haue no lust to play the wanton saith the Lord by his Prophet Hos. Furthermore I will haue no pittie vpon her children for they be the children of fornication euen bastardes be gotten in adulterie Hosea 2.4.5 Yea I will visite vpon her the dayes of her shame and will discouer her leudnesse in the sight of her louers and no man shall deliuer her out of my hande Hosea 2.4.5 c. Because by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and whoring they breake out and blood toucheth blood and whoredome and wine take away their heart Therfore I will visite their waies vpon them and rewarde them their déeds for they shall eate and not haue ynough they shall commit adulterie and yet hauing manyâ— wiues shall not increase w t children as they hoped because they haâ—â— left off to take héede to the Lorde Yea therefore your daughters shal bée harlots and your spouses shall bee whores for I will giue them vp to their lustes so that they shall dishonour theyr owne bodyes because they haue dishonoured mée saith the Lorde neyther will I visite nor correct your daughters when they are harlottes nor your spouses when they are whores to amendement but will let theÌ„ run headlong to their owne damnation for they themselues are separated with harlots and sacrifice with whoores therefore the people that play the harlots and doth not vnderstande shall fall into vtter destruction Hose 4,10.11.13.14 Their abhominations are according to their louers for the spirite of fornication hath caused them to erre and they haue gone a whooring from their God Woe therefore vnto them and to their children for I will depart from them and will destroy their children euen from the wombe and from the conception and thoughe they bring vp their children yet I will depriue them from being men for they shall bring foorth their children to the murtherer and though they bring foorth yet will I slay euen the dearest of their bodie wherefore the prophete séeing the great plague of God like to come vpon those women of Ephraim and Iuda prayeth to God to make them barren rather then that this great slaughter shoulde come to their babes and children saying O Lorde giue them what wilte thou giue them giue them a barren wombe and drye brestes Hose 9â—10 c 4.12 Finally the Lorde encreaseth the plague because of the arrogancie and pryde of the women which gaue them selues to all vanitie nicenesse and dissolutenesse saying by his prophete Esay thus Because the daughters of Sion are waxen proude and hawtie and walke with stretched out neckes and with wanton eyes walking and mincing tripping nicely as they goe and making a trickling with their feete Therefore shall the Lorde make the heades of the daughters of Sion balde and the Lorde shall discouer their secreete partes and filthinesse In that day shall the Lorde take away the ornament of the corked slyppers and the caules and the round tyres much after the fashion of the Moone the swéete balles and perfumes the bracelets and the bonets the muâ—â—ers and the maskes the tyres of the head and the sloppes the headbandes and the tabletes the eareringes the handringes and the nose iewels the costly apparell and the vayles the wimples the crisping pinnes and the glasses the fine linnen the hoodes and the lawnes And in steade oâ— swéete sauour there shal be stinke and in steede of a girdle a rent in steede of dressing the haire and wel setting or curling it baldnes and in steede of a stomachar a girding of sackcloth and in steede of beautie sunburning Thy men also shall fall by the sworde and thy strength in the battell Then shall her gates mourne and lament and shee being desolate shall sit vpon the grounde And in that day when God shall execute this vengeance there shall not be one man founde to bée the head of many women and they contrary to womanly shamefastnesse shall seeke vnto men and offer them selues to any condition then shall seuen women I say take holde of one maÌ„ saying We wil eate our bread weare our own garmeÌ„ts only be thou our husbande and head and let vs be called thy wiues to take away the reproch of widowhood Esay 3. 18. c. 4.1 c. Thus will God I say not only punish the women for their excessiue and intollerable strang monstrous pride and for their nice curiositie lightnesse wantonnesse and vayâ—e vanitie as those that cannot be content with comely apparell and decent attyre according to their degrees But he will punishe also for their sakes the men and their husbands which haue suffered this dissolutenesse together with the Magistrates and whole common weale wherein they liue whiche haue not remedied it by the execution of good lawes Nowe therefore rise vp yée women that are at ease in Sion Heare my voyce ye careles daughters of Ierusalem giue good eare vnto my wordes I say For yée women which now are secure and carelesse for your sinnes shal be in great feare and that aboue a yéere in dayes euen very long for the vintage shall faile and the gathering or haruest shall come no more and one plague shall succeede another Yée women I say that liue thus at your ease in careles securitie neglecting the iudgements and threatning of gods worde bée ashamed and astonied yea quake ye and tremble through dread and feare O ye retchlesse dames and nice women Cast off your gorgious attyre rent off your gay cloth strip your selfe starke naked and bare and gyrde sackcloth vpon your tender loynes For if in time ye take not heede prouide to turne to the Lord meete him by repentance suche calamitie and misery is like to come and remaine both on you and your husâ—ands your Magistrates countrey landes and cattell that the enemie will neyther spare you nor your children husbands nor daughters young nor old Your selues shall mourne like sorowfull mothers because for sorowe and leannes ye shal lacke milke to nourish your tender babes and your husbands also shall lament euen for their teates that is for the pleasant fieldes and for the fruitfull vine because they yeelde no more fruite to susteyne them as they were wont and because the Lorde hath taken from you the meanes and occasions which made you to contemne him To wit abundance of victuals and worldly goodes wherby you are nourished and maintayned aliue Esay 32.9.10 c. Two women shal be grinding at the mill and the one shal be receiued and the other shal be refused watch therefore for ye know not what houre your Maister will come Mat. 24.41.42 Yea watch I say and let your loynes bee gyrt in a readinesse to execute the charge which is committed vnto you let your lampes or lights be burning Luk. 12.35 That hauing oyle in your lampes though yée slumber and sléepe a litle in securitie yet when the bridgrome Christ commeth at midnight and calleth ye may with the 5. wise virgins bée readie to
Yea it is no shame for the aged to learne of the young but a great shame and rebuke for olde folke to contende with youth and to disdaine to be instructed of them Eccle. 42.8 Your strength is deuoured and spent yet yée know it not yea gray haires are here and there vpon you yet will â—ée not know them to be tokens of your manifold affliction for your sinnes Hosea 7.9 The worthie praise and due commendation of all godly wise women with their vertuous properties and commendable conditions VVHo so findeth a vertuous woman and is ioined with her in marriage as his wife findeth a good thing and is blessed or receiueth fauour of the Lord. Prou. 18.22 House and riches may a man haue by the heritage of his fathers or elders but a prudent wife and discrete woman is the gift of the Lorde and commeth of him Pro. 19.14 A vertuous woman is a noble gift of God which shal be giuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God Eccle. 26.3 A faithfull honest shamefast and manerly woman is a double grace and a gift aboue other gifts and there is no weight to be compared to her continent minde Eccle. 26.15 A woman of few words of a good heart and a wife that is peaceable and wise is a speciall gift of God and there is nothing so much worth as a woman well instructed and nurtured Eccle. 26.14 A wicked woman is giuen as a reward to a wicked man but a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lorde Eccle. 26. 24. Hée that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath a goodly possession shée is vnto him an helpe like vnto himselfe and a piller to rest vpon Eccle. 36.24 A wise woman is an heritage vnto her husbande Eccle. 22. 4. 5. A wise and good woman is a rich portion of the Lorde yea her grace is aboue golde and the gift of her honestie not to bée valued Eccle. 20. Happie and blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife for the number of his yéeres shall bée double Eccle. 26.1 Well is hée that dwelleth with a woman of vnderstanding Eccle. 25. A friende and a companion come together at oportunitie but aboue them both is a wife that agréeth with her husbande Eccle. 40.23 Thrée things reioyce my heart and by them am I beautified before God and men The vnitie of brethren the loue of neighbours and a man and wife that agrée well together Eccle. 25.1 Children and the building of the citie maketh a perpetuall name but an honest woman is counted aboue them both Eccle. 40.19 An honest woman maketh her husband ioyfull and shée shall fill the yeeres of his life with peace Eccle. 26.2 Whether the man bee riche or poore hée may haue euer a merie hearte and a chéerefull countenance towards the Lorde that hath a good wife Eccle. 26.4 For the grace of a good and louing wife reioiceth her husband and féedeth his bones with her wisedome and vnderstanding Eccle. 26. Yea as the Sunne when it ariseth is an ornament in the high heauens of the Lorde so is the vertuous woman and wife the bewtie of her house Eccle. 26.16 A faire woman reioiceth her husband and a man loueth nothing better Eccle. 36.23 Especially if there be in her tongue gentlenes méekenesse and wholesome talke For then is not her husband like other men Eccle. 36.23 For as the cléere light is vpon the holy candlesticke so is the bewtie of the face vpon an honest body Eccle. 26.7 And like as the goldeÌ„ pillers are vpon the sockets of siluer so are the faire féete of a woman that hath a constant mind Eccle. 26.18 The feare of the Lorde is the beginning of wisdome was made with the faithful in the mothers wombe it shall goe with the chosen women shal be knowen of the righteous and â—aithfull Eccle. 1.15 Perpetuall are the foundations that are laide vppon a strong rocke so are the commandementes of God in the heart of an holie woman Eccle. 26.19 A good woman is a fountaine of blessednesse and ioy of life shee will bée as the louing Hinde pleasant Roe delighting her husband continually Prou. 5.18 A gracious and modest matron atteineth honour and the strong men get riches Prou. 11.16 An holy woman will worship the Lorde and she that is shamefast will reuerence her husband Eccle. 25. For a woman that honoureth her husbande shal be iudged wise of all but shée that is shamelesse and despiseth her husband shal be blased for her pride Eccle. 26.27 A holy woman that is married is counted as a tower against death to her husband Eccle. 26.23 Yea a vertuous and huswifely woman is the crowne of her husband Pro. 12.4 A wise woman buildeth her house by taking paine to profite her familie and to doe that which concerneth her dutie in her house but the foolish wife plucketh it downe and destroieth it with her owne idle handes Pro. 14.1 For where no hedge is there the possession or goods are spoiled and where no huswife is there the husband and family lacketh and the friendlesse mourneth Eccle. 36.25 Therefore who so findeth a vertuous honest faithfull and a painefull woman saith Bethsabe to her sonne Solomon he is blessed of God for she is far more worth then pearles precious stones Pro. 31.10 c. For the heart of her husband may safely trust in her wheresoeuer hee goeth so that hee shall bee sure neither to fall into pouertie nor to haue néed to fall to robbing and spoiling of other nor to vse any vnlawfull shifts or wicked meanes to get his liuing Pro. 31. Yea shée will doe him good and not euill all the dayes of her life Shee occupieth wooll and flaxe and laboureth gladly and chéerefully with her handes Shee is like a Merchants ship that bringeth her victuals from a farre countrie Shee is vp in the night season to prouide meate betimes for her housholde and worke and foode for her maidens Shee considereth lande and purchaseth it with the true gotteâ— gaines of her sore trauell and with the fruite of her handes shee planteth a Uineyarde Shee girdeth her loynes with strength and fortifieth her armes to labour and if shée perceiueth that her huswiferie or merchandize doth good her candle goeth not out by night Shee laieth her fingers to the spindle and her handes taketh holde of the distaffe Shee openeth her hands to the poore yea shée stretcheth foorth her hands to such as haue néed and relieueth them with her liberalitie Shee feareth not the cold and snowe of the Winter neither shall the stormes thereof hurte her or her housholde for all her familie and housholde folke by her industrie are clothed with scarlet and warmely prepared to indure cold weather Shee maketh her selfe carpets and faire ornamentes for houshold stuffe her clothing and garments also is white silke purple and â—ine linnen Her husbande also is much knowen and set by in the gates and assemblie of the Iudges and Magistrates
kindled as it were a fire Eccle. 9.7,8 Looke not too narrowly vpon the beautie of a women least thou bée prouoked in desire towardes her Eccle. 25.25 The whoredome of a woman may bée knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes Take héede of her therefore that hath an vnshamefast eye and merueyle not if shée cause thee to trespasse for as one that goeth by the way is thirstie so shall shée open her mouth and drinke of euery next water yea by euery hedge will shée sitte downe and open her quiuer against euery arrowe and so make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by Eccle. 26.9 c. An harlot is compared to a sowe and a shamelesse woman to a dogge Eccle. 26.23.25 As a whore hateth an honest woman so shall righteousnesse hate iniquitie when shée decketh her selfe and shall accuse her openly 2. Esdr. 16.42 All bread is sweete to the whore and whoremonger they will not leaue off till they both perishe and come to vtter shame and destruction Eccle. 23.17 What my sonne Lamuel and what the sonne of my wombe and what Oh my derely beloued sonne saith Bethsheba vnto her sonne king Solamon giue not thy strength wayes vnto women which are the destruction eueÌ„ of many kings if they haunt theÌ„ O Lamuell it is not for kings it is not for kinges I say to drinke wine nor for princes strong drinke or giue them selues to wantonnesse and neglect their office Prou. 31.12 c. For wine and women leade wise men out of the way put men of vnderstanding to reproofe make the mightie miserable and the riche runnagates Eccle. 19.2 Yea hée that companieth adulterers shall become impudent rottonnesse and wormes shall haue him to heritage And hée that is too bolde shal be taken away and made a publike example Eccle. 19. 3. Therefore my sonne kéepe thy strength of thyne age stable and giue not thy strength to straungers Eccle. 26.20 Giue not the power of thy life I say vn to a woman least shée ouercome thy strength and so thou bée confounded Eccle. 9.2 Méete not an Harlot neyther looke thou vpon a woman that is desirous of many mens felowships least thou fall into hir snares Eccle. 9.3 Use not the companie of a woman that is a player a singer and a daunser neither heare her least thou perishe through hir intising and bée taken by her craftinesse Ecele 9.4 For there be thrée thinges hid from mée saith Salomon yea foure that I kâ—owe not The way of an Egle in the ayre the way of a Serpent vpon a stone the way of a Ship in the middest of the sea and the way of a man with a woman Prou. 30.19 Yea such is the way also of a wife or adulterous woman that breaketh wedlocke for shee eateth and wipeth her mouth and saith I haue not committed iniquitie so finely can shee counterfaite when shée hath her desires and cast a miste before her husbandes eyes making as though shée were an honest woman Prou. 30.20 The mouth of a straunge woman is as a déepe pit hée with whom the Lorde is angry shall fall therein so God punisheth one sinne by an other when he suffereth the wicked to fal into y e acquaintance of an harlot Prou. 22.14 A wicked woman is giuen as a rewarde to a wicked man Eccle. 26â—24 A whore is a déepe ditche or gaping graue easily to fal into and a straunge woman is a narrowe pitte harde to get out off Shée lyeth in waite also as for a pray and shée increaseth the transgressions amongst men by seducing and causing them to offende God prou 23.26 c. The lippes of a straunge woman or harlotte that giueth her selfe to another man then to or besides her husbande droppe as an hony combe and her mouth is more soft then butter and her throte more glistering then oyle her flattering and inticementes are most subtile and smoothe to beguile men with But the ende of her is bitter as woormewood and as sharpe as a two edged swoord Her féete goe downe to death her steppes peerce through and take holde of Hell and all her dooinges tende to destruction shée weigheth not the way of lyfe her pathes are moueable so vnstedfast are her wayes that thou canst not know theÌ„ for shée hath euer new meanes to allure men vnto wickednesse and follie Heare mée nowe therefore O children and depart not from the wordes of my mouth kéepe thy way farre from her and come not néere the dore of her house least thou giue thine honour euen thy strength and goods vnto others and thy yéeres to the cruel woman that will haue no pitie vpon thee when thou hast spent al and consumed thy selfe vpon her as is read of Sampson and the prodigall sonne least I say the stranger bee filled with thy strength and thy labours and goods gotten by thy trauel or inheritance come into the house of another man yea and least thou mourne at the last when thou hast consumed and spent thy bodie and lustie youth and then be forced to lament and say Alas why haue I hated instruction and why did my heart despise correction Wherfore was I not obedient vnto the voice of my teachers And why hearkened I not to them that instructed mée I was come almost into all miserie misfortune and euill in the midds of the congregation and assemblie although I was faithfully instructed in the truth yet had I almost fallen to vtter shame and destruction notwithstanding my good bringing vp in the assemblie of the godlie Pro. 5.3 c. The penal punishmentes and terrible threatnings of God in his worde against all sortes of vngodlie women for their sinnes and wickednesses THE Lord God said vnto the first woman Eue which being seduced by the serpent did first taste and afterward entised her husband Adam to eate of the forbidden fruite in Paradise contrarie to Gods commaundement Woman why hast thou done this Because thou hast done it I will greatly increase thy sorowes and thy conceptions In sorow shalt thou bring foorth children thy desire shal bée subiect to thine husband and he shall rule ouer thee Thus doth the Lorde punish the bodie of woman for the sinne whiche the soule shoulde haue béene punished for that the spirite conceiuing hope of forgiuenesse may liue by faith in Christe Gen. 3.13.16 Séest thou not saith the Lord to his Prophet Ieremie what they do in their cities of Iudah and in the stréetes of Ierusalem The children gather wood and the fathers kindle the fire and the women knede the dough to make cakes to the Quéene of heauen and to poure out drinke offeringes vnto other Gods that is they sacrifice to the Sunne Moone and Starres which they called the Quéene of heauen as appereth 2. King 23.5 Iere. 44.17 that they may prouoke me vnto anger Doe they prouoke me to anger saith the Lord and not themselues to the confusion of their faces Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold mine
prosper before I die Honour thy father and thy mother in lawe which are now thy parents that I may heare good report of thee and with that kissed her and tooke her leaue of her and then turning her to Tobias her sonne in lawe she also most wisely and carefully saide vnto him The Lorde of heauen restore thee my deare brother and graunt that I may see thy children of my daughter Sara that I may reioyce before the Lorde Beholde nowe I commit to thee my daughter as a pledge doe not intreat her euill So Tobias praysing God that he had giuen him so good a wife blessed Raguell and Edna his wife and went away to Niniuie to his owne father and mother whom when he had honourablie buried then he returned with his wife to Ecbatan to Raguell and Edna his father and mother in lawe whome also hee there buried honorablie and possessed their â—oods Tobi. 7.8.10.11.11.1.14.13 Eglah or Heglah sig a cow calfe a wagon a winde about a turning winde or his feasting She was one of the wiues of Dauid in Hebron and who bare vnto him a sonne called Ithream 2. Sam. 3.5 1. Chro. 3.3 Elisabeth or Elizabeth or Elisheba signifieth the oth of God or the fulnesse of my God or the seuenth of my God she is of God Or the name thus deuided written Eli-sabeth signifieth My God going vpwarde or getting vp By Ely and sabeth signifieth rest or a stay the staffe of Maiestie Or written with a z as thus zabeth sig the dowrie or great portion of the Lorde Shee was of the house and came of the daughters of Aaron the Lordes high Priest by her fathers side and by her mothers line shee was of the house and linage of king Dauid and neere cosin vnto the virgin Marie and being the wife of Zacharias the high Priest shee like a godly woman liued iustly before God and walked in all the commaundementes and ordinances of the Lorde without reproofe And being long barren and very olde it pleased God at the last euen in the yeere of the worlde .4141 to remember her and sent his Angell Gabriel vnto her husband as hee was making his praiers vnto God in the Temple who signified vnto him that his prayers were hearde and that his wife Elizabeth shoulde beare him a sonne and that he shoulde call his name Iohn which signifieth the grace of God of which childe he shoulde haue great ioye and many shoulde reioyce at his birth c. After hee went home and his wife Elizabeth conceiued by him as the Angell had saide and shee perceiuing her selfe with childe hid her selfe fiue monethes praising God most ioyfully and saying Thus hath the Lorde dealte with mee in the dayes wherein hee looked on mee to take from me my rebuke among men for the barren women enioyed not the promise which God made to them that were married to haue issue but principally they were depriued of that promise which God made to Abraham that hee woulde increase his seede which promise could not bee performed nor accomplished without issue And nowe being sixe monethes gone with childe so it happened that Mary the wife of Ioseph which also had conceiued by the holy ghost came to Hebron to visite Elizabeth her cosin who had no soner hearde the salutation of Mary but by and by the babe sprang in Elizabeths belly and she was presently filled with the holy ghost and cried out with a loud voice saying blessed art thou cosin Mary among women because the fruite of thy wombe is blessed whence commeth this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to visite me For behold as soone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eare the bakesprang in my belly for ioy and blessed is she that beleeued for those things shal be performed which were tolde her of the Angel Gabriell from the Lorde But Mary saying nothing vnto her as one rapâ— with ioye also fell to magnifie God and after abode with Elizabeth her cosin about three monethes and then returned to her owne house And nowe when the time was come that Elizabeth shoulde bee deliuered shee brought foorth a sonne to the greate reioycing of her selfe and all her neighbours and cosins who therefore together with her praised the Lorde for his greate mercie shewed vnto her And when on the eight day her childe was to bee circumcysed and the women her cosins and neighbours woulde haue named him Zacharie after his fathers name Elizabeth his mother saide no not so he shall bee called Iohn which was according to the wordes of the Angell before Then although the women said vnto her that there was none of her kinred named with that name yet they caused his dombe father Zacharie her husbaÌ„d to write him in his tables by y â— name of Iohn which being don Zacharies mouth was presently opened and to the great admiration of all that stoode by he being filled with the holy ghost spake and prophesied of his childe and praysed God as ye may reade Lu. 1. Elisheba signifieth as before in Elizabeth the God of othe shee is of God c. Shee was the daughter of Aminadab who was a prince of Iuda and her sister Nahashon the wife of Aaron the brother of Moses vnto whome shee bare foure sonnes Nadab Abihu Eleazer and Ithamar Exod. 6.23 Ephah signifieth without measure vnbrideled werie flying plighted foldeâ— vp Shee was one of the Concubines of Caleb and bare him three sonnes Haran Moza and Gazez 1. Chro. 2.46 Ephrath sig plentie dustie leaden fruitfull comming out of ashes a fawne Shee was one of the wiues of Caleb which hee tooke after the death of Azuba and who bare vnto him a sonne called Hur. 1. Chro. 2.19.50 of her also the Citie Ephrata or Caleb Ephrata or Bethlem Ephrata first tooke the name as 1. Chro. 2.24 Gen. 35.48 c. Ester or hester or Esther otherwise called Hadashah or Atassa signifieth close hidden plucking downe the working or beholding of the medicine the Turtles medine Shee was the daughter of Abihail a Iewe borne and being a very faire virgin and beautifull young damosel after the death of her father and mother shee was nourished and brought vp in the house of Mardocheus her cosin Germane who tooke her as his owne daughter after his vncle her father was dead During whiche time it chaunced that Uasti the Queene of Persia for her disobedience to Assuerus the king her husbande was deposed from her princely state and deuorced from her husband And then the king being counsayled to take an other in her roome sent one Hege his Eunuch the keeper of women with his commission abroad to take vp Uirgins Maydens as y â— manner was by vertue whereof certaine faire young Damosels beautifull Uirgins among whom Ester was one were taken and brought to the court then being at Shushan and there in certaine houses appoynted for the Uirgins somwhat distant from the houses of Concubines Wiues they
and slept with me had not I lift vp my voyce and cryed as loude as I could but when he hearde me so crie then for haste he left his garment behinde with me fled away and is gone out So shee layde vp Iosephs garment by her vntill her Lord and husband Potiphar came home And then at his returne shee vp and tolde him also the same false tale of Ioseph saying The Ebrewe seruant which thou hast brought vnto vs came into mee in thine absence to mocke me and do me vilanie and shame But as sone as I lift vp my voyce and cryed he left his garment with me and fled out with speede When Potiphar heard his wife thus report of Ioseph his seruant whom he so much loued and trusted hee being too light of credence so sone without further and better tryall to beleeue the false and slaunderous reporte of his wife beganne to waxe wroth with Ioseph and nowe causlesse turned his good opinion of Ioseph into ielosie his loue into hatred and his trust into tyrannie For presently vpon his wiues suggestion he apprehended Ioseph and for the harlot his wiues sake he cast poore innocent Ioseph in the prison where hee lay fettered with yrons in the stockes and was very euil intreated for the space of three yeeres vntill by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered by Pharao king of Egypt Gen. 39.7 c. Q Queene of Saba Queene of Saba or of Ethiopia dwelling in the South partes of the worlde farre from Ierusalem when shee heard of the great fame of king Salomon that went farre and neere ouer all the worlde concerning the name of the Lorde his wisedome and high fauour that he was in with the Lorde Shee came in the yeere of the worlde 3137. with a very great traine from the vttermost partes of the earth to Ierusalem to proue Salomon with harde questions and to knowe whether his wisedome were so great as the reporte was and hauing brought with her great and many presentes to giue him as namely much golde precious stons and sweete odours shee came to Salomon and communed with him of all that was in her heart vnto whom Salomon declared al her hard questions neyther was there any question so hard propounded by her but Salomon did resolue and expounde it vnto her Now when shee sawe his wisedome his stately buildings and the whole trade and goodly order of his house in euery thing shee was greatly astonished and saide vnto the king It was a true reporte that I heard in mine owne lande of thy sayings actes and wisedome Howebeit I beleeued not this report till I came and mine eyes haue seene it and nowe beholde I must needes confesse that the one halfe of thy great wisedome and prosperitie was not tolde mee For thou farre exceedest the fame that I heard of thee and hast more wisedome and prosperitie then was reported Happie are thy men and happie are these thy seruantes whiche stande before thee alwaye and heare thy wisedome Blessed bee the Lorde thy God which loued thee to set thee on his throne of Israel as king in stead of the Lorde thy God because the Lorde thy God loueth Israel for euer to establishe it therefore hath hee made thee king ouer them to execute iudgement and iustice and to do equitie and righteousnes Then shee gaue the king sixescore talents of gold and all her precious stones and sweete odours that shee had brought neither was there such sweete odors since as the Queene of Sheba gaue vnto the king And Salomon the king beside that which of his kingly liberalitie for recompence of that treasure which she brought gaue vnto the Queene of Sheba euery pleasant thing that shee asked and so shee returned and went with all her seruauntes home to her owne countrey 1. King 10. 1. 2. Chron. 9.1 Whose fact and not whose person our Sauiour Christ him selfe commendeth and recited to condemne and rebuke the vnfaithfull Iewes that woulde not beleeue him without signes and tokens saying The Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with this generation and shall condemne it For shee came from the vttermost partes of the earth to heare the wisedome of Salomon and beholde a greater then Salomon is here Math. 12.42 Luke 11.31 And it came to passe as Iesus saide these thinges a certayne woman of the company lift vp her voyce and sayde vnto him Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the pappes which thou hast sucked but Christ perceiuing that shee omitted the chiefe prayse which was due vnto him gaue her a priuie taunt and said Yea rather blessed are they that heare the worde of God and keepe it For they are blessed in deede to whome hee communicateth him selfe by his woorde Luke 11,27 S Samaritesse IN Samaria a Citie of Syria adioyning to Iudea and the chiefest Citie of the tenne tribes There was a certayne poore widowe whiche had been sometime wife to one of the sonnes of the Prophetes who in his life time being fallen in debt not by vnthriftinesse but by the hande of God died and left her verye poore and not able to paye his creditors who neuerthelesse being very cruell towardes her and coueting to haue her children serue it out as slaues vnto them when shee heard that Elisha the Prophet was come into the Citie Samaria shee came crying and making great mone vnto him and sayde Thy seruaunt mine husbande is dead and thou knowest that thy seruaunt did feare the Lorde and the creditor is come to take my two sonnes to bee his bondemen Then Elisha being mooued to pitie her miserie demaunded of her and said What shall I doe for thee tell mee What hast thou at home Thine handmaide quoth shee hath nothing at home saue a pitcher of oyleâ— Goe thy way sayde Elisha and borrowe as many emptie vesselles among thy neyghbours as thou canst gette and when thou commest home hast shut thy dore vpon thee powre out the oyle that is in thy pitcher into all those emptie vesselles till they bee all full and then set them aside So the poore widowe departed and did as Elisha bad her And when the emptie vesselles were all full shee saide vnto her sonnes bring mee yet an other vessell There is no more quoth they and with that the oyle in her picther ceased to augment and increase in the vesselles After this shee went and tolde Elisha the man of God that shee had done as hee bad her Nowe goe sayde Elisha and sell the oyle in the vesselles and with the money that aryseth thereof pay thy husbandes creditors and them that thou art in debt vnto and liue thou and thy children on the rest 2. King 4.1 c. By which story the holy Ghost doeth giue vs to vnderstande that God neuer fayleth to prouide for his seruauntes their wiues and children if they trust in him that his doctrine and profession shoulde be kept without slaunder And that he suffereth his children many tymes to bee
THE SIXT LAMPE OF VIRGINITIE Conteining a Mirrour for Maidens and Matrons OR The seuerall Duties and office of all sorts of women in their vocation out of Gods word with their due praise and dispraise by the same togither with the names liues and stories of all women mentioned in holie Scriptures either good or bad verie necessarie pleasant and profitable for all women to read and vse both for instruction and imitation Newlie collected and compiled to the glorie of God by T. B. Gentleman Ecclesiasticus 26 19. Perpetuall are the foundations that are laid vpon a strong rocke so are the commandements and precepts of God in the hart of an holie woman 1582 THE SIXT LAMPE OF VIRGINITIE ¶ Of Virginitie and the state of single life together with the dutie of Virgins of Maids or single Women NOw concerning virgins or the state of Uirginitie I saith S. Paule haue no commandement of the Lord yet giue I mine aduise counsell as one that hath obteined mercie of the Lord to be faithfull or beléeued I suppose therfore that the single life is good for the present necessitie in these afflictions and persecutions of the Church I meane that it is good for a man so to be single or a woman to be a virgin Art thou bound vnto a wife Séeke not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a wife Séeke not a wife but if thou marie and takest a wife thou sinnest not And if a virgin marie she sinneth not neuerthelesse such shall haue trouble in the flesh as worldlie cares of their children and familie but I spare you in wishing that you men could liue without wiues and you virgins without husbands And this I saie bicause the time is short the fashion of this world goeth awaie and I would haue you without care For the vnmaried careth for the things of the Lord how he may please the Lord but he that is maried careth for the things of the world onelie apperteining to this present life how he may please his wife There is difference also betwéene a virgin and a wife the virgin or vnmaried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holie both in bodie and in spirit and attaine vnto it sooner than the maried wife bicause she is without cares but she that is maried careth for the things of the world how she may please hir husband And this I speake for your owne commoditie or profit not to intangle you in a snare not to bind your conscience to single life For that were presumption but for comlinesse sake that ye might folowe that which is honest and that ye may cleaue fast vnto the Lord without separation But if anie man thinke that it is vncomlie for his virgin if she passe the flower of hir age or time of mariage then and néed so require that she should marie to auoid fornication let him doo what he will he sinneth not let them be maried Neuerthelesse he that standeth firme in his hart and is fullie persuaded that he hath no néed but hath power ouer his owne will and hath so decréed in his hart that he will kéepe his virgin he doth well For the fathers will dependeth on his childrens will in this point of mariage insomuch as he is bound to haue respect to their infirmitie neither can he iustlie require of them singlenesse of life if they haue not the gift of God so to liue So then he that giueth his virgin to mariage doth well but he that giueth hir not to mariage doth better and more commodious for his children in preseruing them from cares The wife is bound by the lawe of matrimonie as long as hir husband liueth but if hir husband be dead she is at libertie to marie with whom she will onelie in the Lord but she is more blessed if she so abide in my iudgement and I thinke that I haue also the spirit of God 1. Cor. 7 25,26 c. Where note that S. Paule doth not here prefer single life as a thing more holie than mariage but in respect and by reason of the incommodities which mariage hath more than the other neither doth hée bind mens or womens consciences to single life or widowhood as to that which God hath left frée and therfore it were presumption in anie other to doo it But shewing what is most agréeable to Gods will according to the circumstance of the time place and persons as appeareth in that the Church was now when he wrote this in great persecution he would insinuate hereby that to heape one trouble or care vpon another by mariage was not so profitable for men and women to go on towards godlinesse as behooued during such afflictions If a virgin or maid vow a vow vnto the Lord of virginitie and bind hir selfe by a bond to liue chast being in hir fathers house in the time of hir youth hir father hearing of this hir vow and bond wherewith she hath bound hir selfe hold his peace and doo not gaine-saie but by silence approoue it then all hir vowes of virginitie shall stand and euerie bond wherewith she hath bound hir selfe shall remaine of force against hir but if hir father disalow of this hir vow and bond the same daie that he heareth thereof and doo not approoue or consent to the vow or bond wherewith she hath bound hir selfe then shall not that vow or bond be of value And the Lord will forgiue hir bicause hir father who hath authoritie ouer hir disalowed hir Numb 30,4,5 c. Now therefore slaie all the males among the children and kill all the women that haue knowne man by carnall copulation but all the virgins and women children that haue not knowne carnall copulation kéepe aliue for your selues to marie Note héere the prerogatiue of virginitie in the old lawe of armes Numb 31 16,17 Also when thou shalt go to war against thine enimie and the Lord thy God shall deliuer them into thine hands and thou shalt take them captiues and shalt sée among the captiues a beautifull woman and hast a desire vnto hir wouldest take hir to thy wife then thou shalt bring hir home to thine house and to signifie that hir former life must be changed before she be ioined to the people of God she shall shaue hir head and pare hir nailes and put off the garment that she was taken in and so shall she remaine in thy house and as she that hath renounced parents and countrie she shall bewaile hir father and hir mother a moneth long and after that shalt thou go in vnto hir marie hir and she shall be thy wife And if thou haue no fauour vnto hir then thou maist let hir go whither she will but thou shalt not sell hir for monie nor make merchandize of hir bicause thou hast humbled hir Note that this onlie was permitted in the warres otherwise the Israelites and people of God could not marie strangers Deut. 21 10,11 c.
