it is a vaine euasion to say God shewed his mercie for his promise sake only for he promised the same for their merites as appeareth in the places alleaged Though al merites procede from Gods grace first geuen without merite◠1. Cor. 4. v. 7. S. Aug. degrat lib. arb c. 6. CHAP. XXXIII Gods wrath being mitigated by Moyses the people mourne for their sinne 7. Moyses pitcheth the tabernacle vvithout the campe and therin conuerseth familiarly vvith God 18. desiring to see his glorie AND our Lord spake to Moyses saying Goe get thee vp from this place thou and thy people which thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt into the land wherof I sware to Abraham Isaac and Iacob saying To thy seede I wil giue it †and I wil send an Angel thy precusor that I may cast out the Chananeite and Amorrheite and Hetheite and Pherezeite and Heueite and Iebuseite †and thou maiest enter into the land that floweth with milke and honey for I wil not goe vp with thee because thou art a stiffenecked people lest perhappes I destroie thee in the way †And the people hearing this verie il saying mourned and no man put on his ornamentes after the custome †And our Lord sayd to Moyses Speake to the children of Israel Thou art a stiffenecked people once I shal goe vp in the middes of thee and shal destroy thee Now presently lay away thy ornamentes that I may know what to doe vnto thee †Therfore the children of Israel layd away their ornamentes from mount Horeb. †Moyses also taking the tabernacle pitched it without the campe a farre of and called the name thereof The Tabernacle of couenant And al the people that had anie question went forth to the Tabernacle of couenant without the campe †And when Moyses went forth to the tabernacle al the people rose vp and euerie one stoode in the dore of his pauilion and they beheld the backe of Moyses til he entred into the tabernacle †And when he was entred into the Tabernacle of couenant the piller of the cloude came downe and stoode at the doore and he spake with Moyses †al they beholding that the piller of the cloud stoode at the doore of the Tabernacle And they stoode and adored at the doores of their tabernacles †And our Lord spake vnto Moyses face to face as a man is wont to speake to his frend And when he returned into the campe his minister Iosue the sōne of Nun a yong man departed not from the Tabernacle †And Moyses said to our Lord Thou commandest me to leade forth this people and doest not shew me whom thou wilt send with me especially wheras thou hast said I know thee by name and thou hast found grace in my sight †If therfore I haue found grace in thy sight shew me thy face that I may know thee and may find grace before thine eyes looke vpon thy people this nation †And our Lord said My face shal goe before thee and I wil giue thee rest †And Moyses sayd If thy selfe doest not goe before bring vs not out of this place †For whereby shal we be able to know I and thy people that we haue found grace in thy sight vnles thou walke with vs that we may be glorified of al peoples that dwel vpon the earth †And our Lord said to Moyses This word also which thou hast spoken wil I doe for thou hast found grace before me and thy selfe I haue knowen by name †Who said Shew me thy glorie †He answered I wil shew thee al good and wil cal in the name of the Lord before thee and I wil haue mercie on whom I wil and I wil be merciful to whom it shal please me †And againe he sayd Thou canst not see my face for man shal not see me and liue †And againe Behold quoth he there is a place with me and thou shalt stand vpon the rocke †And when my glorie shal passe I wil sette thee in a hole of the rocke and protect thee with my right hand vntil I passe †and I wil take away my hand and thou shalt see my backe-partes but my face thou canst not see CHAP. XXXIIII Moyses goeth againe into Mount Sinai vvith new tables praying for the people 10. to whom God promiseth to giue possession of the Land 12. Prohibiteth al association vvith the Gentiles for feare of Idolatrie 18. geueth precepts concerning the first borne the Sabbath and other feastes 28. After fourtie dayes fast Moyses returneth to the people with the commandements and his face appearing horned he couereth it whensoeuer he speaketh to the people AND after this he said Cut thee two tables of stone like vnto the former and I wil write vpon them the wordes which the tables had which thou hast broken †Be readie in the morning that thou maiest forwith go vp into the mount Sinai and thou shalt stand with me vpon the toppe of the mount †Let no man go vp with thee neither let anie man be sene throughout the whole mount the oxen also and the sheepe let them not feede ouer against †He cut out therfore two tables of stone such as had bene before and rising very early he went vp into mount Sinai as our Lord had commanded him carying with him the tables †And when our Lord was descended in a cloude Moyses stoode with him calling vpon the name of our Lord. †Who passing before him he said Dominatour Lord God merciful and clement patient and of much compassion and true †Which keepest mercie vnto thousandes which takest away iniquitie and wicked factes and sinnes and no man of him selfe is innocent before thee Which doest render the iniquitie of the fathers to the children and to the nephewes vnto the third and fourth generation †And Moyses making hast bowed flatte vnto the earth and adoring †he said If I haue found grace in thy sight o Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt goe with vs for it is a stiffe necked people and take away our iniquities and sinnes and possesse vs. †Our Lord answered I wil make a couenant in the sight of al I wil do signes that were neuer sene vpon the earth nor in anie nations that this people may see in the middes of whom thou art the terrible worke of the Lord which I wil doe †Obserue al thinges which this day I command thee I my self wil cast out before thy face the Amorrheite and Chananeite and Hetheite the Pherezeite also and Heueite and Iebuseite †Beware thou neuer ioyne amitie with the inhabitants of that land which may be thy ruine †but destroy their altars breake their statues and cut downe their groues †adore not a strange God The Lord his name is Ielouse God is an emulatour †Enter no traffick with the men of those regions lest when they haue fornicated with
faithfully and with a perfect hart †Euerie cause that shal come to you of your brethren that dwel in their cities betwen kinred and kinred whersoeuer there is question of the law of the commandement of ceremonies of iustifications shew it them that they sinne not agaynst our Lord and lest there come wrath vpon you and your brethren so doing therfore you shal not sinne †And Amarias the priest and your Bishop shal be chiefe in these thinges which pertayn to God moreouer Zabadias the sonne of Ismahel who is the prince in the house of Iuda shal be ouer those workes which pertayne to the kinges office and you haue maisters the Leuites before you take courage and doe diligently and our Lord wil be with the good CHAP. XX. The Ammonites Moabites and Syrians ioynning forces agaynst Iosaphat 3. he seeketh Gods helpe by publique prayer and fasting 14. A Prophet fortelleth that God wil fight for them 20. so they singing praises to God the enemies kil ech other 24. Iosaphat with his men gather verie great spoiles 30. reigneth in peace 35. but his nauie perisheth for his societee with wicked Ochozias AFTER these thinges were the children of Moab gathered together and the children of Ammon and with them of the Ammonites to fight agaynst Iosaphat †And there came messengers and told Iosaphat saying There cometh agaynst thee a great multitude from those places which are beyond the sea and out of Syria and behold they stay in Asasonthamar which is Engaddi †And Iosaphar being frighted with feare he tooke him wholy to besech ou◠Lord and he proclamed a fast to al Iuda †And Iudas was gathered together to pray to our Lord yea and al came out of their cities to besech him †And when Iosaphat stood in the middes of the assemblie of Iuda and Ierusalem in the house of our Lord before the new court †he sayd Lord God of our fathers thou art God in heauen and rulest ouer al the kingdomes of Nations in thy hand is strength and might neither can anie man resist thee †Didst not thou our God kil al the inhabitantes of this land before thy people Israel and gauest it to the seed of Abraham thy frend for euer †And they dwelt in it built in it a Sanctuarie to thy name saying †If euils fal vpon vs the sword of iudgement pestilence famine we wil stand before this house in thy sight wherein thy name is inuocated we wil crie to thee in our tribulations and thou shalt heare and saue vs. †Now therfore behold the children of Ammon and mount Seir by whom thou didst not grant Israel to passe when they came out of Aegypt but they declined from them slew them not †doe the contrarie and endeuoure to cast vs out of the possession which thou hast deliuired to vs. †Our God wilt not thou therfore iudge them In vs in deed there is not so great strength that we can resist this multitude which cometh violently vpon vs. But whereas we are ignorant what we ought to doe this onlie we haue leaft that we direct our eies to thee †And al Iuda stood before our Lord with their litle ones and wiues and their children †And there was Iahaziel the sonne of Zacharias