gates of Ierusalem Nehem. 1. 1. it was the 49. after their returne according to the speech of the Angell Gabriell to Daniel alleadged before The reason of the hinderance of the Lords building euen so soone after the gratious commission of Cyrus king of Persia and Darius of the Medes it seemeth to haue bene this that Darius of the Medes dying shortly after and Cyrus following his warres abroad Artashasht the sonne of Cyrus called of Greeke writers Cambyses being king or Viceroy in peace at home was willing to hearken to the accusation of the Iewes aduersaries and so was Ahashuerosh also after him Ezra ch 4. 5. 6. 7. And this seemeth to be the cause of Daniels great griefe ch 10. 1. 2. 3. Moreouer the Iewes were too easily discouraged of themselues ouer slothfull as may appeare by the earnest reproofes which the Lord giueth theÌ„ by his holy Prophets Hag. chap. 1. 1. 2. c. and Zach. ch 1. 1. 2. c. Neuerthelesse so soone as they resumed the worke and at the instigation of the Prophets earnestly set vpon it according to that we reade further Ezra chap. 5. 1. 2. by the singular mercie of God they finde so gratious furtherance at the hands of Darius then king of Persia euen in the second yeare of his reigne and their labour so prospered that the house of God was finished in the sixt yeare of his reigne Ezra chap. 6. 1. c. verse 15. And in the 7. yeare of the same Darius called also Artashasht king of Persia Ezra commeth from him furnished a fresh as it were with a new supply yea with a most large augmentation of the kings fauour and bountie toward the people and house of God Ezra 7. vers 8. 9. c. to the end of the chapter NEHEMIAH IN the twentith yeare of his reigne the same Darius or Artashasht king of Persia granteth Nehemiah a newe commission for he is now Tirshatha or Commissioner from the king cha 8. 9. and chap. 10. 1. as was mentioned before for the perfecting of the whole building of the Lord whatsoeuer was wanting concerning any appurtenances to the Temple or touching the walles and gates of the whole citie Nehem. chap. 1. 1 c. and chap. 2. 1. c. The which seruice of perfecting finishing the whole worke he did through the blessing of God performe with all faithfulnesse and singular expedition that is iâ—… the space of 52 dayes by the willing and industrious diligence of the thousands of Iuda Thus wonderfully did the Lord from time to time prosper his worke in the hands of his seruants when they did earnestly set vpon it contrarie to all the malignant indeuours of the wicked Reade Nehem. 2. 17. chap. 3. 1. c. chap. 6. 1. c. 15. 16. And thus was the whole building of Ierusalem perfected at the end of the first seuen weekes of yeares as was obserued before in Ezra Nehemiah hauing brought the outward buildings to this perfection he remaineth still among the Iewes a gratious Gouernour and foster-father of Gods Church and people by the space of 12 yeares that is from the twentith yeare of Darius king of Persia to the 32. yeare of his reigne This Darius was the most bounteous benefactor which the Iewes euer had amoÌ„g all the heathen Princes vnder whose subiection they were We may not altogether vnfitly call him for honours sake the Iewes Constantine Reade Nehem. ch 5. 14. From the time saith Nehemiah that the King gaue me charge to be Gouernour in the land of Iuda from the twentith yeare euen to the 32. yeare of King Artashasht that is twelue yeares I and my brethren haue not eaten the bread of the Gouernour c. But rather I fortified a portion of the worke c. Moreouer there were at my table a hundreth and fiftie of the Iewes and rulers which came vnto vs from among the heathen c. Yea and though at the 32. yeare of Darius Nehemiah left the Iewes and returned to the king who was then by a newe stile written king of Babell Nehem. chap. 13. 6. yet so tender was his care ouer the people of God and so zealous was he of Gods glorie that he intreated leaue of the king to go to them againe Which request also he obtained of him How long this was after that he had left them it is not expressed neither yet how loÌ„g he remained with them after he was come to them Only this is specified that hee renewed a worthie seruice among the people of God to the great honour and glorie of God and to the singular benefite of his people in reforming the abuses both of the house and Offices and also of the Sabbath of the Lord. Read chap. 13. 7. c. And thus the Iewes the people of God were in prosperous estate and gratiously protected and blessed of God vnder the reigne of the Persian kings as these books of Ezra Nehemiah do declare for the better half of those hundreth and thirtie yearés while their Monarchie combined with the Medes did continue As touching the latter part of their reigne it may probably be conceiued of vs that the kings of Persia which succeeded were no enemies to the people and true worship of God which their predecessors had so gratiously fauoured priuiledged and the rather because of the troubles which arose vnto them from the Grecians Dan. chap. 11. 2. 3. c. ESTER HEre let vs in a few words note by the way coÌ„cerning the book of Ester that though it be placed in order after the booke of Nehemiah yet the notable and verie memorable historie of the Iewes wonderful deliuerance from the intended massacre of Haman described therein was by most likelihood fulfilled in the time of the reigne of Ahashuerosh mentioned before in the second chap. of Ezra verse 6. This Ahashuerosh in the booke of Ester and that Ahashuerosh in the booke of Ezra being all one And the deliueraÌ„ce was wrought in the twelfth or thirteenth yeare of the kings reigne as we read Ester chap. 3. verses 7. 13. In which history note these speciall things first that God would by the great danger which fell vpon the Iewes correct the slacknesse of them in returning to their owne land out of those prophane nations Secondly that Gods mercie was wonderfull in sparing of their liues And last of all the slacknesse of the people that were already returned to Ierusalem may hence be discouered in that notwithstanding Mordecay after their deliuerance was in high fauor with the king and very carefull for his part to procure the wealth of his people Ester chap. 10. 2. 3. they did for all that greatly foreslowe the building of the house of God as we haue seene before Thus much concerning the booke of Ester without interruptioÌ„ of the former course of the historie Now let vs go forward to the rest of the 490 yeares recorded before out of the prophesie of Daniel DANIEL
