the tabernacle he drew before it the veile to fulfil the commandement of our Lord. †He sette the table also in the tabernacle of testimonie at the north side without the veile †ordering the bread of proposition before it as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He sette the candlesticke also in the tabernacle of testimonie ouer against the table on the south side †placing the lampes in order according to the precept of our Lord. †He set also the altar of gold vnder the roofe of testimonie against the veile †and burned vpon it the incense of spices as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He put also the hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie †and the altar of holocauste in the entrie of the testimonie offering on it the holocauste and the sacrifices as our Lord had commanded †The lauer also he set betwen the tabernacle of testimonie and the altar filling it with water †And Moyses and Aaron and his sonnes washed their handes and feete †when they entred the roofe of couenant and went to the altar as our Lord had commanded Moyses †He erected also the court round about the tabernacle and the altar drawing the hanging in the entrie therof After al thinges were perfited †the cloude couered the tabernacle of testimonie and the glorie of our Lord filled it †Neither could Moyses enter the roofe of couenant the cloude couering al thinges and the maiestie of our Lord shining because the cloude had couered al thinges †If at anie time the cloud did leaue the tabernacle the children of Israel went forward by their troupes †If it hong ouer they remained in the same place †For the cloude of our Lord honge ouer the tabernacle by day and a sire by night in the sight of al the children of Israel throughout al their mansions THE ARGVMENT OF LEVITICVS VVHEN the Tabernacle was erected nere to Mount Sinai the first day of the second yeare after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt and was so replenished with Gods Maiestie that none no not Moyses him self could enter in our Lord speaking from thence called Moyses and declared to him the offices of the Leuites whom only and no others he deputed for the administration and charge of sacred things wherof this booke wherin they are written is called Leuiticus In which saith S. Hierom al and euerie Sacrifice yea almost euerie sillable and Aarons vestments and the whole Leuical order breath forth heauenlie sacraments or mysteries For first God here prescribeth what sacrifices he wil haue in what manner and to what purposes Then what partes and qualities he requireth in Priests how they shal be vested and consecrated seuerly punishing some that transgressed with commandment neither to offer in sacrifice nor to eate things reputed vncleane and the maner of purifying such things and persons as by diuers occasions were polluted Interposing also some moral and iudicial precepts appointeth certaine solemne feastes times of rest and Iubilie yeare Finally promiseth rewardes and threatneth puâ—ishments to those that kepe or breake his commandments with particular admonition touching vowes and tithes So this booke may be diuided into fiue special partes The first of diuers sortes of Sacrifices in the seuen first chapters The second of consecrating Priests and their vâ—stments with punishment for offering strange fire in the three next chapters The third of distinction betwen cleane and vncleane with the maner of purifying certaine legal vncleanes and other precepts moral and iudicial from the 11. chap. to the 23. The fourth of feasts times of rest and Iubilie with priuiledges rewardes and punishments from the 23. chap. to the 27. The fifth of vowes and tithes in the last chapter THE BOOKE LEVITICVS IN HEBREW VAICRA CHAP. I. Diuers rites in offering holocaustes as wel of cattle 14. as of birdes AND OVR LORD called Moyses and spake to him out of the tabernacle of testimony saying †Speake to the children of Israel thou shalt say to them “ The man of you that shal offer an hoste to our Lord of beastes that is of oxen sheepe offering victimes †if his oblation be “ an holocauste and of the heard he shal offer a male without spotte at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie to propitiate our Lord vnto him †and he shal put his handes vpon the heade of the hoste and it shal be acceptable and profitable to his expiation †And he shal immolate the calfe before our Lord and the children of Aaron the priestes shal offer the bloud therof powring it in the circuite of the altar which is before the dore of the tabernacle †And the skinne of the hoste being plucked of the ioyntes they shal cut into peeces †and shal put fire vnderneth in the altar hauing before laid a pyle of wood in order †and the ioyntes that are cut out laying in order thereupon to wit the head al thinges that cleane to the liuer †the entralles and feete being washed with water and the priest shal burne them vpon the altar for an holocauste and “ sweete sauoure to our Lord. †And if the oblation be of flockes an holocauste of sheepe or of goates a lambe of a yeare old without spot shal he offer †and he shal immolate it at the side of the altar that looketh to the North before our Lord but the bloud therof the sonnes of Aaron shal poure vpon the altar round about †and they shal diuide the ioyntes the head and al that cleane to the lyuer and shal lay them vpon the wood vnder which the fire is to be put †but the entrales and the â—eâ—te they shal wash with water And the whole the priest shal offer and burne vpon the altar for an holocaust and most sweete sauoure to our Lord. †But if the oblation of holocaust to our Lord be of birdes of turtles and young pigions †the priest shal offer it at the altar and writhing the head to the necke and breaking the place of the wound he shal make the bloud to runne downe vpon the brimme of the altar †but the croppe of the throate and the fethers he shal cast nigh to the altar at the east side in the place where the ashes are wount to be powred out †and he shal breake the pinnions therof and shal not cut nor diuide it with a knife and shal burne it vpon the altar putting fire vnder the wood It is an holocaust and oblation of most sweete sauoure to our Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 2. The man that shal offer Sacrifice being the most special external seruice wherby man acknowledgeth the supreme dominion of God and his owne subiection and homage to his diuine Maiestie was so wel knowen to be necessarie as being in most frequent vse in the law of nature and in al nations that here neded not anie new precept in general
the giftes you shal offer but vpon the altar they shal not be put for a sauour of swetnes †What sacrifice soeuer thou offerest thou shalt season it with salt neither shalt thou take away the salt of the couenant of thy God from thy sacrifice In euerie oblation thou shalt offer salt †But if thou offer a gyfte of the first fruites of thy corne to our Lord of the eares being yet greene thou shalt drie it at the fire and bruise it in maner of meale and so shalt thou offer thy first fruites to our Lord †powring oyle vpon it and putting on franckincense because it is the oblation of our Lord. †Wherof the priest shal burne for memorie of the gift part of the meale bruised and of the oile and al the frankincense CHAP. III. How the pacifique hostes must be offered of beeues 6. shepe 7. lambes 12. and goates AND if his oblation be an hoste of pacifiques and he wil offer of beues male or female without spot shal he offer them before our Lord. †And he shal lay his hand vpon the head of his victime which shal be immolated in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie and the sonnes of Aaron the priest shal poure the bloud in the circuite of the altar †And they shal offer of the host of pacifiques for an oblation to our Lord the fatt that couereth the entralles and whatsoeuer fatt is within †the two kidneys with the fatt wherwith the guttes are couered and the caule of the liuer with the two little kydneys †And they shal burne them vpon the altar for an holocaust putting fire vnder the wood for an oblation of most swete sauour to our Lord. †But if his oblation and the hoste of pacifiques be of flocks whether he offer male or female they shal be without spot †If he offer a lambe before our Lord †he shal put his hand vpon the head of his victime which shal be immolated in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie and the sonnes of Aaron shal powre the bloud therof in the circuite of the altar †And they shal offer of the hoste of pacifiques a sacrifice to our Lord the fatt and the whole rumpe †with the kidneys and the fatt that couereth the bellie and al the vital partes and both little kydneys with the fatt that is about the guttes and the caule of the liuer with the two little kidneys †And the priest shal burne them vpon the altar to the foode of the fire and of the oblation of our Lord. †If his oblation be a goate and he offer it to our Lord †he shal put his hand vpon the head therof and shal immolate it in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie And the sonnes of Aaron shal poure the bloude therof in the circuite of the altar †And they shal take of it to the foode of our Lords fire the fatt that couereth the bellie and that couereth al the vital partes †the two little kydneys with the caule that is vpon them about the guttes and the tallowe of the liuer with the little kidneys †and the priest shal burne them vpon the altar to the food of the fire and of a most sweete sauour Al the fatt shal be our Lordes †by a perpetual right in your generations and in al your habitations you shal eate no bloude nor fat at al. CHAP. IIII. Hovv a Priest 13. the multitudâ— 22. a Prince 27. or anie one of the people sinning of ignarance must offer hostes AND our Lord spake to moyses saying †Speake to the children of Israel The soule that sinneth by ignorance and doth anie thing of al the commandmentes of our Lord which he commanded not to be done †If the priest that is anointed sinne making the people to offend he shal offer for his sinne a calfe without spott to our Lord †and he shal bring it to the dore of testimonie before our Lord and shal put his hand vpon the head therof and shal immolate it to our Lord. †He shal drawe also of the bloud of the calfe carying it into the tabernacle of testimonie †And when he hath dipped his finger in the bloud he shal sprinckle it seuen times before our Lord against the veile of the Sanctuarie †and of the same bloud he shal put vpon the hornes of the altar of incense most acceptable to our Lord which is in the tabernacle of testimonie And al the rest of the bloud he shal powre at the foote of the altar of holocauste in the entrie of the tabernacle †And the fatt of the calfe he shal take away for the sinne aswel that which couereth the entralles as al the partes that are within †The two little kidneys and the caule that is vpon them beside the guttes and the fatt of the â—iuer with the two litle kidneis †as is taken away from the calfe which is an host of pacifiques and he shal burne them vpon the altar of hollocauste †But the skinne and al the flesh with the heade and feete and boweles and dung †and the rest of the bodie he shal carie forth without the campe into a cleane place where the ashes are wount to be powred out and he shal burne them vpon a pyle of wood which shal be burnt in the place where the ashes are powred out †And if al the multitude of Israel be ignorant and through ignorance do that which is against the commandement of our Lord †and afterward vnderstand their sinne they shal offer for their sinne a calfe and shal bring it to the dore of the tabernacle †And the ancientes of the people shal put their handes vpon the head therof before our Lord. And the calfe being immolated in the sight of our Lord †the priest that is anoynted shal carie of the bloud into the tabernacle of testimonie †dipping his finger and sprinkling seuen times against the veile †and he shal put of the same bloud on the hornes of the altar that is before our Lord in the tabernacle of testimonie and the rest of the bloud he shal poure at the foote of the altar of holocauste which is at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie †And al the fatte therof he shal take vp shal burne it vpon the altar †doing so with this calfe as he did also before and the priest praying for them our Lord wil be propitious vnto them †But the calfe it selfe he shal carie forth without the campe and shal burne it like as the former calfe because it is for the sinne of the multitude †If a Prince sinne and by ignorance do of manie thinges one that by the law of our Lord is forbidden †and afterward vnderstandeth his sinne he shal offer an hoste to our Lord a bucke of the goates without spotte †And he shal put his hand vpon the head
therof and when he hath immolated it in the place where holocaust is wont to be slaine before our Lord because it is for sinne †the priest shal dippe his finger in the bloud of the hoste for sinne touching the hornes of the altar of holocauste and the rest powring at the foote therof †But the fatt he shal burne vpon it as is wont to be done in the victimes of pacifiques and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgiuen him †And if a soule of the people of the land shal sinne through ignorance doing anie of those thinges that by the law of our Lord are forbidden and offending †and knoweth his sinne he shal offer a she goate without spotte †And he shal put his hand vpon the head of the host that is for sinne and shal immolate it in the place of holocaust †And the priest shal take vp of the bloud with his finger and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust the rest he shal powre out at the foote therof †But taking away al the fatt as is wont to be taken away of the victimes of pacifiques he shal burne it vpon the altar for a swete sauour to our Lord and he shal pray for him and it shal be forgeuen him †But if he offer of the flocke a victime for his sinne to wit an ewe without spotte †he shal put his hand vpon the head therof and shal immolate it in the place where the hostes of holocausts are wont to be slayne †And the priest shal take of the bloud therof with his finger and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust the rest he shal powre at the foote therof †Al the fatte also he shal take away as the fatte of the ramme that is offered for pacifiques is wont to be taken away and shal burne it vpon the altar a burnt sacrifice of our Lord and he shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgiuen him CHAP. V. Of hostes for the sinne of concealing an others periurâ—e 2. for vncleanes 4. for vaine svvearinge 14. for rrour in exercising holie rites 17. for anie sinne committed by ignorance IF a soule sinne and heare the voice of one swearing and be witnes because either he him selfe sawe or is priuie to it vnlesse he vtter it he shal beare his iniquitie †The soule that toucheth anie vncleane thing either that which was killed of a beast or died of it selfe or anie other thing that creepeth and forgeteth his vncleannes is guiltie and hath offended †and if he touch anie thing of the vncleannesse of man according to anie imputitie wherwith he is wount to be polluted hauing forgotten doe knowe it afterward he shal be guiltie of an offence †The soule that sweareth and vttereth with his lippes that he would doe either il or wel and bindeth the same with an oathe and his word hauing forgotten afterward vnderstandeth his offence †let him do penance for his sinne †and offer of the flockes an ewe lambe or a shee goate and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne †but if he be not able to offer a beast let him offer two turtles or two young pigions to our Lord one for sinne and the other for an holocaust †and he shal geue them to the priest who offering the sirst for sinne shal wryth backe the heade therof to the litle pinions so that it sticke to the necke and be not altogeather broken of †And of the bloud therof he shal sprinckle the wall of the altar and whatsoeuer is left he shal make it distil to the bottome therof because it is for sinne †And the other he shal burne for an holocauste as is wount to be done and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgeuen him †And if his hand be not able to offer two turtles or two young pigions he shal offer for his sinne of floure the tenth part of an ephi He shal not put oyle vpon it nor cast anie frankincense theron because it is for sinne †and he shal deliuer it to the priest who taking therof a ful handful shal burne it vpon the altar for a moniment of him that did offer it †praying for him and making expiation but the part that is left him selfe shal haue for a gifte †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †If a soule transgressing the ceremonies by errour shal sinne in those thinges that are sanctified to our Lord he shal offer for his offence a ramme without spotte out of the flockes that may be bought for two sicles according to the weight of the Sanctuarie †and the damage it selfe which he did he shal restore and the fift part he shal adde besides deliuering it to the priest who shal pray for him offering the ramme and it shal be forgeuen him †If a soule sinne by ignorance and do one of those thinges which by the lawe of the Lord are forbidden and being guiltie of sinne vnderstand his iniquitie †he shal offer a ramme without spotte of the flockes to the priest according to the measure and estimation of the sinne who shal pray for him because he did it vnwitting and it shal be forgiuen him †because by errour he offended against the Lord. CHAP. VI. Oblation for sinne vvittingly committed 8. The maner of offering holocaust 12. Continual fire to be kept in the Altar 14. The sacrifices vvhich Priests shal offer at their Consecration 24. In general of hostes for sinne and vvho shal eate of the same and vvhere OVR Lord spake to Moyses saying †The soule that shal sinne and contemning the Lord shal denie vnto his neighbour the thing deliuered to his custodie which was committed to his credite or shal by force extort anie thing or do oppression †or shal finde a thing lost and denying it be also foresworne and shal doe anie other thing of manie wherin men are wount to sinne †being conuicted of the offence †he shal render al thinges which by fraude he would haue obteyned whole and the fift part besides to the owner vnto whom he did the damage †But for his sinne he shal offer a ramme without spott out of the flocke and shal geue it to the priest according to the estimation and measure of the offence †who shal pray for him before the Lord and he shal haue forgeuenes for euerie thing that in doing he sinned †And Our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command Aaron and his sonnes This is the Law of an holocaust It shal be burnt vpon the altar al night vntil morning the fire shal be vpon the same altar †The priest shal be reuested with the tunike and the linnen femoralles and he shal take vp the ashes which the deuouring fire burned and putting them besides the altar †shal be vnuested of
