the Gallat THe Gallathians were people of Asia after his departure thence false teachers pressed in taught that the Ceremonies of the Lawe were to be kept and they spake euil of this holy Apostle thereby to deface his doctrine Which mooued him to write vnto them discharging himselfe for the credit of his calling confirming his doctrine with the ouerthrow of their false opinions Argument of Ephesians EPhesus was a famous Citie by the Sea of Ionius where was a Temple dedicated to the false Goddesse Diana S. Paule at his first comming stayed little there but at the second time he stayed 3. yeares perceiuing that God had manie there to be saued euen among the Witches Sorcerers Inchaunters c. Whereby the mercie of God appeared more abundantly At his departure he left among them Elders and Timothie as their Bishop This Argument agreeth nearely with the Romanes and Gallathians The argument of the Philippians PHilip Macedon was the originall of that Citie they had domesticall troubles and diuers other losses for the Testimonie of Christ wherefore he exhorteth them to patience and watchfulnesse The argument of the Colloss THe Collossians were a people of that great Citie Collossa Saint Paul was neuer with them They were taught by Epaphras Onesimus and Titichus S. Paule heard that they were troubled with the Iewes about Ceremonies and with the Gentiles about wordes and subtill Philosophie Wherefore hee wrote vnto them to confirme them in that they had learned concerning Christ and to confute the contrarie The Argument of 1. Thess THessalonica was a famous citie of Macedonia whence the people had their name He was among them but three Sabboths by reason of the Iewes Hee sent Timothie vnto them by whom he vnderstood of their constancie Whereupon hee wrote vnto them exhorting them to patience to loue to constancie and to consider well of the resurrection The Argument of 2. Thess HE excuseth his long absence sheweth the manner of the resurrection the comming of Christ he dehorteth from curious questions The argument of 1. Timothie TImothie his Father was a Graecian his mother a Iew which was the cause that hee was not circumcised in his infācie according the lawe His mother Eunica and his grandmother Loida were verie godlie wherein they brought him vp Saint Paule his Master sent him in the Lords busines to diuers places in the ende he was left at Ephesus as their Bishop to whom he wrote this Epistle about the choyce of Pastors in the Church The Argument of 2. Timothie TImothie did greatlie mourne after Paule he therefore did write to comfort him and withall to shewe him how he was holden in prison which was the cause that he came not to Ephesus according to his promise The Argument of Titus TItus was a Graecian borne Saint Paule was his master who left him at Creete to constitute Ministers in euerie Parish and to reforme their manners Titus was a young man therefore his master wrote this Epistle that he should doo nothing rashlie What kind of Pastors were to bee allowed and what not The Argument of Philemon PHilemon was of Collossentia a rich man a godlie man and a liberall he had a seruant called Onesimus who departed from him and stole his money when he heard S. Paule preach he beleeued in Iesus Christ and he confessed his fault Wherevpon Saint Paule wrote to his master exhorting him to forgiue his seruant The Argument of the Haebrues THere are diuers opinions concerning the authoritie hereof Some say it is not Canonicall some say it is not Paules writing some say it is Saint Paules Epistle but not Canonicall because say they there is no mention of his name and the stile is contrarie The trueth is by the best and most godlie learned that it is Saint Paules writing and Canonicall because the matter is consonant to the rest of his Epistles The Graecians did so allow of it and the same was confirmed in the Councell of Nicen. Nicephorus saith that it was written in Haebrue by Saint Paule and translated into Greeke by Saint Luke who altered the stile and method Iraeneus who was Policarpus scholler saide the same the trueth thereof being receiued from Saint Iohn who was Policarpus master such was the obstinacie of the Iewes resisting the doctrine of Christ That gaue occasion to Saint Paule to write