth to take the name for Gadar is as much to say as He hath hedged about Gimso was also in the Tribe of Iuda but in what place it is not certainely known Thus king Ahaz all the daies of his life did euill in the sight of the Lord for which God punished him and all the land and in the 16 yeare of his raigne he died and was buried with his fathers in the Citie Dauid The Trauels of Ezekias King of Iuda Ezekias which signifies The Champion of Iehouah was borne when his father was but thirteene yeares of age which made many questions whether he should succeed him as his lawfull heire in his Kingdome because they doubted whether he was lawfully begotten For if you doe obserue the order and course of the yeares and chronologie in the Scripture you shall finde that from the beginning of the thirteenth yeare of the age of Ahaz to the first yeare of the raigne of this King Ezekias make just twenty fiue yeres Ezekias therefore began to raigne after the death of his father Ahaz about the end of the third yeare of Hosea King of Israel 2 Reg. 19. Anno mun 3222 before Christ 746 being then about 25 yeres of age a little before Easter as it appeareth 2 Chron. 29. He gouerned that Kingdome with great commendations 29 yeares The first journey that he tooke was from Ierusalem to Gaza which was 44 miles there he ouercame the Army of the Philistines and recouered all those cities which his father Ahaz had lost according to that in the Prophet Esay cap. 15. 2 Reg. 18. From Gaza hee returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles there he broke downe the places for idolatry and the brasen Serpent made by Moses in the wildernesse and called it Nehustan a brasen thing that hath nothing in it selfe of a diuine nature and could neither profit nor hurt therefore ought not to be worshipped This brasen serpent was kept in memory of that signe that God shewed vnto the children of Israel in the desart when they were bitten and stung to death by fiery serpents for looking vpon this brasen serpent they were healed But now because of the abuse thereof by the Iewes which turned it into idolatry it was broken to pieces Num. 21. 2 Reg. 18. So all the trauels of Ezechias were 88 miles In the 14 yeare of the raigne of Ezekias and in the 38 of his age Senacharib that mighty Emperour of the Assirians hauing taken many townes and cities in the Holy land would haue also besieged Ierusalem and for that purpose sent from Lachis which was 20 miles distant from Ierusalem Thartan Rabsarim and Rabsacha three mighty Princes Embassadors with a great traine to attend them These men went about the citie to see in what part it was most subject to batterie and might easiest begot so when they came to the conduit of the vpper poole which is by the path of the Fullers field between the Fish gate and the old gate in that place where they might easiliest be heard they called to the King but Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah which was Hezekias Steward Shebnah the Chancellor and Ioab the sonne of Asaph the Recorder went vpon the wall then Rabsacha vttered blasphemous words against the Lord but Ezekias when hee had heard what the enemie had said called all the Elders of Ierusalem together and sent for Isaiah the sonne of Amos the Prophet and they went into the temple of the Lord and praied Wherefore the Lord heard their prayers and sent his Angel into the Campe of the Assirians and loe in one night there were slaine 185000 men as they lay in their tents before Gibeah which at this time they besieged being distant from Ierusalem some ten miles towards the Southwest This great deliuerance hapned in the yeare of the world 3235 and before Christ 733. About the end of the 38 yeare of the age of Ezekiah he fell into a dangerous disease which so farre forth as could be gathered by all likelihoods was the plague for God doth oftentimes try the patience of his Saints with sundry afflictions but yet at his feruent prayers hee was restored to health and his daies were lengthned 15 yeares at which time the Sunne went backe ten degrees according to the variation of the shadow in the Dyall of Ierusalem 2 Reg. 20. Isa 38. 2 Chron. 32. But at the end of the 15 yeares which was about the 54 yeare of his age he died and was buried with his
fathers The Trauels of Manasses MAnasses or Manasseth signifieth forgetting or he hath forgotten This man was 12 yeares old when hee succeeded his father Ezekiah in the Kingdome of Iudah he began to raigne anno mundi 3251 and before Christ 717. This King was a great Idolater and one that put the Prophets of the Lord to death so that it was wonderfull to see what tyranny mischiefe he wrought in Israel wherefore the Lord stirred vp the Assirians against him who ouercame him in a great battell and tooke him captiue carrying him bound in chaines from Ierusalem to Babylon euen 680 miles But after being humbled by his afflictions he came to a knowledge of himselfe and repented for his former euill humbling himselfe with prayer and fasting vnder the hand of God wherefore the Lord tooke compassion of him and stirred vp the minde of the King of Babylon to mercy so that hee loosed his bands and sent him backe againe to Ierusalem 680 miles From that time forward he left idolatry and worshipped the true God adorned the Temple of the Lord with many faire and beautifull buildings and in the 55 yeare of his age he died and was buried in the Kings garden 1 Reg. 21. 2 Chron. 33. So all the trauels of Manasses were 1360 miles Of Amon King of Iuda AMon signifieth True and faithfull he succeeded his father Manasses when he was but 22 yeares of age anno mundi 3307 before Christ 661. He raigned two yeres and then because of his exceeding idolatry the Lord cast him off when he was about 24 yeres of age neere which time some of his seruants conspired against him and put him to death The Trauels of King Iosiah IOsiah signifies A sacrifice of the Lord he succeeded his father Manasses in the gouernment when he was but 8 yeres of age Anno mundi 3309 hefore Christ 659. He gouerned Israel with great commendations 32 yeares 2 Reg. 22. his mothers name was Iedidah and dwelt in a towne called Bozkath but how farre this Towne stood from Ierusalem it is not set downe by any Author This good King went from Ierusalem to Bethel which was 8 miles there he burnt vpon the Altar which Ieroboam built the bones of the Priests of Baal as the man of God that came from Iuda had told Ieroboam 350 yeres before 1 Reg. 13. 2 Chr. 23. From Bethel he returned backe again to Ierusalem which was 8 miles there he celebrated the Passeouer with a solemne feast and great attendance 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. In the last yeare of his raigne he went with his army from Ierusalem to Megiddo which was 44 miles against Pharaoh Necho K. of Aegypt in which battell he was slaine with an arrow about the 39 yeare of his age 2 Chron. 35. From Megiddo his body was carried in a chariot backe again to Ierusalem which was 44 miles and there with great lamentations honourably buried 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chr. 35. So all his trauels were 104 miles The Trauels of Iehoahas King of Iudah IEhoahas signifies The knowledge of God he succeeded his father Iosiah in the 23 yeare of his age Anno mundi 3340 which was 628 yeares before Christ and raigned onely three moneths 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ieremy cap. 22. calleth this man Schallum that is A recompence He went from Ierusalem to Riblah a city in the tribe of Nepthaly which is accounted 80 miles where he was taken prisoner by Pharaoh Necho 2 Reg. 23. From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led him captiue bound in chaines backe again to Ierusalem which was 80 miles and there appointed Iehoiakim his elder brother to raigne in his place 2 Reg. 23. 2 Chron. 36. From Ierusalem he carried Iehoahas to Memphis the Metropolitan citie of Aegypt which was 244 miles 2 Reg. 23. So all the Trauels of Iehoahas were 404 miles Of Iehoiakim King of Iuda IEhoiakim was the eldest sonne of Iosiah that good King and succeeded his brother Iehoahas in the Kingdome Anno mundi 3341 before Christ 627 he gouerned Iudah 11 yeares Pharaoh Necho made him King when he was 25 yeares of age to whom he was constrained to pay 100 talents of * What this is in our money you may reade after in the quantitie of moneys siluer and a talent of gold This money being payed he obtained the Kingdome and continued in great impiety and idolatry for which cause he was sharply reprehended by Ieremiah the Prophet but he being offended at his words sought to put him to death wherefore the Lord stirred vp Nebuchadnezzar the second of that name Emperour of the Assirians and Babylonians who in the 11 yeare of this Kings raigne came to Ierusalem and took him captiue tyed him in two chaines and would haue carried him to Babylon but his minde changed wherefore hee caused him to be put to death and cast out into the fields of Ierusalem for a prey to wilde beasts Ier. 22. 2 Reg. 23. Of Iehoiachin King of Iudah IEhoiachin signifies the preparation of Iehouah This man succeeded his brother Iehoiakim and began his raigne about the end of the 3351 yere of the world and raigned only 3 moneths and 10 daies which was about the 8 yeare of Nabuchodonesor the great at which time he was led captiue from Ierusalem to Babylon together with Mordochae and many other Nobles which was 680 miles This captiuitie hapned 617 yeares before Christ 2 Reg. 24. 2 Chron. 36. Ester 2. Ier. 52. The Trauels of Zedekiah the last King of Iudah AFter Iehoiachin succeeded Zedekiah which signifies The just man of God This was the sonne of that good King Iosiah yet an impious tyrant who by the permission of Nabuchadonezar the great was suffered to be King of Iudah after his brother when he was 21 yeares of age He began to raigne about the beginning of the 3352 yeare of the World and before Christ 616 he gouerned tyrannically 11 yeares 2 Reg. 24. In the 11 yere of this king Ierusalem was taken by Nabuchadonezar the great Emperour of the Babylonians wherefore Zedekiah to escape the brunt of war fled from Ierusalem with all possible speed to Iericho which was 12 miles Ier. 39.52 From the plaine neere the citie of Iericho where he was ouercome by the Princes of the Chaldeans he was led to Riblah to Nebuchadonezar which was 68 miles From Riblah after the Emperour Nabuchadonezar had caused all his children to be put to death before his face and had put out both his eyes he led him captiue to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserable 2 Reg. 25. So all the Trauels of Zedekiah King of Iudah were 680 miles Of the destruction of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar In the ninth yeare of this Zedekiah which was the last King of Iudah Nabuchadonezar began to besiege Ierusalem it being then Winter anno mundi 3860 vpon the tenth day of the tenth moneth Tebeth which answereth to the 27 day of December which day the Iewes till now obserued as a fasting
day The siege continued euen till the 11 yere of this king Ierem. 39.52 2 Reg. 25. And vpon the 9 day of the 4 moneth Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Vpon the 7 of the 5 moneth Ab Nabusaraden chiefe captaine of the army was sent backe by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroied and burned the houses and buildings of the citie of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. vpon the tenth day of the fifth Moneth Ab which answereth to the ninth day of Argust being the Sabbath day the temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudaei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first captiuitie and destruction of the citie of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperor happened anno mundi 3362 and before Christ 606. Three hundred and nintie yeres being then fully compleat and ended from the first yeare of Iaroboam King of Israel who set vp the golden calues and caused them to be worshipped For after the end of these yeares according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 4. the sins of Ieroboam should be grieuously punished vpon the people of Iudah In like manner from the end of the 13 yere of Iosiah wherin Ieremie first began to prophecie vntill this yeare in which the children of Israel were carried away captiue into Babylon are numbred 40 yeares which by Ezek. cap. 4. are called the yeares of the iniquitie of Iuda because so long the Iewes did contemne and despise the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie Of Babylon HOw far this citie stood from Ierusalem you may reade before which by the Chaldaeans is called Shinear or Sinear and signifies To strike vpon the teeth being deriued of Schen A tooth and Naer To strike It may also bee taken for that when a man endeauoured with all speed to execute a thing which seemes to resemble the condition of Nimrod for that in this place he endeuoured to ouercome and conquer all his neighbours from whence this land was called Casdius that is The countrey of the destroyer So changing M into L it is called Chaldeus or Chaldaea The chiefe and Metropolitan citie of which countrie was this Babylon built some thirtie yeares after the floud by Nimrod or the Babylonian Saturne the first great commander of the world according to Berosus lib. 4. who writeth after this manner Nimrod which was accounted the sonne of Iupiter Belus being angry with the holy Priests of that great God Iehouah came with his colonie and people into the field of Sinear where hee built a citie and laid the foundation of a great tower 131 yeares after the floud and raised this tower to such a height and withall of such a hugenesse that it seemed as if it had beene some great mountaine because he would haue the Babylonian people accounted the chiefest and greatest in the world also their gouernor the King of Kings A little after he saith he built this tower but before he could finish it dyed in the 56 yeare aftet he