your beds in the morning light they doe it because their hand is against God †And they haue couered fildes and violently taken and houses forcibly taken away and oppressed the man and his house the man and his inheritance †Therfore thus saith our Lord Behold I purpose euil vpon this familie whence you shal not take away your neckes and you shal not walke prowd because it is a very euil time †In that day a parable shal be taken vp vpon you and a songue shal be sung with sweetnes of them that say With depopulation we are wasted part of my people is changed how shal he depart from me wheras he returneth that wil diuide our regions †For this cause thou shalt haue none casting the cord of lot in the assemblie of our Lord. †Speake ye not speaking It shal not droppe vpon these confusion shal not apprehend them †The house of Iacob saith Way is the spirit of our Lord abridged or are his cogitations such Are not my wordes good with him that walketh rightly †And on the contrarie my people is risen vp as an aduersarie from aboue the cote you haue taken away the cloke them that passed simply you turned into battel †The wemen of my people you haue cast out of the house of their delicacies from their litle ones you haue taken my praise for euer †Arise and goe because you haue no rest here For the vncleannes therof it shal be corrupted with a sore putrefaction †Would God I were not a man hauing the spirit and that I did rather speake a lie I wil distil to thee into wine and into drunkennes and it shal be this people vpon whom it is distilled †Gathering I wil gather thee wholly together ô Iacob I wil bring together the remnant of Israel into one I wil put them together as a flocke in the fold as cattel in the middes of sheepcotes they shal make a tumult by reason of the multitude of men †For he shal ascend opening the way before them they shal diuide and passe through the gate and shal enter by it and their king shal passe before them and our Lord in the head of them CHAP. III. For the sinnes of the rich opressing the poore 5. of falfe prophets flatering for lucre 9. and of Iudges peruerting iustice 12. Ierusalem and the temple shal be destroyed AND I sayd Heare ye princes of Iacob ye dukes of the house of Israel Why is it not your part to know iudgement †which hate good and loue euil which violently take away their skinnes from them and their flesh from their bones †Which haue eaten the flesh of my people and haue stead their skinne from them and haue broken and cut their bones as in a kettle as it were flesh in the middes of a potte shal they crie to our Lord and he wil not heare them and he wil hide his face from them at that time as they haue done wickedly in their inuentions †Thus sayth our Lord vpon the prophets that seduce my people that bite with their teeth nnd preach peace and if a man geue not something in their mouth they sanctifie battel vpon him †Therfore there shal be nigt to you for vision and darkenes to you for diuination and the sunne shal goe downe vpon the prophets the day shal be darkened ouer them †And they shal be confounded that see visions and the diuiners shal be confounded and al shal couer their faces because there is no answer of God †But yet I am replenished with the strenght of the spirit of our Lord with iudgement and power to declare vnto Iacob his wickednes and to Israel his sinne †Heare this ye princes of the house of Iacob and ye iudges of the house of Israel which abhorre iudgement peruert al right thinges †Which build Sion in bloud and Ierusalem in iniquitie †Her princes iudged for gifts and her priests taught for wages and her prophets diuined for money they rested vpon our Lord saying Why is not our Lord in the middes of vs euils shal not come vpon vs. †For this because of you Sion shal be ploughed as a filde and Ierusalem shal be as an heape of stones and the mount of the temple as the high places of forests CHAP. IIII. Manie Gentiles shal beleue in Christ 6. and lastly the multitude of Iewes 8. In the meane time the two tribes shal be caried into captiuitie and be deliuered againe AND it shal be In the later end of dayes there shal be the mount of the house of our Lord prepared in the toppe of mountaines and high about the hilles and peoples shal flow to it †And manie nations shal hasten shal say Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of our Lord to the house of the God of Iacob he wil teach vs of his wayes and we shal goe in this pathes because out of Sion shal the law goe forth and the word of our Lord out of Ierusalem †And he shal iudge betwen manie peoples and he shal rebuke strong nations vnto a far of and they shal cut their swordes into culters and their speares into spades nation shal not take sword against nation and they shal no more learne to make battel †And euerie man shal sitte vnder his vine vnder his figtree and there shal be none to make them afrayd because the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it †Because al peoples wil walke euerie one in the name of his God but we shal walke in the name of the Lord our God for euer and euer †In that day saith our Lord I wil gather her that halteth and her that I had cast out I wil gather vp her whom I had afflicted †And I wil make her that halted into a remnant and her that had laboured into a mightie nation and our Lord wil reigne ouer them in mount Sion from this time now and for euer †And thou the towre of flocke clowdie of the daughter of Sion shal come to thee and the first powre shal come the kingdom to the daughter of Ierusalem †Now why art thou drawne together with pensifnes why is there not a king to thee or is thy counselor perished because sorow hath apprehended thee as a woman in trauel †Sorow thou labour ô daughter of Sion as a woman in trauel because now shalt thou goe out of the citie and shalt dwel in the countrie and shalt come euen to Babylon there thou shalt be deliuered there our Lord wil redeme thee out of the hand of thine enemies †And now manie nations are gathered together vpon thee which say Let her be stoned and let our eye looke vpon Sion †But they haue not knowne the cogitations of our Lord and haue not vnderstood his counsel
holie persecution then bringing them forth of the fornace of Egypt in his strong hand as is recorded in the former age at last his Diuine Maiestie deliuered to them his perfect and eternal Law conteyned in two tables distributed into tenne preceptes teaching them their proper duties first towards himselfe their God and Lord then towards ech other Adding moreouer for the practise and execution therof other particular precepts of two sortes to witte Ceremonial prescribing certaine determinate maners and rites in obseruing the commandements of the first table pertaining to God and Iudicial lawes directing in particular how to fulfil the commandements of the second table concerning our duties towards our neighbours So we see the whole law is nothing els but to loue God aboue al and our neighboures as our selues The maner of performing al is to beleue and hope in one onlie Lord God honour and serue him alone who made al of nothing conserueth al wil iudge al and render to al men as they deserue and therfore fully to confirme this point he beginneth his commandements with expresse prohibition of al false and imaginarie goddes saying Exod. 20. v 3. Thou shalt not haue strange goddes after threates to the transgressours and recital of the other nine commandementes he concludeth v. 23. with repetition of the first saying You shal not make goddes of siluer nor goddes of gold shal you make to you 〈…〉 iâ— repeted and explaned Deut. 5. And in the next chapter Moyses 〈…〉 the people saith Heare Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. And God himselfe speaking againe sayth Exod. 23. See ye that I am onlie and there is no other God besides me The royal prophet Dauid 2 Reg. 22. and Psalm 17. who is God but our God and in sundrie other places the seneâ— doctrine of one God is grounded confirmed and established The Misterie of the B. Trinitie or of three Diuine Persons is no lesse true and certaine then that there is but one God though not so manifest to reason noâ— so expressly taught in the old Testament yet beleued then also and often in inuaded where God is expressed by names of the plural number as Elobim Elim Elahâ— Saddai Adonai Tsebaoth which import pluralitie of Persons in God who is bâ—â—e one nature and substance Distinction also of Persons in God 〈…〉 ced Exod. 33. God saying I wil cal in the name of the Lord That is as S. Augustin and other fathers expound it the second Person by his grace maketh his seruants to cal vpon God More distinctly Psalm 2. The Lord said to me Thou art my Sonne I this day haue begotten thee Psalm 109. The Lord said to my Lord that is God the Father to God the Sonne who according to his diuinitie is the Lord of Dauid according to his humanitie the sonne of Dauid The same king Dauid maketh mention also of the third Person the Holie Ghost praying Psalm 50. Thy holie Spirit take not from me In the forme of blessing the people Num. 6. al three Persons some to be vnderstood in the name of our Lord thrise repeted our Lord the Father blesse thee and keepe thee Our Lord the Sonne shew his face to thee and haue mercie vpon thee Our Lord the Holie Ghost turne his countenance vnto thee and geue thee peace Of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God we haue in this age manie prophecies and figures Moyses euidently Deut. 18 forsheweth that after other prophets Christ the Sonne of God should come in flesh and redeme mankind as S. Peter teacheth Act. 3. Likewise in his Canticle and Blessing of the tribes Deut. 32 33 he speaketh more expresly of Christ and his Church then of the Iewes and thier Synagogue The starre prophecied by Balaam Num. 24. forshewed both to Iewes and Gentiles that Christ should subdue al nations Iosuâ— both in name and office was a manifest figure of IESVS Christ Also the Iudge and Kinges some in one thing some in an other most especially king Dauid and king Salomon were figures of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ The brasen serpent Num. 21. sign fied Christ to be crucified as him selfe expenndeth it Ioan. 3. Bri fly the whole Law was a pedagogue or conductor to bring men to Christ Galat. 3. and by him to know God and them selues to wit God omnipotent al perfect Creator of al our Father Redemer and Sanctifier and man his chief earthlie creature though of himselfe wâ—â—kâ— and impotent yea through sinne miserable yet in nature of free condition indued wish vnderstanding to conceiue and discourse and with freewil to choose or refuse what liketh or displeaseth him For God appointing al creatures their offices ingraffed in al other thinges inuariable inclination to performe the same so that they could neither by vertue nor sinne make their state better not worse then it was created but ordaining Angels and men to a higher end of eternal felicitie left their wils free to agree vnto or to resist his precepts and counsels VVherupon Angels cooperating with Gods grace were confirmed in glorie and some reuoking were eternally damned Man also offending fel into damnable state but through penance may be saued if he cooperate with new grace of our Redemer which is in his choise to doe or omitte As when God gaue his people meate in the desert Exod. 16. he so instructed them how to receiue it and vse it without force or compulsion that he might proue them as himself speaketh whether they would walke in his law or no. And after making couenant with them Exod. 19. Deut. 26. required and accepted their voluntarie consent entring into formal contract or bargaine betwen him self and them he promising on the one partie to make them his peculiar people a priestlie kingdome and a holie nation they on the other partie promising loyaltie obedience and obseruation of his commandements saying Al thinges that our Lord hath spoken we wil doe For which cause Gods promises are conditional Deut. 7. if thou kepe his iudgements God wil keepe his couenant to thee Againe most plainly Deut. 11. Behold I sette before your sight this day benediction and malediction and Deut. 30. I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life that thou mayest liue In al which it is certaine that Gods promise being firme mans wil is variable and so the euent not necessarie which made Caleb hoping of victorie to say Iosue 14. if perhaps our Lord be with me Neither doth Gods foreknowledge make the euent necessarie for he seeth the effect in the cause as it is voluntarie or casual yea God knoweth al before and some times fortelleth thinges vvhich conditionally vvould happen and in deed the condition fayling come not to passe as 1. Reg. 23. God answered that the men of Ceila would betray Dauid meaning if he staied there vvhich
