hath wept in the night and her teares are on her cheekes there is none to comfort her of al her deare ones al her freindes haue despised her and are become her enimies Iudas is gone into transmigration because of affliction and the multitude of bondage she hath dwelt among the Gentiles neither hath she found rest al her persecuters haue apprehended her within the straites The waies of Sion mourne because there are none that come to the solemnitie al her gates are destroyed her priestes sighing her virgins lothsome and herself is oppressed with bitternes Her aduersaries are made in the head her enemies are enriched because our Lord hath spoken vpon her for the multitude of her iniquities her litle ones are led into captiuitie before the face of the afflicter And from the daughter of Sion al her beautie is departed her princes are become as rammes not fynding pastures and they are gone without strength before the face of the pursewer Ierusalem hath remembred the dayes of her affliction and preuarication of al her thinges worthie to be desyred which she had from the daies of old when her people fel in the enimies hand and there was no helper the enemies haue sene her and haue scorned her sabbathes Ierusalem hath sinned a sinne therfore is she made vnstable al that did glorifie her haue despised her because they haue sene her ignominie but she sighing is turned backward Her filthines is on her feete neither hath she remembred her end she is pulled downe excedingly not hauing a comforter see ô Lord mine affliction because the enemie is exalted The enimie hath thrust his hand to al her thinges worthie to be desyred because she hath sene the Gentiles enter into her sanctuarie of whom thou gauest commandment that they should not enter into thy church Al her people sighing and seeking bread they haue geuen al precious thinges for meate to refresh the soule see ô Lord and consider because I am become vyle O al ye that passe by the way attend and see if there be sorow like to my sorow because he hath made vintage of me as our Lord hath spoken in the day of the wrath of his furie From on high he hath cast a fyre in my bones and hath taught me he hath spred a net for my feete he hath turned me backward he hath made me desolate al the day consumed with sorow The yoke of mine iniquities hath watched they are folded together in his hand and put vpon my necke my strength is weakened our Lord hath geuen me into the hand from which I can not rise Our Lord hath taken away al my magnifical ones out of the middes of me he hath called a time against me to destroy mine elect our Lord hath troden the winepresse to the virgin the daughter of Iuda Therfore am I weeping and mine eye shedding teares because a comforter is made far from me conuerting my soule my children are become desolate because the enemie hath preuayled Sion hath spred forth her handes there is none to comfort her our Lord hath commanded against Iacob round about him are his enemies Ierusalem is become as a woman polluted with menstrous floores among them Our Lord is iust because I haue prouoked his mouth to wrath heare I beseech al ye peoples and see my sorow my virgins and my pong men are gone into captiuitie I haue called my freindes they haue deceiued me my priestes and my ancientes are consumed in the citie because they haue sought meat for themselues to refresh their soule See ô Lord that I am in tribulation my bellie is trubled my hart is ouerturned in myself because I am ful of bitternes the sword killeth abrode and at home it is lyke death They haue heard that I doe sigh and there is none to comfort me al mine enimies haue heard mine euil they haue reioyced because thou hast done it thou hast brought a day of consolation and they shal be made lyke to me Let al their euil enter in before thee and vintage them as thou hast vintaged me for al mine iniquities for my sighings are manie and my hart is sorowful CHAP. II. HOW hath our Lord in his furie couered the daughter of Sion with darknes cast forth the noble one of Israel from heauen to the earth and hath not remembred the footestoole of his feete in the day of his furie Our Lord hath cast downe headlong and hath not spared al the beautiful thinges of Iacob he hath destroyed in his furie the munitions of the virgin of Iuda and cast it downe to the ground he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes therof He hath broken euerie horne of Israel in the wrath of furie he hath turned away his right hand backward from the face of the enemie and he hath kinled in Iacob as it were the â—yre of a flame deuouring round about He hath bent his bow as an enemie he hath fastned his right hand as an aduersarie and he hath killed al that was fayre to behold in the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion he hath powred out his indignation as fyre Our Lord is become as an enemie he hath cast downe Israel headlong he hath cast downe headlong al her walles he hath destroyed the munitions therof and hath replenished in the daughter of Iuda the humbled man and humbled woman And he hath destroyed his tent as a garden he hath throwen downe his tabernacle our Lord hath brought festiuitie and sabbath in Sion to obliuion and king and priest into reproch and into the indignation of his furie Our Lord hath reiected he hath cursed his sanctification he hath deliuered the walles of the towers therof into the hand of the enemie they haue made a noyse in the house of our Lord as in a solemne day Our Lord hath meant to destroy the wal of the daughter of Sion he hath streched out his corde and hath not turned away his hand from destruction and the forewal hath mourned and the wal is destroyed together Her gates are fastned in the ground he hath destroyed and broken ber barres her king and her princes in the Gentiles there is no law and her prophets haue not found vision from our Lord. The ancients of the daughter of Sion haue sitten on the ground they haue held their peace they haue sprinkled their heades with dust they are girded with heare clothes the virgins of Ierusalem haue cast downe their heades to the ground Myne eies haue fayled for teares my bowels are trubled my liuer is powred out on the earth for the destruction of the daughter of my people when the litle one and the sucking faynted in the streetes of the towne They sayd to their mothers Where is wheate and wyne when they faynted
receiue the right handes and he gaue it them and he cast them out from thence and clensed the castel from the contaminations †and they entered into it the three and twentith day of the second moneth the yeare an hundreth seuentie one with prayse and boughes of palme trees and harpes and cymbals nables and hymnes and canticles because the great enemie was destroyed out of Israel †And he ordayned that euerie yeare these dayes should be kept with gladnes †And he fortified the mount of the temple that was by the castel and he dwelt there him self and they that were with him †And Simon saw Iohn his sonne that he was a valient man of warre he made him captayne of al the hosts and he dwelt in Gazara CHAP. XIIII Demetrius inuading Media is taken captiue 4. and Iurie is in peace 14. Simon cherisheth the godlie and punisheth the wicked 16. receiueth freindlie letters from the Romanes and Spartiates 20. vvherof the copie is recited 24. sendeth a legate to Rome with a present 25. And is established highpriest and gouernour by publique consent IN THE yeare an hundreth seuentie two king Demetrius gathered his armie and went into Media to get him aydes to expugne Tryphon †And Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius was entered his confines and he sent one of his princes to take him aliue †And he went and stroke the campe of Demetrius and tooke him and brought him to Arsaces and he put him into ward †And al the land of Iuda was at rest al the dayes of Simon and he sought good to his nation and his powre and his glorie pleased them al dayes †And with al his glorie he tooke Ioppe for an hauen and made it an entrance vnto the iles of the sea †And he enlarged the borders of his nation and obteyned the countrie †And he gathered a great captiuitie and had the dominion of Gazara and of Bethsura and of the castle and tooke away the vncleanes out of it and there was none that resisted him †And euerie man tilled his land with peace the land of Iuda yelded her fruites and the trees of the fildes their fruit †The ancients sate al in the streetes and treated of the good thinges of the land the yongmen did on them glorie and the stoles of warre †And he gaue victuals to the cities and he appointed them that they should be vessels of munition til the name of his glorie was renowmed euen to the end of the earth †He made peace vpon the land Israel reioyced with great ioy †And euerie man sate vnder his vine and vnder his fig-tree and there was none to make them asrayd †There was none left that impugned them vpon the earth kinges were discomfited in those dayes †And he confirmed al the humble of his people and sought the law and tooke away euerie wicked and euil man †he glorified the holies and multiplied the vessels of the holie places †And it was heard at Rome that Ionathas was dead and euen vnto the Spartiats and they were very sorie †But as they heard that Simon his brother was made the high priest in his place and he obteyned al the countrie and the cities therein †they wrote to him in brasen tables to renew the amities and societie which they had made with Iudas with Ionathas his bretheren †And they were read in the sight of the church in Ierusalem And this is a copie of the epistles that the Spartiates sent †THE PRINCES and the cities of the Spartians to Simon the grand priest and to the ancients and the priests and the rest of the people of the Iewes their bretheren greeting †The legates that were sent to our people haue told vs of your glorie and honour and ioy and we reioyced at their entrance †And we wrote that which was sayd of them in the counsels of the people thus Numenius the sonne of Antiochus and Antipater the sonne of Iason legates of the Iewes came to vs renewing with vs old amitie †And it pleased the people to receiue the men gloriously and to put a copie of their wordes in the seuered booke of the people to be for a memorie to the people of the Spartiats And a copie of these we haue writen to Simon the grand priest †And after these thinges Simon sent Numenius to Rome hauing a great buckler of gold of the weight of thousand poundes to establish amitie with them But when the people of Rome had heard †these wordes they sayd What thankes geuing shal we render to Simon and his children †For he hath restored his bretheren and hath expugned the enemies of Israel from them they decreed him libertie and registred it in tables of brasse and put it in titles in mount Sion †And this is a copie of the wriring THE EIGHTENTH day of the moneth Elul in the yeare an hundreth seuentie two the third yeare vnder Simon the grand priest in Asaramel †in a great assemblie of the priests of the people and the princes of the nation and the ancients of the countrie these thinges were notified that there haue often bene battels made in our countrie †But Simon the sonne of Mathathias of the children of Iarib and his bretheren put themselues in danger and resisted the aduersaries of their nation that their holies and law might stand with great glorie haue they glorified their nation †And Ionathas gathered together his nation and was made their grand priest and he was layd to his people †And their enemies would conculcate and destroy their countrie and extend their handes against the holies †Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation and bestowed much money and armed the valient men of his nation gaue them wages †and he fortified the cities of Iurie and Bethsura that was in the borders of Iurie where the armour of the enimies was before and he placed there Iewes for a garrison †And he fortified Ioppe which was by the sea and Gazara which is in the borders of Azotus wherin the enemies dwelt before and he placed Iewes there and whatsoeuer was fitte for their correption he put in them †And the people saw the fact of Simon and the glorie that he meant to doe to his nation they made him their duke and grand priest for that he had done al thes◠thinges and for the iustice and fayth which he kept to his nation for that he sought by al meanes to aduance his people †And in his dayes it prospered in his hands so that the heathen were taken away out of their countrie and they that were in the citie of of Dauid in Ierusalem in the castel out of which they came forth and contaminated al thinges that were round about the holies they brought great plague vpon chastitie †he placed in it
Moyses Stretch forth thy hand vpon the sea that the waters may returne to the Aegyptians vpon their chariottes and horsemen †And when Moyses had stretched forth his hand against the sea it returned in the first breake of day to the former place and the Aegyptians fleeing away the waters came vpon them and our Lord enwrapt them in the middes of the waues †And the waters returned and ouerwhelmed the chariottes and the horsemen of al Pharaoes armie who folowing were entred into the sea neither did there so much as one of them remaine †But the children of Israel marched through the middes of the drie sea the waters were vnto them as in stede of a wal on the right hand and on the left †and our Lord deliuered Israel in that day out of the hand of the Aegyptians †And they saw the Aegyptians dead vpon the sea shore and the mightie hand that our Lord had exercised against them and the people feared our Lord they beleued our Lord Moyses his seruant CHAP. XV. Moyses with the people sing a Canticle of thanks-geuing for their deliuerie 22. The people being three daies in the desert without water then finding that is bitter do murmure 25. It is made swete 27. Coming to Elim they finde twelue fountaines and seuentie palmetrees THEN sang Moyses and the children of Israel this song to our Lord and said Let vs sing to our Lord for he is glouriously magnified the horse and the rider he hath throwen into the sea †My strength and my praise is our Lord and he is made vnto me a saluation this is my God and I wil glorifie him the God of my father and I wil exalt him †Our Lord is a man of warre omnipotent is his name †Pharaoes chariottes and his armie he hath cast into the sea his chosen princes are drowned in the red sea †The depthes haue ouerwhelmed them they are sonke into the botome like a stone †Thy right hand ô Lord is magnified in strength thy right hand ô Lord hath striken the enimie †And in the multitude of thy glorie thou hast put downe thy aduersaries thou hast sent thy wrath which hath deuoured them like stuble †And in the spirite of thy furie were the waters gathered together the flowing water stoode the depthes were gathered together in the middes of the sea †The enimie said I wil pursew and ouertake I wil diuide the spoiles my soule shal haue his fil I wil draw forth my sword my hand shal kil them †The spirit blewe and the sea ouerwhelmed them they sanke as lead in the vehement waters †Who is like to thee among the strong ô Lord who is like to thee magnifical in sanctitie terrible and laudable doing meruailes †Thou didst stretch forth thy hand and the earth deuoured them †Thou hast in thy mercie bene a guide to the people which thou hast redemed and in thy strength thou hast caried them vnto thy holie habitation †Nations rose vp and were angrie sorowes possessed the inhabiters of Philisthijm †Then were the princes of Edom trubled trembling ceazed on the sturdie of Moab al the inhabiters of Chanaan were starke †Let feare and dread fal vpon them in the greatnes of thy arme let them become vnmoueable as a stone vntil thy people ô Lord shal passe vntil thy people shal passe this which thou hast possessed †Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thy inheritance in thy most firme habitation which thou hast wrought ô Lord thy sanctuarie Lord which thy handes haue confirmed †Our Lord shal reigne for euer and euermore †For Pharao on horsebake entred in with his chariottes and horsemen into the sea and our Lord brought backe vpon them the waters of the sea but the children of Israel walked on drie ground in the middes therof †Marie therfore the prophetesse Aarons sister tooke a tymbrel in her hand and al the wemen went forth after her with tymbrels and daunces †to whom she beganne the song saying Let vs sing to our Lord for he is gloriously magnified the horse and his rider he hath cast into the sea †And Moyses remoued Israel from the red sea and they went forth into the desert Sur and they walked three dayes through the wildernesse and found not water †And they came into Mara neither could they drinke the waters of Mara because they were bitter wherupon he gaue a name also agreable to the place calling it Mara that is bitternesse †And the people murmured against Moyses saying What shal we drinke †But he cried to our Lord. who did shew him a peece of woode which when he had cast into the waters they were turned into swetenesse There he appointed him precepts and iudgements and there he proued him †saying If thou wilt heare the voice of the Lord thy God and doe that is right before him and obey his commandementes and keepe al his preceptes none of the maladies that I layd vpon Aegypt wil I bring vpon thee for I am the Lord God thy curer †And the children of Israel came into Elim where there were twelue fountaines of water seuentie palme trees and they camped byside the waters The end of the third age THE CONTIN VANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE THIRD AGE from Abrahams going forth of Chaldea to the parting of Israel out of Aegypt The space of 430. yeares ONE and the same Church and Religion begunne in the first age of the world and continued in the second became more and more conspicuous in the third For in this age not only the same principal and particular pointes of faith were beleued and professed but also the number of professors encreased and partly by seperation of place and abode and specially by diuersitie of maners outward rites and conuersation were more distinct from infidels then before as vve shal now shew by the sacred historie of that time VVhich beginneth with Abrahams going forth of his countrey of Chaldea about 2024. yeares from the beginning of the vvorld in the 75. yeare of his age From which time forward God often appeared to him and after him to Isaac and Iacob in the title of EL SADDAI that is God Almightie Creator of al things Lord God most high Possessor of heauen and earth Gen. 14. To Moyses more familiarly Exod. 3. in his most proper name HE WHICH IS In the name of foure letters which the Iewescount ineffable And in diuers other names al shewing One Eternal Omnipotent infinite Maiestie Of whom al other things depend and haue their being himselfe independent of any other thing This one diuine nature and indiuisible substance is aboue al reach of reason three in Persons represented to Abraham Gen. 18 by three Angels in forme of men vvhom by special instinct of God he adored as one and first spake vnto them
Gabaa of Beniamin with my wife and there I tooke my lodging †and behold the men of that citie by night besette the house wherein I taried meaning to kil me and vexing my wife with incredible furie of lust finally she died †Whom being taken I did cutte into peeces and sent the partes into al the borders of your possession because neuer was there so heinous an offense and so greate an abomination done in Israel †You are al present the children of Israel determine what you ought to doe †And al the people standing answered as it were by the word of one man we wil not depart into our tabernacles neither shal any man enter into his house †but this wil we doe in common against Gabaa †Let ten men be chosen of an hundred out of al the tribes of Israel and an hundred of a thousand and a thousand of ten thousand to bring victuals for the armie and that we may fight against Gabaa of Beniamin render to it for the wicked fact which it deserueth †And al Israel assembled to the citie as it were one man with one minde and one counsel †and they sent messengers to al the tribe of Beniamin which should say Why is there soe great abomination found in you †Deliuer the men of Gabaa that haue committed this heinous fact that they may die and the euil may be taken away out of Israel Who would not heare the commandment of their brethren the children of Israel †but oâ—â— of al cities which were of their lotte they assem 〈…〉 Gabaa to avde them and to fight against aâ— the 〈…〉 †â—nd there were found fiue and twentie thousand of Beniamin of them that drew sword beside the inhabitantes of Gabaa †which were seuen hundred most valiant men so fighting with the left hand as with the right and so directly casting stones with â—â—inges that they could strike a heare also and the stroke of the stone should not be caried awry on either part †Of the men of Israel also beside the children of Beniamin were found foure hundred thousande of them that drew swordes were prepared to fight †Who rising came into the house of God that is into Silo and they consulted God and said Who shal be in our armie general of the battel against the children of Beniamin To whom our Lord answered Let Iudas be your captayne †And forth with the children of Israel arysing in the morning camped beside Gabaa †and thence proceeding to fight against Beniamin beganne to assault the citie †And the children of Beniamin issuing out of Gabaa slew of the children of Israel that day two and twentie thousand men †Agayne Israel hauing confidence in their strength and number sette the armie in aray in the same place wherein they had fought before †yet so that they did first goe vp and weepe before our Lord vntil night and consulted him and said Shal I procede any more to fight against the children of Beniamin my brethren or not To whom he answered Goe vp to them and enter battel †And when the children of Israel the next day had proceded against the children of Beniamin to battel †the children of Beniamin brake forth out of the gates of Gabaa and meeting them they raged with so great a slaughter against them that they ouerthrew eightene thousand men that drew swotd †For the which thing al the children of Israel came into the house of God and sitting wept before our Lord and they fasted that day vntil euening and offered to him holocaustes and pacifique victimes †and asked him concerning their state At that time the arke of the couenant of our Lord was there †and Phinees the sonne of Eleazarus the sonne of Aaron prouost of the house They therfore consulted our Lord and said Shal we goe forth any more to fight against the children of Beniamin our brethren or rest To whom our Lord said Goe vp for to morrow I wil deliuer them into your handes †And the children of Israel sette ambushmentes round about the citie of Gabaa †and the third time as once and twise they brought forth their armie against Beniamin †But the children of Beniamin also issued forth boldly out of the citie and pursewed a long way the aduersaries fleeing so that they wounded of them as the first day and the second and slew them turning their backes by two wayes wherof the one went into Bethel and the other into Gabaa and ouerthrew about thirtie men †for they thought to kil them after their accustomed maner Who feyning artificially as though they fled tooke aduise to draw them away from the citie as it were fleing to bring them to the pathes aforesayd †Therfore al the children of Israel rysing out of their seates sette their armie in battel aray in the place which is called Baalthamar The ambushmentes also which were about the citie began by litle and litle to open them selues †and to proceede from the West part of the citie Yea and other ten thousand men of al Israel prouoked the inhabitantes of the citie to skit mishes And the battel grew sore against the children of Beniamin and they vnderstoode not that on euerie side destruction hong ouer them †And our Lord stroke them in the sight of the children of Israel and they slew of them in that day fiue and twentie thousand and an hundred men al warryers and that drew sword †But the children of Beniamin when they saw them selues to be inferiour beganne to flee Which the children of Israel seing gaue them place to flee that they might come to the ambushmentes prepared which they had sette neere the citie †Who when they had sodenly risen out of their dennes and Beniamin turned their backes to the sleaers they entred the citie and stroke it in the edge of the sword †And the children of Israel had geuen a signe to them whom they had laid in the ambushementes that after they had taken the citie they should kindle a fire that the smoke ascending on high they might shew that the citie was taken †Which when the children of Israel saw being in the verie fight for the children of Beniamin thought that they fled and pursewed more instantly hauing slaine thirtie men of their armie †and they saw as it were a piller of smoke to rise vp from the citie Beniamin also looking backe when he saw the citie taken and the flames caried on high †they that before had feyned as if they fled turning their face resisted more manfully Which when the children of Beniamin had sene they were turned into flight †and beganne to goe the way of the desert the aduersaries pursewing them thither also But they also that had fyred the citie mette them †And so it came to passe that on both sides they were slaine of the enemies neither was there any rest of
