and divers of the Papiâ—â—s have more strangely expounded it a 〈◊〉 volens tradâ—cere not willing to taker her to himselfe or to his oâ—ne house and why Because hee thought himselfe unworthy of her society and because the brightnesse of her face was such that he could not looke upon it And he thought it more possible for a woman to conceive without a man then for Mary to sinne And thus will they make Joseph to divorce his wife or at least to use unkindly for her too great excellencies To put her away privily The Law bound him not to bring her either to shame by triall before the Priest Numb 6. or to punishment by the sentence of the Judges The adulteresse indeed was to bee put to death if shee were accused prosecuted and convicted but to accuse and prosecute her the Law bound not but upon deprehension in the very act Joh. 8. 4 5. Deut. 22. 22. Numb 25. 8. If a man tooke a wife and hated her Deut. 22. 1â— hee might bring her to tryall and upon conviction to punishment but it hee love her for all his suspition and will connive at her fault and not seeke her death hee is at liberty to connive and tolâ—â—ated by the Law so to doe and blamelesse if hee did it as Judg. 19. 2 3. But if a couple were deprehended in the act of adultery then must there bee no connivence Deut. 22. 22. explaining Levit. 20. 10. And the case of the unbetrothed Damosell Deut. 22. 28. explaining the case of the betrothed And thus is that question easily answered which hath so toiled many Expositors How Joseph can bee said to be just when in this very matter that is now in hand hee violateth It is answered by denying that hee violated the Law For that tolerated him thus to doe Vers. 21. Jesus for hee shall save Rabenn haccadesh saith Because Mâ—ssias shall save men he shall bee called Joshua But the Heathens of another Nation which shall imbrace the beleefe of him shall call â—is name Jesus And this is intimated in Gen. 49. Chi jabho shilob untill Shilâ—h come Vid. Galatin lib. 3. cap. 20. Vers. 23. Behold a Virgin The Jews seeke to elude this Prophecy of Isaiah by expounding it either of the Prophets wife as Isa. 8. 3. or of the Kings wife and from Prov. 30. 19. they plead that Almah doth not strictly signifie a virgin but a woman that hath knowne a man Answ. 1. There are three words in the Hebrew that signifie and betoken Virginity but this most properly First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a Virgin but not alwayes for it properly denoteth a young woman yea though shee bee not a virgin but hath been touched Secondly Bethulah is the common word used to denote Virginity yet as Galatine observeth out of Prov. 30. it seemeth sometime to bee taken otherwise But thirdly Almah properly importeth a young Virgin and not at all one touched So that Naarah signifieth any young Woman though she bee not a Virgin Bethulah a Virgin though shee bee not young but Almah importeth youth and virginity both Secondly the Lxx in the place of Isaiah cited translate the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which denoteth no otherwise then a Virgin Thirdly it is given for a signe to Ahaz that Almah should beare a Sonne now for one that had known a man to doe so were no signe at all See Galatine lib. 7. cap. 15. They shall caâ—l his Name Emmanuel Nomen naturae not impositionis they shall owne him for God in our nature and not denominate him Emmanuel for his imposed name See the like Phrase Esa. 60. 18. Ezek. 4. 35. Which is being interpreted First this and other passages of the same nature in this Evangelist argue strongly that Matthew wrote not his Gospel in the Hebrew tongue as is very commonly held For first then had this word needed no interpretation and it had been very hard to have interpreted it but by the same word againe Secondly the Jewes in those times that Matthew wrote understood not the Hebrew tongue in its purity but had degenerated into the use and speech of the Syrian Thirdly Jonathan Ben Vzziel translated the Prophets out of Hebrew into Chaldee a little before the comming of Christ and Onkelos did as much by the Law a little after and both did so because the Jews could not at that time understand or read the Bible in its owne Hebrew tongue and how improper then was it for Matthew to write his Gospel in that language Fourthly all the world that used the Old Testament at those times unlesse it were such as had gained the Hebrew tongue by study used it in the translation of the Lxx or the Greeke and it was requisite that the Pen-men of the New Testament should write in that language and according to their stile as Paul writing for and to Romanes and Matthew and hee to Hebrewes that their quotations out of the Old Testament might be examined by the Greek Bible Fifthly let those that hold the opinion we are confuting but seriously consider that Christ calleth himselfe by the name of two Greeke letters and why Rev. 1. 8. Verse 25. He knew her not till she had brought forth This properly falleth in order at Luke 2. 7. and there shall it bee taken up againe SECTION V. S. LVKE CHAP. 1. The Birth and Circumcision of John the Baptist and the tongue of his father restored c. Vers. 57. NOw Elisabeths full time came that she should bee delivered and shee brought forth a Son 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her and they rejoyced with her 59 And it came to passe on the eighth day they came to circumcise the childe and they called him Zacharias after the name of his father 60 And his mother answered and said Not so but hee shall bee called John 61 And they said unto her There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name 62 And they made signes to his father how he would have him called 63 And he asked for a writing table and wrote saying His name is John and they marvailed all 64 And his mouth was opened immediatly and his tongue loosed and hee spake and praised God 65 And feare came on all that dwelt round about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill Countrey of Judea 66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their hearts saying What manner of child shall this bee and the hand of the Lord was with him 67 And his Father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophecied saying 68 Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel for hee hath visited and redeemed his people 69 And hath raised up a horne of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 As hee spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have beene since the
