that the Grecians doe retaine the names of Iapetus Ioue Aeolus and many others not knowing whence they sprong but when the storie of Moses doth shew their kindred we must needes confesse that it is more auncient then the monuments of the Greekes a mightie a famous people was that of the Imerians whose posteritie without all doubt was the Cimbrians but their stocke your Greekes know not which the some of the word doth shew to be Gomer the son of Iaphet Nowe there is a kindered among the Egiptians called in their naturall speech and in the Aâ—rabian tongue Mizrai but bookes doe shew Nizraim to be the son of Cham the first antient among the Greekes were the wars of the Argonians and then of the Troianes but the time course of yeers which the Grecians themselues haue obserued doth shewe that the Troiane warre was not long before Dauid and that Hercules was almost of the same time with Sapson So the names histories of the heathen do testifie that the books of the church are the more auncient which is very necessarie for the studious to consider In the third place wee haue set a kinde of doctrine whereof there are two partes the Law and the Gospell and seeing that the knowledg of the law is graffted in the minds of all men reason in all men is inforced to confesse that it is impossible for any nation to be the people of God which do establish lawes contrary to the law of God but this is the common madnes of all the Gentils to call vpon a multitude of Gods and to deuise monstrous fables of the gods and euen in their lawes to yeeld vnto the filthy confusions of lust Some of them also the murdering of men whordoms and adulteries haue bin thought a good seruing of God Reason therfore enforceth to confesse that in the church the law is taught much better This argument also the olde writers haue vsed in confuting the heathen and howsoeuer the Gospel be not knowne vnto reason yet doth it lay open those things whereof the doctrine of the heathen can speake no certainty and yet it cannot bee denied but that the vnderstanding of theÌ„ is necessary forsomuch as man is the Image of God and is made to knowe and praise the Lorde From whence come so many doubtes in the disagreements of the minde and hart whence is that stubbornnesse of the hart and such a burning desire to sin seeing that yâ— law shineth in yâ— mind Are men made to liue in euerlasting sin mysery what is sin whence comes that vast heap of humane myserye whence are those so manye dissentions about God as whether god doeth heare men or why hee shuld regard them Whether after yâ— bodies are once dead there shal be another life in which shal be a differeÌ„ce betweene good bad What men are Gods temple who he doth heare and helpe Of these so waighty matter what great darknesse is there in all the wisedome of the heathen Howe many furies of the Phylosophers who like the sons of Tytan make war with heauen eyther imagining that there is no prouidence or being God to secondary causes and labour to proue that al sins are of necessity Seeing therfore we must confesse that the doctrine of the causes and remedies of euil is necessary for men and yet the wisdome of the heathen seeth it not truly let vs embrace Gods voice in the church seeing hee hath added great testimony therunto Reason acknowledgeth that the law is no wher purely deliuered but in the church And seeing it is certaine that the voice of God is there let vs heare this doctrin of which the Heathen are inforced to confesse that ther is great ignorance in their religion and doctrine and yet the opening of these questions are necessarye for the knowing of God for the which man was made and for true comfort Therefore that kind of doctrine in the Church is most delightfull to good mindes when the pure fountaines are therof tasted I account not in the Church the Romane tyrants and the Monks their chaÌ„pions who haue dispersed throughout the world their filthy poison for the doctrine of the sonne of God and haue transformed the doctrine of the church into heathenish opinions They pray vnto the dead men they command men to worship their breaden God which they carry about in theyr great solemnity they sel sacrifices for the quicke and dead they make Gods worship stage-like vestures and other delusions and confirme their rouing lusts This wicked rout I cal not the church but them which deliuer the sounde doctrine of God deliuered in the