happie shalt thou be Thy wife shall be as the fruitfull vine vpon the wals of thine house Thy children like the Oliue branches round about thy table Lo thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord c. Psal. 128. He that findeth a wife or he that is ioined with a vertuous woman in mariage findeth a good thing and receiueth fauour or is blessed of the Lord. Prou. 18 22. House and riches may a man haue by the heritage of his elders â—ut a discréet woman and prudent wife commeth of the Lord and is his onlie gift Read more in the praise of women Prou. 19 14. Well is him that dwelleth with an huswife of vnderstanding it is one of the ten things that Salomon iudgeth to be happie Eccles. 25 8. He that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath a goodlie possession she is vnto him an helpe and piller wherevpon he resteth Eccles. 36 verse 24. Contrariwise who so despiseth wisedome and discipline is miserable and their works vnprofitable their wiues are vndiscréet and their children wicked and their offspring accursed Marke well this sentence O ye husbands that contemne the word of GOD and neglect the diligent reading and hearing of the same and repent in time and imbrace the Gospell that these curses may be auoided and Gods blessings acquired to your saluation It is a thing verie dangerous both to bodie and soule to match in mariage with an idolatrous and superstitious woman as appeareth by manie notable examples in Scripture especiallie in Salomon Achab and others whose wicked idolatrous wiues brought them to vnspeakable mischiefs and dangers euen to their destruction and wrath of God Read the storie of Iezabel and such like 1. Kings 11 verses 16 21. 2. Chron. 8 c. Also how perilous a thing it is for the husbands to permit their wiues anie thing whereof they be not assured by Gods word For therby they take an occasion to iustifie their dooings and their husbands shall giue an account thereof before God Ye may read in the storie of the idolatrous women of Ierusalem Esai 3,25 c. where GOD plagued the husbands for suffering their wiues to commit idolatrie The like also for permitting their wiues to prance in pride and weare apparell past their degrée and to liue dissolutelie nicelie and vainlie attired to the tempting alluring corrupting and vndooing of other men Read Esaie 3. Therefore saith God If thy wife that lieth in thy bosome entise thée to commit idolatrie and to forsake thy God thou shalt cause hir to be stoned to death yea thine owne hand shall cast the first stone at hir So greatlie doth God detest idolatrie and superstition and the mainteiners thereof be they neuer so néere or déere vnto vs. Deut. 13 6. The prerogatiue of mariage A New maried man by the old lawe of arms hath this priuiledge and prerogatiue by matrimonie that he shall not go a warfare neither shall be charged with anie businesse in the Common-wealth but shall be frée at home one yéere and reioice with his wife that he hath taken Which was permitted them that they might learne to knowe one anothers conditions and so afterward liue togither in godlie puritie as ye may read Deut. 20,7 and 24,5 The first dutie of new maried folks NEw or yoong maried folks ought not licentiousâ—ie to go togither before they haue first vpon their knées secretlie in their chamber commended themselues vnto God by praier after the good example of Tobie and Sara whose praier for this purpose you may read afore in the fift Lampe of Uirginitie Tob. 7,17 and 8 verse 4. The husband ought to praie vnto God diligentlie and often for his wife and children that they may liue godlie and agrée togither So did Isaac for his wife Rebecca bicause she was barren and the Lord was intreated of him and she conceiued and bare him a sonne Gen. 25. So did Tobie for Sara c. The husband ought to instruct and teach his wife the feare of God so did Iacob his two heathen wiues as appeareth Gen. 31,13 Of consenting to the wiues lawfull or vnlawfull acts c. HUsbands must beware how they consent or obeie their wiues in vnlawfull things prohibited by Gods lawe For Adam not so much to please his wife as mooued by ambition at hir persuasion did eate of the forbidden trée in paradise and it turned to his sore punishment For therefore God said thus vnto him Bicause thou hast obeied the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the trée whereof I commanded thée saieng Thou shalt not â—ate of it cursed is the earth for thy sake Gen. 3 6 11 c. And when they are reprooued for following their wiues follies they must not wickedlie and hypocriticallie vpbraid God and burden him with the fault bicause he hath giuen them such an euill wife as Adam did when he said The woman which thou gauest me to be with me she gaue me of the trée and I did eate Gen. 3 11 c. But in Gods matters and in all things touching vertue and honestie it shall not be amisse if the husband beare his wife patientlie and be ruled by hir aduise as Abraham was at the counsell of Sara in putting awaie Hagar and hir child For true faith must renounce all naturall affection to obeie Gods commandements though pronounced by the mouth of the weaker vessell Gen. 21. Husbands ought not by vnlawfull meanes shifts and silence to put their wiues in danger to saue their owne liues as Abraham Isaac often did by dissembling with Pharao Abimelech and calling their wiues Sara and Rebecca Sisters for feare of killing which turned their wiues to great danger of deflouring and themselues to great rebuke among the heathen Gen. 12 16,26 Of the husbands headship power or souereigntie ouer the wife BUT the husband ought to be the head vaile and defence of his wife to preserue and keepe hir from all dangers For as Christ is the head and Sauiour of his bodie the Church so the husband is the head of his wife and ought to nourish gouerne and defend his wife from all perils and dangers as he would himselfe Ephes. 5 24. Giue not the power of thy life vnto a woman least she ouercome thy strength and so thou be confounded that is let not thy wife haue rule ouer thée For if she once get the maisterie then will she be contrarie vnto thée take awaie thine hart and strength and bring thée to confusion among thine enimies as did Eua to Adam Dalila to Samson Iezabel to Achab Herodias to Herod c. Eccles. 9. Giue the water no passage no not a little neither giue a wicked woman libertie to haue hir will or to go out of dores For if she walke not in thine obedience she shall confound thée in the sight of thine aduersaries cut hir off from thy flesh c. Eccles. 25 27. Giue not thy wife power ouer thée as long as thou liuest and hast breath
Eccles. 33 18. Be not ashamed to set a good locke where an euill wife is and to locke vp things where manie hands are Eccles. 42 6. Kéepe the doores of thy mouth from hir that lieth in thy bosome Mich. 7 5. That is be not hastie to reueale secrets vnto thy wife least others plowing with thy heifer as the Philistines did with Dalila Samsons wife vnto whom at hir dissembling teares and impudent importunacie he disclosed his riddle reape the fruits of thy wished haruest and so turne thée to wrath and displeasure as it did him Read Iudg. 14. The husband hath power by Gods lawe to approoue or disapprooue breake or disalow of euerie oth bond promise contract or vow that his wife shall make during couerture yea though it be a vow betwéene God and hir of mortification by abstinence to humble hir soule or of anie other bodilie exercises much more anie promise bond or contract made betwéene hir and others and that bicause she is in subiection vnto hir husband and can performe nothing without his consent Neuerthelesse if the husband hearing of his wiues vows and bonds hold his peace and saie nothing against it nor warne not his wife the selfe same daie that he hath first notice of hir vowes so made then his silence shall establish all hir vowes and bonds which she hath made and confirme them to be good both against himselfe and his wife But if at any time after the husband speake against it and breake that vow by shewing himselfe altogither vnwilling and vnpleased therewith then shall it be void and of none effect and he shall beare hir iniquitie and the sinne and offence for the breach thereof shall be imputed to the husband and not to the wife Numb 30. Of anger and frowardnesse GOdlie and zealous anger in the husband towards the wife is lawfull and ought not to be counted frowardnesse in him especiallie when it is to prefer the glorie and worship of God For that is to be angrie and sinne not so was Iacob angrie with Rahel and reprooued hir follie as you may read Gen. 30. in the storie of Rahel So also was Dauid with Michol as you may sée in hir storie 2. Sam. 6. and diuers others But godlinesse doth require that the husband ought not for euerie light occasion or by anie vngodlie meanes to trouble disquiet or vexe his wife nor to take anie mo wiues beside hir For that was a thing hatefull and detestable euen among the heathen as you may read in Labans couenant with Iacob concerning the good vsing and intreating of his two daughters Gen. 31. And Ednas exhortation to Tobie 10 12. For he that troubleth his owne flesh or dealeth frowardlie with his wife is to be reputed a cruell man saith Salomon Prou. 17 11. He that vpbraideth his wife or déere friend especiallie in the presence of other breaketh friendship and the bond of amitie Eccles. 22 verse 20. That man is said to abound in sinne whose angrie mind towards his wife is hot as fire that cannot be quenched till it be consumed as you may read afterward Eccles. 23 16. Loue thy wife as thy selfe For if ye bite and deuoure one another take héed least ye be consumed one of another Gal. 5 14. Beare ye one anothers burden and that with the spirit of méekenesse considering thy selfe least thou also be tempted Gal. 6 1. Husbands loue your wiues be not bitter vnto them Col. 3 19. Ye husbands dwell with your wiues as men of knowledge by neither kéeping them too straight nor giuing them too much libertie but giuing honour vnto them as vnto the weaker vessels in taking care and prouiding for their necessities and in liuing quietlie one with an other euen as they that are heires togither of the grace of life that your praiers be not interrupted For you can not praie well as yée ought when ye are at strife and dissention one with the other 1. Pet. 3 verse 7. Use thy selfe to liue ioifullie and quietlie with thy wife which God hath giuen thée vnder the sunne and whom thou louest all the daies of thy life which is but vanitie For this is thy portion in this life of all thy labour Eccles. 9 8. Thrée things reioice me saith God and by them am I beautified before God and men that is to saie the vnitie of brethren the loue of neighbours and a man and his wife that agrée well togither Eccl. 25. Such husbands as were frowardlie and vnreuerentlie handeled and intreated by their wiues were these Abraham of Sara Iacob of Rebecca Moses of Zipporah Samson of Dalila Tobie of Anna Achab of Iezabel Nabal of Abigael c. As you may read in their seuerall stories Gen. 16 30 18. Iudg. 14 c. Of gelousie THis is the lawe of gelousie when a wife turneth from hir husband and is defiled by another man or when a man is mooued with a gelous mind and is gelous ouer his wife then shall he bring his wife before the Lord vnto the priest and the priest shall doo to hir according to the lawe of gelousie and the man shall be frée from sinne but his wife shall beare hir iniquitie which prooueth that by Gods lawe the man might accuse his wife of incontinencie and not be reprooued therfore although it be not true Read more in wiues dutie Numb 5 11 c. Deut. 22. Gelousie is the rage of a man therefore he will not spare in the daie of vengeance Prou. 33 34. Be not gelous ouer the wife of thy bosome that she shew not some shrewd point and least thou teach hir an euill lesson against thy selfe Eccles. 9 1. Aske no counsell of thy wife touching hir of whom she is gelous Eccles. 37 11. Of loue and hate ALthough children be a great cause of mutuall loue betwéene the husband and the wife bicause they are the gift of God and fruits of mariage yet the husband ought not to despise his wife though she be barren but alwaies to loue cherish and comfort hir with swéet words and doo hir all the good he can after the example of these godlie men Abraham Isaac Iacob Elcana Dauid Iob c. Who most intirelie loued their wiues whether they were barren or fruitfull and when they perceiued them to be at anie time troubled or disquieted deale by gentle spéeches with them and godlie intreatie louinglie comfort and reléeue them patientlie enduring all troubles praieng vnto God hartilie for them to quiet them and to make them fruitfull as you may read in the seuerall stories of Sara Rebecca c. Gen. 24,6 33,2 1. Sam. 1,8 We read of Palthiel that he so intirelie loued Milcha that he went after hir wéeping like a child for griefe that she was caried awaie to hir husband Dauid 2. Sam. 3 16. A man loueth his owne father which hath nourished him and his owne countrie and is ioined with his wife and for the woman he ieopardeth his life and neither remembreth
had no solemnities in mariage neither did hir children inherit but had a portion of goods or monie giuen them as appeareth by Sara and Hagar and others 1. Chron. 2,46 Harken O daughter and consider and incline thine eare forget also thine owne fathers house and people so shall the King thy husband haue pleasure in thy beautie For he is thy Lord and him oughtest thou to reuerence Whereby is signified that the wife is blessed if being an heathen or infidel she can renounce hir idolatrous and irreligious people and kindred and the loue of hir owne nation and countrie and giue hir selfe wholie to hir Christian husband to loue him hartilie and worship God aright as he doth For most perfect loue ought to be betwéene the husband and the wife euen such and so great as is betwixt Christ and the Church his spouse Psal. 45 10,11 Thou wife forsake not the husband of thy youth For he is thy head vaile defence and guide to gouerne thée and with whom thou shalt be preserued from all danger and from whom thou oughtest not to depart to anie other man but to liue with him and remaine in his subiection And forget not the couenant of thy God that is thy promise made in mariage before God and his Angels Prou. 2 17. Let the husband giue vnto the wife due beneuolence and likewise the wife vnto the husband that is all duties pertaining to mariage 1. Cor. 7 3. Let euerie man haue his owne wife and let euerie woman haue hir owne husband 1. Cor. 7 2. The wife hath not the power of hir owne bodie but the husband and likewise the husband also hath not the power of his owne bodie but the wife 1. Cor. 7 4. Defraud not one another therefore except it be with consent for a time that ye may giue your selues to fasting and praier and againe come togither that Sathan tempt you not for your incontinencie 1. Cor. 7 5. Wiues submit your selues vnto your husbands as vnto the Lord. For the husband is the wiues head euen as Christ is the head of the Church and the same Christ is the Sauiour of his bodie the Church euen so ought the husband to gouerne and nourish his wife from perils Therefore as the Church is in subiection to Christ euen so let the wiues be to their husbands in euerie thing Ephes. 5 22 c. Let the wife sée that she feare hir husband Ephes. 5 33. Wiues submit your selues vnto your husbands as it is comlie in the Lord. Colos. 3 18. Let the wiues be subiect to their husbands that euen they which obeie not the word may without the word be won by the conuersation of the wiues while they behold your pure conuersation which is with feare Whose apparelling let it not be outward as with broided heare and gold put about or in putting on of gorgious apparell but let the hid man of the hart be vncorrupt with a méeke and quiet spirit which is before God a thing much set by For euen after this maner in time past did the holie women which trusted in GOD tire themselues and were subiect to their husbands As Sara obeied Abraham and called him Sir or Lord. Gen. 18 12. Whose daughters ye are whilest you doo well not being afraid of anie terrour but willinglie dooing your dutie For your condition is not the woorse for your obedience 1. Pet. 3 1 c. The wiues of Bishops or Ministers also must be honest not euill speakers but sober and faithfull in all things 1. Tim. 3 11. Teach the yoonger women to be sober minded that they loue their husbands that they loue their children that they be discréet chaste kéeping at home not running to and fro without necessarie occasions which is a signe of lightnesse that they be good huswifelie and subiect vnto their husbands that the word of God be not euill spoken of Tit. 2 verse 4. I will saith S. Paule that women araie themselues in comlie apparell with shamefastnesse and modestie not with broided heare or gold or pearles or costlie apparell wherby also curiositie pompe and wantonnesse is condemned which women vse in platting crisping folding or curiouslie curling their heare or trimming their heads But as becommeth women that professe the feare of God so let them adorne and decke themselues with good works 1. Tim. 2 9. Let the woman learne in silence with all subiection For I permit not a woman to teach neither to vsurpe authoritie ouer the man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eue and Adam was not deceiued first but the woman was first deceiued and so became the instrument of Sathan to deceiue the man and was giltie of the transgression Notwithstanding though therefore God punisheth them with subiection and paine in their trauell yet through bearing of children if they continue in faith and loue and holinesse with modestie and be faithfull and godlie in their vocation they shall be saued 1. Tim. 2 11. Againe saith S. Paule Let your women kéepe silence in the Churches For it is not permitted vnto them to speake but they ought to be subiect as also the lawe saith Gen. 3. before And if they will learne anie thing let them aske their husbands at home For it is a shame for women to speake in the Church or congregation and a great disorder therein to suffer the woman to vsurpe that which is peculiar to men 1. Cor. 14 33. She that is maried careth for the things of the world how she may please hir husband 1. Cor. 7,34 Raguel exhorted Sara his daughter saieng Honour thy father and mother in lawe loue thine husband rule well thine houshold kéepe thy familie in good order and shew thy selfe faultlesse Fiue notable points to be obserued of euerie godlie wife towards God hir husband friends familie and neighbours Tob. 10 12,13 The wife is bound by the lawe of matrimonie as long as hir husband liueth to cleaue vnto him without separation Read more title diuorce 1. Cor. 7 39. Rom. 7 2. So then if while hir husband liueth she take another man she shall be called an adulteresse Rom. 7 3. The wife that is found lieng with another man shall die for it bicause she hath broken wedlocke c. Deut. 22 22. Leu. 20 10. If anie mans wife turne to euill and commit a trespasse against hir husband by breaking the bond of mariage and plaieng the harlot so that another man lie with hir fleshlie and it be hid from the eies of hir husband and kept close and yet she be defiled and there be no witneâ—â—e against hir neither she taken with the maner if hir husband be mooued with a gelous mind so that he is gelous ouer his wife which is defiled then shall the man bring his wife to the priest with hir offerings with hir namelie the tenth part of an Ephath of barlie meale but he shall not powre oile vpon it nor put incense thereon For it is an offering
done yet for because this was an extraordinarie and particular act in hir therefore it is no generall example for another to followe or for anie other woman to baptise hir children Read Exo. 4,24,25 1. Macc. 1 verse 63. The mother may giue the name to hir child that is to be christened as well as the father For so did Elizabeth the wife of Zacharie and mother to Iohn Baptist. Luk. 1,60 And manie other women in scripture as Hanna who named hir sonne Samuel 1. Sam. 1 20. Rahel and Leah Gen. 30,6,8 c. It is the mothers dutie especiallie to nurse hir owne children after the good example of old mother Sara Gen. 21â—7 Of Hanna 1. Sam. 1 23. Of the virgin Marie Luke 2,7,16 11,27 And when thâ— daies of hir purification are accomplished by the old lawe she was to bring hir child to the Church there to present it to the Lorde by prayer and to offer hir oblation of thankesgiuing and prayse vnto God for it that it may be holy vnto him So did Hanna the virgin Marie c. Luke 2.22 The tender heart that the mother shoulde beare vnto hir litle childe or infant ought not to sée it to perish vnder hir hande for want of sustinaÌ„ce as Hagar did GeÌ„ 21.14.15 read Iochabds storie Exo. 2.3 Yet the mother ought so farre forth to tender and loue hir child that in benefiting it shée vse not any vnlawful meanes to tempt God as did Rebecca Gen. 27.9 It is the parents duetie to pray heartily and often for their children both in sickenesse and in health and also to praise and laude God for them as his giftes For so did Eua Gen. 4.1 Abraham for Ismael Gen. 17.18 Sara Gen. 21.6 Manoah Iudg. 13.8 Dauid Hanna 1. Sam. 2. all Zacharie Luk. 16 8â— the virgin Mary Luk. 1.46 and diuers other both men and women in the old newe TestameÌ„t Math. 15.22 Mark 7.14 It is the duetie of parents to blesse their children and wish them al good a paterne whereof they haue in Gene. cap. 48.15.20 Iacob Numb 6.24 It is the mothers office as well as the fathers to instruct hir children with preceptes good doctrine so did Bethshiba teach her sonne Salomon Prouer. 31.1 as you may reade in hir story The mother that hath a diseased or sicke childe ought first with the woman of Canaan and Dauid the Shunamatesse c. to carrie it to Christ to be cured Math. 15.22 1. Sam. 12.16.2 King 4.18 The mother ought not to aske preheminence at Gods hande for hir children as did the mother of Zebedyes sonnes Math. 20.20 No small sorowes gréeues crosses and aduersities doe peerce the heartes and accompany the bodies and mindes of a naturall louing mother for their children as may appeare in the blessed virgin Mary Hagar c. Iocabed Exod. 2.3 Luke 2.35.41 Gen. 21.16,17 c read after Eccle. 42. The mother ought to comfort hir sorowfull childe with swéete words and to wipe their teares off from the eyes of their daughters that are afflicted so did Edna to hir daughter Sara Tob. 7.17 The parents of Susanna c. Can a mother forget hir chylde that she bare and not haue compassion on the sonne of hir wombe Esai 49.15 No Rachel can not chuse but weepe and take on for hir children neither can shée be comforted if they be not aliue Iere. 31.15 Math. 2. 18. Wretched is the state of that mother that is forced to curse complaine and findeth fault with her owne children as appeareth in 2. Esdra 2.2 Thou shalt not discouer the shame of thy daughter in lawe nor of thy sonnes wife nor of thy soÌ„nes daughter nor of thy daughters daughter For the man that doth so they both shall die the death because they haue wrought wickednesse and abhomination in Israel their blood shall bee vpon them Leuit. 18.10.20,12 Shée that lieth with her sonne in law shal be burnt to death with fire Leuit. 20.14 Thou shalt not make thy daughter common to cause her to bée a whore least the lande also fall to whoredome and be full of wickednesse abomination as did the Cyprians Locrenses Leu. 19.29 Thou shalt not giue thy children vnto Molech or any kinde of Idoll For whosoeuer hee bee that offereth his children to Molech and bringeth them vp in superstition and idolatrie he shall die the death and I will set my face against that father or mother and cut him off from among my people because he defileth my Sanctuarie and polluteth my name in so doyng Leuit. 20.2 If thy sonne or thy daughter entise thée secretely to commit Idolatrie thou shalt not consent vnto him or hir nor heare them neyther shall thine eye pitie them nor shewe mercy nor keepe their secretes but thou shalt euen kill that Idolatrous child thyne hande I say shall bée first vpon him to cast the first stone at him to put him to death because he hath gone about to thrust thee a way from the lord thy God c. Thus we sée that all naturall affection must giue place to Gods honour For God is honoured in destroying them that rob him of his honour Deut. 13.6 And he that loueth sonne or daughter more then me saith Christ is not worthy of mee Math. 10.37 And whosoeuer shall forsake house and lande wiâ—e and childe for my names sake he shall receiue an hundred folde more and shall inherite euerlasting life Math. 19,29 Yea the father ought not to spare the child nor the child the father in Gods matters as we haue example in Leuy who preferring Gods glory to all naturall affection spared not his owne children and kindred that committed Idolatrie but shewe them at Moses commaundement Exod. 32.30 And in Asa who put downe Macha his owne mother the Queene from hir Royall estate and dignitie because shee had made an Idole in a groue and worshipped it contrarie to Gods lawes 1. King 15. 12. It is abhomination before God for parentes to make their sonnes priests of purpose to worship idols and commit idolatrie in their own houses as that idolatrous woman Michas mother did Iudg. 17. Thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man seruant nor thy maide seruant nor thy beast nor thy straÌ„ger that is within thy gates shal do any worke vpon the Saboth day but shalt remember to kéep it holy to the Lordâ— Exo. 20.10 Read Deut. 4. all 6. all 12. all 16. all Exod 10. all Howe the parents shall first instruct then chasten and lastly complaine to haue an euill child taken away by death according to iustice Read in Children Deut. 21.18 Fathers mothers ought both to know Gods iudgemeÌ„ts laws to declare theÌ„ to their childreÌ„ after the example of Abraham of whom God thus sayde I knowe him that he wil commande his sonnes and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde to doe righteousnes iudgemeÌ„t y t the Lord may bring vpoÌ„ him that blessing that he hath promised
Gen. 18.19 Ye parents prouoke not your children to anger by austeritieâ— or too much rigour or straight keeping least they be discouraged but bryng them vp not in wantonnesse or idlenes but in the feare instruction and information of the Lord. Ephe. 6.4 Colos. 3.21 Ye parents teach your children to knowe the holy scriptures from their childehood For they are able to make them wise to saluation through faith in Christ Iesus 2. Timo. 3.15 S. Iohn highly commendeth a certaine Lady in his epistle for that shée so vertuously brought vp her children in the trueth of Gods word 2. Iohn 1.1.4 A Matron of maydens ought to be one that can rule her owne house well hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie such as are faithfull which are not slandered of ryot neither are found disobedient 1. Timo. 3.4 Titus 1.6 Chastise thy childe betimes while there is hope let not thy soule spare for his murmuring or cryes Prou. 19.18 For hée that spareth the rod hateth his childe but hee that loueth him chasteneth him by times Prou. 13.24 The rod and correction giueth wisedome and deliuereth the soule from destruction but a childe set at libertie and left to his owne will bringeth his mother to shame Prou. 29.15 Shee that delicately bringeth vp hir childe from his youth shall make him hir master at the length Prou. 29.21 Foolishnes is bounde in the hart of a childe for he is naturally giâ—en vnto folly but the rod of correction shall driue it away from him Prou. 22.15 Withholde not correction from thy childe For if thou beatest him with the rodde hee shall not die thereof Thou shalt smite him with the rodde and shalt deliuer his soule from hell and destruction Prou. 23.13 If thou haue sonnes instructe them bryng them vp in nourture and learnyng and holde their neckes in awe from their youth vp If thou haue daughters kéepe their bodyes and shewe not thy selfe cherefull towardâ—s themâ— Mary thy daughter so shalt thou performe a waightie matter but giue hir to a man of vnderstanding Ecclesi 7.23 c. A man after his death shal be knowen by his children Eccle. 11. 28. And as is the mother so is hir daughter Ezech. 16.44 An euill nourtured sonne is the dishonour of the father and the daughter is least to be esteemed Eccle. 22.3 If children liue honestlyâ— and haue wherew t they shall put away the shame of their parents but if children be brought vp proudly with hautinesse and foolishnes they will defile the nobilitie of their parents and kindred Eccle. 22.3.8 If thy daughter be not shamefast holde hir straightly least shée abuse hir selfe thorowe too much libertie Take heed of her that hath an vnshamefast eye and maruaile not if shee trespasse against thée Eccle. 26.10 The mother that flattereth or cockleth hir children byndeth vp their wounds and hir heart is grieued at euery crie An vntamed Horse will bée stubborne and a wanton childe wil be wilfull If thou bring vp thy childe delicately hee shall make thee afrayde and it thou play with thâ—m they shall bring thee to heauinâ—sse Laugh not vpon them least thou wéepe and be sory also with them and least thou gnashe thy teeth in the ende Giue the childe no liberty in his youth and winke not at his folly Bowe downe his necke while hée is yong and beaâ—e him on the sides while he is a childe least he waxe stubborne and be disobedient vnto thee and so bring sorrowe to thine heaâ—t Chastice thy childe and be diligent therein least his shame gréeue thée Eccle. 30.7 Beware of thine owne children and take héede of them that bée of thine owne housholdeâ— Eccle. 32.22 The daughter maketh the father and mother to watche secretely and the carefulnesse that the parentes haue for her taketh away their sleepe least in her youth shée shoulde paâ—â—e â—he slower of her age when shée hath an husband least â—hee should bee hated In her virginitie least shee should be defiled or gotten with childe in her fathers house And when shée is marryed least shée misbehaue her selfe towardes her husbande or continue vnfruitefull Eccle. 42.9 So there is no ende of the parents care ouer a daughter If thy daughter bée vnshamefaste kéepe her straitely least shée cause thine enemies to laugh thée to scorne and make thée a common talke in the citie and defame thée among the people and bring thée to publike shame Eccle. 42.10 It is the mothers duety as well as the fathers to prouide a godly husbande for her daughter or a vertuous wife for her sonne For so did Hagar for her sonne Ishmael when he was grown to mans state and diuers other godly women in scripture Gen. 21.21 The mother ought to haue great care in the marrying and bestowing of her children to the children of God and such as be of a good religion and therein to yéelde her consent to the ordinaunce of GOD as diuers holie men and women haue done Gen. 24.4,50,57,27,46 26,1,29.21,38,6 Deut. 7.3 Ezra 9.12 Exod. 34.16 What authoritie the father or mother hath ouer their daughter concerning the breache of virginitie and marrying her to a man of vnderstanding Reade tit virg at large â— Cor. 7.36 If thy daughter vnbetrothed be defloured by a man that hath entised hir and thou refuse to giue hir vnto him in marriage to be his wife then thou shalt take of him money according to the dowrie of virgins Exod. 21.16 Deut. 22.28 Howe the parentes are to trie and prooue the honestie and chastitie of their daughter that is married and accused of adulterie and howe the father shall be recompenced if his daughter be found faultlesse by tryall read in the chapter of virginitie or maydes Deut. 22. 19. That parentes haue not authoritie to marrie their chyldren of a couetous intent for their owne gaine whiche in déede is to sell them for seruice to their seruantes as Laban did his two daughters Rahel and Leah to Iacob Gen. 29.19 or as Shesham did his daughter to his seruant Iarha 1. Chron. 2.35 moe of a diuelish purpose to séeke reuenge by hypocrisie as Saule who gaue his daughter Mychal to Dauid to betray him 1. Sam. Nor yet lastly without the consent of the parties themselues it is manifest by the example of the godly especiall of the mother and brother of Rebecha where they sayd wée will call y e maide aske her consent Gen. 24.57 And as Raguel did Sara his daughter Tob. 7.13 Yea so soone as the parentes perceiue that it is the ordinance and worke of God that their childe should bee besâ—owed they ought forthwith to yéelde and giue their consentes to auoyde further inconueniences and to commit the matter to God as the parents of the said Rebecha did Gen. 24.50 And howe dangerous a thing it is for parentes to be negligent and carelesse in bestowing their daughters in marriage it may well appeare by the story of Tamar that was defloured by her father in law Iuda
euerlasting death and destruction both of body soule because they haue not only thereby done great dishonour to Christ in slaundering his Church and leauing their charge or vocation but also broken their faith and forsaken their religion professed 1. Tim. 5. all Euery vowe othe or bonde of a widowe wherewith shee hath bounde hir selfe during hir widowhood to mortifie hir selfe and humble hir soule by abstinence or other bodily exercise shall stande in effect against hir because the widowe is not vnder the authoritie of man Also euery vowe bonde or othe that shée hath made in hir husbands life time whereunto hir husbande did consent and agree too by holding his peace and not disallowe of it when hée first heard thereof shall likewise stande and bee of force agaynst hir after the death of hir husbande but if hir husbande in his life tyme did euer disanull or disagrée vnto any such vowe or bonde of his wife then after his death his wife nowe being a widowe may lawfully breake these vowes and bondes so by hir made in hir husbandes life tyme and it shall not bée any sinne for hir so to doe for the Lorde will forgiue hir As appeareth Num. 30.10 c. Of second Marriage THE woman is bounde by the lawe of Matrimonye vnto the man while hée lyueth but if hée bee deade shée is deliuered and fréed from the Lawe of the man so that though shée take an nother man to husbande shée is no adultresse Rom. 7.2 I woulde that all men were euen as I myself am but euery one hath his proper gifte of God one after this maner and another after that Therefore by permission not by commaundement I say vnto the vnmarried and vnto the widowes it is good for them if they abide euen as I doe but if they can not abstaine then to auoyde fornication let them marrie and euery womā haue hir owne husband For it is better to marrie then to burne with y e fire of concupiscence and lust 1. Cor. 7.6,7 And the wife is bounde by the lawe of Matrimonie as long as hir husbande liueth but if hir husbande bée dead shée is at libertye to marrye with whome shée will onely in the Lorde but shee is more blessed if shee so abide in my iudgement I thinke that I haue also the spirite of God 1. Cor. 7.39 Refuse the younger wydowes from taking the liberalitie of the poore for when they haue begunne to waxe wanton agaynst Christe forgetting their vocation they will marrie hauing damnation because they haue broken their first fayth Where note that the apostle meaneth suche wydowes whiche being iustly diuourced from their firste husbandes marry agayne to the sclaunder of the Churche and leaue their vocation for else he doth not reproue the widowes that haue béen oftener married thē once where he saith let not a widowe be taken into the number vnder threescore yeere olde that hath been the wife of one husbande Yea I will therefore that the younger women marrie and beare children and gouerne the house and giue none occasion to the aduersarie to speake euill For certaine are alreadie turned back◠after satan 1. Tim. 5.11 c. No wydowe saue the widowe of a priest might not bee permitted to marrie with any priest in the old lawe as appeareth Leuit. 21. 14. Ezech. 44.22 Naomie being not verye olde and the wife but of one husbande yet after the death of hir husbande shée would marrie no more but saide shée was too olde to haue an husbande as appeareth Ruth 1.12 Ruth also being a widowe and a yong woman was commended by Boaz because shée followed not young men to marrie them were they poore or riche reade hir story Ruth 3.11 To conclude many men desired Iudeth when shee was a wydowe but none had hir company to hir dying day after the death of hir first husbande manasses shée gaue hir selfe to contemplation prayers and good workes to the benefiting of hir countrey and people as appeareth Iudith 8.4.16,12 Likewise Anna the prophetesse hauing been married but seuen yéeres from hir virginitie after the death of hir husbande continued a widowe fourscore and foure yéeres seruing God in the temple with fasting and prayer day and night as ye may reade in hir life Luke 2. 36. Contrarywise wydowhoodde was a burden to Thamar the wife of Er therefore shee cast awaye hir wydowes apparell and decketh hir selfe braue to play the nought with Iuda hir father in lawe as appeareth in hir story more at large Gene. 38.11 That widowehood is a plague of God vpon the vngodly therfore to the comfort of the godly widows and orphans let them reade these comfortable sentenses of the scripture following gathered to this ende that therby they seeing what care the Lorde hath ouer them in this their desolate condition and state as people least esteemed in the world may the better attende vnto their vocation in prayer and good workes of the spirite to the glory of his name and their perpetuall praise and euermore fully trust and hang vpon his prouidence whiche neuer decayeth IF my wrath be kindled saith the Lord against you for your oppression then will I kill you with the sworde and your wiues shal be widowes and your children fatherlesse Exod. 22.22 The children of the oppressour though they bee many shal be destroyed with the sworde c. and his widowes shall not wéepe nor lament for him Iob. 27.13 Let the children of the oppressour and extorcioner be fatherlesse and his wife a widowe c. let the iniquitie of his father be had in remembrance with the Lorde let not the sinne of his mother be done away c. Psal. 109.8,13 Therefore shall the Lorde haue no pleasure in their yong men neyther will he haue compassion of their fatherlesse and of their wydowes For because euery one is an hypocrite and wicked Esai 9.17 The foolishe woman saith in hir heart I shall bée a Lady for euer I am none els I shall not sit as a wydowe nor desolate againe neither shall I knowe the losse of husbande or children but shall be a lady and wise for euer but heare O thou nice an dilicate dame thou carelese and retchlesse woman that art altogether giuen to pleasure and vanitie for because thou hast not set thy minde to godlines nor remembred the latter ende thereof Therefore both these two things shal come to thee sodainly on one day namely widowhood or disolatiō and the losse of childrē euen in their perfection I say shal they mightily fal and come vpon thee for the multitude of thy sinnes and offences Esai 47.8,9 I haue wasted and destroyed my people saith the Lorde yet they woulde not returne from their sinnefull waies Their widowes are increased by me aboue the sande of the Sea because I haue slaine their husbandes I haue brought vpon them the destroyer at noone day c. Shee also that hath borne many children hath béene made weake and lost all
