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
he prouoked to wrath our Lord the God of his fathers †But the rest of his wordes al his workes the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel †And Achaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in the Citie of Ierusalem for they receiued him not into the sepulchres of the kinges of Israel And Ezechias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXIX Ezechias repayreth the Temple and diuine seruiee 5. zelously exhorteth offenders to repentance 12. the Temple is purified in sixtene daies 18. the king and nobles offer hostes which the Priestes immolate 25. with solemne musick ordained by king Dauid and great ioy of al the people THERFORE Ezechias began to reigne when he was fiue and twentie yeares old and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Abia the daughter of Zacharias †And he did that which was pleasing in the sight of our Lord according to al thinges that Dauid his father had done †He in the first yeare and moneth of his reigne opened the doores of the house of our Lord and repayred them †And he brought the Priestes and the Leuites and assembled them in the East streate †And he sayd to them Heare me ye Leuites and be sanctified cleanse the house of our Lord the God of your fathers and take away al vncleannes out of the Sanctuarie †Our fathers haue sinned and done euil in the sight of our Lord God forsaking him they haue turned away their faces from the tabernacle of our Lord and geuen the backe †They haue shut the doores that were in the porch and put out the lampes and haue not burnt incense and haue not offered holocaustes in the Sanctuarie of the God of Israel †Therfore was the furie of our Lord stirred vp vpon Iuda and Ierusalem and he hath deliuered them into commotion and into destruction to be hissed at as your selues see with your eyes †Behold our fathers haue fallen by the swordes our sonnes and our daughters and wiues are led captiue for this wickednesse †Now therfore it pleaseth me that we make a couenant with our Lord the God of Israel and he wil turne away the furie of his wrath from vs. †My children be not negligent our Lord hath chosen you to stand before him and to minister to him and to worshipe him and to burne incense to him †The Leuites therfore arose Mahath the sonne of Amasai and Ioel the sonne of Azarias of the children of Caath moreouer the children of Merari Cis the sonne of Abdi and Azarias the sonne of Ialaleel And of the children of Gerson Ioah the sonne of Zemma and Eden the sonne of Ioah †But of the children of Elisaphan Samri and Iahiel Also of the children of Asaph Zacharias and Mathanias †Moreouer also of the children of Heman Iahiel Semei yea and of the children of Idithun Semeias and Oziel †And they gathered together their btethren and were sanctified and went in according to the commandment of the king and the precept of our Lord to purge the house of God †The Priestes also going into the Temple of our Lord to sanctifie it brought out al vncleannes which they sound within the entrance of the house of our Lord which the Leuites tooke and caried to the Torrent cedron without †And they began to clense it the first day of the first moneth and in the eight day of the same moneth they entred into the porche of the temple of our Lord and they purged the temple in eight dayes and in the sixtenth day of the same moneth they accomplished that which they began †They entered in also to Ezechias the king and sayd to him We haue sanctified al the house of our Lord and the altar of holocaust and the vessels therof moreouer also the table of proposition with al the vessels therof †and al the furniture of the temple which king Achaz in his reigne had polluted after that he transgressed and behold al thinges are set forth before the altat of our Lord. †and Ezechias the king rising early assembled al the princes of the citie and went vp into the house of our Lord †and they offered together seuen oxen and seuen rammes seuen lambes and seuen buckgoates for sinne for the kingdom for the sanctuarie for Iuda and he sayd to the Priestes the children of Aaron that they should offer them vpon the altar of our Lord. †They killed therfore the oxen and the Priestes tooke the bloud and powred it vpon the altar they killed also the rammes and their bloud they powred also vpon the altar and they immolated the lambes and powred the bloud vpon the altar †They brought the buckgoates for sinne before the king and the whole multitude and they put their handes vpon them †and the Priestes immolated them and sprinkled their bloud on the altar for an expiation of al Israel for the king had commanded for al Israel that holocaust should be made and for sinne †He appoynted also the Leuites in the house of our Lord with cymbals and psalteries and harpes according to the disposition of Dauid the king and of Gad the Seer and of Nathan the Prophete for it was the precept of our Lord by the hand of his prophetes †And the Leuites stoode holding the instrumentes of Dauid and the Priestes trumpettes †And Ezechias commanded that they should offer holocaustes vpon the altar and when holocaustes were offered they began to sing prayses to our Lord and to sound with trumpettes and on diuerse instrumentes which Dauid the king of Israel had prepared for to sound †And al the multitude adoring the singing men and they that held the trumpettes were in their office whiles the holocaust was accomplished †And when the oblation was ended the king bowed and al that were with him and adored †And Ezechias and the princes commanded the Leuites that they should prayse our Lord in the wordes of Dauid and Asaph the Seer who praysed him with great ioy and bowing the knee adored †But Ezechias added these wordes also You haue filled your handes to our Lord come and offer victimes and prayses in the house of our Lord. Al the multitude therfore offered hostes and prayses and holocaustes with a deuout minde †Moreouer the number of the holocaustes which the multitude offered was thls oxen seuentie rammes an hundred lambes two hundred †And they sanctified to our Lord oxen six hunered sheepe three thousand †But the Priestes were few neither could they suffise to draw of the skinnes of the holocaustes wherfore the Leuites also their brethren holpe them til the worke was accomplished and the Priestes were sanctified for the Leuites are sanctified with an easier rite then the Priestes †There were holocaustes therfore verie many the fatte of pacifiques and the libamentes of the holocaustes and the seruice of the house of
therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Israel and made al that were left in Israel to serue our Lord their God Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers CHAP. XXXV Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt al Iudalamenting him 25. most specially Ieremias AND Iosias made in Ierusalem a Phase to our Lord which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first moneth †And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. †To the Leuites also at whose instruction al Israel was sanctified to our Lord he spake Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel for you shal carie it no more but now minister to our Lord your God and to his people Israel †And prepare your selues by your houses and kinredes in the diuisions of euerie one as Dauid the king of Israel commanded and Salomon his sonne described †And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies †and being sanctified immolate the Phase prepare also your brethren that they may doe according to the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses †Moreouer Iosias gaue to al the people that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase lambes and kiddes of the flockes and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand of oxen also three thousand al these thinges of the kinges substance †His dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed as wel to the people as to the Priestes and the Leuites Moreouer Helcias and Zacharias and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred and oxen three hundred †And Chonenias and Semeias also Nathanael his brethren moreouer Hasabias and Iehiel and Iozabad princes of the Leuites gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe and oxen fiue hundred †And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement †And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes †and they seperated them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one and to be offered to our Lord as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses of oxen also they did in like maner †And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâ—vled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people †And for themselues and for the Priestes they prepared afterward for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last †Moreouer the singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Heman and Idithun the prophetes of the king and the porters watched at euerie gate so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them †Therfore al the seruice of our Lord was ritely accomplished that day so that they made the Phase and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies †There was not a Phase like to this in Israel from the daies of Samuel the prophete neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias to the Priestes and the Leuites and to al Iuda and Israel that was found and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem †In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated †After that Iosias had repayred the temple came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him †But he sending messengers vnto him sayd What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda I come not agaynst thee this day but I fight agaynst an other house to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast leaue to doe agaynst God who is with me lest he kil thee †Iosias would not returne but prepared battel agaynst him neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo †And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded †Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote that folowed him after the maner of kinges and they caried him away into Ierusalem he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers and al Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him †Ieremie most of al whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias and it is growen as it were a law in Israel Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations †But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord †his workes also the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel CHAP. XXXVI Ioachaz reigneth three monethes 4. His brother Eliakim named loakim eleuen yeares 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares 14. Most Priestes and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt 20. The sayd kinges successiuely and people are caryed captiue into Babylon 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia releaseth the captiuitie and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and made him king for his father in Ierusalem †Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem †And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem deposed him and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold †And he made Eliakim his brother king for him ouer Iuda and Ierusalem and he turned his name Ioakim but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him and caried him away into Aegypt †Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem and he did euil before our Lord his God †Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon †Whither he transported also the vessels of
the cloudes of glorie and as a flower of roses in the daies of the spring and as the lilies that are in the passage of water and as frankensence smelling in summer daies †As fire glistering and frankensence burning in the fire †As a massie vessel of gold adorned with euerie precious stone †As an oliue tree budding and a cypresse tree aduancing it self on high when he tooke the robe of glorie and was reuested to the consummation of strength †In going vp to the holie altar he made the vesture of holines glorie †And in receiuing the portions out of the hand of the priestes himself also standing by the altar About him was the ring of his bretheren and as the ceder plant in mount Libanus †so stoode they about him as boughes of the palme tree al the children of Aaron in their glorie †And the oblation of our Lord in their handes before al the synagogue of Israel and executing the consummation on the altar to amplifie the oblation of the high king †he stretched forth his hand in oblation of moist sacrifice and offered of the blood of the grape †He powred out on the fundation of the altar a diuine odour to the high prince †Then cried out the children of Aaron they sounded with beaten trumpets and made a great voice to be heard for a remembrance before God †Then al the people together made hast and fel on their face vpon the earth to adore our Lord their God and to make prayers to God omnipotent the Highest †And the singers amplified in their voices and in the great house the sound was encreased ful of sweetenes †And the people in prayer desired our Lord the Highest vntil the honour of our Lord was perfected and they finished their office †Then coming downe he lifted vp his handes ouer al the congregation of the children of Israel to geue glorie to God from his lippes and to glorie in his name †and he repeated his prayer willing to shew the power of God †And now pray ye the God of al who hath done great thinges in al the land who hath encreased our daies from our mothers wombe and hath done with vs according to his mercie †geue he vnto vs ioyfulnes of euerlasting †that Israel may beleue that the mercie of God is with vs to deliuer vs in his dayes †Two nations my soule hateth and the third is no nation which I hate †they that sitte in mount Seit and the Philisthijms and the foolish people that dwel in Sichem †Iesus the sonne of Sirach a man of Ierusalem wrote the doctrine of wisdom and discipline in this booke who renewed wisdom from his hart †Blessed is he that conuerseth in these good thinges and he that layeth them in his hart shal be wise always †For if he doe them he shal be able to doe al thinges because his steppes are in the light of God CHAP. LI. The auctor rendereth praises and thankes to God 18. and inuiteth others to do the same by his owne example 31. and by earnest exhortation THE prayer of Iesus the sonne of Sirach I wil confesse to thee ô Lord king and wil praise thee God my sauiour †I wil confesse to thy name because thou art become my helper and protectour †and hast deliuered my bodie from perdition from the snare of an vniust tongue and from the lippes of them that worke lying and in the sight of them that stoode vp thou art become my helper †And thou hast deliuered me according to the multitude of the mercie of thy name from them that did roare prepared to deuoure †out of the handes of them that seeke my soule and from the gates of tribulations which haue compassed me †from the oppression of the flame which hath compassed me and in the middes of fire I was not burnt †From the depth of the bellie of hel and from a defiled tongue and from the word of lying from a wicked king and from an vniust tongue †my soule shal praise our Lord euen to death †and my life was approching to hel beneth †They haue compassed me on euerie side there was none that would helpe I looked toward the helpe of men there was none †I remembred thy mercie ô Lord and thy operation which are from the beginning of the world †Because thou deliuerest them that patiently expect thee ô Lord and sauest them out of the handes of the nations †Thou hast exalted my habitation vpon the earth and I haue prayed for death to passe away †I haue inuocated our Lord the father of my Lord that he leaue me not in the day of my tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe †I wil praise thy name continually and wil collaude it in confession and my prayer was heard †And thou hast deliuered me from perdition and hast rescued me from the wicked time †Therfore wil I confesse say praise to thee and blesse the name of our Lord. †When I was yet young before I erred I sought for wisdom openly in my prayer †Before the temple I prayed for it and vnto the later end I wil seâ—ke after it and it shal flourish as the grape timely ripe †my hart hath reioyced in it my foote hath walked the right way from my youth I searched after it †I bowed mine eare a litle and receiued it †I found much wisdom in myself I haue much profited therein †To him that geueth me wisdom wil I geue glorie †For I haue consulted to doe it I haue had a zele to good and shal not be confounded †My soule hath wrestled in it and in doing it I was confirmed †I stretched forth my handes on high I lamented foolishnes †I directed my soule to wisdom and in knowlege I found it †I possessed with it an hart from the beginning for this cause I shal not be forsaken †My bellie was trubled in seeking it therefore shal I possesse a good possession †Our Lord hath geuen me a tongue for my reward and with the same I wil praise him †Approch vnto me ye vnlerned and gather yourselues together into the house of discipline †Why slacke ye yet and what say you herein your soules are exceeding thirstie †I haue opened my mouth and haue spoken Bye it for you without siluer †and submit your necke to the yoke and let your soule receiue discipline for it is very neere to finde it †See with your eyes that I haue laboured a litle and haue found much rest to myself †Take ye discipline in a great summe of siluer and possesse abundance of gold in it †Let your soule reioyce in his mercie and you shal not be confounded in praise †Worke your worke before the time and he wil geue you your reward in
