men for if that I command you to commit a sin yet do not you offend in doing it The young mens constancy seeing you commit it only upon compulsion But the young Youths inflamed with a divine Spirit and Sense contemned so many kinds of torments L and despised the Tyrants threats and flatteries and their constancy for they gave him no just occasion put the Tyrant into a great rage By this it is evident how much Reason is master over Passion for if any slothful man not before trained up to it should of a sudden come to such a push at the very sight of such torments his mind would be troubled his countenance appalled his Legs under him would have trembled and he with fear have been confounded so that he would presently have retracted and professed himself unable to bear up against so many and so grievous torments saying My self being unwise what should I have made choice of Whether to endure these torments or accept of their promised benefits Whether I should have been moved to pity mine M own age or to compassionate my mother God would not have denied pardon for this deed I being forced thereunto and by doing it though against my will I shall get the Kings favour But where Reason and advice taketh place and hath well trained the mind to perfection the other consequently followeth As by the example of these brethren I will declare who as it were all with one voice denied to eat the sacrificed Swines flesh as they were commanded Wherefore said they O Tyrant dost thou persecute us that are innocent The seven brethren reply to Antiochus We both desire and wish to die and will until such time as death expelleth life firmly keep that which God commanded and Moses taught us And thou Tyrant do not seek to seduce us by pretending love towards us thou lover of injustice master of cruelty deviser of iniquity the N pardon which thou doest offer is to us more painful than punishment we contemn death and esteem not thy words as being by our late master Eleazar taught to despise them Why then doest thou suppose such pusillanimity to be in us young men seeing of late thou foundest such courage in an old man We follow him thou canst not try and know our minds except by tearing our bodies thou search them out We will safely and securely suffer for our God any thing and leaving this Earth we shall be entertained into Heaven and thou for so Tyrannizing most cruelly upon innocent Souls shalt be reserved to eternal fire The Tyrant enraged Antiochus commanded Maccabâ—us to be racked that he could neither prevail by fair promises nor by threatnings caused them to be beaten with Bulls pizzles and first of all he commanded Maccabeus the eldest of the seven brethren to be stript and stretched out upon a O Rack and his hands to be bound behind him and then to be most cruelly beaten A who wearied his tormenters by his suffering so great the force of vertue is in such manner that they desired more to leave beating him than he requested they should leave This done he was put upon a wheel and a weight hanged at his feet and so stretched round about it that his sinews and entrails brake and his pains increased yet being overcome with pain his mouth was not for all this stopped or hindred from calling upon God who beheld all and reproving the Tyrant for devising those torments for the Innocent he took strength and is said to have cried out after this manner Bloody Tyrant who persecutest the Majesty of God I whom thou thus tormentest am no Witch nor one who have murthered and killed another man but one who dies for justice observing B the Law and for Charity Then when the torturers overcome with compassion perswaded him to submit to the Kings pleasure he answered O ye wicked ministers of Tyranny your wheels are not so sharp and cruel that I thereby will be forced to forsake Heaven whereon my mind is fixed tear my flesh yea if you so please rost it at the fire torture and torment each parcel of my body with several cruelty you shall for all this find your selves unable to force us young men to impiety The death of the eldest brother As he thus spake a fire was kindled and he as he was upon the Wheel racked was so thrown into the fire and thus he was by flames and torments so burned that C his bowels appeared his mind nothing moved when his flesh yielded to the tortures who amidst his pangs cryed thus unto his brethren O beloved brethren learn of me an example of vertue consider the strength of an invincible courage contemn and despise the alluring baits of this world and rather obey God than this Tyrant who can if be please humble the proud and mighty and exalt the lowly and dejected As thus he spake he was taken out of the flame and flaid alive his tongue was pulled out of his mouth and he put into a frying pan and so he departed out of this life to the great admiration of all that beheld him and the joy of his brethren and mother and went before them to Heaven there to prepare a Kingdom for himself and them The second brother brought D After him the second brother called Aber was haled by the Souldiers and before the Tyrant asked him whether he would relent he caused all those torments to be shewed him thereby to terrifie him but he nothing thereat moved and denying to eat of that foresaid Sacrifice his hands were bound with Iron chains and he being hanged up by them the skin of his body was flain off from the Crown of his head unto his knees so that the entrails in his brest appeared naked yet in such manner as he might abide greater torments For he was cast before a cruel Libard thirsting most extremely after blood to the intent that he might devour with his teeth the rest of his body but the beast smelling of him no doubt by the great handy work of Almighty God forgot his cruelty and turning away his face did no hurt to the E Martyr But hereat the Tyrants rage increased and the Martyr by suffering such-torments was made more constant crying aloud O how pleasant is that death unto me which is caused by all sorts of torments for Gods sake yea so much the more pleasant for that I assuredly hope to find reward for it in heaven Let these torments inflicted upon me O Tyrant satisfie thy cruelty for my paâ—n is not by thy tortures increased but rather my pleasure as thou shalt find by my patience in this Agony More willing am I to suffer than thou to punish yet my pain in suffering is less than thine by inflicting the same upon me I am tormented for vertue and observing the Law and the justice of God shall banish thee from thy Regal seat Thou by