began it wherefore the citie and tower of Babylon according to the opinion of Berosus was begun in Anno mundi 1788 which was 131 yeares after the flood and before Christ 2180. There were two causes wherefore the children of men built vp this Tower first that they might get them a name secondly that they might be safe in case there came another flood to drowne the world It was made of bricke and bittume least the water should loosen it But the Lord turned their enterprises into euill and diuided their Language so that they could not vnderstand one another whereby they were constrained to leaue off their building from whence it happened that their mindes manners vnderstandings studies and principall actions were vtterly changed and is the foundation of all discord and sedition where the feare of God and the true knowledge of Christ doth not preuent it From this diuision of tongues it is called the citie of Babylon this is the citie of diuision being deriued of the word Balal he hath confounded or mingled together Of this city you may reade in Ios lib. 1. cap. 9. where he bringeth in a saying of the Sibels which was That when all nations were of one language they built an exceeding high tower as though they would haue ascended by it into heauen but the Lord with great tempest and diuiding their tongues subuerted their enterprise from whence it was called Babylon This citie was the fairest in those times of all others scituated in a spacious plaine vpon euery side whereof there stood pleasant orchards and gardens it was built foure square compassed about with wals of an incredible strength and greatnesse being 50 cubits thicke and 200 high beautified within with goodly buildings fair temples richly guilt with gold and wonderfull to looke vpon It was in compasse 380 furlongs as Strabo saith which make 48 miles Through it ran the riuer Euphrates by which all things necessarie were conueyed to the Citie without it was compassed with faire ditches fil'd with water like riuers and in the wall there stood a hundred gates Herodotus saith That it was 480 furlongs about which make 60 miles English but that is not so credible The first founder of this citie was Nimrod who in those times was the chiefe commander of the world It is thought that he was the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noah whose name signifies a cruell gouernor or an vnmercifull tyrant And that his actions might be according to the signification of his name he is branded with most perspicuous note of cruelty omitting no violent action whereby he might enlarge his dominions incroching vpon other mens gouerments through a thirstie and ambitious desire of renowne without either respect of equitie or humanitie And to adde euill to euill committed many outrages vpon such as were accounted good men and the Priests of the great God Iehouah from whence there grew in him a more than humane resolution accounting himselfe in this world a god and through this opinion grew into contempt of all good things compelling such as were his subjects and vassals to do him worship and reuerence as to a diuine power which being ingraffed into the hearts of such as followed in succeeding ages they countenanced it with authority from whence it came to passe that he was inrolled into the number of their principall gods giuing him the name of Saturne whom the Hebrewes calleth Sudormin which elegantly imployeth Saturne Berosus saith that the Babylonian Iupiter succeeded this Nimrod whose authoritie I am willing to follow to auoid prolixitie This man so much inlarged the Citie that many in succeeding ages haue attributed the foundation thereof vnto him He ruled ouer it sixtie and one yeares After him succeeded Ninus or as some will haue it Nimrod the second who began his raigne Anno mundi 1909 before Christ 2061 he did many worthy acts during his life and added to the Empire of Babylon many Prouinces
Diuel Mat. 15. wherefore you shall read more of it in the second Tombe Of Evil-Merodach Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians AMilinus Evil-Merodach son of Nebuchadonesar the great succeeded his father An. M. 3388. before Christ 580. In the first yeare of his reign he set at liberty Iechonias King of Iuda and attributed to him the title dignitie and maintenance of a King Iechonias being then 55 yeares of age and 37 after he had been in captiuitie 2 Kin. vlt. Ier. vlt. Whence it is concluded by most That this Emperor did also embrace the doctrine of Daniel concerning the true God as did Nebuchadonesar his father who had before by publique Edict professed it to the whole State caused it to be published through his dominions and therfore shewed fauor and mercy toward King Iechonias And from thence it is thought that those which were impious princes about him called him Amelinus that is the Circumcised being deriued of Mol which signifies to circumcise and Evil simple and foolish Merodach His wiues name was Nitocris according to Herod lib. 1. She was a very magnificent and wise woman set vp many faire and goodly buildings in Babylon and was the mother of Balthasar the last Emperor of the Assyrians Dan. 5. Of Niriglissoroor Emperor of Babylon NIriglissoroor whose syrname was Regassar son in law to Nebuchadnesar the Great hauing slain Euil-Merodach his wiues brother reigned ouer the Babylonians and Assyrians foure yeares as Berosus saith Of Labassardach the last Emperor of the Babylonions LAbassardach the son of Niriglissoroor succeeded his father He reigned only 9 moneths and died without heire male Of Balthazar Nabonidus the last Emperor of the Babylonians and Assyrians ANno mundi 3415 and before Christ 553 Balthazar Nabonidus whose syrname was Labynitus the son of Euil-Merodach and Nitocris obtained the Empire and reigned 17 yeares according to Berosus with Iosep cont App. Alexand. Polyb. apud Eusebium Praep. lib. 9. cap. 4. Alphae hist with Euseb calleth this King Nabinidochus This is that Balthazar saith Iosephus lib. Ant. 10. ca. 13 which Daniel cap. 5. calleth the son of Nebuchadonesar though indeed he was but his sons son as may be gathered from that of Ier. cap. 25. All nations shall serue Nebuchadonesar and his son and his sons son Balthasar signifies The Host of the Lord destroying his Enemies Labynitus signifies a shaken Sword This man as he was celebrating a great feast vnto Venus whom they call in the Assirian tongue Myleta amongst a great multitude of his Nobility and in that vsing extraordinary excesse and blasphemy against the Lord In the middest of his feast and all his merriments he saw a hand writing vpon the wall which left these words Mene Mene Tekel Vphrasin of which you may reade more Dan. 5. Some say That at this very time the city was taken by Cyrus Emperour of the Persians and he put to the sword in those sports pastimes But certain it is that he was slain at a banquet lost his empire and was the last of the Assyrian Emperors but whether at that time I refer it to the opinion of the Reader ¶ The Trauels of the Kings of Aegypt that fought against of Iudah And first of SISACK who made war vpon Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon THat proud and presumptuous Prince Sisack which signifies a Garment of Silke in the last yeare of his regne which was the first of Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon came with 1200 Chariots and 60000 Horse from Memphis to Ierusalem which was 244 miles bringing in his Army a great multitude of people of diuers Nations as Lybians Ethiopians c. With this company he besieged Ierusalem and tooke it wasted the city spoiled the Temple and tooke thence the golden shields which Solomon had made and destroyed that faire and beautifull house which Solomon had built From whence that saying of his owne was verified Eccles That it is a great euill vpon the earth for a man to take care to lay vp riches and treasures in this world yet knoweth not who shall inherit it For those things which a little before hee had with great labour and paines builded and beautified within lesse than 20 yeares after were destroyed and made desolate by this King From Ierusalem Sisack returned with the spoiles of the temple and city to Memphis in Egypt which was 244 miles and in the yeare following he was stricken by the Lord with a grieuous disease of which he died miserably So these two journies were 488 miles The Trauels of PHARAOH NECHO King of Aegypt who made warre vpon IOSIAH King of Iudah NEcho signifies an Enemy or Inuader This man was one of the greatest of all the Egyptian Kings who in the thirteenth yeare of his reigne made war vpon Nebuchadnezar the first and in the valley of Megiddo neere to Magdala which was 244 miles from Memphis fought a great battell wherein Iosiah King of Iudah was wounded to the death From the valley of Megiddo Pharaoh Necho went to the Riuer Euphrates which was 360 miles where he fought a second battel with Nebuchadnezar vpon a plaine neere to Carchemis where hee lost the day and was put to flight From Carchemis he fled to Riblah in the land of Israel which was 320 miles where in the land of Chaemath neere to the lake Samachonites he ouercame Ioachas King of Iudah and took him prisoner From Riblah Pharaoh Necho led Ioachas bound to Ierusalem being 80 miles and made Ioachim his brother King in his place From Ierusalem he returned to Memphis 240 miles Within four years after he went the second time with a great army from Memphis to the riuer of Euphrates which was 640 miles But there he was the second time ouercome by Nebuchadnesar and constrained to fly thence back again to Memphis in Aegypt being 640 miles But Nebuchadnesar followed him with an army of chosen men and conquered all Aegypt tooke Pharaoh Necho and made his sonne Psammeticus King in his place who was the second of that name Of this battell there is mention Ier. ca. 25 26. So all the trauels of Pharaoh Necho were 1524 miles The Trauels of the holy Prophets and first of the Prophet ELIAH ELiah the Prophet went from This be which was in the land of Gilead to Samaria 24 miles where he told the wicked King Ahab that there should bee neither rain nor dew for the space of 7 years 1 Reg. cap. 17. From Samaria he went to the riuer Kerith 24 miles where hee was fed by a Rauen. From Kerith hee went to Sarepta which was 100 miles where he sojorned with a poor widow that found him necessaries whose sun he restored to life 1 Reg. 17. From Sarepta he went to Mount Carmel in the land of Israel being 60 miles and by the way as he went he met Obediah which signifieth The Seruant of the Lord and King Ahab whom he rebuked sharply because of his idolatry Also vpon this mountaine he put all Baals
Priests to death and prayed vnto the Lord who sent rain vpon the earth in great aboundance 1 Reg. 18. From Mount Carmel he ran by King Ahabs chariot to Iesreel which was accounted 16 miles After when Queene Iesabel threatned his death hee departed thence and went to Beersaba 84 miles 1 Reg. 19. From Beersaba he went one daies journy into the wildernes of Paran because hee thought to remaine there safe from the mischiefe of Iesabel which was 20 miles from Beersaba Southward Here the Angell of the Lord brought him meat as he was sitting vnder a Iuniper tree 1 Reg. 19. By vertue of this meat Eliah trauelled from thence to Mount Horeb or Sinai 80 miles and continued there 40 daies and forty nights without meat or drinke There the Lord spake to Eliah as hee stood in the entrance of a caue his face being couered with his mantle 1 Reg. 19. From the mount Sinai or Horeb he returned to Abel-Mehola which was 156 miles where hee called Elizeus the son of Saphas to the ministeriall function and office of a Prophet 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Damascus 124 miles where he anointed Hasael King of Syria 1 Reg. 19. From Damascus Elias went to Mount Carmell where hee dwelt which was accounted 120 miles From mount Carmel he went to Iesreel 16 miles there in the vineyard of Naboth who Iezabel caused to be stoned to death he sharply reprehended Ahab for his impiety and idolatry 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he returned back again to his own house to Carmel which was 16 miles From thence he went to Samaria which was 32 miles where he answered the seruants of King Ahaziah whom he had sent to enquire of Baalzebub the idoll of Ekron concerning his health saying Go and tel your master that sent you That the God of Israel saith Because thou hast sent to aske counsel of Baalzebub the idol of Ekron and thinkest there is no God in Israell therefore thou shalt not rise off the bed whereon thou liest but shalt surely die 2 Reg. 1. Soone after Elias returned to Mount Carmel which was 32 miles where the two Captaines with their Companies of fifty that were sent to take him were consumed with fire from heauen 1 Reg. 1. From Mount Carmel he went to Samaria with the third Cap. 32 miles where hee prophecied of the death of King Ahaziah 2 Reg. 1. From Samaria hee returned backe againe to Mount Carmel 32 miles From thence he went to Gilgal 52 miles From Gilgal he went with Elizeus to the towne of Bethel being 6 miles 2 Reg. 2. From thence to Iericho 4 miles 2 Reg. 2. From Iericho hee and Elizeus went to Iordan which was sixe miles through which riuer they went vpon dry ground Now as they were speaking one to another vpon the East side of the riuer behold a fiery chariot came with fiery horses and tooke Elias vp aliue into heauen after he had gouerned the Church 30 yeres an mundi 3056 and before Christ 912 2 Reg. 2. So all the Trauels of Eliah the Prophet were 1033 miles Of the Cities and places to which he trauelled Of Thisbe IN this towne the Prophet Eliah was borne it being scituated in the land of Gilead beyond Iordan 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast It taketh the name from Captiuitie being deriued of Chabah he hath led into captiuitie Of Kerith THe riuer Kerith where the Rauens fed Elias runneth from Mount Ephraim between Bethel and Iericho 8 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and so passing along towards the East falleth into the riuer Iordan 1 Reg. 17. The Kerethites were such as garded the person of the King which in the Prophet Dauids time were called mighty men taking their name from striking and cutting being deriued of Charath he hath smitten or cut in sunder Of Zarpath or Sarepta THis was a Citie of the Sidonians where they found much mettall of diuers kindes lying betweene Tyrus and Sydon 112 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and taketh the name from Zoraph which signifies To trie or burne with fire There is at this time but eight houses in all the towne although by the ruines it seemeth to haue beene in times past a very faire citie The inhabitants thereof take vpon them to shew the chamber wherein Elias the Prophet sometimes liued when hee raised the widowes childe to life Before the gate of the citie also there is shewed a certaine Chappell where they say Elias first spake with the widow 1 Reg. 17. Of Abelmehola THis was a towne in the tribe of Manasses on this side Iordan in the mid-way betweene Sichem and Salem some 38 miles from Ierusalem Northward At this day it is called Abisena where there are found certaine ruines of Marble pillars by which may be gathered that in times past it hath beene a very beautifull citie It seemeth to haue taken the name from a great Lamentation or Mourning for Abel signifieth To lament and bewaile and Machol A company The typicall signification of ELIAS ELias according to the interpretation of Saint Ierome signifies the minister of Iehouah but as others would haue it Eliah is as much as my God Iehouah He was a type of Saint Iohn Baptist who was sent before to prepare the way of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Chirst Of this you may reade more Malach. 