of my planting the worke of mine hand to glorifie †The least shal be into a thousand and the litle one into a most strong nation I the Lord in the time therof wil sodenly doe it CHAP. LXI Christ announceth himself to be sent from heauen to teach the truth to heale and pardon the penitent to comforte the desolate and streingthen the weake 4. whose Apostles shal constantly preach iustice in al the world 10. And his Church shal reioyce THE spirit of the Lord vpon me because the Lord hath annoynted me to preach to the milde he sent me that I should heale the contrite of hart and preach indulgence to the captiues and deliuerance to them that are shut vp †That I should preach the placable yeare to the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God that I might comfort al that mourne †that I might appoint to the mourners of Sion and geue them a crowne for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning a mantel of prayse for the spirit of sorrowfulnes and they shal be called in it the strong of iustice planting of the Lord to glorifie †And they shal build the desertes from the begynning of the world and shal erect the old ruines and shal repayre the desolate cities that were dissipated in generation and generation †And aliens shal stand and feede your cattel and the children shal be your husbandmen and dressers of the vines †And you shal be called the priestes of the Lord to you it shal be sayd The ministers of our God you shal eate the strength of the Gentiles and in their glorie you shal be proude †For your double confusion and shame they shal prayse their part for this cause shal they receiue duble in their land euerlasting ioy shal be to them †Because I am the Lord that loue iudgement hate robberie in holocaust and I wil geue their worke in truth and make a perpetual couenant with them †And they shal know their seede in the Gentiles and their bud in the middes of peoples al that shal see them shal know them that these are the seede which the Lord hath blessed †Reioycing I wil reioyce in our Lord and my soule shal be ioyful in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation and with the garment of iustice he hath compassed me as a bridgrome decked with a crowne and as a bride adorned with her iewels †For as the earth bringeth forth her spring and as the garden shooteth forth his seede so shal our Lord God make iustice to spring forth and prayse before al the Gentiles CHAP. LXII The prophet auoucheth that he wil not cease from preaching Christ 4. to whom al nations shal be conuerted 8. whos 's Church shal continew for euer FOR Sion I wil not hold my peace and for Ierusalem I wil not rest til her iust one come forth as brightnes her sauiour be kindled as a lampe †And the Gentiles shal see thy iust one and al kinges thy noble one and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of our Lord shal name †And thou shalt be a crowne of glorie in the hand of our Lord and the diademe of a kingdome in the hand of thy God †Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken and thy land shal no more be called Desolate But thou shalt be called My wil in her and thy land inhabited because it hath wel pleased our Lord in thee and thy land shal be inhabited †For the yong man shal dwel with the virgin and thy children shal dwel in thee And the bridgrome shal reioyce vpon the birde thy God shal reioyce vpon thee †Vpon thy walles Ierusalem I haue appointed watchemen al the day and al the night for euer they shal not hold their peace You that remember our Lord hold not your peace †and geue not silence to him vntil he establish and vntil he make Ierusalem the prayse in the earth †Our Lord hath sworne by his right hand and by the arme of his strength If I shal geue thy wheate any more to be meate for thine enemies and if the strange children shal drinke thy wine wherein thou hast laboured †Because they that shal gather it together shal eate it and shal prayse the Lord and they that carie it together shal drinke it in my holie courtes †Passe ye passe ye through the gates prepare a way for the people make the iourney plaine picke vp the stones and lift vp the signe to the peoples †Behold our Lord hath made heard in the ends of the earth tel the daughter of Sion Behold thy sauiour cometh behold his reward is with him and his worke before him †And they shal cal them The holie people the redemed of our Lord. But thou shalt be called a citie Sought for and not Forsaken CHAP. LXIII Christ is described as a vistorious conquerour ascending into heauen with triumph embrued with bloud 7. For al whose benefites the Prophet rendreth thankes 10. expostulating the peoples ingratitude that prouoked God to wrath VVHO is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bosra this beautiful one in his robe going in the multitude of his strength I that speake iustice and am a defender to saue †Why then is thy clothing red and thy garments as theirs that treade in the wine presse †I haue troden the presse alone and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me I haue troden them in my furie and haue troden them downe in my wrath and their bloud is sprinkled vpon my garments and I haue stayned al my rayment †For the day of reuenge is in my hart the yeare of my redemption is come †I looked about there was no helper I sought and there was none to ayde and myne arme hath saued and myne indignation itself hath holpen me †And I haue troden downe the peoples in my furie and haue inebriated them in mine indignation and haue drawen their strength downe to the ground †I wil remember the mercies of our Lord the prayse of our Lord for al thinges that our Lord hath rendred to vs and for the multitude of the good thinges to the house of Israel which he hath geuen them according to his iudulgence and according to the multitude of his mercies †And he sayd But yet is my people children that denie not and he is become their sauiour †In al their tribulation he was not trubled and the angel of his face saued them in his loue and in his indulgence he redemed them and bare them and lifted them vp al the daies of the world †But they prouoked to wrath and afflicted the spirit of his holie one and he was turned to be their enemie and he conquered them †And he remembred the dayes of the world of Moyses and of his people