Christe many widdowes were in Israel in the daies of Elias when heauen was shut thrée yéeres and sixe monethes and the men dyed by reason of the great famine that was generally ouer all the land but vnto none of those widdowes was Elias the Prophet sent saue vnto a certaine poore widdowe in Sarepta a Citie of Sydon Luke 4.25 Whome God had commaunded there to sustaine him as 1. Kings 17.9 Honour widdowes that are widowes indéede that is take care for them that are left alone and haue no maner of worldlie meanes to helpe themselues with But if any widowe haue either children or nephewes let them her children friends and kinred learne first to shew godlinesse and kindnesse towardes their owne house and to recompence their kinred for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God Contrariwise if there be any that prouideth not for his owne and namely for them of his housholde and kinred he denieth the faith and is worse then an infidel 1. Tim. 5.3 Moreouer let not a widowe be taken into the number of those that shall haue the reliefe of the Congregation and be chargeable to the Church vnder threescore yeere old that hath béen the wife of one husband well reported of being continually giuen to euerie good worke And refuse the younger widowes But if any faithfull man or faithful woman haue widowes let them minister vnto them that is let the childe nourishe his mother being a widow or the kinsman or kinswomaÌ„ relieâ—e her poore kinswoman as nature bindeth them to their abilitie and let not the Church bée charged with relieuing such widowes that haue wealthie friends that there may be sufficient for them that are widowes indéede and lacke friendes and kinsfolkes all other worldly helpes and meanes to succour them 1. Tim. 5. all When the number of the Disciples grewe there arose a murmuring of the Grecians towards the Hebrwes because their widowes were neglected in the dailie ministring and distributing of the almes among the poore Acts. 6.1 Pure religion and vndefiled before God euen the father is this to visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersities and to kéepe himselfe vnspotted of the worlde Iames. 1.27 The Lorde accepteth not the person of the poore but hée heareth the prayer of the oppressed The most high despiseth not the desire of the fatherlesse nor the widowe when shee powreth out her prayer Doth not the teares runne downe the widdowes chéekes and her crie is against him that caused them or wrong theÌ„ out by violence iniurie and oppression for from her chéekes doe they goe vpp into heauen and the Lorde which heareth her doth accept them and put those teares into his bottell And the Lorde which is a Iudge of widowes will not bée slacke nor the almightie which is the God of vengeance will not tarrie long from them til he haue smitten in sunder the loines of the vnmercifull and auenged himselfe of the vngodly till he haue taken the multitude of the cruell and broken the scepter of the vnrighteous til he haue iudged the cause of the widow and comforted the fatherlesse and oppressed with his mercie and rewarded their enemies according to their déedes Eccle. 35.13 The dutie of olde women THe elder women likewise teache and exhort as mothers or matrones that they bée sober honest discréete sound in faith in loue and in patience and that they bée in suche behauiour as becommeth holinesse not false accusers nor giuen to much wine but teachers of honest things that they may be able both with doctrine and good example of life to instruct the young women to be sober minded also and that they loue their husbandes that they loue their childreÌ„ that they be discréet chaste kéeping at home not running to and fro without necessarie occasion which is a signe of lightnesse that they bee good vertuous and subiect to their husbands y t the word of God bée not euill spoken of c. Titus 2.3 Cast away prophane and olde wiues fables exercise your selues vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 Yee shall not vse witchcraft nor obserue times Leuit. 19.26 Let none bee founde among you that maketh her sonne or her daughter to goe through the fire or that vseth witchcraft or is a regarder of times or a marker or obseruer of the flying of foules or a sorceresse or a charmer or that counsaileth with spirites or a soothsayer or that asketh counsaile of the dead as the witch of Endor did for all that doe such things are abhomination vnto the Lorde and shal be stoned to death Deut. 18.10.11 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue Exod. 22.18 Soothsaying witchcrafte and dreaming is but vanitie and a minde that is occupied with fancies is as a woman that trauelleth Eccle. 34.5 The witches children and the séede of the adultresse and the whoore are both alike abhominable and detestable to GOD. Esay 57.3 Thrée sortes of men or women my soule hateth and I vtterlie abhorre the life of them A poore woman that is proude and a riche woman that is a liar and an old woman that doteth in lust and is become an adultresse Eccle. 25.2 Age is a crowne of glory when it is founde in the way of righteousnesse and is ioined with vertue els the wickedder they are the more they are to bée abhorred Pro. 16.31 The crowne of the aged old folkes is to haue much experience and the feare of God is their glorie Eccle. 25.34 Oh howe comely a thing is wisdome vnto aged folke and vnderstanding and prudencie to men and women of honour Eccle. 25.4.5 Speake thou that art the elder for it becommeth thée but yet so that it be with sounde iudgement and hinder not musicke powre not out great sentences or words of importance where there is no audience shew not foorth wisdome out of time Eccle. 32.3 Oh howe pleasaunt a thing is it when gray headed folkes can behaue them selues iustlie and when the elders can giue good counsaile Eccle. 25.5 The bewtie of young women is their strength and the glory of the aged is the gray head Pro. 20.29 They that haue gathered nothing in their youth how should they finde reliefe sustenance in their age Eccle. 25.3 They that are olde in wicked life the sinnes that they committed in their youth shall come to light to their distruction as in Daniell 13. 52. appeareth in the storie of the two olde leacherous Iudges Though the wicked liue long yet shall they bée nothing regarded and their last age shal be without honour Wisd. 3.17 But though the righteous bee preuented with death yet shall hee bee at rest For the honourable age is not that which is of long time neither that which is measured by the number of yeeres but wisdome is the gray haire and an vndefiled life is the olde age Wisd. 4 7â— 8.9 Therefore better is a poore and wise childe then an old and foolish woman that will not bée admonished Eccle. 4.13
when hee sitteth among the rulers of the lande Shee maketh fine linnen and cloath of silke and selleth it and deliuereth girdles vnto the merchant Strength and honour is her clothing or the inward apparrell of her spirite and in the latter day shée shall reioice Shée openeth her mouth with wisdome and in her tongue is the lawe of grace yea her tongue I say is as a booke whereby on◠may learne manie good things for she delighteth to talke of the law and worde of God reuerently Shée ouerséeth and looketh well to the waies of her familie and housholde and eateth not her bread with idlenesse Her children rise vp and call her blessed or doe her reuerence and aske her blessing and her husbande shall make much of her and praise her saying Manie daughters there bée that haue done vertuously and gathered riches together but thou surmountest them all Giue her therefore of the fruite of her owne handes and let her owne workes praise her in the gate Forasmuch I say as the most honourable are clad in the apparrell that shee hath made confesse her diligent labours and giue her her due deserued commendation therefore For as for fauour it is deceitfull and bewtie is but a vaine thing but a woman that is huswifely and feareth the Lord shall bée praised and commended both of God and men Pro. 31.10 c. And shee that is continuallie giuen to euery good worke shall bée well reported of for her vertues 1. Tim. 5.10 Reade more of th◠praise of women in virgins wiues c. The Kinges daughter is glorious within Psal. 45.14 Moreouer that women are to bée praised and highly commended of all for their creation and necessarie vse we may see in the first woman and great grandmother of all women Eue or Heua who as shee was the last creature that God made in Paradise So was she not made of the verie materiall moulde of the earth as the man Adam and other creatures were but of a more excellent substance not of the head nor of the foot but euen of the rib or bone taken out of the side of man which God did to the end she should not be his Ladie nor handmaid but bone of the mans bones and fleshe of his flesh indéede most déere and néere vnto him in equalitie of loue and friendship and the best and most naturall helpe and comfort meets for man in all his sicknesse and infirmities and therfore is she called woman because she was taken out of man For before the woman was created God taking a generall viewe of all his other creatures that he had made of the earth could not fynde one worthy enough to accompany man in humaine societie felowship therefore God created the woman as a very necessary helper and mate méete for man only Yea before the woman was created mankinde was vnperfit and like an vnfinished building but when shée was formed made then the worke of mankind was fully finished made perfite for the propagation of man his encrease vpon earth as ye may read in the life of Heua in the 7. Lampe of Uirginitie Gene. 1. and 2. c. In woman did God first make his promise of the blessed séede to comforte man saying The séede of the woman shall treade downe the heade of the serpent Gene. 3. The woman is the glory of the man or receiueth hir glory in commendation of man and therefore is subiect as the man is the Image and glory of God or the image of Gods glory in whom his maiestie power doth shine concerning his authoritie for y e man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neyther was the man created for the womans sake but the woman for the mans sake Therfore ought the womā to haue power on hir head that is something to couer hir head as well when shee prayeth as at all other times in signe of subiection because of the Angels to whom they also shew their dissolution not only to Christ. Neuerthelesse neyther is the man without the woman neyther the woman without the man in the Lorde who is authour and mainteyner of their mutual coniunction For as God made the woman of man so nowe is man multiplyed by the woman for as the woman is of the man so is the man also by the woman but all things are of God 1. Cor. 11.7 c. Doeth not nature it selfe teach you that if a man haue long haire as women vse to weare it is a shame vnto him but if a woman haue long haire it is a prayse vnto hir for hir long haire is giuen vnto hir of God for a couering or to the end shee should trusse it vp about hir head to declare that shee must couer hir head 1. Cor. 11.14 15. Honour is to be giuen of the man vnto the woman as vnto the weaker vessell and yet as fellowe heyre together with man of life euerlasting 1. Pet. 3 7. Also that women are worthy to be praysed and duely commended for their faith religion repentance loue and obedience to God and his woorde it is manifest by the examples of Anna Bernice Candaces O. the Cananitesse of Damaris Dorcas Elizabeth Eunice Huldah Ioanna Lydea Loyis Marie the Uirgin Marie Magdalen and all the other Maries Martha Phebe Persis Priscilla Philips 4. daughters Rahab Ruth Samaritesse both the Saraes Susanna Salomen Triphona Triphosa the woman of Abell the woman with the bloodie issue Sarepta the mother of the 7. sonnes of the Machabees and other as you may reade at large in their seuerall liues and stories And that women are to be extolled for their holinesse deuotion feare of God iustice vprightnesse and other like vertue and godlinesse it euidently appeareth by the liues of these most holy deuoute women viz. Anna Debora Cananitesse Elizabeth Ester Hanna Hagar Hulda Ioanna Iudi. Lady cōmēded of S. Ioh. Leah Loyis Lydea Marie y e virgin y e other Maries Rahel Rezpa Sara y e wife of Abraham Sara the wife of Tobit Susanna Philippe the Euangelistes foure daughters Likewise that women are to be praysed for their excellent witte wisedome learning prophesiyng skil in arts pollicy in gouernment strength audacitie to bring mightie memorable things and worthy valiant actes to passe for the deliuery of them selues and Gods people It doth most notably appeare in the liues and stories of these famous and godly women Deborah Quéene Hester Iaell Iudith the woman of Abell Abigail Bethsabe the mother of the quicke childe before Salomon Micholl the quéene of Saba the Shunamitisse Hulda Hanna Sara the daughter of Raguel Sara Rebecca Rahab Ruth Elizabeth y e virgin Marie Marie Magdalen the mother of the seuen sonnes in the Machabees Miriam Naomie the woman of Tekoa Phillip the Euangelistes foure daughters virgins Pilates wife the woman of Thibez Also of Sherah that built thrée great cities of the Shunamites y t built a house or lodging for the mā of God and recouered
hir possession and of y e importunate widow of Samaria of Rispa that built a tent ouer the dead carkasses of hir sonnes c. whose stories are both worth the diligent reading and often imitating of all the godly Againe that women are to be greatly lauded and of all imitated for their curtesie hospitalitie liberalitie almes déedes good workes Yee may reade in the liues of Abigail Dorcas Ioanna Iudith Lydea Marie the mother of Iames Marie Magdalen Martha Marie the mother of Iohn Marke Phebe Priscilla Rahab Rebecca the virgin Marie the poore widowes the woman of Bahurim Saphiâ—a Sarepta Shunamitesse Susanna Triphona and Triphosa Taliâ—ha widowe of Ierusalem c. whos 's good workes as they all procéeded of a liuely faith the had in God so are they to be commended imitated continually of all the true faythfull children of God to his glory and the benefite of his Church and congregation Furthermore that women are to be praysed for their fidelitie loue reuerence good counsell obedience towards their husbandes it may appeare in the stories of Adah Abigail Bethsheba Drusilla Hester Michol Phinees wife Rahell Rebecca Sara Zillah Pilates wife the virgin Marie Elizabeth As also for their motherly care naturall loue and vertuous education of their chlidren it is euident in Anna the woman of Canaan Edna Hanna Hagar Iehosheba Loyis Ladie commended of S. Iohn Marie the virgin Naomy Ieroboams wife Rizpa Rebecca Samsons mother the mourning mother as in Esdras mother of the seuen brethren the widowe of Sarepta and of Nahum And for their curtesie and kindenesse towards their alience kinred and acquaintaunce yee may reade in the liues of Bethsheba Elizabeth Ester Iehosheba Marie the virgin Marie MagdaleÌ„ Rahel and sundrie others Besides for their obedience and good behauiour towardes their parentes gouernours and betters yée may sée in the story of Ester Iepthas daughter Ruth Orpah Sara Abra Hagar Moreouer such women as were praysed for their nobilitie royall parentage great riches estimation in the worlde were Elizabeth Naomy Marie the virgine Lady commended by S. Iohn Shunamitesse Sara the wife of AbrahaÌ„ the woman of Abell Iudith Debora and many others Such as were poore and godly were Anna Marie the virgine Naomy Sarepta Shunamitesse Such as were commended for their beautie chastitie modesty virginity were Abigail Abisage Bethsabe Dinah Ester Heua Iephtas daughter Ieminah and all Iobes daughters Iudith Kezia Rerenhapha Marie the virgin Rebecca Rahell Sara Susanna Thamar the daughter of Dauid Uasti c. Ruth Anna. Such as are praysed for their womanly pitie and compassion to shed innocent blood are Puah Shiphrah the two godly midwiues of Egypt Rahab the wife of Bahurim the mother of the quicke child before Salomon Hester the virgin Marie Pharaos daughter y e preserued Moses Ihosheba that saued Ioas hir brother from the blooddy handes of Athalia and Pilates wife who counselled hir husbande in no wise to conseÌ„t to shed the innocent blood of our sauiour Christ c. Such as are woorthily commended for their Industrie sore labour and paynes taking for their liuing and sustenance are Anna Heua Lydea Naomy Ruth Dorcas c. as may appeare in their liues and stories more at large in the 7. Lampe Sucâ—e as are to bee praysed for their patience in aduersitie and humilitie vnder the crosse are Hanna Hagar Iepthas daughter Leah Marie the virgin SusaÌ„na Sara the wife of Tobie and many other Finally such as are for their obedience to God more then man for their constancie in the trueth chose rather to suffer persecution yea violent death martyredome then to offend god are most highly to be extolled and had in admiration and remembraunce to all posteritie are these godly vertuous zealous women Puah Shiphrah Rahab Iepthas daughter Hanna Hagar Leah Marie the Uirgin Sara the wife of Tobit Susanna the woman of the Machabites the mother of the seuen sonnes of the Machabits the lambes wife our vertuous soueraigne Queene Elizabeth c. as to their perpetuall renowne and all faithfull Christians godly example may doth appeare to y e deligeÌ„t reader in the seueral liues of these holy women set forth in the 7. Lampe The disprayse of wicked and foolishe women A Wicked woman is giuen as a rewarde to a wicked man Eccleâ— 26.24 I finde more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nettes and snares and her hands as bandes he that is good before God shall be deliuered from hir but the sinner shall be taken by hir Eccle. 7.28 A shamelesse woman contemneth shame and is compared to a dogge Eccle. 26â—25 Shée that dispiseth hir husbande shall be blased for hir pryde Ecâ—le 26.27 Shée that maketh hir husbande ashamed or behaueth hir selfe dishonestly is a corruption in his bones Prou. 12.4 A fayre woman without discreete maners is like a ring of gold in a swines snowt Prou. 12.22 A foolishe daughter shall be litle regarded and shee that liueth dishonestly is hir fathers heauinesse Eccle. 22.3 Shée that is bolde and past shame dishonoureth both hir father and hir husband the vngodly shall regarde hir because shee is not inferiour vnto them in wickednesse but both hir father and hir husbande shall dispise hir for hir folly and wickednesse Eccle. 22.4 A dronken woman and such a one as can not bée tamed is a great plague for shee can not couer hir owne shame Eccle. 26.8 The wickednesse of the man is better then the good intreatie of a woman to witte of a woman that is in shame and reproche for it is better to bée with an ill man then with a friendely woman that putteth one to shame and rebuke Eccle. 42. 14. Yée adulterers and women that breake matrimonie knowe yée not that the friendship of the worlde is enmitie with God Iam. 44. There are some simple women laden with sinnes and led with diâ—ers lustes which are euer learning yet are neuer able to come to the knowledge of the trueth 2. Timo. 3.6 Pryde was not created in men neyther wrath in the generation of women Eccle. 10.19 The greatest heauinesse is the heauinesse of the heart and the greatest malice is the malice of a woman Eccle. 25.14 Giue mee any plague saue onely the plague of the heart and any malice saue the malice of a woman for all wickednesse is nothing to the wickednesse of a woman 25.15 Giue mée any assault saue the assault of the heart or any vengeance saue the vengeance of the enemie or woman 16. There is not a more wicked head then the head of a serpent and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a woman Eccle. 25.17 All wickednesse is but litle to the wickednesse of a woman thâ— portion of the vngodly shall fall vpon hir Eccle. 25.21 I had rather dwell with a Lion and Dragon then to kéepe housâ— with a wicked wife Eccle. 25.18 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house toppe then with a brawling or
contentious woman in a wyde house Prou. 21.9.25 24. For a brawling and contentious woman is like the toppe of an house wherethrough it is euer dropping with rayne that rotteth the house Prou. 19.13.27.15 And as the clyming vp of a sandy way is to the feete of the aged euen so is a wife full of woordes to a quyet man Eccle. 25.22 A loude crying woman and a babler let her bee sought out to dryue awaye the enemies the mynde of euery man that liueth with suche shall bée conuersant among the troubles of warre Eccle. 25.28 The double or pratling tongue hath cast out many vertuous and honest women and robbed them of their laboures Eccle. 28.15 The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion if a woman gotte the maisterie then is shee contrary to hir husbande or if a woman nourishe hir husbande shee is angrie and impudent and full of reproch and vpbraydyngs Eccle. 25.24 A wicked wife maketh a sory heart an heauie countenaunce and a wounded minde weake handes and féeâ—le knees is a woman that hir husband is not the better for or that can not comfort him in heauines Eccle. 25.25 When one hath an euill wife it is euen as when an vnlike payre of OxeÌ„ are yoked must draw together He that hath her is as though hée helde a Scorpion Eccle. 26.7 Set a good locke where an euill wife is Eccle. 42.6 Accompanie not amongst beautifull women for as the moath commeth out of Garmentes so doth wickednesse of the women Eccle. 42.13 Aske no counsel of a woman touching hir of whom shee is ielous Eccle. 37.11 For when one woman is ielous ouer an other it bringeth payne griefe and sorrowe vnto the heart And shée that communeth with all or telleth out all thinges that shee heareth is a scourge of the tongue Eccle. 26.6 The wickednesse of a woman changeth her face shée shall muffle her countenance as it were a Beare and as a sacke shall shée shewe it blacke among her neyghbours Her husbande is brought to shame thereby among his neighbours because of her and when he heareth it it maketh him to sigh ere hée be aware as hée sitteth among his friends Eccle. 25.19.20 For three thinges the earth is mooued yea for foure it cannot sustayne it selfe viz. For a seruant when hee raigneth for a foole when he is filled with meate for the hatefull woman when shée is maried and for a handemaide that is heire to her maistresse or which is maryed to her maister aâ—ter the death of her maistresse Prou. 3. 21.23 Giue the water no passage no not a litle neither a wicked woman libertie to gadde abroad at her will For if shée walke not after thine hand or in thine obedience shée shall confounde thée in the sight of thine enemie Cutte her off then from thy fleshe giue her the bill of deuorce and forsake her that shée doe not alwayes abuse thée Eccle. 25.27.28 Moreouer that women yea and those of the godlyest sort had their imperfections infirmities and faultes woorthie reprehension and disprayse and which are manifested and layde open by the holy Ghost in the Scriptures not to bée followed but shunned and auoyded it may appeare in the first woman Heua who was the first sinner For of the woman Heua saith Salomon Eccle. 25.26 came the beginning of sinne and thorowe her we all dye And S. Paule hée sayeth 1. Timo. 2.14 Adam was not deceyued but the woman was deceyued was in the transgression that is the woman was first deceiued and so became the instrument of sathan to deceiue the man and was guiltie of the transgression Or the occasion was first offered by the woman to transgresse but the sinne was finished by the man consenting therevnto and so is that true y t S. Paul to the Rom. the 5. chap. ver 12. saith y t by one man sinne entered into y e worlde and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men forasmuch as all men haue sinned Beholde saith the preacher Eccle. This haue I founde séeking one by one to finde out the compt and come to a conclusion and yet my soule seeketh but I finde it not I haue founde one man of a thousande but a woman among them all haue I not founde For Salomon hauing a thousande wiues yet founde not one that was perfectly good Eccle. 7.29.10 The wine is wicked the king is wicked women are wicked and all the children of men are wicked but trueth abideth is strong for euer and liueth and reigneth for euer and euer 1. Esdra 4.3 Such as the holy Ghost discommendeth and condemneth for their Idolatrye superstition and irreligon were Athalya Iesabel Maacha Rahell for stealing hir father Labans Idoll by meanes wherof hir husband Iacobs houle was long corrupted with superstition as appeareth Gene. 35.2 Mickas mother The mourning women of the Iewes as appeareth Iere. 9.20 Ezec. 8.17 The Idolatrous women of Phatures Iere. 44.15 Such women as were contemners of religion mockers of Christ and notable troublers persecuters of his saints were Iesabel Michol Zeresh the woman of Samaria Caiphas the hie priests Maidens Matth. 26.69 Such as lacked fayth and were too much addicted to the bodily or carnall presence of Christ were Sara that laughed at the Angels words Marie Magdalen that would needs touch Christ newly risen Suche as are abhorred for their vnnaturall cruelltie abhominable tyranny and blooddy factes are Athalia Herodias Iesabell the Harlot and mother of the dead childe before Salomon Suche as vsed too much dissimulation hypocrisie flatterie subornation cosoning subtiltie and craft were Heua Iudith Michol Samsons wife Iabel Rahab Iesabell Rebecca Saphira Sara Abrahams wife Putiphers wife the woman of Tecoah Herodias Saphira the Ido Lottes daughters Rahel the midwiues of Egypt the Moabites women Suche as vsed vile witchecraft sorcerie and diuelish inchauntmentes contrary to Gods Lawes were Iesabell the witch of Endor the woman and hir mayde of Phillippie Suche as are to bée dispraysed for their incontinencie of life or that committed filthy fornication whoredome and vncleannesse to the condemnation of their owne soules and destruction of many others were Aholah Aholibah Bethsabe with Dauid Cozby Dalila Herodias Iesabell Leuites wife Lottes two daughters Putiphers wife Binhamie Marie Magdalen Rahab Rizpah Tamar with hir father in lawe the woman of Samaria the womaÌ„ taken in adulterie the whore of BabyloÌ„ Dinah also though not volentarily yet lost hir virginitie at 15. yeeres of age by taking of too much libertie to goe to mariages feating and so did Tamar the daughter of Dauid léese her virginitie at 14. yeeres of age being forced by hir halfe brother as you may reade in their seuerall stories Such virgins as through taking too much libertie wantonnesse and dauncing were deflowred and violently rauished were Dinah the daughter of Sylo Thamar Dauids daughter Iobes daughters Such as were too impudent bolde with men and paste all shame were Appam dalilah Putiphars wife Herodias Salomen her
daughter Such as were strong in wickednes to ouercome men were Salomons concubines Samsons wife Dalila Caiphas maydens Mat. 26.69 Salomen and Appam of whom by whose impudencie boldenesse with Darius the King Zorobabell one of his gard tooke occasion to put forth this wise sentence on commendation of womeÌ„s strength and to prooue that they were stronger then eyther the king or wine saying as followeth O yée men neyther the mightie king nor many men nor wine is strongest who then ruleth them or hath dominion ouer them are they not women women haue borne the king and all the people which beare rule by sea and by lande euen of them were they borne and they nourished them which planted the vines of which the wine is made They also make mens garments and make men honourable neyther can men bée without women And if they haue gathered together golde and siluer or any goodly thing do they not loue a fayre and beawtifull woman doe they not leaue all those thinges and giue them selues wholly vnto her and gape and gaze vpon her all men desire her more then golde or siluer or any precious thing A man leaueth his owne father which hath nourished him and his owne countrey is ioyned with his wife for the woman he regardeth not his life and neyther remembreth father nor mother nor countrey Therefore by this yée may knowe that the women bare rule ouer you doe yée not labour and trauell and giue and bring all to the women Yea man taketh his sworde and goeth forth to kyll and to steale and to sayle vpon the sea and vpon riuers and hée séeth a Lyon and goeth in darkenes and when hée hath stollen rauished and spoyled hée bringeth it to his loue Wherefore a man loueth his owne wife more then father or mother Yea many haue runne madde for women and haue béen seruants for them Many also haue perished and haue erred and sinned for women Nowe therefore doe yee not beléeue mée Is not the king Darius great in power insomuch that all regions feare to touch him Yet saw I him AppaÌ„ his concubine sitting on his right hande and taking his crowne off his head and putting it vpon her owne and stroke the king with her left hand whiles the king in the meane season did nothing but gape and gase vpon her and if sheeâ— laughed at him then he laughed but if shée were angry w t him then was he fame to flatter her y t he might be reconciled with her Nowe then Dye men doth not this myne example proue vnto you that women are stronger then men séeing they doe this to so mightie a king 1. Esdr. 4.14 c. Suche as through abhominable pride paynting their faces and decking their bodies with superfluous attyre were therefore miserably ouerthrowen were Iesabell Tamar the wife Ouan and Er Uasti the whore of Babylon but Iudith and Ester vsed that to another ende read Isa. 3. Such as were deformed in body was Leahi Such as were a griefe of minde to their parentes through disobedience and rebellion were Bethshemath and Iudith her sister to Isaak and Rebecca their father mother in Lawe Michol â—o Saule Rahel and Lea that vntruely disclaymed in her fathers right or heritage Such as dispised their dames and disobeyed their mistresse were Hagar the maides of Sara Tobits wife and all concubines Such as delt roughly hardly with their handmaids were Sara the wife of Abraham and Sara the wife of Tobit Such as murmured grudged and repined at their kinred and others prosperitie or welfare were Myriam Martha Sara Lea Rahell Such as are dispraysed and noted for their couetous mindes are Heua Aâ—sah Iesabel Athalia Hester the mother of Zebedées sonnes the importunate widowe Such as gaue wicked counsel and sinester perswatioÌ„ to their husbandes others to their ouerthrow were Athalia Herodias Heua Iesabell Rebecca Zeresh Such as gaue their handmaids to their husbandes for concubines and procreation because they themselues were barren where they distrusted Gods prouidence or otherwise coueted or desired children vnlawfully were Sara Leah Rahell Lots daughters the woman of the dead childe before Salomonâ— c. Such wiues as were rebellious contemners vnfaithâ—ull and disobedient to their husbandes were Abigail that called her husband Naball foole Ahinoam that was rebellious to Saul Anna that said to Tobâ— when he was struck blind where are now thy almes good déedes becomeâ— c. Hold thy peace deceine me not c. Iesabel who said to Achab thou knowest not what it is to raigne Commande and intreate not Iobes wife who was an instrument of Satan tempted her husband in his affliction saying doest thou continue yet in thy vprightnes curse God die c. Lots wife who looked back weÌ„t not forward w t her husband as god coÌ„maÌ„ded Michol who derided Dauid for dancing before y e arke called him foole for his zeale in Gods seruice Rahell who reproched her husbande of vnfruitfullnes saying giue me children or els I die Rebecca y e dissembled w t her blind husband Isaak to disinherite her eldest sonne for her yongest Sara that chid her husband saying thou doest me wrong c. the Lord iudge between me thée SaÌ„sons first wife y t by importancie vnderstanding his riddle reueiled it to her countreymen against her husbands profit yea to his great hinderÌ„ace hurt Putiphars wife y t would haue defiled her husbands bed lien w t her man Ioseph Uastie y t vtterly refused to come to her husband wheÌ„ he sent so often for her Zipporah y t reproched her sick husbaÌ„d Moses saiyng Oh blooddy husband thou art in deede a blooddy husband to mee c. Such as were negligent in the good education and bringing vp of their children and otherwise were vnnaturall pitilesse towardes them were Hagar Rebecca the mother of the dead childe Such as are noted for their foolish words spéeches are Hena Saraâ— Rahel Samsons wife Dalila Michol Anna Tobits wise y t haÌ„d-maids of Sara Raguels daughter the mother of the dead childe the wife of Haman Iobs wife the mother of Zebidées sonnes the maid that made Peter forsweare himself Mat. 26. the womaÌ„ of Samaria Such as ran away and forsooke their owne husbands or became wiues to other men leauing their first husbandes were Cliopatra Michol Leuites wife Samsons first wife Such as were deuorced and put away by their husbands for their vices were Baara Uasti Finally such as by Gods secret iust iudgement for their horrible and sinnefull wicked liues came to a violent death and shamefull end were Athalia who was slayn Cozby that was thrust quite thorowe with a swords playing the harlot Iesabel that was throwen out of her windowe and eaten with dogges Maacha that was deposed by her own sonne from her reigne Saphira that was struck with suddayne death at the Apostles feete Leuites wife that fell downe starke dead at the doore Samsons first
anger my wrath shall be poured vpon this place vpon man vpon beast vpon the trée of the fielde vpon the fruit of the ground and it shall burne and not be quenched And thou shalt not pray for this people neither lift vp crie or prayer for them neither intreate me for I wil not heare thée but wil surely punish their wickednes which remaine in their obstinacie against me and wil not obey my worde and worship mee according to the same Ierem. 7.17 c. Moreouer Ieremiah saide vnto al the people to al the women Heare the word of the Lord all Iudah that are in the land of Egipt thus speaketh the Lord of hosts the God of Israel saying Ye your wiues haue both spoken with your mothers and fulfilled with your hand saying we will performe our vowes y â— we haue vowed to burn incense to y e quéene of heauen to poure out drink offering to her c. as verses 16.17.18.19 ye may reade more at large in y e liues stories Ye wil performe your vowes do the things y t ye haue vowed wherinye haue coÌ„mitted double euil in making wicked vowes in performing the same after your owne vaine fancies Therefore c. Behold I haue sworn by my great name saith the Lord y t my name shal no more be called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iuda in all the land of Egipt saying the Lord liueth And beholde I will watch ouer theÌ„ for euill not for good all men of Iuda shal be consumed by the sworde and famine vntill they be vtterly destroied which declareth an horrible plague towards Idolaters séeing that God will not vouchsafe to haue his name once mencioned by such as haue poluted it and that their wiues shal be made widowes children fatherlesse c. Reade the whole chapter at large Iere. 44.25 c. The womeÌ„ that lay vp the things offered vnto Idols that bring gifts to the gods of siluer gold wood and cloath theÌ„selues with the garments of those images and y e meÌ„struous womeÌ„ or they in child-bed y t touch their sacrifice offered to these idols of gold siluer or stone Al such womeÌ„ that worship images I say for their idolatrie coÌ„mitted are full of reproofe and shal be vtterly confounded as yee may reade in Baruc. 6.27.28.29.32 If thy brother or thy sonne or thy daughter or thy wife that lieth in thy bosome or thy friend which is as thine owne soule entice thée secretly saying Let vs goe and serue other gods which neither thou nor thy fathers haue knowen c. Thou shalt not consent vnto him or her nor heare her neither shal thine eie pitie her nor shew her mercy nor kéepe her secrete but thou shalt kil her thine hand shal be first vpon her to put her to death then the hands of all the people and thou shalt stone her with stones that she die that al Israel may feare do no more such wickednes to go about to thrust thée away from the Lord thy God to worship him only Deut. 13.6 If there be found among you in any of your cities maÌ„ or woman y t hath wrought wickednes in the sight of y e Lord thy god in traÌ„sgressing his couenant hath gone serued other gods worshipped theÌ„ as the Sun or the Moone or any of the hoast of heauen which I haue not commanded and it bee told vnto thée that art the magistrate then shalt thou enquire diligently and if it be true and certaine that such abhominatioÌ„ is wrought in Israel Then shalt thou bring forth y â— man or that woman which haue coÌ„mitted that wicked thing vnto thy gates whether it be man or woman shalt stone them with stones till they die c. Deut. 17.2 The great whore of BabyloÌ„ y e mother of spiritual whoredoms idolatrie abhominatioÌ„s of the earth which womaÌ„ is drunkeÌ„ with the blood of the Saints Martyrs of Iesus Christ eueu she which is become the habitation of Diuels and the holde of al foule spirits a cage of euery vncleane hateful bird with whoÌ„ the kings of the earth haue coÌ„mitted spirituall fornication by idolatrie of whose golden cup ful of the wine of superstition wrath filthy pleasures al nations of y e earth haue drunkeÌ„ very déepe Finally she y t so proudly glorifieth herselfe liueth in pleasures She I say y t boasteth so gloriously arrogantly like a strumpet saith in her heart I â—itt being a quéene am no widow neither shal I sée any mourning EueÌ„ that proud whore of BabiloÌ„ I say shal sodenly fall downe to the ground be rewarded douâ—â— according to her idolatrous works be tormeÌ„ted with sorowe griefe yea therfore shall all her plagues come at once in one day euen death torment sorowe vexation and faâ—mine And all nations shall hate this idolatrous whore and make her desolate and strippe her naked and shall â—ate her fleshe to the bone and burne her vp altogether with fire For strong is the Lorde God which will condemne her And all her merchantes and louers the whole route of idolatrous men and women shall cast dust on their heades and make great lamentation for her fall howling roaring crying wéeping and wailing saying Alas alas the great citie Babylon the mightie Citie y t faire bewtifull woman alas how in one minute of an houre is thy iudgement come from the Lorde and she made desolate and confounded But O heauen reioyce at her destruction and O yée holy Apostles Prophetes and blessed Martyres of God whose blood hath béen cruelly shed by her in her triumph yée in her ouer throw and confusion for God hath giuen your iudgement on her and reuenged your cause in thus plaging and punishing her for her abhominations idolatrie and persecution Reuela 17.18 The women y e waxe wanton against Christ forgetting their vocation and breaking their first faith that is which leaue their charge and forsake their religion whiche they professe breake their faith and promise made to God and their husbandes to the great slaunder of the Church and dishonour of God and others euill example and that gad abrode idlie from house to house euermore learning and neuer learned like pratlers and busie bodies speaking thinges that are not comelie nor womaÌ„lie eueÌ„ such womeÌ„ I say which thus are turned backe after Satan irreligion and are waxen wanton against Christ haue the greaâ—er damnation and shall therefore bée iustly punished with euerlasting death 1. Tim. 5.11 c. Hast thou not seene this O sonne of man saith the Lord to Ezechiel how the women sitte in the temple mourning for TaÌ„muze the Prophete of the idols all the night long and worship the Sun with their faces towardes the East Hast thou séene this abhomination O thou sonne of man and is it a small thing to the house of Iuda to commit these
abhominations which they doe héere in the Lords houseâ— c. Therefore will I execute my wrath vpon them mine eye shall not spare them neither will I haue pitie and though they crie in mine eares with a loude crie yet will I not heare them saith the Lorde Eze. 8.14 15. c. Reade in the stâ—â—â—s of women more Yea because ther were certain supersticious womeÌ„ which made an art of mourning and taught their daughters and other women to mourne and wéepe with feined teares for the dead Therfore the Lorde by his Prophets Ieremie derideth the superstition of these women and threateneth them saying Heare the word of the Lord O yée women and let your eares regard the wordes of his mouth teach your daughters to mourne and euerie one her neigbour to lament for death is come vp into your windowes and is entred into your palaces to destroy the children without and the young men in the stréetes and there is no meanes to deliuer you nor any of y e wicked from my iudgements that shall fall vpon you Ierem. 9. 20. c. 17. And when the Lord woulde deride the prophets lacke of repenâ—tance and hardnesse of heart that coulde not lament for their ownâ— sinnes hee willed them by his Prophete Ieremie in the same chapter to call for thoâ—e foolish women whom of a superstition they had to lament for the dead that they by their fained teares might prouoke them to some sorow and remorce saying Thus saith the Lord take héede and call for the mourning women among you that they may come and sende for skifull women that they may come and let them make hast and let them take vp a lamentation for you that your eies may cast foorth teares and your eye liddes gush out of water For a lamentable noise is hearde in Sion saying Howe are wee destroyed and vtterly confounded c. Iere. 9.17 If a woman haue a spirite of diuination or soothsaying in her shee shall bee stoned to death as a sorceresse or witche Leuit. 20â— 27. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue Exodus 22. 18. Deut. 18â—10 And woe bée vnto the women that sowe pillowes vnder all mens arme holes and make vailes vppon the head of euerie one that standeth vp to hurt soules Will yée hurt the soules of my people and will yée giue life to the soules that come vnto you will yée pollutâ— me among my people for an handful of Barley for a péece of bread to â—laie the soules of them that shoulde not die and to giue life to the soules that shoulde not liue in lying to my people that heare your lies Wherefore thus saith the Lorde God Beholde I will haue to do with your pillowes wherwith ye hurt the soules of my people to make them flee and cause them to perish depart from the bodieâ— and I will teare them from your armes and will let the soules goe whom ye hunt to make them flie or depart from the bodie Your vailes also will I teare in péeces and deliuer my people out of your handes they shal be no more in your hands to be abused or hunted to death and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Because that with your lyes threatnings ye haue made the hart of the righteous foolishy resorting vnto you sad whoÌ„ I haue not made sad because ye haue contrariwise strengthened y e hands of the wicked stil running vnto you that he should not returne froÌ„ his wickednes euil waies by promising him life vnto whom I haue threatned death for haunting your houses coÌ„mitting abhominations in Israel Therefore ye shal sée no more vanitie nor diuine diuinations for I will deliuer my people out of your handes ye shall know that I am the Lorde Ezech. 13.18 c. Thus doth the Lord threaten a curse and woefull destruction vnto all those supersticious women coÌ„monly called Calkâ—rs or wise women but indéede witches who for lucre sake do prophesie or take vpon them to tell euerie man his fortune or who stole his goods and where they are become which women in old time vsed to giue to those that came vnto them pillowes to leane vpon kerchifs to couer their heads to the intent they might the more allure bewitch theÌ„ which sorceresses also to make the word of god blasphemously to serue their bellie made the people beleeue that they could preserue life or destroy it at their pleasures and that it should come to euerie one according as they diuined or prophesied If any turne after such as worke with spirites after wise women or soothsayers to go a whoring after theÌ„ then wil I set my face against that person be it man or woman wil cut him or her off froÌ„ among my people saith the Lord. Leui. 20.6 Deut. 18.10 That the daughter or childe which is stubborn rebellious riotous and disobedient to her fathers or mothers instruction correction or infected with such like notorious vice ought by Gods law to be stoned to death yée may reade in the chapter of the daughters dutie to her parents Deut. 21 2â— If a womans father spit in her face in his displeasure conceiued against her for her disobedience she should by the law be shut out froÌ„ his sight and be ashamed for seuen daies together before shee were reconciled as appeareth Num. 12.14 in the storie of Miriam If there be any woman that curseth her father or mother she shal die the death Leuit. 20.9 reade more in the childes dutie The wife that committeth adultrie with an other man beside her husbande shall die the death saith the Lorde Leuit. 20.10 Deut. 22.22 The mother that lyeth with her sonne or sonne in lawe shall die the death She that lyeth with her owne natural brother or brother in law or with her father in lawe shall die the death And if a woman come to anie beast and lie with it she shal die the death and be burnt with fire her blood shall be vpon her for all that commit such villanie and abhomination are execrable and detestable before God and shal be cut off by violent death as appeareth Leu. 11. 12.17 c. She that lieth with her nephew or cosin germane her brother or sisters sonne c. shall die the death and their children counted as bastardes Leui. 20.29 The maide or virgin that playeth the harlot in her fathers house ought to be stoned to death as appeareth in virginitie and daughters Deut. 22.20 The maid betrothed to an husband that lieth w t an other man in the citie or towne before marriage ought also to bee stoned to death as yée may reade at large in virginitie Deut. 22.25.28 If a Priestes daughter fall to play the whore shee polluteth her fathers house therefore shall shée bée burnt with fire Leuit. 21.9 The women that are giuen vp into vile affections doe change the naturall vse into that which is against nature beeing full of
