geuen his Angels charge of thee that they keepe thee in al thy waies †In their handes they shal beare thee lest perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone †Vpon the aspe and the basiliscus thou shalt walke thou shalt tread vpon the lion and the dragon †Because he hath hoped in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he hath knowne my name †He shal crie to me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and wil glorifie him †With length of daies I wil replenish him and I wil shew him my saluation ANNOTATIONS PSALME XC 5. Thou shalt not be afraid S. Augustin here obserueth foure maners of tempting the faithful to fal from true Religion Sometimes with tentation that is but light and obscure which the Prophet here calleth feare in the night when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion or apprehension of temporal afflictions not knowing that they fal into eternal damnation by fleing from worldlie or bodilie calamities Sometimes the tentation threatneth present death to them that are wel instructed in the truth and knovv that they must confesse it euen to death which the Prophet calleth an arrovv flying in the day vvhen the faithful clerly seeth vvhat danger hangeth ouer him tovvit present death if he stand constant and damnation if he denie his faith Sometimes the tentation is n ore vchement but yet obscure which he calleth busines vvalking in darknes vvhen by sutle endeuoures framing arguments in excuse of sinne men are persvvaded that they may lavvfully take some oath or do some other thing vvhich in dede is not lavvful and so by earnest and sutle persvvasions they ignorantly decline from Catholique Religion or committe other greuous sinnes But the greatest and manifest tentation is called inuasion midday diuel when persecuters seing neither more easie persvvasions can deceiue Gods seruants nor present death force them to denie the truth they then assault them more vehemently and more dangerously vvith long and continual afflictions not remitting their crueltie til the afflicted either yeld to their vvil or dye in long torments And by these tvvo latter kindes of persecution manie are ouerthrovvne vvhich vvere constant in the former For vvhiles tyrants proposed dangers to simple people and deceiued some yet threatning present death to others that were better instructed and confirmed in Religion innumerable perseuered gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholique faith But by sutle arguing of hard pointes of christian doctrin or practise and by long torments manie haue bene seduced blindly falling into errors and manie wittingly haue denied the truth which they clerly beleued in their hartes to auoide this midday diuel the extremitie of long manifest and greuous afflictions Neuertheles in al these tentations God protecteth them that firmly trust in him Those saith this holie Father haue failed which presumed of themselues which dwelt not in the helpe of the Highest and in protection of the God of heauen which said not to our Lord Thou art my Protector and my refuge which trusted not vnder the shadow of his winges but relied or attributed much to their owne streingth PSALME XCI God is by al maner of voices and instruments to be praised his admirable workes 7. which the foolish not doing are punished 11. and the wise are rewarded †A Psalme of Canticle in the sabbath day IT is good to confesse to our Lord and to sing to thy name ô Highest †To shewforth thy mercie in the morning and thy truth in the night †In the instrument of tenstrings in Psalter with Canticle on the Harpe †Because thou hast delighted me ô Lord in thy workemanship and in the workes of thy handes I wil reioyce †How are thy workes magnified ô Lord thy cogitations are made very profounde †The vnwise man wil not know and the foule wil not vnderstand these thinges †When sinners shal spring vp as grasse and al that worke iniquitie shal appeare That they may perish for euer †but thou the Highest foreuer ô Lord. †Because loe thine enimies ô Lord because loe thine enimies shal perish and al that worke iniquitie shal be dispersed †And my horne shal be exalted as the vnicorns and my old age in plentiful mercie †And mine eie hath looked vpon mine enimies and the malignant rysing vp against me mine ears shal heare †The iust shal florish as a palme tree as the ceder of Libanus shal he be multiplied †They that are planted in the house of our Lord shal florish in the courtes of the house of our God †As yet shal they be multiplied in plentiful old age and they shal be wel affected †that they may shewforth That the Lord our God is righteous and there is no iniquitie in him PSALME XCII Christ reigneth for euer in his Church 3. notwith standing manie and great persecution against the faithful Prayse of Canticle to Dauid himselfe in the day before the sabbath when the earth was founded OVR Lord e hath reigned he hath put on beutie our Lord hath put on strength and hath girded him selfe For he hath established the round world which shal not be moued †Thy seat is prepared from that time thou art from euerlasting †The riuers ô Lord haue lifted vp the riuers haue lifted vp their voice The riuers haue lifted vp their waues †aboue the voices of manie waters The surges of the sea are meruelous meruelous is our Lord on high †Thy testimonies are made credible exceedingly holines becometh thy house ô Lord for length of daies PSALME XCIII The faithful seruant of God assuredly professeth that al the pride 5. crueltie 7. foolish imaginations and secret thoughts of the wicked are manifest to God 12. acknowlegeth himself happie that he is better instructed of God wheras he had otherwise bene damned 20. sharply reprehendeth those that consider not of Gods iudgements concluding that the iust shal be glorified and the wicked damned To Dauid himselfe in the fourth of the sabbath OVR Lord God of reuenges the God of reuenges hath done freely †Be exalted thou that iudgest the earth render retribution to the ptoude †How long shal sinners ô Lord how long shal sinners glorie †Shal they vtter and speake iniquitie shal al they speake that worke iniustice †Thy people ô Lord they haue humbled and thine inheritance they haue vexed †The widow and the stranger they haue slaine and the pupilles they haue killed †And they haue saide The Lord shal not see neither shal the God of Iacob vnderstand †Vnderstand ye foolish in the people and ye fooles be wise at sometime †He that
of Beniamin of Isboseths part the sonne of Saul and twelue of the seruantes of Dauid †And euery one taking the head of his mate sticked his sword into the side of his aduersarie and they fel together the name of the place was called The field of the valiantes in Gabaon †And there rose a very sore battel in that day and Abner was put to flight the men of Israel by the seruantes of Dauid †And there were there the three sonnes of Saruia Ioab and Abisai and Asael moreouer Asael was a most swift runner as it were one of the roes that abide in the wooddes †And Asael pursued Abner and declined not to the right hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner †Abner therefore looked backe behind him and said Art thou Asael Who answered I am †And Abner said to him Goe to the right hand or to the left and apprehend one of the young men and take to thee his spoyles But Asael would not leaue but vrged him †And againe Abner said to Asael Retyre and do not folowe me left I be compelled to sticke thee to the ground and I shal not be able to lift vp my face to Ioab thy brother †Who contemned to heare and would not goe aside Abner therefore stroke him with his speare turned backe in the priuy partes and thrust him through and he dyed in the same place and al that passed by that place wherein Asael fel and dyed did stay †But whiles Ioab and Abisai pursued Abner fleeing the sunne went downe and they came as farre as the hil of the water conduit that is ouer against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon †And the children of Beniamin were assembled together to Abner and being gathered in a plumpe into one troupe they stoode in the toppe of one hil †And Abner cried out to Ioab and said Shal thy sword rage vnto vtter destructrion knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous how long differrest thou to say to the people that they leaue to pursue their brethren †And Ioab said Our Lord liueth if thou hadest spoken in the morning had the people retyred from pursuing their brethren †Ioab therefore sounded the trumpette and al the armie stood neither did they pursue Israel any further nor enter into fight †And Abner and his men went through the champaine country al that night and they passed Iordan and hauing viewed al Beth horon came to the campe †Moreouer Ioab returning after he had leift Abner assembled al the people and there wanted of Dauids seruantes nintene men beside Asael †But the seruantes of Dauid stroke of Beniamin and of the men that were with Abner three hundred three score who also died †And they tooke Asael buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem and Ioab and the men that were with him walked al the night and in the very twilight they came into Hebron CHAP. III. â—â—boseths forces daily decay Dauid increaseth in powre and hath manie sonnes 7. Abner vpon occasion of a sclander breaketh from Isboseth and serueth Dauid bringing Michol to him and much people of Israel 23. Ioab of emulation and reuenge killeth Abner 28. for which Dauid is offended with Ioab 31. and mourneth for Abner THERE was made therefore long strife betwen the house of Saul and betwen the houre of Dauid Dauid prospering and alwaies stronger then himself but the house of Saul decreasing daily †And there were sonnes borne to Dauid in Hebron and his first begotten was Amnon of Achinoam the Iezrahelite †And after him Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel moreouer the third Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur †And the fourth Adonias the sonne of Haggith and the fifth Saphathia the sonne of Abital †The sixt also Iethraam of Egla the wife of Dauid these were borne to Dauid in Hebron †Therefore when there was battel betwen the house of Saul and house of Dauid Abner the sonne of Ner ruled the house of Saul †And Saul had a concubine named Respha the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner †Why diddest thou go in to my fathers concubine Who being wrath exceedingly for the wordes of Isboseth said What am I a dogges head against Iuda this day which haue done mercie vpon the house of Saul thy father and vpon his brethren and neerest freinds haue not deliuered thee into the hands of Dauid hast thou sought against me that thou mightest charge me for a woman to day †These things do God to Abner and these things adde he to him vnlesse as our Lord hath sworne to Dauid so I doe truth to him †That the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul and the throne of Dauid be exalted ouer Israel and ouer Iuda from Dan to Bersabee †And he could not answer him any thing because he feared him †Abner therefore sent messengers to Dauid for himself saying Whose is the land And that they should say Make amitie with me my hand shal be with thee and I wil reduce vnto thee al Israel †Who said Very wel I wil make amitie with thee but one thing I desire of thee saying Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul and so thou shalt come and see me †And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth the sonne of Saul saying Restore my wife Michol which I berrothed to me for an hundred prepuces of the Philisthijms †Isboseth therefore sent and tooke her from her husband Phaltiel the sonne of Lais. †And her husband folowed her weeping as farre as Bahurim and Abner said to him Goe and returne Who returned †Abner also spake to the ancients of Israel saying Both yesterday and the day before you sought Dauid that he might reigne ouer you †Now therefore do so because our Lord hath spoken to Dauid saying In the hand of my seruant Dauid I wil saue my people Israel from the hands of the Philistijms and of al their enemies †And Abner spake also to Beniamin And he went to speake vnto Dauid in Hebron al things which pleased Israel and al Beniamin †And he came to Dauid into Hebron with twentie men and Dauid made a feast to Abner and to his men that came with him †And Abner sayd to Dauid I wil rise that I may gather vnto thee my lord king al Israel and may enter a league with thee and thou mayst reigne ouer al as thy soule desireth When Dauid therefore had brought Abner on the way and he was gone in peace †forthwith Dauids seruantss and Ioab came hauing slayne the robbers with a praye exceding great and Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron Because he had now dismissed him and he was departed in peace †And Ioab and al the armie which were with him came afterward it was therefore told Ioab that
Goe ye forth into the mount and fetch branches of the oliue tree and branches of the most fayre tree branches of the mirtle tree and boughes of the palme trees and branches of the thicke leaued tree that tabernacles may be made as it is written †And the people went forth and brought And they made themselues tabernacles euery man in his house toppe and in his courtes and in the courtes of the house of God and in the streate of the water gate and in the streate of the gate of Ephraim †Therefore al the church of them that were returned from the captiuitie made tabernacles and dwelt in tabernacles For from the daies of Iosue the sonne of Nun the children of Israel had not done it in such sort vntil that day and there was exceeding great ioy †And he reade in the booke of the law of God day by day from the first day til the last and they made the solemnitie seuen dayes in the eight day a collect according to the rite CHAP. IX The people repenting in fasting and sakcloth put away their wiues of strange nations 5. Esdras confesseth Gods benefites and the peoples ingratitude 32. prayeth for them and maketh league with God AND in the foure and twenteth day of the moneth the children of Israel came together in fasting and sackeclothes and carth vpon them †And the seede of the children of Israel was seperated from euerie strange childe and they stood and confessed their sinnes and the iniquities of their fathers †And they rose vp to stand and they read in the volume of the law of our Lord their God foure times in a day and four times they confessed and adored our Lord their God †And there arose vpon the steppe of the Leuites Iosue and Bani Cedminel Sabania Bonni Sarebias Bani and Chanani and they cried with a lowde voice to our Lord their God †And the Leuites Iosue and Cedmihel Bonni Hasebnia Serebia Odaia Sebnia and Phathahia said Arise Blesse our Lord your God from eternitie to eternitie and let them blesse the high name of thy glorie in al blessing praise †Thou the same o Lord alone thou hast made heauen al the host therof the earth al thinges that are in it the seas and al thinges that are therin and thou dost giue life to al these thinges and the host of heaueÌ„ adoreth thee †Thou the same o Lord God which didst choose Abram broughtest him out of the fire of the Chaldees and gauest him the name Abraham †And thou didst finde his hart faithful before thee and thou madest a couenante with him that thou wouldest geue him the land of the Chananite of the Hetheite and of the Amorrheite and of the Pherezeire and of the Iebuseite of the Gergeseite to geue vnto his seede and thou hast fulfilled thy wordes because thou art iust †And thou sawest the afflicton of our fathers in Aegypt their crie thou didst hearâ— vpon the Read sea †And thou gauest signes wonders in Pharao and in al his seruants and in al the people of his land for thou didst know that they had done proudly against them and thou madest thyself a name as also at this day †And thou didst diuide the sea before them and they passed througth the midst of the sea in drie land but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth as a stone into the rough waters †And in a piller of a cloude thou wast their leader by day and in a piller of fire by night that the way might appeare to them by the which they went †To mount Sinai also thou didst descend and spakest with them from heauen and thou gauest them right iudgements and the law of truth ceremonies and good preceptes †Thy sanctified Sabbath thou didst shew them and the commandements and ceremonies and the law thou didst command them in the hand of Moyses thy seruant †Bread also from heauen thou gauest them in their hunger and water out of the rocke thou didst bring forth to them thirsting and thou saidest to them that they should enter in and possesse the land vpon which thou didst lift vp thy hand to diliuer it them †But they and our fathers did proudly and hardned their neckes and heard not thy coÌ„mandements †And they would not heare and they remembred not thy merueylous workes which thou hast done to them And they hardned their neckes and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude as it were by contention But thou a propitious God and gratious and merciful long suffering and of much compassion didst not forsake them †Yea and when they had made to them selues a molten calfe and had said This is thy God which brought thee out of Aegypt and they did great blasphemies †But thou in thy manie mercies didst not leaue them in the desert the piller of the cloude departed not from them by day to lead them into the way and the piller of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should goe †And thou gauest them thy good spirite which should teach them and thy Manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth and thou gauest them water in thirst †Fourtie yeares didst thou feede them in the desert and nothing was wanting to them their garmentes waxed not old and their feete not worne †And thou gauest them kingdomes and peoples and didst part lottes vnto them and they possessed the land of Sehon and the land of the king Hesebon and the land of Og the king of Basan †And thou didst multiplie their children as the starres of heauen brought them to the land wherof thou hadst said to their fathers that they should enter and possesse it †And the children came and possessed the land and thou didst humble before them the inhabiters of the land the Chananâ—ites and gauest them into their hand and their kinges and the peoples of the land that they might doe to them as it pleased them †They therfore tooke the fensed cities and fatte ground and possessed houses ful of al goodes cesternes made by others vineyardes and oliuetes manie trees that bare fruite and they did eate and were filled and became fatte and abounded with delicious thinges in thy great goodnes †But they prouoked thee to wrath departed from thee and threw thy law behind their backes they killed thy prophetes which admonished them ernestly to returne to thee and they did great blasphemies †And thou gauest them into the handes of their enemies and they afflicted them And in the time of their tribulation they cried to thee thou from heauen didst heare and according to thy manie coÌ„passions gauest them sauiours that should saue them from the hand of their enemies †And when they had rested they returned to do euil in thysight thou didst leaue them in the hand of their enemies and they possessed them And they
Ammon and Amalec the for eners with the inhabitantes of Tyre †Yea and Assur also is come with them they are made an aide to the children of Lot †Doe to them as to Madian and Sisara as to Iabin in the torrent Cisson †They perished in Endor they were made as the dung of the earth †Put their princes as Oreb and Zeb and Zebee and Salmana Al their princes †which haue saide Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance †My God put them as a wheele and as stubble before the face of the winde †Euen as fire that burneth a wood as a flame that burneth the mountaines †So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them †Fil their faces with ignominie and they wil seeke thy name ô Lord. †Let them be ashamed and trubled for euer and euer and let them be confounded and perish †And let them know that Lord is thy name thou onlie the Highest in al the earth PSALME LXXXIII Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie 6. accounting it in the meane time a happie state to be in the militant Church 12. where God first geuing grace wil geue glorie in the triumphant †Vnto the end for wine presses t the children of Core a Psalme HOW beloued are thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes †my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the courtes of our Lord. My hart and my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God †For the sparow also hath found her an house and the turtledoue a nest for her selfe where she may lay her young ones Thine altars ô Lord of hoastes my King and my God †Blessed are they that dwel in thy house ô Lord for euer and euer they shal praise thee †Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee he hath disposed ascension in his hart †in the vaile of teares in the place which he hath appointed †For the lawgeuer shal geue blessing they shal goe from vertue into vertue the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion †Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob †Behold ô God our protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ †Because better is one day in thy courtes aboue thousands I haue chosen to be an abiect in the house of my God rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners †Because God loueth mercie and truth our Lord wil geue grace and glorie †He wil not depriue them of good thinges that walke in innocencie ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man that hopeth in thee PSALME LXXXIIII With commemoration of Gods former benefites 5. Christs Incarnation is prophecied 9. bringing peace and saluation 11. mercie and iustice concurring together Vnto the end to the children of Core a Psalme O Lord thou hast blessed thy land thou hast turned away the captiuitie of Iacob †Thou hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes †Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation †Conuert vs ô God our sauiour and auert thy wrath from vs. †Wil t thou be wrath with vs for euer or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation †O God thou being turned shalt quicken vs and thy people shal reioyce in thee †Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation †I wil heare what our Lord God wil speake in me because he wil speake peace vpon his people And vpon his saincts and vpon them that are conuerted to the hart †But yet his saluation is nigh to them that feare him that glorie may inhabite in our land †Mercie and truth haue met each other iustice and peace haue kissed †Truth is risen out of the earth and iustice hath looked downe from heauen †For our Lord certes wil geue benignitie and our land shal giue her fruite †Iustice shal walke before him and shal set his steppes in the way PSALME LXXXV In consideration of his owne imperfections the royal prophet or other faithful person prayeth God 5. according to his mercie and goodnes 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies †A praier to Dauid him selfe Incline thine eare ô Lord and heare me because I am needie and poore †Keepe my soule because I am holie saue thy seruant my God that hopeth in thee †Haue mercie on me ô Lord because I haue cried to thee al the day †make ioyful the soule of thy seruant because to thee ô Lord haue I lifted vp my soule †Because thou ô Lord art swete and milde and of much mercie to al that inuocate thee †Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears and attend to the voice of my petition †In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee because thou hast heard me †There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord and there is not according to thy workes †Al nations what soeuer thou hast made shal come and shal adore before thee ô Lord and they shal glorifie thy name †Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges thou onlie art God †Conduct me ô Lord in thy way and I wil walke in thy truth let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name †I wil confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart and wil glorifie thy name for euer †Because thy mercie is great vpon me and thou hast deliuered my soule out of the lower hel †O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule and they haue not set thee in their sight †And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful patient and of much mercie and true †Haue respect to me and haue mercie on me giue thine empire to thy seruant and saue the sonne of thy handmaide †Make with me a signe vnto God that they may see which hate me and may be confounded because thou ô Lord hast holpen me PSALME LXXXVI The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem 3. is extended to al Nations 5. glorious 6. and permanent 7. in holie ioy To the children of Core a Psalme of Canticle THE fundations thereof in the holie mountaynes †our Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue al the tabernacles of Iacob †Glorious thinges
are saide of thee ô cittie of God †I wil be mindeful of Raab and Babylon knowing me Behold the foreners and Tyre the people of the Aethiopians these were there †Shal it not be said of Sion Man and man is borne in her and the Highest himselfe founded her †Our Lord wil declare in scriptures of peoples and of princes of those that haue bene in her †The habitation in thee is as it were of al reioycing PSALME LXXXVII A faithful person sore and long afflicted lamentably complaineth praying God 15. not stil to repel him being leift desolate 19. without al consolation of freindes A Canticle of a Psalme to the children of Core vnto the end for Maheleth to answer of vnderstanding to Eman the Ezrahite O †Lord the God of my saluation in the day haue I cried and in the night before thee †Let my prayer enter in thy sight incline thine eare to my petition †Because my soule is replenished with euils and my life hath approched to hel †I am accounted with them that descend into the lake I am become as a man without helpe †free among the dead as the wounded sleeping in the sepulchres of whom thou art mindeful no more and they are cast of from thy hand †They haue put me in the lower lake in the darke places and in the shadowe of death †Thy furie is confirmed vpon me and al thy waues thou hast brought in vpon me †Thou hast made my familiars far from me they haue put me abomination to themselues I was deliuered and came not forth †myne eies languished for pouertie I cried to thee ô Lord al the day I stretched out my handes to thee †Wil t thou doe meruels to the dead or shal phisicians raise to life and they confesse to thee †Shal any in the sepulchre declare thy mercie and thy truth in perdition †Shal thy meruelous workes be knowne in darkenes and thy iustice in the land of obliuion †And I ô Lord haue cried to thee and in the morning shal my praier preuent thee †Why doest thou o Lord reiect my prayer turnest away thy face from me †I am poore and in labours from my youth and being exalted humbled and troubled †Thy wrathes haue passed vpon me and thy terrours haue trubled me †They haue compassed me as water al the day they compassed me together †Thou hast made frend and neighboure far from me and my familiars because of miserie PSALME LXXXVIII Gods mercie and truth with his great promises to Dauid 6. his powre in the whole world and iust iudgements are the true ioy of his seruantes 20. Christs kingdom shal remaine for euer 31. yea manie offending yet al shal not perish 39. but after great affliction 47. God wil respect mans infirmitie 50. his owne promise and the enimies reproching his seruantes and himselfe 53. who is blessed for euer Of vnderstanding to Ethan the Ezrahite THe mercies of our Lord I wil sing for euer In generation and generation I wil shewe forth thy truth in my mouth †Because thou saidst Mercie shal be built vp for euer in the heauens thy truth shal be prepared in them †I haue ordained a testament with mine elect I haue sworne to Dauid my seruant †for ever wil I prepare thy seede And I wil build thy seat vnto generation and generation †The heauens shal confesse thy meruelous workes ô Lord yea and thy truth in the church of saintes †For who in the cloudes shal be equal to our Lord shal be like to God among the sonnes of God †God who is glorified in the counsel of saintes great and terrible ouer al that are round about him †O Lord God of hoastes who is like to thee thou art mightie ô Lord and thy truth round about thee †Thou rulest ouer the powre of the sea and the mouing of the waues therof thou doest mitigate †Thou humbledst the proud one as one wounded in the arme of thy strength thou hast dispersed thine enimies †The heauens are thine and the earth is thine the round earth and the fulnes therof thou hast founded †the north and the sea thou hast created Thabor and Hermon shal reioice in thy name †thy arme is with might Let thy hand be confirmed and thy righthand exalted †iustice and iudgement is the preparation of thy seat Mercie and truth shal goe before thy face †blessed is the people that knoweth iubilation Lord they shal walke in the light of thy countinance †and in thy name they shal reioyce al the day and in thy iustice they shal be exalted †Because thou art the glorie of their streingth and in thy good pleasure shal our horne be exalted †Because our protection is of our Lord and of the holie one of Israel our king †Then didst thou speake in vision to thy saintes and saidst I haue put helpe on the mightie one and haue exalted an elect one of my people †I haue found Dauid my seruant with myne holie oyle haue I anointed him †For mine hand shal helpe him and myne arme shal strengthen him †The enimie shal nothing preuale in him and the sonne of iniquitie shal not adde to hurt him †And I wil cut downe his enimies before his face and them that hate him I wil put to flight †And my truth and my mercie with him and in my name shal his horne be exalted †And I wil put his hand in the sea and his righthand in the riuers †He shal inuocate me Thou art my Father my God and the protector of my saluation †And I wil put him the firstbegotten high aboue the kings of the earth †I Wil kepe my mercie vnto him for euer and my testament faithful to him †I wil put his seed for euer and euer and his throne as the daies of heauen †But if his children shal forsake my lawe and wil not walke in my Iudgementes †If they shal profane my iustices and not kepe my commandmentes †I wil visite their iniquities with a rod and their sinnes with stripes †But “ my mercie I wil not take away from him neither wil I hurt in my truth †Neither wil I profane my testament and the words that procede from my mouth I wil not make frustrate †Once I haue sworne in my holie if I lie to Dauid †his seede shal continewe for euer †And his throne as the Sunne in my sight and as the Moone perfect for euer and a faithful witnesse in heauen †“ But thou hast repelled and dispised thou hast differred thy Christ †Thou hast ouerthrowne the testament of thy seruant thou hast profaned his