and the stranger and pupil and widow which abide with you in the place which our Lord thy God shal choose that his name may dwel there †and thou shalt remember that thou wast a seruant in Aegypt and thou shalt keepe and doe the thinges that are commanded †The solemnitie also of Tabernacles thou shalt celebrate seuen daies when thou hast gathered thy fruite of the barne floore and the presse †and thou shalt feast in the festiuitie thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and woman seruant the Leuite also and stranger and pupil and widow that are within thy gates †Seuen daies shalt thou celebrate the feastes to our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose and our Lord thy God wil blesse thee in al thy fruites and in euerie worke of thy handes and thou shalt be in ioye †Three times in a yeare shal al thy male appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose in the solemnitie of Azymes in the solemnitie of weekes and in the solemnitie of Tabernacles There shal not appeare before our Lord any emptie †but euerie one shal offer according to that he hath according to the blessing of our Lord his God which he shal geue him †Iudges and maisters shalt thou appoynt in al thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee in euerie of thy tribes that they may iudge the people with iust iudgement †and not decline to either part Thou shalt not accept person nor giftes because that giftes blinde the eies of the wise and change the wordes of the iust †Iustly shalt thou pursew that which is iust that thou mayest liue and possesse the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee †Thou shalt plante no groue nor any tree neere the altar of our Lord thy God †Neither shalt thou make nor sette to thy self a statue which thing our Lord thy God hateth CHAP. XVII Perfect hostes not mamed nor defectiue must be offered to God Idolaters stoned to death 8. VVhen inferior iudges differ the cause must be decided by the High Priest in consistorie Who is warranted not to erre therin and al are bound to obey his sentence 14. The dutie also of a king Whom in future time God wil condescend to geue them is described with special charge to receiue the law of God at the Priestes handes THOV shalt not immolate to our Lord thy God a sheepe and an oxe wherein there is blemish or any fault because it is abomination to our Lord thy God †When there shal be found with thee within one of thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee man or woman that do euil in the sight of our Lord thy God and transgresse his couenant †that they goe and serue strange goddes and adore them the sunne and the moone and al the hoste of heauen which thinges I commanded not †and this is told thee and hearing it thou hast inquired diligently and found it to be true and the abomination is committed in Israel †thou shalt bring forth the man and the woman that haue committed that most heynous thing to the gates of thy citie and they shal be stoned †At the mouth of two or three witnesses shal he perish that is to be slaine Let no man be killed one onlie geuing testimonie against him †The hand of the witnesses shal be first to kil him and the hand of the rest of the people shal be layd on last that thou mayest take away the euil out of the middes of thee †“ If thou perceiue that the iudgement with thee be hard and doubtful betwen bloud and bloud cause and cause leprosie and not leprosie and thou see that the wordes of the iudges within thy gates doe varye arise and goe vp to the place which our Lord thy God shal choose †And thou shalt come to the priestes of the Leuitical stocke and to the iudge that shal be at that time and thou shalt aske of them “ who shal shew thee the truth of the iudgment †And thou shalt do whatsoeuer they that are presidentes of the place which our Lord shal choose shal say and teach thee †according to his law and thou shalt folow their sentence neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand †But “ he that shal be proude refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest which at that time ministreth to our Lord thy God and the decree of the iudge that man shal die and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel †and the whole people hearing shal feare that none afterward swel in pride †When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee and doest possesse it and dwellest in it and sayest I wil sette a king ouer me as al nations haue round about †him shalt thou sette whom our Lord thy God shal choose of the number of thy brethren A man of an other nation that is not thy brother thou canst not make king †And when he is made he shal not multiplie to him selfe horses nor lead backe the people into Aegypt taking high courage for the number of his horsemen especially whereas our Lord hath commanded you that in no case you returne any more the same way †He shal not haue manie wiues that may allure his minde nor huge