woman naturally descended from Lot who committed incest with his two daughters Par. Why then is Ruth here reckoned and accounted sithence she came of such an incestuous wicked man Past Shée is set forth in holy Scripture and the Booke entituled by her name to the open view of the world that the Iewes might sée the calling of the Gentiles by Iesus Christ to saluation for he lineally descended of Ruth who was a Gentile Therein God the Father declared that hée receiued poore sinners into fauour by reuealing of the Gospell vnto them and by vniting her and other of the Gentiles into the stocke and linage of Abraham Par. What is the matter contained therein Past It containes a piece of Dauids genealogie which by the Euangelists is translated into the genealogie of Christ that thereby men might know Gods predestinate decrée for the saluation of penitent sinners by Christ who long after should be borne of sinners The seauenth Particular concerning Samuell in the fourth Obseruation Par. Declare vnto me I pray you in briefe answeres concerning the Booke of Samuel and the Booke of the Kings Past According to the Latines there are foure Bookes to wit two entituled the Bookes of Samuel and two entituled the Bookes of Kings all which foure according to the Hebrew are only two reckoning both the bookes of Samuel for the one and both the Bookes of the Kings for the other The Writers thereof seuerally a piece or a portion were Samuel Nathan Gad Ahiah the Shilonite Iddo the Seer as may appeare by these words 1 Chron. 29.29 The acts of Dauid are they not written in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the Prophet and in the Booke of Gad the Seer Par What was this Samuel Past Hée was the sonne of Elkanah an Ephrahite whom Hannah his Mother obtayned at the Lords hands by prayer when she was in reproach amongst all Israell by reason of her barrennesse She dedicated him to the seruice of GOD in the Temple who proued a most faithfull and a most constant Prophet of the Lord vnder King Saul Par. What doth the first Booke of Samuel containe Past It principally containes the story of King Saul Par. What doth the second booke of Samuel containe Past It containeth principally the story of King Dauid The eight Particular concerning Saul Par. These three Kings to wit Saul Dauid and Salomon who by succession held the famous and renowmed kingdome of the Hebrewes when it was yet whole and entire I would pray you to set mee downe their stories particularly Past It is true these Kings in their time were the most renowmed of any that euer followed after them and they were the first that euer was ouer the people of God 1 Sam. 9.10.11 Saul was the son of Kish of the tribe of Beniamin which was a great prerogatiue to that tribe being the least and the last By séeking of his fathers Asses which went astray hée came by Gods prouidence vnto the place where Samuel the Lords Prophet dwelt Samuel séeing him and knowing Gods will concerning him hée entertained him amongst the best of the people and the next day he annoynted him King ouer the people of Israell and because it should not séeme incredible hée gaue him thrée speciall tokens by the which hée should know that the Lord God had so appointed all which tokens came to passe that same day Samuel hauing also assembled the people he told them that the Lord had appointed them a King euen in his wrath because they refused to be guided and gouerned by him and he presented Saul before them at which time they cryed and said God saue the King And immediately Samuel hauing declared what dutie did belong vnto the King from his subiects the Lord touched the hearts of a band of men who hereupon followed the King to the wars against Nahash the Ammonite in the behalfe of Iabesh Gilead that desired helpe of the Israelites The spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul he was turned into another man that is to say hée by the same Spirit became more wise and more heroically valiant then hée was before and in qualities méete for a King Par. How came it to passe that Saul was sent to seeke the Asses His Father being a man of great reputation and riches hee had many others no doubt to send Past It was the diuine and secret prouidence of God that the Asses went astray and that Saul should séeke after them whereby he might be brought as it were by the hand vnto the place where Samuel was and for that purpose which his holy Maiestie had determined That which Almighty GOD hath done herein was not to declare vnto men what hée could doe but what hee would doe for the better stay of faithfull men vpon his promises and prouidence and withall to teach all men that when any matter happeneth to the good of the godly hée should not attribute it to his owne endeuour or paines nor yet to the fayned Gods as by Fortune and Chance but euen by a secret diuine rule bringing great and mighty things to passe by weake and small meanes And that the very guiding â—and of GOD was in it appeares plainly for God told Samuel â—aying To morrow about this time I will send thee a man of Beniamin named Saul him shalt thou annoynt to be gouernour ouer my people Israell Par. Why was God displeased with his people of Israell for asking a King sithence they had none Past Almighty God was not angry with them simply for asking a King 1 Sam. 8.4.5.6.7.8.9 to 22. but because hée himselfe had gouerned them and guided them alwayes before without a King to wit by Patriarches by Chiefetenants and Iudges Vnder whose gouernment they alwayes prospered so long as they obeyed the Lord in any measure And in that time in which they desired a King they were gouerned by Samuel a holy man and the Prophet of the Lord they desired a King euen in wantonnesse and pride of heart and not in regard of any want Therefore the Lord said to Samuel 1 Sam. 1. to 11. Heare the voyce of the peopple they haue not cast away thee but they haue cast away mee As though he had said thy gouernment was my gouernment or as I commanded thée they doe not reiect thée in this but me therefore heare them and tell them what manner of man he shall be vnto them Par. Doth God appoint ouer any Nation such kings and rulers as shall tyrannize and deale roughly with their subiects Past When as the people are not thankefull vnto him for a good King and when they doe not humbly acknowledge the benefit thereof then hée vsually plagueth them with wicked tyrannous Kings Par. How did Saul behaue himselfe towards God hauing receiued such a speciall fauour as to be made a King ouer such a great Nation Past After he had raigned two yeares ouer Israell 1 Sam. 15. he did that which
was euill in the sight of the Lord to wit in offering a burnt offering Leuit. 1. which was not lawfull for any to doe saue for the Priests vpon paine of death Therefore the Prophet Samuel told him plainely from the Lord that therein hée had done foolishly and that his kingdome should not continue and so Samuel departed from him in great indignation for the zeale hée bare to the Lord and for the loue he bare to the kingdome Par. Saul as we read was in great distresse 1 Sam. 13. by reason of many thousands of the Philistines that were come against his people Israell and they by reason of Samuels long tarrying at Gilgall 12 were scattered and fled saue sixe hundred men that remained with the King Therefore Saul fell to his prayers and did offer as hee said a burnt Offering vnto the Lord tell me what offence was this as the present necessitie required Past 1 Sam. 13. Saul in like manner transgressed the voyce of the Lord in keeping the King of the Amalekites aliue whereas hée was commanded to kill him and in reseruing for Sacrifice the best of the Oxen and the best of the Sheepe which was also directly forbidden Out of which place I will answere your demaund or question from the mouth of Samuel the holy Prophet When thou wast little in thine owne sight wast not thou made King ouer Israell The Lord commanded thee to kill the Amalekites and to let none remaine Now thou hast not obeyed the Lords voyce but hast turned to the prey wherein thou hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord. Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatry Behold thou hast cast away the word of the Lord therefore hee hath cast away thee Hereby you may sée that sinne or transgression is not reckoned for the smalnesse or greatnesse thereof with God as it is with men for many times small sinnes in our sights are great sinnes in Gods fight and great sinnes in our fight are small in his sight Men must rule themselues by his word by his holy Lawes and not according to good intents or earthly mens directions Par. How did Saul behaue himselfe towards his subiects Past Saul enuied Dauids good report and iust desert When Dauid returned from the slaughter of the Philistines the women by one consent and as it were by Gods appoyntment met Dauid crying and saying 1 Sam. 18. Saul hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his tenne thousand and for this cause onely Saul was excéeding wroth with Dauid and euer after sought to kill him and in the persecuting of him he slew euery of the Priests that fauoured him and tooke an oath of all his subiects to betray him It were too long to particulate his cruelties towards others his poore subiects whom he should haue defended and maintayned Par. What was Sauls end Past The Spirit of God being departed from him and his owne heart giuen him hée euer after followed that euen to the wars of the Philistines at which time hée desperately slew himselfe The ninth Particular concerning Dauid Par. Next in order remaineth to speake of Dauid Past Dauid was of the tribe of Iudah of the roote of Iesse borne in Bethlehem As it was said of Ierusalem 1 Sam. 16. Many excellent things are spoken of thee O thou Citie of God euen so many excellent things are spoken of Dauid Saul being reiected of God for his sinnes Dauid was annoynted King in his roome by the same Prophet Samuel 17. and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon him insomuch that though he were but a little simple man yet hée slew Goliah that defied Israell hée slew many of the most mighty Philistines 2 Sam. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 c. who were enemies to Saul and his people When Saul was dead hée succéeded in the Kingdome according to the Lords ordinance and valiantly subdued mighty kings that made warre against him Dauid renued religion offered to build an house for the Arke of God Dauid sinned grieuously in Gods sight therefore the Lord punished him excéedingly many wayes and afterward vpon repentance he receiued him into speciall fauour Par. Dauid being annointed king and being so valiant in the warres hauing also the fauour of the people why did hee runne away and hide himselfe from Saul and why did he not withstand him Past Dauid hauing Gods Spirit knew very well that hée might not resist nor rebel against Saul the Lords annoynted and though hée were to succéede him in the kingdome yet hée knew that he was not to enioy it before him nor to be partner with him and to auoid the rebellion and disorder of the people the Lord commanded Samuel to annoynt him King secretly lest the people should offer him helpe and rebellion against Saul And farther so godly and vpright in heart hée was towards the King that when hée most iniuriously and fiercely sought to kill him in all lands yet hée would neuer carry a thought to vse bloudy hands against his King though many times he might haue done it Hée was so farre from causing any other to doe it 2 Sam. 1. as that hée slew those that brought him word that Saul was dead The tenth Particular concerning Salomon Par. Now impart vnto me briefly the story of Salomon the third King of Israel Past There was neuer the like King before Salomon 1 King 3. neither the like shall be after him for his wisedome and riches So soone as euer he put foot into the kingdome he loued the Lord as the holy Ghost testifieth Wherefore the Lord appeared vnto him promising to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he would aske Of al the glorious things of this life he desired nothing but he desired wisedome whereby hée might gouerne his people prudently and religiously wherefore the the Lord gaue him wisedome and riches aboue all men both which great blessings he principally imployed to the building of a Temple for the Lord at Ierusalem where his holy Name might be called vpon in true religion Hée gouerned his kingdome all the dayes of his life quietly and peaceably Par. Some calles into question whether Salomon were saued or not because of his sinnes with so many outlandish women Past It is certaine that he sinned therein excéedingly Yet Almighty God séeing his repentance in his rich mercies forgaue him all according as hée promised his Father Dauid 1 Sam. 7.13.14.15 saying Hee shall build mee an house and I will stablish the throne of his Kingdome for euer I will be his Father and hee shall be my sonne If hee sinne I will chasten him but my mercy I will not vtterly take from him Par. Seeing that the fourth Obseruation doth end at the building of the Temple declare vnto mee briefly concerning the same Past Salomon tooke order with Hiram the King of Tyrus 1 King 5. for Cedar trées and Firre trées He had thirty thousand men whom hée sent to Libanon by
