name of three Tribes Dan Nepthaly and Gad. And the fourth row was Chrysolite Beryll and Iaspes There was written vpon them the name of three Tribes Aser Ioseph and Beniamin Thus sayth an old auctour not vnknowen to the Eloquent Cyril nor despised of him Of Thargum Cant. Chap. 5. AN other Chaldy paraphrast vpon the Song of Songs though hee agreeth in no Chaldy name to the vndoubted Ebrew stones order yet hee applyeth the Patriarks to them iust as the former did seeing how so the Tribes armes told them what part of the land each one should haue and dignitie according Whose record keepeth vs from fastening folly vpoÌ„ Ezekiel by our blindnes and from moving the simple to despise the revelation Of Midras Rabba MIdras Rabba is a most curious work for the depth of the Ebrew tongue bringing witty fables to teach memory of sentences This Midras vpon Exod. 28. telleth of the Patriarks engrauement in the twelue stones iust as Thargum Ierusalemy doeth and is an auctour of high esteeme and drawing the consent of many So this auctour here may fight for Dan with his Leshem to keepe all stories togeather by right settling of one Patriark to his stone Of Maymonides in the holy Iewels R. Moses Ben Maimon often cited he most curiously handleth the same in two workes one not yet printed written vpon the mysteries of the twelue Iewels and to the former order An other printed and famous in tract of the holy implementes Him also R. Moses M. kozi citeth though he would haue bred a confusion to Moses Ezekiel and all the Bible he citeth him as mistrusting his owne iudgement Of R. Eleazar Wormatiensis MAymonides in Spain Egypt Arabia was knowen â—423 yeres agoe as was mentioned and Eleazar a Rabbin at Wormes about the same time He hath writteÌ„ vpon the Law and on Exod. 28. folowing the former order For Lâ—shem and Dan he handleth Gods providence Dans dulnes very sharply even to the letters LE SEM follow God and turned into Semel Idol Of Salomoh Iarchi SAlomoh Iarchi is elder then both them Hee liued in the time of the holy warre As Barbinel recordeth vpon Obadias Vpon Iud. 18. thus he writeth Laisha was the name of the city And in the book of Iosuah they called the name of it Leshem Because they found there a precious stone called Leshem it was set in the brest care of iudgement for the Tribe of Dan he knew that in trueth that should be their inheritance Thus writeth this old Rabbin whom Elias Mizraki and Chizkuni follow and vrge vpon others that would confound the Iewell of all holy story Of R. Isaak Karo ONE Rabbi Karo keepeth the same order and writeth brauely in applying the stones notation or nature to the story Specially in Achlemah I WILL KEEPF SAF how needfull it was for Gad to haue that precious promesse Of R. Bechaiah ONE R. Bechaiah writeth very many good things This one that all euer glorious in the Fathers came by Faith And convicteth Abraham of want of Faith that obiected Sara to daunger and of other great imperfections But that this Rabbi saith in his hart Who can goe vp to Heaven to bring Christ downe or who can goe to the deepe to bring Christ from the deepe of the earth as Ps 71. speaketh but that the incarnation and resurrection was incredible to him hee had soone learned our doctrine This Rabbin foloweth the Thalmud Thargumes two Maimony Eleazar Iarchi vpoÌ„ Iud. 18. and the true light of Scripture to be a frontyer against those late men that to vndermine the New Testament would not stick to coÌ„found all their glory Of the contrary with confutation THE Iewes of late haue put foorth vpon Moses a short paraphrast a forged work bearing the name of Ionathan the old most learned paraphrast who wrote vpon the Prophetes Of whom the Iewes saye that he wrote not vpon the Law He was no lesse ancient then the holy Apostles Yet the forged Ionathan mentioneth Constantinopole vpon Num. 24. This forged work breaketh the stones order and some of the malicious and willing to disgrace our Testament follow him The true Ionathan bare sway so great that no Thargum nor Thalmudist durst check him and whereas he translateth nyne stones Ezek. 28. onkelos vpon Exod. 28. followeth him in every one of them Against this Elymas I cited this troupe that troupes should trouble them and they be troubled vnto their end Of the Onyx ill set for Beryll in Exod. 28. by the Bishops Bible THE Lxx. naming Iosephs stone Beryll being allowed of the holy Ghost Apoc. 21. should not haue bene refused Yet our translation hath Onyx Though the enemies to the New Testament haue the Greek plain or by transposing of one letter The Chaldy of Iob. ch 28. hath Berylin Ionathan Ezek. 28 Byrela onkelos in Gen. 2. and Exod. 28. Byrela And Aben Ezra citeth the Syriaque comon auctority for Byrela And by transposition