4. Matt. 11.17 Isa 40. c. The trauels of the Prophet Elisaeus or Elisha ELisha followed Elias through diuers countries and became as it were his seruant pouring water vpon his hands and ministring to him 1 Reg. 19. 2 Reg. 3. Elisha went with Eliah from Gilgal to Bethel which was six miles 1 Reg. 19. From Bethel they both went to Iericho which was 4 miles From Iericho he went beyond Iordan 6 miles where his Master was taken from him vp into heauen and his spirit was doubled vpon him 2 Reg. 2. From thence he returned backe again to Iericho which was â— miles passing through the riuer Iordan vpon drie ground by which miracle the children of the Prophets viz. such as studied diuinitie at Iericho did certainly know that the spirit of his master Elias rested vpon him Neere to this towne he flang salt into a riuer by which the water was made sweet 2 Reg. 2. From Iericho Elisha returned to Bethel which was 4 miles here the chldren that mockt him saying Come vp thou bald pate c. in contempt of his age and office were deuoured by 2 Bares 2 Reg. 2. From Bethel he walked to Mount Carmel which was fifty six miles From thence he went to Samaria which was about thirtie two miles From thence he went to the three Kings viz. Ioram King of Israel Iehosaphat King of Ierusalem and the King of the Idumaeans into the desart of Arabia Petraea which was 104 miles here he prayed vnto the Lord and he sent them water lest they should haue perished with thirst 2 Reg. 3. From the Desart of Arabia Petraea hee returned backe to
Samaria which was 104 miles where he relieued a certain widdow woman that was afflicted with pouertie and want miraculously by a Cruse of Oyle 2 Reg. 4. Iosephus lib. Antiq. 9. supposeth this Woman to bee the widdow of Obediah the Kings Steward of whom you may reade before who did hide and maintaine a certaine number of the Prophets of the Lord in a caue 2 Reg. 18. From Samaria Elisha went oftentimes to a Towne called Sunem as he returned to Samaria to Carmel which was 16 miles distant Here a certaine rich woman obseruing his often passage to and fro by that Towne built him a little chamber wherein he might rest himselfe after his journey to which place he often resorted and in recompence of this benefit although she had been long barren he prophecied that within a yeare she should haue a sonne which accordingly shee had to her great joy and comfort 2 Reg. 4. From Sunem he went to Carmel which was 16 miles From thence he returned back again to Sunem to the woman where hee vsed to lie which was 16 miles here hee restored her sonne to life 2 Reg. 4. From thence he went to Gilgal which is distant from Sunem 36 miles towards the South here he fed 100 men with 20 barlie loaues 2 Reg. 4. From Gilgal he went to Samaria which is accounted 20 miles to this place Naaman the Syrian came to him to be healed of his leprosie 2 Reg. 5. From Samaria he went to Iordan which was eight miles Here he made a Hatchet of yron that fell into the water to swimme 2 Reg. 6. From Iordan he went to Dothan where the children of Iacob sould their brother Ioseph to the Midianites which was 8 miles here the Angells of the Lord compassed him and his seruant about lest they should haue bin taken by the armie of the Syrians and God strooke the Syrians with blindnesse 2 Reg. 6. From thence he led the army of the Syrians being thus made blind to Samaria which was 12 miles and deliuered them to the King of Israel vpon condition that he should giue them meate and drinke to refresh themselues and suffer them to depart in peace which he did 2 Reg. 6. From Samaria he went to Sunem which was 16 miles here he aduised the woman where he vsed to lie to trauel thence to some other place because of the famine that should follow and continue for seuen yeares 2 Reg. 8. From Sunem hee went to Damascus which was 132 miles there he told Hazael that he should succeed his Master Benhadid in the gouernment of the Syrians 2 Reg. 8. From Damascus he returned to Samaria which was 132 miles where soone after he fell sicke and died his body was buried neer to Samaria where the Lord a long time after his death shewed a wonderfull miracle for a dead man being throwne into his Sepulchre was restored againe to life by touching of his bones 2 Reg. 13. This man gouerned the Church of God amongst the children of Israel 60 yeares after the death of Elias So all the Trauels of Elisha were 730 miles Concerning the townes and places mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Typicall signification of Elisha ELisha or Elischa signifieth The saluation of God being deriued of El that is God and Iaschag He hath saued from hence Iesus a Sauiour because this Prophet was a notable type of our Sauiour Iesus Christ for as Elisha was annointed Priest by the Prophet Eliah so Christ was the annointed Priest of the father and as Elisha did many workes of mercy and myracles to make euident Gods power and prouidence so our Sauiour Christ went from place to place shewing mercy to the blind lame and impotent vpon them working wonderfull miracles that thereby his Doctrine might be made euident to the World and all such as trust in him be made capable of eternall happinesse Tha Trauels of the Shunamite whose sonne Elisha had raised from death to life FRom Sunem she went to Mount Carmel and besought Elisha to come and raise her sonne from death to life which was 16 miles 2 Reg. 4. From thence she and Elisha returned backe againe to Sunem which was 16 miles and there hee deliuered her sonne vnto her aliue 2 Reg. 4. From Sunem hauing buried her husband shee trauelled into the land of the Philistins because of the famine that was to come suddenly after being 56 miles 2 Reg. 8. From the land of the Philistines shee returned to Samaria which was 40 miles 2 Reg. 8. From Samaria she returned to Sunem which was 16 miles So all her trauels were 144 miles Of the Prophet Isaiah or Iesaia IEsaia or Ieschaia is all one in signification with Elisha that is a Sauiour He was the sonne of Amos which signifieth strength and by consequence Ozia King of Iudah was his cosin-german as may appeare by this Genealogie following Ioas King of Iuda Amasiah King of Iuda Ozias King of Iuda Iotham King of Iuda Ahas King of Iuda Ezekias King of Iuda Manasses King of Iuda who caused Isaiah to be slaine Amos Isaias father Isaias had two daughters Sear Iasub that is the rest remaining and was a signe of the rest of the posteritie of Iuda that should remaine and dwell there Isa 7. Mahez Schatal that is a suddē destruction for this 2d daughter of Isay did denote the immediat desolation of the kingdomes of Syria and Samaria From whence it plainely appeareth that the Prophet Esaias was of the stocke of Dauid and linage of Christ for which cause in the fifth chapter of his prophecie he calleth him his beloued He began to teach publiquely in the yeare of the World 3167 and before Christ 800 and gouerned the Church eighty yeares and more vntill the time of Manasses who caused him to be cut in pieces with a saw In anno mundi 3190 before Christ 778 Isay saw the Lord sitting vpon a high throne in great majestie the lower part whereof filled the Temple and the Saraphins compassed him round about Esa 6. Cherubins are glorious and bright shining Angels of a fiery nature For Saraph signifieth He hath turned to fire His doctrine was two fold that is partly concerning the Law partly the Gospell as may appeare by his prophecie in the first forty chapters whereof the doctrine of the law is set forth with sharpe reprehensions for sinne in the first foure of which are grieuous accusations of sinners for breach of the first commandement the other for the most part prophecie of horrible punishments mutations and change of gouernement but principally of the Iewes Babylonians Assirians Syrians and Aegyptians From the fortieth to the end of the booke is contained the doctrine of the Gospell and of the Kingdome of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which hee hath set forth with such excellent eloquence figures and amplifications that hee may be compared with the best Orator that euer wrote The Trauels of the Prophet Ieremias IEremias or Ieremiah signifieth The exalted of
the Lord he was borne in the Tribe of Benjamin in a Citie of the Priests called Anathoth and from thence came to Ierusalem which was two miles and continued there for 40 yeares teaching and prophecying From Ierusalem he was sent to Euphrates where in the cliffe of a rocke he hid his girdle Ier. 13. which was 400 miles From the riuer Euphrates he returned backe againe to Ierusalem 400 miles A little after the Lord sent him backe againe to Euphrates 400 miles to fetch his girdle and loe it was putrified From thence he returned backe againe the second time to Ierusalem 400 miles From Ierusalem he was led captiue bound in chaines with other prisoners to Ramath a citie in mount Ephraim which was eight miles there Nabusaraden the chiefe captaine caused him to be set at liberty From Ramath he went to Mispah which is 8 miles where he continued a while with Gediliah Prince of the Iewes which man had the chiefe command of certaine cities of Iudaea vnder Nabuchadnezzer But in the seuenth yeare of the captiuitie of the people of Israel Ishmael that was of the stocke and progenie of Dauid hoping to obtaine the gouernement of Iuda made warre vpon Gediliah and put him to death wherefore Ieremy went from thence with Iohn the son of Kareach Prince of the Iewes to Bethlem Euphrata which was 8 miles Ier. 41. Now when he had staied a while in a village neere Bethlem called Geruth Ghimeham were sometime Chimeham the sonne of Barzillai liued 2 Sam. 19. hee prophecied saying If you stay in this land you shall do well neither shall any euill hap vnto you but if you depart hence into Aegypt they shall deuoure you with famine and with the sword Ier. 42. But Iohn and the rest of the Princes would giue no credit to the words of Ieremy but went into Aegypt and compelled the Prophet to goe along with them so they went from Bethlehem to Tachpanes which was 172 miles Here the second time Ieremie prophecied vnto them saying Behold Nabuchadnezzer shall come hither and wast and destroy all the countrey of Aegypt beat downe the Images of Bethsemes or Heliopolis and carry away the Aegyptians into perpetuall captiuity Ier. 43. But the people of Israel being moued to anger because of his words stoned him to death So the Trauels of the Prophet Ieremiah were 1786 miles Concerning the townes and places mentioned in the Trauels of this Prophet you may reade of them before except Geruth Chimeham which stood close by Bethlehem it taketh the name from a stranger or traueller being deriued of Gor which signifieth He hath trauelled and Tachpanes which was a Citie of Aegypt some 180 miles from Ierusalem where the Prophet Ieremy was stoned to death it is oftentimes called by the name of Taphnis The trauels of Vrijah the Prophet VRias or Vriah signifies Illuminated or inlightned of the Lord. He was borne at Kiriath-jearim a mile from Ierusalem towards the West from thence he came to Ierusalem and there prophecied of the destruction of the Citie After when King Ioachim went about to take away his life he fled thence into Aegypt 160 miles But the king sent messengers into Aegipt fetcht Vrijah back againe to Ierusalem 160 miles and there cut off his head and caused his body to be throwne into the sepulchre of a poore despised man that it might not be knowne that he had beene a Prophet of the Lord. So all his trauels were 321 miles Of Hananias the false Prophet HAnanias or Chanania signifieth the grace of God This false Prophet was a Gibeonite and came from Gibeon to Ierusalem which was foure miles where he tooke the woodden yoakes from the necke of Ieremiah the Prophet but Ieremiah caused yron yokes to be made in their places and told Hananias that for his falshood that yere he should surely die as after he did Of the Prophet Ezekiel Ezekiel or Iechezkel signifies the strength or fortitude of God He was carried captiue with 3000 others of the Nobility of the Iewes from Ierusalem to Babylon which was 680 miles the same yeare that Nebuchadnezzer put King Ioachim to death within fiue yeares after a little before Easter the Booke of the Law was found 2 Chron. 