sanctuarie on the earth †Thou hast destroyed al the hedges therof thou hast made the firmament therof feare †Al that passe by the way haue spoiled him he is become a reproch to his neighbours †Thou hast exalted the righthand of them that oppresse him thou hast made al his enimies ioyful †Thou hast turned away the helpe of his sword and hast not holpen him in battel †Thou hast destroied him from emundation and his seat thou hast broken downe to the ground †Thou hast lessened the daies of his time thou hast ouerwhelmed him with consusion †How long ô Lord doest thou turne away for euer shal thy wrath burne as a fire †Remember what my substance is for hast thou made al the children of men in vaine †who is the man that shalliue and shal not see death shal deliuer his soule from the hand of hel †Where are thyne old mercies ô Lord as thou swarest to Dauid in thy truth †Be mindeful ô Lord of the acproch of thy seruantes which I haue held in my bosome of manie nations †Which thine enimies haue reproched ô Lord which they haue reproched the commutation of thy Christ †Blessed be our Lord for euer Be it be it ANNOTIONS PSALME LXXXVIII 34 My mercie I vvil not take avvay from him Although Christians signified by the childreÌ„ or successors of Dauid sinne most grieuously yea suppose they wil sinne with desperation saith S. Augustin and obstinatly persist in sinne that they offend the eyes of their Father deserue to be disenherited c. Yet for these Christ shal not remaine without inheritance the corne shal not also perish for the chafe some fishes shal be geathered out of the nette into vessels notwithstanding the euil fishes are cast away And a litle after the same Doctor discoursing of eternal glorie both in bodie and soule of those that dye in Gods fauour sayth These thinges are promised concerning Christ very certaine very firme very plaine and vndoubted For albeit some thinges are couered in mysteries yet some thinges are so manifest that by them the obscure thinges may most easily be cleared 39. But thou hast repelled c. Againe S. Augustin addeth vpon the next verses folowing God performed not these promises in Dauid that when thou seest they were not fulfilled in Dauid which necessarily must be fulfilled thou maist seke an other in whom it may be shewed that they were fulfilled God promised some thing a kingdom for euer of Dauids seede and Salomon was borne and became of so great wisdom and so great prudence that Gods promise concerning Dauids â—eede seemed to be fulfilled in him But Salomon fell and gaue place of expecting Christ that because God neither can be deceiued nor deceive he put not his promise in him whom he knew would fall but thou shouldest relie vpon God and exact his promise A litle after Thou seekest the kingdom of the lewes it is not thou seekest the altar of the Iewes it is not thou seekest the sacrifice of the Iewes it is not thou seckest the priesthood of the â—evves it is not VVherupon he concludeth Al these defectes came to the â—evves yet vvas not Christ taken from them but differred Some â—evves beleued in him and manie Gentiles As the Psalmist prophecieth from the 47. verse to the end of this Psalme PSALME LXXXIX Under the forme of prayer the psalmist describeth the shortnes of mans life and other calamites 7. Gods strict iudgement 13. but first his comfortable mercie 16. and perpetual regard of his owne worke †A prayer of Moyses the man of God Lord thou art made a refuge for vs from generation vnto generation †Before the mountaines were made or the earth and the world formed from euerlasting euen vnto euerlasting thou art God †Turne not away man into humiliation thou saidst Be conuerted ye children of men †Because a thousand years before thine eies are as yesterday that is past And as a watch in the night †thinges that are counted nothing shal their years be †In the morning as an herbe he shal passe in the morning he shal florish and passe in the euening he shal fal be hardened and withered †Because we haue faynted in thy wrath and in thy furie we are trubled †Thou hast put our iniquities in thy sight our age in the light of thy countinance †Because al our daies haue failed and in thy wrath we haue failed Our yeares shal be considered as a spyder †the daies of our yeares in them are seuentie yeares And if in strong ones eightie years and the more of them labour and sorrow Because mildnes is come vpon vs and we shal be chastised †Who knoweth the powre of thy wrath and for feare †to number thy wrath So make thy righthand knowne and men learned in hart in wisedome †Turne ô Lord how long and be intreated for thy seruants †We are replenished in the morning with thy mercie and we haue reioyced and are delighted al our daies †We haue reioyced for the daies wherin thou hast humbled vs the yeares wherin we haue seene euils †Looke vpon thy seruants and vpon thy workes and direct their children †And let the brightnes of our Lord God be vpon vs and direct thou the workes of our handes ouer vs and the worke of our handes doe thou direct PSALME XC Whosoeuer faithfully and firmly trusteth in Gods prouidence is secure from al dangers of secrete sutle and open enimies 7. his aduersaries shal come to ruine 11. Angels shal defend him 13. no kind of serpent nor beast shal hurt him 14. God himself assureth him of his protection and of eternal saluation Prayse of a Canticle to Dauid HE that dwelleth in the helpe of the Highest shal abide in the protection of the God of heauen †He shal say to our Lord Thou art my protectour and my refuge my God I wil hope in him †Because he hath deliuered me from the snare of the hunters and from the sharpe word †With his shoulders shal he ouershadowe thee and vnder his winges thou shalt hope †With shilde shal his truth compasse thee “ thou shalt not be afrayed of the feare in the night †Of the arrow flying in the day of busines walking in darkenes of inuasion and the midday diuel †A thousand shal fal on thy syde ten thousand on thy righthand but to thee it shal not approch †But thou shalt consider with thine eies and shalt see the retribution of sinners †Because thou ô Lord art my hope thou hast made the Highest thy refuge †There shal no euil come to thee and scourge shal not approch to thy tabernacle †Because he hath
planted the eare shal he not heare Or he that made the eie doth he not consider †He that chastiseth nations shal he not rebuke he that teacheth man knowledge †Our Lord knoweth the cogitations of men that they be vaine †Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct ô Lord and shalt â—each out of thy lawe †That thou maist geue him quietnes from the euil daies til a pitte be digged for the sinner †Because our Lord wil not reiect his people and his inheritance he wil not forsake †Vntil iustice be turned into iudgement and they who are neere it are al that are right of hart †Who shal rise for me against the malignant or who shal stand with me against them that worke iniquitie †But that our Lord hath holpen me within very litle my soule had dwelt in hel †If I said My foote is moued thy mercie ô Lord did help me †According to the multitude of my sorrowes in my hart thy consolations haue made my soule ioyful †Doth the seat of iniquitie cleaue to thee which makest labour in precept †They wil hunt after the soule of the iust and wil condemne innocent bloud And our Lord became my refuge and my God the helpe of my hope †And he wil repay them their iniquitie and in their malice he wil destroy them the Lord our God wil destroy them PSALMES XCIIII An inuitation to serue and adore Christ our Lord and Messias 3. aswel for the benefites of creating al thinges 7. as for his Incarnation and not to harden our hartes as the Iewes did Praise of Canticle to Dauid him selfe COME let vs reioyce to our Lord let vs make iubilation to God our sauiour †Let vs preuent his face in confession and in Psalmes let vs make iubilation to him †Because our Lord is a great God and a great King aboue al goddes †Because in his hand are the endes of the earth and the heightes of the mountaines be his †Because the sea is his and he made it and his handes formed the drie land †Come let vs adore and fal downe and wepe before our Lord that made vs. †Because he is the Lord our God and we the people of his pasture and the shepe of his hand †To day if ye shal heare his voice “ harden not your hartes †As in the prouocation according to the day of the tentation in the desert where your fathers tempted me proued me and saw my workes †Fourtie years was I offended with that generation and said These alwaies erre in hart †And these haue not knowne my waies as I sware in my wrath if they shal enter into my rest ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIIII 8. Harden not your hartes VVhatsoeuer God proposeth by preaching or inspiration to a sinner it resteth stil in the powre of his freewil to harden his harte and to reiect al such good motions and so he doth not only frustrate Gods grace and hinder his owne iustification but also increaseth his former sinnes But by not resisting when deliberating therupon he could resist he disposeth himselfe and cooperateth to first iustification And therfore the royal Prophet here admonisheth and earnestly exhorteth al men to do this which God hath put in our powre not to harden our owne hartes when we heare his voice by resisting and reiecting his grace freely offered without al merite of our part PSALME XCV Al peoples nations are inuited to praise the blessed Trinitie 3. for Christs Incarnation and spiritual kingdom in al the world â—â— euen sensles creatures acknowledging his maiestie 13. and iudicial powre A Canticle to Dauid * himselfe when the house was built after the captiuitie SING ye to our Lord a new song sing to our Lord al the earth †Sing ye to our Lord and blesse his name shewforth his saluation from day to day †Shewforth his glorie among the Gentiles his meruelous workes in al peoples †Because our Lord is great and exceeding laudable he is terrible aboue al goddes †Because al the goddes of the Gentiles are diuels but our Lord made the heauens †Confession and beauty in his sight holinesse and magnificence in his sanctification †Bring to our Lord ye families of Gentiles bring ye to our Lord glorie and honour †bring to our Lord glorie vnto his name Take vp hoastes and enter into his courtes †adore ye our Lord in his holie court Let al the earth be moued before his face †say ye among the Gentiles that our Lord hath reigned For he hath corrected the round world which shal not be moued he wil iudge peoples in equitie †Let the heauens be glad and the earth reioyce the sea be moued and the fulnesse therof †the fieldes shal be glad and al things that are in them Then shal the trees of the woodes reioyce †before the face of our Lord because he cometh because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round world in equitie and peoples in his truth PSALME XCVI Al the earth is inuited to reioyce in Christs kingdom 3. with description of the signes coming before the day of Iudgement 7. Idolaters shal be confounded 8. Holie Angels and iust men shal adore Christ and reioyce To this Dauid when his land was restored agane to him OVR Lord hath reigned let the earth reioyce let manie Ilands be glad †Cloude and mist round about him iustice and iudgement the correction of his seat †Fire shal goe before him and shal inflame his enimies round about †His lightninges shined to the round world the earth sawe and was moued †The mountaines melted as waxe before the face of our Lord before the face of our Lord al the earth †The heauens haue shewed forth his iustice and al peoples haue seene his glorie †Let them al be confounded that adore sculptils and that glorie in their idoles Adore him al ye his Angels †Sion heard and was glad And the daughters of Iuda reioyced because of thy iudgements ô Lord. †Because thou Lord most high ouer al the earth thou art exalted excedingly aboue al goddes †You that loue our Lord hate ye euil our Lord keepeth the soules of his saintes out of the hand of the sinner he wil deliuer them †Light is risen to the iust and ioy to the right of hart †Be glad ye iust in our Lord and confesse ye to the memorie of his sanctification PSALME XCVII Al men are againe inuited ioyfully to celebrate the meruelous conquest of Christ in al nations 4. with hart voice and instruments 8. al creatures acknowledging his coming to iudge the world A psalme to Dauid himselfe SING ye
rather by them that may be supplied vvhich the Hebrevv vvanteth PSALME CXLV The Psalmist exciteth himself and al others to praise God for his singular regard and prouidence of al that trust in him 3. shewing that neither princes nor other men are able to helpe 5. but God can and doth continually releue al sortes of necessities Alleluia of Aggaeus and Zacharie MY soule prayse thou our Lord I wil praise our Lord in my â—te I wil sing to my God as long as I shal be Put not confidence in princes †in the sonnes of men in whom there is no saluation †His spirit shal goeforth and he shal returne into his earth in that day al their cogitations shal perish †Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Iacob his hope in our Lord his God †who made heauen and earth the sea and al thinges that are in them †Which keepeth truth for euer doth iudgement for them that suffer wrong geueth foode to the hungrie Our Lord looseth the fettered †our Lord illuminateth the blind Our Lord lifteth vp the bruised our Lord loueth the iust †Our Lord keepeth strangers the pupil and widow he wil receiue and the wayes of sinners he wil destroy †Our Lord wil reigne for euer thy God ô Sion in generation and generation PSALME CXLVI God is also to be praised by his peculiar people for particular benefites 4. for his omnipotent powre wisdom goodnes in creating and gouerning this whole world 11. and most special benignitie towards those that trust in him Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord because Psalme is good to our God let there be pleasant and comelie praise †Our Lord building vp Ierusalem wil gather together the dispersions of Israel †Who healeth the contrite of hart and bindeth vp their sores †Who numbereth the multitude of starres and geueth names to them al. †Great is our Lord and great is his strength and of his wisdom there is no number †Our Lord receiuing the meeke humbling sinners euen to the ground †Sing ye to our Lord in confession sing ye to our God on harpe †Who couereth the heauen with cloudes and prepareth rayne for the earth Who bringeth forth grasse in the mountaines and herbe for the seruice of men †Who geueth to beastes their foode and to the young rauens that cal vpon him †He shal not haue pleasure in the strength of an horse nor in the legges of a man shal he be wel pleased †Our Lord is wel pleased toward them that feare him and in them that hope vpon his mercie PSALME CXLVII Againe God is to be praised for his goodnes towards his peculiar people 4. yea towards al the world 7. but most abundantly towards his Church Alleluia O Ierusalem praise our Lord praise thy God ô Sion †Because he hath strengthened the lockes of thy gates he hath blessed thy children in thee †Who hath set thy borders peace and filleth thee with the fatte of corne †Who sendeth forth his speach to the earth his word runneth swiftly †Who geueth snow as wool scatereth mist as ashes †He casteth his crystal as morseles before the face of his cold l who shal endure †He shal sendforth his word and shal melt them his spirit shal blowe and waters shal flowe †Who declareth his word to Iacob his iustices and iudgements to Israel †He hath not done in like maner to anie nation and his iudgements he hath not made manifest to them Allelu-ia PSALME CXLVIIII Al creatures spiritual and corporal are inuited to praise God their Creator and Conseruer 13. as incomparably excellent Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord from the heauens praise ye him in the high places †Prayse ye him al his Angels prayse ye him al his hostes †Prayse ye him sunne and moone prayse him al ye starres and light †Prayse him ye heauens of heauens and the waters that are aboue the heauens †let them praise the name of our Lord. Because he sayd and they were made he commanded and they were created †He established them for euer and for euer and euer he put a precept and it shal not passe †Prayse our Lord from the earth ye dragons and al depthes †Fyre haile snow yse spirit of stormes which doe his worde †Mountaines and al litle hilles trees that beare fruite and al ceders †Beastes and al cattel serpentes and fethered fowles †Kinges of the earth and al peoples princes and al iudges of the earth †Yongmen and virgins old with yong let them prayse the name of our Lord †because the name of him alone is exalted †The confession of him aboue heauen and earth and he hath exalted the horne of his people An hymne to al his sainctes to the children of Israel a people approching vnto him Alleluia PSALME CXLIX The Church is most singularly bond to praise God 4. for the grace sanctitie victorie glorie 7. and iudicial powre which he geueth to his Sainctes Alleluia SING ye to our Lord a new song let his prayse be in the Church of sainctes †Let Israel be ioyful in him that made him and let the children of Sion reioyce in their king †Let them praise his name in quite on tymbrel and psalter let them sing to him †Because our Lord is wel pleased in his people and he wil exalt the meeke vnto saluation †The sainctes shal reioyce in glorie they shal be ioyful in their beddes †The exaltations of God in their throte and two edged swordes in their handes †To doe reuenge in the nations chastisements among the peoples †To binde their kinges in fetters and their nobles in yron manicles †That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written this glorie is to al his sainctes Alleluia PSALME CL. God absolutly most excellent is to be praised 3. with al sortes of instruments and by al other meanes Alleluia PRAYSE ye our Lord in his holies prayse ye him in the firmament of his strength †Prayse ye him in his powers prayse ye him according to the multitude of his greatnes †Prayse ye him in the sound of trumpet prayse ye him on psalter and harpe †Prayse ye him on timbrel and quire prayse ye him on stringes and organ †Prayse ye him on wel sounding cymbals prayse ye him on cymbales of iubilation †let euerie spirit prayse our Lord. Alleluia ANNOTATIONS PSALME CL. S. Augustin in the conclusion of his Enarrations or Sermons vpon the Psalmes explicateth a mysterie in the number of an hundred and fieftie signifying the concord of the two Testaments For in the old testament they kept
seruant that vnderstandeth is acceptable to the king he that is vnprofitable shal susteyne his anger ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 12. A vvay vvhich semeth iust If anie Iewes Turkes or Heretikes lead a moral good life in this world it semeth both to themselnes and to other rude people tha◠they are in a right way of saluation but their error in faith leadeth them to eternal damnation 30 Health of the hart As soundnes of the hart conserueth the rest of the same bodie in life so a pure intention often excuseth from mortal sinne as in errours committed of probable not of grosse nor affected ignorance But secrete enuie in the hart infecteth and putrifieth mans actions and destroyeth the workes that semed good which can no more endure strict examination in the day of iudgement then a rotten cloth can abide washing CHAP. XV. A soft answer breaketh anger and a hard word rayseth vp furie †The tongue of the wise adorneth knowlege the mouth of fooles boyleth forth follie †In euerie place the eies of our Lord behold the good and the euil †A peaceable tongue is a tree of life but that which is immoderate shal breake the spirite †A foole scorneth the discipline of his father but he that regardeth reprehensions shal become more prudent In abundant iustice there is greatest force but the cogitations of the impious shal be rooted out †The house of the iust is very much strength and in the fruites of the impious is perturbation †The lippes of the wise shal sow knowlege the hart of fooles shal be vnlike †The victimes of the impious are abominable to our Lord the vowes of the iust are acceptable †The way of the impious is abomination to our Lord he that foloweth iustice is beloued of him †The doctrine is euil of them that forsake the way of life he that hateth reprehensions shal dye †Hel and perdition are before our Lord how much more the hartes of the children of men †The pestilent man loueth not him that rebuketh him nor goeth to the wise †A glad hart cheereth the face in pensifnes of minde the spirit is cast downe †The hart of the wise seeketh doctrine and the mouth of fooles is fed with vnskilfulnes †Al the dayes of the poore are euil a secure minde is as it were a continual feast †Better is a litle with the feare of our Lord then great treasures and vnsatiable †It is better to be called to herbes with charitie then to a fatted calfe with hatred †An angrie man stirreth brawles he that is patient appeaseth those that are raised †The way of the slothsul is as an hedge of thornes the way of the iust is without offence †A wise sonne maketh the father ioyful and the foolish man despiseth his mother †Follie is ioy to a soole and the wiseman directeth his steppes †Cogitations are dissipated where there is no counsel but where manie counsellers are they are confirmed †A man reioyceth in the sentence of his mouth and a word in due time is best †The path of life aboue the lerned that he may decline from the lawest hel Our Lord wil destroy the house of the proude and wil make sure the borders of the widow †Euil cogitations are an abomination to our Lord and pure speach most beautiful shal be confirmed of him †He that pursueth auarice disturbeth his house but he that hateth giftes shal liue By mercie and faith sinnes are purged and by the feare of our Lord euerie one declineth from euil †The minde of the iust meditateth obedience the mouth of the impious redoundeth with euils †Our Lord is far from the impious and he wil heare the prayers of the iust †The light of the eies reioyceth the soule a good name fatteth the bones The eare that heareth the reprehensions of life shal abide in the middes of the wise †He that reiecteth discipline despiseth his soule but he that yeldeth to reprehensions is a possessour of the hart †The feare of our Lord the discipline of wisdom and humilitie goeth before glorie CHAP. XVI IT “ perteyneth to man to prepare the hart and to our Lord to gouerne the tongue †Al the wayes of man are open to his eies our Lord is the weigher of spirites †Reueale thy workes to our Lord and thy cogitations shal be directed †Our Lord hath wrought al thinges for himself the impious also to the euil day †Euerie arrogant man is an abomination to our Lord although hand shal be to hand he is not innocent The beginning of a good way is to doe iustice and it is more acceptable with God then to immolate hostes †By mercie and truth iniquitie is redemed and in the feare of our Lord euil is auoided †When the wayes of man shal please our Lord he wil conuert also his enemies to peace †Better is a litle with iustice then much fruite with iniquitie †The hart of man disposeth his way but it perteyneth to our Lord to direct his progresse †Diuination is in the lippes of the king his mouth shal not erre in iudgement †Weight and balance are iudgements of our Lord and his worke al the stones of the bagge †They are abominable to the king that doe impiously because the throne is established by iustice †The wil of kinges are iust lippes he that speaketh right thinges shal be beloued †The kings indignation messengers of death and the wise man wil pacifie it †In the cherfulnes of the kings countenance is life and his clemencie is as the later showre †Possesse wisdom because it is better then gold and gette prudence because it is more precious then siluer †The path of the iust auoideth euils the keper of his soule kepeth his way †Pride goeth before destruction and before ruine the spirit shal be exalted †It is better to be humbled with the meeke then to diuide spoyles with the proude †The lerned in word shal finde good thinges and he that hopeth in our Lord is blessed †He that is wise in hart shal be called prudent and he that is sweete in speach shal finde greater thinges †A fountaine of life the lerning of him that possesseth it the doctrine of fooles foolishnes †The hart of the wife shal instruct his mouth and shal adde grace to his lippes †Wel set wordes are a honie combe swetnes of the foule the health of the bones †There is a way that seemeth to a man right and the later endes therof lead to death †Thee soule of him that laboureth doth labour to himself because his mouth hath compelled him
yongmen their strength and the dignitie of oldmen a gray head †The blewnesse of the wound shal wipe away euils and stripes in the more secrete place of the bellie CHAP. XXI AS diuisions of waters so the hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord whither soeuer he wil he shal incline it †Euerie way of a man semeth to himself right but our Lord weigheth the hartes †To doe mercie and iudgement doth more please our Lord then victimes †Exaltation of the eies is the dilatation of the hart the lampe of the impious sinne †The cogitations of the strong are alwayes in abundance but euerie sluggard is alwayes in pouertie †He that gathereth treasures with a lying tongue is vaine and witles and shal stumble at the snares of death †The robberies of the impious shal draw them downe because they would not doe iudgement †The peruerse way of a man is strange but he that is cleane his worke is right †It is better to sitte in a corner of the house toppe then with a brawling woman and in a common house †The soule of the impious desireth euil he wil not haue pitie on his neighbour †The pestilent man being punished the litle one wil be wiser and if he folow the wiseman he wil take knowlege †The iust deuiseth concerning the house of the impious that he may draw the impious from euil †He that stoppeth his eare at the crie of the poore himself also shal crie and shal not be heard †A gift hid quencketh angers and a gift in the bosome the greatest indignation †It is a ioy to the iust to doe iudgement and dread to them that worke iniquitie †A man that shal erre from the way of doctrine shal abyde in the assemblie of giantes †He that loueth good cheere shal be in pouertie he that loueth wine and fatte thinges shal not be rich †The impious shal be geuen for the iust and the vniust for the righteous †It is better to dwel in a desert land then with a brawling and angrie woman †Treasure to be desired and oyle in the habitation of the iust and the vnwise man shal dissipate it †He that foloweth iustice and mercie shal finde life iustice and glorie †The wise hath scaled the citie of the strong and hath destroyed the confidence therof †He that kepeth his mouth and his tongue kepeth his soule from distresses †The proude and arrogant is called vnlerned which in anger worketh pride †Desires kil the slothful for his handes would not worke any thing †al the day he longeth and desireth but he that is iust wil geue and wil not cease †The hostes of the impious abominable because they are offered of wickednes †A lying witnes shal perish an obedient man shal speake victorie †The impious man malepertly hardeneth his countenauce but he that is righteous correcteth his way †There is no wisdom there is no prudence there is no counsel against our Lord. †The horse is prepared to the day of battel but our Lord geueth saluation CHAP. XXII BEtter is a good name then much riches aboue siluer and gold good grace †The rich and poore haue mette one an other our Lord is the maker of both †The subtel saw euil and hyd himself the innocent passed by and was afflicted with damage †The end of modestie the feare of our Lord riches and glorie and life †Armour and swordes in the way of the peruerse but the keper of his owne soule departeth far from them †It is a prouerbe A yongman according to his way when he is old wil not depart from it †The richman ruleth ouer the poore and he that boroweth is the seruant of him that lendeth †He that soweth iniquitie shal reape euils and with the rod of his wrath he shal be consumed †He that is prone to mercie shal be blessed for of his breades he hath geuen to the poore He that geueth giftes shal purchase victorie and honour but he that receiueth taketh away the soule of the geuer †Cast out the scorner and brawling shal goe forth with him and cause shal cease and contumelies †He that loueth cleanes of hart for the grace of his lippes shal haue the king his frend †The eies of our Lord keepe knowlege and the wordes of the iust are supplanted †The slothful sayth A lyon is without in the middes of the streates I am to be slayne †A deepe pitte the mouth of a strange woman he with whom our Lord is angrie shal fal into it †Follie is tyed together in the hart of a childe and the rod of discipline shal driue it away †He that doth calumniate the poore to increase his riches himself shal geue to a richer and shal be in neede †Incline thine eare and heare the wordes of wisemen and set thy hart to my doctrine †which shal be beautiful for thee when thou shalt kepe it in thy bellie and it shal flow in thy lippes †That thy confidence may be in our Lord wherfore I haue shewed also it to thee this day †Behold I haue described it to thee three maner of wayes in cogitations and knowledge †that I might shew thee the stabilitie and the wordes of truth out of these to answer them that sent thee †Doe not violence to the poore because he is poore neither oppresse the needie in the gate †because our Lord wil iudge his cause and wil pearse them that haue pearsed his soule †Be not frend to an angrie man nor walke with a furious man †lest perhaps thou lerne his pathes and take scandal to thy soule †Be not with them that sticke downe their handes and that offer themselues sureties for debts †for if thou haue not wherewith to restore what cause is there that he should take the couering from thy bed †Trangresse not the ancient boundes which thy fathers haue put †Hast thou sene a man quicke in his worke he shal stand before kinges neither shal be before the vnnoble CHAP. XXIII VVHEN thou shalt sitte to eate with a prince attend diligently what thinges are set before thy face †and set a knife in thy throte if notwithstanding thou haue thy soule in thine owne power †Desire not his meates in which is the bread of lying †Labour not to be rich but set a meane to thy prudence †Lift not vp thine eies to the riches which thou canst not haue because they shal make to themselues winges as of an eagle and shal flie into heauen †Eate not with an enuious man and desire
appeareth in his creatures 10. and is geuen in competent measure to al that feare God 16. it bringeth al vertues 27. excludeth al vices 33. and is to be sought in simplicitie of hart AL wisdom is of our Lord God hath bene alwayes with him is before al time †The sand of the sea the droppes of rayne the dayes of the world who hath numbred The height of heauen and breadth of the earth profunditie of the depth who hath measured †The wisdom of God that goeth before al thinges who hath searched out †Wisdom was created before al thinges the vnderstanding of prudence from euerlasting †A fountayne of wisdom the word of God on high and the entrance therof euerlasting commandments †The roote of wisdom to whom hath it bene reueled the subtilties therof who hath knowen †The discipline of wisdom to whom hath it bene reueled and made manifest and the multiplication of her entrance who hath vnderstood †There is one most high Creatour omnipotent and mightie King and to be feared excedingly sitting vpon his throne and the God of dominion †He created her in the Holie Ghost and hath sene and nummbred and measured her †And he hath powred her out vpon al his workes and vpon al flesh according to his gift and hath geuen her to them that feare him †The feare of our Lord is glorie and gloriation and ioy and a crowne of exultation †The feare of our Lord shal delight the hart and shal geue ioy gladnes in length of dayes †With him that feareth our Lord it shal be wel in the later end and in the day of his death he shal be blessed †The loue of God is honorable wisdom †But they to whom she shal appeare in vision they loue her in the vision and in the agnising of her great workes †The feare of our Lord is the begynning of wisdom and was created with the faythful in the wombe and goeth with the elect wemen and is knowen with the iust and faythful †The feare of our Lord is religiositie of knowlege †Religiositie shal keepe and iustifie the hart shal geue ioy and gladnes †With him that feareth our Lord it shal be wel and in the dayes of his consummation he shal be blessed †The fulnesse of wisdom is to feare God and fulnesse is of the fruites therof †Al her house she shal fil with her generations and the storehouses with her treasures †A crowne of wisdom the feare of our Lord replenishing place and the fruite of saluation †and he hath sene and numbred her but both are the giftes of God †Wisdom shal distribute knowlege and vnderstanding of prudence and exalteth the glorie of them that hold it †The roote of wisdom is to feare our Lord for the boughes therof are of long time †In the treasures of wisdom is vnderstanding religiositie of knowlege but to sinners wisdom is abomination †The feare of our Lord expelleth sinne †for he that is without feare can not be iustified for the anger of his animositie is his subuersion †Vntil a time the patient shal susteyne and after shal be rewarded of ioyfulnes †A good vnderstanding wil hide his wordes vntil a time and the lippes of manie shal shew forth his vnderstanding †In the treasures of wisdom is signification of discipline †but the worshipe of God is abomination to a sinner †Sonne coueting wisdom keepe iustice and God wil geue her to thee †For the feare of our Lord is wisdom and discipline and that which wel pleaseth him †is fayth and meeknes and he wil fil his treasures †Be not incredulous to the feare of our Lord and come not to him with a duble hart †Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men and be not scandalized in thy lippes †Attend to them lest perhaps thou fal and bring dishonour to thy soule †and God reuele thy secretes and in the middes of the synagogue cast thee downe †because thou camest to our Lord wickedly thy hart is ful of guile and deceite CHAP. II. Whosoeuer wil serue God must haue iustice feare of God and patienâ—â— 6. with confidence in God 14. Dissemblers incredulous and impatient shal be miserable 18. but the godlie shal receiue more grace SONNE coming to the seruice of God stand in iustice and in feare prepare thy soule to tentation †Represse thy hart susteyne incline thine eare receiue the wordes of vnderstanding and make no hast in the time of obduction †Susteyne the sustentations of God be ioyned to God and susteyne that thy life may increase in the later end †Al that shal be applied to thee receiue and in sorow susteyne and in thy humiliation haue patience †for gold and siluer are tryed in the fyre but acceptable men in the fornace of humiliation †Beleue God and he wil recouer thee and direct thy way and hope in him Keepe his feare and grow old therin †Ye that feare our Lord expect his mercie decline not from him lest ye fal †Ye that feare our Lord beleue him and your reward shal not be voyde †Ye that feare our Lord hope in him and mercie shal come to you for your delectation †Ye that feare our Lord loue him your hartes shal be illuminated †Children behold the nations of men and know ye that none hath hoped in our Lord and hath bene confounded †For who hath continewed in his commandment and hath bene forsaken or who hath inuocated him and he despised him †Because God is pitiful and merciful and wil forgeue sinnes in the day of tribulation and he is protector to al that seeke him in truth †Woe to them of a duble hart and to wicked lippes and to the handes that doe euil and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two wayes †Woe to them that be dissolute of hart which beleue not God and therefore they shal not be protected of him †Woe be to them that haue lost patience and that haue forfaken the right wayes and haue declined into peruerse wayes †And what wil they doe when our Lord shal begynne to looke on them †They that feare our Lord wil not be incredulous to his word and they that loue him wil kepe his waye †They that feare our Lord wil seeke after the thinges that are wel pleasing to him and they that loue him shal be filled with his law †They that feare our Lord wil prepare their hartes and in his sight wil sanctifie their soules †They that feare our Lord kepe his commandements and wil haue patience euen vntil his visitation †saying If we doe not penance we shal fal into the handes of our Lord and not into the handes of men †For according to his greatnes so also his mercie is with him CHAP. III.
