Asa the King of Iudah insomuch that the King of Iudah was faine to hyre the King of Aram to assist him And there continued wars betwéene Asa and Baasha all their dayes to the great terrour and vndoing of the subiects on both sides Wherefore the Lord sent Iehu saying Forasmuch as I haue exalted thee out of the dust and thou notwithstanding hast walked in all the wayes of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne behold I will take away thy posteritie and will make thy house like his house So hée dyed hauing raigned foure and twenty yeares Iehu was a Prophet in his time Par. Who was the fourth King Past 1 King 16 8.9 Ela the sonne of Baasha Hée continued at Tirzah where Zimri his seruant killed him as he was drunke in his Stewards house after hée had raigned two yeares 1 King 16 9.10.11 to 19. Zimri raigned as King in the roome of Ela whom he had slaine He also slew all that pertained to Baasha euen euery one that were his friends or wel-willers according to that which the Lord had spoken by his Prophet Iehu because he and Ela his son had enforced the people of Israel to sinne against the Lord. When the people were in campe against Gibethon had heard that Zimri had slaine the King did set himselfe as king in his throne 1 King 16.16 to 28. they made Omri Captaine of the hoast King ouer Israell And when Zimri saw that the Citie Tirzah was taken hée went into his Palace and burnt himselfe and the Kings house and so dyed Then the people were diuided into two parts the one halfe followed Tibni the sonne of Ginath to make him king the other followed Omri to make him king But the people that followed Omri preuailed So Tibni dyed and Omri raigned twelue yeares wickedly as did Ieroboam and so dyed Par. Who was the fift king of Samaria Past Ahab his sonne 1 King 16 29.17.18.19.20.21.22 1. to 41. who did worse in the Lords sight then all that went before him And for the greater increase of his wickednesse hée marryed the Daughter of the Zidonian king who brought him to set vp Baall as a God And thus hée continued two and twenty yeares Hée had 450. false Prophets 1 King 7.1.2 to the end 18.1 to the end 19.1 to the end 2 Kin. 1.2 Eliah the Prophet of the Lord was in his time and an hundred other Prophets who laboured all that they could to conuert him But hée neuerthelesse encreased in wickednesse and slew all that called vpon the name of the Lord. Almighty God made the heauens as brasse and the earth as iron for the space of thrée yeares according to the words of Eliah insomuch as that there was a great dearth and famine But the Lord prouided miraculously for Eliah by the hands of the widow of Sarepta and by other meanes In the third yeare the Lord sent Eliah to Ahab who with his wife Iezabel excéeded in crueltie killing the Lords seruants and séeking in all Nations to finde him also But when Eliah met the King hée tolde him to his face that his sinne was the cause of Gods displeasure against Israel Afterwards Eliah and the people agréed that the God who answered by fire whether it were Baal or the God of Israel the same should be taken for the true GOD from thence forth And when the people had séene that Baal could doe nothing in the time of néede and the great power of God so admirable they cryed out and said The Lord is God the Lord is God And then the Lord of his mercy gaue them raine at the prayer of Eliah And yet notwithstanding this great worke of God by the hand of Eliah Iezabel the Quéene sought to kill Eliah so that hée was faine to hide himselfe and to flye from place to place as hée did before But the Lord had speciall care of him The assurance whereof was manifested vnto him by the miraculous worke of God renting the mountaines breaking the rockes and shaking the earth Iezabel his wife caused Naboth to be slaine that shée might enioy his Vineyard and againe the Lord of his mercies sent his Prophet Eliah to reproue him that hée might repent Afterwards Ahab was slaine in the battell with the king of Siria and hée was buryed in Samaria but his armour and his Chariot being washed in the poole of Samaria the dogs licked his bloud according to the word of the Lord after he had raigned two and thirty yeares Par. Who succeeded this wicked King Ahab in Samaria Past 1 King 22.51 2 King 1.1 to the end Ahaziah his sonne But he did worse as the holy Ghost reports For hée walked in the wayes of his Father in the wayes of his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat And when hée was sicke hée consulted with a witch hée dyed when hée had raigned two yeares Eliah was his Prophet through the mercy of God from whose mouth hée might haue knowne the minde of the Lord but hée would not Therefore in signe of Gods fearefull iudgements his Captaines ouer fifties were destroyed with fire from heauen at the prayer of Eliah Par. Who was the ninth king Past Iehoram his sonne 2 Kings 1.17.3.1 to the end 9. to the end Hée was not so wicked as his father nor so wicked as his mother For hée tooke away the Image of Baal that his father had set vp and yet hée cleaued to the abhomination of Ieroboam which made Israell to sinne and departed not there-from The king of Moab paid tribute vnto the king of Israell but when Ahab was dead hée refused to pay as he had done before Then king Iehoram tooke with him the king of Iudah and the king of Edom with all their power and went to warre against the king of Moab And when they came to a place where they wanted water Elisha being earnestly requested declared vnto them what successe they should haue against Moab and the Lord ministred vnto them a whole valley of water without winde or raine according as Elisha had said Hée was slaine of Iehu after hée had raigned twelue yeares 2 Kin. 4.1 to the end 5.1 to the end 6.1 to the end 7. to the end 8.1 to 16. Elisha was in his time who wrought many wonderfull things for the confirmation of his zeale and faith in the Lords businesse but it tooke no effect in him Par. Who succeeded Iehoram in Samaria Past Iehu a Captaine dwelling in Ramoth Gilead the sonne of Iehosaphat 2 Kin. 9.1 to the end 10.1 to the end the sonne of Nimshi according as the Lord had appoynted Hée slew Iehoram and his Wife Iezabell whose flesh the Dogges did eate according as the Prophet had foretolde Hée slew Ahabs Priests and all the sonnes of Ahab as the Lord had said Hée threw downe the Image of Baall and all that appertained vnto him Wherefore the Lord promised him that his
spake in olde â—ime as they were moued by the holy Ghost by meanes of which Spirit Moses was able to set downe as is specified in the said booke all that was spoken and done 2400. yeares before he was borne and of all things else most profoundly that should befall the children of Israell many hundred yeares after he was buryed yea most directly of things that should be performed vntill the birth of Christ The Prophets likewise doe testifie that they spake nothing of themselues concerning things to come but as the Lord by his Spirit did informe them which they vttered in these words Thus saith the Lord. The foure Euangelists in like manner disposing themselues seuerally to yéeld famous and renowmed testimony of Christ Iesus the holy Messiah they so agréed in their writings though many yeares and many miles sundred them as that their Gospels being compared together they al agrée for matter of waight and substance as if they had béen personally present the one with the other at one time And S. Paul writing his Epistles alwayes confessed that he deliuered them nothing for matter of doctrine and life more then that which was taught him and that which hée had receiued from the Lords owne hand directly All which manner of writing and forme of spéech plainely publisheth to all ages for euer the truth and dignitie of Gods word the plainnesse thereof to some and the profunditie therof to others Par. Now it remaineth by order to expostulate vpon the Creation which you said is one of the chiefest and most memorable matters in the first Obseruation tell me therefore what did God create the first day Past God made all things excéeding good euen out of that which was then without any preiacent matter or out of nothing and that not all together which he might well haue done but as it were by degrées day by nay night after night vpon diuine deliberation The very title or name giuen to this book imports in effect this wonderfull worke or creation of almightie God whence it is called Genesis that is to say a begetting generation or creation And the first day he created that stately Element of Fire which he gathered out of the whole masse setting it in the heauens as a glorious Globe whence it is said he made Light which indéede is nothing else but a qualitie of Fire in which wonderfull worke hée brought light out of darknesse as an Element impugning the former In this day hee created those celestiall Spirits which are called Angels Par. What was the second work Past The second dayes worke was that liuely Element of the ayre or firmament or as I may say more properly that vaste or void place betwixt the earth and the clouds which made a separation betwixt water and water and which giues breath and life to all liuing things The third day he made the Element of water which hée caused to retire into more proper places which fitly according to the qualitie thereof was called the Seas to wit a gathering together of waters The fourth Element of Earth which according to the qualitie thereof was called Dry land was also made and so continueth as vpon a firme foundation The generall creation of compound bodies were ordained for the inhabitants of this great element Earth In this general earthly creation his Maiestie goeth forward as from things that were vnperfect to that which was perfecter till at last he came to the most perfect as from trées hearbs and plants which haue onely life whereby they grow and increase vnto beasts which haue an increasing and a sensitiue life and from thence to Adam who hath a reasonable life with the increasing and sensitiue which Element of Earth his diuine Maiestie stored with all kinde of commodities méete for the vse of mankinde to be and to remaine for euer This order of Creation vpon a sodaine view may seeme strange to wit that God made corne grasse trées hearbes and such like to grow and to haue their being before celestiall bodies as the Sunne the Moone and Starres whence corne grasse and such like haue their growth and influence But being rightly and aduisedly considered the Almighty Creator shewes that increase propagation preseruation of all things consists onely in him and by him and not from the vertue of celestiall creatures as men haue imagined and spoken The fourth day God made lights the Sunne to rule the day the Moone and the Starres to gouerne the night both which are very great that they might the better giue light to the darke earth being so farre from the heauens These two great ornaments in the heauens doe distinguish betwixt day and night the moneth from the yeare one moneth from another and summer from winter The first day and night hée created in the night fishes in the day birds Fishes were compounded of the foure elements especially of the element of water whence it commeth that they liue in the waters Birds were made of all foure elements but especially of the ayre whence it comes that they take pleasure in the ayre The sixt day and night he made all sorts of beasts some to goe and some to créepe some wilde some tame God then made man in both kindes plurally to wit male and female and yet of single bodies the better to helpe one another and therefore said It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an helper like vnto himselfe He was made after all other creatures that hée might in the beholding thereof laud and magnifie his Creator The whole Trinitie deliberated and consulted concerning him which he did not concerning any other creature The seauenth day God dedicated by his owne rest and ceasing from labour for an euerlasting rest amongst all posterities For when heauen and earth was finished and furnished God said Behold I haue made all things and loe they are exceeding good Hée blessed that day he hallowed it and sanctified it to his owne honour and glory and to the commemoration of the eternall ioy peace and comfort of Adam who was fallen and risen againe in Christ Iesus Adam rested and sanctified that very next and first Sabaoth with inuocations and offerings c. Par. Seeing that God made all things so deliberately and as hee said exceeding good why did hee afterward destroy them with the inundations of waters Past Almighty God saw that the wickednes of man was great on earth and all the imaginations of his heart was euill continually the sonnes of God marryed with the daughters of men onely because they were faire and it repented the Lord that hée had made man therefore he said I will destroy man from the face of the earth Par. What say you of our first father Adam and of his originall Past Adam was made or created in the sixt day being Friday before the Iewish Sabaoth Par. What was that breath which God infused into Adam Past It was an immortall an inuisible and an Angelicall or