3. He began to prophecie in Babylon Anno mundi 3356 before Christ 612 at which time he saw his first visions neere to the Riuer Chebar Of the Riuer Chebar THe riuer Chebar was neere Babylon in Chaldaea vpon the borders of Mesopotamia falling into Euphrates and was oftentimes called Aborras according to the opinion of many learned men Strabo in the seuenteenth book of his Geography saith that there is another riuer between Tygris and Euphrates called Basilius Aborras passeth along by the citie of Athemusia and is a very faire streame from whence it is called Chebar which signifies a swift and spacious riuer Neere to this riuer the Prophet Ezekiel saw the Glory and Majestie of our Lord Iesus Christ in a bright shining cloud In this place also dwelt many Iewes to whom hee prophecied and foretold the destruction of Ierusalem by Nebuchadnezzer and the captiuitie of Zedekiah The Trauels of the Prophet Daniel DAniel signifies The Iudge of God In the raigne of Ioachim King of Iudah he was carried away captiue from Ierusalem to Babylon by Nabuchadonezar which was 680 miles and there with his fellowes learned the Arts and Language of the Chaldaeans for three yeares He was then but young about some 19 or 20 yeares of age and liued in exile 91 yeares vntill the third yeare of Cyrus Emperour of the Persians about which time he saw his last vision and a little after died when hee was about 110 yeares of age as may be gathered by the circumstances of Histories and times From Babylon he went to Susan in Persia an mun 3418 before Christ 550 being then 94 yeares of age which was 252 miles where neere to the flood Eulaeus hee had a vision of a ram and a goate which set forth the state of the second Monarchie which was that of the Graecians In this vision Gabriel the Archangel appeared to Daniel Dan. 8. This was in the third yeare of King Balthasar From Susan Daniel returned to Babylon which was 252 miles Here hee interpreted to Belthasar the meaning of these words Men Mene Tekel Euphrasin Dan. 5. From Babylon he went to the riuer Tygris of Hidekel which was accounted 36 miles here in the third yeare of Cyrus King of Persia he saw his last vision which is described in the 10 11 and 12 chapters of his prophecie From Tygris he returned to his own house at Babylon which was 36 miles Sometimes also in his three last yeares of his life he vsed to goe to Egbatan the Metropolitan citie of the Medes which was accounted 464 miles from Babylon towards the Northeast Here Daniel built a faire and artificiall Temple so strongly that it remained vnperished and retained the ancient beautie many ages to the great admiration of all the
be Iudge of all things both quicke and dead and rescueth his Church which is as a rose compassed ahout with thornes oppressed with the tyranny and cruelty of euil and wicked men casting those false iudges and mercilesse gouernors into eternall exile and the pit of destruction And as the Prophet was innocently condemned cast into the Lyons den and had the dore sealed vpon him and to the judgement of man no hope of life or meanes to escape was left him yet by the prouidence of God was deliuered out of this danger and came thence safe and vntoucht Dan. 6. so our Sauior was innocently condemned cast into the graue sealed vp among the dead and to common judgement left as a man out of minde yet early in the morning at the appointed time by the power of his Deitie he raised himselfe vp from this pit of hell the graue and gloriously triumphed ouer it and Death Of the Prophet Hosea THis Prophet Hosea was borne in a towne called Bemeloth or Bethmeloth as Dorotheus sometime Bishop of Tyre saith which was a towne in the Tribe of Issacher not farre from Bethulia some fiftie two miles from Ierusalem toward the North neere to which place Holofernes afterward pitched his Tents extending thence to the field of Esdrelon and the towne Chelmon from whence it seemeth this towne taketh the name He prophesied in Israel eight hundred yeares before Christ his name signifieth A Sauiour being deriued of Hoschiag the third conjugation of Iaschag that is He hath saued Mat. 2. Of the Prophet Ioel. IOel signifies Gods owne as Saint Ierome expoundeth it He prophesied eight hundred yeares before Christ both in Israel and in Iudah He was borne in a village which was called Bothomeron not farre from Sichem in the tribe of Manasses as Dorotheus the Bishop of Tyre sayeth Of The Prophet Amos. THis mans father dwelt at Tekoa a poore man one that kept kine and vsed to gather wilde figges as appeareth in the first and seuenth chapters of Amos. In this towne Amos was borne and followed the profession of his father but the Lord called him to be a Prophet and then he went to Bethel which was twelue miles distant Here he reprehended Ieroboam King of Israel for Idolatry and worshipping the golden Calfe after hee was accused by Amasia the chiefe priest of the Idols in Bethel and bound in chaines and at length Vria the sonne of this Amasia stroke him vpon his head with a speare whereby he was mortally wounded From Bethel being sicke hee was carryed backe to Tecoa which was twelue miles where a little after he died as Saint Ierome witnesseth in whose time his monument was to be seene Amos signifieth A burthen as indeed he was to the wicked Isralites he so sharpely reprehended them in his sermons of the law He liued eight hundred yeares before Christ So his trauels were 24 miles Of the Prophet Obediah OBediah signifies Gods obedient seruant of Abad he hath serued or been obedient He liued six hundred yeres before Christ about the time of the captiuitie of Babylon Saint Ierome saith that in his time there were to be seene in the citie of Samaria the monuments of three Prophets that is of Elisha Obediah and Iohn Baptist But some thinke that Obediah the Prophet lay not buried in Samaria but rather it was the sepulchre of that Obediah which liued in the time of Ahab that hid a hundred of the Lords Prophets 50 in one caue and 50 in another betweene which there were 300 yeares difference The Trauels of the Prophet Ionah THe Prophet Ionas was borne in Gath Hepher which was a towne in the Tribe of Zabulon from whence to Samaria is accounted thirtie two miles here he prophesied to Ieroboam second of that name King of Israel that he should recouer Hemath and Damascus and so to the plaine of the Red Sea 2 Reg. 14. From Samaria to Ioppa or Iapho a port towne vpon the sea shore to which Ionas went when he fled from the Lord was 38 miles But the Lord stirred vp a great winde when Ionas was vpon the sea that the Marriners cast him our and he was deuoured of a Whale Ionas 1. That Whale which had deuoured Ionas with a continuall course and great violence in three daies and three nights swam to the Euxine sea and there cast him vp vpon the shore which was 600 miles Ios Antiq. lib. 9. From the shore of the Euxine sea Ionas went to Niniueh which are eight hundred miles Here Ionas preached repentance to the Niniuites Ion. 3.4 So all the Trauels of Ionas were 1470 miles Of Gath Hepher IN this towne the Prophet Ionas was born it was scituated in the tribe of Zebulon sixty miles from Ierusalem Northward and foure miles from Nazareth towards the South It seemes to take the name from aboundance of grapes for Gath Ghephaer signifieth a Wine-presse Of Iapho IApho or Ioppa was a city or hauen towne scituated vpon the sea where all such ships landed as went into Iudaea At this day the Turks and Saracens call it Iafa lying vpon the Mediterranean sea in the tribe of Dan Ios 19. in a certain mountaine 20 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward Pliny li. 5. saith This city was built before the Floud and in S. Ieroms time there was to be seen the stone to which Andromeda was bound when she should haue bin deuoured by a monster of the sea The Poets feign this woman to be the daughter of Cepheus and deliuered by Perseus King of the Persians whom after she maried It is called Iapho because of the beautifull scituation Some say it was so called of Iapheth the son of Noah who first caused it to be built Of Tharsis FRom Ioppa as is said the Prophet Ionas descended into a ship that he might fly vpon the sea The Latine and Greeke texts reade it Tharsin whence it hapned that many haue thought that Ionas fled from Tharsis a city in Cilicia in which country Saint Paul was borne But Luther in his Exposition of the Prophecy of Ionas doth vtterly disallow of this as false for the Hebrew Text reades it not To Tharsin but In Tharsin that is into the Sea For the Hebrew tongue hath two words or syllables which signifie the Sea which are Iam and Tharsis Iam signifieth not onely a great sea but the meeting together of waters or a Lake So in Luke 5. the sea of Galile in which Christ and his Disciples saiâ—ed is called a Lake yet Ioh. cap. 6. and the rest of the Euangelists call it a sea So also Moses Gen. 1. calleth the meeting together of the waters Iam which may signifie a sea and a Lake But Tharsis or Tarschich denoteth a great sea and no Lake or an high and troublesome sea as the Mediterranean sea is In this Paul trauelled and there standeth many Islands as Rhodes Cyprus Sicilia and others all which are at this day subiect to the Turks Venetians or Spaniards It extendeth it selfe from
it stands in the same place yet doth it not retain the same name To this towne there is a great resort of merchants who bring vp their commodities from the Riuer Tygris hither and from hence conuey them to Bagdeth many other parts of the world The inhabitants thereof are for the most part Nestorians of whom you may reade before in the description of the Sects remaining in Ierusalem at this day They are had in great account and estimation among the Turkes because it is imagined that one of this sect helpt Mahomet to compose the Alcaron This Nestorius liued anno Dom. 429. and taught at Constantinople but after he was condemned at Ephesus for an heretick he was constrained to steale from Constantinople and to flie to Thebes in Egypt where God laid a grieuous punishment vpon him for his tongue began to rot in his head and to consume with vermin of which he died miserably The spirituall signification of the Prophet Ionas IOnas signifieth a Dove and typically representeth Christ in his name For Christ was that gratious and innocent Dove who hath made euident to man his singular mercy clemencie without any shew of bitternesse or wrath Then in his affliction for as Ionas thrust himselfe into the sea of calamity and there was swallowed vp of a Whale which might be well resembled to the grave so Christ our Sauior was cast into the sea of affliction the miserie and calamity of this world and after that thrust into the jawes of death the graue where as Ionas did in the whales belly he lay three daies and then arose againe the earth being vnable any longer to contain his body Of the Prophet Micah THis Prophet was born at Maresa a towne of Iudea 16 miles from Ierusalem Westward it signifieth a bitter field In S. Ieroms time the ruins of the wall of this City was to be seene Micha or Micheas signifieth humble or lowly This man was held in great estimation because he was the first that named the countrey where our Sauior Christ should be born viz. in Bethlehem 800 yeares before his natiuitie He liued an M. 3200. Of the Prophet Nahum NAhum signifies a Comforter Hee was borne in a towne of Galile called Elcosch as he saith in the beginning of his Prophecie This village was shewne vnto Saint Ierome by those that trauelled with him through the holy land in his time it was but a small village called by the name of Elcos and scituated as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith on the further side of Bethabara sixteene miles and something more from Ierusalem toward the Northeast This Prophet liued 750 yeres before Christ and prophecied of the destruction of Niniveh which after came to passe Of the Prophet Habacuck HAbacuck or Chabacuck signifies One that embraceth or a louer from Chaback He hath embraced For as a Nurse embraceth and kisseth her infant so also this Prophet embraced and comforted his people with comfortable doctrine lest by the destruction of Ierusalem which he prophecied should after happen by the Chaldaeans they should be driuen to desperation Paul tooke the foundation of his Epistle to the Romanes out of this Prophet reciting a saying of his viz. The Iust shall liue by faith He began to preach a little before the Prophet Ieremy 650 yeres before Christ aboue 100 yeares before Daniel was cast into the Lions den From whence most of the Learned conclude that this could not be that Habacuck which brought meat to Daniel as hee was among the Lions but they rather thinke it a fragment of a spiritual comedy and therefore worthy to be called Apocrypha Of the Prophet Zephania ZEphania signifies the Secretary of the Lord being deriued of Zaphan He hath kept secret He liued in Ierusalem and Iudaea in the time of Iosiah King of Iuda He was born as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith in a towne called Sabarthaca in the tribe of Simeon Of the Prophets Haggai and Zacharia HAggai or Chaggai signifieth A Priest celebrating the Feast of the Lord being deriued of Chagag He hath celebrated a feast And Zacharias or Zacharia doth denote such a man as remembred the Lord being deriued of Zachar that is Hee hath remembred or recorded These two Prophets prophecied in Ierusalem in the second yeare of Darius the son of Histaspis 519 years before Christ an mun 3449. Haggai began his prophecy vpon the first day of the sixt moneth Elul answering to the 28 of August He sharpely reprehended the people because they neglected the house of the Lord and built vp their own houses In the eighth moneth Marhusuan which for the most part answereth to our Nouember Zacharias the same yere began to prophecie and in his sermon exhorted the people to repentance adding the promise of our Sauior