A Briefe Discourse of the Scriptures Declaring the seuerall Stories Liues and Deaths of the Fathers from the Creation of Adam vnto the death of Ioseph Very necessarie to be read and practised for easie vnderstanding of the Scriptures in a short time Imprinted at London by W. White dwelling in Cow-lane 1614. THE PRINTER To the Reader THis short Treatise Christian Reader of The storie of the Fathers from Adam to Ioseph comming to my hands and beeing well approoued of by many godly and discreetly zealous men for the worthinesse of the subiect I was at the earnest request of sundry my especiall good Friendes drawne to commit it as thou seest to the Presse for the benefite of many Of the Author hereof I finde no mention yet likely it is to haue been penned by an Attendaunt on that learned Diuine M. H. B. as a collection from his Notes or Readings Perused it hath been before the authorizing thereof for the print by a Diuine of mature iudgement who corrected such thinges as he found faultie therein Read it without preiudice or partialitie and I doubt not but the profite which thou shalt reape thereby for the increase of thy knowledge in holy Scripture will preserue thee from all repenting of thy paines W. W. A Briefe Discourse of the Scriptures declaring the seuerall Stories Liues and Deaths of the Fathers from the creation of Adam vnto the death of Joseph very necessarie to be read and practised for easie vnderstanding of the Scriptures in a short time Jehouah our God Jehouah is one Deut. 6.4 IEHOVAH is a name of great force to driue vs to the due reuerence of Gods eternall Maiestie for it conteyneth the Wisedome Power and Eternitie of God His Wisedome In giuing a Name vnto himselfe answerable to the glorie of his Maiestie This Name was had in such reuerence among the Iewes that they trembled to name or read it but vsed the name Adonai Lord. After their cōming frō Babel they neuer vsed the name Jehouah but a name of twelue letters conteining Father Sonne and Holy spirit Jehouah hath in it the fiue Vowels which are the sinnewes of all Tongues And as without them no tongue can be expressed so without the true knowledge of Iehouah no flesh can be saued It signifieth Prayse mee the eternall God It conteineth in it Father Sonne and holy Ghost His Power In that from Iehouah all creatures haue their breathing and their being which also in Iehouah is closely expressed For as it consisteth of fiue vowels so hath it two hh which Sholers call Aspirations or Breathings which two Aspirations make vp the number of 7. which is the number of the Sabboth S. Paul closely alluding to the name of Iehouah sayth that from him we haue our breathing and our beeing and in Esay 57.16 the Lord sayth The blasting goeth foorth from me and is included in the body I made the breath So often therefore as we breath we are to remember the Power and Maiestie of Iehouah His Eternitie Is closely expressed in these three Letters י ו τ Whose terminations are Jod vavv be is a signe of the Futertense Presentense Preterperfectense This is made plaine in Apoc. 1.4 Who was is wil be to come Our God Herein is expressed the Humanitie of Christ for it is neither added to the Father the first person in Trinitie nor to the holy Ghost the third person but to the Sonne the second person who was to become ours by taking our nature vpon him Some hold it not to be meant of the Humanitie of Christ but for a word of separation of the God of the Iewes from the Gods of the Gentiles To remooue such absurditie the holy Ghost in Mark 12.29 when there was no difference betweene the Iew and the Gentile repeateth the very words of Moses Deut. 6.4 The Lord our God The Lord is one Thrise naming God as commaunding vs thereby to vnderstand Father Sonne and Holy spirit For this is alwayes to be obserued Whatsoeuer God speeketh of himselfe is to be taken in the heauenliest vnderstanding that can be made of it Iehouah our God Iehouah is one There be three in Heauen The Father the Worde and the Holy Spirit And these three are one 1. Iohn 5.7 The Trinitie is heere described to be one vnited Godhead distinguishable in persons but vndeuidable in coeternitie one in three and three in one GOD who Created Redeemed and Sanctified all One onely wise God who was shewed in the Flesh was iustified in the Spirit was seene among Angels was preached to the Gentiles was beleeued on in the World receiued vp into Glorie 1. Timo. 3.16 Which to know is the first and chiefest poynt of all saluation as Iohn 17.3 This is eternall life to know the Father and him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ Which must be obteined by the true vnderstanding of the Bible as Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures and in them ye shall find eternall life Some will say it is enough to know Christ crucified Pilate Herod and Iudas the traytor knew that yet went to eternall destruction Wherefore saluation consisteth not in outward knowledge but in renewing the spirit of our vnderstanding which standeth first in the knowledge and feare of God then in the knowing of our selues which are the first two steps to saluation For true Knowledge is the mother of Godlinesse and as the Eye is the light of the Body so is Vnderstanding the light of the Minde This a man hauing truly learned he is to meditate of the graces of Christ offered vnto vs by his Word God hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the World c. Ephes 1.4 HErein we are to consider the louing kindnesse of God to exceed our desertes in louing vs to saluation before we were The Papistes hold merites of saluation which cannot any way hold seeing God of his vnspeakable grace hath elected vs vnto saluation before we knew him This mysterie of Gods Election is not fully receiued of all because men take not words of Scripture in their proper sense as they are layde downe Election is the eternall counsell of God for the sauing and reiecting of some before the beginning of the world The Heathen neuer receiued comfort by this for being told before of thinges afterward to come to passe they could not know the reason but thought that the actions of men were gouerned by the motions of Starres and the course of Nature and not by the decree or fore-purpose of God who worketh euery thing according to the counsell of his owne will not according to our reason Then some will say if God decreeth euery thing why punisheth he any thing It is answered that punishment commeth from God by the iust desert of the rancor of mans minde Election of his free grace which he bestoweth vpon whō he will as he saith Rom. 9.15 I will haue mercie on whom I will haue mercie Therefore the first thing we ought to know is our
striuing for darknes we become children of darknes so lose the light of eternall life as the Iewes and Romanes did whose recompence hath followed The one depriued of their earthly glorie the other aduanced to glorie to be a staine of eternall damnation In the begining was the word c. Iohn 1.1 THese words In the beginning are the first wordes in the old Testament whose first word in the Hebrew is Bara which consisteth according to the Hebrew of three letters which closely conteine in them Father Sonne and Holie Ghost as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Ben which singnifieth Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Abba which is Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Ruach Hakodesh which is the Holy spirit Thus the Trinity is closely contained in the first word but in the first verse is expressed in open wordes In the beginning God made heauen and earth and the spirit of God mooued vpon the waters and God said Let there be light This is expounded Iohn 1.1 in these wordes In the beginning was the Word the Word was with God and that Word was God shewing that Word in this place is taken for the Sonne of God by whom he made the world as Iohn 1.3 By him were all things created And Heb. 1.2 God made all things by his Sonne who ruleth all things by his mightie power Wherefore Christ in the dayes of his flesh chose the trade of a Carpenter Iohn 6.42 Math. 13.55 And in Esay 43.10 It is sayd This record you must beare me your selues saith the Lord that I am God and euen he I am from the beginning I doe the worke who shall let it Thus saith the Lord the holy one our redeemer Wherein is distinctly expressed Father Sonne and Holy Ghost He was the Light and that Light was the life of man Iohn 1.4 LIfe and light is not here carnally meant but spiritually To which two thinges Aaarons Iewell of Vrim and Thummim had a full relation Vrim signifying Light of the minde Thummim Perfection of vertue which bringeth life to the soule As Iohn 1.9 Christ is the true light that lightneth euery man And hee that abideth in this light hath euerlasting life 1. Iohn 1.5 God is light and in him is no darknes at all If wee walke in light euen as he is light then haue we fellowship with him and the blood of Iesus Christ shall giue vs life and cleanse vs from our sinne We the gentiles were darknes but now are light in the Lord. Ephes 5.8 The vnderstanding of the stories of the Bible doth giue a great light to the mind of man and the practise giueth life vnto euery one that embraceth them as Deut. 8.3 and Mat. 4.4 Man liueth not by bread onely but by euery word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God The despisers of religion continue in darknesse and light to them is death as 1. Iohn 2. 