THE WORKS OF JOSEPHUS With great diligence Revised and Amended according to the Excellent French Translation OF Monsieur ARNAVLD D'ANDILLY Also the Embassy of PHILO JUDAEUS TO THE EMPEROR CAIUS CALIGULA Never Translated before With the References of the SCRIPTURE A New Map of the HOLY LAND And divers Copper-Plates serving to Illustrate the HISTORY Francis Patricius de Regno Lib. II. Cap. 10. Historiarum cognitio Regibus Ducibus Imperatoribus omnibus Principibus perquam necessaria habenda est quam Cicero appellat Testem Temporum Vitae Magistram veram Memoriae veritatis Nunciam Bernardus Epistola ad Suggerium Tune recentia jucundius bona clarescunt cum fuerint malis comparata prioribus LONDON Printed for Abel Roper at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street M.DC.LXXVI ADVERTISEMENTS CONCERNING THE WORKS OF Josephus I. Of the Jewish Antiquities THE Title alone of this History seems to recommend the same more than any Preface could do inasmuch as professing to deduce things from the Creation of the World to reach as high as the Reign of Nero and to derive the greatest part of its Relations from the Records of the Old Testament it implies that no other can equal it in Antiquity in Continuance and in Authority But that which further renders it after the Holy Scripture preferable to all other Histories is That whereas those have no other ground-work but the Actions of Men this represents to us the Actions of God himself There is seen resplendent everywhere in it his Power his Government his Goodness and his Justice His Power opens Seas and divides Rivers to give a dry passage to whole Armies and cause the Walls of the strongest Cities to fall down without battery His Government regulates all things and gives such Laws as may be stil'd the Fountain from which has been drawn whatever wisdom there is in the World His Goodness makes to fall from Heaven and to issue from the bosome of Rocks wherewith to satisfie the Hunger and allay the Thirst of a great People in the driest Desarts And all the Elements being as the Ministers of the Decrees which his Justice pronounces the Water destroys by a Deluge those which it condemns the Fire consumes them the Air overthrows them by its Tempests and the Earth opens it self to devour them His Prophets foretell nothing but they confirm the same by Miracles They who command his Armies undertake nothing but they atchieve it And the Leaders of his People being fill'd with his Spirit act like Angels rather than Men. Moses alone may be a Proof of all this Never did so many eminent Qualities meet together in one Person Nor did God ever shew in any Man under the Old Law since the Fall of the First how high the perfection of a Creature may rise whom he vouchsafes to accumulate with his favors Wherefore since a great part of this History may in some sort be said to be the Work of that incomparable Lawgiver because the same is wholly taken out of him it ought to be read not only with Esteem but also with Respect and the sequel to the end of what is contained in the Bible deserves no less in regard it was dictated by the same Spirit of God which guided the Pen of Moses when he writ the five first Books of the sacred History But moreover what might not be said of those admirable Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob of David that great both King and Prophet who deserv'd the unequal Elogium of being a Man according to God's own heart of Jonathan that most accomplisht Prince whose soul the Scripture saith was inseparably ty'd to that of that holy King of the illustrious Maccabees whose Piety equal to their Courage effected an union of the Supreme Power attending Royalty with the most Sacred Functions of the High-Priesthood and lastly of Joseph of Joshua of Gideon and of divers others who may pass for perfect Models of Virtue Conduct and Valor If the Heroes of Pagan Antiquity never atchiev'd anything comparable to these Heroes of God's People whose Actions might pass for Fables if it were not impiety to refuse credit to them there is no reason to wonder since those Heathens had onely humane Force but the hands of those whom God chose to fight under his Command were arm'd with his invincible help and the example of Deborah shews that even a Woman may become in a moment a great General of an Army Now if the Favors wherewith God cherishes those that are his ought to induce Monarchs not to trust but in his assistance the dreadful Punishments which he executes on those that lean on their own strength oblige them to tremble and the rejection of Saul and divers other great Princes instructs them by the terrible representation of their Fall to have recourse to God that they may escape the like misfortunes Yet not only Princes but Princesses also may find in this Book examples both to avoid and to imitate Queen Jezabel is a dismal one both of impiety and punishment And Queen Esther is a rare one of all the perfections and of all the rewards which can render the