and that he would turn vnto them that would turn vnto him Zach. 1. These two Prophets lie buried 20 miles one from the other For as Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyre saith Haggai lies buried in Ierusalem amongst the Priests But Zacharias neere to a towne in the field of Bethania 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward But in the time of Theodosius the Emperor was remoued and preserued as an holy Relique Concerning that fable and figment inserted into the history Nicephorus I vtterly disallow Of the Prophet Malachi THis Prophet prophecied after the captiuity of Babylon and dwelt in the towne of Ziph as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre saith Malachi signifies an Angel sent and in Greek a Messenger for this Prophet preached so comfortably as if he had bin an angell of God but principally of Christ and Saint Iohn Baptist who should goe before him to prepare his way and make his paths straight S. Ierom in his Epistle to Paul and Eustochius writes that some of the Hebrewes suppose this Malachi to haue been Esdras the Scribe who was sent by Artaxerxes Longimanus Emperour of the Persians to restore the commonwealth of Israel in the yeare before Christ 457. An Instruction how the Prophets may rightly bee vnderstood FIrst looke into the Cosmographicall Table at the beginning of this booke and diligently obserue the countries cities that are there set downe and how they lie scituated from Ierusalem Toward the South of Ierusalem the Idumeans Ismaelites Arabians and Egyptians dwell Toward the East the Moabits Ammonites Chaldaeans Babylonians and Persians Toward the North the Phoeniceans Syrians Assyrians and Armenians Toward the West lieth the Mediterranian sea Grecia Italy Spain and the Isles of the sea Secondly this rule is to be obserued that as often as the Prophets speake of the tribes of Israel they vse these names viz. Israel Samaria Ephraim Ioseph Iesreel Bethel Bethauen these are the names of the Kingdom of Israel but to the kingdome of Iuda these names are attributed viz. Iudah Ierusalem Benjamin the house of Dauid But when the Prophets ioyn these two Kingdoms together they call them by the names of Iacob and Israel Thirdly when thou readest in the Prophets the name of any
accomplished they returned home againe But the childe Iesus staied at Ierusalem and his parents knew it not for they thought he had beene among the company Wherefore when they had trauelled a dayes journey that is twentie miles they missed their sonne After they searcht through the companie but could not finde him wherefore they returned backe to Ierusalem being 20 miles where on the third day after they found him in the Temple sitting among the Doctors and disputing with them So the next three daies he returned back again with his parents to Nazereth which was 64 miles and was obedient to them Luke 2. After Iosoph and Mary went euery yeare during the life of Ioseph vp to Ierusalem to the Passeouer and without all doubt took Iesus along with them Thus they continued for the space of three yeares about which time Ioseph died Christ beeing then 16 yeares of age which three yeares trauell of Nazareth to Ierusalem and backe againe commeth to 384 miles From that time forward he continued with his mother till he was 31 yeares of age which was the first yeare of his ministerie Marie his mother being then 45 yeares old was inuited to a marriage in Cana a city of Galile which stood eight miles from Gaâ—ile towards the North-west Iohn 2. Here our Sauiour Christ wrought his first miracle by changing water into Wine From Cana in Galile she went with our Sauiour to Capernaum a city of Galile a little before the feast of the Paschal Lamb which was 20 miles From Capernaum she returned back to Nazareth which was accounted 12 miles In the 32 yeare of the age of our Sauiour Christ which was â—he second of his ministerie Mary went from Nazareth backe againe to Capernaum where our Sauiour Christ cast forth a diuell Matt. 12. Matke 3. which was 12 miles From thence shee returned backe againe to Nazareth which was 12 miles for in this Towne shee dwelt whiles Iesus trauelled from place to place teaching and preaching the word of God Marke 6. And although shee oftentimes went from Nazareth with him to many places continuing still in his company yet then specially when he was to sustaine the wrath of God and punishment for the sinne of man which was in the 34 yeare of his age In which yeare shee would not forsake him till his death for shee went from Galile to Ierusalem with him which was 64 miles a great journey for one of her age being then 48 yeares old And when our Sauiour was crucified shee stood close by the crosse with a heauie and pensiue countenance bewailing the death of her sonne Then was the prophecie of old Simeon accomplished And a sword shall passe through thy soule But after by his glorious resurrection and ascension shee was reuiued and comforted From the passion of Christ to the death of the blessed virgin Marie was 12 yeares All which time shee liued with Iohn the Euangelist in Ierusalem and then being 59 yeares of age dyed and was buried according to the opinion of Nicephorus and others in the garden called Gethsamene So all her Trauels were 3506 miles Now followes the description of the townes and places to which she trauelled Of Nazareth THis was a towne almost of no estimation scituated in a certaine mountaine in Galile the lower sixtie and foure miles and something more from Ierusalem towards the North in the tribe of Zebulon In this Towne our Sauiour Iesus Christ was brought vp Luke 1.2 Some say that it was nineteene or twenty miles from Ierusalem but they mistake themselues yet I will not dispute thereof but follow my authors Iacobus Ziglerus and Tilmanus Stella There is not any mention made of it that is exstant in the old Testament It hath a two fold deriuation the one by Zain and the other by Zade If it bee written by Zaien it may haue a twofold signification since the exposition of this name doth depend vpon the Verbe Nazar which signifies to consecrate and keepe from hence Nezaer a garland of floure or a crowne set with pretious stones c. such as Kings and high Priests are accustomed to weare Also from the same word Nazar is deriued Nazir thence Nazaraeus which is as much to say he is separated from the vse of wine and suffering his haire to bee vncut as being dedicated to the Lord. Therefore our Sauiour Christ is justly called a Nazarite Luke 2. For Naezer first signifies a holy man who hath made a holy vow vnto the Lord Secondly it doth denote a crowne or wreathe of synceritie Exod. 29.39 Thirdly a holy ointment wherewith Kings and Priests were annointed Leuit. 27. and fourthly this word Nezaer signifies a Princely crowne 2 Sam. 1. 2 Kings 11. Psal 89.132 So that Nazareth being deriued of Nazar and Nazir may signifie both a crowne and a holy citie Iudg. 13. but if Nazareth be written by Zade it signifies a flourishing plant or graffe according to that of Isay cap. 11. But there shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Ishai and a graffe shall grow out of his root and the spirit of the Lord shall rest vpon him The inhabitants of this Towne at this day shew certaine monuments and reliques of what had happened in preceding ages as two Churches one built there where the Angell Gabriel saluted the blessed Virgin and shee conceiued by the spirit In which there stands three altars hewen out of a rock and the other built as they say where the house of Ioseph and Marie stood because there our Sauiour Christ was brought vp Also they shew a well where the childe Iesus drew water and ministred to his mother They also shew the vast ruines of the sinagogue where our Sauiour Christ expounded the 61 chapter of Isay for which cause they would haue throwne him headlong downe the hill Luke 4. And many other things of which you may reade in Borchardus the Monke In Saint Ieroms time some 40 yeares before Christ Nazareth was a small towne called Nazarah Of the mountaines by which Mary passed when she went to visit her cosen Elizabeth BEtweene Narareth and Ierusalem there standeth many high hils as Mount Gilboa whereon King Saul killed himselfe Mount Grisim and Hebal vpon which hills the blessings and cursings were pronounced Deut. 27. and mount Ephraim vpon which Ehud kild Eglon king of the Moabites Iudg. 13. Ouer this mountaine being very great and steepe Mary trauelled when she went to visit her cosen Elizabeth Of Bethlehem THere were two cities called by this name the one Bethlem Iuda the other Bethlem Euphrata where our sauior Christ was borne and signifies fruitfull or the house of Bread It stood vpon a hil some 6 miles from Ierusalem towards the South The inhabitants take vpon them to shew the place where our sauiour Christ was borne which stood vpon the East side of the Citie close by the wall thereof where as Eusebius sayth Hellen the Mother of Constantine the Great caused to bee built a
faire and stately Church three hundred and twentie yeares after the natiuitie of Christ This Church was dedicated to Saint Marie and remaineth to this day being had in great honour both amongst the Christians and the Turkes and Sarazins This Church is such a stately building that it is thought to exceede all the Churches of Christendome for beautie and curious workemanship It is two hundred twentie and eight foot long and eightie seuen foot wide beeing built all of Marble of diuers colours and couered with lead There are in it foure rowes of Marble pillars wonderfull to looke vpon not onely in regard of their number but of their greatnesse for there is fiftie pillars in euery row The body of this church the pillars from the bottom to the top the walls and euerie part of it is beautified with liuely pictures adorned with diuers colours siluer gold and curious workemanship so as it is wonderfull to behold The pauement of it is of marble polished and of diuers colors so cunningly set in workes and with such variety that it is very delightful to such as look on it There is painted on the pillars and walls almost all the stories of the Old Testament till the birth of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ with such excellent cunning and so liuely that it is to bee admired In the Quire of this Church there is found two Altars one close by the Chappell of Saint Katherine at the East end thereof not far distant from which they shew the place where our Sauiour was circumcised and in the middle of the Quire there standeth another Altar where they say the wise men left their Dromedaries and prepared their gifts to present vnto our Sauiour when they worshipped him Vpon the South side of this quire towards the East they descend by ten stone steps into the Chappell of the Natiuitie of Christ richly beautified and curiously wrought paued with polished Narble This Chappell is not very great but wonderfull faire and sumptuous When the Holy land was ouerrun by the Gentiles this as many other places were in that countrey was all polluted with filth and dirt that they had much adoe to make it cleane a great while after Vpon the place where they said our Lady the blessed Virgin Mary brought forth our Sauiour into the world there is placed a Table of white Marble after the maner of an Altar about some foure foot from this they shew the place where the Manger stood a part of it yet remaining cut out of a rocke not of Marble but of other stone as many other Mangers are in that countrey Close by that there is an Altar where they say the wise-men presented their gifts to our Sauiour Christ and worshipped him At the entrance into the Church there standeth a goodly building which in times past seemed to haue been some Archbishops See but now is called Saint Maries Church Vpon the North side they descended by certaine stepps into the Chappell of Saint Ierom who lay a long time buried there till his bones were remoued thence to Saint Maries in Rome About a mile from Bethlehem Southward stood the Tower of Eder being a watch tower of the Bethlehemites and so called because there resorted thither many flockes of sheepe for Aeder signifieth A Heard Round about this Tower were faire and fruitfull pastures to which many sheepheards resorted to feed their flockes to some of which sheepheards the Angels told the glad tidings of the birth of our Sauiour and that he was laid in a Manger at Bethlehem For which cause in after times there was a Church built iust in the place where the Tower stood and in Saint Ieroms time called by the name of Angelos ad Pastores the same Luther affirmeth and that it is yet standing Iacob sometime dwelt in that place and buried his wife Rachel thereabouts The monument that hee set vpon her graue remaineth to this day which was twelue stones pitcht an end standing about a quarter of a mile from this place vpon the right hand as they goe to Ierusalem of which graue all the countrey thereabouts is called by the name of Rachel Of the way betweene Iudaea and Aegypt BEtweene Aegypt and Iudaea lieth Arabia Petraea a land for the most part barren and vnfruitfull full of sands rockes and mountaines destitute of water and subject to many dangers being in the Summer solstice scorched with extremity of heate the Sun being then perpendiculer ouer them according to Munster in the day time and in the night troubled with extreame windes which blowing the sand with great violence it casteth it vpon great heapes and mountaines by which dust both beasts and sometime men are suffocated and slaine Moreouer there dwell in this Desart a rude and dangerous people called Saracens who take their beginning from Ishmael and are therefore also called Ishmaelites being giuen to crueltie and maliciousnesse They get their liuing for the most part by theft and violence and as Ishmael was an excellent Archer so they also are very cunning in shooting and hunting vsing to this day their ancient euill custome of robbing and spoiling all that passe that way insomuch as Merchants are constrained to goe in great companies lest they should be indangered by them and by reason of the windes and sands are constrained to guide their journey by the compasse as men doe that saile vpon the sea Through this wildernesse did Ioseph and Marie passe when they went with the childe Iesus out of Iudaea into Aegypt where they were in danger of theeues subjects to be smothered by the sands constrained to trauell ouer high rockes and mountaines and to rest in feare because of Lyons Beares and other beasts which greatly abound in that place Besides diuers other discommodities were incident vnto them as want of meate drinke and other necessaries there being little water to be found there insomuch as had not the Lord by an expresse command charged him in a dreame to goe downe into Aegypt Ioseph durst hardly haue ventured vpon so difficult and dangerous a journey But the Lord so mercifully prouided for him that he both went and returned safe Thus may we see to what dangers these good people were exposed and what miseries they sustained from the beginning because of their sonne Christ Iesus Of Hermopilis HErmopilis was called the Towne of Mercurie distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the Southwest it was one of the chiefe cities in Aegypt as Appianus writeth Nicephorus and Zozemenus affirme lib. 5. cap. 22. that Ioseph and Mary came and liued in this Towne where they continued all the daies of Herod that cruel King But Ziglerius saith that they liued in the land of Gosen where the Patriarch Iacob and his posteritie liued which agreeth well with the words of S. Matthew cap. 2. and Hosea 11. Out of Aegypt haue I called my sonne This land of Gosen lay 200 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest The inhabitants of Alcaire in Aegypt take