and began to pray with teares †saying Thou art iust ô Lord al thy iudgementes are iust and al thy waies mercie truth and iudgement †And now Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge of my sinnes neither remember the sinnes of me or of my parentes †Because we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes therfore we are deliuered in spoile and captiuitie and death and into a fable and into reproch to al nations in which thou hast dispersed vs. †And now Lord great are thy iudgementes because we haue not done according to thy preceptes haue not walked sincerely before thee †and now Lord according to thy wil do with me command my spirite to be receiued in peace for it is expedient for me to die rather then to liue †The verie same day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter of Raguel in Rages a citie of the Medes she also heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes †because she had beene deliuered to seuen husbandes the diuel named Asmodeus had killed them forth with as they were entred in vnto her †Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her fault she answered her saying Let vs no more see sonne of thee or daughter vpon the earth thou murderer of thy husbandes †What wilt thou kil me also as thou hast now killed seuen husbandes At this voice she went into an higher chamber of her house and three dayes and three nightes did not eate nor drinke †but continewing in prayer with teares besought God that he would deliuer her from this reproch †And it came to passe the third day whiles she accomplished her prayer blessing our Lord †she sayd Blessed is thy name ô God of our fathers who when thou hast bene angrie wilt doe mercie in the time of tribulation forgeuest them their sinnes that inuocate thee †To thee ô Lord I turne my face to thee I direct myne eyes †I desire Lord that thou loose me from the bond of this reproch or els take me away from the earth †Thou knowest Lord that I neuer coueted a husband and haue kept my soule cleane from al concupiscence †Neuer haue I companied my self with sporters neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in lightnesse †But a husband I consented to take with thy feare not with my lust †And either I was vnworthie of them or they perhaps were not worthie for me because perhaps thou hast kept me for an other man †For thy counsel is not in mans power †But this hath euerie one for certayne that worshippeth thee that his life if it be in probation shal be crowned and if it be in tribulation it shal be deliuered and if it be in correction it shal be lawful to come to thy mercie †For thou art not delighted in our perditions because after a tempest thou makest a calme and after teares and weeping thou powrest in ioyfulnesse †Be thy name God of Israel blessed foreuer †At that time the prayers of both were heard in the sight of the glorie of the high God †and the holie Angel of our Lord Raphael was sent to cure them both whose prayers at one time were recited in the sight of our Lord. CHAP. IIII. Tobias thincking he shal dye geueth his sonne godlie admonitions 7. especially exhorteth him to geue almes diligently 13. to flee al fornication pride and fraude 21. And telleth him of money lent to a friend THERFORE when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard that he might haue died he called to him Tobias his sonne †and sayd to him Heare my sonne the wordes of my mouth lay them as a foundation in thy hart †When God shal take my soule * burie my bodie and thou shalt doe * honour to thy mother al the dayes of her life †for thou must be mindful what perils and how great she suffered for thee in her wombe †And when she also shal haue accomplished the time of her life burie her beside me †And al the dayes of thy life * haue God in thy mind and beware thou consent not to sinne at anie time and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God †* Of thy substance geue almes and turne not away thy face from anie poore person for so it shal come to passe that neither the face of our Lord shal be turned from thee †As thou shalt be able so be merciful †If thou haue much geue aboundantly if thou haue litle studie to impert also a litle willingly †For thou dost treasure vp to thy self a good reward in the day of necessitie †because almes deliuereth from al sinne and from death wil not suffer the soule to goe into darkenesse †Great confidence before God most high shal almes be to al them that doe it †* Take heed to thy self my sonne of al fornication beside thy wife neuer abide to know crime †* Neuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word for in it al perdition tooke his beginning †* Whosoeuer hath wrought anie thing for thee pay him his hyre immediatly and let not the hyre of thy hyred seruant remayne with thee at al. †* That which thou hatest to be done to thee by an other see thou doe it not to an other at anie time †Eate thy bread with the hungrie needie and of thy garmentes couer the naked †* Set thy bread and thy wine vpon the burial of a iust man and doe not eate and drinke therof with sinners †Seeke counsel alwaies of a wiseman †At al time blesse God and desire of him that he direct thy waies and that al thy counsels remayne in him †I tel thee also my sonne that I gaue tenne talentes of siluer whiles thou wast yet a child to Gabelus in Rages a citie of the Medes and I haue a bil of his hand with me †and therfore enquire how thou maist come to him and receiue of him the foresayd weight of siluer and restore him the bil of his hand †Feare not my sonne we leade in dede a poore life but we shal haue many good thinges if we feare God and depart from al sinne and doe wel CHAP. V. Yong Tobias seeking a guide for his iourney Raphael the Angel in shape of a man presenteth himself and vndertaketh this office 23. The mother lamenteth the abscence and danger of her sonne THEN Tobias answered his father and sayd I wil doe al things father whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me †But how I shal require this money I can nor tel he knoweth not me and I know not him what token shal I geue him Yea neither the way which leadeth thither did I euer know †Then his father answered him and sayd I haue the bil of his hand with me which when thou shalt
geue ioy and gladnes and the bones humbled shal reioyce †Turne away thy face from my sinnes and wipe away al mine iniquities †Create a cleane hart in me ô God and renew a right spirit in my u bowels †Cast me not away from thy face and thy Holie spirit take not from me †Render vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme me with the principal spirit †I Wil teach the vniust thy waies and the impious shal be conuerted to thee †Deliuer me from bloudes ô God the God of my saluation and my tongue shal exult for thy iustice †Lord thou 〈…〉 lt open my lippes my mouth shal shew forth thy prayse †Because if thou wouldest haue had sacrifice I had verily giuen it with holocaustes thou wilt not be delighted A “ sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit a contrite and humbled hait ô God thou wilt not despise Deale fauorably ô Lord in thy good wil with Sion that the walles of Ierusalem may be built vp Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of iustice oblations k holocaustes l then shal they lay calues vpon thyne altar ANNOTATIONS PSALME L. 2. VVhen Nathan came to Dauid As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Lord had vpon his repentance and confession taken away his sinne added neuertheles that because he had made the enimies of God to blaspheme his sonne should dye so Dauid knowing that more was required then only confession for that the bond of satisfaction remained after his sinnes were remitted persisted in penance praying lamenting and beseching God according to his great and mainfold mercies to take away his iniquitie albeit the prophet Nathan had now told him that our Lord had taken away his sinne because there yet remained temporal paine due for the same He prayeth also v. 4. that God wil vvash him more amply from his iniquitie and cleanse him from his sinne For albeit the guilt of mortal sinne be washed and taken away yet besides temporal punishment that is due the soule that was so polluted nedeth to be washed and cleansed from the euil habite or pronnes to fal againe gotten by the former custome or delectation in sinne 7. I VVas conceiued in iniquities An other reason why sinners after remission of al mortal sinnes neede to be washed and cleansed is because being borne in original sinne after remission therof there remaneth concupiscence that â—â—riueth against vertue and inclineth to sinne from which we must pray and labour to be more and more washed and cleansed 19 Sacrifice Holie Scriptures make often comparison betwen two kindes of sacrifices preferring internal before external as more gratful to God And of spiritual sacrifices this of a contrite spirite is first in order and maketh the way to the sacrifice of iustice because iustice presupposeth repentance and finally succedeth sacrifice of praise and thankesgeuing PSALME LI. Holie Dauid inueigheth against wicked Doeg a traitor 7. prophecieth his ruine 10. and his owne exaltation Vnto the end vnderstanding to Dauid †when Doeg the Idumeite came and told Saul Dauid is come into the house of Achimelech 1. Reg. 22. VVHY doest thou glorie in malice which art mightie in iniquitie †Al the day hath thy tongue thought iniustice as a sharp rasor thou hast done guile †Thou hast loued malice more then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie †Thou hast loued al wordes of precipitation a deceitful tongue †Therfore Wil God destroy thee for euer he wil plucke thee out remoue thee out of thy tabernacle thy roote out of the land of the liuing †The iust shal see and feare and shal laugh at him and they shal say Behold the man that hath not put God for his helper But hath hoped in the multitude of his riches and hath preualed in his vanitie †But I as a fruitful oliue tree in the house of God haue hoped in the mercie of God for euer and for euer and euer †I wil confesse to thee for euer because thou hast done it and I wil expect thy name because it is good in the sight of thy saints PSALME LII As in the thirtenth Psalme Christs Incarnation is prophecied after that sinne abunded in the world so here is foreshewed that after general wickednes 5. Christ wil come to iudge the bad 7. and deliuer the good Vnto the end for Maâ—leth vnderstandings of Dauid THE foole hath said in his hart There is no God †They are corrupte and become abominable in iniquities there is not that doth good †God hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there be that vnderstaÌ„deth or seeketh after God †Al haue declined they are become vnprofitable together there is not that doth good no there is not one Shal they not al know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as food of bread God they haue not inuocated there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was Because God hath dissipated the bones of them that please men they are confounded because God hath despised them Who wil geue out of Sion the saluation of Israel when God shal conuert the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad PSALME LIII Dauid in distresse crieth to God for helpe 6. considently trusting therin 8. and promising sacrifice of thankesgeuing †Vnto the end in songs vnderstanding for Dauid †when the Zipheites were come and said to Saul Is not Dauid hid with vs 1. Reg. 1. 23. 26. O GOD saue me in thy name and in thy strength iudge me †O God heare my prayer with thine eares receiue the words of my mouth †Because straÌ„gers haue risen vp against me the strong haue sought my soule and they haue not set God before their eies †For behold God helpeth me and our Lord is the receiuer of my soule †Turne away the euils to mine enimies and in thy truth destroy them †I wil voluntarily sacrifice to thee and wil confesse to thy name ô Lord because it is good †Because thou hast deliuered me out of al tribulation and mine eie hath looked downe vpon mine enimies PSALME LIIII The prophet as wel in his owne as other iust mens person describeth great calamities suffered 10. prayeth against the wicked 13. lamenting especially that those which professe frendshipe are aduersaries 17. and declareth Gods prouidence in protecting the good and destroying the bad Vnto the end in songes vnderstanding to Dauid HEARE my prayer ô God despise not my petition †Attend to me and heare me †I am made sorowful in my exercise and am trubled at the voice of the enimie