shal burne the fatte vpon the altar but the breast shal be Aarons and his sonnes †The right shoulder also of the pacifique hostes shal fal for first fruites of the priest †He of the sonnes of Aaron that offereth the bloud and the fatte him selfe shal haue the right shoulder also for his portion †For the brest of eleuation and the shoulder of seperation I haue taken of the children of Israel from their pacifique hostes and haue geuen them to Aaron the priest and to his sonnes by a lawe for euer of al the people of Israel †This is the anoynting of Aaron and his sonnes in the ceremonies of our Lord in the day when Moyses offered them that they might doe the function of priesthood †and the thinges that our Lord commanded to be geuen them of the children of Israel by a perpetual religion in their generations †This is the lawe of holocauste and of the sacrifice for sinne and for an offence and for consecration and the victimes of pacifiques †Which our Lord apointed to Moyses in mount Synai when he commanded the children of Israel that they should offer their oblations to our Lord in the desert of Synai CHAP. VIII Moyses consecrateth Aaron high Priest 13. and his sonnes Priests 33. continuing in the tabernacle seuen dayes and nights AND Our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Take Aaron with his sonnes their vestimentes and the oyle of vnction a calfe for sinne two Rammes a basket with azymes †and thou shalt gather al the assemblie to the dore of the tabernacle †And Moyses did as our Lord had commaunded And al the multitude being gathered before the dore of the tabernacle †he said This is the word that our Lord hath commanded to be done †And immediatly he “ offered Aaron his sonnes and when he had washed them †“ he reuested the high priest with the sttait linnen garment girding him with a bawdrike and reuesting him with the tunike of hyacinth and ouer it he put the Ephod †which he straitening with the girdle fitted it to the Rationale wherin was Doctrine and Veritie †with the mitre also he couered his head and vpon it against the forehead he put the plate of gold consecrated in sanctification as our Lord had commanded him †He “ tooke also the oyle of vnction wherwith he anoynted the tabernacle with al the furniture therof †And sanctifying them and hauing sprinckled the altar seuen times he anoynted it and al the vessel therof and the lauer with the foote therof he sanctified with the oyle †The which pouring vpon Aarons head he anoynted and consecrated him †his sonnes also after he had offered them he reuested with linnen tunikes and girded them with bawdrikes and put mitres on them as our Lord had commanded †He “ offered also the calfe for sinne and when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes vpon the head therof †he did immolate it drawing the bloud and dipping his finger touched the hornes of the altar round about Which being expiated and sanctified he poured the rest of the bloud at the botome therof †But the fatte that was vpon the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two little kidneys with their little tallow he burnt vpon the altar †the calfe with the skinne and the flesh and the dung he burnt without the campe as our Lord had commanded †He offered also a ramme for an holocaust vpon the head wherof when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes †he did immolate it and poured the bloud therof in the circuite of the altar †And cutting the ramme it selfe into peeces the head therof and the ioyntes and the fatte he burnt with fire †hauing first washed the entralles and the feete and the whole ramme together he burnt vpon the altar because it was an holocaust of most swete odour to our Lord as he had commanded him †He offered also the second ramme for the consecration of priests and Aaron and his sonnes did putte their handes vpon the head therof †which when Moyses had immolated taking of the bloud therof he touched the tippe of Aarons right eare and the thumbe of his right hand in like maner also of his foote †He offered also the sonnes of Aaron and when of the bloud of the ramme being immolated he had touched the tippe of the right eare of euerie one and the thumbes of the right hand and foote the rest he poured on the altar round about †but the fatte and the rump and al the fatte that couereth the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two kidneies with their fatte with the right shoulder he seperated †And taking out of the basket of azymes which was before our Lord a loafe without leauen and a manchet tempered with oile and a wafer he put them vpon the fatte and the right shoulder †deliuering al to Aaron and to his sonnes Who hauing lifted them vp before our Lord †he tooke them againe of their handes and burnt them vpon the altar of holocaust because it was the oblation of consecration for a swete odoure of the sacrifice to our Lord. †And he tooke of the ramme of consecration the brest for his portion eleuating it before our Lord as our Lord had commanded him †And taking the oyntment and the bloud that was vpon the altar he sprinckled it vpon Aaron and his vestiments vpon his sonnes and their vestiments †And when he had sanctified them in their vestiments he commanded them saying Boile the flesh before the dore of the tabernacle and there eate it Eate ye also the loaues of consecration that are laid in the basket as our Lord commanded me saying Aaron and his sonnes shal eate them †and whatsoeuer shal be left of the flesh and the loaues fire shal consume †Out of the dore also of the tabernacle you shal not goe forth seuen daies vntil the day wherein the time of your consecration shal be expired for in seuen dayes the consecration is finished †as at this present it hath bene done that the rite of the sacrifice might be accomplished †Day night shal you tarie in the tabernacle obseruing the watches of our Lord lest you die for so it hath bene commanded me †And Aaron and his sonnes dld al thinges which our Lord spake by the hand of Moyses ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 6. Offered Aaron By this maner of taking offering and consecrating Aaron Hiegh Priest S. Paul sheweth that none may chalenge to them selues nor presume to exercise priestlie offices or anie authoritie in spiritual causes but such as be orderly called therto Yea that Christ him self would not haue exercised this function but that he was also called of God vnto it saying Euerie Hiegh Priest taken from among men is appointed for men in those thinges that pertaine to God Neither doth anie man
slaine the peoples hoste pray for them as our Lord hath coÌ„manded †And forthwith Aaron approching to the altar immolated the calfe for his sinne †the bloud wherof his sonnes brought to him wherin dipping his finger he touched the hotnes of the altar and poured the rest at the foote therof †And the fatte and the litle kidneis and the caule of the liuer which are for sinne he burnt vpon the altar as our Lord had commanded Moyses †but the flesh and skinne therof he burnt with fire without the campe †He immolated also the victime of holocaust and his sonnes brought him the bloud therof which he poured in the circuite of the altar †The hoste also it selfe being cut into peeces they brought with the head and euerie member Al which he burnt with fire vpon the altar †hauing first washed the entralles and the feete with water †And offering for the sinne of the people he slew the bucke goat and expâ—ating the altar †he made the holocaust †adding in the sacrifice the libaments which are offered withal and burning them vpon the altar be side the ceremonies of the morning holocaust †He immolated also the oxe and the ramme the pacifique hostes of the people and his sonnes brought him the bloud which he poured vpon the altar round about †The fatte also of the oxe and the rump of the ramme and the two little kindneis with their fatte and the caule of the liuer †they put vpon the brests and after the fatte was burnt vpon the altar †their brests and the right shoulders Aaron did seperate eleuating them before our Lord as Moyses had commanded †And stretching forth his hand to the people he blessed them And so the hostes for sinne and the holocaustes and the pacifiques being finished he descended †And Moyses and Aaron going into the tabernacle of testimonie and afterward comming forth blessed the people And the glorie of our Lord appeared to al the multitude †and behold a fire coming forth from our Lord deuoured the holocaust and the fatte that was vpon the altar Which thing when the multitude had senne they praised our Lord falling on their faces CHAP. X. Nadab and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron for offering strange fire are burnt to death and cast out of the campe 6. for whom the people mourne but not the Priests 8. Priests are forbid to drinke wine when they enter into the tabernacle 12. and are commanded to eate the residew of oblations in the holie place 16. which this timein part they omitted and are excused being sorowful for that vvhich happened to Nadab and Abiu AND Nadab and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron catching censors did put in fire and incense therupon offering before our Lord strange fire which was not commanded them †And fire comming forth from our Lord deuoured them and they dyed before our Lord. †And Moyses said to Aaron This is it which our Lord hath spoken I wil be sanctified in them that approch to me and in tbe sight of al the people I wil be glorified Which Aaron hearing held his peace †And Moyses calling Misael and Elisaphan the sonnes of Oziel the vncle of Aaron said to them Goe and take away your bretheren from the sight of the Sanctuarie and carie them without the campe †And going forthwith they tooke them as they lay reuested with linnen tunikes did cast them forth as it had bene commanded them †And Moyses spake to Aaron to Eleazar and Ithamar his sonnes Vncouer not your heades and rent not your vestiments lest perhaps you die and indignation come vpon al the assemblie Let your brethren and al the house of Israel lament the burning that our Lord hath raised †and your selues shal not goe out of the dore of the tabernacle otherwise you shal perish for the oyle of holie vnction is vpon you Who did al thinges according to the precept of Moyses †Our Lord also said to Aaron †Wine and anie thing that may make drunke you shal not drinke thou and thy sonnes when you enter into the tabernacle of testimonie lest you die because it is an euerlasting precept through your generations †And that you may haue knowledge to discerne betwen the holie and prophane betwen the polluted and cleane †and may teach the children of Israel al my ordinances which the Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moyses †And Moyses spake to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sonnes that were left Take the sacrifice that is remayning of the oblation of our Lord and eate it without leauen beside the altar because it is Holie of holies †And you shal eate it in a holie place which is giuen to thee and thy sonnes of the oblations of our Lord as it hath bene commanded me †The brest also that is offered and the shoulder that is seperated you shal eate in a most cleane place thou and thy sonnes and thy daughters with thee For they are laid apart for thee and thy children of the healthful hostes of the children of Israel †because the shoulder and the the brest and the fatte that is burnt on the altar they haue eleuated before our Lord and they pertaine to thee and to thy sonues by a perpetual lawe as our Lord hath commanded †Among these thinges when Moyses sought for the bucke goate that had bene offered for sinne he found it burnt and being angrie against Eleazar and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron that remained he said †Why did you not eate the hoste for sinne in a holie place which is most Holie and geuen to you that you may beare the iniquitie of the multitude and may pray for it in the sight of our Lord †especially wheras of the bloud therof there hath not bene caried within the holie places and you ought to haue eaten it in the Sanctuarie as it was commanded me †Aaron answered This day hath bene offered the victime for sinne and the holocaust before our Lord and to me that is chanced which thou seest how could I eate it or please our Lord in ceremonies hauing a sorowful hart †Which when Moyses had heard he was satisfied with his answere CHAP. XI The distinction of cleane and vncleane in beastes fish birdes and other things 43. With commandment to be holie and impolluted AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron saying †Say to the children of Israel These are the beasts which you ought to eate of al the liuing things of the earth †Euerie one that hath the hoofe diuided and cheweth the cudde among the cattel you shal eate †But whatsoeuer in dede cheweth the cudde and hath an hoofe but diuideth it not as the camel and others that you shal not eate and among the vncleane you shal repute it †Cherogril which cheweth the cudde and diuideth not the hoofe is vncleane †The hare also for that also cheweth
cleansing and hauing washed his clothes and al his bodie in liuing water he shal be cleane †And the eight day he shal take two turtles or two yong pigeons and he shal come into the sight of our Lord to the dore fo the tabernacle of testimonie and shal geue them to the priest †who shal make one for sinne and the other for an holocaust and he shal pray for him before our Lord that he may be cleansed of the fluxe of his seede †The man from whom issueth the seede of copulation shal wash with water al his bodie and he shal be vncleane vntil euen †The garment and skinne that he weareth he shal wash with water and it shal be vncleane vntil euen †The woman with whom he compaineth shal be washed with water and shal be vncleane vntil euen †The woman that monthly hath the fluxe of bloud shal be separated seuen daies †Euerie one that toucheth her shal be vncleane vntil euen †and that whereon she sleepeth or sittteh in the daies of her separation shal be polluted †He that toucheth her bedde shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be vncleane vntil euen †Whosoeuer shal touch any vessel wherupon she sitteth he shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be polluted vntil euen †If a man companie with her in the time of her menstrual bloud he shal be vncleane seuen daies and euerie bedde wheron he sleepeth shal be polluted †The woman that hath a fluxe of bloud many daies not in her menstrual time or that ceaseth not to haue a fluxe after the menstrual bloud as long as she is subiect to this disease she shal be vncleane as if she were in her menstrual time †Euerie bedde whereupon she sleepeth and vessel wheron she sitteth shal be polluted †Whosoeuer toucheth them shal wash his clothes and him self being washed with water shal be vncleane vntil euen †If the bloud stay and cease to runne she shal count the seuen daies of her purification †and the eight day she shal offer for her selfe to the priest two turtles or two young pigeons at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie †who shal make one for sinne and the other for an holocaust and he shal pray for her before our Lord and for the sluxe of her vncleannesse †You shal teach therefore the children of Israel that they take heede of vncleannesse and die not in their filthinesse when they shal pollute my tabernacle that is among them †This is the law of him that hath the fluxe of sede and that is polluted by copulation †and the woman that is separated in her menstrual times or that hath a continual fluxe of bloud and of the man that sleepeth with her CHAP. XVI VVhen and how the high Priest must enter into the Sanctuarie 14. How he shal expiate or reconcile the same 16. and the Tabernacle 18. and the Altar 20. How he shal offer a â—â—ue goate and send him into the wildernes 29. And al must celebrate the feast of expiation or clensing from sinnes AND our Lord spake to Moyses after the death of the two sonnes of Aaron when they were slaine offering strange fire †and he commanded him saying Speake to Aaron thy brother that he enter not at al times into the Sanctuarie that is within the veile before the propitiatorie wherwith the arke is couered lest he die for in a cloude wil I appeare ouer the oracle †vnlesse he doe these thinges before He shal offer a calfe for sinne and a ramme for an holocaust †He shal be reuested with a linnen tunike he shal hide his priuities with linnen femoralles he shal be girded with a linnen girdle a linnen mitre shal he put vpon his head for these are holie vestmentes withal which when he is washed he shal be reuested †And he shal receiue of the whole multitude of the children of Israel two bucke goates for sinne and one ramme for an holocaust †And when he hath offered the calfe and praied for him self and for his owne house †he shal make the two bucke goates to stand before the Lord in the dore of the tabernacle of testimostimonie †and casting lottes vpon both one for the Lord an other for the goate of dismission †that whose lotte fel to the Lord he shal offer for sinne †but that whose lotte was to be the goate of dismission he shal set aliue before the Lord that he may poure out prayers vpon him and dismisse him into the wildernesse †After that these thinges be Ì„BCH 143-476 duly celebtated he shal offer the calfe and praying for him self and for his house he shal immolate it †and taking the thurible which he hath filled of the burning coales of the altar and taking vp with his hand of the compounded persume for incense he shal goe in beyond the veile into the Holie place †that when the incense is put vpon the fire the cloude therof and the vapour may couer the oracle which is ouer the testimonie and he die not †He shal take also of the bloud of the calfe and sprinckle with his finger seuen times against the propitiatorie to the east †And when he hath killed the bucke goate for the sinne of the people he shal carie in the bloud therof within the veile as hath bene commanded of the bloud of the calfe that he may sprinckle it against the oracle †and expiate the Sanctuarie from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel and from their preuarications and al their sinnes According to this rite shal he doe to the tabernacle of testimonie which is fixed among them in the middest of the filth of their habitation †Let no man be in the tabernacle when the high priest goeth into the Sanctuarie to pray for him self and for his house for the whole assemblie of Israel vntil he come forth †And when he is come forth to the altar that is before the Lord let him pray for him self and taking the bloud of the calfe and of the bucke goate let him poure it vpon the hornes therof round about †and sprinckling with his finger seuen times let him expiate and sanctifie it from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel †After he hath clensed the Sanctuarie and the tabernacle and the altar then let him offer the liue goate †and putting both handes vpon his head let him confesse al the iniquiries of the children of Israel and al their offences and sinnes which praying to light on his head he shal send him forth by a man ready therto into the desert †And when the goat hath caried al their iniquities into the solitarie ground and shal be let goe into the desert †Aaron shal returne into the tabernacle of testimonie and putting of the vestiments which he had on him before when he entred into the