weightes of siluer and gold †And after he shal sitte in the throne of his kingdome he shal copie to him selfe the Deuteronomie of this Law in a volume taking the copie of the priestes of the Leuitical tribe †and he shal haue it with him and shal reade it al the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare our Lord his God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies that are commanded in the law †And that his hart be not lifted vp into pride ouer his brethren nor decline to the right side or the left side that he may reigne a long time and his sonnes ouer Israel ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII 8. If the iudgement be hard For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal that in case inferior Iudges varied in iudgement recourse might be had to the Councel of Priestes where one chiefe Iudge the High Priest was appointed to geue sentence and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same 9. vvho shal shevv the truth God so assisted this consistorie with his spirite of truth that their sentence was infallible though otherwise they might erre either in life or in priuate opinion VVherfore our Sauiour distinguishing betwen their publique doctrin and their workes taught the people that for somuch as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire and yet transgressed Gods commandmentes euerie one should obserue and doe as they saide but not doe according to their
it into three troupes setting ambushmentes in the fieldes And seeing that the people came out of the citie he arose set vpon them †with his owne troupe oppugning and besieging the citie and two troupes scattered through the field pursewed the aduersaries †Moreouer Abimelech al that day oppugned the citie which he tooke killed the inhabitantes therof and destroyed it so that he sowed salt in it †Which when they had heard that dwelt in the towre of Sichem they entered into the temple of their god Berith where they had made a couenant with him and therof the place had taken his name which was exceding wel fensed †Abimelech also hearing that the men of the towre of Sichem were gathered together †he went vp into mount Selmon with al his people and taking an axe he cut of the bough of a tree and laying it on his shoulder carying it he said to his companions That which you see me do doe ye out of hand †They therfore cutting of boughes from the trees euerie man as fast as he could folowed their captaine Who compassing the forte burnt it and so it came to passe that with the smoke and the fyre a thousand persons were slaine men and wemen together of the inhabitantes of the towre of Sichem †And Abimelech departing thence came to the towne of Thebes which compassing he besieged with his armie †And there was in the middes of the citie an high towre to the which were fled both men and wemen together and al the princes of the citie the gate being shut very strongly and they standing vpon the batlementes of the towre by the bulwarkes †And Abimelech coming nere the towre fought manfully and approching to the doore endeuoured to put fire vnder it †and behold one woman casting from aboue a peece of a milstone dashed it against the head of Abimelech and brake his brayne †Who called by and by his esquire and said to him Draw out thy sword and strike me lest perhaps it be said that I was slaine of a woman Who doing as he was commanded slew him †And when he was dead al that were with him of Israel returned into their seates †and God repayed the euil that Abimelech had done against his father killing his seuentie brethren †The Sichemites were also rewarded for that which they had wrought and the curse of Ioatham the sonne of Ierobaal came vpon them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX 8. The trees went to annoint a king According to the historie Ioatham Gedeons youngest sonne by a parable iustly expostulateth the iniurie donne by the Sichemites to his fathers house in preferring a base bound womans sonne and cruelly murdering the rest of his sonnes who with much trauel and manie dangers of his owne life had deliuered them from seruitude But in the spiritual sense which as the ancient fathers note is chiefly intended Idolaters and Heretikes are reproued who rather accept of vniust vsuâ—peâ—s that wil serue their licentious appetites and mantaine vice and wickednes then to be ruled by iust and lawful Superiors appointed by Gods ordinance indued with grace of the Holie Ghost signified by the oliue tree such as bring forth wholsome swete vertues signified by the sigge tree and are replenished with admirable fortitude signified by the vine tree and in their places set vp base ambitious crnel and crabbed spirites signified by the bramble or brere Thus Nemrod Abimelech Mahomet and innumerable other tyrantes haue benne aduanced especially Antichrist shal be extolled aboue al that is called God or is vvorshipped and shal most cruelly persecute al Chatholiques that wil not conforme them selues to his procedings But in fine as here is prefigured in Abimelech sire shal rise against this bramble Antichrist and shal denoure him and al his together S. Beda 99. in lib. Iudic. c. 6. CHAP. X. Thola ruleth in Israel twentie three yeares 3. lair twentie two 6. The people fal againe to idolatrie are afflicted by the Philisthimes and Ammonites 10. they crie to God for helpe who biddeth them cal for helpe to the goddes whom they haue serued 16. but crying stil to God and throwing away their idoles he hath compassion of them AFTER Abimelech there arose Ruler in Israel Thola the sonne of Phua the vncle of Abimelech a man of Issachar which dwelt