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
the way of thy steppes †Our Lord standeth to iudge and he standeth to iudge peoples †Our Lord shal come to iudgement with the ancients of his people and his princes for you haue deuoured the vineyard and the spoile of the poore is in your house †Why do you consume my people and grinde the faces of the poore sayth our Lord the God of hostes †And our Lord sayd for that the daughters of Sion are haughtie and haue walked with stretched out necke and went with twinglings of eies and clapped their handes walked on their feete and ietted in a set pace †Our Lord shal make balde the crowne of the daughters of Sion and our Lord shal discouer their haire †In that day shal our Lord take away the ornament of shoes and litle moones †And cheynes and ouches and bracelettes and bonnettes †And the sheading combes and sloppes and tablettes and sweete balles and earlets †And ringes and pearles hanging on the forehead †And changes of apparel and shorte clokes and the fine linen and nedles †and loking glasses and launes and headbands and bonegraces †And for swete sauour there shal be stinke and for a girdle a corde and for frisled haire baldnes and for stomacher hairecloth †Thy fayrest men also shal fal by the sworde and thy strong ones in battle †And her gates shal lament and moorne and she shal sit desolate on the ground CHAP. IIII. After the destruction of the Iewes manie wemen shal seeke to marie with one man 2. but the reliques repenting of their sinnes shal returne to God 5. and florish vnder his protection AND seuen wemen shal take hold of one man in that day saying We wil eate our owne bread and be couered with our garments only let thy name be called vpon vs take away our reproch †In that day the bud of our Lord shal be in magnificence and glorie and the fruite of the earth high and exultation to them that shal be saued of Israel †And it shal be Euerie one that shal be leaft in Sion and shal remaine in Ierusalem shal be called holie euerie one that is written in life in Ierusalem †If our Lord shal cleanse the filth of the daughters of Sion and shal wash the bloud of Ierusalem out of the middes thereof in the spirit of iudgement and spirit of heate †And our Lord shal create vpon euerie place of mount Sion and where he is inuocated a clowde by day and smoke and the brightnes of flaming fyre in the night for vpon al glorie protection †And there shal be a tabernacle for a place of shadow in the day from the heate and for securitie and couert from the whyrle wind and from rayne CHAP. V. Vnder the figure of a barren vineyard is prophecied the reiection of the Iewes 7. for their sinnes of auarice 11. intemperance other wickednes 18. one iniquitie drawing an other 20. iudging good to be euil and euil good 25. for which the Gentiles of diuers nations shal afflict them I wil sing to my beloued the canticle of my cosin concerning his vinyard A vineyard was made to my beloued in horne the sonne of oile †And he hedged it and chose stones out of it and planted it elect and built a towre in the middes thereof and set vp a presse therein and looked that it should yeld grapes and it yelded wilde grapes †Now therfore ye inhabitants of Ierusalem and men of Iuda iudge betwen me and my vineyard †What is there that I ought to doe more to my vineyard and haue not done to it Whether that I looked it should yeld grapes and it hath yelded wilde grapes †And now I wil shew you what I wil doe to my vineyard I wil take away the hedge therof and it shal be into spoile I wil throw downe the wal thereof and it shal be to be troden vpon †And I wil lay it waist it shal not be pruned and it shal not be digged and bryers and thornes shal ouergrowe it and I wil command the cloudes that they rayne no shower vpon it †For the vineyarde of the Lord of hostes is the house of Israel and the man of Iuda his delectable bud I looked that it should doe iudgement and behold iniquitie and iustice and behold clamour †Woe to you that ioyne house to house and lay filde to filde euen to the end of the place why shal you alone dwel in the middes of the earth †These thinges are in my eares sayth the Lord of hostes vnles manie great and fayre houses become desolate without an inhabiter †For ten acres of the vineyards shal yeld one litle flagon and thirtie busheles of seede shal yeld three busheles †Woe to you that rise vp earely to folow drunkennes and to drinke euen vntil euening that you may be inflamed with wine †Harpe and viole timbrel and shalme and wine in your feastes and the worke of our Lord you regard not nor consider the workes of his handes †Therfore is my people led away captiue because they had not knowlege and their nobles died with famine and the multitude thereof dried away with thirst †Therfore hath hel dilated his soule and opened his mouth without anie limite and their strong ones and their people and their high and glorious ones shal descend into it †And man shal be bowed and man shal be humbled and the eies of the loftie shal be brought law †And the Lord of hostes shal be exalted in iudgement and the holie God shal be sanctified in iustice †And the lambes shal feede according to their order and strangers shal eate the deserts turned into frutefulnes †Woe to you that draw iniquitie in cordes of vanitie sinne as the linke of a wayne †Which say let him make hast let his worke come quickly that we may see it let the counsel of the holie one of Israel come and we shal know it †Woe vnto you that cal euil good and good euil putting darknes light and light darknes putting bitter for swete swete for bitter †Woe to you that are wise in your owne eies and prudent before yourselues †Woe to you that are mightie to drinke wine stout men in drunkennes †Which iustifie the impious for giftes and take away the iustice of the iust from them †For this euen as the tongue of fire deuoureth stuble and the heate of the flame burneth it vp so shal their roote be as isles and their bud shal rise vp as dust for they haue cast away the law of the Lord of hostes and haue blasphemed the word of the holie one of Israel †Therfore is the furie of our Lord wrath against his people and he hath stretched out his hand vpon them and striken them and the mountaines were trubled and their carcasses were made as dung in the
of our Lord shal rest vpon him the spirit of wisdom and vnderstanding the spirit of counsel and strength the spirit of knowlege and pietie †and the spirit of the feare of our Lord shal repleinsh him He shal not iudge according to the sight of the eies nor rebuke according to the hearing of the eares †But he shal iudge the poore in iustice and shal rebuke in equitie for the milde of the earth and he shal strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the spirit of his lippes he shal kil the impious †And iustice shal be the girdle of his loynes and fayth the girdle of his reines †The woolfe shal dwel with the lambe and the leopard shal lie with the kid the calfe and lion and sheepe shal abide together a litle child shal leade them †The calfe and the beare shal feede their yong ones shal rest together and the lion shal eate strawe as it were an oxe †And the infant from the brest shal be delighted vpon the hole of the aspe he that is weyned shal thrust his hand into the hole of the cockatrice †They shal not hurt and they shal not kil in al my holie mountayne because the earth is replenished with the knowlege of our Lord as the couering waters of the sea †In that day the roote of Iesse that standeth for a signe of peoples him the nations shal besech his sepulchre shal be glorious †And it shal be in that day our Lord shal put to his hand the second time to possesse the remnant of his people which shal be leaft of the Assirians and of Aegypt and of Phethros and of Aethiopia and of Aelam and of Sennaar and of Emath and of the ilands of the sea †And he shal lift vp a signe vnto the nations and shal assemble together the fugitiues of Israel and shal gather the dispersed of Iuda from the foure quarters of the earth †And the emulation of Ephraim shal be taken away and the enemies of Iuda shal perish Ephraim shal not enuie Iuda Iuda shal not fight against Ephraim †And they shal flie vpon the shoulders of the Philisthims by the sea they together shal spoile the children of the East Idumea and Moab the precept of their hand and the children of Ammon shal be obedient †And our Lord shal make desolate the tongue of the sea of Aegypt and shal lift vp his hand ouer the riuer in the strength of his spirit and he shal strike him in his seuen streames so that they may passe through it with showes †And there shal be a way to the remnant of my people which shal be leaft of the Assirians as there was to Israel in the day that he came vp out of the Land of Aegypt CHAP. XII A Canticle of thankes for the benefites of Christ AND thou shalt say in that day I WIL confesse to thee ô Lord because thou wast angrie with me thy furie is turned away and thou hast comforted me †Behold God is my sauiour I wil doe confidently and wil not feare because our Lord is my strength and my praise and he is become my saluation †You shal drawe waters in ioy out of the sauiours fountaines †And you shal say in that day Confesse ye to our Lord and inuocate his name make his inuentions knowen among the peoples remember that his name is high †Sing ye to our Lord because he hath done magnifically shew this forth in al the earth †Reioyce and prayse ô habitation of Sion because great in the middes of thee is the holie one of Israel CHAP. XIII The Prophet fortelleth the calamitie and ruine of Babylon THE burden of Babylon which Isaie the sonne of Amossaw †Vpon the darke mountaine lift vp a signe exalt the voice lift vp the hand and let the dukes enter the gates †I haue commanded my sanctified and haue called my strong ones in my wrath them that reioce in my glorie †The voice of a multitude in the mountaines as it were of manie peoples a voice of the sound of kinges nations gathered together The Lord of hostes hath commanded the host of battel †Coming from a countrie far of from the end of heauen our Lord and the instruments of his furie to destroy the whole land †Howleye because the day of our Lord is nere it shal come as destruction from our Lord. †For this cause shal al handes be dissolued and euerie hart of man shal melt †and be broken Gripings and paines shal hold them they shal be in paine as she that trauaileth Euerie one shal be astonied at his neighbour their countenances as faces burnt †Behold the day of our Lord shal come cruel and ful of indignation and of wrath and furie to bring the land to a wildernes and to destroy the sinners therof out of it †Because the starres of heauen and their brightnes shal not display their light the sunne is darkened in his rysing and the moone shal not shine in her light †And I wil visite ouer the euiles of the world and against the impious their iniquitie and I wil make the pride of infidels to cease and wil humble the arrogancie of the strong †A man shal be more precious then gold man then pure fine gold †For this I shal truble heauen the earth shal be moued out of her place for the indignation of the Lord of hostes for the day of the wrath of his furie †And it shal be as a yong doe fleing and as a sheepe and there shal be none to gather them together euerie man shal turne to his owne people and euerie one shal flee to his owne land †Euerie one that shal be found shal be slaine and cuerie one that shal come to ayde shal fal by the sword †Their infants shal be dashed in peeces before their eies their houses shal be spoiled and their wiues shal be rauished †Behold I wil rayse vpon them the Medes which shal not seeke siluer nor desire gold †But with arrowes they shal kil the litle ones and shal haue no pitie vpon the sucklings of the wombe and vpon the children their eie shal not spare †And that Babylon glorious in kingdoms noble in the pride of the Chaldees shal be euen as our Lord subuerted Sodom and Gomorrha †It shal not be inhabited for euer it shal not be founded vnto generation generation neither shal the Arabian pitch his tents there nor shepeheardes rest there †But beastes shal rest there and their houses shal be filled with dragons and ostreches shal dwel there and Satyrs shal daunce there †And the Syrach owles shal answer there in the houses therof and mermaides in the temples of pleasure CHAP. XIIII The Iewes shal be released from the captiuitie of Babylon 12. Nabuchodonosor
