And againe after the death of Domitian whē he returned from the I le of Pathmos to Ephesus to haue written his Gospell against the Heretikes Marcio Ebon and Cerunhus This booke vnder the name of Reuelation conteyneth prophesie concerning euent fortune matters and of the deriued church that is to say the church deriued from the Primitiue church and thence to be deriued vnto the end of the world It may very well be deuided 1 Into Seales 2 Into Trumpets 3 Into Vials The 7. seales signifies the persecution of the church which is vnder Tyrantes to wit Domitian Traianus c. which truly began in the primitiue church in the time of the Apost and continued thence the space of 300. yeares vnto the time of Constantine it is described in this book chap. 4 5 6 7. The Trumpets signifieth heresies as the Arians c. From the time of Constantine vnto Theodosius for other 300. yeares yea vnto Mahomet and the pope This is described chap. 8 vnto 18. The Vials signifie the plagues of Antichrist for these 900. yeares from the time of Bonif. y◠pope vnto this our time of the which thou mayest read from the 17. chap vnto the end of the booke It may otherwise bee deuided to wit into seauen visions that is to saye into figures most wonderfully shewing to the minde and cies of all men The first vision of the seuen churches of Asia the lesse The second vision concerning Christ his church being exalted The thirde vision concerning the dilligence of the disciples of Christ The fourth concerning the affliction of the church The fist concerning the last persecution vnder Antichrist The sixt concerning the day of Iudgement The seuenth concerning the victory of Christ and the church Briefly he describes 1 The Kingdome of Christ 2 The comfort of the godly afflicted 3 The Threats of Tyrants 4 The priesthood of Christ 5 The Prayers of the Saints 6 The Histories of the newe Testament is reueiled The chapters are thus to be discerned From the 1. chap. vnto the 4. chap. is the preface in which first of all it containeth the commendation of these reuelations from the efficient cause to weet from God Then it containeth the admonition to the seuen bishoppes of the Churches of Asia the lesse which hee calles Angels Candlesticks starres c. For the ministery of the word From the fourth chapter vnto the 8. is the first part of the booke with the 7. seales Where first he would haue to bee vnderstood by Elders the Prophets Secondly by beasts the Euangelistes 3 By birds Doctrine 4 By the Lamb Christ himselfe 5. By Angels the ministers of the word 6 By Seales Persecutions 7 by Horses Tyrants 8. by sealed the elect the Iewes 9 by the multitude the elect of the Gentiles 10 by the booke the ministery of Reuelations From the 8. chapter vnto the 15. cha is the second part of the booke of Trumpets by which he vnderstandeth Heresies 2. by stars Heretikes 3 By the angell the ministery of the word 4. by the the Gospell 5 By the measuring of the Temple Religion 6 By the holy Citty the Church 7 By the two witnesses the Prophets and Apostles 8 By the woman the Church 9. By the 12. starres the 12. Tribes 10 By the wars the preaching of the Gospel 11 by Mychaell Christ Iesus 12 By the Beastes the Romaine Monarchy 13 By the lamb Christ 14 By the voice of thundring the word of the Gospel 15 By the new Song the Gospel 16 By the women Idolatrie 17 By Virgins sincere Christians From the 16 vnto the end is the third part of this booke First by the beastes he would vnderstand the Romaine Monarchy 2 By the Harlot the Idolatry of Antichrist 3 By the golden people hipocrisie 4. By Characters a perfect sign of Antichrist 5 By vials the plagues of Antichrist 6 By the mariage of the lamb the humanity of Christ 7 By the name written the Diuinity of Christ 8 By new heauen and new earth the Image of euerlasting life To the which place hee shal bring vs whoe hath signed this his holy scriptures with his owne pretious bloud euen Iesus Christ our Lorde who with the Father and the holy Ghost bee praised for euer and euer Amen FINIS