thy soule a lie †Reuerence not thy neighbour in his offence †nor kepe in a word in time of saluation Hide not thy wisdom in the beautie thereof †For by the tongue wisdom is discerned and vnderstanding and knowlege and doctrine by the word of the wise and steedfastnes in the workes of iustice †Doe not gaynesay the word of truth by any meanes and be ashamed of the lie of thyne vnskilfulnes †Be not ashamed to confesse thy sinnes and submite not thy self to euerie man for sinne †Resist not against the face of the mightie neither labour against the streame of the riuer †For iustice contend for thy soule and vnto death striue for iustice and God wil ouerthrow thyne enemies for thee †Be not hastie in thy tongue and vnprofitable and remisse in thy workes †Be not as a lion in thy house ouerthrowing them of thy houshold and oppressing them that are subiect to thee †Let not thine hand be stretched out to receiue and closed to geue CHAP. V. Let not riches youth nor streingth hold thee in sinne 5. but do penance for sinnes remitted and adde not sinne vpon sinne 6. Neither presume to sinne because God is merciful 10. Be not couetous nor vnconstant 13. Be meeke in lerning and careful in teaching 16. not a batâ—maker nor duble tongued ATTEND not to vniust possessions and say not I haue sufficient liuelihood for it shal nothing profite in the time of vengeance affliction †Folow not in thy strength the concupiscence of thy hart †and say not How mightie am I and who shal bring me vnder for my factes for God reuenging wil reuenge †Say not I haue sinned and what sorowful thing hath chanced to me For the Highest is a patient rewarder †Of sinne forgeuen be not without feare neither adde thou sinne vpon sinne †And say not The mercie of our Lord is great he wil haue mercie on the multitude of my sinnes †For mercie and wrath quickly approch from God and his wrath looketh vpon sinners †Slacke not to be conuerted to our Lord and differre not from day to day †For his wrath shal come sodainly and in the time of vengeance he wil destroy thee †Be not careful in vniust riches for they shal not profite thee in the day of obduction and vengeance †Tosse not thy self into euerie winde and goe not into euerie way for so euerie sinner is proued by a duble tongue †Be stedfast in the way of our Lord in the truth of thy vndestanding and in knowlege and let the word of peace and iustice accompanie thee †Be milde to heare the word thou maist vnderstand and with wisdom vtter thou a true answer †If thou haue vnderstanding answer thy neighbour but if not let thine hand be vpon thy mouth lest thou be taken in an vnskilful word and be confounded †Honour and glorie in the word of the wise but the tongue of the vnwise is his subuersion †Be not called a whisperer and be not taken in thy tongue confounded †For vpon a theefe is confusion repentance and a verie euil condemnation vpon the duble tongued but to the whisperer hatred and emnitie and contumâ—lie †Iustifiâ— thou the litle one and the great alike CHAP. VI. Reproch enuie and ferocitie hinder from louing our neighbour 5. swetenes norisheth it 6. A trustie freind is much worth â—8 Seeke and kepe wisdom with al diligence 35. Frequent the companie of the wise and meditate in Gods law BE not for a frend made an enemie to thy neighbour for the euil man shal inherite reproch and contumelie and euerie sinner enuious and duble tongued †Extol not thyself in the cogitation of thy soule as it were a bul lest perhaps thy strength be quashed †and it eate thy leaues and destroy thy fruites and thou be leaft as a drie tree in the wildernes †For a wicked soule shal destroy him that hath it and it geueth him to be a ioy to his enemies and shal lead him into the lot of the impious †A sweete word multiplieth frends appeaseth enemies and a gratious tongue in a good man aboundeth †Let there be manie at peace with thee and let one of a thousand be thy counseler †If thou possesse a frend in tentation possesse him and not easely credite him †For he is a frend according to his owne time and wil not abide in the day of tribulation †And there is a frend that is turned to emnitie and there is a frend that wil disclose hatred and reproches †And there is a frend companion at the table and he wil not abide in the day of necessitie †A frend if he continew stedfast shal be to â—hee as an equal and in them of thy houshold shal deale confidently †if he humble himself against thee and hide himself from thy face thou shalt haue frendshippe of one accord for good †Be seperated from thine enemies take heede of thy frends †A faithful frend is a strong protection and he that hath found him hath found a treasure †To a faythful frend there is no comparison and there is no poyse of gold and siluer able to counteruaile the goodnes of his fidelitie †A faythful frend is the medecine of life immortalitie they that feare our Lord shal finde him †He that feareth God shal likewise haue good frendshipe because according to him shal his frend be †Sonne from thy youth receiue doctrine and euen to thy hoare heares thou shalt finde wisdom †As he that ploweth and that soweth goe to her and expect her good fruites †For in her worke thou shalt labour a litle and shalt quickly eate of her generation †How exceding sharpe is wisdom to the vnlerned men and the vnwise wil not continew in her †As the vertue of a stone she shal be a probation in them and they wil not stay to cast her forth †For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name and she is not manifest to manie but to whom she is knowen she contineweth euen to the sight of God †Heare my sonne and take counsel of vnderstanding and cast not away my counsel †Thrust thy foote into her fetters and thy necke into her cheynes †put vnder thy shoulder and carie her and be not wearie of her bands †With al thy minde goe to her and with al thy strength keepe her wayes †Search her out and she shal be made manifest to thee and hauing obteyned her forsake her not †for in the later end thou shalt finde rest in her and she shal be turned vnto delectation †And her fetters shal be to thee for a protection of strength and foundation of powre her cheynes for a stole of glorie †For the beautie of life is in her and her bands are a healthful
tayle †And they that cal this people blessed seducing them and that are called blessed shal be throwen headlong †For this cause our Lord shal not reioyce vpon their yong men and on their pupilles and widowes he shal not haue mercie because euerie one is an hypocrite wicked and euerie mouth hath spoken follie In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †For impietie is kindled as a fyre it shal deuoure bryer and thorne and it shal be kindled in the thicket of the forest and it shal be wrapped vp together in the pride of smoke †In the wrath of the Lord of hostes the earth is trubled and the people shal be foode for the fyre man shal not spare his brother †And he shal decline to the right hand and shal be hungrie and shal eate on the left hand and shal not be filled euerie one shal eate the flesh of his arme Manasses Ephraim and Ephraim Manasses they together against Iuda †In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth CHAP. X. Makers of wicked lawes are cursed 3. For which the Israelites shal be afflicted by the Assirians 5. The Assirians ouerthrowne by extraordinarie meanes sent from God 21. and the Iewes deliuered from imminent danger with diuers mysteries of Christ intermixed VVOE to them that make wicked lawes and writing haue written iniustice †That they might oppresse the poore in iudgement doe violence to the cause of the humble of my people that widowes might be their praye and they might spoile pupilles †What wil you doe in the day of visitation and of calamitie coming from farre to whose helpe wil ye flee and where wil ye leaue your glorie †That you be not bowed vnder the bond and fal with the slaine In al these thinges his furie is not turned away but his hand is yet stretched forth †Woe to Assur he is the rod of my furie and the staffe myne indignation is in their handes †I wil send him to a deceitful nation I wil geue him commandment against the people of my furie that he take away spoiles and catche the praye and put them to be troden vpon as the mire of the streates †But he shal not so thinke and his hart shal not esteme it so but his hart shal be set to destroy and to the destruction of no few nations †For he shal say †Are not my princes with al kinges Is not as Charcamis so Calano and as Arphad so Emath Is not as Damascus so Samaria †Euen as my hand hath found the kingdomes of the idol so also their idols of Ierusalem of Samaria †Shal I not as I haue done to Samaria and her idols so do to Ierusalem and her idols †And it shal be when the Lord shal haue accomplished al his workes in mount Sion and in Ierusalem I wil visite ouer the fruite of the magnifical hart of the king of Assur and ouer the glorie of the hautines of his eyes †For he hath said In the strength of mine owne hand haue I done it and in mine owne wisdome haue I vnderstood and I haue taken away the borders of peoples and haue spoiled their princes and haue pulled downe as a mightie man them that sate on high †And my hand hath found the strength of peoples as a nest and as egges be gathered that are leaft so haue I gathered together al the earth and there was none that moued wing and opened mouth and once muttered †Shal the axe glorie against him that cutteth with it or shal the saw exalt itselfe against him by whom it is drawen As if a rod should lift vp itself agaynst him that lifteth it vp and a staffe exalt itself which is certes but wood †For this cause the Dominatour the Lord of hostes shal send leannes in his fat ones and vnder his glorie shal burne as it were the burning of fyre kindled †And the light of Israel shal be in fyre and the Holie one therof in flame and his thorne shal be kindled and be deuoured and the briars in one day †And the glorie of his forest and of his carmelus shal be consumed from the soule euen to the flesh and he shal be a fugitiue for feare †And the remaynes of the woode of his forest for the fewnes shal be numbred and a child shal write them †And it shal be in that day the residue of Israel and they that shal escape of the house of Iacob shal not adde to leane vpon him that striketh them but they shal leane vpon our Lord the holie one of Israel in truth †The remnant shal be conuerted the remnant I say of Iacob to the strong God †For if thy people ô Israel shal be as the sand of the sea the remnant therof shal be conuerted consumnation abbridged shal make iustice ouerflow †For our Lord the God of hostes shal make consummation and abbridgement in the middes of al the earth †For this cause thus sayth our Lord the God of hostes O my people inhatiter of Sion be not afrayd of Assur he shal strike thee with his rod and shal lift vp his staffe ouer thee in the way of Aegypt †For yet a litle and a very litle and mine indignation and furie vpon their wickednes shal be consummate †And the Lord of hostes shal rayse vp a scourge vpon him according to the plague of Madian in the Rocke Oreb and his rod vpon the sea and he shal lift it vp in the way of Aegypt †And it shal be in that day his burden shal be taken away from of thy shoulder and his yoke from of thy necke and the yoke shal putrifie at the face of oile †He shal come into Aiath he shal passe into Magron at Machmas he shal commend his vessels †They haue passed in hast Gaba is our seate Rama was astonied Gabaath of Saul fled †Neay with thy voice ô daughter of Gallim attend Laisa seelie poore Anathoth †Medemena is remoued ye inhabitants of Gabin take courege †Yet there is day to stand in Nobe he shal shake his hand ouer the mountaine of the daughter of Sion the litle hil of Ierusalem †Behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal breake the litle flagon in terrour and the high of stature shal be cut downe and the loftie shal be humbled †And the thicke places of the forest shal be ouerthrowen with iron and Libanus with the high ones shal fal CHAP. XI Christ borne of the stock of Iesse replenished with seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost 4. shal haue a spiritual kindom most iust and potent 10. wherto al nations wil repayre AND a rod shal come forth of the roote of Iesse and a flowre shal rise vp out of his roote †And the Spirite
Sion the zele of the Lord of hostes shal doe this †Therfore thus sayth our Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians He shal not enter this citie and he shal not shoote arrow there and shilde shal not occupie it and he shal not cast rampier about it †In the way that he came by the same he shal returne and into this citie he shal not enter sayth our Lord. †And I wil protect this citie that I may saue it for myne owne sake and “ for Dauids sake my seruant †And the Angel of our Lord came forth and stroke in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred eightie fiue thousand And they arose in the morning and behold al were carcasses of dead men †And he went out and departed and Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians returned and dwelt in Niniue †And it came to passe when he adored in the temple of Nesroch his god Adramelech and Sarasar his sonnes stroke him with the sword and they fled into the land of Ararat Asarhaddon his sonne reigned for him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVII â—5 For Dauids sake VVe haue here a manifest example that the merites of Sainctes departed forth of this world do profite the liuing God protecting Ierusalem not only for his owne but also for his seruant Dauids sake Against which plaine sense Protestantes denying merites and prayers of Sainctes seme to haue no better quasion then this sillie shift â—eâ—ned without vvarrant of holie Scripture or ancient Father to interprete these vvordes for Dauids sake to signifie for Gods promise sake made to Dauid But if they be demanded vvhere and when God promised to Dauid that he vvould protect and saue the citie of Ierusalem from sacking by enimies or from ruine they can neuer shevv it God made Dauid conquerour of Ierusalem extirpating there the Iebusites who vntil his time kept the tovvre of Sion 2. Reg. 5. v. 7. protected the same citie al his time and long after And in certaine particular dangers promised to Achaz a vvicked king Isaie 7. and to this good king Ezechias here â— 4. Reg. 19. â— that he vvould saue and deliuer Ierusalem from oher particular distresses vvherin it vvas at those times but he promised not this to king Dauid Neither did God make a general promise to protect that citie perpetually For if he had so promised it should not haue bene subdued brought into captiuitie defaced as it was by the Babylonians And therfore this glosse of Protestants is built vpon false ground And the vvordes are as manifest as if the kings Maiestie should say I vvil protect the â—â—â—â— of London that I may saue it for myn ovvne sake and such my former subiectes sake that haue faithfully heretofore serued their kinges Or if he should say I vvil protect such a noblemans chiefe Manour place for myn owne sake for such his progenitors sake who serued me loyally VVherby is plainely signified that the king doâ—â— this â—ouour not only forth is ovvne sake but also for the merites of some that liued there and deserued vvel before Neither do vve produce this similitude to proue that is in controuersie but to explaine the Catholique doctrine apparent by this text and approued by the ancient Fathers and the vvhole Church of God CHAP. XXXVIII Ezechias being sick and advertised by the prophete that he shal then dye by prayer 〈…〉 prolongation of life 6. with promise of victorie confirmed by a signe 9. For which he rendereth thankes to God with a Canticle of praise IN those dayes Ezechias was sick euen to death and Isaie the sonne of Amos the prophet went in vnto him and said to him Thus sayth our Lord. Take order with thy house for thou shalt die and shalt not liue †And Ezechias turned his face to the wal and prayed to our Lord †and said I besech thee Lord remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect hart and haue done that which is good in thine eies And Ezechias wepte with great weeping †And the word of our Lord was made to Isaie saying †Goe tel Ezechias Thus saith our Lord the God of Dauid thy father I haue heard thy prayer and seene thy teares Loe I wil adde vpon thy dayes fiftene yeares †and out of the hand of the king of the Assirians wil I deliuer thee and this citie and wil protect it †And this shal be a signe to thee from our Lord that our Lord wil doe this word which he hath spoken †Behold I wil make the shadow of the lines returne by the which it is now gone downe in the dyal of Achaz in the sunne backward ten lines And the sunne returned ten lines by the degrees whereby it was gone downe †The scripture of Ezechias the king of Iuda when he had bene sicke and was recouered of his infirmitie I haue said In the middes of my daies shal I goe to the gates of hel I haue sought the residue of my yeares †I haue said I shal not see our Lord God in the land of the liuing I shal behold man no more and the inhabiter of rest †My generation is taken away and is wrapped together from me as the tent of shepehards My life is cut of as by a weauer whiles I yet began he cut me of from morning vntil night thou wilt make an end of me †I hoped vntil morning as a lion so hath he broken al my bones From morning vntil euening thou wilt make an end of me †As a yong swallow so wil I crie I wil meditate as a doue Mine eies are weakened looking on high Lord I suffer violence answer for me †What shal I say or what shal he answer me wheras him self hath done it I wil recount to thee al my yeares in the bitternes of my soule †Lord if mans life be such and the life of my spirit in such thinges thou shalt chasten me and shalt quicken me †Behold in peace is my bitternes most bitter But thou hast deliuered my soule that it should not perish thou hast cast al my sinnes behind thy backe †Because hel shal not confesse to thee neither shal death prayse thee they that goe downe into the lake shal not expect thy truth †The liuing the liuing he shal confesse to thee as I also this day the father shal make thy truth knowen to the children †O Lord saue me and we shal sing our psalmes al the dayes of our life in the house of our Lord. †And Isaie commanded that they should take a lumpe of figges plaster it vpon the wound and he should be healed †And Ezechias sayd What shal be the signe that I shal goe vp into the house of our Lord CHAP. XXXIX The king of Babylon sent legates to visite king Ezechias and congratulate his recouerie
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
temple of our Lord. †And they that are far shal come and shal build in the temple of our Lord and you shal know that the Lord of hosts sent me to you But this shal be if hearing you wil heare the voice of our Lord your God CHAP. VII The fast of the fift and seuenth moneth obserued in the captiuitie being good 5. was vnperfect 8. fasting from sinne is alwayes more necessarie AND it came to passe in the fourth yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie in the fourth of the ninth moneth which is Casleu †And Sarasar and Rogommelech and the men that were with him sent to the house of God to besech the face of our Lord that they should say to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and to the prophets saying Must I weepe in the fifth moneth or must I san ctifie myself as now I haue done manie yeares †And the word of the Lord of hosts was made to me saying Speake to al the people of the land and to the priests saying when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and the seuenth for these seuentie yeares did you fast a fast vnto me †and when you did eate and drinke did you not eate for your selues and drinke for your selues †Why are they not the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of the former prophets when Ierusalem as yet was inhabited and was welthie it self and the cities round about it and toward the South and in the champine there was dwelling †And the word of our Lord was made to Zacharie saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts saying Iudge ye true Iudgement and doe ye mercie miserations euerie man with his brother †And the widow and the pupil and the stranger and the poore doe not calumniate and let not a man thinke in his hart euil to his brother †And they would not attend and they turned away the shoulder departing and they aggrauated their eares not to heare †And they made their hart as the adamant lest they should heare the law the wordes which the Lord sent in his spirit by the hand of the former prophetes and there was great indignation made from the Lord of hosts †And it came to passe as he spake and they heard not so shal they crie I wil not heare sayth the Lord of hosts †And I dispersed them through out al kingdoms which they know not and the land was left desolate of them for that there was none passing returning and the land to be desired they layd into a desert CHAP. VIII God wil geue abundance of spiritual benefites to al nations by Christ 7. to whom shal be conuerted 13. manie Iewes 20. but manie more Gentiles AND the word of the Lord of hosts was made saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hostes I haue bene ielous for Sion with great zeale and with great indignation haue I bene ielous for it †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts I am returned to Sion and I wil dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and Ierusalem shal be called the Citie of truth the Mount of the Lord of hosts the sanctified mount †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet shal old men dwel and old wemen in the streets of Ierusalem and euerie mans stafe in his hand for multitude of yeares †And the streets of the citie shal be filled with infantes and girles playing in the streets therof †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts If it shal seme hard in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those dayes Why shal it be hard in mine eyes sayth the Lord of hosts †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Behold I wil saue my people from the land of the East and from the land of the Going downe of the sunne †And I wil bring them and they shal dwel in the middes of Ierusalem and they shal be my people and I wil be their God in truth and in iustice †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Let your handes be strengthned you that heare in these dayes these words by the mouth of the prophets in the day that the house of the Lord of hosts was founded that the temple might be built †For before those dayes there was no hyre for men neither was there hyre for beasts neither was there peace to the comer in nor goer out for tribulation and I did let goe al men euerie one against his neighbour †But now not according to the former dayes wil I doe to the remnant of this people sayth the Lord of hosts †but the seede of peace shal be the vine shal geue his fruite and the earth shal geue her spring and the heauens shal geue their dew and I wil make the remnant of this people to possesse al these thinges †And it shal be as you were a malediction among the Gentils ô house of Iuda house of Israel so wil I saue you and you shal be a benediction feare not let your handes be strengthned †Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As I purposed to afflict you when your fathers had prouoked me to wrath sayth our Lord †and I had no mercie so conuerting I haue meant in these dayes to doe good to the house of Iuda and Ierusalem feare not †These then are the wordes which you shal doe Speake ye truth euerie one with his neighbour truth and iudgement of peace iudge ye in your gates †And thinke ye not euerie man in your hart euil against his frend lying othe loue ye not for al these things are such as I hate sayth our Lord. †And the word of our Lord of hosts was made to me saying †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts The fast of the fourth and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seuenth and the fast of the tenth shal be to the house of Iuda into ioy and gladnes into goodlie solemnities truth onlie and peace loue ye †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts vntil peoples come dwel in manie cities †and the inhabitants goe one to an other saying Let vs goe and besech the face of our Lord and let vs seeke the Lord of hosts I also wil goe †And manie peoples shal come and strong nations to seeke the Lord of hosts in Ierusalem to besech the face of our Lord. †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts In those dayes wherein ten men of al the tongue of the Gentils shal take hold and they shal take hold of the skirt of a man that is a Iewe saying We wil goe with you for we haue heard that God is with you CHAP. IX The bordering enimies of the Iewes shal beleue in Christ 9. who wil first come to the Iewes in mekenes yet in solemnitie riding on an asse 11. deliuer the godlie from the lake 12. geue great thinges to the
these fiue named by the Septuagint and some others not then borne of the lines of Phares and Beniamin recited here by Moyses could be saied to come with Iacob into Aegypt S. Augustin findeth so insoluble that he doubteth not to affirme some great hidden mysterie to be vnderstood by the Septnagint Interpreters in these numbers not otherwise perhaps explicable according to the letter CHAP. XLVII Iacob with his sonnes being come into Gessen Pharao granteth them the same place to dwel in 13. The famine forceth the Aegyptians to sel al their goods landes and possessions to the King 22. except the Priests part to whom the king aloweth necesarie foode without paying for it 27. After seuentene yeares Iacob adiureth Ioseph to burie him amongst his ancesters IOSEPH therfore going in told Pharao saing My father brethren their sheepe and heardes al thinges that they possesse are come out of the Land of Chanaan behold they stay in the Land of Gessen †The vtmost also of his brethren fiue persons he presented before the king †whom he asked What trade haue you They answered We thy seruantes are pastours of sheepe both we and our fathers †We are come to soiourne in the land because there is no grasse for thy seruantes flockes the famine being very sore in the land of Chanaan and we desire thee to command that we thy seruantes may be in the Land of Gessen †And the King therfore said to Ioseph Thy father and thy brethren are come to thee †The Land of Aegypt is in thy sight make them to dwel in the best place and deliuer them the Land of Gessen And if so be thou knowe that there are industrious men among them appoint them maisters of my cattel †After this Ioseph brought in his father to the King and set him before him who blessing him †and being asked of him How manie be the dayes of the yeares of thy life †He answered The dayes of the pilgrimage of my life are an hundred thirtie yeares few and euil and they are not come to the dayes of my fathers in which they were pilgrimes †And blessing the king he went forth †But Ioseph gaue possession to his father and his brethren in Aegypt in the best place of the land in Rhamesses as Pharao had commanded †And he nourished them and al his fathers house alowing victuales to euerie one †For in the whole world there wanted bread and famine oppressed the land especially of Aegypt and Chanaan †Out of which he gethered together al the money for the selling of corne and brought it in vnto the kings treasure †And when the byers wanted money al Aegypt came to Ioseph saying Geue vs bread why die we before thee our money failing †To whom he answered Bring your cattel and for them I wil geue you victuales if you haue not to pay †Which when they had brought he gaue them sustenance for horses and sheepe and oxen and asses and he sustayned them that yeare for the exchange of the cattel †And they came the second yeare and said to him We wil not conceale from our lord that our money fayling our cattel withal haue fayled neither art thou ignorant that we haue nothing besides our bodies and land †Why therfore shal we die in thy sight both we and our land wil be thyne bye vs to be the kings bondmen and geue vs sede lest for default of tillers the land be turned into a wildernes †Ioseph therfore bought al the Land of Aegypt euery man selling his possessions for the greatnes of the famine And he brought it vnder Pharaos handes †and al the people therof from the fardest ends of Aegypt euen to the vttermost coasts therof †“ sauing the land of the “ Priests which the king had deliuered them to whom also a certaine alowance of victuals was geuen out of the cōmon barnes and therfore they were not driuen to sel their possessions †Ioseph therfore said to the people Behold as you see Pharao possesseth both you and your land take sede and sowe the fields †that you may haue corne The fifth part you shal geue to the king the other foure I am content you shal haue for sede and for foode to your families and your children †Who answered Our life is in thy hand only let our lord haue a respect vnto vs and we wil gladly serue the king †From that time vntil this present day in the whole land of Aegypt the fifth part is paied to the kings and it became as it were a lawe sauing the land of the priests which was free from this condition †Israel therfore dwelt in Aegypt that is in the Land of Gessen and possessed it and was increased and multiplied exceedingly †And he liued in it seuenteene yeares and al the dayes of his life came to an hundred fourtie seuen yeares †And when he sawe that the day of his death approched he called his sonne Ioseph and said to him If I haue found grace in thy sight put thy hand vnder my thigh and thou shalt doe me this mercie and truth not to bury me in Aegypt †but “ I wil sleepe with my fathers and take me away out of this land and burie me in the sepulchre of my ancesters To whom Ioseph answered I wil doe that thou hast commanded †And he said Sweate then to me Who swearing Israel adored God turning “ to the beds head ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLV 22. Sauing the land of the Priests Let them heare which now liue saith S. Chrysostom what great care men had in times past of the priests of idols and let them learne at least to yeeld like honour to true priests to whom the ministerie of al diuine offices is committed For if the Aegyptians in their errors had so great care of Idols thincking them to be more honored if their ministers were respected how great condemnation doe they not deserue that now diminish that which pertaineth to the prouision of priests Doe yee not know that the honour pertaineth to God himself Regard not therfore him to whom the honouris exhibited For it is not for his cause to whom thou doest it but for his sake whose priest he is that of him thou maiest abundantly receiue rewards VVherfore he said He that shal doe it to one of these hath done it for me He that receiueth a prophet in the name of a prophet shal receiue the revvard of a prophet VVil our Lord reward thee according to the worthines or meannes of his ministers According to thine owne alacritie he either crowneth or condemneth c. I say not this for the priests sakes but for yours desiring to gaine you in al things For in lieu of that litle you geue you shal receiue immortal rewards and vnspeakeable good Let vs consider these things and haste to serue them not looking vpon the cost but vpon
