about which they beÌ„ studiouse that God yeuith wisedome and cunning vnderstoÌ„ding of his face that is yift and grace Also if here study be done wyth mekenes loue of christeÌ„ lore it is of God Austine wrytith al thys in iii. boke of christen teachyng aboute the middle and in the ende I sidre in the fyrste boke of souerayne good teach these rules shortlyer but I haue hym not nowe And Lire in the bygynynge of the Bible touchyth more openly these rulis but I haue him not nowe And ArmacaÌ„ in the beginyng of his boke Dequestionibus ArmenotuÌ„ yeuith many good growndis to vnderstoÌ„d holy scripture to the letter and gostly vnderstondynge also but I haue him not now Also nothing maiseme to be wyser nothynge of more EloqueÌ„ce thaÌ„ is holy scripture the autors therof y t wereÌ„ enspirid of God And they oughteÌ„ not to speake in other maner thaÌ„ thei dydeÌ„ And y â— Pro phetis most Amos wereÌ„ full eloqueÌ„t And Paul was full eloqueÌ„t in his Epistlis Also the authours of holy Scripture spaken full dearkly that the preuities therof ben hyd to vnfeythfull men and good men ben exercisid either occupied and that in expownynge holy Scripture they haue a nwe grace diuers fro the first autours Austine in the beginning of the. iiii boke of christen teachynge Also as the little rychesse of Iewis whiche they baren awey fro Egypt weren in comparisoÌ„ of richesse which they hadden afterwarde in Ierusalem in y e tyme of Solomon so great is the profytable kunnynge of phylosophers bokis if it be comparisoned to the kynnynge of holye scripturis For why what thynge euer a man â—…earneth withouten holy wryt if the thing be veyne it is damnyd in holi writ if it be profitavle it is fouÌ„ did ther. And whaÌ„ a maÌ„ findith ther al things which he lernid profitably in or 〈◊〉 place he shal find mich more pleÌ„tâ—…ly tho thingis in holy scripture which he lernyd neuer in other place but be lerned onli in y e woÌ„derful highnes in y e woÌ„derful meknes of holy scriptur Austine seith this in y e end of y e. ii boke of christeÌ„ teching Also holy scripture coÌ„teinith al profy table trueth al other scieÌ„cis preuily in y e vertue of wyttis either vndurstaÌ„dingis as wynes ben conteyned in grapis as ripe corne is conteined in the seede as bowis ben conteyned in the rotis as trees bene conteyned in y e kiruels Grosted in a sermoÌ„ Premouitus a venerabili patre Also ho ly scriptur wlatith sophimis seith He that speakyth sophistically eyther by Sophisinis shal be hatfull he shal be defraudid in eche thyng as the wise man seyth in the. xxxvii Chapiter of Ecclesiasticus If Philosophers and moste the distiples of Plato seydeÌ„ any truth is and profitable to our feyth not only tho truthis owen not to be drede but also tho shulen be calengyd into oure vse either profyte fro hem as fro vniuste possessouris And as Iewis token by autoritie of God the golde and clothis of Egyptians so ChristiaÌ„s oweÌ„ to take the trwe seyingis of Hhilosophers for to worship oo God and of techyng of vertuis Whych truth is the Philosophers foundeÌ„ not but dyggiden oute of the metalis of Gods purueyaunce whych is shed euerie where So dyd Ciprian the swetest Doctoure and most blessed martyr So did LactaÌ„tius Uictorinus and Illarie and Grekis wythouteÌ„ nouÌ„ber Austyne in the. ii boke of christen teachyng By these rulis of Anstine by iiii vnder stoÌ„dyng is of holy scripture by wise knowyng of figuratife speachis wyth good lyuyng and mekenes and studiyng of the Bible simple men moune somedeal vnderstoÌ„d the text of holy write edifie myche hemsylfe and other men But for gods loue ye simple men beth ware of pryde and veyne ianglynge and chydyng in wordis ayens proude clerkis of scholis and veyne religiouse answere ye mekely and prudently to enimies of Gods lawe and prey ye hertli for hem that God for hys great mercie yeue to hem verie knowing of scripturis and mekenes and charitie And euer be ye redy what man teachith any trueth of God to take that mekely