advises Bathshebah to go and acquaint the King with it and claim his Promise That Solomon should succeed him and while they were talking he 'd come in and second her So Bathshebah went unto David and told him that notwithstanding his Promise That her Son Solomon should sit upon the Throne Adonijah had made himself King without his privity but yet all people expected that he should appoint his Successor While she was speaking Nathan came and told him the same things Then David renewed his Oath to Bathshebah That Solomon should sit upon his Throne and accordingly gave order that Solomon should be set upon his own Mule and Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet should anoint him King over Israel and proclaim him with sound of Trumpet and then set him upon the Throne And so they did and the People rejoyced with such shouting that the Earth rang again which when Adonijah and his Company heard they were all afraid and dispers'd themselves and Adonijah went and took hold on the Horns of the Altar and capitulated with Solomon who upon condition of his good behaviour promis'd him indemnity and so dismiss'd him CHAP. II. Then David charg'd Solomon to walk in the ways of God and keep his Commandments that he might prosper and God might confirm the Kingdom to him and his Seed after him He gave him a charge also concerning Joab that because he was guilty of Blood he should not let his hoary Head go down to the Grave in peace That he should shew kindness to the Sons of Barzillai That he should remember Shimei's cursing of him in the day of his distress and in his Wisdom reward him for it So David died and Solomon sate upon the Throne Then Adonijah came to Bathshebah and prays her to ask Abishag for him of her Son Solomon which she did But Solomon looking upon it as a seditious motion sends Benajah to him who put him to death He put out Abiathar also from being High Priest and confin'd him to his Country House at Anathoth These passages being related to Joab he knowing his own guilt fled to the Altar and there he was slain Then he call'd for Shimei and confin'd him to Jerusalem and that if he pass'd over the Brook Kidron he should die So he dwelt there many days At last two of his Servants running away to Achish King of Gath he went thither to fetch 'em back again which being told Solomon he puts him in mind of all his former wickedness and his own gentle dealing with him which he having abus'd he commands him to be slain CHAP. III. Solomon married Pharaoh's Daughter He loved the Lord and offered at Gibeon a great High Place a thousand Burnt-Offerings and there God appeared to him and bid him ask what he would So he ask't an understanding Heart to judge the People and to discern between good and evil wherewith God was so pleased that he gave him not only an extraordinary Understanding above all that were before or after him but also such Riches and Honour as none else had Then came two Women to him which had each of 'em a Son one of which dying they both lay claim to the living Child whereupon Solomon commanded the living Child to be divided between 'em which one of 'em yielding to but not the other Solomon thereby gathered which was the right Mother and assign'd the living Child to her which Decision made him renown'd all over Israel CHAP. IV. Solomon had twelve Officers who served each Man his Month and made Provision throughout all Israel of what was needful for the maintaining his Court after a most splendid and magnificent manner For he spent daily almost an hundred Quarters of Wheat Thirty Oxen an hundred Sheep besides Deer Fowl and the like And God gave him a most comprehensive knowledg of all things both Divine and Humane so that he was wiser than all Men and spake three thousand Proverbs and a thousand and five Songs and of all Animals and Vegetables so that People came from all parts of the Earth to hear his Wisdom CHAP. V. Solomon designing now to build the Temple sends to Hiram King of Tyre to furnish him with Timber of Cedar and Fir and Workmen for it and in lieu thereof Solomon furnishes him with Wheat and Oyl yearly so they had Timber and Stones for it CHAP. VI. In the fourth year of Solomon's Reign they began to build the Temple which was about thirty six yards long twelve yards broad and eighteen yards high with a Porch of about seventy two yards high All the materials were fitted and prepared afore hand so that no noise of Tools was heard about it It was seven years in building CHAP. VII Solomon built also an House for himself and a Porch for Judgment and several other Houses both for himself and his Queen Pharaoh's Daughter Then he sent and fetcht Hiram from Tyre who made all manner of Vessels and Utensils for the Temple of Gold Silver and Brass as the Molten Sea the Lavers c. and the Pillars CHAP. VIII All things being thus fitted and finish'd Solomon assembled all the Nobility and Gentry to fetch up the Ark out of Sihon and carry it into its place within the Holy of Holies And when it was set there the Glory of the Lord fill'd the House Then Solomon blessed God for performing his Word unto David in giving him a Son to build an House to his Name and prays for the continuance of his mercy to him and that he 'd hear Prayers upon any occasion whatsoever made in or towards that place Then he offered a Sacrifice of two and twenty thousand Oxen and an hundred and twenty thousand Sheep and they kept the Feast of Dedication a Fortnight together and then the People went to their own Homes CHAP. IX After all this God appeared again to Solomon and told him he had hear'd his Prayer and would do as he desir'd and that he 'd establish his Throne for ever upon condition of his Obedience but in case of Disobedience he 'd cut off Israel out of the Land and destroy the Temple At the end of twenty years Solomon gave Hiram King of Tyre twenty Cities in the Land of Galilee but he did not like 'em and so return'd 'em to him again whereupon he repair'd and enlarg'd 'em and caused the Children of Israel to dwell in ' em He repair'd also several other Cities and built Store-Cities and did all that he desir'd And he had a Navy which went to Ophir for Gold CHAP. X. The Queen of Sheba hearing of Solomon's extraordinary Wisdom came to hear and try him with hard Questions She came with a very great Retinue and many rich Presents and discours'd with him about all things she desir'd satisfaction in and he resolv'd all her doubts and gave her full satisfaction in every thing When she had viewed and consider'd all particulars about him his Buildings his Furniture his Attendants and the magnificence of
for a Burnt-offering So Jephthah fought with 'em and obtain'd a great Victory over ' em After which as he returned to his House his Daughter came out to meet him with Timbrels and Dances and she was his only Child Jephthah seeing her rent his Clothes and told her his Vow But she was very well satisfy'd since God had delivered his Enemies into his hands So she went with her Companions two Months into the Mountains to bewail her Virginity After which her Father did with her according to his Vow CHAP. XII The Ephraimites quarrel with Jephthah for not calling them to the War and raise War against him But he overcame 'em and discovering many of 'em by their pronunciation that they could not say Shibboleth he put 'em to Death and so at that time there fell forty two thousand of them Then Jephthah died having judged Israel six years After him Ibzan judged Israel seven years After him Elon judged Israel ten years After him Abdon judged Israel eight years CHAP. XIII The Israelites did evil again and God deliver'd 'em into the hands of the Philistines Then an Angel appeared to Manoah's Wife and told her she should bear a Son that should be a Nazarite and he should begin to deliver Israel She relates this to her Husband who prays that the Angel might come again to satisfie 'em further about the Child So the Angel appear'd to her again and she call'd her Husband who enquires of him how the Child was to be order'd asks his Name and offered an Offering to the Lord in the flame whereof the Angel ascends whereby Manoah knew he was an Angel So the Woman bore a Son and called his Name Samson and the Lord blessed him CHAP. XIV Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw one of the Daughters of the Philistines and desir'd his Father to get her for him to Wife This was of the Lord that he might find an occasion against the Philistines As he and his Father and Mother went to Timnah he slew a Lion then they went down and he talkt with the Woman and she pleas'd him well Another time as he went to her looking at the Carkasâ— of the Lion he found a Swarm of Bees in it and Honey and he took some of the Combs and gave to his Father and Mother So they went down to solemnize the Wedding for seven days The Philistines provided thirty Companions to be with him to whom he propounded a Riddle which if they could expound within the seven days of the Feast he was to give them thirty Change of Raiment but if they could not they were to give him so many The Riddle was this Out of the eater came forth meat anâ— out of the strong came forth sweetness But they could not find it out Then they employed hiâ— Wife to pick it out of him who at last prevail'd by her importunity and on the seventh day he told it her and she told it to the Bridemen So before Sun set they resolved hiâ— Riddle saying What is sweeter than Hony and what is stronger than a Lion And he said If you had not plowed with my Heifer you had not found out my Riddle So he went among the Philistines and slew thirty of 'em and gave thirty change of Garments to the Bridemen And he went away to his own Fathers House displeased whereupon his Wife was given to one of the Bridemen CHAP. XV. Samson went to visit his Wife but was repulsed by her Father whereupon he caught three hundred Foxes and tied 'em tail to tail with Firebrands between 'em and put 'em into the Philistines Corn and burnt it all up and theiâ— Vines and Olives which the Philistines understanding the Reason of came and burnt her and her Father Then he took that occasion also and smote 'em with a great Slaughter Whereupon the Philistines came to take him and the Men of Judah bound him with two new Cords and deliver'd him to them But he brake the Cords and with the Jaw-bone of an Ass slew a thousand of them After which he was exceeding thirsty and call'd upon God who made the Water spring out of the ground for him wherewith be was reviv'd CHAP. XVI Then he went to Gaza to an Harlot's House and the men of the City watcht for him all night to have slain him But at Midnight he took the Gates of the City and carried 'em away upon his Shoulders Afterwards he fell in love with Delilah to whom the Lords of the Philistines promis'd a great Reward if she could prevail with him to discover wherein his great Strength lay who after he had deluded her several times at length told her how that he was a Nazarite and had never been shorn but if his Hair was cut his strength would depart from him Then she made him sleep in her Lap and cut off his Hair and call'd for the Philistines who took him and put out his Eyes and brought him to Gaza and put him in Prison there But on a Festival day they call'd for him to make 'em sport But he laying his Hands upon the Pillars that supported the House and calling upon God for Strength pull'd down the House upon 'em and thereby slew more than he had done in all his Life-time CHAP. XVII Micah a Man of Ephraim had an House of Idols and an Ephod and Teraphim and made one of his Sons his Priest But a Levite coming thither to seek employment he hired him to be his Priest CHAP. XVIII The Tribe of Dan seeking to gain part of their Inheritance which they had never yet been possess'd of sent some Men to make a Discovery of the Land who in their Journey lodged at Micah's House and found the Levite there who was of their acquaintance whom they desir'd to enquire of God concerning the Success of their Journey He returns an Answer of encouragement to ' em So they went to Laish and found the People there very secure So they acquainted their Brethren with it and six hundred of 'em set forward upon this expedition and came to Micah's House and stole away his Gods and perswaded the Priest to go along with ' em But Micah pursued 'em with a great Outcry for his Gods but they answered him roughly so that he was feign to be gone Then they came to Laish and smote it and burnt it and built another City which they called Dan and set up Micah's Graven Image there where it remained till the Captivity of the Land CHAP. XIX In those days a certain Levite took a Wife who plaid the Whore and return'd to her Father's House But her Husband follow'd her thither to bring her again and her Father entertain'd him kindly At last they went away and came to Gibeah and an old Man invited 'em into his House but the Men of the City beset the House and would have the Levite brought out to abuse him But he brought out his Concubine to them and they abused her all Night