second day after he was warme with wine What is thy petition Esther that it may be geuen thee and what wilt thou haue done although thou shalt aske the half part of my kingdome thou shalt obteyne †To whom she answered If I haue found grace in thyne eies ô king and if it please thee geue me my life for the which I make request and my people for the which I besech †For we are deliuered I and my people to be destroyed murdered and to perish And would God we were sold for bondmen and bondwemen it were a tolerable euil and mourning I would hold my peace but now it is our enemie whose crueltie redoundeth vpon the king †And king Assuetus answering said Who is this and of what might that he dare doe these things †And Esther said It is this Aman out aduersarie and most wicked enemie Which he hearing forthwith was astonished not enduring to beare the countenance of the king and of the queene †But the king being wrath rose vp and from the place of the banket went into the garden set with trees Aman also rose vp to intreate Esther the queene for his life for he vnderstood that there was euil prepared him of the king †Who when he was returned out of the garden set with trees and had entered into the place of the banket he found Aman to haue fallen vpon the bed wherin Esther lay and he said The queene also he wil force in my presence in my house Neither was the word yet passed from the kings mouth and immediatly they couered his face †And Harbona one of the eunuches which stood wayting on the king sayd Behold the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus that spake for the king standeth in Amans house hauing in height fiftie cubites To whom the king said Hang him vpon it †Aman therfore was hanged on the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus and the kings wrath ceased CHAP. VIII Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle he is aduanced in authoritie 3. and contrarie letters are sent that the Iewes be saued 11. and their enemies slayne 15. Mardocheus is in high honour and his whole nation is estemed and feared by other people THAT day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle †And the king tooke the ring which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman and deliuered it to Mardocheus And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house †Neither content with these things she fel downe at the kings feete and she wept and speaking to him prayed him that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite and his most wicked deuises which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes should be of none effect †But he after the maner put forth the golden scepter with his hand by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed and she rysing vp stood before him †and said If it please the king and if I haue found grace in his eies and my request seme not contrarie to him I besech thee that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish may by new letters be corrected †For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people †And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene and Mardocheus the Iewe Amans house I haue geuen to Esther and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes because he durst lay handes on the Iewes †Write ye therfore to the Iewes as pleaseth you in the kings name signing the letters with my ring For this was the custome that no man durst speake against the lettes which were sent in the kings name and were signed with his ring †And the kings scribes and secretaries being cald for and it was the time of the third moneth which is called Siban the three and twenteth day therof letters were written as Mardocheus would to the Iewes and to the princes and the lieuftenantes and iudges which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces from India euen to Aethiopia to prouince and prouince to people and people according to their languages and characters and to the Iewes according as they could read and heare †And the said letters which were sent in the kings name were signed with his ring and sent by ryding postes which running through al the prouinces should preuent the old letters with the new messages †To whom the king gaue commandment that they should speake to the Iewes in euerie citie and should command them to be gathered together in one that they might stand for their liues and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses and to take the spoyle of them †And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge that is the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar †And this was the content of the letter that in al landes and peoples which were subiect to the empire of king Assuerus it should be notified ' the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies †And there went forth swift postes cariyng the massages and the kinges edict hong in Susan †But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace and from the kinges presence shining in royal garmentes to wit hyathinthine and skie colour bearing a golden crowne on his head and clothed with a silke and purple cloke And the citie reioysed and was glad †But to the Iewes there semed a new light to rise ioye honour and dauncing †With al peoples cities and prouinces whither soeuer the kinges commandmentes came meruelous reioysing feastes and banketes and holie day in so much that manie of the other nation and sect were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. CHAP. IX The Iewes kil their enemies which would haue killed them 6. namely the tenne sonns of Aman are hanged on gallowes 13. more slaine the next day 17. the day folowing is made holie and so to be kept euerie yeare THERFORE in the thirtenth day of the twelth moneth which we haue said now before to be called Adar when slaughter was prepared for al the Iewes and their enemies gaped after their bloud “ the case being changed to the contrarie the Iewes began to be superiours and to reuenge them selues of their aduersaries †And they were gathered together in euerie citie and towne and place to extend their hand against their enemies and their persecutors And none durst resist because the feare of their greatnes did penetrate al peoples †For both the iudges of the prouinces and captaynes and lieutenantes and euerie dignitie that was chiefe ouer euerie place and worke
†Let the enemie persecute my soule and take it and treade downe my life in the earth and bring downe my glorie into the dust †Arise Lord in thy wrath and be exalted in the coastes of myne enemies And arise ô Lord my God in the precept which thou hast cōmanded †and a sinagogue of peoples shal compasse thee And for it returne on high †our Lord iudgeth peoples Iudge me ô Lord according to my iustice and according to my innocencie vpon me †The wickednesse of sinners shal be consumed and thou shalt direct the iust which searchest the hart and raynes ô God †My iust helpe is from our Lord who saueth those that be right of hart God is a iust iudge strong patient is he angrie euerie day †Vnlesse you wil be conuerted he shal shake his sword he hath bent his bow and prepared it †And in it he hath prepared the vessels of death he hath made his arrowes for them that burne †Behold he hath bredde with iniustice he hath conceiued sorow and brought forth iniquitie †He hath opened a pit and digged it vp and he is fallen into the diche which he made †His sorrow shal be turned vpon his head and his iniquitie shal descend vpon his crowne †I wil confesse to our Lord according to his iustice and wil sing to the name of our Lord most high PSALME VIII God is magnified praised for his meruelous worke of creatures 5. but especially of mankind singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ. †Vnto the end for “ presses the Psalme of Dauid O LORD our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth Because thy magnificence is eleuated aboue the heauens †Out of the mouth of infantes and sucklinges thou hast perfected praise because of thine enemies that thou mayest destroy the enemie and reuenger †Because I shal see thy heauens the workes of thy fingers the moone and the starres which thou hast founded †What is man that thou art mindful of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him †Thou hast minished him a litle lesse then Angels with glorie and honour thou hast crowned him †and hast appointed him ouer the worke of thy handes †Thou hast subiected al thinges vnder his feete al sheepe and oxen moreouer also the beastes of the field †The birdes of the ayre and fishes of the sea that walke the pathes of the sea †O Lord our Lord how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth ANNOTATIONS PASLME VIII 1. Presses Most Hebrew Doctors say the word Gittith may either signifie the place where this Psalme was made or the musical instrument on which it was song But most Christian Doctors expound it literally of Christs Passion who was stretched on the Crosse and al his sacred bloud pressed and drawne out of his bodie VVhich Metaphor Isaias also vseth demanding of Christ VVhy is thy clothing redde and thy garments as theirs that tread in the vine presse and answereth in Christs person I haue troden the presse alone S. Augustin also applieth it morally to the Church where Christ is the vine the Apostles are the branches spreaders that is preachers of the Ghospel Christians are the grapes Christian vertues are the wine Namely patience and fortitude in afflictions VVherby the good are purified and seuered from amiddes the reprobate as wine is pressed out of the grapes barreled and laid vp in sellers and * the huskes and carnels cast to hogges or other beastes PSALME IX The Church prayseth God for her protection 4. in repelling the enemies force 8. in punishing the wicked and rewarding the iust †Vnto the end for the secrets of the sonne the Psalme of Dauid I WIL confesse to thee ō Lord with al my hart I wil tel al thy meruelous thinges I wil be glad and reioyce in thee I wil sing to thy name ō most High †In turning mine enemie backward they shal be weakened and perish before thy face Because thou hast done my iudgement and my cause thou hast sitte vpon the throne which iudgest iustice Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles and the impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer and for euer and euer †The swordes of the enemie haue fayled vnto the end and their cities thou hast destroyed †Their memorie hath perished with a sound and our Lord abideth for euer He hath prepared his throne in iudgement †he wil iudge the whole world in equitie he wil iudge the people in iustice †And our Lord is made a refuge for the poore an helper in opportunities in tribulation †And let them hope in thee that know thy name because thou hast not forsaken them that seeke thee ô Lord. †Sing to our Lord which dwelleth in Sion declare his studies among the Gentiles †Because he requiring bloud remembred them he hath not forgotten the crie of the poore †Haue mercie on me ô Lord See my humiliation by my enemies †Which exaltest me from the gates of death that I may declare al thy prayses in the gates of the daughter of Sion †I wil reioyce in thy saluation the Gentiles are fastened in the destruction which they made In this snare which they hid is their foote taken †Our Lord shal be knowen doing iudgements the sinner is taken in the workes of his owne handes †Let sinners be turned into hel al nations that forget God †Because to the end there shal not be obliuion of the poore man the patience of the poore shal not perish in the end †Arise Lord let not man be strengthned let the Gentiles be iudged in thy sight †Appoint Lord a lawgeuer ouer them that the Gentiles may know that they be men The 10. Psalme according to the Hebrevves †Why Lord hast thou departed far of despisest in opportunities in tribulation †Whiles the impious is proude the poore is set on fyre they are caught in the counsels which they deuise †Because the sinner is praysed in the desires of his soule and the vniust man is blessed †The sinner hath exasperated our Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he shal not seeke †There is no God in his sight his waies are defiled at al time Thy iudgementes are taken away from his face he shal rule ouer al his enemies †For he hath sayd in his hart I wil not be moued from genetion vnto generation without euil Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse and guile vnder his tongue labour and sorrow †He sitteth in waite with the rich in secrete places to kil the innocent †His
remembred that God is their helper and the high God is their redemer †And they loued him with their mouth and with theirtongue they did lie to him †But their hart was not right with him neither were they counted faithful in his testament †But he is merciful and wil be propicious to their sinnes and he wil not destroy them And he abunded to turne away his wrath and he kindled not al his wrath †And he remembred that they are flesh spirit going and not returning †“ How often haue they exasperated him in the desert prouoked him to wrath in the place without water †And they returned and tempted God and the holie one of Israel they exasperaed †They did not remember his hand in the day that he redemed them from the hand of the afflicter †As he put his signes in Aegypt and his wonders in the filde of Tanis †And he turned their riuers into bloude their showers that they might not drinke †He sent vpon them a swarme of flies and it eate them and the frogge and it destroyed them †And he gaue their fruites to the blast and their labors to the locuste †And he killed their vineyeardes with haile and their mulberie trees with horefrost †And he deliuered their beast to haile and their possession to fire †He sent vpon them the wrath of his indignation indignation wrath and tribulation immissions by euil angels †He made a way to the path of his wrath he spared not their liues from death and their cattel he shut vp in death †And he stroke al the first borne in the land of Aegypt the first fruites of al their labors in the tabernacles of Cham. †And he tooke away his people as sheepe and led them as a flock in the desert †And he brought them forth in hope and they feared not and the sea couered their enemies †And he brought them into the mount of his sanctification the mount which his right hand purchased And he cast out the gentiles from their face and by lot he diuided the land of them in a corde of distribution †And he made the tribes of Israel to dwel in their tabernacles †And they tempted and exasperated God the highest and they kept not his testimonies †And they turned away themselues kept not the couenant euen as their fathers they were turned as a crooked bow †They incensed him to wrath in their hilles and in their grauens they prouoked him to emulation †God heard and contemned and he brought Israel to nothing excedingly †And he reiected the tabernacle of Silo his tabernacle where he dwelt among men †And he deliuered their force into captiuitie and their beautie into the hands of the enemie †And he shut vp his people in the sword and he dispised his inheritance Fyre deuoured their young men and their virgins were not lamented †Their Priestes fel by the sworde and their widowes were not wept for †And our Lord was raised vp as one that sleepeth ◠as a mightie man hauing surfited of wine †And he stroke his enimies on the hinder partes an euerlasting reproch he gaue to them †And he reiected the tabernacle of Ioseph and the tribe of Ephraim he chose not †But he chose the tribe of Iuda mount Sion which he loued †And he built his sanctuarie as of vnicornes in the land which he hath founded for euer †And he chose Dauid his seruant and tooke him from the flockes of sheepe from after the ewes with yong he tooke him To feede Iacob his seruant and Israel his inheritance †And he fedde them in the innocencie of his hart and in the vnderstandings of his hands he conducted them ANNOTATIONS PSALME LXXVII 40. How often haue they exasperated Moyses Deu. 9. v. 7. repeting what had passed in the desert chargeth the people that they had stil prouoked our lord to wrath from the day that they came out of Egypt and alwayes contended aganst him And our lord himself expostulating their ingratitude often murmuring saith Num. 14. v. 22. in the beginning of the second yeare that they had then tempted him tenne times either by this certaine number signifying an vncertaine or els chiefly tenne times for so often we find recorded that they tempted him and murmured within that smal time more notorionly First nere vnto the redde sea Exod. 14. v. 11. where seing the Egyptians pursuing them they murmured against Moyses for bringing them out of Egypt saying It had benne much better to haue serued the Egyptians then to die in the wildernes Secondly for want of swete water Exod. 15. v. 24. Thirdly for lack of meate Exod. 16. v. 3. Fourtly keeping Manna for the next day contrarie to Gods commandment ibid. v. 20. Fiftly going on the Sabbath day also contrarie to Gods commandment together Manna Ibid. v. 27. Sixtly for want of water in Raphidim Exod. 17. v. 2 Num. 26. v. 2 Seuently in Horeb adoring a calfe the image therof Exod. 32 Eightly repyning for their trauels in the wildernes Nu 11. v. 1. Nintly loathing Manna and burning with desire to eate flesh Ibid. v. 4. 5 6. Tently desparing to possesse the promised land of Chanaan after that the discouerers had reported the difficulties with the force of the people and of the cities against which they must fight Nu. 14. v. 1. Al which and the rest saith S. Paul happened to them in figure of vs and are written for our correption or admonition that we murmur not as they did 1. Cor. 10. PSALME LXXVIII The Prophet in person of the Church lamenteth the crueltie of persecutors both in the old and new testament 5. prayeth for release with iust reuenge against Gods enimies that blaspheme his name 3. and promiseth to be gratful in diuine praises A Psalme to Asaph O God the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance they haue polluted thy holie temple they haue made Ierusalem as a watch toure of fruits †They haue made the carcases of thy seruants meats for the foules of the aire the flesh of thy sainctes for the beastes of the land †They haue poured out their bloude as water round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them †We are become a reproch to our neighboures a scorne and mocke to them that are round about vs. †How long ô Lord wilt thou be angrie for euer shal thy zele be kindled as a fire †Poure out thy wrath vpon the Gentiles that haue not knowne thee vpon the kingdomes that haue not inuocated thy name †Because they haue deuoured