the Arabique hath Belyr in Sadaias in the Persian Arabique vpon both places and in an old Ebrew Arabique dictionary that I haue brough for me from Arabia Also a most learned commentary of Sal. S. of Melec Sat. recordeth Belyr to be the Arabique Thus the enemies favour S. Iohn But we haue not marked how the New Testament is the best auctour for the Ebrew tongue and haue refused to follow God and obscured the Symphonie of Moses Ezekiel Iohn and made all three to speak as sounding brasse no distinction of matter The learned translaters will amend this Why the Lxx. set Smaragd for Shobam Exod. 28.10 where Beryll is in v. 20. AS the Greek Philo doeth apply Aharons attyre to deep significations so did the former and the later Now Ioseph stood in glory 600. yeres in Egypt his house bare sway and Iesus or Iosuah was King after King Moses dyed and conquered the land and Ephraim and Manasse of one Patriark made two Tribes And 350. yeres the Ark was in Syloh Besides Debora Gedeon Abimelec Iephthe Abdon defended the People and halfe Manasses ioyned with Ruben and Gad and found glory in Sauls time over Hagarenes Thus Iosephs Beryll might well beare all names on Aharons shoulders as he like Atlas bare all the peise on his shoulders For this Israel saw a plain reason why the ShohaÌ„ of Ioseph still should beare sway And Ephraims kingdoms fall told that Iudah should fall and Heathen come in their rowme as HeatheÌ„ only in Iobs time stack to God But HeatheÌ„ could not see a reason of this For their weaknesse the Lxx giue Levies shoulders his own stone Chrysostome in Photius thought Moyses truth did so whence Patriarches Popes will be Shoham which stone is the Kings Of an open betraying of our Lord and redeemer and befooling the rock of salvation THE Pascha was to be kild not in private townes wheÌ„ altars were free as in Samuels time but where God settled his name as in Ierusalems Temple And there the Lambe could
sonne for succession as Salathiel 37. degrees of being heirs is called sonne * Sabtile Kimchi to disturbe all the N. Test taketh assir for Assir a mans name and not a prisoner Wee simple soules follow him to overthrowe our foundation that Salomons house is not gone for Nathans to come in * Herodotus lib 1 telleth of the BabyloniaÌ„s honestie * Herodotus lib 1 telleth of the BabyloniaÌ„s honestie †No bitternes can be bitter against Iudaique Atheisme and mockers of Scriptures concent In the Thalmud Babylonian in R. Aser fo 18. B articule 12. Fol. 18. of the coÌ„ment The Iewes yet looke for Christ to be borne The Iewes ground to overthrowe all the New Testament is graunted by our right reverend Fathers that also the table prefixed to the Gospell The house of Nathan should haue had more pompe then Salomons if the Kingdome of Christ had bene of this world § To AbrahaÌ„ first Chanaan was promised * Salomons kings were farre from our Lordes kindred off 1000. yeres * Salathiel and Zorobabel * Abiud Eliakim c were kinges by right but farre from our Lord in kindred Rabbi Nehumias in Pet. Gal told This time 50 ye Messias shal be borne so theÌ„ mâ—ght all the natioÌ„ haue tolde by Moses Dan 9. Ma. tom 4. tract de regib * A Britane word for three horses to every captaine vsed in Pausanias * Salomon had noâ— ben omitted if Zorobabel had come of him * Which is to be vnderstand that he reigned twenty yeres his father yet liuing but after his fathers death was confirmed King wheÌ„ he was fourty and two yeares old Lxxii are in shortnes called Lxx. By not marking the Ebrews shortnes we seemed to Abr. Zac to giue Saul fourty yeres So the Iewe despiseth the N. Testament by our fault And in Kimchi vpon Ps 99. Midr sp 72 froÌ„ his name Nun teacheth that Messias shal raise vp the dead Daniel and they y e quenched the fyer are the glory of the first captivity * R. Abraham Ben David in Gabalah Ezekiel and Mardochai ar the Gold in the secoÌ„d captivitie Darius borne when Nabycadnezar would be making a King over Gods people Then to him a reveÌ„ger is borne that Madi Elam of Iapheth and Sem may punish Cham. * The third captiuitie is glorious by Ezra For Ezraes record of life confuteth al heathen millions that giue Elam aboue 130. yeares over Iuda Aben Ezra a malicious Iewe as it was noted expoundeth Daniel well against his will * 65. in Gen. 11.17 in y e Kings 90 from Daniels 490. S. Paules one saying Acto 13. keepeth all the Bible in a right frame Which yet wee corrupt to disturbe all Obiections w t answere The CristiaÌ„ Aarabique foloweth y e Lxx. euen where they hid theyr mind to bring yeares a thousand many huÌ„dereths in Gen. 5. and eleven moo thenever the sun measured The mocking is expounded by Saint Paul a persecution An opeÌ„ roâ—sing of the 430. yeares speÌ„t falsly by our