prophane vses to the seruice of the liuing God appointed at the Altar by praying by praising and by sacrificing for themselues and for the people in and about the Tabernacle whiles it was in vse and afterwards in the temple of Salomon Par. What is the seauenth and last particular to wit the Sabaoth Past The Sabaoth signifieth according to the deriuation thereof rest peace and quietnesse It was precisely kept thorow out all generations amongst the people of Israel vpon diuers and sundry expresse commandements so as neither man nor beast might be séene doing any bodily labour therein which outward rest had relation and reference to the inward affections of the Soule wrought by the spirit resting from sinne and all prophanenesse Therein also was an absolute representation of heauenly rest and peace of soule and of body in the life to come They might not gather Manna on the Sabaoth day though it came from heauen miraculously for the nourishment of their hungry bodies because they might be occupied in a more speciall businesse to wit in gathering spirituall Manna a foode for their soules The Lord of the Sabaoth vouchsafed to dignifie the Sabaoth with his owne personall presence and to make it a signe or pledge of warrantise betwixt his people and himselfe And this was published first by God himselfe secondly by Moses thirdly by Iesus Christ and fourthly by the Church This ceremoniall Sabaoth did properly point out a time publike for the ministration of the Law which immediate Sabaoths instituted by Moses are of diuers sorte A Sabaoth of yeares to wit euery seauenth yeare in which the Israelites might not till nor sow There was a Sabaoth euery fifty yeare in which was proclaimed a generall fréedome which yeare was called a yeare of Iubile The Noëmian is seauen months There is another externall and immediate Sabaoth to wit the Sunday or Lords day which God appointed to his Church There is also a spirituall Sabaoth to wit an holy rest from sin which only appertains to the elect such as of whom S. Paul speakes who liue not after the flesh but after the spirit these shal enioy the celestiall Sabaoth which is that most pure and perfect Sabaoth which was begun in the old Ceremoniall Law continued in the new Law and which shall be accomplished in the kingdome of heauen Par. What vse or profit haue we by the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall lawes Past The vse and profit is twofold one is an humbling of all sorts at the feet of God For when our sinnes are gathered together as it were on an heape and the entrance into our owne vnablenesse to make a kinde of satisfaction it must néedes strike a feare and a confusion into our hearts and thereby prostrate vs before God The other is the simple submission and yéelding vp of all the functions and offices of soule and body which is vnpossible for man to doe because the soule doth consist of a minde and of affections and the minde doth consist of vnderstanding iudgement and memory all which are decaied and to no purpose for the worke of our redemption Yea all the members of mans body and all the parts thereof which should be imployed in his holy worship doe easily and plainely bewray their stubbornenesse negligence and contempt Par. What is the sum or principall matter in the booke of Numbers besides the numbring of the people which maketh the booke called Numbers Past Moses therein setteth down diuers Lawes some for the Nazarits some against fornication People sedition Leuites ignorance Priests incredulity Sabaoth murmuring Sanctuary  The fift Particular concerning Iosua Par. Now I desire to know who wrote the booke of Iosua Past Iosua or Iesus the sonne of Nun carieth the title of this Booke because he and Eliazar did penne the same He was a most feruent follower of the faith therefore by faith most admirably he slew mighty Kings Iosua 10.26 euen one and thirty in number and deuided their dwellings and their lands by lots amongst the people of Israel 11.12 according to the word of the Lord many hundred yeares before He resembled Iesus Christ the ouer-ruling and euerlasting Conquerour He was thrée and fifty yeares old before he came from Egypt he ruled seauent éene yeares 24.29.30 he died when he was one hundred and tenne yeares old and was buried in mount Ephraim which was his owne limitation border or lot Par. What speciall matter haue I to marke therein Past The booke deuides it selfe by chapters after this manner in regard of the matter From Chapter the 1 to chapter the 6 comprehending Iosua hisstory the story of the Spies the story of Iordan Circumcision and Passeouer 6 13 the story of the Gibeonites Sacriledge the sacking of Cities and killing of Kings 13 20 Cities of refuge the Leuites portion Manasses tribe Iosua his zeale 20 24 Israel haue now rest Ruben Gad and Manasses are sent to their inheritances Iosua exhorts the people and dieth The sixt Particular concerning the booke of Iudges Past This booke according to the Gréeke and Latines is called Iudicum because indéede the matter principall is concerning the gouernment of Gods people vnder Iudges from the death of Iosua vnto Hely the high priest about 299. yeares and Samuel wrote it Par. Declare vnto me the Iudges in their order and by their names Past As I haue set them down so haue you néede to be perfect in their particular stories Othoniel of the tribe of Iudah who gaue them rest 40. yeares Ehud of the tribe of Beniamin who gaue them rest 18. yeares Deborah and Barack of the tribe of Ephraim who raigned 40. yeares Gedeon of the tribe of Ephraim who slew his brethren was slaine himselfe ruled 40. yeares Abimelech of Isachars tribe 23. yeares Tola of Manasses tribe 22. yeares Iair of Ephraim 16. yeares Iepthe and Abesan of Iudah 7. yeares Eglon of the tribe of Zabulon who ruled 10. yeares Abden of the tribe of Manasses who ruled 8. yeares Sampson of the tribe of Dan who ruled 20. yeares Hely of the tribe of Leui who ruled 40. yeares These Iudges continued in story 450. yeares reckoning withall the yeares of the oppressors Par. Who were the oppressors Past These they were by their names and by their succession Philistines Cananites Sidonians Heuites Chusan vnder whom Israell were in bondage 8. yeares Eglon King of Moab vnder whom they liued in bondage 18. yeares Iabine and Sisera King of Canaan vexed them 20. yeares Madianites vexed them 7. years Amalekites they of the East with their Captaines Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Zalmana Kings of Madian Philistines who vexed them 18. yeares Ammonites who vexed them 40. yeares Par. Who wrote the Booke of Ruth Past Samuell the Prophet is said to write this Booke because the Hebrewes doe reckon it and the Booke of Iudges as one for Ruth liued when Deborah ruled Israell Par. What was this woman of what Nation or kindred Past Shée was a Moabitish
course ten thousand a moneth hée had twentie thousand that bare burdens and fourescore thousand Masons in the mountaines hée had thrée thousand and thrée hundred men that ruled the workmen The holy Ghost maketh mention that it was built in the 480. 1 Kin. 6.1 yeare after the people of Israell came out of Egypt 2 Cro. 4. and in the fourth yeare of King Salomons reigne It contained thrée roomes that were specially dedicated The first roome was called Salomons porch or hall of the Iewes wherein was an Altar of brasse for burnt offering Therein was the fire of God continually maintained There the common people offered burnt offerings morning and euening of such things as were brought There Christ taught there Peter wrought miracles The second part or roome of the Temple was called Holy because none might enter into it but the Priests who were many and they were distinguished into 24. Orders In it was an Altar of Gold whereon was burnt Incense for a swéet sacrifice morning and euening There were the golden Candlestickes and the Lampes burning day and night there were two golden cups with Frankinsence and that fine and costly vaile which at the death of Christ was rent from the top to the bottome The third part or roome was called the Holy of Holiest In it was the inner house or Oracle made with Sethim wood and Cedar couered with gold within and without Into this place none entered but the high priest and that but once a yeare to offer for the sinnes of the people Whereby was figured the propitiation of Christ once for all In the middest thereof was the Arke the two tables of the Law the pot of Manna Aarons rod flourishing the Booke of Deuteronomie Gods oracles and his answeres Neare thereto was an Ile that did pertaine to the Gentiles and to all people cleane vncleane therfore it was called the court of the Gentiles There was the treasurie for the poore there the widow offered her mite There the woman was discharged by Christ which was taken in adultery Par. What difference or oddes I pray you was there betweene the Temple and the Tabernacle Past Indéede if you compare the Tabernacle the Parts Roomes Furniture and Ordinances thereof with the Temple you shall finde little oddes or difference The first part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation analogie and reference to the people of the old world before the floud and thence to the giuing of the Law The second part of the Temple and Tabernacle had reference analogie and coherence to the Church and Synagogue of the Iewes with all their lawes and Ceremonies prefiguring Christ The which people properly did appertaine vnto God And the shadowing of the Mercie-seate signified their defence The third part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation and analogie both to the Iewes and Gentiles which were to be saued and to be brought by Election and Grace vnto the marriage of the Lambe Christ Iesus which thing was signified by the throwing downe of the partition wall and by the renting of the vaile Thus the Temple and the Tabernacle being one in substance and thrée in vse may well be compared to the holy and blessed Trinitie Par. Where was the Temple built Past It is plainly recorded 2 Chro. 3.1 that this famous building was on mount Moriah where Adam was created Gen. 2. neare the Garden of Eden where Adam fell where Isaac was offered where Sem or Melchisedech dwelt and ruled with peace and iustice like the sonne of God The which place was first called Salem vpon Isaacs offering Ierisalec and now Ierusalem Par. Declare vnto mee briefly concerning the dedication of the Temple Past King Salomon and all the men of Israell assembled according to their degrées and they brought vp the Arke of the Lord from the house of Abinadab into the Citie of Dauid 1 King 8. which is Zion and they brought the Tabernacle of the congregation and all the holy vessels that were in the Tabernacle those did the Priests and Leuites bring vp Then hée and the people offered vnto the Lord innumerably And a cloud filled the Lords house for the glory of the Lord was there Toward the which King Salomon turning himselfe and lifting vp his hands and eyes vnto heauen desired the Lord to dedicate that place to the honour of his name and that it might be to be comfort of his people that called vpon him in that place And when hée had ended his prayer he stood vp and blessed the people The first Particular concerning the Kings of Israell and Iudah Parishioner I Would gladly know the stories of these Kings and their Prophets in their order Past First 1 Kin. 12. you must vnderstand that immediately after the death of King Salomon the same great and renowmed kingdome of the Hebrewes 1 King 11.11.12.13 was diuided into two parts according as the Lord had fore-spoken But after 490. yeares were expired it was ioyned together againe Ezec. 37.16.17.18.19 20. according as the holy prophet Ezechiel had fore-told Par. Declare vnto me the manner of this diuision or ruine Past Ieroboam 1 King 11.26 to 40. the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons seruant according to the word of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had ten Tribes of Israell that held and tooke part with him that he should be king who placed his seat and pallace in Samaria and his kingdome was thenceforth called the kingdome of Israell The other part of that famous kingdome Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon possessed which was the lesser part for onely two Tribes held with him His seat was at Ierusalem and his kingdome was called the kingdome of Iudah Thus you may sée two Kings in one kingdome which indéede is prodigious Par. Now declare vnto mee why the whole kingdome was thus deuided and so miserably distressed Past I will answer you with Gods owne words Because they haue forsaken me saith the Lord 1 King 11.33 and worshipped Astaroth the god of the Zidonians and Chemosh the god of the Moabites and Milcom the god of the Ammonites and haue not walked in my wayes to doe right in mine eyes and for the sinnes of Salomon Par. How did the one and the other of these kings behaue themselues towards God Past Ieroboam 1 King 12.26 to 31. the king of Israel thought in his heart and said If this my people goe vp and doe sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Ierusalem then shall the people turne againe vnto the Lord and so cleaue vnto Rehoboam the King of Iudah Whereupon the King tooke counsell and made two calues of gold the one hée set vp at Bethel the other at Dan. Whose priests hée made of the lower sort and basest amongst the people and he commanded all his subiects to goe thither and worship them as their gods The other part of the kingdome that