bookes of the Prophets Apostles and in the Creeds Many others also doe corrupt the simple truth and the sleights in disputing are delightful to som as in time past to the Stoicks Epicures Academicks But when wee commende this kind of doctrine we do exclude al corruption and toyes in vaine disputings In the 4. place we account the wonderful preseruation of the church in the midst of the ruines of Empires which although it may be gathered vnder the first testimony that is among myracles yet in this it differs from the former bicause it is a perpetual miracle of the continuall presence of God pertains to that special rule The worde of the Lord abideth for euer and not by the helpe of man as it is written Not in an host nor in strength but in my spirit saith the lord God of boasts In the 5. place is the constancy of Confessors accounted which confirm others 2 waies First bicause it is a mannes myracle wherin God strengthens the weak against fear punishments shews his presents many waies euen in their suffrings Many simple men haue raised the dead and done many wonders 2. Bicause the high minds in such as quietly bear affliction doth shew the gospel is powerfull in them that it is the seed of god as Iohn saith wherby eternal life righteousnes and ioy is begun in them 6 This testimony of the gospel in the faithful doth plainly conuince their minds namely the comfort and ioy which is kindled in theÌ„ by the holy ghost wherof Paul saieth you haue receiued the holy spirit whereby wee cry abbâ— father whereby they see howe in great sorrowe they are comforted which vphold themselues with meditation of the Gospel with prayer as Paule saith The spirit helpeth our infirmity These testimonies must be often thought on especially let vs be careful of the sixt least it be taken from vs by the illusions of mad men as the Anabap. c Steukfeldians boast of false inspirations who setting apart Gods worde pretend their reuellations as I haue found out the lies of many such the examples of Munster shewes the maliciousnes of many Steukfild writeth that God communicates with mens minds without any means from whence he proues the diuine motions are kindled not by meditation of the written doctrin but by a faming of
out the buiers and sellers out of the temple Secondly hee disputeth with the pharises and seuerally with Nichodemus and hauing by and by left Ierusalem first Baptised by his Apostles vppon which occasion Iohn the Baptist preached a most excellent Sermon concerning Christ afterwardes passing thorow Samaria he disputed at the Well with the Samaritan womi Last of all returning into Galile he healed the Rulers sonne The second iourney begins in the 5. ch and lasteth vnto the 7. In which iourney first he healed a man in Ierusalem on the Sabbaoth day by the poole of Bethesday which had been diseased 38. yeares wheÌ„â—e as hauing fit occasion he had long disputation against the Iewes hee preached a most excellent sermon concerning the resurrection of the dead and of the authority of scriptures Afterward returning into Galily first of all he satisfied 5000. men with fiue loues and two fishes And afterwardes he disputed very long with the Iewes concerning the spirituall bread which is the word of God Last of all when others taking an offence departed from him Peter in the name of the apostles made a most excellent confession of his faith concerning Christ The third he beginneth in the 7. chapt and continueth vnto the 12. chapter In which chiefly hee taught in the Temple of Ierusalem not without contradiction and perill First concerning the authority of his doctrine Secondlye concerning the Sabbaoth Thirdly concerning his owne person Fourthlye concerning his sufferinge Fiftly concerning the water of life Then he absolueth the woman taken in adultery which was brought vnto him by the Pharisies with writing on the earth with his finger Straight way hee taught the people and vnto the end of the eight chapter he disputed sharply againste the Iewes By and by hee gaue sight to one that was borne blinde whence no small contention did arise betwixt the Pharisies and him that was borne blinde vnto the end of the ninth chap. Here hee shewes himselfe to be the true pastour wherein againe he fals into disputation with the Iewes vnto the end of the tenth chapter And last of all passing ouer Iordan and thence againe to Bethania hee raised vp Lazarus first hauing