to our Lord a new song because he hath done meruelous thinges His righthand hath wrought saluation to himselfe and his arme is holie †Our Lord hath made knowne his saluation in the sight of the Gentiles he hath reueled his iustice †He hath remembred his mercie and his truth to the house of Israel Al the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God †Make ye iubilation to God al the earth chaunt and reioyce and sing †Sing to our Lord on harpe on harpe and voice of psalme †on long drawen trumpets and voice of cornet of horne Make iubilation in the sight of the king our Lord †let the sea be moued and the fulnes therof the round world and they that dwel therin †The riuers shal clappe with hand the mountaynes together shal reioyce †at the sight of our Lord because he cometh to iudge the earth He wil iudge the round earth in iustice and the peoples in equitie PSALME XCVIII Christ reigneth notwithstanding his enimies repine is adored 5. also his footestoole 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate A Psalme to Dauid himselfe OVR Lord hath reigned let peoples be angrie he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs let the earth be moued †Our Lord great in Sion and high aboue al peoples †Let them confesse to thy great name because it is terrible and holie †And the honour of the king loueth iudgement Thou hast prepared directions thou hast done iudgement and iustice in Iacob †Exalt ye the Lord our God and “ adore his footstoole because it is holie †Moyses and Aaron in his priestes and Samuel among them that inuocate his name They inuocated our Lord and he heard them †in a piller of a cloud he spake to them They kept his testimonies the precept which he gaue them †O Lord our God thou heardest them God thou wast propitious to them and taking vengeance vpon al their inuentions Exalt ye the Lord our God and adore ye in his holie mount because the Lord our God is holie ANNOTATIONS PSALME XCIX 5. Adore his footestoole For so much as al Expositors also the Hebrevv Rabbins affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias that should redeme mankind and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ but vvas only a figure of him the footestoole of Messias here mentioned must nedes be something perteyning to him and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration not only of the shorte time he conuersed vvith men in this life vvhen very fevv adored him the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist Which S Ambrose teacheth lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto c. 12. in these plaine vvordes By the footstoole must be vnderstood the earth by the earth the flesh of Christ VVhich vve also at this day adore in the Mysteries and vvhich the Apostles adored in our Lord Iesus S. Augustin more largely vpon this Psalme I am made doubtful saith he I feare to adore the earth lest he condeme me that made heauen and earth Againe I feare not to adore the footstoole of my Lord because the Psalme saith to me Adore his footstoole I seeke vvhat is his footstoole and the Scripture Isaiae 66. telleth me the earth is his footstoole Doubtful I turne myself vnto Christ because I seeke him here and I finde hovv vvithout impietie the earth may be adored vvithout impietie his footstoole may be adored For he tooke earth of earth because flesh is of earth and he tooke flesh of the flesh of the B. virgin Marie And because he vvalked here in the same flesh and gaue the very flesh to vs to eate vnto saluation and no man eateth that flesh onles he first adore it it is found hovv such a footstoole of our Lord may be adored and not only vve doe not sinne in adoring but vve should sinne in not adoring Thus farre S. Augustin Further instructing not to coÌ„ceâ—ue of Christs flesh as â—he Capharnaites did that he would cute it in peeces from his bodie and geue them portions therof His very flesh is geuen and eaten not in fleshlie maner but in sacramental See Annotations Ioan. 6. PSALME XCIX Al are inuited to reioyce in God Creator of al. A Psalme in confession MAKE ye iubilation to God al the earth serue ye our Lord in gladnesse Enter ye in before his sight in exultation †Know ye that our Lord he is God he made vs and not we ourselues His people and the sheepe of his pasture †enter ye into his gates in confession his courtes in hymnes confesse ye to him Praise ye his name †because our Lord is sweete his mercie for euer and his truth euen vnto generation and generation PSALME C. King Dauid gratfully celebrateth the two general diuine vertues Mercie and Iustice 2. by his owne example exhorteth al especially Superiors to direct their wayes in sinceritie 4. and to seperate the wicked from conuersation of the good A Psalme to Dauid himselfe MERCIE and iudgement I wil sing to thee â— Lord I wil sing †and I shal vnderstand in the immaculate way when thou shalt come to me I walked through in the inocencie of my hart in the middes of my house †I did not propose before mine eies any vniust thing I hated them that do preuarication †A peruerse hart hath not cleaued to me the malignant declining from me I knew not †One secretly detracting from his neighbour him did I persecute One of a proud eye and vnsatiable hart with him I did not eate †Mine eies are towards the faithful of the earth that they may sit with me A man that walketh in the immaculate way he did minister to me †He that doth proudly shal not dwel in the middes of my house he that speaketh vniust thinges hath not directed in the sight of mine eies †In the morning did I kil al the sinners of the earth that I might destroy out of the citie of our Lord al those that worke iniquitie PSALMES CI. A sinner in affliction of mind prayeth God to deliuer him 10. desolate of al other helpe 13. conceiueth comforth in Gods eternal goodnes and singular mercie in redeming mankind and propagating the Church 24. Prayeth to be made mature in vertue before he dye that he may liue with God 26. who only and wholly being immutable establisheth his seruantes for euer The prayer of the poore when he shal be anxious and shal make his petition before our Lord. LORD heare my prayer and let my crie come to thee †Turne not away thy face from me in what
Idumea †Wil t not thou ô God which hast repelled vs and wilt not thou goeforth ô God in our hoastes †Geue vs helpe out of tribulation because mans saluation is vayne †In God we shal doe strength and he wil bring our enemies to nothing PSALME CVIII Christ by the mouth of Dauid requesteth of God to be iustly declared innocent and his enimies punished 6. particularly describing Iudas the traitors malice 21. and his owne temporal afflictions 26. prayeth 30. and praiseth God for his deliuerie †Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid O God conceale not my prayse because the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful man is open vpon me †They haue spoken against me with deceitful tongue and with wordes of hatred they haue compassed me and they haue impugned me without cause †For that they should loue me they backbited me but I prayed †And they set against me euil thinges for good and hatred for my loue Appoint a sinner ouer him and let the diuel stand on his righthand †When he is iudged let him comeforth condemned and let his prayer be turned into sinne †Let his dayes be made fewe and let an other take his bishopricke †Let his children be made orphans and his wife a widow †Let his children be transported wandering and let them begge and let them be cast out of their habitations †Let the vsurer search al his substance and let strangers spoile his labours †Let there be none to helpe him neither let there be anie to haue pittie on his pupilles †Let his children come to destruction in one generation let his name be cleane put out †Let the iniquitie of his fathers returne to memorie in the sight of our Lord and let not the sinne of his mother be blotted out †Let them be before our Lord alwayes and let the memorie of them perish out of the earth †For that he remembred not to doe mercie †And he persecuted the poore and needie man and the compunct in hart to kil him †And he loued cursing and it shal come to him and he would not blessing and it shal be far from him And he put on cursing as a garment and it entred as water into his inner partes and as oile in his bones †Be it to him as a garment wherwith he is couered and as a girdle wherwith he is alwayes girded †This is the worke of them that detract from me before our Lord and that speake euils against my soule †And thou Lord Lord doe with me for thy names sake because thy mercie is swete Deliuer me †because I am needie and poore and my hart is trubled within me †As a shadow when it declineth am I taken away and I am shaken as locustes †My knees are weakened with fasting and my flesh is changed by reason of oile †And I am made a reproch to them they saw me and wagged their heades †Helpe me ô Lord my God saue me according to thy mercie †And let them know that this is thy hand and thou ô Lord hast done it †They wil curse and thou shalt blesse let them that rise vp against me be confounded but thy seruant shal reioyce †Let them that detract from me be clothed with shame and let them be couered with their confusion as with a duble patched cloke †I wil confesse to our Lord excedingly with my mouth and in the middes of manie I wil prayse him †Because he hath stood on the righthand of the poore that he might saue my soule from the persecutors PSALME CIX Christ rising and ascending into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God 2. beginning in Ierusalem reigneth in the Church of the whole earth 4. vseth the Priesthood of Melchisedechs order to the end of the world 6. and shal iudge the world †A psalme of Dauid OVR Lord sayd to my Lord Sitte on my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole of thy feete †Our Lord wil sendforth the rod of thy strength from Sion rule thou in the middes of thine enemies †With thee the beginning in the day of thy strength in the brightnes of holie thinges from the wombe before the day starre I begat thee †Our Lord sware and it shal not repent him Thou art “ a Priest for euer “ according to the order of Melchisedech †Our Lord on thy righthand hath broken kinges in the day of his wrath †He shal iudge in nations he shal fil ruines he shal crush the heads in the land of manie †Of the torrent in the way he shal drinke therfore shal he exalt the head ANNOTATIONS CIX 4. A Priest for euer In two respectes Christ is a Priest for euer in that from the first instant of his incarnation he was and remaneth a Priest now also in heauen and al other Priestes are his ministerial vicares not successors So that al priestlie functions which they doe he by them doth the same as the principal Priest VVherupon saith S. Paul 1. Cor 4. So let a man thincke of vs as of the ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God Secondly Christ dayly offering Sacrifice by the handes of his Priestes doth continually pacifie Gods wrath in behalf of those sinners for whom it is duly applied euen to the end of the world VVheras the Priesthood of Aaron and of al others in the old Testament ceassed by their deathes both in the office and in the effect 4 According to the order of Melchisedech As Melchisedech king of peace and iustice without father mother or genealogie expressed in holie Scriptures or otherwise knowen to the world was Priest or the Hieghest offered bread and wine an vnbloudie sacrifice communicating with both Chananeites and Hebrewes blessed Abraham and tooke tithes of him and his subiectes so Christ the true King of peace iustice without father of his humanity without mother of his Diuinitie the Sonne of God of ineffable genealogie borne of a virgin in his humanitie the Priest of God offereth Sacrifice not only bloudie on the Crosse but also vnbloudie in the formes of bread and wine continueth the same by the ministerie of other Priestes maketh al nations partakers therof blesseth them and receiueth of them al dutiful and rellgious seruice as of his subiectes PSALME CX Praise of God for benefites 4. especially for the B. Sacrament of the Eucharist 6 with other graces imperted to the Catholique Church Alleluia I Wil confesse to thee ô Lord with al my hart in the counsel of the iust and b the congregation †The workes of our Lord are great exquisite according to al his willes †Confession and magnificence his worke
not heare for neither is there breath in their mouth †Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them †Ye house of Israel blesse our Lord ye house of Aaron blesse our Lord. †Ye house of Leui blesse our Lord you that feare our Lord blesse ve our Lord. †Blessed be our Lord out of Sion who dwelleth in Ierusalem PSALME CXXXV God being meruelous in himself 4. hath shewed his powre and goodnes in his workes as wel in general to al the world 10. as in particular towards his elected people Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the God of goddes because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer †Who onlie doth great meruels because his mercie is for euer †Who made the heauen in vnderstanding because his mercie is for euer †Who established the earth ouer the waters because his mercie is for euer †Who made the great lightes because his mercie is sor euer †The sunne to rule the day because his mercie is for euer †The moone and starres to rule the night because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke Aegypt with their firstbegotten because his mercie is for euer †Who brought forth Israel out of the middes of them because his mercie is for euer †In a mightie hand and loftie arme because his mercie is for euer †Who diuided the Read sea into diuisions because his mercie is for euer †And brought forth Israel through the middes therof because his mercie is for euer †And he ouerthrew Pharao and his host in the Readsea because his mercie is for euer †Who led his people through the desert because his mercie is for euer †Who stroke great kinges because his mercie is for euer †And slewe strong kinges because his mercie is for euer †Sehon the king of the Amorrheites because his mercie is for euer †And Og the king of Basan because his mercie is for euer †And he gaue their land for an inheritance because his mercie is for euer †For an inheritance to Israel his seruant because his mercie is for euer †For in our humiliation he was mindful of vs because his mercie is for euer †And he redemed vs from our enemies because his mercie is for euer †Who geueth foode to al fleshe because his mercie is for euer †Confesse ye to the God of heauen because his mercie is for euer Confesse ye to the Lord of lordes because his mercie is for euer PSALME CXXXVI The Prophet describeth how lamentably the people in captiuitie of Babylon wil bewaile the want of meanes to serue God and of their natiue soyle 7. with iust desire of their enimies punishment A Psalme of Dauid for Ieremie VPON the riuers of Babylon there we sate and wept whiles we remembred Sion †On the willowes in the middes therof we hanged vp our instrumentes †Because there they that led vs captiue demanded of vs wordes of songes And they that led vs away Sing ye an hymne to vs of the songes of Sion †How shal we sing the song of our Lord in a strange land †If I shal forget thee ô Ierusalem let my right hand be forgotten †Let my tongue cleaue to my iawes if I doe not remember thee If I shal not set Ierusalem in the beginning of my ioy †Be mindful ô Lord of the childrem of Edom in l the day of Ierusalem That say Rase it rase it euen vnto the foundation therof †Daugther of Babylon miserable blessed is he that shal repay thee thy payment which thou hast payed vs. †Blessed is he that shal hold and shal dash thy litle ones against the rocke PSALME CXXXVII The whole Church or anie iust person rendreth thankes to God for his benefites 4. praying that al kinges and kingdomes may do the same 4. because God being high respecteth and aduanceth the humble To Dauid him self I wil confesse to thee ô Lord in my whole hart because thou hast heard the wordes of my mouth In the sight of Angels I wil sing to thee †I wil adore toward thy holie temple and wil confesse to thy name For thy mercie and thy truth because thou hast magnified aboue euerie thing thy holie name †In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee heare me thou wilt multiplie strength in my soule †Let al the kinges of the earth ô Lord confesse to thee because they haue heard al the wordes of thy mouth †And let them sing in the wayes of our Lord because great is the glorie of our Lord. †Because our Lord is high and he beholdeth low thinges and high thinges he knoweth far of †If I shal walke in the middes of tribulation thou wilt quicken me and vpon the wrath of mine enimies thou hast extended thy hand and thy right hand hath saued me †Our Lord wil repay for me ô Lord thy mercie is for euer despise not the workes of thy handes PSALME CXXXVIII Gods knowlege 7. and presence 10. without the helpe or hinderance anie thing extendeth to al thinges times and places 17 he geueth exceding great honour to his sainctes 20 the wicked as enimies to God are iustly hated 23. the iust pray for Gods perpetual direction Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid LORD thou hast proued me and hast knowen me †thou hast knowen my sitting downe and my rising vp †Thou hast vnderstood my cogitations far of my path and my corde thou hast searched out †And thou hast foresene al my wayes because there is not a word in my tongue †Behold ô Lord thou hast knowen al the last thinges them of old thou hast formed me and hast put thy hand vpon me †Thy knowledge is become meruelous of me it is made great and I can not reach to it †Whither shal I goe from thy spirit and whither shal I flee from thy face †If I shal ascend into heauen thou art there â—f I descend into hel thou art present †If I shal take my winges early and dwel in the extreme partes of the sea †Certes thither also shal thy hand conduct me and thy right hand shal hold me †And I sayd Perhaps darknes shal treade ouer me and the night is mine illumination in my delightes †For darkenes shal not be darkened from thee and the night shal be lightened as the day as the darkenes therof so also the light therof †Because thou hast possessed my reynes thou hast receiued me from my mothers wombe †I wil confesse to
light of starres by night †and she transported them through the Redsea and caried them ouer through a great water †But their enemies she drowned in the sea and from the depth of hel she brought them out Therfore the iust tooke the spoyles of the impious †and they sang thy holie name ô Lord and thy victorious hand they praised together †because wisdom hath opened the mouth of the dumme and the tongues of infants she hath made eloquent CHAP. XI Other benefites of wisdom protecting the Israelites in the desert 3. ouerthrowing their enimies 4. geuing them water out of a rocke 8. plaguing the Aegyptians 21. yet not al sudenly but by often admonitions that they might haue repented if they would SHE directed their workes in the handes of a holy prophet †They made a iourney through the deserts that were not inhabited and in desert places they pitched cottages †They stood against the aduersaries and reuenged themselues of the enemies †They thirsted and inuocated thee and water was geuen them out of a most high rorcke and quenching of their thirst out of the hard stone †For by the thinges wherby their enemies suffered punishment for defect of their drinke and therein when the children of Israel abunded they did reioyce †by these thinges when others lacked the same it went wel with them †For in steede of the fountaine of an euerlasting riuer thou gauest mans bloud to the vniust †Who when they were diminished in the destruction of the murdered infants thou gauest them abundant vnlooked for †shewing by the thirst that then was how thou didst exalt thine didst kil their aduersaries †For when they were tempted and in deede with mercie taking discipline they knew how the impious being iudged with wrath did suffer torments †These certes admonishing as a father thou didst proue but them examining as a hard king thou didst condemne †For the absent and the present were tormented alike †For duble tediousnes had taken them and sighing with the memorie of good thinges past †For when they vnderstood by their punishement that it went wel with them they remembred our Lord merueling at the end of the euent †For whom before they derided being cast forth in that wicked laying out to perish him they merueled at in the end of the euent not thirsting in like maner to the iust †but for senseles cogitations of their iniquitie for that some erring did worshippe dumme serpents and superfluous beasts thou didst send vpon them a multitude of dumme beasts for reuenge †that they might know that by what thinges a man sinneth by the same also he is tormented †For thine omnipotent hand which made the world of inuisible matter was not vnable to send vpon them a multitude of beares or fierce lyons †or vnknowen beasts ful of anger of a new kind or breathing the vapour of fires or casting forth the sauour of smoke or shooting horrible sparkes from their eies †of which not onlie their hurt was able to destroy them but also their sight to kil them for feare †Yea and without these with one spirit they might haue beene slaine suffering persecution of their owne factes and dispersed by the spirit of thy powre but thou hast disposed al thinges in measure and number and weight †For to be of great force rested alwaies in thee onlie who shal resist the powre of thyne arme †Because as the least weight of the balance so is the round world before thee and as a droppe of the dewe before day that falleth vpon the earth †But thou hast mercie on al because thou canst do al thinges and dissemblest the sinnes of men for repentance †For thou louest al thinges that are and hatest nothing of those which thou hast made for thou didst not ordaine or make any thing hating it †And how could any thing continew vnles thou wouldest or be preserued which was not called of thee †But thou sparest al because they are thine ô Lord which louest soules CHAP. XII Gods wisdom and mercie in destroying the wicked inhabitants of Chanaan by parts 10. that they might haue amended whom he could haue slaine sudenly 15. In that God neuer condemneth the iust 19. his people are instructed to confide in him 25. and sinners to turne vnto him O how good and sweete is thy spirit ô Lord in al †And therefore those that erre by partes thou doest chastise and doest admonish and speake to them concerning the thinges wherin they sinne that leauing naughtines they may beleue in thee ô Lord. †For those old inhabitantes of thy holie land whom thou didst abhorre †because they did workes odious to thee by sorceries and vniust sacrifices †and the murderers of their owne children without mercie and eaters of mens bowels and deuourers of bloud from the middes of thy sacrament †and the parents authors of aydelesse soules thou wouldst destroy by the handes of our parents †that they might receiue a peregrination worthie of the children of God which is a land of al most deare to thee †But them also as men thou didst spare and didst send forerunners of thine host waspes that by litle and litle they might destroy them †Not because thou wast vnable in battel to subdewe the impious to the iust or with cruel beastes or with a sharpe word to destroy them together †but iudging by partes thou gauest place of repentance being not ignorant that the nation of them is wicked and their malice natural that their cogitation could not be changed for euer †For it was a cursed seede from the begynning neither fearing any didst thou geue pardon to their sinnes †For who shal say to thee what hast thou done or who shal stand against thy iudgement or who in thy sight shal come reuenger of the wicked men or who shal impute it to thee if the nations perish which thou hast made †For there is no other God but thou who hast care of al that thou mayst shew that thou doest not geue iudgement vniustly †Neither king nor tyrant in thy sight shal enquire of them whom thou hast destroyed †For so much then as thou art iust thou doest dispose al thinges iustly thou also estemest it disagreable from thy powre to condemne him who ought not to be punished †For thy powre is the begynning of iustice and for this that thou art Lord of al thou makest thyself to spare al. †For thou shewest powre which art not thought to be absolute in powre and thou conuincest the boldnes of them that know thee not †But thou dominatour of powre iudgest with tranquilitie and with great reuerence disposest of vs for it is in thy powre when thou wilt to be able †And thou hast taught thy people by such workes