AN INTRODVCTION into the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles Written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinity and Byshop of Rochil Faithfully translated out of Latin into English By Edw. Vaughan LONDON Printed by G. S. for William Holme dwelling vpon Ludgate hil at the signe of the Lambe 1598. To the Right Honorable and vertuous Lady Elizabeth Russel Dowger HAuing duly and dutifully considered the powerfull prouidence of the Almighty I finde of al creatures in the earth that are humble and harmeles his Maiesty hath recommended vnto vs the Lambe to signifie Iesus Christ our Redeemer Of all Creatures in the Ayre that are mylde and chast he hath recommended vnto vs the the Doue to signifie the Holy ghost our sanctifier Euen so right Ho Lady of all bookes that are Authenticall and ancient and of all books that are profitable and true this maiestical Creator hath recommended to our studies for the ground-worke of Religion the book of his Couenant comprehending all things that euer was al things that now is al thinges that euer wil bee to come in heauen coÌ„cerning his Deity in earth coÌ„cerning his elect in hel concerning the damned There was two waights in the holy sanctuary the one called Stater a ballance to weigh all things beloÌ„ging to the common weale the other Siclum a sickle which was to wey al things belonging to the Temple shewing thereby that al things whatsoeuer do apertain either to gods glory or our good are to be mesured proportioned by the same book God said to Moses Take sweet spices pure Mirth Calamos c. then offer wherein also he plainly shewes that al kind of seruing his Maiestie all professions wherby we liue haue our beeing are excluded as things not sanctified according to this book And yet good Ho Lady mistresse I say most wise meÌ„ seeâ— that few do read it fewer regard it fewest of al do frame their liues according vnto it It is as rare a a thing to see noble womeÌ„ men of great place to haue the Bible in their hands to order their coÌ„uersation accordingly as to see a man of plesant possessions sel all he hath and giue it to the poor or to see a Camel go thrugh the eye of a needle By how much the more right Ho are you to be admyred and had as a wonder in this world for your darely endeuours after Diuinity for your knowledge in the holy tongs especially for your careful practise therof at home amongst your houshold and abroad amongest the distressed Saints As the people of the captiuity could not discerne the sound of the shout for ioy from the noyse of the weeping when the foundation of the teÌ„ple was laid euen so the greatnesse of your greese with continual study at home cannot be discerned from the greatnes of then ioy whome yee releeue abroad Your Ho hath constantly continued hitherto proceed I pray you Rule on right Ho good luck haue you good La in the name of the Lord. As the Iewes finished the Temple with weapons in one haÌ„d and nowels in the other hand so I pray god you may finish your faith vnto death with your booke moue hand your aliues in the other I must be forced to cease keeping the limitation of the Printer Only desiring your Ho to accept of this my labor which I offâ—r vnto your La before all others as a token of my humble duty Protesting that I haue to the vttermost of my power truly tâ—anslated the same not inteÌ„ding your Ho. instruction therein though the original be very profitable for the vnderstanding of the Bible but to instruct the ignorant multitude for whose sake I know your Ho wil patronize it The spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead sanctifie you and saue you London Ia 20 1597. Your Ho most humbly in the Lord. Edw. Vaughan An Introduction into the Books of the Prophets and Apostles written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinitie and Bishop of Rochil translated out of Latine into English both faithfully and truely To the Reuerent and worthie man for learning and vertue Maister Peter Palladius doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Rochil Philip Melancthon wisheth al happinesse IT is good for men oftentimes to call to minde those testimonies which eyther do compell them or allure them to consent vnto the doctrine which GOD hath especially deliuered vnto his church and doth perseuer therein of which sort are Myracles Antiquity a kind of doctrine a myraculous preseruation thereof amidst the ruines of Empyres the constancy of confessors and pledge of Gods spirite in the hart In the first place are reckoned Miracles which are wonders done beyond the course of nature for although the whole course of of nature be both a witnes and a warning of God yet when he preferred his doctrine especially that which goeth beyonde the sight of reason he added singuler deedes beyond the course of nature that it might be known not to be deuised by man but set foorth by the guider of nature and a most mightie creator being distinct froÌ„ the opinions of other nations which miracles do boast of certaine of our owne Miracles but there are other Miracles peculier to the church not to be imitated by any creature as raising the dead to stay the course of the sun the going backe of the sun a virgine to be with childe and others such like These God would haue vs to looke vpon that wee mighte bee throughlie perswaded that