virtue and felicity of a great and holy Princess admir'd If great Personages find so great Examples here to lead them to avoid Vice and embrace Virtue there is no person of any condition whatsoever but may profit likewise by so useful a Book 'T is of general benefit for all so proper to imprint a respect of the Divine Majesty by the view of so many effects of his infinite Power and of his adorable Providence that his heart must be very hard that is not affected therewith And how can Christians but be mov'd with such a holy respect since the same History teaches us that those illustrious and so celebrated Conquerors Cyrus Darius and Alexander though Idolaters could not forbear having a Veneration for the Majesty and the Ceremonies of that Temple which was but a Figure of the Christian Church But if this History be so excellent in it self it must be confess'd that no man was so fit to write it as he that gave it both to his own Age and to Posterity For who could be better inform'd of the Customs and Manners of the Jews than a Jew Who could be better instructed of all the Ceremonies and Observations of the Law than a Priest Who could better relate the Events of so many Wars than a great Captain And who could better comprehend things and make judicious Reflections upon them than a man of great Quality and a great States-man Now all these qualifications concenter in Josephus He was a Jew by birth He was not only a Priest but of the first of the four and twenty races of the Priests who held the chief rank amongst those of their Nation He was descended from the Asmonaean Kings His great Exploits in War had made him admir'd even by the Romans And the several great Employments of which he so worthily acquitted
the Cattel that were born white and sometime that which was brought forth black but when that which Jacob had named and H chosen did increase 34 Labans covenant with Jacob then did not Laban perform his promise unto him but turned him over to the next years increase by reason he had alwayes a respect of the greater flock and promised that which he hoped would not come to pass and which if it fell contrary Gen. 31. v. 32. ad 34. he was ready to infringe And as touching the gods he told him he might make search for them This condition did Laban accept but Rachel understanding the same thrust the gods into a Sack and made them to be carried on a Camels back and she sate upon them saying that she was indisposed by reason that at that time she had her natural purgations And for this cause Laban desisted from searching any further supposing his Daughter being so affected would not conceal or set her self so near things that were so sacred and I he made a covenant with Jacob that neither of them should call to remembrance the unkindnesses that had past betwixt them but that he should cherish his Daughters all which they bound with an oath This covenant was made upon a certain mountain where they reared a Pillar in the form of an Altar whence it came to pass that this Pillar was called Galaad 45. 46 47. that is to say the hill of witness from whence the Countrey of Galaad bears that name even until this day and after that the alliance was made and that they had banqueted together The year of the World 2206. before Christs Nativity 1758. Laban returned back again into his own Countrey But as Jacob travelled towards the Countrey of Canaan he had several visions which presaged unto him good hope of happiness to come and he called the place where this thing hapned The field of God And being desirous to know how his Brother Esau was K affected towards him Gen. 22. 1 2. he sent messengers before him to bring him the exact truth thereof by reason he stood in fear lest the memory of his old discontent should be renewed Jacob sendeth messengers to his Brother Esau charging his messengers to signifie unto Esau that Jacob deeming it a thing inconvenient to live with his Brother who was displeased with him had of his own free will forsaken the Countrey 3 4 5 and that at this present he was upon his return conceiving that length of time might have extinguisht his displeasure He therefore led with him his Wives and children with all those riches which God had given him offering himself unto Esau with all which he had of most esteem by reason that he thought it the greatest benefit that might happen to him to impart unto his Brother a part of those commodities which he had received at Gods hands 6 7. All which they signified unto Esau who rejoyced very L much thereat and went forth to meet his Brother accompanied with four hundred armed Men. But Jacob hearing that he marched forward to meet him attended by so many Men at Arms was very much afraid yet fixing his confidence in God he provided for the time lest any detriment should happen unto him studying every way to defend both him and his from invasion To which end dividing his Troops he caused some to march before and the rest to follow closely after so that if any did assault the first they might retire themselves to the Troop that followed After this manner having ordered all things about him 13. He sent certain Servants with presents to his Brother namely with Beasts of charge and a great number of divers kinds of four-footed Beasts which for their rareness might give more content and M admiration to those to whom they were presented 17 18. All these marched one after another to the intent Jacob reconcileth his Brother with rewards that being beheld thus in ranks they might seem to be a greater number than they were to the end that if as yet there remained any discontent in the heart of Esau these presents might serve to mitigate the same He commanded them also that marched foremost Jacob wrestleth with an Angel and is called