World begâ—n 71 That we should be delivered from our enemies and from the hands of them that hate us 72 To performe the mercy promised to our fore-fathers and to remember his holy Covenant 73 The oath which he sware to our Father Abraham 74 That he would grant unto 〈◊〉 that wee being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare 75 In holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life 76 And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the â—most Highest for thou shalt goâ— before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins 78 Through the tender â—mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from an high hath visited as 79 To give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace 80 And the child grew and waved strong in Spirit and was in the desert till the day of his shewing unto Israel Reason of the Order THe order of this Section may bee briefly contrived and illustrated thus Elisabeth when Mary commeth to her waâ— about sermoneths gone with child Luke 1. 26. 36. and about nine moneths when shee departed from her vers 56. Shee comming to her owne house is suspected by Joseph to have played the harlot and is in danger of a secret divorce while these things are thus passing betwixt them two at Nazaret the time of Elisabeths delivery is fully come Harmony and Explanation Verse 59. They came to circumcise the Child IN Hebron and about the time of Easter was Circumcision first ordained Gen. 17. And in the same place and at the same time of the yeere was John Baptist borne and cicumcised who was to bring in Baptisme in stead of Circumcision as may bee apparent by observing the time of the Angel Gabriels appearing and message to his father Zacharias in the preceding Kalendar and it shall bee to the full explained and proved hereafter when we come to treat of the time of our Saviours birth § And they called his name Zacharias A thing hardly to be parallel'd againe in all the Scripture that a child should be named by the name of his father an extraordinary action in an extraordinary case Because Abraham and Sarah had their new names given them at the giving of circumcision therefore did after-times reserve this custome to name their children at their circumcising The name was sometime given to the child by the mother but that was ever at the birth and it was upon some weighty and speciall reason as Gen. 29. 32 33 34 35. and 30. 6 7. c. 1 Sam. 4. 21. 1 Chron. 4. 29. and sometimes by the standers by at the birth as Gen. 38. 29. and 25. 25. Ruth 4. 18. but the father at the Circumcision had still the casting voice whether the name should bee so or no as appeareth by Jacobs changing Ben-oni into Benjamin Now Zacharie being dumbe and the mother having given it no name at the birth the persons present undertake to call it by the name of the Father And now is hee in circumcising that is the man appointed to bee the first overthrow of Circumcision by bringing in Baptisme instead of it R. Solomon from the Talmud in Sanbedrin expoundeth Jerem. 25. 10. I will take from them the sound of the milstones and the light of the candle to this sense The sound of the milstones signifieth the Feast at a Circumcision because they ground or bruised Spices for the healing of the sore and the light of the Candle signifieth the Feast it selfe Thus doe they confesse a decay of Circumcision to be foretold by the Prophet and yet they sticke not to deny most stiffely that Circumcision must ever decay Vers. 63. Hee wrote saying That is expressing or To this purpose as Exod. 18. 6. And Jethro said to Moses I Jethro come to thee That is he signified so much by Letter as the serious viewing of the story will necessarily evince And so 2 King 5. 6. And bee brought the Letter to the King of Israel saying not that Naaman that brought the Letter spake the words that follow but the Letter it selfe spake them John The Lord hath been gracious A name most fit for him that was to bee the first Preacher of the Kingdome of grace and to point out him that was grace it selfe Rabbi Jochanan said what is the name of the Messias Some said Haninah Grace as it is said I will not give you Haninah that is the Messias who shall bee called gracious Jer. 16. 13. Talmud bab in Pesach cap. 4. Vers. 64. And his mouth was opened Infidelity had closed his mouth and now faith or beleeving doth open it againe And herein may this case of Zachary be fitly compared with the like of Moses Exod. 4. For he for distrust is in danger of his life as Zachary for the same fault is strucke dumbe but upon the circumcising of his child and recovery of his faith the danger is removed as Zacharies dumbnesse is at such a time aâ—d occasion as Psal. 116. 10. He beleeveth and therefore doth he speak And the tongue of the dumb doth sing Esay 35. 6. And his tongue Out English hath added loosed for illustration as also hath the French and some say it is found in some Copies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But first no such word is expressed either in the Syrian Arabick Vulgar Latine Italian Erasmus or other Translators Nor secondly needeth there any such word to make a perfect sense but it may well help the simple and vulgar capacity what our English hath added Vers. 66. Laid them up in their hearts It could not but affect all that heard of this strange birth of the Baptist with wonder and amazement and singular observation both in regard that so many and great miracles were wrought in this time when miracles were so much abated and decayed as also in consideration that there was never birth before that had so many concomitants of wonder and miraculousnesse as the birth of this child Not of Isaac the glorious Patriarch not of Moses the great Prophet nor of any other whatsoever that had beene in former times And the hand of the Lord was with him Either the speciall favour and assistance of the Lord as Ezra 7. 6. and 8. 22 c. or the gift of Prophecy at capable yeers as 1 Sam. 3. 19. for so the hand of the Lord doth signifie Ezek. 1. 3. 37. 1. 40. 1. Psal. 80. 17. 1 Chron. 28. 19. Vers. 68. Redeemed Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee hath made or wrought redemption In the very phrase implying a price paid for so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth It is used againe Chapt. 2. 38. and by the Lxx Psal. 111. 9. and 130. 7. and by Theodotion for satisfaction Prov. 6. 35. Vers. 69. An horne
Man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him 26 And it was revealed to him by the holy Ghost that hee should not see death before hee had seen the Lord Christ. 27 And hee came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought in the Childe Jesus to doe for him after the custome of the Law 28 Then took hee him up in his armes and blessed God and said 29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30 For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel 33 And Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him 34 And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this childe is set for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel and for a signe which shall bee spoken against 35 Yea a sword shall pierce through thy own soule also that the thoughts of many hearts may bee revealed 36 And there was one Anna a Prophetesse the daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser shee was of a great age and had lived with an husband seven yeares from her Virginity 37 And shee was a Widow of about fourescore and foure yeeres which departed not from the Temple but served God with fasting and prayer night and day 38 And shee comming in at that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem 39 And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee to their owne City Nazareth Reason of the Order THe dependence of the beginning of this Section upon the end of that that went before doth even prove and confirme it selfe For after the story of the birth of Christs forerunner and the relation of what happened and befell at that time what could bee expected to come next in order but the birth of Christ himselfe Especially since none of the Evangelists mention any thing that came between Harmony and Explanation Ships shall come from the coasts of Chittim and shall afflict Ashur and shall afflict Heber Num. 24. 