spoken it †And he shal say in that day Loe this is our God we haue expected him and he wil saue vs this is our Lord we haue patiently wayted for him we shal reioyce and be ioyful in his saluation †Because the hand of our Lord shal rest in this mount and Moab shal be treshed vnder him as straw is broken with the wayne †And he shal stretch forth his handes vnder him as he that swimmeth stretcheth forth to swimme and he shal humble his glorie with dashing of his handes †And the munitions of thy high walles shal fal and be humbled shal be plucked downe to the grownd euen to the dust CHAP. XXVI A Canticle of thankes for changing the old Synagogue into the Church of Christ Which hath more light of true faith 12. and more patience in tribulations 19. Which in the general resurrection shal be made manifest IN THAT day shal this song be sung in the land of Iuda Sion the citie of our strength a Sauiour therin shal be put a wal and bulworke †Open ye the gates and let the iust nation enter in that keepeth truth †The old errour is gone thou wilt keepe peace peace because we haue hoped in thee †You haue hoped in our Lord in worldes euerlasting in our Lord God strong for euer †Because he wil bowe downe them that dwel on high the high citie he wil abase He wil abase it euen to the ground he wil plucke it downe euen to the dust The foote shal treade it downe the feete of the poore the steppes of the needie †The path of the iust is right the path of the iust is right to walke in †And in the path of thy iudgements ô Lord we haue patiently expected thee thy name and thy memorial are in the desire of the soule †My soule hath desired thee in the night yea and with my spirit in my hart I wil watch to thee in the morning When thou shalt doe thy iudgments in the earth the inhabitants of the world shal learne iustice †Let vs haue mercie on the impious and he wil not learne iustice in the land of the holie he hath done wicked thinges and he shal not see the glorie of our Lord. †Lord thy hand be exalted and let them not see let the enuious people see and be confounded and let fyre deuoure thine enimies †Lord thou wilt geue peace to vs for al our workes thou hast wrought to vs. †O Lord our God there haue lordes besides thee possessed vs onlie in thee let vs remember thy name †Let not the dead liue let not the giants rise againe therfore hast thou visited and destroyed them hast destroyed al their memorie †Thou hast bene fauorable to the nation ô Lord thou hast bene fauourable to the nation wast thou glorified thou hast made al the endes of the earth far of †Lord in distresse they haue sought after thee in tribulation of murmur thy doctrine was to them †As she that conceiueth when she draweth neere to be deliuered being sorowful crieth in her paines so are we become at thy presence ô Lord. †We haue conceiued and as it were traueled and brought forth the spirit saluations we haue not done in the earth therfore the inhabitants of the earth haue not fallen †Thy dead shal liue my slaine shal rise againe awake and prayse ye that dwel in the dust because the dew of the light is thy dew the land of the giants thou shalt plucke downe into ruine †Goe my people enter into thy chambers shut thy doores vpon thee be hid a litle for a moment til the indignation passe †For behold our Lord wil come out of his place to visite the iniquitie of the inhabitant of the earth against him and the earth shal reuele her bloud and shal couer her slaine no more CHAP. XXVII God comforteth the faithful promising to destroy the wicked 3. Christs coming is againe prophecied with propagation of his Gospel and conuersion of al nations IN that day our Lord wil visite with his sore and great and strong sword vpon Leuiathan the serpent the barre and vpon Leuiathan the crooked serpent and shal kil the whale that is in the sea †In that day the vineyard of pure wine shal sing to it †I the Lord that keepe it I wil sodenly drinke to it lest perhaps there be visitation agaynst it night and day I kepe it †There is no indignation in me who wil geue me to be thorne and bryer in battel to goe vpon it to set it on fyre together †Or rather shal he hold my strength shal he make peace with me shal he make peace with me †They that goe in with violence to Iacob Israel shal florish and spring and they shal fil the face of the world with seede †Hath he striken him according to his stroke that stroke him or as he killed his slaine is he killed †In measure against measure when it shal be cast of thou shalt iudge it He hath meditated in his hard spirite during the day of heate †Therfore vpon this shal the iniquitie be forgeuen to the house of Iacob and this is al the fruite that the sinne therof be taken away when he shal haue layd al the stones of the altar as stones of ashes broken the groues temples shal not stand †For the defensed citie shal be desolate the beautiful citie shal be forsaken and shal be left as a desert there shal the calfe feede and there he shal lie and shal consume the toppes therof †The haruests therof shal be destroyed in drught wemen coming and teaching it for it is not a wise people therfore shal not he that made it haue mercie on it and he that formed it shal not spare it †And it shal be in that day our Lord wil strike from the chanel of the riuer euen to the torrent of Aegypt and you shal be gathered together one and one ô children of Israel †And it shal be in that day a sound shal be made with a great trompet and they that were lost shal come from the land of the Assirians and that were cast out from the land of Aegypt and shal adore our Lord in the holie mount in Ierusalem CHAP. XXVIII Tribulations are threatned to the tenne tribes of Israel for their pride and voluptuosnes 5. God stil protecting some who serue him sincerely 7 and for contempt of Religion 16. But God wil lay a sure fundation in Sion 20. Wil punish the wicked 24. and comforth the good VVOE to the crowne of pride to the drunkards of Ephraim and to the flowre falling downe from the glorie of his exultation which were in the toppe of the most fatte valley erring by wine †Behold our Lord is valiant and strong as the violence of hayle a whirle wind breaking the
princes nor by priestes and prophets of that time The same vve might deduce of innumerable other places of this other Prophetes but it is not our * purpose to explicate much in this Edition 1. Reigne in iustice and rule in iudgement Here also to auoide prolixitie vve may once note that these vvordes Iudgement and Iustice haue a saâ—â—e other higher and more excellent signification in holie Scriptures vvhere they most frequently occurre then in prophane vvritings and natural or moral philosophical discourses For Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotel could reach no further then to natural reason vvhich they called right iudgement and to moral equitie vvhich in general they named iustice But the Holie Ghost by these vvordes reueleth most high spiritual mysteries knovven by faith most comfortable to mens soules releeuing and refreshing the consciences of penitents in this life replenishing the iust vvith vnspeakable gladnes in eternal glorie Therfore in the sense vsual in holy Scripture Iudgement is the act of the mind or vnderstanding discerning what is right iust agreing to reason And Iustice is the rectitude of the vvil doing conformably to right direction of the mind or vnderstanding And so these wordes are applied to signifie both Gods and iust mens actions As that vvhich God mercifully decreed in eternitie and promised after the fal of man to do for mankind as conuenient for his Diuine Povvre VVisdom Iustice Mercie Goodnes vvith al the meanes vvhich he ordained for effecting the same is called his Iudgement and the performing and accomplishment therof so saâ—re as is of his part is called his Iustice Also that vvhich anie man discusseth discerneth and determineth in his vnderstanding as right or reasonable in supernatural thinges is called his spiritual iudgement and that vvhich he doth of his freevvil according to the same right iudgement is called his iustice So in this place the Prophet forshevveth that Christ our Kingvvil reigne in iustâ—â—â— that is performe and fulfil al that he as God vvith the Father the Holie Ghost decreed for Redemption Iustification and Salâ—ation of men And the princes his Apostles and other Pastors shal rule in iudgement that is discerne and iudge vvhat is right and good for themselues and the people in respect of their soules and eternal saluation CHAP. XXXIII Sennacherib beseeging and threatning Ierusalem shal be ouerthrowne by Angels 13. that both wicked arrogant infidels may feele the hand of God and faithful sinners repenting after great terror be comforted VVOE to thee that spoilest shalt not thy selfe also be spoiled and that despisest shalt not thy self also be despised when thou shalt haue ended spoyling thou shalt be spoyled when being wearied thou shalt cease to contemne thou shalt be contemned †O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for we haue expected thee be our arme in the morning and our saluation in the time of our tribulation †At the voice of the Angel the peoples fled and at thy exaltation the nations are dispersed †And you spoiles shal be gathered together as the locust is gathered as when the ditches shal be ful therof †Our Lord is magnified because he hath dwelt on high he hath filled Sion with iudgement and iustice †And there shal be fayth in thy times riches of saluation wisdom and knowlege the feare of our Lord that is his treasure †Behold they that see shal crie without the angels of peace shal weepe bitterly †The wayes are dissipated the passenger by the path hath ceased the couenant is made frustrate he hath reiected the cities he hath not estemed the men †The land hath moorned and languished Libanus is confounded and become foule and Saron is made as a desert and Basan is shaken Carmel †Now wil I rise vp sayth our Lord now wil I be exalted now wil I be lifted vp †You shal conceiue heate you shal bring forth stubble your spirit as fire shal deuoure you †And the peoples shal be as ashes of a great fyre thornes gathered together shal be burned with fyre †Heare ye that are far of what thinges I haue done and ye that are neere know my strength †The sinners are terrified in Sion trembling hath possessed the hypocrites Which of you can dwel with deuouring fyre which of you shal dwel with euerlasting heates †He that walketh in iustices and speaketh truth that casteth away auarice of oppression and shaketh his handes from al gift that stoppeth his eares lest he heare bloud and shutteth his eyes that he may see no euil †This man shal dwel on high the munitions of rockes shal be his highnes bread is geuen to him his waters are faithful †His eies shal see the king in his beautie they shal see the land farre