Israel that they should use courteous salutation towards Esau Having thus all the day disposed his Troops as soon as the night was come he caused all his companies to march who passed the River of Jaboch but Jacob who was left hindmost 24. had a vision in which he wrestled with an Angel and he became victor Now the Angel spake unto him exhorting him to rejoyce at that which had hapned unto him assuring him that he had not atchieved an easie matter but that he had N surmounted an Angel of God 28. which was a sign of great good which would befall him and that his posterity should be invincible and that no man whatsoever should overcome him commanding him to call his name Israel that is to say according to the Hebrews a resister of an Angel These things were foretold unto Jacob upon his request who perceiving also that he was an Angel of God prayed him to inform him of that which should happen unto him which the vision did and afterwards vanished Jacob took great pleasure thereat and called the place Phanuel that is to say the face of God 30. and for that in wrestling he had hurt a part of his thigh he afterwards abstained from eating of the same and by reason thereof our Nation do never eat that part O Now when he had intelligence that his Brother approched he commanded his Wives to march forward severally with their hand-Maids to the end that they might A from afar behold the Fight in case his Brother should assail them As for himself when he perceiv'd his Brother drew near him in the Spirit of peace Gen. 33. 1 2â— c. without intent of circumvention Jacob saluteth his Brother Esau he cast himself at his feet and Esau saluted him and enquired of him touching the companies of Women and Children and after he understood all things he offer'd to lead them to his Father 13. Jacob cometh to Scenas 17. But Jacob excused himself by reason of the weariness of his Cattel and Esau retired to Seir where he made his abode and had imposed that name on that Countrey by reason of his thick hair Jacob also retired himself to a place which at this day is called the Tents and from thence into Sichem a City of the Canaanites Now at such time as the Sichemites celebrated their Feast The History of Dina Jacob's daughter Dina which was Jacob's only B Daughter went into the City to see the bravery of the Women of that Countrey But Sichem the Son of King Emmor was so taken with her beauty that he defloured her and being passionately in love Gen.
that it was reasonable he should have a part as well as his Brothers in the Feast Now when David was come Samuel seeing him fair of complexion quick-ey'd and of a martial aspect This is he said he softly to his Father who is elected by God to be our King Ver. 12 13. This said he sate down at the Table Samuel anointeth David King and made the young man sit next him and above Jesse his Father and his other Brethren Afterwards taking the Cruet of oyl in the presence of David he anointed him and told him in his ear That God had chosen him to be King and exhorted N him to study Justice and to be obedient to that which should be commanded him assuring him that by that means Ver. 14 15 ad 20. his Kingdom should be of long continuance his family and stock famous and renowned and that he should overcome the Philistines and conquer those Nations against whom he should fight Gods Spirit forsaking Saul descendeth on David who beginneth to prophesie and obtain glorious Renown in his life-time and leave an immortal Memory behind him Samuel having made this Exhortation departed and the Spirit of God abandoned Saul and entred into David so that he began to prophesie whereas on the other side Saul was tormented with strange passions of the evil spirit whereby he fell into strange suffocations so that his Physicians could not find any remedy for him but gave counsel that search should be made for a Man expert in singing and playing on the Harp to the end that when the evil spirit should assault O and trouble him he might stand by him and with voice and instrument sing sacred Hymns before him And when the King had given command that such an one should A be sought after one of those that were present told him that he had seen in Bethlehem a son of Jesse a young man of excellent feature and besides his other good qualities very cunning both in Song and playing on the Harp and also dextrous enough fit to serve in War He therefore sent Messengers to Jesse to take David from the Fold and send him to him because that having heard report of his beauty and valor he was desirous to see him Ver. 21. This command of his Jesse obey'd and sent his son with Presents to Saul the King Saul maketh David one of his Pensioners or Guard who greatly rejoyced upon his arrival and made him his Pensioner and favor'd him in all things For he was delighted by him and David was his onely Physician against the vexation of evil spirits when they seized him for by singing Psalms to his Harp he restored the King to his right mind So the King requested Jesse that he B would let him live with him and attend upon him because he was so much delighted with his presence whereunto Jesse condescended CHAP. X. A second Expedition of the Philistines against the Hebrews NOt long after Hedio Ruffinus cap. 11. the Philistines gathered together great companies of men of War with which they assailed the Israelites 1 Sam. 1◠◠c. and encamped between Succoth and Azeca Saul on the other side led forth his Army against them Another expedition of the Philistines against the Hebrews and encamping upon a certain Mountain C he constrained the Philistines to dislodge from their first Camp and intrench themselves upon another Mountain right over against that where he had pitched his Tents The Camps being thus