Church-Bible not at all by trueth of time in Egypt with aâ— othermoâ—â— grosse impossibility and dotage Who ca◠〈◊〉 but 70. soules into Egypt * Also Midras Rabba vpon Gene. 11. fighteth for S. StepheÌ„ against their and our deâ—eaâ—ed The Iewes disgrace the N. Testam among the blind by false date of the world subducting 65. yeres in Ab. 17 in y e kings and 90. from Dan. 490. if wee dated in all our bookes 5531. with 1604. wee should protest a right plain trueth of Christianitie to comon good and clearing of much Scripture * vpon Es 24.15 * We translate Then men began to call vpon the name of God Seth shewed that bad calling vpoÌ„ the name of God should bring the flood by the name of Enoâ— vpon opeÌ„ apostasie * An epilogie of our many particular errors transition to some as infect further * Ierusalemy Thalmud fol. 65. col 1. v. antep An help them thâ— will traÌ„slâ— Exod. 28 * The Babylonian Thalmudin Sotah fol. 36 maketh this plain as did Philo of w c poinct more shalâ— spoken * One testimony of Philo for Isachars Saphir is worth 1000 Saphirs to strengthen trueth A. Rabbi the Archisynagogue of Constantinople When Israel fel away Ioseph bare none but all saue Iudah to destructioÌ„ Our traÌ„slation notes herein wander to great blame and folly * 〈…〉 translator I take the 〈◊〉 from Apo. 21. Gen. 2. Exod. 28. A maÌ„ wold not thinke that a reasonable creature would so rage against one for the comoÌ„ opinion of Christendome With the same skil hee maketh S. Paul RoÌ„ 10. speake matter senseles and Abysson nether after HeatheÌ„ nor Lxx Ps â—1 w c place he regarded nor any Ebrewe nor Thalmuâ—iques but after the Deuels Luc. 8. and Diuelish Zohâ—t vpon Gen. â—
AN ADVERTISEMENT OF CORRVPTION IN OVR HANDLING OF RELIGION To the Kings Majestie By HVGH BROVGHTON 1604. To the Kings Maiestie GREAT and deadly errours most Gracious Soveraigne runne currant in England as good Divinitie for which God from whom ever trespas receyveth iust recompence doth and will plague the deceavers and deceaved They which know the errours may not be silent though the errers haue shewed teeth of Iron and hard faces against their warner for better counsell And only your Maiestie can and you must force the deceavers to confesse before all the world how they haue bene led amisse Of accusing the holy text most pure and expressing Gods wisedome MOses telleth that Abraham bought a buriall place in Hebron for price of money and that Iacob bought a field in Sychem for lambes and Iacob was buried in Hebrō and the Patriarkes in Sychem Now if a man should say that Iacob was buried in Sychem he reiecteth Moses all the authoritie of God Or if he say that Abraham bought the field which Iacob bought and say that Abrahā bought Sychems plot for money The vntrueth is augmented yet all this doe our right reverend Fathers In these wordes from Act. 7.16 and 17. as they would make the simple to beleeve And Iacob descended into Egypt and dyed both he and our Fathers and were caried over into Sychem and layd in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for money of the sonnes of Emor the sonne of Sichem By this Iacob should be caried to Sychem and be buried there and Abraham should be the purchaser and for money and Iacob and the Patriarches should be buried together So the Iewes would say that Machmad makes no greater madnes in his Al-koran seeing Abrahams purchase was in Hebron for 400. sickles and that of Sychem was Iacobs for an hundreth lambes And Iacob was buried in Hebron as was told the twelue sonnes in Sychem The Bishops sawe that this was most false runne from euill to worse And thus their margent note speaketh vpon vers 16. For B money Here appeareth an errour For Abraham seemeth to be put in the text in the steed of Iacob For Iacob bought the sepulchre of Emor and not Abraham who bought before a field of Ephron Thus we accuse the holy Ghost for giuing vs a corrupted New Testament And our countries heard not that any Greke copy from the first to the last differed here So the first should be corrupt so Machmad should say truely that we had not a pure N. Testament Also the Iewes rule should condemne vs a comon rule generall in Thalm. Ierus San. fo 20. Diathece se batelah Mikzathah batelah cullah A Testament which faileth in part faileth in the whole This our errour is not first ours but old and knowen to Iewes whereby their millions despise the Gospell and hold S. Stephen no martyr as missing in Moses plain story Whereas in trueth S. Stephen meant thus Iacob died in Egypt the Patriarkes died in Egypt Only the Patriarkes were caried to Sichem Iacob and the Patriarkes were buried Iacob in Hebron in ground which Abraham bought and bought for money and not for Lambes The Patriarkes were buried in Sichem in ground which Iacob not Abraham bought not for money but for an hundreth lambes Saint Stephen meant all this which all we pervert to cause millions of millions to reiect the New Testament and to runne to eternall flames The rare elegancie of S. Stephens wordes would haue made a Iewe know that he spake in the Prophets style shortnes but his speech would be harshe to one not longe acquainted with the Prophetes maner To vnderstand this three rules must be deliuered One that Vau the Ebrew is sometimes which as in Malach. 