in that he spake to the Elders of Ephesus c. Act. 20 30. Moreouer saith Paule of your owne selues shall men arise speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them And 1. Cor. 11. 19. There must be heresies euen among you c. And here withal also Antichrist arose that is to say a succession of ambitious wackedmen affect◅ng superiority yea aspiring after a souereigne rule and dominion in the Church whom our Sauiour calleth false Chrisis euen the same which began in the Apostles time 2. Thes. 2. 7. The mystery of iniquity doth already w◅rke and 1. Ioh. 2. 18. 3. op ver 9. 10. This Antichrist that is this wicked sort of proud men frō time to time abusing all that peace prosperitie which God gaue to the Church by the fauour of the Christian Emperours it did growe apace and now hath attained long since to the height of that most abominable pride and presumption wherunto it cunningly climed So that thenceforth that is from the time that Pope Boniface gate the supremacy by the traiterous conspiracie of Phocas the murtherer so forth from the time of Gregorie the third that stout maintainer of images against Leo the Greeke Emperour yea against the expresse commandement of God himselfe they haue sacrilegiously vsurped and to this day for many hundreths of yeares haue and do wretchedly abuse both the seate of iustice and also the chaire of religion against all Christian kings and princes and against all the people of God yea against the verie throne of God himselfe according as the Apostle Paule foretold that they would 2. Thes. 2. vers 3. 4. And the holy Angel to the Apostle Iohn Reuel chap. 17. and in other chapters before that and namely chapter 13. from the 11. verse So that the wicked Popes as they haue bene more in number then the persecuting Emperours before them so haue they bene more cruell and noisome to all true Christians then they were euer since the time they haue intruded thēselues into their seates and chalenged a souereign◅ie aboue them But blessed be God who hath not only long ago foretold this rising ◅ea swelling of Antichrist as it were from the bottomlesse pit and likewise his fall but also of his infinite mercie le◅eth vs now liuing vnderstand of the beginnings◅ yea and see with our eyes some gratious proceedings of the s◅ his fall by the faithfull preaching of the Gospell by the which he shall su◅ly come to vtter ruine for euer from the almighty and most glorious arme of the Lord as it were from the highest heauen according to that which we read 2. Thes. chap. 2. 8. Reu◅ chapters 17. 18. 19. 20. For our Sauiour Christ shall to the same end at the last day appeare the second time from heauen in his diuine glorie maiestie to iudge the whole world Neuerthelesse so will the Lord proceede in the wasting and ouerthrowing of Antichrist of the spirituall mysterie of iniquitie that all true Christians must still euen to the end of the world prepare arme themselues to manifold afflictions and trials which will continually be incident to the Church of God partly by the importunitie of subtile and contentious ◅retikes the spitefull broode and frie of Antichrist and partly by the crueltie of malicious and violent aduersaries For as there haue bene in the Church false Prophets in former times so there will be false teachers still who will priuily bring in damnable here◅es 2. Pet. 2. 1. c. And the Apostle Paule telleth vs that in the last dayes there shall come perillous times 2. Tim. 3. 1. 2. 3. And our Sauiour himselfe affirmeth that it must of necessity be that many offences and stumbling blockes will be cast before vs by the diuell and his instruments to the end we might be hindred from making straight steppes in the way of the kingdome of God so long as the world shall continue Matth. 18. 7. and Iohn 14. 27. and Chap. 15. 18. c. and ch 16. 1. 2. 3. 33. But blessed is he saith the same our blessed Sauiour that shall not be offended in me Luke 7. 23. Let vs therefore in the name of our good God arme our selues with patience that we may endure all afflictions necessarie and ◅uerstride all needlesse offences after the example of all good and wise seruants of God and so constantly hold out without offence vnto the day of Christ Iesus who assureth vs in truth that he will come quickly Reuel chap. 22. 20. Read also Matt. 24. 42. 44. and Luke chap. 12. 40. and 1. Thes. 5. 2. c. Heb. 10. 37. and 2. Pet. 3. 8. 9. 10. and Reuel 3. 3. and chap. 16. 15. Wherefore let vs pray in comfortable hope and from a liuely faith with the holy Apostle Euen so come quickely Amen Come Lord Iesus in thy due time Amen Amen A Catalogue of the holy Prophetes of God as well of those so called whose Prophesies are not expressedly recorded as of the rest according to the order and course of the times wherein they prophesied by a distribution of them into certaine Classes or companies And first of the Prophets among the Patriarches or chiefe Fathers before the Flood WE may well perswade ourselues that Adam the father of al mankind is to be accoūted a Prophet seeing the Lord God from the beginning committed to him the publishing of the promise and prophesie of the Messiah the Prince of Prophets and the verie ground of all prophesie whatsoeuer was at any time to be reuealed to the Churches of God And so also are we iustly to account of many other of the Patriarches of the old world as namely of Sheth in whom the losse of faithful Abel was restored For God saith Euah hath appointed me another seed for Abel because Kain slew him Gen. 4. 25. and so we are to thinke of Enosh the sonne of Sheth in whose age men began in speciall maner to call vpon the name of the Lord that is to say to exercise the duties of Gods true worship more publikely and vnder some course of discipline for the preseruing of the children of God the posterity of Sheth from the children of men the profane and licentious off-spring of Kain according to that which we read Gen. chap. 4. 26. compared with chap. 6. vers 1. c. The same iudgement are we to conceiue of some other if not of all the rest of the Patriarches descended of Sheth Neuerthelesse seeing the present purpose is to gather together those only which more principally then the rest are expresly noted to be indued with a speciall gift of prophesie either for excellency of doctrine in opening the mystery of saluation or moreouer and beside that haue had the grace of foretelling such things to come which tend to the same scope and end We will therefore begin with Henoch who was the seuenth generation from Adam borne no longer then 622 yeares