vnrighteousnes fornication wickednes and not regarding to knowe God nor follow his lawes but commit al abhomination euen with gréedines shal worthily tast of death euerlasting Rom. 1.16.2 c. If a woman suspected of her husband to be an harlot bee tried by the law of ielousie to be poluted with other men and to haue trespassed against her husband then shall her belly swel and her thighs rot and she shal be an accursed creature among her people and beare her iniquitie as appeareth Num. 5.27 in wiues If a bond maide affianced to an husband not redéemed nor made free lie with an other man shee shall bée whipt and scourged for it but not die the death because shee is not made frée Leuit. 19. 20. And if a maide betrothed to one man be found lying with another then she shall be compelled to be his wife with whom she lay but if her father refuse to giue her vnto him then shall hee that lay with herâ— giue vnto her father 50. shekels of siluer according to the dowry of virgins as yée may reade in virgins Exod. 22. 16. Deut. 22. 18. If a woman put away from her husband and be married to another shee committeth adulterie and shall surely be plagued as an adultresse reade Mark 10. 12. in deuorce There shall bée no whore of the daughters of Israel neither shall there be any whoremonger of the children of Israel Thou shalt neither bring the hyre of a whore nor the price of a dog into the house of the Lorde thy God for any vowe for euen both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God Deut. 23.17 c. Euerie woman that is an harlot or an adultrous woman that forsaketh her husbande and lyeth with other men shall be troâ—en vnder foote as myre or dounge of euerie one that goeth by the way Eccle. 9.9 The women that sitte in the stréetes girded with cordes and burne strawe or brome and are drawen away and lie with suche as come by and after casteth her neighbour in the téeth because she was not so worthilie reputed nor her cord broken euen such shameles harlots are néere all reproofe and shame and shall bee confounded Baruc. 6.42 Thus shall it goe with euery wife that leaueth her husband and getteth inheritance by an other stranger whom she hath married after diuorce c. Shee shal be be brought out into the congregation and after examination made of her wickednesse shee shall bee punished in the stréetes of the citie and shall bee chased like a young marâ— fole When she thinketh not vpon it shee shal be taken and brought to punishment Thus shall shee be put to shame and open rebuke of euerie body yea examinatioÌ„ also shal be theÌ„ made of her childreÌ„ had in adulterie and they shall not take roote nor her branches bring foorth anie fruite A shamefull report shall shée leaue behinde her and her dishonour and reproch shal be not bee put out and that because shee woulde not vnderstande the feare of the Lorde but hath béene disobedient to the lawes of the highest trespassed against her owne husband and gotten children by playing the whore in adulterie by other men And they that remaine shall knowe by her example and punishment that there is nothing better thâ—n the â—eare of the Lord nor nothing swéeter then to take â—éede to the commandements of the Lord. Eccle. 23.17 c. reade more in diuorce If two men striue together fight the wife of y e one come put â—oorth her hande and take the other man by the priuities to pull hym from her husbande then shalt thou cut of her hande thine eye shall not spare her whiche lawe importeth that godlie shamefastnesse ought to bée preserued for it is an horrible thing to sée a woman manly and past shame Deutetonom 25.11 And Salomon saith that she that is impudent too bold shall be taken a way and made a publike example of great reproch Eccle. 19.3 If a woman put apart for her naturall disease vncouer her shame and open the fountaine of her blood by lying with a man shee shall die the death and bée cut off for her vncleannesse Leuit. 18. 19. â—0 18. The woman shall not weare that which perteineth to the man neither shall a man put on womens raiment for all that doe so are abhomination vnto the Lord God Deut. 22.4 If a maide or a wife vowe a vowe either by othe or solemne promise and thereby binde her selfe to mortification abstinence or otherwise then if the same vow bonde or promise bée afterward confirmed by the father or husband and shee notwithstanding brake it shée shall bee sure to beare her iniquitie for it is sinne in her and the Lorde will surely require it of her and will not forgiue it So also is it of a vowe made by a widowe or divorced woman without confirmation as yee may reade Numb 30. Deut. 22.21 in maydes wiues c. Furthermore thus saith the Lorde If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lorde thy God to keepe his commaundementes and his ordinances which he commandeth thée This curse among many other shall come vpon thee and thy women pursue you and ouertake you The tender and daintie woman among you whiche neuer woulde venture to set the sole of her foote vpon the grounde for her softnenesse and tendernesse or nicenes shall bee gréeued at her husbande that lieth in her bozome and at her sonne and at her daughter and at her after birth that shall come out from betweene her feet and at her children which shée shall beare for when all thinges lacke shée shall eate them secretly during the siege and straightnesse wherewith the enemie shall besiege thée in thy Cities as came to passe in the dayes of Ioram king of Israell 2. King 6.29 And when the Romaines besieged Ierusalem when hunger so bit their women that they were readie to eate their owne children before they were borne and being borne did most vnnaturally deuoure them Deut. 28.45.56.57 Let the harlot and shee that of long time hath accustomed to play the whore adultresse take away her fornications out of her sight and her adulteries from betweene her brestes by earnest and spéedy repentaunce least if shée continue so still in her filthines I strip her starke naked as euer she was borne and slay her through beggerie and penurie Hosee 1.2.3 The harlot that forgetteth mee saith the Lorde and thus saith to her selfe I will goe after my louers that giue mee my bread and my water my wooll and my flaxe my oyle and my drinke that is my wealth aboundaunce euen her way will I stop with thornes and make an hedge that shee shall not finde her paths though she followe after her louers yet shall shée not come at all though shee séeke them yet shall shée not finde them for I will so punishe and plague her and bring her into such streigthes and afflictionsâ— that shée shall
also before the yeeres of famine shee bare two sonnes called Manasses and Ephraim Gene. 41.15.50 Atarah or Athara or Araia â—ign the Lordes anger or heate a Crowne She was one of the wiues of Ierathmeel and the mother of Onam 1. Chro. 2.26 Athalia signi tyme for the Lorde his time an houre c. Shee was the daughter of Omri or as some will of Ahab which was the sonne of Omri eyther for that shee was brought vp still with Achab or for that shee imitated his maners in all kinde of Idolatrie Shee was also the wife of Iehoram king of Iuda whome shee corrupted greatly with her Idolatrie and vnto whome in the yeere of the worlde 3217. shee bare a sonne called Ahaziah which was Iehorams youngest sonne who also all his elder brethren being before slain by the Philistines succeeded his father Iehoram in the kingdome His mother Athalia entised him also to all wickednesse insomuch that the Lorde caused him to bee slayne by Iehu Then Athalia perceiuing that her sonne was dead shee in the yeere of the worlde 3239. tooke vpon her the rule and gouernement and to the intent that there shoulde bee none of that lynage of Iehosophat to rayne or make title to the crowne and that shee onely might vsurpe the gouernement and raigne quietly shee most cruelly murdered and destroyed all the seede and posteritie of Iehosophat and Ioram to whom the kingdome appertayned saue one for so it pleased God to vse the tyrannie of this wicked woman to destroy the whole family of Ahab onely Ioas the sonne of Ahaziah was stolen away and hid from her by Iehosheba as appeareth in her storie And when wicked Athalia had ruled the lande most cruelly sixe yeeres and had broken vp the house of God and bestowed vpon Balam and Idoles all thinges that were dedicated therein to the Lorde In the seuenth yere Ioas was brought forth by Iehoida the priest and proclaymed king Shee hearing that ranne into the Temple of the Lorde and there beholding Ioas crowned king shee rent her clothes and cried out treason treason But at the commaundement of Iehoida the priest the captayne and souldiers tooke her and caried her out of the Temple and slue her by the way as they went to the kinges house in the yeere of the world 3245. and this was the ende of that wicked idolatresse booddy woman Athalia 2. Kin. 8.18.26.11.1.2.15 2. chro 21.6.22.2.3.10 c. 24.6 Atossa was first the wife of king Cambyses afterward maried to king Darius Histaspis and maried the mother of Xerxis in the yeere of the worlde 3620. reade more in Ester For as some thinke this Atossa was Ester who first was the wife of Aâ—huerus and after his death became wife to Darius Histaspis vnto whom shee bare Xerxes the father of Artaxerxes in the yeere of the worlde 3621. Azuba or Asuba sig left or forsaken his strength in her Shee was the daughter of Silhi and the wife of Aha king of Iuda vnto whom she bare a sonne called Iehoshaphat that was also king of Iuda after his father 1. King 22.42 2. Chro. 20.31 There was another woman of this name which was the wife of Caleb and bare him diuers sonnes as appeareth 1. Chronicles 2.18 19. B Baara or Bara or Baraa sig a workemanshippe a bed a fire in wicked mynde in ill a companion in ioyes in feedyng in buildyng c. Shee was one of the wiues of Shaharaim whom with her mate Hushim he put away from him and tooke other 1. chro 8.8 Bashemath or Basemath â—ig sweete smelling spices destruction of death in discomforting Shee was the daughter of Elon an Hittite and one of the wiues of Esawe who with her mate Iudith was a griefe of minde to her good father and mother in lawe Isaak and Rebecca through her continuall disobedience and great rebellion Gen. 26.34 Bernice signifieth a hurtlesse Sonne a heauie victorie the weight of vanquishing finely moued or with choyse Shee was the daughter of Herode Agrippa borne in the yeere of the worlde 4170. and the naturall sister of king Agrippa and wife to Herode king of Chalcida her Grandfather And being entertayned of king Agrippa in his house as his wife also she went with him to Cesaria to salute Festus and to welcome him into the Countrey who was then but newly entered into his office of presideÌ„tship in the roome of Felix And when Paules matter should be heard before Agrippa she went with him also into the common hall where she was receiued with great pompe and there sate with Agrippa and the other gouernours all day to heare the examination of Paul before Festus the new President and beyng almost conuerted with her husband Agrippa at the wordes of Paule she together with the rest of the Gouernours arose and in secret conference iustified Paule as altogether innocent and most vnwoorthy of death or imprisonment Actes 25.13 23.26.30 Bethsheba or Bethsabe Bethzabe Bathshua or Bersabe signifieth the seuenth daughter or the daughter of an othe The daughter of fulnes of noise or thâ— daughter of saluation or the honourable or noble daughter She was the daughter of Eliam called also Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel 1. Chro. 3.5 and the wife of Uriah the Hittite which was with Ioab in king Dauids warres against the Moabites at Rabbath And on a tyme in the yeere of the worlde 3086. as Bethsabe was washing her selfe in her priuie garden alone it chaunced king Dauid to looke out at a windowe in his pallace as hee walked on the top or roofe thereof in the afternoone and seeing her to bee a very fayre woman he was presently so rauished with her beautie that forthwith hee sent for Bethsabe and shee comming vnto him hee lay with her committed adulterie with her so sent her home againe to her owne house Then shortly after shee perceiuing her selfe to be with childe and fearing least for that fact shee should be stoned to death according to Gods lawe sent Dauid the king worde thereof secretely Whereupon the king partly to hyde his owne fault and partly to saue the woman from daunger of the lawe sent for Urias her husband to come home from warres that hee might colour and father the matter by lying with his wife But when Dauid sawe that Urias woulde by no meanes company with his wife Bethsabe as he desired he returned him back againe to Ioab with a letter the contentes whereof caused Urias quickly to bee dispatched out of his life by the enemie And when Bethsabe heard that her husbande Urias was dead shee mourned for her husband so when the mourning was done Dauid sent for Bethsabe and to make her amendes hee tooke her into his house and shee became his wife and in the yeere of the world 3086. she brought foorth the same childe conceyued in adulterie being a sonne which liued not long but being stricken by God with a sore sickenesse for Dauids Bethsabes sinnes and punishement it died
After that in the yeere of the worlde 3088. Bethsabe conceiued agayne and brought forth another sonne called Salomon 2. Sam. 11.12 Lastly when Dauid was waxed old and fallen into exteeme age and Abishaag the Shunamite her handemayde ministred vnto him Bethsabe vnderstanding by Nathan the Prophete that Adonia the sonne of Aggit her mate beganne to aspire to the kingdome of his father Dauid yet lyuing shee by the counsayle and aduice of Nathan the Prophete who taught her her lesson went vnto the king her husband and making her humble obeysaunce vnto the king as he sate in his chaumber Abisag the Shunimite or young virging ministring vnto him he saide vnto her Bethsheba what is the matter Shee answered my Lorde thou swearest by the Lorde thy God vnto thine handemaide saying assuredly thy sonne shall raygne after mee and hee shall sitte vppon my throne But beholde now is Adoniah king and thou my Lorde the king knowest it not so closely is the matter kept from thee by flatterers For hee hath offered many oxen fatte cattell and sheepe and hath called all the kings sonnes and Abiathar the priest and Ioab the captayne of the hoste but my sonne Salomon thy seruant hath hee not bidden And nowe my Lorde O king the eyes of all Israell waite on thee that thou shouldest tel them who ought to sit on the seate of my Lorde the King after him for else when my Lord the king shall sleepe with his fathers I and my Sonne Salomon shal be reputed vile and so put to death as wicked transgressours and sinners And lo the Queene had no sooner ended her tale but the Prophet Nathan came and confirmed her wordes to bee true Whereuppon the King called for Bethsabe againe who was gone aside while Nathan talked with the king swore vnto her to assure her that Salomon her Sonne should be that day proclaymed King and raigne in his steade after him Then Bethsabe the Queene humbling her selfe to the grounde did yeelde reuerence and thankes vnto the King and desyred of GOD that her Lord King Dauid might liue for euer Afterwarde when Dauid was dead and her Sonne Salomon reigned King and was established in his throne it chaunced that Adoniah whose purpose she preuented came vnto her and she suspecting him as her priuy enemy and fearing least he would worke more treason still against the King her sonne demaunded first of him whether he came peaceably and to good intent or no. And when hee answered yea and that he had suite vnto her then she bad him say on for shee would heare him and vnderstand his suite So Adoniah made this request vnto her that she would vouchsafe to doe so much for him as to goe vnto the King her Sonne and speake vnto him to giue him Abishag the shunamite to wife for sayd he I knowe the king wil not say thee nay then Bethsabe willing to pleasure euen her very enemy especially in so small a matter as she thought sayde vnto Adoniah well I will speake for thee vnto the King my Sonne So Bethsabe comming vnto the king Salomon her sonne to speake vnto him for Adoniah the king as soone as he sawe her rose vp to meete her and in token of reuerence and that others by his good example might haue her being his mother in greater honour and to teach all children how hye in dignitie soeuer they are aboue their parentes their duetie towardes their parentes he bowde or humbled him selfe vnto her and sitting agayne in his throne he caused a seate to be set for his mother by him and shee satte on his right hande Then shee preferring Adoniah suite sayde vnto Salomon I desire a small request of thee saye me not naye vnto whome the king gently aunswered Aske on my mother for I will not say thee nay My request is quoth shee that thou wilt let Abisaag the shunamitisse be giuen to Adoniah thy brother to wife But king Salomon wisely perceiuing further mischiefe to lurke in that request then his mother who made it a light matter was aware off and knowing that if hee shoulde graunt Abishag that was so deere vnto his father at her request vnto Adoniah hee woulde afterwarde by that meanes aspire vnto the kingdome answered his mother thus O good mother and why doest thou aske Abisaag the Shunamite for Adoniah you might as well aske for him the kingdome also for hee is mine elder brother and hath for him both Abiathar the priest and Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah as thou knowest as if he woulde say if I should graunt you the one he will thereby soone aspire to the other hauing such meanes therfore I cānot for my safety graunt your request so preiudiciall to my royall estate so shee departed without her purpose and Salomon wisely to preuent the aspiring purpose of Adoneah went straight waies and put him to death 1. King 1.2 Finally so godly wise and learned a woman was this Bethsabe that Salomon her sonne being nowe a king yea and a most wise and learned king yet she to shewe her duetie motherly affection towards him her childe taught him the doctrine and preceptes of good life and howe he shoulde rule and gouerne to the glorye of God and his perpetuall prayse and renowne Her wordes and doctrine which shee taught Salomon and wherein shee exhorted him to chastitie sobrietie and iustice are these What my Sonne And what the Sonne of my wombe And what O Sonne of my desires Giue not thy strength vnto women nor thy waies which is to destroy kings for women are the destruction of kings if they hate them It is not for kings O Lamuel for so was Salomon also called it is not for Kinges to drinke wine nor for Princes strong drinke that is the king must not giue himfelfe to wantonnesse and neglecte his office which is to execute iudgement least he drinke and forget the decree and chaunge the iudgement of all the children of affliction Giue yee strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart Let him drinke that he may forget his pouertie and remember his miserie no more for wine doth comfort and cheere the heart of man as Psal. 104. 15 Open thy mouth for the dombe in the cause of al the children of destruction That is defend their cause that are not able to helpe them selues Open thy mouth I saye iudge righteouslye and iudge the afflicted and the poore Pro. 31.1.2.3 c. Reade more of the conditions and properties of a worthy woman and vertuous wife described by Bethshabe in the prayse of women Pro. 31.10 Bilha or Bala or Baala after some translations signifieth old or fading a pretye one the lesser swalowed vp hauing her his man troubled shedding of an vnderling had In getting vp Destroying She was a young Damosell which serued Laban the father of Rahel and when Rahel his daughter should be marryed to Iacob Laban gaue Bilha his mayde to Rahel
prouinces nowe therefore Hester if this content thee not for a sufficient reuenge of that villanie that they offered thy people then what doest thou require yet further of mee aske and I will giue it thee Tell mee thy request I say yet further and I will surely perfourme it vnto thee Then Ester not so much for desire of vengeaÌ„ce as moued w t a zealous desire to see Gods iustiudgements executed against his enemies sayde vnto the king if it please y e king let it be granted also to y e Iewes y â— are in ShushaÌ„ by decree y t it may be lawfull for them to hang vp the dead corpes or bodies of Hamans ten sonnes vpon y e selfe same gallowes or tree with their father which her request the king also not so willingly graÌ„ted but it was as diligeÌ„tly executed accordingly by y e Iewes who for ioy of that victory of their happy deliuerance kept y e same xiiii and xv dayes of March in the which they should haue all been slayne in the which they did kill their enemies and were preserued high and holy dayes to y e Lord calling theÌ„ the dayes of Purim or casting of lots by the speciall comaundement of Mordecay and the Q. Ester who her selfe wrote with all authoritie to confirme those letters of Purim sent by Mordecay her cosin vnto the people commaunding them by her decree also to keepe those dayes holy and obserue them as feast with fasting and earnest prayer and thankesgiuing vnto God for their deliueraunce wrought by her which her noble and valiant actes are registred in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kinges of the Meedes and Persians to the glory of GOD and her and her cosin Mordecayes perpetuall memory fame and renowne to all posteritie Ester 2.3.4 5.7.8.9.10.13.14.15 Eunice signi decking a good victory or conquest Shee was the daughter of Loyis the mother of Timothie whiche women both the mother and daughter are highly commended of saint Paul for their sinceritie of fayth which he desired Timothy earnestly to followe 2. Tim. 1.5 Gomer signi consuming fayling Shee was the daughter of Diblaim and a verie wicked woman who hauing long accustomed to play y e harlot at the last became y e wife of Hosea the Prophete and bare vnto him three wicked adulterous children like her selfe to wit a sonne called by God Iezreel then a daughter called also by God Loruhamah and when shee had wayned her daughter shee conceiued and bare Hosea another sonne called by God also Loammi after the Lorde threatned to plague her and her children greatly for her whoredome and adulterie except shee repented in time Reade this mistically in Hosea 1.3.2.1 H Haddasha see Ester Hagar or Agar signi a stranger a newecome chewing cudde fearing ouerthwaâ—â— turned turning dwelling wayfaring delay c. She was an Egyptian woman and the handemaide of Sara Abrahams wife who being olde long barren and childelesse when shee had dwelt in the land of Canaan by y e space of 10. yeres in the yere of of y e world 2094. she gaue this Hagar her handmayd vnto Abraham to be his wife whiles he dwelt in the lande of Canaan And shee conceiued feeling her selfe with childe began then to dispise her old barren mistresse Sara whereat Sara being grieued went and complayned thereof vnto Abraham her husbande who giuing her power to correct the maide at her pleasure shee began to deale so roughly with Hagar that in no wise shee woulde abyde it but ranne away from her dame fled into the wildernes and sitting there beside a fountayne called Berlaheroy or the well of y e liuing seeing mee not knowing whether to goe the Lorde whiche reiecteth no estate of people in their miserie sent his good Angell euen Christe Iesu to comfort her who appearing vnto her in the shape of an Angell sayde vnto her Hagar from whence commest thou and whether intendest thou to goe I flie quoth shee from Sara my dame whiche fareth so foule with mee that I am euen weary of my life Well sayde the Angell returne to thy dame agayne and submitte thy selfe humblye vnder her handes for I euen I the Lorde will so greatly increase thy seede that it shall not bee numbred for multitude Loe thou art with child and shalt beare a sonne whose name thou shalt call Ishmaell Then Hagar rebuking her dulnesse acknowledged Gods graces ' who was with her euery where and gaue him hartie thankes for this his consolation in her trouble saying Thou O God lookest on mee and haue not I also here in this place looked after him that seeth mee in miserie which being ended shee returned home agayne to Sara her mistres and submitted her self vnto her as the Angel gaue her counsel And after in processe of time that is in the yeere of the worlde 2094. shee brought forth vnto AbrahaÌ„ being theÌ„ 86. yeres old his first begotten sonne called Ishmael as the angell had before saide of which Ishmaell came the peculier people of the Ishmaelites as of Hagar came the Hagarians 1. chro 5. 10. And thus was Hagar the bondewoman the mother of the Ishmalites and children of the fleshe and not of the promise but Sara she was the mother of the true Israelites and heires of promise as shall appeare For when it pleased God to make his promise first to Abraham that Sara though olde and barren shoulde haue a sonne by him called Isaak hee thinking that impossible besought God for Hagars sonnes saying Oh let Ishmael liue in thy sight and it shal suffice Whereunto God answered him saying I haue hard thy praier for Ishmael Hagars sonne lo I wil blesse him with temporal blessings c. As of whoÌ„ shal come all the children of the flesh but mine euerlasting couenant will I make and establishe with Isaak the sonne of Sara of whom shall come y e children of the spirite for Hagar or Sinai saith S. Paul to the Gal. 4.24 is a mountain in Arabia bearing y e name of Hagar and signifieth the olde Testament and the Law and Ismael her sonne signifieth the Iewesh sinagogue but Sara or Ierusalem which is aboue and is the mother of vs all signifieth the Gospell and Isaak her sonne signifieth the Church of Christ. So that we now are all children of the promise in the Church of Christ which is our mother not children of y e fleshe nor of y e Sinagog which is a seruaÌ„t vnto the law So wheÌ„ y e time came that it pleased God according to his promise to visite Sara she conceiued and brought forth a sonne called Isaak after whose birth a new coÌ„tention arose between Sara and Hagar her maide about their children for Sara perceiuing Ishmael Hagars sonne to be a mocker despiser of her son Isaak w t the apostle Paul to the gal 4.29 calleth persecutioÌ„ would not suffer Ismael to keepe coÌ„pany w t her sonne Isaak but made her coÌ„plaint vnto AbrahaÌ„ saying cast
young sonne and there presented before the Lord both her offering and childe to Ely the high Priest whom she then put in remembrance thereof saying oh my Lord as certainly as thy soule liueth my Lorde I am the woman that stoode with thee here of late praying vnto the Lorde for this child and because my Lorde hath geuen me my desire which I asked of him therefore also I now according to my vowe and promise made in my prayer am come to dedicate him vnto y e Lord vnto whom I haue geuen him while he liueth And so after a notable song of praise and thankes giuing made by her vnto God for her childe as appeareth in the first Lampe pag. 6. She departed with her husband home and lefte her child Samuel with Ely the Priest to minister in the temple of God in all that Ely commanded him So Samuel her child beyng but young ministred before the Lorde gyrded with a linnen Ephod And euery yeere after did Hannah his mother make a little coate for Samuel her sonne and bring it vp to him when she came with her husband to offer the yeerely sacrifice as the custome then was once euerie yeere to appeare before the Lord with their families And when she came into the house of God Ely the Priest blessed her husband her saying The Lord geue thee seed of this woman for the petitions that she asked of y e Lord. And so departed they home againe vnto their place in mount Ephraim where they dwelt And thus God tooke away her rebuke of barrennes and visited her and blessed her with moe children so that after Samuel she conceiued and bare three sonnes moe and two daughters to her great comfort and the reioycing of her husband 1. Sam. 1.2 Hazleleponi or Asalelphuni or Asalephum signifieth the shadow or drownings of the countenance the sound of tinking in the face She was the daughter of Etam and sister to Izreel Ishma and Idbash that were of the tribe of Iuda 1. Chro. 4.3 Heleah or Helaa signifieth rust weakenesse She was one of the wiues of Ashur who bare vnto him iii. sonnes Zereth Iezohar and Ethnan 1. Chro. 4.5.7 Herodias signifieth the glory of the skin or the boasting or glorying in skinnesâ— proude of his furres the hill of pride or of presumption the fierie Dragon c. She was the wife of Phillip Herode the Tetrarches brother to whom she brought foorth a daughter whose name as Iosephus reporteth was called Salomen This woman beyng very licentious and more familier with her brother in lawe Herod then honestie required grew into such fauour with him that he contrarie to the law of Moses married her his brother beyng yet aliue Against which vnlawfull marriage that holy man of God Iohn Baptist spake very much to Herods reproofe saying that it was not lawfull for him to haue his brothers wife Then she fearing least that Saint Iohn woulde make Herode breake of the incestuous marriage first caused Herode to take Saynt Iohn and binde him and put him in prison for her sake and would haue put Iohn to death openly but that he feared the multitude who counted him a Prophet of the Lordes But this wicked woman Herodias not being herewith satisfied counselled her daughter Salomen at the feast of Herodes byrthdaye when shee daunced before him to aske of him the head of Iohn Baptist in a platter who did so and it was graunted her and geuen her in a platter and shee carried it to her mother And so by the wicked deuise of this vnchaste woman Saynt Iohn Baptist lost his head to the greate trouble of the Churche and griefe of Christ Iesus and his Disciples Matth. 14.1 Heuah or Eua signifieth quicke liuing or serpent woe alas life a woman the mother of all mankinde She was the last reasonable creature that God made in Paradise and the first woman that euer was For when all creatures and Adam were made Adam hauing now geuen names to all creatures and God seyng that among theÌ„ all he could not find one helper meet for AdaÌ„s society said It is not good y t man should be himself alone I will make him an help meet for him so y e Lord vpoÌ„ y e 6. day of the worlds creatioÌ„ caused an heauy sleep to fal vpoÌ„ AdaÌ„ whilest he slept he took one of his ribbes closed vp the flesh in steede therof And of the ribbe which the Lord God had taken out from the man made he the woman to finishe and make perfect the woorkemanshippe of mankinde by the womans creation whiche before was like an vnperfect buylding And the woman being thus created the Lorde brought her to the man to see how he would name her and to make her his mate who assoone as he saw her sayd thus of her This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shal be called woman or mannes because she was taken out of man Thus Adam and the woman being coupled together as man wife by the Lord in paradise to shew y t marriage requireth a greater duetie towards our wiues and likewise the wife to the husband then otherwise we are bound to our PareÌ„tsâ— therfore said God shal man leaue his father mother and shal cleaue to his wife and they shal be one flesh Now Adam and Eue beyng both naked were not ashamed because they were yet in their state of innocency for before sinne entred all things were comely and honest And being both put in y e gardeÌ„ of pleasure called Eden or Paradise Sathan enuying their felicity as he can change himselfe into an Angel of light so did he now â—irst abuse the wisedome and subtilty of the serpent the subtilest beast in the field and making the serpent his instrument he went and spake in the serpent vnto the woman and sayd yea hath God indeed sayd ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden And the woman aunsweared the serpent saying We eate of the trees of the garden but of the fruit of y e tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath sayd yee shal not eate of it neyther shall ye touch it least ye die Then the serpent or Sathan whose chief subtilty was to cause Heua not to feare gods threatnings sayâ— vnto the woman ye shall not dye at all But GOD doth know that when ye shall eate thereof your eyes shal be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and euill as though he should say God doth not forbid ye to eate of the fruite saue that he knoweth if you should eate therof yee shall be like to him So the woman Heua doubting of Gods threatning yeelded to Sathan and seyng that y e tree was good for meate and that it was pleasant to the eye and a tree to be desired to get knowledge she tooke of the fruite therof and did eate And beyng thus beguiled through the subtiltie of the serpent by whoÌ„ through enuy
because they thought scorne to yeelde them selues vnto you that they might finde mercie in your sight Therefore haue I deuised by my selfe after this maner I will go before the prince Olophernes the chiefe captayne of your armie and tell him all their secretes will shew him y e way how hee may come by them and winne their citie without the losse of body or life of any one of his men Nowe when the men had pondered her woordes and considered well her beawtie her couÌ„tenaÌ„ce fayre face they were astonied wondering greatly at her excelleÌ„t beauty they put her in good coÌ„fort of her life saying Thou hast saued thy life by finding out this deuice and making hast to come before our Lord. Now therefore come with vs to his tent and some of vs shall conduct thee till they haue deliuered thee into his hande And when thou standest before him bee not afrayde in thine heart but showe vnto him what thou hast to say and be thou sure hee will intreat thee well So they set her and her mayde in a chariotte and beeing accompanied with an hundered men brought her to Holophernes cent where by reason her comming was bruted among the pauilions or tentes of his souldiers there was such a running too and fro to see her that they came and stoode rounde about her as shee stoode without Olophernes tent merueiling at her beawtie and wondred at the children of Israel because of her feature comely and goodly personage insomuch as euery one being immediatly ouercome taken with her beawtie sayde one to another who woulde dispise this people of the Iewes that haue amonge them such goodly and fayre women Should we not by reason fight agaynst them for these women if for nothing els surely it is not good that one man of these bee lefte for if they shoulde remayne they might deceiue the whole earth So when Olephernes was aduertised of her comming and that shee stood without his tent wayting to speake with him hee sent his garde and seruauntes for her who brought her neere vnto his tent doore where he lay very stately vpon his bed vnder a canopie whiche was wouen with purple and golde and emeraldes and precious stones and when his menne wente in and tolde him that Iudith was come Olophernes came forth vnto the entrey of his tent lighted with Lampes of siluer because it was in the night carried before him to meete her and welcome her And when Iudith was come before him he no sooner saw her but immediatly he was ouercome and rauished with her beawtie for both he and his seruants marueiled all thereat So Iudith looking wishly vpon him and being somewhat abashed at the first with his maiestie shee fell downe vppon the earth as one almost dead for feare and being reuiued agayne did reuerence vnto Olofernes and his seruants tooke her vp agayne at his commaundement Then saide Olofernes vnto her woman bee of good cheere and feare not in thine heart for I neuer hurt any that woulde serue Nabuchadnezer y e king of al the earth As for thy people if they had not despised mee I would not haue lift vp my speare against them but they haue procured these thinges vnto themselues But tell mee now what is the cause that thou art fledde from them And wherefore thou art come vnto vs For if thou be come for safegarde and succour then bee of good comfort thou shalt liue from this night and hereafter for none shal hurt thee but intreat thee well as they do the seruants of king Nabuchadnezer my Lord. To whom Iudith made answere on this wise saying Sir quoth Iudith if thou wilt receiue the words of thy handmaid suffer thine handmaid to speake in thy presence I will declare no lye vnto my Lord this night And if thou wilt followe do after the wordes of thine handmaide God will bring the thing perfectly to passe by thee and my Lord shall not fayle of his purpose As Nabuchadnezer king of all the earth liueth and as his power is of force who hath senâ— thee to reforme and punishe all persons that goe wrong not onely men shall bee made subiect to him by thee but also the beastes of the field and the cattell and the foules of the heauen shall liue by thy power vnder Nebuchadnezer and all his house For wee heard of thy wisedome of thy prudent spirit and actiuitie doe all people speake yea it is declared bruted through the whole earth that thou onely art good excellent and mightie in all the kingdome and of a wonderfull knowledge in the feates of warre For as concerning the matter which Achâ—or whom thou banished thine armie did speake in thy presence and gaue counsell vnto my Lorde to make search whether the people of the Iewes had sinned against their God or no. It is manifest and true and wee haue heard of his words for the men of Bethulia did take him and hee declared vnto them all that hee had spoken vnto thee concerning vs and the people of Israel Nowe thrrefore least my Lorde should bee frustrate and voyde of his purpose and that death may fall vppon them and that they may bee taken in their sinne whiles they prouoke their God to anger which is so oft times as they doe that which is not beseeming Yea this is playne of a suretie that our God is so wroth with vs by reason of our sinnes that he hath she'wed by his Prophetes vnto the people how that far their sins he wil deliuer them ouer vnto y e enemie And for as much as the childreÌ„ of Israel know that they haue so displeased their God they are sore affrayde of thee yea and suffer great hunger also at this present For want of drinke they are in a maner as dead men for because their victualles fayle aud their water is wasted they haue in their extremitie determined to slay their cattel that they may drinke the blood of theÌ„ are purposed to consume all things y t God hath forbiddeÌ„ theÌ„ to eate by his lawes Yea they haue purposed to speÌ„d y e holy things of their God which he hath forbiddeÌ„ theÌ„ to touch as the first fruits of y e wheat the tithes of the wine of the oyle which they had reserued sanctified for the priests that serue in Ierusalem before the face of our God the which thing it is not lawfull for any of the people to touch with their handes Moreouer they haue sent to IerusaleÌ„ because they also that dwel there haue done the like such as shoulde bring theÌ„ licence froÌ„ the Senate and wheÌ„ they shal bring theÌ„ word theÌ„ they wil do it they shal be giuen thee therfore to be destroyed the same day For if they do these things it is a playne case that they must needs be destroyed Wherefore I thine handmaid knowing all this am fled froÌ„ theÌ„ to shew thee these things for God hath sent me to