in that day In truth because God is not with me these euils haue found me †But I wil hide and keepe close my face in that day for al the euils which they haue done because they haue folowed strange goddes †Now therfore write vnto you this canticle and teach the children of Israel that they know it by hart and sing it by mouth and this song be vnto me for a testimonie among the children of Israel †For I wil bring them into the Land for the which I sware to their fathers flowing with milke and honie And when they haue eaten and are ful and fatte they wil turne away to strange goddes and serue them and wil detract from me and make my couenant of none effect †After that manie euils and afflictions shal haue found them this canticle shal answer them for a testimonie which no obliuion shal take away out of the mouth of their seede For I know their cogitations what thinges they are about to doe this day before that I bring them into the Land which I haue promised them †Moyses therfore wrote the canticle and taught it the children of Israel †And our Lord commanded Iosue the sonne of Nun and said Take courage and be strong for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the Land which I haue promised and I wil be with thee †Therfore after that Moyses wrote the wordes of this law in a volume and finished it †he commanded the Leuites that caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord saying †Take this booke and put it in the side of the arke of the couenant of our Lord your God that it may be for a testimonie against thee †For I know thy contention and thy most stiffe necke Whiles I yet liue and goe in with you you haue done alwayes contenciously against our Lord how much more when I shal be dead †Gather to me al the ancientes by your tribes and your doctors and I wil speake these wordes in their hearing and wil inuocate against them heauen and earth †For I know that after my death you wil doe wickedly and wil decline quickly from the way that I haue commanded you and euils shal come vpon you in the later times when you shal doe euil in the sight of our Lord to prouoke him by the workes of your handes †Moyses therfore spake in the hearing of the whole assemblie of Israel the wordes of this song and finished it euen to the end CHAP. XXXII A Canticle of the Law wherin the people are exhorted to serue God for his perfect goodnes for his singular benefites for their former ingratitude and for his mercie stil mixed with his punishmentes 44. Al which being earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children 48. Moyses is commanded to goe into a mountaine whence he shal see the promised land but not enter into it HEARE ye heauens what thinges I speake the earth heare the wordes of my mouth †My doctrine grow together as raine my speach flow as the dew as it were a shower vpon the herbe and as it were droppes vpon the grasse †Because I wil inuocate the name of our Lord geue magnificence to our God †The workes of God be perfect and al his waies iudgementes God is faithful and without any iniquitie iust and right †They haue sinned to him and not his children in filthines a froward and peruerse generation †These thinges doest thou render to our Lord thou foolish and vn wise people Is not he thy father that hath possessed thee and made and created thee †Remember the old daies thinke vpon euerie generation aske thy father and he wil declare to thee thy elders and they wil tel thee †When the highest diuided the nations when he separated the sonnes of Adam he appointed the limites of people according to the number of the children of Israel †But our Lords part is his people Iacob the corde of his inheritance †He found him in a desert land in a place of horrour and of wast wildernes he ledde him about and taught him and kept him as the apple of his eye †As the eagle prouoking her young to flie and houering ouer them hath he spred his winges and he hath taken him and caried him on his shoulders †Our Lord onlie was his guide and there was not with him a strange God †He placed him ouer an high land that he might eate the fruites of the fieldes that he might sucke honie out of the rocke and oile out of the hardest stone †Butter from the heard and milke of the sheepe with the fatte of lambes and of rammes the sonnes of Basan and bucke goates with the marow of wheate and might drinke the bloud of the grape most pure †The beloued was made grosse and spurned made grosse fatted dilated he left God his maker and departed from God his saluation †They prouoked him in strange goddes and in abominations stirred him to anger †They immolated to diuels and not to God to goddes which they knew not there came new fresh ones whom their fathers worshipped not †God that begatte thee thou hast forsaken and hast “ forgotten our Lord thy creatour †Our Lord saw and was moued to wrath because his sonnes and daughters prouoked him †And he said I wil hide my face from them and wil confider their last for it is a peruerse generation and vnfaithful children †They haue prouokedme in that which was no God and haue angred me in their vanities and I wil prouoke them in that which is no people and in a foolish nation wil I anger them †A fyre is kindled in my wrath and shal burne euen to the lowest partes of hel and shal deuoure the earth with her spring and shal burne the foundations of mountaines †I wil heape euils vpon them and myne arrowes I wil spend in them †They shal be consumed with famine and birdes shal deuoure them with most bitter biting the teeth of beastes wil I send vpon them with the furie of those that traile vpon the ground and creepe †Without shal the sword deuoure them within fearefulnes the young man and the virgin together the sucking child with the old man †I said Where are they I wil make their memorie to cease from among men †But for the wrath of the enemies I haue differred lest perhaps their enemies might be proude and would say Our mightie hand and not the Lord hath done al these thinges †A nation without counselis it and without wisedome †O that they were wise and vnderstoode and would prouide for their last †How should one pursew a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight was it not therfore because their God sold them and our Lord inclosed them †For our
expecting the end of the thing and she cried to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who brake the bandes as if a man should breake a thread of to◠twyned with spittle when it hath taken the sauor of fyre and it was not knowen wherein his strength was †And Dalila said to him Behold thou hast deluded me and hast spoken false now at the least tel me wherwith thou mayest be bound †To whom he answered If I shal be bound with new cordes that were neuer occupied I shal be weake and like to other men †With the which Dalila againe bound him and cried The Philisthijmes vpon thee Samson ambushementes being prepared in the chamber Who did so breake the bandes as threades of linnen cloth †And Dalila said to him againe How long deceiuest thou me and speakest false Shew wherewith thou mayest be bound To whom Samson answered If thou platte seuen heares of my head with a heare lase and fasten a nayle tyed round about them in the ground I shal be weake †Which when Dalila had done she said to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who rysing vp from sleepe drew out the nayle with the heares and the heare lase †And Dalila said to him How doest thou say that thou louest me whereas thy mind is not with me These three times thou hast lied to me wouldest not tel wherein thy greatest strength is †And when she molested him and continually hong vpon him for many daies not geuing him space to rest his soule faynted and was wearied euen vnto death †Then opening the truth of the thing he said to her There neuer came yron vpon my head because I am a Nazareite that is to say consecrated to God from my mothers wombe if my head shal be shauen my strength shal depart from me and I shal fayle and shal be as other men †And she seing that he had confessed to her al his minde sent to the princes of the Philisthijms and willed them Come vp yet once more for now he hath opened his hart to me Who went vp taking with them the money which they had promised †But she made him to sleepe vpon her knees and to lay his head in her bosome And she called a barber and shaued his seuen heares and beganne to driue him away and thrust him from her for immediately the streingth departed from him †and she said The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who arysing from sleepe said in his mind I wil goe forth as I did before and wil shake my self not knowing that our Lord was departed from him †Whom when the Philisthijmes had apprehended forthwith they plucked forth his eies and led him to Gaza bound with chaynes and being shut vp in prison they made him grinde †And now his heares had begone to grow againe †and the princes of the Philisthijms assembled in one that they might immolate magnifical hostes to Dagon their god and might feast saying Our God hath deliuered our enemie Samson into our handes †Which thing the people also seing praysed their god and said the same thinges Our God hath deliuered our aduersarie into our handes who destroyed our countrie and killed verie manie †And reioysing through out their bankettes when they had now taken their good cheere they commanded that Samson should be called and should play before them Who being brought out of prison played before them and they made him to stand betwen two pillers †Who said to the seruant that gouerned his steppes Suffer me to touch the pillers on which al the house stayeth and let me leane vpon them and rest a litle †And the house was ful of men and wemen and there were al the princes of the Philisthijms also from the roofe and higher part about three thousand of both sexe beholding Samson playing †But he inuocating our Lord said Lord God remember me restore now to me myne old strength my God that I may reuenge me of myne enemies and for the losse of two eies may receiue one reuenge †And taking both the pillers on which the house rested and holding the one in his right hand and the other in his left †he said “ Let me die with the Philisthijms And the pillers being strongly shaken the house fel vpon al the princes and the rest of the multitude that was there and he killed manie moe dying then before he had killed liuing †And his brethren going downe and al his kindred they tooke his bodie and buried it betwixt Saraa and Esthaol in the sepulchre of his father Manue and he iudged Israel twentie yeares ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 30. Let me die vvith the Philisthiims Manie thinges do iustifie Samsons fact in killing himself with the Philisthiims First it appeareth by the miracle that God directly and extraordinarily concurred by restoring in that moment his admirable streingth that he could pull downe two such pillers And conformably we may gather that God inspired his mind to attempt this fact and so he erred not but obeyed God herein as S. Augustin noteth li. 1. c. 21. 26. de ciuit Dei Secondly he was moued with zele of Gods honour hearing the Idolaters praise their false god Dagon Thirdly he had a good and pure intention to reuenge him selfe for Gods more glorie praying to him for restauration of streingth Fourthy he did not directly desire to kil himselfe but to kil the Philisthims though himselfe must also die with them And in this act especially he was a figure of Christ who chiefly by his death conquered his enemies CHAP. XVII Michas and his mother cause a grauen and a molten idol to be made of siluer 5. He maketh one of his sonnes priest for the idol 10. and for the same purpose hyreth also a Leuite THERE was at that time a certaine man of mount Ephraim named Michas †who said to his mother The thousand and hundred siluer peeces which thou hadst separated to thy selfe and concerning the which thou didst sweare in my hearing behold I haue and they are with me To whom she said Blessed be my sonne to the Lord. †He therfore rendred them to his mother who had said to him I haue consecrated and vowed this siluer to the Lord that my sonne may receiue it of my hand and make a grauen and a molten god and now I deliuer that to thee †He rendred them therfore to his mother who tooke two hundred siluer peeces and gaue them to the siluersmith that he might make of them a grauen and a molten god which was in the house of Michas †Who separated also therein a litle house to the God and made an Ephod and Theraphim that is to say a priestlie vestiment and idoles and he filled the hand of one of his sonnes and he became his priest †In those daies there was not a king in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him self
returned cried to thee thou heardest from heauen and deliueredst theÌ„ in thy mercies manie times †And thou didst admonish them that they should returne to thy law But they did proudly heard not thy coÌ„mandmentes and sinned in thy iudgementes which a man should do and shal liue in them and they gaue the reuolting shoulder and hardned their necke neither did they heare †And thou didst prolong manie yeares ouer them and didst testefie to charge them in thy spirit by the hand of thy Prophetes and they heard not and thou didst deliuer them into the hand of the peoples of the nations †But in thy very many mercies thou madest them not consumption neither didst thou forsake them because a God of compassions and gratious art thou †Now therfore O our God great strong and terrible keeping couenant and mercie turne not away from thy face al the labour which hath found vs our Kinges and our Princes and our Priests and our Prophetes and our fathers and al the people from the daies of the king of Aâ—â—ur vntil this day †And thou art iust in al thinges that haue come vpon vs because thou hast done truth but we haue done wickedly †Our Kinges our Princes our Priestes and our fathers haue not done thy law and haue not attended thy commandmentes and thy testimonies which thou hast testified among them †And they in their reignes and in thy manifold goodnes which thou gauest them and in the land most large and fatte which thou didst deliuer in their sight serued not thee nor returned from their most wicked deuises †Behold we our selues this day are bondmen and the land which thou gauest our fathers that they should eate the bread therof and the good thinges that are therof and our selues are seruantes in it †And the fruites therof are multiplied to the kinges whom thon hast sette ouer vs for our sinnes and they haue dominion ouer our bodies and ouer our beastes according to their wil and we are in great tribulation †Therfore vpon al these thinges we our selues make a couenant and write and our Princes our Leuites and our Priestes signe it CHAP X. Mâ—nie in name of al subscribe to the couenant made with God 30. Namely not to marrie with strangers 31. to keepe the Sabbath day and the seuenth yeare 32. To pay oblations 35. First fruites 38. and Tithes AND the subscribers were Nehemias Athersatha the sonne of Hachelai and Sedecias †Saraias Azarias Ieremias †Pheshur Amarias Melchias †Hattus Sebenia Melluch †Harem Merimuth Obdias †Daniel Genthon Baruch †Mosollam Abia Miamin †Maazia Belgai Semeia these were Priestes †Moreouer Leuites Iosue the sonne of Azanias Bennui of the children of Henadad Cedmihel †And their bretheren Sebenia Odaia Celita Phalaia Hanan †Micha Rohob Hasebia †Zachur Serebia Sabania †Odaia Bani Baninu †The heades of the people Pharos Phahathmoab Aelam Zethu Bani †Bonni Azgad Bebai †Adonia Begoai Adin †Ater Hezecia Azur †Odaia Hasum Besai †Hareph Anathoth Nebai †Megphias Mosollam Hazir †Mezsibel Sadoc Iedua †Pheltia Hanan Anai †Osee Hanania Hasub †Alohes Phalea Sobec †Rehum Hasebna Maasia †Echaia Hanan Anan †Melluch Haran Baana †And the rest of the people Priestes Leuites Porteres and singing men Nathineites and al that seperated themselues from the peoples of the landes to the law of God their wiues their sonnes and their daughters †Al that could vnderstand promising for their bretheren their princes and they that came to promise and sweare that they would walke in the law of God which he gaue in the hand of Moyses the seruant of God that they would do kepe al the coÌ„mandments of the Lord our God and his iudgementes and his ceremonies †And that we would not geue our daughters to the people of the land and their daughters we would not take to our soÌ„nes †The people 's of the land which bring in things to sel al thinges to be vsed to sel them on the Sabbath day we wil not take it of them in the Sabbath and in the sanctified day And we wil let passe the seuenth yeare and the exaction of euerie hand †And we wil ordayne preceptes vpon ourselues to giue the third part of a sicle euerie yeare to the worke of the house of our God †to the loaues of proposition and to the continual sacrifice and for a continual holocaust in the Sabbathes in the Calendes in the Solemnities and in the sanctified and for sinne that propitiation may be made for Israel and vnto al vse of the house of our God †We therfore did cast lotes concerning the oblation of wood betwen the Priestes and the Leuites and the people that it should be brought into the house of our God by the houses of our fathers at set times from yeare to yeare that it might burne vpon the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the law of Moyses †And that we would bring the first borne of our land and the first fruites of al the fruite of euerie tree from yeare to yeare in the house of our Lord. †and the first fruites of our sonnes and of our cattel as it is written in the law and the first fruites of our oxen and of our sheepe that they might be offered in the house of our God to the Priestes which minister in the house of our God †And the first fruites of our meates and of our libamentes and the fruites of euerie tree of vintage also and of oyle we wil bring to the Priestes vnto the treasurie of our God and the tenth part of our land to the Leuites The Leuites themselues shal receiue the tithes out of al the cities of our works †And the Priest the sonne of Aaron shal be with the Leuites in the tythes of the Leuites and the Leuites shal offer the tenth part of their tythe in the house of our God to the treasurie in the treasure house †For the children of Israel and the children of Leui shal carie to the treasurie the first fruites of corne of wine and of oyle and the sanctified vessels shal be there and the Priestes and singing men and porters and ministers and we wil not leaue the house of our God CHAP. XI New inhabitantes of Ierusalem are recited 20. likwise who dwelt in other cities of Iuda AND the princes of the people dwelt in Ierusalem but the rest of the people cast lottes to take one part of ten that should dwel in Ierusalem the holie citie and nine partes in the cities †And the people blessed al the men that had voluntarily offered them selues to dwel in Ierusalem †These therfore are the princes of the prouince which dwelt in Ierusalem and in the cities of Iuda And euerie one dwelt in his possession in their cities Israel the Priestes the Leuites the Nathineites and the children of the
TOBIAS CHAP. I. Tobias of the tribe of Nephthali neuer communicateth in Ierobams scisme 9. teacheth his sonne to feare God and flee sinne 11. Being in captiuitie cateth not forbidden meates as others do 13 Amongst other workes of mercie he lendeth tenne talentes of siluer to Gabelus 2◠Is persecuted and spoyled 24. Shorty the king being slaine he recouereth libertie and his goodes TOBIAS of the tribe and cirie of Nepthali which is in the vpper partes of Galilee aboue Naaslon beyond the way that leadeth to the weast hauing on the right hand the citie Sephet †when he was captiue in the daies of Salmanasar the king of the Aslyrians yet being in captiuitie he forsooke not the way of truth †so that he imparted al things that he could make dayly to his brethren captiues with him which were of his kinred †And whereas he was yonger then al the tribe of Nephthali yet did he no childish thing in his worke †Finally when al went to the golden calues which Ieroboam the king of Israel had made he alone fled the companies of al †and went into Ierusalem to the temple of our Lord and there adored our Lord God of Israel offering faithfully al his first fruites and his tithes †so that in the third yeare he ministred al the tithing to the proselytes and strangers †These thinges and the like to these did he obserue being a childe according to the law of God †But when he was a man he tooke to wife Anna of his owne tribe and he begat a sonne of her geuing him his owne name †whom from his infancie he taught to feare God and to abstayne from al sinne †Therfore when by the captiuitie he was come with his wife and sonne into the citie of Niniue with al his tribe †when al did eate of the meates of the Gentiles he kept his soule and neuer was contaminated in their meates †And because he was mindful of our Lord in al his hart God gaue him grace in the sight of Salmanasar the king †and he gaue him leaue to goe whithersoeuer he would hauing libertie to doe what thinges soeuer he would †He therfore went to al that were in the captiuitie and gaue them holesome admonitions †And when he was come into Rages a citie of the Medes and had ten talentes of siluer of these wherwith he had beene honoured of the king †and when in a great multitude of his kinred he saw Gabelus stand in nede who was of his tribe vnder a bil of his hand he gaue him the sayd weight of siluer †But after much time Salmanasar the king being dead when Sennacherib his sonne reigned for him and estemed the children of Israel odious in his sight †Tobias dayly went through al his kinred and conforted them and diuided to euerie one as he was able of his goods †the hungrie he nourished and to the naked he gaue clothes and the dead and them that were slayne he buryed carefully †Finally when king Sennacherib was returned fleing from Iewrie the shaughter that God had made about him for his blasphemie and being angrie slewe manie of the children of Israel Tobias buryed their bodies †But when it was told the king he commanded him to be slayne and tooke al his substance †But Tobias fleing with his sonne and with his wife nakedly lay hid because manie loued him †But after fourtie fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes †and Tobias returned into his house and al his substance was restored to him CHAP. II. Tobias to burie an Israelite that is slaine in the streete leaueth his dinner and ghestes 10. Is made blind by Gods permission for manifestation of his patience 19. His Wife getteth her liuing by worke 22. and for a scrupulous Word reprocheth his sinceritie BVT after these thinges when there was a festiual day of our Lord and a good dinner was made in Tobias house †he sayd to his sonne Goe and bring some of our tribe that feare God to make merie with vs. †And when he had gone returning he tolde him that one of the children of Israel lay slayne in the streate And he forth with leaping vp from his place at the table leauing his dinner came fasting to the bodie †and taking it vp caried it to his house secretely that when the sunne should be downe he might warely burie him †And whē he had hid the bodie he eate bread with mourning and trēbling †remembring that word which our Lord sayd by Amos the Prophet Your festiual dayes shal be turned into lamentation and mourning †But when the sunne was downe he went and buried him †And al his neighbours rebuked him saying Euen now thou wast commanded to be slayne because of this matter and thou didest scarce escape the commandment of death and doest thou burie the dead agayne †But Tobias more fearing God then the king in hast tooke the bodies of them that were slayne and hid them in his house and at midnight buried them †And it happened that on a certayne day being wearied with burying coming into his house he had cast himself downe by the wal and slept †and as he was sleeping hote dung out of the swallowes nest fel vpon his eyes and he was made blinde †And this tentation therfore our Lord permitted to chance vnto him that an example might be geuen to posteritie of his patience also of holie Iob. †For whereas he feated God alwaies from his infancie and kept his commandmentes he grudged not agaynst God for that the plague of blindnes had chanced to him †but continewed immoueable in the feare of God geuing thankes to God al the dayes of his life †For as the kinges insulted against blessed Iob so his parentes and cosins derided his life saying †Where is thy hope for the which thou didest bestowe almes and burials †But Tobias rebuked them saying Speake not so †because we are the children of holie ones and looke for that life which God wil geue to them that neuer change their faith from him †But Anna his wife went dayly to weauing worke and she brought the gaines of her handie labour which she could get †Whereby it came to passe that she receiuing a kid of goates had brought it home †the voice whereof bleating when her husband had heard he sayd Take heed lest perhaps it be stollen restore ye it to his owners because it is not lawful for vs either to eate anie thing of theft or to touch it †To these wordes his wife being angrie answered Thy hope is become vayne manifestly and thine almes now haue appeared †And with these and other such like wordes she vpbrayded him CHAP. III. The prayer of Tobias 7. and Sara in their seueral afflictions 24. are heard by God and the Angel Raphael is sent to releeue them THEN Tobias lamented