of †Thy hart shal meditate feare where is the lerned where is he that pondereth the wordes of the law where the teacher of litle ones †The vnwise people thou shalt not see the people of profound speach so that thou canst not vnderstand the eloquence of his tongue in whom there is no wisdome †Looke vpon Sion the citie of our solemnitie thine eies shal see Ierusalem a rich habitation a tabernacle that can not be transferred neither shal the nailes therof be taken away for euer and al the cordes therof shal not be broken †because onlie there our Lord is magnifical a place of floudes riuers most brode and wide no shippe of rowers shal passe by it neither shal the great galley passe thereby †For the Lord is our iudge the Lord is our lawmaker the Lord is our king he wil saue vs †Thy cordes are loosed and they shal not preuaile thy mast shal be so that thou canst not spred the signe Then shal the spoiles of manie prayes be diuided the lame shal take the spoile †Neither shal the neighbour say I am feble The people that dwelleth therein iniquitie shal be taken away from them CHAP. XXXIIII A prophecie of the destruction of the whole world at the day of Iudgement 5. and in particular of I dumeâ— 9. Ierusalem as figures therof COME neere ye Gentiles and heare and ye peoples attend let the earth heare the fulnes therof the round world and euerie spring therof †Because the indignation of our Lord is vpon al Gentiles and furie vpon al their hostes he hath killed them geuen them into slaughter †Their slaine shal be cast forth and out of their carcasâ—es shal rise a stinche the mountaines shal melt with their bloud †And al the host of the heauens shal melt away and the heauens shal be folded together as a booke and al their host shal fal away as the leafe falleth from the vine and from the figge tree †Because my sword is inebriated in heauen behold it shal descend vpon Idumaea and vpon the peoples of my slaughter to iudgement †The sword of
of health 2. He sheweth them al his riches 5. for which I saie reprehendeth him and prophecieth that the Babylonians wil spoile Ierusalem AT THAT time Merodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that he had bene sicke and was recouered †And Ezechias reioyced vpon them and he shewed them the storehouse of aromatical spices and of siluer and of gold and of sweete odours and of the best oyntment and al the store houses of his furniture and al thinges that were found in his treasures There was not anie thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his dominion †But Isaie the prophet went in to Ezechias the king and said to him What sayd these men and from whence came they to thee And Ezechias sayd From a far countrie they came to me from Babylon †And he sayd What saw they in thy house And Ezechias sayd al thinges that are in my house haue they sene there was not anie thing which I haue not shewed them in my treasures †And Isaie sayd to Ezechias Heare the word of the Lord of hostes †Behold the daies shal come and al thinges that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp for treasure vntil this day shal be taken away into Babylon there shal not any thing be leaft sayth our Lord. †And of thy children which shal come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget they shal take away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon †And Ezechias sayd to Isaie The word of our Lord which he hath spoken is good And he said Onlie be there peace and truth in my daies CHAP. XL. The prophet comforteth the people with Christs coming to remitte sinnes 3. Before whom S. Iohn Baptist shal preach penance 6. sheweth mans imbecilitie 9. Gods Maiestie 18. the vanitie of idols 27. and fal of them that feare not God BE comforted be comforted my people saith your God †Speake to the hart of Ierusalem and cal to her because her malice is accomplished her iniquitie is forgeuen she hath receiued of the hand of our Lord duble for al her sinnes †The voice of one crying in the desert Prepare the way of our Lord make streight the pathes of our God in the wildernes †Euerie valley shal be exalted and euerie mountaine and litle hil shal be humbled crooked thinges shal become streight and rought wayes playne †And the glorie of our Lord shal be reueled and al flesh together shal see that the mouth of our Lord hath spoken †The voice of one saying Crie And I sayd What shal I crie Al flesh is grasse and al the glorie therof as the floure of the filde †The grasse is withered and the floure is fallen because the spirit of our Lord hath blowen on it In deede the people is grasse †the grasse is withered and the floure is fallen but the word of our Lord abideth for euer †Vpon an high mountayne get thee vp thou that euangelizest to Sion exalt the voice in strength which euangelizest to Ierusalem exalt it feare not Say to the cities of Iuda Behold your God †behold our Lord God shal come in strength and his arme shal haue dominion behold his reward is with him and his worke before him †As a shepheard shal he feede his flocke in his arme shal he gather together the lambes and in his bosome shal he lift them vp and them with yong himself shal carie †Who hath measured the waters with his fist and poundered the heauens with a spanne who hath poysed with three fingers the huge greatnes of the earth and wayed the mountaines in weight and the litle hilles in balance †Who hath holpen the spirit of our Lord or who hath bene his counseler and shewed to him †With whom hath he taken counsel and who hath instructed him and taught him the path of iustice and taught him knowlege and shewed him the way of prudence †Behold the Gentiles are as a droppe of a bucket and are reputed as the moment of a balance behold the ilandes are as a litle dust †And Libanus shal not suffice to kindle the fyre and the beastes therof shal not be sufficient for holocaust †Al nations as if they were not so are they before him and they are reputed of him as nothing and a vaine thing †To whom then haue you made God like or what image wil you set to him †Hath the artificer cast a sculptil or hath the goldsmith figured it with gold or the siluersmith with plates of siluer †Strong wood and that which wil not putrifie hath he chosen the wise artificer seeketh how he may set vp a sculptile which may not be moued †Why doe you not know why haue you not heard why hath it not bene told you from the beginning Haue you not vnderstood the fundations of the earth †He that sitteth vpon the compasse of the earth and the inhabitants therof are as locustes he that stretcheth out the heauens as nothing spreddeth them as a tent to dwel in †He that maketh the searchers of secretes as if they were not that hath made the iudges of the earth as a vayne thing †and in deede their stocke was neither planted nor sowen nor rooted in the earth sodenly he hath blowen vpon them and they haue withered and a whirle wind shal take them away as stubble †And to whom haue ye likened me and made me equal saith the holie one †Lift vp your eies on high and see who hath created these thinges he that bringeth out the host of them in number and calleth them al by name by the multitude of his force and strength and power not one of them was missing †Why sayest thou Iacob and speakest thou Israel My way is hid from our Lord and my iudgement is passed ouer of my God †Why knowest thou not or hast thou not heard our Lord is God euerlasting which hath created the endes of the earth he shal not faile nor labour neither is there searching out of his wisdome †Which geueth strength to the wearie and to them that are not multiplieth force and strength †Children shal faynte and labour and yongmen shal fal by infirmitie †But they that hope in our Lord shal change their strength they shal take winges as eagles they shal runne not labour they shal walke and not fainte CHAP. XLI God pleading against idolaters sheweth his powre and goodnes by his benefites bestowed vpon the Iewes 17. With promise of perpetual protection 21. Wheras their vaine idols can no way profite them LET the ilands hold their peace before me and the Gentiles change their strength let them come neere and then speake let vs
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie †They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice †Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes †Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes †They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace †For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes †We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead †We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. †For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen †to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying †And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in †And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement †And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him †He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele †As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes †And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth †and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. †This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee †Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee †And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side †Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee †The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. †Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie †Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes †For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee †And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee †And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought †For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation †The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie †And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel †For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a â—oy vnto generation and generation †and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob †For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice †Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates †Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie †Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended †And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