the sonne of Banaias the sonne of Iehiel the sonne of Mathanias a Leuite of the children of Asaph vpon whom the spirit of our Lord came in the middes of the multitude †and he sayd Attend ye al Iuda and you that dwel in Ierusalem and thou king Iosaphat thus sayth our Lord to you Feare not neither dread ye this multitude for it is not your battel but Gods †To morrow you shal goe downe agaynst them for they wil come vp by the steepe named Sis and you shal find them in the vtmost part of the torrent which is agaynst the wildernesse of Ieruel †It shal not be you that shal fight but onlie stand confidently and you shal see the helpe of our Lord ouer you ô Iuda and Ierusalem feare not neither dreade ye to morrow you shal goe out agaynst them and our Lord wil be with you †Iosaphat therfore and Iuda and al the inhabitantes of Ierusalem fel flat on the earth before our Lord and adored him †Moreouer the Leuites of the children of Caath and of the children of Core praysed our Lord the God of Israel with a lowd voice on high †And when they had risen earely in the morning they went forth by the desert of Thecua and they being gone forth Iosaphat standing in the middes of them sayd Heare me ye men of Iuda and al the inhabiters of Ierusalem beleue in the Lord your God and you shal be secure beleue his prophetes and al thinges shal fal out prosperous †He gaue counsel also to the people and appoynted the singing men of our Lord that they should prayse him in their companies and should goe before the host and with agreable voice should say Confesse to our Lord because his mercie is foreuer †And when they began to sing prayses our Lord turned their embushementes vpon themselues to witte of the children of Ammon and of Moab and of mount Seir who were gone forth to fight agaynst Iuda and were striken †For the children of Ammon and of Moab rose together agaynst the inhabitantes of mount Seir to kil and destroy them and when they had in worke atcheued this being turned also agaynst themselues they fel wounded one of an other †Moreouer Iuda when they were come to the watch place that looketh to the desert saw a far of al the countrie abrode ful of dead bodies and that none remayned aliue that could escape death †Iosaphat therfore came and al the people with him to take away the spoiles of the dead and they found among the dead bodies diuerse stuffe garments also and most pretious vessels and they spoiled it soe that they could not carie al thinges nor in three dayes take a Way the spoiles for the greatnesse of the praye †And in the fourth day they were assembled in the Vale of blessing for because there they had blessed our Lord they called that place the Vale of blessing vntil this present day †And euerie man of Iuda returned and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and Iosaphat before them into Ierusalem with great ioy because our Lord had geuen them ioy of their enemies †And they entered into Ierusalem with psalteries and harpes and trumpettes into the house of our Lord. †And the dread of our Lord fel vpon al the kingdomes of the landes when they heard that our Lord had fought agaynst the enemies of Israel †And the kidgdom of Iosaphat was quiet and God gaue him peace round about †Iosaphat therfore reigned ouer Iuda and he was fiue and thirtie yeares old when he begane to reigne and he reigned fiue and twentie yeares in Ierusalem and the name of
temple of our Lord. †And they that are far shal come and shal build in the temple of our Lord and you shal know that the Lord of hosts sent me to you But this shal be if hearing you wil heare the voice of our Lord your God CHAP. VII The fast of the fift and seuenth moneth obserued in the captiuitie being good 5. was vnperfect 8. fasting from sinne is alwayes more necessarie AND it came to passe in the fourth yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie in the fourth of the ninth moneth which is Casleu †And Sarasar and Rogommelech and the men that were with him sent to the house of God to besech the face of our Lord that they should say to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and to the prophets saying Must I weepe in the fifth moneth or must I san ctifie myself as now I haue done manie yeares †And the word of the Lord of hosts was made to me saying Speake to al the people of the land and to the priests saying when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and the seuenth for these seuentie yeares did you fast a fast vnto me †and when you did eate and drinke did you not eate for your selues and drinke for your selues †Why are they not the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of the former prophets when Ierusalem as yet was inhabited and was welthie it self and the cities round about it and toward the South and in the champine there was dwelling †And the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts saying Iudge ye true Iudgement and doe ye mercie miserations euerie man with his brother †And the widow and the pupil and the stranger and the poore doe not calumniate and let not a man thinke in his hart euil to his brother †And they would not attend and they turned away the shoulder departing and they aggrauated their eares not to heare †And they made their hart as the adamant lest they should heare the law the wordes which the Lord sent in his spirit by the hand of the former prophetes and there was great indignation made from the Lord of hosts †And it came to passe as he spake and they heard not so shal they crie I wil not heare sayth the Lord of hosts †And I dispersed them through out al kingdoms which they know not and the land was left desolate of them for that there was none passing returning and the land to be desired they layd into a desert CHAP. VIII God wil geue abundance of spiritual benefites to al nations by Christ 7. to whom shal be conuerted 13. manie Iewes 20. but manie more Gentiles AND the word of the Lord of hosts was made saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hostes I haue bene ielous for Sion with great zeale and with great indignation haue I bene ielous for it †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts I am returned to Sion and I wil dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and Ierusalem shal be called the Citie of truth the Mount of the Lord of hosts the sanctified mount †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet shal old men dwel and old wemen in the streets of Ierusalem and euerie mans stafe in his hand for multitude of yeares †And the streets of the citie shal be filled with infantes and girles playing in the streets therof †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts If it shal seme hard in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those dayes Why shal it be hard in mine eyes sayth the Lord of hosts †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Behold I wil saue my people from the land of the East and from the land of the Going downe of the sunne †And I wil bring them and they shal dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and they shal be my people and I wil be their God in truth and in iustice †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Let your handes be strengthned you that heare in these dayes these words by the mouth of the prophets in the day that the house of the Lord of hosts was founded that the temple might be built †For before those dayes there was no hyre for men neither was there hyre for beasts neither was there peace to the comer in nor goer out for tribulation and I did let goe al men euerie one against his neighbour †But now not according to the former dayes wil I doe to the remnant of this people sayth the Lord of hosts †but the seede of peace shal be the vine shal geue his fruite and the earth shal geue her spring and the heauens shal geue their dew and I wil make the remnant of this people to possesse al these thinges †And it shal be as you were a malediction among the Gentils ô house of Iuda house of Israel so wil I saue you and you shal be a benediction feare not let your handes be strengthned †Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As I purposed to afflict you when your fathers had prouoked me to wrath sayth our Lord †and I had no mercie so conuerting I haue meant in these dayes to doe good to the house of Iuda and Ierusalem feare not †These then are the wordes which you shal doe Speake ye truth euerie one with his neighbour truth and iudgement of peace iudge ye in your gates †And thinke ye not euerie man in your hart euil against his frend lying othe loue ye not for al these things are such as I hate sayth our Lord. †And the word of our Lord of hosts was made to me saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts The fast of the fourth and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seuenth and the fast of the tenth shal be to the house of Iuda into ioy and gladnes into goodlie solemnities truth onlie and peace loue ye †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts vntil peoples come dwel in manie cities †and the inhabitants goe one to an other saying Let vs goe and besech the face of our Lord and let vs seeke the Lord of hosts I also wil goe †And manie peoples shal come and strong nations to seeke the Lord of hosts in Ierusalem to besech the face of our Lord. †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts In those dayes wherein ten men of al the tongue of the Gentils shal take hold and they shal take hold of the skirt of a man that is a Iewe saying We wil goe with you for we haue heard that God is with you CHAP. IX The bordering enimies of the Iewes shal beleue in Christ 9. who wil first come to the Iewes in mekenes yet in solemnitie riding on an asse 11. deliuer the godlie from the lake 12. geue great thinges to the