hadde disputation with his sisters and afterwardes appeased the wrath and euill mind of the Iewes he went into the desart The fourth he begins in the 12. chapt and continues vnto the end of the booke in the which first he turnes and directeth into Bethania where as Marye the Sister of Lazarus that was raised from Death shewed the worke of her confession vnto Christ Iudas the betrayer beeing angrye thereat Afterwardes according to the prophesie of Zacharias the Prophet hee entred into Ierusalem meeke sitting vppon an asse And when as Iohn had set foorth what thinges were done in the way alleaging many moste excellent places out of Esar Vnto the ende of the 12. chapt in the next places he declares what was doone in the Inne at Ierusalem in the holy supper of Christ to wit Howe Christ after the washing of their feet after the disturbaÌ„ce of his minde for Iudas And furthermore after hee had foreshewed the trecherye of Iudas and the deniall of Peter vnto th' end of the chapt First of all hee makes an excellent sermon through three whole chap. Whose proposicion is this Let not your hearts be troubled The arguments wherof are three First yee shall prophesie eternall life 2 In the meane time the Holy ghost shal comfort you 3 My father shall heare you Then he addes a most effectual praier to his holy and iust father First for his owne glorification 2 for the defence of his disciples 3 For all the beleeuers in the true doctrine that they should be gouerned and preserued in the vnity of spirite To this the Euangelist describeth the passion of Christ In the 18. 19. chap. First how for the saluation of mankind he was betrayed of his owne disciple Iudas 2 He was accused of the Iewes 3 He was fixed to the Crosse by the Gentiles In the two last chapters the Euangelist makes vp the story with the resurrection of Christ and such thinges as happened afterwards In one chapter hee describes the apparisions of Christ beeing made in Iudea before his disciples and others Whence at length as is testified in the other Euangelist and in the other his appearinges to his disciples in Galily Hee went into heauen where now hee raignes equal with his fa eternal in power whence he shortly shal returne to iudge the quicke and the dead and shal wipe away al tears from the eies of his elect So much concerning the Gospel of S. Iohn the Euangelist and Apostle The Acts of the Apost THis Historicall booke Luke the holy Euangelist hath written and it conteyneth the principall historie of the Primatiue church after the Assention of Christ which doeth followe the bookes of the Euangelist after a conuenient order Although this booke may be deuided principally into 2. partes to wit the acts of Peter and into the acts of Paul done after the assention of Christ for Luke hath chieflie described 1. the Sermons 2. the workes 3. the Visions 4. the Miracles 5. the imprisonments of Peter and after that the conuersion of Paule his peregrinations his disputatioÌ„s his miracles his bonds and imprisonments yet for all that the 28. chapters of this booke may very profitably be thus deuided From the beginning vnto the sixt chapter Luke doeth first describe the histories of Christes ascention secondly the election of Mathias for an Apostle thirdly the sending of the holy Ghost then the foure most excellent and fruitfull sermons of Peter concerning Christ The first in the second chapter the second in the third the third in the fourth the fourth in the fifte chapters with the two most singuler miracles that were done by Peter the Apostle to weet the healing of a lame man and of the sodeine death of Ananias and Saphira and last of all concerning the fellowship of the Apostles their imprisonmeÌ„ts their persecutions their praier and constancie From the sixt chapter vnto the 13. Besides the history of the conuersion of Saint Paul chap 9. is described after the election of Deacons the sermon and Martyrdome of Stephen and also the historie of Symon Magus and the conuersion of the Eunuke by Phillip the Apostle which two doth make difference betwixt the true and false christians Afterwardes is continued the historie of the miracles of Saint Peter in healing of Eneas and the raising of Tabitha secondly of the vision thirdly of the calling fourthly of the going forwarde fiftlye of the preaching to Cornelius of the vocation of the gentiles last of all not onely the disputing of Peter with the Iewes for the vocation of the gentiles by the repetition of the historie concerning Cornelius but also his imprisonmentes vnder HEROD and his miraculous deliuerance the tyrant being stricken and consumed of wormes by the mighty power of God faithfully orderly are set downe From the 13.