holie law of God they were murdered †and there was made great wrath vpon the people excedingly CHAP. II. Mathathias with his fiue sonnes lamenteth the calamities of the people 8. and prophanation of holie thinges 15. resisteth the kings wicked decrees 23. killeth an idolater and the kings commissioner so flyeth into the mountaines with others 31. Manie are slaine not resisting in battel on the sabbath dayes 40. Vpon further consideration the rest defend themselues in the sabbath 45. kil their enimies and destroy idolatrie 49. Mathathias dying exhorteth his sonnes to be zelous in the law 65. appoynting Simon their counseler and Iudas their capitaine IN those dayes arose Mathathias the sonne of Iohn the sonne of Simeon priest of the sonnes of Ioarib from Ierusalem and he sate in the mountayne of Modin †and he had fiue sonnes Iohn who was surnamed Gaddis †and Simon who was surnamed Thasi †and Iudas who was called Machabeus †and Eleazar who was surnamed Abaron and Ionathan who was surnamed Apphus †These saw the euils that were done in the people of Iuda and in Ierusalem †And Mathathias sayd Wo is me wherfore was I borne to see the affliction of my people and the affliction of the holie citie and to sitte there when it is geuen in the handes of the enemies †The holie places are come into the hand of strangers the temple therof as an ignoble man †The vessels of her glorie are caried away captiue her old men are murdered in the streets and her youngmen are fallen by the sword of the enemies †What nation hath not inherited her kingdom and hath not obteyned her spoiles †Al her beautie is taken away She that was free is made a seruant †And loe our holies and out beautie and our glorie is desolate and the Nations haue defiled them †Whereto then is it for vs yet to liue †And Mathathias rent his garments his sonnes and they couered themselues with heareclothes and lamented excedingly †And there came thither they that were sent from king Antiochus to compel them that were fled into the citie of Modin to immolate and to burne frankincense and to depart from the law of God †And manie of the people of Israel consenting came to them but Mathathias and his sonnes stood constantly †And they that were sent from Antiochus answering sayd to Mathathias Thou art the prince and most honorable and great in this citie and adorned with sonnes and bretheren †Therfore come thou first and doe the kings commandement as al Nations haue done and the men of Iuda and they that are remayning in Ierusalem thou shalt be and thy sonnes among the kings frends amplified with gold and siluer and manie giftes †And Mathathias answered sayd with a lowde voice Although al Nations obey king Antiochus that euerie man reuolt from the seruice of the law of his fathers and consent to his commandements †I and my sonnes and my bretheren wil obey the law of our fathers †God be merciful vnto vs it is not profitable for vs to forsake the law and the iustices of God †we wil not heare the wordes of king Antiochus neither wil we sacrifice transgressing the commandments of our law to go an other way †And as he ceased to speake these words there came a certayne lewe in the eyes of al to sacrifice to the idols vpon the altar in the citie of Modin according to the kings commandment †And Mathathias saw and was sorie and his reynes trembled and his furie was kindled according to the iudgement of the law and flying vpon him he slew him vpon the altar †yea and the man whom king Antiochus had sent which compelled them to immolate he slewe in that verie time and destroyed the altar †and zeled the law as did Phinees to Zamri the sonne of Salomi †And Mathathias cried out with a lowde voice in the citie saying Euerie one that hath zele of the law establishing his testament let him comeforth after me †And he fled himself and his sonnes into the mountaynes and left al thinges whatsoeuer they had in the citie †Then came downe manie seeking iudgement and iustice into the desert †and they sate there them selues and their children and their wiues and their cattel because the euils ouerflowed vpon them †And it was reported to the kings men and to the armie that was in Ierusalem in the citie of Dauid that certayne men which dissipated the kings commandment were departed into secrete places in the desert and manie were gone after them †And forthwith they went forwards towards them and set battel against them in the day of the Sabbaths †and they sayd to them Doe you resist now also as yet comeforth and doe accordidg to the word of king Antiochus and you shal liue †And they sayd We wil not come forth neither wil we doe the kings word to pollute the day of the Sabbaths †And they hastened battel against them †And they answered them not neither did they cast a stone at them nor stopped the secrete places †saying Let vs dye al in our simplicitie and heauen and earth shal be witnesses vpon vs that you vniustly destroy vs. †And they gaue them battel on the Sabbaths and there died they their wiues their children and their cattel euen to a thousand soules of men †And Mathathias vnderstood it and his freinds and they had lamentation vpon them excedingly †And euerie man sayd to his neighbour If we shal al doe as our bretheren haue done and shal not fight against the heathen for our liues and our iustifications now wil they quickly destroy vs from the earth †And they thought in that day saying Euerie man whosoeuer shal come vnto vs in battel on the day of the Sabbaths let vs fight against him and we wil not al dye as our bretheren died in secrete places †Then was there gathered to them the synagoge of the Asside ans strong of force out of Israel euerie voluntarie in the law †and al that fled from the euils were added to them were made a strength to them †And they gathered an armie and stroke the sinners in their wrath and the wicked men in their indignation and the rest fled to the nations to escape †And Mathathias went round about and his freindes and they destroyed the altars †and they circumcided the vncircumcised children as manie as they found in the costs of Israel and in strength †And they persecuted the children of pride and the worke prospered in their handes †and they obteyned the law out of the handes of the nations and out of the handes of the kinges they gaue not the horne to the sinner †And the dayes of Mathathias approched to dye he sayd to his sonnes Now is pride strengthned and chastisement and the time of
Assirians toward them to strengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VIII Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters 14. nâ—t licence to takâ— gold siluer and al thinges necessarie at their pleasure 31. The chief mâ—n that goe with him are recited 51. He voweth a fast praying for good successe in their iorney 56. weigheth the gold and siluer which he deliuereth to the Priestes and Leuites 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance for their mariages made with infideles AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome †the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob the sonne of Ameri the sonne of Azahel the sonne of Bocci the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest †This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe wise in the law of Moyses which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and to doe †And the king gaue him glorie because he had found grace in al dignitie and desire in his sight †And there went vp with him of the children of Israel and the Priestes and the Leuites and the sacred singers of the temple and the porters and the seruantes of the temple into Ierusalem †In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth †they came to Ierusalem according to his commandment according to the prosperitie of their iourney which their Lord gaue them †For in these Esdras had great knowlege that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges which were according to the law and the preceptes of our Lord and in teaching al Israel al iustice and iudgement †And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest the reader of the law of our Lord the copie wherof here foloweth †KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord greeting †I of curtesie esteming it among benifites haue commanded them that of their owne accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes and of the Priestes and Leuites which are in my kingdom to goe with thee into Ierusalem †If anie therfore desire to goe with thee let them come together and set forward as it hath pleased me and my seuen freindes my counselers †that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ierusalem obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. †And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ierusalem and al the gold and siluer that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem with that †which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ierusalem that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen and rammes and lambes and kiddes and for the thinges that are agreable to these †that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord which is in Ierusalem †And al thinges whatsoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer doe it at thy pleasure according to the precept of the Lord thy God †And the sacred vessels which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God which is in Ierusalem †And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kings treasure †When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and siluer doe according to the wil of the Lord. †And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria and Phaenice that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of the law of the Lord shal write for they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of siluer likewise also of gold †And vnto an hundred measures of corne an hundred vessels of wine and other thinges whatsoeuer abound without taxing †Let al thinges be done to the most high God according to the law of God lest perhaps there arise wrath in the reigne of the king and of his sonne and his sonnes †And to you it is sayd that vpon al the Priestes and Leuites and sacred singers and seruantes of the temple scribes of this temple †no tribute nor any other taxe be sette and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them †But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God appoynt iudges and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice and teach al them that know no the law of thy God †that whosoeuer shal transgresse the law they be diligently punished either with death or with torment or els with a forfeite of money or with banishment †And Esdras the scribe sayd Blessed be the God of our fathers which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart to glorifie his house which is in Ierusalem †And hath honoured me in the sight of the king and of his counselers and freindes and them that weare purple †And I was made constant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God and gathered together of Israel men that should goe vp together with me †And these are the princes according to their kindredes and seueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes †Of the children of Phares Gersomus and of the children of Siemarith Amenus of the children of Dauid Acchus the sonne of Scecilia †Of the children of Phares Zacharias and with him returned an hundred fiftie men †Of the children of leader Moabilion Zaraei and with him two hundred fiftie men †Of the children of Zachues Iechonias of Zechoel and with him two hundred fiftie men †of the children of Sala Maasias of Gotholia with him seuentie men †of the children of Saphatia Zarias of Michel and with him eightie men †of the children of Iob Abdias of Iehel and with him two hundred twelue men †of the children of Bania Salimoth the sonne of Iosaphia and with him an hundred sixtie men †of the children of Beer Zacharias Bebei and with him two hundred eight men †of the children of Ezead Ioannes of Eccetan and with him an hundred ten men †of the children of Adonicam which were last and these are their names Eliphalam the sonne of Gebel and Semeias and with him seuentie men †And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia and we camped there three dayes and vewed them againe †And of the children of the Priestes and Leuites I found not there †And I sent to Eleazarus and Eccelon and Masman and
eaten therof Moreouer the Hebrew word Hotsi brought forth is a word pertayning to Sacrifice as in the 6. chap of Iudges v. 18. and 19 and importeth that the bread and wine were first offered in Sacrifice and then doubtles they did participat though they wanted not other fufficient corporal foode Againe the wordes folowing For he vvas the Priest of God most hiegh can haue no other sense but that he did the function of a Priest in the bread wine which he brought otherwise if the only cause of bringing that prouision had benne to releue the campe with victuals the reason would rather haue benne yelded because he was a bountiful King a liberal Prince a special freind to Abraham as in deede he was but none of these reasons or the like fitted this purpose so wel nor touched the cause of bringing forth bread and wine as to signifie that he was a Priest whose office is to offer Sacrifice Here againe some Protestants take exception against the Latin text that the causual coniunction Enim for is not agreable to the Hebrew but should be the copulatiue Et and which is a meere wrangling For the lerned know wel ynough that the Hebtew particle is better expressed in such places by Enim or quia for or because then by And so the English Bible printed in the yeare of our Lord. 1552. readeth Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine for he vvas the Priest of the most hieghest God The latter Editions also in like places haue not the copulatiue And but some other word as the sense requireth Gen. 20. v. 3. Thou art but a dead man for the vvomans sake vvhich thou hast taken for she is a mans vvife where the Hebrew phrase is And she is maried to a husband Gen. 30. v. 27. they read thus For I haue proued that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake where precisly construing the Hebrew they should say I diuined or coniectured and the Lord blessed me for thy sake Likewise Esaie 64. v. 5. they read But Loe thou hast bene angrie for vve offended the Hebrew is thus Loe thou art angrie and vve haue sinned In the same place they translate Yet shal vve be saued vvhich the Hebrew expresseth by the copulatiue And we shal be saued So when they thinke it conuenient they translate the Hebrew particle For that yet which strictly signifieth And. Now let vs also see the original in this place In the Hebrew it is thus VMALCHI TSEDEC MELEC CHALEM HOTSI LECHEM VAIAIIN VEHV COHEN LEEL ELION VAIE VARECHEHV c. In English word for word thus And Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine And he the priest to God most hiegh And he blessed him c. where albeit the causual word For is not expressed yet these wordes And he the priest further declaring that besides the office and dignitie of a King which was said before Melchisedec was also a Priest must nedes signifie that he did something about the bread and wine belonging to a Priests office And what that something was perhaps the Vniuersitie of Cambridge wil testifie whose late professor of Diuinitie teacheth plainly that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice and was therin a figure of Christ Pag. 6. Reprehen Sacerdotes saith he ij vere proprie sunt qui sacrificia faciunt qualis fuit Aaron Aaronis silij Melchisedechus quem illi adumbrabant Christus Priestes truly and properly are they that offer sacrifices such as vvas Aaron and the sonnes of Aaron and Melchisedech and Christ vvhom they prefigured If then both Aaron Melchisedech were truly and properly Priests because they offered sacrifices according to this Professors definition and both were figures of Christ it must needes be granted that as Christ fulfilled the figure of Aarons bloudie sacrifices in offering him selfe vpon the Crosse so he also fulfilled the figure as wel of vnbloudie sacrifices of Aaron as especially of Melchisedechs Sacrifice in some other besides that on the Crosse seeing the prophet Dauid and S. Paul say Christ is a Priest not according to Aarons order for that was to haue an end but For euer according to the order of Melchisedech And what other Sacrifice did our Sauiour offer to remaine perpetual but of his owne bodie bloud in vnbloudie maner vnder the formes of bread and wine with commandment to his Apostles and Priests to do the same til the end of the world Let the indifferent reader weigh it wel And whosoeuer is not very proud wil for his better instruction or confirmation esteme the vniforme iudgement of manie ancient godlie and lerned Fathers writing vpon this place VVe wil only recite their wordes without other deduction for breuitie sake S. Clemens Alexandrinus li 4. Strom. versus finem writeth thus Melchisedech king of Salem Priest of God most hiegh gaue wine bread santified nutriment in type of the Eucharist S. Cyprian Epist 63. ad Caecilium Christ is Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech which order is this coming from that Sacrifice and thence descending that Melchisedech was Priest of God most hiegh that he offered bread wine that he blessed Abraham For who is more a Priest of God most hiegh then our Lord Iesus Christ who offered Sacrifice to God the Father and offered the same which Melchisedech had offered bread and wine to wit his owne bodie and bloud And a litle after That therfore in Genesis the blessing might be rightly celebrated about Abraham by Melchisedec the Priest the image of Christs Sacrifice coâ—sisting in bread and wine went before which thing our Lord perfecting and performing offered bread and chalice mixt with wine and he that is the plenitude fulfilled the veritie of the prefiguted image Eusebius Cesariensis li 5. Demonst Euang. c. 3. Euen as he who was Priest of Nations was neuer sene to offer corporal sacrifices but only bread wine when he blessed Abraham so first our Lord Sauiour him selfe then priests that come from him exercising the spiritual office of Priesthood in al nations after the Ecclesiastical ordinances do represent the mysteries of his bodie and healthful bloud in bread wine which mysteries Melchisedech knew so long before by diuine spirite and vsed as representations of things to come S. Ambrose li. 5 de Sacramen c. 1. VVe know the figure of the Sacraments went before in Abrahams times when Melchisedech offered Sacrifice Idem in cap. 5 Heb. It is clere that oblations of cattle are vanished which were in Aarons order but Melchisedechs institution remayneth which is celebrated al the world ouer in administration of the Sacraments S Hierom. Epist ad Marcellamo vt migret Bethleem Haue recourse to Genesis and you shal find Melchisedech king of Salem prince of this citie who euen then in figure of Christ offered bread and wine and dedicated the Christian mysterie in our Sauiours bodie and bloud Idem Epist