course ten thousand a moneth hée had twentie thousand that bare burdens and fourescore thousand Masons in the mountaines hée had thrée thousand and thrée hundred men that ruled the workmen The holy Ghost maketh mention that it was built in the 480. 1 Kin. 6.1 yeare after the people of Israell came out of Egypt 2 Cro. 4. and in the fourth yeare of King Salomons reigne It contained thrée roomes that were specially dedicated The first roome was called Salomons porch or hall of the Iewes wherein was an Altar of brasse for burnt offering Therein was the fire of God continually maintained There the common people offered burnt offerings morning and euening of such things as were brought There Christ taught there Peter wrought miracles The second part or roome of the Temple was called Holy because none might enter into it but the Priests who were many and they were distinguished into 24. Orders In it was an Altar of Gold whereon was burnt Incense for a swéet sacrifice morning and euening There were the golden Candlestickes and the Lampes burning day and night there were two golden cups with Frankinsence and that fine and costly vaile which at the death of Christ was rent from the top to the bottome The third part or roome was called the Holy of Holiest In it was the inner house or Oracle made with Sethim wood and Cedar couered with gold within and without Into this place none entered but the high priest and that but once a yeare to offer for the sinnes of the people Whereby was figured the propitiation of Christ once for all In the middest thereof was the Arke the two tables of the Law the pot of Manna Aarons rod flourishing the Booke of Deuteronomie Gods oracles and his answeres Neare thereto was an Ile that did pertaine to the Gentiles and to all people cleane vncleane therfore it was called the court of the Gentiles There was the treasurie for the poore there the widow offered her mite There the woman was discharged by Christ which was taken in adultery Par. What difference or oddes I pray you was there betweene the Temple and the Tabernacle Past Indéede if you compare the Tabernacle the Parts Roomes Furniture and Ordinances thereof with the Temple you shall finde little oddes or difference The first part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation analogie and reference to the people of the old world before the floud and thence to the giuing of the Law The second part of the Temple and Tabernacle had reference analogie and coherence to the Church and Synagogue of the Iewes with all their lawes and Ceremonies prefiguring Christ The which people properly did appertaine vnto God And the shadowing of the Mercie-seate signified their defence The third part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation and analogie both to the Iewes and Gentiles which were to be saued and to be brought by Election and Grace vnto the marriage of the Lambe Christ Iesus which thing was signified by the throwing downe of the partition wall and by the renting of the vaile Thus the Temple and the Tabernacle being one in substance and thrée in vse may well be compared to the holy and blessed Trinitie Par. Where was the Temple built Past It is plainly recorded 2 Chro. 3.1 that this famous building was on mount Moriah where Adam was created Gen. 2. neare the Garden of Eden where Adam fell where Isaac was offered where Sem or Melchisedech dwelt and ruled with peace and iustice like the sonne of God The which place was first called Salem vpon Isaacs offering Ierisalec and now Ierusalem Par. Declare vnto mee briefly concerning the dedication of the Temple Past King Salomon and all the men of Israell assembled according to their degrées and they brought vp the Arke of the Lord from the house of Abinadab into the Citie of Dauid 1 King 8. which is Zion and they brought the Tabernacle of the congregation and all the holy vessels that were in the Tabernacle those did the Priests and Leuites bring vp Then hée and the people offered vnto the Lord innumerably And a cloud filled the Lords house for the glory of the Lord was there Toward the which King Salomon turning himselfe and lifting vp his hands and eyes vnto heauen desired the Lord to dedicate that place to the honour of his name and that it might be to be comfort of his people that called vpon him in that place And when hée had ended his prayer he stood vp and blessed the people The first Particular concerning the Kings of Israell and Iudah Parishioner I Would gladly know the stories of these Kings and their Prophets in their order Past First 1 Kin. 12. you must vnderstand that immediately after the death of King Salomon the same great and renowmed kingdome of the Hebrewes 1 King 11.11.12.13 was diuided into two parts according as the Lord had fore-spoken But after 490. yeares were expired it was ioyned together againe Ezec. 37.16.17.18.19 20. according as the holy prophet Ezechiel had fore-told Par. Declare vnto me the manner of this diuision or ruine Past Ieroboam 1 King 11.26 to 40. the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons seruant according to the word of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had ten Tribes of Israell that held and tooke part with him that he should be king who placed his seat and pallace in Samaria and his kingdome was thenceforth called the kingdome of Israell The other part of that famous kingdome Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon possessed which was the lesser part for onely two Tribes held with him His seat was at Ierusalem and his kingdome was called the kingdome of Iudah Thus you may sée two Kings in one kingdome which indéede is prodigious Par. Now declare vnto mee why the whole kingdome was thus deuided and so miserably distressed Past I will answer you with Gods owne words Because they haue forsaken me saith the Lord 1 King 11.33 and worshipped Astaroth the god of the Zidonians and Chemosh the god of the Moabites and Milcom the god of the Ammonites and haue not walked in my wayes to doe right in mine eyes and for the sinnes of Salomon Par. How did the one and the other of these kings behaue themselues towards God Past Ieroboam 1 King 12.26 to 31. the king of Israel thought in his heart and said If this my people goe vp and doe sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Ierusalem then shall the people turne againe vnto the Lord and so cleaue vnto Rehoboam the King of Iudah Whereupon the King tooke counsell and made two calues of gold the one hée set vp at Bethel the other at Dan. Whose priests hée made of the lower sort and basest amongst the people and he commanded all his subiects to goe thither and worship them as their gods The other part of the kingdome that
held with Rehoboam and dwelt at Ierusalem did serue the Lord and worshipped him according to the religion of their fathers Par. Seeing this great and royall kingdome was so diuided I would know what kings successiuely raigned in the one and in the other I pray you therefore distinguish them Past I thinke the knowledge therfore wil be very necessary and very much for your good Therefore I will lay them downe particularly as they were diuided the Kings of Iudah by themselues and the Kings of Israel by themselues with such prophets one or more as liued in their times The first particular concerning the Kings of Iudah at Ierusalem Rehoboam was crowned king at Sichem 1 King 12.1 to 25.14.21 to 31. as heire apparant to Salomon his father All the people with great applaudite and gladnesse receiued him desiring onely some mittigation of their taxations which his father had laid vpon them But he refusing the counsell of the old graue Councellours and admitting of young mens Counsell answered them with words of great cruelty and disdaine Whereupon the people answered with one consent and with great resolution What portion haue we in Dauid We haue no inheritance in the sonne of Ishai to your tents O Israel Now sée to thy owne house Dauid Then fled King Rehoboam to Ierusalem And two tribes onely held with him to wit Iuda and Beniamin The other ten tribes held with Ieroboam and chose him to be their King The people of Iudah committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord they sinned as did their fathers and there were Sodomites in the land whose abominations they followed Therefore in the first yeare of Rehoboams raigne the King of Egypt came vp against the citie Ierusalem tooke the treasures of the Lords house and the Treasures of the Kings house and caried away all the shields of gold which Salomon had made In stead whereof Rehoboam afterwards made brasen shields This King was one and forty yeares old when he began to raigne hée continued seauentéene yeares hée slept with his fathers and was buried in the house of Dauid Par. Was it well done of the subiects so to answer their lawfull king and afterwards to rebell as you haue set downe Past I must néedes say that they did euill in respect of their owne sinfull inclinations 1 Kin. 12.15 to 25. and rebellious hearts And yet it is most certaine that God did accomplish his absolute will and decrée therein which he had spoken by his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite as appeares also by the retraite which the King made vpon the Lords commandement that he should not striue with them Par. Who was the next King Past Abijah 1 Kin. 15.1.2 to 10. 