shal be raised againe from death and together with the soule be eternally glorified 12 In the meane time of this pilagrimage of mankind it is our way-faring special prouision dailie and supersubstantial bread til we shal possesse the promised land the kingdome of heauen in eternal blisse CHAP. XVII The people murmuring againe in Raphidim for want of drinck our Lord giueth them water out of arock 8. Amalech fighteth with them And Moyseslifting vp his hand in prayer Israel ouercometh otherwise Amalech prâ—â—aâ—leth THERFORE al the multitude of the children of Israel setting forward from the desert Sin by their mansions according to the word of our Lord camped in Raphidim where there was no water for the people to drinke †Who chiding against Moyses said Geue vs water that we may drinke To whom Moyses answered Why chide you against me Wherfore doe you tempt our Lord †The people therfore was thirstie there for lacke of water and murmured against Moyses saying Why didst thou make vs goe forth out of Aegypt to kil vs and our children and our beastes with thirst †And Moyses cried to our Lord saying What shal I doe to this people Yet a litle while and they wil stone me †And our Lord said to Moyses Goe before the people and take with thee of the ancients of Israel and the rodde wherwith thou didst strike the riuer take in thy hand and goe †Behold I wil stand there before thee vpon the rocke Horeb and thou shalt strike the rocke and water shal goe out therof that the people may drinke Moyses did so before the ancientes of Israel †and he called the name of that place Temptation because of the chiding of the children of Israel and for that they tempted our Lord saying Is the Lord amongst vs or not †And Amalec came and fought against Israel in Raphidim †And Moyses sayd to Iosue Choose out men and goe forth and fight against Amalec to morow I wil stand in the toppe of the hil hauing the rodde of God in my hand †Iosue did as Moyses had spoken and he fought against Amalec but Moyses and Aaron and Hur went vp vpon the toppe of the hil †And when Moyses lifted vp his hands Israel ouercame but if he did lette them downe a little Amalec ouercame †And the handes of Moyses were heauie therfore they tooke a stone and putte vnder him wherupon he sate and Aaron and Hur staied vp his handes on both sides And it came to passe that his handes were not wearie vntil sunne sette †And Iosue put Amalec to flight his people by the edge of the sword †And our Lord said to Moyses Write this for a monument in a booke deliuer it to the eares of Iosue for I wil destroy the memorie of Amalec from vnder heauen †And Moyses builded an Altar and called the name therof Our Lord my exaltation saying †Because the hand of our Lords throne and the warre of our Lord shal be against Amalec from generation vnto generation CHAP. XVIII Iethro Moyses father in law bringeth to him his wise and childrens 8. And hearing the great workes of God 12. offereth Sacrifice 13 and Wisely aduised Moyses to appoint subordinate officers to iudge lesse causes reseruing the greater to him selfe AND when Iethro the priest of Madian the allied of Moyses had heard al the thinges that God had done to Moyses and to Israel his people and that our Lord had brought forth Israel out of Aegypt †he tooke Sephora the wife of Moyses whom he had sent backe †and her two sonnes of which one was called Gersam his father saying I haue bene a stranger in a forren countrie †And the other Eliezer for the God of my father quoth he is my helper and hath deliuered me from Pharaoes sword †Iethro therfore the allied of Moyses came and his sonnes and his wife to Moyses into the desert where he was camped beside the mountayne of God †And he sent word to Moyses saying I Iethro thy allied come to thee and thy wife and thy two children with her †Who going forth to mere his allied adored and kissed him and they saluted on an other with wordes of peace And when he was entred into the tent †Moyses told his allied al thinges that our Lord had done to Pharao and the Aegyptians for Israel and the whole trauaile which had chanced to them in the iourney and that our Lord had deliuered them †And Iethro reioyced for al the good thinges that our Lord had done to Israel because he had deliuered them out of the handes of the Aegyptians †and he said Blessed is the Lord that hath deliuered you out of the hand of the Aegyptians and out of the hand of Pharao that hath deliuered his people out of the hand of Aegypt †Now doe I know that the Lord is great aboue al goddes for because they dealt proudely against them †Iethro therfore the allied of Moyses offered holocaustes and hostes to God and Aaron and al the ancientes of Israel came to eate bread with him before God †And the next day Moyses sate to iudge the people who stoode by Moyses from morning vntil night †Which thing when his allied had seene to witte al thinges that he did in the people he said What is this that thou doest in the people Why sittest thou alone and al the people attendeth from morning vntil night †To whom Moyses answered The people cometh to me seeking the sentence of God †And when anie controuersie chanceth among them they come vnto me to iudge betwene them and to shew the preceptes of God and his lawes †But he said Thou doest not wel †thou art tâ—red with foolish labour both thou and this people that is with thee the busines is aboue thy strength thou alone canst not susteyne it †But heare my wordes and counseils and God shal be with thee Be thou to the people in those thinges that pertaine to God to report their wordes vnto him †and to shew to the people the ceremonies and rite of worâ—hipping and the way wherin they ought to walke and the worke that they ought to doe †And prouide out of al the people men that are wise and doe feare God in whom there is truth and that doe hate auaâ—ice and appointe of them tribunes and centurions and quinquagenarians and deanes †which may iudge the people at al tymes and what great matter soeuer â—â—aâ— fal out let them referre it to thee and let them iudge the lesse matters only and so it may be lighter for thee the burden being imparted vnto others †If thou doest this thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God and shal be able to beare his preceptes and al this people shal returne to their places with pâ—eace †Which thinges when Movses heard he did al thinges that he had suggested vnto him †And choosing substantial men
vvhom vve haue accesse to the euerlasting kingdom Or thus not transposing the vvordes By vocation of Christ the Head through distinct voice of signes for vvordes are signes shevving the mind vve are conducted to the eternal kingdom the happines vvhich al men desire VVhat I pray thee saith this holie Doctor is more sacred then this mysterie vvhat more pleasant then this delight VVhat meate vvhat honey are svveeter then to knovv Gods vvisdom to enter into his secrecte closset◠to behold the sense of our Creator and to teach the vvordes of thy Lord God ful of spiritual vvisdom vvhich are derided by the vvise of this vvorld VVe must also aduertise the reader of the like discourses of ancient Fathers ouer long to be here recited concerning the manifold hiegh praises of Gods Lavv conteyned in this Psalme vvith frequent repetitiō of certaine Synonyma vvordes signifying the same thing in al fourtene tovvitte The Lavv of God his VVayes Testimonies Commandments Precepts Statutes Iustifications Iudgements Iustice Equitie Veritie VVordes Speaches Sermons of vvhich there is commonly one in euerie verse and somtimes tvvo or three in the same verse But our English tongue hardly sufficing rightly to distinguish the three last which in latin are Verba Eloquia Sermones we translate VVORDES only adding in the margen Eloquia and Sermones when they occurre Leauing therfore larger commentaries to others we shal prosecute our wonted maner of briefe glosses Only here premonishing the diligent readers especially Clergimen our selues and our brethren who euerie day sing or read this whole Psalme in the Canonical houres to obserue two particular pointes of Christian doctrine euidently proued by manie places of this Psalme The one against the Pelagians heresie denying the necessitie of Gods special grace in meritorious workes For the Psalmist often here inculcateth mans insufficiencie that of himselfe and by natural forces he can not kepe the commandments of God but needeth alwayes the particular grace of God as vvel to beleue in him to repent for sinnes and to beginne good vvorkes as to procede and perseuere in good state to the end The other against the heresie of our time denying merite by grace freewil For here it is also manifest that Gods grace maketh man able to kepe his commandments and by keeping them to become iust in this life and so to merite eternal glorie Sundrie other principal Articles of Christian Catholique Religion are likevvise comprised in this one Psalme but especially Moral doctrin Alleluja Aleph Doctrine BLESSED are the immaculate in the way which walke in the law of our Lord. †Blessed are they that search his testimonies that seeke after him with al their hart †For they that worke iniquitie haue not walked in his waies †Thou hast very much commanded thy commandmentes to be kept †Would God my waies might be directed to keepe thy iustifications †Then shal I not be confounded when I shal looke throughly in al thy commandmentes †I wil confesse to thee in direction of hart in that I haue lerned the iudgements of thy iustice †I wil keepe thy iustifications forsake me not wholy Beth. House †Wherein doth a yongman correct his way in keeping thy wordes †With my whole hart I haue sought after thee repel me not from thy commandmentes †In my hart I haue hid thy wordes that I may not sinne to thee †Blessed art thou ô Lord teach me thy iustifications †In my lippes I haue pronounced al the iudgementes of thy mouth †I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al riches †I wil be exercised in thy commandmentes and I wil consider thy waies †I wil meditate in thy iustifications I wil not forget thy wordes Gimel Fulnes †Render to thy seruant quicken me and I shal keepe thy wordes †Reuele mine eies and I shal consider the meruelous thinges of thy law †I am a seiourner in the land hide not thy commandmentes from me †My soule hath coueted to desire thy iustifications at al time †Thou hast rebuked the prowde cursed are they that decline from thy commandmentes †Take from me reproch and contempt because I haue sought after thy testimonies †For princes sate and they spake against me but thy seruant was exercised in thy iustifications †For both thy testimonies are my meditation and thy iustifications my counsel Daleth Of Tables †My soule hath cleaued to the pauement quicken me according to thy word †I haue vttered my wayes and thou hast heard me teach me thy iustifications †Instruct me the way of thy iustifications and I shal be exercised in thy meruelous workes †My soule hath slumbered for tediousnes confirme me in thy wordes †Remoue from me the way of iniquitie and according to thy law haue mercie on me †I haue chosen the way of truth I haue not forgotten thy iudgements †I haue cleaued to thy testimonies ô Lord do not confound me †I ranne the way of thy commandments when thou didst dilate my hart He. This thing Set me a law ô Lord the way of thy iustifications and I wil seeke after it alwayes †Geue me vnderstanding and I wil search thy law and I wil keepe it with my whole hart †Conduct me into the path of thy commandments because I would it †Incline my hart into thy testimonies and not into auarice †Turne away mine eies that they see not vanitie in thy way quicken me †Establish thy word to thy seruant in thy feare †Take away my reproch which I haue feared because thy iudgements are pleasant †Behold I haue coueted thy commandments in thine equitie quicken me Vau. And. †And let thy mercie come vpon me ô Lord thy saluation according to thy word †And I shal answer a word to them that vpbrayde me because I haue hoped in thy wordes †And take not away out of my mouth the word of truth vtterly because I haue much hoped in thy iudgementes †And I wil keepe thy law alwayes for euer and for euer and euer †And I walked in largenesse because I haue sought after thy commandments †And I spake of thy testimonies in the sight of kinges and was not confounded †And I meditated in thy commandments which I loued †And I haue lifted vp my handes to thy commandments which I loued and I was exercised in thy iustifications Zain This. †Be mindeful of thy word to thy seruant wherein thou hast
the ruines of them †Nurter thy sonne and he shal refresh thee and shal geue delightes to thy soule †When prophecie shal fayle the people shal be dissipated but he that keepeth the Law is blessed †A seruant can not be taught by wordes because he vnderstandeth that which thou sayst and contemneth to answer †Hast thou seene a man swifte to speake follie is rather to be hoped then his amendement †He that nourisheth his seruant delicatly from his childhood afterward shal feele him stubburne †An angrie man prouoketh brawles and he that is easie to indign 〈…〉 shal he more prone to sinne †Humiliation foloweth the proude and glorie shal receiue the humble of spirite †He that is partaker with a theefe hateth his owne soule he heareth one adiuring and telleth not †He that feareth man shal soone fal he that trusteth in our Lord shal be lifted vp †Manie seeke after the face of the prince the iudgement of euerie one commeth forth from our Lord. †The iust abhorre an impious man the impious abhorre them that are in the right way The sonne that keepeth the word shal be out of perdition CHAP. XXX Aright wiseman thinketh humbly of himself 4. knowing that Gods workes are inscrutable and perfect 8. desireth truth in al thinges mediocritie in riches 11. Abhorreth certaine sortes of men 1. 5. certaine execrable thinges 18. noteth certaine thinges hard to be knowen 21. other thinges intolerable 24. others admirable 32. the tongue dangerous THE wordes of the Gatherer the sonne of Vomiter The vision that the man spake with whom God is and who being strengthened by God abiding with him sayd †I am most foolish of men the wisedom of men is not with me †I haue not learned wisedom and haue not knowen the science of saints †Who hath ascended into heauen and descended who hath conteyned the spirit in his handes who hath bound the waters together as in a garment who hath raysed vp al the borders of the earth what is his name and what is the name of his sonne if thou know †Enerie word of God tryed by fyre is a buckler to them that hope in him †Adde not any thing to his wordes and so thou be reproued and found a lyer †Two thinges I haue asked thee denie them not to me before I dye †Vanitie and lying wordes make far from me Beggerie and riches geue me not geue only things necessarie for my sustenance †lest perhaps being filled I be allured to denie and may say Who is the Lord or being compelled by pouertie I may steale and forsweare the name of my God †Accuse not a seruant to his master lest perhaps he curse thee and thou fal †There is a generation that curseth their father and that blesseth not their mother †A generation that semeth to itself cleane yet is not washed from their filthines †A generation whose eies are loftie and the eielids therof set vp on high †A generation that for teeth hath swordes and chaweth with theyr grinding teeth that they may eate the needie out of the earth and the poore from among men †The horseleach hath two daughters that say Bring bring Three things are vnsatiable the fourth neuer sayth it sufficeth †Hel and the mouth of the matrice the earth which is not satisfied with water but the fyre neuer sayth it sufficeth †The eie that scorneth his father that despiseth the trauail of his mother in bearing him let the rauens of the torrents pick it out and the young of the eagle eate it †Three thinges are hard to me and of the fourth I am vtterly ignorant †The way of an eagle in the ayre the way of a serpent vpon a rocke the way of a shippe in the middes of 〈…〉 and the way of a man in youth †Such is also the way of an adulterous woman which eateth and wyping her mouth sayth I haue done no euil †By three thinges the earth is moued and the fourth it can not susteyne †By a seruant when he shal reigne by a foole when he shal be filled with meate †by an odious woman when she shal be taken in matrimonie by “ a bondwoman when she shal be heyre to her mistresse †There are foure the least thinges of the earth and they are wiser then the wise †The antes a weake people which prepareth in the haruest meate for themselues †The leueret a people not strong which placeth his bed in the rocke †The locust hath no king and they go our al by their troopes †The stellion stayeth on his handes 〈…〉 in kings houses †There are three thinges which 〈…〉 l and the fourth that goeth happely †The lyon the strongest of beastes shal feare at the meeting of none †the cocke gyrded about the loines and the ramme also the king against whom none can resist †There is that hath appeared a foole after that he was listed vp on high for if he had vnderstood he would haue layd his hand vpon his mouth †And he that strongly presseth the pappes to wring out milke strayneth out butter and he that violently cleanceth his nose wringeth out bloud he that prouoketh angers bringeth forth discordes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXX 1. The vvordes of the Gatherer Some Interpreters take these foure Hebrew wordes Agur Iache Ithiel and Vcal conteined in this first verse to be proper names of men supposing that a certaine wiseman named Agur the sonne of Iache spake the sentences folowing in this chapter to his sonnes or scholars called Ithiel Vcal And so this supposed Agur not Salomon should be the auctor of this chapter But the old Interpreter whom S. Ierom approueth and foloweth translated the same wordes as noones appellatiues Neither doth anie ancient Father account this Agur amongst the writers of holie Scriptures And if there were a peculiar auctor of this chapter it is like the same should haue bene placed last and not before that which now foloweth and is by al men confessed to be Salomons And therfore we thinke it more probable with S. Beda and the common opinion that there vvas no other auctor of anie part of this booke besides King Salomon VVho is here called CONGREGANS the Gatherer because he gathered these excellent Parables and Prouerbes as the sonne of the Holie Ghost signified by the word IACHE povvring forth diuine sentences for instruction of ITHIEL VCAL that is of al those vvith vvhom God is by his grace and vvho are streingthened by God abiding vvith them 23. A bond vvoman vvhen she shal be heyre Of al thinges in this world it semeth most absurde that heresie doth dominiere ouer Catholique religion vvhich God some times and in some places suffereth for the greater merite of his elect CHAP. XXXI
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