tribe of Israel requiring them to reuenge the wicked fact THERE was a certaine man a Leuite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim who tooke a wife of Bethlehem Iudae †which left him and returned vnto her fathers house into Bethlehem and abode with him foure monethes †And her husband folowed her willing to be reconciled vnto her and to speake her fayre and to bring her backe with him hauing in his companie a seruant and two asses who receiued him and brought him into her fathers house Which when his father in law had heard and had seene him he mette him ioyful †and embraced the man And the sonne in law taried in the house of his father in law three daies eating with him and drinking familiarly †But the fourth day arysing before day he would depart Whom his father in law held and said to him Tast first a litle bread strengthen thy stomacke and so thou shalt depart †And they sate together and did eate and drinke And the father of the yong woman said to his sonne in law I besech thee that thou tarie here to day and let vs make merie together †But he rysing vp beganne as if he would depart And neuertheles with much adoc his father in law stayed him and made him to tarie with him †But when morning was come the Leuite prepared to goe his iourney To whom his father in law againe I besech thee quoth he that thou take a litle meate and making thy self strong til the day be farder spent afterward thou mayest depart They did eate therfore together †And the yong man arose that he might sette forward with his wife and his seruant To whom his father in law spake againe Consider that the day is more declining to the west and draweth nigh to euening tarie with me to day also and spend the day in mirth and to morrow thou shalt depart that thou mayst goe into thy house †His sonne in law would not condescend to his wordes but forthwith went forward and came ouer against Iebus which by an other name is called Ierusalem leading with him two asses loden and his concubine †And now they were come nigh to Iebus and the day changed into night the seruant said to his maister Come I besech thee let vs turne into the citie of the Iebuseites and tarie in it †To whom his maister answered I wil not enter into the towne of a strange nation which is not of the children of Israel but I wil passe as farre as Gabaa †and when I shal come thither we wil lodge in it or at the least in the citie of Rama †They passed therfore by Iebus and went on their iourney begone and the sonne went downe to them byside Gabaa which is in the tribe of Beniamin †and they turned into it that they might lodge there Whither when they were entred they sate in the streate of the citie and no man would receiue them to lodge †And behold there appeared an old man returning out of the field and from his worke in the euening who him self also was of mount Ephraim and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa but the men of that countrie were the children of Iemini †And lifting vp his eies the old man saw the man sitting with his fardels in the streate of the citie and said to him Whence comest thou and whither goest thou †Who answered him We departed from Bethlehem Iuda and we goe to our place which is on the side of mount Ephraim from whence we went into Bethlehem and now we goe to the house of God and none wil receiue vs vnder his roofe †hauing straw and hay for prouender of the asses and bread and wine for the vse of my self and of thy handmaid and of the seruant that is with me we lacke nothing but lodging †To whom the old man answered Peace be with thee I wil geue al thinges that are necessarie only I besech thee tarie not in the streate †And he brought him into his house and gaue prouender to his asses and after they had washed their feete he receiued them to a bankette †They making merie and after the labour of their iourney refreshing their bodie with meate and drinke there came men of that citie the children of Belial that is to say without yoke and besetting the old mans house beganne to knocke at the doores crying to the maister of the house and saying Bring forth the man that entred into thy house that we may abuse him †And the old man went out to them and said Doe not so brethren doe not this euil because this man is entered to my lodging and cease from this folie †I haue a daughter that is a virgin and this man hath a concubine I wil bring them forth to you that you may humble them fulfil your lust only I beseche you worke not this wickednes against nature on the man †They would not agree to his wordes which the man seing he brought forth his concubine to them and he deliuered her to them to be illuded whom when they had abused al the night they let her goe in the morning †But the woman when the darkenes departed came to the doore of the house where her lord lodged and there fel downe †Morning being come the man arose and opened the doore that he might finish his iourney begone and behold his concubine lay before the doore her handes spredde on the threshold †To whom he thinking that she tooke her rest spake Arise and let vs walke Who answering nothing perceiuing that she was dead he tooke her and laid her vpon his asse returned into his house †Which when he was entered vnto he tooke asword and cutting the carcasse of his wife with her bones into twelue partes and peeces he sent them into al the borders of Israel †Which when euerie one had seene they cried together There was neuer such a thing done in Israel from that day when our fathers ascended out of Aegypt vntil this present time geue sentence and decree in common what is needeful to be done CHAP. XX. Al the other tribes fighting against Beniamin 13. because they wil not punish the malefactors 21. haue the worse 25. also the second time 29. but the third time the Beniamites are al slaine sauing six hundred men THERFORE al the children of Israel went forth and were gathered together as it were one man from Dan to Bersabee and the Land of Galaad to our Lord in Maspha †and al the corners of the people and al the tribes of Israel assembled into the church of the people of God foure hundred thousand footemen warriers †Neither were the children of Beniamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come vp into Maspha And the Leuite the husband of the woman that was killed being asked how so great wickednes had beene cōmitted †answered I came into
the tribes of Iacob †Blessed are they that saw thee and were honored in thy freindshipe †For we liue by life only but after death our name shal not be such †Elias was in dede hid in the whirlewind his spirit was complete in Eliseus in his daies he feared not the prince and no man ouercame him by might †Neither did any word ouercome him and his bodie prophecied being dead †In his life he did wonders and in death he wrought meruelous thinges †In al these thinges the people repented not and they departed not from their sinnes til they were cast out of their land and were dispersed into al the earth †And there was leaft a verie smal nation and a prince in the house of Dauid †Some of them did that which pleased God but others committed manie sinnes †Ezechias fenced his citie and brough in water into the middes thereof and digged a rocke with yron and built a wel for water †In his daies came vp Sennacherib and sent Rabsaces and lifted vp his hand against them and put forth his hand vpon Sion and became proude by his mightines †Then were their harts and hands moued and they were in sorow as trauailing wemen †And they inuocated our merciful Lord and spredding their handes they lifted them vp to heauen and the holie Lord God quickly heard their voice †He was not mindful of their sinnes neither did he geue them to their enemies but purged them by the hand of Isaie the holie prophete †He ouerthrew the campe of the Assirians and the Angel of our Lord destroyed them †For Ezechias did that which pleased God and went strongly in the way of Dauid his father which Isaie commanded him the great prophet and faithful in the sight of God †In his daies the sunne returned backward added life to the king †By a great spirite he saw the last thinges and comforted the mourners in Sion †For euer he shewed the thinges to come secret thinges before they came to passe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLVIII 10 VVho art vvritten Amongst other quarels Protestantes except against the authentical auctoritie of this booke because the auctor saith that Enoch and Elias shal come againe to appease the wrath of our Lord to reconcile the father to the sonne and to restore the tribes of Iacob But that this is no iust exception is clere by other holie Scriptures where the same vniforme doctrin of the whole Church is no lesse euident then in this booke For God himself saith the same also by the mouth of his prophet Malachie Behold I wil send you Elias the prophet before the day of our Lord come the great and dreadful Christ also sayth Elias in deede shal come and restore al thinges VVherupon