3. and Mark cha 1.1 which shall prepare thy way And often in two members ioyned in other tongues by AND it is omitted in the Prophetes as that in Ps 133. Like the dew of Hermon which falleth vpō moūt Sion For like the dew of Hermon AND that which falleth vpon mount Sion A third Hebrew matter commeth hard even for Ebrewes and often noted by the holy Ghost among the 848. margent notes vpon most exact text wordes but worthy of notes As Hande for the handes barre for the barres Sonne for the sonnes So grave Act. 7. for The graves The singular being put gerally for the plurall These things being considered Saint Stephen will cleare him selfe to all learned Iewes admiration For thus the Greek Hebraizing meant Iacob descended into Egypt he and our Fathers which were caried to Sichem And they were put in Graue that which Abraham bought for price of money AND that from Emor the Sichemite Any acquainted with the Ebrew style would thus vnderstand Saint Lukes Greeke And so the New Testament should be farre from blame and in high admiration and Iacob should not be left vnburied in Saint Stephen nor buried with the Patriarkes nor Abraham a purchaser in Sychem nor Sychem purchase made by money and not by lambes This our ignorance must be noted for the thousands or rather millions of copies disgracing our selues though in the paynes expected it may be amended For copies vnrevocable sold now 46. yeres our darknes must be hightened and the scripture must be defended as pure all and most syncere None that haue any sparke of grace will envy that but wish it withall might maintayned Of perverting the holy text of the old Test. in 848. places THe old Test in Ebrew hath in the margent words of warning for others in the text 848. times yet alwayes the text word is exact and the margent warneth of some matter profitable for the depth of Ebrew skill or helpeth in a doubtfull phrase or telleth of the like elswhere vsed with some little difference or in propre names which mē gaue vnfit layth a fitter to be read or for brood speeches readeth ciuiller And both the text is exact and the margent profitable But the margent readings are omitted in many copies And none without great blame alter the text Amongest Ebrewes David Kimchi was found rash herein in his preface to the booke of Iosuah But hee was sharply taken vp by others yea and he calleth backe himselfe in particulars Kimchi said that the Bible was corrupted in Babylon and the margent was a correction That his opinion is shewed to be most foolish and deadly against Gods word by Elias Levita praef ad Massorita Biblia and it might dash all authoritie of scripture Also Barbinel the most curious that euer I trow handled the tongue though not the soundest yet herein he soundly confuteth Kimchi in his praeface to Ezekiel Yet a learned man of Cambridge M. Edw. Liuely maketh the margent the right reading for Dan. 9. penned after Babell fell and by Daniel full of wealth and able to keepe his owne bookes That his dealing is extreemely dangerous to the authoritie of Scripture For if in fiftie two yeares in Babel after the Temples fall Moses and the
Prophetes had so many corruptions in longer time more would grow The learned man dealt here not learnedly A prosessour of Ebrew 30. yeares might haue shewed that the text was still most exact and in many places far the more curious Ebrew and he should not weaken the glory of Gods providence whose watchfulnes hath preserved every letter of all the holy Hebrew that his Prophetes wrot for the vse of all ages Many booke-prophetes wrote for the vse of Israell while their tongue families and townes stood which afterwardes would not profit when Israell perished and heathen should be vexed in searching stories not plain Those bookes the last Prophetes extinguished and made vp an absolute pithie storie fit for all ages And so much we must defend to every letter Ecclesiasticall authoritie in a certen libell commendeth M. Livelies booke Bishops that know Ebrew will not assent nor any who vse advisement Authoritie should make Lively recant This blamer knoweth that he hath read thrise mo Ebrew auctours then he and will defend each of the 848. words blamed by M. Lively And a worke titled