for some time to the Ceremonies of it After the death of James the Apostles from every quarter (e) Euseb l. 3. cap. 11. gathered themselves together at Jerusalem for the Election of a Bishop and chose Simon Cleopas In an assembly of the Apostles certain Canons were agreed on and published by Clemens as 't is said But (f) Concil tom 1. those that now go for them are corrupt the corruption of the Apostolical constitutions and of Ignatius his Epistles having proceeded from the same hand as reverend Usher sheweth in his Dissertation concerning the said Epistles who as to this matter is therein most worthy to be consulted About the time of Nerva the Emperour were two (g) Euseb l. 3. c. 23. Synods summoned in Asia for reformation of the Churches and Consecration of Bishops where St. John the Apostle being sent for was present About the beginning of Marcus Antoninus was a Synod at (h) Idem l. 5. cap. 16. Ancyra in Galatia where the figments of Montanus were confuted by Apollinarius And there were held in Asia sundry Synods in which Montanus was excommunicated and his Heresie condemned The brethren in (i) Lib. 5. c. 3. France also assembled together and censured the opinions of Montanus writing to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome that he would maintain the Peace of the Church there against such Hereticks (k) Lib. 5. c. 19. Serapion also Bishop of Antioch held a Synod there about the middle of Commodus his reign where together with many other Bishops he condemned the Montanists or their Heresie called the Phrygian Heresie because Montanus was of that Countrey Not long after was held a Council at (l) Idem l. 5. cap. 23. Rome by Victor the Bishop about the Celebration of Easter in Palaestine also in Pontus and Gall were Synods called about the same matter Controversie concerning Easter 38. This controversie about Easter is mentioned by Eusebius not till the last year of the 243 Olympiad which fell in with the fourth of Severus but â—appellus thinketh it first arose in the first of the 242 Olympiad and the tenth of Commodus wherein this feast was celebrated by the Jews and the Churches of Asia Minor at a wrong time as Theophilus Bishop of Caesaraea thought viz. by the Jews on the fifteenth of Nisan March 20. but by the Christians of Asia on the fourteenth of Nisan March 19. on the fourth Feria three dayes before the Vernal Aequinox Beda de natura rerum cap. 28. 46. de Aequinoctie Theophilus supposing that the Aequinox hapned on March the 25. and that so it ever did and for this cause that the Sun was on that day created and that Christ arose again the same day as also that the Lords Supper was instituted on the 22 of March contended that is was utterly against reason to prevent the Epoche of the Aequinox so many dayes and the day whereon the Lords Supper was instituted Wherefore he procured the Fathers of Palestine assembled in a Synode to make these Canons 1. That never except after March 21. 2. That never but after the fourteenth Moon 3. That never after April 24. 4. That never except on the Lords day Easter should be celebrated on that day which next followed the fourteenth Moon hapning next after March 21. Hereby he hoped it would come to passe that Easter would ever be observed within the moneth of Aries In the Synode of Palaestine where these Canons were made the aforesaid Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem presided Of that at Rome Victor the Bishop was President In that of Pontus Palmas as the most antient did govern In that of the Bishops of Gall Irenaeus presided There was another of the Bishops throughout Ostroena and the Cities therein contained and especially held by Bauchillus Bishop of Corinth with many others all which saith Eusebius with one and the same sentence and judgement ordained the same Decree With those also consented Cassius Bishop of Tyre and Clarus Bishop of Ptolemais They affirmed that it was the Apostolick tradition and custom as yet retained that the fasting dayes should be broken up on no other day than that wherein our Saviour arose from the dead And the Church of Alexandria celebrated Easter on the self-same day with them 39. But all the Churches throughout Asia as of an antient tradition thought good to observe the high-feast of Easter in the 14th Moon on which day the Jews were commanded to offer their Paschal Lamb. As much as to say that upon what day soever in the week that Moon fell the fasting dayes were finished and ended Polycrates of Ephesus chief of these Bishops in his Epistle to the Church of Rome sheweth the custom of Asia observed unto his time in these words We observe the unviolated day of Easter neither adding any thing thereto neither taking any thing from it For notable pillars of Christian Religion have rested in Asia which shall arise at the last day when the Lord shall come home from Heaven with glory and restore all the Saints to joy Philip one of the twelve Apostles now lying at Hierapolis and his two daughters who kept themselves Virgins all the dayes of their lives the third also after the end of her holy conversation rested at Ephesus John also who lay on the Lord's breast and wore the Priestly Attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreover Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop and a Martyr slept at Smyrna What shall I speak of Sagaris both a Bishop and a Martyr lying at Laodicea Also of blessed Papirius and Melito an Eunuch who was led and guided in all things he did by the holy Ghost and now resteth at Sardis waiting the message from Heaven when he shall arise from the dead All these celebrated the Feast of Easter according to the Gospel in the fourteenth Moon swarving no where but observing the rule of faith To be short and I Polycrates the meanest of you all do retain the tradition of my forefathers of which also I have imitated some For there were seven Bishops before me and I am the 8th which alwayes have celebrated the Feast of Easter on that day in which the people remove the leaven from amongst them I therefore my brethren who now have lived 65 years in the Lord have conferred with the brethren throughout the World and have read and over-read the holy Scriptures yet will not be moved at all with those things which are made to terrifie us For my Ancestors and Elders have said that we ought rather to obey God than men Afterwards he speaketh of the Bishops that consented and subscribed to his Epistle after this manner I could repeat the Bishops that were present whom you requested me to assemble whom also I have assembled together whose names if I should write would grow unto a great number they have visited me a simple Soul and a man
two Laws from Vesta Zathraustes amongst the Arimaspians from a good Doemon Mneves amongst the Egyptians from Mercury Minos the Cretian from Jupiter Lycurgus the Lacedaemonian from Apollo and Numa the Roman from the Goddesse Egeria To this number * Biblioth l. 1. p. 59. B. in Margine Notat Diodorus out of Ethnick ignorance addeth Moses himself writing that he counterfeited conference with the god Jaus 5. But the people missing Moses so long a time and not knowing what was become of him raised a tumult and caused Aaron to make them a god that might go before them The Hebrews have a Tradition that Hur opposing this was slain but Aaron overcome with their furious importunity made them a molten Calf of Gold The molten Calf after the fashion of the Egyptians who Worshipped two Heifers Apis and Mnevis which they accounted gods Fourty dayes and as many nights being ended God gave Moses two Tables of stone wherein was written the Decalogue by his own finger Chap. 31. c. and sent him down telling him wherein his people were employed Moses something appeasing Gods wrath came down from the Mount SECT 2. but seeing them dance before the Calf in a great rage cast the Tables out of his hands and brake them He put the Calf into the fire and grinding it to pouder threw it into the Brook and made them to drink of the water then commanded the Levites to take every man his sword and slay his Neighbour so that of the people fell that day about 3000 men After this going up into the Mount the second time he interceded for the people and at his return removed the Tabernacle or Tent wherein he used to speak with God out of the Camp in token of the Lords displeasure He hewed two new Tables of stone like to the former and having given order for the making of an Ark of Wood and all things about the Tabernacle according to the pattern shewed him in the Mount he went up the third time and continued there fourty dayes and as many nights without eating any thing as before In this time God wrote anew the ten Commandments and being pacified renewed the league conditionally and proposed other Laws to the people When Moses returned his face shone so that he put thereon a vail when he spake to the multitude to which he declared Gods commands urged the observation of the Sabbath and the offering for making of the Tabernacle in the work whereof the latter part of this year was spent by Bezaleel and his Companions The Tabernacle reared 6. On the first day of the first moneth of the second year Chap. 40. was the Tabernacle reared and in this moneth were these things done which are spoken of in the third book of Moses called Leviticus On the fourteenth day was the passeover celebrated in the Wildernesse of Sinai Num. 19. On the first of the second moneth God commanded Moses to number all the Israelites Num. 1. except the Tribe of Levi from twenty years old to sixty the number of whom amounted to 603550. just so many as had been found seven moneths before when the contribution was to be made for the Tabernacle Chap. 10. On the 20th of the same moneth the Cloud which rested on the Tabernacle removed and they following it in four Armies came from the Wildernesse of Sinai to that of Paraâ— where they stayed 23 dayes in their 13th Mansion of Kibroth-Hattaavah Here the people weary of their Heavenly bread Chap. 23. lusted after the flesh of Egypt and were punished with a sudden fire which devoured many and was at length quenched by the prayer of Moses Chap. 11. Here also Moses complaining to God of the great burthen which lay upon him The Sanhedrim the Sanhedrim of the seventy Elders was instituted In this place moreover God gave the people Quailes for a whole moneth on which they surfeited so that a plague arose whil'st the flesh was yet betwixt their teeth and many perished Hence the place had its name of Kibroth-Hattaavah or the Sepulchers of concupiscence 7. From Kibroth-Hattaavah they removed to Hazeroth Chap. 12. where Aaron and Miriam spake against Moses about his wife Miriam struck with Leprosie Miriam for that was struck with Leprosie and cast out of the Camp till Aaron confessing their fault and interceding to Moses for her he prayed to God and she was healed She being after seven dayes received again into the Camp they removed Chap. 13. and came to Rithma near unto Cades-barnea in the same desart of Paran In the fifth moneth of the second year and the time of Vintage Caleb the son of Jephunne Joshua the son of Nun and ten other principal men were hence sent to spy the Land of Canaan The Spies search the Land After fourty dayes they returned bringing with them of the fruit of the Land Caleb and Joshuah incouraged the people but the rest utterly disheartned them causing them to dispair ever to possesse it because of the strength of the walled Towns and the Gyants which there lived This raised such a mutiny that they not onely murmured against Moses but spake of making them a Captain Chap. 14. and of returning into Egypt threatning to stone Caleb and Joshua who laboured to the contrary This so highly provoked the Lord that he threatned suddenly to destroy them and being prevailed with by Moses to mitigate his wrath denounced that none of twenty years and upwards should ever enter into the promised Land but wander up and down till their Carkeises fell in the Wildernesse except Caleb and Joshua And this sentence was presently executed upon the ten which had caused the sedition 8. When they had therefore now arrived at the borders of the promised Land they were commanded to turn back again into the Wildernesse towards the Red Sea But to make some amends as they thought for their late fear and cowardise The Israelites commanded to turn back they arose in the morning and against the expresse command of Moses went up into the Mountain to fight where the Amalekites and Canaanites that there inhabited smote and discomfited them even unto Hormah At their return they wept before the Lord but were not heard and upon this occasion and the death of those that fell daily in the Desart Moses as it 's thought composed the 90 Psalm wherein complaining of Humane frailty and shortnesse of life he signifieth that Man's age was reduced to 70 or 80 years and so now the third time was it as it were cut shorter by the halfe the two former having been immediatly after the Flood and again in the time of Phaleg at the division of the Earth 9. Thenceforth from their departure from Cades-Barnea are numbred 17 more stations in the Wildernesse of Paran wherein they spent 38 years wandring about till all the rebellious ones were consumed The things which hapned in those years cannot certainly