the doctrine is giuen by the very ruler of nature Among the miracles I also account the prophetes forsayinges of of Empires other affaires which the wisdome of no creature could certainlye forsee for in that the euent hath been aunswearable vnto them we must confesse that those forsayings were manifested by that diuine spirit that knoweth all thinges In the 2. place is antiquitie named which albeit that it doth not conuince as miracles do yet doth it alure the mindes of men for it is likely that God should from the begining haue laide open himselfe and haue been of this mind that amoÌ„gst men there shuld be alwaies some of whom he might be truelye known and not that al mankind as wretched shuld from the begining be made only for eternal destructioÌ„ Therfore comfortable is that former age and well is that spoken by Tertulian Whatsoeuer is most auncient is most true In like maner doth Iustinus and Clemens confute the Ethnickes that seeing the doctrine of the Church is more ancient then the opinions of the Ethnickes the oppinions that do gain-say it are to be reiected that the bookes of Moses are of more antiquitie then the writinges of the heathens the very order of times Empires do make manifest For no Nation hath a certain obseruation of yeeres from the begining as haue the Eclesiastical books the names of the heathens do also shew that the monuments of the former Church are more auncient for
heauinesse If with their speech they mixe fained sighings Crocodiles teares other legerdemaines deuised by Art amongst the which slanders strange positions doe specially increase their authority As Sebastian the Frenchmā reuiled the teachers and called a great volume of the sayings of the prophets apost which in shew seemed not to agre From whence he gathred that we must not iudge after the letter but as the spirit directs And in their Paradoxes they insert thinges to please people inlarge licentiousnesse Some there are which carry about with them the books of Sibils whence they take such Oracles as best befit theyr affections whom they flatter This kind of Idol priest must be taken heed of that rule is firmely to be held Thy word is a lantern vnto my feet And againe To the Lawe and the testimony And againe The Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth and those deceiuers are not to be harkened vnto which crye out that inspirations must else-where be sought for without thinking of the holy worde The saying of the sonne of God must bee helde fast whoe commandeth to preach repentance forgiuenes of sins in his name To this end let our teaching be applyed that repentance faith prayer and newe obedience may increase in vs by the meditation of Gods word and let god be praised with true duties according to that saying Fight thou a good fight holding fast faith a good conscience For traps may be laide by men by the aduancing of Inspiratiōs as we haue often seene By this meanes as by an inchantment the people discerned of seducers Therfore the sonne is sent to reueale vnto all creatures the secret and vnknown promise of reconciliation and that it beeing heard faith might be wrought in men and God might communicate himself with vs as Paule saieth Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God Wherfore these Idol priests of Cibel which withdraw mens mindes from the written word do reproch the son of God and take away both faith and al the exercise of faith If the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles were taken away so that euery hypocrite might lawfully brotch his counterfait Oracles from his inspirations as from his three footed seate howe great furies would ensue We haue seen example heerof in the Tragedies of Munster elswher Wherefore all holye teachers and hearers with al constancy ought to set themselues against these doting deuises Thy purpose and indeuour therefore O Peter I do commend that thou art an incourager of all the godly vnto reading As Paule saith Be conuersant in reading shewing the way to euery book declaring the arguments of them I woulde to God that our youth were accustomed rather to reading godly praier then to cauilles in disputing for when matters are well opened and no kind of false doctrine approoued there should be an end of disputing and it is a most true saying that to playe the Sycophant is too great diligence And whereas by the wisedome of your noble King and the diligence of godly teachers in your kingdom the studies of your youth are so ordered that no liberty to cauill is permitted vnto them You haue wel prouided for the peace of the church and their wits are accustomed to modesty All things though wel deliuered may be weakened if cauels