that hée can alter their natures and qualities euen as the time and occasion is offered The seauenth Obseruation comprehending Dan. 6. to the end Ezra Nehemiah Hester Haggi Zachariah and Malachi Parishioner IN this chapter Daniel makes mention of foure most strange and fearefull beasts to wit 1 a Lyon with Eagles wings chopt off 2 Beare with three ribs in his mouth 3 Leopard with foure wings 4 Beast out of the Sea with Iron teeth 10. hornes Declare vnto me the meaning thereof Past These foure beasts haue relation and speciall reference to the Image which Nabuchadnezar did sée before Dan. 2. For that Image which he saw according to his blinde and carnall affections goodly glorious and most excellent the very same God shewes vnto Daniel in another sort to wit in a beastly manner and in a terrible sort Wherein God shewed how great a difference is betwixt the carnall mans affection and the spirituall mans affection what the one sées and what the other sées And as in the former vision of Nabuchadnezar the enemies of Gods people were described by their names so in this vision shewed to Daniel they are described by their natures The name of the first is Nabuchadnezar Euilmerodech and Baltashar whose natures were as this sauage Lyon The name of the second beast is Cirus and Darius who in nature were like a Beare renting and tearing Gods Saints The name of the third beast was Alexander whose nature was like a Leopard The fourth beast was the Romane Emperours which here for their natures are likened to a beast with iron téeth Par. What is meant by the Ramme and the Goate in this chapter Past To this belongs the belly and thighes of brasse spoken of in Nabuchadnezars first vision which doth signifie Alexander the great and his foure Captaines Par. Chap. 18. What is there meant by Daniels seauenty weekes Past Dan. 9. Leu. 25. The Angell which spake to Daniell of seauenty wéekes meaneth for euery day in euery such weeke a yeare according to the accompt of the Iubile yeare The whole amounteth according to that reckoning to 490. yeares The same Angell for perspicuity sake diuides these seauenty wéekes into thrée parts after this manner The first part from the going out of the commandement concerning the fréeing of the people of Israell in the first yeare of the raigne of Darius to builde the Temple of the Lord at Ierusalem shall be seauen weekes that is to say nine and forty yeares The second part of the Angels diuision of time is thus Threescore and two weekes shall be a troublesome time after the which the prince of peace shall be slaine and he shall destroy the citie and the sanctuary The third part or diuision of time stands in these words He shall confirme the couenant with many for one wéeke meaning for one wéeke seauen yeares a day for a yeare And in the middest of the wéeke he shall cause the sacrifice to cease meaning by the middest of the weeke thrée yeares and a halfe Par. What is meant by the vision of Daniell which was so fearefull vnto him Past The vision which he saw did relate and signifie that the Temple which was in building at Ierusalem by the commandement of King Cirus should now be hindered by wicked Cambises his sonne who ordered the kingdome of Babilon whiles his father waged warre with the Scythians Par. What is meant by the second vision which Daniell did see so exceeding glorious Past Therein was described by particulars or parts Christ Iesus who in the fulnesse of time should come Reu. 1. The like description is made of Christ in the Reuelation He is called Michaell the prince and leader of the Iewes This Michaell fought against the Diuell for the peace of his Saints and preuailed in nine and forty yeares as was fore-told Par. How fell it out that he onely saw the vision and they which were with him saw it not Past By the saint is shewed that the wicked being yet vnregenerated cannot sée those spirituall things of God which the Saints and children of God doe sée Neither can they abide the glorious presence of his Maiesty which is ioyfull and comfortable to the godly Par. What is meant by the King of Persia who resisted one and twenty dayes and loe Michael one of the chiefe Princes helped Past The Prince of Persia Gréekes and others haue relation specially to the Diuell who stirred strife and euery way séeketh the dishonour of God Par. What is the effect or summe of Daniels prophesie in this chapter Past Whereas before in the ninth chapter and foure and twenty verse the Angell in the diuision of the seauenty wéekes reckoned seauen wéekes to the building of the Temple and in the tenth chapter the trouble that fell out about the same in nine and forty yeares Dan. 11. in this chapter he sets out in a kinde of prophecy vnder whom the Iewes should be yet vexed vnto the comming of Christ for the space of 62. wéekes that is to say 434 years namely by Cirus Cambises Sanerdes Darius Histaspis Ahasuerus Zerxes and Darius Longhand his sonne Par. What is meant by the 62. weekes after which he saith Christ shall be slaine Past He vnderstandeth that after these yeares of trouble the Prophecie of Iacob shall come to passe in which he said that the Scepter shall not depart from Iudah till Shilo come Meaning thereby that euen then when as there is no King in Iudah of their owne nation Christ shall come Par. What is your iudgement farther concerning this Chapter Past In this Chapter is most effectually set out a liuely description of Antichrist as it were in his colours First of all he is said to contemne Gods word secondly his pride Dan. 11. thirdly his deniall of Matrimony fourthly his Idolatry and fiftly his vtter ruine And afterward in the twelfth chapter is shewed the persecution of Christs elect the generall resurrection the power of the word the reward of the godly the end of the world Par. Declare vnto me somewhat concerning Ezra Past Ezra was a Scribe to Ieremy and afterwards a Priest of the Lord. In which office hée did behaue himselfe zealously and faithfully This Ezra Ezra 7.6 to the end vpon the commandement of Darius King of Persia went from Babell with a mighty band and came to Ierusalem in the seauenth yeare of the kings raign hauing a great multitude of the people Israel infinite treasures of siluer and gold towards the â—â—â—…hing and furnishing of the Temple which was ruinated and spoyled by Nabuchadnezar The number of them that came from Babilon with Ezra Ezra 8.9.10 and his zealous order for religion you may reade at large In the second chapter of this booke also is mention of Zorobabell who first of all brought a great company of the Israelites from Babilon to Ierusalem at the commandement of Cirus the King who succéeded Darius Which King Cirus by euill suggestion
A PLAINE AND perfect Method for the easie vnderstanding of the whole BIBLE CONTAINING Seauen Obseruations Dialoguewise betweene the PARISHIONER and the PASTOR LONDON Printed by T. S. for the Widow Helme and are to be sould at her shop in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet 1617. TO THE RIGHT Reuerend Father in God the Lo Bishop of Lichfield and Couent My LORD MY Honourable good Lord these are to signifie vnto you that whereas I published in print many and sundry Bookes for the reading and vnderstanding of the sacred Scriptures and my selfe being worne with age neare vnto the poynt of my pilgrimage concluded with my selfe long since there to surcease Neuerthelesse of late my Lord I was importuned for the new Impression of this Booke which almost twelue yeares since hath beene in request whereunto I willingly yeelded the rather vnder your Lo fauour and protection being my Honourable good neighbour although not worth nor worthy your reading For had it not beene anciently and truely said that Hee is freer from blame that praiseth the dead then he that praiseth the liuing when the praiser cannot be moued with flattery nor the praised with vaine-glory then should I haue spoken of your Lo more worthy deserts and that whiles you are aliue which I therefore must leaue to doe to the best learned in the Land when you are dead And whereas also I durst not so much as thinke my writing fit your graue and profound reading I doe here therefore humbly acquaint your Lo that the contents thereof is a kinde of Scripture Catechisme by way of Questions and Ausweres betweene the Pastor and the Parishioner the one plainly and diuinely the other a little Philosophically and plausibly for the manner of handling And so nothing doubting of your Lo good acceptance I humbly take my leaue heartily desiring the Lord of eternall life that by your good meanes wee in these parts and in your Iurisdiction may haue a more peaceable proceeding in our preaching and that the sincere professors thereof may by you and such like be more and more countenanced and comforted as your Lordship hath well and graciously begun to the glory of God to the sauing of many thousand soules and to your owne heauenly happinesse Your Lo most humbly and dutifully in the Lord ED VAVGHAN Pastor of Stretton Leafield in the County of Darby neare Clifton Camuill A PREFACE to my Countrey-men of WALES and especially to my Countrey-men and Kinsmen of that ancient Borough of Abergevenny in the County of Monmouth MAy it please you to remember about some thirtie yeares since I wrote vnto you a Booke entituled A method for the reading and vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures the contents of my Epistle vnto you was if euer you would duly tender and apply the merits of Iesus Christ to the sauing health of your soules and the like good vnto your deare children that euery man should liue not according to blinde zeale and olde traditions but according to the line and leuell of holy Scriptures which measureth and weigheth as with a golden Reede and in the Ballance of the Sanctuary whatsoeuer is due to euery man and according as he is able to vse And that the performance thereof could not be without the true sight and perfect knowledge of the said diuine Oracles Therefore I exhorted you in the feare of God vnto the carefull and diligent reading and hearing of the same priuately and publikely To all which intents and purposes I doe here againe in another sort and kinde write vnto you and that more briefly humbly and heartily desiring you all euen for Iesus Christ his sake and for your owne soules sake you will sometimes sequester your selues from your publike affaires and sometimes from your most priuate occasions for the orderly and thorow reading hereof assuring you vpon mine owne experience and vpon the iudgement of the best learned writers that there is nothing so effectuall in all the world to moue a regenerate man to solace in sorrow to mourne in mirth and to apprehend rightly the vse of all good means which God hath left in his Church for the sauing of soule and body as the reading meditating and contemplating