and wyth greate thaÌ„kis to God And if any maÌ„ in earth either angel of heaueÌ„ techith you y e coÌ„trarie of holy write either a ny thyng ayens reasoÌ„ charitye fle fro him in y t as fro y e foule feÌ„d of hel hold ye stedfastly to life death y e trueth fredoÌ„ of y e holy gospel of Ie su Christ â–ª and take ye mekely menis seyingis lawis only in as miche as they accorden w t holy wryte good coÌ„sciences no ferther for lyfe neyther for death The. xiii Chap. ALso holy Scripture is bet ter knowne by lyknesses by derknessys it doeth awaye anoies And we oweÌ„ to thyncke and bileue that the thinge that is wrytten in holy scryptur yea though it be hyd either not knowen is better and truer than y t we moune vnderstoÌ„d bi vssâ—…lfe worship fulli helthfuli the holi gost mesurid so holy scripturs â–ª y t in opeÌ„ placis he settid remedi to our hoÌ„ger in darke placis he wipt awei anoies For almost nothing is seene in tho dearkenessis which thyng is not founden seid full plainli in other placis Therfore byfore al things it is nedful y â— a man be coÌ„uertid by Gods drede be mylde by piti either christeÌ„ religioÌ„ that he ayenseâ—…e not holy Scripture where it be vndurstoÌ„deÌ„ though it smyte any sinnis of ours whether it be not vnderstondeÌ„ as if we moune vnderstond better either coÌ„maunde either teache better By y e yifte of dred of pitie â–ª me comith to y e degre of â—…uning For why ech frucâ—…uo use maÌ„ of holy scripturis exercisith him selfe in this thynge and to fynd none other thing in tho than forto loue God for God himsilfe forto loue his neighbour for God ThaÌ„ thilke drede by which he thinckith on goddis dome thilk pitie by which he must nedis bileue yeue sted to autoritie of holi bokis compellith hym to biweile himselfe for whye this kunnynge of good hope makyth a man not to auaunte hymsylfe but byweyle himsylfe And by thys affection either good wyll he gettith by bysy preyars the conforte of Godis helpe that he be not broken by dispeyre He bigynith to be in the fourth degree of gostely strength in whych he hungrith and thyrstith ryghtfulnes Than in the. v. degre that is in the councell of merci he purgith the soull that makith noies and vnrestefulnes of couetise earthly thyngis And than he dyspysyth fylthys of soule and louyth God and neyghbours yea enimies By thys he styith to the. vi degree where he purgyth the iygh of soule by whych iygh God maye be seene as mych as he maye be seen of hem that dyen to thys worlde as mych as they
arte he that dyftur blist Israel And Helie seide Not I disturble Israell but thou and the house of thi father that han forsaken goddis heestis han sued BaalaÌ„ han disturblede Israell After thys the prophet Helie conuictyd by an open miracle eyght hundred and fyftie prophets of Bal of open Idolatrie and killid hem al wyth helpe of the puple that bileuid to God for the greate miracle And after this God seÌ„t great taine Helie ran befor Achab to y e citti of Israel After thes things Helie fled for drede of Iesabell y â— manacide to â—…lee him And whaÌ„ he had fled into de serte by y â— iurney of a daie he axed of God to die And whaÌ„ he slept an An gel bade him rise eate bread bakeÌ„ vnder ashis drink water he yede in y e streÌ„gth of y â— meat xl daies xl nightis tilto Oreb the hyll of God And whaÌ„ he was hid ther in a deÌ„ seid y t he was left alone a prophet of the lord thei soughten to slee hym God bad hym go to Damaske anoynt Asael kyng on Sirie anoint Hieu king on Israel anointe Elise prophet for him And these thre shuldeÌ„ do veÌ„geaÌ„ce on trespassours flee hem And god left to himsilfe vii M of men of Israel whose knees wereÌ„ not bowed bifor Baal ThaÌ„ it suith how Elise suid Heli. After thes thin gis king Achab had ii greate meruelous victoris ayeÌ„s Benadab king of Sirie for he blasphemed God of Israel And for king Achab did false merci kilid not this blasphemer Be nadab whoÌ„e God bitoke into his hoÌ„dis god sent a prophete to Achab teâ—…d thus For