chap vnto the ende are described the peregrmations nauigations places of any stay or abode sermons Myracles disputations imprisonments stripes of S. Paule from the day in which the holy Ghost sayd Separate for me Paule and Barrabas to the worke which I haue called them Vntil he came to dwel two yeares in a hired house with the souldier that was his keeper In the meane time he faithfully taught both by sea and land 1 The people of Pathmos chap. 13. 2 The people of Antioch chap. 13. 3 The people of Iconium chap. 13. 4 The people of Listra chap. 14. 5 The people of Ierusalem 15 16 6 The people of Philippi 15 16 7 The people of Thessalo 15 16 8 The people of Berea 17. 9 The people of Athens 19. 10 The people of Corinth 19. 11 The people of Ephesus 19. 12 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 13 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 14 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 15 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 At length being wickedly handled imprisoned and very often presented for the space of a whole yeare and more at Ierusalem and Cesarea with his accusers the Iewes vntil he was compelled to appeale vnto Cesar from chap. 20 vnto 28. Last of all Luke doeth descry the Nauigations of Saint Paule after he appealed to Cesar to goe from Iudea towardâ— Rome and the testimony of Paule at RoÌ„me concerning Christ as you may read in the two last chapters Al which testimony in this most excellent booke seemeth plainely to tend to this that we may obtaine remission of sinnes and eternall life by saith onely in Christ Iesus The epistle of Saint Paule and the rest THe Epistles of the apostles as we haue spoken of before are as it were seales and subscriptions euen so are theyr testimonies and illustrations which are written by the Euangelistes as for example I Paule doe thus subscribe to the Gospell of Matthew I Peter doe thus subscribe The Epistle to the Romans THIS Epistle is a method of holy scripture hee briefely comprehends those thinges which do appertain to christian religion To maye very well bee deuided into foure principall partes From the beginning vnto the fift chapter he puts two propositions and he defendes both the one and the other with strong euidence and arguments The one proposition is legal to weet al men are sinners this he proueth shewing that all gentiles are sinners in the first chapter and afterwards that the Iewes are sinners in the second chapter last of all he infers that all men are sinners in the thirde chapter The other proposition is Euangelicall to weet that men are iustified freely thorough the grace of God by the redemption which is in Christ Iesus He proues by many argumentes that this Iustification is by faith chapter 4 first from the example of Abraham secondly from the definition of iustification thirdly by the order of the cause and the effect the 4. by the cause of the promise From the fift chapter vnto the ninth he deuideth both propositions into their parts and disputeth seuerally of them In the first what sinne is what the lawe is what grace is and by the way he showeth that grace in and thorough Christ had more force effect then sinne in and thorough Adam and her condemneth them that thinke sin to increase through the proaching of grace shewing to the contrarie that no condemnation is to them that are grafted in christ who walk-not after the flesh where hee bringeth chapter 8. for the afflicted and such as liue vnder the crosse froÌ„ that place the afflicted of this life are not woorthye c. vnto the ende of the Chapter 8. excellent consolations 1 Concerning the Manifestation of glory to come 2 Concerning the Like suffering of al creature with vs. 3 Concerning the Sighing of all the ministers of the word 4 Concerning the Hope of eternall life 5 Concerning the Person of the holy ghost 6 Concerning the Doctrine of predestination 7 Concerning the Person of God the father 8 Concerning the Person of the sonne From the 9. chap. vnto the 12. he handleth the place of predestination repeating the question that was put in the beginning of the thirde chapter