extolled the Iewes for feare of Mardocheus †whom they knew to be prince of the palace and to be able to doe very much the fame also of his name increased dayly and flew abroad through al mens mouthes †Therfore the Iewes stroke their enemies with a great slaughter and slew them repaying them that which they had prepared to doe to them †in so much that in Susan also they killed fiue hundred men besides the tenne sonnes of Aman the Agagite the enemie of the Iewes whose names be these †Pharsandatha and Delphon and Esphatha †and Phoratha and Adalia and Aridatha †and Phormesta and Arisai and Aridai and Iezatha †Whom when they had slaine they would not take prayes of their goodes †And by and by the number of them that were killed in Susan was brought to the king †Who said to the queene In the citie of Susan the Iewes haue killed fiue hundred men besides the ten sonnes of Aman how great a slaughter thinkest thou doe they make in al the prouinces what askest thou more what wilt thou that I coÌ„mand to be done †To whom she answered If it please the king let there authoritie be geuen to the Iewes that as they haue done to day in Susan so also they may doe to morow and that the tenne sonnes of Aman be hanged on gibbettes †And the king commanded that it should be so done And forth with the edict hong in Susan and the tenne sonnes of Aman were hanged †The fourthtenth day of the moneth Adar the Iewes being gathered together there were killed in Susan three hundred men neither was their substance spoyled by them †Yea and through al prouinces which were subiect to the kings dominion the Iewes stood for their liues their enemies and persecutors being slayne in so much that there was fully seuentie fiue thousand of them that were killed and no man tooke any of their goodes †And the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar was the first day with them al of the slaughter the fourtenth day they ceased to kil Which they ordayned to be solemne so that in it at al times afterward they gaue them selues to good chere mirth bankets †But they that made the slaughter in the citie of Susan were occupied in the slaughter the thirtenth and fourtenth day of the same moneth and in the fiftenth day they ceased to kil And therfore they ordayned the same a solemne day of good cheere and ioyfulnes †But those Iewes that abode in townes not walled and villages ordayned the fourtenth day of the moneth Adar for bankettes and ioy so that they reioyse in it and send one an other portions of bankets and meates †Mardocheus therfore wrote al these things and being comprised in letters sent them to the Iewes that abode in al the kings prouinees as wel those that lay neere as far of †that they should take the fourtenth and fiftenth day of the moneth Adar for feastes and the yeare alwayes returning should celebrate them with solemne honour †because in the same dayes the Iewes reuenged them selues of their enemies and mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and ioy and that these should be dayes of good cheere and gladnesse and they should send one to an other portions of meates and should geue giftes to the poore †And the Iewes receiued into a solemne rite al things which they had begune to doe at that time and which Mardocheus by letters had commanded to be done †For Aman the sonne of Amadathi of the stocke of Agag the enemie and aduersarie of the Iewes purposed euil against them to kil them and destroy them and he cast Phur which in our language is turned a lot †And afterward Esther went in to the king beseching that his endeuours might by the kings letters be made voyde the euil that he had intended against the Iewes might returne vpon his owne head Finally they hong both him and his sonnes vpon the gallowes †and since that time these dayes are called Phurim that is of Lottes because Phur that is a lot was cast into the pot And al things that were done are contayned in the volume of this epistle that is of this booke †and the thinges that they susteyned and that were afterward changed the Iewes tooke vpon them selues and their seede and vpon al that would be ioyned to theyr religion that it should be lawful for none to passe without solemnitie these dayes which the writing testifieth and certaine times require as yeares continually succede one an other †These are daies which no obliuion shal euer put out and al prouinces in al the world shal celebrate through out al generations neither is there any citie wherein the daies of Phurim that is of lottes must not be obserued of the Iewes and of their progenie which is bound to these ceremonies †And Esther the queene the daughter of Abihail and Mardocheus the Iew wrote also the second epistle that with al diligence this day should be established solemne for the time to come †and they sent to al the Iewes that were in the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces of king Assuerus that they should haue peace and receiue truth †obseruing the Daies of lottes and in their time should celebrate them with ioy as Mardocheus and Esther had appoynted and they tooke vpon them to be obserued of them selues and of their seede fastes and cries and the daies of Lottes †and al thinges which are conteyned in the historie of this booke which is called Esther ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX 1. The case being changed In this whole historie as in manie other passages of holie scripture we see the meruelous change of the right hand of the highest First in the verie instant of extreme danger the kinges face with burning eyes shewing the furie of his breast ch 15. v. 10. was turned into mildnes towardes Esther v. 11. Secondly proud Aman being aduanced in honour office aboue al princes of the kinges court ch 3. v. 1. was sodainly forced publikely to lead Mardocheus his horse whom he most hated ch 6 v. 10. Thirdly he was constrayned with loud voice to proclame his honour whom he most despised and threatned Fourtly the same Aman before called the father as it were the onlie gouernour of the king ch 1â— v. 6 ch 16. v. 11. was forthwith condemned for a traitor ch 7. v. 8. ch 16. v. 18. Fifthly He that could not abide to see Mardocheus ch 5. v. 13. afterward durst not looke vpon the king not could endure his countenance ch 7 v 6. Sixtly He was hanged on the same gallowes which he had prepared for Mardocheus ch 7. v. 9. Seuently VVheras he was not content with the death of Mardocheus alone but procuâ—ed the kings decree to destroy the whole nation ch 3. v 6 and so feasted with the king when the Iewes mourned v 15.
tried by the losse of al his goodes children and was proued to be very patient He was then most greuously tormented in bodie being left without comforth albeit he lamentably bewa led so great extremitie wishing such dayes had bene preuented yet he neither spoke against God nor good man nor his owne soule according to truth auouched defended his owne innocencie And at last by Gods inspiration and swete consolation he reâ—reâ—eâ—ded himself of former imperfections vttered in some wordes and with ful resignation to Gods wil susteyned al his losses and paynes not only with contentment but also with ioy THE END OF THE FIRST TOME TO THE CVRTEOVS READER We haue already found some faultes escaped in printing but fearing there be more and the whole volume being ouerlong to be examined agayne we pray the curteous reader to pardon al and amend them as they occurre Two Tables one of the times of the old Testament an other of the principal matters in the Annotations therof shalfolow God willing with the other Tome which we desire and hope to send you shortly In the meane time the gentle reader may please to supplie the want therof as he may by the Recapitulations of the Historie and pointes of Religion in the fiue first ages already conteyned in this Volume in their proper places in the pages 29. 47 196. 701. and 934. You may please to amend the more especial errors happened in printing by reading thus Page 57. line 29. SALEM Pa. 305. in the margent much more in the Church of Christ Page 846 lin 39. reioyce that Pege 1064 line 39 line 40. how they escape many miseries which are neuer borne birth Page 1069 line 1. nor I gainsay If our selues or others shal finde more we wil gladly correct them THE SECOND TOME OF THE HOLIE BIBLE FAITHFVLLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH OVT OF THE AVTHENTICAL LATIN Diligently conferred with the Hebrew Greeke and other Editions in diuers languages With ARGVMENTS of the Bookes and Chapters ANNOTATIONS TABLES and other helpes for better vnderstanding of the text for discouerie of CORRVPTIONS in some late translations and for clearing CONTROVERSIES in Religion BY THE ENGLISH COLLEGE OF DOWAY Spiritu Sancto inspirati locuti sunt sancti Dei hemines 2. Pet. 1. The holie men of God spake inspired with the Holie Ghost Printed at Doway by LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holie Lambe M. DC X. APPROBATIO NOs infrascripti in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacrae Theologiae Doctores Professores hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem quam tres diuersieius nationis eruditissimi Theologi non solum fidelem sed propter diuersa quae ei sunt adiuncta valde vtilem fidei Catholicae propagandae ac tuendae bonis moribus promouendis sunt testati quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus Cuius item Translationis Annotationum Auctores nobis de fidei integtitate eruditionis praestantia probè sunt noti his rebus adducti nixi fructuose euulgari posse censuimus Duaci 8. Nouembris 1609. GVILIELMVS ESTIVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor in Academia Duacensi Professor BARTHOLOMAEVS PETRVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor in Vniuersitate Duacensi Professor GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theologiae Doctor eiusdem in Academia Duacena Professor PROEMIAL ANNOTATIONS vpon the Booke of Psalmes THE authoritie of this Booke was euer authentical and certaine as the assured word of God and Canonical Scripture But concerning the author there be diuers opinions For although it be manifest by the testimonie of Philo and Iosephus that in their time and alwaies before only King Dauid was by al Hebrew Doctors holden for Author of al the Psalmes yet after that lerned Origen and other Christian Doctors expounded manie Psalmes of Christ the Iewes being pressed therwith begane to denie that al were Dauids alleaging for their new opinion the titles of diuers Psalmes and some other difficulties ministring occasion of much needles dispute stil acknowledging the whole booke to be Canonical Wherupon S. Ierom and S. Augustin sometimes admitted those as authores of certaine Psalmes whose names are in the titles thereof S. Cyprian S. Cyril S. Athanasius and others agree in general that Dauid writte not al but differ much in particular touching other supposed authores In so much that Melchisedech Moyses Asaph Eman Idithun The sonnes of Core Salomon Ieremie Ezechiel Esdras Aggaeus and Zacharias are al with more or lesse probabilitie reputed authores of seueral Psalmes Neuertheles it semeth that S. Ierom rather related other mens iudgement then shewed his owne as we shal note by and by And S. Augustin li. 17. c. 14. de ciuit maturely discussing this doubt saith plainly that their Iudgement semed to him more credible vvho attribute al the hundred fiftie Psalmes to Dauid alone Further explicating that wheras some Psalmes haue Dauids owne name in their titles some haue other mens names some none at al this diuersitie importeth not diuers authores but signifieth other thinges either perteyning to the same persons or by interpretation of their names belonging to the present matter as our Lord inspired him Likewise S. Chrysostome resolutely iudgeth that only King Dauid was author of this whole Booke Moued especially by this argument for that Christ and the Apostles alleaging the Psalmes do oftentimes name Dauid as author and neuer anie other Also Origen S. Basil S. Ambrose S. Hilarie Theodoretus Cassiodorus Beda Eutimius and most part of ancient and late writers with the most common voice of Christians cal this booke the Psalmes of Dauid and the General Councels of Carthage Florence and Trent in the Cathologue of Canonical Scriptures recite this booke by the name of Dauids Psalter Moreouer it is clere Act. 2. that the second Psalme though it want his name is Dauids And other Scriptures 2. Paral. 7. v. 6. and 1. Esd 3. v. 10. say plainly that Dauid made the Psalmes 104. 105. 106. 117. 135. beginning Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer VVhich he appointed the Leuites to sing or play on instruments 1 Paral. 15. 16. and yet they haue not his name in their titles Againe 2. Reg. 23. Dauid is only intitled the egregious or excellent Psalmist of Israel Neither were Asaph Eman and Idithun anie where called Prophetes as are al the writers of holie Scriptures but only masters of musike 1. Paral. 25. And the sonnes of Core were only porters 1. Paral. 26. Finally S. Ierom whose iudgement the whole Church singularly estemeth in al questions belonging to holie Scriptures semeth as much inclined that only the Royal Prophet Dauid was author of this whole booke as to the contrarie For in his Epistle to Paulinus prefixed before the Latin Bible comprehending the principal arguments of seueral bookes when he cometh to the Psalmes without mention of other authors saith Dauid our Simonides Pindarus and Alceus Flaccus also
the sunne †Before your thornes did vnderstand the old bryar as liuing so in wrath he swalloweth them †The iust shal reioice when he shal see reuenge he shal wash his handes in the bloud of a sinner †And man shal say If certes there be fruite to the iust there is a God certes iudging them on the earth PSALME LVIII Holie Dauid being beseeged in his owne house by mâ—n sent to kil him confidently prayeth God to deliuer him 6. and al faithful nations in like danger 7. and praiseth God Vnto the end destroy not to Dauid in the inscription of the title when Saul sent and watched his house to kil him 1. Reg. 19. DELIVER me from mine enimies ô my God and from them that rise vp against me defend me †Deliuer me from them that worke iniquitie and from bloudy men saue me Because loe they haue taken my soule the strong haue falne violently vpon me †Neyther is it mine iniquitie nor my sinne ô Lord without iniquitie haue I runne and gone directly †Ryse vp to meete me and see and thou ô Lord the God of powres God of Israel attend to visite al nations haue no mercie on al that worke iniquitie †They wil returne at euening and they shal suffer famine as dogges and shal compasse the citie †Behold they wil speake in their mouth and a sworde in their lippes because who hath heard †And thou ô Lord wilt scorne them thou wilt bring to naught al the nations †I wil keepe my strength to thee because thou art my receiuer †my God thy mercie shal preuent †God wil shew vnto me concerning mine enimies kil them not lest sometime my peoples forgete Disperse them in thy strength and depose them my protector ô Lord. †The sinne of their mouth the word of their lippes and let them be taken in their pride And for cursing and lying they shal be talked of †in consummation in wrath of comsummation and they shal not be And they shal know that God wil rule ouer Iacob and ouer the ends of the earth †They shal be turned at euening and shal suffer famine as dogges and shal compasse the citie †They shal be dispersed to eate and if they be not filled they wil murmur also †But I wil sing thy strength and wil exalt thy mercie in the morning Because thou art become my receiuer and my refuge in the day of my tribulation My helper I wil sing to thee because thou art God my receiuer my God my mercie PSALME LIX King Dauid after his owne and the peoples manie tribulations 8. rendereth thankes for their renowmed victories 11. atchiued by Gods only powre †Vnto the end for them that shal be changed in the inscription of the title to Dauid him selfe for doctrine †when he set fire on Mesopotamia of Syria and in Sobal and Ioab returned and stroke Idumaea in the valley of saltpittes twelue thousand 2. Reg. 8. 10. 1. Paral. 18. O GOD thou hast repelled vs hast destroyed vs thou wast angrie and hast had mercie on vs. †Thou hast moued the earth and hast trubled it heale the breaches thereof because it is moued †Thou hast shewed vnto thy people hard thinges thou hast made vs drinke the wine of compunction †Thou hast geuen a signification to them that feare thee they flee from the face of the bow That thy beloued may be deliuered saue me with thy right hand and heare me †God hath spoken in his holie I shal reioyce and shal diuide Sichem and shal mesure the valley of tabernacles †Galaad is mine and Manasses is mine and Ephraim the strength of my heade †Iuda my king Moab the pot of my hope Into Edom wil I stretch out my shoe the foreners are subiect to me Who shal conduct me into a fensed citie who shal conduct me euen into Idumea †Shal not thou ô God that hast expelled vs and wilt not thou ô God goe forth in our hostes †Giue vs aide from tribulation because mans saluation is vaine †In God we shal doe strength and he shal bring to nothing them that afflict vs. PSALME LX. Faithful people of the whole earth pray and acknowlege that God mercifully heareth their prayer 6. expect the eternal kingdom of Christ in which they shal praise him for euermore Vnto the end in hyms to Dauid HEARE ô God my petitionâ— attend to my praier †From the ends of the earth I haue cried to thee whiles my hart was in anguish thou didst exalt me on a rocke †Thou hast conducted me because thou art made my hope a toure of strength from the face of the enimie †I shal inhabite in thy tabernacle for euer I shal be protected in the couert of thy winges †Because thou my God hast heard my prayer thou hast giuen inheritance to those that feare thy name †Thou wilt adde dayes vpon the dayes of the king his years euen vnto the day of generation and generation †He is permanent for euer in the sight of God his mercie and truth who shal require †So wil I say a Psalme to thy name for euer and euer that I may render my vowes from day to day PSALME LXI A iust man encoregeth his owne soule to serue God in sincere humilitie 9. exhorteth also al others to trust in God not in false and worldlie pollicie or wealth because Gods powre and mercie wil render to euerie one as they deserue Vnto the end for Iduthun a Psalme of Dauid Shal not my soule be subiect to God for of him is my saluation †For he is my God and my sauiour my receiuer I shal be moued no more †How long set you violently vpon a man you al doe kil as it were vpon a wal that is leaning and a wal shaken †But yet they thought to repel my price I ranne in thirst they blessed with their mouth and cursed with their hart †But yet my soule be thou subiect to God because my patience is from him †Because he is my God and my sauiour my helper I shal not remoue †In God is my saluation and my glorie the God of my helpe and my hope is in God †Hope in him al ye the congregation of people powre out your harts before him God is our helper for euer †But yet the children of men are vaine the children of men are liers in balances that they may deceiue by vanitie together †Hope not in iniquitie and couete not robberies if riches abound set not your hart vpon them †Once hath God spoken
geuen me hope †This hath comforted me in my humiliation because thy word hath quickened me †The prowd did vniustly excedingly but I declined not from thy law †I haue bene mindful of thy iudgements from euerlasting ô Lord and was comforted †Faynting possessed me because of sinners forsaking thy law †Thy iustifications were songue by me in the place of my peregrination †I haue bene mindful in the night of thy name ô Lord and haue kept thy law †This was done to me because I sought after thy iustifications Heth. Life †My portion ô Lord I sayd to keepe thy law †I besought thy face with al my hart haue mercie on me according to thy word †I thought vpon my wayes and conuerted my feete vnto thy testimonies †I am prepared and am not trubled to keepe thy commandments †The cordes of sinners haue wrapped me round about and I haue not forgotten thy law †At midnight I rose to confesse to thee for the iudgements of thy iustification †I am partaker of al that feare thee and that keepe thy commandments †The earth ô Lord is ful of thy mercie teach me thy iustifications Teth. Good †Thou hast done bountie with thy seruant ô Lord according to thy word †Teach me goodnesse and discipline and knowledge because I haue beleued thy commandments †Before I was humbled I offended therfore haue I kept thy word †Thou art good and in thy goodnesse teach me thy iustifications †The iniquitie of the prowd is multiplied vpon me but I in al my hart wil search thy commandments †Their hart is crudded together as milke but I haue meditated thy law †It is good for me that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy iustifications †The law of thy mouth is good vnto me aboue thousands of gold and siluer Iod. Beginning †Thy handes haue made me and formed me geue me vnderstanding and I wil learne thy commandmentes †They that feare thee shal see me shal reioyce because I haue much hoped in thy wordes †I know ô Lord that thy iudgements are equitie and in thy truth thou hast humbled me †Let thy mercie be done to comfort me according to thy word vnto thy seruant †Let thy commiserations come to me and I shal liue because thy law is my meditation †Let the prowde be confounded because they haue done vniustly toward me but I wil be exercised in thy commandments †Let them be conuerted to me that feare thee and that know thy testimonies †Let my hart be made immaculate in thy iustifications that I be not confounded Caph. Hand or Palme of the hand †My soule hath fainted for thy saluation and I haue much hoped in thy word †Myne eies haue fayled for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort me †Because I am made as a bottel in the hoare frost I haue not forgotten thy iustifications †How manie are the daies of thy seruant when wilt thou doe iudgement on them that persecute me †The vniust haue told me fables but not as thy law †Al thy commandmentes are truth they haue vniustly persecuted me helpe me †They haue welnere made an end of me in the earth but I haue not forsaken thy commandments †According to thy mercie quicken me and I shal keepe the testimonies of thy mouth Lamed Discipline †For euer Lord thy word is permanent in heauen †Thy truth in generation and generation thou hast founded the earth and it is permanent †By thy ordinance the day contine weth because al thinges serue thee †But that thy law is my meditation I had then perhaps perished in my humiliation †I wil not forget thy iustifications for euer because in them thou â—â—st quickned me †I am thine saue me because I haue sought out thy iustifications †Sinners haue expected me to destroy me I vnderstood thy testimonies †Of al consummation I haue sene the end thy commandment is exceding large Mem. Of them †How haue I loued thy law ô Lord al the day it is my meditation †Aboue mine enemies thou hast made me wise by thy commaundment because it is to me for euer †Aboue al that taught me haue I vnderstood because thy testimonies are my meditation †Aboue ancientes haue I vnderstood because I haue sought thy commandments †I haue staied my feete from al euil way that I may keepe thy wordes †I haue not declined from thy iudgements because thou hast set me a law †How sweete are thy wordes to my iawes more then honie to my mouth By thy commandments I haue vnderstood therfore haue I hated al the way of iniquitie Nun. Euerlasting †Thy word is a lampe to my feete and a light to my pathes †I sware and haue determined to keepe the iudgements of thy iustice †I am humbled excedingly ô Lord quicken me according to thy word †The voluntaries of my mouth make acceptable ô Lord and teach me thy iudgementes †My soule is in my handes alwaies and I haue not forgotten thy law †Sinners laid a snare for me and I haue not erred from thy commandments †For inheritance I haue purchased thy testimonies for euer because they are the ioy of my hart †I haue inclined my hart to doe thy iustifications for euer for reward Samech Helpe †I haue hated the vniust and I haue loued thy law †Thou art my helper and protectour and vpon thy word I haue much hoped †Depart from me ye malignant and I wil search the commandmentes of my God †Receiue me according to thy word and I shal liue and confound me not of myn expectation †Helpe me and I shal be saued and I wil meditate in thy iustifications alwayes †Thou hast despised al that reuolt from thy iudgementes because their cogitation is vniust †Al the sinners of the earth I haue reputed preuaricatours therfore haue I loued thy testimonies †Pearse my flesh with thy feare for I am afrayd of thy iudgementes Ain A fountaine or an eye †I haue done iudgement and iustice deliuer me not to them that calumniate me †Receiue thy seruant vnto good let not the prowde calumniate me †Mine eies haue fayled after thy saluation and for the word of thy iustice †Doe with thy seruant according to thy mercie and teacher me thy iustifications †I am thy seruant geue me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies †It