exhorting them from the hardnes of their hearts he magnifieth Christ aboue the Prophets Moses Aaron Leui and all other offices who fulfilled the prophecies accomplished the lawe and offered a more perfect sacrifice than they all Saint Paule speaketh of certeine in the 6. Chapter and 10. who had reuolted from the knowne trueth wittinglie willinglie stubbornlie and presumptuouslie that were not by the word of God to bee saued therefore he altereth much of his stile and phrase especiallie at the beginning and ending The Argument of Iames. IN the 10. of Mathew mention is made of two Iames the one was the sonne of Zebedeus the other the sonne of Alpheus It is certaine the Author of this Epistle was Iames the sonne of Alpheus who is in that Chapter called Lebbeus and Thaddeus He is called the brother of Jude and the brother of our Lord Gal. 1 19. Hee was the sonne of Mary Cleophas who was sister to the Virgin Mary It is the phrase of Scripture to call Cousens Bretheren This Epistle is called Catholicall because it is to all people The summe thereof is to instruct all men how to liue how to beleeue He setteth out the conuersation of those that are regenerated of faith of patience and of their teachers The Argument of 1. Peter THis Peter was by all consent the author of this Epistle He was called Simon the sonne of Iohn the Fisher Christ named him Cephas which is Peter Mark 3. he was one of the Apostles and the chiefest for diuers causes He speaketh of workes after regeneration as Saint James doth he descendeth into the dueties of each degree and of the conuersion of the Gentiles It was written vpon the occasion that Siluanus being long with Saint Paule and trauailing to Babilon met with Saint Peter who deliuered him this Epistle generall to Gentiles and Iewes The Argument of the 2. Epistle of Peter HE exhorteth all men from day to day and from degree to degree to encrease in the workes of regeneration to beware of false teachers the state of the last times He thought his death to bee at hand wherefore he wrote to the glorie of his master Christ 2. Pet. 1.14 15. The Argument of the 1. Epistle of Iohn THis Iohn was one of the foure Euangelists he was the sonne of Zebedeus beloued of Christ and wrote the Reuelation He exhorteth to faith to brotherlie loue to trie and approoue the spirits to auoide false teachers hypocrisie small offences and to deck themselues with godlie liuing The Argument of the 2. Epistle of Iohn HErein he handleth mutuall loue the dutie of widowes to beware of false Teachers a way to know them and with whom is no fellowship laid downe He wrote especiallie to a certaine godlie widowe who with her children and household laboured after Christ The Argument of the 3. Epistle of Iohn IN this Epistle he exhorteth his familiar friends and his host Gains c. thanking GOD for the great comfort receiued at his hands he laid him downe as a harborer of all that loued Iesus Christ He exhorteth to constancie and to beware of Tyrants The Argument of Iude. HE was one of the Apostles he instructeth the godlie to continue in well doing He sheweth the Iustice of God against sinners and reuolters as the Angels the Iewes Zodome c. The Argument of the Reuelation THis booke containeth all the doctrine of the Prophets concerning Christ which was to be accomplished after his comming The comfort that commeth by his death how to know the false spirit the battaile betweene the Church and the limmes of Sathan the mariage of Christ with his Saints the prouidence of God and the force of his word Now the verie GOD of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blameles vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Faithfull is he which calleth you which will also doo it 1. Thess 5.23 24. FINIS