y u suffridst a maÌ„ worthi y e death to go fro thine honde thi lyfe shall be for hys lyfe thy puple shal be for his puple Aftirward Iesabel y e Quene made Naboth to be stonid to deth bi false witnes asseÌ„t of Achab for he nolde chauÌ„g neither sel his viner to y â— Kyng And whaÌ„ Achab yede downe to take possessioÌ„ of this viner god bad Heli mete him seie thus Thou hast slaine hast ta keÌ„possessioÌ„ The lord seith thes thingis In this place wherin dogs likideÌ„ y â— blud of Naboth thei shuleÌ„ lyâ—… also thi blud And Achab seid to Helie Where hast y â— fouÌ„deÌ„ me thine enimy And Heli seid I haue fouÌ„de for â—… arte solde to do iuil in gods syght Therfore God shal distry slee eche man of y e house of Achab and yeue hys house as the house of Iero boaÌ„ and as y â— house of Basa For Achab terred God to wrath made Israel to do syn Also doggis shuleÌ„ eate Iesabel in the field of Israel If Achab dye in the Citie doggis shulen eate hym If he die in the fielde byrdis of the eyre shuleÌ„ eate him None other was suche as was Achab y â— was seld to do euil bifore God For whi Iesabell hys wyfe excitid hym and he dyd abomynable Idolatrye Than Achab dyd ful great penauÌ„ce and was mekyd byfore God Therfore God brought not in this euyle in hys dayes but in the daies of his sonne In the thyrde yere after these thynges about iiii C. Prophetes of Baal couÌ„celeden Achab to make warre ayens the Kyng of Sirie for a Citie clepyd Ramoth of Galaade and â—…ihighten victorie prosperitie to Achab. But Michee oo prophet of God telde to Achabe in goddis name that the spirit of leasings disceyued hym bi hys false prophets that Achab shuld be slayne in y â— batteile so it befeld in dede But Miche was dispisid beateÌ„ of the false prophets was prisoned purposed to be slaine of y â— King whan he came ayene in peace And Kyng Iosaphat a good maÌ„ was in this battile with curssid Achab. But Achab was slain and doggis lycked his blude Iosaphat was sauyd by goddis helpe Than roos Ocosias King of Israel for Achab hys father and Ocosias worshipid Baal and terrid God to Ire by al thyngis whych his father had do This proces of y â— iii. boâ—…e of kingis stulde styr lords and kyngs to be mercyful and pytuouse on here sugets that trespassen a yens hem in al things eschew Idelnes lecheri treason Idolatrie and fals councelouris and vnwyst and euer dystrye synne take counsel at holi scriptur and trwe prophetis and trist not to false prophets be they neuer so manie and crie faste ayens one eyther fewe tru men ¶ The. vi chapiter THe iiii boke of kingis tellyth in generall howe the rewme of Israell and the rewm of Iuda wereÌ„ conquerid of hethen men for mani sins whichthei diddeÌ„ a yens God men and wereÌ„ obstinat diddeÌ„ not frutful penauÌ„ce in due tyme. First it telith inspecial howe the wicked Kyng Ocosias sent to take counsel at Belzebub where he myght liue and â—…kyuer of hys syknes Therfore God sent Helie the prophete to tel to hym that he shuld dye not go downe of his bed ThaÌ„ this King seÌ„te to Helie a prince on l. men and fiftie â–ª meÌ„ with hym to clepe Heli to the Kyng And fiere came doune fro heauen and deuoured this prince and fifti meÌ„ that weren wyth hym for in scorne they clepidden Helie the maÌ„ of God And in lyke maner fyre deuoured an other prince and fiftie men with him The thyrdde prince and hys fyftie y â— mekid hem to God to the prophet weren sauyd on lyue And God bade Heli go downe w t hem to the Kyng and repreue hyme of hys synne tel to the kynge hym sylfe that he shall die and go not downe of his bedde After this the prophet Helie should be rauishid awey fro erth and Elise knew this sued him in eche place tilto the rauishing And Helie smote wyth his maÌ„tell the waters of Iordan and tho wereÌ„ departed therby and Helie and Elise yeden ouir bi y â— drye bottome therof Than Helie was rauished in a chair of fiere fro Elise and stied bi a whirlwynd into heauen And y e double sprite of Helie rested on Elise And