Tiphereth Israel would haue told M. Lively more thē he knoweth for this matter and much more to speak better of the holy text And the right reverend fathers should write of the Bibles purenesse first how the text is sound before they dispute of further matter All thinges must be done in order in the Church of God And if men regard money not learning Gods face will be vpon them Of Tzau an Ebrew worde in Hosee rashly blamed IEroboam the first bade Israell worship calues at Dan and Bethel vpon his word they did so That Hosee touched in one syllable Tzau a charge M. Liuely writeth that the text is corrupt Shau by him it should be No Ebrew told him so Only he told him selfe so By equall authoritie he might make a new Bible of his owne head Hee bringeth the Lxx. for his warrant They translate Vaine thinges as Shau The answere is easie They translate cōmonly for Heathen capacitie where Iewes stories would be hard for them So they entitle the bookes of Samuel The Kings Because Heathen would not soone perceaue how Core his sonne should haue such a title So Heathen would not soone see how Osee spake of Ieroboams charge and therefore the Lxx. take for Tzau Shau for Charge Vain things dealing most wittily This work of M. Lively is solde in Paules But the auctor should amend that We may not crosse our owne ground that the Scripture is all pure cleare in one copie or other and here in all that haue bene spokē off And M. Liuely alone fighteth against all the world But that our Ecclesiasticall authority fighteth in his allowance for him against our good Of Daniels seauens the right meaning and corruption commended by our Ecclesiasticall and Stationers SInce Adamfell on the day of his creation and brought death before he walked in any obediēce to kindle Gods anger to the full yet God in mercy vsed many meanes to breed faith in the redeemer beside the warnings of his word The flood destroyed all but eight of all the men nothing remaineth but spirites in prison except eight saued in the Arke That severity might haue made them all wise Yet Cham was not bettered but his race called out Idolatry and Babels Tower for that wherevpon God bereft these builders of the tongue that spake of hope in the redeemer that they should no more heare of him till Babel should fall by Sem in Cyrus and by Iapheth in Darius when Persians and Medes tooke Babell And amongst his owne people he reckoned the worldes age to that time most exactly and plainly yeares 3470. And then his Angell telleth Daniel for Darius and Cyrus and all nations of the kingdome of Salvation and nameth the redemer the most holy Messias the Governer Messias that shall confirme the covenaunt with many and telleth of his kingdome how it shal be in sufferings Iudah saw the fall of Salomons kingdome their hope and the fall of Babel the glorie of nations and now first experience might teach that the kingdomes of this world vnder the sun had nothing but vexation of spirit At that time it was fit to tell all the world of the kingdome of heauen when Iewes Gentiles saw all the earth cursed The Iewes kingdome had fallen and they were told they should never haue an earthly kingdome more and Hethen kingdomes were shewed to be as savage beastes coaming out of the great sea tossed with many windes So in that opportunitie an Angel called Gabriel the mighty man of God whom Daniel had seene before cometh in the Evening to Daniel praying for a return home for his people to restore their religion and telleth him that his prayer was heard that Ierusalem shal be restored as Esaie foretold Cyrus should do it that mount Sion should haue sacrifices seaven times the space of seaventy yeares captivity that is 490. yeres But exactly then the Son of God would consecrate him selfe to end Moses and to bring in an Eternall redemption and as he had Oxen and sheepe in sacrifices for his body and their blood for the blood of his covenant hee would confirme a covenaunt for all nations As the Gospell recordeth what he hath done leaving bread for his body in seale of covenaunt and wine for the new testament by his covenant So at his death he should end Moses Lawes and all Leviticall function that no Mosaicall sacrifice should afterwardes be lefull And the time of all this matter is clearely and strictly set downe that Cyrus Darius knew when the sonne of God would worke redemption in which hope 49000. Iewes leaue Babel for Ierusalem and so many of Israel as had hope of Salvation thought of Ierusalem in all countreys where they were scattered Also the Sonne of God is called by Gabriel as was said Messias in such Ebrew as it must needes be a propre name which it is not againe in all the old testament and Saint Iohn for Messias cha 1. and 4. forceth vs to looke vnto