couenant that he had with him in the middes of Babylon shal he dye †And not in a great armie nor in much people shal Pharao make battel agaynst him in the casting vp of a ramper and in the building of bulworkes to kil manie soules †For he had despised the oath that he might breake the couenant and behold he gaue his hand and when he hath done al these thinges he shal not escape †Therfore thus saith our Lord God Liue I that the oath which he hath despised the couenant that he transgressed I wil lay on his head †And I wil spread my nette ouer him and he shal be taken in my nette and I wil bring him into Babylon and wil iudge him there in the preuerication wherby he hath despised me †And al his fugitiues with al their troupe shal fal by the sword and the residue shal be dispersed into euerie wind and you shal know that I the Lord haue spoken †Thus saith our Lord God And I wil take of the marow of the high ceder wil set it of the toppe of the boughes therof the tender one I wil strippe of and wil plant it vpon a mountaine high and eminent †On the high mountaines of Israel wil I plant it and it shal shoote forth into a budde and shal yelde fruite and it shal be into a great ceder and al birdes and euerie foule shal dwel vnder the shadow of the boughes therof and shal there make their nest †And al the trees of the countrie shal know that I the Lord haue humbled the high tree exalted the low tree and haue dried the greene tree and haue caused the drie tree to spring I the Lord haue spoken and haue done it CHAP. XVIII One shal not beare the sinnes of an other but euerie one their owne 21. If the wieked truly repent he shal be saued and if the iust leaue his iustice he shal be damned AND the word of our Lord was made to me saying †What is that among you you turne a parable into this prouer be in the land of Israel saying The fathers did eate a sowre grape and the teeth of the children are set on edge †Liue I saith our Lord God if this parable shal be vnto you any more for a prouerbe in Israel †Behold al soules are mine as the soule of the father so also the soule of the sonne is mine the soule that shal sinne the same shal dye †And a man if he shal be iust and hath done iudgement and iustice †hath not eaten on the mountaynes and not lifted vp his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel and hath not violated his neighbours wife and approched not to a menstruous woman †and made no man sorowful hath restored the pledge to the debter taken nothing away by violence hath geuen his bread to the hungrie and coueted the naked with a garment †hath not lent to vsurie and not taken more hath turned away his hand from iniquitie and done true iudgement betwen man and man †hath walked in my precepts and kept my iudgements to doe truth this man is iust liuing he shal liue saith our Lord God †And if he hath begotten a sonne that is a robber shedding bloud he doe one of these thinges †and that doth not in dede al these thinges but eateth on the mountaynes and defileth his neighbours wife †that maketh the needie and poore sorowful violently committeth robberies restoreth not the pledge lifteth his eyes to idols doth abomination †that geueth to vsurie and taketh more what shal he liue he shal not liue Wheras he hath done al these detestable thinges dying he shal dye his bloud shal be vpon him †But and if he hath begotten a sonne that seing al his fathers sinnes which he hath done is afrayd and shal not doe the like to them †hath not eaten vpon the mountaines and not lifted vp his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel and hath not violated his neighbours wife †and hath made no man sorowful hath not withheld the pledge and hath not violently committed robberie hath geuen his bread to the hungrie and couered the naked with clothing †hath turned away his hand from iniurie of the poore hath not taken vsurie and ouerplus hath done my iudgements hath walked in my preceptes this man shal not dye in the iniquitie of his father but liuing he shal liue †His father because he did calumniate and did violence to his brother and wrought euil in the middes of his people behold he is dead in his owne iniquitie †And you say Why hath not the sonne borne the iniquitie of his father Verely because the sonne hath wrought iudgement and iustice he hath kept al my precepts and done them liuing he shal liue †The soule that shal sinne the same shal dye the sonne shal not beare the iniquitie of the father and the father shal not beare the iniquitie of the sonne the iustice of the iust shal be vpon him and the impietie of he impious shal be vpon him †But if the impious shal doe penance from al his sinnes which he hath wrought and shal keepe al my precepts and doe iudgement and iustice liuing he shal liue and shal not dye †Al his iniquities which he hath wrought I wil not remember them in his iustice which he hath wrought he shal liue †Why “ is the death of a sinner my wil saith our Lord God and not that he conuert from his wayes and liue †But if the iust man shal turne away himselfe from his iustice and doe iniquitie according to al the abominations which the impious vseth to worke shal he liue al his iustices which he had done shal not be remembred in the preuarication which he hath preuaricated and in his sinne which he hath sinned in them he shal dye †And you haue said The way of our Lord is not right Heare ye therfore ô house of Israel What is not my way right and are not rather your wayes peruerse †For when the iust shal turne away himselfe from his iustice doth iniquitie he shal dye in them in the iniustice that he hath wrought he shal dye †And when the impious shal turne away himselfe from his impietie which he hath wrought shal doe iudgement and iustice he shal viâ—â—siâ—ate his soule †For considering turning away himself from al his iniquities which he hath wrought liuing he shal liue and not dye †And the children of Israel say The way of our Lord is not right What are not my wayes right ô house of Israel and not rather your wayes peruerse †Therfore wil I iudge euerie maÌ„ according to his wayes ô house of Israel saith our Lord God Conuert and doe penance from al your iniquities and iniquitie shal not be a ruine to you †Cast away from you
al your preuarications wherin you haue preuaricated and make to yourselues a new hart and a new spirit and why wil you dye ô house of Israel †Because I wil not the death of him that dieth saith our Lord God returne ye and liue ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVIII â—â— Is the death of a sinner my vvil In manie places of holie Scripture it is clâ—â—â— that Gods vvil is most assuredly fulfilled in al thinges vvhatsoeuer he vvould and none can resist his vvil c. Neuertheles here and in other places it is also expresly affirmed that God would haue al sinners to repent and none to dye in their sinnes vvhich semeth to repugne vvith the former doctrin For solution of vvhich difficultie S. Damascen li. 2. c. 29 de Orthodoxa side and other Doctors distinguish Gods vvil vvhich is either called Antecedent and conditional and so God vvould haue al men to be saued as appeareth by creating al to that end by his frequen admonitions preceptes threates temporal punishments and revvardes and especially by our Sauiours death and redemption of al mankind vvherby he merited most sufficient meanes and offereth his sufficient grace to euerie one that they may be saued if they vvil Othervvise Gods wil is called Consequent and absolute and so for iustice sake his diuine vvil is that impenitent sinners shal be damned and eternally punished for their sinnes As a iust Iudge condionally and antecedently vvould haue al men to obserue good lavves and to liue so long as they can by nature but absolutely consequently finding some to be murderers or othervvise pernicicious to the commonvvelth he panisheth them with death CHAP. XIX The Israelites calaminitie is described by two parables of lions 10. and of a vine planted and plucked vp AND thou take vp lamentation vpon the princes of Israel †and thou shalt say Why lay thy mother a lionesse among the lions in the middes of young lions brought vp her whelpes †And she brought out one of her young lions he became a lion and he lerned to catch prayes and to eate man †And the Gentils heard of him and not without their woundes they tooke him and they brought him in cheynes into the Land of Aegypt †Who when she saw that she was weakened and her expectation was lost she tooke one of her young lions she made him a lion †Who went among the lions and became a lion and he lerned to take praye and to deuoure men †He lerned to make widowes and to bring their cities into a desert and the land was made desolate and the fulnes therof by the voice of his roaring †And the Gentils came together against him on euerie side out of the prouinces they spred their nette vpon him in their wounds he was taken †And they put him into a caue in cheynes they brought him to the king of Babylon and they cast him into prison that his voice might no more be heard vpon the mountaines of Israel †Thy mother as it were a vine in thy bloud is planted vpon the water her fruit and her branches haue growen out of manie waters †And there were made to her strong roddes for the scepters of them that rule and her stature was exalted among the branches and she saw her height in the multitude of her branches †And she was plucked vp in wrath and cast on the ground and the burning winde hath dried vp her fruite the roddes of her strength are withered and dried vp fire hath eaten her †And now she is transplanted into the desert in a land not passable and drie †And there came forth fire from the rod of her boughes which hath eaten her fruite and there was not in her a strong rod the scepter of rulers Lamentation it is and it shal be into lamentation CHAP. XX. God wil not answer the elders of Israel asking by the prophet 4. but by him setteth his benefites before their eyes and their owne heynous sinnes 30. threatning yet greater punishments 40. but stil mixt with mercie AND it came to passe in the seuenth yeare in the fifth the tenth of the moneth there came men of the ancients of Israel to aske our Lord they sare before me †And the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man speake to the ancients of Israel thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Why are you come to aske me Liue I that I wil not answer you saith our Lord God †Doest thou iudge them doest thou iudge ô sonne of man shew to them the abominations of their fathers †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God In the day that I chose Israel lifted vp my hand for the stocke of the house of Iacob and appeared to them in the Land of Aegypt and lifted vp my hand for them saying I the Lord your God †in that day I lifted vp my hand for them that I might bring them out of the Land of Aegypt into a Land which I had prouided for them flowing with milke and honie which is excellent among al landes †And I said to them Let euerie man cast away the scandals of his eyes and in the idols of Aegypt be ye not polluted I the Lord your God †And they prouoked me and would not heare me euerie one did not cast away the abominations of his eyes neither did they leaue the idols of Aegypt and I said I would powre out mine indignation vpon them and fil my wrath in them in the middes of the Land of Aegypt †And I did for my name sake that it might not be violated before the Gentils in the middes of whom they were and among whom I appeared to them to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt †I cast them out therfore of the Land of Aegypt and brought them forth into the desert †And I gaue them my precepts and I shewed to them my iudgements which a man doing shal liue in them †Moreouer also my sabbathes I gaue to them to be a signe betwen me and them and that they might know that I am the Lord sanctifying them †And the houses of Israel prouoked me in the desert they walked not in my precepts and my iudgements they reiected which a man doing shal liue in them and my sabbathes they violated excedingly I said therfore I would powre out my furie vpon them in the desert and would consume them †And I did for my name sake lest it should be violated before the Gentils from which I cast them out in their sight †I therfore lifted vp my hand vpon them in the desert not to bring them into the Land which I gaue them flowing with milke and honie the chiefe of al landes †Because they reiected my iudgements and walked not in my precepts and violated my sabbathes