worketh it shal be honoured therin †Blessed is the man that shal continew in wisdom and that shal meditate in his iustice and in vnderstanding shal consider the prouidence of God †He that considereth her wayes in his hart and hath vnderstanding in her secrets going after her as a searcher and consisting in her wayes †He that looketh through her windowes and heareth in her gates †He that resteth by her house in her walles fastening a stake wil set vp his corage beside her handes and good thinges shal rest in his cottage for euer †He shal set his children vnder her couering and shal abide vnder her boughes †he shal be protected vnder her couering from the heate and shal rest in her glorie CHAP. XV. The fruictes of fearing God 7. Which fooles and liers reape not but the wise only 11. God is no way auctor of sinne 14. but sinners themselues are the auctors abusing their freewil HE that feareth God shal doe good thinges and he that hath iustice shal apprehend her †and she wil meete him as an honourable mother and as a wife from virginitie she wil receiue him †She shal fede him with the bread of life and vnderstanding and geue him the water of wholsome wisdom to drinke and she shal be made sure in him and he shal not be bowed †and she shal hold him fast and he shal not be confounded and she shal exalt him before his neighbours †and in the middest of the Church she shal open his mouth and shal fil him with the spirite of wisdom and vnderstanding and shal clothe him with a stole of glorie †Ioy exultation she shal heape vpon him shal make him inherite an euerlasting name †Foolish men shal not apprehend her wise men shal meete her foolish men shal not see her for she is far from pride and deceite †Lying men shal not be myndful of her and true men shal be found in her and shal haue successe euen to the beholding of God †Prayse is not comelie in the mouth of a sinner †Because wisdom proceded from God For prayse shal be with the wisdom of God shal abound in a faithful mouth the dominator wil giue praise to yt †Say not It is by God that she is absent for doe not thou the thinges that he hateth †Say not He hath made me erre for impious men are not necessarie for him †Our Lord hateth al abomination of errour and it shal not be amiable to them that feare him †God from the beginning made man and left him in the hand of his owne counsel †He added his commandmentes and precepts †If thou wilt keepe the commandment and keepe acceptable fidelitie for euer they shal preserue thee †He hath set before thee water and fire to which thou wilt stretch forth thine hande †Before man there is life and death good and euil what pleaseth him shal be geuen him †Because the wisdom of God is much and he is strong in mighte seing al men without intermission †The eies of our Lord are towards them that feare him and he knoweth al the worke of man †He hath commanded no man to do impiously and he hath geuen no man space to sinne †for he desireth not a multitude of faithlesse and vnprofitable children CHAP. XVI A few good children yea none at al are better then manie wicked 9. Gods wrath falleth vpon the euil and his mercie on the good 14. workes of mercie merite great reward 15. Nothing is hid from God 20. but manie thinges from men REIOICE not in impious children if they be multiplied neither be delighted vpon them if the feare of God be not in them †Credite not their life and respect not their labours †For better is one fearing God then a thousand impious children †And it is more profitable to die without children rather then to leaue impious children †By one wise a countrie shal be inhabited and the tribe of the impious shal be made desolate †Manie such thinges hath mine eie sene and myne eare hath heard thinges of more force then these †In the synagogue of sinners a fire shal flame and in an incredulous nation wrath shal waxe hotte †The old giantes did not obteine for their sinnes who were destroied trusting to their owne strength †and he spared not the peregrination of Lot and he detested them for the pride of their word †He had not pitie on them destroying the whole nation and extolling themselues in their sinnes †And as the six hundred thousand foote men which were gathered together in the hardnes of their hart and if one had bene stiffe necked it is meruel if he had bene vnpunished †For there is mercie and wrath with him Mightie exoration powring out wrath †according to his mercie so his chastisement iudgeth a man according to his workes †The sinner shal not escape in robberie and the sufferance of him that doth mercie shal not slacke †Al mercie shal make a place to euerie man according to the merite of his workes according to the vnderstanding of his peregrination †Say not I shal be hid from God and from on high who shal remember me †In a great people I shal not be knowen for what is my soule among so innumerable creatures †Behold heauen and the heauens of heauens the depth and al the earth the thinges that are in them in his sight shal be moued †the mountaines together and the litle hilles the fundations of the earth when God shal behold them they shal be shaken with trembling †And in al these thinges the hart is senseles and euerie hart is vnderstood of him †and his wayes who doth vnderstand and the storme which neither the eie of man shal see †For manie of his workes are in secretes but the workes of his iustice who shal declare or who shal susteine For the testament is far from some and the examination of al is in consummation †He that is lesse of hart thinketh vaine thinges and the vnwise and erring man thinketh folish thinges †Heare me my sonne and lerne the discipline of vnderstanding and attend to my wordes in thy hart †and I wil speake discipline in equitie and wil search to declare wisedom and to my wordes attend in thy hart and I speake in equitie of spirit the vertues that God hath put vpon his workes from the beginning and in truth I shew forth his knowlege †In the iudgement of God are his workes from the beginning and from the institution of them he distinguished their partes and their beginninges in their nations †He adorned their workes for euer neither haue they hungred nor laboured and they haue not ceased from their workes †Euerie one shal not vexe his neighbour for euer †Be not
his life †Who is proued therin perfect shal haue eternal glorie He that could transgressâ—e and hath not transgressed and doe euils and hath not done †therfore are his good thinges stablished in our Lord al the church of saintes shal declare his almes †Art thou set at a great table open not thy iawe therevpon first †Say not this There be manie thinges which are vpon it †Remember that a naughtie eie is euil †What is created worse then the eie therefore shal it weepe at euerie face When it shal see †stretch not out thy hand first and so contaminated with enuie thou be ashamed †Be not oppressed in a feast †Vnderstand by thyself what thy neighbours thinges are †Vse as a frugal man those thinges that are set before thee lest thou be hated when thou eatest much †Leaue of first for maners sake and exceede not lest thou perhaps offend †And if thou be set in the middes of manie stretch not forth thy hand before them neither doe thou first aske to drinke †How sufficient is a little wine for a man wel taught and in sleeping thou shalt not be pained with it and thou shalt feele no griefe †Watching choler torment to an vnsatiable man †sleepe of health is in a man of spare diet he shal sleepe vntil morning and his soule with him shal be deligted †And if thou hast bene forced with eating much rise from the middes and vomite and it shal refresh thee and thou shalt not bring infirmitie to thy bodie †Heare me my sonne and despise me not and in the end thou shalt finde my wordes †In al thy workes be quicke and al infirmitie shal not chance vnto thee †The lippes of manie shal blesse him that is magnifical in breads and the testimonie of his truth is faithful †In naughtie bread the cittie wil murmur and the testimonie of the naughtines thereof is true †Prouoke not them that loue wine for wine hath destroyed very manie †Fire tryeth hard yron so wine dronken in drunkennes shal rebuke the hartes of the proud †Equal life to al men wine in sobrietie if thou drinke it moderatly thou shalt be sober †What is the life that is diminished with wine †What defraudeth life death †Wine was created for ioyfulnes and not for drunkeÌ„nes from the beginning †Wine drunken moderately is the ioy of the soule and the hart †Sober drinking is health to soule and bodie †Much wine drunken maketh prouocation wrath manie ruines †Much wine drunken is bitternes of the soule †The couragiousnes of drunkennes is offence of the vnwise lessening the strength and making woundes †In a banquet of wine rebuke not thy neighbour and despise him not in his mirth †Speake not to him wordes of repoch and presse him not in demanding againe CHAP. XXXII Superiors must rule with mekenes 4. teaching those wisdom that are capable thereof 7. Be moderate in musike and in wine 9. Let yongmen be diligent to heare and sparing to speake 13. especially before their betters 1â— Be alwayes wel occupied 17. Serue and feare God 21. admitte correction 24. do nothing without counsel HAVE they made thee Ruler be not extolled be among them as one of them †Haue care of them and so sitte thou stil and al thy care being dispatched repose †That thou maist reioyce for their sakes receiue a crowne as an ornament of grace and obteyne the dignitie of the contribution †Speake thou that art elder for it becometh thee †the first word to him that loueth with knowlege hinder not musike †Where there is no hearing power not out speache and extol not thyself out of time in thy wisdom †A litle pearle of the carbuncle in an ornament of gold and the comparison of musicians in a banket of wine †As a signet of the emerauld is in the working of gold so the melodie of musike in ioyful and moderate wine †Heare holding thy peace for thy reuerence good grace shal come to thee †Yong man speake in thine owne cause scarsely †If thou be asked twise let thyne answer hauean head †In manie thinges be as it were ignorant and heare holding thy peace and withal asking †In the middes of greate men presume not and where ancients are speake not much †Before haile there shal goe lightning grace shal goe before shamfastnes for thy reuerence good grace shal come to thee †And at the houre of rysing slacke not thyself but runne before first into thy house and there withdraw thyself and there play †and doe thy conceites and not in sinnes and proud word †And aboue al these thinges blesse our Lord that made thee that doth replenish thee with al his goodes †He that feareth our Lord shal receiue his doctrine and they that wil watch after him shal finde blessing †He that seeketh the law shal be replenished with it and he that doth deceitfully shal be scandalized by it †They that feare our Lord shal finde iust iudgement and shal kindle iustices as light †A sinful man wil flee reprehension and according to his wil wil finde excuse †A man of counsel wil not destroy vnderstanding an aliene and proud man wil not dread feare †Yea after he hath done with feare without counsel he shal be controwled euen by his owne pursuites †Sonne doe nothing without counsel and after the fact thou shalt not repent †Goe not in the way of ruine and thou shalt not stumble at stones commite not thyself to a laborious way lest thou set a scandal to thy soule †And beware of thy children and take heede of them of thy household †In al thy worke beleue thy soule by faith for this is the keeping of the commandmentes †He that beleueth God attendeth to the commandmentes and he that trusteth in him shal not be lessened CHAP. XXXIII Feare of God defendeth from al aduersaries 5. Follie is vnconstant 8. God disposeth al to the best 13. Man is in Gods hand as clay in the poâ—ters 20. Superiors must keepe their auctoritie and their subiectes in discipline TO him that feareth our Lord euils shal not happen but in tentation God wil keepe him and deliuer him from euils †A wise man hateth not the commandments and iustices and he shal not be shaken as a shippe in a storme †A man of vnderstanding beleueth the law of God and the law is sure to him †He that repeteth an interrogation shal better prepare his answer and so shal be heard and shal keepe discipline †The hart of a foole is as a wheele of a carte his cogitation as a turning axeltree †A stalion horse neyeth vnder euerie one that sitteth vpon him so a freind that is a scorner †Why doth one day
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
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 Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus Saluatoris Isaiae 12. You shal draw waters in ioy out of the Sauiours fountaines Printed at Doway by LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holie Lambe M. DC IX APPROBATIO NOs infrascripti in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacrae Theologiae Doctores Professores hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem quam tres diuersi eius 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 integritate 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 TO THE RIGHT VVELBELOVED ENGLISH READER GRACE AND GLORIE IN IESVS CHRIST EVERLASTING AT LAST through Gods goodnes most dearly beloued we send you here the greater part of the Old Testament as long since you receiued the New faithfully translated into English The residue is in hād to be finished and your desire therof shal not now God prospering our intention be long frustrate As for the impediments which hitherto haue hindered this vvorke they al proceded as manie do know of one general cause our poore estate in banishment VVherin expecting better meanes greatter difficulties rather ensued Neuertheles you wil hereby the more perceiue our feruent good wil euer to serue you in that we haue brought forth this Tome in these hardest times of aboue fourtie yeares since this College was most happely begune VVherfore we nothing doubt but you our dearest for whom we haue dedicated our liues wil both pardon the long delay which we could not wel preuent and accept now this fruict of our laboures with like good affection as we acknowlege them due and offer the same vnto you If anie demand why it is now allowed to haue the holie Scriptures in vulgar tongues which generally is not permitted but in the three sacred only for further declaration of this other like pointes we remite you to the Preface before the New Testament Only here as by an Epitome we shal repete the summe of al that is there more largely discussed To this first question therfore we answer that both iust reason highest authoritie of the Church iudge it not absolutly necessarie nor alwayes conuenient that holie Scriptures should be in vulgar tongues For being as they are hard to be vnderstood euen by the lerned reason doth dictate to reasonable men that they were not written nor ordayned to be read indifferently of al men Experiēce also teacheth that through ignorance ioyned often with pride and presumption manie reading Scriptures haue erred grosly by misunderstanding Gods word VVhich though it be most pure in it self yet the sense being adulterated is as perilous saith Tertullian as the stile corrupted S. Ambrose obserueth that vvhere the text is true the Arrians interpretation hath errors S. Augustin also teacheth that here sies and peruerse doctrines entangling soules and throvving them dovvne headlong into the depth do not othervvise spring vp but vvhen good or true Scriptures are not vvel and truly vnderstood and vvhen that vvhich in them is not vvel vnderstood is also rashly boldly auouched For the same cause S. Ierom vtterly disallowed that al sortes of men wemen old yong presumed to read talke of the Scriptures wheras no articene no tradsman dare presume to teach anie facultie vvhich he hath not first lerned Seing therfore that dangers hurtes happen in manie the careful chief Pastores in Gods Church haue alwaies moderated the reading of holie Scriptures according to persons times and other circumstances prohibiting some and permitting some to haue and read them in their mother tongue So S. Crysostom trāslated the Psalmes some other partes of holie Scriptures for the Armenians when he was there in banishment The Slauonians and Gothes say they haue the Bible in their languages It was translated into Italian by an Archbyshop of Genua Into French in the time of king Charles the fift especially because the waldensian heretikes had corruptly translated it to maintaine their errors VVe had some partes in English translated by Venerable Bede as Malmesburie witnesseth And Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canturburie in a Councel holden at Oxford straictly ordayned that no heretical translation set forth by wicliffe and his complices nor anie other vulgar Edition should be suffered til it were approued by the Ordinarie of the Diocese alleaging S. leroms iudgement of the difficultie danger in translating holie Scriptures out of one tongue into an other And therfore it must nedes be much more dangerous when ignorant people read also corrupted translations Now since Luther and his folowers haue pretended that the Catholique Romane faith and doctrine should be contrarie to Gods written word that the Scriptures were not suffered in vulgar languages lest the people should see the truth vvithal these new maisters corruptly turning the Scriptures into diuers tongues as might best serue their owne opinions against this false suggestion and practise Catholique Pastores haue for one especial remedie set forth true and sincere Translations in most languages of the Latin Church But so that people must read them with licence of their spiritual superior as in former times they were in like sort limited Such also of the Laitie yea of the meaner lerned Clergie as were permitted to read holie Scriptures did not presume to interprete hard places nor high Mysteries much lesse to dispute and contend but leauing the discussion therof to the more lerned searched rather and noted the godlie and imitable examples of good life and so lerned more humilitie obedience hatred of sinne feare of God zele of Religion and other vertues And thus holie Scriptures may be rightly vsed in anie tongue to teach to argue to correct to instruct in iustice that the man of God may be perfect and as S. Paul addeth instructed to euerie good vvorke when men laboure rather to be doers of Gods wil vvord then readers or hearers only deceiuing themselues But here an other question may be proposed VVhy we
not in vnto them but they were shut vp vntil the day of their death liuing in widowhood †And the king sayd to Amasa Cal me together al the men of Iuda agaynst the third day and be thou present †Amasa therfore went to cal together Iuda and taryed beyond the time appoynted which the king had assigned him †And Dauid sayd to Abisai Now wil Seba the sonne of Bochri more astlict vs then Absalom take therefore the seruantes of thy Lord and pursew him lest perhaps he finde fensed cities escape vs. †There went forth therfore with him Ioabs men Cerethi also and Phelethi and al the strong men yssued forth of Ierusalem to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri †And when they were beside the great stone which is in Gabaon Amasa coming mette them Moreouer Ioab was clothed with a strayte cote according to the measure of his stature and vpon it girded with a sword hanging downe to the flanke in a scabbarde which being made for the purpose could with light mouing come sorth and strike †Ioab therfore sayd to Amasa God saue thee my brother And he held with his right hand the chinne of Amasa as it were kissing him †But Amasa marked not the sword which Ioab had who strick him in the side and powred out his bowels on the ground neither added he the second wound and he dyed And Ioab and Abisai his brother pursewed Seba the sonne of Bochri †In the meane time certayne men when they stoode by the carcasse of Amasa Ioabs company sayd Loe he that would haue beene for Ioab the companion of Dauid †And Amasa embrewed with bloud lay in the middes of the way A certayne man saw this that al the people stayed to see him and he remoued Amasa out of the way into the filde and couered him with a garment that they which passed might not stay because of him †He therefore being remoued out of the way euery man passed folowing Ioab to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri †Moreouer he had passed through al the tribes of Israel vnto Abela and Bethmaaca and al the chosen men were gathered together vnto him †They therfore came and assaulted him in Abela and in Bethmaaca and they compassed the citie with munitions and the citie was besieged and al the multitude that was with Ioab laboured to destroy the walles †And a wise woman cryed out from the citie Heare ye heareye tel Ioab Approche hither and I wil speake with thee †Who when he was come to her she sayd to him Art thou Ioab And he answered I am To whom she spake thus Heare the wordes of thy handmayd Who answered I doe heare †And she agayne sayd A saying was vsed in the old prouerbe They that aske let them aske in Abela and so they prospered †Am not I she that answer truth in Israel and thou seekest to subuert the citie to ouerthrowe a mother citie in Israel Why throwest thou downe hedlong the inheritance of our Lord †And Ioab answering sayd God sorbid God sorbid that I should I do not throw downe nor destroy †The matter is not so but a man of mount Ephraim Seba the sonne of Bochri by name hath lifted vp his hand agaynst king Dauid Deliuer him onlie and we wil depart from the citie And the woman sayd to Ioab Behold his head shal be throwen to thee of the wal †She therfore went to al the people and spake to them wisely who threw the head of Seba the sonne of Bochri being cut of to Ioab And he sounded the trumpet and they departed from the citie euery one into their tabernacles and Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king †Ioab therfore was ouer al the armie of Israel and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada ouer the Cheretheites and Pheletheites †But Aduram ouer the tributes moreouer Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was register †And Siua a scribe and Sadoc and Abiathar priestes †And Ira the â—aiâ—ite was the priest of Dauid CHAP. XXI Eâ—mine oppressing Isiael three yeares for the sinne of Saul agaynst the Gabaonites 6. seuen of Saulsrace 7. Miphiboseth saned are crucisied 12. Their bones with Sauls and Ionathas are buried in the Land of Beniamin 15. Dauid hath foure great battels and victories against the Philistians AND there came a famine in the daies of Dauid three yeares continually and Dauid consulted the oracle of our Lord. And our Lord sayd For Saul and his bloudy house because he slewe the Gabaonites †The king therfore calling the Gabaonites sayd to them Moreouer the Gabaonites were not of the children of Israel but the reliques of the Amorrheites For the children of Israel had sworne to them and Saul would strike them of zeale as it were for the children of Israel and Iuda †Dauid therfore sayd to the Gabaonites What shal I do for you And what shal be the expiation for you that you may blesse the inheritance of our Lord †And the Gabaonites sayd to him We haue no question vpon siluer and gold but agaynst Saul and agaynst his house neither wil we that a man be slayne of Israel To whom the king sayd What wil you then that I do for you †Who sayd to the king The man that hath wasted vs and oppressed vs vniustly we must so destroy that there be not so much as one leift of his stocke in al the coastes of Israel †Let there be geuen vs seuen men of his children that we may crucifie them to our Lord in Gabaa of Saul once the chosen of our Lord. And the king sayd I wil geue them †And the king spared Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul for the oth of our Lord that had beene betwen Dauid and betwen Ionathas the sonne of Saul †The king therfore tooke the two sonnes of Respha the daughter of Aia whom she bare to Saul Armoni and Miphiboseth and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul which she bare to Hadriel the sonne of Berzellai that was of Molathi †and gaue them into the handes of the Gabaonites who crucified them on a hil before our Lord and these seuen dyed together in the first dayes of haruest when the reaping of barley began †And Respha the daughter of Aia taking a heare cloth spred it vnder her vpon the rocke from the beginning of haruest til water dropped vpon them from heauen and she suffered not the birdes to teare them by day nor the beastes by night †And the thinges were told Dauid which Respha had done the daughter of Aia the concubine of Saul †And Dauid went and tooke the bones of Saul and the bones of Ionathas his sonne from the men of Iabes Galaad who had stolen them out of the streate of Bethsan in the which the Philistijms hanged them when they had killed Saul in Gelboe †And he caried thence the bones of Saul and the bones