S. Chrysostom after he hath shewed how terrible Antichrist shal be by reason of his temporal powre crueltie and wicked lawes he addeth Feare thou not He shal only haue force in the reprobate that perish For then also Elias shal come to fortifie the faithful Likewise the wordes in the Apocalips I wil geue to my two witnesses they shal prophecie a thousand two hundred and three score dayes were euer inuariably vnderstood by tradition from the first preachers of Christ as the ancient writer Aretas testifieth that Enoch and Elias shal come admonish al not to geue credite to the deceiptful wonders of Antichrist and that they shal trauel in this testimonie the space of three yeares and a half For 1260. dayes come very nere to that space of time CHAP. XLIX Praises of Iosias who like to Dauid and Ezechias tooke away occasions of idolatrie 8. Praises of Ieremie 10. Ezechiel 12. and the twelue Prophetes 13. Also of Zorobabel Iesus the sonne of Iosedech Nehemias Enoch Ioseph Seth Sem and Adam THE memorie of Iosias is according to the confection of perfume made by the worke of an apothecarie †His remembrance shal be sweete as honie in euerie mouth and as musick in banket of wine †He was directed by God into the repentance of the nation and he tooke away the abominations of impietie †And he gouerned his hart toward our Lord and in the daies of sinners he strengthened pietie †Except Dauid and Ezechias and Iosias al committed sinne †For the kinges of Iuda forsooke the law of the Highest and contemned the feare of God †For they gaue their kingdom to others and their glorie to a strange nation †They burnt the chosen citie of holines and made the waies thereof desolate in the hand of Ieremie †For they euil intreated him who was consecrated a prophet from his mothers wombe to ouerthrow and pluck vp and destroy and to build againe and renewe †Ezechiel who saw the sight of glorie which he shewed him in the chariote of Cherubs †For he made mention of the enemies in rayne to doe good vnto them that haue shewed right waies †And the bones of the twelue prophets wel may they spring out of their place for they haue strengthened Iacob and haue redeemed themselues in the fidelitie of power †How may we magnifie Zorobabel for he also was as a signet on the right hand †and so Iesus the sonne of Iosedec who in their daies built the house and erected the holie temple to our Lord prepared to euerlasting glorie †And Nehemias in the memorie of much time who erected vs our walles ouerthrowen and set vp the gates and lockes who built our houses †No man hath bene borne in the earth like to Henoch for he also was taken vp from the earth †Neither as Ioseph who was a man borne prince of his bretheren the stay of the nation the ruler of his bretheren the stay of the people †and his bones were visited and after death they prophecied †Seth and Sem obteyned glorie with men and aboue euerie soule in the beginning Adam CHAP. L. Praises of Simon the High Priest 27. Detestation of certaine persecuting aduersaries 29. With conclusion that the obseruers of this doctrine shal be wise and happie SIMON the sonne of Onias the high priest who in his life held vp the house and in his daies strengthned the temple †The height also of the temple was founded by him the duble building and high walles of the temple †In his daies the welles of waters flowed out and they were filled as the sea aboue measure †Who had care of his nation and deliuered it from perdition †Who preuailed to amplifie the citie who obteyned glorie in conuersing with the nation and amplified the entrance of the house and the court †As the morning starre in the middes of a cloude and as the ful moone he shineth in his dayes †And as the sunne shining so did he shine in the temple of God †As the rainbow that shineth among
hadst walked in the way of God thou hadst verely dwelt in peace euerlasting †Learne where wisedom is where strength is where vnderstanding is that thou mayst know withal where is the long continuance of life and liuing where the light of the eyes and peace is †Who hath found the place therof and who hath entered into the treasures therof †Where are the princes of the Gentiles and they that rule ouer the beasts that are vpon the earth †that play with the birdes of the heauen †that treasure vp siluer and gold wherin men haue confidence and is there no end of their getting which fashion siluer are careful neither is there invention of their workes †They are destroyed and are gone downe to hel and others are risen vp in their place †Yong men saw the light and dwelt vpon the earth but the way of discipline they knew not †neither vnderstood they the pathes therof neither haue their children receiued it it is made farre from their face †It hath not bene heard in the Land of Chanaan neither hath it bene seene in Theman †The children of Agar also that seke out the prudence that is of the earth marchants of Merrhe and of Theman and fablers and searchers of prudence and vnderstanding but the way of wisedom they haue not knowne neither haue they remembrēd the pathes therof †O Israel how great is the house of God and how great is the place of his possession †It is great and hath no end high and vnmesurable †There were the Giants those renowned that were from the beginning of big stature expert in warre †These did not our Lord choose neither found they the way of discipline therfore did they perish †And because they had not wisedom they perished through their follie †Who hath ascended into heauen and taken her and brought her downe from the clowdes †Who hath passed ouer the sea and found her and brought her aboue chosen gold †There is none that can know her waies nor that can search out her pathes †but he that knoweth al thinges knoweth her hath found her out by his prudence he that prepared the earth in time euerlasting and replenished it with cattel and fourefooted beastes †he that sendeth forth light and it goeth and hath called it and it obeyeth him with trembling †And the starres haue geuen light in their watches and reioyced †they were called and they said here we are and they haue shined to him with cheerfulnes that made them †This is out God and there shal none other be estemed against him †He found out al the way of discipline and deliuered it to Iacob his seruant and to Israel his beloued †After these thinges he was sene vpon the earth and was conuersant with men CHAP. IIII. Gods people neglecting his grace offered to them more then to other nations 6. are seuerely punished 15. by captiuitie 18. but are reserued 22. and repenting shal be released 31. and their enimies destroyed THIS is the booke of the commandments of God and the law that is for euer al that hold it shal come to life but they that haue forsaken it into death †Returne Iacob and take hold of it walke by the way to the brightnes of it against the light therof †Deliuer not thy glorie to an other dignitie to a strange nation †We are blessed ô Israel because the thinges that please God are manifest to vs. †Be of good comfort ô people of God memorable Israel †you are sold to the Gentiles not into perdition but for that in anger you prouoked God to wrath you are deliuered to the aduersaries †For you haue exasperated him that made you the eternal God immolating to diuels and not to God †For you haue forgotten God who hath nourished you and your nource Ierusalem you haue made sorowful †For she saw the wrath comming from God to you and she sayd Heare ye confines of Sion for God hath brought me great mourning †For I haue sene the captiuitie of my people and of my sonnes and daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them †For I nourished them with ioyfulnes but I haue left them with weeping and mourning †Let no man reiovce ouer me a widow and desolate I am forsaken of manie for the sinnes of my children because they haue declined from the law of God †And his iustices they haue not knowne nor walked by the wayes of Gods commandments neither haue they entered by the pathes of his truth and iustice †Let the borderers of Sion come and remember the captiuitie of my sonnes daughters which the euerlasting hath brought vpon them †For he hath brought vpon them a nation from a farre a wicked nation and of an other tongue †which haue not reuerenced the ancient nor pitied the children haue led away the beloued of the widow and made the sole woman desolate of children †But as for me what can I helpe you †For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he wil deliuer you out of the handes of your enemies †walke children walke for I am left alone †I haue put of the stole of peace and I haue put vpon me the sackcloth of prayer and I wil crie to the Highest in my dayes †Be of good comfort my children crie to our Lord and he wil deliuer you out of the hand of the princes your enemies †For I haue hoped in the euerlasting for your saluation ioy is come to me from the holie one vpon the mercie which shal come to you from our euerlasting sauiour †For I sent you forth with mourning and weeping but our Lord wil bring you backe to me with ioy and gladnes for euer †For as the neighbours of Sion haue seene your captiuitie from God so shal they see also with celeritie your saluation from God which shal come vpon you with great honour and euerlasting brightnes †Children patiently sustaine the wrath which is come vpon you for thyne enemie hath persecuted thee but thou shalt quickly see his destruction and thou shalt get vp vpon his necke †My delicate ones haue walked rough waies for they are led as a flocke taken violently of the enemies †Be of good comfort children and crie out to our Lord for there shal be remembrance of you with him that hath led you away †For as your minde hath bene to stray from God ten tymes so much shal you returning againe seeke him †For he that hath brought the euils vpon you he againe wil bring vnto you euerlasting ioy with your saluation †Be of good comfort Ierusalem for he exhorteth thee that named thee †The wicked afflicters shal perish that haue vexed thee they that haue reioyced in thy ruine shal be punished †The cities which thy children haue serued shal be punished