East †And behold the glorie of the God of Israel went by the East gate and he had a voice as the voice of manie waters the earth shined at his maiestie †And I saw a vision according to the forme which I had seene when he came to destroy the citie and the shape according to the sight which I had seene by the riuer Chobar and I fel vpon my face †And the maiestie of our Lord went into the temple by the way of the gate that looked to the East †And the spirite lifted me vp and brought me into the inner court and behold the house was filled with the glorie of our Lord. †And I heard one speaking to me out of the house a man stood by me †said to me Sonne of man the place of my throne and the place of the steppes of my feete where I dwel in the middes of the children of Israel for euer and the house of Israel shal no more pollute my holie name they and their kinges in their fornications and in the ruines of their kinges and in the excelses †Who haue built their threshold by my threshold and their posts by my posts and there was a wal betwen me and them and they polluted my holie name in the abominations which they did for the which thing I consumed them in my wrath †Now therfore let them repel their fornication and ruins of their kinges far from me and I wil dwel in the middes of them alwayes †But thou sonne of man shew to the house of Israel the temple and let them be confounded at their iniquities and let them measure the frame †and be ashamed of al thinges that they haue done The figure of the house and of the frame therof the goings out the comings in and al the description therof and al the precepts therof and al the order therof and al the lawes therof shew to them and thou shalt write in their eyes that they may keepe al the descriptions therof and the preceptes therof and let them doe them †This is the law of the house in the toppe of the mount Al the border therof round about is holie of holies this then is the law of the house †And these are the measures of the altar by the most true cubite which had a cubite and a palme in the bosome therof was a cubit a cubite in bredth and the limite therof euen to the brimme therof and round about one palme this also was the trench of the altar †And from the bosome of the ground to the lowest brimme two cubits and the bredth of one cubite from the lesser brimme vnto the greater brimme foure cubits and the bredth of one cubite †And Ariel it self of foure cubits and from Ariel vpward foure hornes †And Ariel of twelue cubits in length by twelue cubits of bredth four square with equal sides †And the brimme of fourtene cubits of length by fourtene cubits of bredth in the foure corners therof and the crowne round about it of halfe a cubite and the bosome therof of one cubite round about and the steppes therof turned to the East †And he said to me Sonne of man thus saith our Lord God These are the rites of the altar in what day soeuer it shal be made that holocaust may be offered vpon it and bloud powred out †And thou shalt geue to the Priestes and Leuites that are of the seede of Sadoc that approch to me saith our Lord God that they offer to me a calâ—e of the heard for sinne †And taking of his bloud thou shalt put it vpon the foure hornes therof and vpon the foure corners of the brimme and vpon the crowne round about and thou shalt clense and expiate it †And thou shalt take the calfe that is offered for sinne and thou shalt burne him in a seperate place of the house without the sanctuarie †And in the second day thou shalt offer a bucke of goates vnspotted for sinne and they shal expiate the altar as they did expiate in the calfe †And when thou shalt haue accomplished expiating it thou shalt offer a calfe of the heard vnspotted and a ramme of the flocke vnspotted †And thou shalt offer them in the sight of our Lord and the priests shal cast salt vpon them and shal offer them an holocaust to our Lord. †Seuen dayes shalt thou make a bucke goate for sinne dayly and a calfe of the heard and a ramme of the cattel vnspotted shal they offer †Seuen dayes shal they expiate the altar and shal clense it and they shal fil his hand †And the dayes being expired in the eight day so forth the priests shal make your holocausts vpon the altar and those which they offer for peace and I wil be pacified toward you saith our Lord God CHAP. XLIIII The East gate of the Sanctuarie shal be alwayes shut 5. The incircumcised shal not enter into the sanctuarie 10. nor the Leuites that haue serued idols but shal do other seruice belonging to sacrifices 15. and the children of Sadoc shal do the priestlie functions 17. obseruing the prescribed rites therof AND he turned me to the way of the vtter sanctuarie which looked toward the East and it was shut †And our Lord said to me This gate shal be shut it shal not be opened and man shal not passe through it Because our Lord the God of Israel is entered in through it and it shal be shut †for the prince The prince himself shal sit in it to eate bread before our Lord by the way of the gate of the entrie shal he enter in by the way therof he shal go out †And he brought me by the way of the North gate in the sight of the house and I saw and behold the glorie of our Lord filled the house of our Lord and I b fel on my face †And our Lord said to me Sonne of man c set thy hart and see with thine eyes heare with thine eares al thinges that I speake to thee concerning al the ceremonies of the house of our Lord and concerning al the lawes therof and thou shalt set thy hart in the wayes of the temple by al the goings out of the sanctuarie †And thou shalt say to the house of Israel that exasperateth me Thus saith our Lord God Let al your wicked deedes suffice you ô house of Israel †because you bring in strange children vncircumcised in hart and vncircumcised in flesh to be in my sanctuarie and to pollute my house you offer my breades the fatte and the bloud and you dissolue my couenant in al your wicked abominations †And you haue not kept the precepts of my sanctuarie and you haue set keepers of my obseruances in my sanctuarie to your owne selues †Thus saith our Lord God Euerie stranger
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
life we must desire more and more knowledge of true doctrin h from the first vse of reason at which time manie are careles i negligent to lerne how to serue God k As God is sweete in geuing good motions l so he is seuere to them that resist his grace m God mercifully p euenteth with his grace n and iustly rewardeth good workes o Gods law is his couenant with man p and testimon e of his wil. q sinne in respect of auersien from God is great nedeth â—e grace r He that feareth God which is the beginning of wisdome receiueth fiue spiritual commodities here mentioned 1 God iustructeth him by his law 2 bestoweth al necessaries vpon him 3 others shalimitate his good example 4 God wil protect him 5 According to Gods couenant he shal enioy the manifest sight of God for his eternal reward â—mans weaknes without Gods helpe t TribulatioÌ„s can not be aâ—oâ—deâ— but must necessarily be suffered therfore ô God gâ—ue vs grace to passe through them without sinne v myn affliction w take away the cause and affliction wil be mitigated Ioan. 15. x wicked men of â—â—ured do end â—our to draw others into sinne y Those that hope in God shal neuer be confounded z Al The letters of the Alphebet being complete in this Psalme this last verse beginneth with Pere Redeeme praying God to redeme and deliuer Israel that is the whole Church from tribulations Dauids prayer distressed in persecution The 8. key a This Psalme is also a counenient prayer for anie Christian in tribulation b Be thou ô God arbiter of the cause bet 〈…〉 Saul and me thou knowest myn innocencie in this behalfe though I am uniustly charged by Saul and his freindes c Lest perhaps I be not so innocent as I desire and as in respect of Saul I hope that I am do thou O God proue me as thou wilt by tribulations d Dauid in confidence of a good conscience and zele against the wicked alleageth his sincere proceding more then ordinarie men may do God so inspiring him extraordinarily e The rest of this Psalme euerie Priest reciteth in Masse before he offer the holie Sacrifice professing putting him selfe in memorie that he must only communicate with the innocent or of pure conscience f and so approch to the Altar prefigured Leuit. 16. v. 4. g Shutting the eares of my hart from euil and vaine thoughtes I wil attend to godlie inspirations h and so with mental prayer and external voice as the holie order of this sacred office requireth praise thee ô God in thy meruelous workes Epi. â—â—â— c. 11. i I can not but singularly loue the excellencie of this place dedicated to thy seruice where is true faith vnitie and charitie of thy people the guard of holie Angels the administratioÌ„ of sacred mysteries assistance of the Holie Ghost real presence of Christ our Lord al replenished with Diuine maiestie k This representeth vnto me the glorious heauenlie kingdom of God and al Sainctes l Suffer me not therfore to be contaminate by the wicked nor to be deuoured with them m They are stil readie to committe more and more iniquities n themselues being corrupted endeuour by giftes of wordly commodities to corrupt others o Euerie one ought so to purge his conscience that he may be innocent or free from great sinne p deliuer me from this necessitie of dwelling among the wicked q I intend to walke right r I desire â—â— praise thee amongst thy true faithful seruantes A singular great afflictioÌ„ to be hindered from Gods true seruice Christians must abhorre and abstaine from al conuenticles of Heretikes and other Infidels An other confident prayer of Dauid in tribulation The 3. Key a Before his second annointing as is probable 2. Reg. 2. b Against ignorance God illuminateth his seruantes c against infirmitie he geueth streingth d so he nedeth not to feare anic mans malice suteltie nor force Luc. 21. v. 15. e How special a benefite Dauid estemed it to be in the Catholique Church the only true house of God! f Albeit the spiritual or carnal enemie seke to ouerthrow me yet I am secure in the Catholique Church g God either suffereth not the enemie to find his seruant h or not to be able to hurt him spiritually i wheÌ„ a martyr or confessour dieth then he getteth the victorie against the perseâ—ntors k Diligently recounting al thy benefites I render thankes by sacrifice and praise l not only in hart but also singing with loud voice and instrument m In my inward sincere cogitation I desire and seeke that I may see thee n face to face 1. Cor. 13. v. 12. o In the meane time ô Lord grant me thy fauour p leaue me not though thou be angrie with me q He speaketh in the person of orphanes r Though car nal parentes forsake the iust man in tribulation yet God hath then most special care of him Å¿ Establish my hart in thy law t conserue me in the right way which thou hast already taught me and it is the more necessarie because myne enemies labour to peruert me v the willes vv false witnesses accused Dauid others accused Christ Mat. 26. others do stil accuse the iust Mat 5. x the wicked please themselues in lying but the chief hurt finally turneth vpon themselues y The prophet and al iust men are comforted by God and hope of reward in heauen z The iust exhorteth his owne soule to patience a fortitude b and longanimitie Psal 30. An other prayer of Dauid for deliuerie from euils The 8. key a Omitte not to comfort me b Suffer me not to be ouercome for God tempteth none to euil Iac 1. c The iust in zele of iustice pray that sinne may be punished d Ignorance doth not excuse when men may and wil not vnderstand e God saueth not without our cooperation with his grace f being comforted in spirite my bodie is as it were refreshed g freely and gladly h God protecteth and prospereth the kings good endeuoures for his people i As Psal 19. and often elswhere the subiectes pray for their Superior so mutually the superior prayeth for the subiectes The Church of Christ endowed with excellent mysteries The 6. key a 2. Reg. 6. v. 17. 1. Par. 16. v. 1. â—04 105. c Mysteries of the Catholique Church prophecied in this Psalme b Offer sacrifice of thankes for the singular benefites after recounted in this Psalme c Rammes were of the more principal thinges that were offered in the law of Moyses But the sonnes of rammes importe in mystical sense better hostes then rammes d The first thing in sacrifice is to glorifie honour and adore God in sinceritie of spirite e in his holie Catholique Chuâ—h f Here is a greater matter intimated then happened in the bringing of the Arke into a tabernacle prepared in Sion when Dauid danced and offered hostes for sacrifice others ioyning with