A BRIEFE CHRONOLOGIE OF THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRES AS PLAINE AND easie as may be according to the extent of the seuerall historicall bookes thereof Comprised first in a few Verses to a short viewe for some helpe of memorie and afterward more particularly layd forth and explaned for a further light to the course and proceeding of the holy Storie With a Catalogue of the holy Prophets of God as touching the times wherein they prophesied LONDON Printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man 1600. To the Reader NOt onely are the works of God to be reuerenced regarded in themselues but also in respect of the most wise and excellent course order of the contriuing and disposing of them God hath made all things beautifull in the time and season thereof Eccles. 3. 11. And Act. 15. 18. From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his workes saith the Apostle Iames. His meaning is that he knoweth them so that according to his foreknowledge he hath most wisely disposed euery one of them It must needs be acknowledged therfore that it is the dutie of all that desire to be wise in the Lord to seeke after the knowledge of him both in his workes and also in the orderly course of effecting them according as he himselfe hath in his holy Scriptures reuealed the same To this purpose is that which Moses writeth Deut. 4 32. Inquire now of the dayes that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man vpon the earth aske from the one end of the heauen to the other if there came to passe such a great thing as this or whether any such like thing hath bene heard c. And that which we reade in the 111. Psal. vers 2. 3. 4. c. The works of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all those that loue them His worke is beautifull and glorious his righteousnesse indureth for euer He hath made his wonderfull works to be had in remembrance c. And verily if we weigh things with a right iudgemen◅ we shal find that this is the very end wherefore God hath created time it selfe and placed the Sunne and the Moon in the firmament for the distinction of the day and the night and that they shuld be for signes and for seasons for dayes and for yeares for summer and for winter Gen. 1. 14. c. and chap. 8. 12. For these are but the Vshers as it were to point vs to the word of God as to the head master teacher of his schoole that frō thence we might learne not so much what God hath done in making the world for mā as what he hath done in the world for the praise of his glorie euer since he hath made the same and chiefly what course he hath taken for the renewing of the world euer since mankind hath corrupted and disordered the same For want of which obseruation our Sauiour Christ the true sunne of righteousnesse earnestly blameth the Iewes for that they obseruing the signes of faire and foule weather c. altogether neglected the signes of the time and season of his comming vnto them Mat. 16. 1. 2. 3. All the excellent works of God are so chained linked together that we cannot well know the latter without the knowledge of the former As a help therfore hereunto serueth this present Chronologising of the holy Scriptures Wherin two things haue bene intended and indeuoured the one plainnesse the other shortnesse and in either of them as much certainty as could be attained vnto for the helpe of the Christian Reader from the expresse and entier direction of the Scriptures themselues God of his mercie vouchsafe his blessing vpon it to all good ends and vses whereunto it may serue thee to his honor and glory euen for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Thine in the Lord. R. A. A briefe Chronologie of the holy Scriptures Comprised first in a few verses SAcred Genesis first of all The Scripture storie doth contain Of yeers 2 thousands hundreds three And sixtie eight since world began The secōd Book which Moses wrot Cald Exodus of going out One hundred forty adding sixe This is the sum wherto t is brought The third of Leui bearing name Shewes many things but ekes the skore With neuer a yeer but Numery Hath thirty eight neer one more Then Deuteronomie doth supply All which that yeer to want we see So all fiue Books to thousands two Adde hundreds fiue fifty three Next Ioshua space of 17 yeares Iudges two hundreths ninetie nine The first of Samuel fourescore The next hath fortie Dauids reigne The first of Kings from Salomon Hath years one hundred seuenteen Next hundreths three forty and fiue As by due triall may be seene This Story reacheth to the time When captiue state to Iuda fell Yea to the yeare of fortie fiue That they were thr al in strāge Babel The books of dayes or Chronicles No longer Storie do set downe Saue fortie fiue to Cyrus reigne They make increase to seuentie one Then Ezra Nehem ' Esters book Shew captiue Iews sent home again Where they abode 4 hundred yeares Yea ninety more til Christ was slain For thus is Daniel rightly scann'd I meane the speech of Angel there Who thither frō thral seuenties end Defineth seuen times seuenty yeare So then since man was first create And likewise since his wofull fall Til Christ his deth t is thousāds three Hundreths nine sixty sixe in all Whence take we thirty three then There do remain but thousāds three And hundreths nine thirty three Til Christ took flesh to make vs free Now since that time how many yeres Haue passed iust by yeerly count He know'th but little that cānot tel The sum wherto they do amount But vse hereof what shuld be made Most wise may liue stil may learn Christ taking life and dying death To life doth cal frō sin doth warne For as he came in base estate And staid no whit the time once come So will he hast a glorious Iudge Of life death to giue last doome Repent therefore thy sin forsake Beleeue in him whō God hath sent Be sory for all dayes and times Wherin thou hast thy life mispent Thus times seasons if thou weigh The more exact the better stay But if thou do this vse neglect The greater skill the worse defect Thy friend doth friendly wish thee wel Let smal defalt not much offend One yeare yea more may pen escape But Gods accounts cā none amend In the yeare of the euerlasting reigne of our Lord Iesus Christ 1600. For he shal reigne for euer and of his kingdome there shal be no end Luke 1. 33. In the yeare of the worlds decay 5533. For the heauens and the earth waxe olde as doth a garment and as a vesture they shal be changed Psal. 102. 26. And 1. Cor. 7. 31. The fashion of this world goeth away And