Blesse our Lord ye fountaines prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seas and riuers blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Whales and al things that moue in the waters blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Blesse our Lord al ye foules of heauen prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Sonnes of men blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Let Israel blesse our Lord prayse and superexalte him for euer †Priests of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Holie and humble of hart blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer Because he hath deliuered vs from hel and saued vs out of the hand of death and deliuered vs out of the middes of the burning flame and out of the middes of the fire hath he rid vs. †Confesse ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer †Al religious blesse ye our Lord the God of goddes prayse and confesse ye to him because his mercie is vnto al worldes Hitherto it is not in the Hebrevv and that vvhich vve haue put is translated out of the Edition of Theodotion †Then Nabuchodonosor the king was astonied and he arose hastely said to his nobles Did we not cast three men fettered into the middes of the fire Who answering the king said It is true ô king †He answered and said Behold I see foure men loose and walking in the middes of the fire and there is no corruption in them the forme of the fourth is like to the sonne of God †Then came Nabuchodonosor to the doore of the fornace of burning fire and said Sidrach Misach Abdenago seruants of the high God goe ye forth and come And forthwith Sidrach Misach and Abdenago went out of the middes of the fire †And the nobles and the magistrates and iudges and the potentates of the king being gathered together beheld those men that the fire had no powre on their bodies not a heare of their head was singed yea their breeches were not altered the sent of the fire had not passed by them †And Nabuchodonosor breaking forth said Blessed be the God of them to witte of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago who hath sent his Angel and hath deliuered his seruants that beleued in him and they changed the kings word deliuered their bodies that they might not serue and might not adore anie god except their owne God †By me therfore this decree is made that euerie people tribe and tongue whatsoeuer shal speake blasphemie against the God of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago he perish and his house be wasted for there is none other God that can so saue †Then did the king promote Sidrach Misach and Abdenago in the prouince of Babylon †Nabuchodonosor the king to al peoples nations and tongues that dwel in the whole earth peace be multiplied vnto you †The high God hath wrought signes and meruelous thinges with me It hath pleased me therfore to publish †his signes because they are great and his meruels because they are strong and his kingdom an euerlasting kingdom his powre in generation and to genaration CHAP. IIII. King Nabuchodonosor hauing an other dreame telleth it to Daniel demanding of him the interpretation 16. who encoreged and warrented to speake freely sheweth that the king shal become like a beast in forme seuen yeares 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heauen 30. and being fulfilled he is at last restored to his owne forme and state I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house and florishing in my palace †I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd and my cogitations in my bed and the visions of my head disturbed me †And by me there was a decree setforth that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame †Then came in the southsayers magicians Chaldees and diuiners and I told the dreame in their sight the solution therof they shewed me not †til their collegue Daniel came into my fight whose name is Baltassar according to the name of my God who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself and I told the dreame before him †Baltassar prince of the southsayers because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee and no secrete is impossible to thee tel thou the visions of my dreames which I haue sene and the solution of them †The vision of my head in my bed I saw and behold a tree in the middes of the earth and the height therof exceding †A great tree and strong and the height therof touching the heauen the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth †The leaues therof most fayre and the fruit therof exceding much and the foode of al thinges in it vnder it dwelt cattel and beasts and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen and of it al flesh did eate †I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed behold a watchman and an holie one descended from heauen †He cried mightely and thus he sayd Cut ye downe the tree choppe of the boughes therof shake of the leaues therof and scatter the fruits therof let the beasts flie that are vnder it and the foules from the boughes therof †But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth and let it be tyed with yron and brasen band among the grasse that is without and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth †“ Let his hart be changed from humane let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him and let seuen times be changed ouer him †In the sentence of the watchman is the decree and the word of saintes and the petition til the liuing know that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men and to whom soeuer it shal please him he wil geue it the basest man he wil appoint ouer it †This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me but thou canst because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee †Then Daniel whose name was Baltassar began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre his cogitations trubled him But the king answering said Baltassar let not the dreame
requested of them and whosoeuer haue come vnto them they haue made amitie with them and that they are mightie of powre †And they heard of their battels goodlie acts which they did in Galatia that they ouercame them and brought them vnder tribute †how great thinges they did in the countrie of Spaine that they brought into their powre the metalles of siluer and gold that are there and possessed euerie place by their counsel patience †and destroyed the places that were very far of from them the kings that came vpon them from the ends of the earth and stroke them with a greate plague and the rest geue them tribute euerie yeare †And Philip and Perses the king of the Ceteans and the rest that had borne weapon against them they discomfited in battel and ouercame them †and that Antiochus the great king of Asia who made battel against them hauing an hundred and twentie elephants horsemen chariottes an armie exceding great was discomfited by them †that they tooke him aliue and appointed him that himself and they that should reigne after him should geue a great tribute and he should geue hostages and the thing appointed him †and the region of the Indes the Medes the Bydiains of their best countries and the same being taken of them they gaue to Eumenes the king †And that they which were in Hellada would haue gone to dispatch them and the word was knowen to them †and they sent vnto them one captayne and they sought against them manie of them were slaine and they led away their wiues captiue and their children and spoiled them and possessed their land and destroyed their walles and brought them into bondage euen vntil this day †and the residue of kingdoms and iles that some time had resisted them they spoyled and brought vnder their powre †But with their freinds and those that rested in them they kept amitie and obteyned the kingdoms that were next and that were far of that whosoeuer heard their name feared them †But such as they would helpe to reigne those reigned and whom they would they deposed from the kingdom and they were exalted excedingly †And in al these none bare a crowne nor was clothed with purple to be magnified therin †And that they made them selues a court and consulted dayly three hundred and twentie that sate in counsel alwayes for the multitude that they might doe the thinges that were conuenient †and they committe their gouerment to one man euerie yeare to rule ouer al their land al they obey one there is no enuie nor emulation amongst them †And Iudas chose Eupolemus the sonne of Iohn the sonne of Iacob and Iason the sonne of Eleazar he sent them to Rome to make amitie and societie with them †and that they should take from them the yoke