so also a feareful hart in the cogitation of a foole shal not resist against the violence of feare †As a trembling hart in the cogitation of a foole al time wil not feare so also he that continueth alwaies in the preceptes of God †He that pricketh the eie bringeth forth teares and he that pricketh the hart bringeth forth feeling †He that casteth a stone at fowles and shal throw them downe so he that speaketh reprochefully to his freind dissolueth freindship †Although thou drowest a sword at a freind despaire not for there is returning to a freind †If thou open a sad mouth feare not for there is agreement except taunt and reproch and pride and reuealing of secret and a traiterous wound in al these thinges a freind wil flee away †Possesse fidelitie with a freind in his prouertie that in his goodes also thou maist reioyce †In the time of his tribulation continew faithful to him that in his inheritance also thou maist be heire with him †Before the fire the vapour of the chimney and the smoke of the fire riseth on high so also before bloud euil wordes and contumelies threates †I wil not be ashamed to salute a freind from his face I wil not hide myself and if there chance euiles to me by him I wil beare it †Euerie one that shal heare wil beware of him †Who wil geue a gard to my mouth and a sure seale vpon my lippes that I fal not by them and my tongue destroy me CHAP. XXIII A prayer against pride 6. gluttonie and luxurie 7. Beware of offending in spèach 9. especialliy of vnlawful swearing 15. blasphemie 17. irreuerent and reprocheful wordes 21. Also of auarice 24. fornication and adultrie 30. al which God seeth and wil seuerly punish 33. With other sinnes that folow therof O Lord father and dominatour of my life leaue me not in their counsel nor suffer me to fal in them †Who laieth on stripes in my cogitation and in my hart the doctrine of wisdom and in their ignorances they spare me not and their offences appeare not †and my ignorances increase not and my offences be multiplied and my sinnes ahound and I fal in the sight of mine aduersaries mine enemies reioyce †O Lord father and God of my life leaue me not in their cogitation †Hautines of mine eies geue me not and al desire turne away from me †Take from me the concupiscences of the bellie and let not the concupiscences of copulation take hold of me and geue me not ouer to a shamelesse and foolish minde †O children heare the doctrine of the mouth and he that wil keepe it shal not perish by his lippes nor be scandalized in most wicked workes †A sinner is taught in his vanirie and the proud and the euil speaker shal he scandalized in them †Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing for there be manie falles in it †But let not the naming of God be vsual in thy mouth and meddle not with the names of Sainctes because thou shalt not scape free from them †For as a seruant daily examined lacketh not the marke therof so euerie one that sweareth and nameth shal not be wholy purged from sinne †A man that sweareth much shal be filled with iniquitie and plague shal not depart from his house †And if he frustrate it his sinne shal be vpon him and if he dissemble he offendeth duble †and if he sweare in vaine he shal not be iustified for his house shal be filled with retribution †There is an other contrarie speach also to death be it not found in the inheritance of Iacob †For of the merciful al those thinges shal be taken away and they wil not wallow in sinnes †Let not thy mouth be accustomed to vnnurtered speach for there is in it a word of sinne †Remember thy father and thy mother for thou sittest in the middest of greate men †lest perhapes God forget thee in their sight and being sotted with thy dailie custome thou suffer reproch and hadst better not haue bene borne and curse the day of thy natiuitie †A man accustomed to the wordes of reproch wil not be instructed in al his daies †Two sortes abound in sinnes and the third bringeth wrath and perdition †An hote soule as a burning fire wil not be quenched til it swallow somewhat †and a wicked man in the mouth of his flesh wil not cease til he kindle a fire †To a man that is a fornicatour al bread is sweete he wil not be wearie transgressing vnto the end †Euerie man that passeth beyond his owne bed contemning against his owne soule and saying Who seeth me †Darkenes compasseth me and the walles couer me and no man beholdeth me whom do I feare the Highest wil not be mindful of my sinnes †And he vnderstandeth not that his eye seeth al thinges for that such feare of man expelleth from him the feare of God the eies of men fearing him †and he knoweth not that the eies of our Lord are much more brighter then the sunne beholding round about al the waies of men and the botome of the depth and the hartes of men looking into the hidden partes †For al thinges were knowen to our Lord God before they were created so also after it is perfected he beholdeth al thinges †Reuenge shal be taken on this man in the streates of the cittie and as an horsecolt he shal be chased and where he expected not he shal be apprehended †And he shal be in dishonour with al men for that he vnderstood not the feare of our Lord. †So euerie woman also that forsaketh her husband getteth inheritance by mariage of an other †For first she hath bene vnfaithful in the law of the Highest and secondly she hath sinned against her busband thirdly she hath fornicated in adulterie and hath gotten her children of an other man †This woman shal be brought into the Church and vpon her children there shal be examination †Her children shal not take roote and her boughes shal not yeld fruite †She shal leaue her memorie to be cursed and her dishonour shal not be wiped out †And they that are leaft shal know that nothing is better then the feare of God and nothing sweter then to haue regard to the commandmentes of our Lord. †It is great glorie to folow our Lord for length of daies shal be taken of him CHAP. XXIIII True and laudable wisdom 5. proceding from God 6. shineth in his workes 12. especially in his Church where she bringeth forth al vertues 26. She inuiteth al vnto her 44. and lighteneth her folowers with splendore of doctrine VVISDOM shal praise her soule shal be honoured in God and shal glorie in the middes of her people
the law multiplieth oblation †It is an holsome sacrifice to attend to the commandments and to depart from al iniquitie †To depart from iniquitie is a thing that pleaseth our Lord wel and to depart from iniustice is an intreating for sinnes †Thou shalt not appeare before the sight of our Lord emptie †For al these thinges are done because of the commandment of God †The oblation of the iust maketh a fatte altar and is an odour of sweetenes in the sight of the Highest †The sacrifice of the iust is acceptable and our Lord wil not forget the memorie thereof †Render glorie to God with a good minde and diminish not the first fruites of thine handes †In euerie gift make thy countenance chereful and in ioyfulnes sanctifie thy tithes †Geue to the Highest according to his gift and with a good eie doe according to the abilitie of thine handes †because our Lord is a rewarder and wil repay thee seuen times so much †Offer not wicked giftes for he wil not receiue them †And looke not vpon an vniust sacrifice because our Lord is iudge and there is not with him the glorie of person †Our Lord wil not accept person against the poore and he wil heare the prayer of him that is hurt †He wil not despise the prayers of the pupil nor the widow if she power out speach of mourning †Do not the widows teares runne downe to the cheeke her exclamation vpon him that causeth them to runne †For from the cheeke they goe vp euen to heauen and our Lord the hearer wil not be delighted in them †He that adoreth God in delectation shal be receiued his petition shal approch euen to the cloudes †The prayer of him that humbleth himself shal penetrate the cloudes and til it approch he wil not be comforted and he wil not depart til the Highest behold †And our Lord wil not be long but wil iudge the iust and wil do iudgement and the strongest wil not haue patience in them that he may crush their backe †and he wil repay vengeance to the Gentiles til he take away the multitude of the proude breake the scepters of the vniust †til he reward men according to their doings and according to the workes of man and according to his presumption †til he iudge the iudgement of his people and shal delight the iust with his mercie †The mercie of God is beautiful in the time of tribulation as a cloude of raine in the time of drught CHAP. XXXVI A prayer for conuersion of al nations 14. and for conseruation of the Israelites 20. Discretion is necessarie in al actions and desires HAVE mercie vpon vs ô God of al and respect vs and shew vs the light of thy mercies †and send in thy feare vpon the nations that haue not sought after thee that they may know that there is no God but thou and that they may shewforth thy glorious thinges †Lift vp thy hand ouer the strange Nations that they may see thy might †For as in their sight thou art sanctified in vs so in our sight thou shalt be magnified in them †that they may know thee as we also haue knowen that there is no God beside thee ô Lord. †Renewe signes and change meruels †Glorifie thy hand and thy right arme †Raise vp furie and power out wrath †Take away the aduersarie and afflict the enemie †Hasten the time and remember the end that they may declare thy meruels †Let him that is saued be deuoured in the wrath of flame and let them that euil intreate thy people finde perdition †Breake the head of princes of the enemies that saie There is none other beside vs. †Gather together al the tribes of Iacob and let them know that there is no God but thou that they may declare thy great workes thou shalt inherite them as from the beginning †Haue mercie on thy people vpon which thy name is inuocated and vpon Israel whom thou hast made equal to thy first begotten †Haue mercie on the citie of thy sanctification Ierusalem the citie of thy rest †Replenish Sion with thy wordes that can not be vttered thy people with thy glorie †Geue the testimonie to them that are thy creatures from the beginning and raise vp the prophecies which the former prophets spake in thy name †Geue reward to them that patiently expect thee that thy prophets may be found faithful and heare the prayers of thy seruants †according to Aarons benediction of thy people and direct vs into the way of iustice and let al knowe that inhabite the earth that thou art God the beholder of the worldes †The bellie wil eate al meate and one meate is better then an other meate †The iawes taist venison the wise hart lying wordes †A peruerse hart wil geue sorow and a cunning man wil resist it †Some woman wil receiue euerie man and one daughter is better then an other daughter †The beautie of a woman chereth the face of her husband and increaseth the desire aboue al mans concupiscence †If there be a tongue of curing there is also of mitigating and of mercie her husband is not according to the sonnes of men †He that possesseth a good woman beginneth riches she is an helpe like vnto him a piller as rest †Where there is no hedge the possession shal be spoiled and where there is no wife he mourneth wanting Who doth credite him that hath no nest and turning aside wheresoeuer it waxeth darke as a robber girded leaping from citie to citie CHAP. XXXVII Beware of a feaned loue à sure freind 7. consult with the wise trustie 15. and vertuous 19. especially relying vpon God 21. The tongue is cause of much good or much euil 30. Be temperate in diet EVERIE freind wil say I also haue ioyned freindshipe but there is a freind in name only a freind Doth there not sorow remaine euen to death †But a companion and freind wil be turned to enmitie †O most wicked presumption whence wast thou created to couer the drie land with malice and with the deceitfulnes thereof †A companion is pleasant with his freind in delectations and in the time of tribulation he wil be an aduersarie †A companion is sorie with his freind for his bellies sake and he wil take a shield against the enemie †Forgete not thy freind in thy minde and be not vnmindeful of him in thy riches †Consult not with him which betraieth and hide thy counsel from them that enuie thee †Euerie counseler vttereth counsel but there is a counseler in him selfe †From such a counseler keepe thy soule First know what his necessitie is for he wil deuise to his owne minde †lest perhaps he thrust a sharpe
laide oppen before prophane persons S. Gregorie also alleageth an other reason ho. 17. in Ezech. that occasion of humilitie may be geuen vs by those thinges which are hidden in holie Scriptures And increase also of merite by beleuing more then we vnderstand because faith hath not merite where reason geueth experiment THE ARGVMENT OF THE PROPHECIE OF ISAIE ISaie the sonne of Aâ—os and nephew as S. Ierom insinuateth to king Amasias prophecied in the times of Osias Ioathan Achaz Ezechias and in the beginning of Manasses Kinges of Iuda in al aboue three score yeares and was cruelly put to death sawed into partes by commandment of Manasses He is commonly called the Euangelical Prophet for his ample and particular speaches of Christ more large and more plaine then in aâ—â—e other of the old Prophetes His stile is high and eloquent according to his liberal education being of the royal bloud For so it pleaseth the Holie Ghost to vtter his diuine prophecies diuersly according to the qualities and conditions of the persons by whom he speaketh by Isaie in a loftie and by Amos in a meane stile as a musitian soundeth the same songue by a simple pipe by a corneâ— trumpet or other musical instrument Which S. Paul also witnesseth saying Diuersly and by diuers meanes God spake to the fathers in the Prophetes Isaie therfore conuersing in the kingdom of Iuda especially in the Emperial and Metropolitan citie of Ierusalem preached prophecied manie thinges perteyning to the Tribes of Iuda and Beniamin as also to the tribe of Leui. Which after the schisme of Ieroboam repayred in maner al to the kingdom of Iuda where God was rightly serued He prophecied also of the tenne Tribes the kingdom of Israel of the future captiuities of them both and of the reduction of Iuda Also he prophecied of other nations and peoples with whom the Iewes had either emnitie or freindlie conuersation and of al the world But most especially of the coming of Christ to redeme and deliuer mankind from captiuitie of sinne The whole prophecie conteyneth two general partes First more principally the Prophet admonisheth and threatneth the people that they shal be punished for their manifold sinnes in the 39. former chapters In the other 27. he comforteth them signifying that God of his mercie wil after chatisment their repentance deliuer them from their aduersaries Yet so that ech part participateth of the principal contents with the other More particularly the whole booke may be diuided into eight partes In the twelue first chapters the Prophet admonisheth alsortes in the kingdom of Iuda of their ingratitude towards God with manie other sinnes and of iust punishment but mixt with consolation of Gods mercie and thanksegeuing for the same In eleuen chapters folowing he directeth his speach to other Nations aduersaries to the Iewes In foure more he extendeth his admonitions to al the world stil intermixing some consolations In other foure he reprehendeth both the kingdoms of Israel and Iuda for seeking helpe of strange nations In the next eight chapters he prophecieth of diuers dangers immineÌ„t to the kingdom of Iuda of their captiuitie in Babylon of Gods benignitie deliuering them very much in euerie part of Christ and his Church Then in fiue chapters he prophecieth very particularly of the comfortable deliuerie from sinne by Christ In other foure from temporal captiuitie by Cyrus King of Assirians And finally in the last eightene chapters he prophecieth largely of the perfect deliuerie by Christ conuersion of al Nations reiection of the Iewes til nere the end of the world when they shal also returne to Christ THE PROPHECIE OF ISAIE CHAP. I. Isaie prophecying in the dayes of foure kinges of Iuda 2. admonisheth both princes and people of their ingratitude and other sinnes against God 7. for which they shal be led captiue 11. Neither shal sacrifices nor prayers saue them 16. except they cleanse their soules from sinnes 20. which they not doing shal be seuerely punished 26. Wherby the reliques shal be purged and the Church shal flourish THE vision of Isaie the sonne of Amos which he sawe concerning Iuda and Ierusalem in the dayes of Ozias Ioathan Achaz and Ezechias kinges of Iuda †Heare ye heauens geue eare ô earth because our Lord hath spoken I haue brought vp children and exalted them but they haue despised me †The oxe hath knowen his owner and the asse his masters crib but Israel hath not knowen me and my people hath not vnderstood †Woe to the sinful nation the people loden with greeuous iniquitie the wicked seede vngracious children they haue forsaken our Lord they haue blasphemed the holie one of Israel they are reuolted backewards †For what shal I strike you anie more which adde preuarication euerie head is sicke euerie hart in heauines †From the sole of the foote vnto the toppe of the head there is no health therein wound and wayle and swelling stroke it is not bound vp nor cured with medicine nor mollified with oile †Your land is desolate your cities burnt with fire your countrie strangers deuoure before your face and it shal be made desolate as in the spoile of enemies †And the daughter of Sion shal be left as a vineyard and as a cottage in a place of cucumbers and as a citie that is wasted †Vnlesse the Lord of hostes had lefte vs seed we had beene as Sodom and we should be like to Gomorrha †Heare the word of our Lord ye princes of Sodom geue eare to the law of our God ye people of Gomorrha †To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victimes saith our Lord I am ful the holocaust oframmes and the fatte of fatlings and the bloud of calues and lambes and buck goates I haue not desired †When you should haue come before my sight who sought for these thinges at your handes that you should walke in my courtes †Offer sacrifice no more in vaine incense is abomination to me The Newe moone and the Sabbath and other sestiuities I wil not abide your assemblies are wicked †My soule hateth your Calendes and your solemnities they are become tedious to me I haue laboured in susteyning †And when you shal streach forth your hands I wil turne away mine eies from you when you shal multiplie prayer I wil not heare for your handes are ful of bloud †Wash you be cleane take away the euil of your cogitations from mine eies cease to doe peruersely †Lerne to doe good seeke iudgement succour the oppressed iudge for the pupil defend the widow †And come and accuse me sayth our Lord if your sinnes shal be as scarlet they shal be made white as snow and if they be red as vermelon they shal be white as wooll †If you be willing and wil heare me you shal eate the good thinges
of the earth †But if you wil not and wil prouoke me to wrath the sword shal deuoure you because the mouth of our Lord hath spoken †How is the faythful citie ful of iudgement become an harlot iustice hath dwelled in it but now mankillers †Thy siluer is turned into drosse thy wine is mingled with water †Thy princes are vnfaithful companions of theues al loue giftes folow rewardes They iudge not for the pupil and the widowes cause goeth not in to them †For this cause sayth our Lord the God of hostes the mightie one of Israel Alas I wil comfort myselfe vpon mine aduersaries and wil be reuenged of mine enemies †And I wil turne mine hand to thee and I wil boyle out thy drosse til it be pure wil take away al thy tinne †And I wil restore thy iudges as they haue beene before and thy counselers as of old After these thinges thou shalt be called the iust a faithful citie †Sion shal be redemed in iudgement and they shal bring her backe in iustice †And he shal destroy the wicked and the sinners together and they that haue forsaken our Lord shal be consumed †For they shal be confounded for the idols to which they haue sacrificed and you shal be ashamed of the gardens which you chose †When you shal be as an oke the leaues falling of and as a garden without water †And your strength shal be as the isles of to we and your worke as a sparke and both shal be set on fire together and there shal be none to quench it CHAP. II. Al nations shal come to the Church of Christ which shal beginne in Ierusalem 6. And the Iewes shal be reiected for their idolatrie auarice and other sinnes 11. Proud men shal be humbled Gods glorie shal increase 18. Idolatrie shal be destroyed THE word that Isaie the sonne of Amos saw vpon Iuda and Ierusalem †And in the later dayes the montaine of the house of our Lord shal be prepared in the toppe of montaines and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and al nations shal flowe vnto it †And manie peoples shal goe shal say come and let vs goe vp to the mount of our Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he wil teach vs his wayes and we shal walke in his pathes because the law shal come forth from Sion and the word of our Lord from Ierusalem †And he shal iudge the Gentiles and rebuke manie peoples and they shal turne their swordes into culters and their speares into siethes nation shal not lift vp sword against nation neither shal they be exercised any more to battel †House of Iacob come ye and let vs walke in the light of our Lord. †For thou hast reiected thy people the house of Iacob because they are filled as in times past and haue had southsayers as the Philisthijms and haue stucke fast to strange children †The land is replenished with siluer and gold and there is no end of their treasures †And their land is replenished with horses and their chariotes are innumerable And their land is ful of idoles they haue adored the worke of their handes which their fingers made †And man bowed himself and man was humbled therfore forgeue them not †Enter thou into the rocke and be hid in a pitte in the ground from the face of the feare of our Lord from the glorie of his maiestie †The loftie eies of man are humbled and the height of men shal be made to stoupe our Lord onlie shal be exalted in that day †Because the day of the Lord of hostes shal be vpon al the proude and loftie and vpon euerie one that is arrogant and he shal be humbled †And vpon al the ceders of Libanus high eleuated vpon al the okes of Basan †And vpon al the high mountaines and vpon al little hilles eleuated †And vpon euerie high towre and euerie fensed wal †And vpon al the shippes of Tharsis and vpon al that is fayre to behold †And the loftines of men shal be bowed and the height of men shal be humbled and our Lord onlie shal be exaited in that day †And idols shal vtterly be destroyed †And they shal enter into the caues of rockes and into the pittes of the earth from the face of the feare of our Lord and from the glorie of his maiestie when he shal rise vp to strike the earth †In that day shal a man castaway the idols of his siluer and the idols of his gold which he had made him to adore mowles and battes †And he shal goe into the clefts of rockes and into the caues of stones from the face of the feare of our Lord and from the glorie of his maiestie when he shal rise vp to strike the earth †Cease therfore from the man whose spirit is in his nosthrels because he is reputed high CHAP. III. The Iewes shal be depriued of wise men 4. and be subiect to childish and effeminate gouerners 8. for their greuous sinnes 16. The proud curious and lasciuious attyre of their wemen 24. shal be turned into ignominie and sorow FOR behold the dominatour the Lord of hostes shal take away from Ierusalem and from Iuda the valiant and the strong al strength of bread and al strength of water †The strong and the man of warre the iudge and the prophete and southsayer and the ancient †The prince ouer fiftie and the honorable of countenance and the counseler and the wise of workemasters and the skilful of mystical speach †And I wil geue children to be their princes and the effeminate shal rule ouer them †And the people shal rush violently man against man and euerie one against his neighbour the childe shal make tumult against the ancient and the base against the noble †For a man shal take hold of his brother one of the house of his father Thou hast a garment be thou our prince and let this ruine be vnder thy hand †He shal answer in that day saying I am no physicion in my house there is no bread nor garment do not appoint me prince of the people †For Ierusalem is gone to ruine and Iuda is fallen because their tongue their inuentions were against our Lord to prouoke the eyes of his maiestie †The knowlege of their face hath answered them and they haue proclaimed their sinne as Sodom neither haue they hid it woe to their soule because euils are rendered to them †Say to the iust that it is wel because he shal eate the fruite of his inuentions †Woe to the impious vnto euil for the reward of his handes shal be made to him †My people their exactours haue spoyled wemen haue ruled ouer them My people they that cal thee blessed the same deceiue thee and dissipate