labours hath eternall memorie with GOD and his Angells which are these that followe with their significations and yeares Fathers Significations Yeares Adam earthlie 930 Gen. 5.5 Seth setled 912 8 Enos sorowfull 905 11 Kenan godly repentance 910 14 Mahalael praise God 895 17 Iared the lowly 962 20 Henoch the Sabaoth keeper 365 24 Methuselah long life 969 27 Lamech heart wounded 777 33. Noah the comforter 950 Gen. 9.29 This number of 10. Fathers wherin God hath measured his Church serueth very necessarily to expound hard sentēces in scripture of the same nūber But you must marke that 10. sometimes standeth in good part as in Tithes Leui. 27.32 Nu. 18.25 26 27 28. In the 10. moneth the flood abated Gen. 8.5 God would haue spared manie thousands for 10. sake Gen. 18.42 c. Sometimes 10. is taken in accompt of euill as Numb 14.22 Esai 5.10 Againe 10. hornes of the Beast which Daniel saw signifieth 10. wicked persecuting Kings Dan. 7.24 The Pope hath 10. statelie Kingdomes to assist him Reuel 13.1 Thus must you compare one 10. with another as you reade Now marke brieflie the storie of euerie Father particularlie in the which you may by comparison expound other places of like qualitie in Scriptures ADam his originall or kinred was the red earth of Moriah nere the garden of Eden a mount in Ierusalem Where Isaac was offered as a figure of Christ the holie of holiest Gen. 22 2. Where Sem or Melchisedech dwelt which place was called Salem but vppon Isaac his offering it was called Ierusalem Gen. 14.18 Where Noahs Arke rested in the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite 2. Sam. 24. 16 17 18 to 25. Where Salomon was commanded to build the Temple 2. Chro. 3.1 Where was the Oratorie of God the law and the spirit Where Christ in the sulnes of time died as a high Sacrificer Marke euerie Moriah as you reade and conferre one with another by particular questions Adam was in soule a Saint for wisedome and will So are all his posteritie in Christ He was a King a Prophet and a Sacrificer So was Christ And it is certain that he beleeued the promise concerning Christ in whose commemoration he offered continuall sacrifice the which was consumed by fire from heauen in the allowance thereof as was the sacrifice of Abram c. in the time of the Lawe In the assurance whereof he named his wife Heua that is to say life And he called his Sonne Seth setled or perswaded in Christ Hee brought vp his Sonnes Abel and Cain in the same profession By faith Abel offered a greater sacrifice than Cain by the which he obtained witnesse that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts Hab. 11.4 God cloathed Adam his wife with the skinnes of those beasts which hee had sacrificed The first promise concerning Christ When God had chastened the woman and cursed the serpent He said vnto Adam The seed of the woman shall bruse the serpents head Gen. 3.15 He liued with Methusalah to instruct him in this promise and in the right vse thereof 243. yeares as in Gen. 5.25 26 27 32.6.6.11.10 11. He was skilfull in all Sciences the first day and 30. yeare of age by the vse of nature as men are now So was Christ at the end of Daniels last weeke 9 when he was baptized Lu. 2.23 And it must needes stand by manie arguments and plaine narrations that he fell the the same day of his creation His Wife was a goodlie faire and beautifull Queene So is the Wife of Christ the Church all glorious and there is no spot within her Thus by particular obseruations you may make your comparison fit with other places of the same sense out of the olde or new Read Mat. 19.4 5 6. Mark 10.3 4 5 c. Christ comes of Adam Rom. 5.1 1. Cor. 15. A comparison betweene Christ and Adam 1. Tim. 2. Reuel 12. SEth was the 3. sonne of Adam begotten in the likenes of his Father when hee was 130. yeare olde All the world is bound to take instruction of him to be setled in Christ the Rocke All places of Scripture that import the Rocke Christ setled faith and constancie may be reduced vnto this The number 130. in which he was begotten serueth verie well to remember you of al places of the sam◠number in scripture As Terah begat Abram a newe Stablisher of Religion when he was 130. yeare olde Jaacob came to Aegipt a Reuiuer of Religion when he was 130. yeare olde You shall reade seldome or but once in Luk. 3.38 of Seth in the New Testament ENos was verie zealous and sorrowfull for the corruption of Religion and good manners which was like to ensue vppon the marriage of the sonnes of GOD with the daughters of men who regarded beautie and worldlie preferment rather than the promises of life and euerlasting glorie by seruing and praising God in true Religion To this you may referre the zeale of Moses Elias Paule Iohn c. who wept for the people that sinned and