the Angells speach and still the name of CHRIST through the new Testament in so much that to deny MESSIAS here to meane Our Lord and Saviour that is nothing els but to deny all the New Testa Besides for certainty of all God telleth that by the tenth part of this time exactly from the leaue to returne Ierusalem shal be walled but not without much adoe so forty nine yeres are set alone with the stories of 4900. thousand Iewes interlaced least Heathen lyes should break the trueth of the Chronicle When God had given Cyrus all the kingdomes of the earth then he maketh a decree to build the Temple and to giue a subsidie throw 120. nations to helpe the Iewes home Long warres had Cyrus afore he became so great Esay did name him by his name and foretold of his victories And Heathen doe record them and Lucian recordeth that Cyrus liued
100. yeares and Xenophon that he very yong began warre so his glory might well by Greekes begin where scripture placeth the Chaldean to whom Heathen Greekes giue no superioritie over the Persians After Cyrus tooke Babel he reigned three yeares when Daniel fasted because the building of the Temple was hindred by letters written to Artaxata named in Ezra 4. and called Prince of Persia Dan. 10. And soone Cyrus might dye Otherwise Daniel would stirr him to further his own decree and Herodot bringeth his death neare Babels fall by Scythian Thamar Artaxata or Cambyses had reigned so long with his father that he had put to death all the chief Nobility By Lucian citing Persique writers and after his hinderance of the Temple Christ with his eyes like a flame of fire Dan. 10. would rewarde him according to his workes being Can-byshes a Prince of shame and Herodot sheweth his badnes and quick death after his sole governement And as counsellers prevayled al his dayes to hinder the Temple which counsels hardly could be long vniforme that record in Ezra 4. argueth that he reigned not long sole Emperour though Heathen in Clemens giue him 19. yeares which might be almost all vnder his Father Next cometh the King which maried Atossa Hester famous in Hellanicus for inventing Epistles as he thought Mardochai telleth of her Letters through 127. Provinces for the Iewes safety And of them Hellanicus might speake Hester was maried to him in his seaventh yeare So her sonne Darius Artaxasta mentioned Ezra 6 ver 14. might be six yeares old in his fathers twelfth mentioned by Mardochai then actiue though he were caried to Babel with King Iechonias This King Esters husband is called Darius in Herodot and Ctesias and he liued by Ctesias 43 yeres and by Herodotus he was 20. when Cyrus went to Scythia vpon the taking of Babel and dreamed of his Empire So if Cambyses called Artaxata by his Imperiall name reigned after Babels fall 7. yeares Darius had 16. who by his Imperiall name is Oxyares Assuerus or Xerx Two sonnes he left who gently strove for the Empire while neither sought to defeate the other as Iustine recordeth and Herodot recordeth that Athossaes sonne borne after the father was Emperour prevailed The wisedome of Mardochai and Nehemias and Ester might cause that quietnesse Seeing Mardochai was a chief in the kingdome And somwhat the yong yeares of Atossaes sonne ten at his fathers death So the other brother hath his fathers Imperiall name Xerx Est. 10. by the Ierusalem copy in the Massoreth This Xers six yeares prepared warre for Grecia in his brothers minority When he was in Grecia then was Atossaes sonne 16. and might well licence the building of the Temple and take the other Imperiall name Artaxasta being king of Assur or Babel before he was sole Emperour and mention prayer for the Kinges sonnes and acknowledge Gods wrath in the overthrow of Xerx for hindering the Temple And the style of Aggei sheweth that he exhorted the returned whereof some had sene Salomons Temple to build before the King gaue leaue otherwise exhortation were cold And seeing Hester was of Beniamin in whose tribe the Temple was built Sems sonne by Elam and Arphaxad was fit to be the builder And God prospered him and his sonne and his grand child No other would so favour Iuda In his second he authoriseth the Temple with great charges for sacrifice with menacies vpon the hinderers in his sixt it is built In his seaventh he sendeth Ezra to set forward lawes with great giftes from the Persian worthies being taught with the King the religion of God In his twentieth Nehemias the third in the Cataloge of the returned walleth the City by seaven seavens from the seaventieth of Babel And Ierusalem is not more walled by stones then trueth of storie to check Heathē by the Chronicle Whē 49000. Iewes teach vs to make frō Cyrus decree to build Ierusalē vnto the building but 49. yeres wher