2 Chr. 13. who liued wickedly in the sight of his subiects and his heart was not vpright in the sight of God He raigned thrée yeares and died Par. Who was the third King Past Asa his sonne and he did that which was right in the sight of God For he droue the Sodomites out of the land 1 Kin 15.8 to 25. and did put away Idols So vpright was he in the execution of iustice and so zealous in the Lords worke that he fauoured not his mother when she was taken with Idolatry And though all the monuments of Idolatry were not taken away by him because indéede hée could not yet his heart was vpright in Gods sight in respect of his desire and good will Hée established religion and brought such things into the house of God as his father had dedicated to that vse It happened in his time that Baasha King of Israell came vp against Iudah and built Ramah so that none could goe in nor out to Asa their King Thereupon Asa tooke great treasures and sent vnto the King of Aram with speciall request that hée would deliuer him and his people out of the hands of Baasha whereunto the King of Aram harkned and sent his captaines and smote diuers cities in Israell Hereupon Baasha left Asa and returned Afterwards Asa being very old became diseased in his féete and when hée had raigned one and forty yeares he died and was buried with his fathers Par. Who was the fourth King Past Iehosaphat his sonne who raigned in his stead In the third yeare of his raigne 1 King 15.24.22 1 to 55. he and Ahab King of Israell consented together against the King of Aram for the winning and recouering againe of Ramoth Gilead but Iehosaphat would first know the Lords pleasure therein from the mouth of one of his Prophets He was fiue and thirty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned two and fifty yeares in the good wayes of Asa his father He died and was buryed with his fathers Par. Who was the fift King Past Iehoram 1 King 22.50 2 King 8.16.17 to 25. the sonne of Iehosaphat who began his raign when he was two and twenty yeares old He behaued himselfe as the kings of Israel he maried with the daughter of wicked Ahab and liued as the house of Ahad did Yet the Lord being mercifull 2 King 8.24.25.26.27.28.9.27.28 would not destroy Iudah for Dauids sake So Iehoram died and was buried in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the sixt King Past Ahaziah the sonne of Iehoram who succéeded in the kingdome His mothers name was Athalia the daughter of Omri King of Israell and hée also walked in the wayes of Ahab as did his father being the rather drawne thereunto through his vnlawfull match in mariage He went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab to warre against Hazaell the King of Aram but Iehu slew him in the pursuite of Iehoram his brother in law And he was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the seauenth King Past Iehoash the sonne of Ahaziah He through the great prouidence of God 2 King 11 1. to the end 12.1 to the end was preserued from Iehu who slew all his brethren and from Athalia the mother of Ahaziah who also slew all the kings séede because she might raigne ouer Israell as Quéene But when he was sixe yéeres old Iehosheba his Nurse who had kept him secretly brought him to Iehoiada the priest who tooke captaines ouer hundreds with the guard and gaue them an order for their places and what they should doe in the behalfe of the yong heire apparant And when all things were wel contriued they brought forth Iehoash and proclaimed him king and forth with they slew Athalia the vsurping Quéene Then Iehoâ—ada the priest being the protector of the King went and destroyed the house of Baal with the Altars and Images that were in the Land Which being done the King was established and the subiects were quiet He did that which was right in the sight of God as Iehoiada the priest had taught him For he caused a chest with a hole bored therein to be set néere the Altar wherein such as would might cast a piece of siluer towards
of their enemies and they shall be robbed and spoyled Manasses was twelue yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned fiue and fifty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the next king Past 2 King 21.18.19.20 to the end 22.23 Ammon his sonne such a father such a sonne The Lord stirred vp his seruants against him who slew him in his own house He was twenty years old when he began to raigne and he raigned two yeares Par. Who was his successour Past Iosiah his sonne He did vprightly in the sight of the Lord as did his father Dauid he turned not to the right hand nor to the left And he tooke seuere order for the reformation of religion Wherefore the Lord reuealed vnto him the booke of the Law which was hid in the Temple And when he heard it read for griefe that Religion had so long béene extinguished and the name of God abused he rent his cloathes and wept sore Then he commanded his officers to inquire after the Lord by some Prophet And they found a Prophetesse in Ierusalem who answered them that the Lord would plague Iudah and Ierusalem for their idolatry but would spare Iosiah the King Then he with all the Elders of the people went into the Temple where he read the booke of God with a tender heart vnto them And afterwards he entred into couenant with the Lord for the people that they should serue him all the dayes of their liues and the people yéelded vnto it with one consent Then did the king purge the Temple and all his kingdome of Baall and of all that did appertaine vnto his seruice He brake downe also the Altar at Bethell and all the monuments of idolatry which Ieroboam had made He held a Passeouer the like was not holden since the daies of the Iudges nor the like in any Kings dayes Yet would not the Lords wrath be appeased towards the people because they had so long wallowed as it were in wickednesse Pharao Necho king of Egypt slew Iosiah at Megiddo He was eight yeares old when he entred into the kingdome and he raigned one and thirty yeares He was buried at Ierusalem in the sepulcher of his fathers Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the sixteenth king Past Iehoahaz his sonne 2 King 23.31.32.33 He did euill in the sight of the Lord. Wherefore he sent Pharao the king of Egypt against him who imprisoned him thrée moneths which was all the time of his raigne And he did put the land to an excéeding great tribute Par. Who was the next king Past Eliakim 2 King 23.34.24.1 to 7. the second sonne of Iosiah who was made king by Pharao Necho the king of Egypt and he turned his name to Iehoiakim the rather because he was a wicked man Then came Nabuchadnezar King of Babell and tooke him but afterwards he rebelled against the King Wherefore he sent an hoste of the Chaldeans and of the Aramites Moabites and Ammonites against Ierusalem and Iudah to destroy it as the Lord had spoken by his Prophets Ichoiakim was fiue twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and he raigned 11. yeares in Ierusalem and then dyed Ieremy and Zophony were Prophets in his time Par. Who was successour to Ichoiakim Past 2 King 24.8 Ichoiakim his sonne He was eightéene yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned thrée moneths wickedly The second Particular of the fift Obseruation concerning the captiuitie of Iudah and Ierusalem Then came Nabuchadnezar the King of Babell against Ierusalem and besieged it And hauing wonne the Citie with great losse of bloud he tooke the King his Mother and the Nobilitie with tenne thousand such as hée liked and carryed them to Babilon with all the treasures of the Lords house And Nabuchadnezar made Mattaniah his Vncle King in his stead whose name hée changed to Zedechiah 2 Kings 24 17.25 who then was one and twentie yeares olde and hée raigned eleauen yeares in Ierusalem wickedly insomuch that the Lord was fiercely bent against Iudah and Ierusalem to destroy them vtterly Hée therefore stirred vp Nabuchadnezar againe with all his hoast to ransacke and vtterly to destroy Ierusalem the house of Dauid and the Temple Thus you may sée Ierusalem was destroyed thrée times Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time of whom he might haue heart and knowne the will waies of the Lord. Par. Now I pray you set mee downe in like manner the particular stories of the Kings of Israel whose place and seate was at Samaria with the Prophets one or more as they liued Past 1 King 11.26 to 49. 2 King 12.12.13.14 to 21. Ieroboam was the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons Seruant He was a strong man and valiant The Prophet Ahijah fore-tolde him by a signe that the Kingdome of Israel should be diuided into two parts and that he should be king of the one part Salomon hearing thereof sought to kill him which made him to flye into Egypt But when Salomon was dead it fell out so indéede as you may read for hée had ten Tribes that held with him where as Rehoboam the lawfull heyre and the Kings sonne had but two Tribes Which fauour at Gods hands might haue made him humble and zealous after religion but hée imagined that if the people did serue the Lord as they vsed at Ierusalem they would turne and rebell Therefore hée made them Idols at Bethel and Dan and ordained them priests of the inferiour sort of people and commanded the people to worship those Idols for their God Herein he thought to haue done wisely but the Prophet reprehended him in the open congregation and the Lord strucke that hand of his wherewith he would haue stricken the Prophet with such numnesse or drinesse as he was not able to helpe himselfe And the Altar claue a sunder at that time as the man of God desired Then the King was fayne to make intercession vnto the Prophet that God would restore him his hand And at another time the Prophet Ahijah tolde him as from the Lord that for the wickednesse hée had done to prouoke his Maiestie withall there should not be left of him nor of his generation so much as one Dogges should eate his stocke in the Citie and the Fowles of the ayre in the field Hée raigned two and twenty yeares and then dyed Ahijah was a Prophet in his dayes Par. Who was the second King of Samaria Past 1 King 14 20.15.25 to 29. Nadab his sonne He raigned two yeares and did that which was wicked as did his father Ieroboam And Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of the house of Isachar conspired against him and slew him at Gibbethon which did belong to the Philistines Ahijah and Iehu were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the third King of Samaria Past Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of Isachar 1 King 15 16. to the end 16.1 to 7. who warred against