Bethsabee therfore went in to the king in the chamber and the king was exceding old and Abisag the Sunamite ministred to him †Bethsabee bowed her self and adored the king To whom the king sayd What is thy wil quoth he †Who answering sayd My lord thou didst sweare to thy handmayd by our Lord thy God that Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me and he shal sitte in my throne †And behold now Adonias reigneth thou my lord the king not knowing therof †He hath killed oxen al fatte thinges and manie rammes and called al the kinges sonnes Abiathar also the priest and Ioab the General of the warfarre but Salomon thy seruant he called not †Notwithstanding my lord king the eyes of al Israel looke vpon thee that thou wouldest shew them who shal sitte in thy throne my lord king after thee †And it shal be when my lord king sleepeth with his fathers I and my sonne Salomon shal be sinners †As she was yet speaking with the king Nathan the prophet came †And they told the king saying Nathan the prophete is here And when he was gone in to the king and had adored bowing to the earth †Nathan sayd My lord king didst thou say Let Adonias reigne after me and let him sitte vpon my throne †Because he is gone downe to day and hath immolated oxen and fattelinges and manie rammes and called al the kinges sonnes and the captaynes of the armie Abiathar also the priest and they eating and drinking before him and saying God saue the king Adonias †me thy seruant and Sadoc the priest and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Salomon thy seruant he called not †Is this word proceded from my lord the king and hast thou not told me thy seruant who should sitte vpon the throne of my lord the king after him †And king Dauid answered saying Cal vnto me Bethsabee Who when she was entered in to the king and stood before him †the king sware and sayd Our Lord liueth which hath deliuered my soule from al distresse †that as I sware to thee by our Lord the God of Israel saying Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me and he shal sitte vpon my throne for me so wil I doe this day †And Bethsabee bowing her conâ—enance vnto the earth adored the king saying God saue my lord for euer †King Dauid also said Cal me Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet Banaias the sonne of Ioâ—adâ— Who when they were entred in before the king †he said to them Take with you the seruantes of your lord and sette Salomon my sonne vpon my mule and bring him into Gihon †And let Sadoc the priest anoint him there and Nathan the prophet to be king ouer Israel and you shal sound the trumpet and shal say God saue king Salomon †And you shal goe vp after him and he shal come and shal sitte vpon my throne and he shal reigne for me and I wil ordaine him that he be prince ouer Israel and ouer Iuda †And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada answered the king saying Amen so speake our Lord the God of my lord the king †As our Lord hath beene with my lord the king so be he with Salomon and make his throne higher then the throne of my lord king Dauid †Sadoc therfore the priest and Nathan the prophet went downe and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Cherethi and Phelethi and they set Salomon vpon the mule of king Dauid and brought him into Gihon †And Sadoc the priest tooke a horne of oile out of the tabernacle and annointed Salomon and they sounded the trumpet and al the people said God saue king Salomon †And al the multitude went vp after him and the people singing on shaulmes and reioysing with great gladnes and the earth sounded of their crie †And Adonias heard and al that were inuited of him and the feast was ended yea and Ioab hearing the voice of the trumpet said What meaneth the crie of the citie making a tumult †As he yet spake came Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar the priest to whom Adonias said Come in because thou art a stout man and bringest good newes †And Ionathas answered Adonias Not so for our lord king Dauid hath appointed Salomon king †and hath sent with him Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophete and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Cerethi and Phelethi and they haue set him vpon the kinges mule †And Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophete haue annointed him king in Gihon they are gone vp thence reioysing and the citie sounded this is the voice that you heard †Yea and Salomon sitteth vpon the throne of the kingdom †And the kinges seruantes entring in haue blessed our lord king Dauid saying God amplify the name of Salomon aboue thy name and magnifie his throne aboue thy throne And the king adored in his bed †and he hath thus spoken Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel who hath geuen this day one sitting in my throne mine eies seing it †They therfore were terrified and they al arose that had beene inuited of Adonias and euery man went his way †And Adonias fearing Salomon arose and went and held the horne of the altar †And they told Salomon saying Behold Adonias fearing king Salomon hath taken hold of the horne of the altar saying Let king Salomon sweare to me this day that he wil not kil his seruant with the sword †And Salomon sayd If he be a good man there shal not so much as one heare of his fal vpon the ground but if euil shal be found in him he shal die †King Salomon therfore sent and brought him out from the altar and going in he adored king Salomon and Salomon sayd to him Goe to thy house CHAP. II. Dauid geueth godlie preceptes to Salomon 5. willeth him to punish certaine offenders 10. and dieth 12. Salomon reigneth 13. Adonias by intercession of â—eâ—hsabee requesleth to haue Abisag to wife 22. but is put to death for demanding her 26. Abiathar the priest is banished and deposed for conspiring with Adonias 28. Ioab also for the same cause and former crimes is slaine 36. Semei is confined in Ierusalem 40. for transgressing his limites together with old faultes is likewise slaine AND the dayes of Dauid approched that he should die and he commanded his sonne Salomon saying †I enter into the way of al flesh take courage and play the man †And obserue the watches of our Lord thy God that thou walke in his waies and keepe his ceremonies and his preceptes and iudgementes and testimonies as is written in the law of Moyses that thou mayst vnderstand al thinges which thou doest and whithersoeuer thou shalt turne thy selfe †that our Lord may confirme his wordes which he hath spoken of me saying If thy children shal keepe their waies and shal walke before me in truth in al
his sore he was cured †And Ezechias had sayd to Isaie What signe shal there be that our Lord wil heale me and that I shal goe vp the third day to the temple of our Lord †To whom Isaie sayd This shal be the signe from our Lord that our lord wil doe the word which he hath spoken Wilt thou that the shadow goe forward ten lines or that it goe backe soe many degrees †And Ezechias sayd It is an easie matter for the shadow to goe forward ten lines neither wil I that this be done but that it returne back ten degrees †Isaie therfore the prophet inuocated our Lord and brought backe the shadow by the lines by the which it was now gone downe in the dial of Achaz backward ten degrees †In that time Berodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan the king of the Babilonians sent letters and giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that Ezechias had bene sicke †And Ezechias reioysed in their coming and he shewed them the house of aromatical spices and gold and siluer and diuerse precious odours oyntementes also and the house of his vessels and al that he had in his treasures There was not any thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his powere †And Isaie the prophete came to king Ezechias and sayd to him What sayd these men or from whence came they to thee To whom Ezechias said From a far countrie they came to me out of Babylon †But he answered What saw they in thy house Ezechias sayd They saw al things whatsoeuer are in my house there is nothing that I haue not shewed them in my treasures †Isaie therfore said to Ezechias heare the word of our Lord †Behold the daies shal come al things shal be taken away that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp vntil this day into Babylon there shal not anie thing remayne sayth our Lord. †Yea of the children also that come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget shal be taken away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon †Ezechias said to Isaie The word of our Lord which thou hast spoken is good be there peace and truth in my daies †But the rest of the wordes of Ezechias and al his strength and how he made a poole and a conduite and brought waters in to the citie are not these things writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda †And Ezechias slept with his fathers and Manasses his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXI For the enormious impietie of Manasses 10. God threatneth destruction of the kingdom 16. He spilleth innocent bloud 18. dieth and his senne Amon reigneth also wickedly 23. is slaine by his seruantes and his sonne Iosias reigneth TWELVE yeares old was Manasses when he began to reigne he reigned fiue and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was haphsiba †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord acording to the idols of the Nations which our Lord destroyed from the face of the children of Israel †And he was turned and built the excelses which Ezechias his father had destroyed and he sette vp altars to Baal and made groues as Achab the king of Israel had done and he adored al the host of heauen and worshipped it †And he built altars in the house of our Lord of the which our Lord sayd In Ierusalem I wil put my name †And he built altars to al the host of heauen in the two courtes of the temple of our Lord. †And he made his sonne pasâ—e through fyre and he vsed sooth saying and obserued diuinations and made pithones and multiplied inchanters to doe euil before our Lord and to prouoke him †He sette also the idol of the groue which he had made in the temple of our Lord concerning the which our Lord spake to Dauid and to Salomon his sonne In this temple and in Ierusalem which I haue chosen out of al the tribes of Israel I wil put my name for euer †And I wil noe more make the foote of Israel to be moued out of the land which I gaue to their fathers yet so if in worke they shal keepe al things that I haue commanded them al the law which my seruantes Moyses commanded them †But they heard not but were seduced by Manasses to doe euil aboue the Nations which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel †And our Lord spake in the hand of his seruantes the prophetes saying †Because Manasses the king of Iuda hath done these most wicked abominations passing al thinges that the Amorrheites did before him and hath made Iuda also to sinne in his filthes †therfore thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Behold I wil bring in euils vpon Ierusalem and Iuda that whosoeuer shal heare it both his eares shal tingle †And I wil stretch out vpon Ierusalem the corde of Samaria and the weight of the house of Achab and I wil wipe out Ierusalem as tables are wont to be wiped out and wyping out I wil turne it and draw often the pencil vpon the face therof †But I wil leaue remnantes of mine inheritance and wil deliuer them into the handes of their enemies and they shal be vnto waste and vnto spoile to al their aduersaries †because they haue done euil before me and haue continewed prouoking me from the day that their fathers came out of Aegypt vntil this day †Moreouer Manasses shed also innocent bloud exceding much til he filled Ierusalem euen to the mouth beside his sinnes wherin he made Iuda to sinne to doe euil before our Lord. †But the rest of the wordes of Manasses and al that he did and his sinne which he sinned are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda †And Manasses slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house in the garden of Oza and Amon his sonne reigned for him †Two and twentie yeares old was Amon when he began to reigne two yeares also he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Messalemeth the daughter of Ieteba †And he did euil in the sight of our Lord as Manasses his father had done †And he walked in al the way by the which his father had walked and he serued the filthes which his father had serued and he adored them †and forsooke our Lord the God of his fathers and walked not in the way of our Lord. †And his seruantes lay in wayte agaynst him and slewe the king in his house †But the people of the land stroke al them that had conspired agaynst king Amon and made Iosias his sonne their king for him †But the rest of the wordes of Amon which he did are not these writen in the Booke of the
V. 1. Turne to some of the Sainctes Eliphaz prouoking Iob to produce some of his opinion or to seeke the helpe and patronage of some Sainct in his cause plainly sheweth the common faith and practise of inuocating Sainctes in that time Els it had benne a frinâ—lous speach which is not to be imputed to a sensible wise man as he was For it appeareth by the drift of his reasoning that he supposed some of Gods special seruantes would maintaine a good cause but that Iobs cause was such as neither God nor holie Angel nor good man would defend and therfore boldly prouoked him to this trial presuming that he should finde no such patron Neither did he wil Iob in these wordes to cal vpon God only for he could not erre so grosly as to cal God some of the Sainctes but must meane some other holie person And it is clere by the Septuaginta Interpreters that Eliphaz willed Iob to inuocate the Angels saying Inuocate if anie vvil ansvver thee or if thou canst behold anie of the holie Angeles S. Gregorie expoundeth it to the same sense that Sainctes were to be inuocated in a good cause but that Eliphaz here dispicing and deriding holie Iob sayd to him Thou canst not find Sainctes thy helpers in affliction vvhom thou vvouldest not haue thy felovves in prosperitie CHAP. VI. Iob answereth the obiections of Eliphaz shewing that in deede the calamitie which he suffereth is much greatter then his sinnes deserue and therfore his lamentation is excusable 8. wisheth if it so please God that he may dye 13. complaneth that his freindes are become his aduerseries 16 grauely expostulateth that they reprehend him 12. and helpe him not BVT Iob answering sayd †Would God my sinnes were weyed wherby I haue deserued wrath and the calamitie which I suffer in a balance †“ As the sand of the sea this would appeare heauier wherfore my wordes also are ful of sorrow †Because the arrowes of our Lord be in me the indignation whereof drinketh vp my spirit and the terrours of our Lord warre agaynst me †Wil the wilde asse roare when he hath grasse or the oxe loweth when he shal stand before the ful manger †Or can an vnsauerie thing be eaten that is not seasoned with salt or can a man tast that which being tasted bringeth death †The thinges which before my foule would not touch now for anguish are my meates †Who wil graunt that my petition may come and that God would geue me that which I expect †And he that hath begune the same would loose his hand and cut me of †And this might be my comfort that afflicting me with sorrow he spare not not I gayne say the wordes of the Holie one †For What is my strength that I can susteyne it or what is mine end that I should doe patiently †Neither is my strength the strength of stones neither is my â—â—est of brasse †Behold there is no help for me in my self and my familiar freindes also are departed from me †He that taketh away mercie from his frend forsaketh the feare of our Lord. †My brethren haue passed by me as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys †They that feare the hoare frost snow shal fal vpon them †At the time when they shal be dissipated they shal perish and after they waxe hote they shal be dissolued out of their place †The pathes of their steppes are intangled they shal walke in vayne and shal perish †Cosider ye the pathes of Thema the wayes of Saba expect a litle while †They are confounded because I haue hoped they are come also euen vnto me and are couered with shame †Now you are come and euen now seing my plague you are afrayd †haue I sayd Bring ye to me and of your substance geue to me †Or deliuer me from the hand of the enemie and out of the hand of the strong deliuer me †Teach ye me and I wil hold my peace and if I perhaps haue beene ignorant in anie thing instruct ye me †Why haue you detracted from the wordes of truth whereas there is none of you that can controwle me †To rebuke only you frame speaches and you vtter wordes in the wind †You rush in vpon a pupil and you endeuoure to ouerthrow your frend †Notwithstanding accomplish that which you haue begune geue eare and see whether I lie †Answer I besech you without contention and speaking that which is iust iudge ye †And you shal not finde iniquitie in my tongue neither shal folie sound in my iawes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI. 3. As the sand of the sea Scarse anie figure is more common in holie Sâ—ipture then Hyperbole wherby ouâ— vnderstanding is drawne to coÌ„ceiue the greatnes of thinges that otherwise surpasse vulgar capacitie So Iob signifieth here that his calamitie being vveighed vvith his sinnes in balance vvould appeare heauier not precisely in proportion of the number of sandes in the sea but exceding much in true comparison Of which superabundance of paines patiently suffered by holie Iob and other Sainctes more then their sinnes deserued especially of our B. Sauiour who could not sinne and of our B. Ladie who neuer sinned remayneth an infinitie treasure of satisfactorie workes appliable by the supreme stuard of Gods Church Christs Vicar in earth for satisfaction of others which haue nede and are in the communion of Sainctes and performe the conditions appointed And so this high stuard may in due maner by his authoritie geue limited or plenarie pardones to penitentes of the paines which otherwise they should suffer in this life or in purgaritie for their sinnes first remitted Other Bishops can also geue or dispence so much as the Supreme Bishop alloâ—teth to their powre al to edification and necessitie of Gods seruantes as dispencers not dissipators of so holie treasure CHAP. VII Iob explicateth diuers calamities of mans life and namely of his owne 6. Suposing it not likelie that he shal returne to former prosperous state 15. desireth to dye THE life of man vpon earth is a warfare his daies as the daies of an hyred man †As a seruant desireth the shadow as the hired man taryeth for the end of his worke †So I also haue had vayne monethes and haue numbred to my self laborious nightes †If I sleepe I shal say When shal I arise and agayne I shal expect the euening and shal be replenished with sorowes euen vntil darkenens †My flesh is clothed with rottenesse and filth of dust my skinne is withered drawen together †My daies haue passed more swiftly then the webbe is cut of the weauer and are consumed without anie hope †Remember that my life is a winde and myne eie shal not returne to see good thinges †Neither shal the sight of man behold me thine eies vpon me and I shal not stand †As a