his Court in all respects she was even astonish'd with Admiration and tho Fame uses to be lavish enough of its Tongue yet she tells him Tho more was told her than she believ'd yet half was not told her of what she found Then she made him great Presents of Gold Spices and precious Stones He likewise gave to her whatsoever she desired and so return'd into her own Country Then Solomon made two hundred Targets of beaten Gold and three hundred Shields of Gold and a great Ivory Throne damask't with Gold and gather'd Charets and Horses in great abundance and he made Silver in Jerusalem as Stones and Cedars as Sycamore-trees CHAP. XI Solomon notwithstanding all these extraordinary Gifts and Favors to him both inward and outward and God's appearing twice to him loved many Women of the Heathen Nations and took him seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines and did so dote upon 'em even in his old Age that they turn'd away his Heart from God so that he tolerated the publick Exercise of their Idolatrous Worship whereupon God was angry with him and threatned to rend the greatest part of the Kingdom from him in his Sons days and give it to his Servant and stirr'd up several Adversaries against him and likewise by the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite declar'd to Jeroboam that held give him Ten Tribes and Solomon's Posterity should have but one Tribe besides the Tribe of Judah because he had forsaken him and worship'd strange Gods So Solomon having Reign'd forty years died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XII Then all the Tribes met together at Shechem and Jeroboam came along with 'em and they petitioned Rehoboam to ease 'em of their Taxes which Solomon had impos'd on ' em He takes three days time to consider of it and advises with his Fathers old Counsellors They perswade him by all means to humour the People and comply with their desires at present which would be the way to oblige 'em to him for ever after But this Counsel he lik'd not and therefore consulted with some young giddy Persons his Companions and Flatterers and they advise him to answer 'em roughly and tell 'em That his little Finger should be thicker than his Fathers Loyns and whereas his Father had chastis'd 'em with Whips he 'd chastise 'em with Scorpions And this Counsel he followed being forsaken of God and left to his own folly and rashness and answer'd 'em accordingly Whereupon ten of the Tribes immediately revolted from him and chose Jeroboam for their King and only the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin stuck unto Rehoboam Then Rehoboam raised an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand to reduce 'em to their obedience But God sent the Prophet Shemajah to forbid 'em to fight against their Brethren but to return to their own Homes because it was Gods doing And so they did Then Jeroboam fearing lest if the People went up to Jerusalem to worship their Hearts might in time be alienated from him and they might submit to Rehoboam made two golden Calves and set 'em up one in Dan the other in Bethel for the People to worship and built High Places and ordained Priests and appointed Feasts and so chang'd and innovated the Worship of God in all the parts of it CHAP. XIII Jeroboam standing by the Altar at Bethel to burn Incense a Prophet was sent out of Judah by God to denounce Judgments against the Altar which should be executed by King Josiah who should burn the Bones of the Idolatrous Priests upon it and defile it and in token of the truth of this Prophecy the Altar should be rent in twain When Jeroboam heard this he stretch'd out his hand to lay hold on him but immediately his hand withered so that he could not pull it in to him again and also the Altar was rent in twain Then Jeroboam intreated the Prophet to pray for him that the use of his hand might be restor'd to him again which he did and his hand was heal'd whereupon Jeroboam invites him to go home with him but he refus'd being forbidden by God to eat or drink or return the same way he came Now there was an old Prophet that dwelt in that City and his Sons told him all these passages then he went after him and invited him to go back with him which he refusing as being forbidden by God the old Prophet told him That he was commanded by an Angel to bring him back but he lied to him So he went back and did eat and drink in the old Prophets House Then as they sat at Table the Word of the Lord came to the old Prophet to threaten this other for his Disobedience So as he went away a Lion met him and slew him which being nois'd in the City the old Prophet went and fetcht his Body and buried it in his own Grave and commanded his Sons to bury him there by the Prophet because all his Threatnings against those Idolatrous places should come to pass But notwithstanding all these Providences Jeroboam continued his Idolatrous practices which in the issue prov'd the ruine of him and his Family CHAP. XIV Jeroboam's Son Abijah being sick he sends his Wife in disguise to Ahijah the Prophet to enquire concerning his recovery But God told Ahijah who she was and what was her Errand So when she came to the Door he said Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam and bids her tell her Husband That because he had provok'd God by his Idolatry God would cut off all his House and his Child should die and all Israel should mourn for him because in him only of all the House of Jeroboam some good thing was found and he 'd root up Israel out of their Land because of the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin So when she came back to the Threshold of her House the Child died Thus Jeroboam Reigned twenty two years and died During his time the People of Judah under Rehoboam provok'd God with their Images High-Places Groves and the like sins So in the fifth year of his Reign Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the Treasures of the Lord's House and of the Kings House and the Shields of Gold instead whereof Rehoboam made Shields of Brass At last he died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XV. Rehoboam being dead Abijam his Son succeeds him walking in all the sins of his Fathers He Reigned but three years and died and Asa his Son Reigned in his sted Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and destroyed Idolatry and depos'd his Grandmother Maacha from being Queen-regent Then there was War between him and Baasha King of Israel so he hired Benhadad King of Syria to take his part so they made a League together and Benhadad smote some of the Cities of Israel In his old Age he was troubled with the Gout in his Feet and sought to the Phisitians more than
to the Lord. He Reigned forty years and died and Jehosaphat Reigned in his stead 2 Chron. 14. 15. 16. In the days of Asa Zerah the Ethiopian came against him with an Army of a Million of Men Then Asa cried to the Lord for help and he gave him Victory over the Ethiopians so he destroyed their Cities and carried away much Spoil At their return towards Jerusalem the Spirit of the Lord came upon Azariah and he exhorted them to cleave fast to the Lord saying The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he 'll be found of you but if you forsake him he 'll forsake you Hereupon they cleansed the Land of Idols and entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and that whosoever would not do so should be put to death So the Lord gave 'em rest round about Afterwards upon the League that Asa made with Benhadad Hanani the Seer came and reprov'd him for it and because he did not trust in the Lord who had delivered the Ethiopians into his hand therefore he should have but a troublesom Reign from that time forward For this Asa was angry with him and put him in Prison and at the same time oppress'd the People In his second year Nadab the Son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel and he reigned two years and Baasha conspir'd against him and slew him and reigned in his stead and smote all the House of Jeroboam yet he continued Jeroboam's Idolatry Whereupon CHAP. XVI The Word of the Lord came to Jehu the Son of Hanani against him That because he continued in the sins of Jeroboam therefore as he had cut off Jeroboam's Posterity so he 'd cut off his Then he died and Elah his Son reigned in his stead and his Servant Zimri conspired against him and slew him and all the House of Baasha But within a few days the Soldiers made Omri King who went and besieged Tirzah where Zimri was and took it at which Zimri went into the Palace and set it on fire and burnt himself in it Then some of the People made Tibni King but Omri prevailed against him and so reigned alone He bought a Hill and built a City upon it and call'd it Samaria which was afterwards the Seat of the Kings of Israel But he walkt in the way of Jeroboam He died and Ahab his Son reigned in his stead and did evil above all that were before him and took to Wife Jezabel and worship'd Baal and built a Temple for him in Samaria and provok'd the Lord to Anger more than all the Kings before him CHAP. XVII In his time God sent Elijah to declare to him There should be no Rain for some years but according to his Word Then God sent him to the Brook Cherith where he was fed by Ravens And when that Brook was dry God sent him to Sarepta to be sustain'd by a Widow there who tho she had but a little Meal in a Barrel and Oyl in a Cruise yet that still held out and supplied her Occasions till there was plenty in the Land Afterwards her Son dying Elijah prayed unto God and restored him to Life again CHAP. XVIII After three years God commands Elijah to shew himself to Ahab and tells him he 'd send Rain So Elijah went to Ahab who as soon as he saw him said Art thou he that troubles Israel To whom Elijah reply'd I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and have followed Baalim Then he desir'd Ahab to gather all the People together to Mount Carmel and all the Prophets of Baal which was done Then said Elijah to them If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal be God then follow him Then he bids the Prophets of Baal take one Bullock and lay it upon Wood and put no Fire under and he 'd do the like with another Bullock and the God that answered by Fire should be own'd for the true God And they did so and call'd upon their God from Morning till Noon but none answer'd Then Elijah derided 'em so that they us'd all imaginable importunity but still none answer'd Then he call'd the People to come about him and he repair'd an Altar of the Lord and made a Trench about it and laid the Bullock upon it and caused Water to be poured thrice upon the Sacrifice till the Trench was filled Then he called upon God and God sent Fire which consumed the Sacrifice and Wood and Stones and lickt up the Water in the Trench Then all the People acknowledged That this was the true God Then Elijah bad 'em slay all Baal's Priests which they did Then he bad Ahab get him up because much Rain was coming Then he went up to the top of Carmel and prayed earnestly to God for Rain after which a small Cloud appeared which presently overspread the Heavens and there fell abundance of Rain And Ahab rode in his Charet to Jezreel and Elijah ran before him CHAP. XIX Ahab telling Jezabel what Elijah had done she swore she 'd have his Life by the next day whereupon Elijah went and sâ—t under a Juniper Tree in the Wilderness and prayed to God to take away his Life But God sent an Angel to encourage him who made Provision for him that he might eat and drink and he travel'd in the strength of that Food forty days together till he came to Horeb where God appear'd to him and questions with him what he did there He replied That they had forsaken God's Covenant slain his Prophets and left none but himself and they sought his Life too so that he was fain to fly for it Then God sends him to anoint Hazael to be King of Syria Jehu to be King of Israel and Elisha to be Prophet in his room and withal tells him That there were seven thousand left in Israel who had not bowed the Knee to Baal After this meeting with Elisha he threw his Mantle upon him who presently left his former employment and followed him and ministred to him CHAP. XX. Then Benhadad King of Syria came and besieged Samaria and putting very hard terms upon Ahab he calls a Councel of all the Grandees who advise him to stand out Then there came a Prophet from God to Ahab to promise him Victory which came to pass for they slew the Syrians with a great Slaughter but the King escap'd Then the Prophet came to him again and bid him prepare for another War but that he should have the Victory in that also And so it came to pass for the Children of Israel slew of the Syrians ten thousand in one day And at Aphek a Wall fell on twenty seven thousand more and slew ' em And Benhadad fled and hid himself in the City But his Servants perswaded him to send a very submissive Message to Ahab and to lay himself at his Mercy who thereupon pardon'd him and