and recited the parable of the Sheepe Ioh. 10. Also vpon the Sabboth day a little before the feast of the Dedication he healed a man that was born blind Iohn 9. In this feast the Iewes being angry because he had healed the blind man vpon the Sabboth day compassed our Sauiour about as he was in Solomons Porch and when they heard our Sauiour confesse openly that hee was the Sonne of God they began to grow into a fury and for very anger would haue stoned him to death Wherefore our Sauiour Christ went thence beyond Iordan and continued there the rest of the Winter Iohn 10. But before hee went to Ierusalem there were returned vnto him certaine of the seuentie Disciples which a little before in the moneth of September he had sent abroad and there at that time he recited the similitude of the man who descending from Ierusalem to Iericho fell amongst theeues This similitude seemeth to be taken from the present occasion because our Sauior Christ going from Ierusalem beyond Iordan was to passe through great wildernesses just in the way as they goe thence to Iericho Iohn 10. At the same time he went from Ierusalem to Bethania which was almost two miles and there visited Mary and Martha where Martha ministred vnto him but Mary sitting at his feet gaue diligent heed to his Doctrine Luke 10. At this time he tooke his leaue of these two sisters and went thence to Bethabara beyond Iordan where Iohn baptised which was 16 miles it being now about the midst of Winter Christ at this time being about 33 yeares of age I am not ignorant that there were many which refer that long journey of our Sauiour Christ when hee went to visit all Iudaea the sending forth of his Disciples diuers other miracles mentioned from the ninth chapter of Luke to the sixteenth to the beginning of the following yere But I am of opinion that all those things could not haue beene done within the compasse of foure moneths and before the feast of the Dedication so that it must needs bee that the seuentie Disciples were sent forth before the feast of the Dedication for after the feast of the Dedication which was celebrated in the midst of Winter Iohn 10. there were but two moneths betweene it and the raising vp of Lazarus in which short time all those things which are described by Luke could not possibly be accomplished especially considering that our Sauiour Christ wintered some time in Bethabara and there taught the multitude that came vnto him Ioh. 2. So these trauels of our Sauiour were 596 miles or thereabouts besides the diuers visitations and journeies hee went hither and thither which because of the great multitude of them it was not possible for the Euangelist to set them downe Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Bethsaida BEthsaida signifies the house of hunting being deriued of Baith a house and Zaid hunting from Zod he hath hunted for from this place went the fishers and hunters which fished and hunted through the world Ierem. 16. In this Towne dwelt three Apostles Peter Andrew and Philip Iohn 1. It was scituated vpon the West side of the Galilean sea in the Tribe of Issachar fiftie six miles from Ierusalem towards the North. And because of the aboundance of Fishes that were in the sea of Galile Peter and Andrew became Fishers and in that vocation got their liuing till our Lord and Sauiour Christ made them Fishers of men Matt. 4. Luke 5. Before the birth of Christ this was but a small Towne and without doubt was so called from hunting because close by it stood a wildernesse that did greatly abound with wilde beasts Philip the Tetrarch of Traconitis and Itura made this a faire citie which in honour of Iulia hee called Iuliades This Iulia was the daughter of Augustus Caesar and wife of Tiberias Philip also brought many inhabitants thither who dwelt in that Citie But when Herod the Tetrarch of Galile and brother of this Philip had builded vp Bethara which stood beyond the riuer Iordan on the East side of the sea of Galilee and called it by the name of Iuliades in honour of this Iulia. This towne re-edified and inlarged by Philip was called againe in the time of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ after the antient name Bethsaida and so continueth to this day From hence it is manifest that the sea of Galile was subject to the gouernment of both these Tetrachs since vpon the shore thereof on both sides they had cities standing I doe thinke the wildernesse or wood and land neere adjoining to Bethsaida is called Itura of Ietur the sonne of Ismael Gen. 25. or else from the compasse and roundnesse of it for Tur in Hebrew signifies A circle But that Itura stood vpon the West side of the sea of Galilee those that haue beene at the Holy land can testifie This citie of Bethsaida hath an antient water course comming from a riuer not far from it which Iosephus calleth little Iordan which falleth into the sea of Galile just in the mid-way betweene this towne and Capernaum the channell whereof appeareth to this day Beside the many sermons which our Sauior Christ preached here he did many notable miracles Marc. 8. c. But for the ingratitude and impietie of the citisens the curse of our Sauiour fell vpon them Woe be thee Chorazin woe be to thee Bethsaida for if the miracles had beene done in Tyrus and Sidon which haue beene done in thee they had long ere this repented in sackloth and ashes Verily verily I say vnto you it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sydon in the day of judgement than for you Matt. 11. Luc. 10. The prophecie of our Sauiour Christ fell vpon them accordingly for after diuers and sundry ouerthrowes and deuastations this towne became vtterly vnpeopled and as Britenbacchus saith there are scarce six houses standing in it at this day Of Chorazin THis city also stands vpon the further side of Iordan close by the sea of Galile in the same country as Capernaum stands for the city of Chorazin standeth vpon the East side of the riuer Iordan where it falleth into the sea of Galile and Capernaum vpon the West in the halfe tribe of Manasses some 16 miles from the citie of Ierusalem towards the North. This citie also neglecting the preachings and miracles of our Sauiour Christ felt the efficacie and force of the curse of the Sonne of God Mat. 11. Luc. 10. For there is not at this day a house to be seene onely some ruines where it stood Chorazin doth denote a dukedome or principality from Coh and Razon a Prince and Duke for Rozez signifies A laborious Prince Ierom turning this word Rozez into Razi calls it A secret mistery or my secret Of Tiberias TIberias standeth vpon the West side of the sea of Galilee 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Before the birth of Christ it was called Kinnereth that is the
punishing hand of God as wel by the inuasion of Enemies as sickenesse and dearth according to the predictions of the Prophets Esay 28. and Ezek. 28. vntil at last in succeeding ages it was vtterly destroyed the ruins of which city remain to this day and make euident that it was a faire and spatious towne There is to be seen yet to this day a city built out of the ruines of the former though nothing so large as it very strong mightily fortified so that it seemeth almost inuincible if it haue men wherewith to defend it Vpon the one side it ioyneth to the sea and vpon the other side of it there standeth two mighty strong castles one of them scituated toward the North vpon a very strong â—ock as it were in the heart of the sea the which was built by cerâ—ain Pilgrims that came out of Germany to visit the holy city of â—erusalem The other of them was scituated vpon a hill toward the South of the city as well fortified and no lesse difficult to be conquered These two castles with the whole city in times past were in the hands of the Knights templers The land round about it is very pleasant and fertile abounding with all kinde of good things necessarie for the maintenance of life and delight There is also found great aboundance of Grapes which are very delicious and pleasant to the tast wherof the wine Canamella is made But because the Turkes and Saracens are inhibited by the strict law of their Alcaron from drinking of wine therefore they suffer no vineyards to be planted neither the inhabitants to dresse those Vines that grow naturally Before the East gate of the antient city which now lies destroied there is built a Chappel in which place they say the woman of Canaan entreated our Sauior Christ to cast a Diuell out of her daughter Mat. 15. The mountain Antilibanus beginneth close by the riuer Eleutherius and extends it selfe beyond Tripolis and in some places it ioyneth so close to the sea that for the streightnesse of the wayes those that trauel that way can scarse passe In this city was the fairest purple in all those parts nay as some Authors affirme the like was not to be found in the world c. Of Cana Syro-Phoenicea THis towne which was called Cana the Great was scituated vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sydon 112 miles from Ierusalem Northward scituated in the Tribe of Ashur 4 miles from Sydon towards the South and three from Sarepta towards the East In this towne the Syrophoenician dwelt that besought our Sauior Christ to heale her daughter that was possessed of a diuel Mat. 15. Mar. 7. It was called Cana to put a difference betweene it and another Cana scituated in Galile the lower in which city our Sauior Christ turned water into wine You may reade more of this towne before Of Trachonitis THis city was so called from the stony hardnes of the mountains of Gilead which compasse it in vpon the East side in which prouince the tribe of Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses inhabited It was in antient times called Basan in which Og the mighty Gyant had a great command but Moses ouercame him and gaue the land to the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasses In Christs time the Tetrarch and gouernour of it was Philip who was son to Herod the Great and brother to Herod Antipas Tetrach in Galile and Petraea which Herod tooke to wife Herodia whom his brother Philip had formerly maried the said Philip beeing at that time aliue but because Iohn Baptist reprehended him for that fact therefore at her request he was beheaded in the Castle of Machera Itura was another Prouince belonging to the tetrarchy of Philip ioyning vpon the West to the riuer of Iordan and called Galile of the Gentiles of which you may reade before Of Decapolis THis country is so called of ten cities that were scituated in it It stood beyond Iordan and the sea of Galile as may be gathered out of Mark ca. 7. and Mat. 15. So that it is manifest that that country which in times past was called Gilead was afterward known and called by the name of Decapolis because of the ten cities which stood there as Chorazin which Christ cursed Mat. 11. Gamala where Agrippa King of the Iewes was hurt in his right arme Ios de bell Iud. lib. 4. cap. 1. Iuliades built by Herod Antipas in honor of the Empresse Iulia. Gadara where our Sauior Christ cast out the legion of diuels suffering them to enter into the herd of swine Mat. 8. Mar. 5. Astaroth the chiefe citie of that Countrey in the time of Og King of Basan Ios cap. 12. Here also that holy man Iob sometimes had his dwelling Iabes in Gilead where Saul King of Israel lieth buried 1 Sam. 31. Mizpah where Ieptha offered his daughter for a sacrifice to the Lord Iudg. 11. Ramoth in Gilead where King Ahab was slaine with a Dart 1 Reg. 22. And Abel of the Vines where Baalams Asse spake Num. 22. These are those ten cities whereof this country is called Decapolis being scituated in the land of Gilead betweene Iordan where our Sauior healed the man that was both blind and deafe Mark 7. This opinion exactly agreeth with that of the holy scripture Yet I know there are some as Plin. lib. 5. cap. 18. and others who differ from this in the description of this countrey but they erre from the truth Of Magdala THis was a city scituated vpon the West side of the Galilean sea 52 miles from Ierusalem Northward in which Country Mary who of this town was called Magdalen was borne At this time this city is called by the name of Castle Magdala in which place they shew the house of Mary Magdalen Vpon the West and North side of the city there lieth a great and spatious plain preserued only for pasture which Mar. cap. 8. calls Dalmanutha that is Drawn dry or a poore and naked habitation being deriued of Dalal He hath made dry and Maon a House or dwelling place It may be a notable figure of the Christian Church which in this world may rightly be said to haue a poore habitation but yet is a right Magdala that is a strong and impregnable Tower against which the gates of Hell shall not be able to preuaile Matt. 16. Vpon the borders of Magdala and Dalmanutha the Pharisees and Sadduces tempting our blessed Sauior Christ demanded of him a signe from heauen Mat. 15.16 Mar. 8. This city belonged to the tribe of Issacher Of Thabor MOunt Thabor was a round and high hill vpon which our blessed Sauior Christ was transfigured scituated vpon the borders of the tribes of Issacher Zebulon fifty two miles from the City of Ierusalem towards the North and extendeth it selfe toward the South to the riuer Kison Heere Deborah and Barack discomfited the Host of Sisera King of the Canaanites and put them to flight Iug. 4. Of this mountain