my bones shal say Lord who is like to thee Deliuering the needie from the hand of them that are stronger then he the needie and poore from them that spoile him Vniust witnesses rysing vp asked me things that I knew not †They repayed me euil things for good sterilitie to my soule †But I when they were trublesome to me did put on cloth of heare I humbled my soule in fasting and my prayer shal be turned into my bosome †As a neighbour as our brother so did I please as mourning and sorowful so was I humbled †And they reioyced against me and came together scourges were gathered together vpon me and I was ignorant †They were dissipated and not compunct they tempted me they scorned me with scorning they gnashed vpon me with their teeth †Lord when wilt thou regard restore thou my soule from their malignitie myne only one from the lions †I wil confesse to thee in the great Church in a graue people I wil prayse thee †Let them not reioyce ouer me that are my aduersaries vniustly that hate me without cause and twinckle with the eies †Because they spake in deede peaceably to me and in the anger of the earth speaking they meant guiles †And they opened their mouth awide vpon me they said Wel wel our eies haue seene †Thou hast sene ô Lord keepe not silence Lord depart not from me †Arise and attend to my iudgement my God and my Lord vnto my cause †Iudge me according to thy iustice ô Lord my God and let them not reioyce ouer me †Let them not say in their hartes Wel wel to our soule neitheir let them say We haue deuoured him †Let them blush and be ashamed together that reioyce at my euils Let them be clothed with confusion and shame that speake great things vpon me †Let them reioyce and be glad that wil my iustice and let them say alwayes Our Lord be magnified that wil the peace of his seruant †And my tongue shal meditate thy iustice thy prayse al the day PSALME XXXV The prophet describeth the wicked malice of obstinate sinners 6. Against which he opposeth Gods infinite goodnes 9. with his prouident mercie towards the worst and iust reward of the good 12. praying to escape the dangerous gulfe of pride †Vnto the end to the seruant of our Lord Dauid him selfe THE vniust hath said within him selfe that he would sinne there is no feare of God before his eies †Because he hath done deceitfully in his sight that his iniquitie may be found vnto hatred †The wordes of his mouth are iniquitie and guile he would not vnderstand that he might doe wel †He hath meditated iniquitie in his bed he hath set himselfe on euery way not good and malice he hath not hated Lord thy mercie is in heauen and thy truth euen to the clowdes †Thy iustice as the hilles of God thy iudgementes are great depth Men beastes thou wilt saue ô Lord †as thou hast multiplied thy mercie ô God But the children of men shal hope in the couert of thy winges †They shal be inebriated with the plentie of thy house and with the torrent of thy pleasure thou shalt make them drinke Because with thee is the fountaine of life and in thy light we shal see light †Extend thy mercie to them that know thee and thy iustice to them that are of a right hart Let not the foote of pride come to me and let not the hand of a sinner moue me †There haue they fallen that worke iniquitie they were expelled neither could they stand PSALME XXXVI An exhortation not to enuie nor imitate the euil who for most part prosper in this world and are damned eternally but to flee euil and doe good duly considering that God diuersly permitteth and punisheth the wicked and likewise comforteth and afflicteth the iust al for their good †A Psalme to Dauid him self HAVE no emulation toward the malignant neither enuie them that doe iniquitie †Because they shal quickely wither as grasse and as the blossomes of herbes they shal soone fal †Hope in our Lord and doe good and inhabite the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches therof †Be delighted in our Lord and he wil geue thee the petitions of thy hart †Reuele thy way to our Lord and hope in him and he wil doe it †And he wil bring forth thy iustice as light and thy iudgement as midday †be subiect to our Lord and pray him Haue no emulation in him that prospereth in his way in a man that doth iniustices †Cease from wrath and leaue furie haue not emulation that thou be malignant †Because they that are malignant shal be cast out but they that expect our Lord the same shal inherite the land †And yet a litle while and the sinner shal not be and thou shalt seeke his place and shal not find it †But the meeke shal inherite the land and shal be delighted in multitude of peace †The sinner shal obserue the iust and shal gnash vpon him with his teeth †But our Lord shal scorne him because he foreseeth that his day shal come †Sinners haue drawen out the sword they haue bent their bowe That they may deceine the poore and needie that they may murder the right of hart †Let their owne swordes enter into their hartes and let their bowe be broken †Better is a litle to the iust aboue much riches of sinners †Because the armes of sinners shal be broken in pieces but our Lord comfirmeth the iust †Our Lord knoweth the daies of the immaculate and their inheritance shal be for euer †They shal not be confounded in the euil time and in the dayes of famine they shal be filled †because the sinners shal perish But the enemies of our Lord forth with as they shal be honoured and exalted vanishing shal vanish as smoke †The sinner shal borrow and not pay but the iust is merciful and wil geue †Because they that blesse him shal inherite the land but they that curse him shal perish †With our Lord the steppe of man shal be directed and he shal like wel of his way When he shal fal he shal not be brused because our Lord putteth his hand vnder †I haue bene yong for I am old and I haue not sene the iust forsaken nor his seede seeking bread †Al the day he is merciful and lendeth and his seede shal be in blessing †Decline from euil and doe good and inhabite for euer and euer †Because our Lord loueth iudgement and he wil not forsake his sainctes they shal be
in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them †This their way is a scandal to them and afterward in their mouth they shal take pleasure †As sheepe they are put in hel death shal feede vpon them And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning and their aide shal waxe old in hel from their glorie †Neuerthelesse God wil redeme my soule out of the hand of hel when he shal take me †Feare not when a man shal be made rich and when the glory of his house shal be multiplied †Because when he shal dye he shal not take al thinges neyther shal his glorie goe downe with him †Because his soule in his life shal be blessed he wil confesse to thee when thou shalt do him good †He shal enter in euen to the progenies of his fathers and he shal not see light for euer †Man when he was in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding and became like to them PSALME XLIX Christ in his first coming calleth al Nations 3. in his second wil iudge the world 7. In the meane time God exhorteth al men to serue him in puritie of vertue which he much preferreth before external sacrifice of the old law 17. reprehending such as professe or teach the right way and liue wickedly †A Psalme to Asaph THE God of goddes our Lord hath spoken and he hath called the earth from the rysing of the sunne euen to the going downe †Out of Syon the beauty of his comelines †God wil come manifestly our God and he wil not kepe silence Fire shal burne forth in his sight and round about him a mighty tempest †He shal cal the heauen from aboue and the earth to discerne his people †Gather ye together his saincts vnto him which ordaine his testament aboue sacrifices †And the heauens shal shew forth his iustice because God is Iudge †Heare ô my people and I wil speake Israel and I wil testifie to thee God thy God am I. †I wil not rebuke thee in thy sacrifices and thy holocaustes are in my sight alwaies †I wil not take calues out of thy house nor buckegoats out of thy flockes †Because al the wilde beasts of the woods be myne the cattle in the mountaines and oxen †I haue knowne al the foules of the ayer and the beauty of the fielde is with me †If I shal be hungrie I wil not tel thee for the round earth is myne and the fulnes therof †Wil I eate the flesh of oxen or wil I drinke the blood of bucke goats †Immolate to God “ the sacrifice of praise and pay thy vowes to the Highest †And inuocate me in the day of tribulation I wil deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me †But to the sinner God hath sayde Why doest thou declare my iustices and takest my testament by thy mouth †But thou hast hated discipline cast my words behind thee †If thou didst see a theefe thou didst rune with him and with adulterers thou didst put thy portion †Thy mouth hath abounded with malice and thy tongue fourged guiles †Sitting thou spakest against thy brother and against thy mothers sonne thou didst put a scandal †these things hast thou done and I haue held my peace †Thou hast thought vniustly that I wil be like thee I wil reproue thee and set it against thy face †Vnderstand these things you that forget God lest sometime he take you violently and there be none to deliuer you †The “ sacrifice of prayse shal glorifie me and there is the way by which I wil shew him the saluation of God ANNOTATIONS PSALME XLIX 14. 23. The sacrifice of praise For better and more due performing of external sacrifice it is requisite that those which offer it or desire to participate do bring with them necessarie internal vertues or disposition as sorow and repentāce for their sinnes which is a kind of improper sacrifice mentioned in the next Psalme the sacrifice of iustice which rendereth ro euerie one that is due Psal 4. and sacrifise of praise or thankes geuing for al Gods benefites receiued or expected which kindes of internal and improper sacrifices do nothing preiudice but rightly prepare men to the fruict of external sacrifice euer vsed in the law of nature the law of Moyses and of Christ This place also hath an other higher and prophetical sense of the Sacrifice of Christs bodie in the Eucharist which is both propitiatorie and Sacrifise of praise and thankes geuing So S. Augustin orat aduersus Iudeos c. 6. teacheth that here certainly is a plaine change of the old sacrifices The same he affirmeth Ep. 120. c. 18. God foreshewing that the old sacrifices should be changed which were offered in shadow of a sacrifice to come I wil not take faith God to Israel calues nor goares at thy hand c. but appointeth that al Israel al nations from the rysing of the sunne to the setting shal immolate the sacrifice of praise the same Christ whom old Simeon knew an infant whom he receiued into his handes Likewise li. contra aduers legis prophet c. 20. The Church offereth to God in the bodie of Christ the sacrifice of praise PSALME L. King Dauid in great sorow for his sinnes of adultrie and murder most seriously prayeth God of his manifold mercies to remitte and purge al his offences and paines due for them 12. to restore vnto him the grace of the Holie Ghost lost by his sinnes 15. that he may teach others as in deede his singular example may teach the whole world true penance 19. contrition of hart worthely to offer sacrifice for the whole Church †Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid †“ when Nathan the Prophet came to him after that he had sinned with Bethsabee 2. Reg. 12. HAVE mercie on me ô God according to thy great mercie And according to the multitude of thy commiserations take away myne iniquitie †“ Wash me more amply from mine iniquitie cleanse me from my sinne †Because I do know myne iniquitie and my sinne is before me alwaies †To thee onely haue I sinned and haue done euil before thee that thou mayst be iustified in thy words and mayst ouercome when thou art iudged †For behold “ I was conceiued in iniquities my mother conceiued me in sinnes †For behold thou hast loued truth the vncertaine and hidden thinges of thy wisdome thou hast made manifest to me †Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssope and I shal be clensed thou shalt wash me and I shal be made whiter then snow †To my hearing thou shalt
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
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
is time to doe ô Lord they haue dissipated thy law †Therfore haue I loued thy commandementes aboue gold and topazius †Therfore was I directed to al thy commandements al wicked way I haue hated Phe. Mouth †Thy testimonies are meruelous therfore hath my soule searched them †The declaration of thy wordes doth illuminate and geueth vnderstanding to litle ones †I opened my mouth and drew breath because I desired thy commandments †Looke vpon me and haue mercie on me according to the iudgement of them that loue thy name †Direct my steppes according to thy Word and let not anie iniustice haue domination ouer me †Redeme me from the calumnies of men that I may kepe thy commondmentes †Illuminate thy face vpon thy seruant and teach me thy iustifications †Mine eies haue gushed forth issues of waters because they haue not kept thy law Sade Iustice †Thou art iust ô Lord and thy iudgement is right †Thou hast commanded iustice thy testimonies and thy veritie excedingly †My Zele hath made me to pine away because mine enimies haue forgotten thy wordes †Thy word is fired excedingly and thy seruant hath loued it †I am a yongman and contemned I haue not forgotten thy iustifications †Thy iustice is iustice for euer and thy law is veritie †Tribulation and distresse haue found me thy commandments are my meditation †Thy testimonies are equitie for euer geue me vnderstanding and I shal liue Coph Vocation †I haue cried in my whole hart heare me ô Lord I wil seeke after thy iustifications †I haue cried to thee saue me that I may keepe thy commandmentes †I haue preuented in maturitie and haue cried because I hoped much in thy wordes †Minecies haue preuented early vnto thee that I might meditate thy wordes †Heare my voice according to thy mercie ô Lord and according to thy iudgement quicken me †They that persecute me haue approched to iniquitie but from thy law they are made far of †Thou art nigh ô Lord and al thy wayes are truth †From the beginning I knewe of thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for euer †See my humiliation and deliuer me because I haue not forgotten thy law †Iudge my iudgement redeme me for thy word quicken thou me †Saluation is far from sinners because they haue not sought after thy iustifications †Thy mercies are manie ô Lord according to thy iudgement quicken me †There are manie that persecute me and afflict me I haue not declined from thy testimonies †I saw the preuaricatours and I pyned away because they kept not thy wordes †See that I haue loued thy commandmentes ô Lord in thy mercie quicken me The beginning of thy wordes is truth al the iudgementes of thy iustice are for euer Sin Tooth †Princes haue persecuted me without cause and my hart hath bene afrayd of thy wordes †I wil reioyce at thy wordes as he that findeth manie spoyles †I haue hated iniquitie and abhorred it but thy law I haue loued ††There is much peace to them that loue thy law there is no scandal to them †I expected thy saluation ô Lord and haue loued thy commandmentes †My soule hath kept thy testimonies and hath loued them excedindgly †I haue kept thy commandmentes and thy testimonies because al my waies are in thy sight Tau Signe †Let my petition approch in thy sight ô Lord according to thy word giue me vnderstanding †Let my request enter in thy sight according to thy word deliuer me †My lippes shal vtter an hymne when thou shalt teach me thy iustifications †My tongue shal pronounce thy word because al thy commandmentes are equitie †Let thy hand be to saue me because I haue chosen thy commandmentes †I haue coneted thy saluation ô Lord and thy law is my meditation †My soule shal liue and shal prayse thee and thy iudgementes shal helpe me †I haue strayed as a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruant because I haue not forgotten thy commandmentes A BRIEFE NOTE CONCERNING the Gradual Psalmes Here folow in order fifetene Psalmes intitled Gradual Canticles The Hebrew word Mahaloâ—h signifieth Steppes or Ascensions The reason wherof Aadias and some other Rabbins veld for that they were songue with hieghest eleuated notes that can be â—â— Musike The Talmud saith they are so called because they were songue in the fifetene steppes going vp into the Temple But S Augustin S. Basil and other Christian Fathers expound them according to the historie and immediate prophetical sense of the deliuerie of the Iewes from captiuitie of Babylon ascending into Ierusalem which is so situated on montaines that the way from al partes was by ascending vnto it According to the Mystical sense of ascending spiritually by vertues to perfection and to eternal felicitie For the way tending to vertue saith S. Basil is like to certaine steppes or degrees by litle and litle bringing the mâ—n that loueth wisdome vnto heauen These Canticles therefore are prayers mixed with consolations for the ioyful deliuerie of Gods people from that great captiuitie in Babylon which the Psalmist King Dauid saw in prophetical spiritie and which his posteritie felt and sometime indured VVhich againe as a figure signifieth thâ—â—eturne and ascending of mankind from sinne to grace and from the miserable state of this world into heauen VVherupon S. Augustin interpreteth this prophecie of the ascension or eleuation of the hart from the vaile of teares In the meane time whiles we are in this world these Psalmes aâ—e consolatorâ—e prayers and prophetical assurance that Gods people Catholique Christian shal be deliuered from thraldom and persecution of Paganes Turkes and Heretikes â—s partly we see by the deliuerie from the Romane persecuting Emperors from the Vandals Gothes and Hunnes therfore with assured confidence we hope and expect the like deliuerie from Turkes and al Heretikes of Luthers broode PSALME CXIX The Iewes in captiuitie of Babylon Christians in persecution or other great tribulation pray with confidence to be deliuered from danger and sclander of wicked tongues 5. lamenting their long indurance A gradual Canticle VVHEN I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord and he heard me †O Lord deliuer my soule from vniust lippes and from a deceiptful tongue †What may be geuen thee or what may be added vnto thee to a deceiptful tongue †The sharpe arrowes of the mightie with coales of desolation †Woe is to me that my seiourning is prolonged I haue dwelte with the inhabitantes of Cedar †My soule hath