separated the one from the other there was a Valley between both the Armies Ver. 4. ad 15. into this there descended a certain Gyant called Goliath Goliath a Man of prodigious stature amongst the Philistines who was of Gath of huge stature being four Cubits and a span in height having his Limbs cover'd with huge and mighty Armor for his Cuirass which he bare on his back weighed five thousand Sicles his Helmet and Pouldrons were of Brass made fit to cover his massie Members the Spear which he bare in his hand Goliath challengeth a single Combat at the Hebrews hands was no light Launce but he bare it on his shoulder and the Head thereof weighed six hundred Sicles This Gyant follow'd by a great Troop presented himself in this Equipage in the Valley that separated the two Armies D and cryed with a loud voice addressing his Speech to Saul and the Hebrews in these terms Hebrews what need you hazard the doubtful fortune of a Battel Single me 〈◊〉 an Adversary and let us determine by our two fates on whose side the victory and conquest shall fall which soever of us shall be overcome let his Party be obliged to receive Law from that of the Victor For it is better that a single person than the whole Army be expos'd to danger When he had spoken thus he returned back to his own Camp The next day he came forth again and used the same words and thus for forty days he ceased not to defie the Hebrews in such words so that both Saul and all his Army were displeased and kept themselves alwayes ready and ranged in Battel Ver. 25. yet came not to blows David was not then in the Camp Saul sendeth David back again to his Father because Saul had sent him back again to Jesse his Father contenting E himself with his other three Brothers who at that time served under his Royal Standard where he resum'd his intermitted care of keeping his Flocks But whil'st the War was rather protracted than prosecuted his Father sent him to carry Provisions to his Brothers and to know how their affairs went in the Army And whil'st David discours'd with his Brothers touching those things which his Father had committed to his charge Goliath came after his usual manner but more insolent than ever and reproacht the Israelites Ver. 26. that none amongst them had the courage no fight with him David was herewith so greatly moved David desireth to fight with Goliath that turning himself to his Brothers he told them that he was ready to fight hand to hand against that Enemy But Eliah the elder Brother reproved him for so speaking telling him that he was more hardy than became his age and F that he knew not what concerned those matters willing him to return to his Father and mind his Flocks David out of respect to his Brother departed from thence and meeting with certain Soldiers said unto them That he fear'd not to encounter that proud Challenger which they presently signified unto Saul who incontinently sent to seek him out When he came into his presence Saul asked him Whether he had spoken after that manner David answer'd That he had and that he fear'd not that Philistine though he appear'd so terrible and that if the King would permit him he would abate the pride of this Gyant and how terrible and fierce soever he appear'd he
into what Countrey he had made his inroad He sent likewise a part of the prey unto the King and when he demanded from whom he had taken it he answer'd That he had taken it from the Jews that dwelt Southward and in the Plain so that Achis conceived an opinion that since David warred against his own Nation all the time of his abode with him he would be a faithful Servant to him About the same time the Philistines having determined to lead forth their Army against the Israelites sent to their Allies requiring N them to assist them in that War and to make their Rendezvous at Renga to the intent that being there assembled they might dislodge and assail the Israelites Amongst the other their Auxiliary Companies Achis had requested David to assist him with his 600 Soldiers which he promised readily telling him That the time was now come wherein he might requite his kindness and the hospitality he had shewen him Achis promised him that after the Victory when all things should have succeeded according as he desired he would prefer David to be Captain of his Guard thinking by the promise of this honour and trust he might augment Davids forwardness and affection toward him O A CHAP. XV. The year of the World 2809. before Christ's Nativity 1074. The Philistines renew their War against the Hebrews and obtain the Victory Saul with his Sons are slain in the Battel SAul having advice 1 Sam. 28. 3 7 8 9. that the Philistines were advanced as far as Sunam drew out his Forces Saul banisheth all diviners and enchanters out of his Kingdom and encamped over against them but when he perceived their Army to be much more numerous than his his heart failed him and desiring the Prophets to enquire of God what should be the event of this War and receiving no answer his fear was B doubled since he had reason to believe that God had forsaken him Hereupon his courage abated Ver. 6. and in this perplexity he resolved to have recourse to Magick but having lately banished the Inchanters Saul hearing the Philistines make head against him asked counsel of God Magicians and such as pretended to tell Fortunes it could hardly be expected that one of them should be found but yet he commanded that they should enquire for one of those that could raise the spirits of the dead and by their information learn what should come to pass hereafter And being advertised that there was such an one at Endor without the knowledge of his Army laying aside his Royal Habits and attended onely by two of his most faithful servants he