the repairing of the Temple And in short time there was found ouer and aboue the repairing such store of money as was sufficient to make bowles of gold and instruments of siluer in great abundance for the Temple At which time came Hazaell the king of Aram with a mighty army against Gath and intending also to come against Ierusalem Iehoash the King of Iudah tooke the hallowed things that his forefathers had prepared for the Temple and so he departed into his owne Land where he was slaine by two of his owne seruants And he was buried with his fathers in the city of Dauid after he had raigned forty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eight King Past Amaziah 2 King 14.1 to 21. the sonne of Ioash succéeded in the kingdome This King did behaue himselfe vprightly in the sight of God according to all which his father had done yet the people did sacrifice in the high places He slew them which had killed his father but not their children according to that which was written The fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children for the father but euery man shall die for his owne sinne Afterwards hée warred with the Edomites and slew many thousands And not being therewith content he also challenged the King of Israell who answered him disdainefully But Amaziah was wilfull and would not be quiet Whereupon the King of Israell in open field tooke Amaziah brake downe the wals of Ierusalem spoyled the Temple and the people of their treasure and then returned to Samaria Amaziah liued after that warre fiftéene yeares There was a conspiracy against him in Ierusalem whereupon he fled to Lachis and the conspiratours followed after him and slew him there and brought him to be buried at Ierusalem after he had raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. Who was the ninth King Past 2 Kin. 14.21.15.1 to 8. Azariah his sonne was made King when he was sixtéene yeares old He did vprightly in the Lords sight yet because the high places were not taken away where the people offered sacrifice the Lord smote him with Leprosie vntill his dying day and Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kingdome vnder him two and fifty yeares and so dyed Par. Who was the tenth King Past 2 King 15.7.32 to the end Ioathan the sonne of Azariah immediately after his father tooke the kingdome as lawfull heire He did vprightly in the Lords sight but yet he had not taken away the high places whereon they burnt Intense And then the Lord sent against him and Iudah Rozin the King of Aram and Pekah the sonne of Remeliah king of Israell And when hée had raigned sixtéene yeares he dyed and was buried with his fathers in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eleauenth King Past Ahaz 2 King 16.1 to the end the sonne of Ioathan raigned in his stead Hée walked in the wayes of the kings of Israell and made his sonne to goe through fire after the abhominations of the heathen and hée offered burnt incense Wherefore the Lord raysed the King of Aram and the King of Israell against him At which time he called not for Gods assistance but sent presents vnto the King of Ashur crauing his ayde whereunto the King of Ashur condescended He was twenty yeares old when he began his raign he continued 16. yeares most irreligiously and prophanely and so died Par. Who was the twelfth King Past 2 King 16.20.18.1.2.3.4 to 9.13 to the end 19.20 Hezekiah his sonne raigned and ruled so religiously so zealously and so faithfully as that the holy Ghost witnesseth none was like him amongst all the Kings of Iudah that went before him neither were any such after him And therefore the Lord God of heauen was with him which made him to prosper in all things that hée tooke in hand In his time euen in the fouretéenth yeare of his raigne Senacherib the King of Ashur came against all the strong cities of Iudah and tooke them Then Hezekiah sent vnto him desiring him to take those treasures which he had sent and to be at peace with him and his people He receiued the treasures and yet neuerthelesse most tyrannously and trecherously he sent Rabsaketh with an huge army against him who most blasphemously railed at reuiled the King and the Lord God of heauen Then the King of Iudah and his Nobility went into the house of the Lord with their cloathes rent and with teares to pray vnto the Lord for helpe Then Esay the Prophet as being sent from God comforted them saying Be not afraid for thus the Lord hath said The King of Ashur shall returne into his owne land and there shall be discomfited So Rabsaketh presently returned and found it so indéede For the King of Aethiopia was come vp to fight against him Neuerthelesse Rabsaketh sent men with railing Letters vnto Hezekiah the King Which Letters hée spreads open in the Lords sight with many prayers and teares The Lord heard him at large and sent an Angell which destroyed the Assirian army and as he was in the Temple worshipping his idoll god two of his owne sonnes slew him About that time Hezekiah fell sicke vnto death and through his great intercession to God he recouered within thrée dayes and liued fiftéene yeares after as the Prophet Esay had said vnto him The Lord promised also to defend him from the King of Ashur And because he might be assured thereof he gaue him a signe in Ahaz diall of ten degrées backward At the same time came the King of Babels sonne with letters and a present to visite him whom he entertained very royally and shewed him all his treasures At which déede the Lord was angry and sent Esay to tell him that in time to come all his treasures and his people should be carried away captiue into Babilon He was fiue and twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. What doe you specially obserue in these foure last recited Kings to wit Azariah Ioathan Ahaz and Hezekiah Past It appeares that almighty God did specially fauour them in that hée gaue them fiue Prophets of whom they might inquire for the Lords will Esay Ioel. Hosea Amos. Micha Par. Who was the thirteenth king Past Manastes his sonne 2 Kin. 20.21.21.1 to 19. He wrought wickednes in the Lords sight and liued in open view of his subiects after the abhominations of the Heathen whom the Lord had cast out before him For whatsoeuer his holy Fathers had done to the honour and seruice of God he wrought cleane contrary and gaue himselfe to witchcraft sorcery familiar spirits and such like He did leade the people from the Lord and he enforced Iudah to sinne and he shed much innocent blood Wherefore the Lord God of Israell said I will bring an euill vpon Israell that who so heareth it both his eares shall tingle I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance and I will deliuer them into the hands
Asa the King of Iudah insomuch that the King of Iudah was faine to hyre the King of Aram to assist him And there continued wars betwéene Asa and Baasha all their dayes to the great terrour and vndoing of the subiects on both sides Wherefore the Lord sent Iehu saying Forasmuch as I haue exalted thee out of the dust and thou notwithstanding hast walked in all the wayes of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne behold I will take away thy posteritie and will make thy house like his house So hée dyed hauing raigned foure and twenty yeares Iehu was a Prophet in his time Par. Who was the fourth King Past 1 King 16 8.9 Ela the sonne of Baasha Hée continued at Tirzah where Zimri his seruant killed him as he was drunke in his Stewards house after hée had raigned two yeares 1 King 16 9.10.11 to 19. Zimri raigned as King in the roome of Ela whom he had slaine He also slew all that pertained to Baasha euen euery one that were his friends or wel-willers according to that which the Lord had spoken by his Prophet Iehu because he and Ela his son had enforced the people of Israel to sinne against the Lord. When the people were in campe against Gibethon had heard that Zimri had slaine the King did set himselfe as king in his throne 1 King 16.16 to 28. they made Omri Captaine of the hoast King ouer Israell And when Zimri saw that the Citie Tirzah was taken hée went into his Palace and burnt himselfe and the Kings house and so dyed Then the people were diuided into two parts the one halfe followed Tibni the sonne of Ginath to make him king the other followed Omri to make him king But the people that followed Omri preuailed So Tibni dyed and Omri raigned twelue yeares wickedly as did Ieroboam and so dyed Par. Who was the fift king of Samaria Past Ahab his sonne 1 King 16 29.17.18.19.20.21.22 1. to 41. who did worse in the Lords sight then all that went before him And for the greater increase of his wickednesse hée marryed the Daughter of the Zidonian king who brought him to set vp Baall as a God And thus hée continued two and twenty yeares Hée had 450. false Prophets 1 King 7.1.2 to the end 18.1 to the end 19.1 to the end 2 Kin. 1.2 Eliah the Prophet of the Lord was in his time and an hundred other Prophets who laboured all that they could to conuert him But hée neuerthelesse encreased in wickednesse and slew all that called vpon the name of the Lord. Almighty God made the heauens as brasse and the earth as iron for the space of thrée yeares according to the words of Eliah insomuch as that there was a great dearth and famine But the Lord prouided miraculously for Eliah by the hands of the widow of Sarepta and by other meanes In the third yeare the Lord sent Eliah to Ahab who with his wife Iezabel excéeded in crueltie killing the Lords seruants and séeking in all Nations to finde him also But when Eliah met the King hée tolde him to his face that his sinne was the cause of Gods displeasure against Israel Afterwards Eliah and the people agréed that the God who answered by fire whether it were Baal or the God of Israel the same should be taken for the true GOD from thence forth And when the people had séene that Baal could doe nothing in the time of néede and the great power of God so admirable they cryed out and said The Lord is God the Lord is God And then the Lord of his mercy gaue them raine at the prayer of Eliah And yet notwithstanding this great worke of God by the hand of Eliah Iezabel the Quéene sought to kill Eliah so that hée was faine to hide himselfe and to flye from place to place as hée did before But the Lord had speciall care of him The assurance whereof was manifested vnto him by the miraculous worke of God renting the mountaines breaking the rockes and shaking the earth Iezabel his wife caused Naboth to be slaine that shée might enioy his Vineyard and againe the Lord of his mercies sent his Prophet Eliah to reproue him that hée might repent Afterwards Ahab was slaine in the battell with the king of Siria and hée was buryed in Samaria but his armour and his Chariot being washed in the poole of Samaria the dogs licked his bloud according to the word of the Lord after he had raigned two and thirty yeares Par. Who succeeded this wicked King Ahab in Samaria Past 1 King 22.51 2 King 1.1 to the end Ahaziah his sonne But he did worse as the holy Ghost reports For hée walked in the wayes of his Father in the wayes of his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat And when hée was sicke hée consulted with a witch hée dyed when hée had raigned two yeares Eliah was his Prophet through the mercy of God from whose mouth hée might haue knowne the minde of the Lord but hée would not Therefore in signe of Gods fearefull iudgements his Captaines ouer fifties were destroyed with fire from heauen at the prayer of Eliah Par. Who was the ninth king Past Iehoram his sonne 2 Kings 1.17.3.1 to the end 9. to the end Hée was not so wicked as his father nor so wicked as his mother For hée tooke away the Image of Baal that his father had set vp and yet hée cleaued to the abhomination of Ieroboam which made Israell to sinne and departed not there-from The king of Moab paid tribute vnto the king of Israell but when Ahab was dead hée refused to pay as he had done before Then king Iehoram tooke with him the king of Iudah and the king of Edom with all their power and went to warre against the king of Moab And when they came to a place where they wanted water Elisha being earnestly requested declared vnto them what successe they should haue against Moab and the Lord ministred vnto them a whole valley of water without winde or raine according as Elisha had said Hée was slaine of Iehu after hée had raigned twelue yeares 2 Kin. 4.1 to the end 5.1 to the end 6.1 to the end 7. to the end 8.1 to 16. Elisha was in his time who wrought many wonderfull things for the confirmation of his zeale and faith in the Lords businesse but it tooke no effect in him Par. Who succeeded Iehoram in Samaria Past Iehu a Captaine dwelling in Ramoth Gilead the sonne of Iehosaphat 2 Kin. 9.1 to the end 10.1 to the end the sonne of Nimshi according as the Lord had appoynted Hée slew Iehoram and his Wife Iezabell whose flesh the Dogges did eate according as the Prophet had foretolde Hée slew Ahabs Priests and all the sonnes of Ahab as the Lord had said Hée threw downe the Image of Baall and all that appertained vnto him Wherefore the Lord promised him that his