Sion the zele of the Lord of hostes shal doe this †Therfore thus sayth our Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians He shal not enter this citie and he shal not shoote arrow there and shilde shal not occupie it and he shal not cast rampier about it †In the way that he came by the same he shal returne and into this citie he shal not enter sayth our Lord. †And I wil protect this citie that I may saue it for myne owne sake and “ for Dauids sake my seruant †And the Angel of our Lord came forth and stroke in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred eightie fiue thousand And they arose in the morning and behold al were carcasses of dead men †And he went out and departed and Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians returned and dwelt in Niniue †And it came to passe when he adored in the temple of Nesroch his god Adramelech and Sarasar his sonnes stroke him with the sword and they fled into the land of Ararat Asarhaddon his sonne reigned for him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVII â—5 For Dauids sake VVe haue here a manifest example that the merites of Sainctes departed forth of this world do profite the liuing God protecting Ierusalem not only for his owne but also for his seruant Dauids sake Against which plaine sense Protestantes denying merites and prayers of Sainctes seme to haue no better quasion then this sillie shift â—eâ—ned without vvarrant of holie Scripture or ancient Father to interprete these vvordes for Dauids sake to signifie for Gods promise sake made to Dauid But if they be demanded vvhere and when God promised to Dauid that he vvould protect and saue the citie of Ierusalem from sacking by enimies or from ruine they can neuer shevv it God made Dauid conquerour of Ierusalem extirpating there the Iebusites who vntil his time kept the tovvre of Sion 2. Reg. 5. v. 7. protected the same citie al his time and long after And in certaine particular dangers promised to Achaz a vvicked king Isaie 7. and to this good king Ezechias here â— 4. Reg. 19. â— that he vvould saue and deliuer Ierusalem from oher particular distresses vvherin it vvas at those times but he promised not this to king Dauid Neither did God make a general promise to protect that citie perpetually For if he had so promised it should not haue bene subdued brought into captiuitie defaced as it was by the Babylonians And therfore this glosse of Protestants is built vpon false ground And the vvordes are as manifest as if the kings Maiestie should say I vvil protect the â—â—â—â— of London that I may saue it for myn ovvne sake and such my former subiectes sake that haue faithfully heretofore serued their kinges Or if he should say I vvil protect such a noblemans chiefe Manour place for myn owne sake for such his progenitors sake who serued me loyally VVherby is plainely signified that the king doâ—â— this â—ouour not only forth is ovvne sake but also for the merites of some that liued there and deserued vvel before Neither do vve produce this similitude to proue that is in controuersie but to explaine the Catholique doctrine apparent by this text and approued by the ancient Fathers and the vvhole Church of God CHAP. XXXVIII Ezechias being sick and advertised by the prophete that he shal then dye by prayer 〈…〉 prolongation of life 6. with promise of victorie confirmed by a signe 9. For which he rendereth thankes to God with a Canticle of praise IN those dayes Ezechias was sick euen to death and Isaie the sonne of Amos the prophet went in vnto him and said to him Thus sayth our Lord. Take order with thy house for thou shalt die and shalt not liue †And Ezechias turned his face to the wal and prayed to our Lord †and said I besech thee Lord remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect hart and haue done that which is good in thine eies And Ezechias wepte with great weeping †And the word of our Lord was made to Isaie saying †Goe tel Ezechias Thus saith our Lord the God of Dauid thy father I haue heard thy prayer and seene thy teares Loe I wil adde vpon thy dayes fiftene yeares †and out of the hand of the king of the Assirians wil I deliuer thee and this citie and wil protect it †And this shal be a signe to thee from our Lord that our Lord wil doe this word which he hath spoken †Behold I wil make the shadow of the lines returne by the which it is now gone downe in the dyal of Achaz in the sunne backward ten lines And the sunne returned ten lines by the degrees whereby it was gone downe †The scripture of Ezechias the king of Iuda when he had bene sicke and was recouered of his infirmitie I haue said In the middes of my daies shal I goe to the gates of hel I haue sought the residue of my yeares †I haue said I shal not see our Lord God in the land of the liuing I shal behold man no more and the inhabiter of rest †My generation is taken away and is wrapped together from me as the tent of shepehards My life is cut of as by a weauer whiles I yet began he cut me of from morning vntil night thou wilt make an end of me †I hoped vntil morning as a lion so hath he broken al my bones From morning vntil euening thou wilt make an end of me †As a yong swallow so wil I crie I wil meditate as a doue Mine eies are weakened looking on high Lord I suffer violence answer for me †What shal I say or what shal he answer me wheras him self hath done it I wil recount to thee al my yeares in the bitternes of my soule †Lord if mans life be such and the life of my spirit in such thinges thou shalt chasten me and shalt quicken me †Behold in peace is my bitternes most bitter But thou hast deliuered my soule that it should not perish thou hast cast al my sinnes behind thy backe †Because hel shal not confesse to thee neither shal death prayse thee they that goe downe into the lake shal not expect thy truth †The liuing the liuing he shal confesse to thee as I also this day the father shal make thy truth knowen to the children †O Lord saue me and we shal sing our psalmes al the dayes of our life in the house of our Lord. †And Isaie commanded that they should take a lumpe of figges plaster it vpon the wound and he should be healed †And Ezechias sayd What shal be the signe that I shal goe vp into the house of our Lord CHAP. XXXIX The king of Babylon sent legates to visite king Ezechias and congratulate his recouerie
conceiued labour and brought forth iniquitie †They haue broken the egges of aspes and haue wouen the spiders webbes he that shal eate of their egges shal die and that which is nourished shal be hatched into a cockatrice †Their webbes shal not be for clothing neither shal they be couered with their workes their workes are vnprofitable workes and the worke of iniquitie is in their handes †Their feete runne to euil hasten to shede innocent bloud their cogitations are vnprofitable cogitations waste and destruction are in their wayes †They haue not knowen the way of peace and there is no iudgement in their steppes their pathes are become croked to them euerie one that treadeth in them knoweth not peace †For this cause is iudgement far from vs iustice shal not apprehend vs. We expected light and behold darkenesse brightnes we haue walked in darkenes †We haue groped as blind men for the wal and as without eies haue feeled we haue stumbled at noone day as in darkenes in darke places as the dead †We al shal roare as beares and as mourning doues we shal lament We haue expected iudgement and there is none saluation and it is far from vs. †For our iniquities are multiplied before thee and our sinnes haue answered to vs because our wicked doings are with vs our iniquities we haue knowen †to sinne and lie against our Lord and we were turned away so that we went not after our God that we spake calumnie and trangression we conceiued and spake from the hart words of lying †And iudgement was turned backward and iustice stood far of because truth hath fallen downe in the streete and equitie could not enter in †And truth grew into obliuion and he that departed from euil lay open to the praye and our Lord saw and it appeared euil in his eies because there is no iudgement †And he saw that there is not a man and he was astoined because there is none to oppose himself and his owne arme saued to himself and his iustice it self confirmed him †He is clothed with iustice as with a brestplate and is an helmet of saluation on his head he is clothed with garments of reuenge and is couered as with a mantel of zele †As vnto reuenge as it were vnto retribution of indignation to his aduersaries and recompence to his enemies he wil repay the like to the ilandes †And they of the West shal feare the name of our Lord and they of the rysing of the sunne his glorie when he shal come as a violent streame which the spirit of our Lord driueth †and there shal come a redemer to Sion and to them that returne from iniquitie in Iacob sayth our Lord. †This is my couenant with them sayth our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth our Lord from this present and for euer CHAP. LX. In the Church of Christ shal shine the light of true faith and sincere charitie 8. which shal be spredde in al nations and continue al times 15. replenished with manie ioyful graces 18. and eternal glorie ARISE be illuminated Ierusalem because thy light is come the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee †Because loe darkenes shal couer the earth a mist the peoples but vpon thee shal our Lord arise and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee †And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light and kinges in the brightnes of thy rising †Lift vp thine eies round about and see al these are gathered together they are come to thee thy sonnes shal come from a farre thy daughters shal rise from the side †Then shalt thou see abound and thy hart shal meruel and be enlarged when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted to thee the strength of Gentiles shal come to thee †The inundation of camels shal couer thee the dromedaries of Madian and Epha al of Saba shal come bringing gold and frakincense and shewing forth prayse to our Lord. †Al the cattel of Cedar shal be gathered together vnto thee the rammes of Nabaioth shal minister to thee they shal be offered vpon my placable altar and I wil glorifie the house of my maiestie †Who are these that flie as cloudes and as doues to their windowes †For the ilandes expect me and the shippes of the sea in the begynning that I may bring thy sonnes from a farre their siluer their gold with them to the name of the Lord thy God and to the holie one of Israel because he hath glorified thee †And the children of strangers shal build thy walles and their kinges shal minister to thee for in mine indignation haue I stricken thee and in my reconciliation haue I had mercie vpon thee †And thy gates shal be open continually day and night they shal not be shut that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee and their kinges may be brought †For the nation and the kingdome that shal not serue thee shal perish and the Gentiles shal be wasted with desolation †The glorie of Libanus shal come to thee the firretree and boxetree and pinetree together to adorne the place of my sanctification and the place of my feete I wil glorifie †And the children of them that humbled thee shal come crouching to thee and al that detracted from thee shal adore the steppes of thy feete and shal cal thee the citie of the Lord Sion of the holie one of Israel †For that thou wast forsaken and hated and there was none that passed by thee I wil make thee to be the pride of worldes a â—oy vnto generation and generation †and thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles and thou shalt be nurced with the tette of kinges and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that saue thee and thy redemer the strong one of Iacob †For brasse I wil bring gold and for yron I wil bring siluer and for wood brasse and for stones yron and I wil make thy visitation peace and thine ouerseers iustice †Iniquitie shal no more be heard in thy land waste and destruction in thy borders and saluation shal occupie thy walles and prayse thy gates †Thou shalt haue the sunne no more to shine by day neither shal the brightnes of the moone lighten thee but the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and thy God for thy glorie †Thy sunne shal goe downe no more and thy moone shal not be diminished because the Lord shal be vnto thee for an euerlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shal be ended †And thy people al iust for euer shal inherite the land the bud
ye the transmigration which I haue sent out from Ierusalem into Babylon †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel to Achab the sonne of Colias and to Sedecias the sonne of Maasias which prophecie vnto you in my name falsely Behold I wil deliuer them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and he shal strike them in your eies †And of them a malediction shal be taken vp by al the transmigration of Iuda that is in Babylon saying Our Lord make thee as Sedecias and as Achab whom the king of Babylon fryed in the fire †for that they haue done follie in Israel and committed adulterie with their freindes wiues and haue spoken the word in my name falsely which I commanded them not I am the iudge and the witnes saith our Lord. †And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say †Thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel For that thou hast sent in thy name bookes to al the people that is in Ierusalem and to Sophonias the sonne of Maasias the priest to al the priestes saying †Our Lord hath made thee priest for Ioiada the priest that thou shouldest be ruler in the house of our Lord vpon euerie man rauing and prophecying to put him into the stockes and into prison †And now why hast thou nor rebuked Ieremie the Anathothite which prophecieth vnto you †Because vpon this he hath sent into Babylon to vs saying It is long build ye houses and inhabite them and plant gardens and eate the fruities of them †Sophonias therefore the priest reade this booke in the eares of Ieremie the propher †And the word of our Lord was made to Ieremie saying †Send to al the transmigration saying Thus saith the Lord to Semeias the Nehelamite Because Semeias hath prophecied to you and I sent him not and hath made you to trust in a lie †Therefore thus saith our Lord Behold I wil visite vpon Semeias the Nehelamite and vpon his seede there shal not be vnto him a man sitting in the middes of this people and he shal not see the good that I wil doe to my people saith our Lord because he hath spoken preuarication against our Lord. CHAP. XXX The prophet is commanded to write the same which he preacheth 4. first pensiue thinges 8. Then ioyful 9. Especially in the new Testament when God wil raise Dauid towitte Christ 16. Who shal destroy al enemies 19 And whose Church shal be great glorious and perpetual THIS is the word that was made to Ieremie from our Lord saying †Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel saying Write vnto thee al the wordes that I haue spoken to thee in a booke †For behold the daies come saith our Lord and I wil conuert the conuersion of my people Israel and Iuda saith our Lord and I wil make them returne to the land which I gaue their fathers and they shal possesse it †And these are the wordes that our Lord hath spoken to Israel and to Iuda †Because thus saith our Lord We haue heard a voice of terrour there is feare and no peace †Demand and see if a man beare childe wherefore then haue I seene euerie mans hand vpon his loyne as a woman that is in trauel and al faces are turned into the iaundice †Alas because that is a great day neither is there the like to it and it is the time of tribulation to Iacob and he shal be saued out of it †And it shal be in that day saith the Lord of hostes I wil breake his yoke from of thy necke and wil breake his bandes and strangers shal no more rule ouer him †but they shal serue our Lord their God and Dauid their king whom I wil raise vp to them †Thou therefore my seruant Iacob feare not saith our Lord neither be thou afrayd Israel because loe I wil saue thee out of a farre countrie and thy seede out of the land of their captiuitie and Iacob shal returne and be at rest flow with al good thinges and there shal be none whom he may feare †because I am with thee saith our Lord to saue thee for I wil make a consumation in al the Nations in which I haue dispersed thee but thee I wil not make into consummation but I wil chastice thee in iudgement that thou maist not seme to thy selfe innocent †Because thus saith our Lord Thy wound is vncurable thy stripe is very sore †There is none to iudge thy iudgement to binde it vp there is no prosite of medicines for thee †Al thy louers haue forgoten thee and wil not seeke thee for with the stroke of an enemie I haue striken thee with cruel chastisment for the multitude of thine iniquitie thy sinnes are hardened †What criest thou vpon thine affliction thy sorow is vncurable for the multitude of thine iniquitie and for thine hardned sinnes I haue done these thinges to thee †Therefore al that eate thee shal be deuoured and al thine enemies shal be led into captiuitie and they that waste thee shal be wasted and al thy spoilers wil I geue to the spoile †For I wil close vp thy wound and wil heale thee of thy woundes saith our Lord. Because they haue called thee ô Sion an out cast This is she that had none to seeke after her †Thus saith our Lord Behold I wil conuert the conuersion of the tabernacles of Iacob and wil haue pitie on his houses and the citie shal be built in her high place and the temple shal be founded according to the order thereof †And out of them shal come forth praise and the voice of them that play and I wil multiplie them and they shal not be diminished and I wil glorifie them they shal not be lessened †And his children shal be as from the beginning and his assemblie shal be permanent before me and I wil visite against al that afflict him †And his duke shal be of himself and the prince shal be brought forth from the middes of him and I wil bring him nere and he shal come to me For who is this that applieth his hart to approch vnto me saith our Lord †And you shal be my people and I wil be your God †Behold the whirle wind of our Lord the furie going forth the storme violently falling it shal light vpon the head of the impious †Our Lord wil not turne away the wrath of indignation til he haue done and accomplished the cogitation of his hart in the latter daies you shal vnderstand these thinges CHAP. XXXI God wil reduce Israel from captiuitie 4. and geue them abundance of al thinges 9. after their tribulation 15. Rachel The afflicted Church shal cease from mourning 18. confessing that she is iustly chastised 20. Christ a perfect man shal be conteyned in his mothers wombe 26. He rising from slepe death wil build
as the wounded in the streets of the citie when they yelded vp the ghostes in the bosome of their mothers Wherto shal I compare thee or wherto shal I liken thee ô daughter of Ierusalem wherto shal I make thee equal and comfort thee ô virgin daughter of Sion For great is thy destruction as the sea who shal heale thee Thy prophetes haue sene false and foolish thinges for thee neither haue they opened thyne iniquitie to prouoke thee to penance but they haue sene false burdens and banishements for thee Al that passed by the way haue clapped their handes vpon thee they haue hissed and moued their head vpon the daughter of Ierusalem saying Is this the citie of perfect beautie the ioy of al the earth Al thyne enemies haue opened their mouth vpon thee they haue hissed and gnashed with the teeth and haue sayd We wil deuour Loe this is the day which we expected we haue found it we haue sene it Our Lord hath done the thinges that he meant he hath accomplished his word which he commanded from the dayes of old he hath destroyed and hath not spared and he hath made the enemie ioyful ouer thee and hath exalted the horne of thine aduersaries Their hart hath cryed to our Lord vpon the walles of the daughter of Sion Shede teares as a torrent by day and night geue no rest to thyself neither let the aple of thyne eye cease Arise prayse in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy hart as waters before the sight of our Lord lift vp thy handes to him for the life of thy litle ones which haue fainted for famine in the head of al high wayes See ô Lord and consider whom thou hast vintaged thus shal wemen then eate their owne fruite litle ones of the measure of a spanne is the priest and the prophet slaine in the sanctuarie of our Lord The childe and the old man lay on the ground without my virgins and my yongmen are fallen by the sword thou hast killed in the day of thy furie thou hast strooken neither hast thou had mercie Thou hast called as it were to a solemne day those that should terrifie me round about and there was none in the day of the furie of our Lord that escaped and was left whom I brought vp nourished mine enemie hath consumed them CHAP. III. I THE man that see my pouertie in the rod of his indignation He hath led me and brought me into darknes and not into light Only against me he hath turned and hath conuerted his hand al the day He hath made my skinne old and my flesh he hath broken my bones He hath built round about me and he hath compased me with gaul and labour In darke places he hath placed me as the euerlasting dead He hath built round about against me that I goe not forth he hath aggrauated my fetters Yea and when I shal crie and aske he hath excluded my prayer He hath shut vp my wayes with square stones he hath subuerted my pathes He is become vnto me a beare lying in waite a lyon in secret places He hath subuerted my pathes and hath broken me he hath made me desolate He hath bent his bow and set me as a marke for the arrow He hath shot in my reines the daughters of his quiuer I am made a derision to al my people their songue al the day He hath replenished me with bitternes he hath inebriated me with wormwood And he hath broken my teeth by number he hath fed me with ashes And my soule is repelled from peace I haue forgotten good thinges And I sayd Mine end is perished and mine hope from our Lord. Remember my pouertie and transgression the wormwood and the gual Remembring I wil be mindful and my soule shal languish in me Recording this thing in my hart therfore wil I hope The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed because his commiserations haue not fayled New in the morning great is thy fidelite Our Lord is my portion sayd my soule therfore wil I expect him Our Lord is good to them that hope in him to the soule that seeketh him It is good to waite with silence for the saluation of God It is good for a man when he beareth the yoke from his youth He shal sit solitarie and hold his peace because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himself He shal put his mouth in the dust if perhaps there be hope He shal geue the cheeke to him that striketh him he shal be filled with reproches Because our Lord wil not reiect for euer Because if he hath reiected he wil also haue mercie according to the multitude of his merciés For he hath not humbled from his hart and cast of the children of men To stamp vnder his fete al the prisoners of the earth To auert the iudgement of a man before the face of the Highest To peruert a man in his iudgement our Lord hath not knowne Who is this that hath commanded it to be done our Lord not commanding it Out of the mouth of the Highest there shal not procede neither euil thinges nor good What hath the liuing man murmured man for his sinnes Let vs search our wayes seeke and returne to our Lord. Let vs lift vp our hartes with our handes to our Lord into the heauens We haue done wickedly and prouoked to wrath therfore thou art inexorable Thou hast couered in furie and hast strooken vs thou hast killed and not spared Thou hast sette a cloude before thee that prayer may not passe Thou hast made me to be rooted out and abiect in the middes of the peoples Al the enemies haue opened their mouth vpon vs. Prophecie is made vnto vs feare and snare and destruction Myne eye hath shed streames of waters in the destruction of the daughter of my people Myne eye is afflicted neither hath it bene quiet because there was no rest Til our Lord regarded and looked from the heauens Mine eye hath spoyled my soule for al the daughters of my citie Myne enemies in hunting haue caught me as a birde without cause My life is fallen into the lake and they haue layd a stone vpon me The waters haue flowed ouer my head I sayd I am vndone I haue inuocated thy name ô Lord from the lowest lake Thou hast heard my voice turne not away thine eare from my sobbings and cries Thou didst approch in the day when I inuocated thee thou hast sayd Feare not Thou hast iudged ô Lord the cause of my soule redemer