may be regarded as in time past were those of the Pirchonians and the Academicks Therfore Paule doth strictly charge the Phillippians to hold faste the Canon or the rule of the word Now I beseech the Sonne of God our Lords Iesus Christ to keepe and to gouerne the churches in the kingdome of the Danes and in Germany and to make them to abide for euer one in him Farwell cal Feb. 1557. CONCERNING THE Authority of Gods word and holy Scripture THE authority of Gods worde and holy Scripture ought to be so great with all men that no one should doubt thereof but as we looke vp vnto heauen with our eies so should we thinke that the holy Scripture was brought from Heauen and as he that came from heauen is aboue all so the holy Scripture doth far exceed the doctrine and wisedome of man Christ asked the Pharisies of the doctrine of Iohn the Baptist whether it were from heauen or of men signifying that those two kinds of doctrin did greatly differ one from another the which also Christs disputation with Nichodemus maketh plaine Ioh. 3 The word of God is the holy Scripture of the old and new Testament which is called holy that is seuered from all other writings written by the holy Ghost brought from heauen And Christ deuideth the olde Testament into 3. partes in the last of Luke where hee saith that all thinges must be fulfilled whatsoeuer are written of the sonne of man In the 1 part Moses 2 part The Psal 3 part the Prop. The other partes doe belong to these The new Testament comprehends chiefly Gospels and Epistles which are the seals of the Gospell as I Paule thus subscribe thus I seale the Gospell of Matthewe with my bloud I Peter subscribe I Iohn c. The doctrine of the holy scripture is twoe fold The one The Lawe The other The Gospell But the holy Scripture is commended For the Sufficiencie Truth Profit Authority Dignitie Eternitie thereof 1 Christ shewes the sufficiencie thereof when he saith They haue Moses and the Prophets Againe search the scriptures bicause you thinke in them to hane eternall life And Paule Galat. 1 If any man shall teach any other Gospell let him be accurssed Esa 8 To the lawe and Testymonie you shall not adde neither shall you take from it his Deut 8 and in the 12. cha What I command you doe it thou shalt not adde nor diminish any thing 2 The truth of the scripture is proued by the wordes of Christ Iohn 8 Thy worde is truth Ioh. 2 The old and new Testament is true the true light now shineth Num 23 God is not as man that he should lie 3 The profit of the scripture is shewed by Paule Rom 15 Whatsoeuer things are written they are writtē for our learning that thorow patience comfort of the scripture we might haue hope 2 Tim. 3 all scripture in spired of God is profitable to teach c. 4 The authority thereof is in the laste of Luke all thinges must bee fulfilled which are written of me in Moses in the prophets and in the Psal 2 Pet. 1 Prophesie is not giuen by the will of man but holy men haue spoken as they haue beene mooued by the holy Ghost 5 The dignity thereof appeares Esa 55 as heauen is lifted vp from the earth so are my thoughts differing from your thoughts and Christ sayth giue not holy thinges to dogges neither caste yee pearles amongest swine 6 The eternity thereof as the worde of God abideth for euer And in Luke Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shal not passe Ioh. 16
To whom shal wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life Concerning the holy Bible and bookes of the old and new Testament THE Byble or Bibles although generally it signifieth a book yet more particularly by the holie Bible is the bookes of the old and new Testament called holie for the holy Diuinity and doctrine of God are seuered from the wisedome of the world and brought from heauen and a Bible because many bookes are therein contained The first whereof is Genesis the last the Reuelation The first deuision of the BIBLE THe holy Bible is deuided into the olde and new Testament The olde Testament containeth those bookes which were written before Christ was borne as the bookes of Moses the Psalmes and the Prophets with som other which are in number 48. The new Testament comprehends those bookes which were set foorth after the birth of Christ As the bookes of the Gospelles and the Epistles with others which are in number 27. The 2. Diuision THe holy Bible is diuided into six parts in respect of so much as concerne the difference of the Bookes For some of the bookes of the Bible are Legall Historicall Doctrinall Propheticall Euangelicall and Epistolar 1 The siue bokes of Moses cald c. are Legall because the lawe is specially described in them 2 Historicall are those which simply containe Histories or thinges doone as are the bookes 1 of Iosua 2 of Iudges 3 of Ruth 4 of Kings 5 of Chron. 