not heare for neither is there breath in their mouth †Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them †Ye house of Israel blesse our Lord ye house of Aaron blesse our Lord. †Ye house of Leui blesse our Lord you that feare our Lord blesse ve our Lord. †Blessed be our Lord out of Sion who dwelleth in Ierusalem PSALME CXXXV God being meruelous in himself 4. hath shewed his powre and goodnes in his workes as wel in general to al the world 10. as in particular towards his elected people Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the God of goddes because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer †Who onlie doth great meruels because his mercie is for euer †Who made the heauen in vnderstanding because his mercie is for euer †Who established the earth ouer the waters because his mercie is for euer †Who made the great lightes because his mercie is sor euer †The sunne to rule the day because his mercie is for euer †The moone and starres to rule the night because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke Aegypt with their firstbegotten because his mercie is for euer †Who brought forth Israel out of the middes of them because his mercie is for euer †In a mightie hand and loftie arme because his mercie is for euer †Who diuided the Read sea into diuisions because his mercie is for euer †And brought forth Israel through the middes therof because his mercie is for euer †And he ouerthrew Pharao and his host in the Readsea because his mercie is for euer †Who led his people through the desert because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke great kinges because his mercie is for euer †And slewe strong kinges because his mercie is for euer †Sehon the king of the Amorrheites because his mercie is for euer †And Og the king of Basan because his mercie is for euer †And he gaue their land for an inheritance because his mercie is for euer †For an inheritance to Israel his seruant because his mercie is for euer †For in our humiliation he was mindful of vs because his mercie is for euer †And he redemed vs from our enemies because his mercie is for euer †Who geueth foode to al fleshe because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the God of heauen because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer PSALME CXXXVI The Prophet describeth how lamentably the people in captiuitie of Babylon wil bewaile the want of meanes to serue God and of their natiue soyle 7. with iust desire of their enimies punishment A Psalme of Dauid for Ieremie VPON the riuers of Babylon there we sate and wept whiles we remembred Sion †On the willowes in the middes therof we hanged vp our instrumentes †Because there they that led vs captiue demanded of vs wordes of songes And they that led vs away Sing ye an hymne to vs of the songes of Sion †How shal we sing the song of our Lord in a strange land †If I shal forget thee ô Ierusalem let my right hand be forgotten †Let my tongue cleaue to my iawes if I doe not remember thee If I shal not set Ierusalem in the beginning of my ioy †Be mindful ô Lord of the childrem of Edom in l the day of Ierusalem That say Rase it rase it euen vnto the foundation therof †Daugther of Babylon miserable blessed is he that shal repay thee thy payment which thou hast payed vs. †Blessed is he that shal hold and shal dash thy litle ones against the rocke PSALME CXXXVII The whole Church or anie iust person rendreth thankes to God for his benefites 4. praying that al kinges and kingdomes may do the same 4. because God being high respecteth and aduanceth the humble To Dauid him self I wil confesse to thee ô Lord in my whole hart because thou hast heard the wordes of my mouth In the sight of Angels I wil sing to thee †I wil adore toward thy holie temple and wil confesse to thy name For thy mercie and thy truth because thou hast magnified aboue euerie thing thy holie name †In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me thou wilt multiplie strength in my soule †Let al the kinges of the earth ô Lord confesse to thee because they haue heard al the wordes of thy mouth †And let them sing in the wayes of our Lord because great is the glorie of our Lord. †Because our Lord is high and he beholdeth low thinges and high thinges he knoweth far of †If I shal walke in the middes of tribulation thou wilt quicken me and vpon the wrath of mine enimies thou hast extended thy hand and thy right hand hath saued me †Our Lord wil repay for me ô Lord thy mercie is for euer despise not the workes of thy handes PSALME CXXXVIII Gods knowlege 7. and presence 10. without the helpe or hinderance anie thing extendeth to al thinges times and places 17 he geueth exceding great honour to his sainctes 20 the wicked as enimies to God are iustly hated 23. the iust pray for Gods perpetual direction Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid LORD thou hast proued me and hast knowen me †thou hast knowen my sitting downe and my rising vp †Thou hast vnderstood my cogitations far of my path and my corde thou hast searched out †And thou hast foresene al my wayes because there is not a word in my tongue †Behold ô Lord thou hast knowen al the last thinges them of old thou hast formed me and hast put thy hand vpon me †Thy knowledge is become meruelous of me it is made great and I can not reach to it †Whither shal I goe from thy spirit and whither shal I flee from thy face †If I shal ascend into heauen thou art there â—f I descend into hel thou art present †If I shal take my winges early and dwel in the extreme partes of the sea †Certes thither also shal thy hand conduct me and thy right hand shal hold me †And I sayd Perhaps darknes shal treade ouer me and the night is mine illumination in my delightes †For darkenes shal not be darkened from thee and the night shal be lightened as the day as the darkenes therof so also the light therof †Because thou hast possessed my reynes thou hast receiued me from my mothers wombe †I wil confesse to
The impious man diggeth euil and in his lippes fire burneth †A peruerse man raiseth contentions and one ful of wordes separateth princes An vniust man allureth his frende and leadeth him by a way not good †He that with astoinied eies thinketh wicked thinges byting his lippes bringeth euil to passe †A crowne of dignitie old age which shal be found in the wayes of iustice †Better is the patient then a strong man and he that ruleth his minde then the ouerthrower of cities †Lottes are cast into the bosome but they are ordered of our Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 1. It perteineth to man to prepare the hart For the better vnderstanding of this and other hard places of holie Scripture this general rule euer approued by al Christians is most necessarie that al holie Scripture is true and certaine as being al indited by the Holie Ghost the Spirite of truth and so one place is neuer contrarie to an other though at first sight they may so seme to mans vnderstanding For by this place the Pelagians would proue that man can of himself without the helpe of Gods grace beginne a good thing though without this helpe he cannot performe it because it is here sayd that it petteyneth to man to prepare the hart that is â—o beginne a good thing But S. Augustin sheweth that it may not be so vnderstood the cause so it should be contrarie to that saying of our Sauiour VVithout me you can do nothing and that of S. Paul VVe are not sufficient to thinke anie thing of our selues as of our selues but our sufficiencie is of God VVhich tvvo euident places vvith otherlike do shevv that this place hath an other different sense from that vvhich the Pelagians gather Anâ— so S. Augustin and other Fathers teach that the vvisman here affirmeth not that man of himself can prepare his hart or beginne a good vvorke but that it perteineth to man to prepare his hart presupposing helpe of Gods grace and hauing so begunne God also gouerneth the tongue and by more grace directeth it â—o speake those thinges vvel vvhich the hart purposed and disposed to be vttered vvithout vvhich helpe none is able neither to beginne anie meritorious vvorke nor to prosecute nor perfect that is vvel begunne The like sentence foloweth in the 9. verse The hart of man disposeth his vvay but it perteyneth to our Lord to direct his progresse signifying in both places that after a thing is vvel begunne vvhich can not be vvithout the helpe of Gods grace yet it can not procede vvel vvithout more grace stil directing and streingthning mans freevvil CHAP. XVII BEtter is a drie morsel with ioy then a house ful of victimes with brawling †A wise seruant shal rule ouer foolish children and diuide inheritance among bretheren †As siluer is tried by fyre and gold in the fournace so our Lord proueth the the harts †The euil man obeyeth an vniust tongue and the deceitful obeyeth lying lippes †He that despiseth the poore vpbraydeth his maker and he that reioyceth at an other mans ruine shal not be vnpunished †The crowne of oldmen the childrens children and the glorie of children their fathers †Eloquent wordes become not a foole nor lying lippes a prince †A most gratful pearle the expectation of him that expecteth whither soeuer he turneth himself he vnderstandeth wisely †He that concealeth offence seeketh frendshipes he that in other word repeteth it seperateth the confederate †Reprehension doth more profit with a wiseman then an hundred stripes with a foole †An euil man alwayes seeketh brawles but a cruel angel shal be sent against him †It is better to meete a beare when her yong are taken away then a foole trusting to himselfe in his owne follie †He that rendereth euil thinges for good euil shal not depart from his house †He that letteth water goe is the head of brawles before he suffer contumelie he forsaketh iudgement †He that iustifieth the impious and he that condemneth the iust both are abominable before God †What doth it profit a foole to haue riches wheras he can not buy wisdom He that maketh his house high seeketh ruine and he that refuseth to learne shal fal into euils †He loueth at al time that is a frend and a brother is proued in distresses †A foolish man wil clappe the handes when he is suretie for his freind †He that meditateth discordes loueth brawles and he that exalteth the doore seeketh ruine †He that is of a peruerse hart shal not finde good and he that turneth his tongue shal fal into euil †A foole is borne to his owne ignominie but neither shal the father reioyce in a foole †A ioyful minde maketh a florishing age a sorowful spirit dryeth vp the bones †The impious receiueth giftes out of the bosome that he may peruert the pathes of iudgement †In the face of the prudent wisdom shineth the eies of fooles are in the endes of the earth †A foolish sonne is the anger of the father and the sorow of the mother that bare him †It is not good to doe hurt to the iust nor to strike the prince which iudgeth right †He that moderateth his wordes is lerned and prudent and the lerned man is of a precious spirit †The foole also if he hold his peace shal be reputed wise and if he close his lippes a man of vnderstanding CHAP. XVIII HE seeketh occasions that wil depart from a frend he shal euer be subiect to reproch †A foole receiueth not the wordes of prudence vnlesse thou say those thinges which are in his hart †The impious when he shal come into the depth of sinnes contemneth but ignominie and reproch folow him †Deepe water wordes from the mouth of a man and a streame ouer flowing the fountaine of wisdom †To accept the person of the impious in iudgement is not good that thou decline from the truth of iudgement †The lippes of a foole mingle him with strife and his mouth prouoketh brawles †The mouth of a foole is his destruction and his lippes are the ruine of his soule †The wordes of the duble tongued as it were simple and the same come euen to the inner part of the bellie Feare casteth downe the slothful and the soules of the effeminate shal be hungrie †He that is soft and dissolute in his worke is the brother of him that destroyeth his owne workes †A most strong towre the name of our Lord the iust runneth to it and shal be exalted †The substance of the rich man a citie of his strength and as a strong wal compassing 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
hart is delighted with oyntement and diuers odours and with the good counsels of a frend the soule is sweetned †Thy frend and thy fathers frend do not leaue and goe not into thy brothers house in the day of thyne affliction Better is a neighbour neere thene a brother far of Studie wisedom my sonne make my hart ioyful that thou maist make answer to the vpbrayder †The subtel man seeing euil hideth himself litle ones passing through haue susteyned euil detriments †Take his garment that hath bene suretie for a stranger and for alienes take from him a pledge †He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice rising in the night he shal be like him that curseth †Dropping through in the day of cold and a brawling woman are compared together †He that reteyneth her as he that should hold the winde and shal cal in the oyle of his right hand †Iron is sharpened with iron and a man sharpeneth the face of his frend †He that kepeth the feegtree shal eate the frute therof and he that is the keper of his master shal be glorified †As in waters the countenance of them that looke therin shyneth so the hartes of men ate manifest to the prudent †Hel and perdition are neuer filled in like maner also the eies of men are vnsatiable †As siluer is tried in the forge and gold in the fornace so a man is proued by the mouth of him that praiseth The hart of the wicked seeketh after euils but the righteous hart seeketh after knowlege †If thou shalt bray a foole in a morter as when a pestle striketh vpon prisane his follie shal not be taken from him †Know diligently the countenance of thy cattel and consider thy flockes †For thou shalt not haue power always but a crowne shal be geuen into generation and generation †The medowes are open and the grene herbes haue appeared and the grasse is gathered out of the mountaines †Lambes for thy garment and kiddes the price of the filde †Let the milke of the goates suffice thee for thy meates and for the necessities of thy house and for victual to thy handmaides CHAP. XXVIII THE impious fleeth no man pursewing but the iust confident as a lyon shal be without terrour †For the sinnes of the land the princes therof shal be manie for the wisedom of a man the knowlege of those thinges that are said the life of the prince shal be longer †A poore man calumniating the poore is like a vehement showre wherby famine is gotten †They that forsake the lawe praise the impious they that kepe it are set on fire against him †Euil men thinke not on iudgement but they that seeke after our Lord marke al thinges †Better is a poore man walking in his simplicitie then the rich in crooked wayes †He that kepeth the law is a wise sonne but he that feedeth gluttons shameth his father †He that heapeth together riches by vsuries and ocker gathereth them for him that is liberal to the poore †He that turneth away his eares from hearing the law his prayer shal be execrable †He that deceiueth the iust in a wicked way shal fal into his destruction and the simple shal possesse his goodes †The rich man seemeth to him self wise but the poore man being prudent shal searche him †In the exultation of the iust there is much glorie when the impious reigne ruines of men †He that hideth his wicked deedes shal not be directed but he that shal confesse and shal forsake them shal obtayne mercie †Blessed is the man that is alwayes fearful but he that is of an obstinate mynde shal fal into euil †A roaring lyon and hungrie beare an impious prince ouer the poore people †A prince lacking prudence shal oppresse many by calumnie but he that hateth auarice his dayes shal be made long †A man that doth calumniat the bloud of a soule if he shal flee into a lake no man abideth †He that walketh simply shal be saued he that goeth peruerse wayes shal fal once †He that tilleth his ground shal be filled with breads but he that purseweth idlnesse shal be replenished with pouertie †A faithful man shal be much praysed but he that hasteneth to be rich shal not be innocent †He that knoweth a person in iudgement doth not wel this man euen for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth †A man that hasteneth to be rich and enuyeth others is ignorant that pouertie shal come vpon him †He that rebuketh a man shal afterward find fauour with him more then he that by flatteries of tongue deceiueth †He that pilfereth any thing from his father and from his mother saith this is no sinne is the partaker of a mankiller †He that exalteth and dilateth himselfe rayseth brawles but he that trusteth in our Lord shal be healed †He that hath confidence in his owne hart is a foole but who so walketh wisely shal be saued †He that geueth to the poore shal not lacke he that despiseth him that asketh shal susteyne penurie †When the impious shal rise men shal be hid when they shal perish the iust shal be multiplied CHAP. XXIX THE man that with stiffe necke contemneth him that rebuketh soden destruction shal come vpon him and health shal not folow him †In the multiplication of iust men the common people shal reioyce when the impious shal take princedom the people shal mourne †A man that loueth wisedom maketh his father glad but he that maintaineth harlots shal destroy his substance †A iust king setteth vp the land a couetous man shal destroy it †A man that with fayre and fayned wordes speaketh to his frend spreadeth a nette to his steppes †A snare shal intangle the wicked man sinning and the iust shal praise and reioyce †The iust knoweth the cause of the poore the impious is ignorant of knowlege †Pestilent men dissipate a citie but the wise turne away furie †A wise man if he contend with a foole whether he be angrie or whether he laugh shal not finde rest †Men of bloud hate the simple but iust men seeke his soule †A foole vttereth al his spirit a wiseman differreth and reserueth til afterward †A prince that gladly heareth wordes of lying hath al his seruants impious †The pooreman and the creditour haue mette one an other our Lord is illuminatour of both †The king that iudgeth the poore in truth his throne shal be replenished for euer †Rod and rebuke geueth wisedom but the childe that is left to his owne wil confoundeth his mother †In the multiplication of the impious wickednes shal be multiplied and the iust shal see
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
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
and haue rayned prouerbes iudgementes †Goe not after thy concupiscences and turne away from thy wil. †If thou geue to thy soule her concupiscences she wil make thee a ioy to the enemies †Be not delighted in multitudes not in few for their concertation is continual †Be not poore in contention of borowing and thou hast nothing in thy purse for thou shalt be enuious to thine owne life CHAP. XIX An admonition against drunkennes luxurie 4. light suspition 7. and detraction 13. Freindlie correption is necessarie 23. and sincere humilitie 27. Exterior carege is a signe of internal disposition A workman that is a drunkard shal not be rich and he that contemneth smal thinges shal fal by litle and litle †Wine and wemen make wisemen to apostatate and shal reproue the prudent †and he that ioyneth himself to harlotes shal be naught Rottennes and wormes shal inherite him and he shal be lifted vp for a greater example and his life shal be taken out of the number †He that geueth credite quickly is light of hart and shal be lessened and he shal more ouer be counted one that sinneth against his owne soule †He thar reioyceth in iniquitie shal be reprehended and he that hateth chastisement shal be diminished of life and he that hateth babbling extinquisheth malice †He that sinneth against his owne soule shal repent and he that is delighted in naughtinesse shal be reprehended †Iterate not a wicked and hard word and thou shalt not be lessened †To freind and foe tel not thy minde and if thou haue sinne disclose it not †For he wil heare thee and wil watch thee and as it were defending the sinne he wil hate thee and so wil he be present with thee alwaies †Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour let it die together in thee trusting that it wil not burst thee †At the presence of a word the foole traueleth as the groning of the childbirth of an infant †An arrow stickt in the thigh of flesh so is a word in the hart of a foole †Rebuke a freind lest perhapes he hath not vnderstood and say I did it not or if he did it that he doe it not againe †Rebuke thy neighbour lest perhaps he said it not and if he said it lest perhaps he iterate it †Rebuke thy freind for there is often a fault committed †And beleue not euerie word There is that offendeth with the tongue but not from his hart †For who is there that hath not offended in his tongue Rebuke thy neighbour before thou threaten †And geue place to the feare of the Highest because the feare of God is al wisedom and to feare God is in it the disposition of the law is in al wisdom †And the discipline of wickednes is not wisedom and the cogitation of sinners is not prudence †There is wickednes and in it execration and there is a foole that hath lesse wisedom †Better is a man that hath lesse wisdom and lacketh vnderstanding in feare then he that abundeth in vnderstanding and transgresseth the law of the Highest †There is an assured subtilitie the same wicked †And there is that vttereth an exact word telling the truth There is that wickedly humbleth himselfe and his inner partes be ful of deceite †and there is a iust man that submitteth himselfe ouermuch of great humilitie and there is a iust one that boweth his face and feyneth himself not to see that which is vnknowen †and if he be forbidden to sinne for imbecillitie of power if he shal finde a time to do euil he wil do euil †A man is knowen by the sight and a wiseman is knowen by the shew of his face †The clothing of the bodie and the laughing of the teeth and the going of the man tel of him †There is a lying chastisement in the anger of a contumelious person and there is a iudgement that is not allowed to be good and there is that holdeth his peace and he is wise CHAP. XX. Correction ought to be without passion of anger 5. much discretion is required in speach and in silence 14. Also in geuing 20. promising 29. and in vttering knowlege where and when it behoueth HOW good a thing is it to rebuke rather then to be angrie and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer †The concupiscence of an eunuch shal defloure a young maide †so he that by violence doth vniust iudgement How good a thing is it being rebuked to shew repentance for so thou shalt auoid wilful sinne †There is that holdeth his peace which is found wise and there is that is odious he which is malepert to speake †There is that holdeth his peace hauing not vnderstanding to speake and there is that holdeth his peace knowing the time of fitte opportunitie †A wise man wil hold his peace vntil a time but a wanton and the vnwise wil not obserue time †He that vseth manie wordes shal hurt his owne soule he that taketh authoritie to himself vniustly shal be hated †There is proceding in euils to a man without discipline and there is finding to losse †There is a gift that is not profitable and there is a gift the reward whereof is duble †There is debasing because of glorie and there is that from humilitie shal lift vp the head †There is that redemeth manie thinges for a smale price and restoreth the same seuen fold †A man wise in wordes shal make him selfe beloued but the graces of fooles shal be powred out †The gift of the vnwise shal not be profitable for thee for his eies are seuen fold †He wil geue few thinges and vpbraide manie and the opening of his mouth is an inflammation †To day a man lendeth and to morow he asketh it againe such a man is odious †A foole shal haue no freind and there shal be no thanke to his goodes †For they that eate his bread are of a false tongue How often and how manie wil laugh him to scorne †For he doth not distribute with right vnderstanding that which was to be had in like manner also that which was not to be had †The slipping of a false tongue as he that falleth on the pauement so the falles of the euil shal come hastely †A man without grace is as a vaine fable it shal be continual in the mouth of them that are without discipline †A parable out of a fooles mouth shal be reiected for he doth not speake it in his time †There is that is forbid to sinne for pouertie and in his rest he shal be pricked †There is thar wil destroy his soule for shamfastnes and by an vnwise person he wil destroy it and by acception of person he wil destroy himself †There is that for shamfastnes