turned to the Lord cast off their idols The Philistins overthrown and solemnly repented at Mizpah Hereat God was pleased to spare them and thundring upon the Philistins when they were ready to joyn battel discomfitted them utterly so terrified them that they forsook the Cities formerly seized on leaving onely one Garrison in the Countrey and no more afflicted the Children of Israel so long as Samuel had the chief power in his hands When he grew old he made his sons Judges over the Land Chap. 8. who perverting Justice by bribery the people thence gladly took occasion to desire a King that in government they might be conformable to other Nations Their most urgent reasons were for that the Philistins yet kept an Hold in their Countrey Chap. 11. and Nahash the King of the Ammonites threatned them with War at which they were so affrighted that neither trusting in God's providence who hitherto had been their King The Israelites desire a King and avenger nor to the Justice and prudence of Samuel would they be satisfied or put off without a King God therefore gave unto them Saul the son of Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin Saul is King Hosea 13. 35. In the book of Samuel no certain years are either given to his own government or to that of Saul but it seemeth probable from Scripture that he governed about twenty years alone from the death of Eli to the election of Saul For it is said 1 Sam. 7.2 that the Ark of God abode in Kiriath-jearim twenty years and that the time being long all the house of Israel lamented before the Lord at Mizpeh which passages are joyned unto the serious exhortation of Samuel to move them to repentance So then the end of twenty years the exhortation their repentance hereupon and their moving for a King with good reason seem to have been about the same time so that 20. or 21 years and an half are to be given to his government which began at Eli's death Now Heli died when the Ark was taken which staying seven moneths in the Land of the Philistins was then sent away and came to Bethshemesh where the inhabitants losing 50610 of their number for their curiosity of looking into it sent Messengers to those of Kiriath-jearim to fetch It unto them with whom it remained twenty years and these years the Israelites counted long 36. Saul was first by Samuel privately anointed Chap. 10. and afterwards publickly declared King at Mizpah Not long after a moneth it 's thought Jabesh-Gilead was besieged by Nahash Chap. 11. who refused to grant peace to the inhabitants upon any other terms than to put out all their right eyes and lay this for a reproach upon Israel They desired truce but for seven dayes in which space Raiseth the siege at Jabesh-Gilead if no relief came they promised to come out to him But Saul hearing of their distresse got together an Army of 300000 of Israel and 30000 of Judah with which he easily overthrew the Ammonites and raised the siege Hereupon at the procurement of Samuel the people again met at Gilgall where the Kingdom was established and confirmed unto Saul at which time Samuel upbraiding them with their unthankfulnesse to God and him terrified them with Thunder and rain in Wheat Harvest and again comforted them in the mercy of God Saul having reigned two years Chap. 13. c. the Philistins again afflicted the Land with whom he had sore War all the dayes of his life He fought against his Enemies round about against Moab the Children of Ammon Edom and the Kings of Zobah he smote the Amalekites and delivered his people out of the hands of them that spoyled them Yet his heart not being upright before the Lord God chose him out a man after his own heart and rejected him and his family This man was David David anointed the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem-Judah whom Samuel was sent to anoynt some years before his own death and more before that of Saul In this space Saul persecuted him from place to place yet such ardent affection was there betwixt Jonathan his son and David that the love of a Kingdom it self joyned with the deep displeasure of a father was nothing able to interrupt it 37. The Apostle Paul declareth that Acts 13.21 after God had destroyed seven Nations in the Land of Canaan and divided their Land to them by Lot he gave unto them Judges for the space of 150 years untill Samuel the Prophet And afterward they desired a King and God gave them Saul the son of Kis a man of the Tribe of Benjamin by the space of fourty years Some take the words as giving so many years to his reign alone but by general consent the government of Samuel is to be included in them 1 Sam. 25. Samuel seemeth to have died not long before Saul two years it 's supposed at such time as David was provoked by the churlishnesse of Nabal Vers 55. and is said to have judged Israel all the dayes of his life Hence is it certain that Saul reigned not alone all those fourty years and probable that Samuel having governed alone for one half of them had still an hand in the publick affairs of the Nation At length Saul was overthrown in battel by the Philistins Chap. 31. and 1 Chron. 10. and lost his three sons Saul's three sons slain and he killeth himself Jonathan Abinadab and Melchisua And he himself being sore wounded after he could not prevail with his Armour-bearer to kill him fell upon his own sword and died His son Isbosheth by the means of Abner Captain of his Host Ishbosheth succeedeth him succeeded him at the Age of fourty years 2 Sam. 2.3 c. but the Tribe of Judah anointed David King over them in Hebron who had formerly been consecrated to this Office by Samuel and he reigned over that Tribe alone seven years and six moneths A. M. 2944. Isbosheth is said to have reigned over Israel two years which is to be interpreted peaceably and not disturbed by War as his father is said to have reigned one year 1 Sam. 13.1 viz. unmolested by the Philistins 38. For after these two years were expired a long War insued betwixt David and him his side growing weaker and weaker as David's grew stronger and stronger David to strengthen himself married Maacha the daughter of Talma King of Geshur on which he begat Absolom and Tamar 2 Sam. 2.3 c. At length Abner conceiving a displeasure against Ishbosheth because he had reproved him for medling with his father's Concubine revolted to David and laboured to transfer the Kingdom to him but coming to visite himabout this affair he was treacherously slain by Joab David's General and Nephew by his sister Zerviah All being out of order now in Israel Baanah and Recab two Benjamites the servants of Ishbosheth slew their
in Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his Sons had cast them off from executing the Priest's Office With the Tribe of Judah is also to be reckoned that of Simeon whose possessions were within the Inheritance of Judah Josh 19.9 for which that part of the division that fell to it was too much Part also of the Danites had it's seat within that of Judah for it appeareth that they had some Towns in the division of the Land which formerly had been assigned to the Children of Judah who as hath been observed had so large a Country at first assigned to them rather to protect and defend than solely to possesse it All these still remained the Subjects of Rehoboam though ten Tribes are said to have revolted the Tribe of Dan being attributed to Jeroboam for that Dan the chief City was within his dominions and because the Tribe of Manasseh being separated and divided into two parts might be reckoned for two Tribes The Kingdom thus divided the Northern parts fell off but the Southern continued in obedience to the Son of Solomon whose successors henceforth are called Kings of Judah as those of Jeroboam Kings of Israel and yet this distinction is not alwaies observed Jehosaphat being called King of Israel 2 Chron. 31.2 28.19 and also Ahaz though we know they were both Kings of Judah of that division onely 2. Rehoboam purposed to make War upon the Tribes but 1 King 12.14 admonished by God gave over the enterprize of invading them with 180000 Men although there was continuall War betwixt the two Kings all their dayes The Priests and Levites that were driven into Judah reteined it in the true religion three years but when Rehoboam had established himself He and his Subjects rebel against God he forsook the Law of the Lord and all Israel with him committing sins above all that their Fathers had done They built them high-places images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree there were Sodomites in the Land and they did according to the abhomination of those Nations which the Lord cast out before the Children of Israel Because of this the fifth year of his reign Shishak King of Aegypt perhaps invited by Jeroboam who had lived with him in exile came up against him with 1200 Chariots 60000 Horse-men and innumerous people out of Aegypt the Lubims Sukkiims and Aethiopians with which he took garrisons in Judah and pierced as far as Jerusalem Afflicted they humble themselves and are delivered Rehoboam and his Princes humbling themselves at the preaching of Shemaiah thereby obtained deliverance which yet was to be bought at an high rate For Shishak took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the Kings house with all the golden shields which Solomon had made in the room of which Rehoboam put others of brasse He died after he had reigned seventeen years Abiah 3. Abiah his Son succeeded him whose Mother is in one place (a) 2 Chron. 11.20 named Maachah the Daughter of Absalom and in another (b) Chap. 13.2 Micajah Daughter to Uriel of Gibeah A. M. 3043. Some think she was the Daughter of Tamer which might be married to this Uriel and adopted by Absalom who seemeth to have left no issue He imitated the impiety of his Father his heart not being perfect before the Lord his God and yet God remembring the Covenant made with David brought him by a fatherly correction into order and acknowledgement of his Soveraignty 1 Kings 15. He also warred with Jeroboam all his dayes who coming up against him with 800000 Men he joyned battell with him having but half so many and yet trusting in God obtained Victory and killed 500000 Israelites the greatest number we read to have fallen in one battel He took from him Bethel Jeskanah and Ephraim with their Towns neither did Jeroboam recover his strength in his time Abijah waxed mighty married fourteen Wives begat two and twenty Sons and fifteen Daughters Yet he reigned but three years Asa A. M. 3046. 4. Asa his Son succeeded him in the 20th year of Jeroboam ending 1 Kings 15. 2 Chron. 14.15 16. Chap. and did that which was righteous in the sight of the Lord. He reformed what was amisse commanding his Subjects to seek the God of their Fathers in his time the Land had rest ten years In his 11th year according to Josephus came Zerach the Aethiopian against him with 1000000 Men of Cashaeans inhabiting Arabia where also Zerach his Aethiopia is onely to be found and Labaeans besides 300 Chariots To those he opposed himself with 300000 of Judah and 280000 of Benjamin and calling upon his God obtained the Victory which he prosecuted and got much bootie Returnnig to Jerusalem he was so wrought upon by the words of Azariah the Prophet the Son of Oded as together with his own Subjects and others that fell to him in abundance out of Israel he sacrificed to and made a Covenant with God Then proceeding in the reformation of his Kingdom he removed Maaca his Grand-mother from her dignity because she was the patronesse of Idolatry Baasa now who reigned in Israel provoked with the revolt of his Subjects and jealous of the growing power of Asa came up against him and built Rama in the 36th year from the division lest any should go in or out to him Asa to divert him hired Benhadad the King of Syria to invade Israel This Ben-hadad was the Son of Tabrimmon and Grand-son to Hezrin or Rezin the first King of Damascus and from him the Sirname of Hadad descended upon his Posterity He smote Jion Dan Bethmaach all Civeroth with the Land of Napthali and constrained Baasa to leave off building Ramah Asa then destroyed Ramah and with the stones thereof built Seba and Mizpah but was checked by God for not trusting in him but putting his confidence in the King of Syria and War for this was denounced to be upon him all his dayes Hereat he grew angry with the Seer that brought the message and oppressed some of his people and for this was punished with the Gout in his later dayes for a remedy to which he had recourse to the Physitians and not to God So he died in the 41 year of his reign Jehosaphat 5. Jehosaphat succeeded him to a good Father a better Son 1 Kings 22. A. M. 3087. In his third year he sent the Levites throughout the Cities to teach the people having removed the Sodomites out of the Land He married his Son Jehoram to Athaliah the Daughter of Ahab King of Israel and in his 18th year made him Vice-King This affinity drew him down with Ahab to fight against Ramoth-Gilead where Ahab received his death's wound and he escaped narrowly with his life For joyning himself with this wicked King he was sorely chidden by Jehu the Prophet the Son of Hanani which so affected him as he reformed his Subjects 2