dignitie vvisdome or other like qualitie but their iust merites :: A prayer of iust zele e Shal most wicked men stil be suffered to speake so insolently :: A description of heathnish and heretical crueltie :: Scarse anie Atheistes are so blind as thus to thinke but manie sinners so behaue them selues as if God saw not knew not or at least cared not vvhat they do f So vnpossible is it that God should be ignorant or careles vvhat men do that he also knovveth and obserueth most secret thoughtes g Mitigate and temper his afflictions that by patience and fortitude the iust may perseuere and not be ouerwhelmed h The whole Church shal neuer be reiected nor forsaken i Iustice is conuerted into iudgement vvhen iust meaning is put in vvorke and practise that it may appeare in iudgement Also God vvho doth suffereth al iustly vvil conserue his inheritance the Church euen vnto the day of iudgement k The sense is easie by transposing the vvordes al that are right of hart are nere it that is shal like and approue Gods iustice vvhen the vvicked shal repine and blaspheme it l when I felt and complained that I was in danger thou didst assist me m Onlie faith sufficeth not but careful laboure in keping Gods commandmnts is required n The iust do hope for eternal saluation to which God wil bring them o And God the reuenger of wronges wil at last cast the wicked into eternal torments Christ our Lord and king the 5. key a Praise songue with voices b inspired to Dauid written by him This Inuitation is most fitly ordayned by the Church for the proeme or beginning of Mattins c VVith great and solemne exultation d God our Creator is also our Protector Sauiour e Let vs be more diligent and preuent our accustomed time For no man can preuent Gods grace with anie good worke who first preuenteth vs els we can neither doe nor thincke anie good thing f not only in singing his praise with voice but also with musical instruments g So also Isaias c. 45. v. 23. and S. Paul Philip. 2. teach that kneeling or bowing the knees as an external religious ceremonie is acceptable to God h It is most iust and necessarie that we adore God because he made vs and al this world for vs hath also redemed vs and made vs his people as shepe of his pasture and as a Pastor feedeth and gouerneth vs. i of his making k Though some haue often repelled and resisted Gods grace yet if they receiue it being offered againe it wil auaile them to remission of sinnes l The Israelites in the desert tempted God by desiring water and flesh of voluptuous concupiscence without necessitie For Manna did both extinguish their thirst and tasted vnto them whatsoeuer they desired Exo. 16. That also which was left vngathered when the sunne waxed hotte melted v. 21. and serued their cattel for drincke So this tentation was a figure of those which require to communicate vnder both kindes as if one did not conteine as much as both m By this mention of the offence of fourtie yeares as long before passed is conuinced that Moyses writte not this Psalme who died in the very fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert And S Paul citing the wordes of this Psalme Heb. 4. manifestly acknowlegeth Dauid the writter therof and that it was written long after Moyses time in these wordes v 7 Againe he limiteth a certaine day To day in Dauid saying after so long time as is aboue saide To day if you shal heare his voice do not obdurate your hartes For if Iesus that is Iosue had geuen them rest he would neuer speake of an other day afterward n Being greatly offended I approched nere vnto them in punishing the offenders o Those that murmured died in the desert and entered not into the promised land euen so those that finally offend Christ shal not enter into euerlasting rest Heb. 3. 4. It is in mans freewil to resist good motions Concil Triden Sess 6. c. 5 Christs diuine powre the 5. key a Inspired to Dauid and written by him b prophecying the restauration of the temple after the future captiuitie And that in figure of the vniuersal redemption of mankind by Christ from the captiuitie of the diuel â— 1. Par. 16. v. 23. c For a new benefite farre greater then the deliuerie of Israel from Aegypt d The same wordes Sing to our Lord thrise repeted signifie the Blessed Trinitie as some Fathers note Likewise v. 7. and 8. Bring ye to our Lord c. in both places concluding in the singular number blesse his name bring to his name importing one God e VVhat creatures soeuer spiritual or corporal visible or inuisible the paganes serue for goddes stil they â—e diuels that deceiue them and diuers wayes vsurpe diuine honour making such idolaters to thinke that there is diuine powre where none is f He only is true God who is Creator of heauen and of al creatures For no creature can create anie thing at al that is make anie thing of nothing but only God g Diuers ancient Doctors read more in this place Our Lord hath reigned from the wood to witte Christ by his death on the crosse conquered the diuel sinne and death and thence begane to reigne S. Iustinus Martyr dialogo aduers Triphonem Tertullian li. aduers Iudaeos c. 9. 13 aduers Marcionem li. 3 c. 19. 21. S Augustin in this place according to the old Roman Psalter Before him Arnobius and after him Cassiadorus and others wherby it is probable that it was sometimes in the Hebrew text and blotted out by the Iewes h The Psalmist in abundance of spirite inuiteth al creatures to praise God as Daniel in his Canticle c. 3. i Christ iudgeth now in the world by his ministers discerning and deciding causes rewarding and punishing but especially he wil iudge al in the last day The last iudgement the 9. key a In figure of Christ b whose bodie rose the third day after his death to whom manie returned beleuing in him after his resurrection which fel from him in his passion and to whom al thinges shal be subdued as to their true Lord in the day of iudgement c Holie Dauid and other Prophetes hauing great ioy to see long before in spirite only Christs kingdom extended in the whole earth yea to the Ilandes we Ilanders haue great cause to be gladde that God hath not only so blessed vs long since but as yet conserueth seede wherby we trust the whole Iland shal be againe restored vnto him d As in a cloud with terror God gaue his law to the Iewes so in a cloud with greater terror and maiestie he wil iudge the world e not as manie corrupted seates of iudgement in this world but as a corrected tribunal where iustice and right iudgement shal be practised :: These thinges are denounced as if they were alredy donne
the Iewes from Babylon by Cyrus king of Medes and Persians now also of Assirians :: Because al kinges that reigned amoÌ„g the Iewes vvere annointed vvith oyle Cyrus is called christ though he was not ordayned with this ceremony of annointing :: S. Ierom noteth here out of Iosephus l. 11. Antiq that Cyrus finding his name long before prophe cied by Isaias became very beneuolous to the Ievves louing them as the familiar seruants of God 2. Par. â—â— :: But though he knew and professed one God no other 1. Esd 1. yet he was not conuerted in al pointes of religion neither serued God according to that general knowlege he had and so knew not God rightly :: The prophet in the former prophecie contemplating Christ as in a figure novv eleuated more in spirite prophecieth of Christ only vvho built his Church vpon a sure rock Not of Cyrus who being aduanced by God yet perfectly knevv not God v. 4. nor of Zorobabel vvho did not release the people from captiuitie but together with others vvas released neither had the title of a king but liued in subiection to other kinges S. Ierom. in hunc locum Rom. 9. Iere. 18. Rom. â—4 Phil. 2. :: Bel or Belus called also Saturnus was of such estimation that they offered to him insacrifice not only men that vvere taken captiues but also their owne sonnes Nabo otherwise called Da gon vvas an especial idol amongst the Philistims 1. Reg. 5. Rom. â— :: Not Cyrus saith S. Ierom but Christ the Orient â—â—arre prophec ed by Balaam Num. 24 whom the Sages came to adore from the East Mat. 2. :: Babylon not hitherto ouercome at last was brought to miserie and destruction Nahum 3. :: Gods people coÌ„taminating themselues with sinne were suffered to fal into ignominious captiuitie but God geueth them grace of repentance then seuerely punisheth their vnmerciful afflicters peâ—â—ecuters Apoc. â— Insea 51. :: By waters in the Hebrew phrase is here vnderstood the fountaine or spring the prophet speaking to those that were of the tribe of Iuda who especially halenged the preeminences and blessings of Israel the Patriarch but had not his vertues of fortitude and internal fight of God signified by the name Israel :: God spareth conserueth his people not for their merites but of his mercie shevving his benignitie that they may repent if they vvil Iere. 2â— Exo. 17. Nu. 20. :: These promises of reconciliation to God and of peace perteine to the penitent not to the obstinate in impietie The 8. part Al nations shal be conuerted to Christ some Iewes in the primitiue Church and many nere the end of the world :: This word from afarre the like doth conuince saith S. Ierom that the prophet speaketh of al nations to be conuerted to Christ And as this Prophet hath already spoken much of Christ and his Church so hence forth more especially he sheweth him selfe rather an Euangelist or an Apostle then only a Prophet which S. Ierom testifieth of him Epist ad Paulin. Act. 13. 2. Cor. 6 Apoc. 7. :: The Church of the old testament lamenteth that she semeth to be forsaken in respect of the manie great benefites bestowed on the Church of Christ :: But God answereth that he can not wil not forget nor forsake his Church which in dede is al one in the old and new testament only differing in state and therfore that which he doth to her in the new testament perteyneth to the whole Church in general of al times al places Isa 6â— :: God diuorced not the Synagogue from him of hardnes of hart :: Neither deliuered her for payment as though he were in debt to anie creditor :: But her owne reuolt and iniquities separated her from Christ Isa 59. Num. 11. :: Skill of tongue how to speake discretion when where was geuen to Isaias ch 6. v. 6. Much more saith S. Ierom to Christe who spake in his life was silent in his passion and now speaketh by his Apostles and other pastores Mat. 26. Rom. 8. :: In the next verse the rock caue are explicated to signifie Abraham and Sara who are proposed for examples to be imitated being so noble progenitors of the Iewes S. Paul exhorteth his countrie men and in them al Christians the like in spiritual progenitors that first plant Catholique Religion in anie place saying Remember your Prelates vvhich haue spoken the vvord of God to you Heb. 13. Psal 36. :: As God destroyed Pharao the proud dragon in the sea which he dried vp for his people to passe so he wil ouerthrow the diuel deliuer captiues from sinne tyrannie Exo. 14. Isa 49. :: Spoile destruction shal happen by famine sword Isa 47. :: The Iewes had not wronged the Babylonians neither had mankind sinned against the diuel but both had offended God :: VVho of his bountie payde mans ransom which no other man was able to pay Gen. 46. Rom. 2. Ezec. â—â— :: Communication with infidels in spiritual thinges is in no case lawful as S. Paul sheweth by this text 2. Cor. 6. v. 17. :: That manie hearing the truth preached do not beleue it is by their obstinate freewil because they do not obey the Gospel Ro. 10. v. 16. when their vnderstanding directeth them that it is not disagreable to reason :: Our Sauiour died and was buried where the wicked were coÌ„monly punished :: Yet was buried richly honorably by Ioseph of Aromathia Nicodemus :: In the old testament Gentiles were barren bringing no fruite to God but in the new testament they are fructful the Iewes are barren til the later end of the world when they also shal be fructful againe Gal. 4. Lut. â— Gen. 9. :: As it is assured that the world shal neuer be drowned againe with water so it is that the Church of Christ shal neuer be suppressed :: An other assurance that moutaines hilles shal rather be moued yea some mountaines shal be remoued but the Church shal be alwayes firme and perpetual Ioan. â— v. 45. :: Grace is offered to al but those only are iustified and replenished with more grace and spiritual giftes that cooperate doing that which in them lieth desiring thirsting iustice for such saith our Sauiour shal haue their fil Mat. 5. v. 6. Apo. 22. Act. 13. :: The beginning of Gods seruice is to forsake the way of wickednes :: The wayes of Gods seruice and of seruing this world are so opposite and contrarie that it is vnpossible to walke in them both at once No man can serue these two masters God and this world we must therfore so vse this world that we may serue God and inherite heauen :: Iudgement is a right resolution to do Gods wil and iustice is the perfect performance therof as before is noted cha 32. Sap. 1. :: Vnder the name of Sabbath is vnderstood the obseruation of al the law :: Those that of free election choose