desired rather to bee razed out of the booke of life than that so manie thousands should perish in the wrath of the Lord. To this you may referre all vnequall and inordinate mariages and the inconueniences that commeth thereof KEnan had sorowfulnes and withall godlie repentance furnished with a care of amendment of life To this you may reduce all penitent sinners as Dauid Peter c. MAhalael had a name verie answerable to that acceptable Sacrifice which the Creator imposed vppon his creation according to the signification of his owne name both which I haue told you To this may be reduced all places of thanks giuing and praising of God So Leah named her fourth sonne Iudah signisying praise the Lord. This ought to be imitated of all men throughout the course of Religion and trade of life Psal 47. The reason why is shewed Psal 19.102 105. IAred had the vertues of his forefathers which induced him to great humilitie and lowlines To this you may referre all such like places how God exalteth the lowlie and meeke As Joseph out of the pit of slyme to be Lord and ruler in all the Land of Aegipt Dauid a poore simple Shepheard to be a renowmed king ouer his inheritance and Daniel Peter c. This must needes call you to remember the proud and their ouerthrow vppon the dunghill HEnoch walked with God in holie life he was a man wholly dedicated to the Lord by his name in the trade of his life wherin was seene his fathers zeale and sound Religion in bringing him vp meete for the seruice of the great God as Abram did Jsaac as Anna did Samuel c. He was faithfull Read Haebr 11.5 He was a Prophet Iude. 1.14 15. He is the seauenth from Adam his yeares are agreeable with the number of the Sabaoth putting all men in minde of the sixe dayes creation and the seauenth dayes Rest or redemption Seauen is an holy and an infinite
more were depriued of their beautie and glorie They were at the first heauenlie bodies but vpon their fall they were turned into the qualitie of the ayre These were called by diuers names answerable to their kinde and qualitie Whereof 4. are in the 12. chap. and .9 vers of the Reuelation 1 a Deuill For that hee is a quareller a callenger and a backbiter 2 a Dragon In respect of his wonderfull crueltie and speedie spoile 3 a Sathan For that hee is a Tempter Matth. 4.10 Aduersarie or enemie Luke 22.31 32. 2. Cor. 4 4. 1. Thess 2 18. 1. Thes 3 5.2 Thes 2.9 10. Reu. 2.13 4 a Serpent For his subtiltie and craft 2. Cor. 11 3. Behemoth is likened to an Oxe for that he laboureth and enforceth all his power to drawe men to destruction Iob. 40 10. Leuiathan a great mightie fish not to be ruled with line and hooke so the Diuell cannot bee meeked and tamed by the nature of man Iob. 40.20 Lion who is verie rauening and alway sleepeth with his eyes open most watchful and vigilant so the diuell seeking whō he may deuoure 2. Pet. 5.8 Boare for his rooting extirpation vtter subuersion and destruction Psal 80.13 Now I will speake briefly of those Angels which were left in heauen and continued in their first Estate of whom you shall read much in holy Scriptures and of their sundrie names in respect of their seuerall sundrie offices in the Church and in heauen which I pray you diligenly to marke AN Angell is a name of office not of kinde He is of a spirituall immortall substance and of great puritie by reason whereof he perceiueth in him selfe all formes shapes intelligible wherby he is stirred to heauenly contemplations The likenesse of GOD shineth in him Haeb. 1.7 Angels haue three things in them 1 Essence by the which they haue beeing of puritie of discretion and godlinesse 2 Vertue by the which they haue power to vnderstand to liue and to continue for euer 3 Working by the which they are exercised to doo all things swistly willingly and profitably to Gods glorie and to the benefite of his Church Angels called Seraphins BEcause they are manie they are inflamed with the cleare light and brightnesse of God their office is to kindle and inflame others in the loue of God This fire wherewith they are kindled burneth and not wasteth Haeb. 1 14. Angels are called Cherubins A Companie or a multitude higher than the Seraphins these haue the gift of fairnesse in the first vertue that worketh For by the light of wisedome