wyth the â—…ntyl â–ª of Helie he smot â—…wise the waters of Iordan and in the seconde tyme tho wereÌ„ departed Elise passed ouer Afterwarde Elise dweled in Ierico healed y â— waters froÌ„ bitternes bareÌ„nes bi putting of salt in y e watir ThaÌ„ Elise stighid into Bethell as he stighid bi y e weie little childreÌ„ yedeÌ„ out of y e citie seiden to hym in scorne Thou ballard stigh vp And he curssed hem in y e name of God tweie beeres yedeÌ„ out of y e foreste torenten of hem xlii children After these thyngis Ioram the Kynge of Israel and Iosaphat the Kynge of Iuda also the thredde Kynge that was Kynge of Edome weren in deserte hadden no water and weren in poynte of peryshinge These three Kyngis camen to Elise
helpe Thā Senacherib sent Rapsaces with strong ofte to Ierusalē to blaspheme God make y t puple yeld hem to him for dred Thā Ezechie torēt his tlothes for sorow was hilid with a sacke entrid into gods house sent y ◠high priest other elde inē clothyd wyth sackes to y e prophet Esai y t he shuld prey to God ayens the blaspemie of Assiriēs Esaie seid in Gods name y t thei shuldē not dred of thes words of Assiriēs For God shal sēde a sprit to Senacherib he shal hear a mesenger he shal turne ayene into his londe and God shal cast him downe by sworde in hys londe And whan Senacherib wente home to defende his lond ayens the king of Ethiope he sent blasphemous letters to Ezechie and seide That his God might not deliuer him fro his hond Therfore God cōfortid Ezechie by y ◠prophet Esaie y ◠he shuld not dread Senacherib For Senacherib shall not enter into Ierusalē neither finde arrowe into it neyther occupie it neither bisege it But God shal deiende and saue Ierusalem for hyme selfe and for Dauid his seruaunt And in that nyght the angell of God kylled in the tentes of Assirie◅s an hūdred thousand lxxxv thousande And in the morowtide Senacherib yede into his londe and hys owne sonnys kyllyden hym in y e tēple of hys God Nestarath while he worshipyd hys God Nestarath After thys whan Ezechie was sicke to the death Esai seide to hym in Gods name dispose thine hous for thou shalt dye not liue And for Ezechie wepte greatli God curid him and made him go into the temple on the yde daie and encreasyd xv yere to his life And in signe herof God made the sunne go bakward vi x. degrees After thys doing y e kyng of Babilō sent letters by messengeris yeftes to Ezechie And by pride he she wed al his treasours and Ieuels to the messengers Therfore God seid bi Esaie to him That daies shulē come al thingys in thyne house shulen be take away into Babilon And Ezechie seid The worde of God is good onely peace and trueth be in my daies Aftir Ezechie Manasses his sōne reigned lv yere in Ierusaiē did greate euil in goddis syght and mich Idolatrie And the puple of Iuda was disceiued in Manasses y ◠thei diden more euill then heathen men whych God destried fro the face of sonis of Israel And for Manasses dyd thes worst abominacions ouer al things which the men of Amorreys didden and he shedde ful miche innocēt blud tyll Ierusalem was fyllyd tylto the mouthe God seyde that he woulde brynge in euilys vpon Ierusalem Iuda that who euer heareth boeth his eares tingle And he shal do awai Ierusalem as tablys on borde ben wonte to be done awaye But God shal leaue remnaūts of his heritage and bitake hem in the honde of here enimies Manasses dyede and was biried in the orchard of his house Amon his sonne reigned for him ii yere and dyd euil as his father dide and forsoke God and seruyd vncleanes and Idolis as his father dyd worshipid tho And his seruauntes settiden treason to hym and killiden hym in his house And the puple of y ◠londe kylliden al men y t hadden conspirede ayens the kynge Amon and for hym they ordeynyden Iosie hys sonne kynge to hem Iosie bygan to reigne whan he was viii yere elde reignid xxxi yere in Ierusalem And he dyd that that was plesant bifore God yede by all the weys of Dauid his fathir In y ◠xviii yere of Io sie he