24. THat by Chittim is meant Italy or the Romanes it is not onely the generall opinion of the Jewes as may bee seene in their Targums and in other writers but of the most Christians also yea of the Romanists themselves whom the latter part of the verse doth so neerely pinch As see their vulgar Latine and Lyranus upon the place This Prophecy was fulfilled when the power of Rome first set her foote upon the necke of the Hebrews by the conquest of Pompey but especially when shee tyrannized over Christ the chiefe childe of Eber even before and at his birth as in this story but chiefely in condemning him to death as in the story of his passion As Jacob had before told that the Jewes at Messias his comming should bee under the Subjection of a Foraine Nation so doth Balaam in this Prophecy shew who that Nation should bee And this the more ancient and more honest Jewes tooke notice of and resolved that Christ should come in the time of the Roman Empire and neere to the destruction of the Temple by it So in the Talmud they question What is the name of Messias Some answer Hhevara Leprous and hee sitteth among the poore in the gates of Rome carrying their sicknesses Sanhedrin The Chaldee Paraphrast likewise on Esa. 11. 4. readeth thus With the speech of his lips shall Messias slay Romylus the wicked one or the wicked Roman shewing at once his opinion of Christs comming in the time of the Romans and also of the Romans being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wicked one after a singular manner Augustus was the second Emperour of the Romans or rather the first that was intire Monarch for Julius Caesar his Uncle and Predecessor had hardly injoyed any Monarchicall government at all nor did Augustus of many yeeres neither till hee had outed Lepidus and overcome Anthony which were copartners with him in the dominion His name Augustus was given to him for his worthy administration of the Common-wealth For before-time he was called Câ—pias and Thurinus and Octavianus and had like to have been named Romulus as a second founder of the City but by the advice of Munacius Planous hee was named Augustus which importeth Sacrednesse and reverence SS That all the world should bee taxed To soâ—vast an extent was the Roman Empire now growne from Parthia to England and they two also included that it was a world rather then one dominion And so did their own Authours boast it in those times as Caesar Regit omnia terris Divisum imperium cum Jove Totum circumspicit orbem Terrarum orbis imperium and such like speeches usuall among them both in Poesy and Prose This huge and unweldy body of so large and spacious a dominion Augustus had now reduced to the healthfull temper of peace and quietnesse which is the more remarkable by how much the more warres had been more frequent and more bloody but a little before For never had that Empire felt so great distemper within it selfe as it had done of latter times in the civill warres betwixt Sylla and Marius betwixt Julius and Pompey betwixt Augustus and Antony not to mention the continuall warres that it had abroad It had not been very long before this time that the Evangelist speaketh of when both Rome it selfe and the rest of the world was at that pitifull plight that Polybius speaketh of That the Romans were forced to send to Prolomy King of Egypt for a supply of corne because there was a great scarcity and dearth among them For in Italy all their corne was destrayed even to the gates of Rome by the Souldiers and abroad there was no helpe nor supply to bee had there being warres in all parts of the world But now is there an universall Peace not onely in the Romane Empire so that the Temple of Janus was shut up which it never used to bee when any warres at all were stirring but if wee will beleeve Crantzius even in those parts and Countries where the Romane power had not yet set her foote as Denmark Norway and those Northerne Climates there was so great a peace that in some places there Money and Jewels were hung up by the high way and there was neither Theefe nor Enemy to take them away Such times became the comming of Shilob the Peaceable one Isa. 6. 9. And such a beginning was befitting the Gospel of Peace Augustus having brought the Empire under this quiet obedience like a politicke Prince will have it all taxed and brought into the Subsidie Book that hee might know the extent of his command of his strength and of his revenues And
THE HARMONY OF THE Foure Evangelists Among themselves and with the Old Testament THE FIRST PART From the beginning of the Gospels to the Baptisme of our Saviour With an explanation of the chiefest difficulties both in Language and Sense By JOHN LIGHTFOOTE Staffordiens A Member of the Reverend Assembly of Divines Imprimatur John White LONDON Printed by R. Cotes for Andrew Crooke and are to bee sold at the signe of the Green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1644. TO THE Most Renowned and Illustrious Knight and Champion of the Gospel HIS EXCELLENCY ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX c. Lord Generall of all the Forces raised by the Honourable Houses of Parliament for the defence of Laws Liberties and Religion SIR THis whole undertaking was vowed to your great name and this peece of it in writing presented to your Noble hands before the Lord and the State had placed you in that high Station in which you now stand And as I cannot but applaud the happy Prognostick of mine own thoughts which found out such a Patron for The Harmony of the Evangelists as the high Court of heaven and of England have since called out to bee the Patron of the Gospel it selfe So can I not but bewaile the unhappy condition of mine own disabilities which can neither present any thing better then what I now publish to so great a person nor yet could publish any whit sooner that which I then presented though it had been better Your Excellencies candor will helpe to excuse both the one failing and the other give me leave to presage it since I know such noblenesse as yours accepteth according to what a man hath and expecteth not according to what hee hath not Mine addresse in this kinde unto your Self I shall not go about to excuse but must rather justifie and though it bee exceeding bold yet to mee it seems exceeding reasonable For to whom should a Staffordshire student devote his studies but to the glory of Staffordshire and whither should a Treatise upon the Gospels refuge for patronage but to the great Patron of the Gospel I know mine own unsufficiency for such a work and am conscious to my self of my many failings in the managing of it yet could I not but undertake it in hope of some profit to the Reader nor could I but addresse it to such a Patron in hope of some intertainment with your Excellency The Harmony of the Evangelists in our English tongue is rare to find especially with that proofe of the order of the story and that illustration of the Text and Language that a thing of that nature doth require that it hath found in other tongues Mine own heart did tell mee that I of all others was most unfit and unable for such an undertaking in regard of want of parts means and opportunity yet could I not desist from such an attempt but must needs try what I could do in this kind partly