not returne neithet shal they apprehend the pathes of life †That thou mayst walke in a good way and mayst keepe the pathes of the iust †For they that are right shal dwel in the earth and the simple shal continue in it †But the impious shal be destroyed from the earth and they that doe vniustly shal be taken away from it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 13. VVho leaue the right vvay Generally this description of wicked men agreeth to al that committe and persist in mortal sinne whether they walked right at anie time before or no but most especially sheweth the properties of heretikes who forsake and leaue the direct ancient beaten knovvne vvay of the Catholique Church and teach nevv obscure doctrines not heard of or not approued in our forefathers time Secondly v. 14 they glorie in their ovvne deuises and reioyce in most vvicked thinges as in seducing multitude of peoples to rebel against their Catholique Princes and other Superiors spiritual and temporal in breaking vovves in despising good vvorkes trusting to only faith and that not the Catholique faith of al true Christians but euerie one his particular persvvasion that himself is iust shal be saued vvhich by their ovvne doctrin none is bond to beleue of an others state but of his owne only In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestants imagined faith is not a general Article which al do or should beleue but a most particular and singular phantasie which each one must conceiue of himself or herself Thirdly v. 16. Heresie called here the strange and forrene woman tempereth her vvordes to please the itching eares of her auditorie framing her doctrine to the humour of those vvhom she seeketh to peruert The same vvich the Apostle saith in other vvordes by svvere speaches and benedictions they seduce the hartes of innocents Fourthly v. 19. Those that do enter into error of heresie shal not returne that is very hardly and rarely returne into the right vvay of life the reason whereof the same Apostle yeldeth because an heretike is condemned by his ovvne iudgement For being in error and admitting no iudge but himself he parteth from the Church excludeth the meanes of better iustruction through his erronious iudgement remaineth in damnable opinion and so in the state of damnation CHAP. III. Wisdom exhorteth to kepe Gods law geuing long life to obserue mercie and truth 5. to confide in God 7. to feare 9. and honour him 11. to take his correction gladly 13. for al good thinges folow wisdom 27. to releue the needie without delay 30. not to contend with the wicked nor to imitate them 33. The euil shal faile and the godlie shal prosper MY sonne forget not my law and let thy hart keepe my precepts †For they shal adde to thee length of dayes and yeares of life and peace †Let not mercie and truth leaue thee put them about thy throte and write them in the tables of thy hart †and thou shalt finde grace and good discipline before God and men †Haue confidence in our Lord with al thy hart and leane not vpon thyne owne prudence †In al thy wayes thinke on him and he wil direct thy steppes †Be not wise in thyne owne conceipte feare God and depart from euil †for it shal be health to thy nauil and watering of thy bones †Honour our Lord with thy substance and geue to him of the first of al thy fruites †and thy barnes shal be replenished with fulnes and thy presses shal runouer with wine †My sonne cast not away the discipline of our Lord neither doe thou faint when thou art chasteâ—â—d of him †for whom our Lord loueth he chasticeth and as a father in the sonne he pleaseth himself †Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and floweth with prudence †better is the purchasing therof then marchandise of siluer and her fruite then chiefe and the purest gold †she is more precious then al riches and al thinges that are desired are not able to be compared with her †Length of dayes in her right hand in her left hand riches and glorie †Her wayes are beautiful wayes and al her pathes peaceable †She is a tree of life to them that shal apprehend her and he that shal hold her is blessed †Our Lord by wisdom founded the earth established the heauens by prudence †By his wisdom the depthes haue broken forth and the cloudes waxe thicke with dew †My sonne let not these thinges depart from thyne eies kepe the law counsel †and there shal be life to thy soule and grace to thy iawes †Then shalt thou walke confidently in thy way and thy foote shal not stumble †if thou sleepe thou shalt not feare thou shalt rest and thy sleepe shal be sweete †Dread not at soden terrour and the power of the impious falling vpon thee †For our Lord wil be at thy side and wil keepe thy foote that thou be not taken †Doe not prohibite him to doe good that is able if thou be able thy selfe also doe good †Say not to thy frend goe and returne and tomorow I wil geue to thee wheras thou mayest geue forth with †Practise not euil against thy freind when he hath affiance in thee †Contend not against man without cause wheras he hath done thee no euil †Doe not enuie an vniust man nor imitate his waies †because euerie deluder is an abomination of our Lord and his communication is with the simple †There is pouertie from our Lord in the house of the impious but the habitations of the iust shal be blessed †He shal delude the deluders and to the milde he wil geue grace †The wise shal possesse glorie the exaltation of fooles ignominie CHAP. IIII. The wiseman exhorteth others by his owne example to seeke wisdom 14. to decline from the wicked and to imitate the iust 23. to guide wel the hart mouth and feete CHILDREN heare ye the fathers discipline and attend that you may knowe prudence †I wil geue you a good gift forsake not my law †For I also was the sonne of my father tender and as onlie begotten in my mothers sight †and he taught me sayd Let thy hart receiue my wordes kepe my preceptes and thou shalt liue †Possesse wisedom possesse prudence forget not neither decline from the wordes of my mouth †Leaue her not and she wil keepe thee loue her and she wil preserue thee †The beginning of wisdom possesse wisdom and in al thy possession purchase prudence †take quickly and she wil exalt thee thou shalt be glorified of her when thou shalt embrace her †She wil geue to thy head increase of graces and with a noble crowne she wil protect thee †Heare my sonne and receiue my wordes that yeares of life may be multiplied to
incredulous to his word †After this God looked vpon the earth filled it with his good thinges †And the soule of euerie liuing thing shal shew before the face thereof and into it againe is their returne CHAP. XVII God creating man to his owne image gaue him gifies 9. and precepts 14. chose the Israelites for his peculiar people 18. Workes of mercie are commended to al men 20. Repentance to sinners 28. mercie is offered to al. GOD created man of the earth and after his owne image he made him †And againe he turned him into it and conformable to himselfe clothed him with strength †He gaue him a number of daies and time and gaue him power of those thinges that are vpon the earth †He put his feare ouer al flesh and he had dominion of beastes and fowles †He created of him an helper like to himself he gaue them counsel and tongue and eies eares and hart to deuise and he filled them with the discipline of vnderstanding †He created in them the knowlege of the spirit he filled their hart with vnderstanding and euil and good he shewed them †He set his eie vpon their hartes to shew them the great thinges of his workes †that they might praise the name of sanctification and glorie in his meruelous workes that thy might declare the glorious thinges of his workes †He added discipline vnto them and made them inherite the lawe of life †He made an euerlasting testament with them he shewed them iustice and his iudgementes †And their eie saw the glorious thinges of his honour and their eares heard the honour of his voice and he said to them Beware of euerie vniust thing †And he gaue them commandment euerie one concerning his neighbour †Their wayes are before him alwaies they are not hid from his eies †Ouer eucrie nation he appointed a ruler †And Israel was made the manifest portion of God †And al their workes as the sunne in the sight of God and his eies without intermission looking on their wayes †The testamentes were not hid by their iniquitie and al their iniquities are in the sight of God †The almes of a man is as a seale with him and shal preserue the grace of a man as the apple of the eâ—e †And afterward he shal arise and shal render them reward to euerie one vpon their head and shal turne into the inner partes of the earth †But to the penitent he hath geuen the way of iustice and he hath confirmed them that faile to susteine and hath appointed to them the lot of truth †Turne to our Lord and forsake thy sinnes †pray before the face of our Lord and diminish offences †Returne to our Lord and turne away from thine iniustice and hate excedingly abomination †and know the iniustices and iudgementes of God and stand in the lot of thy purpose and of praier of the most high God †Goe into the partes of the holie world with the liuing and them that geue praise to God †Tarie not in the errour of the impious before death confesse From the dead as nothing confession perisheth †Thou shalt confesse liuing aliue and in health thou shalt confesse and shalt praise God and shalt glorie in his mercies †How great is the mercie of our Lord and his propitiation to them that turne to him †For al thinges can not be in men because the sonne of man is not immortal and they haue delighted in the vanitie of malice †What is brighter then the sunne it shal faile Or what more wicked then that which flesh and bloud hath inuented and this shal be reproued †He beholdeth the powre of the height of heauen and al men be earth and ashes CHAP. XVIII Gods wonderful workes excede mans capacitie 7. Our weaknes is streingthened by grace 15. wherto man must cooperate 19. by purging his conscience 22. by prayer 24. by meditating Gods iudgements 30. and by mortifying his owne concupiscence HE that liueth for euer created al thinges together God onlie shal be iustified and remaineth an inuincible king for euer †Who is sufficient to declare his workes †For who shal search out his glorious thinges †and who shal shew forth the powre of his greatnesse or who shal adde to declare his mercie †It is not possible to diminish nor adde neither is it possible to finde the glorious workes of God †When a man shal haue done then shal he beginne and when he shal rest he shal worke †What is man and what is his grace and what is his good or what his euil †The number of the daies of men at the most an hundred yeares as droppes of the water of the sea they are reputed and as the grauel stone of the sand so a few yeares in the day of eternitie †For this cause God is patient toward them and powreth out his mercie vpon them †He hath senne the presumption of their hart that it is naught and hath knowen their subuersion that it is euil †Therefore hath he fulfilled his propitiation toward them and hath shewed them the way of equitie †Mans compassion is touching his neigbour but the mercie of God is vpon al flesh †He that hath mercie teacheth and instructeth as a pastour his flocke †He hath mercie on him that receiueth the doctrine of compassion and he that hasteneth in his iudgementes †Sonne in good deedes geue no blame and in euerie gift geue not the sadnes of an euil word †Shal not the dew colle heate so also a word better then a gift †Is not a word aboue a good gift but both are with a iustified man †A foole wil vpbraide bitterly and the gift of one vntaught maketh the eies to drie away †Before iudgement prepare thee iustice and before thou speake lerne †Before sickenes take medicine and before iudgement examine thyself and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation †Before sickenes humble thy self and in time of infirmitie shew thy conuersation †Be not hindered to pray alwayes feare not to be iustified euen to death because the reward of God abideth for euer †Before praier prepare thy soule and be not as a man that tempteth God †Remember the wrath in the day of consummation and the time of reward in conuersation of the face †Remember pouertie in the time of abundance and the necessities of pouertie in the day of riches †From morning vnto euening time shal be changed al these are sowne in the eies of God †A wise man in al thinges wil feare in the daies of offences wil be ware of sloth †Euerie subtile man knoweth wisdom and to him that findeth her he wil geue prayse †The wise in wordes and they also haue done wisely and haue vnderstood truth and iustice
whom shal he be resembled †The feare of God is the beginning of his loue and the beginning of faith is to be fast ioyned vnto it †The heauines of the hart is al plague al malice the wickednes of a woman †And he wil see al plague and not the plague of the hart †al wickednes not the wickednes of a woman †and al obduction and not the obduction of them that hate him †and al reuenge and not the reuenge of the enemies †There is no head worse then the head of a serpent †and there is no anger aboue the anger of woman It shal be more pleasant to abide with a lyon and dragon then to dwel with a wicked woman †The wickednes of a woman changeth her face and darkeneth her countenace as a beare and wil shew it as a sacke In the middes of her neighbours †her husband groned and hearing he sighed a litle †Al malice is short to the malice of a woman the lot of sinners fal vpon her †As the goeing vp a grauelie way in the feete of the aged so a woman ful of tongue to a quiet man †Looke not vpon a womans beautie and desire not a woman for beautie †A womans anger and impudencie and confusion is great †A woman if she haue superioritie is contrarie to her husband †An humbled hart and heauie countenance and plague of hart is a wicked woman †Feeble handes and disiointed knees a woman that doth not make her husband happie †From woman came the beginning of sinne and by her we doe al die †Geue not issue to thy water no not a litle nor to a wicked woman leaue to goe forth †If she walke not at thine hand she wil confound thee in the sight of thyn enemies †Cut her of from thy flesh lest she alwaies abuse â—hee CHAP. XXVI The praises of a good woman 5. The betraying of a citie mutenie of people and falâ—e accusation are terrible but a ielous woman is more greuouâ— 10. Diuers il qualities of a bad woman 16. More commendations of a good woman 25. A doleful thing to see a valiant warier wanting liuelihood a wiseman not regarded and greatest griefe to see a iust man become wicked 28. A man ful of busines hardly careth for his soule and aâ—â— Inns keper often sinneth in wordes THE husband of a good wife is happie for the number of his yeares is duble †A strong woman delighteth her husband and shal accomplish the yeares of his life in peace †A good woman is a good portion in the good portion of them that feare God shal she be geuen to a man for good deedes †And the hart of rich and poore is good at al time their countenance is merie †Of three thinges my hart hath bene afraid and at the fourth my face hath trembled †The betraying of a citie and a gethering together of the people †false calumnie al more greuous then death †A ielous woman is the sorow and moorning of the hart †In a ielous woman is a scourge of the tongue communicating with al. †As a yoke of oxen that is moued so also a wicked woman he that holdeth her is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion †A woman geuen to drunkennes is great anger her contumelie and turpitude shal not be hid †The fornication of a woman shal be knowen in the lifting vp of her eies and in her eieliddes †On thy daughter that turneth not away her self set sure watche lest occasion found she abuse herself †Take heede of the impudencie of her eies and meruel not if she contemne thee †As a wayfaring man that thirsteth wil she open her mouth to the fountaine and wil drinke of euerie water that is next and wil sit against euerie hedge and open her quiuer against euerie arrow vntil she faile †The grace of a diligent woman shal delight her husband and shal farte his bones †Her discipline is the gift of God †A wise and stil woman there is no exchange for a soule instructed †A holie and shamefast woman is grace vpon grace †And al weight is not worthie a continent soule †As the sunne rysing to the world in the highest places of God so is the beautie of a good woman for an ornament of her house †A lampe shyning vpon the holie candlesticke the beautie of the face vpon stayed age †Pillars of gold vpon feete of siluer and stable feete vpon the soules of a stayed woman †Eternal fundations vpon a sound rocke and the commandments of God in the hart of a holie woman †At two thinges my hart is greeued and at the third anger is come vpon me †A man of warre decaying by pouertie and a wise man contemned †and he that transgresseth from iustice to sinne God hath prepared him to the sword †Two sortes haue appeared vnto me hard and dangerous a merchant is hardly rid of negligence and a viteler shal not be iustified from the sinnes of the lippes CHAP. XXVII For want and desire of riches manie committe sinne 4. from which the feare of God preserueth 6. Tentation proueth who is iust 12. constant and modest 17. Freindes are bond to secresie 25. and fidelitie THROVGH pouertie manie haue offended and he that seeketh to be made rich turneth away his eie †As a stake is fastened in the middes of stones compact together so also in the middes of selling and buying sinne shal be straytened †Sinne shal be destroyed with the sinner †If thou hold not thyselfinstantly in the feare of our Lord thy house shal quickly be subuerted †As in the shaking of a sieue the dust wil remaine so the perplexitie of a man in his cogitation †The fornace tryeth the potters vessels and the tentation of tribulation iust men †As the husbandrie about a tree sheweth the fruite thereof so a word out of the thought of the hart of man †Prayse not a man before ful discourse for this is the trial of men †If thou folow iustice thou shalt apprehend it and shalt put it on as a long to be of honour and thou shalt dwel with it and it shal protect thee for euer and in the day of knowleging thou shalt finde stedfastnes †The foules flocke together to their like and truth shal returne to them that worke it †The lion alwayes lyeth in wayte for a pray so sinnes for them that worke iniquities †A holie man continueth in wisdom as the sunne for a foole is changed as the moone †In the middes of the vnwise keepe the word til his time but in the middes of deepe considerers be continually †The narration of sinners is odious their laugther is in the deligthes of sinne †Speach that sweareth much shal make the heare of the head
spoken it †And he shal say in that day Loe this is our God we haue expected him and he wil saue vs this is our Lord we haue patiently wayted for him we shal reioyce and be ioyful in his saluation †Because the hand of our Lord shal rest in this mount and Moab shal be treshed vnder him as straw is broken with the wayne †And he shal stretch forth his handes vnder him as he that swimmeth stretcheth forth to swimme and he shal humble his glorie with dashing of his handes †And the munitions of thy high walles shal fal and be humbled shal be plucked downe to the grownd euen to the dust CHAP. XXVI A Canticle of thankes for changing the old Synagogue into the Church of Christ Which hath more light of true faith 12. and more patience in tribulations 19. Which in the general resurrection shal be made manifest IN THAT day shal this song be sung in the land of Iuda Sion the citie of our strength a Sauiour therin shal be put a wal and bulworke †Open ye the gates and let the iust nation enter in that keepeth truth †The old errour is gone thou wilt keepe peace peace because we haue hoped in thee †You haue hoped in our Lord in worldes euerlasting in our Lord God strong for euer †Because he wil bowe downe them that dwel on high the high citie he wil abase He wil abase it euen to the ground he wil plucke it downe euen to the dust The foote shal treade it downe the feete of the poore the steppes of the needie †The path of the iust is right the path of the iust is right to walke in †And in the path of thy iudgements ô Lord we haue patiently expected thee thy name and thy memorial are in the desire of the soule †My soule hath desired thee in the night yea and with my spirit in my hart I wil watch to thee in the morning When thou shalt doe thy iudgments in the earth the inhabitants of the world shal learne iustice †Let vs haue mercie on the impious and he wil not learne iustice in the land of the holie he hath done wicked thinges and he shal not see the glorie of our Lord. †Lord thy hand be exalted and let them not see let the enuious people see and be confounded and let fyre deuoure thine enimies †Lord thou wilt geue peace to vs for al our workes thou hast wrought to vs. †O Lord our God there haue lordes besides thee possessed vs onlie in thee let vs remember thy name †Let not the dead liue let not the giants rise againe therfore hast thou visited and destroyed them hast destroyed al their memorie †Thou hast bene fauorable to the nation ô Lord thou hast bene fauourable to the nation wast thou glorified thou hast made al the endes of the earth far of †Lord in distresse they haue sought after thee in tribulation of murmur thy doctrine was to them †As she that conceiueth when she draweth neere to be deliuered being sorowful crieth in her paines so are we become at thy presence ô Lord. †We haue conceiued and as it were traueled and brought forth the spirit saluations we haue not done in the earth therfore the inhabitants of the earth haue not fallen †Thy dead shal liue my slaine shal rise againe awake and prayse ye that dwel in the dust because the dew of the light is thy dew the land of the giants thou shalt plucke downe into ruine †Goe my people enter into thy chambers shut thy doores vpon thee be hid a litle for a moment til the indignation passe †For behold our Lord wil come out of his place to visite the iniquitie of the inhabitant of the earth against him and the earth shal reuele her bloud and shal couer her slaine no more CHAP. XXVII God comforteth the faithful promising to destroy the wicked 3. Christs coming is againe prophecied with propagation of his Gospel and conuersion of al nations IN that day our Lord wil visite with his sore and great and strong sword vpon Leuiathan the serpent the barre and vpon Leuiathan the crooked serpent and shal kil the whale that is in the sea †In that day the vineyard of pure wine shal sing to it †I the Lord that keepe it I wil sodenly drinke to it lest perhaps there be visitation agaynst it night and day I kepe it †There is no indignation in me who wil geue me to be thorne and bryer in battel to goe vpon it to set it on fyre together †Or rather shal he hold my strength shal he make peace with me shal he make peace with me †They that goe in with violence to Iacob Israel shal florish and spring and they shal fil the face of the world with seede †Hath he striken him according to his stroke that stroke him or as he killed his slaine is he killed †In measure against measure when it shal be cast of thou shalt iudge it He hath meditated in his hard spirite during the day of heate †Therfore vpon this shal the iniquitie be forgeuen to the house of Iacob and this is al the fruite that the sinne therof be taken away when he shal haue layd al the stones of the altar as stones of ashes broken the groues temples shal not stand †For the defensed citie shal be desolate the beautiful citie shal be forsaken and shal be left as a desert there shal the calfe feede and there he shal lie and shal consume the toppes therof †The haruests therof shal be destroyed in drught wemen coming and teaching it for it is not a wise people therfore shal not he that made it haue mercie on it and he that formed it shal not spare it †And it shal be in that day our Lord wil strike from the chanel of the riuer euen to the torrent of Aegypt and you shal be gathered together one and one ô children of Israel †And it shal be in that day a sound shal be made with a great trompet and they that were lost shal come from the land of the Assirians and that were cast out from the land of Aegypt and shal adore our Lord in the holie mount in Ierusalem CHAP. XXVIII Tribulations are threatned to the tenne tribes of Israel for their pride and voluptuosnes 5. God stil protecting some who serue him sincerely 7 and for contempt of Religion 16. But God wil lay a sure fundation in Sion 20. Wil punish the wicked 24. and comforth the good VVOE to the crowne of pride to the drunkards of Ephraim and to the flowre falling downe from the glorie of his exultation which were in the toppe of the most fatte valley erring by wine †Behold our Lord is valiant and strong as the violence of hayle a whirle wind breaking the
them And Demetrius sate vpon the seate of his kingdom †and there came to him the wicked and impious men of Israel Alcimus the captaine of them who would be made the priest †And they accused the people to the king saying Iudas and his bretheren haue destroyed al thy freindes and vs he hath destroyed out of our land †Now therfore send a man whom thou doest credite that he may goe and see al the destruction that he hath done to vs and to the kings countries and let him punish al his freinds and their ayders †And the king chose of his freinds Bacchides that ruled beyond the great riuer in the kingdom and was faythful to the king and he sent him †to see the destruction that Iudas hath made and Alcimus the impious man he appointed to the priesthood and gaue him in commandment to make reuenge vpon the children of Israel †And they arose and came with a great armie into the land of Iuda and they sent messengers and spake to Iudas his brethren with peaceable wordes in guile †And they attended not to their wordes for they saw that they came with a great armie †And there assembled to Alcimus Bacchides a congregation of the scribes to require the thinges that are iust †and first the Assideans that were in the children of Israel and they sought peace of them †for they sayd A man that is a priest of the seede of Aaron is come he wil not deceiue vs. †And he spake with-them peaceable wordes and he sware to them saying We wil doe you no harme nor your freindes †And they beleued him And he tooke of them threescore men and slew them in one day according to the word that is written †The flesh of thy saincts and the bloud of them they haue shed round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them †And there fel feare and trembling vpon al the people because they sayd There is no truth iudgement in them for they haue transgressed the appointment and the othe which they sware †And Bacchides remoued the campe from Ierusalem and approched to Bethzecha and he sent tooke manie of them that were fled from him and certaine of the people he killed and threw them into a great pitte †And he committed the countrie to Alcimus and left with him ayde to helpe him And Bacchides went away to the king †and Alcimus did what he could for the principalitie of his priesthood †and there gathered together vnto him al that disturbed their people and the obteyned the land of Iuda made a great plague in Israel †And Iudas saw al the euils that Alcimus did and they that were with him to the children of Israel much more then the Gentils †And he went out into al the coasts of Iurie round about and did vengeance vpon the men that reuolted and they ceased to goe forth any more into the countrie †But Alcimus saw that Iudas preuailed and they that were with him and he knew that he could not stand with them and he went backe to the king and accused them of manie crimes †And the king sent Nicanor one of his nobler princes that practised emnities against Israel and he commanded him to destroy the people †And Nicanor came into Ierusalem with a great armie and he sent to Iudas and to his bretheren in peaceable wordes with guile †saying Let there be no fighting betwen me and you I wil come with few men to see your faces with peace †And he came to Iudas and they saluted one an other peaceably and the enemies were readie to catch Iudas †And the thing was knowne to Iudas that he was come with guile and he was sore afrayd of him would not see his face any more †And Nicanor knew that his counsel was disclosed and he went forth to Iudas into battel beside Capharsalama †And there fel of Nicanors armie almost fiue thousand men and they fled into the citie of Dauid †And after these wordes Nicanor went vp into mount Sion there went forth of the priests of the people to salute him in peace and to shew him the holocausts that were offered for the king †And scorning he contemned them and polluted them and he spake proudly †and sware with anger saying Vnles Iudas be deliuered and his armie into my handes incontinent when Ishal returne in peace I wil burne this house And he went out with great anger †and the priests entered in and stood before the face of the altar and the temple and weeping they sayd †Thou ô Lord hast chosen this house for thy name to be inuocated therin that it might be a house of prayer and obsecration for thy people †Take vengeance vpon this man and his armie and let them fal by the sword remember their blasphemies and grant not vnto them to be permanent †And Nicanor went out from Ierusalem and moued the campe neere to Bethhoron and the armie of Syria mette him †And Iudas approched in Adarsa with three thousand men and Iudas prayed and sayd †They that were sent by king Sennacherib ô Lord because they blasphemed thee an angel came forth and stroke of them an hundred eightie fiue thousand †so destroy this armie in our sight to day and let the rest know that he hath spoken il vpon the holy places and iudge thou him according to his malice †And the armies ioyned battel the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar and the campe of Nicanor was discomfited and himself was slaine first in the battel †And as his armie saw that Nicanor was slaine they threw away their weapons fled †and they pursewed them one dayes iorney from Adazer euen til ye come into Gazara and with trumpets they sounded after them with significations †And they went forth out of al the townes of Iurie round about and they pushed them with the hornes and they turned againe to them and they were al slaine with the sword and there was not left of them so much as one †And they tooke the spoiles of them for a praye and Nicanors head they cut of and his right hand which he had proudly stretched forth and they brought it and hung it vp against Ierusalem †And the people reioyced excedingly and they spent that day in great gladnes †And he ordayned that this day should be kept euerie yeare the thirtenth of the moneth Adar †And the land of Iuda was quiet for a few dayes CHAP. VIII Iudas knowing the Romanes to be a most renowmed nation reciting their worthie actes 17. sendeth Embassaders to enter league with them 21. Wherto they a greing confirme a perpetual amitie with mutual conditions AND Iudas heard of the name of the Romanes that they are mightie of power and agree vnto al thinges that are