that is to wit what if certaine of them haue not beleeued shall their vnbeleefe make the faith of GOD of none effect God forbid whence as hauing occasion he first of all disputes of election that we may know to whom this grace doeth appertaine and that also in the 9. cha And after that in the 10. chap. he defines and expoundes the righteousnesse of fayth Last of all he teacheth that no maÌ„ ought to take offence at the name of Predestination that they are alwaies deceiued that letting passe iustification by faith seeke to begin their saluation from predestination From the 12. chap. vnto the end of the Epistle he sets downe certaine admonitions concerning good works First generally towards euery mans neighbour where he sets downe the endes of good workes as are the workes of confession vocation loue afterwards towards magistrates or superious chap. 13. Last of all towards inferiors that is to say the weake chap 14 15. The last chapter containes salutations or vowes and Euangelical sermons And salutation is not to be thought the least duty of humanity The first Epistle to the Corinthians HOw long Paule did remain at Corinth what he didde there c. looke Act. cha 18 Paule doth most sharply rebuke the Corinthians in this Epistle whom he knew to be attainted with many vices It therfore most chiefly appertames to the lawe for it is a reprehending or rebuking epistle commanding the Corinthians to decline from euil and do good Directly against 1 Sectaries chap. 1 2 3 4. 2 Incestious persons 3 Fomicators 6. 4 Adulterers 7 5 coÌ„tentious persons 8 9 10 11 6 conteÌ„ners of the weak 8 12 13 7 The proud 14. 8 Arrogant persons 15. 9 Them that deny the resurrection from the dead 16. 10 Couetous persons It is deuided very conueniently into fiue principall parts From the beginning vnto the 5. chap he laboureth in the first table of the commandements condemning the wisdome of the world as thinges pernâ—ious and hurtful to the saluation of mankind for it breeds sectes and schismes in Christian religion and the contempt of the Ministers of the Gospell for their pride whoe are pussed vp with mans wisedome From the 5. chap. vnto the 8 hee passeth to the second table and pursues certaine vices First of al hee commandes the incestuous man to be excomunicated and to be auoided After that he reprehends wronges contentions and heresies shewing that iniuries are to be suffered or to be arbitrated rather then to bee adiudged by vnrighteous Iudges By and by he numbreth heapes of vices and particularlye inueighes against the filthy affections of lust highly commending mariage chirst life and virginity From the 8. vnto the 12. he reprehends the
And againe after the death of Domitian whē he returned from the I le of Pathmos to Ephesus to haue written his Gospell against the Heretikes Marcio Ebon and Cerunhus This booke vnder the name of Reuelation conteyneth prophesie concerning euent fortune matters and of the deriued church that is to say the church deriued from the Primitiue church and thence to be deriued vnto the end of the world It may very well be deuided 1 Into Seales 2 Into Trumpets 3 Into Vials The 7. seales signifies the persecution of the church which is vnder Tyrantes to wit Domitian Traianus c. which truly began in the primitiue church in the time of the Apost and continued thence the space of 300. yeares vnto the time of Constantine it is described in this book chap. 4 5 6 7. The Trumpets signifieth heresies as the Arians c. From the time of Constantine vnto Theodosius for other 300. yeares yea vnto Mahomet and the pope This is described chap. 8 vnto 18. The Vials signifie the plagues of Antichrist for these 900. yeares from the time of Bonif. y◠pope vnto this our time of the which thou mayest read from the 17. chap vnto the end of the booke It may otherwise bee deuided to wit into seauen visions that is to saye into figures most wonderfully shewing to the minde and cies of all men The first vision of the seuen churches of Asia the lesse The second vision concerning Christ his church being exalted The thirde vision concerning the dilligence of the disciples of Christ The fourth concerning the affliction of the church The fist concerning the last persecution vnder Antichrist The sixt concerning the day of Iudgement The seuenth concerning the victory of Christ and the church Briefly he describes 1 The Kingdome of Christ 2 The comfort of the godly