that I might bring something toward the building of the Tabernacle though it were never so small and chiefely that I might stir up some pen of a greater ability to set to a work of so brave import An assay and tryall of some of my progresse in such an undertaking I doe here most humbly lay at your Excellencies feet and that not onely as an Oblation tendered to your noblenesse this once but also as an earnest of a future tribute of this kind till the whole work bee finished and the Harmony compleated if God vouchsafe health strength and opportunity and your Excellency acceptance countenance and incouragement There is nothing in the workman or the workmanship that can ground any hope for any such thing from you but there is enough in your own known worth goodnesse and noble disposition to make me confident that you will not onely not reject the work but that you will also accept the workman for the workes sake because the subject of it is the Evangelists It is now become your honourable profession to bee the Champion of the Gospel and the Lord hath installed you in an Order of which to a Constantine a Sweden and an Essex I know not what Histories can adde a fourth that hath been the Evangelicall Knight or the Knight of the Gospel How you have honoured this your Order by your great atchievements and how the great trust reposed in you hath met with as great trustinesse it is the happinesse of the Nation to have tryed and to remember and it cannot but bee the rejoycing and comfort of your poore suppliant to thinke of and to consider For to have to deale with so constant worthinesse noblenesse and candor with so great piety zeale religiousnes and honour with so much accomplishment excellency and splendor cannot but promise a comfortable accesse a cheerfull entertainment and a desired issue I have no more to say for short speech best agreeth with your great imployments but only this to beg of your Excellency that among the serious cares and thoughts of your noble heart you would remember our poore wrong'd Staffordshire for good and labour her delivery not only from her open enemies but also from her seeming friends which do worse devour her And to the Throne of grace it must bee my continuall suite and petition that the Lord would Crown all your great ingagements with happy successe make you stil a blessing and rejoycing to the English Nation preserve your Person increase your Honour support your Heart direct your steps immortalize your name here and lade your Excellency with the most excellent weight of glory hereafter So ever prayeth and so ever must pray Your Excellencies most humble and most devoted servant and poore Countriman IOHN LIGHTFOOT From my Study in Little Britain Sep. 30. 1644. The Epistle to the Reader Gentle Reader THe veile of the Sanctuary was supported by foure Pillars and wrought with great variety of workes and colours So is the Story of the veile of Christs flesh by the foure Evangelists and the Texture of it of like variety For one relateth what another hath omitted one more largely what another more briefe one more plaine what another lesse one before what another after one after one manner and another after another And so they bring their severall peeces of Imbroidery differing in colours but not in substance various in workmanship but not in the ground-work to constitute and make up a perfect and sacred Tapestry and Furniture in the House of the Lord And carrying severall faces in the manner of their writing and composall like those living Creatures in Ezekiel and the Revelation yet they sweetly and Harmoniously meet together in the one body and compacture of a perfect Story To sew these parcels together into one piece and so to dispose and place them in their proper order as the continuance and Chronicall method of the History doth require is hic labor hoc opus a thing of no small paines and difficulty and yet a thing that with paines
and industry may bee brought to passe For in many passages and dislocations the Text hath shewed the proper place of such dislocated parcels and the proper way and manner to joine them where they should bee joyned so plainely and in all places it hath hinted this so surely though sometimes more obscurely that serious study and mature deliberation may certainly fix and settle them Divers great and learned Pens have laboured in this worke both Ancient and Moderne both Romish and Protestant but hardly any if any at all in our owne mother Tongue so fully and largely as a Worke of this nature doth require this hath incited me though the unfittest of all others for a taske of so much Learning Judgement and Seriousnesse to attempt this worke and if possibly my dimnesse might to give some light and facility to the History of the Gospel and if my poorenesse could some contribution towards the building of Sion The Method that I prescribed to my self in this undertaking some glimpse whereof thou maist see in this present Parcell was 1. To lay the Text of the Evangelists in that order which the nature and progresse of the Story doth necessarily require 2. To give a Reason of this Order why the Text is so laid more largely or more briefly according as the plainness or difficulty of the connexion doth call for it 3. To give some account of the difficulties in the language of the Originall as any came to hand either being naturally so in the Greek it selfe or being made difficulties when they were not so by the curiosity misconstruction or self-end-seeking of some Expositors 4. And lastly to cleare and open the sense and meaning of the Text all along as it went especially where it was of more abstrusenesse and obscurity These two last things did I assay and goe on withall a great way in the worke with much largenesse and copiousnesse both concerning the language and the manner For for the first I did not onely poise the Greek in the ballance of its owne Country and of the Septuagint but I also examined translations in divers languages produced their sense and shewed cause of adhering to or refusing of their sense as I conceived cause And for the second I alledged the various Expositions and interpretations of Commentators both ancient and moderne and others that spake to such and such places occasionally I examined their Expositions and gave the Reader reason to refuse or imbrace them as cause required When seeing the Worke in this way likely to rise to vaâ—â—nes of bulke it selfe and of trouble to the Reader I chose to abridg this first part for a tryall and therein having expressed only those things which were most materiall for the understanding of the Text where it is lesse plain for where â—t is plaâ—ne enough why should I spend time and labour about it And spoken mine owne thoughts upon it and omitted unlesse it be for a tast of what I had done the glosses and thoughts of others I now waâ—te for the direction and advice of my learned and loving Friends and Readers whether to exhibite the other parts that are to follow by Gods good blessing and assistance in that large and voluminous method that at the first I prescribed to my selfe or in that succisenesse that this present parcell holdeth out I have partly chosen and have partly been constrained to tender this work to publike view by peeces whereof onely this and this but a small one neither appeares at this time I have chosen so to do