in the holy Booke of God giuen vnto vs by inspiration Thus I end heartily neare the period of my life desiring your euerlasting saluation in IESVS CHRIST as mine owne EDWARD VAVGHAN of Stratton Leafield in the County of Darby Late of S. Leonard Shoreditch Some briefe and necessary Introductions to the reading of this Booke by way of Questions and Answers betweene the Parishioner and the PASTOR The Lamentation of a sorrowfull sinner Parishioner HAuing seriously and sincerely searched into the most allowable and laudable things of this life I finde Right reuerend Pastor that these titles Master Worshipfull and Honourable stand not in the dignitie that men haue but in the good workes whereby they deserue and yet for all that I finde that many are violently pulled downe without fault and many are fauourably set vp without merit Moreouer I finde that when flourishing state is perpendicular or when men are at the highest then comes that euill day bringing with it fearefull gusts from the South and thunderbolt-lightnings from the North Then all turneth like to the sacietie of honey which is loathsome to the stomacke and like to ouermuch fecunditie which neuer comes to maturitie Againe I finde although a man haue the strength of Sampson Iudg. 16.3 Dan. 2.5 2 Kin. 5.1 the power of Nabuchadnezer the riches of Baltashar and the applauditie of Naaman in the Court and in the Kingdome for 500. yeares continuance without any impeachment all are nothing all are but fantasticall and sightly to the eye as those Kingdomes which the Diuell offered to Christ Mat. 4. Num. 32.33 or as this side Iordan to Ruben Gad and halfe the tribe of Manasses in respect of Canaan or as Canaan in respect of the Kingdome of heauen And whiles I thus searched into other mens estates and did behold their lamentable lapses I found my selfe of the number which is innumerable that make no care of the Lords Sabaoths that make no conscience of his Euangelicall doctrine nor any regard of them that doe sincerely and purely professe Christ Iesus O how surpassing sorrowfull are the sights of these sinnes sodainly vnto me Wormwood Aloes and Centory was neuer so bitter to the mouthes of men as these sinnes are tedious and troublesome to my minde O what cause haue I to call to cry and to curse the time the place and the persons that procured me thus wilfully as it were to forsake my Sauiour And why doe I thus heauily complaine for these few sinnes seeing I haue many other sinnes For as at a marriage men are made merry with Musicke and with varietie of meates so is my poore heart and soule made heauy and fearefull with the varietie of my sinnes As true loue to a vertuous woman that comes too late doth not desire
bad shall rise at the last day and such like matters cannot be comprehended by the naturall man therefore he must attaine vnto it by Faith This Faith traines vs to a third kinde of Faith For in euery Triangle there are thrée lines the first beginneth the second augmenteth and the third finisheth the figure euen so there are thrée kindes or sorts of Faith the first is Historicall to wit an assent to the truth of the Scriptures the second Legall when a man stands partly vpon his works for iustification the third is Euangelicall to wit a Faith that procéedes from Grace and thence takes way to the apprehending of Christs merits onely for his iustification This is the true and catholicke Faith the other may be in the Diuell This true faith which yéeldeth testimonie to Gods word is battered and bruised by many temptations but neuer broken because it takes hold in méekenesse on Christ Hée that hath this faith contents himselfe with weake meanes because hée knowes that God is powerfull in them and hée contents himselfe without meanes because it is all one with his Maiestie and yet hée omits not the opportunitie nor any good that is offered To conclude this faith is not idle it worketh by loue it euer sanctifieth and is profitable to euery good worke The Sinner desireth to know how to attaine Faith Parishioner EPaminondas the Theban being in the danger of death was tolde that his Buckler was sound and vnbroken Ruben Simeon and Leui when they had vnnaturally handled their brother Ioseph brought their Father his coate to comfort him euen so all that you haue said and done is little worth or rather an aggrauation of my griefe vnlesse you will direct mee a ready way or shew mee a perfect course how I shall obtaine faith that great and effectuall instrument of comfort to the conscience of saluation to the soule The Bee in a storm can counterpaize her selfe with a stone that shee may flye directly to her hiue The hedgehog can make two holes in his caue the one towards the South if the winde be North the other towards the North if the winde be South The Foxe can cure himselfe with the iuyce of Pine tree the Serpent can cure himselfe with Fennel the Tortise with Margerom but as for me silly soule light or heauy siâ—ke or whole sincke or swimme I haue no meanes of comfort I haue no place to hide my selfe nor helpe to flye away Christ said to a rich man concerning a pearle that was precious Goe sell all that thou hast and buy that pearle O that Christ of his mercies would say so vnto me then would I sell all and giue all if it would not be so bought I would giue my life to boot Lord then would I flie away and be no more seene then would I hide my selfe in some great Obeliske for euer nay then would I mount vp aboue the skies in the flames or sparks of Gods fiery chariot into the glorious presence of his all-sufficient Maiestie and into the ioyes of my most faithfull affected friends whose ioy would be my ioy O how am I rauished now with holy desires O how doe I long to change the company of men for the company of Angels nay the company of Saints militant for the company of Saints triumphant Come Lord Iesus O come and welcome Lord Iesus come come and welcome As good Mary said to the Angell How can this be since I know not man so say I vnto you O my good Pastor how can this be since I know not Faith nor where to finde it O that I might haue the answere of the Angell who said to Mary The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the Highest shall ouershadow thee O then should I not faile of Faith An Answere how to attaine Faith Pastor AS Ananias spake swéetly and comfortably vnto Saul Acts 9. Brother Saul the Lord euen Iesus hath sent me that thou mightest receiue thy sight euen so I perceiue by your godly desires and by your zealous prayers I may say vnto you from the ministery of his holy word swéetly comfortably Brother and faithfull seruant of God I am ordained and sent to say vnto thee and to assure thée that by the preaching of the Gospell thou shalt haue faith and that the scales of ignorance infidelitie and such like shall fall from thée As the Lord himselfe said to Ananias Seeke in the house of Iudas for one called Saul for behold he prayeth goe thy way he is a chosen vessell vnto mee So the Lord saith vnto you séeke in my holy word for my spirit thou shalt haue faith and shalt be a chosen vessel vnto me And as Saul saw in a vision Ananias laying his hands on him that he might receiue his sight so will the Lord reueale vnto you and lay his blessed hands on you that you may receiue faith For the better testimony and assurance hereof harken how our fauiour Christ reasoneth with the murmering maligning Iewes concerning their incredulitie and concerning this question which you put forth What shall we doe that we might doe the workes of God Hee answered thus It is the worke of God that ye beleeue in him whom hee hath sent Io. 6.29 To which effect Saint Paul reasoneth with the Romans Ro. 10.9 saying Whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saued Which proposition he vnfoldeth with three interrogations or obiections as it were on the contrarie and then concludes as vpon a necessary consequence that Faith iustifieth and Faith is obtained by the word preached The first of which interrogations is How shall they call on him in whom they haue not beleeued As if hee had said there is no calling vpon God without faith The second is How shall they beleeue on him of whom they haue not heard As if hée would say no man can haue Faith without the hearing of Gods word And the third is How can a man heare without a Preacher As if he had said there is no benefit of hearing the word without a preacher The conclusion is then that Faith commeth by the hearing of Gods word preached Thus also it may be said on the contrary as the interrogations are laid Take away the preacher take away the word take away the word take away hearing take away hearing take away Faith take away Faith take away calling vpon God take away calling vpon God take away saluation in Christ The same Apostle in the same place magnifying the ministery of Gods word and the excellencie of things which faith bringeth cries out emphatically O how beautifull are the feete of them that bring tidings of peace As if he had said it is farre more ioyfull and farre more profitable for a Christian congregation to sée a Preacher come amongst them because of faith which they are to receiue by his preaching then it is to sée a Prince who notwithstanding his great maiestie must
be done after The words are these Thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and so forth Setting forth plainely that the householder was to rehearse or to repeate vnto his people the lawes and ordinances of God so often as that thereby they were to be found expert in the knowledge thereof When God was to destroy Sodome and Gomorha for their sinnes Deut. 18.17.18.19 he told Abraham thereof and why Because as hée said Abraham would command his Sonnes and his household after him that they should kéepe the way of the Lord. And doth not the Lord by the preaching of his word specially warne euery householder of fearefull and ineuitable plagues that shall fall vpon swearers drunkards whoremongers contemners of his word violaters and prophaneâ—s of his Sabaoths and so of all other sinnes To what end doth the Lord so particularly by his word in that place and in many more particulate the sinnes of the wicked and their plagues Is it not because the young should know it and be warned by it so well as the old And who should so specially looke vnto their profiting therein as hée vnder whose worldly and bodily charge they are And why doth God so charge the Pastor for the publike publication of his will is it not because the maisters of households should with the like charge receiue it from them and deliuer it vnto their people Truely nothing is more plaine Haue wée not in this Christian kingdome thrée speciall Censures of great force against such children and seruants as doe wilfully refuse or negligently demeane themselues in these orders which are set forth by almighty God The first Censure is that none such shall vndertake for any childe as Godfather or Godmother the second is that hée or shée shall not be admitted to the holy Communion and the third is that he or she shall not enter into the holy estate of Matrimony As these Censures are grieuous and shamefull to household so are they no doubt grieuous and shamefull to the householder And againe in fortie dayes standing forth without reformation after the decrée of the Ordinary they fall into a more grieuous Censare to wit into the sentence of Excommunication and that iustly by the which they are made vncapable of the benefit of his Maiesties lawes vncapable of Christian company and vncaple of any vse of Gods holy word in the congregation and in priuate at home vncapable of baill or maine-prise vncapable of their owne goods vncapable of christian buriall and by the reuealed word of God vncapable of the resurrection with the body of Christ to the ioyes of heauen For the Pastors discharge in the execution of these thrée first censures hée hath the aduertisements he hath the articles of inquirie at euery visitation hée hath his Maiesties Iniunctions and his Maiesties Statute-lawes and that which is most current and conscionable the law of almighty God Here I might say more but I hope that which I haue said already will proue sufficient for you and for such householders and households that be of God Par. I am perswaded concerning this question and here I promise you that for my owne part I will vse all meanes that are good and all diligence that is conuenient as well for my household as for my selfe To the end therefore that I may be the better able to accomplish the one and the other I pray you prescribe vnto me an order how wee shall reade the booke of GOD. Seauen obseruations Pastor I Will contriue the old Testament for your better direction and stay of memorie into seaâ—en obseruations as indéede the times places and persons principally doe occasion wherein you haue néede to be perfit for it is the maine matter and ground worke of our enterprise The 1 is from the Creation to the Flood of Noah 2 Flood Birth of Abraham 3 Birth Departing of Israel out of Egypt 4 Departing Building of Salomons Temple 5 Building Captiuating of Iudah and Ierusalem 6 Captiuitie Proclamation of Cyrus for their liberty 7 Proclamation Incarnation of Iesus Christ our sacred Redeemer Par. Now I pray you declare vnto me where euery of these obseruations doe begin and where they end in the bookes and chapters of the Bible Past Your question is very necessary and profitable I answere therefore that The 1 Obseruation beginneth at Gen. 1. and endeth at Gen. 9. 