y e people had giuen her and gaue the Canopie which she had taken from his bed for an oblation to the Lord. So the people reioyced as the vse is by reason of the victory for the space of three moneths and Iudith remained with them in Ierusalem by the Sanctuarie And after this euery one returned home to his owne house inheritance And Iudith went to Bethulia remained in her owne possession was for y e time right honorably taken in all the countrey land of Israel Unto her vertue also was chastitie ioyned so y t although many desired her yet she neuer knew man nor companied w t any all the dayes of her life after that Manasses her husband was dead and gathered to his people But on the high solemne feast dayes she went out with great worship increased more more in honor waxed old in her husbands house where when she had been a widow three yeeres foure moneths was become an 105. yeres old After that she had made her maide Abra free and distributed her goods to them y t were neerest of her kinred to her husband her she died in Bethulia there was most honorably buried beside her husband Whose death the Iewes or people of Israel lamented with mourning vii daies together euery yeere solemnized y e day wherin she got the victorie as a holy day to be kept for euer amōg their fastiuall daies And there was none y t made the childrē of Israel any more afraid in the dayes of Iudith nor along time after her death There was another woman called Iudith which was the daughter of Beeri an Hittite one of the wiues of Esau who with her mate Bashemath was a griefe of mind to Isaac Rebecca her father mother in lawe for her disobedience and rebellion towares them Gen. 26. 34.35 K Keren-happuch or Cornu-sibii signifieth the horne or childe of beautie She was the youngest of Iobs three daughters that he had after his fall and sister to Ieminah and Kezia a verie beautifull virgin as her sisters were vnto whom Iob her father gaue an inheritance amōgst his sonnes to her preferment and portion Iob. 42.14 Ketura or Cetura or Chethura signifieth smelling sweete like spices or perfuming or bound a good sauour Shee was the second wife or concubine of Abram whom he tooke as some think whiles Sara was yet aliue and who bare him vi sonnes as appeareth Gen. 25.1.2 Kezia or Cassiam signifieth as pleasant as Cassia or sweete spice Shee was the seconde daughter of Iob a most beautifull comely woman and virgin vnto whom also with her sisters Ieminah and Karen-happuch her father gaue an inheritance for her portion among their brethren Iob. 42.14 L Lea or Lia. signifieth painfull or weeried Shee was the eldest daughter of Laban the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother and sister to Rahel but being bleare eyed or squint eyed shee was nothing so faire and beautifull as her sister Rahel was yet when her sister Rahel for whom Iacob serued seuen yeres should haue been giuen vnto him in marriage y e same night after the wedding feast kept by Rahel her father to prefer his eldest daughter in marriage before the yōgest especially being somwhat deformed couered his daughter Leahs face with a vaile in signe of chastitie shamefastnesse as the maner of virgins or young maried wiues then was so in the darke in steede of her sister Rahel brought her to bed to Iacob who lay with her and so she preuented her sister Rahel in marriage became Iacobs first wife this was in the yeere of the worlde 2252. And her father gaue his maid Zilpa to Leah to be her waiting maid seruant Which deceit in Laban caused Iacob to serue seuen yeres more for Rahel her sister But when the Lord saw that Lea was despised not so well beloued of her husband Iacob as her sister was shee in her affliction had recourse vnto God by prayer because children are a great cause of mutuall loue betweene man wife he heard her prayer and made deformed Lea fruitfull faire Rahel barren so y t the same yeere Leah conceiued bare a sonne called his name Ruben saying Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation giuen me a childe now therefore my husband will loue me And the next yeere being the yere of the world 2253. she conceiued againe bare another sonne called his name Symeon saying because the Lord hath heard that I was hated therefore he hath giuen me this sonne also And in the yere 2254. shee conceiued againe the third time bare a sonne called his name Leuy saying Now at this time will my husband keepe mee commpanie because I haue borne him three sonnes Lastly in the yeere of the world 2255. she conceiued bare him another sonne called his name Iudah saying Now will I praise the Lord so she left bearing Afterward when she saw that for her fruitfulnes she was enuied of her barren sister Rahel that she her selfe also now had left bearing then shee gaue Zilpah her maid vnto her husband Iacob to wife who bare him a sonne Leah called his name Gad saying God doth increase me with a company or multitude of children Again Zilpah her maid conceiued and bare another sonne whose name Leah called Asshur saying Ah blessed am I for the daughters will blesse me After this in the yeere of the world 2256. it chanced that Ruben her eldest sonne in the time of wheat haruest went out into the field found certaine hearbes called Mandrakes whose roote hath a certaine likenes of the figure of a mā and brought them home vnto his mother Lea. And when Rahel her sister heard thereof she went to Lea her sister desired her to giue her of her sonnes Mandrakes but Lea vnwilling so to do answered said to her sister Rahel Is it not enough that thou hast taken away mine husband but wouldst take away my sonnes Mandrakes also Wel quoth Rahel let him sleepe with thee this night for thy sonnes Mandrakes And so Iacob cōming out of the field at euening Lea went out to meet him and said Come in vnto me lie with me this night for I haue bought paid for thee with my sonnes Mandrakes So Iacob did and God heard Leah and she conceiued by him that night bare vnto Iacob the fift sonne called his name Issachar saying God hath giuen me my reward because I gaue my maide to my husband In which wordes she offended because in steede of acknowledging her fault shee boasteth there as if God had rewarded her therfore After that in the yeere of the world 2257. Lea conceiued againe and bare Iacob the sixt sonne of her owne bodie called his name Zebulim praysing God and saying God hath indued me with a good dowry now will mine husband dwell with me because I haue borne him
sixe sonnes Last of all in the yeere of the world 2258. she conceaued brought foorth Iacob a daughter whose name she called Dinah Now when Iacob was to depart away from Laban with his wiues Leah Rahel such goods and cattell as God had blessed him with in his seruice for recompence of his true seruice Iacob perceiuing Labans children to murmure against Iacob as though he had inriched himselfe of their fathers substance to their impouerishment called his wife Leah and Rahel tolde them of that discourtesie and what the Lord had reueled vnto him concerning his departure froÌ„ Laban Leah Rahel said vnto Iacob their husbande Haue we any more portion in our fathers house doth not he count vs as strangers for he hath solde vs in that hee hath giuen vs vnto thee in recoÌ„pence of thy seruice which is a kinde of sale hath eaten vp and coÌ„sumed our portions money therfore all y e riches which God hath taken from our father is ours and our childrens Nowe then whatsoeuer God hath put in thy minde to doe doe it Whereuppon Iacob with his two wiues Leah and Rahel departed from their father Laban and returned towardes their owne countrie and hauing deuided his familie into order Leah his wife and her children were formost next the maides and their children And when they met his brother Esau comming against him to meete him Lea with her children came neere and made obeisance vnto him very reuerently And so passing on their iourney safely to Sechem a citie in the lande of Canaan there shee rested a while and gaue her daughter Dinah a little too much libertie to go abrode to gaze vpon the women of that Countrie by meanes whereof vnawares her faire daughter was violently taken rauished and deflowred and abused as a whore by Shechim the sonne of Hamor to his and his Countries destruction as appeareth in the storie of Dina. Gen. 29.30,31.33.34.1 Lydia signifieth natiuitie or generation birth begetting aforehande builded She was a cetaine woman and seller of purple of the Citie of Thiatyria who being a very deuout woman and a worshipper of God she came together with other women to the assemblie of the Apostles and Christians to the Common prayer and exercise of the worde then vsed by a riuers side without the Citie of Philippi where her heart was so by the Lorde opened at the Preaching of Paule that she gaue diligent eare and attendance to the thinges which Paul spake and was with all her housholde presently conuerted baptized to the christian faith After this she besought Paule and the other Disciples saying If yee haue iudged me to bee faithfull to the Lorde come into my house and abide there and so she constrained the Apostles to tarry with her who founde so much good faithfulnesse in the woman that afterward being cast into prison deliuered again they returned into her house to comfort the brethren which resorted thither Act. 16.14.40 Loys or Loyde signifieth better she that hath got profite Shee was a faithfull godly woman grandmother to Timothie who alwaies brought vp her children familie in the feare of God and faith knowledge of Christes doctrine as appeareth 2. Tim. 1.5 Loruhamah â—ign not obteining mercy She was the daughter of Hosea the Prophet whom Gomer y e daughter of Deblaim bare vnto him her brothers name was Loammi and when she was borne brought foorth into the worlde the Lord said vnto Hosea her father call her name Loâ—ruhama for shee is the childe of fornication of an adulterous woman and of one that of long time hath accustomed to plaie the harlot therefore I will no more haue pitie vpon the house of Israel but forget them put them cleane out of my remembrance reade this mistically Hosea 1.6 M Maacah or Maacha or Maakah or Michaiah signifieth a woman bruised or pressed Shee was the daughter of Tasmai king of Geshur and one of the wiues of king Dauid vnto whom shee bare a sonne called Absolom who afterward rebelled against his father to his owne destruction 2. Sam. 3.3.1 Chro. 3.2 There was another woman called Maachah or Michaiah which was the daughter of Abishalom Uriel or of Gibea or as it is in the second of the Chr. 11.20 of Absalom whom some think was Dauids sonne and one of the xviii wiues of y â— wicked licentious king RoboaÌ„ the sonne of SalomoÌ„ king of Iuda vnto whom she bare foure sonnes called Abiiam Atthai Ziza Shelomith And because her husband loued her best aboue all his xviii wiues and lx Concubines Therefore in his life time he made her eldest sonne Abi Abiiah or Abiiam y â— chiefe ruler amoÌ„g his brethren ordeined him to raigne as king after him for y e loue he bare to his mother as appeareth 2. Kin. 15.2.2 Chro. 11.20 21.22 13. 2. But after the death of her sonne Abiiam she was deposed by Asa her sonnes sonne froÌ„ her Regencie because she had made an idol in a groue was an idolatresse woman and Asa brake her idol stamped it into powder burnt it at the brooke Ridion And yet for all this Asa herein shewed y t he lacked zeale for whereas she ought to haue dyed both by the couenant y t he made with God to slay man woman childe also by the law of God Deut. 13.6 Yet hee gaue place to foolish pitie wold seeme after a sort to satisfie y t law 2. Chr. 15.16 There was also another womaÌ„ called Maachah which was one of the concubines of Caleb the sonne of Hur bare vnto him v. sonnes called Sheber Tirhanah Shaaph the father or prince of Madmannah and Sheua the father or prince of Machbena of Gibea and a daughter called Achsah or Axa 1. Chro. 2.48.49 Moreouer there was yet another woman called Maachah which was the daughter of Ir or Aher and sister to Huppim Shuppim after she became the wife of Machar the sonne of Manasses and bare vnto him two sonnes called Peresh and Sheresh 1. Chro. 7.12.15 16. Lastly there was yet a fift woman called Maacha which was the wife of Ieiel the father or Prince of Gibeon vnto whom she bare ten sonnes Abdon Zur Kish Baal Ner Nadab Gador Ahio zechariah Mikloth her sonne Ner begat Kish which Kish begat Saul who afterward was y e first king of y e Israelites so y t this Maacha was y e great grandmother of Saul and the first woman of whose rase and stock the first king that euer was ouer the people of God came 1. Chro. 8.29 9.35 Mahalath or Maheleth or Malath or Malaah signifieth a Queere or companie of singers a Harpe weaknesse pardon She was the daughter of Ishmael Abrahams eldest sonne the sister of Naabaioth and one of the wife 's of Esaw whoÌ„ he tooke for his third wife besides the rest of his two other Heathen wiues Iudith and Basmath thinking by marrying of her to
blessed and holy virgin and mother of Christ our Sauiour whose parents are not expressed in Scripture by name but as some thinke she was the daughter of Heli otherwise called Ioachim and of Anna his wife borne in the yeere of the world 3948. in the daies of Cambalinus and before the birth of Christ xv yeeres But whose daughter soeuer shee was certaine it is that both she and her husbande Ioseph came of the princely race and royall stocke or linage of king Dauid and that she was neere cosin to Elizabeth S. John Baptist his mother as shall appeare and Marie the wife of Cleophe was her sister also Nowe this blessed virgin being affianced or betrothed to a certaine good man of her owne stocke and tribe of Iuda named Ioseph So it was that before she came to dwell with him the Angel Gabriel in the yeere of the worlde 4142. being sent of God came and saluted her as she was in her house at Nazareth a Citie of Galilee saying Haile thou that art beloued orgladnesse be vnto thee which art highly receiued into fauour full of grace the Lorde is with thee blessed art thou among women The Virgin seeing the Angel was sore abashed and troubled at his wordes and mused much in her minde what maner of salutation that should be Then saide the Angel Feare nor Marie for thou hast found fauour with God for loe thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus he shal be great and shall be called the sonne of the most high And the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid and he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shal be none end Then Marie because she woulde be resolued of all doubtes to the ende shee might the more surely imbrace the promise of God saide vnto the Angel How shall this be seeing I knowe no man The holy Ghoste quoth the Angell shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shall ouershadowe thee and secretly woorke in thee aboue all naturall reason Therefore also that holy and pure thinge which shall bee borne of thee shal be called the sonne of GOD. And thy cosin Elizabeth she hath also conceiued a sonne in her old age and this is her sixt moneth which was called Barren For with God shall nothing be impossible Then saide Mary beholde the handmaide of the Lorde be it vnto me according to thy worde So the Angell being departed from her vpon this shee prepared her selfe with speede to goe and visite her cosin Elizabeth and comming to Hebron where her cosin dwelt shee entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted her cosin Elizabeth his wife who no sooner heard the salutation of Mary but the babe myraculously sprang in her belly beeing filled presently with the holy Ghoste she cryed with a loude voice and saide to Marie Blessed art thou amōg womē because y e fruite of thy wombe is blessed whence cōmeth this to me that the mother of my Lorde should come to mee c Then Mary beleeuing all these thinges to be performed which were tolde her by the message of the Angell with a ioyful heart and mind made a notable song in the praise of God for his mercy towardes her saying My soule doth magnifie the Lorde c. as in the first Lampe of Uirginitie Page 48. Which song being ended she remained with her cosin Elizabeth about three monethes and then returned home to her owne house againe to Nazareth a Citie of Galilee Where being found with childe of the holy Ghoste as the Angell had saide before her husband she came together that her husband had taken her home vnto him Then Ioseph her husband being a iust man vpright and fearing God and therefore suspecting y t she had cōmitted fornication before shee was betrothed vnto him and not willing to make her a publike example was minded to put her away secretely and woulde neither retaine her which by the lawe shoulde be married to another nor by accusing her woulde put her to open shame for her fact But whiles he thought these thinges beholde the Angell of the Lord appeared to him in a dreame and by reuelation saide vnto him Ioseph thou sonne of Dauid feare not to take Mary for thy wife for that which is conceiued in her is of the holy Ghost and she shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sinnes And all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet Esay 7.14 saying Behold a virgin shal be with childe shall beare a sonne and they shall call his name Emmanuel which is by interpretatiō God w t vs. Then Ioseph being raised from sleepe did as the Angell of the Lorde had inioyned him and tooke his wife Marie home vnto him But he knew her not till shee had brought forth her first borne sonne nor at any time euer after Shortly after it chaunced that Ioseph her husbande went vp from the citie of Nazareth to the lande of Iurie to a citie called Bethlem and shee also being great with childe went with him there to be taxed according to the Emperour Augustus commaundement because they were of the house and linage of Dauid And being forced to lie in the stable for lacke of roome in the Inne her houre came to bee deliuered there she being now about the age of xvi yeres as it is said brought forth Christ Iesus the sauiour of the worlde her first begotten sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laide him in a cratch or manger because there was no other roome or conuenient place for them in the Inne whereby appeareth her pouertie at that time and their crueltie both towards her and her babe which woulde not pitie a woman in such a case Which strang or rather ioyful newes being by Gods angel reueiled vnto the shepheards in the field they ran with all hast to Bethlem and there first found both Marie and Ioseph and the babe laid in the cratch and when they had seene it they published it first abroad to the world and all that heard it wondred but Marie kept all these sayings and pondered them in her heart And the Shepheards returned praysing God for all that they had heard seen of our sauiour Christ. And when y e eight day was come they circumcised her child his name was called Iesus as the angell had so named him before he was conceiued And when the dayes of her purification after the Law of Moses were come she went with her childe Iesus and her husband to Ierusalem to present him to the Lord and there according to her pouertie offred two yong pigions and a payre of turtle doues for an oblation according to the lawe for her manchilde that was holy vnto the Lord. And when she heard olde father
1. Sam. 14.49.18.17.19 2. Sam. 21.8 Michaiah or Maacha sig the Lords pouertie or lowlinesse the Lords stripe who is the Lorde She was the daughter of Uriel or Abshalom the wife of Roboam mother of Abiiah king of Iuda called also Maacha as ye may reade in the story of Maacha 1.2 Chro. 13.2 Michal or Michol sig who is perfect who is all but you who is fully appoynted but you The very goodnesse or perfectnesse or forbidding of the waters al the water or of all She was the youngest daughter of king Saul whom because shee loued Dauid well her father gaue vnto Dauid to be his wife but yet with this diuelishe and hipocriticall intent that shee might be a snare to bring him into the handes of the Philistines to be destroyed as he before had promised to geue him her sister Merab vppon the like wicked practise But Michal loued Dauid her husband so faithfully that her father could not haue his wicked purpose that way to take effect For when after this marriage he had assayed to kill Dauid with his owne hand and could not And therefore sent men of purpose to watche his house and to stay him there in his owne bedde God so moueth the heart of Michal against the tyrant her father and to fauour her husbande that she knowing of that conspiracie went and tolde Dauid therof saying If thou saue not thy selfe this night to morow thou shalt be slaine wherefore to saue the life of Dauid her husband shee let him downe at a backe windowe that he escaped and layde an image in his bedde with a pillow vnder his head stuffed with Goates haire and couered it with a cloth And when her fathers blooddie messengers came into her house in the morning and asked for Dauid Michal said he was sicke the cruell messengers thinking to haue carried Dauid bedde and all to the king that he himselfe might slay him as he commaunded went into Dauids chamber and when they came there and founde nothing els in y e bed but a block they were ashamed to be so mocked so returned to Saul told him Then Michal being demanded of Saul wherfore she had so derided him and sent his enemy Dauid away made her excuse that if she had not let him goe he would haue killed her for hee so to doe had threatned her So Dauid by her meanes and pollicie escaped and fled frō Saule After this her father tooke her from Dauid and gaue her to one Phaltiel the sonne of Laish to wife with whom she remayned till the death of Saul And then Dauid beeing somewhat setled in his kingdome made truce with Abner the house of Saul vpon this condition that Abner woulde bring him his wife Michal with him when he came which condition being graunted Dauid sent messengers to Ishboseth Sauls sonne saying Deliuer mee my wife Mychal which I married for an hundred skinnes of the Philistines and for whose sake I put my life so desperately in daunger So Ishboseth as he that feared Dauid and durst doe none other tooke Michal away from her husbande Phaltiel sent her by Abner to Dauid And her husband Phaltiel so deerely loued her and was so loth to depart from her that he went with her and came weeping all y e waye behind her for sorrow til she came to a place called Bahurim there and then being commanded by Abner so to doe he forsooke her and returned home and Abner brought her to Dauid to Hebron there left her and went his way so was she restored againe vnto Dauid by Abners meanes Finally whē Dauid came dauncing before the Arke of God in his shirt or linnen Ephod to the citie of Dauid it chaunced Michal to looke out at a window beholding y e king her husband how he leaped daunced before the Arke she like a worldling not able to comprehend the motions of Gods spirite that moued him and zeale of Dauid the childe of God began to despise him in her heart and meeting him after all thinges were done comming home to blesse and pray for his owne house as he had done before for the people she interrupted him greatly and sayd O how glorious was the king of Israel this day which was vncouered to day or naked in the eyes of the maydens of his seruantes as a foole vncouereth himselfe But Dauid whom no worldlie affection caused so to doe but onely the zeale that he bare to Gods glorie rebuked Michal his wife saying It was before the Lorde which chose me rather then thy father and all his house and made me ruler of his people therefore did I play and daunce before the Lorde yea and I will yet be more vile then thus and will bee lowe in myne owne sight and of the verye same mayde seruauntes which thou hast spoken of shall I be had in honour And so for thus despising and mocking her husband Dauid the faithfull holy child zealous seruaunt of God the Lord plagued her with barrennes that she neuer had childe 1. Sam. 14.49.18.20 c. 19.11 c. 25.44 2. Sam. 3.13 c. 6.16 c. Miriam or Marie sig exalted or reaching or bitter as before in Marie She was the daughter of Amram and Iochebed and sister to Aaron and Moses who in her young Maydenly yeeres was called Aimia or Alima and being aboue x. yeeres old when her brother Moses was borne and laide in an Arke and cast into bulrushes by the riuer to bee drowned as Pharao had cruelly commaunded she stoode a farre of to wit what would become of him And seeing Pharaos daughter called Memphetica take him out of the water which was in the yeere of the world 2434. she ran to her and sayd shall I goe and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women to nurse the child and she said goe wherevpon she went and called her owne mother Iochebed who came and tooke Moses so by Gods prouidence she nursed her owne childe whō God thus maruellously had preserued to bee a notable member of his Churche And when her brother Moses had brought the children of Israel through y e red sea king Pharao their persecutor w t all his host was drowned therin she being a prophetesse took a timbrel in her hād with other womē following her in like sort begā ioyfully to daūce sing y e song y t Moses made which was this Sing ye vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously The horse and the rider hath hee ouerthrowen in the Sea as before in the firste Lampe pag. 1. After this she grudged against her brother Moses which had taken an Ethiopian or woman of Inde to his wife called Zipporah sayinge what hath the Lord spoken but onely by Moses hath he not spoken also by vs Which her murmuring Moses beeyng a very meeke gentle man gently bare but the Lord beyng therewith highly displeased and very angry did therefore smite Myriam with a
to spie and view the land of Iericho came and lodged in her house so it was that their comming was bewrayed by some vnto the king of Iericho whereuppon he sent straight wayes vnto Rahab saying bring foorth the men y t are come to thee and entred into thy house for they be spyes and are come to search out al our lād But Rahab hauing brought these two men of Israel her gests vp into the top or roofe of her house there hid them couered them with stalkes of flaxe spread abroad ouer them aunsweared the kings messengers saying there came men vnto me indeed but I wist not whence they were and when they shut the gate in the dark y t men went out and slipt away but whither they went I wote not folowe yee after them quickly for yee shall ouertake them So while they beleeuing her wordes went in all hast pursued after the two mē towards Iordan and sought them in the foords and ditches Rahab assoone as they were gone out of her house shut the gates vppon them and before y e two men that were hyd aboue vnder y e flaxe were asleepe she ran vp vnto them where they lay and sayd vnto them I know that the Lord hath geuen you y e land y t the feare of you is fallen vpon vs and that all the inhabitauntes of the Lorde faynt before you For wee haue hearde howe the Lorde dryed vp the water of the redde sea before you when yee came out of Egypt and what ye did vnto y e two kings of the Ammonites that were on the other side Iordan vnto Seon and to Og whom ye vtterly destroyed and when we heard it our hearts did faint and there remayned no more courage in any of vs because of you for the Lord your God he is the God of heauen aboue and in earth beneath Nowe therefore I pray you sweare vnto me by y e Lord that as I haue shewed you mercie you will also shewe mercie vnto my fathers house and geue me a true token that yee will saue aliue my father and my mother and my brethren and my sisters and all that they haue and that yee will deliuer our soules from death And the men aunswered her and sayde we warrant thee in paine of our liues and sweare vnto you that if yee vtter not this our businesse we when the Lord hath geuen vs the Land will deale mercifully and truely with thee and thy fathers house and kinred as thou hast requested Then Rahab dwelling well for that purpose let these two men down by a corde through a backe window in her house ouer the towne wall and sayd vnto them Goe you into the mountaynes which are neere vnto the citie least the pursuers meete with you and there hyde your selues three dayes vntill the pursuers be returned and then afterward may yee goe your way safely And the men thanking her for her curtesie towards them sayde vnto her We shal be blamelesse and discharged of this our othe which thou hast made vs sweare if thou doest performe this condition following that we shall make for so shalte thou and thine be deliuered namely the condition is this beholde thou shalt bynde this corde of red threed wherewith wee are let downe in this windowe and shalt bring thy father and thy mother thy brethren and all thy fathers houshold home to thee that when we come into the land we may by this signe and token of the red threed hanging in the wyndow know thy house And whosoeuer then doth goe out of thine house into the streete he shal be guilty of his owne death and we guiltlesse of our othe but who soeuer shal keepe within thine house his blood shall be on our heades if any hand violently touch him this condition if yee keepe yee shal be all safe as we haue promised but contrariwise if yee vtter these our secretes or condition to others by side so y t they likewise should thinke to escape our handes together with you by this meanes then at your owne perils be it for we will then be quyte of the othe and promise which thou hast made vs to sweare vnto thee Wel quoth Rahab according to your words and condition so be it So she sent them away who hid themselues in the mountaines 3. dayes and when they were gone she bound the red threed or scarlet coloured corde whereby she let them downe about the mallines of the window and went and gathered her father her brethren friends and kinred vnto her house to be preserued therein in the day of the destruction of y t city Iericho as the men had promised and condicioned with her Now shortly after when Iosua w t his host came besieged y e city Iericho before he destroyed the city hee being mindefull of Rahabs good turne done vnto his 2. men gaue his souldiers and men a great charge concerning Rahab by name saying The citie is appointed of God as an execrable thing to be destroyed with all that are therein onelie Rahab the harlot shall liue shee and all that are with her in her house For shee hidde and preserued the two messengers that wee sente to spyie out the lande And after when by the handes of GOD onlie without mans force the walles of Iericho fell downe and Iosua entred into the citie to take the spoyle and kill man woman and childe still remembred Rahab and saide vnto his two men whom shee preserued Goe into the harlots house and bring out thence the woman Rahab and al that she hath as yee sware vnto her So the young men that were the two spyes went directly to Rahabs house by meanes of the red threed that houng at her window for a signe and brought out Rahab her father and her mother her brethren her familie and al that she had and put them without the host of Israel because it was not lawfull for Rahab and her companie being straungers to dwell among the Israelites till they were purified and when Rahab and hers were thus according to promise carried out of the citie and preserued aliue Iosua set the citie Iericho a fire and burnt vp all therein So Iosua saued Rahab the harlot her fathers housholde and all y t she had because she had hid the messengers which he had sent to spie out y t land or rather as Saint Paule saith By faith this harlot Rahab perished not with them which obeyed not when she had receyued the spies peaceablie Wherin appeareth the great mercie of God that in so great cōmō a destruction he would vouchsafe to draw such a miserable sinner as this Rahab the harlot was voyd of all good works onely by faith to repent and confesse his name as shee did to both hers and others saluation for her sake For after this shee being a Gentile or Heathen dwelt in Israel and there was married to Salmon Prince of y e tribe of Iuda and bare vnto him
chiefest midwiues of the Hebrue women in the lande of Egypt vnto whom king Pharao in his cruel rage against the Israelites and the children of God gaue this commandement saying when yee doe the office of a midwife to the women of the Hebrues or Israelites and set them on their stooles or seates whereupon they satte in trauelling of childe If it be a sonne then ye shall kill him but if it be a daughter theÌ„ let her liue Notwithstanding these two midwiues feared God more then the king did not murther the infants of the women of Israel in y e birth as y t bloody butcher king Pharao had coÌ„maÌ„ded theÌ„ But coÌ„trariwise preserued y e meÌ„ children still aliue which wheÌ„ y t tyrant the king vnderstood he sent for these two good midwiues rebuked theÌ„ saying why haue ye preserued aliue y e meÌ„ childreÌ„ coÌ„trary to my coÌ„mandment But the Midwiues made their excuse and answered the king saying Because O king quoth they the Hebrue women are not like the women of Egypt for they are more strong and sturdie women and liuelie and quicklie deliuered yer the Midwiues come at them Which answere the tyrannous king well allowing of when he saw he could not preuaile by that craft he burst foorth to open rage against Gods people and commaunded all his people that they should cast euery man childe of the Hebrue women into the riuer but to reserue euery maidechilde aliue But as touching this act of Shiprah and her fellow Midwife as their disobedience heerein to the king was lawfull enough so their dissembling and lying in their excuse so vnto him was euill howbeit because the Midwiues feared God therefore God made them houses and prospered them that is God rewarded their constancie not their lying and blessed and increased the families both of the Midwiues and of the Israelites by their meanes so that the people of Israel multiplied and were very mightie Yea by their meanes that notable member of Gods Church and holy man of God Moses was preserued by whom God deliuered his people out of the oppression and slauery of that Tyrant Pharo to his vtter destruction in the redde Sea Exod. 1.15.16 c. Shuah or Sua or Suaa sig crying sauing mightie honorable regardful of the sauiour lowlinesse studie speech budding praier She was a Cananitish woman borne the daughter of one Suah or as some thinke of Hirah an Addulamite and became the wife of Iudah the sonne of Iacob which affinitie notwithstanding was condemned of God so shee bare vnto Iuda three sonnes Er Onan and Shelah at a place called Chezib But because her two eldest sonnes were both wicked men in the sight of the Lorde therefore the Lorde slue them both to her great griefe And in processe of time shee also died after whose death her husband Iudah committed horrible incest with her daughter in lawe Tamar the wife of Er her eldest sonne to the slander of the Church and offence of the godlie as ye may reade Gen. 28. 1. Chro. 2.3 There was another woman called Shuah which was the daughter of Hebar the sonne of Beriah the sonne of Ashur and who also was the sister of Iaphlet Shomer and Hotham 1. Chr. 7.32 Susanna or Suesâ—hanna sig a Lilly a Rose Mirth his Lilly grace or Lady her grace and good behauiour louely fauourable c. Shee was the daughter of Helchias of the tribe of Iuda and wife of Ioachim a very great riche man and of high reputation and honour among the Iewes in Babylon where hee dwelt Nowe shee beeing a very fayre woman well brought vp and instructed by her parentes in the law of Moses one y t feared God In the same first yere that she was married there were two Iudges made of y e Ancients of the people which resorted muche to her husbande Ioachims house because hee was the most honorable of all others and all they of the Iewes which had any thing to doe in the lawe came thither also vnto them to haue their matters hearde and decided These two Iudges beeing wicked men were so wounded with the loue of Susanna and burned so in lust towards her both at one time vnwitting one to the other that they wist not what to doe but neither durst tel the other his grief nor yet for shame vtter their inordinate dotage and lust vnto her And so on a day when they had sate long in Ioachims house about matters of the lawe and waited for to haue their purpose on Susanna and coulde not they brake vp and went home to dinner And at their returne againe togethers the one brake to y e other their whole minds appointed a time when they mighte take her alone And when they had espied out a conuenient time y t Susanna went into a faire garden that shee had adioyning vnto her house as her manner was there to walke euer about noone when her husbandes Clients were all gone home to dinner with two of her maidens onelie accompanying her there to walke wash herselfe in the heate of the day Behold these two olde lechers hid them selues in the garden against her comming And assoone as her maidens had shut the garden or orcharde dore and were gone for oyle and sope for their mistres as shee had commaunded them These two wicked Elders or lecherous Iudges who had lyen there priuilie hid vnknowen to Susanna and her maidens like two neighing horsses came vpon her now beeing all alone and saide Beholde the garden dores are nowe shut that no man can see vs and wee burne in loue with thee therefore consent vnto vs and lye with vs if thou willt not wee will beare wtinesse against thee that a young man was in the Orchard with thee and y t therefore thou sentest away thy maydens from thee because thou wouldest commit adultery with him And then Susanna sighed and saide Alas I am in trouble on euery side for if I followe your mindes and doe the thing it will bee my death And if on the other side I consent not vnto you nor doe it not yet can I not escape your handes Well it is better for mee to fall into your handes without the deede doing then to sinne in the sight of y e Lord by doing it And with that shee cryed out vpon them with a loude voice And the olde lechers cryed out as fast against her which clamour on both parties was so great that it was hard among her seruants without which ranne to the garden dore and burst it open for hast to see what the matter was And when the seruants had heard the elders false report of Susanna they beeing a little too hastie in beleeuyng so false a reporte of their mistres were greatly ashamed of her for there was neuer suche a report made of Susanna before So on the morrowe after these two wicked Iudges full of mischeuous imaginations againste Susanna came to Ioachim her husbandes house as the manner