9. He that saith hee is in light and hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because the darknesse hath blinded his eies 1. Iohn 5.11 But God hath giuen vs eternall life and that life is in his Sonne who layed downe his life for his Sheepe Iohn 10.15 Wherefore while wee haue light let vs walke beleeue in the light that we may be the children of the light Iohn 12.36 The first Adam was made of the Earth earthly c. The second was made a soule giuing life c. HEre before the comparison betweene Adam and Christ we are to consider the Creation wherein we are to vnderstand the Creation of the Heauen Earth and Sea all the hoast of them which doe consist of Wightes visible and inuisible Inuisible as Angels Visible as Sunne Moone Starres Fishes Fowles Plants Hearbs Grasse Beastes and such like which God created before he created Adam by Christ for Adams sake because he purposed not to take the nature of Angels or of any other creature but of Adam and that he might be knowne in his power and louing kindnesse to Adam by his workes For he fore-purposing to make Adam both King and Father of all the Earth would not haue his wittes entangled with cares for this life but to haue his affections setled on heauenly things that he might continue holy and blamelesse before him as Mat. 6.25 Take no care what you shall eate or what you shall drinke nor yet for your body what rayment you shall put on Behold the Fowles neither sow nor reape and your heauenly Father feedeth them Are yee not much better then they How much more then shall he doe the same for you For he knoweth yee haue need of all these thinges But first seeke the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Math 6.33 For no mans life standeth in the aboundance of thinges which he possesseth Now followeth Adams creation HEe was made the sixt day as it is gathered in September of the dust of the earth vpon Mount Moriah which is a Mountaine adioyning to the gates of the Garden of Eden into which Garden hee was put to dresse it about sixe of the clocke in the morning as we account when men commonly goe to labour as should appeare by the Psal 104.23 where it is said Adam goeth foorth in the morning to his labour This is not particularly meant of Adam but generally of all men no doubt alluding to the time of Adams creation Hee had dominion giuen him ouer all things and witte like to an Angell to giue names to all Beastes free libertie to eate of all the Trees in the Garden The Tree of knowledge of good and ill onely excepted As if God should haue said vnto him as Moses afterwardes sayd to the Children of Israel I set heere before you life and death eate of the one and liue and eate of the other and die eternally Yet could not he be content with this glorious estate but did eate of the forbidden Fruite by the perswasion of the Woman which God framed out of Adams Ribbe and ioyned to him to be an helpe for him before they had continued in Paradice one day as it is written Psal 49.20 Adam being in honour continueth not a night but is like to the Beastes that perish which Woman was deceiued by the subtiltie of a Serpent that is of the Deuill speaking in a Serpent which Beast was fittest to possesse to the deceiuing of her because he excelled all other Beastes in the Field in witte For if an Asse had sayd so much to her as did the Serpent it is very likely shee would haue examined the cause further But hee hauing once been an Angell of light but not keeping his first originall being throwne downe from Heauen continuing his knowledge though he lost his vertue was not to seeke either for meanes matter or oportunitie enuying their estates to bring his murtherous purpose to passe for so is he called the Serpent the old Deuill or Satan who was a
or middlemost but in Gods free election standeth our eternall happines Three Angels appeared to Abraham in his Tent. Three foures of precious Stones were set in Aarons brest Three thinges reserued in the Arke The Booke of the Law The Potte of Manna Aarons Rodde that did alwayes florish Three taken vp in the Old Testament and three in the New Three partes was Ierusalem deuided into Three Letters the roote of euery word in the Hebrew tongue Three Captiuities of the Iewes Three times was the Temple grosly polluted by the Babylonians Antiochi Romanes Three times a yeare were the Iewes bound to come to Ierusalem to giue accompt of their Religion Three dayes nightes was Ionas in the Whales belly Three nightes and dayes was Christ in the Graue Three Iohns viz. Iohn Baptist Luke 1.60 Iohn Euangelist Mat. 4.21 Iohn Marke Act. 12.25 Job saued three Eliphaz Sophar Bildad Daniel saued three Ananias Azarias Mishael Noah saued three Sem. Cham. Japhet In the third seauenth Iubilee the Iewes fell away and then Ieremie said O Earth heare the worde of the Lord c. The Title ouer Christ on the Crosse was written in Three tongues Hebrew Greeke Latin Although it may not bee vrged that all these Threes haue full relation to the Trinitie seeing they fall not out by chaunce yet wee are not to despise the pleasant harmonie and comfortable vse of them but to thinke that the wisedome of God hath contriued saluation into such a sweet Art that verie children may learne the same and therefore the Scripture is called verie fitly a shallow water and a deepe fountaine shallow that the Lambe may wade and deepe that the Elephant may swimme FOVRE Foure Is a square number and vsuall Heber the fourth after the Flood Iuda the fourth sonne of Iacob Foure square signifieth true Religion Moses fourth sonne in the fourth age was Sacrificer to the Tribe of Dan. Foure times seuen Iubilees the time of Christes death Foure The forme of the heauenly Ierusalem FIVE Fiue the letters of Iehouah The fiue Vowels the sinewes of all Tongues Christ seedeth 5000. with Fiue Loaues SIXE Sixe The day of Adams creation which number is often times vsed in the Scripture to put vs in minde of the Creation Sixe hundred thousand fighting men came out of Egipt Sixe hundred yeares old was Noah at the flood Sixe times seuen Standinges had the Children of Israel in the Wildernes Sixe yeares was the land of Canaan in conquering Sixe Cities of refuge for one that killed a man by chance and not of malice had the Iewes to flie vnto Sixe times did the Children of Israel fall before Diuids time in the time of the Iudges SEVEN Seuen the number of the Sabaoth which number of Seuen as it is famous for the Creation so God comtinueth the same proportion throughout the Bible to the Redemption For as God the Father made the World in sixe dayes and rested the seuenth so God the Sonne hauing performed his Fathers will resteth the seuenth day in the Graue Seuen is a yeare of Grace Seuen Planets in the Firmament which Plato compareth to the number of seuen Starres in Apo. 1.16 Seuen yeares was the land of Canaan plagued for that Ioseph the beloued of the Lord should haue been slaine by his Brethren Seuen Stones in the Temple Gods seuenfold Wisedome or Prouidence in all his actions Seuen eyes to looke vpon the Building of euery Stone in in the Temple of Ierusalem Seuen yeares the land of Canaan was setling in rest Seuen yeares the Temple was in building Seuen yeares Nebuchadnetzar was a Beast for destroying the Temple Seuen Gates in the Temple before you come to the Holy of Holiest Seuen Branches did the Candlesticke in the Temple stand vpon which had 24. Knobbes signifying the sixe dayes worke the seuenth day of rest in the Creation Seuen Moneths was the Tabernacle in building Seuen Iubilees was the Arke in the house of Ioseph Seuen Trumpeters is a great number that doe alwayes sound Gods prayse Henoch the seuenth from Adam Heber the seuenth from Henoch Isaach the seuenth from Heber Moses the seuenth from Abraham Iosua the seuenth from Ephraim Elias taken vp in the seuenth age from Samuel Ioram the seuenth from Dauid Salomons Temple was consecrated in the seuenth moneth answerable to the birth of the Fathers The ceremonie of the Feast of Tabernacles continued seuen dayes After the comming from Egipt it was seuen times seuen dayes before the Law was giuen Seuen times seuen dayes after Christes resurrection descended the holy Ghost The stories of the Scriptures goe by seuens from Moses till Christs death thus Seuen yeares the land of Canaan was in conquering Seuen fifties for the glorie of Iosephs house Seuen seuenties for the house of Iudah Seuen tennes for the Captiuity From the Captiuitie to the death of Christ seuen seuenties Moses Ceremonies for the most part were in the seuenth Moneth The Manna that was gathered on the sixt day serued for the seuenth The seuenth yeare the Iewes might not plough sow nor reape In the end of the seuen seuens was the yeare of Iubilee In the seuenth seuen from Cyrus the Walles of Ierusalem were built Seuen times 7000. of the Iewes came from Captiuitie Ioakim endeth the seuenth seuentie with affliction