hadde visines that the temple of God were repareilid And whan the boke of the lawe was reade bifore the kyng he torente his clothis and sent solemne messangers to take councel at God for hymsilfe and his rewine For he seide that great vengeaunce of God is kinled ayens vs for our fathers herdē not the words of this boke to do al that is written to vs. And God seid by the prophetesse Olda y e wife of Selum I shall bryng euiles on thys place and on y e dwellers therof al y ◠wordis of the lawe whych Iosie readde for theye forsoken me and maden sacrifice to alien gods And for thou Iosie heardist the words of the boke and thine herte was aferde thou were mekid afore me torenteste thy clothes and weptest before me therfor thou shalt dye in peace that thyne eyen se not all these euylys whyche I shall bring in on this place Thā Iosi gadrid to him al y e olde men of Iuda Ierusalē y e Kyng stied into y ◠tēple of God all men of Iuda al men that dwellidē in Ierusalē prophets prists al y e puple flied with him And he red to al men herynge al the wordis of the boke of couenaūte of the lord y t was foūdun in the house of the lorde And the kyng stoode on the grees smote couenaunt bifore the lorde that they shulden go after the lorde and kepe al hys hestys and wytnessingis and ceremonies in all the herte and in al the soule and the puple assentyd to the couenant And the Kynge bad y e bishop and priests and porteris caste out of Goddis tēple all vessellis that weren made to Baall and to other Idolis And he brente tho oute of Ierusalem in the valei of Cedrō and bare the dust of tho into Bethell Aud he distried Idolatours the houses of lechours that weren in the house of God And he destryed auteris and hygh places of Idoles and Imagis toke oute bonis of sepulchris and brēt tho on the auter in Bethell that seruiden to Idolatrie Also Iosie dyde awey all temples of hie placis that weren in the cite of Samarie which y e kingis of Israel hadden made to terrie the Lorde to wrath he dyd ◅o tho as he had do in Bethel And he killyd y ◠priestis of high placis which prests weren ther ouer the auteris And he brente mens bonis of tho on the auters And Iosie made the puple to make a solempne paske And suche paske was not made fro y e dayes of iudgys and al kyngis of Israell and Iuda as was this pask made in the xviii yere of Iosie And he did away spirites spekinge in menis wombis and false diuinou◅is and figuris of Idolis and vncleanessis abominaciouns that weren in the londe of Iuda and of Ierusalem No Kynge bifore hym neyther after hym was lyke hym that turned ayene to God in al his hert in al his soule and in al hys vertue by al the law of Moses Nethelesse for the orrible sinnis of Iuda God turned not aweye fro his strong vengeaūce ▪ but seide that he would take aweye Iuda fro hys face as he dyde aweye Israel that he would caste aweye y e citie of Ierusalem whych he
and hygh placys and he Brake Imagys and hewed downe wodis and coÌ„maundyd the puple of Iuda to seke the lord God of her fathers and do his lawe kepe al hys heestis He reigned in peace and bildid stronge cities wyth walles and toures and yates and locks And he had in hys ooste three huÌ„dred thousand of Iuda men bearing sheeâ—…dis and speeris And of Beniamin two huÌ„dryd thousande and lxx thousande of men of Armes of archars And he ouercame the Kynge of Ethiope that came wyth x. huÌ„dred thousand meÌ„ iii. huÌ„dred charis And Asa had the victorie for in trist of gods help he came ayens this grete multitude Than y e prophet of God seid to Asa and al hys puple The lorde is wyth you for you weren with hym If ye seken him you shouleÌ„ fynd him And if you forsaken hym he shall forsake you Mani dayes shulen passe in Israel wythouten veri God â—…nd without priest and teacher and lawe and Asa hys father hadde take And the Lord was w t Iosaphat he yede in y â— fyrst weyes of Dauid his father And he hopyd not in Baalim but in God almighti and yede in hys commauÌ„demeÌ„tis and