was dead And thus vpon the laying together of al the aboue named numbers in this order following first 930 which was the age of Adam secondly 126 frō the death of Adam to the birth of Noah thirdly 600 to the floud fourthly 352 to the birth of Abram fiftly 75 to the promise first made to Abram sixtly 25 to the birth of Isaak seuenthly 60 to the birth of Iaakob eightly 147 the age of Iaakob ninthly 53 the time that Ioseph suruiued Iaakob we haue a full declaration that the generall summe of yeares from the creation of Adam which was the sixt day after the world began to the death of Ioseph where with the whole hrstorie of Genesis is ended they are 23 68. EXODVS 146 yeares FRom the death of Ioseph to the birth of Moses were 65 yeares From the birth of Moses to the time that God sent him to parlie treate with Pharaoh for the deliuerance of his people out of bondage were 80 yeares Exod. 7. 7. The very next yeare after this Israel departed out of Egypt euen on the 14. day of the first moneth Exod. chap. 12. and chap. 13. And in the third moneth of the same yeare the Lord did publish his Lawe from heauen descending vpō mount Sinai Exo. 19. 1. c. 11. c. and ch 20. And in the very beginning of the next yeare after this the Tabernacle of God was reared vp Exod. chap. 40. 17. 18. Thus farre reacheth the second booke of Moses called Exodus All the yeares wherof reckened together that is to say 65 from the death of Ioseph to the birth of Moses 80 to his ambassage from God to Pharaoh 1 to the giuing of the Law and vntill the rearing of the Tabernacle they grow to the number of 146. But it may here be demaunded what proofe we haue that betweene the death of Ioseph the birth of Moses were iust 65 yeares We gather that it must needs be so because that otherwise there could not be 430 yeares from the promise of the Gospell made first to Abraham vnto the giuing of the law Of which intermediant space of time we haue vndoudted testimonie Exod. 12. 40. 41. and Gal. 3. 17. And therefore the warrantise of this is a sure confirmation of that LEVITICVS only one moneth COnferre that which we reade Exod. chap. 40. verse 17. The Tabernacle was reared vp the first day of the first moneth in the second yeare with that which Moses writeth in the first verse of the first chapter of Numbers in these words The Lord spake againe vnto Moses in the wildernesse of Sinai in the Tabernacle of the congregation the first day of the second moneth in the second yeare after that they were come out of the land of Egypt c. Here therfore is the storie of neuer a whole yeare but only of one moneth NVMBERS 38 yeares and 9 moneths COmpare that beginning of this booke of Numbers with the third verse of the first chapter of Deuteronomie where thus we read And it came to passe in the first day of the eleuenth moneth in the fortith yeare that Moses spake to the children of Israell c. Of these fortie yeares yeeld one for the giuing of the law to the rearing of the Tabernacle vnto Exodus and one moneth to Leuiticus so there shall remaine to Numbers 38 yeares and 9 moneths DEVTERONOMIE two moneths at the least which make vp the 39. yeare of the booke of Numbers and reacheth to the end of the fortith yeare that Moses spake to Israell THis is euident in that as was mentioned before out of Exod. chap. 7. vers 7. Moses was 80 yeares old when he led Israell out of Egypt but he died not til he had liued 120 yeres as we read Deut. 34. 7. Moses was one hundreth and twentie yeares old when he died his eye was not dimme nor his naturall force abated c. So the◅ Deuteronomie maketh vp the 39. yeare of Numbers whereunto ad one yeare borrowed from Exodus and we haue the whole fortie years that Moses spake to the children of Israel Note here that the fortie yeares wandering of Israell in the wildernesse is to be reckened from their first entrance into it Exod. 16. 35. Nehem. 9. 21. Reade also Psalme 95. For euen three dayes after their deliuerance they begin to murmure Exod. 15. 22. Neuerthelesse it is not pronounced for a curse vnto them till Numbers 14. 34. This curse ended with the death of Moses IOSHVAH 17 yeares THis is prooued in that there being 480 yeares betwixt the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt to the time wherein king Salomon layd the foundation of the Temple of Ierusalem which was in the fourth yeare of his reigne 1. King chap 6. verses 1. and 37 there are of this summe of 480 euery yeare recorded in the holy Scriptures except from the beginning of Ioshuah his gouernment to the time of his death to the number of 463 yeares as will be manifest by the acc◅unt following For as hath bene already declared from the time that Moses began to speake to Israel to the time of his death was 40 yeares The time of the Iudges as will more clearely appeare anone was 299 yeares of Eli 40 of Samuel and Saule 40 of Dauid 40 of Salomon 4 to the time wherein he began to build the Temple Wherefore onely 17 yeares are wanting to fufilll that number of 480. And the same must needes be the yeares wherein Ioshua gouerned and guided Israell after the death of Moses to the time of his owne death Iosh. 1. 1. where thus we read Nowe after the death of Moses the seruant of the Lord the Lord spake vnto Ioshua the sonne of Nun Moses minister saying Moses my seruant is dead now therefore arise thou go ouer this Iorden thou all this people vnto the land which I giue thē c. And cha 24. 29. And after these things Ioshua the sonne of Nun the seruāt of the Lord died being 110 yeares old IVDGES 299 yeares THis was the space of time wherin the thirteene Iudges chronicled and renowmed in the booke of Iudges did as heroicall most valiant Captaines of the Lord iudge auenge deliuer the people of Israell out of the hands of their enemies as the rehearsall of the seuerall distance of yeares from Iudge to Iudge will hence forth shew and confirme to be true For from the death of Ioshua to the death of Othniel the first of these Iudges were 40 yeares Iudg. 1. 1. c. After that Ioshua was dead the children of Israell asked the Lord saying Who shal go vp for vs against the Caananites to fight first against them And ch 3. ver 9. 10. 11. When the children of Israell cried vnto the Lord the Lord stirred vp a Sauior to the childrē of Israel and he saued them euen Othniel the sonne of Kenaz Calebs younger brother c. So the land had rest to the fortith