posteritie should inherit the throne of Israel vnto the fourth generation But yet hée continued in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat who made Israell to sinne Almighty God did then lothe the people Israell and smote them with the sword of Hazael Hée raigned eight and twenty yeares and then dyed Par. Who was Prophet vnder this wicked King Past Elisha who had annoynted him King vpon the Lords commandement and who was well knowne vnto him to be specially fauoured of GOD as did appeare by his admirable workes Of whom hée might haue learned how to frame his heart and his hands according to right Par. Who was the tenth King in Samaria Past 2 King 10 35.2 Ichoahaz his sonne who liued as Ieroboam that made the people to sin and he departed not from his sinnes And therefore the Lord being angry with Israell deliuered them into the hands of Hazael king of Aram who vexed them very sore and wasted them so with the sword as that there remayned for Ichoahaz the King but tenne Chariots fifty Horsemen and of all the people but tenne thousand footmen After he had raigned seauentéene yeares he dyed Par. Who was the eleauenth king Past 2 King 13 9. to 14. Ioash his sonne He also liued like Ieroboam and so dyed after hée had raigned sixtéene yeares 2 Kin. 13.13.14 to 21. Elisha was yet liuing of whom he might haue learned the Lawes of the Lord. And then the Prophet also dyed Par Who was the twelfth king in Samaria Past Ieroboam his sonne And hée did euill in the Lords sight 2 Kings 13 13.14.23 to the end as did Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat He restored the coasts of Israell from the entring of Hamath vnto the sea of the Wildernesse according as the Lord had foretold by his Prophet Ionah who had decréed not to put out the name of Israel though they had sinned sore After he had raigned one and forty yeares he dyed Par. Who was the next in succession Past Zachariah his sonne 2 King 14 29.15.8.9.10 Hée departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat He raigned sixe moneths in Samaria and then was slaine by Shallum according as the Lord had said by his Prophet to Iehu to wit that his séede should sit vpon his seate vnto the fourth generation Par. Who was the foureteenth King Past Shallum the sonne of Iabesh 2 King 15 10. to 16. who conspired against Zachariah the king and slew him and afterward succéeded in the Kingdome Hée raigned one moneth and then was also slaine Par. Who was the fifteenth King Past 2 King 15.14 to 23. Mahanaen the sonne of Gady who went vp from Tirzah and came to Samaria and slew Shallum the King and raigned in his stead This Mahanaen was a most fierce and cruell man For hée destroyed Tiphsah and all that were therein and ript the women that were with childe because they opened not vnto him Hée exacted a thousand talents of siluer from his Subiects to giue vnto the king of Ashur for peace He dyed after hée had raigned tenne yeares in Samaria Par. Who succeeded this cursed King Par. 2 King 15.23 to 27. Pekahiah his sonne Hée also did euill in the sight of the Lord and departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat which made Israell to sinne Hée raigned two yeares and then was slaine by Pekah the sonne of Remeliah his Captaine Par. Who succeeded this king Past Pekah 2 King 15 27 to 31. who also liued like to Ieroboam Hée raigned twenty yeares and then Hoshea the sonne of Elah wrought treason and slew him Par. Who was the eighteenth King Past Hoshea the sonne of Elah 2 King 15 30.17.1 to the end obtained the crowne by treason He did euill but not as other kings that went before him The fourth Particular concerning the captiuating of the Kings of Israell THen Salmanasar king of Ashur came vp against Samaria furiously as if hée had béene the messenger of the Lords wrath as hée was indéede and besieged Samaria thrée yeares But when hée had gotten it he carryed away Israel to Ashur and put them in prisons at Halah at Habor and in the Cities of the Medes because they hearkened not to the voyce of the Lord but went a whoring after their owne inuentions And the King of Ashur brought folke from Babell and from those barbarous coasts and placed them in Samaria in stead of the people of Israell which people also regarded not the true God Wherefore God sent Lions and slew the wealthiest of them The king of Ashur hearing thereof sent one of the Priests which he had carryed from Samaria that hée might teach the people to know the God of the country Which Priest dwelt at Bethell and taught them the feare of the Lord. But yet they serued their Gods after the manner of the nations about them So these nations feared the Lord and serued their Images also Par. What shall I obserue in the Prophesie of Ezekiel Past Ezekiel was ordayned by the diuine prouidence of God to be a comforter of the people Israell all the time of their captiuitie at Babilon Par. What say you concerning Daniel Past Nabuchadnezar at the time of the captiuating of Israell and the winning of Ierusalem brought Daniell with ten thousand more to Babilon where hée proued most skilfull in the Arabian Sirian and Chaldean tongues and so highly in the sauour of God as that he could speake of secrets that were present and of secrets that were for to come concerning Gods people and in the mercifulnesse of God became a comfortable teacher amongst the people of Israel during seauenty yeares Par. Why was this great and mighty nation so ruinated Past It was the wrath and high displeasure of the almighty vpon them for their vnthankfulnesse for their cruelty one towards another for the contempt of his lawes and violating of his Sabaoths as the Prophet Ieremy sets downe at large Par. They were a mighty strong nation and a fierce and they had a city Ierusalem which was compassed about with twelue hils with three walles one within another with gates of iron and brasse with many Turrets Towres and Castles and within the city was the Towre of Dauid wherein were a thousand Shields and all the Targets of the mighty I aske you therefore how came it to passe that they were ouercome and their Citie ransacked Past It is true as you say in the iudgement of the most valiant Souldiers of the world they were inuincible But this was a matter foretolde and threatned by Prophets many yeares before And Daniel himselfe in the first Chapter reports that the Lord gaue them vp into the hands of Nabuchadnezar to doe with them and with their treasures what he would Par. I pray you tell me somewhat concerning Babilon and Nabuchadnezar Past The Assirian Chaldean or Babilonian Monarchie successiuely had 36. Kings or Monarches who ruled and
that hée can alter their natures and qualities euen as the time and occasion is offered The seauenth Obseruation comprehending Dan. 6. to the end Ezra Nehemiah Hester Haggi Zachariah and Malachi Parishioner IN this chapter Daniel makes mention of foure most strange and fearefull beasts to wit 1 a Lyon with Eagles wings chopt off 2 Beare with three ribs in his mouth 3 Leopard with foure wings 4 Beast out of the Sea with Iron teeth 10. hornes Declare vnto me the meaning thereof Past These foure beasts haue relation and speciall reference to the Image which Nabuchadnezar did sée before Dan. 2. For that Image which he saw according to his blinde and carnall affections goodly glorious and most excellent the very same God shewes vnto Daniel in another sort to wit in a beastly manner and in a terrible sort Wherein God shewed how great a difference is betwixt the carnall mans affection and the spirituall mans affection what the one sées and what the other sées And as in the former vision of Nabuchadnezar the enemies of Gods people were described by their names so in this vision shewed to Daniel they are described by their natures The name of the first is Nabuchadnezar Euilmerodech and Baltashar whose natures were as this sauage Lyon The name of the second beast is Cirus and Darius who in nature were like a Beare renting and tearing Gods Saints The name of the third beast was Alexander whose nature was like a Leopard The fourth beast was the Romane Emperours which here for their natures are likened to a beast with iron téeth Par. What is meant by the Ramme and the Goate in this chapter Past To this belongs the belly and thighes of brasse spoken of in Nabuchadnezars first vision which doth signifie Alexander the great and his foure Captaines Par. Chap. 18. What is there meant by Daniels seauenty weekes Past Dan. 9. Leu. 25. The Angell which spake to Daniell of seauenty wéekes meaneth for euery day in euery such weeke a yeare according to the accompt of the Iubile yeare The whole amounteth according to that reckoning to 490. yeares The same Angell for perspicuity sake diuides these seauenty wéekes into thrée parts after this manner The first part from the going out of the commandement concerning the fréeing of the people of Israell in the first yeare of the raigne of Darius to builde the Temple of the Lord at Ierusalem shall be seauen weekes that is to say nine and forty yeares The second part of the Angels diuision of time is thus Threescore and two weekes shall be a troublesome time after the which the prince of peace shall be slaine and he shall destroy the citie and the sanctuary The third part or diuision of time stands in these words He shall confirme the couenant with many for one wéeke meaning for one wéeke seauen yeares a day for a yeare And in the middest of the wéeke he shall cause the sacrifice to cease meaning by the middest of the weeke thrée yeares and a halfe Par. What is meant by the vision of Daniell which was so fearefull vnto him Past The vision which he saw did relate and signifie that the Temple which was in building at Ierusalem by the commandement of King Cirus should now be hindered by wicked Cambises his sonne who ordered the kingdome of Babilon whiles his father waged warre with the Scythians Par. What is meant by the second vision which Daniell did see so exceeding glorious Past Therein was described by particulars or parts Christ Iesus who in the fulnesse of time should come Reu. 1. The like description is made of Christ in the Reuelation He is called Michaell the prince and leader of the Iewes This Michaell fought against the Diuell for the peace of his Saints and preuailed in nine and forty yeares as was fore-told Par. How fell it out that he onely saw the vision and they which were with him saw it not Past By the saint is shewed that the wicked being yet vnregenerated cannot sée those spirituall things of God which the Saints and children of God doe sée Neither can they abide the glorious presence of his Maiesty which is ioyfull and comfortable to the godly Par. What is meant by the King of Persia who resisted one and twenty dayes and loe Michael one of the chiefe Princes helped Past The Prince of Persia Gréekes and others haue relation specially to the Diuell who stirred strife and euery way séeketh the dishonour of God Par. What is the effect or summe of Daniels prophesie in this chapter Past Whereas before in the ninth chapter and foure and twenty verse the Angell in the diuision of the seauenty wéekes reckoned seauen wéekes to the building of the Temple and in the tenth chapter the trouble that fell out about the same in nine and forty yeares Dan. 11. in this chapter he sets out in a kinde of prophecy vnder whom the Iewes should be yet vexed vnto the comming of Christ for the space of 62. wéekes that is to say 434 years namely by Cirus Cambises Sanerdes Darius Histaspis Ahasuerus Zerxes and Darius Longhand his sonne Par. What is meant by the 62. weekes after which he saith Christ shall be slaine Past He vnderstandeth that after these yeares of trouble the Prophecie of Iacob shall come to passe in which he said that the Scepter shall not depart from Iudah till Shilo come Meaning thereby that euen then when as there is no King in Iudah of their owne nation Christ shall come Par. What is your iudgement farther concerning this Chapter Past In this Chapter is most effectually set out a liuely description of Antichrist as it were in his colours First of all he is said to contemne Gods word secondly his pride Dan. 11. thirdly his deniall of Matrimony fourthly his Idolatry and fiftly his vtter ruine And afterward in the twelfth chapter is shewed the persecution of Christs elect the generall resurrection the power of the word the reward of the godly the end of the world Par. Declare vnto me somewhat concerning Ezra Past Ezra was a Scribe to Ieremy and afterwards a Priest of the Lord. In which office hée did behaue himselfe zealously and faithfully This Ezra Ezra 7.6 to the end vpon the commandement of Darius King of Persia went from Babell with a mighty band and came to Ierusalem in the seauenth yeare of the kings raign hauing a great multitude of the people Israel infinite treasures of siluer and gold towards the â—â—â—…hing and furnishing of the Temple which was ruinated and spoyled by Nabuchadnezar The number of them that came from Babilon with Ezra Ezra 8.9.10 and his zealous order for religion you may reade at large In the second chapter of this booke also is mention of Zorobabell who first of all brought a great company of the Israelites from Babilon to Ierusalem at the commandement of Cirus the King who succéeded Darius Which King Cirus by euill suggestion