might be your God CHAP. XVI Core and his complices making schisme against Moyses and Aaron 31. some are swalowed in the earth with their families and substance 35. other two hundred and fiftie offering incense 41. and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people murmuring in behalfe of the sedicious are consumed with fire from heauen AND behold Core the sonne of Isaar the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leui and Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Hon also the sonne of Pheleth of the children of Ruben †“ rose against Moyses and other of the children of Israel two hundred fiftie men princes of the synagogue and which in the time of assemblie were called by name †And when they had stoode vp against Moyses and Aaron they said Let it suffice you that al the multitude consisteth of holie ones and our Lord is among them Why lift you vp your selues aboue the people of our Lord †Which when Moyses had heard he fel flatte on his face †and speaking to Core and al the multitude he said In the morning our Lord wil make it knowne who pertaine to him and the holie the wil ioyne to him selfe and whom he shal choose they shal approch to him †This do therfore Take euerie man their censars thou Core and al thy councel †and taking fire in them to morrow put vpon it incense before our Lord and whom soeuer he shal choose the same shal be holie you do much exalt your selues ye sonnes of Leui. †And he said againe to Core Heare ye sonnes of Leui †Is it a smal thing vnto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from al the people and ioyned you to him selfe that you should serue him in the seruice of the tabernacle and should stand before the ful assemblie of the people and should minister to him †did he therfore make thee and al thy brethren the sonnes of Leui to approch vnto him that you should chalenge vnto you the priesthood also †and al thy companie should stand against our Lord for what is Aaron that you murmur against him †Moyses therfore sent to cal Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab Who answered We come not †Why is it a smal matter to thee that thou hast brought vs out of a land that folowed with milke and honie to kil vs in the desert vnles thou rule also like a lord ouer vs †In deede hast thou brought vs into a land that floweth with riuers of milke and honie hast thou geuen vs possessions of fieldes vineyardes What wilt thou plucke out our eies also We come not †Moyses therfore being very wrath said to our Lord Respect not their sacrifices thou knowest that I haue not taken of them so much as a little asse at anie time neither haue afflicted anie of them †And he said to Core Thou and al thy congregation stand ye apart before our Lord and Aaron to morrow apart †Take euerie one your censars and put incense vpon them offering to our Lord two hundred fiftie censars Let Aaron also hold his censar †Which when they had done Moyses and Aaron standing †and had heaped together al the multitude against them to the dore of the tabernacle the glorie of our Lord appeared to them al. †And our Lord speaking to Moyses and Aaron said †Separate your selues from the middes of this congregation that I may sodenly destroy them †Who felilatte on their face and said Most mightie God of the spirites of al flesh when one sinneth shal thy wrath rage against al †And our Lord said to Moyses †Command the whole people that they separate them selues from the tabernacles of Core and Dathan and Abiron †And Moyses arose and went to Dathan and Abiron and the ancientes of Israel folowing him †he said to the multitude Depart from the tabernacles of the impious men and touch not the thinges that pertaine to them lest you be wrapped in their sinnes †And when they were departed from their tentes round about Dathan and Abiron coming forth stood in the entrie of their pauilions with their wiues and children and al the multitude †And Moyses said In this you shal know that our Lord hath sent me to do al thinges that you see and that I haue not forged them of my owne mind †If they die the accustomed death of men and if the plague wherwith others also are wont to be visited do visite them out Lord did not send me †but if our Lord do a new thing that the earth opening her mouth swallow them downe al thinges that pertaine to them and they descend quicke into hel you shal know that they haue blasphemed our Lord. †Immediatly therfore as he ceased to speake the earth brake insunder vnder their feete †and opening her mouth deuoured them with their tabernacles al their substance †and they went downe into hel quicke couered with the ground and perished out of the middes of the multitude †But al Israel that stoode round about fled at the cric of them that perished saying Lest perhappes the earth swallow vs also †But a fire also coming forth from our Lord slew the two hundred fiftie men that offered the incense †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command Elâ—zar the sonne of Aaron the priest that he take vp the censars that lie in the burning fire and that he sprinkle the fire hither and thither because they be sanctified †in the deathes of the sinners and let him beate them into plates and fasten them to the altar because there hath bene offered incense in them to the Lord and they are sanctified that the children of Israel may see them for a signe and a monument †Eleazar therfore the priest tooke the brasen censars wherin they had offered whom the burning fire deuoured and bette them into plates fastening them to the altar †that the children of Israel afterward might haue wherwith to be admonished that no stranger approch and he that is not of the seede of Aaron to offer incense to our Lord lest he suffer as Core hath suffered and al his congregation according as our Lord spake to Moyses †And al the multitude of the children of Israel murmured the day folowing against Moyses and Aaron saying You haue killed the people of our Lord. †And when there rose a sedition and the tumult grew farder †Moyses and Aaron fled to the tabernacle of couenant Which after they were entred the cloude couered it and the glorie of our Lord appeared †And our Lord said to Moyses †Depart from the middes of this multitude euen now wil I destroy them And as they lay vpon the ground †Moyses said to Aaron Take the censar and drawing fire from the altar put incense vpon it going quickly to the people to pray for them for euen now is the wrath come forth
on the south side the prince shal be Elisur the sonne of Sedeur †and the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbred fourtie six thousand fiue hundred †Beside him camped they of the tribe of Simeon whose prince was Salamiel the sonne of Surisaddai †and the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbred fiftie nine thousand three hundred †In the tribe of Gad the prince was Eliasaph the sonne of Duel †and the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbred fourtie fiue thousand six hundred fiftie †Al that were reckened in the campe of Ruben an hundred fiftie thousand and a thousand foure hundred fiftie by their troupes they shal march in the second place †But the tabernacle of testimonie shal be lifted vp by the offices of the Leuites and their troupes As it shal be sette vp so shal it be taken downe Euetie one shal march by their places and orders †On the west side shal be the campe of the sonnes of Ephraim whose prince was Elisama the sonne of Ammiud †the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbered fourtie thousand fiue hundred †And with them the tribes of the sonnes of Manasses whose prince was Gamaliel the sonne of Phadassur †and the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbered thirtie two thousand two hundred †In the tribe of the sonnes of Beniamin the prince was Abidan the sonne of Gedeon †and the whole host of his warriers that were reckened thirtie fiue thousand foure hundred †Al that were numbered in the campe of Ephraim an hundred eight thousand one hundred by their troupes they shal march the third †On the north part camped the sonnes of Dan whose prince was Ahiezar the sonne of Ammisaddai †the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbered sixtie two thousand seuen hundred †Besides him they of the tribe of Aser pitched their tents whose prince was Phegiel the sonne of Ochran †the whole hoste of his warriers that were numbered fourtie thousand and a thousand fiue hundred †Of the tribe of the sonnes of Nephthali the prince was Ahira the sonne of Enan †the whole hoste of his warriers fiftie three thousand foure hundred †Al that were numbered in the campe of Dan were an hundred fiftie seuen thousand six hundred and they shal march last †This is the number of the children of Israel by the houses of their kinredes and troupes of the hoste being diuided six hundred three thousand fiue hundred fiftie †And the Leuites were not numbered among the children of Israel for so our Lord had commanded Moyses †And the children of Israel did according to al thinges that our Lord had commanded They camped by their troupes and marched by their families and houses of their fathers CHAP. III. The Leuites are assumed to the seruice of the Tabernacle 14. numbered by their seueral families and their offices distinguished 45. They are taken to God in place of the first borne of the children of Israel The residue of the first borne aboue the number of Leuites are redemed with price THESE are the generations of Aaron and Moyses in the day that our Lord spake to Moyses in Mount Sinai †And these be the names of the sonnes of Aaron his first begotten Nadab then Abiu and Eleazar and Ithamar †These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron the priests that were anointed and whose handes were filled and cōsecrated to doe the function of priesthood †For Nadab and Abiu died when they offered the strange fire in the sight of our Lord in the desert of Sinai without children and Eleazar and Ithamar did the function of priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father †And our Lord spake to moyses saying †Bring the tribe of Leui and make them stand in the sight of Aaron the priest to minister vnto him and let them watch †and obserue whatsoeuer pertaineth to the seruice of the multitude before the tabernacle of testimonie †and let them keepe the vessel of the tabernacle seruing in the ministerie therof †And thou shalt geue the Leuites for a gift †to Aaron and to his sonnes to whom they are deliuered of the children of Israel But Aaron and his sonnes thou shalt appoint ouer the seruice of priesthood The stranger that approcheth to minister shal die †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †I haue taken the Leuites from the children of Israel for euerie first borne that openeth the matrice among the children of Israel and the Leuites shal be mine †For the first borne is mine since I stroke the first borne in the Land of Aegypt I haue sanctified to me whatsoeuer is first borne in Israel from man vnto beast they are mine I the Lord. †And our Lord spake to moyses in the desert of Sinai saying †Number the sonnes of Leui by the houses of their fathers and their families euerie male from one moneth and vpward †Moyses numbered as our Lord had commanded †and there were found the sonnes of Leui by their names Gerson and Caath and Merari †The sonnes of Gerson Lebni and Semei †The sonnes of Caath Amram and Iesaar Hebron and Oziel †The sonnes of Merari Moholi and Musi †Of Gerson were two families the Lebnitical and Semeitical †of whom were numbered the people of male sexe from one moneth and vpward seuen thousand fiue hundred †These shal pitch behind the taberna cle on the West †vnder their prince Heliasaph the sonne of Lael †And their charge shal be in the tabernacle of couenāt †the tabernacle it selfe and the couer therof the hanging that is drawne before the dores of the roofe of couenant and the curtines of the court the hanging also that is hanged in the entrie of the court of the tabernacle and whatsoeuer pertaineth to the rite of the altar the cordes of the tabernacle and al the furniture therof †The kinred of Caath shal haue the peoples of the Amramites and Iesaarites and Hebronites and Ozielites These are the families of the Caithites reckened by their names †al of the male sexe from one moneth and vpward eight thousand six hundred they shal haue the gard of the Sanctuarie †and shal campe on the south side †And their prince shal be Elizaphan the sonne of Oziel †and they shal keepe the arke and table and the candlesticke the altars and the vessel of the Sanctuarie wherin the ministration is and the veile and al such kind of implementes †And the prince of the princes of the Leuites Eliazar the sonne of Aaron the priest shal be ouer them that watch for the custodie of the Sanctuarie †But of Merari shal be the peoples of the Moholites and Musites reckened by their names †al of the male kind from one moneth and vpward six thousand two hundred †Their prince Suriel the sonne of Abihaiel they shal campe on the north side †Vnder their custodie
from our Lord and the plague rageth †Which when Aaron had done and had runne to the middes of the multitude which now the burning fire did waste he offered the incense †and standing betwen the deade and the liuing he prayed for the people and the plague ceased †And there were that were strooken fourtene thousand and seuen hundred men beside them that had perished in the sedition of Core †And Aaron returned to Moyses vnto the doore of the tabernacle of couenant after that the destruction was ceased ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 2. Rose against Moyses By this most famous Schisme and terrible punishment therof al are warned to kepe order vnitie and peace within the Church of God and in nowise to communicate with heretikes or schismatikes in the act of heresie or schisme A necessarie admonition especially in such times and places as we liue in and see greater breaches made from ordinarie and lawful Pastors then this was For as S. Ignatius wel noteth Epist 3. ad Magnatianos Core Dathan and Abiron impugned not directly the law but resisted Moyses and Aaron Yet were they and manie thousandes with them seuerly punished for their conspiracie S. Cyprian lib. 1. Epist 6. obserueth the same saying Core Dathan and Abiron acknowledged the same God with Aaron and Moyses liuing vnder the same law and religion and inuocated one true God yet because passing the appointed ministerie of their owne place opposite to Aaron who by Gods fauour and ordinance had receiued lawful Priesthood they tooke vpon them to sacrifice they were forthwith punished by God for their vnlawful attempts neither could their sacrifices irreligiously and vnlawfully offered against Gods ordinance be ratified nor profite them at al. thus teacheth S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr And the text is clere that they were neither Idolaters nor Heretikes but the chiefe of them being Leuites of the familie of Caath who were nerestin kinred and in office to the priests and other principal men of diuets tribes enuying the superioritie of Moyses and Aaron and that priesthood was established only in Aarons progenie arrogated to themselues the office of priests and offered incense further pretending for vpholding their schisme that there should be no Superior at al aboue the holie people of God which albeit they did not beleue yet therby they drew the multitude to fauour and folow them But God deciding this debate to take away the contradiction made the earth to open and swallow vp those that first refused to obey Moyses with their tabernacles and substance and fire from heauen to consume two hundred and fiftie which offered incense and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people for imputing to their Superiors the destruction of the sedicious were also consumed with fire raging amongst the whole multitude til Aaron sent by Moyses and offering incense appeased Gods wrath and saued the rest And wil anie Christians that know they haue immoital soules and that God is a iust Iudge thincke to escape with lesse damnation who for anie worldlie game fauour or feare yeld their bodilie and personal presence at seruice or sermon of heretikes oranic way communicate with heretikes in practise of heresie CHAP. XVII Moyses taking of the princes of twelue tribes twelue roddes and one of Aaron for the tribe of Leui layeth them al in the tabernacle al night 8. where Aarons rodde and none of the rest buddeth bloometh and bringeth forth fruite 9. And al being shewed to the people Aarons is caried back and kept for a monument in the tabernacle AND our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Speake to the children of Israel and take a rodde of euerie one of their kinredes of al the princes of their tribes twelue roddes and the name of euerie one thou shalt write vpon his rodde †and the name of Aaron shal be in the tribe of Leui and one rodde shal conteine al their families †and thou shalt lay them in the tabernacle of couenant before the testimonie where I wil speake to thee †Whomsoeuer of these I shal choose his rodde shal blossome and I shal stay from me the grudginges of the children of Israel wherwith they murmur against you †And Moyses spake to the children of Israel and al the princes gaue him roddes by euerie tribe and they were twelue roddes besides Aarons rodde †Which when Moyses had laid before our Lord in the tabernacle of testimonie †returning the day folowing he found that “ Aarons rodde in the house of Leui was budded and the buddes therof swelling the blossomes were shotte forth which spredding the leaues were fashioned into almondes †Moyses therfore brought forth al the roddes from the sight of our Lord to al the children of Israel and they saw and euerie one receiued their roddes †And our Lord said to Moyses Carie backe Aarons rodde into the tabernacle of testimonie that it may be kept there for a signe of the rebellious children of Israel and let their complaintes cease from me lest they die †And Moyses did as our Lord had commanded †And the children of Israel said to Moyses Behold we are consumed we are al perished †Whosoeuer approcheth to the tabernacle of our Lord he dieth Are we al to be destroyed vnto vtter consumption ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII 8. Aarons rodde This rodde without roote neither it self planted nor anie liue branch ingraffed therin al drie without iuyce or moisture bringing forth buddes flowers and fruite was a figure that our B. Ladie should beare a sonne and remaine a Virgin And this example euidently demonstrateth that she could so do it being no more contrarie to nature that a virgin should conceiue and beare a child without losse of virginitie then that the drie rodde should bud and beare fruite without ordinarie concourse of nature S. Aug. ser 3. de temp S. Greg. Nisse◠de natiuit Dom. S. Bernard ho. 2. in Euang. Missus est CHAP. XVIII The charge and burden of Priestes within the tabernacle and of Leuites about the same 8. First fruites and oblations are due to the Priestes 21. the tithes to the Leuites 26. who of the same pay tithes to the Priestes AND our Lord said to Aaron Thou and thy sonnes and the house of thy father with thee shal beare the iniquitie of the Sanctuarie both thou thy sonnes together shal beare the sinnes of your priesthood †but thy brethren also of the tribe of Leui and the scepter of thy father take with thee and let them be readie at hand and minister to thee but thou and thy sonnes shal minister in the tabernacle of testimonie †And the Leuites shal watch vpon thy preceptes and vpon al the workes of the tabernacle so not withstanding that they approch not to the vessel of the Sanctuarie and to the altar lest both they die and you perish withal †but let them be with thee and watch in the custodies of the tabernacle and in al