partly that I might give the world my thâ—ughts upon the Evangelists as the Lord giveth time for who would deferre to doe any thing of such a worke till he have done all since our lives are so short and uncertaine and the worke so long and difficult And partly that I might be in an annuall tribute to that great name and to that glory of mine own Country yea of this our Nation our Renowned Lord Generall to whom this undertaking was devoted from the very first thought of such an undertaking And I have been constrained thus to doe partly because of mine other occasions many an lurgent which deny me opportunity to follow that businesse as such a bulk would require and partly because of the straits of the times which have straitned our Presses that they Print but rarely any thing voluminoâ— Every yeer by Gods permission and good assistance shall yeeld its piece till all be finished if the Lord spare life health and liberty thereunto Divers things were fitting to have been premised to a work of this nature but because 〈…〉 should all be set before this small piece that we now exhibâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—reface or Prolegomena would be larger then the Book it self therefore have I reserved to every piece that shall come forth it s own share and portion And the things that I have thought upon and hewed out unto this purpose are these 1. To fix the certain yeere of our Saviours birth as a thing very fit to bee looked after and to shew the certaing ounds whereupon to goe that our fixing upon such a yeare may be warranted and without wavering This have I premisâ—d to this first part wherein comes the Story and Treatâ— se of our Saviours birth 2. To give account of all the dislocations of texts and Stories in the Old Testament which are exceeding many to shew where is their proper place and order and to give the reason of their dislocation And this being so copious and frequent in the Old Testament the like will be thought the lesse strange and uncouth in the New 3. To make a Chor graphicall description of the Land of Canaan and those adjoyning places that we have occasion to looke upon as â—e read the Gospel a thing of no small necessity for the cleerer understanding of the Story 4. To make a Topographicall description of Jerusalem and of the Fabrick of the Temple which will facilitate divers passages in the Gospel which are of no small obscurity 5. To give some account and Story of the State and Customes of the Jewes in these times when the Gospel began and was first preached aâ—ong them out of theâ—r own and other Writers which things the Evangelists mention not and yet which conduce not a little to the understanding oâ— the Evangelists These as things very necessary for the matter in hand shall waite severally upon the severall parts that shall follow as the Lord shall please to vouchsaâ—e ability time health and safety From my Chamber in 〈◊〉 Octob. 1. 1644. PROLEGOM I. The age of the world aâ—â—nâ— Saviourâ— birth fixd the account proved the chiefest difficulties in the Scripture Chronicle resolved IN the Stories of times the times of the stories do challenge speciall notice and observation and of all other that of our Saviours birth being the fulnesse of time may best as best worthy make such a challenge A time to which all the holy ones that went before it
his paths streight NOW in the fifteenth yeere of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate bein Governour of Judea and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and of the Region of Trachonitis and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abylene IN those dayes came John the Baptist preaching in the wildernesse of Judea 2 And saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand 3. For this is hee that was spoken of by the Prophet Esaias saying The voice of one crying in the wildernes Prepare ye the way of the Lord make bis paths streight 4 And the same John had his rayment of Camels haire and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was Locusts and wild honey 4 John did baptize in the Wildernesse and preach the Baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan confessing their sins 6 And John was clothed with Camels haire and with a girdle of skin about his loins he did eat locusts wild honey 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the High Priests the word of God came unto John the Sonne of Zacharias in the wildernesse 3 And hee came into all the Countrey about Jordan preaching the Baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins 4 As it is written in the Booke of the words of Esaias the Prophet saying The voice of one crying in the wildernes Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths streight 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region round about Jordan 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins 5 Every valley shall bee filled and every mountaine and hill shall bee brought low and the crooked shall bee made streight aud the rough wayes shall bee made smooth 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God 7 But when hee saw many of the Pharisees and Saddneâ—s come to his baptisme hee said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come 7 Then said hee to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance 9 And thinke not to say within your selves Wee have Abraham to our Father For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up Children to Abraham 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance And begin not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up Children unto Abraham 10 And now also is the Axe laid unto the root of the trees Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire 9 And now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees Every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire 10 And the people asked him saying What shall wee doe then 11 He answereth and saith unto them He that hath two coates lâ—t him impart to him that harb none and hee that hath meat let him doe likewise 12 Then came also Publicans to be baptized and said unto him Master what shall we doe 13 And hee said unto them Exact no more then that which is appointed you 14 And the Souldiers likewise demanded of him saying And what shall wee doe And hee said unto them Doe violence to no man neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages   15 And as the people were in expectation and all men mused in their hearts of John whether hee were the Christ or not 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but hee that commeth after me is mightier then I whose Shooes I am not worthy to beare hee shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire 7 And preached saying There commeth one mightier then I after mee the latchet of whose shooes I am not worthy to stoope downe and unloose 8 I indeed have baptized you with water but hee shall baptize you with the holy Ghost 16 John answered saying unto them all I indeed baptize you with water but one mightier then I commeth the latchet of whose shooes I am not worthy to unloose hee shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire 12 Whose fanne is in his hand and hee wil throughly purge his floore aud gather his wheat into the garner but will burne up the chaffe with unquenchable fire  17 Whose fanne is in his hand