you may reade Psal 89. Hos 4. Ierem. 45. There was also a towne called after this name scituated at the foot of this mountaine where Ziba and Zalmana Kings of the Midianites put to death the brothers of Gideon Iudges 8. It was a very fruitfull and pleasant place Concerning the signification of the name you may reade before Egesippus saith That this mountaine is almost foure miles in height and that vpon the toppe thereof there is a round Plaine almost three miles ouer in which there growes great plenty of trees of an admirable pleasantnesse and sweetnesse amongst which Trees there are many birds which sing very pleasantly to the great delight of all such as heare them and the aire on the top of it is very pure and pleasant It is the receiued opinion that vpon the top of this mountain our Sauiour Christ in the presence of Peter Iames and Iohn was transfigured and he spake with the holy Prophets Moses and Elias Mat. 17. Luke 9. which place at this day is compassed about with a great Wall within which is a faire and pleasant Orchard watered with many cleare goodly springs but there is no man that dwels in it notwithstanding there are many townes and inhabitants at the foot of the mountaine neither do they thinke any man worthy to dwel in it they hold it in such estimation and reuerence it as the Hill of God There are to be seen in it diuers great ruins of Pallaces Towers and princely Edifices in which at this day there harbour many Lions and other wilde beasts It is very difficult to ascend vp to the toppe of it it is so exceeding high it is one of the principal hils in the holy land not only because that Christ on it was transfigured but because it is verie fruitfull and plentifully aboundeth with Vines and other profitable plants and herbs The aire thereof is wholsome and good and the dew vpon it rising thick and sweet with indifferent rain the trees high and faire greene both Winter and Sommer At the foot of the mountaine towards the South neere to Endor in the way that leadeth from Syria into Aegypt is shewed the place where as it is said Melchisedech met with Abraham when he returned from the battell of the foure Kings Gen. 14. At the foot of the mountaine lying toward the West iust against Nazareth there is a Chappel built in the place where they say our Sauior Christ descending from this mountaine spake to his Disciples saying Tel none of this vision Mat. 17. Vpon the East side of it runs the brook Kison where Barak and Deborah ouercame the Army of Sisera Iudg. 4. There is also another hill in the vpper part of Galile 92 miles from Ierusalem Northward which hill is also called Thabor and is three miles distant from Caesarea Philippi Eastward but that was not the place of Christs Transfiguration The Trauels of Christ in the fourth yeare of his Ministery be the foure and thirtieth of his age IN the moneth of Ianuary Christ the sonne of God wintered in Bethabara 16 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward where Iohn sometimes baptised Ioh. 10. And many came vnto him saying Iohn shewed vs no signes but whatsoeuer he preached of this Christ are true And many beleeued on him Now as Christ went into the Desart to preach his Disciples came vnto him saying Lord teach vs to pray as Iohn taught his Disciples to pray Wherupon he prescribed to his Disciples a forme of prayer which is called the Lords prayer Luke 11. At this time there came vnto him a great multitude and thronged about him where hee made that long sermon which is described Luke 12 13. Vpon the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie it being then the Sabbath he cured a certaine woman which had beene diseased 18 yeares Luke 13. And when there came vnto him certain Pharisees saying Thou art the Sonne of God wherefore get thee out of this countrey for Herod seeks to kill thee Iesus answered them saying Goe and tell that crafty Foxe Behold I cast out Diuels to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Presently he departed out of Petraea where Herod kept his Court in the castle of Macharuntes and went into Galile beyond Iordan 28 miles Luke 13. Vpon the last day of Ianuary being the Sabbath our Lord and Sauiour Christ healed in the house of a certaine prince of the Pharisees a man sicke of the dropsie and recited the parable of the great Supper Luke 14. In the moneth of February he went through all Galile which was 80 miles long and 24 broad in which visitation there followed him a great company And when there came vnto him Publicans and sinners he began to speake of repentance but the Pharisees and Scribes murmured at him and opposed his parables of the lost sheep of the woman that had lost her groat of the prodigal son Luke 15. And a little after he recited vnto his disciples the parable of the vniust Steward and of Dives and Lazarus Luke 16. About the later end of February as by the circumstance of the historie and times may appeare he made that sermon of the power of Faith and Good works c. Luk. 17. And going out of Galile through the middest of Samaria he healed the ten Lepers Luk. 17. he recited the parable of the vniust Iudge and that of the Publican and Pharisee Luke 18. In the moneth of March hee finished this generall visitation Which journies were so many diuers that his disciples could not describe them Notwithstanding in this moneth he went into the borders of Iudaea and Petraea beyond Iordan and came to Bethabara where Iohn somtimes baptised and there followed him a great company and he healed them Matth. 19. Mark 10. There the Pharisees moued the disputation of the Diuorce and Christ louingly embraced the little children Mar. 20. In this moneth of March Lazarus the brother of Martha and Mary who dwelt at Bethania fell sicke of a deadly disease and they sent messengers to Christ who at this time was at Bethabara to giue him to vnderstand of his sicknesse Ioh. 11. This message came vnto our Sauiour Christ to Bethabara vpon the twentieth day of March being the last day of the twelfth month Adar Anno Mundi 4000. and about such time as the seuenty weekes spoken of by Daniel were fully ended At the end of which prophecie it behooued Christ that he might fulfil the prophecies of the old Testament to suffer and by his resurrection and ascention to enter into the glory of God and to be partaker of his eternall kingdome Although our Sauior had receiued this message of the sickenesse of Lazarus he stayed at Bethabara Two dayes after and as it may be thought about the 22 day of March which was the second day of the first moneth Ahib Lazarus died But Lazarus being dead and buried then our Sauiour went from Bethabara towards Iericho Ioh. 14. Luke
of Oliues you come vnto the place where Christ mounted vpon the Asse as we reade Matth. 21. And a little after you may see the whole citie of Ierusalem with Solomons Temple and the Church of the holy sepulchre with many other holy places Then as you descend from the top of the mount of Oliues you may see the place where the multitude cryed Hosanna blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. And in this discent also our Sauiour Christ wept ouer Ierusalem saying O Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered thee vnder my wings as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but thou wouldest not Of Bethpage BEthpage standeth vpon the right hand of the way towards the East as you goe from Bethania to Ierusalem and as S. Ierom saith was somtimes a habitation of the Priests which at their appointed times went vp to Ierusalem to minister to the Lord. It was so called because of the multitude of Figs that grow there for Pagim signifies a Figge Cant. 2. Bethpage is a notable type of the Church for that ought likewise to be fruitfull and to bring forth sweet Figges that is good workes and many other comfortable vertues that so men in their afflictions might be comforted As it is thought the Fig-tree that our Sauiour Christ cursed because it wanted fruit stood not farre from Bethpage Matth. 21. Marke 11. Wherefore let vs take heed that wee be not like that fruitlesse Fig-tree couered onely like our forefathers Adam and Eue with leaues and bearing no fruit Gen. 3. lest so Gods curse fall vpon vs and we be thrust out of eternall happinesse Matth. 3. Of the Castle from whence the Asse and the Colt were brought vpon which our Sauiour rode to Ierusalem THis Castle as Adamus Risnerus saith was a certaine Hold compassed about with strong walls and within beautified with a faire pallace supported with goodly columnes it stood not farre from the Mount of Oliues just in the deuiding of the way as you goe from Bethania to Ierusalem for there goes one way to the fountaine gate and another to the valley of Gehinnon In the Hebrew text it is called Tirah as you may reade in Matthew which signifies not onely a Castle but a firme and sure building with good decorum and order for Tor signifies a circular order It is credible that this Hold is a resting place and that the Asse and the colt were tied in the way for this cause that if by chance any trauellers were wearie by reason of the tediousnesse of their journey they might hire them for certain houres to carrie them ouer the Mount of Oliues and so returne them backe againe The Allegoricall meaning of this Asse and the Colt according to the opinion of many learned men signifies the people of the Iewes who were burthened with Moses lawes and the Asses Colt signifies the rest of the Gentiles which were not charged with the burthen of Moses law but tyed onely to the law of nature So we also like trauellers and strangers in this miserable world are tyed to the afflictions and calamities thereof standing in two waies expecting the death of the body and libertie of the soule then our Sauior Christ commeth in peace and looseth this bond of death as the Apostle saith Rom. 7. and bringeth vs to that heauenly Ierusalem eternall joy according to that of Saint Paul in the first of the Philippians I desire to be loosed and to be with our Lord Iesus Christ Of the Mount of Oliues ABout halfe a mile and a furlong from Ierusalem towards the East stood the Mount of Oliues very fruitfull and pleasant bringing forth Oliues Palmes Figs Gossumpine many other notable fruits but principally Palmes and Oliues of which the mountaine taketh the name It is said in Pliny lib. 16. cap. 19. that these Oliue and Palme trees doe neuer lose their leaues and are greene both Winter and Summer Saint Austine calleth it The mountaine of vnction because of the fertilitie and pleasantnesse of it also The mountaine of health because it bringeth forth Oyles and many other plants necessarie for Physicke also The mountain of light first because it lieth vpon the East so that the Sun shineth in the morning very pleasantly vpon it and in the euening when it setteth the beames thereof reflecting vpon the Temple of Ierusalem casteth a beautifull light to this Mount secondly because it bringeth forth Oyle which is the nourishment and life of light thirdly because it was beautified with the gratious presence of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ which is the Day-starre and light of the Church rising vpon high to enlighten all those which shall be called vnto eternall happinesse For which cause it typically representeth the Church which is the light of the World wherein are found many Christians that bring forth pleasant fruit good workes relieuing the necessitie of such as are in want comforting the afflicted patiently supporting the calamitie and misery of this world that so they might triumphantly rejoyce with Christ in that heauenly citie of Ierusalem What things Zacharias hath spoken of this Mount in his last chapter is to be vnderstood of the preaching of the Gospell and propagation of the Church through all the world Saint Ierom saith in his Epitaph vpon S. Paul That vpon this hill the Iewes commonly burnt the red Cow with the ashes whereof the people of God being sprinckled they were purified and sanctified of which you may reade Num. 19. Heb. 6. Hellen the Empresse mother to that godly Emperor Constantine the Great about the yeare of our Lord 332 caused a faire and beautifull church to be built vpon this Mount just in the place where our blessed Lord and Sauior Christ ascended vp into heauen It was built round all of white polished marble vpon the top therof there is no roofe but a window euen as Christ should ascend through it as Eusebius saith in the life of the Emperour Constantine the Great lib. 3. cap. 40. The same S. Ierom affirmeth in his booke de locis Hebraicis He also saith That the inhabitants of the Holy land take vpon them to shew in this Church the impression of the feet of our Sauiour Christ which hapned as they say just at such time as he ascended vp into heauen out of which trauellers and pilgrims take sand to carry with them as an holy relicke though indeed it is verily to be thought that they were feet made in stone by antient Monkes thereby to get mony from such as resorted thither vpon deuotion for looke how oft pilgrims take thence the sand they are presenly filled againe from whence may bee gathered that there is no sand naturally there Euery man therefore ought to embrace a neerer way to saluation than to follow those monkish fables and to seeke Christ in the holy Scripture not vpon the Mount of Oliues or amongst sand for since the graue could not containe him the Mount of Oliues cannot hold him