2 Gen. 9. Gen. 12. 3 Gene. 12. Exod. 12. 4 Exod. 12. 1 King 5. 5 1 King 5. 2 King 25 6 Daniel Chap. 1. 2.3.4.5 7 Ezra  Nehem.  Hester   Daniel 6.7 to the end  Haggi  Zacha.   Malach  Par. I thinke it very conuenient that you doe set downe how long euery of these Obseruations or Ages did last Past The exact knowledge of the Times will fall out hereafter to be most néedefull faile not therefore as you procéede to carie it in your memory The first Obseruation or Age amounteth to 1656. yeares which I proue by the Ages of these ten holy Fathers thrice reckoned in Gen. 5. to wit Adam who liued exactly 930 yeares Seth 912 Enos 905 Kenan 900 Mahalael 895 Iared 942 Henoch 365 Mathusalah 969 Lamech 777 Noah 500. at the flood Their yeares are specially laid downe to instruct the world in two things One as a golden réede to measure the Age of the old world before the Flood The other that God sets down in his owne counsell the very yeare and day of euery mans departure out of this world Make your Addition and you shall finde my computation right 1656. Par. I am well and plainely satisfied concerning the first I pray you in like manner shew me and proue vnto me the Time or Age of the second The Age of the second Obseruation Past The second Obseruation or Age of the world amounteth to 323. yeares which also I proue by the Genealogie of other ten holy Fathers immediately after the Flood to wit these Gen. 11. Sem the flood one year Arphaxad 2 yeares Sale 35 Heber 30 Peleg 34 Regue 30 Sarug 32 Nahor 30 Terah 29 Abraham 70 These Fathers and their yeares are specially set down for thrée causes First to approue the age of the story Secondly to continue the Genealogie of Christ Thirdly to teach all nations that as the decease of the former fathers did declare the certainty of the time in which euery man is to die so these fathers by their conceptions which are named doe teach and point out a certaine time of euery mans comming into the world not sooner nor later The Age of the third Obseruation Par. Next in order I pray you set downe the continuance of the third Obseruation or Age. Past The third Obseruation lasted 505. years which I plainly proue by the Stories of these thrée holy Fathers or Patriarches to wit Abraham Isaac and Iacob Abraham begat Isaac when he was a 100. yeares old Isaac begat Iacob when he was 60. yeares old Iacob with his household came
promise or blessing Past It was that in his séede all nations of the earth should be blessed in which words was Christ Iesus the Messiah closely and secretly promised The third Particular Par. Declare briefely the story of Zodomes burning Past After the Lord had béene with Abraham to renue the promise vnto him concerning a Sonne his Maiesty imparts vnto him the desolation and destruction hanging ouer Zodom and Gomorrha because of their sinnes Whereupon Abraham being moued with pity intreateth the Lord for them whose request was heard vpon condition that if there were found ten righteous he would not destroy the wicked for their sakes which ten not being found the fire came downe from heauen and destroied all sauing Lot his wife and two daughters Par. Why did God impart the destruction of these wicked men to him might not he haue done it without his priuity Past Yea God might haue done then as now Gen. 18.18.19 what he would and without the knowledge of any sauing that Abraham was to be a great Nation and I know him saith the Lord that he will command his household that they kéepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse Par. What is meant by this that is said Gen. 18.1.2 The Lord appeared to Abraham and in the next verse Behold three men appeared vnto him as he sat in his Tent Past Therein was declared the singularity and plurality of persons in the Deity one in thrée and thrée in one which the holy man Abraham manifested by their entertainment For it is said hée saw thrée but he reuerenced and worshipped one Par. How came it to passe that Lot hauing had such speciall fauour committed incest with his owne daughters a double sin doubly performed Past Almighty God in the vprightnesse of his iustice gaue him and his daughters into their owne wils or rather into reprobate mindes to worke such vncleannesse of the flesh shewing thereby how greatly he had sinned by infidelity when he forsooke the citie Zoar which God had granted him for feare of the fire which was round about him but nothing neare to hurt him and would rather depend and relie vpon his owne wits and prouision The fourth Particular Par. Rehearse briefely the story of Isaac Past This Isaac is he of whom the promise was made Gen. 21.1 to Abraham his father in the chapters going before who should multiply in number as the sand at the shore of the Sea and as the Starres in heauen out of whose séede also Christ should be expected for The manner of his conception and birth was so admirable as did in some sort foretell and prefigure Christ For it is said that he was an hundred yeares old when Isaac was borne yea so old was he and his wife that they had left off to be together as man wife which made her to laugh when the matter was moued vnto her Neuerthelesse according to the time which the Lord God had foretold Sarah conceiued and Isaac was born According to which admirable conception Christ was conceiued and according to which wonderfull birth Christ was borne both the one and the other were performed duely and substantially beyond the vse of reason and beyond the vnderstanding of all men Par. What haue we to learn herein to wit by the strangenesse of Isaacs conception and birth Past By the conception birth of Isaac which was not to be déemed in the vse of reason all men are driuen from themselues as it were to abiure the expostulation with flesh and bloud when as the Lord hath giuen out his word For howsoeuer it may séeme vnto the naturall man vnpossible and incredible yet to the spirituall man who hath the eyes of faith fixed on Gods promises the same things are easte Par. It is said that Isaac was circumcised the eight day after he was borne Gen. 17.10 I would know of you what was meant by it Past Circumcision was a couenant betwéen God and Abrahams séed Or circumcision was called a couenant because it signified or was a sacrament of a Couenant had the promise of grace annexed vnto it This couenant of circūcision in the particular consideratiōs therof hath relation to the Sacrament of Baptisme by comparison the one doth expound the other and by the right vse or nature of both the latter doth abolish the former The fift Particular Par. Declare first in some sort briefely the storie of Iacob Past Gen. 27.28.29 Isaac had two sons Esau his eldest and Iacob his yongest This Iacob hauing gotten the blessing of his father which by birth-right was due to Esau he fled away into a strange land for feare of his brother and hauing nothing but his staffe when hée went ouer Iordane was faine to lie all night in the maine fields where appeared vnto him a vision of Angels ascending and descending vpon a ladder and withall hée heard a voyce that said vnto him I will not leaue thée nor forsake thée vntill I haue brought my purpose to an end This Iacob by the diuine prouidence of God was brought to Haran where Laban his Vncle dwelt with whom he continued 21. yeares In which time hée had gotten twelue Sonnes and exceeding great store of goods and cattell and then returned vnto his own land as the Lord commanded him and as hée trauailed the Lord appeared vnto him againe after another sort to his comfort When he came safe to his owne land immediately he built an Altar for the seruice of the Lord. Par. Declare vnto me what is to be obserued in his twelue Sons Past You shal sée in these twelue holy Fathers descending of Iacob the performance of Gods promises made vnto Abraham for in them hée reneweth his Church stablisheth the same and beautifieth it with diuine ceremonies Sacrifices and Sacraments to be solemnized vntill Christ promised Messiah Reade their stories in Gen. 49. Par. Declare them by their names Past 1 Ruben 2 Simeon 3 Leui. 4 Iudah 5 Dan. 6 Nepthalie 7 Gad. 8 Asher 9 Isachar 10 Zabulon 11 Ioseph 12 Beniamin The sixt Particular Par. Declare vnto me the story of Ioseph Past Gen. 37. and 39. Iacob loued Ioseph his yongest sonne exceeding tenderly wherefore his brethren hated him and deuised to haue starued him in a pit but when they saw Carriers passing by they tooke him vp againe out of the pit and sold him vnto them who brought him to Egypt where in short time he grew in such fauour with the King as that he was made Lord and gouernour ouer all the land of Egypt By meanes whereof Iacob his father and his brethren came and dwelt in Goshen being the best place of the land because of the excéeding great famine that was in all the world Par. What are we to learne out of this historie of Ioseph and his brethren Past We are first to obserue the vnnaturall affection of Iosephs brethren in hating of him when he had done them no hurt at all
was euill in the sight of the Lord to wit in offering a burnt offering Leuit. 1. which was not lawfull for any to doe saue for the Priests vpon paine of death Therefore the Prophet Samuel told him plainely from the Lord that therein hée had done foolishly and that his kingdome should not continue and so Samuel departed from him in great indignation for the zeale hée bare to the Lord and for the loue he bare to the kingdome Par. Saul as we read was in great distresse 1 Sam. 13. by reason of many thousands of the Philistines that were come against his people Israell and they by reason of Samuels long tarrying at Gilgall 12 were scattered and fled saue sixe hundred men that remained with the King Therefore Saul fell to his prayers and did offer as hee said a burnt Offering vnto the Lord tell me what offence was this as the present necessitie required Past 1 Sam. 13. Saul in like manner transgressed the voyce of the Lord in keeping the King of the Amalekites aliue whereas hée was commanded to kill him and in reseruing for Sacrifice the best of the Oxen and the best of the Sheepe which was also directly forbidden Out of which place I will answere your demaund or question from the mouth of Samuel the holy Prophet When thou wast little in thine owne sight wast not thou made King ouer Israell The Lord commanded thee to kill the Amalekites and to let none remaine Now thou hast not obeyed the Lords voyce but hast turned to the prey wherein thou hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord. Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatry Behold thou hast cast away the word of the Lord therefore hee hath cast away thee Hereby you may sée that sinne or transgression is not reckoned for the smalnesse or greatnesse thereof with God as it is with men for many times small sinnes in our sights are great sinnes in Gods fight and great sinnes in our fight are small in his sight Men must rule themselues by his word by his holy Lawes and not according to good intents or earthly mens directions Par. How did Saul behaue himselfe towards his subiects Past Saul enuied Dauids good report and iust desert When Dauid returned from the slaughter of the Philistines the women by one consent and as it were by Gods appoyntment met Dauid crying and saying 1 Sam. 18. Saul hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his tenne thousand and for this cause onely Saul was excéeding wroth with Dauid and euer after sought to kill him and in the persecuting of him he slew euery of the Priests that fauoured him and tooke an oath of all his subiects to betray him It were too long to particulate his cruelties towards others his poore subiects whom he should haue defended and maintayned Par. What was Sauls end Past The Spirit of God being departed from him and his owne heart giuen him hée euer after followed that euen to the wars of the Philistines at which time hée desperately slew himselfe The ninth Particular concerning Dauid Par. Next in order remaineth to speake of Dauid Past Dauid was of the tribe of Iudah of the roote of Iesse borne in Bethlehem As it was said of Ierusalem 1 Sam. 16. Many excellent things are spoken of thee O thou Citie of God euen so many excellent things are spoken of Dauid Saul being reiected of God for his sinnes Dauid was annoynted King in his roome by the same Prophet Samuel 17. and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon him insomuch that though he were but a little simple man yet hée slew Goliah that defied Israell hée slew many of the most mighty Philistines 2 Sam. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 c. who were enemies to Saul and his people When Saul was dead hée succéeded in the Kingdome according to the Lords ordinance and valiantly subdued mighty kings that made warre against him Dauid renued religion offered to build an house for the Arke of God Dauid sinned grieuously in Gods sight therefore the Lord punished him excéedingly many wayes and afterward vpon repentance he receiued him into speciall fauour Par. Dauid being annointed king and being so valiant in the warres hauing also the fauour of the people why did hee runne away and hide himselfe from Saul and why did he not withstand him Past Dauid hauing Gods Spirit knew very well that hée might not resist nor rebel against Saul the Lords annoynted and though hée were to succéede him in the kingdome yet hée knew that he was not to enioy it before him nor to be partner with him and to auoid the rebellion and disorder of the people the Lord commanded Samuel to annoynt him King secretly lest the people should offer him helpe and rebellion against Saul And farther so godly and vpright in heart hée was towards the King that when hée most iniuriously and fiercely sought to kill him in all lands yet hée would neuer carry a thought to vse bloudy hands against his King though many times he might haue done it Hée was so farre from causing any other to doe it 2 Sam. 1. as that hée slew those that brought him word that Saul was dead The tenth Particular concerning Salomon Par. Now impart vnto me briefly the story of Salomon the third King of Israel Past There was neuer the like King before Salomon 1 King 3. neither the like shall be after him for his wisedome and riches So soone as euer he put foot into the kingdome he loued the Lord as the holy Ghost testifieth Wherefore the Lord appeared vnto him promising to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he would aske Of al the glorious things of this life he desired nothing but he desired wisedome whereby hée might gouerne his people prudently and religiously wherefore the the Lord gaue him wisedome and riches aboue all men both which great blessings he principally imployed to the building of a Temple for the Lord at Ierusalem where his holy Name might be called vpon in true religion Hée gouerned his kingdome all the dayes of his life quietly and peaceably Par. Some calles into question whether Salomon were saued or not because of his sinnes with so many outlandish women Past It is certaine that he sinned therein excéedingly Yet Almighty God séeing his repentance in his rich mercies forgaue him all according as hée promised his Father Dauid 1 Sam. 7.13.14.15 saying Hee shall build mee an house and I will stablish the throne of his Kingdome for euer I will be his Father and hee shall be my sonne If hee sinne I will chasten him but my mercy I will not vtterly take from him Par. Seeing that the fourth Obseruation doth end at the building of the Temple declare vnto mee briefly concerning the same Past Salomon tooke order with Hiram the King of Tyrus 1 King 5. for Cedar trées and Firre trées He had thirty thousand men whom hée sent to Libanon by
held with Rehoboam and dwelt at Ierusalem did serue the Lord and worshipped him according to the religion of their fathers Par. Seeing this great and royall kingdome was so diuided I would know what kings successiuely raigned in the one and in the other I pray you therefore distinguish them Past I thinke the knowledge therfore wil be very necessary and very much for your good Therefore I will lay them downe particularly as they were diuided the Kings of Iudah by themselues and the Kings of Israel by themselues with such prophets one or more as liued in their times The first particular concerning the Kings of Iudah at Ierusalem Rehoboam was crowned king at Sichem 1 King 12.1 to 25.14.21 to 31. as heire apparant to Salomon his father All the people with great applaudite and gladnesse receiued him desiring onely some mittigation of their taxations which his father had laid vpon them But he refusing the counsell of the old graue Councellours and admitting of young mens Counsell answered them with words of great cruelty and disdaine Whereupon the people answered with one consent and with great resolution What portion haue we in Dauid We haue no inheritance in the sonne of Ishai to your tents O Israel Now sée to thy owne house Dauid Then fled King Rehoboam to Ierusalem And two tribes onely held with him to wit Iuda and Beniamin The other ten tribes held with Ieroboam and chose him to be their King The people of Iudah committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord they sinned as did their fathers and there were Sodomites in the land whose abominations they followed Therefore in the first yeare of Rehoboams raigne the King of Egypt came vp against the citie Ierusalem tooke the treasures of the Lords house and the Treasures of the Kings house and caried away all the shields of gold which Salomon had made In stead whereof Rehoboam afterwards made brasen shields This King was one and forty yeares old when he began to raigne hée continued seauentéene yeares hée slept with his fathers and was buried in the house of Dauid Par. Was it well done of the subiects so to answer their lawfull king and afterwards to rebell as you haue set downe Past I must néedes say that they did euill in respect of their owne sinfull inclinations 1 Kin. 12.15 to 25. and rebellious hearts And yet it is most certaine that God did accomplish his absolute will and decrée therein which he had spoken by his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite as appeares also by the retraite which the King made vpon the Lords commandement that he should not striue with them Par. Who was the next King Past Abijah 1 Kin. 15.1.2 to 10. 2 Chr. 13. who liued wickedly in the sight of his subiects and his heart was not vpright in the sight of God He raigned thrée yeares and died Par. Who was the third King Past Asa his sonne and he did that which was right in the sight of God For he droue the Sodomites out of the land 1 Kin 15.8 to 25. and did put away Idols So vpright was he in the execution of iustice and so zealous in the Lords worke that he fauoured not his mother when she was taken with Idolatry And though all the monuments of Idolatry were not taken away by him because indéede hée could not yet his heart was vpright in Gods sight in respect of his desire and good will Hée established religion and brought such things into the house of God as his father had dedicated to that vse It happened in his time that Baasha King of Israell came vp against Iudah and built Ramah so that none could goe in nor out to Asa their King Thereupon Asa tooke great treasures and sent vnto the King of Aram with speciall request that hée would deliuer him and his people out of the hands of Baasha whereunto the King of Aram harkned and sent his captaines and smote diuers cities in Israell Hereupon Baasha left Asa and returned Afterwards Asa being very old became diseased in his féete and when hée had raigned one and forty yeares he died and was buried with his fathers Par. Who was the fourth King Past Iehosaphat his sonne who raigned in his stead In the third yeare of his raigne 1 King 15.24.22 1 to 55. he and Ahab King of Israell consented together against the King of Aram for the winning and recouering againe of Ramoth Gilead but Iehosaphat would first know the Lords pleasure therein from the mouth of one of his Prophets He was fiue and thirty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned two and fifty yeares in the good wayes of Asa his father He died and was buryed with his fathers Par. Who was the fift King Past Iehoram 1 King 22.50 2 King 8.16.17 to 25. the sonne of Iehosaphat who began his raign when he was two and twenty yeares old He behaued himselfe as the kings of Israel he maried with the daughter of wicked Ahab and liued as the house of Ahad did Yet the Lord being mercifull 2 King 8.24.25.26.27.28.9.27.28 would not destroy Iudah for Dauids sake So Iehoram died and was buried in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the sixt King Past Ahaziah the sonne of Iehoram who succéeded in the kingdome His mothers name was Athalia the daughter of Omri King of Israell and hée also walked in the wayes of Ahab as did his father being the rather drawne thereunto through his vnlawfull match in mariage He went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab to warre against Hazaell the King of Aram but Iehu slew him in the pursuite of Iehoram his brother in law And he was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers in the citie of Dauid Par. Who was the seauenth King Past Iehoash the sonne of Ahaziah He through the great prouidence of God 2 King 11 1. to the end 12.1 to the end was preserued from Iehu who slew all his brethren and from Athalia the mother of Ahaziah who also slew all the kings séede because she might raigne ouer Israell as Quéene But when he was sixe yéeres old Iehosheba his Nurse who had kept him secretly brought him to Iehoiada the priest who tooke captaines ouer hundreds with the guard and gaue them an order for their places and what they should doe in the behalfe of the yong heire apparant And when all things were wel contriued they brought forth Iehoash and proclaimed him king and forth with they slew Athalia the vsurping Quéene Then Iehoâ—ada the priest being the protector of the King went and destroyed the house of Baal with the Altars and Images that were in the Land Which being done the King was established and the subiects were quiet He did that which was right in the sight of God as Iehoiada the priest had taught him For he caused a chest with a hole bored therein to be set néere the Altar wherein such as would might cast a piece of siluer towards