the ceremonies therof A stranger shal not ioyne with you †Watch in the custodie of the Sanctuarie and in the ministerie of the altar lest indignation rise vpon the children of Israel †I haue geuen you your brethren the Leuites out of the middes of the children of Israel and haue deliuered them a gifte to the Lord to serue in the ministeries of his tabernacle †And thou and thy sonnes looke to your priesthood and al thinges that perteyne to the seruice of the altar and that are within the vele shal be executed by the priestes if anie stranger approch he shal be slaine †And our Lord spake to Aaron behold I haue geuen thee the custodie of my first fruites Al thinges that are sanctified of the children of Israel haue I deliuered to thee and to thy sonnes for the priestlie office as euerlasting ordinances †These thinges therfore shalt thou take of those that are sanctified and are offered to the Lord. Al oblation and sacrifice and whatsoeuer is rendred to me for sinne and offence becometh Holie of holies shal be thine and thy sonnes †In the Sanctuarie shalt thou eate it males onlie shal eate therof because it is to thee a cōsecrated thing †But the first fruites which the children of Israel shal vow and offer I haue geuen thee and thy sonnes and thy daughters for a perpetual right he that is cleane in thy house shal eate them †Al the best of oile and wine and corne whatsoeuer first fruites they offer to the Lord I haue geuen them to thee †Of fruites al the first that the ground bringeth forth and are brought to the Lord shal turne to thy vses he that is cleane in thy house shal eate them †Euerie thing that the children of Israel render by vow shal be thine †Whatsoeuer first breaketh forth from the matrice of al flesh which they offer to the Lord whether it be of men or of beastes shal be thy right yet so that for the first borne of man thou take a price and euerie beast that is vncleane thou cause to be redemed †whose redemption shal be after one moneth for fiue sicles of siluer by the weight of the Sanctuarie A sicle hath twentie oboles †But the first borne of beefe and sheepe and goate thou shalt not cause to be redemed because they are sanctified to the Lord. onlie the bloud of them thou shalt powre vpon the altar and the fatte thou shalt burne for a most sweete odour to the Lord. †But the flesh shal turne to thy vse as the consecrated brest and the right shoulder shal be thine †Al the first fruites of the Sanctuarie which the children of Israel offer to the Lord haue I geuen thee and thy sonnes and daughters for a perpetual right A couenant of salt is it for euer before the Lord to thee and to thy sonnes †And our Lord said to Aaron In their land you shal possesse nothing neither shal you haue a portion among them I am thy portion and inheritance in the middes of the children of Israel †And to the sonnes of Leui I haue geuen al the tithes of Israel in possession for the ministerie wherwith they serue me in the tabernacle of couenant †that the children of Israel approch not any more to the tabernacle nor committe deadlie sinne †onlie the sonnes of Leui seruing me in the tabernacle and bearing the sinnes of the people it shal be an euerlasting ordinance in your generations No other thing shal they possesse †being content with the oblation of tithes which I haue separated for their vses and necessaries †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command the Leuites and denounce vnto them When you shal receiue of the children of Israel the tithes which I haue geuen you offer first fruites of them to the Lord that is to say the tenth part of the tenth †that it may be reputed to you for an oblation of first fruites as wel of the barne floores as of the presses †and of al thinges wherof you receiue tithes the first fruites offer to the Lord and geue them to Aaron the priest †Al thinges that you shal offer of the tithes and shal separate for the giftes of the Lord they shal be the best and chosen thinges †And thou shalt say to them If you offer al the goodlie and the better thinges of the tithes it shal be reputed to you as if you had geuen first fruites of the barne floore and the presse †and you shal eate them in al your places as wel you as your families because it is the reward for the ministerie wherwith you serue in the tabernacle of testimonie †And you shal not sinne in this point reseruing the principal and fatte thinges to your selues lest you pollute the oblations of the children of Israel and die CHAP. XIX A redde cow is offered in burnt victime for sinne 9. whose ashes are mingled in water for expiation of diuers legal vncleanes 11. as by touching the dead 14. by entring into the tent of the dead also the vessel that is therin and the vessel that lacketh a couer 22. and whatsoeuer the vncleane toucheth AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron saying †This is the religion of the victime which the Lord hath appointed Command the children of Israel that they bring vnto thee a redde cow of ful age wherin is no blemish and that hath not caried yoke †and you shal deliuer her to Eleazar the priest who bringing her forth without the campe shal immolate her in the sight of al †and dipping his finger in her bloud shal sprinkle it against the doores of the tabernacle seuen times †and shal burne her in the sight of al committing aswel her skinne and the flesh as the bloud and the dong to the fire †Wood also of the cedar and hyssope and scarlet twise died shal the priest cast into the flame that wasteth the cow †And then at length washing his garmentes and his bodie he shal enter into the campe and shal be polluted vntil euen †But he also that burneth her shal wash his garmentes and his bodie and shal be vncleane vntil euen †And a man that is cleane shal gather the ashes of the cow and shal powre them out without the campe in a most cleane place that they may be reserued for the multitude of the children of Israel and for water of aspersion because the cowe was burnt for sinne †And when he that caried the ashes of the cow hath washed his garmentes he shal be vncleane vntil euen The children of Israel and the strangers that dwel among them shal haue this for a holie thing by a perpetual ordinance †He that toucheth the dead corps of a man and is vncleane therfore seuen daies †shal be sprinkled of
Kil euerie man his neighbours that are professed to Beelphegor †And behold one of the children of Israel entred in before the face of his brethren to a whore a Madianite in the sight of Moyses and of al the multitude of the children of Israel who wept before the doores of the tabernacle †Which thing when Phinees had sene the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest he arose out of the middes of the multitude and catching a dagger †went in after the man of Israel into the brothel house and thrust them through both together to witte the man and the woman in the genitalles And the plague ceased from the children of Israel †and there were slaine fowre and twentie thowsand men †And our Lord said to Moyses †Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest hath auerted my wrath from the children of Israel because he was moued with my zele against them that my self might not destroy the children of Israel in mine owne zele †Therfore speake to him Behold I geue him the peace of my couenant †and there shal be as wel to him as to his seede the couenant of priesthood for euer because he hath bene zelous for his God and hath expiated the wicked fact of the children of Israel †And the name of the man of Israel that was slaine with the woman of Madian was Zambri the sonne of Salu a prince of the kinred and tribe of Simeon †Moreouer the Madianesse that was slaine with him was called Cozbi the daughter of Sur a most noble prince of the Madianites †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Let the Madianites finde you their enemies and strike you them †Because they also haue done like enemies against you and haue guilfully deceiued you by the Idol Phogor and Cozbi the daughter of the duke of Madian their sister who was strooken in the day of the plague for the sacrilege of Phogor CHAP. XXVI Al the men of twelue tribes being againe numbered from the age of twentie yeares and vpward are found to be six hundred one thousand seuen hundred and thirtie 57. Of the tribe of Leui also numbered of the male sex from the age of one moneth and vpward are found twentie three thousand 64. al being dead in the desert which were numbered before except Caleb and Iosue AFTER the bloud of the offenders was shed our Lord said to Moyses and Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest †Number the whole summe of the children of Israel from twentie yeares and vpward by their houses and kinredes al that can goe forth to warres †Moyses therfore and Eleazar the priest spake in the champion countrie of Moab vpon Iordan against Iericho to them that were †from twentie yeares and vpward as our Lord had commanded of whom this is the number †Ruben the first borne of Israel his sonne Henoch of whom is the familie of the Henochites and Phallu of whom is the familie of the Phalluites †and Hesron of whom is the familie of the Hesronites and Charmi of whom is the familie of the Charmites †These are the families of the stocke of Ruben whose number was found fourtie three thousand and seuen hundred thirtie †The sonne of Phallu Eliab †his sonnes Namuel and Dathan and Abiron These are Dathan and Abiron the princes of the people that rose against Moyses and Aaron in the sedition of Core when they rebelled against our Lord †and the earth opening her mouth deuoured Core verie manie dying when the fire burnt two hundred fiftie men And there was a great miracle done †that Core perishing his sonnes perished not †The sonnes of Simeon by their kinredes Namuel of him is the familie of the Namuelites Iamin of him is the familie of the Iaminites Iachin of him is the familie of Iachinites †Zare of him is the familie of the Zareites Saul of him is the familie of the Saulites †these are the families of the stocke of Simeon of which the whole number was two and twentie thousand two hundred †The sonnes of Gad by their kinredes Sephon of him is the familie of the Sephonites Aggi of him is the familie of the Aggites Suni of him is the familie of the Sunites †Ozni of him is the famile of the Oznites Her of him is the familie of the Herites †Arod of him is the familie of the Arodites Ariel of him is the familie of the Arielites †these are the families of Gad of which the whole number was fourtie thousand fiue hundred †The sonnes of Iudas Her and Onan who died both in the land of Chanaan †And the sonnes of Iudas by their kinredes were Sela of whom is the familie of the Selaites Phares of whom is the familie of the Pharesites Zare of whom is the familie of the Zareites †Moreouer the sonnes of Phares Hesron of whom is the familie of the Hesronites and hamul of whom is the familie of the Hamulites †these are the families of Iudas of which the whole number was seuentie six thousand fiue hundred †The sonnes of Issachar by their kinredes Thola of whom is the familie of the Tholaites Phua of whom is the familie of the Phuaites †Iasub of whom is the familie of the Iasubites Semran of whom is the familie of the Semranites †these are the kinredes of Issachar whose number sixtie fowre thousand three hundred †The sonnes of Zabulon by their kinredes Sared of whom is the familie of the Saredites Elon of whom is the familie of the Elonites Ialel of whom is the familie of Ialelites †These are the kinredes of Zabulon whose number was sixtie thousand fiue hundred †The sonnes of Ioseph by their kinredes Manasses and Ephraim †Of Manasses was borne Machir of whom is the familie of the Machirites Machir begat Galaad of whom is the familie of the Galaadites †Galaad had sonnes Iezer of whom is the familie of the Iezerites and Helec of whom is the familie of the Helecites †and Asriel of whom is the familie of the Asrielites and Sechem of whom is the familie of the Sechemites †and Semida of whom is the familie of the Semidaites and Hepher of whom is the familie of the Hepherites †And Hepher was the father of Salphaad who had no sonnes but onlie daughters whose names are these Maala and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Tersa †these are the families of Manasses and the number of them is fiftie two thousand seuen hundred †And the sonnes of Ephraim by their kinredes were these Suthala of whom is the familie of the Suthalaites Becher of whom is the familie of the Becherites Thehen of whom is the familie of the Thehenites †Moreouer the sonne of Suthala was Heran of whom is the familie of the Heranites †these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Ephraim whose number was thirtie two thousand fiue hundred †These are the
sonnes of Ioseph by their families The sonnes of Beniamin in their kinredes Bela of whom is the familie of the Belaites Asbel of whom is the familie of the Asbelites Ahiram of whom is the familie of the Ahiramites †Supham of whom is the familie of the Suphamites Hupham of whom is the familie of the Huphamites †The sonnes of Bela Hered and Noeman Of Hered the familie of the Heredites of Noeman the familie of the Noemanites †These are the sonnes of Beniamin by their kinredes whose number was fourtie fiue thousand six hundred †The sonnes of Dan by their kinredes Suham of whom is the familie of the Suhamites these are the kinredes of Dan by their families †al were Suhamites whose number was sixtie foure thousand foure hundred †The sonnes of Aser by their kinredes Iemna of whom is the familie of the Iemnaites Iessui of whom is the familie of the Iessuites Brie of whom is the familie of the Brieites †The sonnes of Brie Heber of whom is the familie of the Heberites and Melchiel of whom is the familie of the Melchielites †And the name of the daughter of Aser was Sara †these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Aser and their number fiftie three thousand foure hundred †The sonnes of Nephthali by their kinredes Iesiel of whom is the familie of the Iesielites Guni of whom is the familie of the Gunites †Ieser of whom is the familie of the Ieserites Sellem of whom is the familie of the Sellemites †these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Nephthali by their families whose number was fourtie fiue thousand foure hundred †This is the summe of the children of Israel that were reckened six hundred thousand and a thousand seuen hundred thirtie †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †To these shal the land be diuided according to the number of names for their possessions †To the greater number thou shalt geue a greater portion and to the fewer a lesse to euerie one as they haue now beene reckened shal possession be deliuered †yet so that lotte doe diuide the Land to the tribes and the families †Whatsoeuer shal chance by lotte that let either the more take or the fewer †This also is the number of the sonnes of Leui by their families Gerson of whom the familie of the Gersonites Caath of whom the familie of the Caathites Merari of whom the familie of the Merarites †these are the families of Leui The familie of Lobni the familie of Hebroni the familie of Moholi the familie of Musi the familie of Core Howbeit Caath begatte Amram †who had to wife Iochabed the daughter of Leui who was borne to him in Aegypt She bare to Amram her husband sonnes Aaron and Moyses and Marie their sister †Of Aaron were borne Nadab and Abiu and Eleazar and Ithamar †of the which Nadab and Abiu died when they had offered the strange fyre before our Lord. †And al that were numbred were twentie three thousand of the male kind from one moneth and vpward who were not reckened among the children of Israel neither was their possession geuen with the rest †This is the number of the children of Israel that were enrolled by Moyses and Eleazar the priest in the champion countrie of Moab vpon Iordan against Iericho †Among whom there was none of them that were numbered before by Moyses and Aaron in the desert of Sinai †For our Lord had foretold that al should die in the wildernesse And none remained of them but Caleb the sonne of Iephone and Iosue the sonne of Nun. CHAP. XXVII Salphaads daughters succede to their fathers inheritance 8. And the law is established that for lack of sonnes daughters shal inherite and for lack also of daughters the next of kinne 12. God commandeth Moyses to ascend into Mount Abarim and thence view the promised Land but fortelleth him that he shal die and not goe into it 15. He then prayeth God to prouide an other to lead the people 18 and Iosue is designed in presence of Eleazar and the people AND there came the daughters of Salphaad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Galaad rhe sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasses who was the sonne of Ioseph whose names are Malaa and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa †And they stood before Moyses and Eleazar the priest and al the princes of the people at the doore of the tabernacle of couenant and said †Our father died in the desert neither was he in the sedition that was raised against our Lord vnder Core but he died in his owne sinne he had no men children Why is his name taken away out of his familie because he hath not a sonne Geue vs possession among the kinne of our father †And Moyses referred their cause to the iudgement of our Lord. †Who said to him †The Daughters of Salphaad require a iust thing geue them possession among their fathers kinne and let them succede him in the inheritance †And to the children of Israel thou shalt speake these thinges †When a man dieth without a sonne his inheritance shal passe to his daughter †If he haue no daughter he shal haue his brethren his successours †And if he haue no brethren neither you shal geue the inheritance to his fathers brethren †but if he haue no such vncles by the father neither the inheritance shal be geuen to them thar are the next of kinne and this shal be to the children of Israel a holie ordinance by a perpetual law as the Lord hath commanded Moyses †Our Lord also said to Moyses Goe vp into this mountaine Abarim and view from thence the Land which I wil geue to the children of Israel †and when thou shalt haue seene it thou also shalt goe to thy people as thy brothet Aaron is gone †because you did offend me in the desert Sin in the contradiction of the multitude neither would you sanctifie me before them vpon the waters these are the waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert Sin †To whom Moyses answered †Our Lord the God of the spirites of al flesh prouide a man that may be ouer this multitude †and may goe out and enter in before them and bring them out or bring them in lest the people of our Lord be as sheepe without a pastor †And our Lord said to him Take Iosue the sonne of Nun a man in whom is the Spirit and put thy hand vpon him †Who shal stand before Eleazar the priest and al the multitude †and thou shalt geue him preceptes in the sight of al and part of thy glorie that al the synagogue of the children of Israel may heare him †For him if anie thing be to be done Eleazar the priest shal consult the Lord. At his word shal he goe out and shal goe in and al the children of Israel with him and the rest of the
deliuer and saue them First Othoniel of the tribe of Iuda then Aod of Beniamin after him Samgar the Scripture not signifying of what tribe then Barach with Debora of Ephraim Gedeon of Manasses Abimelech his basâ— sonne an vsurper Thola of Issachar Iair and Iephte of Manasses Abesan of Iuda Aialon of Zabulon Abdon of Ephraim Sampson of Dan and Heli who was also high priest of Aarons stocke otherwise called Zaraias 1. Paralip 6. and Samuel also of the tribe of Leut a Prophet In his time the people demanding and vrging to haue a King Saul of the tribe of Beniamin was annointed 1. Reg. 10. But for transgressing Gods commandments especially for exercising spiritual function without warrant 1. Reg. 13. and not destroying idolaters 1. Reg. 15. was deposed and Dauid of the tribe of Iuda was annointed King who after manie great trubles possessed the whole kingdome and died in peace leauing his sonne Salomon inuested and annointed king in his throne The Church being thus established in distinct states and orders albeit there were manie imperfections in al sortes of persons and great sinnes committed yet God so punished offenders and chastised the whole people that he stil conserued the greatest or chiefe part in true faith and religion For whiles they were in the desert they murmured very often against God and his Ministers their Superiours Exod. 17. Num. 11. 14 20. 21. Manie fel to idolatrie Exod. 32. Aaron not free from cooperating in the peoples sinne Nadab and Abiu Aarons sonnes and consecrated priestes offered strange fire Leuit. 10 Core Dathan and Abiron with their complices made a great schisme Num. 16. Manie committed carnal fornication with Infidels and were therby drawen to spiritual Num. 25. Of which and other like â—innes the Psalmist speaketh Psal 94. exhorting his people not to harden their hartes as in the desert their fathers had tempted God Fourtie yeares was I offended sayth God with that generation and sayd They alwayes erre in hart And therfore he sware in his wrath that the same generation should not enter into the promised land of Chanaan but their children entred and possessed it Num. 14. Iesue 3. A 〈…〉 the people falling to idolatrie and other sinnes were afflicted and sore pressâ—d by forraine enemies but repenting were deliuered and saued by certain capitaines called Iudges and Sauiours as appeareth in the booke of iudges They had also tribulations by some of their owne nation for among the Iudge one called Abimelee was a tyrannical vsurper Iudic. 9. Saul their first King falling from God vniustly persecuted Dauid 1. Reg. 18. â— Ambitious Absolom rebelled against the King his father 2. Reg. 15. and Seba of the tribe of Beniamin raised an other rebellion 2. Reg. 20. â—â—â—â—wise Adonias assisted by Abiathar the high priest and by Ioab general of the armie pretended to reigne his father Dauid yet liuing to preuent S 〈…〉 n of the kingdom 3. Reg. 1. So God both shewed his iustice in suffering suâ—â— afflictions to happen for punishment of sinne and his mercie in sauing hiâ— Church from ruine Moreouer for preseruatioÌ„ of the Church there were diuers diuine Ordinances prouided by the law For first al were strictly commanded not to coÌ„municate with Infidels in their idolatrie Ex. 23. nor with Schismatikes in their schisme Nu. 16. but to destroy al Idolaters Num. 33. and shunne al nouelties in religion as a sure marke of idolatrie or false doctrine Deut. 13. Further to conserue vnitie there was but one Tabernacle and one Altar for Sacrifice in the whole people of Israel VVherupon when the two tribes and halfe on the other side Iordan had made a seueral altar al the tribes that dwelt in Chanaan suspecting it was for sacrifice sent presently to admonish them and prepared to make warre against them except they destroyed their new altar but being aduertised that it was only an altar of monument and not for sacrifice were therwith satisfied Iosue 22. Afterwards the tribe of Dan setting vp idolatrie and the other tribes not correcting it they were al punished VVhich happened by occasion of an other enormous sinne committed and not corrected in the tribe of Beniamin For the other eleuen tribes making warre against them for this iust cause yea by Gods direction and warrant yet had the worse susteyning great slaughter of men in two conflictes and in the third Beniamin was almost destroyed Iudic. 