find thirtie there †Because saith he I haue once begunne I wil speake to my Lord What if twentie shal be founde there He said I wil not destroy it for twenties sake †I beseech thee saith he be not angrie Lord if I speake yet once more What if tenne shal be found there And he said I wil not destroy it for tennes sake †And our Lord departed after that he ceased to speake vnto Abraham and Abraham returned into his place CHAP. XIX Lot receiuing Angels in his house is abused by the Sodomites 12. He with his wife 26. who for looking back is turned into a statua of salt and his two daughters are deliuered 24. Sodome and Gomorre are burned 31. Lot lieth vnwitting with both his daughters begat of them Moab and Ammon of whom came the Moabites and Ammonites AND the two angels came to Sodome at euen and Lot sitting in the gates of the citie Who when he had sene them rose vp and went to meete them and adored prostrate vnto the ground †and said I besech you my Lords turne into the house of your seruant and lodge there wash your feet and in the morning you shal go forth on your way Who said No but we wil abide in the streat †He compelled them earnestly to turne in vnto him and when they were entred into his house he made them a banquet and baked vnleauened bread and they did eate †And before they went to bed the men of the citie beset the house from young to old al the people togeather †And they called Lot and said to him Where are the men that came in to thee at night bring them forth hither that we may know them †Lot going forth to them and shutting the dore after him said †Doe not so I besech you my brethren doe not commit this euil †I haue two daughters which as yet haue not knowen man I wil bring them forth to you and abuse you them as it shal please you so that you do no euil to these men because they are entred vnder the shadowe of my roofe †But they said Get thee backe thither And againe Thou camest in said they as a stranger what to be a iudge Thy selfe therfore we will afflict more then these And they did violence to Lot exceadingly and it was euen nowe at the point that they would break the dores †And behold the men put forth their hand and drew in Lot vnto them and shut the dore †and them that were without they stroke with blyndnes from the least to the greatest so that they could not find the dore †And they said to Lot Hast thou here anie of thine sonne in law or sonnes or daughters al that are thine bring them out of this citie †for we wil destroy this place for that their crye is waxen lowde before our Lord who hath sent vs to destroy them †Therfore Lot went forth and spake to his sonnes in lawe that were to take his daughters and said Arise get you forth out of this place because our Lord wil destroy this citie And he semed vnto them to speake as it were in iest †And when it was morning the angels vrged him saying Arise take thy wife and the two daughters which thou hast least thou also perish withal in the wickednes of the citie †He lingring they tooke his hand and the hand of his wife and of his two daughters because our Lord spared him †And they led him forth and set him without the citie and there they spake to him saying Saue thy life looke not backe neither stay thou in al the countrie about but saue thy selfe in the mountaine lest thou also perish withal †And Lot said to them I beseech thee my Lord †because thy seruant hath fonnd grace before thee and thou hast magnified thy mercie which thou hast wrought with me in that thou wouldest saue my life and safe I can not be in the mountaine lest perhaps the euil catch me and I dye †There is this citie hereby at hand wherunto I may flee a little one and I shal be safe in it is it not a little one and my life shal be saued †And he said to him Behold also in this point I haue heard thy prayers not to ouerthrow the citie for which thou hast spoken †Make hast and be saued there because I can not doe any thing til thou enter in thither Therfore the name of that citie was called * Segor †The sunne was risen vpon the earth Lot entred into Segor †Therfore our Lord rained vpon Sodome and Gomorre brimstone fire from our Lord out of heauen †and he subuerted these cities and al the countrie about al the inhabitants of the cities and al things that spring of the earth †And his wife looking behind her was turned into a statua of salt †And Abraham getting vp early in the morning there where before he had stood with our Lord †beheld Sodome Gomorre and the whole land of that countrie and he saw the cinders rise vp from the earth as it were the smoke of a fornace †For when God subuerted the citties of that countrie he remenbring Abraham deliuered Lot out of the subuersion of the cities wherein he had dwelt †And Lot ascended out of Segor and abode in the mountaine his two daughters also with him for he was afraid to abide in Segor and he abode in a caue him selfe and his two daughters with him †And the elder said to the younger Our father is old and there is no man left on the earth that may companie with vs after the maner of the whole earth †Come let vs make him drunke with wine and let vs lie with him that we may preserue seed of our father †They therfore made their father to drinke wine that night and the elder went in and lay with her father but he perceaued not neyther when his daughter lay downe nor when she rose vp †The next day also the elder said to the younger Behold I lay yesternight with my father let vs make him drinke wine also this night and thou shalt lye with him that we may saue seed of our father †They made their father drinke wine that night also and the younger daughter went in and lay with him and neyther then truly did he perceaue when she lay downe or when she rose vp †The two daughters therfore of Lot were with child by their father †And the elder bare a sonne and she called his name Moab he is the father of the Moabites euen to this present day †The younger also bare a sonne and she called his name Ammon that is the sonne of my people he is the father of the Ammonites euen to this day CHAP. XX. Abraham seiorning in Geraris his wife is taken into King Abimelechs house but by Gods commandement is
banket he remembred the maister of the cupbearers and the chiefe of the bakers †And he restored the one into his place to reach him the cuppe †the other he hanged on a gibbet that the truth of the interpreter might be approued †And yet notwithstanding the chiefe of the cupbearers prosperous thinges succeeding forgat his interpreter ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XL. 8. Doth not interpretation belong to God Dreames do come of diuers causes Some of natural complexion or disposition wherby Philosophers or Phisitions may probably iudge of the state of mans bodie Some are rather effects of things past then signes of anie thing to come Of which sorte the wise man saith Dreames do folovv manie cares Eccle 5. Some are suggested by euil spirites either to flatter worldlings with great pretenses or to terrifie weake mindes with dangers and afflictions or to vexe and truble those in sleepe whom they can not easely moue waking as S. Gregorie discourseth li. 8. Moral in cap 7. Iob Some dreames are of God as in Iacob Ioseph these Eunuches Pharao Nabuchodonosor and others both good and euil men But to discerne and assuredly to iudge of some dreames whether they be from God by holie Angels or illusions of euil spirites is a special gift of God as also the interpretation therof belongeth to God as Ioseph here testifieth VVhosoeuer therfore wil be secure must relie either vpon expresse Scripture or iudgement of the Church as in ominous speaches was noted before chap. 24. Otherwise the general rule is not to obserue dreames Deut. 18. CHAP. XLI Pharao dreaming of fat and leane kine 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne 8. no other being able to interprete 9 Ioseph is remembred 25. who interpreting the same â—8 is made ruler ouer al Aegypt 50. marieth and hath two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim AFTER two yeares Pharao saw a dreame He thought he stood vpon a riuer †out of the which came vp seuen kine faire and fat exceedingly and they fed in marish places †Other seuen also came vp out of the riuer foule and caryan leane and they fed on the very banke of the riuer in grene places †and they deuoured them that had the merucylous beautie and good state of bodies Pharao after he waked †slept againe and saw an other dreame Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and faire †there sprang also other eares as many thinne and blasted with adustion †deuouring al the beautie of the former Pharao awaking vp after his rest †and when morning was come being frighted with feare he sent to al the interpreters of Aegypt and to al the wise men and they being called for told them his dreame neither was there anie that could interprete it †Then at length the maister of the cupbearers remembring himselfe said I confesse my sinne †The king being angrie with his seruantes commanded me and the chiefe of the bakers to be cast into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers †where in one night both of vs saw a dreame portending things to come †There was there a young man an hebrew seruant to the same captaine of the souldiers to whom telling our dreames †we heard whatsoeuer afterward the euent of the thing proued to be so for I was restored to my office and he was hanged vpon a gibbet †Forthwith at the kinges commandment Ioseph being brought out of the prison they polled him and changing his apparel brought him vnto him †To whom he said I haue seene dreames and there is not anie that can expound them which I haue heard thou doest most wisely interprete †Ioseph answered Without me God shal answere prosperous thinges to Pharao †Pharao therfore told that he had seene Me thought I stoode vpon the banke of the riuer †and seuen kine came vp out of the banke of the riuer exceeding faire and ful of flesh which grazed on greene places in a marish pasture †And behold there folowed these other seuen kine so passing il fauored and leane that I neuer saw the like in the land of Aegypt †which hauing deuoured and consumed the former †gaue no token of their fulnes but with the like leanenes and deformitie looked heauelie Awaking and fallen againe into a deepe sleepe †I sawe a dreame Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and verie faire †Other seuen also thinne and blasted with adustion sprang of the stalke †which deuoured the beautie of the former I told the dreame to the coniecturers and there is no man that can declare it †Ioseph answered The kinges dreame is one God hath shewed to Pharao the thinges that he wil doe †The seuen faire kine and the seuen “ ful eares be seuen yeres of plentifulnes and both conteine the selfe same meaning of the dreame †Also the seuen leane and thinne kine that came vp after them and the seuen thinne eares and blasted with the burning winde are seuen yeares of famine to come †Which shal be fulfilled in this order †Behold there shal come seuen yeares of great fertilitie in the whole Land of Aegypt †after which shal folowe other seuen yeares of so great sterilitie that al the abundance before shal be forgotten for the famine shal consume al the land †and the greatnes of the scarsitie shal destroy the greatnes of the plentie †And in that thou didest see the second time a dreame perteining to the same thing it is a token of the certeintie for that the worde of God shal come to passe and be fulfilled spedely †Now therfore let the king prouide a wise man and industrious and make him ruler ouer the Land of Aegypt †that he may appointe ouerseers ouer al countries and gether into barnes the fifth part of the fruites during the seuen yeares of the fertilitie †that now presently shal ensewe and let al the corne be laid vp vnder Pharaoes handes and let it be reserued in the cities †And let it be in a readines against the famine of seuen yeares to come which shal oppresse Aegypt and the land shal not be consumed with scarsitie †The counsel pleased Pharao and al his seruants †and he spake to them Can we find such an other man that is ful of the spirite of God †He said therfore to Ioseph Because God hath shewed thee al things that thou hast spoken can I find a wiser and one like vnto thee †Thou shalt be ouer my house and at the commandment of thy mouth al the people shal obey only in the throne of the kingdome I wil goe before thee †And againe Pharao said to Ioseph Behold I haue appointed thee ouer the whole land of Aegypt †And he tooke his ring from his owne hand and gaue it into his hand and he put vpon him a silke roabe and put a chaine of gold about his necke †And he
made him goe vp into his second chariot the cryer proclayming that al should bowe their knee before him and that they should know he was “ made gouernour ouer the whole Land of Aegypt †And the king said to Ioseph I am Pharao without thy commandment no man shal moue hand or foore in al the land of Aegypt †And he turned his name and called him in the Aegyptian togue “ the Sauiour of the world And he gaue him to wife Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis Ioseph therfore went forth to the land of Aegypt †and he was thirtie yeares old when he stood in the sight of king Pharao and did circuite al the countries of Aegypt †And the fertilitie of the seuen yeares came and the corne being bound vp into sheaues was gethered togeather into the barnes of Aegypt †Al the abundance also of graine was laid vp in euerie citie †And there was so great abundance of wheat that it became equal to the sand of the sea and the plentie exceeded measure †And there were borne vnto Ioseph two sonnes before the famine came whom Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare him †And he called the name of the first begotten Manasses saing God made me to forget al my labours my fathers house †The name also of the second he called Ephraim saing God hath made me to encrease in the land of my pouertie †Therfore when the seuen yeares of the plentifulnes that had bene in Aegypt were passed †the seuen yeares of scarsitie beganne to come which Ioseph foretold and in the whole world the famine preuailed but in al the land of Aegypt there was bread †The which being in hunger the people cried to Pharao desiring foode To whom he answered Goe ye to Ioseph and whatsoeuer he shal say to you that doe ye †And the famine dayly encreased in al the land and Ioseph opened al the barnes and sold to the Aegyptians for them also the famine had opressed †And al prouinces came into Aegypt to buy victuales and to moderate the miserie of the scarsitie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLI 43. Made gouernour It is easie in the eyes of God suddenly to enrich the poore For who would haue thought saith Philo that in one day a boudman should be made a lord a poore prisoner the chiefe of the nobilitie an vnder gaolor the viceroy or kings deputie for a common prison to haue a kinglie court of his owne from extreme ignominie to ascend into so hiegh a roome of dignitie 45. Sauiour of the vvorld In the original text the new name and title geuen by Pharao to Ioseph is expressed by these two wordes Saphnath pahanaach the former saphnath in Hebrew signifieth a secrete or hidden thing of saphan to hide but the signification of the other word pahanaach is more vncertaine being found no where els in the holie Bible The Rabins do commonly interprete them both together The man to vvhom secretes are reueled or The reueler of secretes and so this name agreeth wel to Ioseph in respect of the gift of interpreting dreames But besides his interpreting he also gaue most wise counsel that tended to the saftie of manie which it is like Pharao ment to expresse by this new name And S. Hierom who doubtles with great diligence and no lesse iudgement searched the true signification therof saith that albeit this name in Hebrew soundeth The finder out of secrets yet seing it was imposed by an Aegyptian who knew no Hebrew the reason therof must be had of the same tongue and these two wordes in the Aegyptian language are interpreted The Saniour of the vvorld for that he deliuered the world from the iminent ruine of famine Thus saith S. Hierom. And so most aptly the figure answereth to Christ the true SAVIOVR of the world CHAP. XLII Iacob sendeth tenne of his sonnes to bye corne in Aegypt 7. where Ioseph knowing them they not knowing him with hard speaches putteth them in prison 18. At last Simeon remayning in castodie til Beniamin be brought the rest are dismissed 25. with their money vnknowen to them in their sackes AND Iacob hearing that victuales were sold in Aegypt he said to his sonnes Why neglect ye †I haue heard that wheat is sold in Aegypt Goe ye downe and bye vs necessaries that we may liue and not be consumed with lacke †Therfore the tenne brethren of Ioseph going downe to bye corne in Aegypt †Beniamin being kept at home by Iacob who said to his brethren Lest perhaps he take any harme in the iourney †entred into the land of Aegypt with others that went to bye for the famine was in the land of Chanaan †And Ioseph was prince in the land of Aegypt and at his pleasure corne was sold to the people And when his brethren had adored him †and he knewe them he spake as it were to strangers “ somewhat roughly asking them From whence came you Who answered From the Land of chanaan that we may bye necessaries to liue †And yet himselfe knowing his brethren was not knowen of them †And remembring the dreames which some times he had seene he said to them “ You are spies to view the weaker parts of the land you are come †Who said It is not so my lord but thy seruantes are come to bye victuals †We are al the sonnes of one man we are come as men of peace neither do thy seruantes goe about anie euil †To whom he answered It is otherwise you came to consider the vndefensed partes of this land †But they We thy seruantes say they are twelue brethren the sonnes of one man in the Land of Chanaan the youngest is with our father the other is not liuing †This is it quoth he that I said You are spies †Now presently I wil take a trial of you “ by the health of Pharao you shal not depart hence vntil your youngest brother do come †Send you one of you to bring him and you shal be in prison til the thinges be proued which you haue said whether they be true or false otherwise by the health of Pharao you are spies †Therfore he put them in prison three dayes †And the third day bringing them out of prison he said Doe as I haue said and you shal liue for I feare God †If you be men of peace let one of your brethren be bounde in prison and goe ye your wayes and carie the corne that you haue bought vnto your houses †and bring your youngest brother to me that I may proue your sayings to be true and that you die not They did as he had said †and they talked one to an other Worthely do we suffer these thinges because we haue sinned against our brother seing the distresse of his soule whilest he besought vs and we heard not therfore is this tribulation come vpon vs.