repaired to Endor to this Woman requiring her to divine and raise up the spirit of him whom he should name Saul repaireth to Endor to ask counsel of a Sorceress The Woman denied and said That she ought not to offend against the Kings C Edict who had driven out of his Realm all such sort of Soothsayers telling him that he did not well Ver. 8 9. who having received no wrong at her hands should endeavor to lay a snare to bring her into a Crime which might cost her her life But Saul swore unto her That no man should know thereof and that he would not discover her divination to others and that she should incur no danger thereby After that by his Oaths and Protestations he had persuaded her Saul commandeth the Witch to raise Samuels ghost v. 10 11. that she should have no cause to fear he commanded her to raise the spirit of Samuel She not knowing what Samuel was called him and he suddenly appeared But when she perceived somewhat divine or more than ordinary in his countenance she was troubled and turning to the King she asked him If he were Saul for Samuel had certified her no less Saul confessed D that it was he and asked her For what cause she seemed to be so much troubled She answered That she saw a Man ascend that resembled God Saul commanded her to declare unto him his shape habit and age she told him That he was a reverend old Man attired in the vestment of an High Priest By these marks Saul knew that it was Samuel whereupon prostrating himself on the earth he adored him The spirit of Samuel asked him For what cause he had troubled him To whom he complained That he was inforced thereunto by necessity Ver. 15. for that a mighty Host of his Enemies were at hand Saul complaineth of his miseries to Samuel and asketh his advice and that he was forsaken by God having from him no answer either by Prophesie or Dream wherefore said he I apply my self unto thee who hast alwayes expressed great kindness towards me But Samuel foreseeing that the Kings end drew nigh answer'd him It was in vain for thee to enquire E concerning those things that shall happen since thou knowest that thou art forsaken of God Know therefore A ver 16 ad 20. said he that David shall possess the Kingdom and that it is he that shall establish the State by Arms Samuels ghost certifieth Saul of the event of his battel against the Philistines but thou shalt lose both thy Kingdom and thy life because thou hast disobeyed God in thy War against the Amalekites and hast not observed his Commandments according as I foretold thee when I was alive Know therefore that thy People and Host shall be discomfited by the Enemy and that both thou and thy sons shall be to morrow slain in the Battel and be with me Ver. 20 21. When Saul understood these things he became speechless through sorrow Saul through sudden sorrow fell in a swoon and fell down on the ground either because his strength failed him through sudden grief or for want of food because he had eaten nothing that night nor the day before F At length Ver. 22 c. hardly recovering himself out of his Swoon the Woman importuned him to receive some sustenance The Enchantress intreateth him to refresh himself and take some reâ—ection telling him that she desired no other reward for the hazard which she had run of forfeiting her life before she knew that he was the King himself by whose Commands those Divinations had been lately prohibited wherefore she prayed him that he would sit down at the Table and refresh himself that he might be the more able to return unto his Army An example of courtesie and liberality in the Enchantress And although he refused to eat because he had no appetite and was utterly desperate yet she so effectually importuned him that at length she persuaded him to receive some little nourishment And whereas she had but one Calf for she was but a poor Woman and had no other riches yet spared she not to kill it and dress it for Saul and his Retinue After which Saul returned to his Camp G The courtesie of this
Afterwards calling unto them a certain Man that could cunningly play upon Instruments for so had the Prophet commanded whil'st he sung Elizeus was fill'd with the Spirit of God and enjoined the Kings to make certain Trenches in the Channel of the River Ver. 17. For said he you shall see the River full of water Elizeus fore-prophesieth store of water and their victory without either wind cloud or rain so that both the whole Army and all their Cattel shall be saved and sufficiently sustained and God will not only bestow these benefits on you but will give you the upper hand of your Enemies also and you shall surprize the fairest and strongest Cities of the Moabites and you shall cut down their Trees ruinate I their Countrey and fill up their Fountains and Rivers When the Prophet had spoken thus the next day before Sun-rise the River flowed abundantly with water for three days journey off Ver. 22 23. God had suffered a very violent rain to fall in Idumaea so that both the Soldiers and their Horses were sufficiently refreshed and watered A wonderful blindness of the Enemy grounded on the redness of the water that flowed When the Moabites were informed that the three Kings came out against them and took their way thorow the Desart their King assembled his Army and commanded them to keep the passage of the Mountains to the end they might hinder the Enemy from entering their Countrey unawares But beholding about the Sun-rise that the water of the River was blood-red for at that time it arose in the Countrey of Moab and at this hour the water is red they conceived a false opinion that the three Kings being pressed by thirst had K slain one another and that the River flowed with their blood Being in this sort seduced with this imagination they