were led into captiuity as is euident in the same first chapter of Daniel And that the captiuitie of Iuda began at this time though it was increased twise after 2. King 24. 10 c. and chap. 25. 1. c. Reade Matth. chap. 1. verse 11. compared with 2. Chron. 36. 9. Where see the note of Tremelius and Iunius for the opening of that place by another like place 2. Kin. chap. 16. 2. and also how that which is written 2. Chron. 36. 9. agreeth with 2. King 24. 8. For by this conference of places it is manifest that Iehoiachin was eight yeares old not when he himselfe but when Iehoiakim began to reigne Neare vpon which time the Euangelist Matthew in the place before cited beginneth the captiuitie writing thus Iacim he meaneth Iehoiakim begate Iechonias that is Iehoiachin and his brethren about the time they were caried away to Babylon FOr from the beginning of the fourth yeare of Iehoiakim recken the rest of his reigne which was 8 yeares 2. King chap. 23. 36. ch 24. 12. in so much as the 8. yeare of the reigne of the king of Babell was the eleuenth yeare of Iehoiakim and adde moreouer to these eight yeares of Iehoiakim those 37 which followed from the carying away of Iehoiachin the sonne of Iehoiakim to Babell vntill Iehoiachin was there aduaunced as we sawe before with the which aduancement of Iehoiachin the second booke of Kings is concluded and so we haue the storie continued till 45 yeares after that the captiuitie of Iuda began 1. Booke of CHRONICLES THe first booke of Chronicles so called in Greeke after the Hebrue inscriptiō which is the first Booke of dayes or times it is onely an abridgement of the whole historie of the holy Bible from the beginning of the world to the end of king Dauids reigne sauing that the genealogies of Israell are described more at large chap. 2. c. 2. Booke of CHRONICLES continueth the Storie 25 yeares longer then 2. Kings THis second booke of Chronicles beginning at king Salomōs reigne carieth forth the storie of the second booke of Kings no further then to the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persia that is only 25 yeares beyond the extent of that second booke of Kings For the captiuitie beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar and continuing all the time of his reigne yea also vnder the reigne of Euil-merodach as was alleaged before and yet further vnto the death of Belshazzar Dan. chap. 5. and chap. 7. 1. and chap. 8. 1. and Ier. 25. 26. where the Prophet prophesieth against this drunken king vnder the name of Sheshach which word in the Babylonian tongue noteth the solemnizing of some feast as it were to Bacchus See the note of Tremelius Iunius vpon that place of Ierimiah The captiuity I say thus beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar and continuing to the first yeare of Cyrus whereat the second booke of Chronicles endeth it is the space onely of 70 yeares Reade 2. Chron. 36. 21. 22. and Ezra 1. 1. c. and Dan. 9. 1. c. So then to out former summe of 345 yeares contained in the Storie of the second booke of Kings that is to the 45. yeare of the captiuitie of Iuda we haue in this second booke of Chronicles onely the addition of 25 yeares to make vp the number of 70 which was the end of the same captiuitie EZRA NEHEMIAH and DANIEL 490 yeares IN the dayes of Ezra Nehemiah and Daniel many thousands of the Iewes being by the conduct of Zerubbabel and other Princes and namely of Sheshbazzar that Tirshatha or Commissioner whom king Cyrus had appointed chiefe Prince of Iuda to put them in possession of their land by his authoritie Ezra ch 2. 1. 2. verse 36. and chap. 5. 14. 15. 16. Whether Zerubbabel or rather one properly named Sheshbazzar were that Tirshatha or Commissioner as afterward it is recorded that Nehemia was for his time Tirshatha or the kings Commissioner Nehem. chap. 8. verse 9. and chap. 10. 1. the Iewes I say being thus by thousands returned to their owne land whereunto God of his most gratious goodnesse had restored them they do earnestly indeuour to reedifie the holy citie and temple of Ierusalem which Nebuchadnezzer had burnt in the 19. yeare of his raigne 2. King 25. 8. 9. 10. they were through the same most gratious goodnesse of God setled to remaine and abide therein from the time of that their returne to the death of our Sauiour Christ that is by the space of 490 yeeres Dan. 9. 24. c. In the which space also they enioyed the gratious and comfortable protection of God vnder the reigne of the kings of the Medes Persians for the first 100 of those yeares more But let vs consider of this portion of the holy history more particularly And first concerning the booke of Ezra EZRA THe booke of Ezra continuing the holy historie from the returne of Iuda out of their captiuitie vnto the time that the Temple and citie of Ierusalem was built which was the space of 49 yeares to wit from the first yeare of Cyrus to the twentith yeare of Darius the son of Ahashuerosh whom it is thought Queen Ester bare vnto him concerning which space of time vnto the building of the Temple finished read Daniel chap. 9. 25. where the Angel informed Daniel that it should be performed in the first seuen times seuen yeares that is in 49 yeares it reporteth the Storie in this order Cyrus King of Persia proclaimed liberty to the Iewes to returne to their land yea he gaue thē his princely incouragement and furtherance towards the building of the Temple and citie of Ierusalem for the worship of the true God of Israell Ezra chap. 1. And this no doubt he did with the consent of Darius who was of the seed of the Medes and was made King of the Chaldeans These two kings and their kingdomes being confederate together in one monarchie Dan. chap. 5. ver 28. 31. and chap. 6. 1. 2. 3. 8. c. and chap. 9. 1. 2. likewise Ester 1. 3. 19. So thē the Iewes in the second yeare of their comming laid the foundation of the Temple chap. 3. 8. Neuerthelesse shortly after they had done so they were forthwith hindred from proceeding in the worke of the Lord by diuerse malicious aduersaries who laboured their hindrance to the vttermost of that they could any way procure The worke therfore stayed euen from the third yeare of Cyrus that it could not prosperously goe forward vntill the second yeare of Darius the sonne of Ahashuerosh of whom mention was made a litle before Ezra chap. 4. vers 5. 24. and Zacharie chap. 1. 1. This second yeare of Darius was the 32. yeare after the Iewes returne as may easily be perceiued in so much as the 19. year of the same Darius which was the yeare before Nehemiah came in commission for the finishing of the walles and