hinder their increasing to keepe them in bondage and seruitude But God almightie who had chosen them for his peculiar people did not only so conserue and multiplie them that of seuentie persons which came into Aegypt in the space of two hundred and fiefteene yeres there were six hundred thousand men able to beare armes besides wemen children and old men which by estimation might be three millions in al but amongst other most strange and miraculous workes especally deliuered one Hebrew infant from drowning whom afterwards he made the Guide and supreme Gouernour of the same people by him admonished the King to cease persecuting and diuers waies plagued him his people for their obdurat and obstinate crueltie In fine called away and mightily deliuered his owne people drowned that king and al his armie in the red sea the Israelites wonderfully passing through as in a drie chanel the waters standing on both sides like two walles In the desert fed them miraculously with Manna and gaue them al necessaries defending them also from enimies Then God hauing thus selected and seuered his people from al other nations gaue them a written law as wel of Moral as Ceremonial and Iudicial preceptes with the maner of making the Tabernacle erecting Altares consecrating Priects with the institution of daylie sacrifice and of al vestures veselles other holie things belonging to the seruice of God So this booke may be diuided into three partes First is declared the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt vvith their deliuerie from thence in the fieftene first chapters Then how they were maintained in the desert and prepared to receiue a law in the foure next chapters In the other 21. chapters the lavv is prescribed instructing them hovv to liue tovvards God and al men THE BOOKE OF EXODVS IN HEBREW VEELLE SEMOTH CHAP I. The smal number of Israelites much increasing in Aegypt 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren 8. a new king that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication 11. by imposing workes vpon them 15. and by commanding to kil 22. and to drowne al the malchildren of them God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues that fearing him killed not the children THESE be the names of the children of Israel that entred into Aegypt with Iacob they did enter in euerie one with their houses †Ruben Simeon Leui Iudas †Issachar Zabulon and Beniamin †Dan and Neptali Gad and Aser †Therfore al the soules that came out of Iacobs thigh were seuentie and Ioseph was in Aegypt †Who being dead and al his brethren and al that generation †the children of Israel increased and as it were springing vp did multiplie and growing strong exceedingly filled the land †In the meane time there arose a new king ouer Aegypt that knew not Ioseph †and he said to his people Behold the people of the children of Israel is much and stronger then we †Come let vs wisely oppresse the same lest perhaps it multiplie and if there shal be anie warre against vs it ioyne with our enemies and we being ouerthrowne they depart out of the land †Therfore he set ouer them maisters of the workes to afflict them with burdens and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles Phithom and Ramesses †And the more they did oppresse them so much the more they multiplied and increased †and the Aegyptians hated the children of Israël and deriding afflicted them †and they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay and bricke and with al seruice wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth †And the King of Aegypt said to the mid wiues of the Hebrewes of whom one was called Sephora the other Phua †commanding them When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen and the time of deliuerie is come if it be a manchild kil it if a woman reserue her †“ But the midwiues feared God and did not according to the commandement of the king of Aegypt but preserued the menchildren †To whom being called vnto him the king said What is this that you ment to do that you would saue the men-children †Who answered The “ Hebrew wemem are not as the Aegyptian wemen for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues and before we come to them they are deliuered †God therfore did wel to the midwiues and the people encreased and became strong exceedingly †And “ because the midwiues feared God 〈…〉 e built them houses †Pharao therfore commanded al his people saying Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male seâ— cast it into the riuer whatsoeuer of the female reserue it ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 17. But the midvviues feared God In commendation of the midwiues not obeying the kings commandment Moyses opposeth the feare of God to the feare of Princes shewing therby that when their commandments are contrarie the subiects must feare God and not do that the Prince commandem So did our Sauiour himself teach and that for feare of damnation saying Feare him vvho hath povver to cast into het And so his Aporâ—les indued with the Holie Ghost practised answering in this case that they must heare God rather then men Againe God must be obeyed rather then men Alwayes vnderstood when they are contrarie For otherwise both S. Peter and S. Paul teach vs that Princes yea Infidels of whom they especially speake must be obeyed 19. Hebrevv vvemen are not Herein the midwiues sinned For it is neuer lawful to lye Because the lavv of God is truth wherby S. Augustin proueth li. coot mend c. 10 that whatsoeuer varieth from truth is vnlawful VVhen therfore saith he examples of lying are proposed to vs out of holie Scripture either they are not lies but are thought to be whiles they are not vnderstood oâ— if they be lies they are not to be imitated because they are vnlawful â— Gregorie teacheth the same li. 18. Moral c. 20. Qâ—â—a proseltâ— ab 〈◊〉 discrep it quitquidâ—â—eritate discordâ—t Because assuredly vvhatsoeuer disagreeth from veritie differeth from equitie Yet these fathers hold such an officious lye as this was to be a lesse sinne and more easily pardoned and purged by good workes folowing 21. Because the midwiues feared God Feare of God â—s 〈◊〉 is properly taken in holie Scripture is that holie feareâ— by which the children of God reâ—â—aine from sinne and that with temporal dangeâ— lest they should ofend the diuine Maiestie So these midwiues endangering their owne liues by not fullfiling Pharaos commandment had the true feare of God and for the same were rewarded as is most probable eternally though mention be here made only of temporal reward afteâ— the 〈…〉 of the old 〈◊〉 VVhere such promises were made to Abraham and other most godlie Patriarches
his Apostles to preach the Gospel gaue them powre to worke miracles in his name So did S. Peter and S. Iohn heale the lame Act. 3. And S. Paul auouched miracles for the signes of his Apostleship 2. Cor. 12. CHAP. V. Moyses and Aaron require of Pharao in the behalfe of God to let his people the Hebrewes goe and sacrifice in the desert VVhich he contemning 5. oppresseth them more denying them stravv and yet exacting the accustomed number of brickes 20. The people oppressed impute their miserie to Moyses and Aaron 12. But Moyses prayeth to God for them AFTER these things Moyses and Aaron went in and said to Pharao This saith the Lord God of Israel dismisse my people that they may sacrifice to me in the desert †But he answered Who is the Lord that I should heare his voice and dismisse Israel I know not the Lord and Israel I wil not dismisse †And they said The God of the Hebrewes hath called vs to goe three daies iourney into the wildernesse and to sacrifice to the Lord our God lest perhappes there chance to vs pestilence or sword †The king of Aegypt said to them Why do you Moyses and Aaron solicite the people from their workes Goe you to your burdens †And Pharao said The people of the land is much you see that the multitude is secretly increased how much more if you geue them rest from their workes †Therefore he commanded in that day the ouerseers of the workes and the exactores of the people saying †You shal no more geue straw to the people for to make brickes as before but let them selues goe and geather straw †And the taske of brickes which they did before you shal put vpon them neither shal you diminish any thing for they are idle and therfore they crie saying Let vs goe and sacrifice to our God †Let them be oppressed with workes and let them accomplish them that they hearken not to lying wordes †Therefore the ouerseers of the workes and the exactors going forth said vnto the people Thus saith Pharao I allow you no straw †goe and geather if you can find any where neither shal anie thing of your worke be diminished †And the people was dispersed through al the Land of Aegypt to geather straw †And the ouerseers of the workes were instant saying Finish your worke euerie day as before you were wont to doe when straw was geuen vnto you †And the ouerseers of the workes of the children of Israel were scourged of Pharaos exactors saying Why do you not make vp the taske of brickes as before neither yesterday nor to day †And the ouerseers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharao saying Why dealest thou so against thy seruantes †Straw is not geuen vs and brickes are commanded vs in like sorte behold we thy seruantes are beaten with whippes and thy people is vniustly dealt withal †Who said You are idle and therefore you say Let vs goe and sacrifice to our Lord. †Goe therfore and worke straw shal not be geuen you and you shal geue vp the accustomed number of brickes †And the ouerseers of the children of Israel saw them selues in hard case because it was said vnto them There shal not a whitte be diminished of the brickes for euerie day †And they mette Moyses and Aaron who stood ouer against them coming forth from Pharao †and they said to them Our Lord see and iudge because you haue made our sauour to stinke before Pharao and his seruantes and you haue geuen him a sword for to kil vs. †And Moyses returned to our Lord and said Lord why hast thou afflicted this people wherfore hast thou sent me †For since the time that I entered in to Pharao to speake in thy name he hath afflicted thy people and thou hast not deliuered them CHAP. VI. God reueling himselfe more to Moyses then he had done to former Patriarches 6. commandeth him to tel the children of Israel that he seeing their miseries wil deliuer them from Aegypt and geue them possession of Chanaan 14. The genealogies of Ruben Simeon and especially of Leui are recited 26. to shew the origin of Moyses and Aaron AND our Lord said to Moyses Now thou shalt see what thinges I wil doe to Pharao for by a mightie hand shal he dismisse them and in a strong hand shal he cast them out of his land †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying I am the Lord †that appeared to Abraham to Isaac and to Iacob as God almightie and “ my name ADONAI I did not shew them †And I made a couenant with them to geue them the Land of Chanaan the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers †And I haue heard the groning of the children of Israel wherwith the Aegyptians haue oppressed them and I haue remembred my couenant †Therfore say to the children of Israel I the Lord who wil bring you forth out of the worke-prison of the Aegyptians wil deliuer you from seruitude and redeme you in a high arme and great iudgements †And I wil take you to me for my people and I wil be your God and you shal know that I am the Lord your God that brought you forth out of the worke-prison of the Aegyptians †and brought you into the land ouer which I lifted vp my hand to geue it to Abraham Isaac and Iacob and I wil geue it you to possesse I the Lord. †Moyses then told al to the children of Israel who did not hearken vnto him for anguish of spirit and most painful worke †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Goe in and speake to Pharao the king of Aegypt that he dismisse the children of Israel out of his land †And Moyses answered before our Lord Behold the children of Israel heare me not and how wil Pharao heare especially wheras I am of vncircumcised lippes †And our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron and he gaue them commandement vnto the children of Israel vnto Pharao the king of Aegypt that they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of Aegypt †These are Princes of their houses by their families The sonnes of Ruben the first begotten of Israel Henoch and Phallu Hesron and Charmi. †These are the kinreds of Ruben The sonnes of Simeon Iamuel and Iamin and Ahod and Iachin and Soar and Saul the sonnes of the Chananitesse these are the progenies of Simeon †And these are the names of the sonnes of Leui by their kinreds Gerson and Caath and Merari And the yeares of the life of Leui were an hundred thirtie seuen †The sonnes of Gerson Lobni and Semi by their kinreds †The sonnes of Caath Amram and Isaar and Hebron and Oziel the yeares also of Caaths life were an hundred thirtie three †The sonnes of Merari Moholi and Musi these be the kinreds of Leui by
their families †And Amram tooke to wife locabed his aunt by the fathers side who bare him Aaron and Moyses And the yeares of Amrams life were an hundred thirtie seuen †The sonnes also of Isaar Coree and Nepheg and Zechri †The sonnes also of Oziel Mizael and Elizaphan and Sethi †And Aaron tooke to wife Elizabeth the daughter of Aminadab sister of Nahason who bare him Nadab and Abiu and Eleazar and Ithamar †The sonnes also of Core Aser and Elcana Abiasaph these be the kinreds of the Corites †But Eleazar the sonne of Aaron tooke a wife of the daughters of Phutiel who bare him Phinees these are the heads of the Leuitical families by their kinreds †This is Aaron and Moyses whom our Lord commanded that they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of Aegypt by their troupes †These are they that spake to Pharao the king of Aegypt that they might bring forth the children of Israel out of Aegypt this is Moyses and Aaron †in the day when our Lord spake to Moyses in the land of Aegypt †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying I the Lord speake to Pharao the king of Aegypt al thinges which I speake to thee †And Moyses said before our Lord Loe I am of vncircumcised lippes how wil Pharao heare me ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI. 3. My name Adonai Here and in manie other places of holie Scripture in the Hebrew text is that name of God of foure letters which the Iewes say is ineffable Yet sure it is that Moyses heard it pronounced and afterwards writte it as he did the rest in Hebrew letters which are al consonants without vowels But the Rabbins that long after put points or vowels to al other words put none to this For al then redde Adonai in place therof And so the Latin and al vulgar Catholique versions keepe the same word vntranslated The Septuagint in Greke translate KYPIO◠which in Latin is Dominus in English Lord. So also al ancient Fathers and which is most of al our Sauiour and his Apostles alleaging sentences of the old Testament where this name is contained stil expresse it by wordes that signifie Lord. Only certaine late writers haue framed a new word by putting the points of Adonai to the proper letters of this vnknowen name which are Iod He Vau He and so sound it Iehouah which was scarse heard of before an hundred yeares As Bishop Genebrard Cardinal Bellarmin and F. Pererius proue for that neither ancient Fathers writing whole Treatises de Diuinis nominibus nor the elder Rabbins nor later most learned Hebricians as Rabbi Moyses Aben Ezram Lira Paulus Burgensis and others neuer mention Iehouah amongst the Names or titles of God CHAP. VII Moyses being constituted as God of Pharao and Aaron as the prophet of Moyses they declare Gods commandment to Pharao 10. turne the rodde into a serpent 17. the water into bloud which is the first plague 22. The magicians doe the like by inchantments and Pharaos hart is indurate AND our Lord said to Moyses Behold I haue appointed thee “ the God of Pharao and Aaron thy brother shal be thy prophet †Thou shalt speake to him al thinges that I command thee and he shal speake to Pharao that he dismisse the children of Israel out of his land †But “ I wil indurate his hart and wil multiplie my signes and wonders in the Land of Aegypt †and he wil not heare you and I wil put in my hand vpon Aegypt and wil bring forth my armie and people the children of Israel out of the Land of Aegypt by very great iudgements †And the Aegyptians shal know that I am the Lord which haue stretched forth my hand vpon Aegypt and haue brought forth the children of Israel out of the middes of them †Therfore Moyses and Aaron did as our Lord had commanded so did they †And Moyses was eightie yeares old and Aaron eightie three when they spake to Pharao †And our Lord said to Moyses and Aaron †When Pharao shal say vnto you Shew signes thou shalt say to Aaron Take thy rodde and cast it before Pharao and it shal be turned into a serpent †Therfore Moyses and Aaron going in vnto Pharao did as our Lord had commanded And Aaron tooke the rodde before Pharao and his seruantes the which was turned into a serpent †And Pharao called the wise men and the enchanters and “ they also by Aegyptian enchantments and certaine secrecies did in like maner †And euery one did cast forth their roddes the which were turned into dragons but Aarons rodde deuoured their roddes †And Pharaos hart was indurate and he heard them not as our Lord had commanded †And our Lord said to Moyses Pharaoes hart is aggrauated he wil not dismisse the people †Goe to him in the morning behold he wil goe forth to the waters and thou shalt stand to meete him vpon the banke of the riuer and the rodde that was turned into a dragon thou shalt take in thy hand †And thou shalt say to him The Lord God of the Hebrewes sent me to thee saying Dismisse my people to sacrifice vnto me in the desert and vntil this present thou wouldest not heare †This therfore saith our Lord In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord behold I wil strike with the rodde that is in my hand the water of the riuer and it shal be turned into bloud †The fishes also that are in the riuer shal dye and the waters shal putrifie and the Aegyptians shal be afflicted drinking the water of the riuer †Our Lord also said to Moyses Say vnto Aaron Take thy rodde and stretch forth thy hand vpon the waters of Aegypt and vpon their floudes and riuers and pooles and al the lakes of waters that they may be turned into bloud and be there bloud in al the Land of Aegypt as wel in the vessels of wood as of stone †And Moyses and Aaron did as our Lord had commanded and lifting vp the rodde he stroke the water of the riuer before Pharao and his seruantes which was turned into bloud †And the fishes that were in the riuer died and the riuer putrified and the Aegyptians could not drincke the water of the riuer and there was bloud in the whole Land of Aegypt †And the enchaunters of the Aegyptians with their enchantments did in like maner and Pharaoes hart was indurate neither did he heare them as our Lord had commaunded †And he turned away him selfe and went into his house neither did he yet set his hart to it this time also †And al the Aegyptians digged round about the riuer for water to drinke for they could not drinke of the water of the riuer †And seuen dayes were fully ended after that our Lord stroke the riuer ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII 1. The God of Pharao The