6 of Ezra 7 of Nehemiah 8 of Tobias 9 of Iudith 10 of Hester 11 of Machabees 12 of The acts of the Apostles 3 Doctrinall are those which containe some speciall doctrine for the edifying of the hearers as are the books 1 of Iob. 2 of Psalms 3 of Prouerbs 4 of Ecclesiast 5 Canticles 6 Wisedome 7 Iesus Sirach 4 Prophetical are those which were preached written by the Prophets wherof 4. are called the greater and the rest are called the lesser Prophets The greater because they write greater and longer bookes the lesser because they write lesser and smaller bookes 5 Euangelicall bookes are they which containe the Euangelicall stories of our Sauiour Christ set forth by the 4. Euangelists 6 Epistolar are the writinges and letters of the Apostles and specially of the apostle Paule The 3. deuision Some books of the Byble are Canonicall Apocrypha Canonicall bookes are those in which is preserued the authority of Ecclesiasticall oppinions Apocrypha or doubtfull bookes are those whose credit is doubted of and serue only for the instruction of the people not for confirming the opinions of the church such are the bookes 1 of Iudith 2 of Wisedome 3 of Tobia 4 of Iesus Sirach 5 of Baruch 6 of Machabees 7 of The fragments in Hest DaÌ„ All the rest are Canonicall bookes otherwise called Authenucall from whence the Canonicall and autenâ—call scripture hath his name and they are Canonicall which reade or expound the holy Scriptures Of the Bookes Legall or the 5. Bookes of Moses THe books of Moses haue their names in Greeke Pentatenchou of the numb of 5. because they are but 5. of the Hebrewes they are called 5. fiftes and they are ascribed to Moses either because Moses wrote them or because they containe the story of Moses in them and they are 5 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leuiticus 4 Numbers 5 Deuteronomy 1. Of Genesis GEnesis hath his name of begetting or of generation because it is a booke of the generation of the world both for the Creation of things and for the restoring of them after the floud It hath in it 50. Chapters and is diuided into sixe principall partes in regard of the sixe famous persons whose stories are set forth in Genesis 1. Adam is described from chap. 1 to cha 6 2. Noah from the 6 to the 12 3. Abram from the 12 to the 20 4. Isaac from the 20 to the 28 5. Iacob from the 28 to the 37 6. Ioseph from the 37 to the end of the book But Genesis in some containes 1 The Beginning of the world 2 The Deluge 3 The Burning of Sodom 4 The Destruction of Babell 5 The Deeds of the Patriarches 6 The Fall especially of mankind his restoring againe by the blessed seede of the woman that is Iesus Christ 2. Of Exodus EXodus is so called of going out because heere is described the going of the children of Israell out of Egypt as also the conuersion of many in the wildernesse wher the law was published because men knewe not what sinne was For then God gaue to his people the law of the ten commandements and after by Moses ordained Ceremoniall and Iudiciall lawes that Religion and gouernment might bee preserued among the Iewes In all which as in the building of the Tabernacle Christ was shadowed so the law is a schoolmaister vnto Christ The principal deuision of Exodus 1 From the first chap. to the 7 after thâ— description 1. of the birth 2. of the hiding 3. casting into the water 4. adoption 5 slight 6. mariage of Moses God giues 〈◊〉 commandement both of his restoring into Egypt and of his bringing the people oâ— Israell out of Egypt because they were oppressed with a harde bondage by Pharao which coÌ„mandmeÌ„t after long delay he doth execute In the midst of the 4. ch he goeth into Egypt and with his brother Aron goeth vnto K. Pharao reasoneth with him about the letting go of the people which is in the 6 ch 2 From the 7. chap to the 12 are described the ten plagues of Egypt as that 1 of Blood 2 of Frogges 3 of Lice 4 of Flies 5 of Mouen of cartel 6 Blanes 7 Haile 8 Locusts 9 Darknesse 10 death of the 1. born 3 From the 12 cha to the 16 is described the deliuerance of the people of Israell out of Egypt not without puisuing yet by the mightye power of God 4 From the 16 ch to the 20 is described the going forward of gods people thorow the desaâ—t their murmuring and Gods deliuerance with Mâ—nnâ— and Quaâ—les In the 20 chap. the â— commandementes are giuen to Moses 6 From the 21 to 25 Iudicial lawes are ordained 7 From the 25 to 32 are ordained lawes ecclesiastical or ceremoniall concerning the building of the Tabernacle 8 From the 32 chap. to 36 are the tables giuen of the ten commandements 9 From the 36 to the 40 chap is described the building of the Tabernacle 10 In the last chap. hamely in the 40 the erecting of the Tabernacle is described Thus much of the booke of Exodus 3. Of Leuiticus LEuiticus the third book of Moses is named of the tribe of I euy for the Priesthood of Aron which in this book is ordained with the lawes therof is appointed for the purging and eâ—pâ—ation of sin that it might signifie the true priest Christ Iesus the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world For for this cause were the Leuiticall Sacrifices the Leuitical hallowings