Psalme it must needs from so ancient a time be to be esteemed an admirable prophesy cōcerning Dauids annointing to the kingdom by Samuel his prosperous successe in obteining of the same 300 yeares at the least before Dauid was born like as king Iosiah was by name prophesied of as touching that which he should do aboue 300 years before his birth as we are afterward more exactly to obserue also concerning the afflictions of the Church bewailed therein euen such afflictions as fell vpon it in the captiuity of Babylon which fell out as long a time after that King Dauid was dead But grant that they were that Heman and Ethan which are recorded 1. Chron. 6. 33. and vers 44. likewise chap. 25. ver 4 5 6. concerning Heman both which were yet of another tribe that is of Leui when those named cap. 2. are of Iudah as hath bene already shewed but grant I say that they were those who liued not only in K. Dauids time as being his Seets or Prophets which yet is only sayd of Heman 1. Chron. 25. 5. that also in respect of his singing of Propheticall Psalmes such as king Dauid indited not because himselfe did prophesie Grant notwithstanding I say againe that they liued not onely in king Dauids time but also in king Salomons dayes yea that they suruiued him and saw also as some thinke that miserable hauocke which Shishak king of Egypt made in the cities of Iudah in the house of God the treasures whereof he caried away c. as we reade 2 Chron. ch 12. in the reigne of Rehoboam after that Salomon was dead Yet Ethans Psalme must needes be taken for a propheticall instruction touching a great part of it as being fitted to be a monument for the direction of the Church how to comfort it selfe and to bemone the owne calamitie in the most doleful and distressed estate which the Prophet by the Spirit of God foresaw that it should afterward fall into So then these two were indued with a notable gift of prophesie although it be not granted that they were so ancient as that they should be reckoned in this second classis or company of Prophets Let vs proceed to the third company Prophetes such as were in the time of the Iudges and so forth to the beginning of the reigne of the Kings DEborah was a Prophetesse about 80 yeers after the death of Ioshua Iudges chap. 4. 4. At that time Deborah a Prophetesse the wife of Lapidoth iudged Israel Reade her excellent song as it followeth in the fift chapter In the second chapter of the first book of Samuel vers 27. c. A Prophet is sent to Eli to prophesie against him his children and posteritie which was partly fulfilled chap. 4. read also 1. Kin. chap. 2. 27. All Israell from Dan to Beersheba knew that in the dayes of Eli faithfull Samuel was the Lords Prophet 1. Sam. 3. 20. He prophesied first against the sonnes and posterity of Eli verses 11 12 13 c. according to the prophesie of the man of God euen now mentioned vnlesse rather we vnderstand that to be written concerning Samuel himselfe See Tremelius Iunius in their annotations vpon that place Read also Act. 3. 22. Neither must Hannah the mother of Samuel be forgotten when we speake of such women as God graced with his excellent gift of Prophesie as her prayer and thanksgiuing giueth vs to vnderstand from the beginning of the second chapter of the first booke of Samuel And the rather wil we iudge so if we compare her speech with the thanksgiuing of the virgin Marie for we shall perceiue that Hannah was enlightened to haue a respect vnto Christ in her magnificent description of the most mighty power of God ioyned with his most rich and tender mercie which also is the argument of the virgin Maries Magnificat In the time that Samuel annointed Saule to be ◅ing of Israell mention is made of a companie of Prophetes which prophesied and that Saule himself a little while after he was annointed prophesied among them 1. Sam. chap. 10. 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. This prophesying no doubt was an excellent kind of vttering the excellent things of Gods spirituall kingdom from the inlightening of the Spirit of God according to the former groūds principles of prophesie contained in the bookes of Moses which were read and studied among the people of God Of this kind of prophesying we read againe in the same first booke of Samuel chap. 19. verses 18 19. c. where it is written that at Naioth in Ra◅ah there was a companie of Prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as one appointed ouer them And further that the messengers which Saule sent to apprehend Dauid were for the time so heauenly affected with that which they hard that they also brake forth to the magnifying of the name of God for the same things which he reuealed to thē This was done thrise by three seuerall companies of messengers the one sent after the other Last of all Saule himself went to Rama with an euil purpose against Dauid but the Spirit of God came vpon him also so that he laying aside his former mind as well as his warlike weedes he prophesied all that day and all that night Here we may see the most gratious and mightie power of the spirit of Prophesie to affect alter the minds of men to fill thē with spiritual ioy although we cannot reckē all those for holy Prophets of God who are thus sodainly affected with the spirit of Prophesie Neuerlesse by occasion hereof and specially because Saule for a time was as a Prophet among the Prophets let vs come to that company of true Prophets whereof we are to make rehearsall frō the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israell Prophetes such as were from the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israel the which we are to consider of vnder many companies But first concerning some of the Kings themselues KIng Dauid whom the Prophete Samuel at the commandement of God annointed to be king ouer Israel next after Saul he was himselfe a most excellent Prophete of God So it is testified of him Act. 2. 30. c. Seeing he was a Prophet saith the Apostle Peter and knew before that God had sworne c. he prophesied of the resurrection of Christ c. yea hee prophesied of the whole person and office of our Sauiour Christ touching euerie degree both of his humiliation and also of his exaltation as many of his Psalmes do plentifully declare Read Psal. 2. Psal. 16. Psal. 22. Psal. 45. Psal. 68. Psal. 110. and many other In K. Dauids reigne was the Prophet Nathan 2. Sam. 7. 2. c. ch 12. And the prophet G◅d who was called Dauids Seer 2. Sam. 24. 11. and 2. Chron. 29. 25. King Salomon was also a holy Prophete as his bookes the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes the