was dead mourned vpon him thirtie daies throughout al their families CHAP. XXI Israelites at the first encounter with the Chananeites hauing the worse after their vow kil the King of Arad and destroy his cities 4. The people againe murmuring are stricken with firie serpents 7. but confessing their fault Moyses by Gods commandment setteth vp a brasen serpent for a remedie 10. They march through diuers places 17. and sing a Canticle at a wel which God gaue them 21. They kil Sehon King of the Amorreites and conquer his land 33. Likwise Og King of Basan VVHICH when the Chananeite king of Arad who dwelt toward the south had heard to wit that Israel was come by the way of the spies he fought against them and being victour he tooke the pray of them †But Israel binding himself by vow to our Lord said If thou wilt deliuer this people into my hand I wil destroy their cities †And our Lord heard the prayers of Israel and deliuered the Chananeite whom they slew ouerthrowing their cities and they called the name of that place Horma that is to say Anathema †And they marched also from the mountaine Hor by the way that leadeth to the Redde sea that they might compasse the land of Edom. And the people began to be wearie of the iourney and labour †and speaking against God and Moyses they said Why didst thou bring vs out of Aegypt to die in the wildernesse There wanteth bread waters there are none our soule now lotheth at this most light meate †Wherfore our Lord sent vpon the people firie serpentes at whose plagues and the deathes of verie manie †they came to Moyses and said We haue sinned because we haue spoken against our Lord and thee Pray that he take from vs the serpentes And Moyses prayed for the people †and our Lord spake to him Make a brasen serpent and sette in for a signe he that being striken looketh on it shal liue †Moyses therfore made A BRASEN SERPENT and set it for a signe whom when they that were striken looked on they were healed †And the children of Israel marching camped in Oboth †Whence departing they pitched their tentes in Ieabarim in the wildernesse that looketh toward Moab against the east part †And remouing from thence they came to the Torrent Zared †Which they forsaking camped against Arnon which is in the desert standeth out in the borders of the Amorrheite For Arnon is the border of Moab diuiding the Moabites the Amorrheites †Wherof it is said in the booke of the warres of our Lord As he did in the Redde sea so wil he doe in the streames of Arnon †The rockes of the torrentes were bowed that they might rest in Ar and lie in the borders of the Moabites †From that place appeared the wel wherof our Lord spake to Moyses Gather the people together and I wil geue them water †Then Israel sang this verse Arise the wel They sang therto †The wel which the princes digged and the captaines of the multitude prepared in the law geuer and in their staues And they marched from the wildernesse to Mathana †From Mathana vnto Nahaliel from Nahaliel vnto Bamoth †From Bamoth is a valley in the countrie of Moab in the toppe of Phasga which looketh toward the desert †And Israel sent messengers to Sehon King of the Amorrheites saying †I besech thee that I may haue licence to passe through thy land we wil not goe aside into the fieldes and the vineyardes we wil not drinke waters of the welles we wil goe the kinges high way til we be past thy borders †Who would not grant that Israel should passe by his borders but rather gathering an armie went forth to meete them in the desert and came vnto Iasa and fought against them †Of whom he was strooken in the edge of the sword and his land was possessed from Arnon vnto Ieboc and to the children of Ammon for the borders of the Ammonites were kept with a strong garrison †Israel therfore tooke al his cities and dwelt in the cities of the Amorrheite to wit in Hesebon and the villages therof †The citie Hesebon was Sehons the king of the Amorrheite who fought against the king of Moab and tooke al the land that had bene of his dominion as farre as Arnon †Therfore it is said in the prouerbe Come into Hesebon let the citie of Sehon be built and erected †A fire went forth from Hesebon a flame from the towne of Sehon and deuoured Ar of the Moabites and the inhabitantes of the high places of Arnon †Wo to thee Moab thou art vndone people of Chamos He hath geuen his sonnes into flight and his daughters into captiuitie to Sehon the King of the Amorrheites †Their yoke is perished from Hesebon vnto Diboâ— they came wearie into Nophe and vnto Medaba †Israel therfore dwelt in the Land of the Amorrheite †And Moyses sent some to take a view of lazer Whose villages they tooke and possessed the inhabitantes †And they turned them selues and went vp by the way of Basan and Og the King of Basan came against them with al his people to fight in Edrai †And our Lord said to Moyses Feare him not for into thy hand I haue deliuered him and al his people and land and thou shalt doe to him as thou didst to Sehon the King of the Amorrheites the inhabiter of Hesebon †They therfore smote him also With his sonnes and al his people vnto vtter destruction and they possessed his land CHAP. XXII Balac King of Moab fearing the Israelites sendeth for Balaam a southsâ—â—â—r to curse them 8. VVho consulting his false god is forbid by God almightie to goe and so excuseth him self 15. Balac sendeth againe offering greater reward 19. he againe consulteth and God biddâ—th him goe 〈◊〉 but sendeth an Angel to meete him in the way whom his asse seing huâ—neth three times and so often he beateth her 28. then she speaketh expostulating his hard vsage 31. he also seeth the Angel 35. and is chargeg â— speake nothing but that the Angel shal suggest AND marching forward they camped in the champion countrie of Moab where Iericho is situated beyond Iordan †And Balac the sonne of Sephor seeing al thinges that Israel had done to the Amorrheite †and that the Moabites were in greate feare of him and could not susteyne his assault †he said to the elders of Madian So wil this people destroy al that dwel in our coastes as the oxâ— is wont to eate the grasse vnto the verie rootes And he was at the same time King in Moab †He sent therfore messengers to Balaam the sonne of Behor a Southsayer who dwelt vpon the riuer of the land of the children of Ammon to cal him and to say Behold a people is come out of Aegypt that hath couered the face of the earth sitting against me
emeroides and the similitudes of the mise that haue destroied the land and you shal geue glorie to the God of Israel if perhaps he wil lighten his hand from you and from your goddes and from your land †Why doe you harden your hartes as Aegypt and Pharao did harden their hart did not he after he was striken then dimisse them and they departed †Now therfore take and make one new wayne and two kine hauing calued on which there hath no yoke beene put couple in the wayne and shut vp their calues at home †And you shal take the arke of the Lord and put it in the wayne and the vessels of gold which you haue payed him for sinne you shal put into a litle casket at the side thereof and dimisse it that it may goe †And you shal looke and if so be that it shal goe vp by the way of his coastes against Bethsames he hath donne vs this great euil but if not we shal know that his hand hath not touched vs but it hath happened by chance †They therefore did in this maner and taking two kine that had sucking calues yoked them to the wayne and shut vp their calues at home †And they layd the arke of God vpon the wayne and the litle casket that had the golden mise and the similitudes of emeroides †And the kine went directly by the way that leadeth to Bethsames and they went one way going forward and lowing and they declined not neither to the right hand nor to the left but the princes also of the Philistijms folowed vnto the borders of Bethsames †Moreouer the Bethsamites reaped wheat in the valley and lifting vp their eies they saw the arke and were gladde when they had seene it †And the wayne came into the field of Iosue the Bethsamite and stoode there And there was a great stone and they did cut the wood of the wayne and layed the kine vpon it an holocaust to our Lord. †And the Leuites tooke downe the arke of God and the litle casket that was at the side of it wherin were the vessels of gold and they put it vpon the great stone The men also of Bethsames offered holocaustes and immolated victimes that day to our Lord. †And the fiue princes of the Philistijms saw and returned into Accaron that day †And these are the golden emeroides which the Philistijms rendred for sinne to our Lord Azotus one Gaza one Ascalon one Geth one Accaron one †and the golden mise according to the number of the cities of the Philistijms of the fiue prouinces from walled citie vnto towne that was without wal and vnto Abel the great wherupon they put the arke of our Lord which was vntil that day in the field of Iosue the Bethsamite †But he stroke of the men of Bethsames for that they had seene the arke of our Lord and he stroke of the people seuentie men and fiftie thousand of the common people And the people mourned because our Lord had striken the common people with a great plague †And the men of Bethsames sayd Who shal be able to stand in the sight of our Lord God this holie one and to whom shal he goe vp from vs †And they sent messengers to the inhabitantes of Caria Thiarim saying The Philistijms haue brought backe the arke of our Lord come downe fetch it backe vnto you CHAP. VII The Arke is brought to the house of Abinadab in Gabaa 3. By Samuels exhortation the people cast away the idols and serue only God 10. Samuel offering sacrifice and praying Israel preuaileth against the Philisthijms THEREFORE the men of Caria Thiarim came and brought backe the arke of our Lord and caried it into the house of Abinadab in Gaaba And Eleazar his sonne they sanctified that he might keepe the arke of our Lord. †And it came to passe from the day that the arke of our Lord abode in Caria Thiarim the dayes were multiplied for it was now the twentith yeare and al the house of Israel rested after our Lord. †And Samuel spake to al the house of Israel saying If you turne to our Lord in al your hart take away the strange goddes out of the middes of you Baalim and Astaroth and prepare your hartes to our Lord and serue him only and he wil deliuer you from the hand of the Philisthijms †Therefore the children of Israel tooke away Baalim and Astaroth and serued our Lord only †And Samuel sayd Gather together al Israel into Masphath that I may pray our Lord for you †And they assembled into Masphath and they drew water and powred it out in the sight of our Lord and they fasted that day and sayd there We haue sinned to our Lord. And Samuel iudged the children of Israel in Masphath †And the Philisthijms heard that the children of Israel were gathered together into Masphath and the princes of the Philisthijms went vp to Israel Which when the children of Israel had heard they were afrayde at the face of the Philisthijms †And they said to Samuel cease not to crie to our Lord God for vs that he saue vs from the hand of the Philisthims †And Samuel tooke one sucking lambe and offered iâ— a whole holocauste to our Lord and Samuel cried to our Lord for Israel and our Lord heard him †And it came to passe when Samuel offered the holocauste the Philisthijms beganne battel against Israel but our Lord thundered with a great noise in that day vpon the Philisthijms and terrified them and they were slaine before the face of Israel †And the men of Israel issuing out of Masphath pursued the Philisthijms and stroke them vnto the place that was vnder Bethcar †And Samuel tooke one stone and layd it betwen Masphath and Sen and he called the name of that place The stone of helpe And he sayd Thus farre hath our Lord holpen vs. †And the Philistijms were humbled neither added they any more to come into the borders of Israel Therefore the hand of our Lord was made vpon the Philistijms al the dayes of Samuel †And the cities which the Philistijms had taken from Israel were rendred to Israel from Accaron vnto Geth and their borders and â—e deliuered Israel from the hand of the Philistijms and there was peace betwen Israel and thâ— Amorrheite †Samuel also â—udged Israel al the daies of his life †and he went euerie â—eare circu 〈…〉 Bethel and Galgala and Masphath and â—udged Israel in the foresaid places †And he returned into Ramatha for there was his house and there he iudged Israel he built also there an altar to our Lord. CHAP. VIII Samuel growing old and his sonnes for bribes peruerting iudgement the people require to haue a king 7. â—o Whom by Gods commandment Samuel forâ—heneth the law of a king to make them cease from their demand 19. but they persist therein AND it came to
Who is this that said what shal Saul reigne ouer vs Geue vs the men and we wil kil them †And Saul sayd No man shal be killed this day because our Lord this day hath releued Israel †And Samuel said to the people Come and let vs goe into Galgal and let vs renewe there a kingdome †And al the people went into Galgal and there they made Saul king before our Lord in Galgal they immolated there pacifique victimes before our Lord. And Saul reioysed there and al the men of Israel excedingly CHAP. XII Samuel being iustified by the people for his good behauiour 6. chargeth them with ingratitude towardes God 14. admonishing them and shewing by a signe that they offended in demanding a king 20. Exhorteth them now to serue God promiseth to pray for them and forwarneth that they shal receiue as they deserue AND Samuel sayd to al Israel Behold I haue heard your voice according to al thinges which you haue spoken to me and I haue appointed a king ouer you †And now the king goeth before you and I am waxen old and haue gray heares moreouer my sonnes are with you therfore hauing conuersed with you from my youth vntil this day loe I am readie †Speake of me before our Lord and before his Christ whether I haue taken any mans oxe or asse If I haue calumniated any man if I haue oppressed any man if I haue taken gift of any mans hand and I wil contemne that same this day and wil restore it to you †And they said thou hast not calumniated vs nor oppressed vs nor taken ought of any mans hand †And he sayd to them Witnes is our Lord against you and witnes is his Christ in this day that you haue not found any thing in my hand And they said Witnes †And Samuel said to the people Our Lord who made Moyses and Aaron and brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt is present †Now therefore stand that I may contend in iudgement against you before our Lord concerning al the mercies of our Lord which he hath done with you and with your fathers †how Iacob entred into Aegypt and your fathers cried to our Lord and our Lord sent Moyses and Aaron and brought your fathers out of Aegypt and placed them in this place †Who forgat our Lord their God and he deliuered them in the hand of Sisara master of the hoste of Haser and in the hand of the Philisthijmes and in the hand of the king of Moab and they sought against them †But afterward they cried to our Lord and said We haue sinned because we haue forsaken our Lord and haue serued Baalim and Astaroth now therefore deliuer vs from the hand of our enemies and we wil serue thee †And our Lord sent Ierobaal and Badan and Iepte and Samuel and deliuered you from the hand of your enemies round about and you dwelt securely †But you seing that Naas king of the children of Ammon was come against you you said to me Not so but a king shal reigne ouer vs whereas our Lord your God did reigne among you †Now therfore your king is readie whom you haue chosen and desired behold our Lord hath geuen you a king †If you shal feare our Lord and serue him and heare his voice and not exasperat the mouth of our Lord both you and the king which reigneth ouer you shal be folowers of our Lord your God †but if you wil nor heare the voice of our Lord but shal exasperat his wordes the hand of our Lord shal be vpon you and vpon your fathers †But now also stand and see this great thing which our Lord wil doe in your sight †Is it not wheare haruest to day I wil cal vpon our Lord he wil geue * noyses and rayne and you shal know and see that you haue done great euil to your selues in the sight of our Lord desiring a king ouer you †And Samuel cried to our Lord and our Lord gaue noyses and raine in that day †And al the people feared excedingly our Lord and Samuel And al the people said to Samuel Pray for thy seruantes to our Lord thy God that we die not for we haue added euil to al our sinnes that we desired vnto vs a king †And Samuel sayd to the people Feare not you haue done al this euil but yet depart not from the backe of our Lord but serue our Lord in al your hart †And decline not after vaine thinges which shal not profite you nor deliuer you because they are vaine †And our Lord wil not forsake his people for his great name because our Lord hath sworne to make you a people to him self †And farre from me be this sinne in our Lord that I should cease to pray for you and I wil teach you the good and right way †Therefore feare our Lord and serue him in truth and from your whole hart for you haue seene the great workes which he hath done among you †But if you shal perseuer in malice both you and your king shal perish together CHAP. XIII Saul and Ionathas preuaile in battel against the Philisthijms 5. who increasing their forcâ—s the Israâ—lites for feaâ—e flee away and hid themselues 8. Samuel not coming to the campe Saul presumeth to offer sacrifice 11. for which Samuel reproueth him and declareth that his kingdom shal be translated to an other 17. The Philisthijms oppresse the Israelites and depriue them of armour A CHILD of one yeare was Saul when he began to reigne and two yeares he reigned ouer Israel †And Saul chose to him selfe three thousand of Israel and there were with Saul two thousand in Machmas and in the mount of Bethel and a thousand with Ionathas in Gabaa of Beniamin moreouer the rest of the people he sent backe euerie man into their tabernacles †And Ionathas stroke the garrison of the Philisthijms which was in Gabaa Which when the Philisthijms had heard Saul sounded with the trumpet in al the land saying Let the Hebrewes heare †And al Israel heard this maner of bruite Saul hath striken the garrison of the Philisthijms and Israel tooke courage against the Philisthijms The people therfore cried after Saul in Galgal †And the Philisthims were gathered together to fight against Israel thirtie thousand chariotes and six thousand horsemen and the rest of the common people as the sand which is in the sea shore very much And going vp they camped in Machmas at the East of Bethauen †Which when the men of Israel had seene them selues put in a streict for the people was afflicted they hid them selues in caues and in secrete places in rockes also and in dennes and in cesternes †And the Hebrewes passed Iordan into the Land of Gad and Galaad And when Saul was yet in Galgal al the people was sore afrayd which