besought the King to give them leave to gather their Enemies spoils which when they had obtained they altogether inconsiderately marched forth as if to a Prey already prepar'd for them and came unto the Kings Camps with hope to find no Man to resist them But their hope deceived them for their Enemies environed them round about and some of them were cut in pieces the rest turned their backs and fled towards their own Countrey and the three Kings entering into the Territories of the Moabites destroyed thier Cities pillaged the Countrey broke down their Inclosures filling them with stones and mud taken out of the River cut down their fairest Trees stopped up the sources of their Waters and levelled their Walls with the L ground The King of the Moabites himself Ver. 24. seeing himself pursued and besieged and that his City was in danger to be taken by force The victory of the Hebrews against the Moabites sallied out very valiantly with 700 Men hoping by the swiftness of his Horse to break thorow the Israelites Camp on that side where he thought it was least guarded Which when he had attempted and could not execute Ver. 27. because he charged on that side which was best defended The King of the Moabites sacrificeth his own son he returned back again into the City and committed a desperate action for he took his eldest son who ought in right to succeed him in the kingdom and set him on the wall of the City and in the sight of all his Enemies offer'd him for a burnt-sacrifice unto God The Kings beholding this woful spectacle were moved with compassion and overcome with humanity left the siege and returned back again to their Countries After that Jehoshaphat M was returned into Jerusalem Jehoshaphats death he enjoyed a peaceable Government but lived not long after but dyed when he was 60 years old in the 25th year of his Reign and was magnificently buried in Jerusalem according as the Successor to Davids virtues and his kingdom ought to be interred CHAP. II. Joram obtaining the Kingdom of Jerusalem slayeth his brothers and his fathers friends JEhoshaphat King of Juda left behind him divers children the eldest of whom he appointed his Successor in the kingdom Joram Jehoshaphats son King of Jerusalem who was called Joram as his Uncle was who N was his Mothers Brother and Achabs Son lately King of Israel The King of the ten Tribes turning back unto Samaria kept with him the Prophet Elizeus whose actions I will here recite because they are notable and deserve to be registred in writing according as we have gathered them out of the Holy Scripture The widow of Obadiah who was sometime steward of Achabs house came unto him and told him That he was not ignorant that in that persecution wherein Jezabel sought to murther the Prophets her Husband saved one hundred of them for whose private maintenance he had borrowed much money of other men and that now being dead his Creditors strove to draw both her and her children into bondage 2 Kings 4. 1 ad 7. For which cause she besought him in consideration of this act to have compassion on her Elizeus commandeth the Widow to fill her empty vessels with oyl and to yield her some succor Hereupon Elizeus ask'd her If she had any thing O in her house she answer'd him That she had nothing but a very little oyl left her in an earthen Pot. Whereupon the Prophet commanded her to depart and to borrow divers empty vessels of her Neighbors that done he willed her to lock up her doors and to pour oyl into the vessels The year of the World 3050. before Christ's Nativity 924. because it was Gods pleasure to fill them all The Woman did according A as he had commanded her and all the vessels were found full so as none of them were empty whereof when she had certified the Prophet he advised her to go and sell her oyl and pay her Debts and when all was paid he assured her that there would be some remainder that might serve to sustain both her and her children By this means Elizeus discharged the Widow of her Debts 2 Kings 6. 9 ad 12. and that trouble which her Creditors intended against her He admonished Joram likewise by certain Messengers Elizeus adviseth Joram to avoid Adads ambush who lay in wait to kill him that he should take heed of a certain place wherein the Syrians lay in ambush intending to slay him by means of which admonition the King went not out on hunting But Adad being sore displeased because his ambushment was discovered began to suspect his own followers whereupon calling unto him his houshold servants he maliciously B termed them Traytors and furthermore threatned them with death for that they had discovered a matter which was onely committed to their trust unto his enemy Whereupon one of the assistants told him That he ought not to conceive that false opinion of them neither suspect that they had discovered his intended ambush to cut off his enemy but
his dazled Eyes to Heaven Thou art He O God from whom life and Salvation proceedeth behold Eleazar's last words in the fire I dye for observing thy Laws be merciful to this thy Nation and do not forsake them whom thou hast hitherto B protected as in thy bosom and under the shadow of thy Wings let my death put an end to all our misery and pacifie thy wrath against our whole Nation for their offences recieve me for them all and bestow them all upon me And amidst these Speeches he joyfully expired It is most true therefore which we at first affirmed that Reason regulates our passions and disposeth us to suffer chearfully which once we having determined and resolved the anguish of our suffering is abated and our resolution and constancy confirmed If therefore reason and the inferiour powers be at variance Reasons victory we must subject them to Reason if we will make a perfect Victory