Seuen yeares plenty seuen yeares dearth in the land of Egipt figured by seuen eares of Corne seuen Kyne Noah liued seuen Iubilees after the flood Seuen thousand in the booke of Kings mencioned that neuer bowed their knees vnto Ball. Kaines house cut off in the seuenth age How often shall I forgiue my Brother till seuen times I say vntill seuen times seuentie times alluding vnto Daniels seuens EIGHT Eight The number of the persons saued in the Arke Eight The day of circumcision TEN Tenne Is a full number and the highest or last of simple numbers All Nations after the number of 10. begin againe for plaine teaching and plainnesse in reckoning Ten is the yeare of Iudgement or accompt You haue Ten words for the creation of the World And Ten wordes for the gouernment of the world The Tenth is a holy number as in Tythes which is giuen to vs to acknowledge our dueties In the Tenth moneth the Waters of the Flood abated Sem liued to see the Tenth age a great blessing Tenne Plagues were the Egyptians plagued with for afflicting Sems house Tenne Spies in the Wildernesse misbeleeued Tenne Tribes fell away at Roboams time Daniels Beast hath Tenne Hornes which doe represent Ten cruell Kinges The Beast in the Reuelation hath Tenne Hornes The Pope hath Tenne stately Kingdomes to assist him Noah is the Tenth from Adam Abraham the tenth from Noah TWELVE Twelue Signes in the Zodiacke Twelue Moneths in the yeare Twelue Fathers from the Flood to Iacob Twelue Sonnes of Iacob Twelue Fountaines in the Wildernesse Twelue Stones in Iordan Twelue Stones in Aarons brest Salomon had Twelue Stewards and Dauid Twelue valiant Captaines Salomon at Twelue yeares of age discided the
controuersie betweene the Women for the dead Child Christ at Twelue yeares of age is found disputing among the Doctors He likewise ordained Twelue Apostles and Twelue times did he appeare after his resurrection In the Reuelation of euery Tribe is sealed Twelue thousand The heauenly Ierusalem is described to haue Twelue Foundations of 12. precious Stones Twelue Gates and Twelue Angels and the Names written of the Twelue Apostles and through the Cittie there runneth a pure Riuer and on either side of the Riuer the Tree of Life which beareth Twelue manner of Fruites and beareth Fruite euery moneth in the yeare and the leaues of the Tree doe serue to heale the Nations with Now the reason why God in the beginning layde downe in close signification and such easie proportions the whole scope of his gouernment to the Worldes end is to shew that his Wisedome is infinite and that nothing in the Scriptures doth fall out by chaunce but by his forepurpose according to the secret counsel of his owne will to make vs still looke backe vnto the Creation Seth borne Gen. 5. when Adam is 130. yeares old ADam was make in the image of God Seth is begotten in the image of Adam to shew that whatsoeuer is borne of the flesh is flesh and whatsoeuer is borne of the spirit is spirit When Adam was 130. yeares old hee begetteth Seth being as may be gathered not one day more nor one day lesse And this rule serueth for all the Ten Fathers before the Flood The holy Ghost keeping an exact Chronicle of the times beginneth at Adam and so goeth forward laying downe the particular ages of the Fathers vnto the Flood saying When Adam is 130. yeares old Seth is borne Now if he had been one day more the number had not been perfect if one lesse it had not been exact We may better therefore conclud that all the ten Fathers were borne on the sixt day that is the day of Adams creation rather then on any other day seeing it can not well be denied and that it crosseth neither Storie nor rule of Religion Seth signifieth Setled or Foundation Hee knew the Creator and that the world should be founded vpon him Esay 58.11 The Wicked haue no sure foundation but are like to the Chaffe in a Summer floore But the Godly shall be like a fresh watred Garden and like the Fountaine of water that neuer leaueth running whose foundation is layde for many generations For as a Tree that hath sure rootes will beare many Branches so to be setled in Religion as Seth was many things will appeare to be of singular force Seth died being 912. yeares old Now compare him with Christ thus Seth His name signifieth Foundation He was begotten in the image of Adam Christ The Rocke and sure Foundation of his Church The very caracter of his Father Enosh borne when Seth is 105. yeares old In these numbers you haue 10. multiplyed by 10. and 5. which is the number of the letters of Iehouah HIs name signifieth Sorowfull Euery man is called sorowfull Enosh and the Hebrew tongue sometime calleth a man Enosh and sometimes Adam The Caldeans call a man Enosh but not Adam because they had not the antiquitie of the Creation of the world In Enosh his time Religion decayed in the house of God for which the Flood came and drowned the World This Sorrow is called a Godly sorrow to which the Lord hath added a Blessing as Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourne for they shall receiue comfort And Ecclesiastes 7.5 Crauitie is better then laughter for when the countenaunce is heauie the heart is reformed And Christ in Luk. 6.21 sayth Blessed are yee that weepe now for yee shall laugh Christ being sorrowfull for the negligence of the Iewes knowing that they should be plagued for not embracing the Promise to Abraham Isaacke and Iacob weepeth ouer Ierusalem saying O Ierusalem Ierusalem O sight of peace O sight of peace If thou haddest knowen those thinges that belong to thy peace And so with griefe and sorrow of heart he leaueth off as not able to expresse the summe of his sorrow Againe with like sorrow he sayth How often would I haue gathered you togeather as a Henne gathereth her Chickens and you would not Enosh dyed being 905. yeares old Kenan borne when Enosh was 90. yeares old HIs name signifieth Contrite or small store Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of heauen Esay 57.15 Thus sayth the High and Excellent euen hee that dwelleth in Eternitie whose name is the Holy one I dwell high aboue and in the Sanctuarie and with him also that is of a Contrite spirit doe I dwell that I may heale a troubled minde and a Contrite heart Psal 51.17 An humble and Contrite heart the Lord doth not despise Therefore shall euery godly man prayse the Lord without ceasing Kenan dyed being 910 yeares old Mahalaleel borne when Kenan was 70. yeares old You haue in this number ten seuens or seuen multiplyed by ten which is 70 which is the number of his natiuitie wherein you haue a sweete resemblance of the Creation of which number many excellent thinges are to be spoken which I will handle afterwardes THis name signifieth My prayse God Leah nameth her fourth sonne Iuda the Father of Shiloh Prayse God for so his name likewise signifieth The vse of this ought to be imbraced of all seeing it stretcheth to the saluation of all It appeareth hereby that the godly Fathers in auncient time had wonderfull regard in naming their Children For if you doe marke the whole Stories of the Bible you shall finde very few notable men whether they were godly or wicked but they containe rare matter in their names From Mahalaleel we are taught to Prayse God aright that is in sinceritie of spirit with sounde knowledge grounded vpon the trueth of his word David knowing that prayse giuing to God is not onely required at our hands but also at euery creatures in their kind biddeth the whole course of Nature Prayse the Lord. And in Psalm 47.6 hee sayth O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our God O sing prayses sing prayses vnto our King for the Lord is high and to be feared Hee is the great King vpon all the earth sing prayses therefore with vnderstanding Hee sheweth vs a reason in the 19. Psal 1. when he sayth The Heauens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handie worke One day telleth another one night certifieth another c. Therefore let the wordes of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be alway acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Locke and my Redeemer Whereby we are taught that the true prayse of God consisteth not onely in outward acknowledging of his workes and his iudgementes for that the wicked are often times compelled to confesse as Pharaoh Nebucadnetzar and others but we must prayse God so as that all our