Aegypt †And he apprehended Agag the king of Amalec aliue but al the comon people he slewe in the edge of the sword †And Saul and the people spared Agag and the best flockes of sheepe and heardes and the garmentes and rammes and al thinges that were fayre neither would they destroy them but whatsoeuer was vile and refuse that they destroyed †And the word of our Lord was made to Samuel saying †It repenteth me that I haue made Saul king because he hath forsaken me hath not fulfilled my wordes in worke And Samuel was strooken sadde and cried to our Lord al the night †And when Samuel had risen in the night to goe to Saul in the morning it was told Samuel that Saul was come into Carmelus and had erected to him selfe a triumphant arch and returning was passed and gone into Galgal Samuel therefore came to Saul and Saul offered an holocaust to our Lord of the first of the prayes which he had brought from Amalec †And when Samuel was come to Saul Saul sayd to him Blessed be thou to our Lord I haue fulfilled the word of our Lord. †And Samuel sayd And what is this voice of flockes which soundeth in myne eares and of heardes which I heare †And Saul said They haue brought them from Amalec for the people hath spared the better sheepe and heardes that they might be immolated to our Lord thy God but the rest we haue slaine †And Samuel said to Saul Suffer me and I wil shew thee what our Lord hath spoken to me this night And he sayd to him Speake †And Samuel said When thou wast a little one in thyne owne eyes was thou not made chief in the tribes of Israel And our Lord annointed thee to be king ouer Israel †and our Lord sent thee on the way and sayd Goe and kil the sinners of Amalec and thou shalt fight against them vntil the vtter destruction of them †Why therefore hast thou not heard the voice of our Lord but art turned to the praye and hast done euil in the eies of our Lord †And Saul said to Samuel Yea I haue heard the voice of our Lord and haue walked in the way by which our Lord sent me and haue brought Agag the king of Amalec and Amalec I haue slaine †But the people tooke of the praye sheepe and oxen the principal of those thinges which were slaine to immolate to our Lord their God in Galgal †And Samuel said Why wil our Lord haue holocaustes and victimes and not rather that the voice of our Lord be obeyed For BETTER is obedience then victimes and to harken rather then to offer the fatte of rammes †Because it is as it were the sinne of inchantment to resist and as it were the wickednes of idolatrie to refuse to obey For as much therefore as thou hast reiected the word of our Lord our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king †And Saul said to Samuel I haue sinned because I haue transgressed the saying of our Lord and thy wordes fearing the people and obeying their voice †But now beare I besech thee my sinne and returne with me that I may adore our Lord. †And Samuel sayd to Saul I wil not returne with thee because thou hast reiected the word of our Lord and our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king ouer Israel †And Samuel turned him selfe to depart but he caught the hemme of his cloke which also did rent †And Samuel said to him Our Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day and hath deliuered it to thy neighbour better then thou †Moreouer the Triumpher in Israel wil not spare and he wil not be turned with repentance for neither is he a man that he may repent †But he said I haue sinned how be it now honour me before the ancientes of my people and before Israel and returne with me that I may adore our Lord thy God †Samuel therefore returning folowed Saul and Saul adored our Lord. †And Samuel said Bring vnto me Agag the king of Amalec And Agag was presented to him very fatte trembling And Agag sayd Doth bitter death thus separat †And Samuel said As thy sword hath made wemen without children so shal thy mother among wemen be without children And Samuel hewed him into peeces before our Lord in Galgal †And Samuel departeth into Ramatha but Saul ascended vnto his house into Gabaa †And Samuel saw Saul no more vnto the day of his death but yet Samuel lamented Saul because it repented our Lord that he had appointed him king ouer Israel CHAP. XVI Samuel by Gods commandment annointeth Dauid King 14. Gods spirite parteth from Saul and a wicked spirite vexeth him 16. the vexation is mitigated by Dauids playing on a harpe AND our Lord said to Samuel How long doest thou mourne Saul whom I haue reiected that he rule not ouer Israel fil thy horne with oile and come that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite for I haue prouided me a king among his sonnes †And Samuel said How shal I goe for Saul wil heare of it and wil kil me And our Lord said A calfe of the heard shalt thou take in thy hand and shalt say I am come to immolate vnto our Lord. †And thou shalt cal Isai to the victime and I wil shew thee what thou must doe and thou shalt annointe whomsoeuer I shal shew to thee †Samuel therefore did as our Lord spake to him And he came into Bethlehem and the ancientes of the citie merueled meeting him and they said Is thy entrance peaceable †And he said Peaceable I am come to immolate vnto our Lord be ye sanctified and come with me that I may immolate He therefore sanctified Isai and his sonnes and called them to the sacrifice †And when they were entered in he saw Eliab and said Is there before our Lord his Christ †And our Lord said to Samuel Respect not his countenāce nor the talnes of his stature because I haue reiected him neither doe I iudge according to the looke of man for man seeth those thinges which appeare but our Lord “ beholdeth the hart †And Isai called Aminadab and brought him before Samuel Who said Neither this hath our Lord chosen †And Isai brought Samma of whom he sayd This also hath not our Lord chosen †Isai therefore brought his seauen sonnes before Samuel and Samuel sayd to Isai Our Lord hath not chosen of these †And Samuel sayd to Isai Are al thy sonnes now fully come Who answered Yet there is left a litle one and he feedeth sheepe And Samuel sayd to Isai Send and bring him for neither wil we sitte downe til he come hither †He sent therefore and brought him And he was reade and beautiful to behold and of a comelie face And our Lord said Arise and annoint him for
thy sight I wil goe quickly and see my brethren For this cause he came not to the kings table †But Saul being wrath against Ionathas said to him Thou sonne of a woman which of her owne accord rauisheth a man am I ignorant that thou louest the sonne of Isai vnto thyne owne confusion and to the confusion of thyne ignominious mother †For al the dayes that the sonne of Isai shal liue vpon the earth thou shalt not be established nor thy kingdom Therefore now presently send and bring him to me because he is the sonne of death †And Ionathas answering Saul his father faid Why shal he dye what hath he done †And Saul caught a speare to strike him And Ionathas vnderstood that it was determined of his father that he would kil Dauid †Ionathas therefore rose from the table in anger of furie and did not eate bread the second day of the calendes For he was stroken heauie vpon Dauid because his father had confounded him †And when the morning appeared Ionathas came into the field according to the appointment with Dauid and a little boy with him †and said to his boy Goe and fetch me the arrowes which I shoote And when the boy had runne he shotte an other arrowe beyond the boy †The boy therefore came to the place of the arrowe which Ionathas had shotte and Ionathas cried behind the back of the boy and said Loe the arrowe is there further beyond thee †And Ionathas cried againe behind the back of the boy saying Make hast spedely stand not And Ionathas his boy gathered vp his arrowes and brought them to his master †and he was altogether ignorant what was done for only Ionathas and Dauid knew the matter †Ionathas therefore gaue his armourâ— to the boy and said to him Goe and cary them into the citie †And when the boy was gone Dauid rose out of his place which did bend to the South and falling flatt on the ground adored thrise and kissing one another they wept together but Dauid more †Ionathas therefore said to Dauid Goe in peace what soeuer we haue sworne both of vs in the name of our Lord saying Our Lord be betwen me and thee and betwen my seede and thy seede for euer †And Dauid arose and departed but Ionathas also entred into the Citie CHAP. XXI In case of necessitie Achimelech the priest gâ—ueth halowed bread to Dauid 8. also the sword which he had taken from Goliath 10. then Dauid going to Achis king of Geth is forced to faine himself madde AND Dauid came into Nobe to Achimelech the priest Achimelech was astonyed because Dauid was come And he said to him Why thou alone and none is with thee †And Dauid said to Achimelech the priest The king hath commanded me a word and said Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me and what maner precepts I haue geuen thee for my seruantes also I haue appointed into such and such a place †Now therfore if thou haue any thing at hand yea if but fiue loaues geue me or whatsoeuer thou shalt finde †And the priest answered Dauid saying I haue no lay breads at hand but only holy bread if the seruants be cleane especially from wemen †And Dauid answered the priest and said to him And truly if the matter be concerning wemen we haue refrained our selues from yesterday and the day before when we came forâ—h and the vessels of the seruants were holie Moreouer this way is polluted but it also shal be sanctified this day in the vessels †The priest therefore gaue him halowed bread for neither was anie bread there but only the loaues of proposition which had bene taken away from the face of our Lord that hoate loaues might be sette downe †And there was there a certaine man of the seruantes of Saul that day within the tabernacle of our Lord and his name was Doeg an Idumeite the mightiâ—st of Saules pastours †And Dauid said to Achimelech Hâ—st thou here at hand a speare or a sword because myn owne sword and myne owne weapons I tooke not with me for the kings word hastened forward †And the priest said Loe here the sword of Goliath the Philistian whom thou slewest in the Valley of terebinth is wrapped vp in a mantel behind the Ephod if thou wilt take this take it for neither is here any other beside that And Dauid said There is none other like to that geue me it †Dauid therefore arose and fled that day from the face of Saul and came to Achis the king of Geth †and the seruantes of Achis said to him when they had seene Dauid Is not this Dauid the king of the land Did they not sing in dances to this man saying Saul stroke a thousand and Dauid ten thousand †But Dauid put these wordes in his hart and feared excedingly at the face of Achis the king of Geth †And he changed his countenance before them and slipt downe betwen their handes and he stumbled at the doores of the gate his spittle ranne downe vpon his bearde †And Achis said to his seruantes You haue seene the man madde why haue you brought him to me †Doe we lack madde men that you haue brought in this felowe to play the madde man in my presence shal this man enter into my house CHAP. XXII Dauid with a great retinâ—â— goeth to the king of Moab 5. but by aduise of Gad the prophet returneth into Iuda 6. Saul lamenting that many conspire against him 9. Doeg accuseth Achimelech 14. who iustifieth both Dauid and himself 16. He and al the Priestes with much people in Nobe are slaine by Sauls commandment 20. onlie Abiathar escaping flieth to Dauid DAVID therefore went from thence and fled to the caue of Odellam Which when his brethren had heard and a his fathers house they went downe to him thither †And there were gathered vnto him al that were in distresse and oppressed with debt and of a pensiue hart and he was made their prince and there were with him about foure hundred men †And Dauid departed from thence into Maspha which is Moab and he said to the king of Moab Let my father and my mother tary with you I besech thee til I know what God wil doe to me †And he left them before the face of the king of Moab and they abode with him al the dayes that Dauid was in garrison †And Gad the prophet said to Dauid Tary not in garrison depart and goe into the Land of Iuda And Dauid departed and came into the forest of Hare◠†And Saul heard that Dauid had appeared and the men that were with him And Saul when he abode in Gabaa and was in the wood which is in Rama holding a speare in his hand and al his seruantes that stood about him †he sayd to his seruantes that stoode about him Heare me
now ye children of Iemini wil the sonne of Isai geue to al you fieldes and vineyardes and make al you tribunes centurions †because you haue al conspired against me and there is none that telleth me especially where my sonne also hath entred league with the sonne of Isai There is none of you that pitieth my case neither is there that telleth me for that my sonne hath raised vp my seruant against me lying in waite for me vntil this day †And Doeg the Idumeite which stood by and was the chief among the seruantes of Saul answering I sawe quoth he the sonne of Isai in Nobe with Achimelech the sonne of Achitob the priest †Who consulted our Lord for him and gaue him victuals yea and the sword of Goliath the Philistian he gaue to him †The king therefore sent to cal for Achimelech the priest the sonne of Achitob and al his fathers house the priestes that were in Nobe who came al to the king †And Saul said to Achimelec Heare thou sonne of Achitob Who answered I am readie my Lord. †And Saul said to him Why haue you conspired against me thou and the sonne of Isai and hast geuen him bread and a sword and hast consulted our Lord for him that he might rise vp against me continuing a traitour vntil this day †And Achimelech answering the king said And who amongst al thy seruantes faithful as Dauid and the kings sonne in lawe and going fourth at thy commandmeÌ„t and glorious in thy house †Did I beginne this day to consult our Lord for him farre be this from me let not the king suspect such a thing against his seruant in al the house of my father for thy seruant knew not any thing concerning this busines either litle or great †And the king saidy Ding thou shalt dye Achimelec thou and al thy fathers house †And the king said to the curriers that stood about him Turne your selues and kil the priests of our Lord for their hand is with Dauid knowing that he was â—led and they told me not And the kings seruantes would not extend their handes vpon the priests of our Lord. †And the king said to Doeg Turne thou and runne vpon the priests And Doeg the Idumeite being turned tanne vpon the priests and murdered in that day eightie fiue men reuested with an ephod of linnen †And Nobe the citie of the priests he stroke in the edge of the sword men and wemen and children and sucklinges and oxe and asse and shepe in the edge of the sword †But one sonne of Achimelech the sonne of Achitob escaping whose name was Abiathar fled to Dauid †and told him that Saul had slaine the priestes of our Lord. †And Dauid said to Abiathar I knew in that day when Doeg the Idumeit was there without doubt he would tel Saul I am giltie of al the soules of thy father †Abide with me feare not if any man shal seeke my life he shal seeke thy life also and with me thou shal be preserued CHAP. XXIII The citie of Ceila oppugned by the Philistijms is releeued by Dauid 7. Who fearing to be there betrayed 13. fleeth into the desert of Ziph. 16. Ionathas repayreth secretly to him and they confirme againe their former league 19. The Ziphians promise to betray Dauid 27. but Saul leaueth for a while to persecute him being forced to defend the land from the Philistians inuading it AND they told Dauid saying Behold the Philistijms oppugne Ceila and spoyle the barnes †Dauid therefore consulted our Lord saying Shal I goe and strike these Philistians And our Lord sayd to Dauid Goe and thou shalt strike the Philistians and shalt saue Ceila †And the men that were with Dauid sayd to him Behold we resting here in Iurie are afrayd how much more if we shal goe into Ceila against the bandes of the Philistians †Againe therefore Dauid consulted our Lord. Who answering sayd to him Arise and goe into Ceila for I wil deliuer the Philistians in thy hand †Dauid therefore and his men went into Ceila and fought against the Philistians and droue away their beastes and stroke them with a great slaughter and Dauid saued the inhabitantes of Ceila †Moreouer at that time when Abiathar the sonne of Achimelech fled to Dauid into Ceila he went downe hauing with him an ephod †And it was told Saul that Dauid was come into Ceila and Saul sayd Our Lord hath deliuered him into my handes and he is shut vp being entered the citie wherein are gates and lockes †And Saul commanded al the people that they should goe downe into Ceila to fight and beseige Dauid and his men †Which when Dauid vnderstood that Saul secretly prepared euilâ— against him he sayd to Abiathar the priest Applie the Ephod †And Dauid sayd Lord God of Israel thy seruant hath heard a bruite that Saul determineth to come into Ceila to destroy the citie for me †Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me into his handes and wil Saul come downe as thy seruant hath heard Lord God of Israel tel thy seruant And our Lord sayd He wil come downe †And Dauid said Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me and the men that are with me into the handes of Saul And our Lord sayd They wil deliuer thee †Dauid therefore arose and his men about six hundred and going out of Ceila wandered hither and thither vncertaine and it was told Saul that Dauid was â—led from Ceila and was saued for which cause he dissembled to goe forth †But Dauid abode in the desert in most strong places and he taried in the mount of the desert Ziph in a shadowed hil Saul notwithstanding sought him alwayes and our Lord deliuered him not into his handes †And Dauid saw that Saul was gone forth to seeke his life Moreouer Dauid was in the desert Ziph in a wood †And Ionathas the sonne of Saul arose and went to Dauid into the wood and strengthened his handes in God and sayd to him †Feare not for neither shal the hand of Saul my father finde thee and thou shalt reigne ouer Israel and I shal be second to thee yea and my father knoweth this †Both therefore made a league before our Lord And Dauid abode in the wood but Ionathas returned into his house †And the Zeipheites went vp vnto Saul in Gabaa saying Loe doth not Dauid lye hid with vs in the most safe places of the wood in the Hil Hachila which is on the right hand of the desert †Now therefore as thy soule hath desired come downe it shal be our charge to deliuer him into the kinges handes †And Saul sayd Blessed be ye of our Lord because you haue pitied my case †Goe therefore I pray you and prepare diligently and deale curiously and consider the place where his foote is and who hath seene him there for he thinketh of me that I