Elisha came to Damascus and Benhadad being sick was told that the Prophet Elisha was there whereupon he sent Hazael to enquire of him whether he should recover Who answer'd That as to any thing of his Disease he might recover but God had shew'd him that he should die by other means Then Elisha fixt his Eyes upon Hazael and wept which Hazael enquiring the reason of he told him It was for the great mischiefs he should do to Israel when he came to be King of Syria as Dashing out their Childrens Brains and ripping up their Women with Child To which Hazael said Is thy Servant a Dog that he should do such things So Hazael came to his Master Benhadad and told him that the Prophet said he should surely recover But to prevent that he spread a wet cloth over his Face and so stifled him About this time Jehoram the Son of Jehosaphat began to reign He married Ahab's Daughter and so walkt in the ways of the House of Ahab 2 Chron. 21. He slew all his Brethren and many of the great Men of the Land and made many innovations in Religion for the promoting of Idolatry While he was going on in these ways a Letter was deliver'd him written by Elijah by the Spirit of Prophecy during his abode on earth to threaten him for his wickedness and tell him That God would plague him his Wives Children People and inflict a Disease upon him in his Bowels which should torment him day by day till they fell out Accordingly God stirr'd up the neighbour Nations to distress him and smote him in his Bowels with an incurable Disease so that after two years they fell out and he died without being desir'd and Ahaziah his Son reigned in his sted He walked in the way of the House of Ahab being his Son-in-Law He went with Joram King of Israel to the war against Hazael at Ramoth-Gilead but Joram being wounded came back to be cured in Jezreel and Ahaziah went thither to give him a Visit CHAP. IX Elisha sends one of the young Prophets to annoint Jehu to be King of Israel so he went to the Camp at Ramoth-Gilead and singled out Jehu and anointed him with a Command to destroy the whole House of Ahab Then Jehu telling the Commanders what had been done to him they presently proclaimed him King and he went towards Jezreel but being spied by a Watch-man Joram sends to enquire what was the matter but Jehu detain'd the Messenger then another was sent but he was detain'd also Then Joram went himself and Ahaziah with him and ask'd Is it peace Jehu who answer'd What peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many Joram then perceiving there was treachery endeavours to fly away but Jehu drew a Bow and slew him and bad one of his Captains cast his Body into the Field of Naboth as God had threatned he should be serv'd He slew Ahaziah King of Judah also and when he was come to Jezreel Jezabel look'd out at a Window and upbraided him for killing his Master But he commanded her to be thrown down out of the Window and he trod her under feet and the Dogs did eat the greatest part of her What was left he commanded to be buried because she was a Kings Daughter CHAP. X. After this Jehu sent Letters to Samaria where were kept seventy of Ahab's Sons requiring those that had the charge of 'em to bring their Heads to him on the morrow which was done So he slew all that remained of the House of Ahab at Jezreel he slew also forty two Princes the Kindred of Ahaziah As he was going to Samaria he met with Jonadab the Son of Rechab and took him up into his Charet saying Come see my Zeal for the Lord of Hosts So he came to Samaria and slew all that remained of Ahab there Then he gathered all the Worshipers and Prophets of Baal together upon pretence of offering a great Sacrifice to Baal and caus'd 'em all to be slain and burnt his Images and brake down his Temple But yet he practis'd the Idolatry of Jeroboam thâ— not of Ahab But for what he had done in executing Judgment on the House of Ahab God promis'd to continue his Seed on the Throne to the fourth Generation He reign'd twenty eight years over Israel in Samaria and then died and his Son Jehoahaz reign'd in his sted CHAP. XI Ahaziah being slain his Mother Athuliah usurps the Throne and slew all the Seed-Royal only one of them Joash was hid in some of the Chambers belonging to the Temple six years And in the seventh year Jehojada the High Priest brought him out and proclaimed him King Athaliah hearing a noise went to see what was the matter and spied Joash standing by a Pillar and the People about him rejoycing and cried out Treason Treason But Jehojada commanded and they laid hands on her and slew her Then Jehojada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords People and between the King and the People Then they brake down the Monuments of Idolatry and slew the Priests of Baal and they brought the King down out of the House of the Lord and he sate upon the Throne of the Kings CHAP. XII It was in the seventh year of Jehu that Joash began to reign and he did right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehojada and caused the Temple to be repair'd But after Jehojada was dead the Princes came and flatter'd him and he harkned unto 'em and they fell to Idolatry again Whereupon the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah and he reproved 'em for their sins so the King commanded him to be ston'd and they ston'd him in the Court of the Lords House And when he died he said The Lord look upon it and requite it After this Hazael designing to come up against Jerusalem Joash took all the hallowed things and sent 'em to him and so he departed But the Servants of Joash conspired against him and slew him in the House of Millo and Amaziah his Son reigned in his sted CHAP. XIII In the three and twentieth year of Joash began Jehoahaz Son of Jehu to reign over Israelâ— and he followed the ways of Jeroboam so the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of the King of Syria and Jehoahaz besought the Lord and he gave them a Saviour Then he died and Joash his Son reigned in his sted who departed not from the sins of Jeroboam In his days Elisha fell sick and Joash came and wept over him saying O my Father my Father the Charets of Israel and the Horsemen thereof And Elisha bad him take his Bow and Arrows and shoot and he shot then Elisha told him he should smite the Syrians till he had consumed ' em Then he had him take the Arrows and smite upon the ground and so he did thrice And Elisha was angry because he smote but thrice
and told him he should have smitten five or six times and then he should have utterly destroyed the Syrians whereas now he should smite 'em but thrice Then Elisha died and was buried and afterwards some casting a Man into his Sepulcher assoon as he toucht the Bones of Elisha the man revived and stood upon his Feet Then Hazael oppress'd Israel but Joash overcome Benhadad the Son of Hazael and beat him three times and recovered the Cities of Israel CHAP. XIV At this time Amaziah reigned over Judah and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He slew those that had slain the King his Father 2 Chron. 25.5 c. He gathered together the Militia of Judah and Benjamin three hundred thousand choice men also he hiâ—'d than hundred thousand out of Israel But a Prophet met him and told him God was not with the Men of Israel and therefore he should send 'em back again and so he did After this he fought against the Edomites and slew ten thousand and carried away ten thousand more and threw 'em down from the top of a Rock that they were broken all in pieces But when he came from the Slaughter of the Edomites he brought their Gods and set 'em up for his Gods and served them Whereupon God sent a Prophet to him to reprove him for it but he was angry with the Prophet and said Who made thee of the King's Counsel Forbear why shouldst thou be smitten Then the Prophet told him that God would destroy him because he harkned not to his Counsel Then he sent a Challenge to Joash but was beaten and taken Prisoner and Joash came to Jerusalem and brake down part of the Wall and plunder'd the House of the Lord and the Kings House and so return'd to Samaria Then he died and Jeroboam his Son reigned in his stead Then they made a Conspiracy against Amaziah King of Judah and he fled to Lachish but they sent after him and slew him there And the People made Ahaziah his Son King in his sted Jeroboam King of Israel did Evil in the sight of the Lord yet God saved them by the hand of Jeroboam because he saw the Affliction of Israel that it was very bitter Then Jeroboam died and Zechariah his Son resigned in his sted CHAP. XV. Azâ—â—iah or Uzaiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. 2 Chron. 26 and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper for he fought against the Philistines and prevail'd God helpt him also against the Arabians and the Ammonites brought him Gifts He built Towers in Jerusalem and digg'd many Wells for he had much Cattel and Husbandry for he loved it He had a great Army of three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred and he made many Engines in Jerusalem to shoot Arrows and Stones withal and was very strong But when he was strong his Heart was lifted up to his Destruction for he went into the Temple to burn Incense himself but Azariah the Chief Priest withstood him telling him that it pertained not to him but to the Priests Then he was wroth with the Priests But God smote him with a Leprosie so he hastned out of the Temple and dwelt in a lone House and Jotham his Son was his Deputy Then he died and Jotham succeeded him In his days did Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam reign over Israel and he walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat and Shallum conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted But Menahem conspir'd against him and slew him and reign'd in his sted He walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat Then Pul the King of Assyria came against him to whom he gave a thousand Talents of Silver to settle him upon the Throne He died and Pekahiah his Son reigned in his sted But Pekah conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted In his days Tiglath-Pilesar King of Assyria took many Towns from him and carried the People captive to Assyria In his days began Jotham the Son of Uzziah to reign over Judah and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He built the higher Gate of the House of the Lord and Cities in the Mountains He fought also with the King of the Ammonites and prevailed against 'em and they gave him Tribute and he became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Then he died and Ahaz his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVI 2 Chron. 