was and there declared the matter but most falsly against her to her husbande and all by wrongfull accusation to bring her to death for spight that shee would not consent to their diuelishe desires And when shee was sent for to her fathers house where she then laye and came accompanied with her father and mother her children and all her kin to bee iudged and araygned before them for a breaker of wedlock and an adultresse according to the lawe of God shee beeing a very tender person and marueilous fayre of face stoode before the two wicked Iudges with her face couered But these lecherous dottards to the end they might at the least bee satisfied with her beautie commanded to take the vaile or cloth from her face that they might fully behold her haue a full sight of her beautie which thing being done to the griefe of her friends and many that stoode about her These two wicked Iudges stood vp them selues both to be her accusers and iudges and laying their handes vpon the head of Susanna who wept and looked vp to heauen for her heart trusted in the Lorde They said as we were walking alone in the garden this woman came in with her two maides whō shee sent away frō her making fast the orchard dores after them with y t a young felow which there lay hid in the garden start vp went vnto her lay with her then wee which stood in a corner of the garden seeing this wickednesse ranne vnto them and sawe them as they were together but wee coulde not holde the fellowe for hee was stronger then wee and got open the dore and leaped out And when wee had taken this woman wee demaunded of her what fellowe it was but shee woulde not tell vs. This is the matter that wee lay vnto her charge and wee be witnesses of the same Then the common sort beleeued them as those that were the Elders and chiefe Iudges of the people and so they condemned Susanna to death whereuppon her friends yea and all they that knewe her for sorrowe beganne to weepe and lament heartilie for her Yea and Susanna her selfe then cryed out with a loude voice and made her feruent prayer vnto God saying as before in the first Lampe Pag. 48. O euerlasting God thou searcher of heartes thou that knowest all thinges before they come to passe thou wotest that they haue borne false witnesse against mee and behold I must die whereas thou Lorde knowest I neuer intended or once so much as thought much lesse did any such thing as these men haue maliciously imagined or inuented against mee And the Lorde heard her prayer Therefore when shee was ledde to bee put to death according to her iudgement and as shee was going to the place of execution the Lorde of heauen which had commpassion of this innocent woman neuer forsaketh leaueth his but helpeth them euen then when all thinges seeme past hope of mercy to the great comfort of all oppressed Christians raised vp the spirite of a little young childe called Daniel who cryed with a loude voyce to the great admiration no doubt of all that heard him saying I am cleane from the blood of this woman And when the people heard that they stayed and turned them towardes the childe and demaunded of him what hee meant by his wordes O yee children of Israel saide hee are yee such fooles that without examination and knowledge of the trueth yee haue condemned a daughter of Israel Returne againe to iudgement for they haue borne false witnesse against her Then the people went backe againe in all hast And the Elders tooke Daniell and set him among them in iudgement who when he had commanded the two olde lecherous Iudges that were the false witnesses to be seuered one from another that hee might examine them seuerally a parte hee called the one of them said vnto him O thou old cankered carle that art old in a wicked life and hast vsed thy vncleannesse so long Now thy sinnes and vngracious deedes which thou hast committed afore time are come to light for thou hast born false witnes hast pronounced false erronious iudgemēt Thou hast condemned the innocent hast let the guiltie go free Albeit the Lord sayd the innocent and righteous shalt thou not slaye Now then if thou hast seene her commit this villanie tell mee vnder what tree of the orchard or garden thou sawest this woman and the young fellow company together He answered vnder a Mulbery or Lentiske tree Now verily quoth Daniell thou hast lyed against thine owne head For loe the Angell of God hath receiued the sentence of God to cut thee in two For thou art worthy of death in that thou hast oppressed the innocent woman contrary to the commaundement of God who sayd The innocent and righteous see thou slaye not neyther shalt thou beare false witnesse against thy neighbour and so he put him aside Then the childe called the other old dotard sayd likewise vnto him O thou seede of Canaan not of Iuda bewtie hath deceiued thee and lust hath subuerted thine heart Thus haue ye long dealt with y ◠daughters of Israell they for feare consēted vnto you and companyed with you but this woman being a daughter of Iuda would not abide your wickednesse Now tell me vnder what tree didst thou take them companying together He answered vnder a Pyne prune or Mirtle tree Uery well sayde Danyell Nowe verilye thou hast lyed also against thine owne lyfe or head therefore the Messenger or Angel of the Lord standeth waiting with the sworde to cut thee also in two and so to destroye you both And with that all the whole assemblye cryed with a loude voice and praysed God which so miraculouslye had preserued Susanna that daye and saued her that trusted in him And so fell vpon the two wicked Iudges who were conuict by their owne mouthes of falshoode and according to the law of Moses Deuter. 19.19 put them both to death for bearing false witnesse against their neighbour Thus the innocēt blood of Susanna was saued y e same day from being spilt in y e yeere of y e world 3518. Therfore Helchias her father mother praised God for their daughter Susanna with Ioachim her husband and all the kinred that there was no dishonestie founde in her Dan. 13. Susanna 1. There was an other woman called Susanna in y e time of Christ which being a godly woman folowed Christ his Apostles diligētly to heare their preaching ministred vnto them of her substance to relieue thē so much as laye in her power to her perpetuall prayse and the great shame of many both men and women now in the time of the same gospell who bee so far from relieuing the professors therof that they will not vouchsafe to follow them no nor so muche as to heare thē preach they neuer so well charme the charmar neuer so wisely but to theyr vtter
be found nor they beyng therein knowen So when Absoloms seruaunces that pursued them came to make search in her house for them to aske her where they were the wife made aunsweare and sayde they be gone ouer the brooke or water of Iordan but they geuing no credite to her wordes made further search for the men and when they saw they coulde not finde them they went their way Who were no sooner gone but the wife went by and by and told Ionathan and his brother thereof Wherevpon they immediatly came foorth of the well and went vnto Dauid And thus God sent these 2. good men succour and reliefe by the meanes of this good wife to Dauids preseruation in his kingdome and his sonne Absoloms vtter destruction as yee may reade at large in the Byble 2. Sam. 17. 18. 19. c. Woman with blooddy issue There was a certaine woman amonge the Iewes whiche was long diseased with a blooddy issue or fluxe of blood euen the space of twelue yeeres and had suffered many medicines and things of many Phisitions insomuch that she spent all her substance that she had vpon Phisitions and it auayled her nothing for she could not be healed of any but became still much woorse and woorse This woman therefore as one vtterly despayring of any humayne helpe when shee hearde that Iesus was come into those partes where she dwelt which was as I take it in Decapolis by y e citie of Gadaris she sayd within her selfe I will surely goe vnto Christ for if I may but touch his cloathes onely I shal be whole So her faith that she had in Christ and not any superstitious opinion that she had to attribute any vertue to his garment mouing and emboldening her she came and crowded in among the great presse and throng of people that were about Iesus and approching as neere Iesus as shee coulde shee assured of the vertue and power of Christ to heale her came behinde him and touched but the hemme of his garment and straight wayes the issue or course of her blood stanched and was dried vp and she felt presently in her bodie that she was healed of the plague with that Iesus immediately knowing in him self that vertue went out of him turned him about and sayd who is it that hath touched my cloathes not I quoth onâ— not I quoth another and when euery man denied that they touched him Peter and his disciples saide vnto him Maister thou seest the multitude thrust and throng thee and tread on thee and doest thou aske vs who hath touched thee yea quoth Iesus some one hath touched me for I perceiue y e vertue is gone out of me and then looked round about to see her that had done it Nowe when the woman sawe that shee was not hid knowing what was done in her she feared came trembling and fel downe before Iesus and told him the whole truth before al the people and for what cause she had touched him and howe she was healed immediatly Then Iesus perceyuing the greate faith of the woman that brought her vnto him sayd mercifully vnto her Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole goe in peace and bee whole of thy plague And the woman was made whole at that same very houre to the glory of God and her comfort c. Math. 9.20 Mark 5.25 c. Luke 8.41 Diseased woman There was another woman which had a spirite of infirmitie whoÌ„ Sathan had striken with a disease 18. yeeres was bowed together as she whose sâ—owes were shronke together when she heard that Iesus was teaching in the Synagogue on y e Sabboth day she went vnto the temple and stoode before him whom when Iesus saw he hauing pitie vpon her called y e crooked creature vnto him and said woman thou art loosed from thy disease so layd his hands vpon her immediatly she was made straight againe glorified God as all ought y t receiue anye benefite of his mercy Howbeit the ruler of y e Synagogue taking occasion hereby to reproue Christ for healing her on the Sabboth day whiche might haue beene done on y e weeke dayes Iesus perceiuing his hipocrisie answered said vnto him thou hypocrite doth not ech of you on y e Sabboth day lose his oxe or his Asse froÌ„ y e stal leade him to water ought not this daughter of Abraham whom Sathan hath bound so these 18. yeeres be losed from this boÌ„d on y e Saboth day with which his words al his aduersaries being coÌ„founded for shame weÌ„t away but al the people reioyced at y e excellent things good deeds y t were done by him to whoÌ„ therfore be al glory praise for euer Luk. 13.11.12 c. C Cananitesse There was a certaine woman of Canaan a Greeke and a Syrophenisian by nation who had a little daughter that was very sicke and possessed with an vncleane spirit when she heard that Iesus was come into the coasts of Tyrus and Sydon where she dwelt she came to Iesus and fell at his feet crying and saying Haue mercy on me O Lord thou sonne of Dauid my daughter is miserably vexed with a Diuell but he answered her not a worde wherfore she cryed the more earnestly vpoÌ„ him w t which her importunity his disciples being offended they besought Iesus to seÌ„d her away because quoth they she neuer stinteth crying stil after vs. I am not sent quoth Iesus but vnto y e lost sheepe of the house of Israel so the woman continued her crying came worshorshipped him saying Lord helpe me and I beseech thee cast out the diuel out of my daughter And then Christ spake vnto her and sayde let the children among the Iewes to whom the promises were first made first be fed for it is not good to take the childrens bread and to cast it vnto whelpes that is to straungers from the house of God for so he spake after the common opinion of the Iewes who tooke straungers for no better then dogges Truth Lord quoth she yet indeed the whelpes eate of the croomes that fall from the children their maâ—sters table Then Iesus perceiuing her faith and humilitie in asking but the poore croomes and not the childrens bread graunted her petition for her faiths sake and not the request of his disciples and sayd vnto her O woman great is thy faith for this saying goe thy way be it to thee as thou desirest the Diuel is gone out of thy â—aughter And her daughter was made whole at that same houre So that when shee was come home to her house she found the Diuel departed and her daughter lying on the bed safe whole to the glory of God her great comfort Mat. 15.22 c. Mar. 7.25 c. Cayphas mayde Cayphas the high priest of y e Iewes had 2. maydens who when y e one saw Peter the Apostle y t followed Christ to see his araignment before her maister
and their children and the recouery of their goods cleane contrary to their dueties and as it were in despite of Gods word which vtterly condemneth the same to the great perill of their bodies and soules goods lands and posteritie yea vtter destruction both of bodies and soules for euer in hell without speedie repentance and conuertion Woman in a vision Zachariah the Prophet among other his visions saith that he sawe a woman sitting in the middes of an Ephah or bushell couered with a talent of ledde ouer the mouth of it also that he saw two other women with winges like storkes bearing the same Ephah betweene theÌ„ in the ayre or skie flying away with it toward the laÌ„d of Shinaar there to set or place it which woman represented signified the iniquitie of y e vngodly which the Lord shutteth vp in a measure and keepeth it as it were in a prison y t he only can shut and open at his pleasure so y e Sathan caÌ„ haue no such power to teÌ„pt the godly therwith as he would faine haue And this vision of the 2. other women doth further signifie how that God caÌ„ eueÌ„ by such weake vessels and small meanes remoue iniquity with the weight of all afflictions that come thereby from the godly to their enimies if they repeÌ„t turne vnto him as I praye God we may haue al grace to doe that speedily Amen Zach. 5.6.7 c. The two harlots of Hierusalem In the yeere of the worldes creation 3112. there came two harlots or women victualers vnto king Salomon as he was at Hierusalem in the beginning of his raigne and stoode before him to pleade for a quick child the one woman began to accuse the other of murdering hir child and sayde O my Lorde I and this woman dwell both together in one house and I was first deliuered of a childe and within 3. dayes after that I was deliuered this womaÌ„ was deliuered also in the same house and so we lay both in childbed together no stranger being with vs in the house but wee twayne and this woman ouerlaye her child in the night and it dyed and to auoyde both the shame and the punishment due for so vnnaturall murder of her owne childe she arose at mydnight and stole away my quick child froÌ„ my side while thine handmayd slept and laid her dead child in my bosome in steed therof And when I rose in the morning to giue my child sucke behold he was dead And when I had looked vpon it wel considered it in the light I found it was not my sonne whom I had borne Then the other harlot replyed saying Nay it is not so as thou sayest but this is my sonne that liueth and thy sonne it is that is dead No quoth the other this is thy sonne that is dead and mine it is that is aliue Now Salomon the king hearing their contention how the one said the child that liueth is my sonne and the dead child is thy sonne and the other denyed it so stiffely saying that the dead was none of hers but the liuing and no witnesse nor proofe of eyther side brought to proue their assertions to the end therefore that the impudencie of the one trespasser should not ouerthrow the iust cause of the innocent woman he like a most iust iudge and wise Prince to try out the trothe presently deuised adiudged as followeth First he called for a sword which being brought vnto him now take y e liuing child quoth he to y e seruants and deuide it in twayne geue the one halfe to the one woman and the other halfe to the other with that the first woman that made the complaynt who was the mother of the liuing child indeede hauing now her motherly affection and tender compassion towardes her childe kindled â—ried out and as shee that had rather endure the rigour of the law then to see her child cruelly slayne before her face sayde vnto the king Oh my Lord geue her the liuing childe and slay him not But y e other harlot most impudently sayd nay let it be neither thine nor mine but deuide it Then the king wisely vnderstanding obseruing the vnnaturalnesse or rather crueltie of this harlot who had killed her childe gaue this righteous iudgement and sayd Giue her that complayned the liuing childe and slay him not for this is his mother By which example of Salomons wisedome tried in iudgemeÌ„t God made it plainely appeare to all the worlde that he kept true promise with him in graunting him wisedome at his desire yea it so terrified the heartes of all the hearers thereof that for euer after they feared the king as he in whom the very wisedome of God himselfe remained and as a figure of Christ. 1. King 3.16 c. Ieremy the Prophet in his Epistle to the captiue Iewes in Babylon maketh mention of certayne impudent and common harlots y t were in Babylon in his dayes saying Furthermore the women gyrdeâ— with cordes sit in y e streetes burne straw or branne if one of them be drawen away and lye with any such as come by she casteth her neighbour in the teeth because she was not so worthily reputed nor her cord broken Baruch 6.43 The description of an harlot by Salomon As I was in the window of my house saieth Salomon I looked through the lettice and saw considered among the fooles children a young man voyd of wit and destitute of vnderstanding who passed thorow the streets by the corner and went toward the house of an harlot in the twylight of the euening when the night began to be blacke and darke for there was almost none so impudent but they were afrayd to be seene and also their owne consciences did accuse them that they weÌ„t about wickednesse which caused them to seeke the darknesse of y e night to couer their filthines and sinne withall And beholde there mette him a woman with open tokens of an harlot both in her apparrell gesture and behauiour for she was ful of babling and lowde woordes and ready to dallie her feete cannot abyde in her house nowe she is without nowe in the streetes and lyeth in wayte at euery corner So this light woman caught this foolishe man and kissed him and with an impudent face and shamelesse countenance she â—ayde vnto him Come I haue peace offringes meate at home prepared to make good cheere with this day also haue I payd my vowes and made satisfaction for my sinnes so holy was this harlot as she would seeme outwardly vnder a cloke of hypocrisie the better to deceiue others and to allure them into her snares therefore came I foorth to meet the quoth she that I might seeke thy face and I am glad that I haue found thee come home now I say with me for I haue decked my bed with couerings and gay ornaments of tapistry and clothes of Egypt yea I haue perfumed my bed with myrrhe
alloes and cynamom Come I saye let vs therefore lye together and take our fill of loue and let vs solace our selues and take our pleasure in daliance for my husbande is not at home hee is gone a iourney farre of and hath taken with him a great bagge of money and will not returne home againe of a long time vntill the day appoynted Thus this impudent harlot with her great subtilty and craft ioyned with sweete woordes and flattering speeches ouercame so the silly young man that she caused him to yeeld and with her dissembling lippes she so entised and bewitched him as it were that he silly foole followed her straight wayes home to her house as an Oxe ledde to the slaughter which thinking he goeth to the pasture willingly goeth to his owne death and destruction And as a natural idiot and foole that laugheth when he goeth to the stockes to be punished and as a byrde y t hasteth to the snare not knowing what danger and perill his life is in Euen so I say went this besotted young man after her so long till shee had wounded his languishing liuer with the dart of her filthy luste brought him home into her house of hell and chamber of death destruction and there placed him as her gheste in the deepe pitte of hel Prou. 7. The description of the great whore or harlot of Babilon By S. Iohn the Euangelist Whore of Babylon I sawe sayeth Saint Iohn a woman sitte vppon a scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemie which had seuen heads and tenne hornes and the woman sate vppon many waters and was arrayed all in purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones pearles had a cup of gold in her hand ful of abhominatioÌ„s filthines of her fornications And in her forehead was this name writteÌ„ A misterie great Babilon the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth And I saw this woman dronken with the blood of Saintes and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus And I heard this strumpet glorifie her selfe and boast gloriously of her prosperitie saying in her heart I sitte and lyue in pleasure being a queene and am no widdow and shall see no mourning Yea I saw the kings of the earth commit fornication with this whore and the inhabitantes of the earth drinke til they were dronken with the wine of her fornication and the marchantes of the earth traffike with her and buye her ware to make them selues rich thereby of the aboundaunce of her pleasures euen her ware of gold and siluer precious stones pearles of fine linnen purple silke scarlette and all manner of Thymwood vessels of Iuory and of pretious wood of brasse yron and marble her wares also of synamom sweete odours oyntmentes frankinsence wyne oyle fine flower and wheate of beastes and sheepe horses and charyots seruants and soules of men And when I sawe her saieth S. Iohu I wondred with great maruell But the Angell of the Lorde after that hee had shewde me the misterie of the woman and of the beast that bare her told mee that this whore or harlot Babilon for her sinnes and abhominations committed which were all ascended and come vp to heauen shall haue a great fall and be sore plagued and tormented in one day all at once euen with death sorrowe and famyne and that shee shoulde bee rewarded double according to her workes and drinke the dreegges of her own cuppe and bee burnt with fire for strong is the Lord which will condempne her yea that they that hate the whore shall with one consente make her desolate and naked and shall eate her fleshe and burne her with fire as God hath put in their heartes to fulfill his will vppon her That the kinges of the earth which liued in pleasure with her also shall bewayle and lament her when they shall see the smoake of her burning And standing a farre off for feare of her torment shall saye Alas alas the great Citie Babylon the mightie Citie howe is thy iudgement come euen in one houre The inhabitants and people of the world also shall runne out of her and crye out mightelye with a loude voice and saye Alas alas it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great citie is fallen and is become the inhabitation of diuels and the holde of all foule spirites and the cage of euery vnclean and hateful byrde Finally y e marchants of her trash which made them selues rich therby for sorrowe and wante of their filthy gaine shall stand a farre off from her for feare of her tormente and erye out and dispayre weeping and wayling and saye Alas alas the greate Citie that was cloathed in fine linnen purple and scarlet and gilded with golde and pretious stone and pearle howe in one houre are so great riches come to desolation And all shipmen and trauaylers by sea shall flye vp to the toppe of their mastes to see her destruction and shall crye out when they see the smoake of her burning and cast dust vppon their heades and saye alas alas what Citie in all the world was like vnto this great Citie wherein all that had shippes on the sea were made rich by her costlynesse howe in one houre is shee made desolate But contrariwyse the Angelles tolde mee that the Saintes and Martyrs whome shee hadde slayne shoulde greatlye reioyce in her destruction and saye O heauen reioyce of her desolation and yee holye Apostles and Prophets tryumph in her ouerthrow for GOD hath giuen your iudgement on her c. And with that the Angell cast a greate myghtye mylstone into the sea saying With suche violence shall that great Citie Babylon bee caste downe so that shee shall bee founde no more Reuela 17. 18. see more 19.1.2.3 I Of the Virgins of Iabes Gilead read in Syloe Ieptahs daughter Ieptahs daughter being a very fayre virgin vnknowne of manne â—he onelye childe and heire of her father went out of her fathers house in Myspheh accompanyed with diuers damoselles to meete her father with Tymbrelles daunces and songes as the manner and custome of women then was after anye great victorie to welcome him home from warre and to praise God for the victory giuen him against the Ammonites but alas to her destruction and her fathers infamy For her father hauing before made a rash vow to God that if hee gat the victory came home in peace he would dedicate offer vp in sacrifice vnto God the thing that first came out of his house to meete him as wickedly performed the same rash vow And so soone as he saw his daughter come out to meete him being nowe ouercome with blinde zeale little considering whether his vowe were lawful or no hee rente his cloathes and sayde alas my daughter thou haste brought mee lowe and arte one of them that trouble mee for I haue opened my mouth and made a vow vnto the Lorde to sacrifice vnto him the first thing that meeteth mee
and cannot goe backe O my father quoth shee if thou hast opened the mouth so vnto the Lord doe with me as thou hast promised seeyng that the Lorde hath auenged thee of thine enemies the children of Ammon Howbeit yet before thou performe thy vowe doe thus much for me suffer me I pray thee for the space of two monethes that I may goe to the mountaines and bewayle my Uirginitie together with my fellow Uirgins so Ieptah gaue her leaue sent her away And she went with her companions and lamented her Uirginity vpon the mountaynes because it was counted a shame in Israel to die without children And after the end of two moneths she returned againe vnto her father who slue her and sacrificed her according to his vowe that he made And euer after it was a custome in Israel that the daughters and virgins of Israel went yeere by yeere to lament the death and Uirginitie of the daughter of Ieptah the Gileadite foure dayes in a yeere vppon the mountaynes Iudges 11. 34. c. Ieroboams wife Ieroboams wife when her sonne Abijah fell sicke at her husbands request tooke a present of ten loaues cracknels a bottel of hony as y e custome was and because she would not be knowen to be y e Queene shee disguised herselfe and so went vnto Syloe to the Prophet Ahiiah and there feining her self to be another woman then the wife of Ieroboam she asked counsel of him what should become of the young maÌ„ her sonne whether he should liue to succeed his father in the kingdomâ— or die of that disease But the Prophet albeit he was blynde and his eyesight decayed for age yet hauing her coÌ„ming vnto him reuealed by God before hande and her craft and subtletie disclosed vnto him ere she came so soone as he heard the sound of her feeete as she came in at his dore he sayde Come in thou wife of Ieroboam why feynest thou thy selfe to bee another then the wife of Ieroboam I am sent to thee with heauy tydinges Goe tell thy husband thus saith the Lord that forasmuche as I haue exalted thee whiche wast but a seruant to SalomoÌ„ froÌ„ amoÌ„g y t people haue made thee Prince ouer my people Israel c thou hast not kept my coÌ„mandements but done euill aboue all other kinges y t were before thee in coÌ„mitting abhominations setting vp Idolatry not only sinning thy self but making other to sinne Therefore beholde I will bring this euill vppon the house of Ieroboam for his sinnes namelye I will cutte off from him all that pisse against the wal that is euery male euen to the dogges aswel of them y t are shut vp in prison and strong holdes as at libertie and abroad yea I will sweepe away his posteritie as a man sweepeth awaye dounge or dyrte till it bee all gone And the dogges shall eate them that dye in the Citie and the fowles of the ayre deuoure them that die in the fielde for the Lorde hath sayde it Up therefore and gette thee to thine house for when thy feete enter into the Citie thy childe shall die and all Israell shall mourne for him and burye him For hee onelye of Ieroboam shall come to the graue because in him there is founde some goodnesse towardes the Lorde God of Israell in the house of Ieroboam So Ieroboams wife with a heauy cheere departed and came to Terzah where shee dwelt and when she came to the threshold of the doore ready to enter into the house the young man her childe died and they buryed him and all Israell lamented his death euen according as the Prophet from the mouth of the Lorde had foretolde her 1. King 14. Widow of Ierusalem There was a certeine poore widdow in Ierusalem who beeing in the Temple at the time when the rich men and people cast in theyr almes into the tresorie to the reliefe of the poore came also and caste in two mites which make a quadrin or halfe a farthing into the treasorie with the rest of the people whome when Iesus sitting ouer against the treasorie sawe and behelde hee to shewe hee esteemeth our giftes or almes deedes by the hearts ready wil and affection of the giuer and not by the quantitie or value of the thing giuen commended this poore widows offring liberallitie aboue the rich mens saying vnto his Disciples that were about him Uerily I say vnto you that this poore widdow hath cast more into the offrings of God theÌ„ all they which haue cast into the treasorie for they all did cast in of their superfluitie but she of her pouertie did cast in all the lyuing that she had Mark 12.42 Luk. 21.1 Iobs Wife Iobs wife seeing her husband visited by the hande of God and grieuously plagued with botches and byles from toppe to toe beganne to loathe and dispise him because of the loathsomnesse and continuaunce of his diseases And being stirred vp of Sathan as an instrument to â—empt her husband Iob as Eue was to tempt Adam she knowing death to be appoynted for the blasphemer most impatiently and wickedly sayde vnto her husbande Doest thou continue yet in thine vprightnesse curse God and die as though she would haue sayde what gaynest thou to serue God seeing hee thus plagueth thee as if he were thine enimie Blaspheme Gods name by curssing and denying him so shalt thou bee stoned to death by iudgement of the law and be quicklye ridde of this payne wherein most loathfully thou languishest But Ioab like a most quiet and pacient man teaching her and vs all paciently to endure the crosse of affliction and hande of God sayde vnto her O wife thou speakest like a foolishe woman What shall we receyue good at the hande of God and not receyue euill also Iob. 2.9.10 L There was a certeine Ladye a noble Gentlewoman which for her excellent vertue and deuout godlinesse in religion and bringing vp her children in vertue and learning accordinglye was had in great reputation and worthily honoured of all men especiallye of the Apostles Insomuch that S. Iohn not for anye worldly or priuate affection but according to godlinesse so loued this Lady that to her perpetual prayse and all other womens good example by imitating her vertues hee wrote a learned Epistle to her and her children as an electe and most noble Ladye wherein hee reioyced greatlye as all godlye men doe that hee founde her and her children walking in the trueth of Christes Gospell and shunning the by pathes of errour superstition and idolatrie exhorting her most friendely and christianlye therein that as she had begunne to loue and imbrace the Gospell so she and her children would still loue and continue in the constant profession of the same doctrine of Christ which she and her children to fore had learned And warneth her and them also to beware of deceiuers and to haue nothing to doe with false preachers and teachers 2. Iohn 1. The description of the woman called
the Lambes wife or Church of Christ persecuted by that dragon Antichrist not vnprofitable to be read of women in trauell to their comfort and edification as a lesson in prayer THere appeared in heauen a great woonder saith S. Iohn a womā cloathed with y e sunne the moone was vnder her feete vpō her head a crowne of xii starres she was with childe cryed trauelling in byrth and was pained readye to be deliuered And beholde a great redde dragon with seuen heades ten hornes and a long tayle that reached vp to heauen stoode before the woman which was ready to be deliuered to deuour her child when shee had brought it foorth So shee brought foorth a man child which should rule all nations with a rod of yron and her sonne was taken vp to God and to his throne And the woman fled into the wildernesse where shee hath a place prepared of God that they should feede hir 1260. dayes Then this great Dragon that old Serpent called the Diuel and Satan which deceiueth al the worlde with his Angels was cast out of heauen vnto the earth for euer by Michael his Angels that waged battel with him And whē he saw that he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man childe But to the woman were geuen two winges of a great Eagle that she migh◠flie vnto the wildernesse into her place where shee is nourished for a tune and times and halfe a time from the presence of the serpent And the serpent seeing the woman flye away cast out of his mouth water after her like a flood that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood but the earth holpe the woman for it opened and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth Then the Dragon was more wroth with the woman and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede which kept the commaundements of God haue the testimony of Iesus Christ. Reuel 12. See more chap. 19. 7.21,9 Leuites wife There was in the time of Iudges a certaine woman of Bethleem Iuda who being the Concubyne or wife of a certeine Leuit dwelling in mount Ephraim there played the whore with other men and when shee had done she added one euil to an other for feare of punishment ranne a waye from her husbande and went and dwelt with her owne father in Bethleem Iuda from whence shee came And by that tyme shee had continued the space of foure monethes it chaunced at the last that her husband riding after her and vnderstanding where shee was come thither to her fathers house with horse and man to fetche her away home to his owne house in mount Ephraim where after much intreatie and faire promises and sweete woordes vsed by him vnto her to come away home agayne with him vpon the Asse that he had brouht for her to ryde on Shee first brought him into her fathers house who very courteously entertayned him for her sake fiue or sixe dayes before he would suffer her to depart afterwarde she being willing to come away with her husband tooke her leaue of her father and friends and so departed with her husband homewards And comming somewhat late in y e night into Gibeath a place so called in Beniamin where the wicked men of Iemeny dwelt they were fayne to sit in the streete because they could get no lodging in the Innes vntill it fortuned that an old labouring man came late from his work who espying her and a man sitting like wayfaring folke so late in the streetes went vnto them and after he vnderstood of them what they were and from whēce they came and whither they were going of very courtesy compassion he tooke them both home with him to his house and gaue them lodging and intertaynement the best hee coulde But as they were at Supper making merrie beholde certayne Beniamites that is wicked men of the Citie came and like night walkers besette the house rounde about and smote at the doore to the intent they might breake in and commaunded the olde man that was maister of the house saying Bring foorth the man that came into thine house that wee may knowe him whereuppon the olde man went out of his house to pacifie them and sayde Naye my brethren doe not so wickedly I praye you seeyng that this man is come into my house committe not suche vilanie against him Beholde rather then yee shall so doe loe heere is my daughter whiche is a Uirgin and his Concubine them will I bring out nowe and humble them and abuse them and doe with them what seemeth you good but to this manne doe not this villanie but the wicked men woulde not bee intreated therefore the olde man tooke the Leuites wife or Concubine and brought her out vnto them and they forced her and knewe her carnally and abused her bodie moste villainously all the night vntill the morning and in the breake of the daye lette her goe So the woman came in the dawing of the daye and fell downe starke dead at the thresholde or doore of the olde mans house where her husbande was and there laye till day light And in the morning when her husbande arose and opened the doores of the house thinking to haue gone his waye beholde hee sawe his wife lye at the doore with both her handes lying vppon the threshold and supposing her to haue beene fast a sleepe called vnto her and sayde vp let vs goe but shee answered not Then hee stouped to take her vp and perceiuing her to be stark dead through the rapin force villany of these wicked Beiamites he layd her vppon his Asse and carried her home to his house at mounte Ephraim And as soone as he was come home he tooke a knife and cut his dead Concubine in peeces and deuided her bones and all into twelue partes and so sent her all to bee mangled vnto the twelue trybes that is to euery tribe a parte of her to signifie vnto them the horryble murder committed by those wicked Beniamites against the lawe that they might reuenge it by executing due punishment vppon the offendors And al that hard thereof considered the matter and consulting of the manner gaue this sentence that that sinne was like to the sinne of Sodome and Gomorrhe for whiche God rayned downe fire and brimstone from heauen For there was neuer the like thing done or heard of since the deliuery of the people of Israell out of Egipt And afterwarde the twelue tribes as soone as they vnderstoode the matter consulted together and sente for the Leuit the womans husbande whoe came and declared the whole circumstance and troth of the matter vnto them whereupon they determined to sende to the gouernours of the tribe of Beniamin that they should finde out the offendors and deliuer thē vp to the rulars of the tenne tribes to be punished with death according to iustice but the children of Beniamin vtterly refused so
to doe and beganne to take vp armes against the children of the Israelites as maintainers of their brethrens cruell facte but therefore they were all by Gods iust iudgement iustly plagued for the other tribes of the children of Israell ioyning with them in battayle vppon that occasion offered And after the losse of two and twentie thousand men of Israell that were slayne at the first conflicte and eighteene thousand men of Israell at the seconde battayle and threescore men of Israel at the thirde and fifth encounter in all fortie thousand and 60. men of the one side the Israelites then at Gibea slewe of the Beniamites in one daye fiue and twentie thousand and an hundred chosen men of warre at another conflict 18. thousand and at the last battell fiue and twenty thousand men in all threescore and eight thousand and an hundred men of the Beniamites all chosen and valiant souldiers and stoute men of warre on the other side and went and burnt their cities and destroyed man and woman beast cattell with the sworde and fire so that this harlots death cost the liues of an hundred and eight thousand one hundred and threescore valiant men of warre besides an infinite number of women and children And after this great slaughter the children of Israel of the other tribes made an othe and sware within themselues by consent soleÌ„ne decree as it were that none of them should euer after geue their daughters or women vnto the Beniamites to wiues saying cursed be he that geueth a wife to Beniamine so greatly did they then detest abhorre that wicked fact committed by the children of Beniamine against this Leuites wife or concubine Iud. 19.20 Lots wife Lots wife being drawen by God out of Sodome and commaunded to escape for her life and to flye from his plagues ready to be powred vpon that citie for the abhominable sinnes thereof and not to looke behind her nor to be sory to depart thence for any riches or vanitie that she had or knew in the citie countrie yet for all this as she went behind her husband to Zoare in the playne she looked backe agayne vnto Sodome and behelde it howe it burnt with fire and brimstone lamenting no doubt for the losse of so godly a citie and her wealth possessions which she had left therein behynd her Wherefore presently by Gods iust iudgement for a notable monument of Gods vengeance vpoÌ„ Sodome and all carnall or fleshly Sodomites as touching her bodie onely she was turned into a piller of salt and so in sauing her life she lost it through disobedience and mistrust Gen. 19.17.26 Whose example our Sauiour Christ speaking of the latter dayes setteth before our eyes saying In that day let him that is in the field not turne backe to that he left behind but let him remember Lots wife for whosoeuer shal seek to saue his soule shal loose it whosoeuer shall loose his corporal life shall get life euerlasting Luke 17.31.32.33 M. Manoahs wife Manoahs wife the mother of Sampson dwelt in a place called Zorah in the tribe of Dan and hauing been long barren and without any child the Angell of the Lorde appeared vnto her and sayde behold thou art barren and bearest not but thou shalt conceaue and beare a â—onne And now therfore beware that thou drinke no wine nor stroÌ„g drinke neyther eate any vncleane thing for loe thou shalt conceaue and bare a sonne and no rasor shall come on his head for the childe shal be a Nazarite that is one separate from the worlde and dedicate vnto God from his birth and he shall begin to saue Israel out of the hands of the Philistines Then the wife came and told her husbande saying A man of God came vnto me and the fashion of him was like the fashion of the Angel of God exceeding fearefull for flesh and blood to behold but I asked him not whence he was neyther tolde he me his name But he sayde vnto me Behold thou shalt conceaue beare a sonne and nowe thou shalt drinke no wine nor strong drinke neither eate any vncleane thing for the childe shall be a Nazarite to God from the birth to the day of his death Then her husband and she shewing them selues readie to obey Gods will and desiring to know further prayed vnto the Lorde and sayde I pray thee my Lord let the man of God whom thou sentest come agayne now vnto vs and teach vs what we shall do vnto y e child when he is borne And God heard their voyce and the Angell of God came vnto the wife as she sate in the field alone without her husbande then shee ranne home in all haste to shewe her husbande and sayde vnto him beholde the man of God hath appeared vnto me againe that came vnto me to day With that her husbande arose and went with his wife vnto the man and sayde vnto him Art thou the man that spakest vnto this woman Yea quoth the Angel Nowe then said Manoah let thy saying come to passe but how shall we order the childe and doe vnto him when he is borne The woman thy wife quoth the Angel must be ware of all that I sayd vnto her shee may eate nothing that commeth of the vine tree she shal not drinke wine nor strong drinke nor eate any vncleane thing forbidden by the lawe Let her obserue all that I haue commaunded her The Manoah intreated y e man of God to tarrie and eate with him but the Angel refused saying though thou make me abide with thee I will not eate of thy bread but if thou wilt make a burnt offering to God offer it vnto the Lorde TheÌ„ what is thy name quoth Manoah y t when thy saying is come to passe we may honour thee Why askest thou after my name said the Angel which is secret or maruellous Then Manoah offered his burnt offering vnto the Lorde and the Angel did wonderously whiles Manoah and his wife looked on for God sent fire from heauen to consume their sacrifice to confirme their faith in his promise and wheÌ„ the flame went vp towardes heauen from the alter the Angel of the Lord ascended vp in the flame which when Manoah and hâ—s wife beheld they fel on their faces vnto the ground and woorshipped God for then they knewe that it was an Angel of the Lord that so appeared vnto them And Manoah sayde vnto his wife we shall surely dye because wee haue seene God but his wife sayd vnto him if the Lord would kill vs hee woulde not haue receiued a burnt offering and a meate offering at our handes neither would he haue shewed vs all these thinges nor woulde haue tolde vs any such as if she would haue said these graces that we haue receiued of God and his accepting of our obedience are sure tokens of his loue towards vs so that nothing can hurt vs. So the Angel of y e Lord did no more appeare vnto Manoah and his