of my life Thou hast seene ô Lord their iniquitie against me iudge my iudgement Thou hast seene al their furie al their cogitations against me Thou hast heard their reproch ô Lord al their cogitations against me The lippes of them that rise vp against me and their cogitations against me al the day See their sitting downe and their rysing vp I am their psalme Thou shalt render them a recompence ô Lord according to the workes of their handes Thou shalt geue them a shild of hart thy labour Thou shalt persecute in furie and shalt destroy them from vnder the heauens ô Lord. CHAP. IIII. HOW is the gold darkned the best colour changed the stones of the sanctuarie dispersed in the head of al streetes The noble children of Sion they that were clothed with the principal gold how are they reputed as earthen vessels the worke of the potters handes Yea euen the lamiaes haue opened their breast they haue geuen sucke to their yong the daughter of my people is cruel as the ostrich in the desert The tongue of the suckling hath clouen to the roofe of his mouth for thirst the litle ones haue asked bread and there was none that brake it vnto them They that fed volâ—ptuously haue dyed in the wayes they that were brought vp in scarlet haue imbraced the dung And the iniquitie of the daughter of my people is become greater then the sinne of Sodom which was ouerthrowen in a moment and handes tooke nothing in her Her Nazareites whiter then snow purer then milke â—uâ—dier then the old yuorie fayrer then the sapphire Their face is made blacker then coales and they are not knowne in the streetes their skinne hath clouen to their bones it is withered and is made as wood It was better with them that were slaine with the sword then with them that were killed by famine because these pyned away consumed by the barrennes of the countrie The handes of pitiful wemen haue sodden their owne children they were made their meate in the destruction of the daughter of my people Our Lord hath accomplished his furie he hath powred out the wrath of his indignation and he hath kindled a fyre in Sion and it hath deuoured the fundations therof The kinges of the earth and al the inhabitants of the world did not beleue that the aduersarie and the enemie should enter in by the gates of Ierusalem For the sinnes of her prophets and the iniquities of her priestes which haue shed the bloud of iust men in the middes of her The blind wandered in the streetes they were polluted with bloud and when they could not they held their skirtes Depart ye polluted they cryed to them depart get ye hence touch not for they brawled were moued they said among the Gentiles He wil adde no more to dwel among theÌ„ The face of our Lord hath diuided them he wil not adde to respect them they haue not reuerenced the faces of the priests neither had they pitie on the ancients Whiles we yet stood our eyes fayled towards our vaine helpe when we looked attentiue to a nation that was not able to saue Our steppes slipped in the way of our streetes our end draweth nere our dayes are accomplished because our end is come Our persecuters were swifter then the eagles of the heauen vpon the mountaines they pursued vs in the desert they lay in waite against vs. The spirit of our mouth Christ our Lord is taken in our sinnes to whom we haue said In thy shadow shal we liue among the Gentiles Reioyce and be glad ô daughter of Edom which dwellest in the Land of Hus to thee also shal the cuppe come thou shalt be made drunken and naked Thine iniquitie is accomplished ô daughter of Sion he wil adde no more to transport thee he hath visited thine iniquitie ô daughter of Edom he hath discouered thy sinnes CHAP. V. The prayer of Ieremie the Prophet REmember ô Lord what is fallen to vs behold and regard our reproch †Our inheritance is turned to aliens our houses to strangers †We are made pupils without father our mothers are as it were widowes †Our water we haue drunke for money our wood we haue bought for a price †We were led by our neckes no rest was geuen to the wearie †We haue geuen our hand to Aegypt and to the Assyrians that we might be filled with bread †Our fathers haue sinned and they are not we haue borne their iniquities †Seruantes haue ruled ouer vs there was none that would redeme vs out of their hand †In peril of our liues did we fetch vs bread at the face of the sword in the desert †Our skinne was burnt as an ouen by reason of the tempests of famine †They humbled the wemen in Sion and the virgins in the cities of Iuda †The princes were hanged vp by the hand they did not reuerence the faces of the ancients †Yongmen they abused vnchastly and the children fel in wood †The ancients decayed out of the gates the yongmen out of the quier of the singers †The ioy of our hart hath fayled our quyre is turned into mourning †The crowne of our head is fallen wo to vs because we haue sinned †Therfore is our hart made sorowful therfore are our eyes darkned †For mount Sion because it is perished foxes haue walked on it †But thou ô Lord shalt remaine for euer thy throne in generation and to generation †Why wilt thou for euer be forgetful of vs wilt thou forsake vs in length of daies †Conuert vs ô Lord to thee and we shal be conuerted renew our dayes as from the beginning †But reiecting thou hast reiected vs thou art angrie against vs excedingly THE ARGVMENT OF BARVCHS PROPHECIE MANIE ancient Fathers supposed this Prophecie to be Ieremies though none doubted but Baruch his scribe was the writer therof So S. Xistus Epist ad omnes fideles S. Ireneus li. 5. c. 35. S. Clement of Alexandria li. 1. c. 10. li. 2. c. 3. Pedag. S. Cyprian li. 2. c. 5. 6. contra Iudaeos Eusebius Coesariensis li. de Propheticorum libor appellationibus Cap. de Ieromia li. 6. c. 19. Demonst Euangel Lactantius li. 4. c. 13. Diuin Instit The first Councel of Nice li. 2. fol. 105. 109. S. Hilarie li. 5. de Trinit sub finem S. Cyril of Ierusalem Catechesi 4. 11. de Concursu Domini S. Basil li. 4. cont Eunomium S. Ambrose li. de fide c. 7. cont Arianos li. de Paenit c. 8. li. 3. Examer c. 14. S. Gregorie Nazianzen Orat. 49. deside Epist. 2. ad Cledâ—nium S. Epiphanius cont
your beds in the morning light they doe it because their hand is against God †And they haue couered fildes and violently taken and houses forcibly taken away and oppressed the man and his house the man and his inheritance †Therfore thus saith our Lord Behold I purpose euil vpon this familie whence you shal not take away your neckes and you shal not walke prowd because it is a very euil time †In that day a parable shal be taken vp vpon you and a songue shal be sung with sweetnes of them that say With depopulation we are wasted part of my people is changed how shal he depart from me wheras he returneth that wil diuide our regions †For this cause thou shalt haue none casting the cord of lot in the assemblie of our Lord. †Speake ye not speaking It shal not droppe vpon these confusion shal not apprehend them †The house of Iacob saith Way is the spirit of our Lord abridged or are his cogitations such Are not my wordes good with him that walketh rightly †And on the contrarie my people is risen vp as an aduersarie from aboue the cote you haue taken away the cloke them that passed simply you turned into battel †The wemen of my people you haue cast out of the house of their delicacies from their litle ones you haue taken my praise for euer †Arise and goe because you haue no rest here For the vncleannes therof it shal be corrupted with a sore putrefaction †Would God I were not a man hauing the spirit and that I did rather speake a lie I wil distil to thee into wine and into drunkennes and it shal be this people vpon whom it is distilled †Gathering I wil gather thee wholly together ô Iacob I wil bring together the remnant of Israel into one I wil put them together as a flocke in the fold as cattel in the middes of sheepcotes they shal make a tumult by reason of the multitude of men †For he shal ascend opening the way before them they shal diuide and passe through the gate and shal enter by it and their king shal passe before them and our Lord in the head of them CHAP. III. For the sinnes of the rich opressing the poore 5. of falfe prophets flatering for lucre 9. and of Iudges peruerting iustice 12. Ierusalem and the temple shal be destroyed AND I sayd Heare ye princes of Iacob ye dukes of the house of Israel Why is it not your part to know iudgement †which hate good and loue euil which violently take away their skinnes from them and their flesh from their bones †Which haue eaten the flesh of my people and haue stead their skinne from them and haue broken and cut their bones as in a kettle as it were flesh in the middes of a potte shal they crie to our Lord and he wil not heare them and he wil hide his face from them at that time as they haue done wickedly in their inuentions †Thus sayth our Lord vpon the prophets that seduce my people that bite with their teeth nnd preach peace and if a man geue not something in their mouth they sanctifie battel vpon him †Therfore there shal be nigt to you for vision and darkenes to you for diuination and the sunne shal goe downe vpon the prophets the day shal be darkened ouer them †And they shal be confounded that see visions and the diuiners shal be confounded and al shal couer their faces because there is no answer of God †But yet I am replenished with the strenght of the spirit of our Lord with iudgement and power to declare vnto Iacob his wickednes and to Israel his sinne †Heare this ye princes of the house of Iacob and ye iudges of the house of Israel which abhorre iudgement peruert al right thinges †Which build Sion in bloud and Ierusalem in iniquitie †Her princes iudged for gifts and her priests taught for wages and her prophets diuined for money they rested vpon our Lord saying Why is not our Lord in the middes of vs euils shal not come vpon vs. †For this because of you Sion shal be ploughed as a filde and Ierusalem shal be as an heape of stones and the mount of the temple as the high places of forests CHAP. IIII. Manie Gentiles shal beleue in Christ 6. and lastly the multitude of Iewes 8. In the meane time the two tribes shal be caried into captiuitie and be deliuered againe AND it shal be In the later end of dayes there shal be the mount of the house of our Lord prepared in the toppe of mountaines and high about the hilles and peoples shal flow to it †And manie nations shal hasten shal say Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of our Lord to the house of the God of Iacob he wil teach vs of his wayes and we shal goe in this pathes because out of Sion shal the law goe forth and the word of our Lord out of Ierusalem †And he shal iudge betwen manie peoples and he shal rebuke strong nations vnto a far of and they shal cut their swordes into culters and their speares into spades nation shal not take sword against nation and they shal no more learne to make battel †And euerie man shal sitte vnder his vine vnder his figtree and there shal be none to make them afrayd because the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it †Because al peoples wil walke euerie one in the name of his God but we shal walke in the name of the Lord our God for euer and euer †In that day saith our Lord I wil gather her that halteth and her that I had cast out I wil gather vp her whom I had afflicted †And I wil make her that halted into a remnant and her that had laboured into a mightie nation and our Lord wil reigne ouer them in mount Sion from this time now and for euer †And thou the towre of flocke clowdie of the daughter of Sion shal come to thee and the first powre shal come the kingdom to the daughter of Ierusalem †Now why art thou drawne together with pensifnes why is there not a king to thee or is thy counselor perished because sorow hath apprehended thee as a woman in trauel †Sorow thou labour ô daughter of Sion as a woman in trauel because now shalt thou goe out of the citie and shalt dwel in the countrie and shalt come euen to Babylon there thou shalt be deliuered there our Lord wil redeme thee out of the hand of thine enemies †And now manie nations are gathered together vpon thee which say Let her be stoned and let our eye looke vpon Sion †But they haue not knowne the cogitations of our Lord and haue not vnderstood his counsel
singing in the window the rauen on the vpper post because I wil attenuate her strength †This is the glorious citie dwelling in confidence that sayd in her hart I am and beside me there is none other els how is she become as a desert the couche for beastes euerie one that passeth by her shal hisse and wag his hand CHAP. III. Ierusalem for reiecting Gods admonitions shal be destroyed 7. Christ being risen from death the Iewes persecuting the faithful shal be reiected miserably destroyed 9. and the Gentils called 11. So his Church shal floorish 13. and at last the Iewes shal be conuerted VVO TO thee thou prouoking and redemed citie the doue †She hath not heard the voice and she hath not receiued discipline she hath not trusted in our Lord to her God she hath not approched †Her princes in the middes of her as lions roarnig her iudges wolues in the euening left nothing for the morning †Her prophets madde men vnfaythful her priests haue polluted the holie they haue done vniustly agaynst the law †Our iust Lord in the middes therof wil not doe iniquitie in the morning in the morning he wil geue his iudgement into light and it shal not be hid but the wicked man hath not knowen the confusion †I haue destroyed the Gentils their corners are dissipated I haue made their wayes desert whiles there is none that passeth by their cities are desolate not a man remayning nor any inhabiter †I sayd Neuertheles thou shalt feare me thou shalt receiue discipline and her habitation shal not perish for al thinges wherin I haue visited her but yet rysing early they corrupted al their cagitations ◠Wherfore expect me sayth our Lord in the day of my resurrection til hereafter because my iudgement to assemble the Gentils and to gather kingdomes to powre vpon them mine indignation al the wrath of my furie for in the fyre of my ielousie shal al the earth be deuoured †Because c then wil I restore to the peoples a chosen lippe that al may inuocate in the name of the Lord may serue him with one shoulder †Beyond the riuers of Aethiopia thence shal my suppliants the children of my dispersed bring me a gift †In that day thou shalt not be confounded vpon al thine inuentions wherin thou hast preuaricated against me because then wil I take away out of the middes of thee the loftie speakers of thy pride thou shalt adde no more to be exalted in my holie mount †And I wil leaue in the middes of thee a people poore and needie they shal hope in the name of our Lord. †The remnāt of Israel shal not doe iniquitie neyther shal they speake leasing and deceitful tongue shal not be found in their mouth because they shal feede and shal lie downe and there shal be none to make them afrayd †Prayse ô daughter of Sion make iubilation Israel be glad reioyce in al thy hart ô daughter of Ierusalem †Our Lord hath taken away thy iudgement he hath turned away thine enemies the king of Israel our Lord in the middes of thee thou shalt feare euil no more †In that day it shal be sayd to Ierusalem Feare not to Sion let not thy handes be dissolued †Our Lord thy God in the middes of thee strong he wil saue he wil reioyce vpon thee in gladnes he wil be silent in his loue he wil be ioyful vpon thee in prayse †The triflers that were departed from thee I wil gather together because they were of thee that thou mayst no more haue reproch for them †Behold I wil kil al that haue afflicted thee at that time and I wil saue the halt her that was cast out I wil gather and I wil make them into prayse and into name in al the land of their confusion †In that time when I wil bring you and in the time that I wil gather you for I wil geue you into a name and into prayse to al the people of the earth when I shal conuert your captiuitie before your eyes saith our Lord. THE PROPHECIE OF AGGEVS AGGEVS prophecying in the second yeare of Darius Histaspis king of Persians that is in the 18. yeare after the relaxation from captiuitie of Babylon exhorteth to reedifie the Temple which had bene begune and intermitted promising much prosperitie after the building therof and finally the coming of Christ desired of al nations who by his presence wil glorifie this new temple more then the former built by Salomon and especially prophecieth the glorie of his Catholique Church which shal much excel the Church of the old Testament CHAP. I. The Iewes building to themselues excellent houses are iustly reprehended for not building the Temple of God 10. VVhich is the cause of the barrennes sicknes and other euils 12. VVherupon they vndertake the holie worke IN THE second yeare of Darius the king the sixth moneth in the first day of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet to Zorobabel the sōne of Salathiel duke of Iuda to b Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest saing †Thus sayth the Lord of hostes saying This people sayth The time is not yet come of building the house of our Lord. †And the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophete saying †Why is it time for you to dwel in embowed houses and this house desert †And now thus sayth the Lord of hostes Set your hartes vpon your wayes †You haue sowed much and brought in litle you haue eaten and haue not bene filled you haue drunke and haue not bene inebriated you haue couered your selues haue not bene warmed and he that hath gathered the wages put them into a broken bag †Thus sayth the Lord of hosts Set your harts vpon your wayes †go vp into the mountayne carie timber and build the house and it shal be acceptable to me and I shal be glorified sayth our Lord. †You haue looked for more and behold it became lesse and you brought it into the house and I puft at it for what cause sayth the Lord of hosts because my house is desert and you hasten euerie man into his owne house †For this cause were the heauens stayed ouer you that they gaue no dew and the earth was prohibited that it yelded not her spring †and I called a drought vpon the earth vpon the mountaines and vpon the wheate and vpon the wine and vpon the oile and what thinges soeuer the ground brought forth vpon men vpon beastes vpon al the labour of the handes †And Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the high priest al the remnant of the people heard the voice of their God the wordes of Aggeus the prophet as our Lord their
armie are neere vs in the mount but stand ye now against our enemies and ouerthrow them and you shal take the spoiles afterwards secure †And as Iudas was speaking these wordes loe a certaine part appeared looking forth from the montayne †And Gorgias saw that his men were turned to flight that they burnt the campe for the smoke that was sene declared what was done †Which thinges seene they feared excedingly beholding withal both Iudas the armie in the playne readie to battel †And they did al flee into the playne of the aliens †and Iudas returned to the spoiles of the campe they tooke much gold and siluer and hiacynth and purple of the sea and great riches †And turning they sung an hymne and blessed God towards heauen because he is good because his mercie is for euer †And great saluation was made in Israel in that day †And whosoeuer escaped of the aliens they came and told Lysias al thinges that had chanced †Which when he heard being amased he faynted in mynd that such thinges chanced not in Israel as he would and such as the king commanded †And the yeare folowing Lysias gathered of chosen men three score thousand and of horsemen fiue thousand to ouerthrow them †And they came into Iewrie and pitched the campe in Bethoron and Iudas mette them with ten thousand men †And they saw the armie strong and he prayed and sayd Blessed art thou ô sauiour of Israel which brakest the assault of the mightie by the hand of thy seruant Dauid and didst deliuer the campe of the aliens into the hand of Ionathas Sauls sonne and of his esquyer †shut vp this armie in the hand of thy people Israel and let them be confounded in their armie and horsemen †Geue them feare and consume the bouldnes of their strength and let them be shaken with their contrition †cast them downe with the sword of them that loue thee let al that know thy name prayse thee in hymnes †And they ioyned battel and there fel of the armie of Lysias fiue thousand men †And Lysias seing the flight of his men and the boldnes of the Iewes and that they are readie either to liue or to dye manfully he went to Antioch and chose souldiars that being multiplied they might come agayne into Iewrie †But Iudas and his bretheren sayd Behold our enemies are discomfited let vs goe vp now to clense the holie places and to renew them †And al the armie assembled together and they went vp into mount Sion †And they saw the sanctification desert and the altar prophaned and the gates burnt and in the courts shrubbes growen vp as in a forest or on the mountaynes the chambers throwen downe †And they rent their garments and lamented with a great lamentation and layd ashes vpon their head †and they fel on their face vpon the earth and cried out with trumpets of significations and cried towards heauen †Then Iudas ordayned men to fight against them that were in the castel til they clensed the holie places †And he chose priests without spotte hauing their wil in the law of God †and they clensed the holie places and tooke away the stones of contamination into an vncleane place †And he considered of the altar of holocausts that was prophaned what he should doe with it †And good counsel came to their mindes to destroy it lest perhaps it might be a reproch to them because the Gentils contaminated it and they threw it downe †And they layd vp the stones in the mount of the house in a place conuenient til there should come a prophete and geue answer concerning them †And they tooke whole stones according to the law and builded a new altar according to that which was before †and they built the holie places and the thinges that were within the temple inward and the temple and the courts they sanctified †And they made the holie vessels new and brought in the candlestike and the altar of incenses and the table into the temple †And they put incense vpon the altar and lighted the lampes that were vpon the candlesticke and they gaue light in the temple †And they set loaues vpon the table and hung vp the veles and finished al the workes that they had made †And before the morning they arose the fiue and twentith day of the ninth moneth this is the moneth of Casleu of the hundreth and eight and fourtith yeare †and they offered sacrifice according to the law vpon the new altar of holocausts which they made †According to the time and according to the day wherin the heathen contaminated it in the same was it renewed in canticles and harps and lutes and in cymbals †And al the people fel on their face and they adored toward heauen and blessed him that prospered them †And they made the dedication of the altar eight dayes and they offered holocausts with ioy and sacrifice of saluation and of prayse †And they adorned the face of the temple with golden crownes litle shieldes and they dedicated the gates and the chambers and hanged doores vpon them †And there was made exceding great ioy in the people and the reproch of the Gentils was turned away †And Iudas decreed and his bretheren and al the church of Israel that the day of the dedication of the altar be kept in the times therof from yeare to yeare for eight dayes from the fiue and twentith day of the moneth Casleu with ioy and gladnes †And they builded at that time mount Sion round about high walles and strong towres lest sometime the Gentils should come conculcate it as they did before †And he placed an armie there to keepe it and he fensed it to keepe Bethsura that the people might haue a munition against the face of Idumea CHAP. V. Iudas and his bretheren expugne their bordering enimies 9. deliuer them that were distressed 17. Simon prospereth in Galeley 24. Iudas in Galaad 45. taketh Ephron and al returne safe into Ierusalem 55. Iosephus and Azarias attempting ambiciously without order to fight against their enemies are defeated 63. And Iudas hath more victories AND it came to passe as the Gentils round about heard that the altar was builded vp the sanctuarie as before they were exceding angrie †and they thought to take away the stocke of Iacob that were among them they began to kil of the people and to persecute †And Iudas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea and them that were in Acrabathane because they besette the Israelites round about and he stroke them with a great plague †And he remembred the malice of the children of Bean which were to the people a snare and a scandal lying in waite for them in the way †And they were shut