The Prophesie of Abdiah ABdias signifieth the worship of God that he is the seruant or the worshiper of God He is thought to be the most auncientest of all the Prophets as Ionas in the time of Achab and Ieroboham Kinges of Israell Hee inueyeth against the Edomites who delighted in the afflictions of Israell Edom was the brother of Iacob to weet Esau and as hee hated his brother because his father Isake gaue vnto him the blessing of the first byrth euen so all his posteritie hated the posteritie of Iacob that is to say the Isralites and whensoeuer he coulde he brought trouble vpon theÌ„ adioyning himselfe with their enemies so declaring the vnfaithfullnes of his minde as the Psalmist saith 137. Lord be thou mindefull of the sonnes of Edom in the day of Ierusalem who saith Down with it downe with it euen to the grounde It containes one onely Chapter the some Edomites whereof is this Abdias 1 He Fortells the destruction of the CoÌ„forteth the Iewes Abdias 2 He Sheweth that saiuatioÌ„ is in Sion Abdias 3 He teacheth that no iniury puokes worshiped Abdias 4 He the breethren Abdias 5 He teacheth that god only is to bee The booke of Ionas the Prophet IONAS signifieth a Doue he liued a litle before Esai vnder king Ieroboham hee was a prophet in Israell as it is written in the last booke of the kinges chap 14. after this maner according to the worde of the Lorde as it was spoken by his seruant Ionah the sonne of Aniathias the prophet which was of Gad which is in Hephet But it is manifest that Gad Hephet was a Cittie in the tribe of Zabulon so that Ionas was a Iew and not the sonne of an Ethicke widdow in the dayes of Helias of whom mencion is made Luke 4. as certaine men do imagine of Ionah He is sent into Syria to preach against the Cittie of Niniue which was a famous Citie the Metropolitane of the whole kingdome of the Assirians whence it appeareth that God at that time had not only care of the Isralites but also of the Gentiles It is notablie spoken by Math. chap 12 where it is saide that Ionas was a Type of Christ Dying and Rising againe The wicked and adultorous generation seeketh a signe and a signe shall not bee giuen him but the signe of Ionas the prophet as Ionas himselfe was in the Whales bellye three Dayes and three Nightes so shall the son of Man be in the hearte of the earth three dayes and three nightes There are onely 4. Chap. IN the first is described very largely a miraculous history how Ionas was caste into the sea out of a shippe and how he was swallowed vp of a certaine great fishe and was tossed here there in the whales belly the space of three daies In the second is described the song and thankesgiuing of Ionas vnto God for his deliuerance from the whales belly where he thought euery houre that his life was at an end he praiseth the worke of the lord who onely is of power in heauen and in earth sea and all deepe places In the third we haue a famous ezample of repentaunce in the Niniuites to be followed of all sinners where these thinges are seuerely to be obserued by no means to be pÌ„termitted 1 That God is the god of the gentiles 2 That God is of power good and iust 3 what repentance is 4 That true fasting serueth to repentance In the fourth the carnall carefulnesse of Ionas is described howe hee would haue him respected with the damage and hinderance of his neighbors such is the great imperfection and fleshly feare in mankind yea euen of the saints but in God there is mercy and clemency towardes all sinners truely repenting This doth plainly appeare by Ionas and the Niniuites The Booke of Micheas the Prophet MIcheas liued in that time vnder those Kinges as Esayâ— Oseas and Amos liued as plainly appeareth by the title He Prophesied against the two Tribes and against the tenne Tribes that is to say 1 against kinges 2 against Iudges 3 against Priestes 4 against false Prophets aswell in Iudah as in Israell and hee foretelleth their destruction that reiected the worde of God and without his seare followed after vayne thinges In this chiefely he is very famous for that he doeth not onelye