her hath Amnon thy brother lyen with thee but now sister hold thy peace he is thy brother neither afflict thou thy hart for this thing Thamar therefore taryed pyning in the house of Absalom her brother †And when Dauid the king had heard these wordes he was greeued excedingly †Moreouer Absalom spake not to Amnon neitheir good nor euil for Absalom hated Amnon because he had rauished Thamar his sister †And it came to passe after the space of two yeares that the sheepe of Absalom were shorne in Baalhasor which is beside Ephraim and Absalom called al the kinges sonnes †and he came to the king and said to him Behold tâ—y seruantes sheepe are to be shorne Let the king I pray with his seruantes come to his seruant †And the king said to Absalom Doe not so my sonne request not that we come al charge thee And when he was earnest with him he would not goe he blessed him †And Absalom said If thou wilt not come at the least let Amnon my brother I besech thee come with vs. And the king said to him It is not necessary that he goe with thee †Absalom therefore was earnest with him and he let Amnon and al the kinges sonnes goe with him And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a king †And Absalom had commanded his seruantes saying Marke when Amnon shal be drunke with wine and I shal say to you Strike him and kil him feare not for it is I that command you take courage and play the valiant men †Therefore the seruantes of Absalom did against Amnon as Absalom had commanded them And al the kinges sonnes rysing gatte vp euery one vpon their mules and fled †And when they yet went on in their way a rumour came to Dauid saying Absalom hath stricken al the kinges sonnes and there is not leift of them so much as one †The king therfore rose vp and rent his garmentes and fel vpon the ground and al his seruantes that stood about him rent their garmentes †But Ionadab the sonne of Semmaa Dauids brother answering sayd Let not my lord the king thinke that al the kinges sonnes be slayne Amnon only is dead because he was put in the mouth of Absalom since the day that he rauished Thamar his sister †Now therefore let not my lord the king put this word vpon his hart saying Al the kinges sonnes are slayne because Amnon only is dead And Absalom fled and the seruant that was the scoutewatch lifted vp his eies and looked and behold much people came by a byway on the side of the mountayne †And Ionadab sayd to the king Loe the kinges sonnes be come according to the wordes of thy seruant so is it done †And when he had ceased to speake the kinges sonnes also appeared entring in they lifted vp their voice and wept yea the king also and al his seruantes bewailed with an exceding great weeping †Moreouer Absalom fleing went to Tholomai the sonne of Ammiud the king of Gessur Dauid therefore mourned for his sonne al daies †And Absalom when he was fled and come into Gessur was there three yeares †And king Dauid ceased to pursew Absalom because he was comforted vpon the death of Amnon CHAP. XIIII Ioab suborning a woman first to propose the suite by a parable 21. obtayneth pardon for Absalom 24. but so that he appeareth not in the kinges presence 25. He is exceding fayre hath three sonnes and one daughter 29. Ioab refusing to deale further for his free release Absalom burneth his corne 31. Then Ioab procureth his accesse to the king AND Ioab the sonne of Saruia vnderstanding that the kinges hart was turned to Absalom †he sent to Thecua and tooke thence a prudent woman and he sayd to her Feyn e that thou mournest and put on a mourning garment and be not annoynted with oyle that thou mayst be as a woman now along tyme mourning for one dead †And thou shalt goe in vnto the king and shalt speake to him these maner of wordes And Ioab put the wordes in her mouth †Therefore when the woman of Thecua was gone in to the king she fel before him vpon the ground and adored and said Saue me ô king †And the king sayd to her What matter hast thou Who answered Alas I am a widow woman for my husband is dead †And thy handmaide had two sonnes who fel at wordes against eche other in the field and there was none to stay them and the one stroke the other and slew him †And behold the whole kinred rysing against thy handmaide saith Deliuer him that hath striken his brother that we may kil him for the life of his brother whom he hath slayne and may cleane destroy the heire and they seeke to extingnish my sparkle which is leift that there may no name remaine to my husband nor reliques vpon the earth †And the king said to the woman Goe into thy house and I wil geue commandement for thee †And the woman of Thecua said to the king Vpon me my lord be the iniquitie and vpon the house of my father but be the king and his throne innocent †And the king said He that shal gaynesay thee bring him to me he shal adde no more to touch thee †Who sayd Let the king remember our Lord his God that the next of bloud be not multiplied to reuenge and that they kil not my sonne Who sayd Our Lord liueth there shal not fal of the heares of thy sonne vpon the earth †The woman therefore sayd Let thy handmayde speake to my lord the king a word †And he sayd Speake †And the woman sayd Why hast thou thought such a thing agaynst the people of God and why hath the king spoken this word that he would sinne and not bring againe his banished one †We doe al dye and as waters that returne not we fal downe on the earth neither wil God haue a soule to perish bur reuoketh meaning that he perish not altogether that is cast of †Now therefore I come that I may speake to my lord the king this word the people being present And thy handmayd sayd I wil speake to the king if by any meanes the king may doe the word of his handmaide †And the king hath heard to deliuer his handmaide out of the hand of al that would destroy me out of the inheritance of our Lord and my sonne together †Let thy handmaide therefore say that the word of my lord the king be made as a sacrifice For euen as an Angel of God so is my lord the king that he is moued neither with blessing nor cursing Wherefore our Lord also thy God is with thee †And the king answering sayd to the woman Hide not from me the thing that I aske thee And the woman sayd to him Speake my lord king †And the king sayd Is the hand of
king Dauid sent to Sadoc and Abiathar the priestes saying Speake to the Ancientes of Iuda saying Why come you last to bring backe the king into his house And the saying of al Israel was come to the king in his house †You are my brethren you my bone and my flesh why do you last bring backe the king †And say ye to Amasa Art not thou my bone and my flesh These thinges do God to me and these adde he if thou be not the chiefe captayne of warfare before me alwayes for Ioab †And he inclined the hart of al the men of Iuda as it were of one man and they sent to the king saying Returne thou and al thy seruantes †And the king returned and came as far as Iordan and al Iuda came as far as Galgal to meete the king and to bring him ouer Iordan †And Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim made hast and went downe with the men of Iuda to meete king Dauid †with a thousand men of Benjamin and Siba the seruant of the house of Saul and his fiftene sonnes and twentie seruantes were with him and rushing into Iordan †passed the fordes before the king that they might helpe ouer the kinges houshould and doe according to his commandement And Semei the sonne of Gera prostrate before the king when he had now passed Iordan †sayd to him Impute not to me my lord the iniquirie nor remember the iniuries of thy seruant in the day that thou my lord king wentest out of Ierusalem nor put it in thy hart o king †For I thy seruant acknowledge my sinne and therefore this day I am first come of al the house of Ioseph and am descended to meete my lord the king †But Abâ—â—aâ— the sonne of Saruia answering sayd What shal Semei for these wordes not be slayne because he reuiled the annoynted of our Lord †And Dauid sayd What is to me and you ye sonnes of Saruia Why are you made this day as satan to me Shal there a man be killed in Israel to day Doe I not know that this day I am made king ouer Israel †And the king sayd to Semei Thou shalr not die And he sware to him †Miphiboseth also the sonne of Saul came downe to meete the king his feete vnwashed and his beard not pouled and he had not washed his garmentes from the day that the king went forth vntil the day of his returne in peace †And when he had mette the king at Ierusalem the king sayd to him Why camest thou not with me Miphiboseth †And he answering sayd My lord king my seruant contemned me and I thy seruant spake to him that he should fadle me an asse that getting on I might goe with the king for I thy seruant am lame †Moreouer he hath also accused me thy seruant to thee my lord king but thou my lord king art as an Angel of God doe what pleaseth thee †For neither was my fathers house ought els but guiltie of death to my lord king and thou hast put me thy seruant among the guestes of thy table What iust complaynt therfore haue I or what can I further crie out to the king †The king therfore sayd to him What speakest thou any more That is determined which I haue spoken Thou and Siba diuide the possessions †And Miphiboseth answered the the king Yea let him take al for so much as my lord king is returned peaceably into his house †Berzellai also the Galaadite coming downe from Rogelim brought the king ouer Iordan being readie also to attend on him beyond the riuer †And Berzellai the Galaadite was verie old that is to say of foure score yeares and he gaue the king victuals when he abode in the Fild for he was an exceding rich man †The king therfore sayd to Berzellai Come with me that thou mayst rest secure with me in Ierusalem †And Berzellai sayd to the king How manie are the daies of the yeares of my life that I should goe vp with the king into Ierusalem †I am this day foure score yeares old are my senses quicke to discerne sweete or sowre or can meate or drinke delight thy seruant or can I heare more the voyce of singing men and singing wemen Why should thy seruant be a burden to my lord the king †I thy seruant wil goe forward a litle from Iordan with thee I neede not this recompense †but I besech thee that I thy seruant may returne and die in my citie and be buried by the sepulchre of my father and my mother But there is thy seruant Chamaam let him goe with thee my lord king and doe to him whatsoeuer semeth good to thee †The king therfore sayd to him Let Chamaam passe on with me and I wil doe for him whatsoeuer shal please thee and al that thou shalt aske of me thou shalt obtayne †And when al the people and the king had passed Iordan the king kissed Berzellai and blessed him and he returned into his place †The king therfore passed into Galgal and Chamaam with him and al the people of Iuda had brought ouer the king and the halfe part onlie of the people of Israel were present †Therfore al the men of Israel concurring to the king sayd to him Why haue our brethren the men of Iuda stolen thee and brought the king and his houshould ouer Iordan and al the men of Dauid with him †And euerie man of Iuda answered the men of Israel Because the king is neerer to me why art thou angrie for this matter haue we eaten any thing of the kinges or were there giftes geuen vs †And a certayne man of Israel answered the men of Iuda and sayd I am greater by ten partes with the king to me pertayneth Dauid more then to thee Why hast thou done me wrong and it was not told me first that I might bring backe my king And the men of Iuda answered more sharply then the men of Israel CHAP. XX. Seba raiseth rebellion is pursued by Ioab 10. VVho in the way trecherously killeth Amasa 13. Abela is besieged because Seba saueth him self there 20. but his head being cut of and cast ouer the wal to Ioab the armie departeth 23. Chief men in office are mentioned IT chanced also that there was there a man of Belial named Seba the sonne of Bochri a man of Iemini and he sounded the trumpet and sayd We haue no part in Dauid nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai Returne into thy tabernacles Israel †And al Israel was separated from Dauid and folowed Seba the sonne of Bochri but the men of Iuda stucke to their king from Iordan vnto Ierusalem †And when the king was come into his house to Ierusalem he tooke the ten wemen his concubines which he had leift to keepe the house and he deliuered them into custodie allowing them victuals and he went
they did not for he parted from thence Yet is not man able by this his freedome nor otherwise of himself to do nor so much as to thinke anie good thing but through Gods mere mercie and grace geuen him without his deseruing sufficient to al and effectual to those that accept it God also giueth particular grace for special functions as Leuit. 8. to Priestes Num. 11. to seuentie ancients and 1. Reg. 10. to king Saul By vvhich diuine assistance the commandements of God are possible as himselfe auoucheth saying Deut. 30. This commandment that I command thee this day is not aboue thee Againe I haue sette before thee life and good death and euil that thou mayest loue God walke in his wayes and keepe his commandementes Workes done by grace and freevvil are good and commendable Moyses so testifing Deut. 14. This is your wisdome and vnderstanding before peoples Yea are meritorious and revvardes are promised for the same Leuit. 26. and contrariwise punishments threatned to the transgressours And Booz knowing revvard to be due for vvel doing prayed God to render to Ruth ch 2. a ful reward for her wel deseruing The royal prophet affirmeth Psalm 18. that in keeping Gods preceptes is much reward and Psal 118. professeth that he inclined his hart to keepe them for reward Amongst other seruices of God and meanes of mens saluation external Sacrifice is of the greatest And therfore the maner of offering al sortes is aâ— large prescribed in the Law especially in the seuen first Chapters of Leuiticus The first and principal was Holocaust wherin al the oblation was â—â—rned and consumed in the honour of God our Soueraigne Lord. The second was Sacrifice for sinne according to the diuersitie of offences and persones wherof part was burned the other part remained to the priestes except it were for the sinnes of priestes or of the whole multitude Leuit. 4. for then the priestes had no portion but al was offered to God The third was pacifique sacrifice either of thanksgeuing for benefites receiued or to obtaine Gods fauour in al occurrent necessities and good desires And of both these sortes one part was consumed in Gods honour an other part was the priestes the third was theirs that gaue the oblation In confirmation of these sacrifices God at first miraculously sent fire to burne them Leuit. 9. wherof he had geuen commandment before Leuit. 6. that it should be conserued and neuer extinguished to teach vs especially of the new Testament that haue the real Sacrifice and verie hodie of the former shadowes and figures to nourish and keepe the fire of charitie not procured by our owne power but geuen by God that it neuer cease nor be extinguished in our hartes Likewise in the same law of Moyses besides Circumcision instituted before Gen. 17. and here confirmed and continued Leuit. 12. Iosue 5 al hostes and sacrifices for sinne Leuit. 4. 5. 6. and 7. consecration of Priestes Leuit. 8 and the sacrifices adioyned therunto also diuers other washinges and purifications of legal vncieannes Leuit. 14. 15. 16. and 17. were al Sacraments signifying either first iustification and remission of sinne or increase of grace and puritie of which sort it is also probable that the Paschal lambe and Loaues of proposition were sacramentes Exod. 12. 25. VVhich multitude S. Augustin comparing with ours of the new Testament sayth The people bound with feare in the old law was burdened with manie sacraments For this was profitable to such men saith he to make them desire the grace foretold by the prophetes which being come from the wisdome of God becoming Man by whom we are called into freedom a few most wholsome Sacraments are instituted which hold the societie of christian people vnder one God of a free multitude But as Christes sacraments are fewer in number so they are more excellent in vertue And to most of these new the former do answere as figures and shadowes So to our Baptisme answereth Circumcision as S. Paul teacheth Coloss 1. that Christians are circumcised in the circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptisme To our holie Eucharist as it is a Sacrament did answere the Paschal lambe Loaues of proposition as also Manna and bloud of the Testament It was prophechâ—ed Psal 18. Adore his foote stoole as holie Fathers expound it And as the same Eucharift is a Sacrifice it was prefigured by al the old Sacrifices of the law of nature and of Moyses as S. Augustin and S. Leo do proue and prophecied Psal 19. Be he mindful of al thy sacrifice c. To the sacrament of holie Orders answered consecration of Priests Al the ablutions purifications cleansinges and oblations for sinne which in great part were both Sacramentes and Sacrifices answered to our Sacrament of Penance which was also prefigured by the second tables of the decalogue Exod. 34. More plainly forshewed by example of particular confession of sinnes and satisfaction Num. 5. 14. and 29. Contrition also was no lesse required as appeareth by the example of king Dauid 2 Reg. 24. Mariage in the old Testament though not a sacrament yet signified the Sacrament of Mariage among Christians But the Sacrament of Confirmation had not anie so answerable a figure in the old law which brought not to perfection Neither Extreme vnction because the law gaue not immediate entrance into the kingdome of heauen which defectes were signified by the high priestes entring only once in the yeare into Sancta Sanctorum Leuit. 16. Likewise touching practise of holie Rites diuers vncleannes hindering participation of sacrifices and conuersation with other men Leuit. 14. Degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie hindering mariage Leuit. 18. and sundrie Irregularities excluding from the office of Priests Leuit. 21. were figuratiue resemblances of sinnes and censures and of impediments to holie Orders and to Mariage in the new Testament To the peculiar seruice of God perteyned also the Tabernacle with the Propitiatorie Arke Cherubims Table for loaues of proposition Candlesticke Lampes Altares for Holocaustes Incense Vestments for Priestes a brasen lauer and other vessels described Exod. 29. et seq Al which were kept and carried by the Leuites resting or marching in the middes of the campe Num. 2. 3. And when the Land of Chanaan was conquered the same were fixed in Silo. Iosue 18. Whither the people resorted at certaine sette times and vpon sundrie occasions From thence long after they tooke the Arke and often vpon diuers occasions remouing it made Oratories or Chappels wheresoeuer it rested deuotion increasing religious estimation of it in al Israel 1. Reg. 4. 7. 10. Yea the infidel Philisthims in Azotus seing and feeling the vertue therof ouerthrovving their god Dagon and them selues sore plagued found it best for them to send the Arke home to the Israelites not vvithout costlie and pretious oblations 1. Reg. 5. 6. King Dauid most specially