temple and granteth meanes to build the citie of Ierusalem and the temple AND the next began to speake he that spake of the strength of a king †O ye men doe not the men excel which obteyne land and sea and al thinges that are in them †But a king excelleth aboue al thinges and hath dominion ouer them and euerie thing whatsoeuer he shal say to them they doe †And if he send them to warryers they goe and throw downe mountaines and the walles and towers †They kil and are killed and the kinges word they transgresse not For if they shal ouercome they bring to the king al thinges whatsoeuer they haue taken for a praye †In like maner also al others for so many as are not souldiars nor fight but til the ground when they shal reape againe they bring tributes to the king †And he being one onlie if he say Kil ye they kil say he forgeue they forgeue †say he strike they strike say he destroy they destroy †say he build they build †say he cut downe they cut downe say he plant they plant †and al the people potestates here him and beside this he sitteth downe and drinketh and sleepeth †And others gard him round about and can not goe euerie one and doe their owne workes but at a word are obedient to him †O ye men how doth not a king excel that is so renowmed And he held his peace †The third that spake of wemen and truth this is Zorobabel began to speake †O ye men not the great king many men neither is it wine that doth excel Who is it then that hath the dominion of them †Haue not wemen brought forth the king and al the people that ruleth ouer land sea †and were they not borne of them and did not they bring vp them which planted the vineyardes whereof wine is made †And they make the garmentes of al men they doe honor to al men and men can not be separed from wemen †If they haue gathered gold and siluer and euerie beutiful thing see a woman comlie and fayre †leauing al these thinges they fixe their looke vpon her with open mouth beholde her and allure her more then gold and siluer and euerie precious thing †Man forsaketh his father that brought him vp and his countrie and ioyneth himself to a woman †And with a woman he refresheth his soul and neither doth he remember father nor mother nor countrie †And hereby you must know that wemen rule ouer you Are you not sorie †And a man taketh his sword goeth into the way to commit theftes and murders to sayle seas riuers †and seeth a lyon and goeth in darkenes and when he hath committed theft and fraude and spoyles he bringeth it to his beloued †And againe man loueth his wife more then father or mother †And many haue become madde for their wiues and haue bene made bondmen for them †and many haue perished and bene slayne and haue sinned for wemen †And now beleue me that the king is great in his powre because al countries are afrayd to touch him †Neuertheles I saw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces the concubine of a meruelous king sitting by the king at his right hand †and taking of the crowne from his head and putting it vpon herself and with the palme of her lefthand she stroke the king †And beside these thinges he with open mouth beheld her and if she smile he laugheth and if she be angrie with him he flattereth til he be reconciled to her fauour †O ye men why are not wemen stronger Great is the earth and high is the heauen who doeth these thinges †And then the king and they that weare purple looked one vpon an other And he began to speake of truth †O ye men are not wemen strong The earth is great and heauen is high the swift course of the sunne turneth the heauen round into his place in one day †Is not he magnifical that doth these thinges and the truth great and stronger aboue al thinges †Al the earth calleth vpon the truth heauen also blesseth it and al workes are moued and tremble at it and there is not any thing with it vniust †Wine is vniust the king is vniust wemen are vniust al the sonnes of men are vniust and al their workes are vniust and in them is not truth and they shal perish in their iniquitie †and truth abydeth and groweth strong for euer and liueth and preuayleth for euer and euer †Neither is there with it acception of persons nor differences but the thinges that are iust it doth to al men to the vniust and malignant and al men are wel pleased in the workes thereof †And there is no vniust thing in the iudgement therof but strength and reigne and power and maiestie of worldes Blessed be the God of truth †And he left speaking And al the people cryed and sayd Great is truth and it preuaileth †Then the king sayd to him Aske if thou wilt any more then the thinges that are writen and I wil geue it thee according as thou art found wiser then thy neighbours thou shalt sitte next to me and shalt be called my cosin †Then sayd he to the king Be mindful of thy vow which thou hast vowed to build Ierusalem in the day that thou didst receiue the kindom †and to send backe al the vessels that were taken out of Ierusalem which Cyrus separated when he sacked Babylon and would haue sent them backe thither †And thou hast vowed to build the temple which the Idumeians burnt when Iurie was destroyed of the Chaldees †And now this is that which I aske Lord which I desire this is the maiestie which I desire of thee that thou performe the vowe which thou hast vowed to the king of heauen by thy mouth †Then Darius the king rising vp kissed him and wrote letters to al the officers and ouerseers and them that weare purple that they should conduct him and them that were with him al going vp to build Ierusalem †And to al the ouerseers that were in Syria and Phoenice and Libanus he wrote letters that they should draw Ceder trees from Libanus into Ierusalem to build the citie with them †And he wrote to al the Iewes which went vp from the kindome into Iurie for libertie euerie mightie man magistrate ouerseer not to come vpon them to their gates †and al the countrie which they had obtayned to be free vnto them that the Idumeians leaue the castels which they possesse of the Iewes †and to the building of the temple to geue euerie yeare twentie talentes vntil it were throughly built †vpon the altars to burne holocausts dayly as they haue commandment to offer other ten talentes euery yeare †to al that go forth
may retyre backe before vs and we may make vs other woodes †And in like maner the waues of the sea they also deuised a deuise and sayd Come let vs goe vp let vs ouerthrow the woodes of the filde that there also we may consummate an other countrie for our selues †And the woodes deuise was made vaine for fire came and consumed it †Likewise also the deuise of the waues of the sea For the sand stood stayed them †For if thou wert iudge of these whom wouldest thou begin to iustifie or whom to condemne †And I answered and sayd Verely they deuised a vayne deuise For the earth is geuen to the wood and a place to the sea to carie her waues †And he answered me and sayd Thou hast iudged wel and why hast thou not iudged for thy self †For as the earth is geuen to the wood and the sea for the waues therof so they that inhabite vpon the earth can vnderstand onlie the thinges that are vpon the earth and they vpon the heauens the thinges that are aboue the height of the heauens †And I answered and sayd I besech thee Lord that sense may be geuen me to vnderstand †For I meant not to aske of thy superiour thinges but of those that passe by vs dayly For what cause Israel is geuen into reproche to the gentiles the people whom thou hast loued is geuen to impious tribes the law of our fathers is brought to destruction the written ordinances are no where †and we haue passed out of the world as locustes and our life is astonishment and dreade and we are not worthie to obtaine mercie †But what wil he doe to his name that is inuocated vpon vs and of these thinges I did aske †And he answered me and sayd If thou search very much thou shalt often meruail because the world hastening hasteneth to passe †and can not comprehend the thinges which in times to come are promised to the iust because this world is ful of iniustice and infirmities †But concerning the thinges that thou demandest I wil tel thee for the euil is sowed and the destruction therof is not yet come †If then that which is sowen be not turned vp and the place depart where the euil is sowen that shal not come where the good is sowen †Because the grayne of il seede hath bene sowen in the hart of Adam from the beginning and how much impietie hath it ingendered vntil now and doth ingender vntil the floore come †And esteme with thy self the graine of the il seede how much fruite of impietie it hath ingendred †When the eares shal be cut which are innumerable what a great floore wil they begin to make †And I answered and sayd How and when shal these things be why are our yeares few and euil †And he answered me and sayd to me Hasten not aboue the Highest For thou doest hasten in vaine to be aboue him for thy excesse is much †Did not the soules of the iust in their cellars aske of these things saying How hope I so and when shal the fruite come of the floore of our reward †And Ieremiel the Archangel answered to those things and sayd When the number of the sedes in you shal be filled because he hath weyed the world in a balance †and with a measure hath he measured the times and in number he hath numbered the times and hath not moued nor stirred them vntil the foresayd measure be filled †And I answered and sayd O Lord Dominatour we also are al ful of impietie †And lest perhaps for vs the floores of the iust be not filled for the sinnes of the inhabitantes vpon the earth †And he answered me and sayd Goe and aske a woman with childe if when she hath accomplished her nine monethes her wombe can yet hold the infant within it †And I sayd it can not Lord. And he sayd to me in hel the cellars of the soules are like to the matrice †For as she that is In trauail maketh hast to escape the necessitie of trauailing so this also hasteneth to render those thinges which are commended to it †From the beginning it shal be shewed thee touching those thinges which thou doest couer to see †And I answered and sayd If I haue found grace before thine eyes if it be possible and if I by fitte †shew mee if there be more to come then is passed or moe things haue passed then are to come †What passed I know but what is to come I know not †And he sayd to me Stand vpon the right side and I wil shew thee the interpretation of the similitude †And I stood and saw and behold a burning fornace passed before me it came to passe when the flame passed I saw and behold the smoke ouercame †After these thinges there passed before me a clowd ful of water and with violence casting in much raine and when the violence of raine was cast the droppes therin ouercame †And he sayd to me Thinke with thyself as the raine increaseth more then the droppes and the fire then the smoke so did the measure that passed more a bound But the droppes and the smoke ouercame †and I prayed sayd shal I liue thinkest thou vntil these dayes or what shal be in those dayes †He answered me and sayd Of the signes wherof thou askest me in part I can tel thee how beit of thy life I was not sent to tel thee neither doe I know CHAP. V. Diuers signes of thinges to come are shewed to Esdras by an Angel 16. for the comforth of the people in captiuitie BVT concerning signes behold the dayes shal come wherin they that inhabite the earth shal be taken in a great number and the way of truth shal be hid and the countrie shal be barren from fayth †And iniustice shal be multiplied aboue that which thy self seest aboue that which thou hast heard in time past †And they shal put their foote into the countrie which now thou seest to reigne and they shal see it desolate †And if the Highest geue thee life thou shalt see after the third trumpet and the sunne shal sodenly shine agayne in the night and the moone thrise in a day †and out of wood bloud shal distil and the stone shal geue his voice and the peoples shal be moued †and he reigne whom they hope not that inhabite vpon the earth and foules shal make their flight away †the sea of Sodom shal cast the fishes and shal make a noise in the night which manie knew not and al shal heare the voice therof †and there shal be made a confusion in manie places and the fire shal often be sent backe and the sauage beastes shal goe to other places and wemen in their monethlie flowers shal bring forth monsters †and in swete waters shal salt
prouidence towards the good and bad the 3. key a A song as wel for king Dauid himselfe as others of al times b to sing c and consider Gods prouidence in suffering one man to afflict an other in this life d This life is awarefare and a continual combate e calumniated me f and persecuted me in great furie g so inwardly afflicted as if death were at hand h I haue scarse sense or discourse of reason being almost ouerwhelmed with trubles i would God I could flie that in the simplicitie of a doue I might spedely part away from these afflictions k I haue fled so farre as I could from trubles l for the rest I remitted to Gods wil and good pleasure m and he suffered me not to be ouerthrowne n though I am weake o and the tentations are great p O God abate the pride of arrogant persecuters q suffer them not to agree amongst them selues r They are ful of al iniquitie Å¿ they haue also contentions among themselues turne the same to our good t VVith their continual great iniquitie they haue their trubles v but leaue not their iniustice w They are stil vsurers and deceiptful oppressors of the poore x It is a greater griefe to suffer iniuries of those that seme to be freindes y A man that was or semed of the same mind faith and religion z whom I so trusted that I would haue gone whithersoeuer he should haue ledde me a Thou that didst participate the same holie sacraments with me b in the Catholique Church c As Core his complices spoken of iust zele not of desire to reuenge verified in those that sinne wittingly and knowing for they descend as it were aliue into hel d The whole crew of the wicked conspire in iniquitie e The prophet alludeth to three more specially appointed houres of Diuine seruice the daylie sacrifice at morning and euening and other sacrifices commonly about midday VVhich also are the three principal times of Diuine Seruice in the Church of Christ Martins Euensong and the Sacrifice of Masse VVhich Eutynâ—ius and other Grecians cal Lyturgiam S. Clement also li 7. c. 25. Apost Instit testifieth that the Apostles ordained three set houres of common prayer euerie day * â—r prâ—â— f Manie enimies combined together approched vnto me to ouerthrow me g Eternal God h They wil neuer repent of their wickednes i They harden their hartes against his threatned wrath k but Gods prouidente illuminateth others to know and teach the truth when it is impugned or contemned l Gods wordes which in them selues are meke and swete m are hard to the incredulous as dartes that wound them Christ said Ioan. 6. Vnles one eate my flesh drinke my bloud he shal not haue life in him which the Capharnaites not vnderstanding said one to an other This is a hard speach who can abide it which S. Augustin here saith was the first heresie against our Sauiours preaching It was not hard to S. Peter who in the name of the rest answered that Christ had the wordes of eternal life He yet vnderstood not the secrete of our Lords speach but he piously beleued that the wordes vvere good vvhich he vnderstood not n Therfore in al doubtes of doctrin in al distresses of persecution and other difficulties vvhich surpasse thy vveakenes cast thy care vpon our Lord and he vvil nourish thee o He vvil not suffer the iust to remaine alvvayes in fluctuation that is in doubtful dangerous and vvaueâ—ing thoughtes or perplexities as vvhen a shippe is tossed in the vvaues of the sea but vvil geue quiet repose of mind as in a sure hauen vvithout danger of drovvning p Contrariwise the wicked and obstinate shal fal into destruction q Often or for most part bloud-suckers dye before the course of nature requireth as Saul Absolon Achitophel Achab Iezabel and the like Dauids prayes in danger the â— key a This Psalme perteyneth also to future times b for the vse of anie iust persons or people that are against their wil separated from the publike diuine Seruice of holie Church c moâ—â— worthie to be noted with tule for perpetual memorie d made by Dauid when the Philistims detected him to their king in Geth e Now one sorte of il disposed men now another f neuer cease to seeke my destruction g Saul with his great armie the Philistimâ—s and other strangers some in manifest hostilitie others detecting and betraing me to myn aduersaries So al that liue godly in Christ haue manie enimies visible and inuisible h Of these most eminent great dangers I am in deede afeard i but so that my trust and assured confidence is in thee ô God k Wordes and promises made to me or the good which I speake or do by Gods grace l They calumniate whatsoeuer I say m wresting al my wordes to euil sense n They meete together and secretly conspire to intrappe me or catch me tripping o to take my life p for this their vaine purpose to destroy me thou wilt saue them as they deserue that is q thou wilt breake them in peeces r I wil alwayes gratfully acknowlege thy promises and sayings for they are assured Å¿ I haue purposed and vowed to offer sacrifice of praise and by thy helpe wil performe it t do that pleaseth God v in true faith and pious workes Dauids great patience the 8. key a The heroical facts of Dauid are for examples to al Christians b Innocent Dauid hauing opportunitie to kil his vniust persecutor obeyed the motion of God suggesting vnto him not to destroy his enimie contrarie to the counsel of his freindes c a thing most worthie to be recorded for perpetual memorie d being in so great and vniust truble as to lye in the caue of a mountaine yet spared to kil or hurt him that driue him into such straictes See the historie 1. Reg. 24. 1. â—â—â— 22. 24. e Extraordinarie diuine helpe passing mans powre f It fel reprochfully to Saul that Dauid might haue slaine him if he would yet did neither hurt him nor insult vpon him but meekely and piously admonished him of his error and iniurious persecution g my life h from most mightie and rauenous persecuters i Though they haue not lions natural teeth yet they exercise crueltie by artificial weapons k and with their cruel tongues incite their folowers to the same furie 1. Reg. 22. v. 16. l Saul endeuored manie wayes to ouerthrow Dauid amongst other meanes prouoked him to sette vpon the Philistims thincking they should haue slaine him 1. Reg. 18. v. 17. but the same Philistims ouerthrew Saul 1 Reg. 31. :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the Iewes See page 12. m Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the
for the assured certaintie therof f As wel the worshippers of grauen or painted images of Iupiter Mars Bacchus and the like as the worshippers of the same imagined false goddes shal be confounded g The Catholique Church h And al particular Churches members of the vniuersal i Praise our Lord Christ who is sanctitie it selfe and sanctifieth others The Church in al nations The 6. key a Prefiguring Christ who hath made his saluation knowen in al nations b A new benefite of grace making men new in spirite requireth a new songue of gratitude c Raised vp himselfe from death d Made his grace effectually knowen by raising men from sinne and deliuering them from the powre of the diuel e Some of the Iewes conuerted to Christianitie Rom. 11. f In voice Cantate exultate psallite g In hart h In instruments i Christ directeth and disposeth al thinges rightly in this world k And wil accordingly geue iust sentence in the end Christ our Messias the 5. key a Though manie enimies do rage and impugne Christ b though the whole earth be trubled thervvith yet Christ vvho sitteth Lord ouer the highest Angels Cherubins and Seraphins obteyneth the victorie reigneth and doth his vvil in al the earth c Requireth discretion d in fauour of thyn elect people e Hebrevv Doctors expound this of the Arke in the old testament but the Doctors of the Church vnderstand Christs humanitie in the holie Eucharist f Here it is euident and S. Augustin sayth this place taketh avvay al doubt that Moyses vvas a Priest against those that for maintaining the heresie of Laiheadshippe denie it â— 23. in Leuit. g By example of their praying and obtaining the Psalmist confirmeth his prophecie that Priestes of the new Testament shal pray and obtaine mercie of Christ for the Church h God reuenged the machinations made against them punishing the rebellion of chore Dathan and Abyron Num. 16. Christs humanitie is his footestoole adored in the Eucharist S. Ambrose S. Augustin The receiuers of the B. Sacrament do sinne if they do not adore it One Creator of al thinges The 1. key a of praise b Not only Iewes but also al Gentiles c God eueryvvhere present yet more peculiarly heareth his suppliants praying in the temple or place dedicated to his seruice d He only whom we serue as our Lord is the only God and there is no other e Peculiar dedicated place as v. 2. f As God is alwayes merciful in geuing and promising g so he is euer faithful in performing Instruction to gouerne the 7. key a These tvvo capital diuine vertues are euer ioyned in al Gods vvorkes for both vvhich experienced tovvards him selfe the Psalmist rendereth thankes and praises b I wil do myn endeuoure to knovv the immaculate vvay c vvhich I can not do but by thy grace coming vnto me For by helpe therof I did as folovveth d That is al and euerie one thus wickedly disposed I abhorred e I kept such vnder as a seruant or slaue f Prospered not gotte no benefite by me g Speedely and without delay I cutte of al disordered people h that others might not be corrupted by them The fift penitential Psalme the 7. key a Euerie petition is a prayer b and that which procedeth from more feruent affection is called a crie though it burst not out into clamoure nor perhaps into anie voice at al. For God saide to Moyses praying in mere silence but vvith vehemencie of spirite Exod. 14 VVhy criest thou to me c Though sinne prouoke Gods wrath because we by sinning turne from him and not he first from vs yet we pray God not so to leaue vs but to geue vs new grace that by humilitie and penance we may returne to him and not dye in sinne d Mans dayes and al his workes are nothing worth but vanish like smoke so long as he is in mortal sinne e yea his best workes as if he geue almose fast pray and dye for the truth yet al those auaile nothing 1. Cor. 13. but are f like dryed stickes or chippes fitte to kindle the fire g My soule separated by sinne from God withereth as grasse that is cutte from the roote h because I haue lost al sauour and appetite to spiritual meate i In this miserable state k I am as bones and flesh cleauing together without moysture or radical humour l I fled from conuersation of men for sorow and shame of my sinnes m as a crow that only flieth by night or as an owle or batte n Also as a sparow hauing lost her mate remaineth mourning and solitarie in the accustomed nest ornere vnto it o Those that were wont to praise or flatter me now are as sworne enimies against me p Bread sauoured to me no better then ashes q and drinke gaue me no comfort but stil I wept r I am most especially aflicted because thou art angrie Å¿ In that thou didst sometime aduance me in prosperitie t my fall is so much greater and more grieuous v As a shadow declineth to nothing and al becometh darknes when the sunne and other light departeth euen so I that am but a shadow decline to mere darknes when thy fauoure parteth from me w and I lose my beautie as grasse cutte from the ground withereth x But I am meruelously comforted considering that thou our Messias the Sonne of God art immutable for euer y and thy memorable promise of redeeming mankind wil haue effect in al generations z Thou rising to helpe who semedst to haue forgote wilt protect the Church and euerie faithful soule a because thou hast differred long b and because the time by thee designed semeth to approch c Men that shal heare thyn Apostles preach shal proue good and fitte matter for the building of thy Church d and the simplest poore people as it were the earth or dust e shal participate of this mercie f Besides those Iewes that shal beleue in Christ much more the Gentiles shal feare and serue him g His glorie is so euident that al kinges know it though al be not conuerted h Of holie Patriarches Priestes Prophetes and of al true penitents i That shal be made a new creature in Christ k The faithful people of the Church according to their habilitie endeuour to serue Christ l Grant me time and meanes to be mature in vertue in this life m Be changed in qualitie Heb. 1. n The Church of Christ perpetual Gratitude for Gods benefits The 7. key a Inspired to Dauid and written by him b Shew forth praises and thankes c al my cogitations affections senses and powres d The first benefite of grace is remission of sinnes e the second is curing euil habites or dispositions f The third to conserue from falling againe g the fourth to geue victorie and reward in abundant measure h The fifth to grant al lawful petitions temporal and spiritual which are good for the soule i
for thee and for this cause called his name Phares †Afterward his brother came forth in whose hand was the skarelet string whom she called Zara. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVIII 8. Raise sede to thy brother By this it appeareth that in the law of nature when a maried man died without issue his brother might lawfully marie the widow whose first sonne should be counted and called the sonne and heyre of his vncle dead before The same was established by the law of Moyses Deut. 25 VVhich being now abrogated it remaineth in the Churches powre to constitute a law in this behalf and consequently to dispence in the same so farre as is agreable with the law of nature VVherof see more Leuit. 18. CHAP. XXXIX Ioseph being in great credite with his maister hath the whole charge of his house 7. Contemning his mystris solicitation to incontinencie 13. is falsly accused by her to his maister 20. and cast into prison 21. Where againe he getteth credite and hath the charge of al the prisoners THERFORE Ioseph was brought into Aegypt and Putiphar an Eunuch of Pharao prince of his armie a man of Aegypt bought him at the hand of the Ismaelites by whom he was brought †And our Lord was with him and he was a man that in al things did prosperously and he dwelt in his maisters house †who knewe verie wel that our Lord was with him and that al thinges which he did were directed by him in his hand †And Ioseph found grace before his maister and ministred to him by whom being made ruler ouer al his thinges he gouerned the house committed to him and al thinges that were deliuered vnto him †and our Lord blessed the house of the Aegyptian for Iosephes sake and multiplied as wel in houses as in landes al his substance †Neither knew he any other thing but the bread which he did eate And Ioseph was of beautiful countenance and comely fauored to behold †After manie dayes therfore his maistresse cast her eyes on Ioseph and said Sleepe with me †Who in no wise assenting to that wicked act said to her Behold my maister hauing deliuered al thinges vnto me knoweth not what he hath in his owne house †neither is there any thing which is not in my power or that he hath not deliuered to me beside thee that art his wife how therfore can I do this wicked thing and sinne against my God †With these kinde of wordes day by day both the woman was importune vpon the young man and he refused the aduoutrie †And it chanced on a certaine day that Ioseph went into the house and did some businesse without anie man with him †and â—he catching the skirte of his garment said Sleepe with me who leauing the cloke in her hand fled and went forth abroad †And when the woman sawe the garment in her handes and her selfe to be contemned †she called to her the men of her house and said to them See he hath brought in an Hebrew to delude vs he came vpon me for to lie with me and when I had cried our †and he heard my voice he left the cloake that I hold and fled forth †For an argument therfore of her credite she reserued the cloake and shewed it to her husband returning home †and said There came vnto me the Hebrew seruant whom thou didest bring hither for to delude me †and when he heard me crie he left the cloke which I held and fled forth †His maister hearing these thinges and geuing ouer light credite to his wiues wordes was very wrath †and deliuered Ioseph into prison where the kinges prisoners were kept and he was there shut vp †And our Lord was with Ioseph and hauing mercie vpon him gaue him grace in the sight of the chiefe of the prison †Who deliuered in his hand al the prisoners that were kept in custodie and whatsoeuer was done was vnder him †Neyther did himselfe knowe any thing hauing committed al things to him for our Lord was with him and directed al his workes CHAP. XL. Ioseph interpreteth the dreames of two Eunuches prisoners 12. that the one should be restored to his office 16. the other be hanged 20. The third day the euent declareth the interpretations to be true but Ioseph is forgotten THESE thinges being so done it chanced that two Eunuches the cupbearer of the king of Aegypt and his baker offended against their lord †And Pharao being wrath against them for the one was chiefe of the cupbearers the other chiefe baker †he sent them into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers in the which Ioseph also was prisoner †But the keeper of the prison deliuered them to Ioseph who also ministred to them some litle time was passed and they were kept in custodie †And they sawe ech of them both a dreame in one night according to an interpretation agreing to them selues †to whom when Ioseph was entred in the morning and saw them sad †he asked them saying Why is your countenance sadder to day then it was woont †Who answered We haue seene a dreame there is no bodie to interprete it to vs. And Ioseph said to them Why “ doth not interpretation belong to God Tel me what you haue seene †The chiefe of the cup-bearers first told his dreame I saw before me a vine †wherin were three branches growing by litle and litle into buddes and after the blossomes the grapes waxed ripe †and the cup of Pharao in my hand and I tooke the grapes and wrong them into the cup which I held and I gaue the cup to Pharao †Ioseph answered This is the interpretation of the dreame The three branches are yet three dayes †after the which Pharao wil remember thy seruice and wil restore thee to thy old degree and thou shalt geue him the cup according to thyne office as before thou haddest wont to doe †Only remember me when it shal be wel with thee and doe me this mercie to put Pharao in mind that he take me out of this prison †because I was taken away by stealth out of the land of the hebrewes and here an innocent was I cast into the lake †The maister of the bakers seing that he had wisely resolued the dreame he said And I also saw a dreame That I had three baskettes of meale vpon my head †and that in one basket that was the higher I caried al meates that are made by the art of baking and that the birds did eate out of it †Ioseph answered This is the interpretation of the dreame The three basketts are yet three dayes †after the which Pharao wil take thy head from thee and hang thee on the crosse and the foules shal teare thy flesh †The third day after this was the birth day of Pharao who making a great feast to his seruantes at the