in Samir of mount Ephraim †and iudged Israel three and twentie yeares and died and was buried in Samir †After him succeded Iair the Galaadite who iudged Israel for two and twentie yeares †hauing thirtie sonnes sitting vpon thirtie asse coltes princes of thirtie cities which of his name were called Hauoth Iair that is the townes of Iair vntil this present day in the Land of Galaad †And Iair died and was buried in the place which is called Camon †But the children of Israel ioyning new sinnes to their old did euil in the sight of our Lord serued the Idols Baalim and Astaroth the goddes of Syria and of Sidon and of Moab and of the children of Ammon and of the Philisthimes and they left our Lord and did not serue him †Against whom our Lord being wrath deliuered them into the handes of the Philisthijms and of the children of Ammon †And they were afflicted and sore opressed for eightene yeares al that dwelt beyond Iordan in the Land of the Amorrheite which is in Galaad †in so much that the children of Ammon passing ouer Iordan wasted Iudas and Beniamin and Ephraim and Israel was afflicted exceedingly †And crying to our Lord they said We haue sinned to thee because we haue forsaken our Lord God haue serued Baalim †To whom our Lord spake Haue not the Aegyptians and the Ammorrheites and the children of Ammon and the Philisthijms †the Sidonians also and Amalech and Chanaan oppressed you you cried to me and I deliuered you out of their hand †And yet you haue forsaken me and haue worshipped strange goddes therfore I wil not adde to deliuer you any more †goe and inuocate the goddes which you haue chosen let them deliuer you in the time of distresse †And the children of Israel said to our Lord We haue sinned render to vs whatsoeuer pleaseth thee only now deliuer vs. †In saying which thinges they threw away out of their coastes al the idols of strange goddes and serued our Lord God who sorowed for their miseries †Therfore the children of Ammon crying together pitcht their tentes in Galaad against whom the children of Israel being assembled camped in Maspha †And the princes of Galaad said euerie one to their neighbours Who of vs shal first beginne to fight against the children of Ammon shal be the duke of the people of Galaad CHAP. XI Iephte reiected by his brethrens is intreated by the ancientes of Galaad to returne and fight for them against the Ammonites 12. with whom he first pleadeth the cause of Israel
Aegypt †And he apprehended Agag the king of Amalec aliue but al the comon people he slewe in the edge of the sword †And Saul and the people spared Agag and the best flockes of sheepe and heardes and the garmentes and rammes and al thinges that were fayre neither would they destroy them but whatsoeuer was vile and refuse that they destroyed †And the word of our Lord was made to Samuel saying †It repenteth me that I haue made Saul king because he hath forsaken me hath not fulfilled my wordes in worke And Samuel was strooken sadde and cried to our Lord al the night †And when Samuel had risen in the night to goe to Saul in the morning it was told Samuel that Saul was come into Carmelus and had erected to him selfe a triumphant arch and returning was passed and gone into Galgal Samuel therefore came to Saul and Saul offered an holocaust to our Lord of the first of the prayes which he had brought from Amalec †And when Samuel was come to Saul Saul sayd to him Blessed be thou to our Lord I haue fulfilled the word of our Lord. †And Samuel sayd And what is this voice of flockes which soundeth in myne eares and of heardes which I heare †And Saul said They haue brought them from Amalec for the people hath spared the better sheepe and heardes that they might be immolated to our Lord thy God but the rest we haue slaine †And Samuel said to Saul Suffer me and I wil shew thee what our Lord hath spoken to me this night And he sayd to him Speake †And Samuel said When thou wast a little one in thyne owne eyes was thou not made chief in the tribes of Israel And our Lord annointed thee to be king ouer Israel †and our Lord sent thee on the way and sayd Goe and kil the sinners of Amalec and thou shalt fight against them vntil the vtter destruction of them †Why therefore hast thou not heard the voice of our Lord but art turned to the praye and hast done euil in the eies of our Lord †And Saul said to Samuel Yea I haue heard the voice of our Lord and haue walked in the way by which our Lord sent me and haue brought Agag the king of Amalec and Amalec I haue slaine †But the people tooke of the praye sheepe and oxen the principal of those thinges which were slaine to immolate to our Lord their God in Galgal †And Samuel said Why wil our Lord haue holocaustes and victimes and not rather that the voice of our Lord be obeyed For BETTER is obedience then victimes and to harken rather then to offer the fatte of rammes †Because it is as it were the sinne of inchantment to resist and as it were the wickednes of idolatrie to refuse to obey For as much therefore as thou hast reiected the word of our Lord our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king †And Saul said to Samuel I haue sinned because I haue transgressed the saying of our Lord and thy wordes fearing the people and obeying their voice †But now beare I besech thee my sinne and returne with me that I may adore our Lord. †And Samuel sayd to Saul I wil not returne with thee because thou hast reiected the word of our Lord and our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king ouer Israel †And Samuel turned him selfe to depart but he caught the hemme of his cloke which also did rent †And Samuel said to him