20. Finally for decision of al controuersies and ending of strife the High Priest was expresly ordayned supreme Iudge Deut. 17. And al were commanded in paine of death to submitte their opinions and obey his sentence with promise of Gods assistance wherby his definitions were certaine and infallible For in consultations of doubtes and difficult cases God inspired him with doctrine of veritie Exod. 28. 29. Leuit. 8. Num. 3. 7. 9. 1. Reg. 23 30. VVhich iudgement Seate Christ admonished the Iewes to repayre vnto and folow Math. 23. though the Iudges themselues did not the thinges which they taught In so much that Caiphas through this assistance of Gods spirite being otherwise a wicked man yet pronounced the truth That one must die for the people VVhich therfore S. Iohn the Euangelist ascribeth to his Chayre and office because he was High priest that yeare Ioan. 11. Seing then Gods prouidence and continual assistance was so clere and assured in the Church of the old Testament much more is the Church of christ builded vpon a sure rocke assured of his perpetual assistance and always preserued from erring in Faith or in general practise of Religion And that by Gods like assured ordinance of one supreme head and Iudge S. Peter his Successour for vvhom our Sauiour prayed that his faith should not faile Further commanding him that he should confirme his brethren Al vvhich vvse see is performed in the Successours of S. Peter vvheras the successours of the other Apostles are al failed long since The same most assured stabilitie of the Church of Christ is further confirmed by the whole Lavv and Prophetes Namely Deut. 32. and 33. vvhere Moyses fortelleth more povver and grace in the Church to be collected in the Gentiles of al natioÌ„s then euer vvas in that of the Israelites or Iews Likewise 1. Reg. 2. The same vvas both prefigured and prophecied by holie Anna The hungrie those that desire Gods grace and glorie are filled vntil the barren woman the Church of the Gentiles bare verie manie she that had manie children was weakned Shewing that the Church of the Iewes had manie vntil the plenitude of Gentiles much more abounded Wherfore the Psalmist inuiteth al nations to praise God saying Psal 116. Praise our Lord al ye Gentiles praise him al ye peoples Also 2. Reg. 7. God promised Dauid saying Thy Kingdome for euer before thy face and thy throne shal be firme continually which was not verified in Dauids temporal kingdome For it was
loosed him the prince of the people and released him †He appointed him lord of his house and prince of al his possession †That he might instruct his princes as himselfe and might teach his ancientes wisedom †And Israel entered into Aegypt and Iacob was a seiourner in the land of Cham. †And he increased his people excedingly and strengthned them ouer their enemies †He turned their hart that they hated his people and to worke guile toward his seruantes †He sent Moyses his seruant Aaron him selfe whom he chose †He did put in them the wordes of his signes and of his wonders in the Land of Cham. †He sent darkenes and obscured and did not exasperate his wordes †He turned their waters into bloud and killed their fishes †Their land broughtforth frogges in the inner chambers of their kinges †He sayd and the caenomyia came and the cinifes in al their coastes †He made theyr raynes haile fire burning in their land †And he stroke their vines and their figtrees and he destroyed the wood of their coastes †He said the locust came and the bruchus wherof there was no number †And it did eate al the grasse in their land and it did eate al the fruicte of their land †And he stroke euerie first begotten in their land the first fruictes of al their labour †And he brought themforth with gold and siluer and there was not in their tribes a feeble person †Aegypt was glad at their departure because the feare of them lay vpon them †He spred a cloude for their protection and fire to shine vnto them by night †They made petition and the quaile came and he filled them with the bread of heauen †He diuided the rocke and waters flowed riuers ranne in the drie ground †Because he was mindful of his holie word which he had vttered to Abraham his seruant †And he broughtforth his people in exultation and his elect in ioy †And he gaue them the countries of the Nations and they possessed the labours of peoples †That they might keepe his iustifications and seeke after his lawe PSALME CV The prophet exhorteth the people to render thankes and praises to God 6. for remitting their manifold sinnes in the desert 34. and in the conquered land 38. foreshewing like sinnes to come Gods wrath and punishment for the same 44. and that he wil geue grace of repentance to some 47. for which he prayeth and praiseth God Allelu ia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer †Who shal speake the powers of our Lord shal make al his prayses to be heard †Blessed are they that keepe iudgement and doe iustice at al time †Remember vs ô Lord in the good pleasure of thy people visite vs in thy saluation †To see in the goodnes of thyne elect to reioyce in the ioy of thy nation that thou maist be praysed with thine inheritance †We haue sinned with our fathers we haue dealt vniustly we haue done iniquitie †Our father 's in Aegypt did not vnderstand thy meruelous workes they were not mindeful of the multitude of thy mercie And they prouoked thee to wrath going vp vnto the sea the Read sea †And he saued them for his name sake that he might make his power knowen †And he rebuked the Read sea and it was made drie and he led them in the depths as in a desert †And he saued them from the hand of them that hated them and “ he redemed them out of the hand of the enemie †And water ouerwhelmed those that afflicted them there did not one of them remaine †And they beleued his wordes and they sang his praise †They had quickly donne they forgot his workes and they expected not his counsel †And they coueted concupiscence in the desert and tempted God in the place without water †He gaue them their petition and sent saturitie into their soules †And they prouoked Moyses in the campe Aaron the holie of our Lord. †The earth was opened and swalowed Dathan and ouerwhelmed the congregation of Abiron †And a fire flamed vp in their sinagogue the flame burnt the sinners †And they made a calfe in Horeb and they adored the sculptil †And they changed their glorie into the similitude of a calfe that eateth grasse †They forgat God which saued them which did great thinges in Aegypt †meruelous thinges in the land of Cham terrible thinges in the Read sea †And he sayd to destroy them if Moyses his elect had not stood in the way before him To turne away his wrath that he should not destroy them †and they estemed for naught the land that was to be desired They did not beleue his word †and they murmured in their tabernacles they heard not the voice of our Lord. †And he lifted vp his hand ouer them to ouerthrowe them in the desert †And to cast doune their seede among the Nations and to disperse them in the countries †And they were professed to Beelphegor and they did eate the sacrifices of the dead †And they prouoked him in their inuentions and ruine was multiplied on them †And Phinees stood and pacified and the slaughter ceased †And it was reputed to him vnto iustice in generation and generation euen for euer †And they prouoked him at the waters of contradiction and Moyses was vexed for them †because they exasperated his spirit And he playnely affirmed in his lippes †they destroyed not the nations of which our Lord spake to them †And they were mingled among the nations and learned their workes †and they serued their sculptils and it became a scandal to them †And they immolated their sonnes and their daugheters to diuels †And they shed innocent bloud the bloud of their sonnes and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the sculptils of Chanaan And the land was infected with bloud †and was contaminated in their workes and they did fornicat in their inuentions †And our Lord was wrath with â—urie vpon his people and he abhorred his inheritance †And he deliuered them into the handes of the nations and they that hated them had the dominion of them †And their enimies afflicted them and they were humbled vnder their handes †he did often deliuer them But they exasperated him in their counsel and they were humbled in their iniquities †And he saw when they were afflicted and he heard their prayer †And he was mindeful of his testament and it repented him according to the multitude of his mercie
Blesse our Lord ye fountaines prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seas and riuers blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Whales and al things that moue in the waters blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Blesse our Lord al ye foules of heauen prayse and superexalt him for euer †Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Sonnes of men blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Let Israel blesse our Lord prayse and superexalte him for euer †Priests of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Holie and humble of hart blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer †Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye our Lord prayse and superexalt him for euer Because he hath deliuered vs from hel and saued vs out of the hand of death and deliuered vs out of the middes of the burning flame and out of the middes of the fire hath he rid vs. †Confesse ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer †Al religious blesse ye our Lord the God of goddes prayse and confesse ye to him because his mercie is vnto al worldes Hitherto it is not in the Hebrevv and that vvhich vve haue put is translated out of the Edition of Theodotion †Then Nabuchodonosor the king was astonied and he arose hastely said to his nobles Did we not cast three men fettered into the middes of the fire Who answering the king said It is true ô king †He answered and said Behold I see foure men loose and walking in the middes of the fire and there is no corruption in them the forme of the fourth is like to the sonne of God †Then came Nabuchodonosor to the doore of the fornace of burning fire and said Sidrach Misach Abdenago seruants of the high God goe ye forth and come And forthwith Sidrach Misach and Abdenago went out of the middes of the fire †And the nobles and the magistrates and iudges and the potentates of the king being gathered together beheld those men that the fire had no powre on their bodies not a heare of their head was singed yea their breeches were not altered the sent of the fire had not passed by them †And Nabuchodonosor breaking forth said Blessed be the God of them to witte of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago who hath sent his Angel and hath deliuered his seruants that beleued in him and they changed the kings word deliuered their bodies that they might not serue and might not adore anie god except their owne God †By me therfore this decree is made that euerie people tribe and tongue whatsoeuer shal speake blasphemie against the God of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago he perish and his house be wasted for there is none other God that can so saue †Then did the king promote Sidrach Misach and Abdenago in the prouince of Babylon †Nabuchodonosor the king to al peoples nations and tongues that dwel in the whole earth peace be multiplied vnto you †The high God hath wrought signes and meruelous thinges with me It hath pleased me therfore to publish †his signes because they are great and his meruels because they are strong and his kingdom an euerlasting kingdom his powre in generation and to genaration CHAP. IIII. King Nabuchodonosor hauing an other dreame telleth it to Daniel demanding of him the interpretation 16. who encoreged and warrented to speake freely sheweth that the king shal become like a beast in forme seuen yeares 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heauen 30. and being fulfilled he is at last restored to his owne forme and state I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house and florishing in my palace †I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd and my cogitations in my bed and the visions of my head disturbed me †And by me there was a decree setforth that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame †Then came in the southsayers magicians Chaldees and diuiners and I told the dreame in their sight the solution therof they shewed me not †til their collegue Daniel came into my fight whose name is Baltassar according to the name of my God who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself and I told the dreame before him †Baltassar prince of the southsayers because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee and no secrete is impossible to thee tel thou the visions of my dreames which I haue sene and the solution of them †The vision of my head in my bed I saw and behold a tree in the middes of the earth and the height therof exceding †A great tree and strong and the height therof touching the heauen the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth †The leaues therof most fayre and the fruit therof exceding much and the foode of al thinges in it vnder it dwelt cattel and beasts and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen and of it al flesh did eate †I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed behold a watchman and an holie one descended from heauen †He cried mightely and thus he sayd Cut ye downe the tree choppe of the boughes therof shake of the leaues therof and scatter the fruits therof let the beasts flie that are vnder it and the foules from the boughes therof †But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth and let it be tyed with yron and brasen band among the grasse that is without and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth †“ Let his hart be changed from humane let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him and let seuen times be changed ouer him †In the sentence of the watchman is the decree and the word of saintes and the petition til the liuing know that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men and to whom soeuer it shal please him he wil geue it the basest man he wil appoint ouer it †This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me but thou canst because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee †Then Daniel whose name was Baltassar began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre his cogitations trubled him But the king answering said Baltassar let not the dreame
he went to Azotus as making iorney and immediatly he went forth into the plaine because he had a multitude of horsemen and he trusted in them And Ionathas pursewed him vnto Azorus and they ioyned battel †And Apollonius left in the campe a thousand horsemen behinde them secretly †And Ionathas vnderstood that there was an embushement behind him and they compassed his campe and they threw dartes vpon the people from morning euen vnto euening †But the people stood as Ionathas had commanded and their horses laboured †And Simon put forth his armie and ioyned it against the legion for the horsemen were wearied and they were discomfited by him and fled †And they that were scattered by the playne fled into Azotus and entered into Bethdagon their idol house there to saue them selues †And Ionathas burnt Azorus and the cities that were round about it and he tooke the spoiles of them and the temple of Dagon and al that fled into it he burnt with fire †And there were that were slayne by the sword with these that were burnt almost eight thousand men †And Ionathas remoued the campe from thence and brought it to Ascalon and they went out of the citie to meete him in great glorie †And Ionathas returned into Ierusalem with his companie hauing manie spoiles †And it came to passe as Alexander the king heard these wordes he added yet to glorifie Ionathas †And he sent him a cheyne of gold as the custome is to be geuen to the cosins of kings And he gaue him Accaron and al the borders therof in possession CHAP. XI Ptolomeus king of Aegypt deceiptfully coming into Syria 8. surpriseth certaine cities taking his daughter from Alexander geueth her to Demetrius 15. Alexander flying away 17. is treacherously slaine 18. Ptolomeus dyeth the third day and Demetrius reigneth 20. Ionathas besiegeth the fortresse which resisted him in Ierusalem 24. obtayneth of Demetrius remission of tributes and other priuilegies 38 Demetrius dismissing his armie the souldiars conspire with Tryphon against him 43. Ionathas aydeth him with three thousand men who kil an hundred thousand mutiners 53. Demetrius breaking league with Ionathas is ouerthrowen by Tryphon 57 Young Antiochus reneweth league with Ionathas and he 65. as likewise his brother Simon prospereth 67. in great danger prayeth and preuaileth AND the king of Egypt gathered an armie as the sand that is about the sea shore and manie shippes and he sought to winne the kingdom of Alexander by guile and to adde it to his owne kingdom †And he went out into Syria with peaceable wordes and they opened to him the cities and mette him because Alexander the king had commanded them to goe forth to meete him for that he was his father in law †But when Ptolomee entered the cities he put garrisons of souldiars in euerie citie †And as he approched to Azotus they shewed him the temple of dagon burnt with fyre and Azotus and the rest therof throwen downe and the bodies cast forth and the graues of them that were slaine in the battel which they had made neere the way †And they told the king that Ionathas did these thinges to raise enuie against him and the king held his peace †And Ionathas came to meete the king into Ioppe with glorie and they saluted one an other and they slept there †And Ionathas went with the king euen to the riuer that was called Eleutherus and he returned into Ierusalem †And king Ptolomee obteyned the dominion of the cities euen to Seleucia by the sea side and he purposed euil purposes against Alexander †And sent legates to Demetrius saying Come let vs make a league betwen vs and I wil geue thee my daughter that Alexander hath thou shalt reigne in the kingdom of thy father †For it repenteth me that I haue geuen him my daughter for he hath sought to kil me †And he disprased him for that he coueted his kingdom †and he tooke away his daughter gaue her to Demetrius and alienated him self from Alexander and his emnities were made manifest †And Ptolomee entered into Antioch he put two crownes vpon his head of Egypt of Asia †But Alexander the king was in Cilicia at that time because they rebelled that were in those places †And Alexander heard it and came to him into battel and Ptolomee the king brought forth an armie and mette him with a strong power and put him to flight †And Alexander fled into Arabia there to be protected and king Ptolomee was exalted †And Zabdiel an Arabian tooke of Alexanders head sent it to Ptolomee †And king Ptolomee died the third day and they that were in the fortresses perished by them that were within the campe †And Demetrius reigned the yeare an hundreth sixtie seuen †In those dayes Ionathas gathered together them that were in Iurie to winne the castel in Ierusalem and they made engins against it †And certaine that hated their owne nation wicked men went to king Demetrius and told him that Ionathas besieged the castel †And as he heard it he was wrath and forth with he came to Pâ—olemais and wrote to Ionathas that he should not besiege the castel but should meete him to talke together in hast †But as Ionathas heard it he bade them besiege it and he chose of the ancients of Israel and of the priests and put himself in hazard †And he tooke gold and siluer and rayments and manie other presents and went to the king to Pâ—olomais and he found grace in his sight †And certaine wicked men of his nation solicited against him †And the king did to him as they had done to him which had bene before him and he exalted him in the sight of al his freinds †and he established to him the chiefe priesthood and whatsoeuer other thinges he had before precious and he made him the chiefe of his freindes †And Ionathas requested of the king that he would make Iurie free and the three toparchies Samaria the confines therof and he promised him three hundred talents †And the king consented and he wrote to Ionathas epistles of al these thinges conteyning this tenure †KING Demetrius to his brother Ionathas greeting to the nation of the Iewes †A copie of the epistle which we haue writen to Lasthenes our parent concerning you we haue sent to you that you might know it †KING Demetrius to Lasthenes his parent greeting †We haue determined to do good to the nation of the Iewes our freinds that keepe the thinges that are iust with vs for their gentlenes which they beare towards vs. †We haue ordayned therfore vnto them al the coasts of Iurie the three cities Apherema Lyda Ramatha which are added to Iurie of Samaria al their confines to be sequestred to al them that sacrifice in Ierusalem for these thinges