not by the synnes of Israell And God confirmide the rewme in the hond of Iosaphat and he had ful mani richessis and myche glorye And whan hys hert had take trifâ—…e for y â— weis of the lorde he dyd aweye also hygh placis and wodis fro Iuda where y â— puple made offringe ayens the law And Iosaphat in the thyrd yere of hys rewme sente fyue of his princis that they shulden teache in the cytes of Iuda And he sent ix dekenis w t hem and. ii prists wyth hem and they haddeÌ„ the boke of goddis law and taughteÌ„ the puple in Iuda And they coÌ„passiden all the cities of Iuda and taughteÌ„ al y e puple And therfore the drede of the lord was made on al the rewmis of londis that weren by the compas of Iuda and dursten not ware ayens Iosaphat And he had redye at hys honde xi C. thousande and. ix thousand of knyghtis and men of Armis and archars outake other which he leftin walled cities and in al Iuda And Philisteis Arabies broughteÌ„ to Iosaphat yefts and tributis and many thousauÌ„ds of shepe buckis of geet And after thys doinge Iosaphat was alyed to Achab and yede wyth hym to bateyle into Ramothe of Galaad iiii hundrid prophetes that weren dysceyued by a spyrite of leasynge excytyden Achab to thys warre byhyghten prosperyte and victori to him But Micheas a trew prophete of God teld to Achab that he shoulde dye in this bateyll and so it was in dede And Iosaphat that was in most perile of thys bateyle was sauyd by goddys helpe After thys bateil Iosaphat turned ayene in peace to Ierusalem a prophete of God mette wyte hym and seyde Thou helpest the wycked man and arte ioyned in frendship wyth hem y t haten God and therfore thou deseruist the wrath of God But good werkes ben fouÌ„dun in the for thou dyddist aweye wodes fro the londe of Iuda and madest redi thyne hert to sech the lorde God of thy fathers Therefore Iosaphat dwellid in Ierusalem And efte he yede oute to the puble â—…ro Bersebee tylto the hyll of Effraim and cleppid hem ayen to y â— lord God of her fathers And he ordeined iudgys of y â— londe in al stroÌ„ge cities of Iuda bi eche place And he coÌ„maundyd thus to y e Iudgis Se ye what ye owen to do For ye vsen the dome not of maÌ„ but of y â— Lord. And what euer thynge that ye shall deme shal turne into you The drede of the lorde be with you and do you al thyngis with diligence For why neither wyckednes neither takynge of parsons neither couetise of yiftis is anentis your Lorde God And in Ierusalem Iosaphat ordeinid Dekenis and priestys and pryncys of meinees of Israel that they shulden deme to y e dwellars therof y â— doome and cause of God And he coÌ„mauÌ„did to hem and seyd Thus ye shulen do in the dreade of the Lorde faithfully and in a perfect hert Ech cause that cometh to you of your brithern that dwellen in here cities bitwix kinrede and kynrede where euer is questian either doubte of the lawe of coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of ceremonies of iustifiyngs shewe ye to hem y t they do not sinne ayens the lorde and wrath either veÌ„geaunce come not on you on youre brethern Therefore do ye thus and ye shulen not do sinne And Amarie your pryeste eyther byshop shall be soueraine in these thingis y â— perteyne to God After thes thingis y â— sonnis of AmoÌ„ the sonnis of Moab with menne of Idumee weren gadryde togither to warre ayens Iosaphat Than Iosaphat yafe hym all to beseche God and preachyd faistnge to al Iuda and al Iuda was gatherid to bisech the Lorde And Iasaphat knoleched that he had not power to ayenstonde so greate a multitude of enimies Than God coÌ„fortid hym hys puple by a prophere that theye shulen not dreade this greate multitude of enimies For God hym selfe should fyght ouerâ—…oÌ„e her enimyes wythoute stroke of hys puple and so it was in dede At the laste Iosaphat made frenshyppe wyth Ocosie Kyng of Israel whos werkis weren ful euil they weren felows to make shypps that shuldeÌ„ go into Tharsis Therfore God bi his prophete seyde to Iosaphat For thou haddist