Our Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day and hath deliuered it to thy neighbour better then thou †Moreouer the Triumpher in Israel wil not spare and he wil not be turned with repentance for neither is he a man that he may repent †But he said I haue sinned how be it now honour me before the ancientes of my people and before Israel and returne with me that I may adore our Lord thy God †Samuel therefore returning folowed Saul and Saul adored our Lord. †And Samuel said Bring vnto me Agag the king of Amalec And Agag was presented to him very fatte trembling And Agag sayd Doth bitter death thus separat †And Samuel said As thy sword hath made wemen without children so shal thy mother among wemen be without children And Samuel hewed him into peeces before our Lord in Galgal †And Samuel departeth into Ramatha but Saul ascended vnto his house into Gabaa †And Samuel saw Saul no more vnto the day of his death but yet Samuel lamented Saul because it repented our Lord that he had appointed him king ouer Israel CHAP. XVI Samuel by Gods commandment annointeth Dauid King 14. Gods spirite parteth from Saul and a wicked spirite vexeth him 16. the vexation is mitigated by Dauids playing on a harpe AND our Lord said to Samuel How long doest thou mourne Saul whom I haue reiected that he rule not ouer Israel fil thy horne with oile and come that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite for I haue prouided me a king among his sonnes †And Samuel said How shal I goe for Saul wil heare of it and wil kil me And our Lord said A calfe of the heard shalt thou take in thy hand and shalt say I am come to immolate vnto our Lord. †And thou shalt cal Isai to the victime and I wil shew thee what thou must doe and thou shalt annointe whomsoeuer I shal shew to thee †Samuel therefore did as our Lord spake to him And he came into Bethlehem and the ancientes of the citie merueled meeting him and they said Is thy entrance peaceable †And he said Peaceable I am come to immolate vnto our Lord be ye sanctified and come with me that I may immolate He therefore sanctified Isai and his sonnes and called them to the sacrifice †And when they were entered in he saw Eliab and said Is there before our Lord his Christ †And our Lord said to Samuel Respect not his countenāce nor the talnes of his stature because I haue reiected him neither doe I iudge according to the looke of man for man seeth those thinges which appeare but our Lord “ beholdeth the hart †And Isai called Aminadab and brought him before Samuel Who said Neither this hath our Lord chosen †And Isai brought Samma of whom he sayd This also hath not our Lord chosen †Isai therefore brought his seauen sonnes before Samuel and Samuel sayd to Isai Our Lord hath not chosen of these †And Samuel sayd to Isai Are al thy sonnes now fully come Who answered Yet there is left a litle one and he feedeth sheepe And Samuel sayd to Isai Send and bring him for neither wil we sitte downe til he come hither †He sent therefore and brought him And he was reade and beautiful to behold and of a comelie face And our Lord said Arise and annoint him for
Gentiles and wil sing to thy name †Magnifying the saluations of his king and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid and to his seede for euer CHAP. XXIII The last wordes of Dauid concerning reward of the good 6. and punishment of the bad 8. A Catalogue of Dauids valiant men AND these are Dauides last wordes Dauid the sonne of Isai sayd The man sayd to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Iacob the excellent Psalmist of Israel †The Spirit of our Lord hath spoken by me and his wordes by my tongue †The God of Israel sayd to me the Strong one of Israel hath spoken the Dominatour of men the iust ruler in the feare of God †As the light of the mourning when the sunne ryseth early without cloudes glistereth and as by rayne grasse springeth our of the earth †Neither is my house so great with God that he should enter with me an eternal couenant firme in al thinges assured For al my saluation and al my wil neither is there ought therof that springeth not †And transgressors shal be pluclâ—ed vp as thornes euety one which are not taken with handes †And if a man wil touch them he shal be armed with yron and a lance staffe and kindled with fyre they shal be burnt vnto nothing †These be the names of the valiantes of Dauid Sitting in his chaire the wisest prince amongest three he is as it were the most tender litle worme of the wood which killed eight hundred at one brunt †After him Eleazar the sonne of his vncle the Ahohite among the three valiantes that were with Dauid when they desyed the Philisthijms and were gathered thither into barrel †And when the men of Israel were gone vp he stood and stroke the Philistians til his hand faynted and waxed stiffe with the sword and our Lord made a great victorie that day and the people that was sled returned to take away of the spoyles of them that were slayne †And after him Semma the sonne of Age of Arari And the Philisthijms were gathered togehter in their ward for there was there a filde ful of rice And when the people was fled from the face of the Philisthijms †he stood in the middes of the filde and defended it and stroke the Philisthians and our Lord gaue great saluation †Moreouer also before there went downe three which were princes among thirtie and came to Dauid in the haruest time into the caue of Odollam and the campe of the Philistianes was placed in the Vale of the giantes †And Dauid was in a hold moreouer the ward of the Philisthianes was then in Bethlehem †Dauid therfore desyred sayd O that some man would