both them coming against vs and the whole world with one becke †And he admonished them also of the aydes of God that were geuen to their fathers and that vnder Sennacherib an hundred foure score fiue thousand perished †And of the battel that they had against the Galatians in Babylonia how al they when it came to the point the Macedonians their felowes staggering being only six thousand slewe an hundred twentie thousand by reason of the ayde geuen them from heauen and for these thinges obteyned verie manie benefites †With these wordes they were made constant and readie to dye for the lawes and their countrie †He appointed therfore his brethren captains ouer both orders Simon and Ioseph and Ionathas vnder euerie one putting a thousand and fiue hundreth †Beside this also the holie booke being read vnto them by Esdras †and a signe of Gods helpe being geuen in the foreward the duke himself ioyned battel with Nicanor And the Almightie being made their helper they slew aboue nine thousand men and the greater part of Nicanors armie being made weake with woundes they forced to flee †And taking away their money that came to buy them they pursued them on euerie hand †but they returned being taken short with the time for it was the day before the Sabbath for the which cause they continewed not pursewing them †But gathering together the armour and spoiles of them they kept the Sabbath blessing our Lord that deliuered them this day distilling the beginning of mercie vpon them †But after the sabbath they diuided the spoyles to the feeble and to orphans and to widowes the rest themselues had with their felowes †These thinges therfore being done and obsecration being made in common of al they desired our merciful Lord that he would be reconciled to his seruants vnto the end †And of them that were with Timothee and Bacchides fighting against them they slew aboue twentie thousand wanne the high holdes and they diuided manie prayes making equal portion to the feeble pupils and widowes yea and to the elder men †And when they had diligently gathered together their armour they layd al together in conuenient places and the residue of the spoiles they caried to Ierusalem †and Philarches that was with Timothee they slewe a wicked man which in manie thinges had afflicted the Iewes †And when they kept the feast of victorie in Ierusalem him that had burnt the holie gates that is Callisthenes when he was fled into a certaine house they burnt a worthie reward being repayed him for his impieties †But the most impious Nicanor who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Iewes †being humbled through the helpe of our Lord by them whom he esteemed no bodie laying aside his garment of glorie fleeing by the midland came alone to Antioch hauing gotten great infelicitie by the destruction of his armie †And he that had promised that he would render tribute to the Romanes of the captiuitie of Ierusalem now professed that the Iewes had God their protectour that for him they could not be wounded because they folowed the lawes appointed by him CHAP. IX Antiochus repulsed from Persepolis 3. and hearing that his armie is ouerthrowne in lurie 9. wormes issuing from his bodie intolerably stincking 11. acknowlegeth his wicked desertes 14. promiseth amendment 18. writeth to the Iewes praying them to obey him and his sonne 28. and dyeth miserably AT that time Antiochus returned out of Persis dishonourably †For he had entered into the citie which is called Persipolis and he attempted to spoile the temple and to oppresse the citie but the multitude running together to armes they were put to flight and so it chanced that Antiochus after his flight returned with dishonour †And when he was come about Ecbatana he vnderstood the thinges that were done to Nicanor and Timothee †And swelling in anger he thought that he might wreake the iniurie of them that had put him to flight vpon the Iewes And therfore he commanded his chariorte to be driuen iorneing without intermission the heauenlie iudgement vrging him forward because he spoke so proudly that he would come to Ierusalem make it an heape of the sepulcher of the Iewes †But he that seeth al thinges our Lord the God of Israel stroke him with an vncurable and inuisible plague For as he ended this verie speach a cruel plague of the bowels tooke him and bitter torments of the inner parts †and in dede very iustly as who had tormented the bowels of others with manie and new torments albeit he by no meanes ceased from his malice †And beside this replenished with pride breathing fire in his minde against the Iewes and commanding the matter to be hastened it chanced him going with violence to fal from the chariot and his limmes to be vexed with a greeuous bruising of the bodie †And he that seemed to himself to rule euen ouer the waues of the sea replenished with pride aboue the measure of man and to weye the heights of mountaines in a balance now being humbled to the ground was caried in a portatiue seate testifying the manifest power of God in himself †so that out of the bodie of the impious man wormes crawled abundantly and his liue flesh fel of for paynes with his smel also stinke the armie was anoyed †And he that a litle before thought to touch the starres of heauen him no man could carie for the intolerable stinke †Hereby therfore he begane being brought from his great pride to come to the knowlege of him self admonished by the plague of God his paines increasing euerie moment †And when neither himself now could abide his owne stinke thus he sayd It is reason to be subiect to God a mortal man not to thinke of himself equally with God †And this wicked man prayed to our Lord of whom he was not to obteyne mercie †And the citie to the which he came in hast to haue brought it to the ground to haue made it a sepulchre of bodies heaped together now wisheth to make it free †And the Iewes whom he sayd he would not vouchsafe worthie no not of burial but would geue them to birds wilde beastes to be spoiled destroy them with the litle ones now he promiseth to make them equal with the Athenians †The holie temple also which before he had spoiled he would adorne with goodlie donaries and would multiplie the holie vessels and of his reuenewes would allow the charges perteyning to the sacrifices †Besides these thinges that he would be a Iew also would walke through euerie place of the earth and would declare the power of God †But the paines ceasing not for the iust iudgement of God was come vpon him despayring he wrote to the Iewes by the maner of a supplication an epistle conteyning these words †To HIS
went against Gorgias the gouernour of Idumea †And he went forth with footemen three thousand and horsemen foure hundred †Who buckling together it chanced few of the Iewes to be slayne †But Dositheus one of the Bacenors an horseman a valiant man held Gorgias and wheras he would haue taken him aliue a certayne horseman of the Thracians came vpon him and cut of his shoulder and so Gorgias escaped into Maresa †But they that were with Esdrin fighting long and being wearied Iudas inuocated our Lord to be their helper and captayne of the battel †beginning in his countrey language and with hymmes raising a crie draue Gorgias souldiars into flight †And Iudas hauing gathered an armie came into the citie Odollam when the seuenth day came on being purifyed according to the custome they kept the Sabbath in the same place †And the day folowing Iudas came with his companie to take away the bodies of them that were ouerthrowen and with their kinsmen to lay them in the sepulchers of their fathers †And they found vnder the coates of the slayne some of the donaryes of the idols that were in Iamnia from which the lawe forbiddeth the Iewes therfore it was made playne to al that for that cause they were slayne †Al therfore blessed the iust iudgement of our Lord who had made manifest the hidden thinges †And so turning to prayers they besought him that the same offence which was committed might be forgotten But the most valient Iudas exhorted the people to keepe themselues without sinne seing before their eyes what was done because of the sinnes of them that were ouerthrowen †And making a gathering he sent twelue thousand drachmes of siluer to Ierusalem for sacrifice to be offered for sinne wel and religiously thinking of the resurrection †for vnles he hoped that they that were slaine should rise againe it should seeme superfluous and vaine to pray for the dead †And because he considered that they which had taken their sleepe with godlines had very good grace layd vp for them †“ It is therfore a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sinnes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 46 It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead The Catholique beleefe doctrine and practise of praying for the dead is so euidently confirmed by this place that our aduersaries haue no better shift to auoide the same then by denying these bookes to be Canonical Scripture VVhich being authentically proued it may here suffice to adde that albeit the Greke text as in other innumerable places differeth from the Latin yet it is no lesse clere for this doctrin VVhich in English is thus v 45. Regarding or considering that grace is layde vp for them that sleepe or dye in pietie tovvitte in true faith and repentance in the next verse 46. inferreth thus VVherupon he Iudas Machabeus made reconciliation or expiation for the dead that they might be deliuered or loosed from their sinne that is from punishment for sinne Omitting therfore multitude of other proofes vve vvil here only cite tvvo great Doctors who with others teach that the denial of this particular point of religion is a condemned heresie S. Augustin li. de Haeresib haer 53. noteth this for a special heresie saying Aerians are named of one Aerius vvho being a priest and taking it greuously that he could not be ordained a Bishop falling into the heresie of the Arrians added some proper doctrines of his ovvne saying that vve ought not to pray nor offer sacrifice for the dead Likevvise S. Bernard Ser. 66 in Cantica in plaine termes saith they are heretikes vvhich beleue not that there is purgatorie fire after death but that the soule departing from the bodie goeth forthvvith either to rest or to damnation Let them then saith he aske of him vvho saide There is some sinne that shal not be forgeuen neither in this vvorld nor in the future why he sayd this if there remaine no remission and purgation of sinne in the future vvorld He therfore aduiseth al to bevvare of such seducers saying See the detracters see the dogges They deride vs because vve baptize infantes for that vve pray for the dead It is also most vvorthie of consideration that Iudas Machabeus vvho did this charitable act for his souldiars slaine in the holie vvarres vvas the High priest or chief Bishop of the Church at that time and defender of true faith and Religion Finally vve may also obserue that he did not anie nevv thing but practised the vsual custome of the vvhole Church For so it appeareth by their sette forme of Office for the dead called HASCHABAH that is Rest or prayer for rest in their booke MAHZOR translated and set forth by Bishop Genebrard in the yeare of our Lord. 1569. VVhere are these expresse supplications Requiescat anima ipsius in cubili suo iaceat in pace dormiat in pace His or her soule rest in his bed lye and slepe in peace Againe Ye Angels of peace come forth to mete him c. And that the Ievves this day vse to pray for the dead is a clere thing and confessed by Protestantes namely Munsterus and Fagius in their Annotations vpon the 14. of Deut. and M. VVhitaker in his first booke against F. Dureus fol 81. CHAP. XIII Menelaus a fugitiue Iewe is put to death 9. Antiochus with his great armie is defeated twise with losse of manie men 23. Philippe rebelling peace is renewed 24. And Iudas is made Lord of Ptolemais IN the yeare an hundred fourtie nine Iudas vnderstood that Antiochus Eupator came with a multitude agaynst Iurie †and with him Lysias the procuratour and cheefe ouer the affayres hauing with him of footemen an hundred tenne thousand of horsemen fiue thousand elephants twentie two chariots with hookes three hundred †And Menelaus also ioyned him selfe with them and with much deceite besought Antiochus not for the weale of his contrie but hoping that he should be appoynted to the principalitie †But the king of kinges stirred vp Antiochus mind against the sinner Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of al the euils he commanded as the custome is with them that being apprehended he should be killed in the same place †And there was in the same place a tower of fiftie cubites hauing an heape of ashes on euerie side this had a prospect steepe downe †From thence he commanded the sacrilegious person to be throwne downe into the ashes al thrusting him forward to death †And by such law it chanced the transgressour of the law to dye Menelaus not to be put into the earth †And in deede very iustly because he committed manie offences toward the altar of God the fyre and ashes wherof was holie himself was condemned into the death of ashes †But the king furiouse in mind came to shew
after this it happened that Manasses an Apostata highpriest by intercession of Sanaballar whose daughter he had vnlawfully maried obtayned licence to build a temple in Garizim which the Samaritanes afterwards pretended to be more ancient then the temple of Ierusalem against which our Sauiour gaue sentence loan 4. v. 22. It was also decided by king Ptolomeus in Alexandria as Iosephus witnesseth li. 13 c. 6. by way of arbitrament finding that the temple of Ierusalem and the Highpriestes therof had a perpetual succession from Salomons time and that their pretence of Iacobs adoring in Garizim was not to the purpose seing there was no succession that temple being lately built Neuertheles the same Ptolomeus to gratifie Onias an other Apostata sonne of good Onias Highpriest and Martyr 2. Macab 4. v. 34. gaue leaue to build an other temple in Aegypt which stood likewise in schisme against the true temple of Ierusalem wresting to their purpose the prophecie of Isaie ch 19. v. 19. In that day there shal be an altar of our Lord in the middes of Aegypt Which S. Ierom sheweth to be vnderstood of the Church of Christ. Before this last schismatical temple and after the former were the Seuentie two Interpreters or Translators of the Hebrew Bible into Greke of whom S. Ierom and al ancient Fathers speake much esteme of very great Canonical auctoritie In the time of the Grecians Monarchie prophane lerning florished more then before and Philosophers abunded but differed excedingly amongst themselues and al erred in the principles both of Natural Moral knowledge For wheras in dede God omnipotent was the only maker of the whole world and al thinges therein al these Philosophers supposed and taught that some material thing was coeternal with God and so they put the same thing to haue bene the beginning of al other thinges Which some say was the water some the Ayre some the Earth some the Fyre some al these foure Elements some the Atomos or indiuisible smal bodies some one thing some an other Wherof S. Epiphanius writeth in compendio contra hâ—reses And the like absurde conceiptes they had of the chiefe Good or Summum bonum Which the Pithagorians thought to be nothing els but a certayne immortalitie of the soule and so as it may stil be in a bodie And therfore seing both men and beastes do dye they held opinion that when a soule parteth out of one bodie it goeth into an other Yea and maketh transmigration from one species or kind to an other As from a mans bodie into the bodie of a horse or an oxe and contrariwise from a brute beast into a man againe and from one beast into an other The Stoikes put the chiefe good in vertues but could reach no further then to a certayne contentment of ioy in their minde not knowing the reward of vertues to consist in seeing God Platonikes or Achademikes conceiued more of God and pure spirites but thought both corporal and spiritual creatures were coeternal with God The Peripatetikes placed the chiefe good or felicitie in the aggregation of best spiritual corporal and worldlie thinges together The Epicures esteemed carnal and bodilie pleasures aboue al. And al these and their folowers iudged so diuersly of the right true felicitie contradicting and condemning ech others opinions that they were multiplied into innumerable Sectes As S. Augustin declareth out of Marcus Varro and opposeth against them al the one assured fayth and iudgement of Gods Church in his 19. booke de ciuit Dei c. 4. And concludeth with the Royal Prophet and S. Paul that their cogitations are vaine which wil haue happines to be in anie other thing but in seing God or to be obtained by anie other meanes without Gods grace And not only before since but also in the same times the auctors of The Bookes of wisdom Ecclesiasticus taught right doctrine against those erronious Philosophers For profession also of true fayth and religion the Machabees both suffered and labored most notably When king Antiochus Epiphanes 1. Mach. 1. v. 43. wrote to al his kingdom that al the people should be one and euerie one should leaue his owne law And whosoeuer should not doe according to the word of Antiochus they should dye Against which most wicked decree and cruel execution therof Gods grace so abunded that v. 65. manie of the people of Israel determined with themselues that they would not eate the vncleane thinges and they chose rather to dye then to be defiled with vncleane meates and that they would not breake the holy law of God so were murthered As is more particularly recorded 2. Mach. 5. v. 14. how there were in the space of three dayes fourescore thousand slayne fourtie thousand in prisoned no lesse sold After this with more pretence of iustice but with more malice endeuoring to terrifie others to draw them to yelde or make shew of conformitie to wicked lawes ch 6. v. 10. Two wemen were accused to haue circumcised their sonnes whom when they had led about through the citie with the infants hanging at their breastes they threw downe headlong by the walles And v. 11. other people were burnt with fire for secretly keping the day of the Sabbath Thirdly v. 18. Eleazarus being vrged to eate swines flesh and intreated by his familiar freindes to make shew of conformitie would neither eate nor feyne to â—aâ—e it but dyed most constantly leauing an example of vertue fortitude Fourthly seuen bretheren and their mother 2 Mach. 7. yelded also their liues in most glorious Martyrdom because they would not yelde conformitie to wicked lawes After which heroical constancie in suffering it was also Gods prouidence that others should shew their fortitude in deliuering his Church from these calamities and dangers For Matthathias of the tribe of Leui and stocke of Aaron Priest and after the apostasie of Iason li. 2. c. 4. v. 10. High-priest lamenting the pitiful state of Gods people with resolute mind and inuinoible corege resisting wicked Antiochus 1. Mach. 2. of iust zele with his owne handes slew one who for feare of death was readie to offer sacrifice to idols withal killed the kings commissioner who came to compel men to committe idolatrie and then gathered troupes to defend so hohie a cause Against whom the enimies fighting on the sabbath dayes killed manie which of scruple would not resist But vpon further consideration the rest resolued to defend themselues also on the sabbath day if they were assaulted Next to him succeded his sonne Iudas Machabeus in both the offices of Highpriest General captaine who as good order required first pursued the wicked towitte amongst his owne subiectes inquiring them out and such as trubled his people them he burned with fire 1. Mach. 3. v. 5. and his enimies were repelled for feare of him al the workers of