bonde of peace wyth Ocosie God hathe smitten thy werkis and the shipps bene altobroke migten not go into Tharsis ThaÌ„ died Iosaphat and Ioram hys son reignyd for hym Thys Ioram weddyd the doughtyr of Achab and kylled hys oâ—…â—…retherne and yede in the weis of the 〈◊〉 of Israell as y e house of Achab had do He dyd Idolatrye and made the dwellaris of IerusaleÌ„ and also of Iuda to breake goddys lawe Therfore Edom and Lobna yeden a waie fro his Lordship for he had forsake the Lord God of his fathers And therfore god reised ayeÌ„s hym philisties Arabies that costen wyth Ethiopiens And theidistri eden the londe of Iuda and token awaye the cattell that was foundune in the house of the Kyng and token awaye hys wife and sonnes outakeÌ„ Ioachim the youngeste And God smote IoraÌ„ wyth vncurable sorowe of wombe two yere so that he rottide on erth and castyde out hys entrailles died in worst sicknes and hys sonne Ocosias ceygnyd for hym and did euyl as the house of Aâ—…hab For why his mother excitid hym to do wyckydâ—…ie And thei of the house of Achab weren his couÌ„cellours into hys death and he yede in the couÌ„sell of hem And therfore Hieu whaÌ„ he distried the house of Achab killid Ocosie and the prince of Iuda and the sonnis of the brithern of Ocosie After thes thingis Ioas was made Kyng bi y â— help of Ioiada the priest and the curssed womaÌ„ Athalia
the bokes of Gods lawe and defoulid the temple of Ierusalem and compellyd men for dreade of death to do Idolatrie and forsake God and his Lawe And he toke vesseles and tresourys in the temple and bare into hys lo◅de And he brente the Citye of Ierusalem and dystried the housis therof and the wals therof in cōpasse And he toke the hygh toure of Dauid and set men of armis therin to lette men come to Ierusalem and they dydden mych harme to the puple of Israell ▪ And who euer helde the boke of Goddis testamente and kepte hys Lawe was slayne by cōmaundement of Antioke the Kyng And women that circū◅ididen here chyldren weren slayne by cōmaūdement of Antioke the Kyng And thei hangiden chyldren by the neckis by all the houses of men of Israell and kyllyden hem that circūcididen chyldrē Than arose Matathias y ◠pryst and fled fro Ierusalem into Modin and byweilede greatly thys distryynge of the puple of the temple and citie and of al the lond And he ayene stode the Kynge and hys ministers and kyllid the Kingis ministres that cōpelliden men to do Idolatry And he killid a man that did Idolatri on the auter dystried the auter wheron Idolatrie was done Than Matathias and hys sonnys fledden into hyllis and leften all thyngis whych they hadden in the Cittie And mani men that soughtē dome ryghtfulnes and woldē kepe Gods Lawe camen to hem into deserte Heathen men made wars on hem in Sabates and manye dieden in here simplenes for thei nolden make battel in Sabatis Than manie Iewis weren gaderyd to hym and maden a greate Ooste and weren redye to fyght in Sabattis and thei kylliden synnars in greate wrath And Matathias and hys fryndes compassiden and dystrieden auters and circumcididen chyldren whych they founden in al the coastis of Israell And they pursuiden the chyldren of pryde and the werke hadde prosperitie in his hondis And they gotten the law fro the honds of heathen men and of kyngs yeauē not strēgth to the sinful mā And whan Matathias was in poynte of Death he comfortyd hys sonnis to put here lyues for the law of God bi ensample of Abrahā and other holy mē byfore goyng And he ordeynid Iudas Machabeus to be Duke of bateyl and ordeynid Simont hys sonne to be Fadyr and priest to hem for he was a man of counsell Than bene tolde manye batteylys of Iudas Machabeus ayens heathen men and of great vyc torie bi Goddis help Than Iudas Machabeus made frendshyp wyth Romaynis for her prudence ryghtfulnes powre And whan Iudas was deade in batteyle the puple ordeined Ionathas hys brother theyr prynce and Duke for to hollde war ayens heathen men Than ben telde many bateils of Ionathas