they be drawen into the fairenesse of GOD himselfe Haeb. 9 5. Angels called Thrones THe Maiestie of God sitteth in and vppon these Their offices is to set foorth GODS Iustice against vnpenitent sinners Reuel 1.4 Reuel 14.17 18 19 20. Psalm 80.1 Cherubins and Thrones are one Angels called Dominations THese are aboue the rest in power they haue Iustice in force libertie in godlinesse and they conforme all their actions to The rule and direction of their President Haebr 1 6. Angels called Principalities THeir office is to bring and reduce others to God They are ouer other Angells Some of them serue and some waite Dan. 7.9 10. Psal 68.7 Angels called Powers FOr that they haue power ouer euill Angels and wicked spirites Their office is to keepe comfort the Saints on the earth These haue equal might with those Angels which are called Dominations Reuel 16.1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10. 1. Pet. 3 22. All these are said to be cloathed with fire and with Light as with a garment Psal 104. They are girded with a golden Girdle signifying might and courage Dan. 10 5. Reuel 15 6. They beare in their hands swords scepters A sword to rule and a scepter to magnifie Gen. 3.24 Numb 22.31 Iosua 5 13. Reuel 6.8 warlike weapons fighting for the Church spiritually They haue Trowels Measures and all sorts of working tooles to worke men a new vnto God They haue Trumpets for that they warne and excite men to heare the voyce of God and to prepare themselues against the spirituall enemie Reuel 8 2. They haue Instruments of Musique comforting and refreshing the weake wearied as was signified by the Leuites 2. Cron. 7 6. Reuel 5.8 18 22. They are likened to Horses of all coulours to Chariots and to Eagles for that they are poasts and speedie messengers betwixt Christ and his Church Ierem. 4 13. Zachar. 1.8 9. 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Reuel 9.16 17. They are likened to Warders and vnto Watchmen for that they forewarne the Church of perills Psal 141 3. Esa 21.6 7 8 9. Ierem. 51 12. Dan. 4 10. They are likened to Haruesters and Laborers for that they gather men into the Lordes Barne as wheate Ierem. 50 16. Mich. 7 1. Math. 9.37 38. They are called by manie other names and likened to diuers naturall things thereby to make vs the better to discerne them the plainelier to see them and the easier to auoide that which maie dislike them Marke them well and reduce them by particulars into memorie which will greatly profite you THE particular Ages and Yeares of the ten Fathers Gen. 5. before recited serueth as an exact rule to knowe howe long the first Storie or Period and the world of olde did last The same manifesteth vnto all Nations the louing kindnesse of the Lord who as yet in the dayes of Noah hee gaue them one hundred and twentie Yeares Repentance and withal the seueritie of God in making the earth voide and emptie as it was in the beginning because of sinne in not suffering the posteritie of Noah to liue halfe their former yeares which was a noate of Gods Iustice to the wicked in breaking their earthly imaginations and a testimonie of his loue towards his elect by hastening their kingdome and glorie 2. PERIOD The Argument or summe of the 2. Period REade Gen. 11. there God in the number of other 10. holie Fathers beginneth to multiplie a new Church ouer whom he was verie carefull and prouident as of a peculiar and speciall people dedicated to his owne glorie and sequestred from ill and prophane vses which I haue laide downe in their order with the significations of their names and yeares which you shall perceiue serueth to great purpose Fathers Significations Yeares 1 Sem renowmed 600. Gen. 11.11 2 Arphaxad healing 438. Gen. 11.13 3 Sale peace 433. Gen. 11.15 4 Heber pilgrime 464. Gen. 11.17 5 Peleg diuided 209. Gen. 11.19 6 Regue breaking 207. Gen. 11.21 7 Sarug palme trees 200. Gen. 11.23 8 Nahor angrie or drie 119. Gen. 11.25 9 Terah a wretch 70. Gen. 11.26 10 Abram a high father 175. Gen. 25.7 Now you must learne what may be said particularlie of these Fathers Sem was Melchisedech King of Salem who liued 600. yeres who was Noahs Sonne SEm was a perfect figure of Christ without father without mother in respect of his great age whose kindred was vnknowne to