of the Greeks because they saw that they pressed the kingdom of Israel vnto bondage †And they went to Rome a way exceding great and they entered into the court and sayd †Iudas Machabeus and his bretheren and the people of the Iewes haue sent vs vnto you to make societie and peace with you and to write vs your felowes and freindes †And the word was liked in their sight †And this is the rescript that they wrote againe in tables of brasse and sent into Ierusalem that it might be with them there a memorial of peace societie †BE IT WEL TO THE ROMANES and to the nation of the Iewes by sea by land for euer and sword and enemie be far from them †But and if warre be toward the Romanes first or al their felowes in al their dominion †the nation of the Iewes shal geue ayde according as the time shal appoint with ful hart †and to them fighting they shal not geue nor allow wheate armour money shippes as it hath pleased the Romanes and they shal keepe their charge taking nothing of them †In like maner also and if warre shal happen first to the nation of the Iewes the Romanes shal helpe with al their hart according as the time shal permitte them †and to them helping shal not be geuen wheate armour money shippes as it hath pleased the Romanes and they shal keepe their charge without guile †According to these wordes did the Romanes agree to the people of the Iewes †And if after these wordes these or they wil adde to these or take away any thing they shal doe it at their pleasure and whatsoeuer they shal adde or take away shal be ratified †Yea and concerning the euils that Demetrius the king hath done against them we haue writen to him saying Why hast thou aggrauated thy yoke vpon our freinds and felowes the Iewes †If therfore they come againe vnto vs against thee we wil doe iudgement for them and wil fight with thee by sea and land CHAP. IX Bacchides and Alcimus returning into Iurie make great slaughter 5. More then two partes of Iudas smal troupe flying away he with eight hundred setteth vpon the enemie 14. ouerthroweth the strongest part of their armie 16. but an other part coming at his back with great slaughter on both parties Iudas is slaine 19. and most honorably buried 23. Much euil encreaseth in Israel 28. Ionathas is made captaine general 36. The children of Iambrie kil his brother which he reuengeth 43. Being enuironed by Bacchides chaceth him away to his fensed places killing manie 54. Alcimus beginning to deface the temple is striken with a palsie and dyeth miserably 57. So they haue peace two yeares 58. Bacchides coming with a new armie 62. Ionathas and Simon retyre into Bethbessen 65. there defend themselues and annoy the enemie 69. who blaming his counsellers maketh peace and departeth IN the meane time as Demetrius heard that Nicanor was fallen and his armie in the battel he added to send Bacchides and Alcimus againe into Iurie and the right wing with them †And they went the way that leadeth into Galgal and camped in Masaloth which is in Arbellis and they wanne it slew of men manie soules †In the first moneth of the yeare an hundreth and fiftie two they brought the armie nere to Ierusalem †and they arose and went into Beraea twentie thousand men and two thousand horsemen †And Iudas had camped in Laisa and three thousand chosen men with him †they saw the multitude of the armie that they were manie and they feared excedingly and manie withdrew themselues out of the campe and there remayned of them but eight hundred men †And Iudas saw that his armie shrunke away and the battel pressed vpon him and his hart was broken because he had not time to gathr them together and he was discoureged †And he sayd to them that were remayning Let vs rise and goe to our aduersaries if we may be able to fight against them
receiue the right handes and he gaue it them and he cast them out from thence and clensed the castel from the contaminations †and they entered into it the three and twentith day of the second moneth the yeare an hundreth seuentie one with prayse and boughes of palme trees and harpes and cymbals nables and hymnes and canticles because the great enemie was destroyed out of Israel †And he ordayned that euerie yeare these dayes should be kept with gladnes †And he fortified the mount of the temple that was by the castel and he dwelt there him self and they that were with him †And Simon saw Iohn his sonne that he was a valient man of warre he made him captayne of al the hosts and he dwelt in Gazara CHAP. XIIII Demetrius inuading Media is taken captiue 4. and Iurie is in peace 14. Simon cherisheth the godlie and punisheth the wicked 16. receiueth freindlie letters from the Romanes and Spartiates 20. vvherof the copie is recited 24. sendeth a legate to Rome with a present 25. And is established highpriest and gouernour by publique consent IN THE yeare an hundreth seuentie two king Demetrius gathered his armie and went into Media to get him aydes to expugne Tryphon †And Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius was entered his confines and he sent one of his princes to take him aliue †And he went and stroke the campe of Demetrius and tooke him and brought him to Arsaces and he put him into ward †And al the land of Iuda was at rest al the dayes of Simon and he sought good to his nation and his powre and his glorie pleased them al dayes †And with al his glorie he tooke Ioppe for an hauen and made it an entrance vnto the iles of the sea †And he enlarged the borders of his nation and obteyned the countrie †And he gathered a great captiuitie and had the dominion of Gazara and of Bethsura and of the castle and tooke away the vncleanes out of it and there was none that resisted him †And euerie man tilled his land with peace the land of Iuda yelded her fruites and the trees of the fildes their fruit †The ancients sate al in the streetes and treated of the good thinges of the land the yongmen did on them glorie and the stoles of warre †And he gaue victuals to the cities and he appointed them that they should be vessels of munition til the name of his glorie was renowmed euen to the end of the earth †He made peace vpon the land Israel reioyced with great ioy †And euerie man sate vnder his vine and vnder his fig-tree and there was none to make them asrayd †There was none left that impugned them vpon the earth kinges were discomfited in those dayes †And he confirmed al the humble of his people and sought the law and tooke away euerie wicked and euil man †he glorified the holies and multiplied the vessels of the holie places †And it was heard at Rome that Ionathas was dead and euen vnto the Spartiats and they were very sorie †But as they heard that Simon his brother was made the high priest in his place and he obteyned al the countrie and the cities therein †they wrote to him in brasen tables to renew the amities and societie which they had made with Iudas with Ionathas his bretheren †And they were read in the sight of the church in Ierusalem And this is a copie of the epistles that the Spartiates sent †THE PRINCES and the cities of the Spartians to Simon the grand priest and to the ancients and the priests and the rest of the people of the Iewes their bretheren greeting †The legates that were sent to our people haue told vs of your glorie and honour and ioy and we reioyced at their entrance †And we wrote that which was sayd of them in the counsels of the people thus Numenius the sonne of Antiochus and Antipater the sonne of Iason legates of the Iewes came to vs renewing with vs old amitie †And it pleased the people to receiue the men gloriously and to put a copie of their wordes in the seuered booke of the people to be for a memorie to the people of the Spartiats And a copie of these we haue writen to Simon the grand priest †And after these thinges Simon sent Numenius to Rome hauing a great buckler of gold of the weight of thousand poundes to establish amitie with them But when the people of Rome had heard †these wordes they sayd What thankes geuing shal we render to Simon and his children †For he hath restored his bretheren and hath expugned the enemies of Israel from them they decreed him libertie and registred it in tables of brasse and put it in titles in mount Sion †And this is a copie of the wriring THE EIGHTENTH day of the moneth Elul in the yeare an hundreth seuentie two the third yeare vnder Simon the grand priest in Asaramel †in a great assemblie of the priests of the people and the princes of the nation and the ancients of the countrie these thinges were notified that there haue often bene battels made in our countrie †But Simon the sonne of Mathathias of the children of Iarib and his bretheren put themselues in danger and resisted the aduersaries of their nation that their holies and law might stand with great glorie haue they glorified their nation †And Ionathas gathered together his nation and was made their grand priest and he was layd to his people †And their enemies would conculcate and destroy their countrie and extend their handes against the holies †Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation and bestowed much money and armed the valient men of his nation gaue them wages †and he fortified the cities of Iurie and Bethsura that was in the borders of Iurie where the armour of the enimies was before and he placed there Iewes for a garrison †And he fortified Ioppe which was by the sea and Gazara which is in the borders of Azotus wherin the enemies dwelt before and he placed Iewes there and whatsoeuer was fitte for their correption he put in them †And the people saw the fact of Simon and the glorie that he meant to doe to his nation they made him their duke and grand priest for that he had done al thes◠thinges and for the iustice and fayth which he kept to his nation for that he sought by al meanes to aduance his people †And in his dayes it prospered in his hands so that the heathen were taken away out of their countrie and they that were in the citie of of Dauid in Ierusalem in the castel out of which they came forth and contaminated al thinges that were round about the holies they brought great plague vpon chastitie †he placed in it