hand †and on the left Faldeus Misael Malachias Ambusthas Sabus Nabadias and Zacharias †And Esdras tooke the booke before al the multitude for he was chiefe in glorie in the sight of al. †And when he had ended the law they stood al vpright and Esdras blessed our Lord the most high God the God of Sabaoth omnipotent †And al the people answered Amen And lifting vp their handes falling on the ground they adored our Lord. †Iesus and Banaeus and Sarebias and Iaddimus and Accubus and Sabbathaeus and Calithes Azarias and Ioradus and Ananias and Philias Leuites †who taught the law of our Lord and read the same in the multitude euerie one preferred them that vnderstood the lesson †And Atharathes sayd to Esdras the high priest and the reader and to the Leuites that taught the multitude †saying This day is sanctified to our Lord. And they al wept when they had heard the law †And Esdras sayd departing therfore eate ye al the fattest thinges drinke al most swete things and send giftes to them that haue not †For this is the holy day of our Lord be not sad For our Lord wil glorifie you †And the Leuites denounced openly to al saying This day is holie be not sad †And they went al to eate and drinke and make merie and to geue giftes to them that had not that they might make merie for they were excedingly exalted with the wordes that they were taught †And they were al gathered in Ierusalem to celebrate the ioy according to the testament of our Lord the God of Israel THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ESDRAS CHAP. I. Esdras is sent to expostulate with the vngratful Iewes for neglecting Gods manie great benefites THE second booke of Esdras the prophet the sonne of Sarei the sonne of Azarei the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Sadanias the sonne of Sadoch the sonne of Achitob †the sonne of Achias the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Heli the sonne of Amerias the sonne of Asiel the sonne of Marimoth the sonne of Arna the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Borith the sonne of Abisei the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar †the sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui who was captiue in the countrie of the Medes in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of the Persians †And the word of our Lord came to me saying †Goe and tel my people their wicked deedes and their children the iniquities that they haue done against me that they may tel their childrens children †because the sinnes of their parentes are increased in them for they being forgetful of me haue sacrified to strange goddes †Did not I bring them out of the land of Aegypt from the house of bondange But they haue prouoked me haue despised my counsels †But doe thou shake of the heare of thy head and throw al euils vpon them because they haue not obeyed my law And it is a people without discipline †How long shal I beare with them on whom I haue bestowed so great benefittes †I haue ouerthrowen manie kinges from them I haue stroke Pharao with his seruantes and al his hoste †Al nations did I destroy before their face in the East I dissipated the peoples of two prouinces Tyre and Sidon and I slew al their aduersaries †But speake thou to them saying Thus sayth our Lord †I made you passe through the sea and gaue you fensed streates from the beginning I gaue you Moyses for your gouernour and Aaron for the Priest †I gaue you light by the piller of fire did manie meruelous things among you but you haue forgotten me sayth our Lord. †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent The quayle was a signe to you I gaue you a campe for defense and there you murmured †And you triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies but yet vntil now you haue murmured †Where are the benefites that I haue geuen you Did you not crie out to me when you were hungrie in the desert †saying Why hast thou brought vs into this desert to kil vs it had bene better for vs to serue the Aegyptians then to dye in this desert †I was sorie for your mournings gaue you manna to eate You did eate bread of Angels †When you thirsted did not I cleaue the rocke waters flowed in abundance for the heates I couered you with the leaues of trees †I deliuered vnto you fatte landes The Chananeites and Pherezeites and Philistheans I threw out from your face what shal I yet doe to you sayth our Lord †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent In the desert when you were thirstie in the riuer of the Amorrheites and blaspheming my name †I gaue you not fire for blasphemies but casting wood into the water I made the riuer swete †What shal I doe to thee Iacob Thou wouldest not obey ô Iuda I wil transferre my self to other nations and wil geue them my name that they may keepe my ordinances †Because you haue forsaken me I also forsake you when you aske mercie of me I wil not haue mercie †When you shal inuocate me I wil not heare you For you haue defiled your handes with bloud and your fete are quicke to commit murders †Not as though you haue forsaken me but yourselues sayth our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord omnipotent haue not I desired you as a father his sonnes and a mother her daughters and as a nurce her litle ones †that you would be my people and I your God and to me for children and I to you for a father †So haue I gathered you as the henne her chickenes vnder her winges But now what shal I doe to you I wil throw you from my face †When you shal bring me oblation I wil turne away my face from you For I haue refused your festiual dayes new moones and circumcisions †I sent my seruantes the prophetes to you whom being taken you slew and mangled their bodies whose bloud I wil require sayth our Lord. †Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent your house is made desolate I wil throw you away as the winde doth stubble †and your children shal not haue issue because they haue neglected my commandment and haue done that which is euil before me †I wil deliuer your houses to a people comming who not hearing me do beleue to whom I haue not shewed signes they wil do the thinges that I haue commanded †The prophetes they haue not sene and they wil be mindful of their iniquities †I cal to witnes the grace of the people comming whose litle ones reioyce with ioy not seing me with their carnal eyes but in spirit beleuing the thinges that I haue sayd †And now brother behold what glorie and see people comming from the cast †to whom I wil geue the conduction of Abraham
prophecied of al his twelue sonnes and in Iudas of Christ Gen. 49. v. 10. And then dyed  Iob either of the progenie of Nachor or as semeth more probable of Esau liued the same time in which the children of Israel were pressed with seruitude in Aegypt Himselfe writte the historie of his affliction in the Arabian tongue which Moyses translated into Hebrew m 2286. Amrā Esron n Ioseph buried his father in Chanaan and nourished his bretheren with their families as their patron superior Gen. 50. v. 18.   o 2340.   o He dyed at the age of 110. yeares Gen. 50. After his death the Superioritie of the children of Israel descended not to his sonnes but to his bretheren and rested in Leui the third brother liuing longest of al the twelue to the age of 137. yeares Exodi 6. v. 16. whose genealogie is there declared to shew the descent of Aaron and Moyses About this time was Atlas the great Astronomer brother of Prometheus grandfather to Mercurius the elder whose nephew Mercurius otherwise called Tris megistus the master of moral philosophie must nedes be a good while after Moyses S. Aug. li. 18. c. 39. de ciuit Also Cecrops the first king and builder of Athens was in Moyses time after him Cadmus built Thebes and the first that brought letters into Grece more ancient then manie Pammes goddes S. Aug. li. 18. c. 8. c. The booke of Exodus conteyneth the affliction and deliuerie of the children of Israel precepts of Gods law p 2401. Aaron borne Aram. r Moyses an infant of three monethes was put in a basket on the water taken thence by Pharaos daughter nurced by his owne mother and brought vp in Pharaos court Exod. 2.   q 2404. Moyses borne  s At the age of fourty yeares he went to his bretheren to comfort them Where killing an Aegyptian that oppressed an Israelite he was forced to flee into Madian Exod. 2.   s 2244.   t After other fourtie yeares God appeared to Moyses in a bush burning not wasting Sent him into Aegypt with powre to worke miracles to bring the children of Israel out of that bondage   t 2484.  Aminadab v Pharao and the Aegyptians resisting were plaged with tenne sundrie afflictions At last the Israelites were deliuered and Pharao with al his armie drowned Exo. 3. to 15.   THE END OF THE THIRD AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FOVRTH AGE Anni mūdi High-priests The line of Iudas The sacred historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures    w The law was geuen in Mount Sina the fifteth day after their going out of Aegypt Exod. 19. 20. In the absence of Moyses the people forcing Aaron to consent made adored a golden calfe for God Exod. 32.   x 2485.   x The tabernacle with al thinges perteyning therto was prepared in the first yeare and erected the first day of the second yeare of their abode in the desert Exod. 40.     Aaron  y In the same second yeare Aaron was consecrated Highpriest and his sonnes Priestes for an ordinarie succession Moyses remayning Superior extraordinarie during his life Leuit. 8. Nadab Abiu offered strange fire in sacrifice and were burnt to death Leuit. 10. Leuiticus conteyneth the Rites of Sacrifices Priestes Feastes Fastes and Vowes Numeri so called because in it are numbered the men of twelue tribes able to beare armes also the Leuites deputed to Gods seruice about the tabernacle and the mansions of the people in the desert with other thinges happening in the 40. yeares of their abode there     z Balaam a sorcerer hyred by Balac king of Moab to curse the Israelites was forced by Gods powre to prophecy good things of them Num. 22. 23. 24. Chore Dathan Abiron with manie others murmuring rebellīg against Moyses Aaron were partly swalowed aliue into the earth others burnt with fire from heauen Num. 16.      a Moyses and Aaron doubting that God would not geue water out of a rock to the murmuring people were foretold that they should dye in the desert and not enter into the promised land Num. 20.    b 2523. Eleazar  b Aaron dyed in the mount Hor and his sonne Eleazar was made Highpriest Num. 20.    c 2524.   c Moyses repeted the law commending it earnestly to the people Then dyed and was secretly buried by Angels in the valley of Moab Deut. 34.      To whom Iosue succeded in temporal gouernment his spiritual remayning in the Highpriest Nu. 27. v 20. d Al the children of Israel that came forth of Aegypt aboue the age of twentie yeares dyed in the desert except two Iosue Caleb Num. 26. v. 64. 65. Al nations generally besides the Iewes seruing many false goddes those thought themselues most religious that were most supersticious studious of art Magike Nigromancy the like And euerie countrie yea almost euerie towne village had their peculiar imagined goddes as S. Athanasius discourseth Orat contra idola Deuteronomie is an abridgement and repetition of the law conteyned more largely in the former bookes    e Presently after Moyses death Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan into Chanaan Iosue ◠And in the space of seuen yeares conquered the land Iosue 6. c.   f 2531   f And diuided the same amongst the tribes Iosue 13.   g 2533.   g The tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses hauing receiued enheritance on the other side of Iordan Num. 32. v. 33. and now returning thither made an altar by the riuer side which the other tribes suspecting to be for sacrifice and so to make a schisme prepared to fight against them but they answering that it was only for a monument al were satisfied Iosue 22.  The booke of Iosue is the first of those which are properly called Historical declaring how the Israelits conquered possessed the land of Chanaan it conteyneth the historie of 32. yeares   Naasson  The Romanes otherwise most prudent accoūted al inuenters of artes conqueroures of countries al archiuers of great explores at least after their deathes to be goddes And not only men but also manie other thinges were held for goddes  h 2556. h Iosue at the age of 110. yeares dyed Iosue 24. v. 29. had no proper successor     i 2556.   i Eleazarus the Highpriest dyed the same yeare Iosue 24. v. 33. And his sonne Phinees succeded    Phinees  k After the death of Iosue the people were afflicted by forreine nations God so permitting for their sinnes but repenting he raised vp certaine captaines who were called Iudges of diuers tribes without ordinarie succession to deliuer defend the countrie from inuasions These were in al fourtenne
ment only of those that persist impenitent and obstinate The fourt part The prayses of Iudith who with al the people praise God :: Iudith was a special figure of the B. Virgine Marie to whom these praises perteyne in more eminent sorte then to anic other creature S. 〈◊〉 bertâ—s Carneteâ—sis :: S. Ephreâ—â— ser de 2. A â—â—ontu citeth this place as holie scripture so testifying this booke to be canonicaâ— :: Such giantes as were before Noes floud Gen. 6. :: Nor such as were after Num. 1â— Deut. â— :: Euerlasting torments of fire wormes perteyne to the damned bodies S. Aug. li. 21. c. 4. ets â—â—uit and greater paines to the damned soules especially the losse of Gods vision :: In the Greke â— 11. Manie deâ—red her to mariage :: Liuing in al 105. yeares she was widow about sixtie nine for when she slew Holofernes she was about fourtie yeares old ch 10. v. 18 and her husband was then dead three yeares and a halfe before â—h 8. v. 4. Iudith an example of holie widowhood Manie incitementes concurring to the contrarie made her widowhood more excellent Deu. 25. v 5. Ruth 3. v. 12. widowhood an Euangelical counsell Melite S. Atha S. Greg. Nazian Origen apud Euseb lib 6. c. 25. hist This whole booke is canonical The contentes VVritten by Mardocheus Diuided into â—â—ure partes This booke is read at mattins the last weeke of September The first part beginneth in the 11. ch A B :: Modestie and temperance amongst heathen people condemneth Christianes that vrge men to drinke immoderatly and so cause them to be drunke S. Au. Ser. 231. â—32 de tempore The end of immoderate feasting is commonly browling Here the king became furious and the queene was diuorsed from him :: Brentius approueth the sentence of this parasice but Iosephus li. 11 c 6. Macrobius li 7. c. 1. Saturn S. Ierom ad Rustic and S. Ambrose l. de â—â—hâ— c. 14 iudge the queenes refusal lawful and agreable to the Persians lawes which prohibited maried weâ—â— to come in sight of other men in great assemblies neither had the king iust cause to break that law for pleasing his phansie in his drunken humour v. 10. Luther also wresteth this example in fanoure of adulterie par 2. de diuortio folio 177. Editionis â—â—itenber 〈◊〉 1553. 4 Reg. 24. :: Deut. â— v. 3. Israelites are forbid to marie with Gentiles yet when there was no danger to be peruerted and great hope of good Esther by Mardocheus counsel consented to marie king Assuerus though otherwise she detested the bed of the incircumcised and of euerie stranger â—h 14. v. 15. K. Dauid also maried the kings daughter of Gessuâ— 2. Reg. 3. v. 3. :: Mardocheus hearing suspicious wordes and obseruing their actions sawe that they intended euel and informed the King wherby their â—â—eson was disouered Rab. â—alom Iosep * C ch 12. v. 1. D :: Aman exacted such honour as heathen people gaue to their lesse goddes which was also idolatrie for Mardocheus was willing to giue him ciuiâ— honour euen to kisse the steppes of his feete but feared and refused â—o geue Godlie honour to him ch 13. v. 13. 14. S. Thâ— 2. 2. q. 84. a. 1. :: Such is the preposterous â—nrie of rancour to appoint the day of executing his malice before he had got the kings decree The second part The Iewes danger to be massacred * E ch 13. v. 1. :: The letter at large is in the seuen first verses of the 13 ch of which this is the summe F The third part The deliuerie of the Iewes from danger :: The first and best remedie in distresse is to do workes of penance for sinnes coÌ„mitted 1. Cor. 11. 〈…〉 :: Great confidence in Gods helpe when mans helpe fayleth and in dede this meanes by mouing the kings haâ—t to grant Esthers petition was Gods special worke * G ch 1. v. 1. H * I ch 15. v. 4. K :: This prudence in delaying to propose her petition increased the kings desire to know it moued him to promise more assuredly so bond him the more to accomplish it :: Gods eye which neuer slepeth saw whath Aman intended and for execution of his owne diuiue iustice vsed this meanes bâ—y subtracting slepe that time from the king and inspiring his mind to heare the histories read and to reward good seruice donne Ioseph :: Ambicious men are most bâ—â—nde in conceite of their owne deserts and fortunes :: Either they had read Gods promise to the Iewes Gen 13 15. c. or coniectured this by humaine prudence :: After three-dayes fast of al the Iewes with prayers and other workes of penance Esther asked and obtained the saftie of the whole people more precious to her then halfe of the kingdom :: Horrour of a guiltie conscience is commonly the first torment of a sinner S. Chrissocons 4. de Lagaro :: VVhat litle trust in false freindshipe when bad men once fal into disgrace :: Such honour is due to kinges yea though they be Infideles because they haue terrestrial maiestie and authoritie from God And the contrarie opinion and behauiour of heretikes vvhich despice Dominion and blaspheme Maiestie is condemned by S. Iude in his Epistle v. 8. * Lch. 16. v. 1. M :: VVhere no more danger remaineth remission of iniuries is more commendable then reuenge but where malice continueth and new danger may probably ensue iustice is necessarie and afterwards peace may be made more securely S. Bernad ser 2. dâ— verb. Apost :: In the â—iâ—a slaughter Amans tenne sonnes were slayne and afterwards also hanged v. 14. The fourth parth Other thinges folowing their deliuerie from danger :: The Iewes in Susan kept the fiftenth day holie v. 18 those that dwelt in other places kept the fourtenth day :: A feast instituted by Mardocheus was accepted and obserued by al the Iewes as a constitution agreable and not contratie to the law Deut. 4. v. 2 12. v. 32. Psal 76. Great and maruelous changes by the power of God D. Tho. prologo in Epist Canonic Esther a figure of our B ladie And of the Church :: S. Ierome here aduertiseth the reader that he found al hitherto in the Hebrew And the parcels which folow only in the Septuaginta Greke Edition which either they translated out of the Hebrew or added by inspiration of the Holie Ghost * The Greke of the 72. Interpreters A :: Except the 72. The first part The presage and occasion of Esthers aduancement and Amans persecuting the Iewes :: Mardocheus had this dreame before Amans aduancement or his owne and the peoples danger 4. Reg. 24. :: Mardocheus was a good dragon and Aman a bad one :: Esther by her fountaine of teares and humble supplication quenched a great flame of Gentiles against the Iewes ch 10. * B chap. 1. v. 1. C :: Here it appeareth that Aman was a fauourer of traitors of perhaps of the same conspiracie * D ch 3.