wife And afterward at the time appoynted his wife bare a sonne and called his name Sampson and the Lord blessed him and the spirite of the Lorde so strengthened him that he grew became a mightie strong man in the house of Dan. And when he fell in loue with a woman one of the daughters of y e Philistines in Timnah he came told his father and his mother and asked their counsels first saying I haue seene a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines nowe therefore geue me her to wife but his father and mother not knowing that this was the secret worke of y e Lord in Samson did iustly reproue their sonne Samson sayd is there neuer a wife among the daughters of thy brethren and among all my people for thee to take but thou must goe to take a wife of these vncircumcised Philistines No said Sampson geue me her for she pleaseth me well then his father and mother went with him to Timnah where by the way he killed a young Lion that roared vpon him without any weapon neuer told his father and mother what he had done wheÌ„ his father mother were come to Timnah to coÌ„mune talke of y â— matter w t the frieÌ„ds of the womaÌ„ which was so beautiful in SaÌ„psons eyes SaÌ„pson their soÌ„ne weÌ„t vnto y e dead carcas of y e lyoÌ„ which he had slaine therein finding a swarm of bees honie in y e lyons body tooke therof in his haÌ„d came to his father mother gaue vnto theÌ„ to eate but told theÌ„ not where he had it so y e matter of mariage being bargained vpoÌ„ by his father mother y e womaÌ„s friends they married their soÌ„ne SaÌ„pson at his own liking choyse after y e wedding feast as y e maner is his father mother returned home to their own house in Zorah neere to Eshtaol Iud. 13.14 Michas mother Michas mother being an old Idolatresse and supersticious woman dwelling in mount Ephraim in the dayes of Othniel Iudge of Israel on a time was robbed by her own sonne Micha of a xi hundred shekles of siluer which amouÌ„teth in our monie to y e suÌ„me of lxxxi pouÌ„d xiii â— iiii â— or there about which she had laid vp of purpose to make an Idoll therwith And wheÌ„ she missed her siluer shee so cursed baÌ„ned y e theefe y t had takeÌ„ it away in y e hearing of Micha her soÌ„ne y t he could not choose for his mothers quietnesse sake but confesse the felony bewray himselfe vnto her that he was the theefe and therefore sayde vnto his mother The xi hundred shekles of siluer which were taken froÌ„ thee for the which thou curseâ—t and spakest so ill euen in my hearing behold the siluer is with me I tooke it and haue it yet in my possession Then his mother was glad to heare that newes and reioyced greatly saying vnto her sonne Blessed be thou my sonne of the Lord. And when he had restored the siluer againe vnto his mother shee saide vnto him I had dedicated this siluer to the Lorde of mine hand for thee my sonne to make a grauen molten Image thereof Now therefore I wil giue it thee again so coÌ„trary to y e coÌ„maÌ„dement of God true religioÌ„ she took 200. of y e shekles of siluer gaue theÌ„ to y e founder to make therof a graueÌ„ molteÌ„ image which being done she gaue it to y e idolater Micha her sonne with whom euer after it remayned to the offence destruction of many Israelits who therby forsooke the Lord his true worship fel to Idolatry Iudg. 17.1 Mourning witches There were among the Iewes at Ierusalem in old time certayne foolish womeÌ„ whoÌ„ of a superstition they especially appoynted hyred once a yeere yeerly to goe into y e teÌ„ple there in y e night with fayned teares to mourne and bewayle the death of one Tammuze y e great prophet of y e Idols long since dead and buried which superstitious women mourners by reasoÌ„ of y e custoÌ„e in processe of time made an art occupatioÌ„ of fained mourning insomuch as they wer not only hyred at eueri calamity y t happened amoÌ„g y e people to lameÌ„t for y e same but also they taught their daughters other meÌ„ womeÌ„ to weepe mourne w t fayned teares for y e dead other their miseriesâ— of w t superstitious Idolatrous womeÌ„ mourners y â— Lord by his prophet Ier. in deriding mocking reproching his people y â— Iewes who could not lameÌ„t their own sins speaketh thus Thus saith y t Lord of hosts take heede cal for y â— mourning womeÌ„ y t they may come send for skilful womeÌ„ y t they may come and let theÌ„ make haste take vp a lamentation for vs that our eyes may cast out teares and our eye liddes gushe out of water for a lamentable noyse is heard in Sion crying how are we destroyed and vtterlye confounded for we haue forsaken the land and our dwellings haue cast vs out as though they were weary of vs because of our iniquitie as they did in the last Earthquake 1580. wheÌ„ the neighbors on both sides of the streetes ran out of their houses for feare they woulde fall vppon them and met to gether in the middest of the streetes amazed at the terrible iudgementes of God then presently shaking the earth and driuing them out the which day and time I pray God giue vs grace alwayes to remeÌ„ber that with y e fiue wise virgins wee hauing bearing Lampes full of oyle in our hands we may so watch and expect the comming of the bridegroome that wee may bee readily prepared to meete him and be found worthy through his merites to returne with him vnto the wedding Therefore heare the woorde of the Lorde yee women and let your eares regard the wordes of his mouth and teach your daughters to mourne euerye one her neighbour to lament for death is come vp into our windowes is entred into our palaces to destroy the children without and the young men in the streetes c. Iere .9.17.18.20 Agayne the Prophet Ezechiel was shewed in a vision y e superstitioÌ„ abhomination of these Idolatrous women as they sate in y e temple of Ierusalem saying And y e Lord caused me to enter into the entry of the gate of y e Lords house which was toward y e North behold there sate a woman mourning for Tammuze Ezech. 8.14 Let mothers reade this after the death of their children especially newly married and be comforted Mourning mother As I lay in a traunce in the field saith Esdras I sawe in a vision a woman which mourned sore and lamented with a loude voyce and was grieued in heart and rent her cloathes and shee had ashes on her head Then I left my thoughts where I was occupied and turned me vnto her to
commune with her and sayde Wherefore weepest thou why art thou so sory in mynde O sir quoth she let me alone that I may bewayle my selfe and increase sorow for I am sore vexed in my mynd brought very low what ayleth thee quoth Esdras tell me I â—hy seruant quoth she hauing an husband haue been barren and haue had no childe this thirtie yeeres and euery houre and euery day these thirtie yeeres I pray to the most high God day and night for a childe And after thirtie yeeres God heard me thine handmayden and looked vpon my misery considered my trouble and gaue me a sonne and I was glad of him so was myne husband also and al they of my countrie and we gaue great honour vnto the almighty And I nourished him with great trauell so when hee grew vp and came to take a wife I made a feast but when my sonne went into his chamber he fell downe and dyed Then we all ouerthrew the lightes and all my neighbours rose vp to comfort me so I rested till the second day at night when they had al left of to coÌ„fort me that I should be quiet theâ— I rose vp by night and fled and am come into this fielde as thou seest from whence I am not purposed to returne agayne into the citie but to remayne here and neither to eate nor drinke but continually to mourne and fast vntill I die Then Esdras seeing the womans great folly and desperate mynd began to comfort her and very â—ngâ—rly spake vnto her and sayd thou foolishe woman aboue all other art thou so sory for one sonne What if thou haue lost the fruite of thy wombe which thou hast brought forth with heauinesse and bare with sorowes wilt thou thus wast and consume thy selfe with excessiue mourninâ— for that whiche thou canst not help striue against y e almighty who hath caused thy sonne to returne into the earth from whence he came Oh doe not so foolishly but withholde thy sorowe in thy selfe and beare constantly that whiche commeth vnto thee for if thou allowest Gods purpose receiuest his counsel in time thou shalt be coÌ„mended therein leaue thy mourning therefore arise goe thy way now into the citie to thine husband I wil not quoth she I will not goe into the citie but here will I die Then Esdras seeing her desperate miserie was y e more earnest to coÌ„fort her and continued his speech more and more vnto her and sayde O doe not so woman but be counselled Shake off thy great heauinesse and put away the multitude of sorowes and be of good comfort that the almighty may be merciful vnto thee and y â— the most highe may giue thee rest and ease from thy labour and sorow which thou endurest But while I was thus talking with her comforting her sayth Esdras behold her face and beauty shined suddainly and her countenance became so bright that I was afrayd of her and musing what it mighâ— â—e immediately she cast foorth a great voyce and very fearefull so that the very earth shoke at the noyse of the woman And I looked but beholde the woman vanished away and appeared no more but in her place there appeared a citie builded then being more afraide I called for the Angel Uriel to vnderstand this vision who presently came vnto him and tolde him the solution and meaning thereof namely that the woman was Syon wherein there was no offering offered for 30. yeeres space but after 30. yeeres it was built vp by Salomon who offered offeringes so the barren citie bare a sonne The inhabiting of Ierusalem was signified by her nourishing of her sonne And the fall y t came to Ierusalem is the death of her sonne in his wedding chamber her mourning representeth the lamentation of y e people for the destruction of Gods temple and citie and Esdras comforting her declarâ—d his sorowe griefe and sufferinges for her misery for whiche cause God shewed him the cleerenesse of her glorie the fairenesse of her beautie euen the restauration of the temple citie of God into a better forme c. 2. Esd. 9.38.10 c. Machabitesse In the yeere of the worlds creation 3964. there was among y e Machabites or Iewes a righteous godly woman whose name was Hanna as Iosephus saith fol. 4. a And who with her 7. sonnes were all taken and compelled by the cruel tyrant Antâ—ochus and vncircumcised king of the MacedoniaÌ„s against Gods law to cast swines flesh and were tormented with scourges and whippes Which woman their mother was marueilous aboue all other worthy of honourable memory For when she saw her seuen sonnes slayne within the space of one day she suffered it with a good will because of the hope that she had in y e Lord yea she exhorted euery one of them in her owne language and being ful of courage wisedome stirred vp her womanly affection w t a manly stomake said vnto them I cannot tel how yee came into my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor life it is not I that set in order the members of your body but doubtlesse the creatour of the world which formed the birth of man found out the beginning of al things will also of his owne mercie giue you breath life againe as yee now regard not your owne selues for his lawes sake With which her woordes and oration made vnto her children the king being displeased and thinking himselfe greately abused and iniuried thereby in that contrary to his expectation shee rather enâ—ouraged them to death then dissuaded them as he looked after many terrible threatninges and faire promises made vnto her youngest sonne to conuert eate when he saw it would not be for any thing he coulde doe he called his mother and with many words and faire promises exhorted her that she would counsell the young man to saue his life So she promising the king that she would giue her sonne the best counsell she could turned her selfe vnto him laughing the cruell tyraunt to scorne and spake in her owne language vnto her sonne and sayde O my sonne haue pittie vpon me thy mother that bare thee ix monethes in my wombe and gaue thee sucke three yeeres and nourished thee tooke care for thee vnto this age and brought thee vp I beseech thee my sonne looke vpon the heauen and the earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise feare not this hangman but shewe thy selfe worthy such brethreÌ„ by suffering death as they haue done before thee y t I may receiue thee in mercy with thy brethren when shee had spoken these wordes her sonne by and by called for the Executor and offered him selfe body and life to die for the lawes of his God as his brethren had done c. Then the king being kindled with anger raged more cruelly against him then the other and tooke
it more greeuously that their mother had so often mocked him so he caused her youÌ„gest sonne to be most cruelly handled put to death then any of his brethreÌ„ And last of all after her sonnes were this all slayne and martyred She also their mother suffered death martyrdome paciently constantly holily dyed in the same opinion and religion for mainteining of the law of God 2. Mach. 7. Ioseph fol. 202. Machabites There were also before these two other women of the Machabites who because they had circumcised their sonnes according to Gods law contrary to the commandement of this cruell tyrant Antiochus were brought forth with the babes haÌ„ging at their breasts and after they had ledde them rounde about the Citie for example to others they were cruelly â—ast downe headlong ouer the walles with their children sucking at their breasts so both mothers and babes perished and were most butcherly slayne martyred for the lawes of their God 1. Mach. â— 63â—2 Mach. 6.10 N Widowe of Nahim In the Citie of Nahim a Towne of Galilie in the tribe of Isachar hard by Tyberias there was a certayne widowe who hauing but one onely sonne left her to comfort her after the death of her husband it pleased God that it fell sicke and dyed And as she was following the corse out of the gates of the Citie to the buriall so it was that Iesus by Gods prouidence came and met her and when the Lorde saw her mourne and take her sonnes death so heauily as she had great cause he had compassion on her and sayde vnto her Woman weepe not and commaunding them that bare the corse to stand stil hee went and touched y e coffin sayde vnto her dead sonne Young man I say vnto thee arise with y t onely word of Christ her dead sonne sate vpright in y â— coffin and began to speake Then Iesus delâ—uered him to his mother to her great comfort and his euerlasting glory Luke 7.11.12.13 P Pathroitesse In Pathros a Citie of Egypt there were certaine superstitious and Idolatrous women of the Iewes who when they heard the Prophete Ieremy from the mouth of the Lord preach vnto them there reproue theÌ„ for their Idolatry with many threatnings of Gods plagues to light vpon them vnlesse they did turne and repent in time These wicked women standing by set light by the threatninges of the Lorde vttered by his Prophet and most impudently answered Ieremias saying The worde that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lorde we will not heare it of thee But we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offeringes vnto her as we haue done both we and our fathers our kings and our Princes in the citie of Iudah and in the streetes of Ierusalem for then had we plenty of victuals and were wel and felt no euill But since we left of to burn incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her we haue had scarcenes of all things and haue been consumed by the sworde by famine And when we burne incense to the Querne of heauen and powred out drinke offerings vnto her did we make hâ—r cakes to make her glad and powre out drinke offeringes vnto her without our husbandes consent as if they shoulde say no wee did it by their sufferance where we may learne howe great daunger it is for the husbands to permitte their wiues to doe anye thing whereof they bee not assured by Gods woorde for if they doe their wiues thereby will take occasion to iustifie their doinges as these supersticious women here did for which folly wickednesse in the wife the husband shal assuredly giue an account before God who wil not onelie punish the women but their husbands also which haue suffered this superstition and errour in their wiues without reprehension Then the Prophet Ieremy perceiuing these Idolatrous women to esteeme religion by their bellie and so greatly to dishonour God by attributing his woorkes to their Idolles and seeyng their extreeme madnesse and impudencie that they were fallen into by declyning froÌ„ GOD to followe their owne fancies euen to iustifie their idolatry and wickednesse in woorshipping the sunne moone and starres against GOD and his Prophetes The Prophete I say spake againe vnto the women and their husbandes gaue them this aunsweare and sayde Heare the woorde of the Lorde yee women thus saieth the Lorde Forasmuch as yee and your wiues haue committed double euill in making wicked vowes in performing the same spoken with your mouthes and fulfilled them with your handes saying We will performe the vowes that we haue vowed to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to powre out drinke offerings vnto her Therfore beholde I haue sworne saith the Lord by my great name that my name shall bee no more called vppon by the mouth of any man or woman in Iudah in the land of Egypt as to say the Lorde liueth yea beholde I will watche ouer them for euill and not for good and all the men women children of Iuda y t are in Egypt shal be consumed by y e sword famine til they be vtterly destroyed c. Iere. 44. Also Ier. saieth y t in Babylon there were certaine superstitious Idolatrous women and the menstruous women and they that lay in childbed came and brought giftes to the Idols of siluer gold and wood touched the sacrifices offered to Idolles whiche giftes so offered the Priests gaue vnto their wiues to cloath them and their children and to lay vp to vse at their pleasure but vnto the poore and sicke they gaue nothing Baruc. 6.27.28.29.32 Pharaos daughter Pharaos daughter after that her father the king of Egypt had moste cruelly caused the Hebrewe women to cast their men children into the water to be drowned vpon a tyme went downe to washe her selfe in the same Riuer whereinto their children were throwen and as she walked by the Riuer side she espied an Arke or Cradell of wickar lying among the bulrushes and sent one of her maydes that were there with her to fetch it and draw it out of the water and wheÌ„ they brought it vnto her shee opened it and when shee sawe therein a fayre young babe and a man childe and heard it crie and make pitious mone for the mother and sustenance shee had compassion on it and saide surely this is one of the Hebrues children Then the childs sister Miriam standing a farre off to watche what woulde become of the childe seeing it so taken vp by women ran vnto them and not reuealing vnto them whose childe it was saide to Pharaos daughter shal I goe and call vnto thee a nurse of the Hebrewe women to nurse the childe yea quoth Pharaos daughter goe So the mayde went and called Iochebed hers and the childes mother to whom Pharaos daughter sayde Take this childe away
and nurse it for mee and I will rewarde thee So the woman tooke her owne childe and nursed it and when the childe was growen shee brought him vnto Pharaos daughter who called his name Moses because sayd she I drewe him out of the water and euer after she tooke him as her sonne so by Gods prouidence she contrary to her fathers cruel coÌ„mandement preserued him who afterward became the destroyer of her father preseruer of Gods people Exod. 2.5.6.7 c. There was another Pharaos daughter which was wife vnto SalomoÌ„ for whoÌ„ he made a very stately princely house like vnto y e forest of Libanon or Salomons porch into y e which also in y e yeere y e worlde 3131. she came from the citie of Dauid there dwelt after y e SalomoÌ„ her husband had finished all his building as ye may reade 1. King 7. 8â— 9.24 Philips daughters Philip the Euaugelist which was one of the vii Deacons dwelt in Cesaria had iiii daughters virgins which did prophecie Acts 21.9 And were buried with him in Hierapolis a citie of Phrigia as saith Iâ—idorus and Fox pag. 53. cul 1.2 Edit Mayde of Philippi In the Citie of Philippi a towne in Macedonia there was a certaine Mayden dwelling with her mistresse which mayden had a spirit of diuination and could gesse afore hand and foredeeme of thinges past present and to come which knowledge in many thinges God permitted to the Diuell by meanes whereof this mayde gate her mistresse much vauntage with diuining And when on a time Paule and Sylas were come into that Citie to preach Christ and went to pray she by chance met with them and folowed them crying and saying These men are the seruants of the most high God which shew vnto vs the way of saluation And thus did she many dayes but Paule at last being offended with her and grieued at the subtiltie of Satan in her least by her confession it might seeme that Satan and the spirite of God taught bothe one doctrine he turned about vnto y e mayd sayde vnto the euill spirite within her I commaund thee in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ that thou come out of her and forthwith the spirite of diuination came out of her in the same houre Nowe when her mistresse sawe that the hope of their gayne was gone they for very anger caught Paule Sylas and drew them before the rulers and there accused them as Iewes and troublers of the Citie preaching ordinaunces not lawful for them to obserue By meanes of the false and slaunderous report of this mayds maistresse and other that holy men Paule and Silas were condemned for sedicious men beaten with roddes and put in the stockes in prison where they lay fast locked in stockes and yrons till God deliuered them Act. 16.16 c. Phineas wife Phineas wife being great with child and neere her trauell when she heard the report that the Arke of God was taken and that her father in law Ely the high Priest of the Lord and her husbande his sonne were both sodainly dead she bowed or setled her selfe towardes her labour and trauelled with child her paynes with that fright and feare came so sore vpon her and about the time of her death as she through sore labour was a departing this life the mydwiues and women that stoode about her comforted her saying feare not for thou hast borne a sonne But she answered not nor regarded it but to declare her great sorow and feeling of Gods iudgementes to light vppon his people she named the child Iochebed saying and repeating twise together these woordes The glory is departed from Iesrael The glory is departed from Israel for the Arke of God is taken and this shee spake because the Arke of God was taken and her father in lawe and her husbande dead And so shee gaue vp the ghost and died in childe bedde 1. Sam. 4.19 Pilates wife Pilates wife being moued by God to defende Christes innocencie sent vnto her husbande so soone as he was set vpon the iudgement seat to examine adiudge and condemne Christ saying Haue thou nothing to doe with that iust man for I haue suffered many thinges this day in a dreame by reason of him Howebeit for all this her good counsayle giuen vnto her husbande he like a wretch cleane contrary to his owne conscience proceeded against Christ in iudgement and condemned him to death to his great condemnation Math. 27.19 Potiphars wife Potiphars wife called after some Memphetica being a very incontinent woman cast her eyes vpon Ioseph and being incensed with inordinate lust and loue towardes him because he wâ—s a very fayre man and welfauourd person shee flattered him long and at the last contrary to all womanly shamefastnesse shee desired his company vnlawfully and sayd Ioseph come and lie with mee But Ioseph fearing God refused to satisfie her request or to offer his maister that vilanie and said vnto her beholde my maister knoweth not what hee hath in the house with mee but hath committed all that hee hath into mine hande There is no man greater in his house then I neyther hath hee kept any thing from mee but oneâ—â— thee because thou art his wife howe then can I do this great wickednesse and so sinne against God Neuerthelesse his mistresse continually tempted and allured him day by day to incoÌ„tineÌ„cy But yet Ioseph being euer preserued by y e feare of God against her continuall assaultes and flattering promises woulde in no wise consent to ly with her No nor bee so much as in her coÌ„panie because he would as much as in him lay auoid y e occasion of euill Now when his mistres sawe shee coulde not preuaile with him by flatterie and fayre speach shee fell to open force and violence and from thence to tyrannie and oppression For when on a certaine day Ioseph entred into the house euery bodie being from home saue shee and went into a secrete place to doe his easement shee lurking in a corner watched his comming and as hee passed by her shee reached after him and caught him by the cloake pulled him nill he will he vnto her saying Sleepe with mee But Ioseph being stronger then shee wounde away from her and leauing his cloake in her hande hee fled and got him out from her as fast as he coulde Nowe when shee sawe that he was fled and gone and that her folly wickednes would be bewrayed by his cloake thâ—t he had left behinde him in her custodie Shee subtillie deuised with her selfe that it was best for her to bewray him first to saue her honestie and so ioyning extreme impudencie and craft to her incontinencie and licencious life shee cryed out and called for her men in the house and tolde them saying Beholde my husbande hath brought an Ebrew man into our seruice to mocke vs and to do vs villanie and shame who came into mee here beeing all alone and would haue lien
brought to extreeme necessitie and pouertie as he did this poore man and woman before he succoured them to the intent that afterward being helped and restored by him againe they might haue the more ample cause to prayse his mercie When Benhadad king of Aram had besieged Samaria so long vntill the famine was wonderfull great and that an Asses head was soulde for fourescore peeces of siluer to eate for want of victualles and the fourth parte of a kab of Doues dung was soulde for fiue peeces of siluer to burne for lacke of wood Beholde as Iehoram the vngodly king of Israel was going vpon the wals of the Citie to looke vnto his affayres there cryed a certaine woman of the Citie vnto him and said Helpe my Lorde O King whose voyce being heard the king began to waxe angrie and in stead of comfortable wordes he being moued gaue her reprochfull speeches thinking in deede she had called vnto him for that which he had not namely for sustenance and victuals whiche as then was very hard for him to giue because they were all spent sayd vnto her Seeing the Lorde doth not succour thee howe shoulde I helpe thee with corne or wine or any other victual for as thou knowest there is no such thinges left among vs. Then the woman answered my Lorde O king I aske of thee neither victualles nor sustenaunce therefore the king sayd vnto her againe Woman then what ayleth thee and what wouldest thou haue O king quoth shee there is a controuersie betweene mee and another woman one of my neighbours about a bargayne or couenant For wee made this contract or couenant betweene vs that wee woulde eate our children one one day and another another day so I in good faith stoode to my promise and killed my sonne and sodde him and we haue eaten him together but this woman nowe when the day came that we shoulde eate her sonne shee hath craftily conueyed him away and hid him from mee eyther to spare his life for compassion and natural affection or for to satisfie her own hunger and to eate him alone without mee and so shee hath broken her couenant and is departed from her promise whereby I am like to perishe for hunger vnlesse thou O king giue sentence and iudge my But y e king abhorring so vnnaturall wicked a contract or bargaine could in no wise ratifie y e same nor alow therof For what is more horrible theÌ„ to receiue into y e belly again y e childreÌ„ once brought vp to bury their bowels euen in their owne bowels thereby making that their graue which was their nourishment Therefore when the king heard these vnnaturall wordes and cruell contract of the women hee feeling the iudgementes of God fallen vpon him and his people for his wicked life rent his clothes and put on sackcloth in signe of sorrow and lamentation For nowe was the curse of God against the contemners and despisers of his lawe perfourmed which he threatned Leuit. 26. where he sayth Yee shall eate the fleshe of your owne sonnes and the fleshe of your daughters shall ye deuoure Nowe I say was fulfilled that heauie indignation and wrath of God against the idolaters and wicked people foreshewed by God in Deut. 28. where it is sayde that the enemie shal besiege thee in al thy cities vntil thine high stroÌ„g walles fal downe c. And thou shalt eate the fruite of thy body euen the fleshe of thy sonnes and thy daughters which the Lorde thy God hath giuen thee during the siege and streightnesse wherein thine enemie shall inclose thee So that the man that is tender and exceeding dayntie among you shal be grieued at his brother and at his wife that lyeth in his bosome and at the remnant of his children which he hath yet left for feare of giuing vnto any of them of the flesh of his childreÌ„ whom he shal eate because he hath nothing left him in y e siege streightnesse wherew t the enimie shall besiege thee in all thy Cities Yea and the tender and daintie woman among you which neuer woulde venture to set the sole of her foote vpon the grounde for her softnesse and tendernesse shall bee grieued at her husbande that lyeth in her bosome and at her sonne and at her daughter and at her after byrth that shal come out from between her feete and at her children which shee shall beare for when all things lacke shee shall eate them secretly during the siege and streightnesse wherewith thine enemies shall besiege thee in thy cities 2. King 6. Samaritesse In y e same citie of Samaria called SicheÌ„ there was a certayn womaÌ„ ytâ—ame about noone to draw water at Iocobs wel where shee met Iesus sitting all alone vppon the welles mouth to rest him whiles his disciples were gone into the Towne to buy victualles And when shee had drawen her water and filled her pitcher Iesus sayde vnto her woman giue mee drinke Howe is it quoth shee that thou being a Iewe askest drinke of mee which am a woman of Samaria For the Iewes meddle not with the Samaritanes yea they esteeme the Samaritanes as wicked and prophane Then Iesus speaking of him selfe whom his father had sent to conuert this woman among other sayde vnto her if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that sayth to thee Giue me drinke thou wouldest haue asked of him and hee woulde haue giuen thee water of life which is the loue of God in his sonne powred into our heartes by the holy Ghost vnto euerlasting life Rom. 5.5 1. Iohn 3.5 Sir quoth the woman thou hast nothing to drawe with and the well is deepe from whence then hast thou that water of life Art thou greater then our father Iacob which gaue vs the well and he himselfe dranke thereof and his children and his cattell Yea saide Iesus whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe but whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giue him that is of the Gospel of Grace shall neuer be more a thyrst dryed vp or destitute For the water that I shall giue him shall be in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Sir quoth shee giue me of that water that I may not thirst neyther come hither to drawe First go sayd Iesus and call thine husbande and come hither I haue none quoth shee Thou hast well sayde sayd Iesus vnto her I haue no husbande for thou hast had fiue husbandes and hee whom thou nowe hast is not thine husbande that saydest thou truely Then the woman being liuely touched with her faultes where before shee mocked and woulde not heare Christ nowe shee could say Sir I see that thou art a Prophete our fathers worshipped in this mountayn and ye say that in Ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship Woman said Iesus beleeue me the houre commeth when yee shall neyther in this mountayne nor at Ierusalem worship the father yee worship that which
horsemen and footemen with a mightie plague Iudg. 14.15 Sareptesse In Sarepta a towne in Syria or citie in Sydon There was a certain widow dwelling who in the time of the great famine that theÌ„ was in the citie countrey in y e yere of the world 3220. by Gods prouideÌ„ce on a time went out of the gats to gather stickes to make a fire to dresse her meat whoÌ„ when Eliah y e prophet y t God had sent thither saw he called her vnto him said bring me I pray thee a litle water in a vessell y t I may drinke And as she was going to fet it he called to her and said bring me also I pray thee a morsell of bread in thine hand As the Lord thy God liueth quoth she I haue not a cake but euen an handefull of meale in a barrell and a litle oyle in a cruise and behold I am gathering a few sticks for to go in dresse it for me my sonne that wee may eate it die for there is no hope of any more sustenance the famine is so great TheÌ„ Elisha said vnto her feare not woman come do as thou hast said but make me thereof a litle cake first of all and bring it vnto me afterward make for thee thy sonne For thus saith the Lord God of Israel The meale in the barrell shall not be wasted neither shall the oyle in the cruise be diminished vnto the time that the Lorde send rayne vpon the earth and so take away the drought which was the cause of the famine So shee went and did as Eliah bad her she did eate so did he and her house for a certayne time euen till hee had rayne and foode on the earth The barrell of meale wasted not nor the oyle was spent out of the cruise according to the worde of the Lorde which he spake by the hande of Eliah where we see that God receiueth no benefite for the vse of his saintes and seruaontes but he promiseth and performeth a most ample recompence to the giuer for the same After all this God to trie whither this widowe had learned by his mercifull prouidence to make him her onely stay and comforte stroke her sonne that hee fell sicke and his sicknesse was so sore that there was no breath left in him Then shee being very sorowfull sayde to Eliah what haue I to doe with thee O thou man of God art thou come vnto mee to call my sinnes to remembraunce and to slay my sonne when Eliah heard his hostes thus burden him he being afrayde least Gods name shoulde haue been blasphemed and his ministerie contemned except God shoulde haue continued his mercies as hee had begunne them towardes her especially while hee there remayned sayd vnto her Giue me thy sonne and with that tooke him out of her armes and bosome carried him vp into his chamber where he lay and layde him vpon his owne bedde And then called vnto the Lorde by feruent prayer and sayde O Lorde my God hast thou punished also this widowe with when I soiourne by killing her sonne So hee stretched him selfe vpon the childe three times and called vnto the Lorde saying O Lorde my God I pray thee let this childes soule come into him agayne And the Lorde hearde the prayer of Eliah and the soule of the childe came into him agayne and he reuiued Then Eliah brought the child down out of his chamber into the house and deliuered him to his mother saying beholde thy sonne liueth Nowe I knowe quoth shee that thou art the man of GOD and that the worde of the Lorde in thy mouth is true so harde a thing it was for her to depende on God except shee sawe and was confirmed by a myracle 1. Kinges 17. 9. c. Of this widowe our Sauiour Christe specially maketh mention in Saint Luke where hee sayeth I tell you of a trueth manye widowes were in Israel in the dayes of Elias when heauen was shutte three yeeres and sixe monethes and when men dyed through the great famine that was dispersed ouer all the lande but vnto none of theÌ„ was Elias sent saue vnto a certaine widowe in Sarepta a Citie of Sydon For vnto him God saide vp Eliah and get thee to Sarepta which is in Sydon and remaine there for beholde I haue commaunded a widow there to sustayne thee 1. King 17.9 which example Christ among other brought forth vnto the despising Iewes to shewe them that God oftentimes preferreth the straunger to them of the houshold and that for their pride and disdaine the grace of God shoulde be taken from them and giuen to other Luke 4.25.26 Sylomitesse In Silo a citie in Canaan in the tribe of Ephraim it was a custome and maner among the maidens and virgins once euery yeere to go and meete altogether in a certayne place on the North side of Bethell there to daunce and sing Psalmes and songes of Gods workes among them selues without the companie of men And when on a time the Israelites in the quarrell of the Leuites wife that was most vilanously abused in her bodie to death by certaine wicked men of the Beniamites as ye may read in her story had almost destroyed all the whole tribe of Beniamin their brethren man woman and childe in battell and against these fewe that were left had made a rashe vowe and othe among them selues that none should euer after giue his daughter to any of the Beniamites to wife in detestation of the fact committed against that harlot the Leuites wife They being very sory therfore partly for the preseruation of that tribe and partly for the keeping of that othe deuised neuerthelesse secretly this meanes how to marie those vi hundred Beniamites that were left vnto certaine of their daughters And first they deuised that because none of the inhabitatants of Iabish Gilead were at the making of that rashe othe therfore they thought their daughters might safely be giuen vnto the Beniamits to wiues therevpon sent an host of twelue thousande valiant men of Israel to destroy the Citie Iabish man woman and children with the sword for their disobedience in not comming to the Parliament or making of that othe with this charge onely to reserue the virgins vnslayne that had neuer lien with men Who sacking the citie accordingly and killing all the males and women that had lien by men there founde foure hundred maydens virgins that had knowne no man by lying with any male and those they brought vnto the host congregation to Siloh who presently sent for the Beniamits gaue them wiues of those virgins so farre as the nuÌ„ber would reach vnto But when they saw that they had not ynough for them and that there lacked yet 2. hundred moe then they tooke thought saying how shall we do for wiues to the remnant for y e women of Benâ—iamin are destroyed the inheritance of the tribe of Beniamine be reserued preserued not destroyed