Assirians toward them to strengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VIII Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters 14. nâ—t licence to takâ— gold siluer and al thinges necessarie at their pleasure 31. The chief mâ—n that goe with him are recited 51. He voweth a fast praying for good successe in their iorney 56. weigheth the gold and siluer which he deliuereth to the Priestes and Leuites 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance for their mariages made with infideles AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome †the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Ameri the sonne of Azahel the sonne of Bocci the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest †This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe wise in the law of Moyses which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and to doe †And the king gaue him glorie because he had found grace in al dignitie and desire in his sight †And there went vp with him of the children of Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the sacred singers of the temple and the porters and the seruantes of the temple into Ierusalem †In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth †they came to Ierusalem according to his commandment according to the prosperitie of their iourney which their Lord gaue them †For in these Esdras had great knowlege that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges which were according to the law and the preceptes of our Lord and in teaching al Israel al iustice and iudgement †And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest the reader of the law of our Lord the copie wherof here foloweth †KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord greeting †I of curtesie esteming it among benifites haue commanded them that of their owne accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes and of the Priestes and Leuites which are in my kingdom to goe with thee into Ierusalem †If anie therfore desire to goe with thee let them come together and set forward as it hath pleased me and my seuen freindes my counselers †that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ierusalem obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. †And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ierusalem and al the gold and siluer that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem with that †which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ierusalem that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen and rammes and lambes and kiddes and for the thinges that are agreable to these †that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord which is in Ierusalem †And al thinges whatsoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer doe it at thy pleasure according to the precept of the Lord thy God †And the sacred vessels which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God which is in Ierusalem †And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kings treasure †When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and siluer doe according to the wil of the Lord. †And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria and Phaenice that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord shal write for they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of siluer likewise also of gold †And vnto an hundred measures of corne an hundred vessels of wine and other thinges whatsoeuer abound without taxing †Let al thinges be done to the most high God according to the law of God lest perhaps there arise wrath in the reigne of the king and of his sonne and his sonnes †And to you it is sayd that vpon al the Priestes and Leuites and sacred singers and seruantes of the temple scribes of this temple †no tribute nor any other taxe be sette and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them †But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God appoynt iudges and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice and teach al them that know no the law of thy God †that whosoeuer shal transgresse the law they be diligently punished either with death or with torment or els with a forfeite of money or with banishment †And Esdras the scribe sayd Blessed be the God of our fathers which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart to glorifie his house which is in Ierusalem †And hath honoured me in the sight of the king and of his counselers and freindes and them that weare purple †And I was made constant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God and gathered together of Israel men that should goe vp together with me †And these are the princes according to their kindredes and seueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes †Of the children of Phares Gersomus and of the children of Siemarith Amenus of the children of Dauid Acchus the sonne of Scecilia †Of the children of Phares Zacharias and with him returned an hundred fiftie men †Of the children of leader Moabilion Zaraei and with him two hundred fiftie men †Of the children of Zachues Iechonias of Zechoel and with him two hundred fiftie men †of the children of Sala Maasias of Gotholia with him seuentie men †of the children of Saphatia Zarias of Michel and with him eightie men †of the children of Iob Abdias of Iehel and with him two hundred twelue men †of the children of Bania Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia and with him an hundred sixtie men †of the children of Beer Zacharias Bebei and with him two hundred eight men †of the children of Ezead Ioannes of Eccetan and with him an hundred ten men †of the children of Adonicam which were last and these are their names Eliphalam the sonne of Gebel and Semeias and with him seuentie men †And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia and we camped there three dayes and vewed them againe †And of the children of the Priestes and Leuites I found not there †And I sent to Eleazarus and Eccelon and Masman and
eares thou hast perfited to me Holocaust and for sinne thou didst not require †then said I Behold I come In the head of the booke it is written of me †that I should doe thy wil my God I would and thy law in the middes of my hart †I haue declared thy iustice in the great Church loe I wil not stay my lippes Lord thou hast knowen it †Thy iustice I haue not hid in my hart thy truth and thy saluation I haue spoken I haue not hid thy mercie and thy truth from the great councel †But thou ô Lord make not thy commiserations farre from me thy mercie and thy truth haue alwayes receiued me †Because euils haue compassed me which haue no number mine iniquities haue ouertaken me I was not able to see They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head and my hart hath forsaken me †It may please thee ô Lord to deliuer me Lord haue respect to helpe me Let them be confounded and ashamed together that seeke my soule to take it away Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them forth with receiue their confusion that say to me Wel wel †Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad vpon thee and let them that loue thy saluation say alwayes Our Lord be magnified †But I am a begger and poore Our Lord is careful of me Thou art my helper my protector my God be not slacke PSALME XL. The prophet pronounceth them happie that wil beleue in Christ coming in humilitie and pouertie 5. Christ describeth his owne poore afflicted state in this life by reason he is to satisfie for the sinnes of the world the malice of his aduersaries 10. especially of Iudas 11. and by way of prayer prophecieth his owne Resurrect on †Vnto the end a Psalme to Dauid him selfe BLESSED is the man that vnderstandeth concerning the needie and the poore in the euil day our Lord wil deliuer him †Our Lord preserue him and geue him life and make him blessed in the land and deliuer him not vnto the wil of his enemies †Our Lord helpe him vpon the bed of his sorow thou hast turned al his couche in his infirmitie †I said Lord haue haue mercie on me heale my soule because I haue sinned to thee †Mine enemies haue spoken euils to me When shal he die and his name perish †And if he came in to see he spake vayne thinges his hart hath gathered together iniquitie to him selfe He went forth and spake together †Al mine enemies whispered against me they did thinke euils to me They haue determined an vniust word against me Shal not he that sleepeth adde to ryse againe †For the man also of my peace in whom I hoped who did eate my breades hath greatly troden me vnder foote †But thou ô Lord haue mercie vpon me and raise me vp againe and I wil repay