VERY GOOD SVBIECTES the Iewes the king prince Antiochus much health welfare and to be happie †If you and your children farewel if thinges be with you to your mind we geue very great thankes †And I being in infirmitie and mindeful of you benignely being returned out of the places of Persis taken with a grieuous infirmitie haue thought it necessarie to haue a care for the common profite †not despayring of myself but hauing great hope to escape the sicknes †But considering that my father also at what times he led his armie in the higher places he shewed who should take the princedome after him †that if any mishappe should chance or hard tydings be told they that were in the countries knowing to whom the whole gouernement was committed might not be trubled †Besides this considering that al the potestates and bordering neighboures wayte for times and expect the euent I haue appointed my sonne Antiochus king whom I hauing recourse oftentimes to the higher kingdoms did commend to manie of you I haue writen to him that which is set downe here beneath †I pray you therfore and desire you mindful of the benefits both publike and priuate that euerie one keepe his fidelitie to me and to my sonne †For I trust that he wil deale modestly gently and folowing my purpose and that he wil be common vnto you †Therfore the murderer and blasphemer being very sore strooken and as himself had handled others in a strange countrie among the mountaynes with a miserable death departed this life †But Philip his foster brother remoued his bodie who fearing the sonne of Antiochus went to Ptolomee Philometor into Aegypt CHAP. X. Iudas Machabeus clenseth the temple and institueth the feast of dedication 10. Young Antiochus Eupator reigning Ptolomeus of disgust killeth himself with poyson 14. Iudas resisteth great forces of Gorgias taketh certaine holdnes from the Idumeans punisheth traytors and killeth manie enimies 24. In his battel against Timothee is miraculously assisted from heauen 37. and finally killeth him BVT Machabeus and they that were with him our Lord protecting them recouered the temple the citie againe †but the altars which the aliens had set vp through the streets and also the temples he threw downe †And hauing purged the temple they made an other altar and out of fyred stones taking fire they offered sacrifices after two yeares and set incense and lampes and the breads of proposition †Which thinges being done they besought our Lord prostrate on the ground that they might no more fal into such euils but and if they had sometime sinned that they might be chastened of him more mildly not be deliuered to barbarous blasphemous men †And what day the temple had bene polluted of the aliens it happened that on the same day was made the purification the fiue and twentith of the moneth which was Casleu †And with ioy eight dayes they kept in maner of tabernacles remembring that a litle before they had kept the solemne day of Tabernacles in the mountaynes and in dennes after the maner of beasts †For the which cause they bare before them stalkes of herbs and greene boughes and palmes to him that gaue successe to clense his place †And they decreed by common precept and decree to al the nation of the Iewes euerie yeare to keepe these dayes †And Antiochus that was called the Noble his departure out of life was after this sort †But now of Eupator the sonne of Antiochus the impious we wil tel the thinges that haue bene done abbridging the euils that were done in the warres †For he hauing taken vpon him the kingdom appointed ouer the affaires of the king one Lysias general of the host of Phaenicia and Syria †For Ptolomee who was called Macer determined to be a keeper of iustice toward the Iewes and especially for the iniquitie that was done against them and to deale peaceably with them †But being accused for this of his freinds to Eupator when he was called oftentimes traytour because he had left Cypres commited vnto him by Philometor and remouing to Antiochus the Noble had reuolted also from him he made an end of his life with poyson †But Gorgias being captayne of the places taking vnto him strangers often warred against the Iewes †And the Idumeans that kept the commodious holdes receiued them that were chased from Ierusalem and attempted to make battel †And they that were with Machabeus beseeching our Lord by prayers that he would be their helper made an assault vpon the holdes of the Idumeans †and sticking to it with great force they wanne the places killed them that came in the way slewe altogether no lesse then twentie thousand †And wheras certaine were fled into two towres very strong hauing al prouision to make resistance †Machabeus for the expugning of them leauing Simon and Ioseph and also Zachaeus and such as were with them very manie himself turned to those battels which forced more †But they that were with Simon being led with couetousnes were perswaded with money by certaine that were in the towres and taking seuentie thousand didrachmaes they let certayne escape †But when it was told Machabaeus what was done assembling the princes of the people he accused them that they had sold their bretheren for money their aduersaries being let goe †These therfore being become traytours he slewe and forth with he tooke the two towres †And with weapons and handes doing al thinges prosperously in the two holdes he slewe more then twentie thousand †And Timothee who before had bene ouercome of the Iewes hauing called together an armie of foren multitude and gathering horsemen of Asia came as to take Iurie by armes †But Machabeus and they that were with him when he approched besought our Lord sprinkling their head with earth and being girded about the loynes with heareclothes †lying flatte at the brimme of the altar that he would be propicious to them and an enemie to their enemies and an aduersarie to their aduersaries as the law saith †And so after prayer taking weapons going forth somewhat far out of the citie and being come very neere the enemies they pitched †And at the very first rising of the sunne both ioyned battel these in deede hauing our Lord the suretie of victorie and prosperitie with vertue but they had courege for the captayne of the battel †But when there was a sore fight there appeared to the aduersaries from heauen fiue men vpon horses comelie with golden bridles conducting the Iewes †of whom two hauing Machabeus betwen them compassing him round about with their armour kept him safe and against the aduersaries they threw darts fire balles wherby both confounded with blindnes and filled with perturbation they fel. †And there were slaine twentie thousand fiue hundred and horsemen six
Babylon and was trubled lying in my chamber and my cogitations came vp ouer my hart †because I saw the desolation of Sion and the abundance of them that dwelt in Babylon †And my spirit was tossed excedingly and I began to speake to the highest timorous wordes †and sayd O Lord dominatour thou spakest from the beginning when thou didst plant the earth and that alone and didst rule ouer the people †and gauest Adam a dead bodie but that also was the worke of thy handes didst breath into him the spirit of life and he was made to liue before thee †and thou broughst him into paradise which thy right hand had planted before the earth came †And him thou didst command to loue thy way and he transgressed it forth with thou didst institute death in him and in his posteritie and there were borne nations and tribes and peoples and kinreds wherof there is no number †And euerie nation walked in their owne wil they did meruelous thinges before thee and despised thy preceptes †And agane in time thou broughst in the floud vpon inhabitantes of the world and didst destroy them †And there was made in euery one of them as vnto Adam to dye so to them the floud †But thou didst leaue one of them Noe with his house and of him were al the iust †And it came to passe when they began to be multiplied that dwelt vpon the earth multiplied children and peoples and manie nations and they begane againe to doe impietie more then the former †And it came to passe when they did iniquitie before thee thou didst choose thee a man of them whose name was Abraham †And thou didst loue him and to him on lie thou didst shew thy wil. †And thou didst dispose vnto him an euerlasting testament and toldst him that thou wouldst neuer forsake his seede And thou gauest him Isaac and to Isaac thou gauest Iacob and Esau †And Iacob thou didst seuer to thy selfe but Esau thou didst separate And Iacob grewe to a great multitude †And it came to passe when thou didst bring forth his sede out of Aegypt thou broughst it vpon mount Sinai †And thou didst bowe the heauens and fasten the earth and didst shake the world and madest the depthes to tremble and trubledst the world †and thy glorie passed foure gates of fire and of earthquake and winde and frost that thou mightst geue a law to the seede of Iacob and to the generation of Israel diligence †And thou didst not take away from them a malignant hart that thy law might bring forth fruite in them †For Adam the first bearing a viâ—ious hart transgressed and was ouercome yea and al that were borne of him †And it was made a permanent infirmitie and the law with the hart of the people with the wickednes of the roote and that which is good departed and the wicked remayned †And the times passed the yeares were ended and thou didst raise vp vnto thee a seruant named Dauid †and spakest vnto him to build a citie of thy name and to offer vnto thee in it frankencense and oblations †And this was done manie yeares and they that inhabited the citie forsooke thee †in al things as Adam and al his generations For they also vsed a wicked hart †And thou didst deliuer thy citie into the hands of thyne enimies †Why doe they better thinges that inhabite Babylon And for this shal she rule ouer Sion †It came to passe when I was come hither and had sene the impieties that can not be numbred and my soul saw manie offending this thirteth yeare my hart was astonied †because I saw how thou bearest with their sinne and didst spare them that did impiously and didst destroy thine owne people and preserue thine enimies and didst not signifie it †I nothing remember how this way should be forsaken doth Babylon better thinges then Sion †Or hath anie nation knowen thee beside Israel or what tribes haue beleued thy testamentes as Iacob †Whose reward hath not appeared nor their labour fructified For passing through I passed among the nations and I saw them abound and not mindeful of thy commandmentes †Now therfore wey our iniquities in a ballance and theirs that dwel in the world thy name shal not be found but in Israel †Or when haue not they sinned in thy sight that inhabite the earth or what nation hath so obserued thy commandmentes †These cettes by their names thou shalt finde to haue kept thy commandmentes but the nations thou shalt not finde CHAP. IIII. Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement of God 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations 33. nor of times and thinges to come AND the Angel answered me that was sent to me whose name was Vriel †and sayd to me Thy hart exceding hath exceded in this world thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest †And I sayd It is so my Lord. And he answered me sayd I am sent to shew thee three wayes to propose to thee three similitudes †Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them I also wil shew thee the way which thou desirest to see and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is †And I sayd Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me Goe wey me the weight of the fire or measure me the blast of the winde or cal me backe the day that is past †And I answered and sayd what man borne can doe it that thou askest me of these thinges †And he sayd to me If I should aske thee saying How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea or how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth or how great vaines be there aboue the firmament and what are the issues of paradise †thou wouldest perhaps say to me I haue not descended into the depth nor into hel as yet neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen †But now I haue not asked thee sauing of the fire and the winde and the day by the which thou hast passed and from the which thou canst not be separated and thou hast not answered me of them †And he sayd to me Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together with thee †and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest and now the world being outwardly corrupted vnderstand the corruption euident in my sight †I sayd to him Better were it for vs not to be then yet liuing to liue in impieties and to suffer and not to vnderstand for what thing †And he answered me said Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the filde and they deuised a deuise †and sayd Come and let vs goe and make watre against the sea that it
spirite the perfections which he wisheth in Christ in maner of congratulating describeth his fortitude fighting against the diuel for the Church n purposing o prosecuting p and perfecting the conquest and so establishing thy spiritual kingdome q Not vvith warlike armour of this world but by assaulting the aduersarie with truth r defending thyseâ—fe and thy souldiers with the shield of mildnes Å¿ and striking the enemie with the sword of iustice VVhich right force of spiritual fight hath meruelous good successe t Preaching of Christs Gospel his grace mouing the hartes of the hearers is liuelie and forcible more pearcing then anie two edged sword v The example of people conuerted shal moue the hartes of the aduersaries to come also vnto the truth w Christs kingdom shal haue no end Luc 1. v. 33. x Thou defendest and rewardest the good finally forsakest and punishest the wicked y more peculiarly the God of Christ by hypostatical vnion z Diuers kinges as Dauid him selfe Iosaphat Ezechias and Iosias were as godlie as Salomon and perseuered good to the end which is doubted Salomon did not but Christ incomparably was annointed indued with al graces aboue al kinges a Mortification which conserueth from putrifying b humilitie aswaging pride c being smal in the first spring grovveth great d humanitie assumpted and sanctified persons in vvhom Christ dwelleth as in cleane shining odoriferous houses e sincere faithful soules more deare to their spouse Christ then daughters of temporal kinges f The Catholique Church in faith purified as gold g vvith varietie of states as Clergie Laity and diuers sortes of religious Orders and other professions al vnited in the same faith hope and charitie h carifully al that Christ thy spouse speaketh to thee by his Spirite i diligently put the same in practise k vvith al obedience and readines and returne not to former infidelitie noâ— to corrupt life l Christ loueth the Church adoined with his giftes m and mutually his true children loue and serue him n Manie of al nations submitle themselues and al that they haue to Christ o Internal vertues are most especial ornaments p exterior are required to edifie others in diuers sortes of vertues q By this meanes manie more are conuerted to christianitie r and one countrie inuiteth and draweth another Å¿ As Apostles came in place of Patriarches and Prophetes so stil Bishops and Priestes succede in the Church pastors and gouernours therof t These pastores shal stil teach the true Christian doctrin v and stil there shal be Christian people that wil folow and professe the same Caluin expoundeth this Psalme contratie to S. â—aul No saluation out of the Church Perpetual succession of Byshops in place of the Apostles The Church prospereth also in persecution The 6. key a Belonging to the Church of Christ b As wel the cause vvhy God suffereth his Church to be persecuted at his assured protection in difficulties are hidden secretes to the world c Al refuge is not secure for one man is not able alwayes to defend an other but God is a sure and strong refuge d euer able and in conuenient time vvilling to helpe e This whole vvorld is ful of tribulations but the Church suffered the greatest in the first persecutions shal suffer as great in the time of Antichrist English Catholiques suffer most of al nations in this age and can not be suppressed but stil increase in number and fortitude f Therfore al Catholiques may assuredly know that the whole Church can not faile g though very manie as now in England h and very eminent persons as some noblemen and some Priestes haue reuolted yet al vvil not i Such bad examples make the good to recollect themselues more diligently and to reiâ—ycâ— in Gods grace by which they stand fast k before the heate of persecution shal inuade al for the elect the dayes of tribulation are shortned l Sometimes one nation or kingdome rebelleth against the Church but can not destroy it m by the spirite of Christ Antichrist and al his members shal be destroyed n The Church sometimes hath great peace and tranquilitie o God himselfe restrayneth the wicked suddainly abating their furie or cutting of their forces Vocation of Gentiles The 6. key a For Christians that leaue the sinnes of their fathers and reioyce in Christ crucified See Annotation Psal 41. b True ioy of the hart sheweth it selâ—e both in voice of exultation and also in gesture of body by clapping of handes dancing as king Dauid did before the Arke 2 Reg â— likevvise vvith instruments c To al the wicked d not only of one or few kingdoms but of al the earth e VVhen kinges and countries become Christians they are made subiectes to the Church that vvas before not heades and rulers therfore f Christ God man after his Passion rose from death and ascended g not leauing his Church desolate but making her ioyful by an other comforter the Holie Ghost h The same Christ is our God by his Diuinitie i and our king by his Humanitie k Doe your endeuour to vnderstand vvhat you sing read or heare in Gods word At least to know the principal Mysteries and pointes of Christian doctrin euerie one according to their capacitie and state or profession l The faithful of the old and nevv Testament are vnited in the seruice of one and the same eternal God m In respect of the Blessed Trinitie holie Scripture here and in manie places vseth names of the plural number as Eloim Goddes not diuiding Gods substance vvhich is one but insinuating distinction of Diuine Persons The Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost VVhich Mysterie is more expresly mentioned in Baptisme and professed by Christian gentils then it was by the people of the Ievves The Church founded and protected by God The 6. key a Voices beginning the musike instruments prosecuted b especially for the second day of the weke the day after the sabbath which is our Sunday called Dominica our Lords day c Ierusalem and mount Sion were most obliged to praise God for greatest benefites receiued so the Catholique Church therby prefigured and hauing receiued farre greatter is most of al bonden to be gratful d This can not be affirmed of Sion or Ierusalem but is only verified of the Catholique Christian Church e whose coastes do extend to the North and to al quarters of the round earth f The same one God one Christ one Faith and one Religion in al particular Churches of the vvhole militant Church g And this Vniuersalitie and Vnitie shal be after that Christ taking mans nature shal be ascended and shal send the Holie Ghost to found beginne this Church h For the assured certaintie of that is foreshewed the Prophet speaketh in the preteâ—â—ence as if it vvere already done in his time which he then savv in spirite i Nothing more moueth he hart affecteth al the bodie and soule