13th of the one and the 4th of the other In this year Pharaoh Necho fell upon the Babylonians with War Chap. 8. because as it seemeth they had sollicited Iehoiakim his Tributary to revolt and fought against Nebuchadnezar at Carchemish near Euphrates Pharaoh Necho slain A. M. 3396. Olymp. 42. an 4. by the Greek and Latin Writers called Cercusium in which battell he was overthrown and slain 19. After this Victory came Nebuchadnezar to Ierusalem where he either took Iehoiakim captive to lead him to Babylon or at least made him his tributary Vassall Some account this year as the beginning of the reign of Nebuchadnezar so of the Captivity of Iudah and the desolation of that Country because that Ieremiah having spoken first of the 13 years in which he and the other Prophets had warned the people to no purpose afterwards addeth Chap. 25.9 11. that God would send Nebuchadnezar his Servant against the Land which should be a desolation and an astonishment and that these Nations should serve the King of Babylon 70 years But the Prophecy of Daniel beginneth thus In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah came Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon to Jerusalem and besieged it and the Lord gave Jehoiakim King of Judah into his hand with part of the Vessels of the House of God which he caried into the Land of Shinar to the house of his God This place seeming to contradict the other some have chosen to close with the literall sense of it and to hold that in the third year of Iehoiakim began the Captivity of the Jews Others see more reason to stick to the other place and to take away all difference interpret this third year of the third of the Sabbaticall year or the week of years and thus would read it In the third year Jehoiakim the King of Judah reigning came Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon unto Jerusalem c. But the Jews with some modern Writers understand by this third year the third of the rebellion of Jehoiakim against whom Nebuchadnezar coming about the end of the fifth year of his reign made him his Tributary and so he continued three years The beginning of the Seventy years of Captivity which is variously assigned viz. the 6 7 and 8th of his reign Afterwards changing his mind he rebelled in the beginning of his 9th year and so continued for three years in rebellion which being expired in the end of his 11th Nebuchadnezar took Ierusalem and caried him Captive to Babylon with part of the holy Vessels and others of the Royall and Princely Race amongst whom was Daniel and so the Captivity of Seventy years began not till this year 20. That this third year cannot be understood of the third of Iehoiakim's reign is clear from Ieremiah who joyneth his fourth with the first of Nebuchadnezar and because elsewhere is made mention of his fifth whence is aprarent that he could not be led Captive in his third year The second opinion indeed is not amisse for this was really the third year of the week or the third from the Sabbaticall year For the 18th of Iosiah in which the Passeover was celebrated being the last year of the 19th Jubilie and so the Sabbaticall year from that to the 11th ending of Iehoiakim or the 12th beginning are counted 31 years viz. four weeks and three odd years this being usuall with the Pen-men of holy Story to count their times by Sabbaticall years or Jubilies Iacobus Cappellus * Ad. A. M. 3391 3392. would have Nebuchadnezar at the command of Nabopolasser his Father to have come into Iudaea in the second year of the reign of Iehoiakim who then sware fealty to him but in the third year rebelled whence Nebuchadnezar came down again in his fifth year and took him Captive Then will he have him to have set Shallum over the Kingdom till Ieconias his Son an Infant of a year old should come to age but Iehoiakim himself there lived miserably in Captivity till the 11th year reckoned from his first being made King by Necho He being then dead and news of it brought to Ierusalem they there made his Son Iehoiakim King in his stead And he beginneth the Seventy years of the Captivity in his fifth year when he will have him caried to Babylon 21. But Ludovicus Cappellus his Brother replyeth that in no place is there any mention made of Nebuchadnezar's coming up against him in the second year of his reign the * 2 Kings 24 1. place thought to make for the purpose having as much respect to the fifth as the second year And as little mention is there any where made of Iehoiakim's six years of Captivity who if he had died at Babylon the Scripture would never have attributed to him the reign of eleven years but onely so many as he really reigned viz. 5. The rest it would either have given to Shallum the pretended Viceroy or to Iehoiakim his Son it being a thing improbable that the name should be preserved for Iehoiakim whilst Sallum indeed reigned Besides the Babylonian King observed no such matter afterward in Iehoiakim whom taking away he really made King Zedekiah without the title of Vice-Roy or Lievtenant Nay though Jehoiakim lived long at Babylon and after the death of Nebuchadnezar being loosed out of bonds was honoured and esteemed by Evilmerodach above any of his condition and therein excelled Jehoiakim if he lived there so long yet is there no more time given to his reign than that wherein he onely continued in his principality As for the Regencie of Shallum it is a meer invention there being no other according to the Jews then Jehoahaz who was also called by that name For in the Ierem. 22.11 Consule Ludov. Cappellum Chronol Sacr. p. 202. place thought to make this out they are bidden not to weep for the dead viz. Iosias but for him that goeth away Iehoahaz taken away by Necho for he should return no more into his Native Country 22. Iehoiakim therefore being taken to be led away Captive in the third year of his rebellion and the 11th of his reign died ere he went as we may suppose and was cast out or buried according to the Prophecy of Ieremiah Chap. 22.18 19. 36.30 who had foretold he should be buried with the buriall of an Asse being cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem in the day to the heat and in the night to the frost which could be done by none except the barbarous Babylonians After his death the Conquerour placed in his stead Jehoiakim his Son called also Conias and Jechonias who did evil in the sight of the Lord 2 Chron. 36. 2 Kings 23. A. M. 3404. Olymp. 44. an 4. Nebuchad 8. as his Father before him Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezar it semeeth repenting of what he had done lest he should be drawn from his obedience by the example of his Father and the perswasions of those
through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah it rained not upon the Land for three years but at the end thereof he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain He took occasion to shew the vanity of the Idoll Baal and then slew his Priests for which being threatned by Jezebel he fled into the desart to Mount Horeb. Chap. 19. Against Ahab came up twice Benhadad King of Syria once with 32 petty Kings and both times with great forces but still was overthrown Chap. 20. and at the latter time yielded himself Ahab honourably received him and making a league with him let him go in safety for which he was sharply rebuked by a Prophet and told that his life should go for the life of Benhadad and his own people for his people but there followed a peace betwixt Israel and Syria for three years In this space Ahab fell sick for Naboth's Vineyard who being by Jezebels procurement accused of blasphemy was stoned to death and so Ahab injoyed the Vineyard by way of confiscation For this so wicked a fact severe judgement was pronounced against him and Jezebel by Elijah the execution whereof by a temporary repentance they caused to be be prorogued But the three years of the peace being expired he renewed the War with Syria for that Benhadad having ingaged to restore such Cities as he had taken refused to surrender Ramoth-Gilead Four hundred false Prophets perswaded him to undertake the Expedition onely Micajah sent from God disswaded him from it With him joyned Iehosaphat King of Iudah whose Son Iehoram had maried Athaliah his daughter But going down both together Ahab received a wound by an arrow and thereof died that day in the 22th year of his reign A. M. 3103. Jehosaphati 18. Ahaziah 6. Ahaziah his Son succeeded him whom he had formerly made his Associate in the Kingdom and reigned 2 years in all being said to have begun his reign in the seventeenth year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah because his Father then dyed having reigned 21 years and some part of another After Ahab's death Moab fell off from Israel 2 King 1. to which it had been subject ever since the dayes of David Ahaziah falling sick of a fall which he had through a lattise in his upper Chamber sent to consult Baal-zebub the god of Ekron about his recovery but the Lord commanded Elisah to meet the Messengers and denounce death to him for this his sin Hereat Ahaziah being angry sent two Captains with their fifties one after another to fetch him to him but he called for fire down from Heaven which consumed them then being intreated by the third he went with him to the King where denouncing the same to his face Joram Ahaziah accordingly died not long after Him his Brother Ioram followed in the 18th year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah ending who wrought evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 3. but not like his Father and Brother for he put away the Image of Baal erected by his Father yet cleaved to the sin of Ieroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin because of his carnall interest all the Kings of Israel accounting it an especiall piece of policy to busie the people in the worship of the golden Calves 7. Joram made War upon the Moabites which had revolted in conjunction with Jehosaphat King of Judah and the King of Edom his Tributary Elisha the Prophet miraculoussy providing the Armies of water and promising them Victory When the Sun arose and shone upon the Pits full of water it appeared to the Moabites blood so that they concluding their Enemies to have fallen one upon another came out to take the plunder of the field but finding other entertainment were repelled with great consternation and losse The Israelites then falling upon the Countrey made havock of all things and besieged Mesha King of the Moabites in Kir-hazereth who being streightened attempted with 700 Men to break through to the King of Edom but could not whereupon taking his Son his own some think others the King of Edom's which should have reigned in his stead he offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall This spectacle seemed so horrible as raised indignation against Israel and such pity towards the Man driven by extreme necessity as Josephus telleth it that being mindfull of the mutability of humane affairs they raised the Siege and departed 8. Benhadad King of Syria made severall attempts