of health 2. He sheweth them al his riches 5. for which I saie reprehendeth him and prophecieth that the Babylonians wil spoile Ierusalem AT THAT time Merodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that he had bene sicke and was recouered †And Ezechias reioyced vpon them and he shewed them the storehouse of aromatical spices and of siluer and of gold and of sweete odours and of the best oyntment and al the store houses of his furniture and al thinges that were found in his treasures There was not anie thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his dominion †But Isaie the prophet went in to Ezechias the king and said to him What sayd these men and from whence came they to thee And Ezechias sayd From a far countrie they came to me from Babylon †And he sayd What saw they in thy house And Ezechias sayd al thinges that are in my house haue they sene there was not anie thing which I haue not shewed them in my treasures †And Isaie sayd to Ezechias Heare the word of the Lord of hostes †Behold the daies shal come and al thinges that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp for treasure vntil this day shal be taken away into Babylon there shal not any thing be leaft sayth our Lord. †And of thy children which shal come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget they shal take away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon †And Ezechias sayd to Isaie The word of our Lord which he hath spoken is good And he said Onlie be there peace and truth in my daies CHAP. XL. The prophet comforteth the people with Christs coming to remitte sinnes 3. Before whom S. Iohn Baptist shal preach penance 6. sheweth mans imbecilitie 9. Gods Maiestie 18. the vanitie of idols 27. and fal of them that feare not God BE comforted be comforted my people saith your God †Speake to the hart of Ierusalem and cal to her because her malice is accomplished her iniquitie is forgeuen she hath receiued of the hand of our Lord duble for al her sinnes †The voice of one crying in the desert Prepare the way of our Lord make streight the pathes of our God in the wildernes †Euerie valley shal be exalted and euerie mountaine and litle hil shal be humbled crooked thinges shal become streight and rought wayes playne †And the glorie of our Lord shal be reueled and al flesh together shal see that the mouth of our Lord hath spoken †The voice of one saying Crie And I sayd What shal I crie Al flesh is grasse and al the glorie therof as the floure of the filde †The grasse is withered and the floure is fallen because the spirit of our Lord hath blowen on it In deede the people is grasse †the grasse is withered and the floure is fallen but the word of our Lord abideth for euer †Vpon an high mountayne get thee vp thou that euangelizest to Sion exalt the voice in strength which euangelizest to Ierusalem exalt it feare not Say to the cities of Iuda Behold your God †behold our Lord God shal come in strength and his arme shal haue dominion behold his reward is with him and his worke before him †As a shepheard shal he feede his flocke in his arme shal he gather together the lambes and in his bosome shal he lift them vp and them with yong himself shal carie †Who hath measured the waters with his fist and poundered the heauens with a spanne who hath poysed with three fingers the huge greatnes of the earth and wayed the mountaines in weight and the litle hilles in balance †Who hath holpen the spirit of our Lord or who hath bene his counseler and shewed to him †With whom hath he taken counsel and who hath instructed him and taught him the path of iustice and taught him knowlege and shewed him the way of prudence †Behold the Gentiles are as a droppe of a bucket and are reputed as the moment of a balance behold the ilandes are as a litle dust †And Libanus shal not suffice to kindle the fyre and the beastes therof shal not be sufficient for holocaust †Al nations as if they were not so are they before him and they are reputed of him as nothing and a vaine thing †To whom then haue you made God like or what image wil you set to him †Hath the artificer cast a sculptil or hath the goldsmith figured it with gold or the siluersmith with plates of siluer †Strong wood and that which wil not putrifie hath he chosen the wise artificer seeketh how he may set vp a sculptile which may not be moued †Why doe you not know why haue you not heard why hath it not bene told you from the beginning Haue you not vnderstood the fundations of the earth †He that sitteth vpon the compasse of the earth and the inhabitants therof are as locustes he that stretcheth out the heauens as nothing spreddeth them as a tent to dwel in †He that maketh the searchers of secretes as if they were not that hath made the iudges of the earth as a vayne thing †and in deede their stocke was neither planted nor sowen nor rooted in the earth sodenly he hath blowen vpon them and they haue withered and a whirle wind shal take them away as stubble †And to whom haue ye likened me and made me equal saith the holie one †Lift vp your eies on high and see who hath created these thinges he that bringeth out the host of them in number and calleth them al by name by the multitude of his force and strength and power not one of them was missing †Why sayest thou Iacob and speakest thou Israel My way is hid from our Lord and my iudgement is passed ouer of my God †Why knowest thou not or hast thou not heard our Lord is God euerlasting which hath created the endes of the earth he shal not faile nor labour neither is there searching out of his wisdome †Which geueth strength to the wearie and to them that are not multiplieth force and strength †Children shal faynte and labour and yongmen shal fal by infirmitie †But they that hope in our Lord shal change their strength they shal take winges as eagles they shal runne not labour they shal walke and not fainte CHAP. XLI God pleading against idolaters sheweth his powre and goodnes by his benefites bestowed vpon the Iewes 17. With promise of perpetual protection 21. Wheras their vaine idols can no way profite them LET the ilands hold their peace before me and the Gentiles change their strength let them come neere and then speake let vs
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie †They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice †Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes †Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes †They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace †For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes †We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead †We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. †For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen †to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying †And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in †And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement †And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him †He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele †As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes †And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth †and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. †This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee †Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee †And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side †Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee †The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. †Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie †Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes †For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee †And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee †And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought †For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation †The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie †And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel †For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a â—oy vnto generation and generation †and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob †For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice †Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates †Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie †Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended †And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
But I eremie againe prophecieth the contrarie 16. that Hananias shal dye the same yeare AND it came to passe in that yeare in the beginning of the kingdom of Sedecias king of Iuda in the fourth yeare in the fifth moneth Hananias the sonne of Azur the prophet of Gabaon spake to me in the house of our Lord before the priestes and al the people saying †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel I haue broken the yoke of the king of Babylon †As yet two yeares of dayes and I wil make al the vessels of the house of our Lord to be brought backe into this place which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon tooke out of this place and transported them into Babylon †And Iechonias the sonne of Iaokim the king of Iuda and al the transmigration of Iuda that are entered into Babylon I wil make to returne to this place saith our Lord for I wil breake the yoke of the king of Babylon †And Ieremie the prophet said to Hananias the prophet in the presence of the priestes and in the presence of al the people that stoode in the house of our Lord †And Ieremie the prophet said Amen Our Lord so doe our Lord raise vp thy wordes which thou hast prophecied that the vessels may be brought againe into the house of our Lord and al the transmigration out of Babylon to this place †But yet heare this word that I speake in thine eares and in the eares of al the people †The prophets that haue bene before me and before thee from the beginning and haue prophecied concerning manie countries and concerning great kingedomes of warre and of affliction and of famine †The prophet that hath prophecied peace when his word shal come to passe the prophet shal be knowen whom our Lord hath sent in truth †And Hananias the prophet tooke the chaine from the necke of Ieremie the prophet and brake it †And Hananias spake in the sight of al the people saying Thus saith our Lord So wil I breake the yoke of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon after two yeares of dayes from the necke of al nations †And Ieremie the prophet went his way And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie after that Hananias the prophet brake the chayne from the necke of Ieremie the prophet saying †Goe and thou shalt tel Hananias Thus saith our Lord Thou hast broken chaynes of wood and thou shalt make for them chaynes of yron †Because thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel An yron yoke haue I put vpon the necke of al these Nations to serue Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and they shal serue him moreouer also the beastes of the earth I haue geuen him †And Ieremie the prophet said to Hananias the prophet Heare Hananias Our Lord sent thee not thou hast made this people to trust in a lie †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil send thee from of the face of the earth this yeare shalt thou dye for thou hast spoken against our Lord. †And Hananias the prophet died in that yeare the seuenth moneth CHAP. XXIX Ieremie writeth to the captiues in Babylon exhorting them to liue in peace 8. and not harking to falseprophetes 10. For they must remaine there seuentie yeares and then shal be deliuered 16. And those that remaine in Ierusalem shal suffer sword famine and pestilence 21. And Achab Sedecias 24. and Someias false prophetes shal dye miserably AND these are the wordes of the booke which Ieremie the prophet sent from Ierusalem to the remnant of the ancientes of the transmigration and to the priestes and to the prophetes and to al the people which Nabuchodonosor had transported from Ierusalem into Babylon †after that Iechonias the king was gone forth and the queene and the Eunuches and the princes of Iuda and of Ierusalem and the craftes man and the incloser our of Ierusalem †by the hand of Elasa the sonne of Saphan and Gamarias the sonne of Helcias whom Sedecias the king of Iuda sent to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon into Babylon saying †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to al the transmigration which I haue transported from Ierusalem into Babylon †Build ye houses and inhabite them and plant orchardes and eate the fruite of them †Take wiues and beget sonnes and daughters geue wiues to your sonnes geue your daughters to husbands let them beare sonnes and daughters and be ye multiplied there and be not few in number †And seeke the peace of the citie to which I haue transported you pray for it to our Lord because in the peace thereof there shal be peace to you †For thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Let not your prophetes that are in the middes of you and your diuiners seduce you and attend not to your dreames which you dreame †because they doe falsely prophecie to you in my name and I sent them not saith our Lord. †Because thus saith our Lord When the seuentie yeares shal beginne to be expired in Babylon I wil visite you and I wil raise vp vpon you my good word to bring you againe to this place †For I know the cogitations that entend vpon you saith our Lord cogitations of peace and not of affliction to geue you an end and patience †And you shal inuocate me and goe and you shal pray me and I wil heare you †You shal seeke me and shal finde when you shal seeke me with al your hart †And I wil be found of you saith our Lord and I wil bring backe your captiuitie and I wil gather you out of al nations and from al places to the which I haue expelled you saith our Lord and I wil make you to returne from the place to the which I haue transported you †Because you haue said Our Lord hath raised vp prophetes to vs in Babylon †for thus saith our Lord to the king that sitteth vpon the throne of Dauid and to al the people the inhabiter of this citie to your bretheren that are not gone forth with vou into the transmigration †Thus saith the Lord of hostes Behold I wil send vpon them the sword and famine and the pestilence I wil make them as naughtie figges that can not be eaten because they are very naught †And I wil persecute them with the sword with famine with pestilence and I wil geue them into vexation to al the kingdomes of the earth into malediction into astonishment and into hyssing into reproch to al the Nations to which I haue cast them out †because they haue not heard my wordes saith our Lord which I sent to them by my seruantes the prophetes in the night rysing and sending and you heard not saith our Lord. †You therefore heare the word of our Lord al
Maachati they and their men †And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan sware to them and to their companions saying Feare not to serue the Chaldees dwel in the land and serue the king of Babylon and it shal be wel with you †Behold I dwel in Masphath that I may answere the commandment of the Chaldees that are sent to vs but you gather ye vintage and haruest and oile and lay it vp in your vessels and abide in your cities which you hold †Yea and al the Iewes that were in Moab and among the children of Ammon and in Idumea and in al the countries when it was heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Iewrie and that he dad made Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan ruler ouer them †al the Iewes I say returned out of al places to which they had fled and they came into the land of Iuda to Godolias into Masphath and they gathered wine and haruest exceeding much †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the host that had bene dispersed in the countries came to Godolias into Masphath †And they said to him Know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias to kil thee And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam beleued them not †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree spake to Godolias apart in Masphath saying I wil goe and strike Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias no man knowing it lest he kil thee and al the Iewes be dispersed that are gathered vnto thee and the remnant of Iuda perish †And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam said to Iohanan the sonne of Caree Doe not this word for thou speakest false of Ismahel CHAP. XLI Godolias with other Iewes and some Chaldees are slaine by Ismael sent from the king of Moabites 8 tenne are ransomed for their riches 11. Iohanan taking armes to reuenge the slaughter Ismael flyeth away deliuering those whom he held captiues 17. and they prepare to flee into Aegypt AND it came to passe in the seuenth moneth came Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Elisama of the kings bloud and the nobles of the king and ten men with him to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam into Masphath and they did eate bread there together in Masphath †And Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias arose and the ten men that were with him they stroke Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan with the sword and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made ruler ouer the land †Al the Iewes also that were with Godolias in Masphath and the Chaldees that were found there and the men of warre did Ismahel strike †And the second day after he had killed Godolias no man yet knowing it †there came men from Sichem and from Silo and from Samaria eightie men their beard shauen and their garments rent and il fauoured and they had gifts and frankincense in their hand to offer in the house of our Lord. †Ismahel therefore the sonne of Nathanias going forth to meete them out of Masphath went going and weeping and when he had met them he said to them Come to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam †Who when they were come to the middes of the citie Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias slew them about the middes of the lake he and the men that were with him †But ten men were found among them that said to Ismahel Kil vs not because we haue treasures in the field of wheate and barlie and oile and honie And he ceassed and slew not them with their bretheren †And the lake into the which Ismahel threw al the carcasses of the men whom he stroke for Godolias is the same that king Asa made for Baasa the king of Israel the same did Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias fil with them that were slaine †And Ismahel led away captiue al the remnant of the people that were in Masphath the kings daughters and al the people that remained in Masphath whom Nabuzardan the prince of the warre had commended to Godolias the sonne of Ahiâ—am And Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias tooke them and he went away to passe vnto the children of Ammon †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree al the princes of the men of warre that were with him heard al the euil that Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias had done †And taking al the men they went forth to make battel against Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias and they found him at the manie waters that are in Gabaon †And when al the people that was with Ismahel had seene Iohanan the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the men of warre that were with him they reioyced †And al the people whom Ismael had taken returned into Masphath and returning they went to Iohanan the sonne of Carâ—◠†But Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias fled with eight men from the face of Iohanan and went to the children of Ammon †Iohanan therefore the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the men of warre that were with him tooke al the remnant of the common people which they had brought back from Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias out of Masphath after that he had strooke Godolias the sonne of Ahicam strong men for battel and wemen and children eunuches which he had brought back from Gabaon †And they went and sate seiourning in Chamaam which is beside Bethlehem that they might goe forward and enter into Aegypt †from the face of the Chaldees for they feared them because Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias had strooken Godolias the sonne of Ahicam whom the king of Babylon had made ruler in the land of Iuda CHAP. XLII Ieremie praying and consulting God 7. answereth that al those which remaine in Ierusalem shal be safe 13. but those that goe into Aegypt shalperish AND there came al the Princes of the men of warre and Iohanan the sonne of Caree and Iezonias the sonne of Osaias and the rest of the common people from litle vnto great †And they said to Ieremie the prophet Let our prayer fal in thy sight and pray for vs to the Lord thy God for al this remnant because we are left few of manie as thine eies doe behold vs. †And let our Lord thy God tel vs the way by which we may goe and the word that we must doe †And Ieremie the prophet said to them I haue heard behold I pray to our Lord your God according to your wordes euerie word whatsoeuer he shal answer me I wil tel you neither wil I conceale from you anie thing †And they said to Ieremie Be our Lord witnes betwen vs of truth and faith if we doe not according to euerie word for the which our Lord thy God shal send thee to vs. †Whether it be good or euil we wil obey the voice