esteme that which their elders teach :: though the same doth not seme reasonable in their owne opinion Mat 5. v. 28. :: It is not lawful to reueale that which we iustly promise to conceale Leuit 19. Deu. 1 16 Prou. 24. Iacob â— :: There is lesse danger in conuersing familiarly with a wicked man then with a freindlie woman In which conuersarion much prudence is required as is before admonished chap. â— :: The excellencie of God which can not be sene with mortal eye Exo. 33. is proposed to our meditation in his workes The like in Iob. 38. 39. 40. 41. and in manie places of holie Scripture :: Of al sensles creatures yea of sensible also that haue not reason the sunne is most excellent Of which al corporal â—reatures receiue their light by whose influence al generation of creatures procedeth wherof is this Maxime in Philosophie that the sunne and man begette a man And Aristotel calleth the sunne the father of men and of goddes li. 2. de anima But the faithful know it is a creature inferior to man in respect of his reasonable soule and in them both in al other creatures acknowlege superexcellent infinite Maiestic in God VVhich also appeareth euen in the least creatures whose natural substances qualities with other accidents the more anie man considereth the more he shal admire God the onlie Creator of al. The 2. part Examples and praises of holie men with praise thankes to God :: Vertuous men are rightly called Lordes and Princes so the children of Heth sayde to Abraham My Lord theâ—â— art a prince of God among vâ— Gen. 23. :: Enoch shal preach penance in the time of Antichrist Gen 5. Gen. 6. :: Noe was perfect Gen. 9. Gen. 12. :: Abraham father of al the beleuers in Christ Gen. 22. Heb. 11. :: Isaac and Iacob were blessed in Abraham Exo. 3. Num. 12. :: Moyses saw Gods workes more clerely then other Prophets yet saw not his substances as is noted Exo. 33. :: Aarons priesthood continued so long as Moyses law that was til Christ And now the priesthood according to the order of Melchisedech continueth to the end of the world Exo. 28. Leuit. 8. Num. 16. :: The tribe of Leui had not a portion of inheritance separate from the iest but had tithes first fruites and oblations for their temporal prouision Num. 25. :: King Dauid gaue special assistance to the Priestes and greatly aduanced Gods seruice 1. Paral 23. â—â—â— :: Iosue succeded in the temporal gouernment for the spiritual perteyned to the successors of Aaron Num. 27. Iosu 10. Only Iosue and Caleb remained of those which came out of Aegypt al the rest dyed in the desert and their children entered into Chanaan Num. 14â— Iosu 14. :: Though some of the Iudges were sometimes great sinners yet they were finally iust for their good actes much renowmed 1. Reg 17 :: Samuel annointed Saul and Dauid kinges 1. Reg 7. â— Reg. 12 :: If Samuel himself had not appeared but some other spitite it could not haue bene noted in his praises See 1. Reg. 28. 1 Reg. 28 2. Reg 11 1. Reg. 17 Ibidem 1. Reg 18 :: Amongst al the renoumed actes of Dauid his pure and sincere hart most pleased God 1. Par. 25 2. Reg 12 :: For Dauids sake God gaue wisdom to Salomon and peace in his kingdom 3. Reg. 3. :: By Apostrophe the auctor turneth his speach to Salomon 3. Reg 4. 3. Reg. 10 :: Salomons sinnes were punished but Gods mercie continued in conseruing his posteritie Psal 88. 3 Reg. 11 Psal 88. v. 34. 3 Reg. 1â— 3. Reg 17 :: Elias procured fire from heauen to burne his sacrifice 3. Reg. 18 and â—wâ—e more to burne an hundred men which persecuted him 4. Reg. 1. 3. Reg. 19 4. Reg. 2. :: The miracle wrought by his dead bodie shewed that he was an holie prophet 4. Reg. 13. See the miracles of Elias and Eliseus To. 1. pag. 940. 4 Reg 13 4. Reg. 20 4. Reg. 18 :: Prayer preuailed when forces were not sufficient Sec 4. Reg. 19. 4 Reg. 19 Isa 37. 4. Reg 2â— Isa 38. Not only this booke but also other holie scriptures witnes that Elias shal returne and preach before the end of the world S. Chrysostom Aretas and other Doctors testifie the same See Annot. Gen. 5. Mal. 4. Mat. 17. In 2. Thes 2. Apoc. 11. 4. Reg. 22 2. Par 34 4. Reg. 23 :: Manie other kinges of Iuda refrained alwayes from committing idolatrie but these three destroyed al places of idolatrie in their kingdom which the others did not 4. Reg. 25 Iere. 1. Ezech. 1. Agge 2. 1. Esd 3. 3. Esd 5. Zach. 3. 2. Esd 2. Gen. 5. Gen. 39. 40. c. :: See the Annotation ch 38 v. 10. :: Ioseph prophecying that the people should depart from Aegypt willed them to carie his bones with them Gen. 50. So by carying his bones they professed that he had truly prophecied :: This Simon called Iustus and Priscus was high priest when this booke was written in the time of Ptolomie the first king of Aegypt a very holie man and dead before it was translated into Greke about the time of Ptolomie the third called Euergetes nere 300. yeares before Christ Iosephus li. 12. Antiqui * Libationâ— Three nations the Idumeans Philistijmes and Samaritanes did most persecute the Isralites the Samaritanes were not one pure nation but mixt of Assirians and Iewes and so here called no nation Num. 6. v. 23. :: They are also called a foolish people because they knowing true religion mixed idolatrie therwith according to diuers sectes as appeareth 4. Reg. 17. v. 29. :: VVhere we are not able to render recompence to benefactors especially to God we are the more bond to acknowlege his manie great benefites altogether vndeserued by vs. :: VVhen senses are most ripe and the soule most free from great sinnes is the aptest time to serue God to get al vertues and true knowlege Eccle. 12. :: In stead of riches labour to get wisdom for it is much better then al gold siluer :: Merite is in this life and reward in the next Gods special benefite of sending Prophetes to the people The function of Prophetes to exhorte to repentance with hope of Gods mercie by Christ Foure greatter Prophetes and welue lesseâ— were auctors of the prophetical bookes folowing Baruchs booke being inserted in Ieremies Prophecies are called visions for their certaintie Light of prophecie is next to the light of glorie and more clere then the light of faith Prophecies are hard to be vnderstood for diuers causes 2. Pet. 1 Suddaine transition from one thing to an other S. Ierom. iâ—c 2. 3 Nahum That which is spoken of certaine persons is ment of others S. Chrys â—o 8. iâ—â—â—ath 2. S. Aug. dâ—catech â—â—â—ibus c. 3. Prophecies are often vttered in figuratiue speaches Some consist in thinges done others are mixt with histories and temporal thinges with
of the dreame :: The foure kingdoms of the Chaldees Persians Grecians and Romanes signified by the foure partes of this statua consisting of diuers metals or mater did succede in order of time :: not ech one meaner or baser then the former as gold is best yron earth the vvorst for the last rather excelled the former but vvhen this vision appeared the kingdom of the Chaldees vvas the greatest and most excellent that being destroyed the Mâ—des Persians became greater then it had bene againe the Grecians vnder Alexander became farre greater then anâ—e before and finally the Romane greatest of al til Christs kingdome his Church vvas spred ouer the vvhole world :: The Church of Christ is the only kingdom that can not be destroyed :: He thought Daniel to be a litle god subiect to the great God v. 47. :: Notwithstanding this confession shortly after he erected an idol to represent his ovvne greatnes and to be adored therin * mysterie :: This huge statua of ninty foot in height and nine in bredth conteined a great masse of gold VVhich the king made to shevv his riches to terrifie his enimies to represent himself that he might be adored therin as a god S. Ierem. :: Practise of this idolatrie consisted in falling prostrate on the ground before the statua some times it consisteth in offering incense to idols and the like Novv in England personal presence at heretical seruice or sermon is a distinctiue signe of conformitie to the protestants pretended religion because such presence is there exacted for this purpose :: By this most modest confident ansvver they professed their assured faith of Gods omnipotent powre not knowing whether it was his diuine wil to deliuer them from the fire or no resoluing to suffer vvith patience what soeuer he would permitte to fal vnto them * or cappes Though these parcels were not in the Hebrew in S. Ieroms time yet either had bene in the Hebrevv or Chalde or at least were Canonical scripture as we haue proued in the argument of this booke :: In the very same maner Moyses prayed pacified Gods wrath Exo. 32. :: Sedecias being dead and Ioachin kept in prison there vvas none in state of a king amongst the Ievves neither vvas there at this time anie prophet in al Ievvrie for Daniel himself and Ezechiel vvere in Babylon and Ieremie vvas either dead or in Aegypt * chalkie clay or lime :: Holy Angels do incessantly prayse God therfore nede not to be inuited therto sensible creatures do not properly prayse God because they haue not vnderstanding nor vvil but the meaning of this inuitation is to congratulate that Angels do alvvayes vvithout intermission praise God to exhorte al men in consideration of al Gods workes spiritual corporal to praise him as most worthie to be praysed by al men :: Priuations of thinges haue also their decent course in the vinuersal state of creatures Darknes prayseth God that is bringeth forth praise in the hartes of consideratiue men S. Aug. li. de natura boni c. 16. â— Ieroms â—â—ordes :: The fire burned their bandes but not their garments nor bodies so God vseth the seruice of his creatures to geue comforte to his seruantes and not torment S. Greg. li. 3. c. 18. dialo VVhere he vvriteth the like miracle when the Gothes vvould haue burned S. Benedict :: This fourth was the Angel that auerted the force of the fire from them v. 49. 95. :: They were not only restored to their former auctoritie as prefectes ouer the vvorkes ch 2. v 49. but were also more aduanced as this place insinuateth :: It semeth that Daniel inserted this particular historie as the king in his owne person and wordes reported it after his restauratioÌ„ It is also probable that the king had this dreame about the 34. yeare of his reigue For he reigning in al 43. yeares liued seuen yeares among beastes into vvhich state he fel one yeare after this dreame v. 26. and liued about a yeare more or lesse after his restauration :: Seuen times signifie seuen yeares because al ordinarie varieties of times are in one yeare :: No meruel that the prophet vvas trubled in mind being loath to declare the calamitie which should fal vnto the king and yet must nedes vtter the truth And therfore vvith milde wordes wishing the king might escape the euil which vvas decreed against him he maketh his entrance to the true interpretation of the dreame :: Gods threats being conditional that if sinners truly repent he vvil pardon al or part of the punishment the prophet proposeth the most soueraine remedie of almes dedes that by workes of mercie this sinful king or anie other sinner may procure the mercie of God As in dede this king found mercie after some punishment the prophet proposeth the soueraine remedie of almes dedes that by vvorkes of mercie he might procure Gods mercie :: Being restored to his wittes he went vp right cut his haire nailes so appeared to himself as returned to his former figure or shape Nabuchodonosor was not changed in substance but became madde and liued seuen yeares like a beast v. 13. It is probable that he died shortly after his restauration And most like that he is eternally saued a After Nabuchodonosor before Baltassar Euilmetodach reigned in Babylon who deliuered Ioachin king of Iuda out of prison and vsed him vvith great respect in the 37. yeare of the transmigration 4. Reg. 25. There reigned also before Balthassar other two of an other lineage called Niglissar and Labosardach as testifie Euse S. Ierom. S. Beda and others :: The ruine of this Baltassar happened in the 17. and last yeare of his reigne when Daniel was nere an hundred years old * the kings mother v. 11. :: Al progenitors are commonly called the fathers of their of spring so Nabuchodonosor is called the father of Baltassar being his grand father as may be gathered ler. 27. v. 27. where is prophecised that Nabuchodonosor and his sonne and sonnes sonne should reigne ouer manie nations * thing vvritten :: His imagination that he was a beast made him forsake the companie of men and to dwel amongst wilde beastes ch 4 :: The Medes being at this time in the siege of Babylon tooke their opportunitie to assault it this night vvhen the king and most part of the citie vvere drunke :: Darius king of medes now also of Chaldees othervvise called Astyages ch 13 v. 65. reigned but one yeare and so Cyrus succeeded :: An old and continual malignant practise to câ—l religion treason And for that purpose to procure lawes or statutes to be enacted :: It is not probable that Daniel opened the windowes of purpose that he might be senne to pray for so â—e should haue vndiscretly contemned the king and prouoked the infidels to persecute him but hauing accustomed to open the windovves of his vpper chamber vvhich gaue prospect towards