the Market-place where they bought and sold was not farre from it Vpon a little hill close by this Port he caused a Church to be built in honour of Augustus Caesar This Temple was a very magnificent and stately building and in it hee caused the Statue of Augustus curiously wrought and cast iust in the figure of Iupiter Olympius to be erected and worshipped it as his god There are many other stately and sumptuous buildings that were set vp by this King But amongst the rest he bestowed great cost vpon the market place the Theatre and the Amphitheatre which hee wonderfully beautified and instituted certaine Games to be there vsed once euery fifth yeare in honour of Augustus as Iosep de Bell. Iud. li. 1. witnesseth After the death of this king Herod Agrippa was made King of the Iewes This Prince some ten yeares after the resurrection of Christ caused Iames the son of Zebedeus vpon the 25 day of Iuly to be put to death in Ierusalem and when he perceiued it was acceptable vnto the Iews in the following yeare about the feast of the Passeouer hee caused Peter to be cast into prison who by the prayers of the Church was miraculously deliuered as you may reade Acts 12. A little after that is about the moneth of August this King was strook by the Angel of the Lord and died miserably for when he came to Caesarea Strato he caused the publique shewes to be solemnly practised and in honor of Claudius Caesar set forth very sumptuous interludes and playes to which feast and shewes all the Nobility and Gentry of that countrey round about resorted Where the next day very early in the morning hauing put on a rich and goodly garment made all of cloath of gold he went into the theatre and there according to his vsuall custome sate in a princely seat and made an oration to the inhabitants of Tyre Now when the sunne was vp and shone vpon his garments the raies thereof cast such a reflection vpon the beholders that it dazled their eies insomuch that they could scarce see Wherefore those that were his flatterers hearing his gratious speech cried with a loud voice O Agrippa be propitious vnto vs for although heretofore we feared thee as a man yet now we well perceiue thou art of a more noble and Diuine nature But when the King taking delight in these speeches would not restrain the impious clamour of these flatterers a little after he lifted vp his head and vpon the top of a pillar he saw an Owle sitting ouer him Presently he was troubled in his minde and within a while after hee was strooke with an extreme paine in his bowels insomuch that with a loud voice he cried out vnto his friends I whom but now was called your god am but a man and him that you imagined to be immortall must presently die These words being ended they caried him sick into his palace and it was giuen out that he was dead No sooner came this newes to the eares of the vulgar but they with their wiues and children put on sack-cloath and fell vpon the ground with earnest supplications to God to bee mercifull vnto him But the King looking out of his window and seeing them lie thus prostrate vpon the earth wailing and weeping he could not abstain from teares At the length after he had beene cruelly tormented by the space of foure dayes vpon the fift dyed beeing the second of August the wormes hauing consumed his guts and eaten through his body Thus God grieuously punished him who had so much afflicted the members of the Church of Christ but towards other men as well strangers as Gentiles hee was milde and courteous He raigned in the whole almost seuen yeares for he held the Tetrarchy of Philip three yeares vnder Caligula and other foure yeares he held the whole kingdome of the Iewes He died in the eleuenth yeare after the resurrection and in the third of Claudius Caesar being then about 54 yeres of age Act. 22. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 19. Plinie saith that this towne of Caesaria Strato was sometime called Apollonia but after obtained the name of Caesarea Palestina Saint Ierome saith in his Epitaph vpon Paul that in his time which was 400 yeares after Christ there was to be seene in this place the house of Cornelius the Centurion whom Peter baptized Act. 10. This Cornelius is thought by some to haue been of the family of the Lentuli in Rome for they were also called Cornelij as appeareth in Salust in the conspiracy of Cataline it may be that this Cornelius was that Lentulus which wrot to Tiberius Caesar that excellent Epistle concerning the figure proportion and person of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ Also the house of Philip the deacon and the chambers of his foure daughters who were Prophetesses When Paul came vnto this towne Agabus the Prophet came vnto him who bound his hands and feet with the girdle of Paul saying The man that oweth this girdle shal be thus bound by the Iewes at Ierusalem and they shall deliuer him into the hands of the Gentiles Here he made a notable sermon before Festus Agrippa Iunior and his sister Bernice Act. 16. This towne flourished for a long time after the destruction of Ierusalem and it was scituated in a faire and profitable place fortified towards the West with the Mediterranean sea and towards the East it was compassed about with a lake in which were great aboundance of Crocodiles though the water was very sweet and of a great depth Many godly and religious men were here crowned with the wreath of martyrdome for professing the Gospel of Christ as Eusebius Bishop of this town and of Pamphilius well obserueth in his Eccles Hist But the Lord did so sharply reuenge the death of these men that at this day it is vtterly destroied and there is not a house left though in times past it had been a Bishops See There was also another town built by Philip the Tetrarch called Caesarea Philippi whereof you may reade before Of Ioppa COncerning this towne I haue already shewed many things in the Trauels of Ionas but omitted some specified by Brittenbach and Dr Ranwolfe who haue described the holy land as it was in the yeare of our Lord 1575. which Authors affirme that there is seen a great chain of iron fastned to a certain rock to the which ships that lay in that harbor were somtimes tied Also the chain wherewith Andromeda was fast bound to a stone when she should haue bin deuoured of the sea monster Also they say that there is a Chappell at this day built vp in the place where sometime the house of Simon the Tanner stood who gaue entertainment to Peter standing by a rock close by the sea side and dedicated to saint Peter But for the rest of the town although formerly it hath bin a goodly city it is vtterly destroied nothing standing but a part of the wall two castles
This Island in times past was very rich populous for in it there was 100 townes the chiefe of which were Gnossos Cortyna and Zydon but Gnossos was the most principall and antientest wherin King Minos kept his court in it the notable Geographer Strabo was borne This town of Gnossos in times past was called Ceratur of the riuer Cerata which passeth by it but now it and all the Island is called Candia The Venetians euery three yeares appointed a new Duke to gouerne it In this Island stood the townes of Salmona and Lassica by Pliny called Lasas and in the middle between those two townes was the hauen of Gutfurt whereof Saint Luke maketh mention in the Acts of the Apostles cap. 27. saying That Paul counsailed the Saylers that were in the ship to anchor there and stay the Winter season in that Island but the Captain of the ship gaue more credit to the Master of the ship than to Pauls words wherby in the end they were in danger of their liues The townes of Salmona and Lassica with the hauen of Gutfurt lay Southward in this Island vpon the coast of the Mediterranean sea somewhat distant from them stood the towne of Asson by Pliny called Asum where they hoised out their boate and sayled Northward and because they had a faire South-winde they thought to saile to Phoenicia a hauen in Creta but the winde comming about to the East draue them backe againe into the sea by which meanes they were in danger of their liues This Island was brought vnder the subjection of the Romans 66 yeares before the birth of Christ and so for a long time continued vntill the Saracens entred therein and tooke it from the Romans 800 yeares after the birth of Christ After that in the yeare of our Lord 979 the Emperour of Constantinople draue the Saracens out of the Island and kept it but in the end the Venetians brought it vnder their subjection and seigniorie in the yeare of our Lord 1202 and at this day it is called Candia Of Clauda CLauda is an Isle not farre from Creet lying towards the Southwest in the Mediterranean sea 288 miles from Ierusalem towards the West at this day it is called Porto Gabaso here the Saylers the Apostle Paul and the rest of the company haled ouer-bord their Cock-boat and tyed it to their ship and fell to â—awing lest they should haue been sunke into Syrtis a dangerous gulph vpon those seas Acts 27. Of Syrtis THis is a gulph of the sea lying vpon the shore of Africa in which the water is both troublesome and the shore dangerous because of Quick-sands and in this there are two places most remarkeable called by the name of Syrtis from drawing and attracting ships vnto them by which they were greatly endangered the one was called the greater the other the lesse the greater lay 1000 miles from Ierusalem towards the West but the other lay vnder the Isle of Mylete towards the South being distant from Ierusalem 1320 miles towards the West in this place it was where Paul and his companians were in such danger mentioned Acts 17. Of Mylete THis Island was so called from the great aboundance of hony that was found in it but at this day it is called Malta scituated in the Mediterranean sea 1340 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It is very pleasant and fruitfull bringing forth great plenty of Wheat Rye Flax Comin Cotton Figs Wine Roses Violets Tyme Lauender and many other sweet and delightfull herbes from whence Bees did gather great plentie of honey The Sunne is very hot in this Island insomuch that by the extreame feruor thereof the inhabitants lose their naturall complexion and looke of a tawnie colour In Summer euenings there falleth great plenty of dewes whereby the earth is refreshed and the herbes increased There is neither snow nor frost seene in it for the Northerne windes which with vs are the authors of cold and frosts with them procure raine which greatly refresheth and increaseth the fruits of the earth so that the pastures and medowes become very pleasant and full of grasse and although it be but 28 miles long and 60 miles about notwithstanding it is very populous for in the eight parishes that stand in this Isle there is numbred aboue twentie thousand men The inhabitants are very honest religious and godly and the women faire chaste and modest for they neuer come abroad but with their faces couered The children that are borne in this country feare not any snakes neither are hurt be any thing that is venomous insomuch that they will take Scorpions and eat them without danger although in all other parts of the world those kinde of creatures are most pernitious In this Isle also there are bred a kinde of Dogs that are but small yet very white and shagged and so louing that the inhabitants of all the neighbouring countries will buy them though they be at deare rates The chiefe citie thereof called Malta is so strongly fortified both by art and nature that it is almost impossible to be conquered vnlesse it be either by treason or famin The tower or Castle thereof is fortified with the knights of S. Iohns Order who haue mightily expressed their valour and resolution in defending this town from the Turks About a mile from this the ruins of a goodly faire city are to bee seene And vpon the East promontorie a little from the city of Malta there yet remain the decaies which are worthy to looke vpon of a goodly temple dedicated to Iuno It seems by what remaineth that this church hath bin a fair and goodly thing in times past There is also here and there in the earth found certaine brasse monies hauing vpon the one side a superscription written in Greeke letters and vpon the other the image of Iuno There stood vpon the South side of Malta a Temple dedicated to Hercules the ruins of which are yet extant and in it are found monuments worthy of admiration At such time as the Captaine of Massanissa King of the Numidians had conquered this Island amongst other pretious things that he found in these Temples he tooke thence a great deale of goodly Ivorie but that religious King did faithfully restore all those things backe again and dedicated them to the seuerall Temples Thus we may perceiue that the inhabitants of this Isle of Malta were wholly giuen to idolatry and superstition vntil such time as Paul by the inconstancy and vehemencie of the winde was driuen vpon it and conuerted them from that peruerse and prophane worship to the Christian Religion at such time as he suffered shipwracke and Wintered amongst them Acts 27. The inhabitants shew vpon the North part of this Isle the place where the ship was cast away wherein the Apostle Paul was in which place they haue built vp a Chappel and dedicated it to Saint Paul They shew also a Caue in which they say he liued and they verily beleeue that he