28. Ahaz walked in the way of the Kings of Israel and burnt his Children in the Fire wherefore the Lord deliver'd him into the hand of the King of Syria who carried away a great multitude of People to Damascus Pekah also the King of Israel prevail'd against him and slew in one day an hundred and twenty thousand because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers and carried away two hundred thousand persons and took much Spoil But the Prophet Oded met them and reprov'd 'em for it saying Are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord your God therefore deliver the Captives So some of the Princes withstood them and would not suffer 'em to bring them into the City So the Captives were cloathed and fed and sent to Jericho Esay 7. Then Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel warred against Jerusalem but could no prevail against it And the Lord commanded Esay to go meet Ahaz and bid him not be afraid of them and bad him ask a Sign but Ahaz would not Then said Esay God himself shall give you a Sign Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel But withal tells him That the Lord would bring upon them the King of Assyria who should destroy both his People and their Land Yet Ahaz sent Embassadors to the King of Assyria to come and help him against the Kings of Syria and Israel and sent him all the Silver and Gold that was in the Lords House and in his own Treasury So the King of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it and slew Rezin And Ahaz went to Damascus to meet him and seeing there an Altar he sent the Pattern of it to Urijah the Priest who made one after that fashion upon which Ahaz offered Sacrifices and removed the Brazen Altar and commanded that this new Altar should be made use of for the daily Sacrifice and shut up the Doors of the Temple and sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus Thus in time of his Distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. Then he died and Hezekiah his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVII In the days of Ahaz began Hoshea to reign over Israel and Shalmaneser King of Assyria came up against him and made him tributary But he sent Embassadors to So King of Egypt to help him which the King of Assyria hearing of put him in Prison and came and besieged
Samaria and took it and carried the People into Assyria for their Idolatry and other sins they had been guilty of and brought other from Babylon and other places to dwell in the Cities of Samaria But God sent Lions among 'em for their wickedness Then the King of Assyria sent a Priest to them to teach 'em how to serve the Lord. But they all served their own Gods and set up their Images in their High-Places So they served the Lord and their own Gods too and so continued to do CHAP. XVIII 2 Chron. 29. Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and brake in pieces the Brazen Serpent because the People burnt Incense to it He also opened the Doors of the Temple and brought in the Priests commanding 'em to sanctifie the House of the Lord which they did Then he gathered the Rulers together and offered Sacrifices according to the Law and prais'd the Lord with the Words of David and Asaph 2 Chron. 30. Then he sent Letters to all Israel and Judah and those of the twelve Tribes to come and keep the Passover at Jerusalem which he earnestly exhorted 'em to So they kept the Passover in the Second Month and because many did eat otherwise than was written Hezekiah pray'd for 'em and the Lord harkned to him and heal'd the people Then he encouraged the Levites to teach the people and perform their Duties and he gave to the Congregation a thousand Bullocks and seven thousand Sheep and the Princes gave 'em a thousand Bullocks and ten thousand Sheep So there was great Joy and the Priests blessed the people and their Prayer came up to Heaven 2 Chron. 31. Then they destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and so returned home Then he appointed the Priests and Levites to wait in their Courses and commanded the People to pay 'em all their dues which they chearfully did And he appointed Officers to dispose of the Titles And all this he did with sincerity and diligence So God was with him and prospered him Ch. 18.11 c. 2 Chron. 32. After this Sennacherib King of Assyria took several Cities of Judah then Hezekiah repaired the Walls of Jerusalem and encouraged the People saying With him is an Arm of Flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels Then Sennacherib besieged Lachish and Hezekiah sent to buy his peace with him and gave him all the Gold in the Lords House and in his own Treasury yet Sennacherib continued his Siege and sent a great Army against Jerusalem under the command of Rabshakeh who revil'd and blasphem'd the Lord as if he were not able to deliver them out of the hands of his Master He spake also to the people that they should not suffer themselves to be deluded by Hezekiah to hold out the Siege but to yield to him and they should enjoy their Lives and Fortunes But the people answered him not a word But some went to Hezekiah and told him what Rabshakeh had said CHAP. XIX When Hezekiah heard it he went into the House of the Lord and sent to Esay the Prophet to pray for ' em Then Esay bids 'em not to be afraid of his words for God would send a Blast upon him and cause him to return and fall in his own Land Then Sennacherib sent Messengers again to Hezekiah with Letters full of Blasphemy and Hezekiah spread the Letter before the Lord and pray'd to be delivered out of his Hand Then God sent Esay with a Message to Hezekiah to tell him that his Prayer was heard and that they should have occasion to despise Sennacherib and laugh him to scorn notwithstanding all his pride and boastings for he would turn him back by the way by which he came So that Night the Lord sent an Angel which slew an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians Then Sennacherib returned with shame to his own Land and dwelt at Niniveh and as he was worshiping in the House of his God his two Sons slew him Thus God saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem and many brought Gifts to the Lord and Presents to Hezekiah and he was magnified in the sight of all Nations CHAP. XX. In those days Hezekiah fell sick of a mortal Disease and God sent Esay to him to bid him set his house in order for he should die Upon this Hezekiah prayed earnestly and wept Then God sent Esay again to tell him that he would heal him and add fifteen years to his Life and that he would defend and deliver the City and that he should lay a Cake of Figs on the Sore So he recovered and for a Sign that he should recover and go up to the House of the Lord within three days he caused the Shadow to go back ten degrees upon the Dial of Ahaz Then the King of Babylon sent Messengers and Presents to him to congratulate his Recovery wherewith he being puff'd up shew'd 'em all his Treasures Whereupon Esay was sent to him to tell him That all these things should be carried to Babylon and some of his Seed should be Eunuchs to the King of Babylon To which Ezekiah replied Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken So he died and Manasseh his Son succeeded him CHAP. XXI 2 Chron. 33. Manasseh did worse than all the Kings that were before him for he restored Idolatry built Altars for all the Host of Heaven in the Courts of the Lord's House used Enchantments dealt with familiar Spirits and shed abundance of innocent Blood wherefore the Lord threatned to wipe Jerusalem as a Man wipes a Dish and tells 'em he was bringing such Evils upon Jerusalem and Judah that whosoever hears it both his Ears shall tingle And accordingly the Captains of the King of Assyria took Manasseh and carried him to Babylon And in his Affliction he humbled himself greatly before God and prayed and he was intreated of him and brought him again unto Jerusalem Then he made a thorow Reformation and repaired the Altar and commanded the People to serve the Lord. He died and Ammon his Son succeeded him He did evil as his Father had done but did not humble himself like his Father but trespass'd more and more Then his Sons conspired against him and slew him in his own House and Josiah his Son reigned in his sted CHAP. XXII 2 Chron. 33. Josiah while he was young about sixteen years old began to seek after the God of David his Father and took care to have the Temple repair'd And as they were cleansing it Hilkiah the High Priest found the Original Copy of the Law written by Moses and sent it to the King who caus'd it to be read before him and was much affected with it especially with the threatnings against Idolatry and sent to Huldah a Prophetess to enquire of the Lord for him who answer'd That God would bring great Evils upon 'em for all their sins but
Heir God renews his promise of an Heir to come out of his own Loyns and of a numerous Posterity which he firmly believing tho so unlikely God thereupon accounts him a righteous person and this an Act of Righteousness and promises Canaan again to him and that his Posterity after four hundred years sojourning in Canaan and Egypt should possess it and confirms this by a Sign upon Abram's request and Vision CHAP. XVI Sarai to obtain the accomplishment of the promise being barren her self gives Hagar her Handmaid to Abram to be his Concubine who conceiving by him grows insolent and despis'd her Mistress which Sarai not brooking complains of her to Abram he leaves her to her disposal who dealing hardly with her she ran away for which she was rebuked by an Angel and required to return and submit her self to her Mistress and withal promises her a numerous Seed and tells her she was with Child of a Son whom she should call Ismael and accordingly when he was born Abram called him so which was in the eighty sixth year of Abram's Age. CHAP. XVII Thirteen years after this when Abram was ninety nine years old God appears to him again renews his Covenant with him that he should be a Father of many Nations and as a pledge thereof changes his Name from Abram to Abraham signifying A Father of a multitude Institutes the Sacrament of Circumcision Changes Sarai's Name to Sarah Promises him a Son by her Abraham intercedes for Ismael God promises to bless and multiply him exceedingly but his Covenant should be with his Son by Sarah Then Abraham circumcised himself and Ismael being thirteen years old and the rest of his Family CHAP. XVIII Abraham sitting in his Tent-door spies three Men whom he invites to his House to refresh themselves which they accept of enquire for Sarah and one of them who was the Second Person of the Trinity tells him she should have a Son which she over-hearing disbelieves at present and laughs at with which being charg'd she denies it They departing Abraham brings them on their way to whom the Lord Christ discovers his intent of destroying Sodom and the other Cities for their grievous sins Whereupon Abraham intercedes for 'em and God yields so far that if there had been but ten righteous persons found in Sodom he 'd have spar'd it CHAP. XIX While Christ staid talking with Abraham the other two Angels in humane Shape past on and came to Sodom at Even Lot seeing 'em salutes 'em invites 'em to his House and makes 'em a Feast But presently the Men of the City gathered about the House and called to Lot to bring out those two Strangers that they might abuse 'em which he refusing they prest near to break the door Whereupon the Angels smote 'em with blindness and warn Lot to bring out his Children and whatsoever he had in the City because they were come to destroy it But while he lingred they laid hold upon him his Wife and two Daughters and brought 'em forth commanding 'em to escape for their lives and not look back which his Wise not observing was turned into a Pillar of Salt Lot entring into Zoar about Sun-rising presently the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon those Cities and destroyed ' em But Lot removed from Zoar and dwelt in a Cave in a Mountain where his two Daughters made him drink Wine and lay with him and so were with Child by their Father from whence descended the Moabites and Ammonites CHAP. XX. Abraham sojourning in Gerar calls Sarah his