Father without Mother when Abraham met him fiue ages after Babels building Abraham being aliue he was vnknowne of his owne kindred Hee had no end of life in the old world for hee liued through the Flood and no beginnig of dayes in the new world Christ in respect of his Godhead had no Mother and in regard of his Manhead he had no Father Surely our men be very vnaduised that because Caluin and a few Gretians doe stagger in this opinion whether Sem should bee Melchisedech therefore they will not admit the truth hereof as though they should be a rule of truth vnto them But to answere them first the consent of all the Iewes is that Sem is Melchisedech and if he be not then let vs see what inconueniences will follow First hee must be a godlier man then Sem that crosseth Sems blessing Blessed be the God of Sem. Besides it stands not with Religion that any man should bee rare in the highest degree no prophecie going before it to warrant his rarenesse But this is the cause why men be deceiued The Grecians erre in this and are the cause why others haue erred It was not possible for them to know the truth thereof for the Iewes appoynted by Ptolomeus Philodelphus to translate the Bible seeing there was such difference of the birth of men after the Flood both in comparison with those before the Flood and those after that their story might not be flouted of the Egiptians adde of purpose 1500. yeares to the Fathers after the Flood for seeing Terah begot Abraham at 130. And because Sem begot Arphaxad at 100. yeares old to euery one where wanteth an hundred they put in an hundred as Arphaxad liued 35. yeares and begot Selah They translate Arphaxad liued 135. yeares and begot Selah and so in the rest by which reckoning Sem is dead before the time hee should meete with Abraham Saint Ierom accquainted with the Hebrewes dealings knew that their consent was that Sem was Melchisedech and so he affirmeth Besides it is not likely that any of Chams house should be like to the Sonne of God being a cursed generation Againe if it be obiected that Moses doth not call Melchisedech Sem and therefore it is likely hee was not Sem this obiection is thus answered Moses penneth his storie short because he knew all the Iewes were acquainted therewith And as for the Author to the Hebrewes setting him downe to bee without Father without Mother we must consider in what sence meaning he speaketh for seeing it is added by Moses in Melchisedechs storie that he was king of Salem and it is not possible for a king to be borne without Father without Mother and it was neuer the meaing of the holy Ghost to crosse the course of the creation therefore we must looke for some other exposition then that which the bare litterall sence will afford vpon the first sight This therefore is the Author to the Hebrews meaning He was now to call to the Iewes minde one who in their storie was a figure of the Messias Now seeing Christ the Sauiour of the world as he was God had no Mother and as he was man no Father therefore to make this plaine that is to make Melchisedech a figure answerable to this truth he so speaketh of him as if he were without Father or Mother because he resembled the Sonne of God Now the author to the Hebrewes might verie safely vse this kind of speaking For Sem being borne before the Flood and in Abrahams time being a Grandfather of eight degrees must needes be thought to Abrahams Souldiers to bee without Father without Mother who had neither beginnig of daies nor end of life So that a souldier of Abrahams campe might aske some one of Canaan Good-man of Canaan who is this goodly Old man with a hoarie beard Hee would answer thus Hee is called the Iust King and his Towne is named the Quiet towne For when all the other Kings his neighbours are at variance he onely liueth in peace And when Elam ouercame fiue Kings no man offered him any violence We haue in euery Village a seuerall God but he sacrificeth to the God as he sayth that made vs them And marke what I shal tell you When he offereth an Oxe or a Ramme to his God which he saith made the heauens and the earth fire commeth from heauen to consume it and hee seemeth to be so strong that none of vs shall liue to see his dayes In this respect therfore the Author to the Hebrewes affirmeth that he was without father without mother who hath neither beginning of dayes nor end of life For in proper sence it cannot be true Ismael borne his father Abram being 86. yeere old HEe was borne of Hager an Egiptian whom Sara gaue to Abraham because her selfe was barren When Ismael was thirteene yeares old as Gen. 17.25 Abraham tooke Ismael and euery man child among the men of his house and circumcised the fore-skin of their flesh the same day as God had commanded which ceremonie of Circumcision continued vnto Christ but since his death it is abrogated with the rest of the Ceremonies of the Law and is of no force vnto saluation as Gal. 5.3 I Paul testifie that if yee be Circumcised Christ shall profite you nothing at all for whosoeuer is Circumcised is bound to keepe the whole Law And as many as are iustified by the Law are fallen from Grace for in Iesus Christ neither is Circumcision any thing worth nor vncircumcision but Fayth which worketh by loue as Abok 2.4 The iust shall liue by his Fayth The day of Circumcision was the eight day the seale was answerable to Baptisme Wee haue no speciall storie of eight to bee compared with this but the eight that were saued in the Arke The ceremonie of the day is answerable to the number of the persons and the seale it selfe answerable to the waters of the Flood to the which answereth Baptisme which now saueth vs. Ismael had twelue sonnes and one daughter Iacob had twelue sonnes and one daughter Ismael was answerable in outward blessinges to Isaack and Iacob but not in spirituall for hee was borne after the flesh and although he were the sonne of Abraham he was not the sonne of Abraham as it is written They are not all children because they are the seed of Abraham But in Isaacke shall thy Seede bee called that is they which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God but the children of the promise are counted for the seede In the Bible there are two Ismaels the one an Egiptian by the mother the other by the father The one of Abraham by the mother the other of Abraham by the father Both these were enemies to the true seede of Abraham This Ismael flouted the promise in Isaack the other Jsmael killeth Godoliah he being left a Gouerner of the seed of Isaacke Ismael was vpon euerie mans head and euerie man
God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power knowen suffer with long patience the vessels of wrath appointed for destruction What art thou that disputest with God Esay 45.7 It is I that created the light and the darknes I make peace and trouble euen I the Lord doe all these thinges Woe be vnto him that striueth with his Maker the Pot-soerd with the Potter Sayth the Clay to the Potter What makest thou or thy worke serueth for nothing Woe be vnto him that sayth vnto his Father Why begattest thou and to his Mother Why barest thou Thus sayth the Lord euen the holy one and maker of Israel That their Sinne is the cause of their Condemnation and God not the author of it Prouerbs 29.6 The Sinne of the wicked is their owne snare Esay 50.1 For your Offences are you sold and because of your Transgression is your Mother forsaken Esay 59.2 Their Misdeedes haue separated them from their God and their Sinnes haue hid his face from them that he heareth them not They hope in vaine thinges imagining deceit and bringing foorth euill they breed Cockatrises egges and weaue the Spiders webbe who so eateth of their egges dieth but if one tread vpon them there commeth vp a Serpent Their deedes are the deedes of wickednes and the worke of robberie is in their handes Their feete runne to euill they make haste to shed innocent blood All their counsels are wicked harme and destruction are in their wayes but the way of peace they haue not knowen In their goinges there is no equitie their wayes are so crooked that whosoeuer goeth therein knoweth of no peace And this is the cause They looke for light and loe it is darknesse They grope like the blind vpon the wall euen as one that hath no eyes They roare like Beares and mourne like Doues looking for health but it is farre from them for their Offences are many and their Sinnes testifie against the Lord. They will not confesse and acknowledge their Sinnes but doe amisse transgresse and dissemble against the Lord and fall away from their God vsing presumptuous and traiterous imaginations in their hearts casting away equitie truth and righteousnesse but the Lord holdeth him selfe by his owne power and he susteineth him by his owne righteousnesse He putteth on wrath in stead of cloathing and taketh Ielousie about him for a cloake Like as when aman goeth forth wrathfully to recompence his enimies and to be auenged of his aduersaries But vnto Sion hee is a redeemer and of Iacob which turne from their wickednesse he is a sauiour and hee will giue them an euerlasting name that shall not perish Esay 57.15 Thus sayth the high and excellent euen hee that dwelleth in eternitie whose name is the Holy one I dwell high aboue and in the Sanctuarie and with him also that is of a contrite humble Spirit doe I pitch my habitation Psal 104.35 As for sinners they shall be consumed out of the earth and the vngodly shall come to an end Psal 59.12 For the sinne of their mouth and for the wordes of their lippes they shall be taken in their pride And why Their preaching is of cursing and lyes Psal 62.4 Their deuise is onely how to put him out whom God hath exalted their delight is in lyes they giue good wordes with their mouth but curse with their heart Psalm 69.26 For they persecute him whom the Lord hath smitten and they talke how they may vexe him whom hee hath wounded 2. Thes 2.11 Therefore shall the Lord send them strong delusions that all they