afflicted 3 The Threats of Tyrants 4 The priesthood of Christ 5 The Prayers of the Saints 6 The Histories of the newe Testament is reueiled The chapters are thus to be discerned From the 1. chap. vnto the 4. chap. is the preface in which first of all it containeth the commendation of these reuelations from the efficient cause to weet from God Then it containeth the admonition to the seuen bishoppes of the Churches of Asia the lesse which hee calles Angels Candlesticks starres c. For the ministery of the word From the fourth chapter vnto the 8. is the first part of the booke with the 7. seales Where first he would haue to bee vnderstood by Elders the Prophets Secondly by beasts the Euangelistes 3 By birds Doctrine 4 By the Lamb Christ himselfe 5. By Angels the ministers of the word 6 By Seales Persecutions 7 by Horses Tyrants 8. by sealed the elect the Iewes 9 by the multitude the elect of the Gentiles 10 by the booke the ministery of Reuelations From the 8. chapter vnto the 15. cha is the second part of the booke of Trumpets by which he vnderstandeth Heresies 2. by stars Heretikes 3 By the angell the ministery of the word 4. by the the Gospell 5 By the measuring of the Temple Religion 6 By the holy Citty the Church 7 By the two witnesses the Prophets and Apostles 8 By the woman the Church 9. By the 12. starres the 12. Tribes 10 By the wars the preaching of the Gospel 11 by Mychaell Christ Iesus 12 By the Beastes the Romaine Monarchy 13 By the lamb Christ 14 By the voice of thundring the word of the Gospel 15 By the new Song the Gospel 16 By the women Idolatrie 17 By Virgins sincere Christians From the 16 vnto the end is the third part of this booke First by the beastes he would vnderstand the Romaine Monarchy 2 By the Harlot the Idolatry of Antichrist 3 By the golden people hipocrisie 4. By Characters a perfect sign of Antichrist 5 By vials the plagues of Antichrist 6 By the mariage of the lamb the humanity of Christ 7 By the name written the Diuinity of Christ 8 By new heauen and new earth the Image of euerlasting life To the which place hee shal bring vs whoe hath signed this his holy scriptures with his owne pretious bloud euen Iesus Christ our Lorde who with the Father and the holy Ghost bee praised for euer and euer Amen FINIS
end the Citties of refuge are appointed and the fieldes of the Leuites neere to the cittie then Rub. Gad and the tribe of Maâ—asses are sent away to their owne possessions according to the couenant Num. 32 Afterwardes the care of Iâ—suâ— touching his posteritie is shewed by a notable exhortation and forbiding them to haue societie with the Gentiles and he shewes a lardge rehearsall of Gods benefites and making a couenant betwene them and God he calleth backe the people vnto God Lastly is declared the death of Iosua and Eleazar the sonne of Aron and the burying of Iosephes bones ⧠The booke of Iudges THe booke of the Iudges is named of those Iuges which after the death of Iosua Gouerned Israell For it contayneth a discription of Israells proceeding after Iosuahes death vnder the Iudges who maruailouslie defended the people from their enemies wherein is to bee obserued that God preserued the comon weale of Israell for the same cause for which he did establish it Namely for his sonnes sake that should be borne of the Ieweish people also this is to be noted that the people of the old Testament were vnder fower kindes of Gouernement according to the diuersitie of the times 1 Vnder a Fatherlye Aucthoritie in the time of the Patriarches Moses and Aaron 2 Vnder the aucthoritie of Iudges during the time of these Iudges 3 Vnder the gouernement of Kinges in the time of the Kinges 4 Vnder the gouerment of the Priestes in the time of the Priestes vntill Christe Who one for all is 1 Eternall Father 2 Iudge of the quicke and dead 3 King of Kinges 4 Euerlasting hie priest There were in number as Iudges 16. 