Sister whereupon the King takes her but being warned of God in a Dream he restores her to her Husband with a great Present CHAP. XXI Sarah now bears Isaac his Father Abraham being an hundred years old At his weaning Abraham makes a great Feast Ismael falls a jeering Isaac whereupon he and his Mother are sent away In their travel the water being spent the Boy was ready to perish with thirst but God shew'd her a Well of Water encourages her and blesses the Child So they dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran and his Mother took him a Wife out of Egypt Abimelech King of the Philistins made a Covenant with Abraham at Beersheba who sojourned in their Land many days CHAP. XXII Isaac being grown up God for the trial of Abraham's Faith and Obedience commands him to offer his only Son Isaac for a Burnt-offering upon a Mountain which he 'd shew him Presently the next morning Abraham begins the Journey and when he came to the place he bound Isaac upon the Altar and lift up his hand to slay his Son But God called to him out of Heaven and bad him hold his hand And there was a Ram behind him which he took and offered instead of his Son Whereupon God swears to bless and multiply his Seed and that in it all Nations should be blessed CHAP. XXIII Sarah dying at a hundred and twenty years old Abraham buys a burying place for her in Macpelah of the Sons of Heth. CHAP. XXIV Abraham growing old obliges his chief Servant to take a Wife for Isaac from among his Kindred The Servant goes to Nahor Abraham's Brother When he came to the City to a Well where they used to draw water he begs of God good success in his business and that the Virgin who should treat him kindly might be the Person design'd for his Masters Son Presently comes Rebecca out by whom his sign was fulfilled whereupon being invited he goes to her Father's House tells his errand and desires their Answer They seeing Gods hand in it could not gainsay it Then he presents 'em all especially Rebecca and takes her away the next day In the evening Isaac walking abroad to meditate meets the Servant and Rebecca with him whom he brought into his Mother's Tent and took her to be his Wife CHAP. XXV Abraham marries Keturah and has many Children by her to whom he gave Gifts At length being sevenscore and fifteen years old he dies and was buried in Machpelah with Sarah Rebeccah being barren about twenty years Isaac prays for her whereupon she conceived Twins which strugled in her Womb. When they were born the eldest was hairy and thereupon called Esau the younger took hold of his Brothers Heel and so was called Jacob. Esau was a Hunter and killed Venison for his Father which drew his affection to him Jacob was a plain Man Jacob having made Pottage Esau comes home from Hunting hungry and saint and so sold his Birthright to Jacob for some of his Pottage CHAP. XXVI A Famine being in the Land Isaac goes to Gerar among the Philistines where God appears to him and makes him the same promises he had made to Abraham of a numberless Seed and those Countries Here Isaac dasht against the same Rock his Father Abraham had done calling his Wife his Sister But at length Abimelech observ'd some familiar carriage between 'em whereby he discern'd she was his Wife so none of the People
and in the Morning she came and fell down dead at the old Man's Door Then her Lord carried her home and divided her into twelve parts and sent to every Tribe a part of her and they were all mightily concerned at it CHAP. XX. Then all the Congregation assembled at Mizpeh resolving before they departed to inflict exemplary punishment to the Men of Gibeah and accordingly sent to the Tribe of Benjamin to deliver up the Offenders to be put to death But they refus'd to deliver 'em up and muster'd up all their Forces to fight with Israel Then the Tribe of Judah by God's appointment went first to fight against Gibeah But the Men of Benjamin slew of 'em two and twenty thousand Whereupon the Men of Israel wept before the Lord and sought further direction from him Then he commanded 'em to go up again against Benjamin but they slew eighteen thousand more Then all the People of Israel humbled themselves greatly with fasting and weeping and enquired farther of God who bad 'em go up and on the morrow he 'd deliver the Benjamites into their hand Then they set Ambushments and went up again against Benjamin and when the Benjamites came out against 'em they made as if they fled and so drew the Benjamites from the City Then the Ambush rose up and entred into the City and set it on fire which when the Benjamites saw they were amazed and fled and the Israelites slew twenty five thousand of them and burnt their Cities Only six hundred Men escap'd and hid themselves in a Rock four Months CHAP. XXI Afterwards when the People consider'd what was done and that there was a Tribe cut off they repented and consulted how they might repair that loss Wherefore they sent and slew all the Men and Women of Jabish Gilead because they had not come to their assistance against Benjamin only they saved all the Virgins alive which were four hundred Then they sent and called for the six hundred Benjamites that had hid themselves and gave 'em these Virgins for Wives But still two hundred wanted Wives Therefore they permit 'em to go to Shiloh where was a Feast kept at which the Virgins used to come out to dance and make merry and to catch 'em Wives of these Virgins which accordingly they did and so all departed home RUTH CHAP. I. IN the days of the Judges there was a Famine in the Land of Judah whereupon Elimelech with his Wife Naomi and two Sons went to sojourn in the Land of Moab where the Man died and his two Sons took 'em Wives Orpah and Ruth but the two Sons died childless Then the Famine being remov'd Naomi return'd to her own Country with her two Daughters-in-law and came to Bethlehem CHAP. II. Now there was in that City a rich Man called Boaz of the Kindred of Elimelech into whose Field Ruth hapned to go a gleaning So Boaz finding her there enquired who she was and understanding that she was Naomi's Daughter-in-law he spake kindly to her and gave order to his Servants to treat her civilly So she glean'd â—here till the end of Harvest CHAP. III. Naomi considering Boaz's relation to her Husband and his kindness to Ruth advises her to go at Night and lie down by Boaz in the threshing-floor which she did and in the Night perceiving some body there and asking who it was she makes a motion to him to take her to be his Wife being a near Kinsman This he takes very kindly from her and in the morning sends her away with a good deal of Corn afore it was light CHAP. IV. The next day Boaz goes to the Court or Common-Hall and propounds to a neerer Kinsman of Elimelech's the marrying of Ruth which he refusing Boaz takes her to be his Wife by whom he had Obed the Father of Jesse the Father of David I. SAMUEL CHAP. I. A Certain Levite called Elkanah had two Wives Hannah and Peninnah the latter had Children but the former was barren He going yearly to worship and to Sacrifice of Shiloh gave to Peninnah and her Children Portions but to Hannah his best beloved he gave a worthy Portion but she being reproacht by Peninnah for her Barrenness was griev'd and did not eat but went to the Temple and pray'd and wept sore and vow'd That if God would give her a Son she would dedicate him to the Lord and he should be a Nazarite Eli the High Priest observing her Lips to move but not hearing her Words thought she had been drunk and reproves her for it to whom she replied That she was only pouring out her Soul before the Lord then Eli blessed her So she went away and was no more sad When she came home she conceived and bare a Son and called his Name Samuel and when she had wean'd him she brought him to the House of the Lord in Shiloh and told Eli that was the Child for which she prayed whom now she devoted to God's Service as long as he liv'd And CHAP. II. Indited a Song of Praise in token of her thankfulness for this mercy After this she had several other Children Now the Sons of Eli were very profane Persons for they forc'd the People to give 'em what parts of the Sacrifices they pleased and more than the Law requir'd so that Men abhor'd the Offerings of the Lord and also lay with the Women that came to worship at the Tabernacle and yet for these prodigious Lewdnesses their Father reprov'd 'em but very gently and tenderly and therefore God sent a Prophet to him to threaten him with heavy Judgments upon his Family and the High Priesthood should be translated to another CHAP. III. All this while Samuel ministred to the Lord and one Night God called to Samuel and revealed to him his purpose of laying aside Eli's House from being High Priests and reducing them to a mean condition because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained 'em not In the morning Eli askt him what God had said to him and charg'd him to conceal nothing from him So Samuel told him all whereupon he uttered this submissive Speech It is the Lord let him do what seems him good CHAP. IV. At that time there was War between the Israelites and the Philistines and the Philistines prevail'd and slew about four thousand Israelites Then the Israelites fetcht the Ark into the Camp to save 'em from the Philistines and the two Sons of Eli went along with it But the Philistines overcame 'em again and slew thirty thousand among which were Eli's two Sons and also took the Ark. Then a certain Man ran to Shiloh with these Tidings to Eli who sat by the way side watching and trembling for the Ark and when the Man mention'd the Ark's being taken he fell backward and brake his Neck Phinehas's Wife also upon these Tidings fell in travel and named her Child Ichabod and so died CHAP. V. The Philistines having taken the Ark brought it to Ashdod and set it by
Dagon their God but the next morning Dagon was fallen on his Face to the Earth So they set him up again but the next morning he was fallen again and his Head and Hands broke off and also God smote the Men of Ashdod and the parts adjoyning with Hemorroids So they carried the Ark to Gath and God smote them also with Hemorroids Then they sent it to Ekron but they desired it might be sent to its own place again for the hand of God was heavy upon ' em CHAP. VI. Then the chief of the Philistines consulted with the Priests and Diviners what they should do with the Ark who advis'd to send it back with a Trespass-Offering viz. Five golden Hemorroids and five golden Mice which they did and put them in a Coffer and set the Ark and Coffer in a new Cart drawn with two Milch-Kine who took the strait way to Bethshemesh which when the Men of Bethshemesh saw they rejoyced and the Levites took down the Ark and the Coffer and they clave the Wood of the Cart and offered the Kine for a Burnt-Offering â—o the Lord. But the Lord smote fifty thousand of the Men of Bethshemesh for peeping into the Ark so they sent to the Men of Kirjath-jearim â—o fetch it And CHAP. VII The Men of Kirjath-jearim brought the Ark to the House of Abinadab where it remain'd twenty years Samuel exhorts the People to put â—way their false Gods and repent of all their â—ins so they fasted and wept in Mizpeh Then â—he Philistines hearing they were there came up â—gainst them whereupon they desire Samuel to cry unto God to save 'em which he did and God heard him for as he was offering a Burnt-Offering the Lord thundred against the Philistines and discomfited them So they were subdued all the days of Samuel and he judged Israel all his days and went every year in Circuit to several Cities to administer Justice among ' em But CHAP. VIII Samuel's Sons whom he made Judges under him were corrupt whereupon the Elders of Israel came to Samuel and desir'd him to make 'em a King as other Nations had But this displeased Samuel and he pray'd to God for direction God tho he interpreted it as a rejecting of himself yet permits Samuel to comply with their desire but withal bad him acquaint 'em what manner of usage they must expect from a King and how he 'd employ his Power to tyrannize over 'em and oppress 'em yet still they persist in their desire so God bids him yield to their Importunity CHAP. IX Now Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin had a goodly Son whose Name was Saul and Kish having lost his Asses sent his Son to seek ' em He having sought 'em in many places without success at last came to Samuel to enquire of him after ' em Now God had told Samuel the day before that there would come to him a Man of Benjamin whom he should anoint to be King So Samuel meeting with him invites him to a Feast with the chief of the City and set him in the uppermost place and afterwards walk'd abroad with him Then CHAP. X. Samuel took a Vial of Oyl and anointed him to be King and told him the Asses were found and that in his return homewards he should meet a company of Prophets and the Spirit of the Lord should come upon him and he should Prophecy with 'em and that he should go to Gilgal and tarry there seven days till Samuel came to him to tell him what he should do All which came to pass accordingly so that it was said Is Saul also among the Prophets Then Samuel called the People together to Mizpeh and sets 'em to cast Lots to find out who should be their King and the Lot fell upon Saul but he had hid himself and could not be found But God told 'em he was hid among the Stuff so they sent and fetch'd him and proclaimed him King But some Mal-Contents despis'd him and brought him no Presents but he took no notice of it CHAP. XI After this Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead Then the Rulers sent a Message to him That if they had not Relief within seven days they would deliver the City up to him Saul hearing of this sent to call all the People to him and they came all unanimously Then he sent word to Jabesh-Gilead That to morrow he 'd come and relieve ' em So they came early in the morning and fell upon the Ammonites and quite routed 'em so that two of 'em were not left together Hereupon all the People went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul King there before the Lord and sacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings and rejoyc'd together CHAP. XII Hereupon Samuel expostulates with 'em concerning their desire of a King and first testifies his own Integrity that he had not misbehav'd himself in his Government of 'em nor given 'em occasion to desire a Change And to convince 'em of their sin in desiring a King he call'd upon God and he sent unusual Thunder and Rain whereupon they were greatly afraid and acknowledged their sin But Samuel encouraged 'em and told 'em God would not forsake his People neither would he cease to pray for 'em only bids 'em be sure to fear God But saith he If you still do wickedly you shall be consumed both you and your King CHAP. XIII Jonathan having smitten a Garrison of the Philistines they raise a great Army to fight with Israel so that the People were afraid and hid themselves but Saul was with his Life-guard at Gilgal and tarried seven days for Samuel according to his appointment and when Samuel came not and the People began to steal away from him he offered a Burnt-offering and as soon as he had made an end of offering Samuel came and rebuk'd him sharply for not staying the full time that God had commanded which if he had done God would have establish'd him upon the Throne for ever but now his Kingdom should not continue for God had sought him another one after his own Heart whom he would make King and Samuel departed from him Then the Philistines sent out several Parties which spoiled the Israelites and suffer'd 'em not to have any Weapons nor Smiths to make any CHAP. XIV Then Jonathan and his Armour-bearer went over to a Garrison of the Philistines and by a Sign gathered that God would deliver 'em into their Hands And accordingly Jonathan and his Armour-bearer slew several of 'em which caus'd an extraordinary trembling all over the Host so that they fell a killing one another which the Watchmen perceiving Saul and the People with him got together to pursue them and Saul that they might not be diverted from the pursuit adjur'd 'em not to eat any thing till the Battel was ended But Jonathan not hearing the Oath and being faint eat some Hony but the People durst not do so and therefore were very faint and when they came to eat were so greedy
that they eat the Blood with the Flesh Afterwards Saul enquired of God whether he should any further pursue the Philistines but God answered him not Whereupon he concluded there had been some transgression among 'em and cast Lots to find it out and the Lot falling upon Jonathan Saul would have put him to Death but the People rescued him So Saul fought against all his Enemies and prevail'd and when he saw any strong and valiant Man he took him to him CHAP. XV. Samuel by Gods appointment sends Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites both Man Woman and Child and all their Cattel So Saul smote 'em and took their King Agag and utterly destroyed all the People but spared the King and the best of the Cattel and of the Prey Whereupon God tells Samuel That he repented of making Saul King Then Samuel went to Saul and reproved him severely for not obeying the Voice of the Lord And whereas Saul pretended they kept the best of the Cattel for Sacrifice Samuel tells him that To obey is better than Sacrifice and to harken than the fat of Rams and that Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft And because he had rejected the Word of the Lord God had also rejected him from being King And as Samuel turned about to go away from him Saul laid hold on the Skirt of his Mantle and rent it at which Samuel said God has rent the Kingdom from thee this day and given it to a Neighbour of thine that is better than thou Then Samuel commanded Agag to be brought to him and he hewed him in pieces before the Lord in a Sacrifice to him CHAP. XVI Then God commanded Samuel to take an Horn of Oyl and anoint one of the Sons of Jesse and to go to Bethlehem to offer Sacrifice and to call Jesse and his Sons to the Sacrifice that the Design might not be perceived by Saul So Jesse being come and making seven of his Sons pass before Samuel he said it was none of them that his business was withal Then he call'd the youngest who was keeping of Sheep and when he came Samuel anointed him in the midst of his Brethren And the Spirit of God came upon him and departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him whereupon he sent for David to play before him and so the evil Spirit departed from him CHAP. XVII After this the Philistines and Israelites set their Battel in array one against another and there was a Valley between ' em Then a Champion of the Philistines a Giant whose Name was Goliath came and stood between the two Armies and challenged any of the Israelites to fight with him and defied their Armies Thus he did forty days together At last David being sent by his Father to his three eldest Brethren that were in the Army to carry 'em some Provision and see how they did hearing the vaunting blasphemous Speeches of this Philistine and being told that whosoever could kill him the King would give him his Daughter and make him a great Man David undertakes to sight with him So Saul sent for him and told him he was a very unequal Match for the Philistine But David told him how he had slain both a Lion and a Bear and that God who had deliver'd him from them would also deliver him from this Philistine So he took only his Shepherds Staff and a Sling in his Hand and went against the Philistine But when the Philistine drew near and saw him he despised him But David told him he came to him in the Name of the Lord of Hosts who would deliver him into his hand and discomfit their Host that all the Earth may know there is a God in Israel So David slang a Stone which sank into his Forehead and he fell down Then David ran and took Goliath's own Sword and cut off his Head Whereupon the Army of Israel set upon the Philistines and routed 'em and David brought the Head of Goliath in his hand to Saul Hereupon CHAP. XVIII Jonathan entred into a strict League of Friendship with David and lov'd him as his own Soul And David was set over the Men of War and accepted of all the People And as David return'd from the Slaughter of the Philistine the Women came out of all the Cities saying Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands for which Saul envied him from that day forward so that the next time that the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him Saul threw a Javelin at him to have slain him But David avoided twice out of his Presence and he was beloved by all the People and also Michal Saul's Daughter fell in love with him for her Husband to which Saul readily consented requiring only an hundred Fore-skins of the Philistines for a Dowry designing thereby to have him slain by the Philistines But David and his Men slew two hundred Philistines and brought their Foreskins to Saul So Saul's Jealousie of David still increased And CHAP. XIX Saul spake to Jonathan his Son and all his Servants to kill David which Jonathan acquainted David with and bids him hide himself and then vindicates David to his Father whereupon Saul sware to him not to hurt him so they were reconciled again Then David made War with the Philistines again and overcame 'em And the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him and he threw a Javelin again at him but David slipt aside and escap'd But Saul sent Messengers to watch him in his House then Michal his Wife let him down thro' a Window and laid an Image in the Bed so that when Saul sent for him they found only an Image So David came to Samuel to Ramah and Saul hearing of it sent Messengers once and again to take him but when they came to the place among the Prophets they fell a prophesying also and Saul going thither himself prophesied in like manner wherefore they say Is Saul also among the Prophets CHAP. XX. So David fled from thence and came to Jonathan and advises with him about the best way for his safety and they agree that he should absent himself from the Feast at the New Moon and see how Saul resented it Then they went out into the Field together and renewed their Covenant of Friendship not only for their Persons but for their Posterity and Jonathan gave him a Signal whereby he should know his Fathers Affection towards him So when the New Moon was come and David's Place was empty two days together Saul enquired the reason of it and Jonathan made an excuse for him Whereupon Saul fell into a great Rage and reviles him and threw his Javelin at him Then Jonathan rose from the Table in great anger and went into the Field and discover'd all to David so they parted CHAP. XXI Then David came to Ahimelech the Priest at Nob who entertain'd him and gave him the Sword of Goliath From thence he went to Achish King of