her hart had confidence in our Lord. †And the ancients sayd When we walked alone in the orchard this woman came in with two maydes shut the doores of the orchard and she sent away the maydes from her †And a yongman that was hid came to her and lay with her †But we being in a corner of the orchard seeing the iniquitie ranne to them and saw them lie together †And him in deed we could not take because he was stronger then we and opening the doores he lept out †but her when we apprehended we asked what yongman it was and she would not tel vs of this thing we are witnesses †The multitude beleued them as the ancients and the iudges of the people and they condemned her to death But Susanna cried out with a lowd voice and sayd Eternal God which art the knower of hidden things before they come to passe †thou knowest that they haue borne false witnes against me and loe I dye wheras I haue done none of these thinges which these men haue maliciousely forged against me †And our Lord heard her voice †and when she was led to death our Lord raysed vp the holie spirit of a yong boy whose name was Daniel †and he cried out with alowd voice I am cleane from the bloud of this woman †And al the people turning to him sayd What is this word that thou hast spoken †Who when he stood in the middes of them sayd So folish ye children of Israel not iudgeing nor discerning that which is the truth haue you condemned the daughter of Israel †Returne ye to iudgement because they haue spoken false testimonie against her †The people therfore returned with speede and the ancients sayd to him Come and sitte in the middes of vs and tel vs because God hath geuen thee the honour of old age †And Daniel sayd to the people Separate them far one from an other and I wil discouer them †When they were therfore diuided one from the other he called one of them and said to him O thou inueterated of euil dayes now are thy sinnes come which thou didst committe before iudging vniust iudgements oppressing innocents and dismissing offenders our Lord saying The innocent and the iust thou shalt not kil †Now then if thou sawest her tel vnder what tree thou sawest them talking together Who sayd Vnder a schine tree †And Daniel sayd Wel hast thou lyed agaynst thine owne head for behold the Angel of God taking the sentence of him shal cut thee in the middes †And remouing him away he commanded that the other should come and he sayd to him Seede of Chanaan and not of Iuda beautie hath deceiued thee and concupiscence hath subuerted thy hart †so did you to the daughters of Israel and they fearing spake to you but the daughter of Iuda did not abide your iniquitie †Now therfore tel me vnder what tree thou tookest them speaking one to an other Who said Vnder a prine tree †And Daniel said to him Wel hast thou also lyed against thine owne head for the Angel of our Lord tarieth hauing a sword that he may cut thee in the middes and kil you †Therfore al the assemblie cried out with a lowd voice and they blessed God which saueth them that hope in him †And they rose vp against the two elders for Daniel had conuinced them by their owne mouth to haue geuen false testimonie and they did to them as they had dealt naughtely against their neighbour †to doe according to the law of Moyses they killed them and innocent bloud was saued in that day †But Helcias and his wyfe praysed God for their daughter Susanna with Ioakim her husband and al her kinne because there was no vnhonest thing found in her †And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day thence forward †And king Astyages was layd to his fathers Cyrus the Persian receiued his kingdom CHAP. XIIII Daniel detecteth the fraud of Bels priestes who pretend that Bel eateth much meate 21. for which they are slaine and the idol destroyed 22. Likewise he destroyeth a dragon which the Babylonians held for a god 27. He is cast into the lake of seuen lions 32. whithet Habacuc miraculously bringeth him meate 39. the lions hurt him not his accusers are deuoured AND Daniel was the kings ghest and honoured aboue al his freindes †There was also an idol among the Babylonians named Bel and there were bestowed on him euerie day of floure twelue aâ—ctabaes and fourtie sheepe and of wine six great pottes †The king also did worshipe him and went euery day to adore him But Daniel adored his God the king sayd to him Why dost thou not adore Bel. †Who answering sayd to him Because I worshipe not idols made with hand but the liuing God that created heauen and earth and hath powre ouer al flesh †And the king sayd to him Doeth not Bel some vnto thee to be a liuing God Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euerie day †And Daniel smiling sayd Be not deceiued ô king For this same is within of clay and without of brasse neither hath he eaten at any time †And the king being wrath called his priests sayd to them Vnlesse you tel me who it is that eateth these expenses you shal dye †But if you shew that Bel eateth these things Daniel shal dye because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel sayd to the king Be it done according to thy woord †And the priests of Bel were seuentie beside their wiues and litle ones children And the king came with Daniel into the temple of Bel. †And the priestes of Bel sayd Behold we goe forth thou ô king set the meates mingle the wine shut the doore seale it with thy ring †and when thou shalt come in the morning vnles thou finde al eaten of Bel dying we wil dye or Daniel that hath lyed against vs. †And they contemned because they had made vnder the table a secrete entrance by it they came in alwayes and deuoured those thinges †It came to passe therfore after they were gone out the king set the meates before Bel Daniel commanded his seruants and they brought ashes and he sifted them ouer al the temple before the king and going forth they shut the doore and sealing it with the kings ring they departed †But the priestes went in by night according to their custome and their wiues and their children and they did eate and drinke al. †And the king arose in the first breake of day and Daniel with him †And the king sayd Are the seales safe Daniel Who answered Safe ô king †And forth with when he had opened the doore the king looking on the table cried out with a lowd
againe to loue an aduoutresse 3. whom he maketh long to expect her husband to signifie Gods loue to the Synag gue 4. and the Iewes state in the new testament 5. who at last shal be conuerted to Christ AND our Lord sayd to me Yet againe goe loue a woman beloued of her frend and an aduoutresse as our Lord loueth the children of Israel and they haue respect to strange goddes and loue the kernels of grapes †And I digged her vnto me for fiftene peeces of siluer and for a core of barley and for halfe a core of barley †And I sayd to her Thou shalt expect me manie dayes thou shalt not fornicate thou shalt be no mans but I also wil expect thee †Because manie dayes shal the children of Israel sit without king without prince and without sacrifice and without altar and without ephod and without theraphim †And after this the children of Israel shal returne shal seeke the Lord their God and Dauid their king and they shal dread at the Lord and at his goodnes in the last dayes CHAP. IIII. Diùers great sinnes of both kingdomes 3. are the cause of great punishments threatned 15. yet the sinnes of Iuda are lesse excusable because they haue more meanes to serue God HEARE the word of our Lord ye children of Israel because there is iudgement to our Lord with the inhabitants of the land for there is no truth and there is no mercie and there is no knowlege of God in the land †Cursing and lying and manslaughter and theft and aduoutrie haue ouerflowed and bloud hath touched bloud †For this shal the land moorne and euerie one shal be weakened that dwelleth in it in the beast of the filde and in the foule of the heauen yea and the fishes of the sea shal be gathered together †But yet let not euerie man iudge and let not a man be rebuked for thy people are as those that gaynesay the priest †And thou shalt fal to day and the prophete also shal fal with thee in the night I made thy mother hold her peace †My people haue held their peace because they had not knowlege because thou hast repelled knowlege I wil repel thee that thou doe not the function of priesthood vnto me and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I also wil forget thy children †According to the multitude of them so haue they sinned to me their glorie I wil change into ignominie †They shal eate the sinnes of my people and at their iniquitie shal lift vp their soules †And as the people so shal the priest be I wil visite their wayes vpon them and their cogitations I wil render to them †And they shal eate and shal not be filled they haue fornicated and haue not ceased because they haue forsaken our Lord in not obseruing †Fornication and wine and drunkenes take away the hart †My people hath asked in their wood and their staffe hath declared vnto them for the spirit of fornications hath deceiued them and they haue fornicated from their God †Vpon the heads of mountaines they did sacrifice and vpon litle hilles they burnt incense vnder the oke and the poplartree and the terebinth because the shadow therof was good therfore shal your daughters fornicate and your spouses shal be aduoutresses †I wil not visite vpon your daughters when they shal fornicate and vpon your spouses when they shal commit aduoutrie because they themselues conuerst with harlots and with the effeminate they did sacrifice and the people not vnderstanding shal be beaten †If thou fornicate ô Israel at the least let not Iuda offend and enter ye not into Galgal and goe not vp into Bethauen neither sweare ye Our Lord liueth †Because Israel hath declined as a wanton cow now wil our Lord feede them as a lambe in latitude †Ephraim is partaker of idols let him alone †Their banket is separated with fornication they haue fornicated the protectours therof loued to bring ignominie †The spirit hath bound him in his winges and they shal be confounded at their sacrifices CHAP. V. The prophet reprehendeth the priestes and princes of both kingdomes for drawing the people to idolatrie 8. denouncing captiuitie for the same HEARE ye this ô priestes and attend ye house of Israel and you the kinges house harken because there is iudgement for you because you are become a snare to speculation and a nette spred vpon Thabor †And victims you haue declined into the depth and I the teacher of them al. †I know Ephraim and Israel is not hid from me because now hath Ephraim fornicated Israel is contaminated †They wil not geue their cogitations to◠returne to their God because the spirit of fornications is in the middes of them and they haue not knowen the Lord. †And the arrogancie of Israel shal answere in his face and Israel and Ephraim shal fal in their iniquitie Iudas also shal fal with them †In their flockes and in their heardes they shal goe to seeke the Lord and shal not finde he is taken away from them †They haue preuaricated against the Lord because they haue begotten strange children now shal a moneth deuoure them with their partes †Sound with the trumpet in Gabaa and with the shaulme in Rama howle ye in Bethauen behind thy backe ô Beniamin †Ephraim shal be in desolation in the day of correction in the tribes of Israel I haue shewed faith †The princes of Iuda are become as they that take the bound I wil power out my wrath as water vpon them †Ephraim is suffering calumnie broken in iudgement because he began to goe after filthines †And I as it were a mothe to Ephraim and as the rotte to the house of Iuda †And Ephraim saw his sicknes and Iuda his band and Ephraim went to Assur and sent to the king reuenger and he shal not be able to heale you neither shal he be able to loose the band from you †Because I as it were a lionesse to Ephraim and as a lions whelpe to the house of Iuda I I wil take and goe I wil take away and there is none that can deliuer †Going I wil returne to my place vntil you fayle and seeke my face CHAP. VI. By afflictions the people wil returne to God and hope in Christ to come 4. both the kingdomes sinning 6. and thincking to be spared for their sacrifices neglecting workes of mercie 7. shal be punished 11. but at last deliuered from captiuitie IN their tribulation early they wil rise vp to me Come and let vs returne to our Lord. †Because he hath wounded and wil heale ys he wil strike and wil cure vs. †He wil reuiue vs after two dayes in the third day he wil raise vs vp and we shal liue in his sight We shal know
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
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
manie whose minde was stirred vp with many vowes †And Cyrus the king brought forth the sacred vessels of our Lord which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported out of Ierusalem and consecrated them to his Idol †And Cyrus the king of Persians bringing them forth deliuered them to Mithridatus who was ouer his treasures †And by him they were deliuered to Salmanasar president of Iurie †And of these this was the number Cuppes for libamentes of siluer two thousand foure hundred basens of siluer thirtie phials of gold thirtie also of siluer two thousand foure hundred and other vessels a thousand †and al the vessels of gold and siluer were fiue thousand eight hundred sixtie †And they were numbered to Salmanasar together with them that came out of the captiuite of Babylon into Ierusalem †But in the times of Artaxerxes king of the Persians there wrote to him of them that dwelt in Iurie and Ierusalem Balsamus and Mithridatus and Sabellius and Rathimus Balthemus Sabellius scribe and the rest dweling in Samaria and other places the epistle folowing to king Artaxerxes †SIR thy seruantes Rathimus ouer occurrentes and Sabellius the scribe and the other iudges of thy court in Caelesyria and Phenice †And now be it knowen to our Lord the king that Iewes came vp from you to vs coming into Ierusalem a rebellious very naughty citie do build the fornaces thereof and set vp the walles and rayse the temple †And if this citie and the walles shal be finished they wil not onlie not abyde to pay tributes but also wil resist the kinges †And because that is in doing about the temple we thought it should doe wel not to neglect this same thing †but to make it knowen to our Lord the king that if it shal seme good ô king it may be sought in the bookes of thy fathers †and thou shalt find in the recordes thinges writen of these and thou shalt know that this citie hath bene rebellious and trubling kinges and cities †and the Iewes rebelles making battels in it from time out of mind for the which cause this citie was made desolate †Now therfore we doe thee to vnderstand Lord king that if this citie shal be built and the walles therof shal be erected there wil be no comming downe for thee into Caelesyria Phenice †Then wrote the king to Rathimus the writer of the occurrentes and to Balthemus and to Sabellius the scribe and to the rest ioyned with them and to the dwellers in Syria and Phenice as foloweth †I haue read the epistle that you sent me I commanded therfore search to be made it was found that the same citie is from the beginning rebellious to kinges †and the men rebelles and making battels in it there were most valient kinges ruling in Ierusalem and exacting tributes in Caelesyria Phenice †Now therfore I haue geuen commandment to forbid those men to build the citie and to stay them that nothing be done more then is †and that they proceede not farder wherof are euils so that there may be truble brought vpon the kinges †Then these things being read which were writen of king Artaxerxes Rathimus and Sabellius the scribe and they that were apointed with them ioyning together in hast came to Ierusalem with a troupe of horsemen and multitude companie †and they begane to forbid the builders and they ceased from building of the temple in Ierusalem til in the second yeare of the reigne of Darius king of the Persians CHAP. III. After a solemne supper made to al the court and chief princes king Darius sleeping 4. three esquires of the bodie keeping watch proposed the question 10. Whether wine or a King or wemen or the truth doth excel 17. The first prayseth wine KING Darius made a great supper to al his domestical seruantes and to al the magistrates of Media and Persia †and to al that were purple and to the praetors and consuls and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto Aethiopia an hundred twentie seuen prouinces †And when they had eaten and drunken and returned ful then Darius went vp into his chamber and slept and awaked †Then those three youngmen kepers of his bodie which garded the kings bodie sayd one to an other †Let euerie one of vs say a word that may excel whose word soeuer shal appeare wiser then the others to him wil king Darius geue great giftes †to be couered with purple to drinke in gold and to sleepe vpon gold a chariote with a bridle of gold a bonet of silke and a cheyne about his necke †and he shal sit in the second place next Darius for his wisdome And he shal be called the cosin of Darius †Then euerie one writing his word signed it and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius the king †and they sayd When the king shal rise we wil geue him our writinges and which soeuer of the three the king shal iudge and the magistrates of Persia that his word is the wiser to him shal the victorie be geuen as is writen †One wrote Wine is strong †An other wrote a King is stronger †The third wrote Wemen are more strong but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh †And when the king was risen they tooke their writinges and gaue him and he read †And sending he called al the Magistrates of the Persians and the Medes and them that weare purple and the pretors and the ouerseers †and they sate in the councel and the writinges were read before them †And he sayd Cal the youngmen and they shal declare their owne wordes And they were called and went in †And he sayd to them Declare vnto vs concerning these thinges which are writen And the first began he that had spoken of the strength of wine †and sayd O ye men how doth wine preuaile ouer al men that drinke it seduceth the minde †And also the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine Also of the bondman and the free of the rich man and the poore †and euerie mind it turneth into securitie and pleasantnes and it remembreth not any sorow and dewtie †and al hartes it maketh honest and it remembreth not king nor magistrate and it maketh a man speake al thinges by talentes †And when they haue drunke they remember not frendship nor brotherhood yea and not long after they take swordes †And when they are recouered and risen from the wine they remember not what they haue done †O ye men doth not wine excel who thinketh to doe so And hauing sayd this he held his peace CHAP. IIII. The second prayseth the excellencie of a king 13. The third which is Zorobabel commendeth wemen 33. but preferreth truth aboue al 41. which is so approued and he is rewarded 42. The king moreouer at his request restoreth the holie vessels of the