banket he remembred the maister of the cupbearers and the chiefe of the bakers †And he restored the one into his place to reach him the cuppe †the other he hanged on a gibbet that the truth of the interpreter might be approued †And yet notwithstanding the chiefe of the cupbearers prosperous thinges succeeding forgat his interpreter ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XL. 8. Doth not interpretation belong to God Dreames do come of diuers causes Some of natural complexion or disposition wherby Philosophers or Phisitions may probably iudge of the state of mans bodie Some are rather effects of things past then signes of anie thing to come Of which sorte the wise man saith Dreames do folovv manie cares Eccle 5. Some are suggested by euil spirites either to flatter worldlings with great pretenses or to terrifie weake mindes with dangers and afflictions or to vexe and truble those in sleepe whom they can not easely moue waking as S. Gregorie discourseth li. 8. Moral in cap 7. Iob Some dreames are of God as in Iacob Ioseph these Eunuches Pharao Nabuchodonosor and others both good and euil men But to discerne and assuredly to iudge of some dreames whether they be from God by holie Angels or illusions of euil spirites is a special gift of God as also the interpretation therof belongeth to God as Ioseph here testifieth VVhosoeuer therfore wil be secure must relie either vpon expresse Scripture or iudgement of the Church as in ominous speaches was noted before chap. 24. Otherwise the general rule is not to obserue dreames Deut. 18. CHAP. XLI Pharao dreaming of fat and leane kine 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne 8. no other being able to interprete 9 Ioseph is remembred 25. who interpreting the same â—8 is made ruler ouer al Aegypt 50. marieth and hath two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim AFTER two yeares Pharao saw a dreame He thought he stood vpon a riuer †out of the which came vp seuen kine faire and fat exceedingly and they fed in marish places †Other seuen also came vp out of the riuer foule and caryan leane and they fed on the very banke of the riuer in grene places †and they deuoured them that had the merucylous beautie and good state of bodies Pharao after he waked †slept againe and saw an other dreame Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and faire †there sprang also other eares as many thinne and blasted with adustion †deuouring al the beautie of the former Pharao awaking vp after his rest †and when morning was come being frighted with feare he sent to al the interpreters of Aegypt and to al the wise men and they being called for told them his dreame neither was there anie that could interprete it †Then at length the maister of the cupbearers remembring himselfe said I confesse my sinne †The king being angrie with his seruantes commanded me and the chiefe of the bakers to be cast into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers †where in one night both of vs saw a dreame portending things to come †There was there a young man an hebrew seruant to the same captaine of the souldiers to whom telling our dreames †we heard whatsoeuer afterward the euent of the thing proued to be so for I was restored to my office and he was hanged vpon a gibbet †Forthwith at the kinges commandment Ioseph being brought out of the prison they polled him and changing his apparel brought him vnto him †To whom he said I haue seene dreames and there is not anie that can expound them which I haue heard thou doest most wisely interprete †Ioseph answered Without me God shal answere prosperous thinges to Pharao †Pharao therfore told that he had seene Me thought I stoode vpon the banke of the riuer †and seuen kine came vp out of the banke of the riuer exceeding faire and ful of flesh which grazed on greene places in a marish pasture †And behold there folowed these other seuen kine so passing il fauored and leane that I neuer saw the like in the land of Aegypt †which hauing deuoured and consumed the former †gaue no token of their fulnes but with the like leanenes and deformitie looked heauelie Awaking and fallen againe into a deepe sleepe †I sawe a dreame Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and verie faire †Other seuen also thinne and blasted with adustion sprang of the stalke †which deuoured the beautie of the former I told the dreame to the coniecturers and there is no man that can declare it †Ioseph answered The kinges dreame is one God hath shewed to Pharao the thinges that he wil doe †The seuen faire kine and the seuen “ ful eares be seuen yeres of plentifulnes and both conteine the selfe same meaning of the dreame †Also the seuen leane and thinne kine that came vp after them and the seuen thinne eares and blasted with the burning winde are seuen yeares of famine to come †Which shal be fulfilled in this order †Behold there shal come seuen yeares of great fertilitie in the whole Land of Aegypt †after which shal folowe other seuen yeares of so great sterilitie that al the abundance before shal be forgotten for the famine shal consume al the land †and the greatnes of the scarsitie shal destroy the greatnes of the plentie †And in that thou didest see the second time a dreame perteining to the same thing it is a token of the certeintie for that the worde of God shal come to passe and be fulfilled spedely †Now therfore let the king prouide a wise man and industrious and make him ruler ouer the Land of Aegypt †that he may appointe ouerseers ouer al countries and gether into barnes the fifth part of the fruites during the seuen yeares of the fertilitie †that now presently shal ensewe and let al the corne be laid vp vnder Pharaoes handes and let it be reserued in the cities †And let it be in a readines against the famine of seuen yeares to come which shal oppresse Aegypt and the land shal not be consumed with scarsitie †The counsel pleased Pharao and al his seruants †and he spake to them Can we find such an other man that is ful of the spirite of God †He said therfore to Ioseph Because God hath shewed thee al things that thou hast spoken can I find a wiser and one like vnto thee †Thou shalt be ouer my house and at the commandment of thy mouth al the people shal obey only in the throne of the kingdome I wil goe before thee †And againe Pharao said to Ioseph Behold I haue appointed thee ouer the whole land of Aegypt †And he tooke his ring from his owne hand and gaue it into his hand and he put vpon him a silke roabe and put a chaine of gold about his necke †And he
of our Lord thy God and keepe his preceptes and ceremonies which are written in this law and returne to our Lord thy God in al thy hart and in al thy soule †This commandment that I command thee this daie “ is not aboue thee nor so farre of †nor situated in heauen that thou maiest say Which of vs is able to ascend vnto heauen to bring it to vs that we may heare and fulfil it in worke †Nor placed beyond the sea that thou mayest pretend and say Which of vs can passe ouer the sea and bring it euen vnto vs that we way heare and doe that which is commanded †But the word is very neere thee in thy mouth and in thy hart to doe it †Consider that I haue “ set before thee this day life and good and contrariewise death and euil †that thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his waies and keepe his commandmentes and ceremonies and iudgementes and thou mayest liue and he multiplie thee and blesse thee in the Land which thou shalt enter to possesse †But if thy hart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceaued with errour thou adore strange goddes and serue them †I foretel thee this day that thou shalt perish and abide a litle time in the Land which passing ouer Iordan thou shalt enter to possesse †“ I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life that both thou mayest liue and thy seede †and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies that thou mayest liue in the Land for the which our Lord sware to thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would geue it them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXX 6. God vvil circumcise thy bart Most true it is that of our selues without Gods grace none can kepe or fulfil the commandmentes But he whose hart God doth circumcise is therby made able to loue God with al his hart and with al his soule And except some hartes were thus circumcised and so made able to loue God aboue al and consequently their neighboures God should not performe his promise that he wil circumcise the hart of some 11. Is not aboue thee VVhen thou art stirred vp assisted and indued with Gods grace the commandment of God is not then aboue thee nor faire of from thee but very nere thee in thy mouth to confesse God and his truth and in thy hart to do it But you wil aske How then cometh it to passe that manie hauing receiued sufficient grace yet do not kepe Gods commandmentes God him self answereth 15. That he hath set before thee life and good and contrrivvise death and euil he inuiteth and helpeth yet forceth thee not he geuethâ—thee powre abilitie helping and not destroying thy freewil that thou maist loue our Lord thy God walke in his wayes and kepe his commandements But if thy hart be auerted and v. 17. thou vrilt not heare thou shalt perish Againe God inculcateth 19. I cal for vvitnesses heauen and earth that I haue proposed to you life and death blessing and cursing Choose therfore life c. VVhat Doctor can teach more plainly the possibilitie of keeping Gods commandmentes and frewil in man then this text of holie Scripture CHAP. XXXI Moyses substituteth Iosue his successour in temporal gouernment 9. deliuereth the law to the Priestes 16. God fortelleth that the people wil often forsake him and that he wil punish them 19. commandeth Moyses to write a canticle an abrigement of the Law easie to be remembred 25. and in further testimonie against them the Leuites must put this booke in the arke of couenant MOYSES therfore went and spake al these wordes to al Israel †and said to them I am this day a hundred and twentie yeares old I can not goe out and come in any longer especially wheras our Lord also hath said to me Thou shalt not passe ouer this Iordan †Our Lord therfore thy God wil passe ouer before thee he wil destroy al these nations in thy sight and thou shalt possesse them and this Iosue shal passe ouer before thee as our Lord hath spoken †And our Lord shal doe to them as he did to Sehon and Og the kinges of the Ammorheites and to their land and shal destroy them †Therfore when our Lord shal haue deliuered these also to you you shal doe in like manner to them as I haue commanded you †Doe manfully and be strengthned feare not neither tremble ye at their sight because our Lord thy God him selfe is thy conductor and wil not leaue nor forsake thee †And Moyses called Iosue and said to him before al Israel Take courage and be strong for thou shalt bring in this people into the Land which our Lord sware that he would geue to their fathers and thou shalt diuide it by lotte †And our Lord that is your conductor him selfe wil be with thee he wil not leaue nor forsake thee feare not neither dread thou †Moyses therfore wrote this law and deliuered it to the priestes the sonnes of Leui which caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord and to al the ancientes of Israel †And he commanded them saying After seuen yeares in the yeare of remission in the solemnitie of tabernacles †when al come together out of Israel to appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose thou shalt read the wordes of this law before al Israel they hearing †and the people being assembled together as wel men as wemen children and strangers that are within thy gates that hearing they may learne and feare our Lord your God and keepe and fulfil al the wordes of this law †Their children also who now are ignorant that they may heare and feare our Lord their God al the daies that they liue in the Land which passing ouer Iordan you goe to obteyne †And our Lord said to Moyses Behold the daies of thy death are nigh cal Iosue and stand ye in the tabernacle of testimonie that I may command him Moyses therfore and Iosue went and stoode in the tabernacle of testimonie †and our Lord appeared there in the piller of a cloude which stood in the entring of the tabernacle †And our Lord said to Moyses Behold thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers and this people rysing vp wil fornicate after strange goddes in the Land to the which it entreth to dwel therein there wil they forsake me and wil make the couenant which I haue made with them of none effect †And my furie shal be wrath against them in that day and I wil forsake them and wil hide my face from them and they shal be deuoured al euils and afflictions shal finde them so that they shal say
which was dried the third day to dwelt therin where are a thousand mountaynes †But to Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth part being moyst and kepst it that it might be to deuoure whom thou wilt and when thou wilt †And in the sixt day thou didst command the earth to create before thee cattel and beastes and creeping creatures †and ouer these Adam whom thou madest ruler ouer al the workes which thou didst make out of him are al we brought forth and the people whom thou hast chosen †And al these thinges I haue sayd before thee ô Lord because thou didst create the world for vs. †But the residue of the nations borne of Adam thou saydst that they were nothing and that they were like to spittle and as it were the droping out of a vessel thou didst liken the abundance of them †And now Lord behold these nations which are reputed for nothing haue begune to rule ouer vs and to deuoure vs †but we thy people whom thou didst cal thy first onlie begotten emulatour are deliuered into their handes †and if the world was created for vs why doe not we possesse inheritance with the world how long these thinges CHAP. VII Without tribulations no man can attayne immortal life 17. which the iust shal inherite and the wicked shal perish 28. Christ wil come and dye for mankind 36. Prayers of the iust shal profite til the end of this word but not after the general iudgement 48. Al sinned in Adam 52. and haue added more sinnes 57. but it is in mans powre 62. by Gods grace to liue eternally AND it came to passe when I had ended to speake these wordes the Angel was sent to me which had bene sent to me the first nights †and he sayd to me Arise Esdras and heare the wordes which I am come to speake to thee †And I sayd Speake my God And he sayd to me The sea is set in a large place that it might be deepe and wide †but the entrance to it shal be set in a straict place that it might be like to riuers †For who witting wil enter into the sea and see it or rule ouer it if he passe not the streite how shal he come into the bredth †Also an other thing A citie is built and set in a plaine place and it is ful of al goodes †The entrance therof narrow and set in a stepe place so that on the right hand there was fire on the left depe water †and there is one onlie pathe set betwen them that is betwen the fire and the water so that the pathe can not conteyne but onlie a mans steppe †And if the citie shal be geuen a man for inheritance if he neuer passe through the peril set before it how shal he receiue his inheritance †And I sayd So Lord And he sayd to me So it is Israel also a part †For I made the world for them and when Adam transgressed my constitution that was iudged which was done †And the entrance of this world were made streite and sorowful paynful and few and euil and ful of dangers stuffed very much with labour †For the entrances of the greater world are large and secure and making fruite of immortalitie †If then they that liue entring in enter into these streite and vayne thinges they can not receiue the thinges that are layd vp †Now therfore why art thou trubled wheras thou art corruptible and why art thou moued wheras thou art mortal †And why hast thou not taken in thy hart that which is to come but that which is present †I answered and sayd Lord dominatour behold thou hast disposed by thy law that the iust shal inherite these thinges and the impious shal perish †But the iust shal suffer the streites hoping for the wyde places for they that haue done impiously haue both suffered the streites and shal not see the wide places †And he sayd to me There is no iudge aboue God nor that vnderstandeth aboue the Highest †For manie present doe perish because the law of God which was set before is neglected †For God commanding commanded them that came when they came what doing they should liue and what obseruing they should not be punished †But they were not perswaded and gaynesayd him and made to them selues a cogitation of vanitie †and proposed to themselues deceites of sinnes they sayd to the Highest that he was not and they knew not his wayes †and dispised his law and denyed his couenaunces and had not fidelitie in his ordinances and did not accomplish his workes †For this cause Esdras the emptie to the emptie and the ful to the ful †Behold the time shal come and it shal be when the signes shal come which I haue fore told thee and the bride shal appeare and appearing she shal be shewed that now is hid with the earth †and euerie one that is deliuered from the foresaid euils he shal see my meruelous thinges †For my sonne IESVS shal be reueled with them that are with him and they shal be merie that are leaft in the foure hundred yeares †And it shal be after these yeares and my sonne CHRIST shal dye and al men that haue breath †and the world shal be turned into the old silence seuen dayes as in the former iudgementes so that none shal be leaft †And it shal be after seuen dayes and the world shal be raysed vp that yet waketh not and shal dye corrupted †and the earth shal render the thinges that sleepe in it the dust them that dwel in it with silence and the cellars shal render the soules that are commended to them †And the Highest shal be reueled vpon the seate of iudgement and miseries shal passe and long sufferance shal be gathered together †And iudgement onlie shal remayne truth shal stand and fayth shal waxe strong †and the worke shal folow and the reward shal be shewed and iustice shal awake and iniustice shal not haue dominion †And I sayd First Abraham prayed for the Sodomites and Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the desert †And they that were after him for Israel in the dayes of Achaz and of Samuel †and Dauid for the destruction and Salomon for them that came vnto the sanctification †And Elias for them that receiued raine and for the dead that he might liue †and Ezechias for the people in the dayes of Sennacherib and manie for manie †If therfore now when corruptible did increase and iniustice was multiplied and the iust prayed for the impious why now also shal it not be so †And he answered me and sayd This present world is not the end much glorie remaineth in it for this cause they prayed for the impotent †For the day of iudgement shal be the end of this time and the beginning of
the immortalitie to come wherein corruption is past †intemperance is dissolued incredulitie is cut of and iustice hath increased truth is sprong †For then no man can saue him that hath perished nor drowne him that hath ouercome And I answered †and sayd This is my word the first and the last that it had bene better not to geue the earth to Adam or when he had now geuen it to restraine him that he should not sinne †For what doth it profit men presently to liue in sorow and being dead to hope for punishment †O what hast thou done Adam For if thou didst sinne it was not made thy fal only but ours also which came of thee †For what doth it profit vs if immortal time be promised to vs but we haue done mortal workes †And that euerlasting hope is foretold vs but we most wicked are become vayne †And that habitations of health and securitie are reserued for vs but we haue conuerst naughtely †And that the glorie of the Highest is reserued to protect them that haue slowly conuerst but we haue walked in most wicked wayes †And that paradise shal be shewed whose fruite continueth incorrupted wherin is securitie and remedie †but we shal not enter in for we haue conuerst in vnlawful places †And their faces which haue had abstinence shal shyne aboue the starres but our faces blacke aboue darkenes †For we did not thinke liuing when we did iniquitie that we shal beginne after death to suffer †And he answered and sayd This is the cogitation of the battel which man shal fight who is borne vpon the earth †that if he shal be ouercome he suffer that which thou hast sayd but if he ouercome he shal receiue that which I say †for this is the life which Moyses spake of when he liued to the people saying Choose vnto thee life that thou mayst liue †But they beleued him not no nor the Prophetes after him no nor me which haue spoken to them †Because there should not be sorow vnto their perdition as there shal be ioy vpon them to whom saluation is perswaded †And I answered and sayd I know Lord that the Highest is called merciful in that that he hath mercie on them which are not yet come into the world †and that he hath mercie on them which conuerse in his law †and he is long suffering because he sheweth long sufferance to them that haue sinned as it were with their owne workes †and he is bountiful because he wil geue according to exigentes †and of great mercie because he multiplieth more mercies to them that are present and that are past and that are to come †For if he shal not multiplie his mercies the world shal not be made aliue with them that did inherite it †And he geueth for if he shal not geue of his bountie that they may be releeued which haue done iniquitie the tenth thousand part of men can not be quickned from their iniquities †And the iudge if he shal not forgeue them that are cured with his word and wype away a multitude of contentions there should not perhaps be leaft in an innumerable multitude but very few CHAP. VIII God is merciful in this world yet fewe are saued 6. Gods workes and disposition of his creatures are meruelous 15 Esdras prayeth for the people of Israel 37. and saluation is promised to the iust and punishment threatned to the wicked AND he answered me sayd This world the Highest made for manie but that to come for few †And I wil speake a similitude Esdras before thee For as thou shalt aske the earth and it wil tel thee that it wil geue much more earth wherof earthen worke may be made but a liâ—le dust wherof gold is made so also is the act of this present world †Manie in deede are created but few shal be saued †And I answered and sayd Then ô soul swallow vp the sense and deuoure that which is wise †For thou art agred to obey and willing to prophecie For there is no space geuen thee but only to liue †O Lord if thou wilt not permitte thy seruant that we pray before thee and thou geue vs seede to the hart and tillage to the vnderstanding wherof may the fruite be made wherby euerie corrupt person may liue that shal beare the place of a man †For thou art alone and we are one workmanshippe of thy handes as thou hast spoken †and as now the bodie made in the matrice and thou doest geue the meÌ„bers thy creature is preserued in fire water and nine monethes thy workemanship doth suffer thy creature that is created in it †and it self that keepeth and that which is kept both shal be preserued and the matrice being preserued rendreth agayne at some time the thinges that are growen in it †For thou hast commanded of the members that is the brestes to geue milke vnto the fruite of the brestes †that the thing which is made may be nourished til a certayne time and afterward thou mayst dispose him to thy mercie †For thou hast brought him vp in thy iustice and hast instructed him in thy law and hast corrected him in thy vnderstanding †and thou shalt mortifie him as thy creature and shalt geue him life as thy worke †If then thou wilt destroy him that is made with so great labours it is easie by thy commandment to be ordayned that also which was made might be preserued †And now Lord I wil speake of euerie man thou rather knowest but concerning thy people for which I am sorowful †and concerning thine inheritance for which I mourne and for Israel for whom I am pensiue and concerning Iacob for whom I am sorowful †Therfore wil I begin to pray before thee for me for them because I see our defaultes that inhabite the earth †But I haue heard of the celeritie of the iudge that shal be †Therfore heare my voyce and vnderstand my word and I wil speake before thee †The beginning of the wordes of Esdras before he was assumpted and I sayd Lord which inhabitest the world whose eyes are eleuated vnto thinges on high and in the ayre †and whose throne is inestimable and glorie incomprehensible by whom standeth an host of Angels with trembling †whose keping is turned in wynde and fire thou whose word is true and sayings permanent †whose commandment is strong and disposition terribe whose looke dryeth vp the depthes and indignation maketh the mountaynes to melt and truth doth testifie †Heare the prayer of thy seruant with thine eares receiue the petition of thy creature †For whiles I liue I wil speake and whiles I vnderstand I wil answere †Neither doe thou respect the sinnes of thy people but them that serue thee in truth †Neither doe thou attend the impious endeuours of the nations but them