might be damned which beleeued not the trueth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes and obeyed not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus With euerlasting damnation shall they be punished from the presence of the Lord and from the presence of his power Psal 51.4 That he may be iustified in his sayinges and cleare when he iudgeth That in the fulnesse of time all should be brought vnder one head Ephes 1.10 FVlnesse of time is here taken for the time of Christs death whose death should accomplish the ceremony and oblation and breake downe the wall betweene the Iewe and the Gentile When men should looke no longer for saluation onely from Ierusalem but should praise God euerie where their hearts being assured that they were members of Christ the head The Heathen not taking notice of this could neuer come to saluation The blind Iewes not marking this ioyned with Chittem in the second degree which are the Romanes to crucifie Christ the King the most holy because hee testified of himselfe that he was that Day Starre which was to appeare That Scepter that should dash all the sons of Seth The Ladder by whom the Angels of God ascended and descended Shiloh Emmanuel the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda The Roote of Iessay The stone which the builders refused The true Manna That Spirituall Rocke that would giue wathers of Life The True Bread that came downe from heauen Hee vnto whom the crowne and Diademe did belong Michael who thought it no robbery to be equal with God The Stone that should punne Nebuchadnetzars Image to duste Palmonie the secrete Numberer Hee who wayeth numbreth and deuideth the Great Sheepheard of his sheepe The True Vine from whose sides doth proceede wine of euerlasting life Hee that came to do the will of his Father Iohn 4.10 Hee that met with the woman of Samaria at Iacobs well to whom he promised euerlasting water The Stumling blocke to the Iewes The Light to the Gentiles The Eye to the blind and an Helpe to the lame For that is his name God is my strength my righteousnes c. Wherfore he hath made them Vagabonds ouer the whole earth and hath brought that Abhomination of desolation vpon them whereby their Citie and Sanctuarie is destroyed And why because they would not know the Fulnesse of time the day of saluation The Crane the Swallow and the Turtle Doue doe know their time but my people will not know the time of my comming saith the Lord. Also our Sauiour Christ saith Woe be vnto you Scribes and Pharises Hipocrites you can discerne the wind the weather but you know not the time of the comming of the sonne of man which they might haue knowen from Dan. 9.24 where the Angel Gabriel saith 70 Seauens or 490. yeeres are determined for the death of Christ the King the most holy to finish sinne to reconcile iniquitie to bring in Iustice to seale the vision prophet and to annoint the Most Holy By which we are constrained highly to esteeme of the knowledge of the times for they are of as great force to the vnderstanding of the Bible as the starres are in the heauens for giuing of light No part of the Bible but consisteth of time place or person If of time as one third part then the knowledge thereof is to be imbraced and in no respect to be despised as lightly regarding the vse thereof least
sacrifices as being taught from Adam whose sacrifices were of two sortes Abel offered as appeareth in sinceritie of religion The other for outward ceremonie voyd of true religion Wherefore to Abel and his offering God had respect but to Kaine and his offering hee had no regard Wherefore Kaine being possessed with the Poyson of the Serpent enuied Abel because his workes were good and his owne euill and killed him and being asked of God why hee had slaine his brother in steede of asking pardon of God hee said that his fault was greater then that Gods mercie could forgiue it Against whom Saint Augustine cryeth vehemently that by how much lesse the mercie of God could be inferiour to the fault of Kaine seeing that to forgiue is a thing proper to God and to reuenge and punish is farre estranged from his nature by so much more great was the offence of Kaine in the wordes he said then in the murther he did seeing that by the stroke of the Sword hee tooke away but the life of his Brother but by the blasphemie of his tongue he gaue death to his owne soule To kill his Brother was euill done but to dispaire in Gods mercie was euen a transgression of the Diuell For more do we offend God to esteeme him without mercie then in any other sinne we commit against Man For which God curseth him giuing him a marke of a guiltie Conscience alwayes accusing him of sinne against God and inhumanitie against Nature Wherevpon he goeth vp downe wandring as one finding no rest or peace like an excommunicate person from the place of true Religion into the land of Nod which signifieth Fugitiue This Kaine was the eldest Sonne of Adam whom hee named Possession for so doth Kaine signifie as if he had gained a goodly Possession But seeing what might be the comfort of such Possession he calleth his other Sonne Abel that is Vanitie to shew that if a man haue neuer so large Kingdomes or Possessions or be neuer so nobly borne as Kaine was except the Sonne of God it is all but Vanitie and vexation of minde It is not to be vnderstood that Adam had now no more Children but Kaine and Abel for doubtlesse Adam had many more Children as may appeare by Kaines Storie For it is sayd that Kaine departed into the land of Nod and knew his Wife which must needes be Adams Daughter and married before the murder for we are not to thinke that Adam would afterward haue bestowed his Daughter vpon a Reprobate The holy Ghost nameth onely three of Adams Sonnes Kaine Abel and Seth to make a proportionable number answerable to the number of the letters of the wordes of the Holy tongue or the tongue of Adam For vpon three letters doth euery word in that tongue consist Kaine doth represent the afflicters of such as in this life esteemed the World and the pleasures thereof Vanitie which is Abel And Seth whose name signifieth Setled or Foundation to shew the assurance of his Fayth in the Promises of God to the confirming of our Fayth which was that from him must come that Seed of the Woman that should bruse the head of the Serpent This sentence they and wee and all the World were and are bound to take notice of For this we ought to know and beleeue so assuredly that wee might shew our selues setled vpon a sure Foundation not vpon Sandes where Sea and Wind may ouerthrow vs but vpon the Rocke Christ Iesus that our building may remaine as the Mount Sion and as the heauenly Ierusalem which is builded foure square of three foures of precious Stones that howsoeuer wee be tossed with afflictions of this life we may stand firme acknowledging Iehouah to be the one true and euerlasting God Father Sonne and Holy spirit and that his mercie is like to eternall Mountaines that cannot be remooued wherewith he loued vs vnto saluation before the foundation of the World Thus duely considering his Power and Wisedome in the particular actions of the Creation Adams fall the Promise of eternall life Adams Fayth and his Sacrifices the shadowes of our Redemption the Seauenth day and the vse thereof wee shall spend our dayes in beholding our end and neuer doe amisse sorrowing with a godly sorrow as Enosh whose name signifieth Sorrow did For as in our dayes so in his men fell from the true Religion of Adam of Seth and other Godly men which were then aliue turning the grace of God into wantonnesse marrying Wiues of Kaines poysoned seed respecting Beautie and other outward giftes rather then Vertue not remembring their Grandmother Enah that for beholding the Beautie of one forbidden Fruite commending it to Adam for the pleasantnes of the Taste and the vnlawfull desire that she had of diuelish Knowledge not long before was driuen out of Paradse whose blessing of Procreation was ioyned with sorrow of Conception Whose innocent Soule by breaking but one Commandement became guiltie of eternall death lost the whole glorie of Paradise and was driuen out into Mountaines as not worthy to enioy the benefite of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden But Enosh being a Godly man and knowing that the fruites of worldly sorrow are likewise eternall Death and of Godly sorrow Repentance which word signifieth a changing of Iudgement from Ignorance to true Knowledge to the renewing of the spirit nameth his Sonne Kenan Contrite or Repenting or a looking backe into their impieties detesting their vaine conuersation to the killing of sinne in him selfe and to the imbracing of righteousnes For it is not onely required of a man to eschew euill but withal to do good to flie darknesse if we will enioy the light to follow the right way if we will not erre to auoy de the myre durt if we will be cleane and without spot and forbeare to be euill if we will begin to be good For it is not enough for a Valiant man to doe what he may but also he is bound to attempt nothing but what he ought And as repentance is the fruit of godly sorrow so thankfulnes to God for deliuerances from like trials proceedeth from Repentance Therefore Kenan the Contrite nameth his son Mahalaleel My praise God which none can doe effectually without a lowly minde sanctified first by Grace by the subduing of the flesh Mahalaleel knowing that such fruite is required of such a tree nameth his sonne Iared the Lowly which giftes of grace God bestoweth vpon such onely as he accepteth vnto himself as it is written Blessed is the man vnto whom God imputeth not his sin c. So that a man hauing thus purged himselfe from the iniquitie of wicked men marking the rules of Gods eternall Wisedome He shall be a vessell sanctified vnto honour meete for the vses of the Lord 2. Tim. 2.21 Therefore Iared the lowly nameth his sonne Henoch the Holy Now God commanding al men to direct their steps by the straight line of his word first layeth downe