upon Israel and besieging Samaria reduced it unto extreme necessity by Famine Him Hazael his Servant slew and possessed himself of his Kingdom but having received together with it the succession of the War Jehoram went up against him Chap. 8. and was accompanied by Ahaziah King of Judah to Ramoth-Gilead Here receiving a wound he returned to Iezreel to be cured but the Army was left under severall Captains amongst which was Jehu the Son of Jehosaphat to whom Elisha sent one of the Sons of the Prophets Jehu annointed King to annoint him King He was presently received as such by the Army and returning to Jezreel Chap. 9. slew Joram A. M. 3117 Athaliae 1. Chap. 10. and gave Ahaziah his death's wound after he had reigned twelve years Destroyeth the family of Ahab He caused Iesabel to be thrown down out of a window where her carkeise was eaten by the Dogs after which writing Letters to Samaria he procured Seventy Sons of Ahab to be slain and their heads sent to him Then going thither he slew 42 persons in his way of the kindred of Ahaziah King of Iudah who were going to visite Iehoram and Iesabel at Samaria he put to death all the Priests of Baal and burnt the Temple with the Images Yet took he no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart departing not from the sin of Ieroboam For his executing of justice upon the house of Ahab the Lord promised that his seed of the fourth generation should sit upon his Throne Yet because of the rottennesse of his heart he began to cut Israel short in his dayes by the means of Hazael who now subdued not onely the Gileadites but also whatsoever the Israelites possessed beyond Iordan raging with cruelty againg Man Woman and Child as Elisha had foretold him Iehu coming to the Kingdom at the same time as Aâ—haliah began her usurpation in Iudab reigned full 28 years and then died Jehoahaz 9. Iehoahaz his Son succeeded him in the 23th year of Ioash the Son of Ahaziah King of Iudah who did evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 13. in the sin of Ieroboam a grove being also in Samaria Hazael mightily oppressed Israel also in his dayes so that to him were left but 50 Horse-men A. M. 3145. Joasi 23. 10 Chariots and 10000 Foot-men Yet the Lord was intreated by him and sent Israel a Deliverer notwithstanding which yet Prince and People remained incorrigible After he had
reigned seventeen years he died and left his Kingdom to his Son Ioash Joash who also reigned with him about three years for that he began his reign in the 37th year of Ioash King of Iudah A. M. 3159. Joasi 37. and is held by the Jews to be that Deliverer mentioned to have been sent by God He overcame the Syrians thrice as dying Elisha foretold him whom he visited and consulted about the affairs of his Kingdom and thereby recovered the Cities lost to Hazael by his Father Upon the occasion formerly mentioned he took Ierusalem with Ahaziah the King of Iudah and breaking down the wall of the City 400 cubits plundred the House of the Lord and the Kings house He also was guilty of Ieroboam's sin and died after he had reigned together with his Father and by himself sixteen years Jeroboam the Second 10. His Son came after him Ieroboam by name Chap. 14. whom God made instrumental to preserve Israel nay to raise it to the highest top of greatnesse it arrived at For he recovered Damascus and Hamath A. M. 3175. Amatziae 16. which had by right belonged to the Tribe of Iudah with whatsoever the Syrians had taken from his Predecessors from the antient border of the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Plains or the Lake Asphaltites as Ionas the Prophet the Son of Amitthai had foretold the same with him that prophecyed against Ninive being of Gath-Hepher a Town of the Tribe of (k) Josh 19.13 Zebulon in (l) Isa 9.1 Galile of the Gentiles out of which therefore arose a Prophet though the learned Pharisees so earnestly urged the contrary to Nicodemus In this King's dayes also prophecied Hosea and Amos called from the Herd in Iudaea to prophecy to the people of Israel Notwithstanding all that God did for Ieroboam he did evil also in his sight accompanying his Ancestors in the sin of Ieroboam the son of Nebat He reigned 41 years 2 Kings 25. and after his death the affairs of his Kingdom fell to decay way being made for the ruine of his house and an Anarchie insuing for 24 years For so it must be if Zacharias his Son began not his reign till the 38th of Uzziah King of Iudah Zachariah A. M. 3238. Hazariae 38. the last of Ieroboam falling in with the 14th of this King seeing Uzziah is said to have begun his reign in the 27th of his and he reigned 41 years This may well seem strange in this Kingdom where Princes were often made away by Usurpers but God had promised Iehu that his Children should reign to the fourth Generation and this Zacharias might be a posthumus or however very young and therefore not admitted by the Nobility to govern till he had attained to such ripenesse as was convenient for so great a charge 11. Zachariah doing evil in the sight of the Lord as did his Ancestors reigned but six moneths Shallum being then slain by Shallum the Son of Iabesh who reigned in his stead in the 39th year of Azariah King of Iudah He enjoyed his usurped royaltie but a short space being after two moneths served so himself by Menahem the Son of Gadi Menahem who also reigned in his stead Menahem smote Tiphsah and all that were therein with the Coasts thereof from Tirzah because they opened not to him and ripped up the Women with child He did evil in the sight of the Lord not departing from the sin of Ieroboam all his dayes wherefore God stirred up the Spirit of Pul King of Assyria Pul King of Assyria invadeth Israel who invaded the Land but he gave him 1000 talents of Silver which he wrested from the richest of his Subjects to confirm the Kingdom in his hand After he had held it ten years he died and his Son Pekahiah reigned in his stead in the 50th year of Azariah so that Menahem having begun his reign in the 39th of that King and reigning but ten years here seemeth an Inter-regnum of a year or more to have happened after his death except that be admitted which some think viz. that Menahem did not peaceably enjoy the Kingdom till about a year after Shallum's death Pekahiah purchasing it then of Pul so that beginning his reign in the 39th of Azariah or Uzziah A. M. 3250. Haraziae 50. must be understood peaceably and in that year ending Then must Pekahiah have begun his reign in the very beginning of the 50th year and so a few moneths being added to the ten years of Menahem at the furthest there will be no need of an Inter-regnum Pekahiah treading in the wicked steps of his Praedecessors reigned two years and then was slain by Pekah the Son of Remaliah one of his Captains who possessed himself of his Seat Pekah 12. Pekah joyned with the King of Syria against Ahaz King of Judah slew in Judah 120000 in one day all valiant Men because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers Zichri a mighty Man of Ephraim 2 Chron. â—8 slew Maaseiah the King's Son Azrikam the Governour of the house and Elkanah that was next the King Two hundred thousand were also carried Captive with much spoil all which Oded the Prophet when they came to Samaria procured to be sent back This made Ahab purchase the help of Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria 1 Chron. â— 26 who first destroying the King and Kingdom of Damascus caried the inhabitants thereof into Captivity and then came against Pekah and transported the Reubenites The Reubenites Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasses carried Captives into Assyria Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasses into Halah Habor Hara and to the River Gozan then crossing Jordan he set upon Galilee and caried away the Inhabitants thereof with all the Napthalites which remained of those that were left by Benhadad into Assyria Pekah doing evil in the sight of the Lord after he had reigned twenty years was slain by Hosea the Son of Elah who usurped the Kingdom 13. Hoshea the 19th King of Israel began his reign in the 12th year of Ahaz King of Judah who reigned seven or eight years with his Father Jotham 2 Kings 17.18 A. M. 3272. Achazi 12. and began to reign by himself in the 17th year of Pekah Hoshea the nineteenth last King of Israel so that Hosea may truly be said to have began his reign in the 20th year from the inauguration of Jotham which we must say except we allow of a kind of Inter-regnum for eight or nine years during which time Hoshea for the stirs that hapned could not peaceably enjoy the Kingdom and then must we lenghthen out the time of this Kingdom longer by so many years Hoshea did evil in the sight of the Lord but not as the Kings of Israel which were before him Against him came up Salmanasser King of Assyria and made him his tributary Vassal which he continued for
1 Maccab. 7. 2 Mac. 14. and now was not received nor owned by the people because that in the dayes of Epiphanes he had defiled himself came to Demetrius with other Apostates and such like as himself and accused his Countrey-men especially the Hasmonaeans i. e. Judas and his brethren that they had cut off and banished his friends Bachides sent by him against the Jews whereupon he sent one Bachides a trusty friend with great forces into Judaea confirming the Priesthood to Alcimus whom he sent back with him All their design being arrived there was to get Judas into their hands divers Scribes going out to them to sollicit for peace being confident because the Priest was of the seed of Aaron he most wickedly and contrary to his Oath given slew sixty of them in one day then Bachides going from Hierusalem sent about and caused divers that had fled from him and many of the people whom being slain he cast into a great pit and so committing the Countrey to Alcimus to the defence of which he left him some forces he returned unto his King Leaveth Alcimus the High-Priest with some forces After his departure Alcimus striving to confirm himself in the Priesthood made great havock of the people to restrain which Judas went throughout the Countrey and compelled his party to shut themselves up within their holds and growing stronger he restrained their invasions so that Alcimus being afraid of him goes once more unto the King carrying along with him a Crown of Gold a Palm and of the boughs which were used solemnly in the Temple and seeing he could not have any more accesse to the holy Altar taking a fit opportunity when he was asked of the affairs of his Countrey accused the Asidaeans and especially Judas as seditious of depriving him of the Priesthood the honour as he said of his Ancestors and plainly affirmed that as long as Maccabaeus lived the Kings affairs could not be secure This being seconded by some ill-willers to the Jews Demetrius was inflamed and sending for Nicanor one of his chiefest Princes Who accusing Judas Nicanor is sent against him and a bitter Enemy to the Israelites made him Captain over Judea and sent him forth with a Command to slay Judas to scatter them that were with him and make Alcimus High Priest of the great Temple 60. When he was come thither and understood the courage and resolution of Judas his brethren and companions for the defence of their Countrey he feared to try the chance of War and sent to make peace with the people who having agreed unto the Covenants the two Captains came together to consult about the League Nicanor was so taken with Judas as he continued with him loved him in his heart and perswaded him to marry and beget Children and so remained constant in his affection to him till Alcimus perceiving it Nicanor at first much loveth Maccabaeus and understanding the Covenants which were made betwixt them took a third journey to the King told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand and appointed Judas a Traitor to the Realm to be his Successor Demetrius being hereat displeased by Letters checked him for these things and commanded him in all haste to send Maccabaeus bound unto Antioch which grievously troubled him that he who had done no hurt should be thus used but conceving it necessary for him to comply with the pleasure of the King he waited for a convenient opportunity to accomplish it Then complained of by Alcimus seeketh his destruction Behaving himself thenceforth more roughly to him the other suspected something by the great change of his carriage and therefore gathering a few of his men withdrew himself from him but he followed him with a strong power to Hierusalem and drawing him out to talk with him had prepared some to seize on him yet he having notice hereof got away and would see him no more Seeing his design to be discovered he went and fought with him near Capharsalama in which he lost about 5000 of his men and the rest fled into the Citie of David After this he came up to Mount Sion and some of the Priests with the Elders of the people went forth of the sanctuary to salute him peaceably and shew him the burnt-offering that was offered for the King but he jeering hereat demanded Judas to be delivered unto him and they affirming with an Oath that they knew not where he was he stretching out his hand against the Temple swore that except Judas and his forces were delivered up he would when he should return in peace set the sanctuary on fire His blasphemous threats demolish the Altar and build there a stately Temple to Bacchus The Priests hearing this went in and standing before the Altar with tears begged of God that he would frustrate the mans intentions and be avenged upon him and his Host for his blasphemous words 61. Hearing that Judas was gone from Jerusalem into Samaria 1 Maccab. 