and he wil thoroughly purge his floor and will gather the wheat into his garner but the chaffe hee will burn with fire unquenchable 18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people Reason of the Order ALthough there be a very large space of time betwixt the Section last preceding and the beginning of this yet because the Reader in his Bible can see nothing mentioned in any of the foure that may come between hee will easily satisfie himselfe without any further discourse that the order is necessary and the connexion undeniable But it may bee hee may wonder why the Evangelists have passed so much time in silence without any mention at all of our Saviour Christ or of any thing done or spoken by him But when hee shall observe in the very first words of this Section that the Preaching of John and his baptisme was the beginning of the Gospel then will hee see that they hasten to that and forward as to the main aime and chiefe intention of their writing but that the conception and birth of Christ and his forerunner were necessarily to be related before In these collaterall columnes of the Text and forward where we shall have occasion to use them so the Readers eye must sometimes help to lay them together where the pen could not without changing and transposing the naturall method of the Text as in this Section now in hand it had been both as easie for me to have written the third verse of Marke after the fourth and fifth as before them and more agreeing to the columnes on either side it but that I would not be so bold as to change verses without any reason which Mark not without good reason did dispose as they lie And this caâ—telousnesse have I observed all along as I goe where occasion is offered presuming rather to trouble the Reader to ranke them with his eye then to teare the text in the whole cloth and then few it together at other edges It will sometimes be inevitable but that we must invert and alter the order of one Evangelist or other from what hee had laid it but wheresoever that shall bee so there shall be such a reason given for it
before or after indifferently as Jeho-achaz 2 Chron. 21. 17. is Ahaz-jahu 2 Chron. 22. 1. So Jehojachin 2 King 24. 8. is Jechoâ—-jahu â— Chron. 3. 16. l The Captivity of the Jewes into Babel was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a â—â—ining of their Families As Aristeas saith of Prel Lagus his captiving them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for they returned ere long to their owne home again But the ten Tribes captivated by Shalmanezer are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Lxx 2 King 18. 11. in a perpetuall departure from their owne houses And they and all the rest of the Nation are at this day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a dispersion without any home of their owne at all Joh. 7. 35. Jam. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It hath been thought saith Gellius that there ought to bee three causes in punishing of offences The first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is when punishment is used for castigation or amendment of him that haâ—h offended The second called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is when punishment is used that the dignity and honour of him that hath beene wronged may bee maintained The third which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is when punishment is inflicted for examples sake that others bee the feare of the knowne punishment may be deterred from the like offences Noct. Att. lib. 6. cap. 14. * The seed of the wicked shall bee cut off Psal. 37. 28. See the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the last letter of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seed of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wicked cut out of that Acrosticall alphabeticall Psalme at that very place * A' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to divorce her as Mat. 5. 31. 19. 7. Mark 10. 4. Luk. 16. 18. Erasm. Voluit clâ—â—culum ab ea diver tere And so Brucioli La vâ—lse occultamente lasciare making Joseph a patient in the divorce rather then an agent or rather divorcing himselfe then her a Though the conceived her child above the course of nature yet his time in the wombe was according to it b Hebron was inhabited by Aaronites but the fields and villages about with children of Juda Josh. 21. 11. These two are Elisabeths neighbours and cousins c Greek Had magnified mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in Psal. 18. 50. the Hebr. and Lxx and Psal. 1â—6 2. d Vulg. Pugillarem of which see Plin. lib. 13. cap. 11. E ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Batrachom e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hebrew signifieth both to â—pâ—n and to unloose and so the loosing of his tongue which is not expreâ—sed in the Greek toidem verbis is implied in the word A' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an Hebraisme f See Gen. 37. 11. Prov. 2. 1. 3. 1. 7. 1. g Vulg For the hand of the Lord was with him contrary to the orig Arab. and Syr. h By the mâ—uth that is by the mâ—â—â—s one number for another as tree for trees Gen. 3. 1. frog for frogs Exod 9. 2. c. yet is the observation of Albertus magnus ingenuous and true All thâ— Prophets spake of Christ unâ— ore things so â—â—greeable as if they had all spâ—â—ken with one mouth i In the Orig it is only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Salvation or deliverance and so in the Arab. and Vulg Lat. now it may be read either in apposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in vers 69. He hath raised up an hâ—rne of Salvation namely salvation from cur enemies or in subsequence to the verbe he spake vers 70. He spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets of Salvation and this is the more genuine and proper Bezâ— k Two phrases used to heighten the sense 2 Sam. 2â— 18. 41. Psal 44. 10. 68. 1. 19. 23. 106. 16. l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Josh. 2. 12. 2 Sam 9. 1. c. The Syr. reads conjunctively And hee hath shewed mercy and so doth the Arab. the other clause And hee hath remembred m â—pâ—or In the accusative case either in apposition to Corâ—u Saâ—â—is vers 69. as Tollet or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understood as Calvinâ— or following the verbe To performe in vers 72. As the Syr. and an old English or that the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 governeth two cases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This clause standeth in the Orig. and in all translations in the end of the vers preceding See Syr. Arab. Vulg. France Spaine Dutch Dâ—â—date Vâ—â—ab Erasin Beza c. †Greek The Bowels of mercy a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek in Dan. 6. 8. 12. b Caesar the common name of the Roman Emperours as Abimelech of the Philistims Kings Ols. 34. in tit and Pharaoh of the Egyptians from Julius the first Emperor who was of this name but the name Caesar was long before him see Plin. lib. 7. cap. 9. c As Ezr 12. d In the Roman Historians he is called Quirinus e Taking a journey in Scripture bee it whither soever it will is called indifferently a going up or going downe as Numb 16. 12. 14. Jer. 21. 2. Judg. 16. 18. Gen. 42. 3. Judg. 15. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 10. f This word here and in vers 1. 