his will what we ought to doe to please him and then induceth vs thereunto not onely by hope of eternall life but promiseth vs in this life long and happy dayes as in the eternall Law is expressed Loue God aboue all and thy neighbour as thy selfe that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee c. Henoch therefore being assured of the infinite mercies of God towards him and his seed by fayth still beholding as in a glasse the Redemption by the Sonne of God the summe of all saluation nameth his sonne Methushelah Long life or Speare-death For euen as the poynt of a Speare keepeth off that which would otherwise destroy euen so Methushelah kept away the Flood a long time from drowning the World But because men should not thinke that any liueth without calamities least outward happines should make men to forget God Methushelah hauing heard his fathers and himselfe also being a Prophet preach of the destruction of the World by the Flood calleth his sonne Lamech that is Stroken or Heart-wounded which is to be vnderstood that in respect that he being neere those times of dangers many of his posteritie were like to be drowned not onely in the flood but eternally tormented for ioyning with the wicked mockers which despised the preaching of the Fathers But although God throweth mens consciences downe for a while with griefe of other mens iust punishment yet he rayseth them vp againe giuing them hope of his assured Promises and a sweete comfort of eternall life Lamech being thus strengthened with the fayth of his Fathers ayming still to the sentence of Saluation pronounced in Paradise calleth his sonne Noah Restorer or Comforter saying This Sonne shall comfort vs concerning the sorrow of our hands and concerning the earth which the Lord hath cursed Wherein he sheweth that he both looked backward to the Creation formard to the Redemption by Christ The Seed of the Woman that should bruse the head of the Serpent Thus much for the vse of the names of the ten Fathers before the Food in generll Now followeth the liues and deaths of the Fathers in particular and first of Adam There is a great doubt made of the time of the yeare of Adams Creation and of the day of his fall and is refused as a thing vnprofitable to be knowne and Vnpossible to be prooued First for the time of his Creation IT is certaine hee was created in September at the time that Fruits be ripe which is at the fall of the Leafe And that was the fittest time seeing in the course of Nature there was no fitter time to expresse the nature of Adams fall And as the fall of Adam was answerable to the fall of the Leafe because by his fall death was brought vpon all So the death of Christ beeing contrary to Adams fall because it brought life to all the fittest time to resemble this life in the course of Nature was the Spring Therefore Christ dyed at the Spring to deliuer vs out of the spirituall Prison when as all thinges shew them-selues to be deliuered out of this earthly Iayle Now for the day of Adams fall IT was on Fryday the sixt day the day of Adams creation at the time of eating For we doe not read that euer Adam did eate before he did eate of the forbidden fruite Therefore when by the storie the time of eating cannot be seperated in time reason sheweth vs to ioyne them in time For Satan was a murderer from the beginning and wee must bring it from the beginning as neare as can be not crossing any Scripture The searching of this matter is not of small importance For from the true vnderstanding of the Creation we see the clearenes of the Redemption and not marking the Creation aright is the cause of much folly and they that misse of the lawes of Creation are sure to misse of the lawes of Redemption and Moses making mention of many Times hee would not haue omitted the time of the Fall except it had been done presently after the Creation therefore Adams fall must needs be layd as neere the beginning as may be not crossing the Storie The bare Narration sheweth that no famous action went betweene the Commandement and the Fall And the shortnesse of the time doth shew the force of the Aduersarie Besides it is a great sinne to say that any man except Christ could fulfill perfectly any one poynt of the Law for thereby we darken the glory of Christ and prooue him not to haue performed the whole Law If Adam had continued vntill the Sabaoth in his innocencie no doubt he would haue kept a perfect Sabaoth And if he had kept a perfect Sabaoth he had performed some part of the Law and thereby been partaker with Christ in the worke of our Redemption Againe if Adam had continued in the image of God which is in righteousnesse and true holinesse vntill the Sabaoth he would haue performed the ordinances of the Sabaoth which was to eate of the Tree of life for God after his fall setteth Cherubins to keepe the way of the Tree of life least Adam eating should liue for euer Whereby it appeareth that if he had eaten thereof before he had not fallen Therefore it cannot be that Adam continued perfect vnto the Sabaoth And further it is written Psal 49.20 Adam beeing in honour continueth not one night but is like to the Beastes that perish Cedrenus a Greeke writer sayth That Adam fell the sixt day of the first weeke Saint Augustine sayth The Woman straight way after her creation before she accompanied with Adam became into the transgression otherwise Kaine had been conceaued without sinne Theophilact vpon Matthew sayth That as Man was formed the sixt day and did eate of the Tree the sixt houre so Christ reforming Man and healing the fall was fastned to the Tree the sixt day and the sixt houre And in the storie of the Creation in Genesis presently after the fall Moses speaketh of the Redemption And without we compare the Creation with the Redemption we misse of all For Adam to be compared with Christ is the summe of all And wherefore should all the actions of the Redemption be accomplished in such rarenesse except to be answerable both to the fall and to the time of the fall Wherefore it is needfull we should know our thraldome if we will receiue comfort by the Redeemer thus First Christ the Restorer was borne of a Virgin Why Because by a Virgin destruction came to the world Chrysostome compareth Eue and Marie togeather thus Eue being a Virgin hearing the wordes of the Serpent and beleeuing them brought foorth Death The Virgin Marie hearing the wordes of the Angel Gabriel and beleeuing them brought foorth Life Againe why should Christ die on the sixt day rather then on the fifth or fourth And why was there darkenesse vntill the coole of the day rather then till the Sunne setting But to make the
Redemption answerable to euerie part of the Fall because God according to the secret counsell of his owne will before the foundations of the earth were layd would make the art of Saluation so easie and the harmonie of the Bible so tunable that no musicke in the world can be more pleasant to the eare then the meditation of the loue of God towardes vs in Christ is comfortable to the heart of man Therefore the meditation of Adams fall and the victorie of Christ ought to be continually in our mindes Adam dieth THe Hebrewes descant very strangely vpon the Arithmeticke of Adams yeares which he liued which were 930. vpon a sentence in the 24. of Iob where it is sayd All the dayes of man vpon earth are but a shadow as if hee should say All the dayes of Adam are but Abel for Adam in Hebrew signifieth Earth and Abell signifieth shadow or vanitie Whereby we are taught that from the Earth we came and to the Earth we must returne againe according to Gen. 3.19 Wee are also to vnderstand from hence that although God deferre his punishmentes yet hee is mindfull of his promises for not one tittle or iod of his Word shall passe as appeareth in Adams death which God before had promised and was accomplished though it were 930. yeares after Wherefore howsoeuer we be setled on the pleasures of this life or be aduanced to thrones of Maiestie as Adam was we are to know that it is but a Steward-ship bestowed vpon vs for a season and that in this world we are to looke for no abiding place for we are but Grasse we are consumed as Smoake our dayes come to an end A thousand yeares in Gods sight is as yesterday He turneth Adam to dust and sayth Returne to dust yee sonnes of Adam He