7. 2.15 he went and pitched his Tents in Bethhoron where new supplies from Syria came to him the Enemy being in Hadasa 30 furlongs off with no more than 3000 men He would fain have fought on the Sabbath day which the Jews who were constrained to follow friendly dehorting him from with great blaspemy uttered against God he refused to hear them demanding if there were a living Lord in heaven who commanded that seventh day to be kept and saying he himself was mighty upon earth to command them to Arm themselves and to perform the Kings businesse He is slain in battel But coming to the ingagement he himself was slain first which when his Army saw they cast away their Arms and fled and the Israelites following the chace slew 30000. so that not one of the Army was left remaining Coming to the plunder of the field they cut off Nicanor's head and hands and carried them to Jerusalem where they were hung up before the Temple his tongue being cut in pieces and cast unto the Fouls The end of the second book of Maccabees Then they decreed that the 13th day of the 12th moneth Adar as the Syrians call it the day before Mardocheus his day should be observed every year as the Author of the second book of Maccabees tells us who with this story finisheth his work 1 Maccab. 8. 9. being the Epitome of the five books of Jason a Jew of Cyrene After Nicanor's death Judaea was quiet for some time and then Judas hearing of the power of the Romans and their compassion of the distressed and how much Demetrius stood in awe of them sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason the son of Eleazer on an Ambassage to the Senate Bachides and Alcimus sent into Judaea against Judas that entring into society with them the People might be freed from the yoke of Demetrius and the Greeks But Demetrius hearing of the mischance of Nicanor and his
who used him as his most inward Counsellour or Minister of State and erected to his honour his statue of brasse in the Theatre Tiberius punished by the treachery of Seianus who poysoneth his son Drusus Now he thought of no lesse than the Empire it self as a step to which he poysoned Drusus the son of Tiberius having brought Livia the young man's wife to a compliance with him by his filthy dalliance and corrupted Lygdus the Eunuch to betray his trust Drusus had the year before the Tribumtial power conferred on him but for that he was none of the most towardly was little regarded by his father who as soon as his Funeral was over returned to his wonted employments forbidding any longer vacation upon his account Sueton in Tiberio cap. 52. The Inhabitants of Ilium sending their Ambassadors something too late to condole his death he answered that he also was sorry for the death of Hector their excellent Countrey-man Tiberius after this commended the two sons of Germanicus Nero and Drusus to the Senate which done Seianus began to strike at them though at first through the sides of their mother labouring to bring them all into suspition and hatred Tacitus ut suprà This first advantage he took was from the prayers of the Priests who made vows for their health as for that of Tiberius for he took it hainously that they herein should be made equal to him Then did he provoke them and never ceased till he caused them to be declared Enemies by the Senate after which he starved them to death using also their mother most injuriously for that she was not sparing of her tongue in reprehending and upbraiding him Now was Tacfarinas who had maintained a tedious war in Africk slain by Dolabella Sueton. in Tib. cap. 40. As for Tiberius by the perswasion of Seianus he withdrew into the Isle Capreae and thence forward minding nothing gave up himself to all sorts of enormities 60. For casting off all care of the State being out of sight Idem ibid. Capp 41 42. c. he returned to his natural disposition not looking to the supply either of Army or Provinces suffering Armenia to be seized on by the Parthians Maesia by the Dacians and Sarmatians Tiberius returneth to his natural humour and Gall to be wasted by the Germans He instituted a new Office for the management of pleasures unto which he preferred a Knight T. Caesonius Prisous he held such in greatest esteem bestowed Offices on men that were most for his turn that way being given up to such beastlinesse as is incredible and not to be mentioned He was excessively covetous both as to getting and keeping what was unjust He was so undutifull to his mother as he refused to come at her when living and when dead he neglected to bury her neither would he perform her will but persecuted her friends but she was justly rewarded though as to him unjustly having over and above other wicked practices been suspected to have had an hand in the death of Germanicus His Character given him by his School-master So cruel and filthy he became that he verified the Character given him when but young by Theodorus Gadareus his School-master that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Dirt mingled with blood Having chosen twenty of the principal men of the Citie to be his Counsellors he scarcely left two or three of them alive Seianus being found out and punished justly for his wickednesse amongst others that were innocent He spared not the familiar friends of his mother nephews Agrippina or Seianus No day either holy or prophane was free from slaughters Every offence little or great was Capital Many were codemned with their wives and children Rewards were proposed to informers and all testimonies taken for true Simple death he accounted nothing and therefore invented painful waies especially after he knew how his son Drusus died he neither spared any person nor sort of torments Caius the son of Germanicus he cared not for as suspecting him and Tiberius his grandson by Drusus he despised as conceived in adultery 61. Joseph Antiq. l. 18. c. 3. Euseb Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 9. Luc. 3. In the twelfth year of Tiberius was Pontius Pilate sent into Judaea to succeed Valerius Gratus the fourth Governour after the banishment of Archelans the son of Herod to Vienna Pontius Pilate succeedeth Gratus in Judaea Coponius was the first M. Ambivius the second Annius Rufus the third and Gratus the fourth Pilate at his first entrance set up the Images of Caesar at Jerusalem which moved the Jews to sedition but overcome by their intreaties he removed them to Caesarea He being now Governour of Judaea Herod Antipas Tetrarch of Galile his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias of Abilene Annas who formerly having had the Office though displaced by Gratus yet for his authority still caried the name and Caâ—phas otherwise called Joseph whom lately Gratus had placed in the room of Simon by him deposed also being High-Priests in the fifteenth year of Tiberius entering John Baptist began to preach and baptize in the resemblance and spirit of Elias John Baptist beginneth to preach and baptize Amongst others he baptized Christ himself of whom he was the forerunner His ministry is thought to have commenced on the tenth day of the seventh moneth which was Penitential and so great a Fast A. D. 29. Ol. 201. an 4. V. C. 781. that the soul which did not afflict it self was to be cut off from amongst it's People and was also Expiatorie wherein the High-Priest the Type of him before whose face John was sent entred into the Holy of Holies alone with blood expiating the sins of the People this being also the same day wherein by trumpet the Jubile was proclaimed 62. Jesus now about thirty years of age being baptized of John in Jordan and owned for the Messiah and son of God by the descending of the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove and resting upon him as also by a voice from Heaven was led of the Spirit into the Wildernesse to be tempted of the Devil A. D. 30. Ol. 202. an 1. V. C. 782. After his temptation he returned in the power of the Spirit into Galile Going into Galile he received Andrew and Simon his brother the day following called Phlip of Bethsaida the City of Andrew and Simon sirnamed Cephas or Peter by the Lord. On the third day being invited to a mariage in Cana of Galile he turned water into wine this being his first miracle and by it his glory was manifested and his Disciples believed in him Afterward he went down to Capernaum with his mother The Lord Jesus executeth his Ministry his brethren or kinsmen and disciples where they abode not many dayes Then came he to the exercise of his Ministry the acts whereof are distinguished by four Passeovers Amongst the four Evangelists which
it were in secret 68. When the time was come that he should be received up he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem The Samaritans not receiving him he checked his Disciples who would have had fire called down from Heaven upon them Several in his passage desiring to follow him he gave answer to them all After these things he sent out 70 Disciples before his face two into every Citie and place where he would come And in the midst of the feast when the multitude was busie in inquiring about him he came and taught in the Temple Some were sent to lay hold of him On the last and great day of the Feast when he spake of faith in himself a great difference arose and the Messengers that were sent to apprehend him with Nicodemus defended him against the Pharisees Departing into the Mount of Olives he returned early in the morning and refused as a Judge to condemn the vvoman taken in Adultery In the Treasury he spake much concerning many truths concluding with before Abraham was I am whereupon the Jews took up stones to cast at him but he hid himself and passed away through the midst of them Passing by he saw and cured a man that was born blind who for vindicating him was cast out of the Synagogue He then preached concerning the true shepherd Sheep and Door as also of Thieves and Mercenaries which caused a dissention amongst his hearers The 70 then return with joy and a certain Lawyer asking him what he should do to inherit eternal life he sendeth him to the Law and to declare who is our neighbour speaketh the Parable of the man that fell amongst Thieves After this he was entertained in the house of Martha which ministred to him while her sister Mary hearing his word was preferred before her And it came to passe that after he had done praying in a certain place one of his Disciples desired him to teach them to pray as John also taught his Disciples therfore he prescribed the second time the same Lords prayer adding arguments for constancy and firmnesse of faith He cast out a Devil which was dumb proved against the blasphemers that he did it not by Beelzebub While he said these things a certain woman said Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck to which he answered The multitude gathering about him he said that Generation sought for a sign but no sign but that of Jonas the Prophet should be given it saying that the Queen of the South and the Ninevites should condemn it in judgement Dining with a Pharisee who had invited him and wondred that he washed not he spoke against their Hypocrisie and denounced also woes against the Expositors of the Law He bade his Disciples beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees Hypocrisie and not fear those that could kill the body He refused to be a Judge