Persians haue since their own chalēge of Empire 149. So that 100. must be cut off when we examine their time as they touch the 490. yeares told vnto the Kings of Sem and Iaphet for persuading Iapheth to dwell in the tentes of Sem And there the Heathen deceyue where prophets most clearly correct their deceipt that Daniels ch 10. and 11. and Ezra 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. And Nehem and Ester and Aggei Zacharie and Malachi chase their errour who can not stick to Heathen but will wrest Gods word more grossely then any thing is spoken in all the Alkoran Yet our Ecclesiasticall bragg what Maister Liuely hath done against all these holy bookes Particular texts and stories of Kings shal be compared with his learning and our right reverend fathers shal see who be the lyers against all duty and raylers against all honesty foming out their owne shame as the raging waves of the Sea they shall resume their owne phrases and by their eares heare their tongue Of 2. Chro. 36. or Ezra 1. THus saith Cyrus King of Paras The Eternall the God of heaven hath given me all the kingdomes of the earth and hath commaunded me to build him a Temple in Ierusalem which is in Iudah Who is amongst you of all his people The Eternall his God be with him and let him go vp c. Of Cyrus first yeare what it meaneth SEeing Cyrus came vp as a warrier vnto all the kingdomes of the earth reason would tell that in his first yeare of reigne in Persia he overcame not 120. countreis but his first yeare of Empire aboue all mightie is meant yet our Ecclesiasticall make the FIRST here the first of Cyrus thirty in M. Liuelies thirty yeares skill for Ebrew writers when he bringeth one Ebrew of his minde the Earth shall beare starres and the sky shal be plowed Of Ezra Chap. 3. ver 8. IN the second yere after returne vnto the house of God in Ierusalem the second moneth Zorobabel sonne of Salathiel and Iesus sonne of Iosadak and the rest of their brethren the Sacrificers and the Levites and all they which came from the captiuity to Ierusalem began to lay the foundation of the Temple c. then this Epistle was written to hinder the building to Artax King of Paras Ezr. 4.12 Be it knowen to the King that the Iewes which are come from him to vs are come to Ierusalem and builde the rebelleous and mischevous Citie c. And ver 24. Then the worke of the house of God was stayed For this staying Daniel fasted as he writeth Cha. 10. v. 1. 2. And the Ebrewes that write vpon Daniel would tell M. Liuely so And reason telleth that this Artax was ruler whē the Iewes vnder Cyrus came home M. Liuelies corruption Cyrus reigned 30. yeares Cambyses 7. Darius 36. Xerxes 21. Artaxerxes 40. And by him the Temple was hindered by M. Liuely So he would make about 100. yeares of a few monethes and Zorobabel and Iesus aliue all the while and the
Achab and Iosaphat should bee in affinity by their Children Ioram and Athalia before they were borne This note of 42. yeres hath troubled Britanie 42. yeres and more And here again the terme sonne referred to the kingdom of Omri which stood 42. yeres into which yere Achaziahu fell being of his owne age but 22. yeres the terme sonne caused the disturbance The Ebrew Doctours many hundreth yeres agoe in Seder Olam warned the world of this phrase And Levi S. to Gerson vpon the text in the great Massoritique Bible the best work that euer by mans witt came into the world which if your Maiesty would cause all that you would preferre to know readily you should haue in few yeres lerned Diuines by that other Ebrew helpes But very few in the world vnderstand it for the 848. margent readings and further it is hard Yet one professour might soon make a 1000. kunning Of the terme Kingdome translated reigne how it maketh K. Baassa warre ten yeres after that he was dead IN the third yere of Asa King of Iudah began Baassa to raigne ouer Israel twenty and four yeres 1. K. 15.33 So he died in the six and twentieth of King Asa Yet in the six and thirtieth yere of the reigne of Asa came Baassa King of Israell against Iudah By our Bishops translation that Machmadistes may by our Diuinitie look for their false Prophete to reviue as did Baassa by our Bible When Gentlemen find such matters in our Bibles they see no hope of knowledg some haue turned to deny God to be the auctour of it Ezra 1. ch 16. meant by Malcuth the kindome of Asa parted from Israel then six and thirty yeres Wherein the twelue tribes thrise twelue yeres forgat the glory of Davids house so that Iuda it self was plagued God casteth the Chronicle other numbers into pleasant and sensible meditations of his providence And therefore Ezra tooke his accompt frō the Kingdome of Iuda which Asa held In the same tenour of number of 3000. souldiers