them †In this I haue knowen that thou wouldest me because mine enemie shal not reioyce ouer me †But me thou hast receiued because of innocencie and thou hast confirmed me in thy sight for euer †Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from the beginning of the world and for euermore Be it be it PSALME XLI The feruent desire of the iust 6. much afflicted in this life 12. and assured hope of eternal ioy †Vnto the end vnderstanding to the sonnes of Core EVEN as the harte desireth after the fountaines of waters so doth my soule desire after thee ô God †My soule hath thirsted after God the strong liuing when shal I come and appeare before the face of God †My teares haue beene breades vnto me day and night whiles it is said to me dayly Where is thy God †These thinges haue I remembred and haue powred out my soule in me because I shal passe into the place of a meruelous tabernacle euen to the house of God In the yoyce of exultation and confession the sound of one feasting †Why art thou sorowful my soule and why dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance †and my God My soule is trubled toward my selfe therfore wil I be mindful of thee from the land of Iordan and Hermoniim from the litle mountaine †Depth calleth on depth in the voice of thy flould-gates Al thy high thinges and thy waues haue passed ouer me †In the day our Lord hath commanded his mercie and in the night a song of him With me is prayer to the God of my life †I wil say to God Thou art my defender Why hast thou forgotten me and why goe I sorowful whiles mine enemie afflicteth me †Whiles my bones are broken mine enemies that truble me haue vpbrayded me Whiles they say to me day by day Where is thy God †Why art thou heauie ô my soule wh◠dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLII The iust inuocateth Gods sentence against the deceiptful that seeke his spiritual ouerthrow 4. acknowledgeth his helpe from almightie God the B. Trinitie in whose vision glorie consisteth †A Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô God discerne my cause from the nation not holie from the vniust and deceitful man deliuer me †Because thou art God my strength why hast thou repelled me and why goe I sorowful whiles the enemie afflicteth me Send forth thy light and thy truth they haue conducted me and haue brought me into thy holy hil and into thy tabernacles †And I wil goe in to the altar of God to God which maketh my youth ioyful †I'wil confesse to thee on the harpe ô God my God why art thou sorowful ô my soule and dost thou trubel me †Hope in God because yet wil I cōfesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLIII The prophet describeth the first calling and difficulte state of the Iewish nation 6. their prosperitie at other times 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie and persecutions †Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core to vnderstanding O GOD we haue heard with our eares our fathers haue declared to vs. The worke that thou hast wrought in their dayes and in the dayes of old †Thy hand destroyed the nations and thou didst plant them thou didst afflict the peoples and expel them †For not by their owne sword did they possesse the land and their owne arme did not saue them But thy right hand
and thyne arme and the illumination of thy countenance because thou wast pleased in them †Thou art the same my king and my God which commandest the saluations of Iacob †In thee we shal turne out our enemies with the horne in thy name we shal contemne them that ryse vp against vs. †For I wil not hope in my bowe and my sword wil not saue me †For thou hast saued vs from them that afflict vs and them that hate vs thou hast confounded †In God we shal be praysed al the day and in thy name we wil confesse for euer †But now thou hast repelled and confounded vs and thou wilt not goe forth ô God in our hostes †Thou hast turned vs backe behind our enemies and they that hated vs spoyled for themselues †Thou hast geuen vs as sheepe that are to be eaten and thou hast dispersed vs among the nations †Thou hast sold thy people without price and there was no multitude in the exchanges of them †Thou hast made vs a reproche to our neighbours a scorne and mocking stocke to them that are round about vs. †Thou hast made vs for a parable to the Gentiles a wagging of the head among the peoples †Al the day my shame is against me and the confusion of my face hath couered me †At the voyce of the vpbrayder and the reprocher at the face of the enemie and persecutor †Al these thinges haue come vpon vs neither haue we forgotten thee and we haue not done wickedly in thy testament †And our hart hath not reuolted backward and thou hast declined our pathes from thy way †Because thou hast humbled vs in the place of affliction and the shadow of death hath couered vs. †If we haue forgotten the name of our God and if we haue spred forth our handes to a strange God †Wil not God enquire of these thinges For he knoweth the secretes of the hart Because for thee we are killed al the day we are estemed as sheepe of slaughter †Arise why sleepest thou ô Lord Arise and expel vs not to the end †Why dost thou turne away thy face forgettest our pouertie and our tribulation †Because our soule is humbled in the dust our bellie is glâ—wed in the earth †Arise Lord helpe vs and redeme vs for thy name PSALME XLIIII Dauid singularly moued in hart and tongue 3. prophecieth Christs excellencie indowing his Church with most worthie dowries 11. by way of exhortation forshewing her internal and external beautie 17. with perpetual succession of Pastors feeding the flock euen to the worlds end †Vnto the end for them that shal be changed to the sonnes of Core for vnderstanding a Canticle for the beloued MY hart hath vttered a good word I tel my workes to the king My tongue is the penne of a scribe that writeth swiftly †Goodly of beautie aboue the sonnes of men grace is powred abrode in thy lippes therfore hath God blessed thee for euer †Be girded with thy sword vpon thy thigh ô most mightie †With thy beautie and fayrnesse intend procede prosperousely and reigne Because of truth and mildenesse and iustice and thy right hand shal conduct thee meruelously Thy sharpe arrowes the peoples vnderneth thee shal fal into the hartes of the kings enemies †“ Thy seate ô God for euer and euer a rod of direction the rod of thy kingdom Thou hast loued iustice and hast hated iniquitie therfore God thy God hath annoynted thee with the oile of gladnes aboue thy felowes †Myrâ—he and Aloes and Cassia from thy garmentes from houses of yuorie out of the which †the daughter of kinges haue delighted thee in thy honour The Queene stood on thy right hand in golden rayment compassed with varietie Heare daughter and see and incline thyne eare and forget thy people and the house of thy father †And the king wil couet thy beautie because he is the Lord thy God and they shal adore him †And the daughters of Tyre with giftes al the rich of the people shal besech thy countenance †Al the glorie of that daughter of the king is within in borders of gold †clothed round about with varieties Virgins shal be brought to the king after her her neighbours shal be brought to thee †They shal be brought in ioy and exultation “ they shal be brought into the temple of the king †“ For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth †They shal be mindeful of thy name in al generation and generation Therfore shal peoples confesse to thee for euer and for euer and euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIIII 7. Thy seate Ô God for euer and euer Seing S. Paul Heb. 1. v. 8. affirmeth expresly that these wordes are spoken of the Sonne of God Christ our Sauiour and therby proueth his excellencie aboue Angels Iohn Caluin is wonderful bold to auouch that in the simple proper sense Dauid spake of his sonne Salomon and the daughter of Pharao as if that were the literal sense and S. Paul only expounded it mystically But first the solemne preface in the two first verses importeth farre greater thinges then agree to anie terrestrial king Secondly this excellent beautie described v. 3. aboue the sonnes of men can not be verified of Salomon for Absalom 2. Reg. 14. v 25. and Adonias were also very beautiful 3. Reg. 1. v. 6. As for Salomons wisdom or other vertues he perseuered not therin and so he was not blessed for euer Thirdly the prophet here calleth the person of whom and to whom he speaketh God v. 7. 12. Fourtly not only the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church but also the Hebrew Rabbins and the Chaldee paraphrasis expound this Psalme literally of the promised Messias and his kingdom the Church 16. They shal be brought into the temple of the king The temple of the king saith S. Augustin is the Church the temple of the king is in vnity the temple of the king is not ruinous not cut insunder not diuided the ioyning of liuing stones is charitie Nothing is more euidenr Attend now the verie temple of the king for from thence he speaketh because of the vnitie spread in the round earth For those that vvould be virgins faithful soules vnles they be brought into the temple of the king the Catholique Church they can not please the bridgrome 17. For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee The Apostles begotte thee ô Christian Church they were sent they preached they are the fathers But could they be