betwixt a man and his brother about the inheritance and thence took occasion to speak against anxious cares of the World bidding them be ready against the uncertain time of their Lords coming 69. There being some that told Jesus of the Galileans the bloud of whom Pilate mingled with their sacrifice he took thence occasion to presse repentance and spake the Parable of the barren Fig-tree On a certain Sabbath healed a woman that had a spirit of infirmity 18 years which act he defended against the ruler of the Synagogue and compared the Kingdom of God to a Grane of Mustard seed and to Leaven Journeying towards Jerusalem to the Feast of the Dedication he taught through the Cities and Villages and answered that question whether few shall be saved To certain Pharisees vvho bade him be gone for fear of Herod he gave a couragious answer Being invited to eat in the house of one of the chiefest Pharisees he healed one of the Dropsie defended it and spake the Parable of those that vvere invited to the feast instructing the Pharisee vvho had invited him One of the Guests saying that Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God he took occasion to speak the Parable of the great Supper and the excuses of such as were invited To the multitude following him he preached concerning the denial of life it self for his sake propounding the Parable of one who was to build a Towr and the King going to battel Upon the Publicans and sinners their coming to hear him the Pharisees murmured and he spake to them the Parables of the lost sheep the groat and the Prodigal Son To his Disciples he also spake that of the unjust Stuward which applying the Pharisees who were covetous derided him whereupon preaching against them amongst other things he spake the Parable of the Rich-man and Lazarus Speaking to his Disciples against offences he also teacheth that we must forgive our offending brother The Apostles desiring him to increase their faith he speaketh of the power of that Grace and by the Parable of the servant sheweth that when we have done all we can we are unprofitable servants having done but what we ought Passing through Samaria and Galile towards Jerusalem he healed the ten Lepers whereof one onely returned and praised God To the Pharisees asking him when the Kingdom of God should come he answereth and declareth to his Disciples that the day of the son of man should be like to those of Noah and Lot but he must first suffer many things To incourage his Disciples to pray he spake the Parable of the unjust Judge and to some that thought themselves righteous and despised others that of the Pharisee and the Publican 70. At the Feast of Dedication when it was Winter Jesus walking in Salomons Porch to the Jews who bade him tell them plainly whether he was Christ or not he answered that He and his father are one whereupon they taking up stones to throw at him he defended his Divinity by his works and the Scriptures and escaped when they sought to take him Passing beyond Jordan into that place where John baptized he taught and healed many believing on him and answered the Pharisees tempting him that it is unlawfull for a man to put away his wife except for Adultery Now admitted he Infants though his Disciples rebuked such as brought them and as he was passing thence to come into the way he answered the young Rich man that asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life and bade him sell all he had and give it to the poor then to follow him Hearing that Lazarus was sick he abode in the place where he was two dayes and then coming to Bethany after he had been dead four dayes raised him from the dead Hereupon Caiphas Prophecying that he was to die for the people they resolved to put him to death which he understanding went into the Citie Ephraim and there taught Ascending towards Jerusalem he went before his Disciples who were amazed and afraid He now told them of his
was yet unborn to have been included in his 40. They fetch the rise of the 40 years of the oppression from 17 years before the beginning of Eli and end them so many after his death Sampson was a Nazarite from his Mothers womb no Razor coming on his head and keeping himself from wine and strong drink all his time Hence as his admirable strength is said to have layn in his hair so others have ascribed it to his abstinency as if it had not proceeded from the especiall Providence and Power of God He was the Hercules of the Israelites really performing such things as the Greeks would scarce attribute to their's on whom yet they heaped those things that were done by many He afflicted the Philistins much in his life but much more at his death by throwing down the house of Dagon upon the chief of them being therein assembled to make themselves sport with so great an Adversary whom having got into their power they had deprived of his sight Eli. 31. Had Eli praeceded Sampson he would have been reckoned amongst his predecessors according to generall apprehension The High-Priesthood which hitherto had continued in the Family of Eliazar for five Generations viz. in himself Phineas Abisna Bukki and Uzzi according to Josephus was in Eli translated to that of Ithamar another of Aaron's Sons 1 Sam. 2 3 4. Chap. The Sons of Eli being very leud grievously abused their power and he used not his authority in correcting them whereby he so far incurred God's displeasure that he threatened to destroy his house as it came to passe The Israelites towards the end of his 40 years fought with the Philistins but were worsted and lost 4000 Men. To better their successe they then sent for the Ark of God from Shiloh promising to themselves victory in it's presence but of the next Battell the issue was the same The Ark taken Hophni and Phineas the Sons of Eli were slain and the Ark taken This news being brought to Eli upon mention of the captivity of the Ark he fell backward from a sear and being 98 years old his neck brake The Philistins placed the Ark in the house of their god Dagon which Idol fell down twice before it and the multitude was so plagued with the Haemorrhoids Returned that they were glad to return it back with presents Samuel 32. To Eli succeeded Samuel both a Levite and a Prophet to whose Government from the division of the Land passed 450 years according to St. Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the text of (a) Acts 13.10 Luke now hath it But to this place another in in the first Book of the (b) Chap. 6.1 Kings expresly seemeth to contradict which maketh the foundation of the Temple to be laid in the 480th year after the Israelites departure out of Aegypt This later number exceedeth the other but by 30. although in it must be comprehended besides what is in the former the 40 years of their stay in the Wildernesse the six years which passed before the division the time of Samuel's Government the reigns of Saul and David with the three years of Solomon that passed before the building of the Temple all which make up the number of 129 so that the litterall senses of these two cannot stand together Some go about to reconcile them by drawing down the beginning of the 480 years lower than the Text will bear and by removing that of the 450 higher than is convenient to whom others joyn in attempting the reconciliation both of those numbers and clearing up the matter concerning the 300 years ascribed by Jepthah to the possession of the Land of the Amorites before mentioned But there are who find a necessity of confessing a mistake either in the one or other Copie of these places These are divided in their opinions one party thinking they have better reason to stick to the place of the Kings which is not so liable to any corruption through the great care of the Jews as the Greek text hath that by reason of the similitude of words might well be changed from * From 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one to another through the ignorance of transcribers Another will have the 450 years to belong to the division of the Land and not to the Judges all which have been mistaken through the wrong reading of the words 33. Others both of antient and modern times are very confident that all considered the fault must fall upon that place of the Kings which giveth but 480 years to all that time that passed from the departure out of Aegypt to the founding of the Temple Usserius Chronologiae Sacrae cap. 12. and that instead of 480 580 was most antiently written For when any one place disagreeth with the whole series of History clearly held out elsewhere it is rather to be corrected in its number which may easily be altered by a mistake of one word than many places wrested to a compliance with it Now all the times of the Anarchies liberty War and servitude of the Israelites laid together without confusion of years for which there is no ground at all clearly hold out a hundred years more than this place of the Kings and so exactly from the several particulars make it up that it seemeth to take away all doubt From the departure out of Egypt to Moses his death intervened fourty years thence to the beginning of Othniel 34. whereof 26 are given to the Government of Joshua and the Elders and eight to the servitude under Cushan Then Othniel governed fourty years the oppression of the Moabites followed for eighteen Ahud ruled 80. The Canaanites Tyrannized 20. Deborah and Barak governed 40. the Madianites oppressed the Israelites 7. thence Gideon judged Israel 40. Abimelech reigned 3. Tolah 23. Jair 22. and then the Ammonites oppressed Israel 18. all which numbers amount to 385 years After this Jephthah judged Israel 6 years Ibzan 7. Elon 10. Abdon 8. the Philistins vexed Israel 40. and Heli ruled 40. which make up the summe of 111 years Then Samuel and Saul governed 40 years as will be seen David also 40. and Solomon 3. before the foundation of the Temple was laid which make up 83 years Now all these numbers laid together amount exactly to 579 years to which if the fourth year of Solomon be added wherein the Temple was founded there ariseth the full number of 580. Vide Gerard. Joh. Vossii Isag Chronol Dissert 8. They perceive therefore it was not without reason that so many of the Ancients dissented from that place of the Kings which might also be lyable enough to the carelesnesse of Scribes According to this account Students in History and Chronology are to take notice that a hundred years are to be added to the more ordinary Aera of the World 34. In the dayes of Samuel the Philistins grievously afflicted Israel 1 Sam. 7. till such time as by his means the people being
them to let the Inhabitants of Megara have the liberty of their Port and Market without which they must expect nothing but War but to none of these demands was there given any satisfying answer the Megarians being accused for appropriating to their own use the ground which belonged to the goddesse of Eleusine and receiving such fugitive slaves as fled from Athens In the third message Ramphius and his Collegues added but this to the other demands that the Lacedaemonians were desirous of peace and would grant it in case the Athenians would suffer all the Graecians to be free and live according to their own Laws These things thus often the Spartans demanded to amuse the other party till they themselves could be provided and to catch at a specious pretence for a quarrell 29. The Athenians upon the last message called the Assembly of the people to deliberate about the matter Thucyd. lib. 1. Diodorus ex Ephoro ad Olymp 87. ann 2. that they might send a clear and positive answer once for all Many speaking pro and con at length Pericles the most excellent of all the Athenians of that age both for doing and speaking with his eloquence wherewith he was said by the Poets to Thunder and Lighten easily drew the multitude to his mind After he had inveighed against the Lacedaemonians as swollen with envy he excused themselves and incouraged the people from their ability to undertake the War He advised that this answer should be returned That the decree against them of Megara should be rescinded in case the Lacedaemonians would give such freedom of their City to the Athenians and other of the associates that they would set all Cities under their jurisdiction at liberty which were free before The Athenians by the advice of Pericles gave a positive answer once for all by way of denial when the League should be entred into provided the Spartans would do the same and suffer such as were under them to live according to their own customs and