declare And these were the Prophetes which God of his great mercy and goodnesse sent more specially to Iudah and the kings thereof after that the ten tribes were departed from them Prophetes which the Lord sent to the tenne tribes of Israel and to the Kinges thereof after that they were departed from the tribe of Iudah VVE may not vnfitly begin this company of holy Prophetes with Ahijah the Shilonite of whom we read 1. King chap. 11. 29. c. He is that Prophet whom the Lord sent to prophesie vnto Ieroboam the son of Nebat that it was the purpose of God to rend the kingdome out of the handes of Salomon to make him king ouer ten tribes of Israell This was the iudgement of God against the sin of Salomon and of the people in his latter time for that they forsooke the Lord and worshipped the idols of the heathen as it followeth in the same eleuenth chapter vers 33. The accomplishment of which prophesie reade in the very next chapter euen shortly after the Prophesie was vttered to Ieroboam read chap. 12. ver 15. c. In the reigne of this Ieroboam in so much as he contrary to the will and commandement of God set vp idolattie to serue his owne wicked deuise and policie for the preuenting of the pebples reuolt which he suspitiously scared the Lord therefore sent a Prophere out of Iudah vnto Bethel in Israel the chiefe place of his new erected idolatrie euen at such time as he himselfe was dedicating the altar which he had made chap. 12. 26. c. 33. And the Prophete prophesying against his idolatrie telleth Ieroboam standing by his altar to offer incense that a child should be borne to the house of Dauid Iosiah by name who should breake down his altar and destroy the Priests of his high places ch 13. 1. c. The accomplishment whereof reade 2. King ch 23. 15 c. 20. This Prophesie did the Prophet giue forth about three hundreth and thirtie yeares before king Iosiah was borne This Prophet was he who harkening to the lye of that old Prophet of Bethel was for his transgressing of Gods commandement in that he eat and dranke in the place wherof God had said vnto him Thou shalt neither eat nor drink he was therefore killed in the way by a Lyon which met him Neuerthelesse as it may seeme for a monument of Gods mercie in forgiuing the sin of this Prophet he restrained the Lyon from deuouring his body as it is recorded in the same 13. chapter Reade also 2. King 23. 17. 18. In the reigne of the same Ieroboam the ancient Prophet Ahijah of Shilo who at the beginning told Ieroboam that he shold be king ouer the ten tribes of Israel he is now afterward toward the end of his wicked idolatrous reigne euen then when Ahijah could not see through the decay of his sight by reason of age the minister of God to prophesie against Ieroboam and his posteritie 1. King chap. 14. 2. 4. c. 18. This was fulfilled after that Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam had reigned two yeares For Baasha conspired against Nadab and slew him first thē also he smote all the house of Ieroboam according to the word of the Lord which he spake by his seruant Ahijah the Shilonite So we reade chap. 15. vers 27. 29. In the dayes of king Baasha who began his reigne ouer Israel in the third yeare of Asa king of Iuda Iehu the sonne of Hanani prophesied against Baasha like as the former two Prophetes had prophesied against Ieroboam 1. King 16. 1. c. In the dayes of Ahab who began his reigne ouer Israel in the 38. yeare of Asa king of Iuda prophesied Elijah that mightie Prophete of the Lord against Ahab his posteritie 1. King 17. c. He reduced the people of Israel to the acknowledgement of the true God of Israel He prophesied likewise by writing against Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat who left the good waies wherin his father had walked followed the wicked wayes of the kings of Israel For as the holie Storie saith he had the daughter of Ahab to wife and he wrought euill in the eyes of the Lord and compelled Iudah so to do Wherfore the Lord by his Prophet Elijah sent a grieuous prophesie threatening fearefull diseases and a horrible death against him which also tooke effect as we read 2. Chron. 21. Michaiah also the sonne of Imlah prophesied against wicked king Ahab 1. King 22. And before him another Prophet whose name is not expressed chap. 20. 41 42. But verses 13. 14 22. and verses 28 29. God sent a Prophete to prophesie vnto him his double victorie ouer the great armie of the Aramites In the reigne of Iehoram the sonne of Ahab and so forth vnto the reigne of Ioash the sonne of Iehu prophesied Elisha the prophet who succeeded Elijah in Israel 2. King chap. 3. c. and ch 13. vers 14. c. But before Elisha had receiued of the Spirit of Elijah the children of the Prophetes both they of Bethel and other which were at Iericho prophesied that God would in extraordinarie maner take away Elishaes master that is Eljiah from him 2. King chap. 2. 3. 5. In the reigne of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash prophesied Ionah the sonne of Amittai who was of Gath Hepher 2. King 14. 25. This was the same Ionah whom the Lord sent about the mid dle time of the reigne of Ieroboam to prophesie against Nineueh as we shal see further anon Prophetes vvhich prophesied more iointly both cōcerning Iuda also concerning Israel after their separation yea and some of thē euen after the captiuities of either of them HOsea prophesied in the reigne of the same kings of Iudah when Isaiah prophesied to wit in the dayes of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah with whom also are mentioned the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash king of Israell chap. 1. 1. of his prophesie to the end that Israel might the rather be admonished that his Prophesie belonged to them as ◅el as it did vnto Iudah for the reproofe of their sinnes for the comfort of either of them if they would repent and lay hold of the promises of the gospel which he by the spirit of prophesie published as belonging to them both In the reigne of the same Vzziah king of Iudah and in the the reigne of Ieroboam the son of Ioash king of Israel two yeares before the earthquake which was not long after the beginning of the reigne of Vzziah the Prophet Amos prophesied concerning Iudah and Israel though chiefly and for the most part concerning Israel chap. 1. 1. c. He prophesied particularly against Amaziah that malignant and proud priest of Bethel chap. 7. He prophesied also of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the captiuitie and restoring of the people of Iudah and Israel Finally he prophesied of the calling both of the Iewes and Gentiles