Ios 7. for Achans theft even thirty six were slaine thrise twelue And after vengeance vpon Achan twelue thousand of men women and Children were slaine by the 12. Tribes For the booke of the Iudges THE actes of the Apostles are drawen no better vnto the booke of Iudges to corrupt many other bookes euen where S. Paules wordes would haue found most high admiration and vtterly damne the Thalmudikes of extreeme blindnesse in the Iudges story Our errour shal be first handled And afterwardes S. Paules plainnes shal be shewed if God will Of Act. 13. v. 20. perverted to ruinate many bookes OVR translation thus speaketh Hee gaue vnto them Iudges about the space of 450 yeres Here Beza sayd the text was corrupted to deny that we had a New Testament and the Popes translation turneth back from Iosua to Isaaks birth without all reason S. Paul meant after a sort 450. yeres Proprely 339. from Iosuahs death to Elyes Within which times Iudges of punishment oppresse an hundreth and eleuen yeres so arise 450. And 19. textes belonge to that text of Saint Paul Which anone shal be layd downe Our Bishops absurditie thus appeareth yeares are from the coming frō Egypt vnto the building of Salomons Temple 1. K. 6.480 Now if the the Iudges had 450. Thirty of the wildernes would make vp the number that the storyes of Iosuah Samuel Saul and Dauid should bee all fables and no time for David to be in the world So our Bishops Bible might wel giue place to the Al-koran pestred with lies Of wrong to Matth. 1. Luk. 3. Ruth 4.1 Chr. 2. RAchab Booz Obed Iessei are ancestours to David borne ten yeares after Elies death And Iosuah reigned 17. yeres Though Rachab were new borne when Iericho fell yet she must be about 120. when she bare Booz and hee 120. must beget Obed and he 120. must beget Iesse and he nere that must beget David By the true Chronicle they were incredibly old but for Gods auctority And to adde an hundreth eleven yeres moo to four persons that is a matter of extreeme oversight And thus the actes ill translated brought our right Rerevend FF to disgrace many holy bookes with incredible grosnes in oversight where they might haue made all the world admire the Apostles learning how to shew the disturbance of the times as though the heauens were troubled he reckoneth the oppressours yeres alone although they were within the cōpany of the defenders times These many are ioyed to the defenders not as though they defended still the people so long but because their last dealings were so long from the former state Othoniel 40. Ehud 80. Barak 40. Gedeon 40 Abimelech 3. Thola 23. Iair 22. Iephthe 6. Ibsan 7. Elon 10. Abdon 8. Samson 20. Ely 40. The whole summe is 339. The punishing Iudges haue within this time Cxj. yeres thus Cusan 8 Moab 18. Sisera 20. So 339. and 111. make 450. after a sort wherein Saint Paul regarded the Iewes manner of speaking to the phrase as I will shewe by two examples Madian 7. Ammon 18. Philistines 40. How Samson that iudged but 20. yeares is said to Iudge Israel 40. THus writeth Elias Leuita the best learned Iew that ever holp Christians in his preface to Bomberges Bible in Hebrew with the Massoreth and chief Rabbins We find in the Ierusalemy the eldest volume of the Iewes Pandectes or Doctrinale is so called that Samson iudged 40. yeares It teacheth that the Philistines were afrayd of him 20. yeres after his death as in his life time And in all the copies that we haue it is written TWENTY yeares Thus farre goeth the commentary Now I see there is no doubt touching the text in this of Samson For the right standeth as the Drass or comment vpon the phrases telleth WHEREFORE is it said twise Iud. 15. vlt. and Iud. 16. vlt. and he iudged Israel 20. yeres Rabbi Acha said The text doeth teach that the Philistines were afrayd of him 20. yeres after his death and 20. yeres in his life time and so arise FOVRTY by two severall times But the Thalmud said not that the text hath and he iudged Israel fourtie yeares but that he iudged Israel 40. yeres according to the manner of speaking to the phrases And here cometh a sweate elegancy which is worthy marking So farre goeth the Thalmud and commentary vpon it These wordes the learned Elias bringeth against some simple who might thinke the text corrupt by reason that the Thalmud differed To whom he sheweth the speach to regard the phrase and not proprietie of the text How the Septuaginta alter the very true text for Elyes 40. yeares to agree with the Iewes manner reckoning after the phrase THE auncient Lxxij translaters gaue Ely but 20. yeres as notes warne vpon the Romane edition of Xystus that with Eusebius testimonie But later copiers seeing the Ebrewe sure not knowing how the 70. hid their mind alter the translation giue