geue me drinke of the water out of the cesterne that is in Bethlehem beside the gate †Three valiantes therfore brake into the campe of the Philistianes and drew water out of the cesterne of Bethlehem that was beside the gate and brought it to Dauid but he would not drinke but offered it to our Lord †saying Our Lord be merciful to me that I doe not this thing shal I drinke the bloud of these men that went the peril of their liues Therfore he would not drinke These thinges did the three strongest †Abisai also the brother of Ioab the sonne of Saruia was prince of three it is he that lifted vp his speare agaynst three hundred whom he slewe renowmed among three †and the noblest of three and he was the chiefe of them but to the three first he raught not †And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada the most valiant man of great workes of Cabseel he stroke the two lions of Moab and he went downe and stroke the lyon in the middes of the cesterne in the dayes of snow †He also stroke the Aegyptian a man worthie to be a spectacle hauing in his hand a speare therfore when he came downe to him with a rod by force he wrested the speare out of the hand of the Aegyptian and slewe him with his owne speare †These thinges did Banaias the sonne of Ioiada †And he renowmed among the three valiantes which were the nobler among thirtie but vnto the three he raught not and Dauid made him of his secrete counsel †Asael the brother of Ioab among the thirtie Elahanan the sonne of his vncle of Bethlehem †Semma of Harodi Elica of Harori †Heles of Phalti Hira the sonne of Acces of Thecua †Abiezer of Anathoth Mobonnai of Husati †Selmon the Ahohite Maharai the Netophathite †Heled the sonne of Baana he also a Netophathite Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin †Banaia the Pharathonite Heddai of the Torrent Gaas †Abialbon the Arbathite Azmaueth of Beromi †Eliaba of Salaboni The sonnes of Iassen Ionathan †Semma of Orori Ahiam the sonne of Sarar the Ararite †Eliphelet the sonne of Aasbai the sonne of Machati Eliam the sonne of Achitophel the Gelonite †Hesrai of Carmel Pharai of Arbi †Igaal the sonne of Nathan of Soba Bonni of Gadi †Selec of Ammoni Naharai the Berothite the squyer of Ioab the sonne of Saruia †Ira the Iethrite Gareb he also a â—ethrite †Vrias the Hetheite Al thirtie seuen CHAP. XXIIII For Dauids sinne in numbring the people 11. three sortes of punishments are proposed to his election 14. of which he chooseth the plague and seuentie thousand die in three dayes 16. God sheweth mercie 17. Dauid prayeth 18. buildeth an altar 25. and the plague ceaseth AND the furie of our Lord added to be angrie agaynst Israel and stirred vp Dauid among them saying Goe number Israel and Iuda †And the king sayd to Ioab the General of his armie Walke through al the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee and number ye the people that I may know the number therof †And Ioab sayd to the king Our Lord thy God increase thy people as much more as now it is and agayne multiplie it an hundred fold in the sight of my lord the king but what meaneth my lord the king by this kind of thing †How beit the kinges word more preuailed then the wordes of Ioab and of the chiefe of the armie and Ioab went forth and the captaynes of the souldiars from the face of the king to number the people of Israel †And when they had passed Iordan they came into Aroer to the right hand of the citie which is in the Vale of Gad. †And by Iazer they passed into Galaad and into the lower countrie of Hodsi and they came into the wooddie countrie of Dan. And going about neere Sidon †they passed nigh to the walles of Tyre and al the land of the Heueite and the Chananeite and they came to the south of Iuda into Bersabee †and hauing viewed the whole land after nine monethes and twentie dayes they were come to Ierusalem †Ioab therfore gaue
illuminate them with the light of the liuing †Attend Iob and heare me and hold thy peace whiles I speake †But if thou hast what to speake answer me speake for I would thee to appeare iust †And if thou haue not heare me hold thy peace and I wil teach thee wisedom CHAP. XXXIIII Againe Eliu chargeth Iob with blasphemie and other crimes 10. sheweth the equitie of Gods iudgement 20. and that al thinges are subiect to Gods powre and knowlege ELIV therfore pronouncing spake these wordes also †Heare ye wise men my wordes and ye learned harken to me †For the eare proueth wordes and the throate discerneth meates by the ras◠†Let vs choose vs iudgement and among vs let vs see what is the better †Because Iob sayd I am iust and God hath subuerted my iudgement †For in iudging me there is a lie mine arrow is violent without anie sinne †What man is there as is Iob that drinketh skorning as it were water †That goeth with them that worke iniquitie and walketh with impious men †For he hath sayd Man shal not please God although he runne with him †Therfore ye discrete men heare me far from God be impietie and iniquitie from the Omnipotent †For he wil render a man his worke and according to the waies of euerie one he wil recompence them †For in verie deed God wil not condemne without cause neither wil the Omnipotent subuert iudgement †What other hath he appointed ouer the earth or whom hath he sette ouer the world which he made †If he direct his hart to him he shal drawe his spirit and breath vnto him †Al flesh shal faile together and man shal returne into ashes †If then thou haue vnderstanding heare that is sayd and harken to the voice of my speach †Can he that loueth not iudgement be healed and how doest thou so far condemne him that is iust †That sayth to the