prouidence towards the good and bad the 3. key a A song as wel for king Dauid himselfe as others of al times b to sing c and consider Gods prouidence in suffering one man to afflict an other in this life d This life is awarefare and a continual combate e calumniated me f and persecuted me in great furie g so inwardly afflicted as if death were at hand h I haue scarse sense or discourse of reason being almost ouerwhelmed with trubles i would God I could flie that in the simplicitie of a doue I might spedely part away from these afflictions k I haue fled so farre as I could from trubles l for the rest I remitted to Gods wil and good pleasure m and he suffered me not to be ouerthrowne n though I am weake o and the tentations are great p O God abate the pride of arrogant persecuters q suffer them not to agree amongst them selues r They are ful of al iniquitie Å¿ they haue also contentions among themselues turne the same to our good t VVith their continual great iniquitie they haue their trubles v but leaue not their iniustice w They are stil vsurers and deceiptful oppressors of the poore x It is a greater griefe to suffer iniuries of those that seme to be freindes y A man that was or semed of the same mind faith and religion z whom I so trusted that I would haue gone whithersoeuer he should haue ledde me a Thou that didst participate the same holie sacraments with me b in the Catholique Church c As Core his complices spoken of iust zele not of desire to reuenge verified in those that sinne wittingly and knowing for they descend as it were aliue into hel d The whole crew of the wicked conspire in iniquitie e The prophet alludeth to three more specially appointed houres of Diuine seruice the daylie sacrifice at morning and euening and other sacrifices commonly about midday VVhich also are the three principal times of Diuine Seruice in the Church of Christ Martins Euensong and the Sacrifice of Masse VVhich Eutynâ—ius and other Grecians cal Lyturgiam S. Clement also li 7. c. 25. Apost Instit testifieth that the Apostles ordained three set houres of common prayer euerie day * â—r prâ—â— f Manie enimies combined together approched vnto me to ouerthrow me g Eternal God h They wil neuer repent of their wickednes i They harden their hartes against his threatned wrath k but Gods prouidente illuminateth others to know and teach the truth when it is impugned or contemned l Gods wordes which in them selues are meke and swete m are hard to the incredulous as dartes that wound them Christ said Ioan. 6. Vnles one eate my flesh drinke my bloud he shal not haue life in him which the Capharnaites not vnderstanding said one to an other This is a hard speach who can abide it which S. Augustin here saith was the first heresie against our Sauiours preaching It was not hard to S. Peter who in the name of the rest answered that Christ had the wordes of eternal life He yet vnderstood not the secrete of our Lords speach but he piously beleued that the wordes vvere good vvhich he vnderstood not n Therfore in al doubtes of doctrin in al distresses of persecution and other difficulties vvhich surpasse thy vveakenes cast thy care vpon our Lord and he vvil nourish thee o He vvil not suffer the iust to remaine alvvayes in fluctuation that is in doubtful dangerous and vvaueâ—ing thoughtes or perplexities as vvhen a shippe is tossed in the vvaues of the sea but vvil geue quiet repose of mind as in a sure hauen vvithout danger of drovvning p Contrariwise the wicked and obstinate shal fal into destruction q Often or for most part bloud-suckers dye before the course of nature requireth as Saul Absolon Achitophel Achab Iezabel and the like Dauids prayes in danger the â— key a This Psalme perteyneth also to future times b for the vse of anie iust persons or people that are against their wil separated from the publike diuine Seruice of holie Church c moâ—â— worthie to be noted with tule for perpetual memorie d made by Dauid when the Philistims detected him to their king in Geth e Now one sorte of il disposed men now another f neuer cease to seeke my destruction g Saul with his great armie the Philistimâ—s and other strangers some in manifest hostilitie others detecting and betraing me to myn aduersaries So al that liue godly in Christ haue manie enimies visible and inuisible h Of these most eminent great dangers I am in deede afeard i but so that my trust and assured confidence is in thee ô God k Wordes and promises made to me or the good which I speake or do by Gods grace l They calumniate whatsoeuer I say m wresting al my wordes to euil sense n They meete together and secretly conspire to intrappe me or catch me tripping o to take my life p for this their vaine purpose to destroy me thou wilt saue them as they deserue that is q thou wilt breake them in peeces r I wil alwayes gratfully acknowlege thy promises and sayings for they are assured Å¿ I haue purposed and vowed to offer sacrifice of praise and by thy helpe wil performe it t do that pleaseth God v in true faith and pious workes Dauids great patience the 8. key a The heroical facts of Dauid are for examples to al Christians b Innocent Dauid hauing opportunitie to kil his vniust persecutor obeyed the motion of God suggesting vnto him not to destroy his enimie contrarie to the counsel of his freindes c a thing most worthie to be recorded for perpetual memorie d being in so great and vniust truble as to lye in the caue of a mountaine yet spared to kil or hurt him that driue him into such straictes See the historie 1. Reg. 24. 1. â—â—â— 22. 24. e Extraordinarie diuine helpe passing mans powre f It fel reprochfully to Saul that Dauid might haue slaine him if he would yet did neither hurt him nor insult vpon him but meekely and piously admonished him of his error and iniurious persecution g my life h from most mightie and rauenous persecuters i Though they haue not lions natural teeth yet they exercise crueltie by artificial weapons k and with their cruel tongues incite their folowers to the same furie 1. Reg. 22. v. 16. l Saul endeuored manie wayes to ouerthrow Dauid amongst other meanes prouoked him to sette vpon the Philistims thincking they should haue slaine him 1. Reg. 18. v. 17. but the same Philistims ouerthrew Saul 1 Reg. 31. :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the Iewes See page 12. m Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the
that such workes may be profitable and be conserued they must be donne in true faith in the Catholique faith in societie of the vnitie of the Church h VVorkes are good and rightly laide vp when they are donne in vnitie and participation of Gods Altares the most proper places of Diuine Seruice of external Sacrifice in this life and spiritual sacrifice of perâ—ect praises in eternal glorie whereal Sainctes without ceasing sing Holie holie holie Lord God of hoastes Isaiae 6. Apoc. 4. i The Catholique Church k The iust by Gods grace and helpe may resolue to ascend by steppes and degrees from vertue to vertue v. 8. euen to heauen l though he be now in this vaile of teares by reason of mans sinne who otherwise was before sinne in paradise a place of delight m Christ our lawgeuer n geueth abundance of graces o with continual increase p but our only omnipotent God is to be senne by this effect of his grace in the Church and not elswhere q Agreably to this the Church maketh al her petitions concluding al prayers By Christ our Lord. r In respect of the future retribution which euerie one shal receiue according to their desertes one day in Gods Church is better then thousands out of it Å¿ And better to be in the poorest state of Catholique Christians t then in greatest palaces or hieghest dignities amongst sinners v The Diuine wisdom so vseth mercie and veritie that neither may preiudice the other vv and so geueth grace in this life x and glorie in the â—ext y Besides innocencie conserued without sinne there is also innocencie after remission of sinne of which the prophet here speaketh Incarnation of Christ the 5. key a God bestowed manie great benefites vpon the people of Israel b he brought them out of the bondage of Aegypt c Remitted their manifold sinnes d pardoned also a great part of due punishment e As thou hast soared thy peculiar people so we besech thee ô God creator and general Sauiour of al mankind f mitigate thy wrath towards vs al g Til God first shew his mercie sinners lye dead in guilt of sinne but by his grace they are sturred vp and quickned h and ioyfully returne to God i The wordes of the prophet k signifying that God had reueled vnto him the redemption of mankind l Not al men are iustified and saued but those that are hartely and sincerely conuerted m Though al be not saued because manie wil not cooperate to Gods grace yet very manie hauing the feare of God which is the beginning of godlie wisdom freely accept of Gods mercie and so â—he Church is gloriously propagated n VVheras Gods mercie would saue al and his truth or iustice requireth that sinnes be duly punished by Christs Passion and death sufficient satisfaction is offered for al sinnes and thoâ—e that wil be partakers by penance and conformitie to Gods law may haue remission o and so iustice is obserued and peace made betwen God and his subiects p Integritie of conscience reigneth in good men q God sending iust meanes from heauen to saue them r God geueth grace Å¿ and so men yeld fruict t Yea they walke in iustice and right path of Gods law A prayer for continual grace the 7. key a A forme of prayer for king Dauid and for anie faithful person b There be sundrie iust causes which moue God to heare our prayers c first our necessitie requireth Gods helpe d Secondly because we professe and promise to lead a holie life e Thirdly because we trust and hope in God f Fourtly because we perseuere in prayer g Fiftly if we pray with attention of mind h Sixtly because God of his owne nature is benigne readie to bestow benefites i Seuently he is meeke to remitte offences k Eightly he is merciful to mitigate the punishment to those that make recourse vnto him l For these causes we pray as foloweth m Vocation of Gentiles n They shal come by faith o and glorifie God by good workes Mat. 5. v. 17. p Cofession of praise q From the state of eternal damnation r In performing al promises Å¿ A digression vsual to prophetes of Christs Empyre and Kingdom the Church geuen to him being the sonne of an immaculate virgin the handmaide of God t The chief and principal signe of Christs and his Churches glorie is his Resurrection praefigured in Ionas v VVherby al enimies are confounded either to their conuersion or to eternal damnation See 6. Augustin The Catholique Church glorious the 6. key a Christs Church was first founded in Ierusalem on whitsunday Act. 2. in mount Sion which hath two toppes in one of which the Temple stood in the other Dauids towre oâ— palace b The Prophet in the person of Christ saith he wil commend vnto his Apostles and other Apostolical men that they conuert al nations as our Sauiour gaue expresse commission and commandment Math. 28. Luc. 24. v. 47. Act. 1. v. 8. c naming here Raab which is Aegypt and Babylon d The Philistims Tyrians Aethiopians e the rest shal be regenerate in this Church which for the assured certaintie therof after the prophets maner of speaking is affirmed in the pretertence as if it were then donne f It shal be reported or one shal say to an other Loe this and that man al these and al these men are regenerate by Baptisme in the Church of Christ g God himselfe Christ God and Man founded this Church h The multitude of the elect is so great that only God knoweth the number i and the qualities of al sortes of Princes Prelates and Peoples k Great spiritual ioy with peace of conscience is in true Christian Catholiques in the militant Church but the blessed haue the most absolute secure ioy of al in the Church triumphant A prayer in long affliction the 7. key a An instrument of musike apt for lamentable songues Not expressed in the title of anie other Psalme Perhaps because this Psalme mixteth not anie consolation with mourning as other Psalmes do which are also prayers in affliction As the 30. 53. 63. 73. b Neither is this word in anie other title It is added here to admonish vs that as this Psalme and some others were songue by two quires one answering the other so we must in answer and imitation of Christ suffer long and great afflictions with patience seing he in his passion was leift without ordinarie coÌ„solation c By some interpreted his bretheren For Christ saith S. Augustin voutchsaffeth to make them his bretheren which vnderstand the mysterie of his Crosse and not only are not ashamed therof but also faithfully glorie therin d I haue cried to thee very often both by day and by night e I am almost dead f Accounted as dead and readie to be buried g If I were dead I should be free from these afflictions Especially it agreeth to Christ who was free yea of infinite
testamentes †and their children because of them abide for euer their seede and their glorie shal not be forsaken †Their bodies are buried in peace and their name liueth vnto generation and generation †Let peoples tel their wisdom and the Church declare their praise †Henoch pleased God and was translated into paradise that he may geue repentance to the nations †Noe was found perfect iust and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation †Therefore was there a remnant least to the earth when the flood was made †The testaments of the world were made with him that al flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood †Abraham the great father of the multitude of the nations and there was not found the like to him in glorie who kept the law of the Highest and was in couenant with him †In his flesh he made the couenant to stand and in tentation he was found faithful †Therefore by an oath he gaue him glorie in his nation that he should encrease as an heape of earth †and that he would exalt his seede as the starres and they should inherite from sea to sea and from the riuer to the endes of the earth †And he did in like manner in Isaac for Abraham his father †Our Lord gaue him the blessing of al nations and confirmed his couenant vpon the head of Iacob †He knew him in his blessinges and gaue him an inheritance diuided him his portion in twelue tribes †And he preserued vnto him men of mercie and found grace in the eies of al flesh CHAP. XLV Praises of Moyses 7. Aaron 16. and his priestlie progenie 22. Against whom Chore with his complices rebelling were destroyed MOYSES beloued of God and men whose memorie is in benediction †He made him like in the glorie of saintes and magnified him in the feare of his enemies And with his wordes he appeased monsters †He glorified him in the sight of kinges and gaue him commandment before his people shewed him his glorie †In his faith and meekenes he made him holie and chose him of al flesh †For he heard him and his voice and brought him into a cloude †And he gaue him precepts face to face and a law of life and discipline to teach Iacob his testament and Israel his iudgements †He exalted Aaron his brother high and like to himself of the tribe of Leui. †He established vnto him an euerlasting testament and gaue him the priesthood of the nation and made him blessed in glorie †and he girded him about with a girdle and put vpon him a robe of glorie and crowned him in furniture of power †Garments to the feete and breches and an Ephod he put vpon him and compassed him with litle belles of gold very manie round about †to geue a sound in his going to make sound heard in the temple for a memorie to the children of his nation †An holie robe of gold and hyacinthe and purple a wouen worke of a wiseman indued with iudgement and truth †Of twisted scarlet the worke of an artificer with precious stones figured in the closure of gold and grauen by the worke of a lapidarie for a memorial according to the number of the tribes of Israel †A crowne of gold vpon his miter grauen with a seale of holines and the glorie of honour a worke of power and the adorned desires of the eies †There were none such so faire before him euen from the beginning †No stranger was clothed with them but only his children alone and his nephewes for euer †His sacrifices were consumed with fire euerie day †Moyses filled his handes anoynted him with holie oile †It was made vnto him for an euerlasting testament and to his seede as the daies of heauen to doe the function of priesthood and to haue praise and to glorifie his people in his name †He chose him of al that liued to offer sacrifice to God incense and good odour for a memorial to pacifie for his people †and he gaue them power in his preceptes in the testaments of his iudgementes to teach Iacob his testimonies and in his law to geue light to Israel †Because strangers stood against him and for enuie men compassed him about in the desert they that were with Dathan and Abiron and the congregation of Core in anger †Our Lord God saw and it pleased him not and they were consumed in the violence of wrath †He did prodigious thinges vnto them and consumed them in flame of fire †And he added glorie to Aaron and gaue him an inheritance and diuided vnto him the first fruites of the increase of the earth †He prepared them bread in the first vnto satietie for the sacrifices also of our Lord they shal eate which he gaue to him and to his seede †But he shal not inherite the nations in the land and he hath no part in the nation for himself is his portion inheritance †Phinees the sonne of Eleazar is the third in glorie in imitating him in the feare of our Lord †and to stand in the reuerence of the nation in the goodnes and alacritie of his soule he pacified God for Israel †Therefore did he establish vnto him a couenant of peace to be the prince of the holies and of his nation that the dignitie of priesthood should be to him and to his seede for euer †And the testament to Dauid king the sonne of Iesse of the tribe of Iuda and inheritance to him and to his seede that he might geue wisdom into our hart to iudge his nation in iustice that their good thinges might not be abolished their glorie in their nation he made euerlasting CHAP. XLVI Praises of Iosue 9. Caleb 13. the Iudges of Israel 16. Namely of Samuel Iudge and Prophet STRONG in battel was Iesus the sonne of Naue successour of Moyses among the prophets who was great according to his name †most great in the saluation of Gods elect to ouerthrow the enemies rising vp that he might get the inheritanâ— of Israel †What glorie obteyned he in lifting vp his handes and casting swordes against the cities †Who before him did so resist â—or our Lord himself brought the enemies †Whether was not the sunne hindered in his anger and one day was made as two †He inuocated the mightie soueraine in assaulting of the enemies on euerie side and the great and holie God heard him in haile stones of exceeding great force †He made violent assault against the nation of his enemies and in the goeing downe he destroyed the aduersaries †that the nations might know his might that it is not easie to fight against God And he folowed at the back of the mightie †And in the daies of Moyses did mercie and Caleb the
sonne of Iephone did stand against the enemie and stayed the nation from sinnes and appeased the murmuring of malice †And they two being appointed were deliuered out of danger from among the number of six hundred thousand footemen to bring them into their inheritance into the land that yeldeth milke and honie †And our Lord gaue strength to Caleb himself and his strength continued euen vntil old age so that he went vp into the high place of the land his seede obteyned inheritance †That al the children of Israel might see that it is good to obey the holie God †And al the iudges by their name whose hart was not corrupted which were not turned away from our Lord †that their memorie might be blessed and their bones spring out of their place †and their name continew for euer the glorie of the holie men remayning vnto their children †The beloued of our Lord his God Samuel the prophet of our Lord renewed the empire and anoynted princes in his nation †By the law of our Lord he iudged the congregation and the God of Iacob saw and in his fidelitie was proued a prophet †And he was knowen faithful in his wordes because he saw the God of light †and inuocated our Lord omnipotent in assaulting the enemies besetting him on euerie side in the oblation of an immaculate lambe †And our Lord thundered from heauen and in great sound he made his voice heard †and he descomfited the princes of the Tyrians and al the dukes of the Philisthiims †and before the time of the end of his life and the world he gaue testimonie before our Lord and his Christ money and what soeuer besides vnto the verie shoes he tooke not of al flesh and no man accused him †And after this he slept and he notified to the king and shewed him the end of his life and he exalted his voice out of the earth in prophecie to take cleane away the impietie of the nation CHAP. XLVII Praises of Nathan 2. Dauid 14. and Salomon in whose progenie 21. notwithstanding his fal 27. the royal scepter remained for Dauids sake though for his and the peoples sinnes tenne tribes were cut of and fel into schisme AFTER these thinges arose Nathan the Prophet in the daies of Dauid †And as the fatte separated from the flesh so was Dauid from the children of Israel †He plaied with lyons as it were with lambes and with beares he did in like maner as with lambes of sheepe in his youth †Did not he kil the giant and tooke away reproch from his nation †In lifting vp his hand with a stone of the sling he ouerthrew the boasting of Goliah for he inuocated our Lord the omnipotent and he gaue in his right hand to take away the man strong in battel and to exalt the horne of his nation †So in ten thousand did he glorifie him and praised him in the blessinges of our Lord in offering to him a crowne of glorie †for he destroyed the enemies on euerie side and rooted out the Philisthijms the aduersaries euen vntil this present day he brake their horne for euer †In euerie worke he gaue confession to the Holie one and to the Highest in the word of glorie †From al his hart he praised our Lord loued God that made him and gaue him might against his enemies †and he made singers to stand before the altar and by their sound he made sweete tunes †And in the solennities he gaue honour and adorned the times euen to the end of his life that they should praise the holie name of our Lord and magnifie the holines of God in the morning †Our Lord purged his sinnes and exalted his horne for euer and he gaue him a testament of the kingdom and the seate of glorie in Israel †After him arose a wise sonne and for him did he ouerthrowe al the might of the enemies †Salomon reigned in dayes of peace to whom God subdewed al his enemies that he might build an house in his name and prepare holines for euer as thou art instructed in thy youth †And thou art replenished as a riuer with wisdom and thy soule discouered the earth †And thou didst multiplie darke sayinges in comparisons thy name was bruited to the ilandes far of and thou wast beloued in thy peace †The landes merueled at the songes and prouerbes and comparisons and interprerations †and at the name of our Lord God whose name is God of Israel †Thou didst gather gold as copper and filledst siluer as lead †and bowdest thy thighes to wemen thou hast had power on thy bodie †thou hast made a blotte in thy glorie and profaned thy seede to bring wrath to thy children and thy follie to be kindled †to make the kingdom diuided and a stubburne kingdom to reigne of Ephraim †But God wil not leaue his mercie and he wil not corrupt noâ— abolish his owne workes neither wil he destroy from the stocke the nephewes of his elect and he wil not corrupt the seede of him that loueth our Lord. †But he gaue a remnant to Iacob and to Dauid of the same stocke †And Salomon had an end with his fathers †And he leaft after him of his seede the follie of the nation †and Roboam hauing litle wisedom who turned away the nation by his counsel †and Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne and made a way of sinning to Ephraim and their sinnes did abound very manie †They remoued them away from their land very far †And he sought al iniquities til there came defense vnto them and he â—id them from al sinnes CHAP. XLVIII Praises of Elias 13. Eliseus 19. Ezechias 23. and Isaias AND there arose Elias the prophet as it were fire and his word burnt as a litle torche †Who brought famine vpon them and they prouoking him in their enuie were made fewe for they could not abide the preceptes of our Lord. †By the word of our Lord he stayed heauen and he brought downe fire from heauen thrise †So was Elias magnified in his meruelous workes And who can so glorie like vnto thee †Who didst rayse vp the dead from hel from the lotte of death in the word of our Lord God †Who didst cast downe kinges to destruction and didst easily breake their might and the glorious from their bed †Who hearest iudgement in Sina and in Horeb iudgementes of defence †Who anoyntest kinges to repentance and makest prophetes successoures after thee †Who wast receiued in a whirlewind of fire in a chariot of fierie horses †“ Who art written in the iudgements of times to appeale the wrath of our Lord to reconcile the hart of the father to the sonne and to restore