3. hath various translations That they might bee inrolled Syr. Arab. Rhem. That they might professe Vulg. Erasm. That they might bee taxed Erasm. againe and our English All these laid together make up a compleat description of the manner of their taxing First they were taken notice of who were in every Towne and City and were inrolled upon their inrolling they professed subjection to the Romane State and upon this profession they payed some money at which they were assessed g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the Gr. in Job 38. 6. Ezek. 1. 4. some deriving the word from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To rend conceive that is meant that his swaddles were poore and ragged and that this is expressed as a particular of his abasement h Christ borne by night for if hee were borne by day why should the revealing of it be forborne till night a This message of the Angel as it was full of comfort so also was it of plainenesse according to the condition of the men to whom he spake b Or the multiâ—ude c Or the good will of God towards men is glory to God in the Highest and peace on the earth d It hath bin held that these Shepheards were about the Tower of Edâ—r Gen. 35. 21. and that this was about a mile from Bethlehem e Levit. 12. f Exod. 13. 1. g Maries poverty in that her hand could not reach to a lambe which was the proper offering that the Law required Levit. * The spirit of Prophecy It had bin long a stranger among the nation even ever since the death of Zachary Malachi but is
this with the Visions of Jacob and Moses with their flocks Gen. 31. 10. Exod. 3. 3. and of Sampsons mother in the field SS Keeping watch over the flocke by night Greek Keeping the watches of the night For the night was divided by the Jewes into foure watches of three houres a piece The first or beginning of watches is mentioned 〈◊〉 8 19. The second and third Luke 12. 38. The fourth Mat. 14. 25. this was called also the morning watch Exod. 14. 24. Howbeit the Talâ—â—ud from Judg. 7. 19. divideth it only into three Be it the one or the other these Shepheards it seemeth observed such an order as that they watched by course while others slept or not to take it so very strictly they lay now in the fields and watched their flocks all night which had been in a manner impossible to have done in the deepe of winter at which time our Kalendar hath placed Christs Nativity Vers. 9. The glory of the Lord 〈◊〉 c. That is an exceeding great glory for so doe the Hebrewes heighten their expressions as Cedars of the Lord that is goodly Cadars Such an exceeding great glory shone about Paul Act. 26. 13. That at noone day this in the dead of the night Vers. 13. A multitude of the Heavenly best c. It might not unproperly be rendred The multitude as importing that all the Quire of Angels or the whole multitude of that â—â—lestiall Militia was now knit together in a consort for the praises and acknowledgment of Christ according to that of the Apostle Heb. 1. 6. When hee bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him And thus as all the Angels sang at the beginning of the old world of at the Creation Job 38. 7. So doe they at the beginning of the new and of the redemption Angels are called the Heavenly host 1 King 22. 19. Job 25. 3. And in this sense Rab. Menahem understandeth Gen. 2. 1. Thus were the Heavens and the Earth finished and all their Host that is faith hee the Angels whose Creation Moses nameth not elsewhere Vers. 14. Glory to God in the Highest c. The last words of this verse the Vulgar Latine readeth to men of good will contrary to the Syrian Arabicke and to the ancient Greek Copies as appeareth by Greg. Naziâ—nzen Orat. 42. Andreas Jerusolomitanus in Orat. de Salutatione Angeli c. The whole Verse is but one Proposition or Axiome in which the last clause of all is the subject and the two former are predicated of it And it lieth in this sense The good will of God to men shewed in the Incarnation of our Saviour when God himselfe disdained not to take the nature of man is glory to him in the highest and is peace upon the earth And that this is the genuine and proper meaning and posture of the words may be observed First by the conjunction 〈◊〉 And put betweene Glory to God and peace on earth and none between them and good will And secondly the very sense and matter it self inforceth this construction For first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beareth the same sense here that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth Mat. 3. 17. and 17. 5. of Gods good-will or will-pleasednesse with men Now secondly this well-pleased nesse of his with men was expressed and evidenced at this time in the birth of our Saviour in that God had assumed the nature of men and it had never been so cleered and demonstrated before So that thirdly the birth of Christ being the occasion of the Angels singing this song the good will of God towards men revealed in this his birth must needs bee the subject of their Song And then fourthly the other two things expressed in the two other clauses glory on High and peace on Earth must needs be understood as Predicates seeing that being laid to this expression of God of his good will towards men they are but as fruits and consequences of it And this reading and construction how facil and plaine is it in comparison of these intricacies and obscurities that those readings bring with them that either breake the verse into three distinct axiomes or into two or that read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Genitive case or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Dative as may bee seene in Expositors Now how the good-will and well-pleasednesse of God towards men exhibited and shewed in the incarnation and birth of our Saviour did glorifie God in the highest in all his attributes of wisedome truth justice power mercy c. And how it wrought peace on earth betwixt man and himselfe and man and Angels and man and man and man and his owne coâ—â—cience might bee shewed at large if wee were common placing in stead of commenting Ver. 21. And when eight daies were accomplished for the circumcising c. It was necessary that Christ should bee circumcised that hee might both beare the badge of a childe of Abraham and have upon him an obligation to the keeping of the Law For hee that was circumcised was a debter to the whole Law Gal. 5. 3. Ver. 22. And when the dayes of her purification c. At forty daies old Levit. 12. 1 2 3 4. the Lord commeth to his owne Temple and by an old man and an old woman is proclaimed both to young and old that expected redemption Herod had heard no tidings of him as yet by the Wisemen for otherwise this had beene an opportunity for him to have put in practice his bloody and malicious intent Mary is purified according to the custome of the Law although shee had contracted no pollution by her childing and bringing forth partly that Christ in nothing might bee wanting to the Law and partly that this might bee an occasion for the first publicke declaration of him by Simeon and Anna. Ver. 25. A man whose name was Simeon This Simeon seemeth to bee hee whom the Jewish Authours name for the son of Hillel and who was the first that bare the title of Rabban the highest title that was given to their Doctors and which was given but to seven of them Hillel was the famous head or principall of that Schoole that is so renowned in the Jewish Authours by the name of Beth Hillel Out of which as they relate there came thousands of Schollers but fourescore especially of most renowne Hillel the old they are the words of the Talmud had fourescore Schollers Thirty of them were fit on whom the divine Majesty should rest as it did on Moses Thirty of them were worthy for whom the Sun should stand still as it did for Joshua and twenty were of a middle râ—â—â—e between The greatest of them all was Jonathan ben Uzziel that Paraphrased the Prophets in the Chaldee tongue and the lowest of them was Johanan the son of Zaccai Such a Father had this our Simeon and so renowned but himselfe infinitely were renowned in the thing that is now in