bringeth our yeares to an end as it were a tale that is told Wherefore let vs pray to God with Moses To teach vs to number our dayes aright that we may apply our heartes vnto Wisedome Adam commeth short of 1000. yeares so much as is the dayes of mans life Iared Methushelah and Noah ouer-reached Adam in long life because of the power of the word of God Hee died about Mount Moriah where he was made He liued till he saw many Kings he himselfe the greatest and vntill he had erected a stately gouernement taught them humane artes who was fittest to doe it being a King to commaund whom he would and what he would and hauing witt excelling all the men in the world And as in a Princes court it is requisite to haue Noble men some higher and some lower and men of all degrees so Adam liued till he might haue a stately Court Now if a King should commaunde a Diuine to make Adams Will from his Storie he would make it in this sort O my Sonnes gather you togeather and harken vnto the wordes of your Father Adam the last that euer he shall speake vnto you I was voyde of saluation and enioyed not happinesse by disobeying which disobedience I then practised when I harkened to the perswasion of Heua and did eate the forbidden Fruite I then felt the heauie iudgementes of God against sinne and saw my nakednesse whereof I was ashamed Thereby I brought death vpon all my posteritie which Curse had continued if the Mercie of God had not remooued it by offering a Blessing in the Seede of the Woman I haue ruled you all the dayes of my life as a Father that you may learne to choose Gouernours which resemble Fathers in behauiour I haue instructed you to loue obey their gouernment you must know that as my saluation resteth vpon beliefe in the Seede of the Woman so must yours But the house of Kaine despising this and killing Abel a figure of him who by dying shall ouercome the power of the Serpent will cause the Flood to destroy the earth Few shall embrace this Doctrine for though eight be saued by the Arke yet seuen onely shall keepe sinceerely the beliefe in this Promise of the Seed of the Woman My dayes haue been long with the rest of your Fathers but the end of all flesh is come vpon mee for out of the Earth I came and to the Earth I must returne Now compare Christ with Adam The first Adam was made a soule hauing life of earth earthly therfore by the earthly one came Disobedience Sinne. Iudgement Condemnation Death The second Adam was wade a spirit giuing life from heauen heauenly Therefore by the heauenly one came Obedience Grace Forgiuenesse Iustification Life Adam was created on the sixt day did eate of the tree the sixt houre Was made a man without a Father made not inferior to the Angelles â— lost all Was tempted lost saluation at the time of eating Was made Ruler of the world and did not hold it Did fall in the Garden His soule was in darknes from the sixt houre vntill the ninth houre Christ Reforming man and healing the fall is fastened to the tree the sixt day and sixt houre Was made a man without a Father Made lower then the Angels is crowned with glory all the Angels worship him being man whereby we may know the world was made subiect to man Was tempted Brought saluation to all at the time of eating Was made Ruler of the World and did hold it went into a garden to recouer Adams fall in the garden when he suffered caused darknesse to couer the whole earth from the sixt houre till the ninth houre Adam By breaking one Commandement lost all Was called to accompt the ninth houre Was debarred of the Tree of life Was driuen out of Paradise Was the head of his Wife was a King Prophet Sacrificer Liued 1000. yeares wanting 70. Christ By fulfilling all the Commandementes brought life to all At the ninth houre yeeldeth vp the ghost goeth to giue accompt to his Father Is the true Tree of life on that day openeth Paradise to the poore Theefe The Head of the Church was a King Prophet Sacrificer Was borne 70. yeares before 4000. Because these two Tables consist onely of Numbers and that Numbers in the Scriptures are great helpes for the vnderstanding of the same before we come to speake of Seth it is not amisse to lay downe what Numbers are of most vse in the Bible namely 1.3.4.5.6.7.8.10.12 ONE One Expressing the vnion of the God-head and from thence the vnitie of all Godly as being members of one head Christ Iesus which is made plaine Psal 133.1 Behold how good and comely a thing it is for Breathren to dwell togeather in vnitie THREE Three Expressing the distinguished Trinitie within which number many excellent things fall out still to put vs in minde of the vndeuidable coeternity of Father Sonne and Holy Spirit Adam Kaine Of Adam the eldest extreame wicked Abel Seth Noah Iaphet Sem Cham Of Noah the youngest wicked Terah Haran Nachor Of Terah the middlemost was wicked Abram To shew that neither in eldest youngest
story whensoeuer they heare any man speake in an other tongue which they vnderstand not For entring into the consideration thereof they are driuen presently to examine the storie of the Gen. â—0 in which they may see the iust and seuere dealing of God to such as enuie the blessing of their brother for going from sinne to sinne they had their tongues diuided and their dwellings scattered It appeareth by this story that the dealinges of Cham and his sonnes were in the same kinde that Kaines were Kaine after his Curse wandring like a Vagabond from the place of true Religion into the land of Nod which signifieth Fugitiue buildeth a Citie and calleth it after the name of his Sonne Henoch C ham after his curse goeth wandring about from the place that Noah liued and Sem sacrificed at vnto the land of Shinear which signifieth Shake off and there hee built a Cittie of Confusion From which story also we may obserue the iudgments of God that wherein a man offendeth hee or his seede is commonly punished for it is certaine that all the actions of wicked are a harmony with Gods dealings though in respect of the wicked they agree not with vertue The sonnes of Sem for ioyning with rebellious Nimrod of Cham as it were flouting their Fathers blessing to furnish vp the number of 70. made Bricke for the buylding of the Tower of Confusion 70. of Sems posteritie 600. yeares after were forced to goe into the land of Cham and there compelled to be Brickmakers vnder Pharaoh King of Egipt because they despised the blessing of Sem and remembred not the storie of the 70. Families that buylt the Tower of Babel To shew that when in prosperie men forget God turning his Graces into Wantonnes and his Blessinges into folish Pleasures that he will take his blessinges of Bread and Wine and Oyle from vs and driue vs into forraine Nations amongst Egiptian Dogges to seeke reliefe Whose succour shall be yokes of heauie bondage to punish vs in the same pleasure wherein we offended All the 70. Families doe afflict Sem for this before hee hath his ful renowne and in scattering of Iocktanes sonnes they are placed farthest off Ierusalem of any Peleg Diuided Christ is Palmoni the secret numberer that weghieth numbreth and diuideth Vnto the building of the Tower of Babel we haue Sem Name Arphaxad Healing Sale Spoyling Heber Pilgrime Peleg Diuided Put these togeather and you haue a short senteÌ„ce A good Name like precious Oyntment to heale bind vp the ruined branches of poore Pilgrimes walking in out here on earth like strangers as hauing no abyding place for God will diuide to euery one according to his workes 1787. Regu borne A breaking a sunder or euill 1819. Serug borne Bough Plant or principal Vine 1849. Nachor borne Dry. 1878. Terah borne Smelling These like a principall Vine moystned with good sap and healed by grace gaue a good smell though Terah falling to Idolatrie had almost extinguished the heate thereof AN euill Plant that hath lost his sappe and is become dry being not watered with the deaw of Heauenly grace can giue no good smell which appeareth in that Terah quite forgetting that euer God created and consumed the world and brought the deuises of the sonnes of Noah his great Graundfather to open shame of eternall memorie scattering them vp and downelike vagabonds ouer all the earth figuring the calamities of their latter ages the punishment whereof chiefly was to be performed in his owne kinred became an Idolater as Ioshua 24.15 Your Fathers in old time worshiped strange Gods euen Terah the father of Abraham c. But marke the euent For euen as the sonnes of Sem for ioyning with the rest were scattered with the rest so the posteritie of Terah by Abram euen the best of them namely the Iewes were once scattered Vagabondes ouer all the earth for not imbracing the couenant of Abraham Isaacke and Iacob But in mercie gathered togeather againe to the Mountaine of grace to Iacobs Well that giueth euer-liuing Water to so many as would acknowledge Christ the Rocke to the Land that flowed with Milke and Hony To Bethel the house of Iehouah where they might see a Lather reaching from Heauen to Earth with Angels ascending and descending To that fresh springing hill of Sion which is watered with the deaw of Hermon from whence it runneth like the precious Oyntment that ran downe