the repairing of the Temple And in short time there was found ouer and aboue the repairing such store of money as was sufficient to make bowles of gold and instruments of siluer in great abundance for the Temple At which time came Hazaell the king of Aram with a mighty army against Gath and intending also to come against Ierusalem Iehoash the King of Iudah tooke the hallowed things that his forefathers had prepared for the Temple and so he departed into his owne Land where he was slaine by two of his owne seruants And he was buried with his fathers in the city of Dauid after he had raigned forty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eight King Past Amaziah 2 King 14.1 to 21. the sonne of Ioash succéeded in the kingdome This King did behaue himselfe vprightly in the sight of God according to all which his father had done yet the people did sacrifice in the high places He slew them which had killed his father but not their children according to that which was written The fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children for the father but euery man shall die for his owne sinne Afterwards hée warred with the Edomites and slew many thousands And not being therewith content he also challenged the King of Israell who answered him disdainefully But Amaziah was wilfull and would not be quiet Whereupon the King of Israell in open field tooke Amaziah brake downe the wals of Ierusalem spoyled the Temple and the people of their treasure and then returned to Samaria Amaziah liued after that warre fiftéene yeares There was a conspiracy against him in Ierusalem whereupon he fled to Lachis and the conspiratours followed after him and slew him there and brought him to be buried at Ierusalem after he had raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. Who was the ninth King Past 2 Kin. 14.21.15.1 to 8. Azariah his sonne was made King when he was sixtéene yeares old He did vprightly in the Lords sight yet because the high places were not taken away where the people offered sacrifice the Lord smote him with Leprosie vntill his dying day and Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kingdome vnder him two and fifty yeares and so dyed Par. Who was the tenth King Past 2 King 15.7.32 to the end Ioathan the sonne of Azariah immediately after his father tooke the kingdome as lawfull heire He did vprightly in the Lords sight but yet he had not taken away the high places whereon they burnt Intense And then the Lord sent against him and Iudah Rozin the King of Aram and Pekah the sonne of Remeliah king of Israell And when hée had raigned sixtéene yeares he dyed and was buried with his fathers in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eleauenth King Past Ahaz 2 King 16.1 to the end the sonne of Ioathan raigned in his stead Hée walked in the wayes of the kings of Israell and made his sonne to goe through fire after the abhominations of the heathen and hée offered burnt incense Wherefore the Lord raysed the King of Aram and the King of Israell against him At which time he called not for Gods assistance but sent presents vnto the King of Ashur crauing his ayde whereunto the King of Ashur condescended He was twenty yeares old when he began his raign he continued 16. yeares most irreligiously and prophanely and so died Par. Who was the twelfth King Past 2 King 16.20.18.1.2.3.4 to 9.13 to the end 19.20 Hezekiah his sonne raigned and ruled so religiously so zealously and so faithfully as that the holy Ghost witnesseth none was like him amongst all the Kings of Iudah that went before him neither were any such after him And therefore the Lord God of heauen was with him which made him to prosper in all things that hée tooke in hand In his time euen in the fouretéenth yeare of his raigne Senacherib the King of Ashur came against all the strong cities of Iudah and tooke them Then Hezekiah sent vnto him desiring him to take those treasures which he had sent and to be at peace with him and his people He receiued the treasures and yet neuerthelesse most tyrannously and trecherously he sent Rabsaketh with an huge army against him who most blasphemously railed at reuiled the King and the Lord God of heauen Then the King of Iudah and his Nobility went into the house of the Lord with their cloathes rent and with teares to pray vnto the Lord for helpe Then Esay the Prophet as being sent from God comforted them saying Be not afraid for thus the Lord hath said The King of Ashur shall returne into his owne land and there shall be discomfited So Rabsaketh presently returned and found it so indéede For the King of Aethiopia was come vp to fight against him Neuerthelesse Rabsaketh sent men with railing Letters vnto Hezekiah the King Which Letters hée spreads open in the Lords sight with many prayers and teares The Lord heard him at large and sent an Angell which destroyed the Assirian army and as he was in the Temple worshipping his idoll god two of his owne sonnes slew him About that time Hezekiah fell sicke vnto death and through his great intercession to God he recouered within thrée dayes and liued fiftéene yeares after as the Prophet Esay had said vnto him The Lord promised also to defend him from the King of Ashur And because he might be assured thereof he gaue him a signe in Ahaz diall of ten degrées backward At the same time came the King of Babels sonne with letters and a present to visite him whom he entertained very royally and shewed him all his treasures At which déede the Lord was angry and sent Esay to tell him that in time to come all his treasures and his people should be carried away captiue into Babilon He was fiue and twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. What doe you specially obserue in these foure last recited Kings to wit Azariah Ioathan Ahaz and Hezekiah Past It appeares that almighty God did specially fauour them in that hée gaue them fiue Prophets of whom they might inquire for the Lords will Esay Ioel. Hosea Amos. Micha Par. Who was the thirteenth king Past Manastes his sonne 2 Kin. 20.21.21.1 to 19. He wrought wickednes in the Lords sight and liued in open view of his subiects after the abhominations of the Heathen whom the Lord had cast out before him For whatsoeuer his holy Fathers had done to the honour and seruice of God he wrought cleane contrary and gaue himselfe to witchcraft sorcery familiar spirits and such like He did leade the people from the Lord and he enforced Iudah to sinne and he shed much innocent blood Wherefore the Lord God of Israell said I will bring an euill vpon Israell that who so heareth it both his eares shall tingle I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance and I will deliuer them into the hands
of their enemies and they shall be robbed and spoyled Manasses was twelue yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned fiue and fifty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the next king Past 2 King 21.18.19.20 to the end 22.23 Ammon his sonne such a father such a sonne The Lord stirred vp his seruants against him who slew him in his own house He was twenty years old when he began to raigne and he raigned two yeares Par. Who was his successour Past Iosiah his sonne He did vprightly in the sight of the Lord as did his father Dauid he turned not to the right hand nor to the left And he tooke seuere order for the reformation of religion Wherefore the Lord reuealed vnto him the booke of the Law which was hid in the Temple And when he heard it read for griefe that Religion had so long béene extinguished and the name of God abused he rent his cloathes and wept sore Then he commanded his officers to inquire after the Lord by some Prophet And they found a Prophetesse in Ierusalem who answered them that the Lord would plague Iudah and Ierusalem for their idolatry but would spare Iosiah the King Then he with all the Elders of the people went into the Temple where he read the booke of God with a tender heart vnto them And afterwards he entred into couenant with the Lord for the people that they should serue him all the dayes of their liues and the people yéelded vnto it with one consent Then did the king purge the Temple and all his kingdome of Baall and of all that did appertaine vnto his seruice He brake downe also the Altar at Bethell and all the monuments of idolatry which Ieroboam had made He held a Passeouer the like was not holden since the daies of the Iudges nor the like in any Kings dayes Yet would not the Lords wrath be appeased towards the people because they had so long wallowed as it were in wickednesse Pharao Necho king of Egypt slew Iosiah at Megiddo He was eight yeares old when he entred into the kingdome and he raigned one and thirty yeares He was buried at Ierusalem in the sepulcher of his fathers Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the sixteenth king Past Iehoahaz his sonne 2 King 23.31.32.33 He did euill in the sight of the Lord. Wherefore he sent Pharao the king of Egypt against him who imprisoned him thrée moneths which was all the time of his raigne And he did put the land to an excéeding great tribute Par. Who was the next king Past Eliakim 2 King 23.34.24.1 to 7. the second sonne of Iosiah who was made king by Pharao Necho the king of Egypt and he turned his name to Iehoiakim the rather because he was a wicked man Then came Nabuchadnezar King of Babell and tooke him but afterwards he rebelled against the King Wherefore he sent an hoste of the Chaldeans and of the Aramites Moabites and Ammonites against Ierusalem and Iudah to destroy it as the Lord had spoken by his Prophets Ichoiakim was fiue twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and he raigned 11. yeares in Ierusalem and then dyed Ieremy and Zophony were Prophets in his time Par. Who was successour to Ichoiakim Past 2 King 24.8 Ichoiakim his sonne He was eightéene yeares old when hée began to raigne and hée raigned thrée moneths wickedly The second Particular of the fift Obseruation concerning the captiuitie of Iudah and Ierusalem Then came Nabuchadnezar the King of Babell against Ierusalem and besieged it And hauing wonne the Citie with great losse of bloud he tooke the King his Mother and the Nobilitie with tenne thousand such as hée liked and carryed them to Babilon with all the treasures of the Lords house And Nabuchadnezar made Mattaniah his Vncle King in his stead whose name hée changed to Zedechiah 2 Kings 24 17.25 who then was one and twentie yeares olde and hée raigned eleauen yeares in Ierusalem wickedly insomuch that the Lord was fiercely bent against Iudah and Ierusalem to destroy them vtterly Hée therefore stirred vp Nabuchadnezar againe with all his hoast to ransacke and vtterly to destroy Ierusalem the house of Dauid and the Temple Thus you may sée Ierusalem was destroyed thrée times Ieremie and Zophonie were Prophets in his time of whom he might haue heart and knowne the will waies of the Lord. Par. Now I pray you set mee downe in like manner the particular stories of the Kings of Israel whose place and seate was at Samaria with the Prophets one or more as they liued Past 1 King 11.26 to 49. 2 King 12.12.13.14 to 21. Ieroboam was the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons Seruant He was a strong man and valiant The Prophet Ahijah fore-tolde him by a signe that the Kingdome of Israel should be diuided into two parts and that he should be king of the one part Salomon hearing thereof sought to kill him which made him to flye into Egypt But when Salomon was dead it fell out so indéede as you may read for hée had ten Tribes that held with him where as Rehoboam the lawfull heyre and the Kings sonne had but two Tribes Which fauour at Gods hands might haue made him humble and zealous after religion but hée imagined that if the people did serue the Lord as they vsed at Ierusalem they would turne and rebell Therefore hée made them Idols at Bethel and Dan and ordained them priests of the inferiour sort of people and commanded the people to worship those Idols for their God Herein he thought to haue done wisely but the Prophet reprehended him in the open congregation and the Lord strucke that hand of his wherewith he would haue stricken the Prophet with such numnesse or drinesse as he was not able to helpe himselfe And the Altar claue a sunder at that time as the man of God desired Then the King was fayne to make intercession vnto the Prophet that God would restore him his hand And at another time the Prophet Ahijah tolde him as from the Lord that for the wickednesse hée had done to prouoke his Maiestie withall there should not be left of him nor of his generation so much as one Dogges should eate his stocke in the Citie and the Fowles of the ayre in the field Hée raigned two and twenty yeares and then dyed Ahijah was a Prophet in his dayes Par. Who was the second King of Samaria Past 1 King 14 20.15.25 to 29. Nadab his sonne He raigned two yeares and did that which was wicked as did his father Ieroboam And Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of the house of Isachar conspired against him and slew him at Gibbethon which did belong to the Philistines Ahijah and Iehu were Prophets in his time Par. Who was the third King of Samaria Past Baasha the sonne of Ahijah of Isachar 1 King 15 16. to the end 16.1 to 7. who warred against