vyctories whyche he had ayens heathen men Than Ionathas after many vyctories sente to renulle frenshy pe wyth Romayns and Sparcyatys that weren of the Kynne of Iewis And Ionathas and hys sonnis weren slayne at the laste bi treasonne of Trifon that was an heathē manne and myghtie Duke Than Simont was made Duke of the Puple and in the styd of Iudas Machabeus of Ionathas and he dyd many bat teylis and strong had great victories ayens heathen men And Iewis hadden much reste vnder hym and he made stronge holdys and cy◅yes in Iuda And he renullyde frendship wyth Romaynis and Sparciatys and hade mych glorye of hys folke and of heathen Kyngys And at the laste Symont and his sonnis werē slayne by treasone and Iohn hys sonne was Prynce of priestys after hys fathe◅ys dayes and dyd manye bateyls ayens heathen men The seconde Boke of Machabeys tellyth mych the same sentence of the fyrste boke and hath a fewe speciall poynts of Eliodorus and of Eliazarus and of the noble Wydo we and hyr seuen sonnis Eliodorus was sente of the Kynge to take awaie the treasuris of the Temple of Ierusalem and bere tho to the Kynge And thoughe the treasourys weren kepte for the lyfelode of Wyddowes and fatherlesse chyldren and some weren another manys goodis Eliodorus wolde algate beare al to the Kynge But God made hym hys felowis sore aferd And Elidorus was beaten almost to death of a ferdful one sytynge on an horsse that hade two younge men aboute him And Elio dorus was cast downe to the groūd and was borne out on a bere and ley doumb◅ And whan the hyghste Prieste offrid sacrifice and preied for y e helth of Eliodorus God grauntyd lyfe to hym And he thankyde God and the hygheste priste and yede to the King and tolde hym howe it stode And he wytnessid to al men the greate werkis of God whych he had sene with hys iyen Than is tolde of the curssyd dedys of Iason the prieste that came in by Simonie and woulde brynge the Iewis to Idolatrie and Sodomitie and to forsake God and hys Lawe Than is tolde of the greate crueltye of Antiochus whych he dyde ayens the Iewes and the holie place of Ie rusalem and God suffrede thys for the synnes of y e puple for why God chees not folke for the place but the place for the folke Than Eleazarus cheese to dye a sharpe Death rather that he woulde breke Goddys lawe in a litle pointe to eatte porke yea to feyne to eate porke After thys it sueth howe the blyssyd wyde we and hyr vii sonnys weren martyryd for they noldenne breake Goddis lawe and howe gloriously the blessede mother comforted hein to take Death with ioye for the law of God Thys story of Machabeys shoulde styr Christen men to holde Goddys law to life to death And if knights shulē vse y e swerd ayens any curssyd men they shouldē vse it ayens lords and pryestis principally that woldē compel men for drede of prisone and death to forsake the trueth and fredome of Christis gospel But God for hys greate mercie yeue verye repētaūce to hem that thus pursuē tru men and graunte patience mekenes and charitie to hem that benne thus pursuyd Amen The. xii Chapiter But it is to wytte that holy scripture hath iiii vnderstōdyngis Literal Moral Aligorike Anagogike The Literal vnderstōdyng teachith the thynge done in dede And litteral vnderstandynge is ground and foūdement of iii. gostli vnderstondingis In so mych as Austē in hys Epistle to Uincent other doctours seyne Only by the lytteral vnderstondyng a mā maie argu ayens an aduersari Aligorike is a gostli vndirstōding that teachyth what thyng men owē to beleue of Chryste eyther of holye Churche Morall is a gostly vnderstandyng that teachyth menne what vertues they owen to sue and what vyces they owne to flee Anagogik is a gostly vnderstandynge that teacheth men what blisse they shullenne haue in heauen And thes iiii vnderstondingys moune be taken in thys worde Ierusalē For why to y ◠literall vnderstondynge it sygnifieth an earthly cytie as London or such an other To Alygorye it syngnyfyeth holy churche in