from Aarons beard to wash away their former vncleannes and so purge their filthy leprosie that they might be a sweete smelling Sacrifice vnto the Lord holy and acceptable before his Throne hauing an high Sacrificer to enter into the Holy of Holyest to make intercession for them that they might be free from Confusion and deliuered out of the bondage of the outward spirituall Babel But euen as the Dogge returneth to his vomit and the Hogge to his wallowing in the Mire so these Iewes of vncircumcised handes and heartes forgetting all those and many more benefites of God bestowed vpon them crucifying Christ the King of glory the God of Sem and not remembring their former punishmentes are once againe so scattered ouer the face of the earth that while the world endureth they shall be vagabondes and neuer gathered togeather againe to teach vs that if God spared not them nor suffered them to continue in their transgressions beeing his peculiar people that wee are to looke for no other recompence then they had if we despise the knowledge of Christ as they did Terah hath three Sonnes Haran Nachor Abraham as Adam and Noah had Peleg died being 229. yeares old Hee had not halfe the yeares of his father Heber the most aged man after the Flood liued not to halfe Methushelahs yeares to shew the Curse that came by the Flood so euery man in the world hath part of Gods Curse by the Flood Nachor died being 148. yeares old NOAH died being 950. yeares old Hee liued after the Flood 350. yeares that is 7. Fifties or 7. Iubilees of yeares as many as were from conquering the Land of Canaan to the gouernment of Samuel Noahs whole life was a singing of Saluation to the holy Lambe seeing all the world drowned and hee onely saued Noah died two yeares after Abram was borne So God stirs vp one good man after another oftentimes ABRAM borne 352 yeares after the Flood HIs name signifieth Hie father being the tenth from Noah An other establisher of Religion as Noah the Restorer or Comforter was the tenth from Adam And as in Noahs dayes hee being the tenth from Adam Gods iustice ouer all flesh was extended So in Abrams hee being the tenth from Noah Gods mercie to all the world is pronounced When Terah is 130. yeares old Abram is borne So old was Adam when he begat Seth a foundation of Religion Iacob a bringer of Religion into Egipt is 130. yeares old when he standeth before Pharoh Iehoiada the high sacrificer saueth Ioas the Kings
speaking in the person of God sayth I haue loued Iacob and hated Esau So Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes Ere they were borne it was sayd the elder shall serue the younger as it is written Esau haue I hated and Iacob haue I loued Rom. 9.13 Esaus description is thus layde downe in the Scriptures First that he was Hayrie that he was of great courage and at his birth Iacob holdeth him by the heele God thereby shewing at their birth what should be the course of their liues afterwards Homer maketh mention that Vlâ—sses ouerthrew Aiax by striking him on the Leg. The Greeke translators handle it so and call him Thermistes that is to say a Heeler Esau was a Hunter liuing like the Ruffians and Roysters of our time Hee selleth his Birth-right for a messe of Pottage for Iacob would not giue it vnto him except Esau would first sweare to sell him his Birth-right Sayth Esau I am contented for it will be so long ere it will be enioyed that I and my Sonnes Sonne shall be dead first So with an Oath he sold Iacob his Birth-right therefore he was called Edom Redde Pottage No doubt Jsaacks men knew this to be a rare Blessing and seeing he had despised it they must needes when soeuer they called him Edom keepe his wickednesse in memorie for by this sale he despised Noah Som Heber and Abraham and all his victories in the fayth of which Blessing Abraham ouercame so gloriously This is the first combat by which Iacob a Heeler supplanteth Esau The whole posteritie of Esau bare the name of this infidelitie hee thought it a long time to the performance of a Promise to be accomplished almost 400. yeares after ayming like a prophane worldling at the outward Inheritance of the Land of Canaan and not respecting the Blessing of the spirituall Salem Hee was the eldest and extreame wicked notwithstanding he was the Sonne of a righteous Father to shew that the sinceerest nature of the godliest men is extreame wicked Hee was to Iacob as Kain to Abel and as Ismael to Isaacke And as in his owne person hee persecuted and sought the death of his brother Iacob so his posteritie were continuall enemies to the seed of Iacob Ameleck of Esau lay in waite for the children of Israel when they went out of Egipt to destroy them but God commaunded them to put out his name from vnder Heauen Wicked Haman would at once haue destroyed all the Jewes but hee and his ten Sonnes were hanged Haman was of Agag the Amalekite of Esau In him is performed a Prophecie in Numb 24.20 Amaleck is the beginning of Nations but his latter ende shall perish vtterly Herod of Edom likwise seeketh to put Christ the true Israel to death wherein you may see the malice of Esau to continue euen till Christ Esau was hated of God before he was borne therefore whatsoeuer he did it turned still into a curse vnto him Hee prepareth Venison for his Father and the whiles loseth the blessing of eternall Life Hee would please his Father by marrying into Abrahams stocke and marryeth Ismaels Daughter Hee wept for the Blessing but found no place of repentance though hee sought the Blessing with teares In like sort is the repentance of euery wicked man when hee is touched with the conscience for sinne hee will then acknowledge his sinne and with teares shew foorth sorrow for his transgressions but through the hardnesse of his heart which can not repent hee returneth like to Esau to his vomite againe And further we are to note in this Storie how Esau by haste not willing to stay for the Promise till the time appoynted felt the heauie iudgement of God wee haue the like example of this haste the like punishment in Saul Samuel annoynted Saul King and willed him to goe before him to Gilgal and to stay for him seauen dayes till hee come Saul tarryeth seauen dayes according to the time appoynted but Samuel came not therefore the people were scattered Saul seeing the peoples mindes seuered that he might vnite them againe offered a burnt Offering Then came Samuel and rebuked him saying Thou hast done foolishly thy Kingdome shall not continue the Lord hath sought him a man after his owne heart Thus haue you the like example both for storie and prophecie IAcobs Storie will appeare the better by declaring Esaus euen as contraries are set togeather that thereby euery one may shew the clearer His name signifieth Supplanter or Heeler and all his life sheweth him to be contrary to Esau The one an image of al Impietie the other a mirrour of al Godlinesse The one a Persecutor the other persecuted The one a despiser of Grace the other an imbracer of Vertue You haue from the Creation to Iacob two and twentie Fathers answerable to the two and twentie Letters in the Hebrew tongue So Epiphanius in Ankorato handleth them Thus by comparisons God maketh his dealinges easie to be kept in memorie Iacob though the two and twenty from Adam yet the third Seuenth of those that were borne after Adams creation Now the Chronicle is ended for particular liues for after Iacobs Storie the Scripture containes whole Stories of whole States and Kingdomes Noah is the tenth from Adam Abraham the tenth from Noah Iacob the twelfe so you haue the two and twentie The Hebrewes admire the patience of God that ten whole ages God gaue them to repent and yet Esay sayth That the Lord looked about and saw that there was none good vpon the earth The seuentie Interpreters translating the old Testament into Greeke thrust in one Kenan whose name is not in the Hebrew If the reason be demaunded why they did so this may be answered The 70. Interpreters knew that a great deale of wisedome was contained in the comparison betweene the two Twentie Letters of the Hebrew tongue and the two and Twentie Fathers Now because they enuied the Egiptians and were loth they should gaine any wisedome by them of purpose they adde Kenan to disturbe this proportion and so they make Iacob the twentie three S. Luke setting downe the Genealogie of Christ alleadgeth Kenan following the Genealogie penned by the Seuentie Interpretors for S. Luke was to take it as he found it he knew that all the Iewes were well acquainted with the reason why Kenan was added Therfore there could no danger grow in his time though Kenan were kept still in the Genealogie Beza translating the new Testament leaueth him out for the which the Iesuites accuse him Now Beza to the end ignorant men should not stagger by finding him in Luke which is not in Moses leaueth him out and this may Beza do wel enough for any one may know that S. Luke neuer meant that Arphaxad begat Kenan seeing that hee addeth being as men supposed the sonne of Arphaxad to wit of those men that knew not the meaning of the Translators Besides Epiphanius being a Grecian and being acquainted with the Greeke Translation yet