promise Christ to come nor doeth not onely declare the benefites of his kingdome but also hee sheweth vs the place of his natiuitye Thou Bethelem Ephrata saieth hee Art not the least amongst the princes of Iuda Out of thee shall arise vnto me a captaine that shall gouerne my people Israell c. which place Matthew cites in the second chap. And there are 7. Chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first three chapt there are Sermons and prophesies of reprose somtimes generally against the Israelites againste the impiety and Idolatry of Iudah and their wicked life and sometimes particular against the chiefe heads aswell in religion as in pollicy but yet with all in the ende of the second chap. the faithfull are comforted thorow the promise of the comming of the true pastour our Lorde Iesus Christ In the 4. and 5. are most excellent promises and consolations concerning the inlarging of the kingdome of Christ by the preaching of the Apostles throughout the whole world In the 6. 7. sometimes he reprooueth the couetousnesse and impiety of the people and sometimes he complains by reason of the great malice of the world in his time In the end he annexed the promise concerning the beginning of Christs kingdom in Ierusalem and afterwares concerning the inlargement thereof by the Apostles amongst all nations and by the way he condemnes their Synagogues The booke of Nahum the Prophet NAhum hath his name of comforting For hee comforteth the afflicted Israelites in this that he prophesieth againste the Assyrians who troubled and vexed Israell and Iudah although by the scripture it cannot be found what time and vnder what king Nahum prophesied Yet it seemeth that he liued after Ionas a little before Esar He forâ—tâ—l the subuâ—sion of Niniuy which was â—â—lleâ— vnto wickednesse after the preaching of Ionas There are three only chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first chapter he prophesieth generally concerning the perdition of the Assirians In the second he foretelleth especially of the comming of the Babylonian enemye In the third hee sheweth the cause of perdition by numbring the horrible wickednes of the Assyrians which were these Fornication theft and lying to weet Fornication in the false worshipping of God or in false doctrine That in iust vexations and publike exactions leuied onely to maintaine their pompe and pride being in contractts and barhaines The ende of this prophesie is the consolation of the Iewes to whom he shewes the preaching of peace without distrust expecting the time of the newe Testament or of the Gospell of Christ in which time euerlasting peace is preached to the
Men. 5 The Priestes 6 The Youngmen There are fiue chapters which art thus to be discerned The first chapter is deuided into twoe partes In the first which is begun from the induction or entrance he puts down the true reason of saluation where all these things are to bee considered in dus order 1 The great mercy of God 2 Regeneration by a liuely faith 3 The resurrection of Christ 4 Heauenly inheritance 5 The power of God 6 Faith 7 Triall of Faith 8 Ioy and gladnesse 9 The writinges of the prophets 10 The Gospel 11 Grace 12 Glory In the other part he puts the consequence of this antecedent or that which followeth it and doth exhort the beleeuers to newnesse of life as for example 1 Sobriety 2 Hope of offered Grace as newnesse of life followes faith 3 Obedience 4 Holinesse 5 Inuocation 6 Feare 7 Loue. He ioyneth sets vnto this discourse the most excellent cause of this regeneration to wit that we are redeemed by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ renewed by the word of God The second chapter is deuided into two partes for in the one hee goes forwarde to exhort the beleeuers to offer spirituall sacrifices and to haue good conuersation to the edification of the faith full And he addes a reason because saieth he all beleeuers are priests and called vnto holinesse of life In the other he appointes the reformation of diuers states in the which he laboureth to the end of this chap. First the subiects to obedience towardes the Magistrates the seruantes to obedience towardes their maysters as hee putteth Christ himselfe for example whoe suffered a greater wrong In the thirde chapter hee first of all speakes concerning the obedience of wiues concerning the modest apparell of wiues and the forbearance of the husband towards his wife Then he warns all menne in generall to exercise themselues in the vertues of true charity and in patience and also in true confession togither with the righteousnes of a good conscience bringing againe the example of charity and patience in Christ Last of