of the child was importunate vpoÌ„ Elisha to goe himself vnto her child said As the Lord liueth as thy soule liueth I wil not leaue thee vntil thou goe with me thine owne selfe wherupon Elisha theÌ„ arose went himselfe with her who met his maÌ„ Gehazi by the way returning from the child y t told him how he had layd the staffe vpon the face of the childe but he neither spake nor heard for all that neyther was he as yet awaked Wherfore Elisha weÌ„t forward on his iourney with the mother of the child when he came into the womaÌ„s house entred into his own chamber or lodging behold there he found the child dead layd vpon his bed TheÌ„ causing euery body to depart he shut the doore vpon himselfe the dead child prayed heartily vnto the Lord for the childs life After prayer he went vp lay vpon the child and put his mouth on the childes mouth his eyes vpon his eyes and his haÌ„ds vpon his hands stretched himselfe vpon him so y t at the last the flesh of the child waxed warme TheÌ„ he went from him walked vp down in the chaÌ„ber after went vp vpon the bed spread himselfe vpon the child agayn the secoÌ„d time then the child neesed vii times together opened his eies And when he saw the child restored to life he called to his maÌ„ bad him cal y e Shunamitesse his mother who being come vnto him he said vnto her heere take thy sonne with that for ioy reuerence she fel downe at his feet bowed her selfe to the ground then tooke vp her sonne went out and Elisha returned to Gilgall After this when the great famine was in the land of Israel it chaÌ„ced that Elishâ— came againe into this Shunamites house whose sonne he had restored to life and finding her now a widowe for her husband was dead hee prophesied vnto her the dearth of seuen yeeres to come willed her to prouide for her selfe in time saying vp and goe thou and thine house and soiourne where thou canst finde a commodious place to dwell in and whereas is plenty for the Lorde hath called for a Famine and it commeth also vpon the land for the space of vii yeeres And the woman arose and did after the counsell of the man of God went both shee and her houshold and soiourned in the land of the Philistins seuen yeeres And at the seuen yeeres end she returned out of the land of the Philistines home to Sunem her owne citie and countrie But so it was y t in her absence other naughty couetous persoÌ„s had takeÌ„ her house lands from her kept her out of her own possessions by force and disseason whereuppon she then poore widowe vrged through this wrong to come by her owne lawfully tooke her sonne with her and went out to complaine vnto the king Iehoram against those intruders and being come into the kings presence such was the woonderful prouidence of God that shee there found Gehazi the seruauâ—t of Elisha the man of God talking with the king as it fell out preparing an entrance indeede vnto her sute for the king being very desirous to heare of Gehazi of all the famous Actes and greate miracles done by Elisha his maister amongest all other thinges Gehazi tolde him howe that he had restored one dead to life and as he spake these wordes the woman knowing that he meant her sonne and wisely taking so good opportunity offered with that stept boldly vnto the king and called vpon him for her house and land wrongfully taken from her whom when Gehazi beheld and saw that she was his maisters hostesse of whoÌ„ he spake he presently to confirme his tale and former reporte sayde vnto the king My Lord O king this is the very same woman whom I spake off and this is her sonne whom my maister Elisha restored froÌ„ death to life And when the king asked the woman whether that were so or no she aunswdred that it was most true and that she was the woman indeede and the same was her sonne that was restored to life by Elisha Then the king without any further delay vpon the troth of y e matter known appoynted her an Eunuche or one amongst his chiefest officers and commaunded him to put her in possession of her owne agayne and to restore all that was hers together with all the fruites and profites of her landes since the day she left the citie or countrie euen vntill the time of her returne and so shee was iustly restored to that which was wrongfully withholden from her to her comfort and y â— glory of God that so graciously wrought in the heart of the king to doe her that good turne 2. King 4.8 c. 8.1 c. T Tekoitesse In Tekoah a citie of Iuda sometimes built by Rehoboam king of Israel and being sixe myles distant from Bethleem there dwelt a certayne subtile or wise woman whom Ioab Dauids captaine sent for to Ierusalem of purpose to vse her for a meanes to reconcile Absolom nowe out of Dauid the king his fathers fauour and a banished man for killing his brother Ammon that had defloured his sister Thamar And when she was come he being also a very suttle man taught her what to say and how by way of a parrable or darke phrase of speech she should describe vnto the king the death of Ammon by Absolom how she should best perswade the king to reconciliation saying I pray thee quoth he vnto her now put on mourning apparrell and annoynt not thy selfe with oyle but fayne thy selfe to mourne and to be as a widowe woman that hath now long mourned for the death of her husbaÌ„d and goe to the king and speake vnto him after this manner So the woman being thus taught her lesson before by Ioab what to say weÌ„t disguysed vnto king Dauid and falling prostrate before his feete vpon her face on the ground did her obeysance and said Helpe O king saue me desolate woman or els I perish The king seeing her in that woful plight said presently vnto her agayne woman what ayleth thee O my Lord quoth she I am indeed a widowe woman whose husbande is lately dead and thine handmayde had two sonnes who stroue and fought so long together in the field till the one slue the other because there was none to part them And now beholde the whole family is risen against thine handmayde and call vpon me saying Deliuer vs him that hath slayne his brother that he may be put to death for that his fact according to the law in reueÌ„ge of his brothers death which if I should do theÌ„ would they destroy the heire also of mine husband so they shal leaue to myne husbande neither name nor posteritie vpon the earth for that cause O king I am come to begge mercie pardon of thee for my sonne that is left
the seditious our enemies preuaile without in the Towne are fires burninges and ruines of houses famine pestilence spoyling and destroying so that I cannot feede thee my sonne Nowe therefore my sonne if I shoulde die for hunger to whome shoulde I leaue thee being yet a childe I hoped once that whē thou shouldest come to mans state thou shouldest haue susteined mine age with meate drinke and cloth and after when I shoulde die to bury mee honourablie like as I was minded to burie thee if thou shouldest haue died before mee But nowe my sonne thou art as good as dead alreadie For I haue no meate to bring thee vp with all because of this great famine and crueltie of the enemies both within and without If thou shouldest die nowe amongst other thou shouldest haue no good nor honourable tombe as I woulde wishe thee Wherefore I haue thought good to chuse thee a sepulchre euen myne owne bodie least thou shouldest die and dogges eate thee in the streets I will therefore bee thy graue and thou shalt bee my foode And for that that if thou hadst liued and growne to mans state thou oughtest by right to haue nourished mee Nowe feede mee with thy fleshe and with it susteyne mine age before that famine deuoure thee and thy body bee consumed Render therefore vnto thy mother that whiche shee gaue vnto thee for thou camest of her and thou shalt returne into her For I will bring thee into the selfe same shape in the which the breath of life was breathed into thy nostrelles Forasmuch as thou art my welbeloued sonne whom I haue loued alwayes withall my strength bee therefore meate for thy mother an ignominie and reproch to the Sedicious that by violence haue taken away our foode Wherefore my sonne heare my voyce and sustayne my soule and my life and goe to thy ende that is determined for thee by my handes thy lotte bee in the garden of Eden and Paradise bee thou meate for mee and a rebuke and shame to the Seditious that they may bee compelled to say Lo a woman hath killed her sonne and hath eaten him So when shee had thus spoken to her sonne shee tooke the child and turnyng her face away least shee shoulde see him dye shee killed him with a swoorde and after cutte his bodie into certayne peeces whereof some shee roasted some shee sodde and when shee had eaten of them shee layd vp the rest to keepe The sauour of the fleshe rosted when it came out into the streetes to the people they sayde one to another see here is a smell of rostmeate Which thing came to the knowledge of the sedicious at length who went into the house of the woman and spake roughly vnto her why shouldest thou haue meate to liue with and wee die for hunger The woman then made them an answere and sayde vnto them Bee not displeased I beseeche you with your handmaide for this for you shall see I haue reserued part for you Sitte you downe therefore and I will bring it you that you may taste thereof for it is very good meate And by and by shee layd the table and set before them part of the childes fleshe saying Eate I pray you heere is a childes hande see heere his foote and other partes and neuer reporte that it is any other womans childe but mine owne onely sonne that yee knewe with mee him I bare and also haue eaten part and parte I haue kept for you Which when shee had spoken shee burst out and wept saying Oh my sonne my sonne how sweete wast thou to mee whiles thou yet liuedst and nowe at thy death also thou art sweeter to mee then honie For thou haste not onely fedde me in this most grieuous famine but thou hast defended mee from the wrath of the sedicious wherewith they were incensed towardes mee when the smell of the meate brought them into my house Nowe therefore are they become my friendes for they sit at my table and I haue made them a feast with thy fleshe After shee turned her to the seditious and badde them eate and satisfie them selues For why saide shee shoulde yee abhorre my meate which I haue set before you I haue satisfied my self therewith swhy therfore do you not eate of the flesh of my sonne Tast and see how weete my sonnes fleshe is I dare say you will say it is good meate What needeth pitie Ought yee to bee more moued therewith then a woman If yee will in no wise eate of the sacrifice of my sonne when as I haue eaten thereof mee selfe shall not this bee a shame for you that I shoulde haue better heart and greater courage then you Beholde I haue prepared a fayre table for you most valiant men why eate ye not Is it not a good feast that I haue drest for you and it was your will that I shoulde make you this feast It had been my part rather to haue been mooued with pitie of my sonne then yours and howe chanceth it therfore y t ye are more mercifull then I are not ye they that spoyled my house and left me no kinde of foode for mee and my sonne are not yee they that constrayned mee to make you this feast notwithstanding the great hunger that I haue why then eate yee not thereof when as yee were the authours and the causers that I did this deede The Iewes hearing this matter were wonderfully smitten into saddenesse Yea euen the gouernours of the Seditious beganne to stoupe when they heard of this so that they all in a maner desired death they were so amazed at this horrible acte Many therefore of the common people stale out in the night foorth of Hierusalem with all their substaunce to the Romanes campe and shewed Titus of this who wept thereat and was sory for the matter exceedingly holding vp his handes to heauen and crying Thou Lorde God of the worlde God of this house to whome all secretes are knowen whiche also knowest my heart that I came not against the Citie as desirous of warres but rather of peace which I euer offered them but yet the Citizens thereof euer more refused it although I oftentimes intreated them And when they destroyed one another by their ciuill discention I woulde haue deliuered them but I founde them alwayes like most fierce and cruell beastes nothing sparing them selues And this mischiefe is come nowe so farre that a woman hath eaten her owne fleshe being driuen therevnto by most extreeme necessitie I haue hearde and my forefathers haue tolde mee all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towardes them and their fathers howe thy name dwelt amongst them c. And nowe Lorde God c. if so bee thou wilt not deliuer this people into my handes I will gette mee hence from these most wicked men and flie away to saue my life least I also perishe in their sinnes when thou shalt ouerthrowe them as thou diddest Sodome and Gomorre c. For
with hardened heartes they say why shoulde wee not be like to our fathers in crueltie For our father Abraham when as he had but one only sonne he went to sacrifice him to the Lord whom in deed I doe not reprehend for this fact for why I knowe not the misterie thereof albeit I marueile howe he had no pitie on his sonne I haue heard also of a certayne king of theirs called Gefta who the same day hee went forwardes to the warres made a vowe to God that he would offer a sacrifice if hee shoulde haue good successe in his warres And when hee returned from the warres hee offered to God his onely daughter and so perfourmed his vowe that he had vowed vnto God And hereby I knowe they are men of a stubborne spirite for what so euer it giueth them in their heades to doe that they thinke must needes bee done and they are a noughtie people and most heynous sinners Wherefore except thou wilt deliuer them vnto mee I will giue ouer the warres For I will not be slayne with them without all iudgement When Titus had thus sayde hee battered the wall of Hierusalem with an yron Ramme and cast it downe Then came foorth many of the Nobles of the Saduces vnto him and made peace with him Pheroras wife hauing had a vyall of poyson whiche Antipater bought as hee went to Rome and sent vnto her husbande to keepe for him till his returne In the meane while her husbande Pheroras dyed And when Antipater came home agayne from Rome Pheroras wife and hee fell at variaunce insomuch that shee obiected vnto hym that hee was the cause that her husbande Pheroras was banished the kinges presence the sorrowe whereof was his death On the other side Antipater went about to accuse her sowing discorde betweene her and the king to sturre him agaynst her Hee suborned also a certaine Eunuche or gelded person to goe vnto Herode the king and enfourme him howe that at what time as hee tooke displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his presence Pheroras procured a strong poyson and gaue it to his wife commaunding her to destroy the king therewith The king hearing this was wroth with the Eunuch and sayde I searched for that venome long agoe when it was noysed that my housholde seruauntes woulde haue giuen it mee to drinke but I coulde not finde the thing to bee true Yea I haue been too rashe in such matters For I put my wife Marimi to death without a cause and Alexandra my mother in Lawe with my two children When Antipater hearde that the king credited not the Eunuche hee made suite to the king to sende him to Octauian the seconde tyme for hee was afrayde for the viall that was in Pheroras wiues house Hee had written also with his hande howe that hee sent it intending therewith to poyson the kings sonnes children but hee that prepareth a pitte for other oft times falleth into it him selfe and desiring the king to sende him hee let him goe After this the king commaunded to make searche if the Eunuches woordes were true or no He sent first for Pheroras housholde seruauntes examined them whether euer they coulde perceyue that Pheroras was in minde to hurt him They all sware no. Then the king commaunded to scourge them very sore but they confessed nothing although some dyed vnder their handes in the examination Some he ordered with diuers kindes of tormentes of some hee caused to plucke out all their teethe And as hee had scourged a certaine woman seruaunte whiche had beene verye trustie to Pheroras at length when shee coulde no longer stande for strokes shee cryed out and sayde The holy and blessed God reuenge vs of Rostios the kinges wife which is the cause of this The king hearing these wordes badde let her alone shee will disclose all Then spake shee Antipater made feastes euery foote for thy brother Pheroras and him selfe And as they eat and dranke they deuised howe to poyson thee especially when as Antipater was going to Octauian For they sayde except wee destroy him hee will destroy vs as hee hath done all the children of this house Moreouer hee loueth the children of his sonnes that were put to death whiche growe apace and it is possible hee may alter his minde and make one of them king Antipater also saide to thy brother The king makes as though hee hee were much my friende but I trust him not Hee gaue me sayth hee an hundred pounde weight of golde but all that satisfieth not mee When the king heard this hee told howe he had giuen Antipater this golde secretly The woman sayde moreouer There is yet a vyall of strong poyson in my mistresse house that thy sonne sent out of Egypt With that the king sent straightwayes to Pheroras wife that shee shoulde bring him the vyall of poyson her owne selfe but when shee espied the kinges Eunuches come to fetch her whether shee woulde or no shee gate her vp to the toppe of the house and cast her self down headlong to kill her self because she would not see the king nor abide his torments Yet shee died not thereof Wherevpon the kinges messengers brought her in a horselitter and set her before the king Then shee confessed vnto him howe Antipater his sonne had conspired with Pheroras his brother to kil him with a strōg poyson that hee had bought in Egypt and sent it to Pheroras her husbande to keepe when hee went to Octauian And howe that Pheroras being at the point of death repented him thereof charging that wee shoulde neuer giue that venome to Antipater but powre it out vpon the grounde that the king might not bee poysoned therewith and I did as he badde me cast it out all saue a litle that I kept in the glasse bottome For I euer feared that which is nowe come to passe Then at the kinges commaundement the viall was brought forth before him and there was a litle of the venome left wherefore they gaue better credite to her woordes so the king was content and bad his phisitions heale her and shee recouered Ioseph 55.56.57 Pheroras maide seruaunt that disclosed the treason of Antipater to poyson his father king Herode of her read next before in Pheroras wiues storie and howe shee was handled before shee woulde confesse it c. Ioseph 56.57 Rostios was one of the wiues of Herode king of the Iewes and the mother of Antipater that woulde haue poysoned his father as yee may reade at large before in Pheroras wiues storie Ioseph 56 Salumith was the daughter of one Antipater and Kyparim his wife and sister to Pheroras and Herode which Salumith came but of base blood of her malice and spitefull dealing towardes Marimi reade more at large in the storie of Marimi Ioseph 25.42.43.44 45. Schimeons mother and wife were killed both by the sayde Schimeon the mother first least shee shoulde entreate him for the children and bee sory for their sakes Then his wife came running of her owne accorde and helde her necke downe to the sworde least shee shoulde be constrayned to see her children die and last of all hee slue him selfe as yee may reade more at large in Ioseph fol. 72. There was another woman that was the wife of a cruell Cutte-throate amonge the Iewes called Schimeon who liuing like an outlawe and his wife dwelling in Ierusalem at the last she fled out of the Citie with her men and women seruauntes towardes her husband for feare least she should be slayne for her husbandes cruelties sake if shee should haue tarried at Ierusalem but as she passed by where Iehochanan lay in ambushment for to take her husband her he tooke brought againe to Ierusalem not a little proude of such a pray thinking nowe we shall haue Schimeon at our pleasure seeing we haue his wife our prisoner hee loueth her so entirely that hee will doe for her sake whatsoeuer we will haue him This came to Schimeons eare who had taken at that time many of Iehochanans men and cutte of their right hands sending them so with shame to Ierusalem to their maister Hee sent moreouer Embassadours to Iehochanan willing him to send him his wife in suche sorte that shee might come to him with all that was hers or if he refused to doe it he should be the extreemelier handled for he would take the towne ere it were long and to Iehochanans shame cut of the hands and legges of all them that did inhabite it Iehochanā hearing this was sore afrayde and all they that were with him and therefore they sent him his wife whereupon Schimeon kept him still without the Towne and playde the tyrant without as fast as Iehochanan did within rauishing the Israelites wiues before their faces shedding innocent blood vnmercifully Iosephus 134. Iosephus reporteth that at the siege of Titus and Uespasian against Ierusalem the men souldiers were so scant and destroyed that the women were faine to defend the walles where it chaunced that a greate stone shotte by the Romaines hit a woman with childe with such a violence that it passed through her bodie and carried the child with it by the space of halfe a myle FINIS Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for the assignes of William Seres 1582.
out this bond womaÌ„ her sonne for the sonne of the bond woman shal not be heire with my soÌ„ne Isaak which thing though it were grieuous vnto Abraham to do because hee tenderly loued Hagars sonne Ishmael yet being coÌ„manded by God to followe his wife Saras counsel therin y t rather for y t the promised seed should be counted from Isaak not from Ishmael also being coÌ„forted by God y t he would blesse Ismael also to a mightie people because he was of Abrahams seede Abraham obeyed the voyce of his wife Sara the next morning early sent Hagar her son away with bag bottel good prouision of victuals vpoÌ„ her back to shift for her selfe her child So Hagar being thus departed from Abraham with her young childe Ishmael in her armes gate her vnto the wildernesse of Beersheba where shee wandered so long vp and downe till all her prouision of meate and drinke was spent gone And wheÌ„ she saw no remedy but y t both she and the child must needs perish for lacke of sustenaunce shee in this great perplexitie renounced all naturall affection and distrusting in Gods prouidence notwithstanding that she had had good experience therof before time went and cast her childe Ishmael vnder a certayne tree behinde a bushe and went her selfe away from it and sate ouer agaynst it a farre off about a bowe shoote weeping and saying thus with her selfe I will not see the death of the childe but as shee sate thus a farre off mourning and lamenting for her sonne Behold God for his promise sake made before to Abraham and not because eyther shee then prayed for the childe as shee ought to haue done or that the childe it selfe had the capacitie and witte to pray for it selfe being so young sent his angell agayne euen from heauen which comforted her in this her miserie and wofull plight saying what ayleth thee Hagar feare not for God hath heard the voyce of the childe where hee lyeth Aryse take vp thy childe and holde him in thine armes and I will make of him a great people as I haue promised vnto Abraham So where as before shee coulde neyther see nor vse the meanes whiche was euen before her eyes God at this instant opening her eyes and Hagar nowe arose and sawe a wel of water wherevnto shee went and refreshed her selfe and filled her bottell with water and then ran to the boy and gaue it drinke thereof by which good prouidence of God both shee and her sonne were relieued and liued together a long time after to her great ioy and comfort And when her sonne came to mans state she then dwelling in y e wildernes of Paraâ— tooke him a wife out of the lande of Egypt Gene. 16.17.21 Haggith or Aggite signi holidayes yeerely feastes turning about merrie Shee was one of the vi wiues of Dauid that hee had in Hebron who there bare vnto him a sonne called Adoniah that afterwarde was put to death by his brother king Salomon for treason as appeareth in the storie of Abishag 2. Sam. 3.3 1. King 1.5 1. Chron. 3.3 Hannoch or Anna â—igni gâ—acions or mercifull his grace or fauour gracious Lady fauourable freely giuing resâ—ng c. She was the wife of Elkana an Ephrathiâ—e who beeing coupled with a mate called Penennah or Fenenna that was very fruitful she her selfe long barren without child yet because HaÌ„na was better beloued of her husband then her mate Penenna was although Penenna had more porcions and giftes giuen vnto her of her husbande when hee wente abroade and vnto her sonnes and daughters then Hannah had Therefore her aduersary mate Penenna did dayly vexe her sore by â—â—brayding her casting her in the teeth w t her barreÌ„nes yea as oft as went vp to the house of the Lorde to sacrifice and serue God her companion would so vexe her herewith to her great reproch that she would sitte and weepe and lament greatly in fasting and prayer in her house before she went out adores which when her husband perceiued he to comfort her said vnto her Hannah why weepest thou and why eatest thou not And why is thy heart thus troubled am not I thy louing husband better to thee then ten sonnes Let this suffice thee that I tenderly loue thee no lesse then if thou hadst manye children So Hanna to satisfie her husbands mynd did eate and drinke a little but yet beeing full of heauinesse that God had made her such a rayling stocke that she could not quietly eate nor drinke nor serue GOD as shee ought shee arose and went to the Temple of the Lorde in Siloe where the Arke then was to woorshippe GOD. And there beeyng tormented and troubled in minde shee made her heartie prayers vnto GOD with teares to geue her a sonne or manchild the forme of which prayer or vowe appeareth in the first Lampe of Uirginitie pag. 6. And as she continued praying very earnestly in the Temple before the Lorde it fortuned that Eli the high Priest as he sate there also marked her mouth and perceiuing her lippes onely to moue a little no voyce heard for she prayed mentally and secretly in her heart he thought she had bin dronken and said vnto her Thou woman how long wilt thou be dronken put away thy dronkennes from thee Then Hannah being further vexed in mind to see her selfe thus interrupted in her prayers and more slaundered by the rash iudgement of so graue a man could no lesse but make him this aunsweare in her excuse and sayd Nay my Lord I am not dronke neyther haue I drunken eyther wyne or strong drinke But I beyng a woman troubled in minde dexed in spirite I doe here powre out my sorowfull soule before the Lorde in mentall or secret prayer therefore doe not so rashly count thy handmayde to be the daughter of Beliall or a wicked woman for out of the abundance of the heauinesse and griefe of my heart haue I spoken hitherto Then goe in peace sayde Eli and the GOD of Israel graunt thy petitioÌ„ that thou hast asked And she knowing that y e prayers of others would be of force with God towardes her desired Ely to pray for her saying O let thine handmayden find grace in thy sight and be remembred in thy prayers offered vnto God And so reposing her selfe to the mercie of God and commending her self to Elyes prayers she departed cheerefully home to her house where she ate and dranke merrily and looked no more sad And shortly after God remembred her according to her petition so that in processe of time she conceyued by Elkana her husband and bare him a sonne in the yeere of the world 3000. or therabouts whose name she called Samuel because she begged him of God And when she had geuen her child sucke and brought him vp and weaned it she like a vertuous mother prepared a sacrifice and went to the temple of the Lord in Sylo with her
there But she being of an hauty and cruell nature persisted still in her impietie impudencie and fearing Gods iudgementes nothing at all so soone as she heard of Iehues comming towardes her because shee would still retayne her Princely state dignitie paynted her face tyred her head trimmed her selfe in gorgious aray And so laying thus be paynted bedecked looking out of her chamber window as Iehue entred in at the gates she cryed out vpon him and called him traytour and reuiled him with these wordes saying Had Zimry peace that slew his maister Elah 1. Kin. 16.10 as if she should haue said can any traytour or any that riseth vp against his superior haue good successe Noe neither cāst thou Iehu prosper in this thine eger enterprise But forasmuch as this was Gods determination that Iesabel also should be dismaide Iehu then forthwith lifted his eies to the windowe and cried aloude to her guarde and men of her chamber said who is on my side who With that two of her own Eunuches of chief seruants looked out vnto Iehu and he said vnto them cast her downe they at his cōmandement straight waies tooke her in their armes with such violence cast her downe out of her window as she lay vaunting her selfe and rayling against Iehu that she was dashed all to peeces so miserably died with the fal who being thus dead Iehu also besprinkled her blood vpō the wall vpō the horses and trode her delicate corpes vnder his horses feet Which he did by the motiō of gods spirit that her blood should be shed who had so often shed the blood of innocents to be a spectacle and example of Gods iudgementes to all tyrauntes oppressors idolatrous persecutors And when Iehu was entred into her house and had well refreshed himselfe with meate and drinke he beyng willing yet that she shoulde haue had the honour of buriall sayde to some of his men Go visit you yonder cursed woman and bury her because she is a kings daughter But when they came to take her vp to be buried they found no more of her body left but the scull and the feete and the palmes of her hands for the dogges had eaten the rest wherof Iehu being aduertised he thē sayd now is y e word of God prophesy of Elias spoken of before fulfilled which sayd In the field of Iezreel shal the dogges eate the flesh of Iezabel the carcas of Iezabel shal be as doung vpon the ground in y e field of Iezreel so that none shall say This is Iezabel this was done in the yeere of the worlde 3240. And this we may see Gods iudgemēts doth shal appeare euē in this worlde agaynst them that suppresse his woorde and persecute his seruauntes 1. Kinges 16. 31. 18.4 13.19.2 21. all 2. Kinges 9. all Furthermore note that God so detested for euer and euer through all ages the Idolatry and crueltie of this woman Iezabel that the holie Ghost to her perpetuall reproche and infamie in the Reuelation ca. 2.18.20 findeth great fault with y e minister or Angel of the church of Thiatyra for that some among them imitating her strange religion and tyranny and both spirituall and corporall whoredome exhorted them to repentance saying thus I know thy works thy loue seruice faith and pacience c. Notwithstanding I haue a few thinges against thee namely this that thou sufferest the woman Iezabel which calleth her selfe a Prophetesse to teach deceiue my seruants to make them commit fornication to eate meate sacrificed to Idols And I gaue her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not behold I will cast her into a bed them that commit fornication with her into great affliction except they repent them of their works And I wil kill her children that is them that followe her wayes with death and all the Churches shall knowe that I am he which search the reines and hearts and I wil giue vnto euery of you according to your works Reuel 2. 18.20 c. Ioanna or Iohanna sig the grace or fauour of the Lord or the Lordes gifte or mercie She was the wife of one Chusa Herodes steward and a godly woman who with Susanna and many other godly women conuerted to the faith of Christ ministred liberally vnto Christ his Apostles of her substēce whilest he liued here on earth And after Christ had suffred his passion she went with Mary Magdalen Mary the mother of Iames other women to seeke Christ at his sepulchre And being told of the Angels that he was risen and not there she with the rest returned frō the sepulchre to the Apostles to bring thē tydinges of his resurrection But the newes or thing seemed vnto the Apostles to be but a feygned or made thing of the womens owne heades and therfore beleeued them not at the first report Luke 8.3.24.10 Iochabed or Iocabeth sig glorious the Lordes glorie sage weightie where is gaynesse she is sage or graue She was the daughter of Leuy borne in Egypt sister to Gershon Koah Merari and after she became the wife of Amram or Amaramis after Couper her brother Koaths sonne which kind of marriage was afterward in the Leuiticall law Leui. 18.12 forbidden vnto whō she bare three notable mēbers of Gods Church to wit Aaron Moses a daughter called Miriam And when she bare Moses in Egypt and was commaunded by king Pharao to cast him in the riuer to be drowned as all the Hebrewes among the Egyptians were Iochebed seeing that Moses her sonne was a very faire and proper child with a good faith in God not fearing the kinges commaundement went and hidde him the space of three monethes but when she could no longer hide him on the land she in the same faith in God tooke an Arke or Cradell made of wicker or of reede and daubed it with lome slime and pitche and layd the child therein and put it among bulrushes by the riuers brinke committing her childe to the prouidence of God whom shee could not keepe from the rage of that blooddy tyrant So whilest Miriam her daughter his sister stoode a farre off watching what would become of the child her brother Behold it happened that the daughter of the same tyrant Pharao came to wash her selfe in the riuer whilest her maydens walked along by the riuers side and being come to the banke she saw the arke among the bulrushes and sent her maydes straight to fetch it who brought the arke vnto her and she then opened it in the presence of her maydes and his sister and finding the child in it sayd surely this is one of the Hebrues children and she hearing the babe weepe and cry for sustenance had compassion on it and was moued with pitie towards it Wherevpon his sister Miriam being come neere vnto them to see the euent said vnto Pharaos daughter shall I goe and call vnto thee a nurse of the Hebrue
women to nurse the child for thee Yea quoth Pharaos daughter goe thy way So the mayd his sister went and called this Iochebed the childes mother and hers to whom Pharaos daughter committed the childe to nurse saying take this childe away and nurse it for me and I will reward thee Then Iochebed tooke her owne child and nursed it and so was Moses preserued from perishing by water as the king had cruelly commanded Wherby we see that mans counsell cannot hinder that which God hath determined shall come to passe nor destroy that which he wil haue saued So when the child was well growen in age Iochebed brought him vnto Pharaos daughter who made him her adoptiue soÌ„ne called his name Moses because sayde she I drew him out of the water Exod. 2.1.6 â—0 Num. 26,59 Iudith or Iudea signi praysing or confessing he that prayseth or confesseth She was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Ox and wife of one Manasses Who being dead in the yeere of the world 3492 about barly haruest time left her much riches and a great familie in the citie of Bethulia where she dwelt So beyng left a desolate wydow she made her a tent vpoÌ„ her house to pray in put on sackcloth her widowes apparrel fasted al the dayes of her widowhood saue the day before y e Sabboth the Sabboth the eues feasts or solemne dayes y t were kept in Israel yea she was a woman of so great chastity vertue godlines feared God so greatly that there was none could bring an euill report of her but euery one gaue her their good worde Nowe during the time of her widowhood it chaunced Olophernes the captayne of Nabuchodonozor king of Assyria to come and besiege the citie of Beâ—hulia where she dwelt of whose huge host mightie power the Iewes and Citizens of Bethulia were so sore afrayde that they wist not what to doe for he hauing layde siege vnto the citie 34. dayes had in that time destroyed all the water conduits so that they must eyther starue or yeeld of force Wherevpon the people with one consent men women children ran to Oseas the hie Priest and chiefe elders of the city cryed out vpon theÌ„ to yeeld giue ouer the citie to Olophernes in time least they al perished through their negligeÌ„ce who exhorted them to tarry and wayte yet fiue dayes longer for the mercy of God and if he helped them not in that space the elders woulde doe as they had required Then Iudith who all this while had kept her house and was continually in fasting and prayer hearing of the euill words of the people against the Gouernours for lacke of water and what promise Ozias the elders had made vnto the people to deliuer the city vnto the enemy within 5. daies she sent her mayd Abra that had the gouernment of all things y t she had for Ozias the other auncients of the city made this learned oration vnto them saying Heare me O yee Gouernours of the inhabitaunts of Bethulia for your wordes that yee haue spoken before the people this day are not right touching this othe and promise that ye haue made pronounced between God you haue promised to deliuer the city to the enemy vnles within these 5. daies the Lorde turne to helpe you And now what men are yee that yee haue tempted God this day set your selues in Gods steede among the children of men So now you seeke the Lord almighty but yee shall neuer know any thing for you can not find out the depth of the heart of man neither can ye perceiue the thinges that he thinketh then how can you search out God that hath made all these thinges and know his mind or comprehende his purpose Nay my brethren prouoke not the Lorde our God to anger for if he will not helpe vs within these fiue dayes hee hath power to defende vs when he will euen euery day or to destroy vs before our enemies Doe not you therefore binde the counsayles of the Lorde our God for God is not as man that hee may bee threatned neyther as the sonne of man to bee brought to iudgement Therefore this your deuise obtayneth no mercy of God but rather prouoketh him to wrath and displeasure Will yee set the mercy of the Lorde a tyme and appoint him a day at your will No exhort the people to repentance and prayer and let vs heartily fall downe before him and serue him with a meeke spirite and with weeping eyes say vnto the Lorde that hee deale with vs according to his owne will speedily in mercie that like as our heart is nowe vexed and brought low through the pride of our enemies it may so be comforted by his grace Yea let vs wayte for saluation of him and call vppon him to helpe vs and he will heare our voyce if it please him For there appeareth none in our age neyther is there any nowe in these dayes neyther of tribe nor family nor people nor citie among vs which worshippe the gods made with hands as hath bin afore time of our forefathers for the which sin our forefathers were giuen to the sworde for a spoyle and had a great fall before our enemyes as appeareth Iudg. 2.11.4.1.6.1 But as for vs wee knowe none other God but onely the Lorde therefore we trust that he will not despise vs nor any of our lynage yea for his comfort let vs tarie with meekenesse and he shall require and make inquisition for our blood from the vexation of our enemies hee shall bring downe all the heathen that rise vp agaynst vs and put them to dishonour euen the Lorde our God shall doe it neyther when wee shall be taken shall Iudea be so famous for our Sanctuarie shall bee spoyled and hee will require the prophanation thereof at our mouth And the feare of the people our brethren the captiuitie of the countrey and the desolation of our inheritaunce which they rather wishe will he turne vpon our heades among the Gentiles wheresoeuer we shall bee in bondage and wee shal be an offence and reproch to all them that possesse vs for our seruitude shall not be directed by fauour but the Lord our God shall turne it to dishonour Now therefore O deere brethren Let vs shewe an example to our brethren the people because their heartes depende vpon you and the Sanctuary and the house and the altar rest all vppon you that are the honourable and elders in the people of God Moreouer let vs giue thankes to the Lorde our God whiche tryeth vs euen as hee did our fathers and lift yee vp the heartes of the people with your exhortations that they may call to remembraunce howe our fathers also in times paste were tempted that they might bee prooued if they woorshipped theyr God aright yea put them in minde of this I saye how that our father Abraham being tempted and tryed through