Gath where he feigned himself mad so that Achish cares not for his Company CHAP. XXII After this David was feign to fly to several places for shelter and Saul complained to his Servants of their unfaithfulness that they 'd not discover to him where David was Then Doeg told him of David's coming to Ahimelech and of Ahimelech's kindness to him So Saul commanded his Footmen to slay all the Priests but they refusing he commanded Doeg to do it who slew all the Priests at Nob and put all to the Sword that were in the City only Abiathar one of Ahimelech's Sons escap'd and went and told David of it CHAP. XXIII Then David went to Keilah and smote the Philistines and saved Keilah Saul hearing he was there gathered the People together to besiege him Then David enquired of God whether the Men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul who answer'd They would So he departed out of Keilah and went into the Wilderness of Ziph and Jonathan came to him thither and strengthned his hands and they renewed their Covenant again Then the Ziphites informed Saul that David hid himself there so Saul and his Men went to seek him Then David came into the Wilderness of Maon and Saul followed him thither and compass'd the Mountain where he was But in that very nick of time came a Messenger to Saul to acquaint him that the Philistines had invaded the Land So Saul left following of David and went against the Philistines But CHAP. XXIV After Saul was return'd from following the Philistines he pursued David again and went to the Wilderness of Engedi and there went into a Cave to cover his Feet and David and his Men were in the sides of the Cave Then David privily cut off the Skirt of Saul's Robe for which afterwards his Heart smote him When Saul went out of the Cave David call'd after him and told him how it was in his power to have slain him and to convince him thereof shew'd him the Skirt of his Garment that he had cut off Whereupon Saul acknowledged David's Innocence and his own Fault and made him swear not to cut off his Posterity and so departed CHAP. XXV David went into the Wilderness of Paran and hearing of a rich Man one Nabal that had a Sheep-shearing he sent some of his Servants to him for some Provision but Nabal gave 'em ill Language and sent 'em away empty whereupon David resolv'd to destroy him But one of Nabal's Servants told his Mistress Abigail of David's Message and his Masters Answer So she took a Present to pacifie David and as she went she met David and excuses the matter to him and begs his pardon and acceptance of that Present and tells him she was well assur'd that God would avenge him of all his Enemies and then it would be no grief to him that he had not shed Blood causless nor aveng'd himself Herewith David was well satisfy'd and blesses God for her advice and accepts her Present and her Person So when Abigail return'd home the next morning she told her Husband these passages whereupon his Heart died within him and about ten days after God smote him that he died which when David heard of he sent Messengers to Abigail to become his Wife which she accepts of and went with ' em CHAP. XXVI The Ziphites give Intelligence again to Saul where David was So Saul came down to seek him But David and Abishai went to Saul's Camp by night and found 'em all fast asleep So Abishai would have had David given him leave to have slain him but David would not only took his Spear and a Cruise of Water and went to a Hill a good way off and call'd to Abner and upbraided him for his carelesness and speaks also to Saul to convince him of his innocency Whereupon Saul acknowledges his Fault again and blesses him CHAP. XXVII David desparing of freedom from Saul's persecutions flies to Achish King of Gath who gave him Ziklag to dwell in Then he invaded the Geshurites and Amalekites and slew all the People and took their Cattel and return'd and came to Achish who asking him Whither they had made an inroad David tells him It was against the Land of Judah whereupon Achish now thought him sure to his Interest CHAP. XXVIII The Philistines going to War against Israel Achish takes David along with him and makes him Captain of his Life-guard When Saul saw the Philistines Army he was afraid and enquired of the Lord but he answered him not Then he went to a Woman at Endor that had a Familiar Spirit and bids her call up Samuel who askt him Why he had disquieted him Saul answered God has forsaken me therefore I have call'd thee to know what I must do Then said Samuel The Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines and to morrow Thou and thy Sons shall be with me Then Saul was afraid and fainted But his Servants and the Woman constrained him to eat something to refresh himself withal CHAP. XXIX When the Commanders of the Philistines muster'd their Forces and saw David there with Achish they were much displeased and caus'd him to be dismiss'd for fear he should turn to their Enemies So David and his Men departed CHAP. XXX When David was come to Ziklag he found that the Amalekites had smitten it and burnt it and carried away all their Wives and Children whereupon David was greatly distress'd for the People spake of stoning him but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God and enquired of God what he should do who bad him pursue after 'em and he should overtake 'em and recover all And accordingly finding 'em making merry he smote 'em all and recovered all they had lost and also all the rest of the Spoil they had gotten of which he sent Presents to all his Friends in Judah that had assisted and relieved him in his distress CHAP. XXXI Then the two Armies joyn'd Battel and the Philistines prevail'd and slew Saul's three Sons and wounded Saul himself whereupon he fell upon his own Sword and slew himself The next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain they found the Bodies of Saul and his three Sons and cut off Saul's Head and put his Armour in the House of Ashtaroth and fastned his Body on the Wall of Bethshan But the Men of Jabesh-Gilead went by Night and took away his Body and the Bodies of his Sons and burn't 'em and buried their Bones under a Tree at Jabesh II. SAMUEL CHAP. I. AN Amalekite brings tidings to David that the Israelites were overthrown and that Saul and Jonathan were dead and withal tells him that Saul being fallen upon his Spear he himself stood upon him and slew him Whereupon David commands him to be slain for killing of Saul Then David lamented the Death of Saul and Jonathan with a Song CHAP. II. After this by God's Direction David goes up to Hebron where the Men of Judah made
Then the King of Moab sallied forth to have broken his way thro' the Quarters of the King of Edom but he was driven back then he took his Eldest Son and offered him for a Burnt-Offering upon the Wall whereupon they rais'd the Siege CHAP. IV. As Elisha was returning home a certain Prophets Widow met him and made her moan to him that her Husband had left her in debt and there was nothing to pay so that the Creditors were about to seize upon her two Sons for Bond-men Then he had her borrow empty Vessels and pour out of the Pot of Oyl which she had in the House into the Vessels till they were full and then sell the Oyl and pay the Debt Elisha was wont to come often to the House of a great Woman in Shunem who entertain'd him very kindly whereupon understanding she had no Child he calls for her and tells her that she should have a Son which came to pass This Child when was he grown up fell ill and died Then she took him and laid him on the Bed where Elisha us'd to lie and rode in all hast to acquaint him with it who went with her and went into the Chamber where the Child lay and prayed to the Lord and stretch'd himself upon the Child and the Child waxed warm and he reviv'd and he deliver'd him to his Mother At Gilgal the Pot being set on to make some Broth for the Prophets they happened to put in some unwholsom unsavoury Herb so that they could not eat of it but Elisha cast a little meal into the Pot and so made the Broth sit for use A Present being brought him of twenty Barly Loaves with them he fed an hundred Men. CHAP. V. Naaman General of the Army of the King of Syria was a Leper and hearing by an Hebrew Maid That there was a Prophet in Samaria that could cure him he procures a Letter to the King of Israel that he might be cured of his Leprosie When the King of Israel read the Letter he thought it was only a Trick to pick a quarrel with him but Elisha hearing of it sent to the King to send this person to him So when Naaman and all his Retinue came to Elisha's Door he only sent one to him to bid him go and wash in Jordan seven times and he should be cured Naaman took this for a great Affront and so went away in a Rage But some of his Servants argued the matter with him and perswaded him so that he went to Jordan and dipt himself seven times in the River and was perfectly healed Then he came back to the Prophets House and acknowledged the God of Israel to be the true God and offers him a Reward but he refused it Then he beg'd pardon for the Idolatry he had been formerly guilty of and Elisha dismis'd him with a friendly farewel But Elisha's Servant Gehazi ran after Naaman and by a Lie got two Talents of Silver and two Changes of Raiment which he hid in the House and came to his Master But his Master asking him where he had been he told another Lie and excus'd what he had done before but his Master knowing what was done told him That the Leoprosie of Naaman should cleave to him and his Seed for ever CHAP. VI. One going to cut some Timber for the use of the Prophets which grew near Jordan his Ax Head fell into the River which he was much concern'd at because it was borrow'd and complaining of it to Elisha he threw in a stick to the place where it fell and the Ax Head did swim and so he had it again The King of Syria making appointments to surprize the King of Israel at several places Elisha still warned him of 'em and so sav'd him The King of Syria thinking his own Servants had betray'd his Counsels was much troubled at it but understanding it was Elisha's doing he sent a great Company to Dothan who compass'd the City to take him which his Servant perceiving in the morning was greatly afraid But the Prophet said Fear not for they that are with us are more than they that are with them Then upon Elisha's Prayer his eyes were open'd and he saw the Mountain full of Horses and Charets of Fire round about Elisha and also those People were smitten with blindness so that he led 'em into the midst of Samaria and then opened their Eyes but he would not suffer the King of Israel to do 'em any hurt but caused great provision to be made for 'em and so sent 'em away At another time Benhadad besieged Samaria so that there was a very great Famine there and as the King passed along a Woman complained to him of her Neighbour That whereas they had agreed to boyl and eat their Children by turns this Woman having done her part the other refus'd to perform hers which the King hearing rent his Clothes and imputing all this Evil to Elisha he sent one to cut off his Head But Elisha was aware of it and bids the Company that was with him to stop the Messenger at the Door and not suffer him to come in But the King himself followed immediately after and upon discourse between 'em he said This evil is from the Lord why should I wait for him any longer CHAP. VII But Elisha told him from God That on the morrow there should be great plenty in Samaria which a Lord that was with the King hearing would not believe whereupon Elisha told him he should see it with his Eyes but not eat thereof On the morrow four Lepers venturing into the Camp of the Syrians found that they were all fled for the Lord had caused 'em to hear a noise of Charets and Horses and a great Host whereupon they fled in great hast for their Lives These Tidings the Lepers brought to the City so the King sent to discover the truth of it and they found it to be as was related So the People went out and spoiled the Camp of the Syrians whereby it came to pass that there was great plenty as Elisha foretold But the unbelieving Lord being appointed by the King to keep the Gate that the People might not all run out of the City they were so eager upon the Spoil that they trod him to death And so the Prophets words were fulfilled CHAP. VIII Elisha warns the Shunamite whose Son he had rais'd to life of a Famine that was coming so she went and sojourned in the Land of the Philistines But when the Famine was over she returned again and came to petition the King for her Land again which it seems was seiz'd upon in her absence and Providence so order'd it that at that very nick of time the King was talking with Gehazi concerning the Miracles of Elisha and of his raising a dead Child to Life whereupon spying this Woman he said This is the Woman and this is her Son So the King appointed an Officer to restore all that was hers Then