all hee sets downe a most excellent place concerning Noes Arke that it was a signe of Baptisme But what he meaneth by the preaching of Christ to certain spirits not beleeuing in the daies of Noah wee are not ignorant and we iudge the true interpretation of this place it to be reserued to the maister himselfe to wit to the Holye Ghost In the fourth chap. he goes forward at one time to exhort al godly men to sobriety to watchfulnesse to modesty to praier to mutuall charity At another time to other fruites of Faith according to the variety of guiftes with patience and ioy in afflictions by dooing good to all men for Christs sake In the 5. chap he insonneth instructeth Ecclesiasticall persons vnder the natures of Priestes sometimes to feede their flocks and at another time to liue wel After that he exhorts youth to obedience and in general he would haue all men to be humbled to trust in God to be sober to watch againste the â—â—â—ersarie the diuel and to resist him in saith Lastly he concludes the Epistle with exceeding consolat oÌ„ that they might know themselues to be confirmed strengthned of God vnto faith The last Epistle of Peter THere are only 3. chapters The first against hypocrisie The 2 against Antichr The 3. against Epicures Peter in the first Chapter woulde haue faith and the vocation of faith to be shewed as moste certaine by good workes least that faith be as a vain dreame without vertue without knowledge continency c. seeing that it is not by the hearing of fables but of the Gospel In the 2. chap he sets forth the same as Christ himself did when he said Mat. 7. take heed of of false prophets Paul act to take heed to your selues c. Also phil 3. Beware of dogs take heed of wicked doers Peter doth warne the godly concerning false teachers and of the comming of Antichrist of whome hee prophesied S. Paule 1 Tim. 4. shewes their damnation by bringing 3. excellent examples 1 of Angels 2 of them that were lost in the floud 3 Of the Sodomites and then he paintes them out in theyr couloures for because they walke after the flesh in concupiscence and vncleannesse Lastly he puts forth a most horrible sentence or iudgement of such in twoe prouerbes of a dogge and a Sowe by the which he expresseth the which hee expresseth that the latter ends of such is worse then the beginning In the third chapter hee warneth the godly that they should beware of Epicures that is to saye of prophane men walking according to their owne concupiscence who onely do regarde this life and not the life to come They haue alwaies in their mouthes Let vs eate and drinke to morrow we shall die After death there is no pleasure Againe that which is aboue vs doth nothing concern vs. Against whom Peter affirmeth with out doubt the last day shall come vnto which both heauen and earth are shal quickly perish in their appointed time reserued for fire Wherfore he affirms that euery one of the godly shoulde studie die to liue in that state as beeing called out of the world he might die boldly confidently The first Epistle of Iohn SAint Iohn the Apostle an Euangelist who wrote this Epistle and leaned at supper time vpon the breast of Iesus Christ and didde draw sweet water out of the well of our Sauiour euen so here he breathed meer loue both of God towards vs and our loue towards our neighbor Gods loue that the same beeing apprchended by faith wee might be iustified freely by grace without workes and obtain euerlasting life Then our loue next that our faith be not idle but that it should work by charity otherwise it is not true faith but onely fained who haue these three signes First not to striue against sinne Secondly not to beware of false doctrin Thirdly to hate our neighbour There are fiue chapters which doeth so agree in one and selfe-same matter as hardly they can be decided one from an other All thinges therein dooth agree with his Gospel chiefly with these two commandements of Christ ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee Againe I giue you a new commandement that ye loue another which two commanundementes Iohn doth ioyne after this manner in the thirde chapter and this is his commandement that wee beleeue the name of his sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue vs commaundement The summe of the Epistle is concerning faith and charity the chapters after a sort are thus to be diuided In the first chapter hauing gotten the good will of the Auditory he puts this exposition of the whole Epistle that we being made clean by the bloud of christ and remaining in the society of Saintes ought not to walke in darknesses that is to say without good workes but in the light that is to say in the exercise