With this guide our Father Eleazar was most safely directed neither to yeild or sink under his pains nor give place to unlawful C inticements and allurements he saved the Ship of his body from the shipwrack that might arise by the tempestuous storms of vanity and suffered not himself by contrary Winds to be driven from the right course yea though it was tossed upon the Waves of Tyranny yet did it remain sound and unbroken and keeping a direct course arrived in the haven of Salvation Never any man did seek so valiantly to defend his City from an Enemy as this holy old man did his Soul who amongst stripes crosses A similitude taken from the Rock and flames was still the same man For as the top of a high Rock standeth safe and resisteth the Wave without any dammage unto it self even so did the Rock of Reason in this man beat back the rage of those tempestuous Waves that dashed against his body nor permitting them to break in and pierce the Celestial and Divine D power of the Soul O happy old man Eleazar's praise more blessed than all of thy Age O Priest more sacred than all other Priests who didst not pollute thy sacred lips with profane meats impiety found no entrance that way from whence so many prayers to God had proceeded The Tyrants cruelty could not prevail against thee Thou therefore art made an example for all Priests of God to imitate Such a one behoved it a Priest to be more strong than torments more able to suffer than the torturers to inflict punishment more forcible than Princes commands yea and more potent than the fire wherein thou didst perish and finally thou wast ordained to be crowned with the Laurel of Martyrdom for thy sufferance Thou hast surpassed all Antiquity thou shalt be an example to all posterity E If then feeble old Age wherein all strength and heat of body was extinguished grown unfit for torments as being already broken with Age could by the strength of Reason endure so many miseries who dare deny Reason to be the chief cause of our sufferance We have seen the highest cruelty hath been overcome by a firme determination to persist in the Service and fear of God yet many affirme that every man who hath the use of Reason is not able to undergo such Agonies but their assertion is vain and of no force for most evident it is that he only is overcome by pain whom wisdom hath not armed with patience And no marvel if he who rashly enterpriseth so weighty a matter and without due consideration do at last forsake and repent himself of that which he so unadvisedly undertook But if we with due advice and deliberation F arm our selves it is not an easie matter to remove us by any misfortune from our determition when we foresee and preconsider the distresses that may befall us when they do happen we are not so much surprized or dismayed because we expected them before He therefore that is wise is resolute and able to conquer his passions Antiochus causeth seven noble young men of the Hebrews and their Mother to be brought to Antioch for that he doth well deliberate and when he cometh to tryall can put his determination in execution Neither is the wisdom of this old man so much to be admired seeing Children and as it were Infants have deserved the same commendations and wrought astonishment in their tormentors for the indignation and cruelty of Antiochus though overcome by the wisdom of this old man was but the more increased 2 Mac. 7 and therefore G by wicked counsel he caused seven young Gentlemen of the Hebrews to be brought unto Antioch out of their Castle Sosandrum who being tender in years and as he though weak and unable to suffer torments his hope was that either by perswasions H or terrours or tortures he might force them to renounce their Religion He therefore commanded these seven together with their Mother Salomana who now grew antient to be brought before him so they according to his command were brought being very graceful in their persons and every way worthy of so vertuous a Mother yea they resembled Angels their Faces shining like the clear light of the Sun their Eyes sparkled in most comely and decent manner as testifying that they surpassed in vertue all other of humane race and condition The Mother was descended of most vertuous and noble parentage and so she her self had continued and lived but that excellent feature of body and nobility of blood was much dignified by her vertue and fortitude in which shee passed all that could be said in her commendation I The Tyrant beholding them and their mother together with a counterfeit smile he accosted the Children in this manner I wish your good O admirable young men The Kings exhortation to the seven brethren for so both your beauty of body and noble Parentage perswade me do not therefore like mad men resist my command avoid not only torments but death also For I desire not only to exalt you unto honour but also to encrease your riches and possessions contemn the superstitious and superfluous belief of your own Country-men and embrace our Religion Which if you refuse to do as I hope you will not I will devise such torments as that I may by a lingring and painful death be able to consume you And to terrifie them the more he commanded the instruments of their torments to K be presented unto their view And accordingly Wheels Rods Hooks Rakes Racks Cauldrons Cages Gridirons were brought forth and Engines to torment the fingers and hands Gauntlets Aules Bellows brazen Pots and Frying-pans for these are the names which we find That which I term Bellows was a thin plate of Iron to kindle or blow the fire with like a Fan and far more horrible devices of torments were shewed unto them too long to rehearse whereof they having had a sight Antiochus said Consent unto me O prudent young