Companions for not worshiping the Image so Nebuchadnezzar sent for 'em to know whether they would worship it or no but they gave him a peremptory denyal whereupon in a great rage he commanded 'em to be cast into the Fiery Furnace But presently the King saw four Men walking in the Fiery Furnace without any hurt and the fourth look'd like a Divine Person Then he call'd 'em to come forth and they came out and not so much as the smell of fire had pass'd upon ' em Then Nebuchadnezzar made a Decree that none should dare to speak against this God and he promoted these persons CHAP. IV. Nebuchadnezzar dreamt another Dream which the Magicians could not interpret there he relates it to Daniel concerning a Tree which was commanded to be cut down only the Stump was to be left in the Earth which Daniel interprets of himself that he should be driven from among Men and feed amon the Beasts but at last his Understanding should return to him and he should be restor'd to his Kingdom again Which accordingly came to pass For walking in his Palace and admiring his own greatness there came a Voice from Heaven saying Thy Kingdom is departed from thee Whereupon he was driven from among Men and lived among the Beast till his Understanding returned to him and then he owned the Sovereignty and Dominion of God and did extol him and acknowledged That those that walk in pride he is able to abase CHAP. V. Belshazzar at a great Feast profaning the Vessels of the Temple by quaffing and carousing in 'em there was a hand appeared writing upon the Wall over against him whereat he was extremely appal'd and sends for the wise Men to read the Writing but none of 'em could do it Then the Queen-Mother informed him concerning Daniel who being sent for read the Writing to the King which contained his doom That his Kingdom should be taken from him and given to the Medes and Persians which was soon fulfilled for that Night he was slain and his Kingdom possessed by Darius the Mede CHAP. VI. This Darius advanc'd Daniel to be the prime Minister of State which the rest not brooking and envying him for since they could find no fault in his Administration they laid a Snare for him in matters of Religion which was thus They procure a Decree from the King that none should ask any Petition of any God or Man for thirty days but only of the King Then they watch't Daniel and finding that he prayed to God thrice a day they accuse him to the King at which the King was much griev'd and endeavour'd all he could to deliver him But they urg'd the Law and so he was cast into the Lion's Den. But the King could not sleep all Night but rose early and came to the Lions Den and called to Daniel who answer'd him That God had shut the Lions Mouths that they had done him no hurt Whereupon the King commanded him to be taken out of the Den and his Accusers to be cast into it and made an open acknowledgment That this God is the Living God and therefore commanded all to tremble and fear before him JONAH CHAP. I. JOnah being commanded to preach against Nineveh flies to Tarshish but God sent a Storm after him which continuing the Mariners cast Lots to find out who was the cause of it and the Lot fell upon Jonah Then he confess'd he fled from the presence of God and bad 'em cast him over-board and the Storm should cease which tho they were very unwilling to yet at last were feign to do it and then the Storm ceas'd but a Fish swallow'd Jonah and he was three days and nights in the Fishes Belly CHAP. II. Then he prayed to God in the Fishes Belly and God caus'd the Fish to vomit him up upon dry Land CHAP. III. Then God sends him again to Nineveh and he went and proclaimed Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed Whereupon they sasted and prayed and turn'd from their evil ways and God repented of the evil he threatned 'em with CHAP. IV. Whereat Jonah was angry as making him a false Prophet and in a pet desires to die God to convince him of his foolish impatience caused a Gourd to spring up which shelter'd him from the heat of the Sun but afterwards caus'd it to wither Then Jonah was angry again but God replied If thou hadst pity upon the Gourd much more should I have pity upon Nineveh wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that can't distinguish between their right hand their left The Evangelical History 1 Luke 1. AS Zachary a Priest was ministring in the Temple an Angel appears to him and tells him he should have a Son called John who should be great in the sight of the Lord which he not believing is stricken dumb Six Months after his Wife had conceived the Angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary to tell her That by the Power of the Holy Ghost she should conceive and bring forth a Son whose Name should be Jesus After this Mary went to visit her Cosen Elizabeth the Wife of Zachary and assoon as Elizabeth heard Mary's Salutation the Babe leapt in her Womb and both of 'em prophecied concerning Christ When Elizabeth's time was come she brought forth a Son and his Father named him John and then he was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophecyed both concerning Christ and John 2 Matth. 1. Mary being found with Child her Husband Joseph to whom she was espous'd had thoughts of putting her away but he was warn'd in a Dream to take her to him she being with Child by the Holy Ghost and told that she should bring forth a Son who should be called Jesus 3 Luke 2. So Joseph and Mary being brought to Bethlehem by reason of the Taxing imposed by Augustus she was there delivered of a Son whom she laid in a Manger there being no room in the Inn the news whereof was told by an Angel to the Shepherds watching their Flocks by Night and a multitude of the Heavenly Host were there also praising God and saying Glory to God on the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Upon this the Shepherds went to Bethlehem and found it as it was told them and they returned glorifying and praising God When the Child was eight days old he was circumcized and named Jesus And when the days of his Mothers Purification were accomplish'd they presented him to the Lord as the First-born At that instant came Simeon and Anna to the Temple and prophecied concerning him 4 Matth. 2. About the time of his Birth some wise Men of the East seeing his Star came to Jerusalem and enquired for him that they might worship him at which Herod was startled and sent them privately to find out where he was they being guided by the Star went to the House and worship'd him and presented him and then returned back another way which Herod being
Buyers and Sellers out of it then went over the City for their impenitence and the destruction coming upon 'em by reason thereof 52 Joh. 12. Some Gretians desire to see Jesus whereupon he foretels his Death and the efficacy of it and earnestly exhorts 'em to a confession of him 53 Mat. 21. Jesus seeing a Fig-tree and finding only Leaves upon it curses it so it presently wither'd away whereupon he declares to his Disciples the power of Faith By the Parable of the two Sons he draws 'em to pass Sentence against themselves for their disobedience notwithstanding their profession of obedience and by the Parable of the Vineyard let out to Husbandmen and their slaying those that were sent to receive the Fruits thereof he shews the obstinate impenitency of the Jews notwithstanding all means for which God will destroy their Church and Common-wealth and set up a Church among the Gentiles 54 Mat. 22. By the Parable of the Marriage Feast for the King's Son and one that came without a Wedding-Garment he shews the rejection of the Jewish Nation for their refusal of the Gospel and the danger of making profession of the Gospel without a holy conversation He shews that Tribute ought to be paid to Cesar by the Mony which was currant among 'em that had his Superscription upon it He confuted the Sadduces who deny the Resurrection by that place of Moses where God said I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He declares unto a Lawyer That the Love of God and our Neighbour is the substance both of the first and second Table and poses the Pharisees with that difficulty concerning the Messiah how David could call him Lord seeing he is his Son 55 Mat. 23. Then he admonishes the People to follow the good Doctrin not the evil Example of the Scribes and Pharisees and to beware of their Ambition He denounces many Woes against them for their Hypocrisie and Blindness and foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple and the great Calamities that shall befall the Nation about that time and thereupon takes occasion to speak of the last Judgment and the security of the World before that time and therefore exhorts 'em to watch 56 Mat. 25. By the Parable of the ten Virgins he further presses 'em to Watchfulness and by the Parable of the Talents to a careful improvement of their Gifts and Opportunities Then describes the Process of the last Judgment 57 John 13. A little before his Sufferings he washes his Disciples Feer thereby to teach 'em Humility foretels and discovers to John by a token that Judas should betray him commands 'em to love one another and forewarns Peter of his Denyal 58 Mat. 26. Luke 22. The time of the Passover drawing nigh the Rulers consult how to take Jesus by subtilty and put him to death Then Salâ— entred into Judas-Iscariot and he went and agreed to deliver him to 'em for thirty pieces of Silver The time being come for the Passover Jesus sends his Disciples to prepare it for ' em 59 Joh. 14. Then he comforts 'em against his Departure from ' em 60 Mat. 26. Luke 22. Then he eats the Passover with 'em and at the end of it institutes the Sacrament of his Body and Blood 61 John 15. Declares himself to be the true Vine 62 John 16. Comforts 'em against Tribulation by the Promise of the Holy Ghost and by his Resurrection and Ascension Assures 'em that their Prayers made in his Name are acceptable to his Father and promises 'em peace in himself tho they have Tribulation in the World 63 Joh. 17. Then he offers up his mediatory Prayer wherein he prays to his Father to glorifie him to preserve his Apostles in Unity and Truth to glorifie them and all other Believers with him in Heaven 64 Mat. 26. Then he came to Gethsemane and bad his Disciples pray that they might not enter into temptation Then his Soul was exceeding sorrowful unto Death and he prayed that if it were possible that Cup of Sufferings might pass from him yet with resignation and submission to his Father 's Will. Then an Angel came to him to strengthen him he being in an Agony and sweating drops of Blood But his Disciples were asleep twice one time after another for which he gently reprov'd 'em and made an excuse for ' em Then came Judas with the Officers to apprehend him to whom when he said I am he they all fell down to the ground but being rison again Judas came to him and kiss'd him so they laid hold on him whereupon Peter drew his Sword and cut off Malcus's Ear but Christ healed it and bad Peter put up his Sword Then all the Disciples forsook him and fled Then the Officers bound him and led him to the High Priest and Peter follow'd ' em Then they suborned false Witnesses against him and condemned him to be guilty of death Then they smote him spit on his Face and derided him Mean while Peter being charg'd to be one of his Followers denied it and denied it a second time with an Oath and being charged again he began to curse and swear saying I know not the man whereupon the Cock crew and Peter went out and wept bitterly 65 Mat. 27. When the Morning was come they deliver'd him to Pontius Pilate the Governor and accused him of Sedition and Treason yet Pilate justified him and said I find no sault in this man at all But still they accused him the more fiercely and Pilate sent him to Herod who question'd with him about many things but he answered him nothing at all whereupon Herod with his Men of War mock'd him and sent him again to Pilate who would have releas'd him because he knew that for envy they had deliver'd him and his Wife sent unto him not to meddle with him but at last through their importunity he scourg'd him and deliver'd him to be crucified Then they put on him a Scarlet Robe and a Crown of Thorns and a Reed in his Hand in derision of his Kingship When Judas saw that he was condemned to death he repented and went and hang'd himself Then they led him away to be crucified and compell'd one to carry his Cross and when they came to Golgotha they crucified him at the third hour and set up this Writing over him THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS Then many of the People revil'd him and the Rulers derided him and the Soldiers mock't him and one of the Malefactors rail'd on him for which the other reprov'd him and made an open confession of him saying Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom At the sixth hour there was darkness all over the Land and at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud Voice Eli Eli Iama Sabacthani After that the said It is finish'd and crying again with a