king Apostata that calleth dukes impious †Who accepteth not the persones of princes nor hath knowen the tyrant when he contended against the poore man for al are the worke of his handes †They shal sodenly die and at midnight peoples shal be trubled and shal passe and take away the violent without hand †For his eies are vpon the waies of men and he considereth al their steppes †There is not darkenesse and there is not shadow of death that they may be hid there which worke iniquitie †For it is no more in mans powre to come to God into iudgement †He shal destroy manie innumerable shal make other to stand for them †For he knoweth their workes and therfore he shal bring night and they shal be destroyed †As impious men he hath stroken them in the place of them that see †Who as it were of purpose haue reuolted from him and would not vnderstand al his waies †That they caused the crie of the needie man to come to him and he heard the voice of the poore †For he granting peace who is there that can condemne After he shal hide his countenance who is there that may behole him both vpon nations and vpon al men †Who maketh a man that is an hypocrite reigne for the sinnes of the people †Therfore because I haue spoken to God thee also I wil not prohibite †If I haue erred teach thou me if I haue spoken iniquitie I wil adde no more †Doth God require it of thee because it hath displeased thee for thou beganst to speake and not I but if thou know anie better thing speake †Let men of vnderstanding speake to me and let a wiseman heare me †But Iob hath spoken folishly and his wordes sound not discipline †O my father let Iob be proued euen to the end cease not from the man of iniquity †Who addeth blasphemie vpon his sinnes let him be restrayned in the meane time among vs and then let him prouoke God to iudgement with his speaches CHAP. XXXV Eliu pretending that Iob had sayde God to be vniusts she weth that mans pietie nor impietie neither profiteth nor disprofiteth God 13 and that he iudgeth al thinges rightly THERFORE Eliu againe spake these wordes †Doth thy cogitation seme iust to thee that thou sadyst I am iuster then God †For thou saydst That which is right doth not please thee or what wil it profite thee if I sinne †Therfore wil I answer to thy wordes to thy frendes with thee †Looke vp to heauen and see and behold the skie that it is higher then thou †If thou sinne what shalt thou hurt him and if thine iniquiries be multiplied what shalt thou doe against him †Moreouer if thou doe iustly what shalt thou geue him or what shal he receiue of thy hand †Man that is like to thee thy impietie shal hurt and thy iustice shal helpe the sonne of man †Because of the multitude of calumniatours they shal cry and shal waile for the force of the arme of tyrantes †And he hath not sayd Where is God that made me that hath geuen songs in the night †Who teacheth vs aboue the beastes of the earth and instructeth vs aboue the foules of the ayre †There shal they crie and he wil not heare because of the pride of the euil †God therfore wil not heare without cause and the Omnipotent wil behold the causes of euerie one †Yea when thou shalt say He considereth not be iudged before him expect him †For he doth not now inferre his furie neither doth he reuenge wickednesse excedingly †Therfore Iob in vaine openeth his mouth and without knowledge multiplieth wordes CHAP. XXXVI Yet further Eliu sheweth that God by his powre and wisdome geueth to euerie one that is iust 16. inferring falsly that al Iobs affliction is for his sinnes 22. discoursing stil of Gods poure wisdom and prouidence ELIV also adding speake these wordes †Beare with me a litle and I wil shew to thee for as yet I haue what to speake for God †I wil repete my knowledge from the beginning and I wil proue my maker iust †For in deede my wordes are without lye and perfect knowledge shal be proued to thee †God doth not cast away the mightie wheras as himself also is mightie †But he saueth not the impious and he giueth iudgement to the poore †He shal not take away his eyes from the iust man and he placeth kinges in the throne for euer and there they are extolled †And if they shal be in cheines and be bound with the ropes of pouertic †He shal shew them their workes and their wicked deedes because they haue bene violent †He also shal reuele their eare to chastise them and shal speake that they may returne from iniquitie †If they shal heare and obserue they shal accomplish their daies in good and their years in
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
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
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
that the vessels of gold siluer should be brought which Nabuchodonosor his father had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem that the king and his Nobles might drinke in them and his wiues and concubines †Then were the golden and siluer vessels brought which he had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem and the king and his nobles dranke in them his wiues and concubines †They dranke wine and praysed their goddes of gold and of siluer of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone †In the very same houre there appeared fingers as it were of the hand of a man writing ouer against the candlesticke in the vtter part of the wal of the kings palace and the king beheld the ioynts of the hand that wrote †Then was the kings face changed and his cogitations trubled him and the iunctures of his reynes were loosed and his knees were striken one against the other †The king therfore cried out mightely that they should bring in the magicians