posteritie should inherit the throne of Israel vnto the fourth generation But yet hée continued in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat who made Israell to sinne Almighty God did then lothe the people Israell and smote them with the sword of Hazael Hée raigned eight and twenty yeares and then dyed Par. Who was Prophet vnder this wicked King Past Elisha who had annoynted him King vpon the Lords commandement and who was well knowne vnto him to be specially fauoured of GOD as did appeare by his admirable workes Of whom hée might haue learned how to frame his heart and his hands according to right Par. Who was the tenth King in Samaria Past 2 King 10 35.2 Ichoahaz his sonne who liued as Ieroboam that made the people to sin and he departed not from his sinnes And therefore the Lord being angry with Israell deliuered them into the hands of Hazael king of Aram who vexed them very sore and wasted them so with the sword as that there remayned for Ichoahaz the King but tenne Chariots fifty Horsemen and of all the people but tenne thousand footmen After he had raigned seauentéene yeares he dyed Par. Who was the eleauenth king Past 2 King 13 9. to 14. Ioash his sonne He also liued like Ieroboam and so dyed after hée had raigned sixtéene yeares 2 Kin. 13.13.14 to 21. Elisha was yet liuing of whom he might haue learned the Lawes of the Lord. And then the Prophet also dyed Par Who was the twelfth king in Samaria Past Ieroboam his sonne And hée did euill in the Lords sight 2 Kings 13 13.14.23 to the end as did Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat He restored the coasts of Israell from the entring of Hamath vnto the sea of the Wildernesse according as the Lord had foretold by his Prophet Ionah who had decréed not to put out the name of Israel though they had sinned sore After he had raigned one and forty yeares he dyed Par. Who was the next in succession Past Zachariah his sonne 2 King 14 29.15.8.9.10 Hée departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat He raigned sixe moneths in Samaria and then was slaine by Shallum according as the Lord had said by his Prophet to Iehu to wit that his séede should sit vpon his seate vnto the fourth generation Par. Who was the foureteenth King Past Shallum the sonne of Iabesh 2 King 15 10. to 16. who conspired against Zachariah the king and slew him and afterward succéeded in the Kingdome Hée raigned one moneth and then was also slaine Par. Who was the fifteenth King Past 2 King 15.14 to 23. Mahanaen the sonne of Gady who went vp from Tirzah and came to Samaria and slew Shallum the King and raigned in his stead This Mahanaen was a most fierce and cruell man For hée destroyed Tiphsah and all that were therein and ript the women that were with childe because they opened not vnto him Hée exacted a thousand talents of siluer from his Subiects to giue vnto the king of Ashur for peace He dyed after hée had raigned tenne yeares in Samaria Par. Who succeeded this cursed King Par. 2 King 15.23 to 27. Pekahiah his sonne Hée also did euill in the sight of the Lord and departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat which made Israell to sinne Hée raigned two yeares and then was slaine by Pekah the sonne of Remeliah his Captaine Par. Who succeeded this king Past Pekah 2 King 15 27 to 31. who also liued like to Ieroboam Hée raigned twenty yeares and then Hoshea the sonne of Elah wrought treason and slew him Par. Who was the eighteenth King Past Hoshea the sonne of Elah 2 King 15 30.17.1 to the end obtained the crowne by treason He did euill but not as other kings that went before him The fourth Particular concerning the captiuating of the Kings of Israell THen Salmanasar king of Ashur came vp against Samaria furiously as if hée had béene the messenger of the Lords wrath as hée was indéede and besieged Samaria thrée yeares But when hée had gotten it he carryed away Israel to Ashur and put them in prisons at Halah at Habor and in the Cities of the Medes because they hearkened not to the voyce of the Lord but went a whoring after their owne inuentions And the King of Ashur brought folke from Babell and from those barbarous coasts and placed them in Samaria in stead of the people of Israell which people also regarded not the true God Wherefore God sent Lions and slew the wealthiest of them The king of Ashur hearing thereof sent one of the Priests which he had carryed from Samaria that hée might teach the people to know the God of the country Which Priest dwelt at Bethell and taught them the feare of the Lord. But yet they serued their Gods after the manner of the nations about them So these nations feared the Lord and serued their Images also Par. What shall I obserue in the Prophesie of Ezekiel Past Ezekiel was ordayned by the diuine prouidence of God to be a comforter of the people Israell all the time of their captiuitie at Babilon Par. What say you concerning Daniel Past Nabuchadnezar at the time of the captiuating of Israell and the winning of Ierusalem brought Daniell with ten thousand more to Babilon where hée proued most skilfull in the Arabian Sirian and Chaldean tongues and so highly in the sauour of God as that he could speake of secrets that were present and of secrets that were for to come concerning Gods people and in the mercifulnesse of God became a comfortable teacher amongst the people of Israel during seauenty yeares Par. Why was this great and mighty nation so ruinated Past It was the wrath and high displeasure of the almighty vpon them for their vnthankfulnesse for their cruelty one towards another for the contempt of his lawes and violating of his Sabaoths as the Prophet Ieremy sets downe at large Par. They were a mighty strong nation and a fierce and they had a city Ierusalem which was compassed about with twelue hils with three walles one within another with gates of iron and brasse with many Turrets Towres and Castles and within the city was the Towre of Dauid wherein were a thousand Shields and all the Targets of the mighty I aske you therefore how came it to passe that they were ouercome and their Citie ransacked Past It is true as you say in the iudgement of the most valiant Souldiers of the world they were inuincible But this was a matter foretolde and threatned by Prophets many yeares before And Daniel himselfe in the first Chapter reports that the Lord gaue them vp into the hands of Nabuchadnezar to doe with them and with their treasures what he would Par. I pray you tell me somewhat concerning Babilon and Nabuchadnezar Past The Assirian Chaldean or Babilonian Monarchie successiuely had 36. Kings or Monarches who ruled and
reuoked his former authority for the building of the Lords house and caused the same to stay vnto the second yeare of Darius Par. Tell mee first I pray you what comfort had they in this extreame misery to wit when the building of the Temple was hindered Past As in the time of their captiuity at Babilon they had two great preaching Prophets to wit Ezechiel and Daniel by whom they were mightily strenghtened in hope of deliuerance so now his holy Maiesty stirred vp vnto them foure other godly and diligent Prophets to chéere them by telling them most assuredly that this their worke should goe forward according to Daniels Prophesie Par. What say you of the booke next adioyning to wit Nehemiah Past In this booke is mentioned thrée speciall men Ezra 2.2 to the end of 7. raised vp by the goodnesse and mercies of almighty God for the comfort of the people Israel after their captiuity The first was Zorobabel their Captaine The second was Ezra their Priest The third Nehemiah the setter forward of their building This booke is thought to be written by Ezra as the former because the Hebrewes haue reckoned both bookes as one Neh. 2. and it compriseth a story of 130. yeares This Nehemiah being butler to Artaxerxes the King of Babilon by the prouidence of God found fauour with the King insomuch as that he obtained leaue to depart with the Kings conuoy to Ierusalem for the reedifying of all the decayed places thereof And after the Temple was built he tooke order for the restoring and continuance of religion Par. Who was Hester that beares the name of this booke Past This woman being one of the daughters of Israel was sometime called Hadasa Ahashuerus otherwise named Artaxerxes successour to Cirus tooke her for his wife as the history makes mention For after the returne of some from captiuity to the building of the Temple many of the Iewes remained still in Babilon as a people malecontent and not willing to goe any more to Ikrusalem And had not almighty God preuented it by his prouidence and mercy they had béene all slame in one day by the decrée of the King which was procured and instigated by Haman for the malice and enuy hée did beare to Mardocheus a man of that nation Par. What say you concerning the other Prophets of whom you haue neither spoken amongst the Kings of Iudah nor yet amongst the Kings of Israel to wit Obadiah Nahum Ionah Abakkuck Past Obadiah or Abdiah prophecied against Idumea Nahum and Ionas prophecied against Niniue Abakkuck prophecied against Babilon Par. Why haue you annexed the Prophets with the Kings Past There is great vse thereof For if you compare the doctrine of euery seuerall Prophet with the religion and manners of the king and the people vnder whom they prophesied the one doth plainely expound the other And this I would haue you to marke That euery Prophet in the beginning of his booke doth specially name vnder what King he prophecied to the intent you should sée and marke how he applyeth his doctrine according to the time Par. You haue in a plaine sort declared all the bookes of the old Testament sauing some few but you haue spoken nothing at all of the bookes of the New Testament What is there no vse to be made of them Past There is as great vse to be made of those bookes which are omitted as of those bookes which are already handled Therefore I will here set them downe in seauen degrées whereby you may benefit your selfe by both The first Degree Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Mathew Marke Luke Iohn The second Degree Deuteronomy Acts The third Degree Iosua Iudges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Esay Ieremy Hosea Ioell Amos. Michael Zophony Obadiah Ionah Nahum Abakkuck The fourth Degree Daniels first sixe Chapters Ezechiel The fift Degree Ezra Nehemiah Hester Haggas Zachary Malachy The sixt Degree Iob. Psalmes Prouerbes Ecclesiast Canticles Romanes 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrewes Iames. 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 Iohn 2 Iohn 3 Iohn Iude. The seauenth Degree Daniels sixe last chapters Reuelation Par. Why haue you thus disposed and sorted the bookes of the Bible declare your reasons seuerally Reason for the first Pastor GEnesis Exodus Leuiticus and Numbers doe specially containe the Lawes Sacrifices and Sacraments concerning Christ Mathew Marke Luke and Iohn doe comprehend principally an answere thereunto or as it were a plaine demonstration of the performance of all former promises concerning him So that indéede whatsoeuer was shadowed figured or foretold of Christs diuinitie of his humanitie and sufferings together with the benefits thereof to the faithfull these Euangelists doe in their bookes declare Reason for the second Moses in Deuteronomie amongst other things repeates summarily all that was famously done and spoken from the going out of Egypt vntill that time in which he wrote this Booke So Luke in the Acts of the Apostles records the whole story of the Church concerning things done from the death of Christ to the time wherein he wrote Reason for the third As in the fiue Bookes of Moses were particularly handled the Religion and manners of the people of Israell from the promise made to Abraham vntill they came to Canaan so in the first eight Bookes mentioned in the third Degrée are recited particularly their rulers and gouernors from their entrance into Canaan vntill they were carryed away captiue into Babilon Whereunto I haue annexed seauen Prophets who liued in those times and taught vnder those Kings as may appeare in the beginning of euery first Chapter of the same Prophets Which Bookes of the Prophets and of the Kings being laid and compared together the one will expound the other Par. Why doe you set forth this woman Ruth amongst the Kings and Rulers of the people Past Samuel the Prophet is said to be the writer of her story and the Hebrewes doe reckon this her Booke and the Booke of Iudges as one And againe this story in this place answereth to the time in which the principall matter recited therein was performed Par. And why doe you place these foure Prophets so odly by themselues and last of all to wit Obadiah Ionah Nahum Abakkuk Past These Prophets which are seuered from the rest had nothing to doe in the Kingdome of Israel nor in the Kingdome of Iudah For Ionah and Nahum prophesied against the Niniuites Obadiah Idumeans Abakkuk Babilonians Par. I doe not vnderstand why you sort out two of the great Prophets and place them so odly by themselues in your fourth Degree Reason for the fourth Past These two Prophets to wit Daniel and Ezekiel are fitly placed together both in respect of the former stories and of their allotted time of prophesie For as the former Prophets did preach before the time of the Captiuitie so these according to the riches of Gods grace not