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
the ministerie of Priests The ancient fathers proue that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread wine in figure of Christ and of other Priests of the new Testament Caluin coÌ„temneth al the ancient fathers in ca. 9. Heb. Bible 1579. Heretical translation Heb. 7 Iosue 8. 22. 3 Reg. 8. The greatter blesseth the lesse Paying of tithes in the law of nature Ro. 4. Gal. 3. Iac. 2. :: These three kindes of beastes and two of birdes signifie that the Israelites should be three generations in a strange land the fourth in the desert the fifth in possession of Chanaan Theod. q. 65. in Gen. Act. 17. :: Abraham and his seed werein strange land 400 and odde yeares but in seruitude and affliction about 140. Exo. 12. :: God deferreth to punish either that the wicked may amend or the good be exercised by them S Aug. Psal 54. or because the iniquity is not come to that great measure which his wisdome forâ—eeth and wil punish in the end to his owne more glorie and more good of others S. Greg. ho. 11. in 3. Ezech. To beleue Gods word without staggering is an act of iustice Not workes before faith but ioyned with faith are meritorious Onlie faith doth not iustifie :: Some obey whilest they are rude or in low state but hauiÌ„g got a litle knowlege or aduancement disdaine their aduancers S. Gregorie li. 21. in 1. Reg. 3. Manichees condemned pluralitie of wiues in the Patriarches Luther alloweth it in Christians Other Protestants in some case S. Aug. li. 22. c. 47. cont Faust Luther propsit 62. 65. et 66. S. Aug. de bono coniugali ca. 17. Two sortes of preceptsin the law of nature Pluralitie of wiues sometimes allowed Deut. 21. By the law of Christ in no case lawful Math. 19. Gen. 2. :: He is perfect in this life that sincerly diligently tendeth towards perfection of the next life And this God here commanded to Abraham Christ to al Christians Math. 5. S. Aug. li. de perfect cont Caelest See Gen. 6. v. 9 :: Circumcision and name receiued the eight day signified the association of Saints in heauen after the seuen dayes trauel of this world Ser. de circum apud S. Cyprian :: Abraham laughed not doubting but reioycing S. Ambro. li. de Abraham c. 4. S. Aug. li. 16 c. 26. de ciuit :: Temporal blessings were common to Ismael but spiritual pertained properly to Isaac and Israel their successessors :: Conformitie in Religion conserueth peace in euery familie Tho. Anglus in hunc locum Changing of names is mystical S. Aug. li. 16 c. 28 39. ciuit S. Hierom Tradit Hebraicis Gal. 4. Isa 54. Abraham natural father of foure nations spiritual father of al that do beleue in Christ Rom. 4 11. The Church of Christ euer consisteth of many nations Circumcision a figure of Baptisme Baptisme excelleth Circumcision Two difficulties To whom the punishment pertained wheÌ„ circumcision was omitted what punishment was threatned Circumcision instituted to distinguish the people of God and for remedie of original sinne in some persons but not in al. :: Abraham saw three and adored one professing three diuine persons and one God S. Aug. li. 16. c. 29. ciuit Heb. 13. Rom. 9. :: Abraham laughing with admiration for ioy was not reprehended but Sara laughing of diffidence was reprehended by him that seeth the hart S. Aug. q. 36. in Gen. li. 16. c. 31 ciuit :: what a wall are iust men to their countrie their faith saueth vs their iustice defendeth vs from destruction S. Amb. li. 1. de Abraham c. 6. :: Abraham Lot by hospitalitie metâ—ted to receiue Angels in steed of meÌ„ Heb. 1â— :: This sinne crieth to heauen for reuenge a litle one :: Lots wife turned into salt admonisheth the seruants of God to procede in vertue not to looke back to vice Luc. 17. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 30. ciuit :: Lot neither perfect nor very wicked was deliuered for Abrahams â—â—â—e S. Aug. â— 45 in Gen. :: Moabites Ammonites were two distinct nations perhaps of the 72. See p. 43. :: See pag. 52. :: Not his fathers owne daughter but of his progenie S. Aug. li. 22. cont Faust c. 35. li. 16. c. 19. 30. de ciuit :: Kinges of the earth esteming the Church only for a laudable people of God seeke to subiect her to them selues but knowing her to be the inuiolable spouse of Christ subiect them selues to her and offer to her most honorable giftes S. Aug. il 22. cont Faust c. 38. The sixt part of this booke Of the progenie other blessings of Abraham Isaac and Iacob :: Abraham Sara laughed he admiring she doubting at the ioyful promise of a sonne therfore he is called Isaac which signifieth laughter S. Aug li. 16. c. 31. ciuit :: See chap. 17. v. 21. Rom. 9. Heb. 11. * vvel of oath Separation to be made in families when iust cause requireth Mystical sense li. 15. c. 2. ciuit The true Church doth not persecute but iustly punisheth offenders Heretikes and other infidels do persecute when either by word or sword they impugne the truth Epist 48. 50. Tract 11. in Ioan. Tract 〈◊〉 in 4. Gal. The third prophecie in the office before Masse on Easter eue And the first on whitsuneue Iudith 8. Heb. 112. :: This historie is clere and a most notorious example of perfect obedience :: It is a gratful and religious thing by naming of places to coÌ„serue the memorie of Gods benefites that posteritie may know them S. Chrisost ho. 48. in Gen. :: Nachors progenie is here mentioned to shew whence Rebecca came whom Isaac maried God tempteth not to euil but by experience maketh knowen what vertue is in men Isaac figured Chists diuinitie the RaÌ„me his humanitie Iac. 1. 13. Heb. 11 19. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 32. ciuit Theod. q. 72. in Gen. :: A cleare example of religious office in burying the dead See 2. Reg. 1. and 2. Paral. 35. :: Adoration vsed for reuerence done to men See also c. 27. v. 29. c 33. v 37 and S. Aug. q. 6â— in Gen. :: In choosing a wife a vertuous stock and familie especially true faith and religion are before al other things to be considered preferred S. Amb. li. 1. c. 9. de Abrah S. Chrisost ho. 48. in Gen. :: Her father hauing perhaps manie wiues and euerie one a seueral house she went to her mother house :: As children ought not to mary without their parents good liking so the parties owne consent is most necessarie S. Amb. Epist 43. :: Suach signifieth to speake consideratly with hart or mouth Here S. Ambrose li. 1. c. 1. de Isaac and S. Aug. q. 69. in Gen vnderstand it of mental prayeâ— Ominous speaches sometimes supersticious Some times lawful Holie scripture and the Church are iudges of doubtful obseruations Ioan. 14. Eliezers prayer for a particular signe was lawful deuout and discrete Iudic. 7. 1. Reg. 14 Act. 1.
powre by his meruelous workes m nor were content with his prouidence but carnally coueted thinges not necessarie Exo. 16 17. n According to their carnal desâ—â—â—s o Holie by his function Num. 16. p They adored the image that represented a calf not God Exo. 23. q God being their true glorie they changed him for a false god of the Aegyptians who especially honoâ—ed a calfe called Apâ—s making an image therof and attributed their deliuerie from Aegypt to this imagned god Exo. 32. v. 4 8. Of which and the like foolish and abominable idolatrie S Paul writeth Rom. 1 v. 23. They changed the glorie of the incorruptible God into a similitude of the image of a corruptible man and of foules and of foure footed beastes and of them that crepe where we see what maner of imagies holie Scriptures condemne and not the imagies of Christ and his Sainctes r He sayd he would destroy them but for Moyses prayer spared them Exo 32. Num. 14. Num 14. v. 21. 22. Å¿ The Idol of Moabites and Madianitees Num. 25. v. â— t As God is in deede the liuing God that liueth of himselfe and geueth life to others so false goddes are called dead goddes that can not geue life to anie but doe kil al that serue them at least spiritually and often corporally v Phinees moued by the zele of God as the holie text witnesseth Nu. 25. v. 11. in killing the adulterers pleased God and merited reward Num 20. v. 2. 12. w Moyses afflicted in spirite by the enormious murmuring of the people doubted whether God would geue them water out of the rocke or no not doubting of his powre but of his wil and so when he should haue spoken to the rocke Num. 20. v. 8. he spoke to the incredulous people v. 10. and therin offended God for which he was temporally punished v. 12. Deut. 1. v. 37. c. 3. v. 26. c. 4. v. 21. Deut 2. v. 2. 12. v. 2. 3. Iudic 2. v. 11. 12. Iudic. 2. v. 5. 6. c. Iere. 15. v. 5. x Some Iewes offered these most cruel vnnatural and abominable sacrifices perhaps in the times of Iudges when they were mingled with idolatrous people and serued their goddes Iud. z. v. 12. c. 3 v. 6. But it is more expresse after Dauids time wherof he here prophecieth and was veryfied by Achaz 4 Reg. 16 v. 3. and by Manasses 4 Reg. 21. v. 6. VVhich with other idolatrie king Iosias destroyed 4 Reg 2 v. 1â— y God respected them with his merciful eye and gaue them grace to repent z Here the Psalmist concludeth both the historie and prophecie of this Psame with prayer and praise as foloweth :: A verie fitte prayer in time of schisme The read sea a figure of Baptisme Al former sinnes destroyed in Baptisme Gods perpetual prouidence towards al men The 3. key a Praise God by confessing his mercie prouidence and goodnes 1. Paâ— 16. v. 34. b God of his mercie promised the Redemer of mankind streight after Adams fal c VVhich redemption was intended for al and faileth not of Gods part in anie but of mens owne wilful refusing to be duly penitent and to kepe Gods precepts d Literally of such as wander in this world hauing no setled place to dwel in spiritually of al mankind after his fal e Whensoeuer they cal vpon God he helpeth them as is best for their spiritual health f Al Gods benefites which are of his mercie not of mans deserte are iust matter of praising God g Calamities in this world are commonly inflicted for sinnes h As before in the 6 13 and 19 verses i This verse also is foure times in this Psalme v 8 15. 21. and 1. to admonish vs that as there is oâ—e meanes â—o escape from al dangers by crying to God as v 6 13. 19 and 28 with mouâ—nâ—ng and pâ—nance so there is one cause of praise and thankes for our deliuerie which is Gods me câ—e and grace k God to shew sometimes his powre also to benefite some and to punish others changeth the accustomed course of thinges and states of men at his diuine pleasure as here the â—oyal prophet reciteth some examples And some others are â—ecoâ—ded in dâ—ueâ—s times and places l No doubt much charge was made in the earth by Noeâ— flood And manie thincke that the land of Chanaan was made more fruictful in the time of the Iewes inhabiting and now is more barrane againe m He alludeth to the countrie about Sodome and Gomotre which was most fruictful and most pleasant Gen 13. v 10 but shortly after vvas burnt vvith fire and brunston Gen. 19 v 24 subuerted and turned into a dead and salt sea n Made abundance of fruict to grow o Againe some countries punished for sinnes p An other change in releeuing the poore being humbled Dauid singeth prayses for benefites receiued the 8 key a This Psalme was â—ongue with instruments beginning the musike and voices folowing Psal 56. v. 8. The former part of this Psalme to the 7. verse is the same in sense and almost in wordes with the latter part of the 56 from the 8. verse b King Dauid subdued not only some partes of Chanaan not subiect to the lewes before 2. Reg. 51. Par. 11. but also brought the Philistims Moabites Ammonites Idumeans Amalechites the kinges of Soba Syria and Emath to pay tribute 2. Reg. 8 1. Par. 18. c Yet al these victories and conquestes were but a figure of Christs powre and dominion in al nations And therfore the rest of this Psalme by S. Augustin and other fathers iudgement was rather prophetically vttered by Dauid in the person of Christ and more perfectly performed by Christ in his Church then historically auerred of Dauid himselfe :: The rest of this Psalme is the same with the latter part of the 59. from the 7. verse Psal 59. v. 7. Christ persecuted his enimies punished the 5. key a The wordes of Christ b The Pharisees and Herodians Mat. 22. with their mouth acknowleged Christ a true speaker and a teacher of the way of God in truth therby to draw him into danger and to sheede his bloud c At other times they accused him of great crimes lastly of treason against Caesar d A prediction that Iudas would not make recourse to anie good counseller but complaine of his miserable tormented conscience to the wicked who gaue him no comfort at al e and so desparing the diuel perswaded him to hang himselfe Act. t. v. 16. f The office of Apostleshippe g The posteritie or successors of wicked persecuters prosper not long in this world h Arch heritâ—kes that deuise newe opinions are shortly forsa ken their folowers stil coining new heresies of their owne differing from their false masters i Let them obserue this that vse more swearing and blaspheming then praying or meditating k Christs soule was pensiue when he prayed in the garden and he did workes of penance for
our sinnes al his life l He prayed also for his resurrection and glorification m VVith al possible confusion Christs exaltation the 5. key Mat. 22. Act. 2. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 1. 10. a God the Father b To God the Sonne the Lord of Dauid and of al mankind yet the sonne of Dauid according to his humanitie c He limiteth not the time but excludeth al time wherin the enimie might imagine that Christs kingdom should cease signifying that Christ shal reigne til al his enimies be subdued much more afterwards in al eternitie d The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem on whitsunday the fiftith day from his Resurrection continueth euer more e Thou shalt haue principalitie f in the day of thy powrful conquest and rising from death g in excellencie of al holie spiritual mysteries and graces h because I God the Father of my substance begate thee God the Sonne in eternitie The same which Micheas saith c. 5. v. 2. His comingforth from the beginning from the dayes of eternitie i God most firmly and vnchangeably affirmed that thou Christ our Messias art not only a King but also a Priest Heb. 5. v. 7. k not for a time as Aaron was but for euet l neither of Aarons order but according to the Order of Melchisedec m Kinges that sometimes persecute Christans are subdued with other people to Christ n He shal iudge and punish the incredulous people o make great slanghters amongst those that resist p and bring princes with their populous kingdome to nothing q He shal in the meane time and also his best seruants suffer much tribulation in this life r and for the same â—e highly exalted in life euerlasting Christs Priesthood for euer both in function and in effect The resemblance of Christs and Melchisedecs Priesthood Graces geuen to the Church the 6. key a I wil praise God both in secret for discharge of myn owne conscience b and in publique for edification of others This Psalme in the Hebrew is composed with euerie verse and middle of verse begunning with a distinct letter in order of the Alphabet c Gods wil is the whole cause of al his workes d Euerie worke of his is praise worthie and magnifical e God hath leift one most special and beneficial memorie of al other benefites his owne bodie and bloud in memorie of his Passion and our redemption f the spiritual foode and sustinance of al the soules that rightly feare him g Of his promise to conserue his Church perpetually h the powrable operation of his death and of al his mysteries i Gods commandments do iustifie al that kepe them k He also of his mercie redemed man that he might be able to kepe his precepts l Begingning with feare of God bringeth at last by other degrees to true wisdom which two are the first and last of the seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost The meanes to be happie the 7. key a The Septuagint Interpreters added this mention of Aggeus and Zacharie returning from captiuitie to signifie that this Psalme was very proper meete to be coÌ„mended to the people at that time wherby they might lerne that their sinnes were the cause of their captiuitie and of al their miseries and if they desired temporal or spiritual prosperitie they must obserue the meanes here prescribed to obtayne the same b He that sincerly feareth God wil take great delight in keping his commandments This Psalme is also composed by the Alphaber as the next before Psal 1. c So doing he and his shal prosper d The iust shal not only prosper in this world but also in the next e God wil also comfort the iust in tribulations f That shal geue discrete and wholsome counsel to the afflicted g Workes of mercie are also called iustice because they concurre to mans iustification 2. Cor. 9â— h and to his saluation Gods prouidence the 3. key a Al Gods seruants b In respect of God al creatures are low though they be in heauen c See the example of Ioseph so aduanced d of Sara Rebecca Rachael and other wemen made fruictful The meruelous passage of Israel from Aegypt the 4. key a People of false religion counted barbarous especially such as also persecute the true Religion for otherwise the Aegyptians were both ciuil in maners and lerned in manie sciences b The people of Iewes were more notoriously renowmed in the world from the time of their deliuerie out of Aegypt for the peculiar people whom God sanctified and in whom as in his elected enheritance or dominion he dwelled and reigned c The Psalmist writing in verse doth often describe thinges in poetical maner but more truly then prophane poetes for that in very dede al creatures otherwise sensles as the sea do in a sorte feele the powre of their Creator obey his wil d VVhen the Israelites went forth of Aegypt e when they entred into Chanaan f Either there was an earthquake or some other mouing of hilles not mentioned by Moyses or els the Psalmist speaketh of the rockes of the torrentes which bowed that the Israelites might rest in Ar and lie in the borders of the Moabites Num 21 v 15 g By the figure Apostrophe he speaketh to the sea riuer and hilles vsing also Prosopopoeia as if senfles thinges vnderstood and should answer h An other miraculous benefite that the rocke yelded them water in their necessitie * Here some Hebrewe Rabbins beginne an other Psalme but by the coherence of the matter S. Augustin proueth that it iâ— but one Psalme where is shewed that the true inuisible God is knowen by such workes as are here recited and contratiwise that the GeÌ„tils idoles are not goddes because they are made of siluer gold or other matter by mens handes hauing resemblance of liuing thinges are altogether sensles i Thou didstal this ô God of mere mercie towards thy people k for thy truths sake seing thou didst promise to protect them l that the Gentiles should not take occasion to blaspheme m This is a iust prayer of the zelous conforming their desires to Gods wil But if God geue idolaters grace to amend then al the iust wil also reioice in their cenuersion n Though manie Iewes fel to idolatrie yet there alwayes remained so manie in Gods true seruice that it mighst stil be truly saide The house of Israel hath hoped in our Lord as is here auerred o This in effect al worldlie politikes say in their hartes as it were quitting their interest of heauen to God p and contenting themselues with earthlie possessions q But when such prophane men are dead they make no shew at al of praising r for parting from the earth they descend into hel and there eternally blaspheme God God â— Å¿ Contrarivvise the iust aspiring to heauen vvhich is the proper kingdom of God vsing this vvorld as they ought to do for a meanes to ascend into heauen shal