Chaldees and southsayers And the king speaking sayd to the wisemen of Babylon Whosoeuer shal read this writing and shal make the interpretation therof manifest vnto me shal be clothed with purple and shal haue a golden chayne on his necke shal be the third in my kingdom †Then al the kings wisemen going in could not neither read the writing nor declare the interpretation to the king †Wherewith king Baltassar was much trubled and his countenance was changed yea and his nobles were trubled †And the queene for the thing that had happened to the king and his Nobles entered into the house of the feast and speaking she sayd King for euer liue let not thy cogitations truble thee neither let thy face be changed †There is a man in thy kingdom that hath the spirit of the holie goddes in him and in the dayes of thy father knowlege and wisedom were found in him for king Nabuchodonosor also thy father appoynted him prince of the magicians inchanters Chaldees and southsayers thy father I say ô king †Because more ample spirit and prudence and vnderstanding interpretation of Dreames and shewing of secrets and solution of thinge bound were found in him that is in Daniel to whom the king gaue the name Baltassar Now therfore let Daniel be called and he wil tel the interpretation †Daniel therfore was brought in before the king To whom the king speaking said Art thou Daniel of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda whom my father the king brought out of Iewrie †I haue heard of thee that thou hast the spirit of the goddes and more ample knowlege and vnderstanding and wisedom are found in thee †And now there haue come in into my sight the wise magicians that they might read this writing and might shew me the interpretation therof and they could not declare me the sense of this word †Moreouer I haue heard of thee that thou canst interpret obscure thinges and resolue thinges bound if therfore thou be able to reade the writing to shew me the interpretation therof thou shalt be clothed with purple and shalt haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke shalt be the third prince in my kingdom †To which thinges Daniel answering sayd before the king Thy rewardes be they vnto thee and the giftes of thy house geue to an other but the writing wil I read thee ô king and the interpretation therof wil I shew to thee †O king God the most high gaue to Nabuchodonosor thy father kingdom and magnificence glorie and honour †And for the magnificence which he gaue to him al peoples tribes and tongues trembled and feared him whom he would he killed and whom he would he stroke and whom he would he exalted and whom he would he humbled †But when his hart was eleuated and his spirit obstinatly set to pride he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and his glorie was taken away †And he was cast out from the sonnes of men yea and his hart was set with the beasts and with the wild asses was his habitation grasse also he did eate as an oxe and with the dew of heauen his bodie was embrewed til he knew that the Highest had powre in the kingdom of men and whomsoeuer it shal please him he wil raise vp ouer it †Thou also his sonne Baltassar hast not humbled thy hart wheras thou knowest al these thinges †but against the dominatour of heauen thou wast eleuated and the vessels of his house haue bene brought before thee and thou and thy nobles and thy wiues and thy concubins haue drunke wine in them the goddes also of siluer and of gold and of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone that see not nor heare nor feele thou hast praysed moreouer the God that hath thy breath in his hand and al thy wayes thou hast not glorified †Therfore from him is the ioynt of the hand sent which hath written this that is drawen †And this is the writing which is ordered MANE THECEL PHARES †And this the interpretation of the word MANE God hath numbred thy kingdom and hath finished it †THECEL thou art weighed in the balance and art found hauing lesse †PHARES thy kingdom is diuided and is geuen to the Medes and Persians †Then the king commanding Daniel was clothed with purple and a cheyne of gold was put about his necke it was proclamed of him that he had powre the third in the kingdom †The same night was Baltassar the king of Chaldee slaine †And Darius the Mede succeded into the kingdom being three score and two yeares old CHAP. VI. King Darius making Daniel one of the three chief rulers of his kingdom 4. and intending also to aduance him higher other princes accuse him for praying to God contrarie to the kings edict 16. wherupon he is cast into the lions denne 21. but is conserued without anie hurt 24. his accusers are deuoured by the lions and commandment is geuen that al men shal feare the God of Daniel IT pleased Darius and he appoynted ouer the kingdom Gouerners an hundred twentie to be in al his kingdom †And ouer them three princes of whom Daniel was one that the gouerners might render account to them the king might susteyne no truble †Daniel therfore passed al the princes and gouerners because there was the spirit of God more ample in him †Moreouer the king thought to appoynt him ouer al the kingdom wherupon the princes the gouerners sought to finde occasion against Daniel on the behalfe of the king and they could finde no cause nor suspicion because he was faithful and no fault nor suspicion was found in him †Those men therfore said We shal not finde against this same Daniel any occasion vnles perhaps in the law of his God †Then the princes and the
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
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