1 Iudas 2 Simeon 3 Othoniell 4 Aroth 5 Samgar 6 Deborah the Prophetise 7 Baruck 8 Gedeon alias Ierobabell 9 Abimelech 10 Thola 11 Iair 12 Iepthe 13 Abesau 14 Achialâ—n 15 Abdon 16 Samson Now the booke of Iudges is deuied according to the order of the persons as they ruled in Israell From the begining of the booke to the 6 chap. 7. histories are discribed of the Iudges Iudas Simion c. Amongst whom Deborah the prophetis singeth a notable song in the 5. chap. From the 6. to the 13 besides the storie of Giddeon and his sonne three other Iudges are discribed Thola Iair and Iepthe of the Sacrifising of his daughter chap 11 from the 13 to the 17 is described an exelent storie of Samson and heere is Samson peculiarly comended in it hee was a figure of Christe From the 17. to the end of the booke beside the Idoll of Mica and the children of Dan is set forth a fearefull and a lamentable story of a Leuites wise for whom being rauished fallen downe dead and cut into 12. peeces the whole trâ—be of Beniamin was al most extinguished that by this one example we may learne that God doth seuerely fearfully punish adulteries Thus farre goeth the Booke of Iudges wherein are set before vs many examples to stirre vs vppe to repentance in which we also see that God hath alwaies sharpely punished Idolatry and other feareful sinnes but hath beene mercifull to the repentant that this booke may well be called the booâ— of the VVrath and Mercy of God The booke of Ruth THe booke of Ruth is so named of Ruth a woman that was a gentile to wit a Moabite of the people of Moab who was the sonne of Lotte Gen. 16 This booke containeth only 4 chap besides that it is an example of domesticall care wherein it also declares that God euen then had care of the Gentiles and that the Gospell was reuealed to the Gentiles after these things Ruth and other of the Gentiles are ioyned to the seed of Abraham This booke containeth part of the genealogy of Dauid which by the Euangelist is translated into the genealogie of Christ so that you may say that this booke also hath reference to Christ and thou mayst know that it was decreed long before that Christ should be borne of sinners harlots for the abolishing of sinnes And furthermore thou shouldst not doubt saluation also to bee ordained for the Gentiles It is deuided into 2 partes JN the two former chap Ruth is set down for an example how all Daughters in law ought to behaue themselues Humblie and dutifully towardes their Mothers in-lawe 2 In the other chapt is an example of Chastitie in Booz The bookes of Kinges THe 4 Historicall bookes which are intituled the bookes of the Kinges after the vsuall edition are in Hebrue onely two whereof the first is named SAMVELL and is deuided of the Latines into 2 bookes the which are called the bookes of Samuell The later of them is called the booke of Kinges which in like maner is deuided into 2 bookes which are called the bookes of the Kinges This Samuell was a most faithfull constant Prophet of God vnder King SAVL of whoÌ„ the 2 first bookes do take their names and in the one of them the storie of Saul in the other the storie of Dauid is larglie discribed The two latter bookes are commonlie called the bookes of the Kings because they conteyne the Historie of all the other kings both in Israell and in Iudah In the first booke of Samuell is discribed the beginning of the third kinde of gouernment namely the Kinges vnder wicked K. Saul vnder whom the kingdome and monarchie was ordeyned in Israell In the second booke of Samuell the kingdome is translated from Saules house vnto Dauids the most godly king and Prophet which is worthiely called the crowne of prophets In the 1. booke of the kinges it is according to the vulgar edition and in the thirde of the Kinges is discribed first the storie of SallomoÌ„ the king in whose time the TeÌ„ple was built vnto the Lorde in Ierusalem 2. the deuiding of the kingdome into two partes namely Iudah and Israell in the histories some of the Kinges of both partes are largely discribed In the 2. booke of Malchim that is to say in the 4. booke of the kinges according to the vulgar all the kinges in Israell and in Iudah are discribed also the wasting carying away the people of Israell captiues into Assiria Iudah into Babilon In the mean while the bookes are garnished with the promise concerning Christ which were made vnto Dauid 2. Kinges 3 ¶ A Catalogue of the Kinges of the People of Iudah Saul Dauid 1. Kinges 9 2. Kinges 3 Sala These 3. reigned ouer all the People of Israell Iudah before the discription of the Tâ—â—bes Afterwardes ten tribes sell away from the ten and they became two kingdomes as the Kingdome of Iud with the two tribes Iudah and Benieamin the kingdome of Israell with other ten Tribes The Kinges of Iudah 1 Roboam 3  12. 14 2 Abias wicked 3   15. 3 Asa 2 〈◊〉  15. 4 Iehosop Godly 2   16. 5 ZaÌ„bnas 3   12. 6 Ioram wicked 4   11. 7 Ochozlâ—s    Â