a witnesse because the conscience is a thousand more then needes euen so repentance towards God that is deferred needes no witnesse because when it commeth the conscience doth accuse it doth witnesse it doth condemne it doth iudge and it is many times ready to execute As Honey doth make sowre things sweet euen so I must tell you that the sight of my sins doth make things that are in their nature sweet to others sowre to me As he that is in extreame heate will be glad with a little cooling as hee that is in extreame sicknesse will be glad with a little ease and as hee that is in extreame hunger will be glad of a little food euen so I good reuerend Sir extreamely tormented wth the waight of sinne miserably vexed with the guiltinesse of conscience and heartily frighted with the feare of Gods deserued iudgements wold be glad with a little comfort with a little ease with a little pittance or crumme of recreation For mee thinkes I see Birds swimme and Fishes flye all things are so crosse and so contrary vnto me Me thinkes I see the lake Troglodides thrise sweet and thrise bitter in one day and me thinkes I see the shoare Lepanthus in the morning sending forth a sweet pleasant calme but in the euening lightning and thundering Some perswade me that by faith onely I shall haue comfort in conscience and saluation which glads mee and is sweet vnto mee for a while others disswade me and say vnto me that I must obtaine it by Faith and Workes which presently dampe mee and are as hot thunderbolts vnto me I am as in a mismaze or labyrinth Ariadnes thread would winde mee out but conscience still puls me in As Diues being in hell did wish and desire that his brethren might be warned lest they also should come to that place of torments so I being thus perplexed doe heartily wish and desire Almighty God that not onely my naturall brethren but all people may be warned by Gods word that they may make conscience of his Sabaoths and that they may specially regard zealous men lest they be tormented in conscience as I am Tell me therefore tell me I humbly pray you tell me what shall I say what shall I doe or what way or course shall I take in hand to be reconciled to God to haue peace in my owne conscience and to haue assurance that my soule shall be receiued into the fellowship of the Saints in heauen amongst whom there are some that I most heartily desire to see A comfortable Confection for a sorrowfull Sinner Pastor YOu discourse so philosophically of naturall things as makes you séeme yet to me a naturall man in which discourse I obserue two speciall questions or rather obiections well worthy the answering One is your perturbations for sinnes committed the other is your doubt whether Faith Works or Faith onely iustifieth To the first I answere that your great griefes perturbations in soule and conscience are not arguments or notes of reprobation but rather of Faith of Iustification which is begunne in you For by how much you haue the sense and féeling of your sins by so much the more you haue the assurance of mercy as hée who hath the sense and féeling of his naturall disease hath some assurance that he is not in danger of death And by how much dangerous the disease of the body is found to be so much the more vehement and bitter a corosiue must be vsed but first a Corasiue then a Lenitiue Euen so Christ Iesus the holy Physitian heales the soules of great sinners by suffering them to call to cry to vexe to grieue and euen to roare with the surpassing greatnesse therof and afterwards when the extremitie and bitternesse of the passion is past then hée heares then hée grants and then hee receiues to mercy vsing therein the practise of a good naturall Physitian who ministreth not medicine to a maladye when it is raging and at the worst but when it is somewhat mitigated asswaged and abated And it is iustice with God to doe sometimes as hée is done vnto he cals cryes earely and late and man will not heare he offers mercy earely and late yet man will not estéeme of it No maruell then if man call and cry and God will not heare him if man call and cry for mercy and God will not by and by heare him Hope confidently in Gods mercy constantly and resolutely abide therefore and wait the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart You haue the example of Dauid of Ezekias of Peter and many others who called who cryed who wept and roared bitterly who hoped in God and were resolute at last the Lord heard them As for your other scruple or doubt concerning faith with workes or faith without works the places befitting this purpose are farre more then néede or conueniency will suffer me to vtter That faith onely iustifieth Paul hauing no good worke but rather being full of guile and crueltie as his owne story sets forth was iustified by faith only which makes him in great humility and thankfulnesse to preach the same in all that his Epistle to the Romanes and in many places of his other Epistles to the other Nations S. Iames in his Epistle catholicall writes no lesse when as he saith Iames 2.15 Shew me thy faith by thy workes and I will shew thee my faith by my workes meaning workes that follow a true iustifiing Faith and not workes annexed as iustifying with Faith S. Peter setting forth the excellencie of Faith saith 1 Pet. 1. that the triall therof is much more excellent then gold meaning a tryall in tribulations after iustification and not before S. Iohn approuing Iustification also by faith 1 Iohn 1. magnifieth the mercies of God in Christ and concludes all men vnder sinne The allowance of faith onely is manifestly proued by Christs owne examples who healed all manner of diseases vpon sinners by Faith onely and also forgiuing sinnes which was in effect the office also of Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. And againe the vse of ceremonies in the Law forced no farther for Iustification then to faith in the Messiah I must say in another sort if righteousnesse come by the Law that is to say if righteousnesse come by workes then Christ dyed in vaine and our Faith is of none effect And I must say as S. Paul said 1 Cor. 15. If there be no resurrection then are we of all men most miserable euen so if faith and workes doe iustifie then am I with you and with infinite thousands more of all men most miserable Gen. 11. As Nimrod with his builders were far wide when they thought with the strength of their hands to worke their way to heauen and the Pharisee when he boasted of his vprightnesse euen so are they that think to obtaine saluation by their workes farre wide and cleane out of the right way Like the
siluer and iewels of gold and raiment and immediately after they had eaten the Passeouer they went their way out of Egypt And Moses commanded the people to dedicate that day in which they were deliuered from Egypt for a remembrance Exod. 13.17.18 that GOD might be honoured God guided them in their way towards Canaan by a cloudy pillar in the day and by a pillar of fire in the night not the next way which was but forty dayes iourney but by the way of the Wildernesse which was forty yeares iourney Par. Moses saith in Genesis and in Deut. that 70. Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 Acts 7.14 persons came to Egypt and no more how comes it to passe that S. Luke saith that there came 75. persons and how can you reconcile them Past S. Luke speaketh not exactly of the time in which they came into Egypt but rather of the time of Iacobs continuance in Egypt therefore hée taketh a large scope in his computation to make vp his number of 75. persons to wit by reckoning Er and Onan who dyed in Canaan and Manasses and Ephraim the sonnes of Ioseph being already in Egypt with the Patriarch Iacob himselfe and thus Moses and Luke are reconciled plainely Par. How can it be said by Moses Gene. 15.13 Acts 7.6 that the people of Israel were but 215. yeares in Egypt whereas Saint Luke saith they were 400. yeares there Past The 400. yeares must néedes beginne when the seede of Israel was first in affliction vnder Ismael who at the birth of Isaac was reiected and cast out so it fals out right and not otherwise Par. How can this act of Gods people be allowed or tollerable to wit that they should borrow the Egyptians goods and so carry them away deceitfully Past The people of Israell indéede had iewels of siluer and iewels of gold and rayment of the Egyptians but not as borrowed and lent For thus said the Lord Exod. 3 21 22. I will make this people to be fauoured of the Egyptians so that when they goe they shall not goe empty Exod. 11.2.3 For euery woman shall aske of her neighbours Iewels of siluer Iewels of gold and raiment and put them on their sonnes and daughters and so shall you spoyle the Egyptians Thus the people Israell were charged to doe by Moses their gouernour and this charge hee receiued from the Lord and they did accordingly So thus you sée plainely how God disposed of his owne goods to his owne special people which was iust in him and holy obedience in them Par. Why did God lead the people as it were round about and not the next way to Canaan Past Exod. 13.17.18 God himselfe answereth it thus because the Philistines being a fierce and a most sauage cruell people who would haue spoyled them by wars because they might not be discouraged thereby therefore the Lord sent them the farther way about and withall because in their iourney thorow the wildernes they might sée the wonderful works of God miraculously féeding with bread from heauen with water out of flint stones and preseruing them from the rage of wilde beasts The third Particular Par. Declare vnto me the story of Pharaohs drowning briefly Past When it was tolde the King that all Israell was gone out of his land Exod. 14.5 c. he was in a great wrath and therefore he tooke 600. chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt Captaines ouer euery one of them and ouertooke the hoast of Israel as they were camping by the great Sea The people of Israel being excéedingly afraid at his comming cryed out vnto the Lord and murmured against Moses And Moses being a faithfull man and valiant encouraged them saying Stand stil feare not behold the saluation of the Lord which he will shew to you this day For the Egyptians whom ye see this day yee shall