not to be tyed to those of Laconia and lastly that they were content to be judged concerning the things in controversie according to the leagues neither would they first make War but effectually defend themselves He added that this was both just and honourable and if they undertook the War chearfully they should find their Enemies lesse conderable that out of the greatest extremities the greatest honour was wont to accrue both to their State in general and to each Citizen in particular which he made good by instancing in the Median War at which time the City was far lesse considerable than at the present and whence it arrived to that pitch of greatnesse he told them it was fit they should imitate their Ancestors and leave not the Empire received from them diminished unto posterity 30. Why Pericles should be so earnest for the War (a) Vide Plutarch in Pericle several reasons have been alleged and this (b) Idem ibid. Val. Max. l. 3. c. 1. ext exempl Diodorus ut supra amongst the rest that he was not able to make account for the publick money he had received to build a Portal in the Castle to the honour of Minerva He consumed abundance of treasure in this work and none looking after him diverted the publick money taken up under that pretence to other uses Whilst he considered hereof and sat sorrowful at home Alcibiades a Boy and his Sisters Son whom after his Brother in Laws death he brought up in his own house and who afterwards became very eminent came and asked him why he was so sad to whom he answered because he knew not how to give an account of his Office at which the Boy replied Alcibiades when a child his advice to his Uncle Pericles Study therefore rather how thou mayst not need to give an account of is This most prudent man destitute of advice from himself used this of a child and for this reason perswaded the people to the War that being intangled therein they might have no leisure to call him to account for the disbursment of the money What ever his motives were the People (c) Thucyd. in fine lib. 1. decreed what he proposed and answered the Lacedaemonians particularly according to what he said and in general that they would do nothing they had enjoyned them but were ready to acquit themselves of those matters laid against them before equal and indifferent Judges and with this answer the Ambassadors returned to Lacedaemon whence no more came These were the quarrels which foreran the War being begun about the affairs of Epidamnus and Corcyra Notwithstanding this disagreement yet they continued commerce with each other went to and fro without any publick Officer or Herauld but yet not without jealousy of one another For these things that hapned made confusion in the Leagues and ministred matter for War 31. Several Learned Men flourished in this space as (a) Anonymus ad Ol. 76. an 4. Aeschylus the Tragoedian (b) Steph. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iccus a famous Physician of Tarentum in Italy (c) Plutarch in Pericle Anaxagoras the Clazomenian Philosopher who was defended by his Scholar Pericles when accused of Atheism (d) Anonym ad Olymp. 78. an 1. Panyiasis a famous Poet Pericles himself the Son of Xanthippus accounted by (e) In Bruto Cicero the first Athenian Orator Besides these (f) Diodorus Charondas and Zaleucus both Scholars of Pythagoras whereof the former gave Laws to the Thurians and the other to the Locrians Melissus Protagoras the Atheist and Empedocles (g) Diog. Laert. Anonymus all who flourished about the 84th Olympiad Herodotus of Halicarnassus who being sent to Thurium in Italy with some new Planters to restore the Colony there lived to the beginning of the Peloponnesian War which he mentioneth and in the 42d year of his age about the third of the 84th Olympiad recited his Book at (h) Vossius de script Graecis Athens in the Assembly of the Panathaenaea by the emulation of which Thucydides then young was much moved so that afterwards this stirred him up to write (i) Euseb Euripides the Tragoedian the Scholar of Anaxagoras (k) Schol. in vitam Anonym Suidas Sophocles who was chosen General of the Athenian Forces and l Phrynicus the Comoedian and (m) Idem Pindar a Theban the Prince of Lyrick Poets who died aged 85 years in the second of the 86th Olympiad SECT 3. (n) Cappellus Censorius c. 18. Aelim var. Hist lib. 10. c. 7. lib. 13. c. 12. Menâ—on an Athenian in the year before the beginning of the Peloponnesian War according to the account of Thucydides Apseudes entring into his Office of Archon began his Cycle of the Moon containing nineteen years In this space though not precisely the Lunations do recur so that if the Quadrature of the Moon fall out as at this day this year the same shall return the same day of
the nineteenth year succeeding Either because it was written in letters of Gold or for the precious use of it it obtained to be called as still it is the Golden Number It is found by adding an unit to the year of our Lord and dividing the whole by 19. The remainder shall be the Cycle of the Moon or if nothing remain the Cycle is out that is Nineteen SECT III. From the beginning of the Peloponnesian War to the ending thereof containing the space of 27 years 1. IN the fifteenth year after the recovery of Euboea by the Athenians Thucyd. lib. 2. ad ann 1. Diodorus ad Olymp 87. an 1. Eâ— Xâ—noph Hellenic lib. 2. and the truce concluded for thirty years the sixth moneth after the battel fought at Potidaea in the 48th year of the Priesthood of Chrysis the Priest of Argos Aenesias being the principal Ephorus at Sparta Pythodorus Archon at Athens in the first year of the 87th Olympiad the 33th of the Reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus of the World the 3574 began the Peloponnesian War henceforth there being no commerce with one another without an Officer at Arms and Hostility exercised without intermission 2. In the second moneth of Pythodorus his Government and the beginning of the Spring The Peloponnesian War beginneth with the surprising of Plataea by the Thebans Which the Towns-men presently recover 300 Thebans seized upon Plataea by the treachery of some in the Town being associate to the Athenians for they perceiving a War to be drawing on and knowing that Town to be alwaies in peace adverse to them thought good to make sure of it betimes The Inhabitants thinking more to have got in than indeed did at the first yielded it but then again apprehending the truth resolved to rescue their liberty and set by night upon the Thebans whom they knew to be weary ignorant of the Town and would be much troubled with the dirt by reason of abundance of rain which fell that night The device prospered and the slew almost half the number taking the rest prisonres which were 180 and amongst them Eurymachus the Author of this Expedition It hapned that from Thebes another Party came too late to the help of their fellows if need should be who seeing what was done considered whether they should not set upon such Plataeans as were abroad in the Country and waste it round about thereby to redeem their friends The Plataeans as the Thebans said sent to them being afraid of this and offered them to release the prisoners if they would forbear to spoil their grounds but in case they did threatned to put them to death whereupon the Thebans withdrew and yet for all this the Plataeans put their friends to death The Plataeans on the other hand alleged that they never made any promise to dismisse them but in case they should agree in treaty But they sent to Athens to give them notice there of this attempt made upon their Town 3. The message being carried before the Thebans were put to death the Athenians sent word to Plataea that they would do nothing against them till they heard further from them after they had first seized upon such Boeotians as were in their Dominions Then after the truth was known they sent an Army which victualled the place and taking out the uselesse multitude of both Sexes put a Garrison therein Thus the League being plainly broken on both sides both parties prepared themselves for the War both sent away Ambassadors to the Persian and other Barbarians and set themselves to obtain new alliances Now were old Prophecies and Sayings in all mens mouths which they interpreted according to their affection Most were enclined towards the Lacedaemonians who professed themselves the vindicators of the liberty of Greece and hating the Athenians either for that they desired to shake off their yoak The Lacedaemonians and Athenians heads of the two Parties or feared to undergo it On the Lacedaemonian side were all the Peloponnesians except the Argives and Achaeans who were friends to both all but the Inhabitants of Pellene amongst the latter who at the beginning sided with the Lacedaemonians and afterwards the rest also joyned themselves to them Without Peloponnesus the Megarians Phocians Locrians What Greeks stood with the Lacedaemonians Boeotians Ambraciots Leucadians Anactorians The Corinthians Megarians Sicyonians Pellenians Eleans Ambraciots and Leucadians furnished them with ships the Boeotians Phocians and Locrians sent out Horse-men and the rest of the States supplied them with Foot And who with the Athenians 4. With the Athenians stood the Chians Lesbians Plataeans Messeniaens inhabiting Naupactus most of the Acarnanians the Corcyraeans Zacynthians and the rest of the tributary Cities all over the Carians inhabiting the Sea-coasts the Dorians their neighbours Ionia upon the Hellespont several Towns of Thrace and other places not few the Islands lying betwixt Peloponnesus and Crete towards the Sun-rising and all the Cyclades except Melus and Thera The Chians Lesbians and Corcyraeans afforded shipping the rest men and money as Thucydides writeth who in this Catalogue passeth by Euboea and Samus though they abounded with shipping and sided with the Athenians Presently after the action about Plataea the Lacedaemonians sent abroad to their associates to meet at the Isthmus which they did accordingly two third parts out of each of the Cities Here Archidamus the Spartan King and Captain General having first gravely advised them not to trust too much to their own strength though they made up such an Army as the eldest of them had never seen Archidamus invadeth Attica sent to Athens to see if that City would now remit any of it's former rigor but the messenger being sent back without hearing he marched for Attica the Boeotians at the same time having invaded the Territories of the Plataeans 5. Ere Archidamus invaded Attica Pericles his friend who by the Athenians with nine others was appointed General foreseeing that if he should spare his Villages either upon the account of their particular friendship or by order from the Spartan State to render him suspected it would create him abundance of envy and ill will to avoid all suspition called the People together and gave the said Villages to the Commonwealth and advised them to gather all their things out of the Villages and contain themselves within the City to take care of their shipping and not to neglect their confederates from whom they might be supplied with money which together with good counsel and advice is the sinnews of War The Provision of the Athâ—nians for War He told them that they had 600 Talents of Tribute yearly coming in besides other revenues that they had in the Castle left 6000 Talents of Silver ready coyned besides in bullion and plate 500 Talents more and money in the Temples besides forty pound of pure Gold about the statue of Pallas which it was lawful to use in extremity making it up again afterwards They had ready 19000