saying God will raise vp the tabernacle of Dauid c. ch 9. 1 c. 11. For the performance of which Prophecie reade the testimonie of the Apostle Iames Act. chap. 15. verses 12 14 15 16 17 18. Simeon hath declared how God did first visite the Gentiles to take of them a people to his name And to this agree the words of the Prophete as it is written After this I vvill returne and build againe the tabernacle of Dauid which is fallen downe c. that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord and all the Gentiles vppon whom my name is called saith the Lord which doth all these things And the Apostle addeth From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his vvorkes In the reigne of Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah kings of Iudah prophesied the Prophet Micah the Morashite concerning Samaria and Ierusalem chap. 1. 1. He plainely foretold the place where our Sauiour Christ should be borne that his kingdome shall be ouer all and for euer chap. 5. 1 2 c. Malachi the last of the Prophetes of the old testament he prophesied after that the Temple citie of Ierusalē were reedified by Zerubbabel and Ieshua and by the great helpe of Ezra and Nehemiah and after that the people had exceedingly corrupted both the worship of God and also their owne liues and conuersations as the Prophesie it selfe doth declare He foretolde the comming of our Sauiour Christ into his Temple and of the comming of Iohn Baptist before him vnder the name and by the mightie Spirit of Elijah that greate Prophete of God who as the Prophete Isaiah had prophesied manie yeares before chap. 40. verse 3 c. was a cryer in the wildernesse to call forth the people to come out to him but did not go to the Temple as Malachie prophesied that our Sauiour Christ should Reade the third chapter of his Prophesie verses 1 2 3 4. chap. 4. 1. c. And that his Prophesie concerned not onely Iudah but also all the rest of the scattered tribes of Israel it may appeare both by the words of the beginning of his Prophesie ch 1. ver◅ 1 2 3 4 5. and chap. 2. 11. and also the same may be euiden◅ from the conclusion ch 4 verses 4 5 and 6. Prophetes vvhich prophesied more sp◅ially concerning forreigne nations IOnah was in speciall maner sent of God to prophesie against Nineueh that great and chiefe citie of the Assyrians by whose Prophesie the citie was moued to repentance The time when he prophesied was noted before The Prophet Nahum also prophesied against Nineueh but after that time wherein Ionah prophesied and when they had left off to doe the workes of their former repentance Obadiah prophesied against Edome yea generally against all nations the enemies of Gods Church that they should drinke of the cup of Gods wrath Habakk◅k ◅rophesied against the Chaldeans when their hearts were lifted vp by their victories against the Assyrians and when their sinnes were growne vp neare to the full But he prophesieth saluation to all the faithfull whosoeuer shall beleeue in the name of Christ. For the iust as he saith shall liue by his faith chap. 2. 4. Read also his propheticall prayer in the third chapter Prophetes of the newe Testament THe Prophesie of the new Testament is indeed rather a most cleare lightsome full interpretatiō of all former Prophesies of the old Testament then any prediction or foretelling of things to come except the rising and fall of Antichrist yet because euen the things heretofore fore-told are more clearly fully reuealed by the brightnesse of the Gospel therfore in either respect both of interpretation and prediction the new Testament must be allowed to haue the honour of Prophetes as wel as the old The Prophetes therefore in the newe Testament were first of all those which prophesied immediately before and at the birth of our Sauiour Christ. Immediatly before first Elizabeth conceiued with Iohn the Baptist Luk. 1. 41 42 43 44 45. And then the Virgin Marie conceiued with our Sauiour Christ by the holy Ghost in the same chapter verses 46 47 c. 55. Thus was the conception of our Sauiour honored by the spirit of Prophesie And it pleased God to honour women as it were with the first fruites of this grace of the Gospell in their hearts like as it pleased him to vse them as his honourable instruments to serue for the manifestation of Christ himselfe the matter and argument of the whole mysterie of the Gospell Thirdly Zacharie whom vnbeleefe bereaued of the honour to be the first he prophesied both of the high office of Iohn and of the diuine person of our Sauiour Christ at the birth of Iohn in the same chap. vers 67 c. to the end of the chap. The Prophetes which prophesied at the birth of Christ that we may omit the Angels whom we cannot properly call Prophets though at this time they did prophesie that is in most excellent wise lay forth the singular causes of ioy which came to the world by the birth of a Sauiour euen Christ the Lord let vs come to the Shepheards to whom the Angels appeared to certifie them of the birth of Christ whom we may more boldly call by the name of Prophets seeing no doubt after they had seene Christ they were for the time indued with an excellent spirit of Prophesie to publish abroad that which was told them of that child euen to the wonderment of all that heard them Luke chap. 2. 16 17 18. Such were the Prophets more immediately before and at the birth of our Sauiour Christ. Now secondly touching those that prophesied somewhat longer after the birth of our Sauiour we will not make any great scruple to lend the name of Prophetes to the Magi or Sages and wise men which came out of the East to worship our Sauiour shortly after his birth For if they had not bene inlightned by the spirit of Prophesie in some measure they could neuer haue bene sufficiently incouraged by the starre to haue gone so great a iorney to seeke Christ as they did or boldened enough in a strange nation to inquire of him so vndoubtedly as they did in that they asked Where is the king of the Iewes which is borne For we haue seene his starre in the East and we are come to worship him Mat. 2. 2. And much lesse after they had found him in poore contemptible estate would they haue offered their gifts or presents as testimonies of their spirituall homage if they had not bin confirmed in their perswasion by the holy spirit of God vers 10. 11. After these Magi prophesied Simeon at the presentation of our Sauior Christ in the Temple Luke 2. 25. c. 35. And immediately after Simeon Anna a verie ancient Prophetesse vttered her prophesie confessing Christ so acknowledged of Simeon to be in truth the Lord. verses 36 37 38. Thus euen at the beginning of