neuer see againe the Lord shall fight for you therefore hold your peace And the Lord said vnto Moses Stretch out thine hand with thy rod vpon the Sea and diuide it and let the children of Israell goe on dry ground thorow the middest thereof And so Moses did as the Lord commanded him and the sea ranne together in heapes or as bankes on both sides so as the people of Israell went ouer dry shod and the Egyptians séeing them passe pursued after them and were all drowned For at the commandement of the Lord the Seas returned in the former place Par. What shall we learne out of this Past There are many things well worth the marking specially thrée things First his diuine prouidence in preuenting the slaughter of his people Israel by the Egyptians who fiercely followed after them Secondly that he vseth to tempt and to try his owne people how they will behaue themselues in dangers Thirdly it did declare the omnipotent power of Gods glorious Maiesty mastring and ouer-ruling the raging Seas hurling them on heapes this way and that way as he would opening and shutting dispersing and gathering together to the preseruation of his holy people and to the vtter destruction of the wicked Wherein is shewed that how great soeuer the power and deuises be against the Church or any part therof it auails nothing The Fourth Particular Concerning the 42. standings stations or habitations of the people Israell as they trauelled in forty yeares space towards Canaan Which progresse or iourney of theirs serueth very well to direct a mans memory in all things that were done during that time whereof some of them were pleasant and some vnpleasant And also it serueth to put vs in minde of our trauell or peregrination towards the land of the liuing Some of which standings stations or habitations being Emphaticall I will set downe with their deriuations and what was famously done in euery of them Par. What is the first Standing or place of their Habitations Past The first place where they rested is called Ramases Exod. 12. Numb 33.1.2 which signifieth wormes meate giuing vs to vnderstand that such is the nature of mankinde to wit subiect to corruption and to perishing that trauel towards the celestial kingdome of heauen and therefore he that will haue a prosperous progresse must wholly depend vpon the power of God Here the people of Israell did eate the Passeouer being girded about hauing staues in their hands and shooes on their féete the 15. day of the moneth Abib at euening which moneth was part of Aprill and part of May according to the computation of the Hebrewes And it was called the first moneth of the yeare which pointed vnto the time of the yeare in which Adam fell and in which Christ should die This Passeouer had relation to the promised Messiah Iesus Christ who iust according to this time in which Adam fell should be sacrificed for the sinnes of those that did expect for him in the flesh by faith They did eate it being girded about with slaues in their hands and hauing shooes on their
féet signifying constancie and all readinesse to goe forward euen vnto the end nothing estéeming the oppositions of men the temptations of the Diuell neyther yet the rebellion of their owne hearts Par. What is the second Station or Standing Past Succoth which signifieth poore cottages shewing thereby as is our nature or continuance of body in this life so is our habitation to wit poore and naught worth in comparison of our eternall habitation Sixe hundred thousand men besides women and children came to this place of which great multitude none entred into Canaan by reason of vnbeliefe but Iosua and Caleb And hereby men are taught that poore and beggarly are all things of this life in comparison of things immortall in the life to come And withall here is declared that many thousands séem by words and by workes to séeke after the Kingdome of heauen but very few shall obtaine it and possesse it thorow the want of faith Exod. 15.23 Num. 33.8 Marah which signifieth bitternesse It might well be so called for all the waters were bitter in that place which made them to murmure against Moses saying What shall we drinke but he cryed vnto the Lord and the Lord shewed him a trée which when he had throwne it into the waters they were swéet Par. What is the sixt place or Station Past Elime signifieth strong hearts There God cheareth and comforteth them wishing them as it were to be strong and of a great courage for then they were brought from those riuers and wels that were bitter to this place where was 12. fountaines of cleare and pleasant waters which did as it were point out aforehand and giue knowledge of 12. Apostles that should giue testimony of Christ There also were 70. Palme trées which gaue them to remember of 70. soules that came to Egypt After this sort God vseth to refresh and to comfort the weake and wearied in soule Par. What is the seauenth place Past Sin which signifieth thornie There were thornes brambles and bryers according to the signification thereof thereby shewing that in our progresse towards the holy kingdom there are many oppositions and lets Exod. 17. Rephidim which signifieth temptations That place might well be so called because God did there tempt and proue their faith and patience for in that place there was no water There indéede they declared themselues to want both faith and patience for they contended with Moses and said Giue vs water that wee may drinke And Moses said vnto them why contend you with mee Wherefore doe you tempt the Lord And Moses cryed vnto the Lord saying What shall I doe vnto this people for they are readie to stone mee And hée tooke the rod wherewith hée had smitten the riuer and hée smote also a great rocke and thence gushed out great streames of pure water in the sight of them all Thus almighty God vseth to proue to tempt his people with many miseries specially with the want of bread and drink after plenty of both shewing hereby that there is no meanes to get supply but only in Christ the rocke from whom issueth abundance of all things Par. What is the twelfth Habitation or standing Past Mount Sinai signifying Exo. 19.20 euerlasting temptation There the mighty Maiestie of God shewed his power and glory with fearefull voices with sounds not vsuall with earthquakes smoake fire insomuch as that the people not daring to come neare the Mount he called vnto Moses to whom he gaue his lawes written with his owne finger in two tables of stone After this manner although not in forme and fashion yet in effect most admirably did the Lord deliuer and publish the Gospell vnto the Apostles to wit with a rushing or noyse that was extraordinarie with a mighty whirlewinde which was not vsuall and with tongues set as it were with fire Par. I pray you tell me yet more largely concerning this Law giuen by God himselfe Past This Law Morall is that which almighty God deliuered vnto Moses to the end that he should deliuer the same vnto the people Israell It compelled obedience therefore it was called a precept Euery mans conscience was to yéeld vnto it therefore it was called truth It instructed all men therefore it was called doctrine Rom. 7. Gal. 4. As a wife is in subiection to her husband so long as her husband liueth euen so Israell was to be in subiection vnto this Law so long as Christ liued And as an Heyre that is Lord of all Gal. 3.11 Rom. 7.7 while hée is a childe differeth not much from a seruant but is vnder Tutors and Gouernors euen so Israell though heyres by promise were vnder the law as vnder Tutors vntill Christ came As Adam by disobedience became subiect to death so they by obedience to the Law became subiect to life not by the Law but by Christ As the Estridge séemeth to flye when indéede shée flyeth not so righteousnesse séemeth to come by the Law when indéede it doth not And as the vse of a Watchman is to giue knowledge of the enemie so this Law is to giue knowledge of sinne who is an enemie Wée know that a Master teacheth and trameth vp children in naturall things vntill they come to strength and knowledge to liue in the world of themselues euen so this Law teacheth and traineth vp young and olde in holy duties vntill they come to full strength in Christ to liue eternally Par. What vse was there made of this Law Past Out of this Law was deriued or originally taken the Iudiciall Law which is an humane Iustice disposed with good and vnderstanding words without contrarietie and with the abilitie of the subiect It enforceth a restraint of sinnes against God and it commandeth the performance of those duties towards the brethren which they would haue done to themselues It appoynts directly to euery man his owne and his proportionable reward according to Iustice and equitie Exo. 20.24 Leuit. 26.3 2 Kin. 23.3 Ier. 32.13 1 Pet. 2.13 It was the same in effect as the Law of Nature Moses ordained many particular Lawes of this qualitie 1 For Apprehensions 2 Iudgements 3 Executions Par. Against whom was this Law iudicial in force and effect and how long Past Against the Iewes onely then and thenceforth whiles they liued in Tents and Tabernacles and also vnto the captiuating thereof It is abrogated from them that liue vnder the Gospell sauing for the substance and the end The forme and qualitie remaineth yet in the conscience and discretion of Christian Princes but so and after that sort as the maker thereof may be knowne to loue and feare God and to desire the eternall good of his Subiects Of which Some did belong to the Tabernacle Priests Leuites Stirring vp of holinesse Keeping of things in remembrance Preseruation of peace All these and the rest had their release and discharge vpon the sacrificing of Christ the perpetuall Aaron according to the order of Melchisedech As
ten Fathers before the Flood by the ten Fathers after the Flood and by the twelue Patriarches succéeding them Par. What particular obseruation shall I make for the better vnderstanding of this Ceremoniall Law Past There are diuers necessary obseruations but specially these sixe which by way of interrogation you must finde out 1 The Tabernacle 2 Feast dayes 3 Sacrifices 4 Sacraments 5 Sacrificers 6 Sabaoth Par. Tell me first of all what the Tabernacle was Past The Tabernacle was a place principally dedicated for religion whiles they were in the wildernesse trauelling towards Canaan It was made by the Lords commandement of brasse of siluer and of gold as an whole entire worke or one thing to containe diuers things but parted with vaâ—es into thrée roomes Par. What was the first roome of the Tabernacle Past The first roome was Southward containing an Altar of earth whereon burnt offerings were made by the people themselues and also by the priests on the Sabaoth day and on feast dayes Par. What was the second roome of the Tabernacle Past It stood Northward it was called holy and it was made and framed with Sethim wood and couered with gold that it might not rot and that the priests might burne incense thereon both morning and euening There was the table of gold whereon was set the shew bread which was not lawfull for any man to eate but for the priests when it was stale and they were to supply it with new against euery Sabaoth In this roome were set diuers instruments which were for the seruice and dedication of the Temple Par. What was the third roome or part of the Tabernacle Past The third part of the Tabernacle was Westward called the holiest of all made of Sethim wood but couered within and without with fine gold In this roome was the Arke of the couenant which represented God himselfe Therein were the two Tables of the law the golden pot Aarons rod and the Mercy seat couered with Cherubins and shadowing the Arke This