sufferings which they did not at all understand and the sons of Zebede asking to sit on his right and left hand in his Kingdom he gave them a repulse and improved it to the teaching of them all humility Coming near to Jericho he healed a blind man In Jericho he called and was entertained by Zachaeus and passing thence restored sight to two blind men whereof one was Bartimaeus when they drew near to Jerusalem they thinking that the Kingdom of God was near he spake the Parable of the King who going a journey committed ten Talents to his servants to be improved till his return The Passeover being now at hand many went up to Jerusalem to purifie themselves and Jesus six dayes before it came to Bethany where they made him a Supper Lazarus sate at Table with him but Mary anointed his feet and wiped them with her hair Many of the Jews came not onely to see him but Lazarus also upon whose account for that many believed on him the Chief Priests consulted also to kill Lazarus Going towards Jerusalem when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives on the 29th of March he sent his Disciples for the Asse's Colt whereon he rode to Jerusalem When he came near the Citie he wept over it foretelling its final destruction Out of the Temple he cast buyers and sellers where the Children cried Hosanna and many believed on him the great ones studying how to kill him Certain Greeks who were come to the Feast desiring to see him he preached concerning his passion and had a voice from Heaven answering his prayer which some thought to be of an Angel and others of Thunder It being late he went to Bethany with the 12. Notwithstanding the multitude had seen so many works yet they believed not that the saying of Esaias might be fulfilled Yet many of the Chief Priests believed on him but durst not confesse him for the Pharisees Jesus cried and spake concerning faith in himself 71. The next morning as he returned he hungred and cursed the barren Fig-tree He cast buyers and sellers again out of the Temple and suffered nothing to be caried through it Whilst he taught concerning Faith in himself the Chief-Priests consulted how to kill him fearing the People At evening he went out of the City and returning in the morning they found the Fig-tree withered whereupon he took occasion to preach concerning the power of Faith As he taught in the Temple the Chief-Priests and Pharisees and Elders asked him by what authority he did these things to whom he answered with another question concerning John's authority spake the Parable of the two sons asking them whether did the will of his father and that of the husbandmen who killed the heir of the vinyard applying them to these men who now studied how to apprehend him but feared the People Again he spake to them the Parable of the mariage of the King's son and the excuses of the invited with the want of the wedding garment Then the Pharisees sent some to intrap him in his talk who asking him whether it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar admired his answer and left him On that day the Saduces asked him concerning the woman maried to seven husbands whose she should be at the resurrection to which having answered and asserted the resurrection a Lawyer tempted him asking him which is the greatest Commandement Having answered him he asked the Pharisees whose son Christ is and no man could answer him any thing nor durst thenceforth ask him any more questions Then speaking of the Scribes and Pharisees he pronounced eight woes against them and upbraiding Jerusalem with her cruelty and obstinacy foretelleth her destruction Sitting over against the treasury he saw a poor widdow cast in two mites and going out to his Disciples who admired the structure he foretold it's ruine His Disciples asked him on the Mount of Olives when these things should be concerning the sign of his coming and the end of the World he answered largely advising them to watch for they knew not what hour their Lord would come illustrating his doctrine by the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the talents committed to the servants to traffick And he described the last Judgement by a severing of goats from the sheep By day he taught at night he went to the Mount of Olives and all the People came in the morning to hear him in the Temple When he had ended these sayings he said to his Disciples You know that after two dayes is the Feast of the Passeover and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified The great ones assembling in the house of Caiphas the High-Priest consulted how to kill him but they said not on the Feast-day lest there be an uprore amongst the People Jesus being in Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper a woman poured oyntment upon his head which he defended against his Disciples foretelling his burial Then entred Satan into Judas who offered himself aed covenanted for money to betray him 72. In the Fourth Passeover Jesus himself Our Passeover was offered and an end thereby was put to all Sacrifices The Fourth Passeover wherein Christ the true Passeover himself was offered which were but types of this Some think that he did not this time eat the Paschal Lamb but onely unleavened bread and bitter herbs such as were used by those that could not come up to the Sacrifice being in another Country For a (a) Grotius Annot. in Matth. c. 26. learned man distinguisheth betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which later was performed by those that were a far off in memorial of the thing it being unlawful to kill the Lamb any where out of Judaea Now Christ would not sacrifize because he himself was now to be offered That he did not do it appeareth because as soon as he came into the house he sate down and this many of the antient Greek Fathers did believe These words of Christ with desire I have desired to eat this Passeover with you before I suffer the same learned man expoundeth as meant that he hasted to that Supper because the time of his death was at hand which would take from him the liberty of celebrating the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It being granted that he kept the Passeover a day before the Jews observed it (b) Vossius de sacrae coenae dominicae Symbolis Disp 1. another contendeth that Christ kept it on the true day and that the Jews receding from the Law put it off till the following day or the 15 of the moneth Nisan being the Sabbath lest they should be debarred of working for two dayes together But the other opinion is more probable which holdeth that he anticipated it being as the true Passeover to be offered up on the true day of killing the Passeover which fell out on the day preceding the Sabbath and not on the Sabbath day It
clearly appeareth in Scripture what things our Lord did and suffered for unworthy sinners after he had eaten this Supper though the order of the former passages concerning his preaching be obscure and therefore we have more largely described them Being betrayed by Judas into the hands of the Chief-Priests and by them delivered up to Pilate the Governour he being convinced of his innocence and their malice sought how to deliver him till they told him that if he did it he was not Caesar 's friend whereupon fearing to be accused to Tiberius A. D. 33. Ol. 202. an 4. V. C. 787. of protecting one who affected the Kingdom he condemned him and delivered him to the Soldiers to be crucified This was about the sixt hour or a little after noon at what time a great darknesse arose for that the Sun was obscured and continued till the ninth hour or three of the clock Then Christ to shew the bitternesse of his torment cried yet with a loud voice Eli Eli Lamasabachtani and receiving the vineger after he had commended his soul into the hands of his Father gave up the ghost Thus he who was in the form of God and counted it no robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation and suffered death even the most ignominious death of the Crosse for ingrateful men 73. Some think that the darknesse which hapened at our Saviour's Passion was onely in the Land of Judaea But others finding that the Evangelists mention * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Luc. the whole Earth conclude that this Eclypse was Oecumenical or Universal Luke expresly saying that the Sun it self the eye of the whole World was darkned Some conceived that the Sun was darkened by the interposition of the body of the Moon The miraculous Eclypse at our Saviour's death whereof (a) Epist 7. Dionysius the Areopagite as he calleth himself was an eye witnesse at what time he and Apollophanes the Philosopher being at Heliopolis observed the Moon suddenly to cast her self before the Sun though it was not the time of conjunction and again from the ninth hour to the evening opposing her self to the middle line of the Sun If so it was an extraordinary miracle the Moon being now at the full as (b) De Civitat Dei l. 3. c. 15. Augustin observeth it to have been ever at the Passeover and consequently at the greatest distance from the Sun out of which respect others seem to have held that the Sun was darkned not by the interposition of that luminary but the retention of his beams That the darknesse was universal appeareth from the records of Heathen Writers which as (c) Lib. 7. c. 4. Orosius saith besides the Evangelists mentioned the greatnesse of the Eclypse And (d) Apologet. c. 21. Tertullian writing to Pagans saith You cannot make this wonder suspected seeing your own Calendars have remarked it and your selves retain the testimonies thereof in your own registers Amongst Greek Authors Phlegon (e) A ud Euseb in Chronico Orig. contra Celsum l. 2. in Matth. Trallianus the Freed-man of Adrian the Emperour Recorded by the Heathen in his Work of Olympiads or Chronicle which consisted of sixteen Books clearly spoke of this Eclypse writing in his thirteenth Book that in the fourth year of the 202 Olympiad the greatest Eclypse hapened that ever was known for at the sixth hour of the day it was night so that the Starrs were seen in the Heavens 74. That Christ was put to death in the reign of Tiberius by Pontius Pilate (a) Annal. l. 15. c. 44. Cornelius Tacitus writeth an Author guilty of Ethnick ignorance and prejudice But (b) Antiq. l. 18. c. 4. Josephus the noble Jewish Historian giveth him an honourable testimony writing that At the same time there was one Jesus a wise man The testimony of Josephus concerning Christ if it be lawful to call him a man For he was a worker of wonderful works and a teacher of those which willingly receive the truth He had also many followers not onely Jews but Gentiles and he was believed to be Christ And whereas by the malice of our Princes Pilate condemned him to be crucified yet notwithstanding they who first loved him have persevered For he appeared to them alive the third day the Prophets having foretold in their writings these and many other wonderful things concerning him and to this day the People from him called Christians hath not ceased This he relateth after he had spoken of that Sedition which hapened because of Pilate his bringing in of Caesar's Images Some from amongst our selves have not given credit to this relation thinking it to be foisted in by some Christians for the greater honour of our Religion But as the piae fraudes supposed to have been used by the Primitive Christians are rather increased than otherwise by some who either pedantically and out of ostentation seek for applause from the prejudice of their own cause as one hath done of late in reference to the matter in hand or as out of a melancholick and distrustful humour question the evidence of the truth so is there no reason that this testimony should be condemned amongst them For Josephus maketh mention of John Baptist giving him large commendations and relateth also that he was beheaded though he assigneth the cause to have been but of jealousie of him and lest he should make some commotions through his popularity which likely enough might be some cause especially the malice of Herodias considered which woman would not be wanting to fill his head with suspition although the main reason was his reproving of the incest He also maketh mention of James the brother of Alphaeus whom he calleth the brother of Jesus Christ how he was put to death at Jerusalem saying that all good men were sorely troubled at it and clearly expresseth himself dissatisfied in it writing that Ananus who commanded the murder to be done did ill and this he saith not onely because the Judicial power was taken away from the Jews as is evident from the course of his words 75. It is hence clear enough that Josephus was not in the number of those whom Herod Agrippa could have pleased in the killing of the other James the brother of John Defended to be true and not feigned by Christians and truly amongst the Jews such as were not extremely malicious against Christ were something inclining to him if we consider the temper of that People It cannot therefore be said that Josephus was so inveterately despightful against Christ and Christians that as some have thought he utterly passed over the story of Christ upon that account This Principle would have induced him to rail rather than to be silent to bespatter the Christian generation rather to say nothing or rather to seem displeased at their sufferings It 's true he was with the younger Agrippa but almost a