hand and in his having the Saviour of the world in his armes and heart Now this is the Genealogy of this man as it is Recorded by the Jewes themselves Hillel begat Simeon who was first titled Rabban Rabban Simeon begat Rabban Gamaliel the Tutor of Paul Rabban Gamaliel begat Rabban Simeon the second Rabban Simeon the second begate Rabban Gamaliel the second Rabban Gamaliel begat Rabban Simeon the third Rabban Simeon the third begat Rabbi Juda the holy Rabbi Juda begat Rabban Gamaliel the third These six Rabbans were of the line of Hillel besides whom there was a seventh that bare the same title of another stocke Rabban Jobanan beâ— Zaccai But it may bee justly questioned if Simeon were the man wee suppose namely the Sonne of Hillel and the Father of Gamaliel and if hee were so holy and devout a man and confessed Christ as this Evangelist relateth of him how came it to passe that his Sonne Gamaliel was so farre contrary as appeareth by the education of Paul in Pharisaicall righteousnesse and persecution of the Truth Answ. First it is no strange thing for holy Fathers to have wicked Children witnesse Eli David Josaphat and common experience Secondly it was thirty yeeres from Simeons acknowledging of Christ to Gamaliels education of Paul or little lesse and so much time might weare out the notice of his Fathers action if hee had taken any notice of it especially his Father dying shortly after he had made so glorious a confession SS Waiting for the consolation of Israel It is an Article of the Jewish Creed To beleeve the comming of the Messias and to wait and wait for his comming although hee deferre it which foolishly they doe even to this day after sixteene hundred yeeres expired since hee came But Simeons expectation is neither so vaine nor so uncertaine For besides the generall expectation of the whole Nation that the Messias should appeare about that time Luke 19. 11. hee had it by a speciall and assured revelation ver 26. The comming of Christ is called The conâ—â—â—ation of Israel from Isa. 49. 13. 52. 9. 66. 13. Jer. 31. 13. Zech. 1. 17. and such like places which the Jewes doe not onely apply to the comming of the Messias but also in their Talmud questioning what his name should bee when as hee came some conclude it to bee Menahem The Comforter from Lam. 1. 16 In Sanbedr Ver. 26. That hee should not see death before hee had seen the Lords Christ. This was the time when the Nation expected that Messias should appeare Luk. 19. 11. and began to look for redemption neere at hand Luk. 2. 38. The Angel Gabriel to Daniel and hee to the people had so determinately pointed out the time Dan. 9. 26 27. that not onely Jewes of all Nations are gathered to Jerusalem against the expiring of that Prophecy Act. 2. but also all the East was possessed with an opinion of a Prince to rise about these times of supereminent honour glory and dominion Baron in Appar c. Sueton Virgil c. Simeon having learned the time with the rest of the studious of the Nation out of the Scripture hath the certainty of it sealed up to him by the spirit of Prophecy which assured him that the time of so great expectation was so neere at hand that hee though hee were old yet should not dye till hee had seene what hee desired And thus Prophecy that was departed from Israel so long agoe is returning and dawning to it againe to bee as the morning starre to tell that the Sun of righteousnesse would rise ere long Ver. 35. Yea a sword shall pierce through thine owne soule also These words seeme to bee of the same tenor and intent with those of our Saviour to Peter Joh. 21. 18. and to tell Mary of her suffering martyrdome for Christ and the Gospel as those doe of his For Simeon having in the preceding verse related how Christ both in his person and in the Gospel should bee as a signe to bee spoken against persecuted and opposed yea saith hee and thou his Mother also for his and the Gospels sake shalt drinke of the same cup and partake of the same lot for the sword of persecution shall goe through thy life â—lso for so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth often signifie SS That the thoughts of many hearts may bee revealed This clause is linked to the latter end of the verse preceding and reacheth beyond the Parenthesis that lyeth before it and in conjuncture with the clause before that it maketh this sense that Christs being set up for a signe to bee spoken against or persecution for the Gospels sake should detect many mens tempers and affections which were not descryed nor revealed before and discover what malignity or sincerity to him and to his cause is in their hearts as Mat. 13. 21. and as it is at this day Ver. 36. The daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser Hannah a Widow indeed as 1 Tim. 5. 3. 5. that is not by divorce but by the death of her husband and now of above an hundred yeeres of age is chosen also and actuated by the Holy Ghost to give testimony of Christ as Simeon had done that out of the mouth of two such witnesses of either sex one the thing might bee established and the party witnessed unto might bee the more taken notice of Her Father Phanuel is named as either being a noted and well knowne man in those times or for the significancy of his name made good in her in that shee now beholdeth the Lord face to face as Gen. 32. 30. 31. And thus the New Testament doth by this Prophetesse as the Old Testament doth by divers of the Prophets in naming her and her Father with her as Isa. 1. 1. Jer. 1. 1. Joel 1. 1. c. Phanuel her Father was a Galilean for in Galilee lay the Tribe of Aser and from thence commeth a Prophetesse now to declare and publish the great Prophet that must once appeare thence to the wonder of the Nation Ver. 37. Which departed not from the Temple Her constant continuance there might bee either because shee was a poore Widow and so maintained upon the foundation or because shee was a Prophetesse and so lodged in some of the buildings or chambers belonging to the Temple For so might women doe as 2 Chron. 22. 11 12. SECTION VII S. MATTHEW CHAP. II. Christ at two yeers old is visited and honoured by the Wisemen The children of Bethlehem murthered Herod dyeth soon after Christ returneth out of Egypt NOw when Jesus was borne in Bethlehem of Judea in the daies of Herod the King behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem 2 Saying where is he that is borne King of the Jewes For we have seen his Starre in the East and are come to worship him 3 When Herod the King had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him 4