most excellent workmanship of the Almighty with the Arke and all the appurtenances continued amongst the people of Israell vntill the death of Eli the high priest at which time the Arke was taken by the Philistines in a great battell and it continued as a pilgrime tossed too and fro in priuate mens houses vntill the death of Saul the king then king Dauid being moued with the zeale of God and being grieued that the Arke of his Maiesty was so exiled and banished ioyned with the Leuites the priests and Nobles of the land to fetch it to Ierulalem Par. Now I would heare what is conuenient concerning feast dayes which you spake of Past There were diuers feasts vsed in the ministrations of the law especially these fiue The feast of Easter Pentecost Trumpets Tabernacles New Moone Par. Tell me briefely concerning the feast of Easter Past Easter was one of the great solemne feast dayes in the which all the people of Israell were commanded to come vnto Ierusalem wheresoeuer they inhabited ouer the world that then and there they might eate the Passeouer in the commemoration of their deliuerance out of Egypt and also in expectation of the holy Messiah which was for to come who in Ierusalem according to that time should be the true Passeouer or Pascall lambe offered vpon the crosse Par. What was the feast of pentecost Past The feast of Pentecost or Whitsontide was another such like feast or holy assembly full 〈◊〉 dayes after Easter thereby to continue the remembrance of that time in which God gaue them the two Tables of stone written with his owne hand and also to haue relation by a spirituall expectation to the abundant graces of God in Christ which shortly after his Ascention was to be sent downe vpon his Apostles in signe of clouen tongues Par. Set me downe I pray you the feast of Tabernacles Past It was a feast of seauen dayes continuance which was solemnized for to put the people in remembrance of their estate when they were in bondage vnder Pharao and when afterwards they were in the wildernesse without house or habitation full fortie yeares that thereby they might be taught to endure with the greater patience in the consideration of their better and more continuing habitaon which in time to come they should haue in Canaan and afterwards in the holy kingdome of heauen Par. There remaineth yet one more of the feasts which you named to wit the feast of new Moones Past The feast of new Moons was the beginning of euery month in which the people were bound to offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord. Par. You spake vnto me of Sacrifices I pray you tell me somewhat thereof and how many kindes or sorts there be Past Sacrifices were of sundry sorts or kindes especially foure The first kinde was a burnt Sacrifice or oblation which was offered by the common people vpon the Altar as they would and as they were able The second kinde of Sacrifice was that which the priests onely offered for the sinnes of the people according as euery man was able after this manner for the gouernors they offered a Goat The third for the poore they offered a payre of Turtle doues or two yong Pigeons The fourth for other of lesse ability the tenth part of an Epha Par. What was the third kinde of Sacrifice Past The third kinde for sanctification or consecration of the priests was of thrée sorts 1 a Calfe 2 Ramme 3 red Cow Par. What was the fourth kinde of Sacrifice Past The fourth kinde was a Sacrifice or oblation of reconciliation or of attonement which the high priest offered for himselfe when he appeared before God in the holy place vnder these speciall kindes to wit A yong Cow A Bullocke Two hée Goates Aaron was to cast lots which of these two hée Goats were to be offered and which should escape Par. You spake of Sacraments tell mee I pray you how many Sacraments there be the difference betwixt the old and the new and how I may know the difference betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past Sacraments in the time of the Law as in the time of the Gospell were in number two Circumcision and Paschal Lambe before Christ Baptisme the Lords Supper after Christ Par. Now declare the difference betwixt the old Sacrament and the New Past The old did promise Christ for to come the new doth performe him already come Againe the old were but figures shadowes and relations of things to come The new are the very same indeede the most perfect and most substantiall matter Par. What difference is there betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past In Sacrifices men offer and giue vnto GOD in Sacraments GOD offers and giues vnto men Par. Declare vnto me the sixt particular to wit of Sacrificers who they were and what else is fit to be learned therein Past Sacrificers were the priests as was Aaron and his sonnes They were men seperated and segregated from ill and
prophane vses to the seruice of the liuing God appointed at the Altar by praying by praising and by sacrificing for themselues and for the people in and about the Tabernacle whiles it was in vse and afterwards in the temple of Salomon Par. What is the seauenth and last particular to wit the Sabaoth Past The Sabaoth signifieth according to the deriuation thereof rest peace and quietnesse It was precisely kept thorow out all generations amongst the people of Israel vpon diuers and sundry expresse commandements so as neither man nor beast might be séene doing any bodily labour therein which outward rest had relation and reference to the inward affections of the Soule wrought by the spirit resting from sinne and all prophanenesse Therein also was an absolute representation of heauenly rest and peace of soule and of body in the life to come They might not gather Manna on the Sabaoth day though it came from heauen miraculously for the nourishment of their hungry bodies because they might be occupied in a more speciall businesse to wit in gathering spirituall Manna a foode for their soules The Lord of the Sabaoth vouchsafed to dignifie the Sabaoth with his owne personall presence and to make it a signe or pledge of warrantise betwixt his people and himselfe And this was published first by God himselfe secondly by Moses thirdly by Iesus Christ and fourthly by the Church This ceremoniall Sabaoth did properly point out a time publike for the ministration of the Law which immediate Sabaoths instituted by Moses are of diuers sorte A Sabaoth of yeares to wit euery seauenth yeare in which the Israelites might not till nor sow There was a Sabaoth euery fifty yeare in which was proclaimed a generall fréedome which yeare was called a yeare of Iubile The Noëmian is seauen months There is another externall and immediate Sabaoth to wit the Sunday or Lords day which God appointed to his Church There is also a spirituall Sabaoth to wit an holy rest from sin which only appertains to the elect such as of whom S. Paul speakes who liue not after the flesh but after the spirit these shal enioy the celestiall Sabaoth which is that most pure and perfect Sabaoth which was begun in the old Ceremoniall Law continued in the new Law and which shall be accomplished in the kingdome of heauen Par. What vse or profit haue we by the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall lawes Past The vse and profit is twofold one is an humbling of all sorts at the feet of God For when our sinnes are gathered together as it were on an heape and the entrance into our owne vnablenesse to make a kinde of satisfaction it must néedes strike a feare and a confusion into our hearts and thereby prostrate vs before God The other is the simple submission and yéelding vp of all the functions and offices of soule and body which is vnpossible for man to doe because the soule doth consist of a minde and of affections and the minde doth consist of vnderstanding iudgement and memory all which are decaied and to no purpose for the worke of our redemption Yea all the members of mans body and all the parts thereof which should be imployed in his holy worship doe easily and plainely bewray their stubbornenesse negligence and contempt Par. What is the sum or principall matter in the booke of Numbers besides the numbring of the people which maketh the booke called Numbers Past Moses therein setteth down diuers Lawes some for the Nazarits some against fornication People sedition Leuites ignorance Priests incredulity Sabaoth murmuring Sanctuary  The fift Particular concerning Iosua Par. Now I desire to know who wrote the booke of Iosua Past Iosua or Iesus the sonne of Nun carieth the title of this Booke because he and Eliazar did penne the same He was a most feruent follower of the faith therefore by faith most admirably he slew mighty Kings Iosua 10.26 euen one and thirty in number and deuided their dwellings and their lands by lots amongst the people of Israel 11.12 according to the word of the Lord many hundred yeares before He resembled Iesus Christ the ouer-ruling and euerlasting Conquerour He was thrée and fifty yeares old before he came from Egypt he ruled seauent éene yeares 24.29.30 he died when he was one hundred and tenne yeares old and was buried in mount Ephraim which was his owne limitation border or lot Par. What speciall matter haue I to marke therein Past The booke deuides it selfe by chapters after this manner in regard of the matter From Chapter the 1 to chapter the 6 comprehending Iosua hisstory the story of the Spies the story of Iordan Circumcision and Passeouer 6 13 the story of the Gibeonites Sacriledge the sacking of Cities and killing of Kings 13 20 Cities of refuge the Leuites portion Manasses tribe Iosua his zeale 20 24 Israel haue now rest Ruben Gad and Manasses are sent to their inheritances Iosua exhorts the people and dieth The sixt Particular concerning the booke of Iudges Past This booke according to the Gréeke and Latines is called Iudicum because indéede the matter principall is concerning the gouernment of Gods people vnder Iudges from the death of Iosua vnto Hely the high priest about 299. yeares and Samuel wrote it Par. Declare vnto me the Iudges in their order and by their names Past As I haue set them down so haue you néede to be perfect in their particular stories Othoniel of the tribe of Iudah who gaue them rest 40. yeares Ehud of the tribe of Beniamin who gaue them rest 18. yeares Deborah and Barack of the tribe of Ephraim who raigned 40. yeares Gedeon of the tribe of Ephraim who slew his brethren was slaine himselfe ruled 40. yeares Abimelech of Isachars tribe 23. yeares Tola of Manasses tribe 22. yeares Iair of Ephraim 16. yeares Iepthe and Abesan of Iudah 7. yeares Eglon of the tribe of Zabulon who ruled 10. yeares Abden of the tribe of Manasses who ruled 8. yeares Sampson of the tribe of Dan who ruled 20. yeares Hely of the tribe of Leui who ruled 40. yeares These Iudges continued in story 450. yeares reckoning withall the yeares of the oppressors Par. Who were the oppressors Past These they were by their names and by their succession Philistines Cananites Sidonians Heuites Chusan vnder whom Israell were in bondage 8. yeares Eglon King of Moab vnder whom they liued in bondage 18. yeares Iabine and Sisera King of Canaan vexed them 20. yeares Madianites vexed them 7. years Amalekites they of the East with their Captaines Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Zalmana Kings of Madian Philistines who vexed them 18. yeares Ammonites who vexed them 40. yeares Par. Who wrote the Booke of Ruth Past Samuell the Prophet is said to write this Booke because the Hebrewes doe reckon it and the Booke of Iudges as one for Ruth liued when Deborah ruled Israell Par. What was this woman of what Nation or kindred Past Shée was a Moabitish