15. Oza 2â— Reg. 6. sodenly slaine for touching the Arke of God the Lavv forbidding vnder paine of death Num. 1. v. 51. 18. v. 7. that none should approch to holie office being not therto orderly called Of workes also of Supererogation called counsailes not preceptes vve haue examples in vovves voluntarily made of thinges not commanded the law prescribing vvhat vovves might be made by vvhom Nu. 30. And Num. 6. a particular rule was proposed to such as of their ovvne accord vvould embrace it a distinct name geuen them to be called Nazarites that is Seperate or Sanctified In which state they vvere to remaine either for a time limited by themselues or their parents or perpetually if they so promised Iudic. 13. 1. Reg. 1. For sâ— farre as their promise extended they were strictly obliged to performe Deut. 23. When thou hast vowed a vow to our Lord thy God thou shalt not slacke to pay it because our Lord thy God wil require it and if thou delay it shal be reputed to thee for sinne If thou wilt not promise thou shalt be without this sinne Pay thy vowes vnto the Highest Psal 75. Vow ye and render your vowes to our Lord your God Psal 49. The Rechabites aftervvardes had a like rule to the Nazariteâ— the same perpetual Hierem. 3â— neuer to drinke wine nor to build nor dwel in houses but in tabernacles nor sow corne nor plant vineyardes VVhich rule though instituted by a man yet the obseruation therof vvas much commended rewarded by God v. 19. Such distinct state of religious persons with other states of the church of Christ were also prefigured Leuit. 11. by the cleane fishes of three distinct vvaters as some holie Fathers do mystically expound that place To vvitte the cleane fishes of the sea are the multitude of lay persons which are dravven out of the sea of this vvorld and happely found good fishes in our Lords nette Math. 13. The cleane fishes of the riuers are the good and fruitful Clergie men that vvatter the vvhole earth by teaching Christian doctrin and ministring holie Sacramentes vvith other Rites and Gouerning the whole Church And the cleane fishes of standing pooles are the Monastical persons liuing perpetually in Cloysters vvhere good soules are alwayes readie for our Lordes table as S. Bernard teacheth Much more the more ancient fathers S. Beda S. Gregorie S. Augustin and others explicate innumerable places of holie Scripture mystically relying therin vpon example of the new Testament so expounding the old Namely S. Paul teaching as before is noted that the whole law was a pedagogue guiding men to Christ and affirming that al thinges happened to the people of the old Testament in figure of the new Leauing therfore to prosecute the same further which would require a verie great worke it may here suffice to geue according to the literal sense a briefe view of certaine other pointes of Religion practised in this fourth age VVhere it is clere that as Iacob the Patriarch had fortold Gen. 48. that Abrahams Isaacs and his owne name should be inuocated so Moyses prayed God for his promise made to them and for their sake to pardon the people saying Exod. 32. Remember ô Lord Abraham Isaac Israel And our Lord was pacified from doing the euil which he had spoken against his people His diuine prouidence so disposing that he could be hindered by such prayers from that which hâ—threatned And whereas Moyses did not directly inuocate the holie Patriarches as Christians now cal vpon glorified Sainctes to pray for them the cause of difference is for that now Sainctes seing God know in him whatsoeuer perteyneth to their glorie which state none bâ—fore Christ attainâ—d vnto Num 35. v. 25. Deut. 4. v. 12. Againe Protestantes obiect that for so much as God knoweth al our necessities desires dispositions and whatsoeuer is in man it is needles say they superfluous in vaine that Sainctes should commend our causes To this we answer that not only glorious Sainctes but also mortal men by Gods ordinaÌ„ce by which nothing is done vainely do such offices as mediators betwen God and other men for so Moyses told the wordes of the people to our Lord Exod. 19. notwithstanding Gods omniscience or knowledge of al thinges Also God expresly commanded Iobs freinds to goe to Iob promising to heare his prayer for thâ—m As for Sainctes hearing or knowing our prayers made to them though onlie God of himselfe and by his owne power seeth mens secrete cogitations and therfore is properly called the searcher of hartes 1. Reg. 16. yet God communicateth this powâ—r to prophetes to see the secrete thoughtes of others so Samuel knew the cogitations of Saul 1. Reg. 9. v. 20. And Abias saw by reuelation the coming of Ierobomas wife to him in Silo 3. Reg. 14. Much more God reuealeth our present state and acts to glorified soules vvho are as Angels in heauen Math. 22. and being secure of their owne glorie are careful sayeth S. Cyprian of our Saluation Neither is it derogation to God that Saints are honoured and titles ascribed to them of intercessors mediators and the like for such titles are geuen to them not as to God but by vvay of participation only So Iudges are called goddes and sauiours Exod. 21. Iudic 3. and Priestes called goddes Exod. 21. Praise geuen to God and Gedeon Iudic. 7. Protection and adoration of Angels is very frequent Exod. 23. 31. Num. 22. Iosue 5. Iudic. 2. 6. 13. The names of the twelue sonnes of Israel were grauen in the two chiefe ornaments of the high priest in the Ephod and Rationale Exod. 28. Manna was not only reserued as a memorie of Gods singular benefite but also honorably reposed as a Relique in a golden vessel and kept in the Arke of God Exod. 16. Heb. 9. Iosephs bones reserued and remoued Iosue 24. Images of holie Cherubims were made and sette vp together with the Arke and Propitiatorie in the chiefe place of the Tabernacle called Sancta Sanctorum Exod. 25. An image also of a serpent was made in brasse for the health of those that were striken by serpentes Num. 21. Images also of lions and oxen were made and sette vnder the foote of the lauer called a sea in the Temple 3. Reg. 7. The honour done to anie holie thing namely to the Arke 2. Reg. 6. redounded to Gods more honour and al this so farre from idolatrie that quite contrarie in presence of the Arke the idol Dagon fel to the ground and broke in peeces 1. Reg. 5. Exequies for the dead with weeping and fasting were then practised in the Church as appeareth by the peoples mourning for Aaron thirtie dayes Num. 20. Also for Moyses Deut. 34. By the Gabaonites fasting seuen dayes for Saul and his sonnes lately slaine 1. Reg. 31. Likewise king Dauid with al his court mourning weping
goe out of thy hand a man worthie to die thy life shal be for his life and thy people for his people †The king of Israel therfore returned into his house contemning to heare raging came into Samaria CHAP. XXI Naboth for denying his vineyard to King Achab is by quene Iezabels commandment falsly accused and stoned to death 10. Achab hastening to possesse the vineyard Elias the prophet threatneth him manie euiles 23. and no lesse to Iezabel both being obstinate in sinne 27. Yet Achab for feare of punishment doth external workes of penance and therby escapeth part of the temporal plagues AND after these wordes at that tyme Naboth the Iezrahelite had a vineyard which was in Iezrahel beside the palace of Achab the king of Samaria †Achab therfore spake to Naboth saying Geue me thy vineyard that I may make me a garden of herbes because it is nigh and ioyning to my house and I wil geue thee for it a better vineyard or if thou thinke it more commodious for thee the price of siluer so much as it is worth †To whom Naboth answered Our Lord be merciful to me that I geue not the inheritance of my fathers to thee †Achab therfore came into his house with indignation and fretting vpon the word that Naboth the Iezrahelite had spoken to him saying I wil not geue thee the inheritance of my fathers And casting him self vpon his bed he turned away his face to the wal and did not eate bread †And Iezabel his wife went in vnto him and sayd to him What is this matter whereupon thy soule is greued and why eatest thou not bread †Who answered her I spake to Naboth the Iezrahelite and sayd to him Geue me thy vineyard taking money for it or if it please thee I wil geue thee a better vineyard for it And he sayd I wil not geue thee my vineyard †Iezabel therfore his wife sayd to him Thou art of great authoritie and doest wel gouerne the kingdome of Israel Arise and eate bread and be of good cheere I wil geue thee the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite †She therfore wrote letters in the name of Achab and signed them with his ring and sent to the ancientes and the chiefe men that were in his citie and dwelt with Naboth †And this was the tenor of the letters Proclame a fast and make Naboth sitte among the chiefe of the people †and suborne two men the children of Belial agaynst him and let them beare false testimony that he hath blessed God and the king and bring him forth and stone him and so let him die †His citizens therfore the ancientes and chiefe men that dwelt with him in the citie did as Iezabel had commanded them and as it was written in the letters which she sent to them †they proclamed a fast and made Naboth sitte among the chiefe of the people †And two men the children of the diuel being brought forth they made them sitte agaynst him but they as deuelish men gaue testimonie agaynst him before the multitude Naboth hath blessed God and the king for the which thing they brought him forth without the citie and killed him with stones †And they sent to Iezabel saying Naboth is stoned and is dead †And it came to passe when Iezabel had heard that Naboth was stoned and dead she spake to Achab Arise and possesse the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite who would not agree vnto thee and geue it taking money for Naboth liueth not but is dead †Which when Achab had heard to witte that Naboth was dead he arose went downe into the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite to possesse it †The word of our Lord therfore came to Elias the Thesbite saying †Arise and goe downe to meete Achab the king of Israel who is in Samaria behold he goeth downe to the vineyard of Naboth to possesse it †and thou shalt speake to him saying Thus sayth our Lord Thou hast slayne moreouer also thou hast possest And after these wordes thou shalt adde Thus sayth our Lord In this place wherein the dogges haue licked the bloud of Naboth they shal licke thy bloud also †And Achab sayd to Elias Hast thou found me thyne enemie Who sayd I haue found thee for that thou art sold to doe euil in the sight of our Lord. †Behold I wil bring euil vpon thee and wil cut downe thy posteritie and wil kil of Achab him that pisseth agaynst the wal and the inclosed and the last in Israel †And I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and as the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahias because thou hast done to prouoke me to anger and hast made Israel to sinne †But of Iezabel also our Lord spake saying The dogges shal eate Iezabel in the field of Iezrahel †If Achab die in the citie the dogges shal eate him but if he die in the field the foules of the ayre shal eate him †Therfore there was not such an other as Achab who was sold to doe euil in the sight of our Lord for his wife Iezabel sette him on †and he became abominable in so much that he folowed the idols which the Amorrheites had made whom our Lord consumed before the face of the children of Israel †Therfore when Achab had heard these wordes he rent his garmentes and couered his flesh with haercloth and fasted and slept in sackcloth and walked casting downe his head †And the word of our Lord came to Elias the Thesbite saying †Hast thou not seene Achab humbled before me therfore because he hath humbled him self for my sake I wil not bring in the euil in his dayes but in his sonnes daies wil I bring the euil vpon his house CHAP. XXII Achab King of Israel consulting and beleuing false prophetes rather then Micheas a true prophet accompanied with Iosaphat king of Iuda resolueth to fight against the Syrians for Ramoth Galaad 26. Committeth Micheas to prison 29. procedeth to the warre 34. is slaine and Ochozias saccedeth 41. Iosaphat refuseth to traffike longer with Ochozias dieth and his sonne Ioram reigneth 52. Ochozias foloweth the euil steppes of his parents THERE passed therfore three yeares without warre betwen Syria aud Israel †And in the third yeare Iosaphat the king of Iuda went downe to the king of Israel †And the king of Israel sayd to his seruantes are you ignorant that Ramoth Galaad is ours and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria †And he sayd to Iosaphat Wilt thou come with me to sight into Ramoth Galaad †And Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israel As I am so thou also my people and thy people are one and my horsemen thy horsmen And Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israal Aske I besech thee this day the word of our Lord. †The king of Israel therfore assembled the
And Iehu sayd to captaine Badacer Take him throwe him forth in the field of Naboth the Iezrahelite for I remember when I and thou sitting in a chariote did folow Achab this mans father that our Lord lifted vp this burden vpon him saying †If not for the bloud of Naboth and for the bloud of his children which I saw yesterday sayth our Lord I requiâ—e thee not in this field sayth our Lord. Now therfore take him and throw him into the field according to the word of our Lord †But Ochozias the king of Iuda seing this fled by the way of the house of the garden and Iehu pursewed him and said This man also strike ye in his chariote And they stroke him in the going vp of Ganer which is beside Ieblaam who fled into Mageddo and died there †And his seruantes layd him vpon his chariote and caried him into Ierusalem and they buried him there in his sepuâ—chre with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid †In the eleuenth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab reigned Ochozias ouer Iuda †and Iehu came into Iezrahel Moreouer Iezabel hearing of his entrance paynted her face with stibicke stone and decked her head and beheld through the window †Iehu coming at the gate and sayd Can there be peace to Zambri that killed his maister †And Iehu lifted vp his face to the window and sayd What is she And two or three eunuches bowed them selues to him †But he sayd to them Cast her downe headlong they threw her downe and the wal was sprinkled with the bloud and the hoofes of the horses trode her †And when he was entered in to eate and to drinke he sayd Goe and see that cursed woman and burie her because she is a kinges daughter †And when they went to burie her they found nothing but the skul and the feete and the extreme partes of the handes †And returning they told him And Iehu sayd It is the word of our Lord which he spake by his seruant Elias the Thesbite saying In the field of Iezrahel shal the dogges eate the flesh of Iezabel †and the flesh of Iezabel shal be as dung vpon the face of the earth in the field of Iezrahel so that they which passe by shal say Is this that same Iezabel CHAP. X. The Samaritanes fearing the force of Iehu choose no other king but offer him their seruice 6. and by his commandment kil the late kings seuentie sonnes 12. Fourtie two brothers of Ochazias late king of Iuda are slaine 15. Iehu making league with Ionadab vtterly destroyeth Achabs house 18. by a stratagem killeth al the worshippers of Baal 26. burneth his statua turneth his temple into a iakes 28. but maintaineth Ieroboams golden calues 32 The Asyrians afflict Israel 34. Iehâ— dieth and his sonne Ioachaz reigneth AND Achab had seuentie sonnes in Samaria Iehu therfore wrote letters and sent into Samaria to the chiefe of the citie and to the ancientes and to them that brought vp Achabs children saying †As sowne as you shal receiue these letters ye that haue your maisters sonnes and chariotes and horses and fensed cities and armou◠†choose the better and him that shal please you of your maisters sonnes and set him vpon his fathers throne and fight for the house of your lord †They were sore afrayd and sayd Behold two kinges could not stand before him and how shal we be able to resist †The ouerseers therfore of the house and the rulers of the citie and the ancientes and the tutors sent to Iehu saying We are thy seruantes whatsoeuer thou shalt command we wil doe neither wil we make vs a king Doe thou whatsoeuer pleaseth thee †And he wrote letters to them agayne the second tyme saying If you be mine and obey me take the heades of your maisters sonnes and come to me this verie houre to morow into Iezrahel Moreouer the kinges sonnes seuentie men were brought vp with the chiefe of the citie †And when the letters were come to them they tooke the kinges sonnes and slew seuentie men and put their heades in baskets and sent them to him into Iezrahel †And a messenger came told him saying They haue brought the heades of the kinges sonnes Who answered Lay them in two heapes by the entrance of the gate vntil morning †And when it was light he went forth and standing sayd to al the people You are iust If I haue conspired agaynst my maister and haue â—â—ayne him who hath strooken al these †See therfore now there hath not fallen of the wordes of our Lord on the ground which our Lord spake vpon the house of Achab and our Lord hath done that which he spake in the hand of his seruant Elias †Iehu therfore smote al that were leaft of the house of Achab in Iezrahel and al his nobles and familiars and priestes til there remayned no reliques of him †And he arose and came into Samaria and when he was come to the cabbin of the â—hepeheardes in the way †he found the brethren of Ochozias the king of Iuda and he sayd to them What are you Who answered We are the brethren of Ochozias and are come downe to salute the kinges sonnes and the queenessonnes †Who sayd Take them aliue Whom when they had taken aliue they killed them in a cesterne beside the cabbin two and fourtie men and he leaft not any of them †And when he was gone thence he found Ionadab the sonne of Rechab coming to meete him and he blessed him And he sayd to him Is thy hart right as my hart with thy hart And Ionadab sayd It is If it be so quoth he gâ—ue me thy hand Who gaue him his hand But he lifted him vp to him into the chariote †and sayd to him Come with me and see my zele for our Lord. And being sette in his chariote †he brought him into Samaria And he stroke al that were leaft of Achab in Samaria til there was not one according to the word of our Lord which he spake by Elias †Iehu therfore assembled al the people and sayd to them Achab worshipped Baal a litle but I wil worshipe him more †Now therfore cal to me al the prophetes of Baal and al his seruantes and al his priestes let there be none but that he come for I haue a great sacrifice to Baal He that shal be wanting shal not liue Moreouer Iehu did this craftely that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal †And he sayd Sanctifie a solemne day to Baal And he called †and sent into al the borders of Israel and al the seruantes of Baal came there was leaft not one that came not And they entered into the remple of Baal and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other †And he sayd to them that were ouer the garmentes Bring forth garmentes for al the seruantes of Baal And they brought
of the Assyrians into Samaria and assaulted it †and tooke it For after three yeares in the sixt yeare of Ezechias that is the ninth yeare of Osee the king of Israel Samaria was taken †and the king of the Assyrians transported Israel vnto the Assyrians and placed them in Hala and in Habor riuers of Gozan in the cities of the Medes †because they heard not the voice of our Lord their God but transgressed his couenant al things that Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded they heard not neither did they it †In the fourtenth yeare of king Ezechias came vp Sennacherib the king of Assyrians to al the fensed cities of Iuda and tooke them †Then sent Ezechias the king of Iuda messengers to the king of the Assyrians into Lachis saying I haue sinned retyre from me and al that thou shalt put vpon me I will beare Therfore the king of the Assyrians put a taxe vpon Ezechias the king of Iuda three hundred talents of siluer and thirtie talents of gold †And Ezechias gaue al the siluer that was found in the house of our Lord and in the kinges treasures †At that time Ezechias brake the doores of the temple of our Lord and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them and gaue them to the king of the Assyrians †But the king of the Assyrias sent Tharthan and Rabsaris and Rabsaces from Lachis to king Ezechias with a strong powre to Ierusalem who when they were come vp they came to Ierusalem and stoode beside the conduite of the vpper poole which is in the way of the fullers field †And they called the king and there went out to them Eliacim the sonne of Helcias gouernour of the house and Sobna the Scribe and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph the register †And Rabsaces sayd to them Speake to Ezechias Thus sayth the great king the king of Assyrians What is this confidence that thou doest stay vpon †Perhaps thou hast taken counsel to prepare thy selfe to battle Wherin hast thou confidence that thou darest to rebel †Dost thou hope in Aegypt a staffe of reede and broken vpon which if a man leane broken into splinters it wil enter into his hand and pearce it so is Pharao the king of Aegypt to al that haue confidence in him †But if you wil say to me We haue confidence in our Lord God is not this he whose excelses and altars Ezechias hath taken away and he commanded Iuda and Ierusalem Before this altar shal you adore in Ierusalem †Now therfore passe to my lord the king of the Assyrians and I wil geue you two thousand horses and see whether you be able to haue ryders for them †And how can you resiste before one prince of the least seruantes of my lord Hast thou confidence in Aegypt for the chariotes and horsemen †Why am I come vp without the wil of the Lord to destroy it The Lord sayd to me Goe vp to this land and destroy it †And Eliacim the sonne of Helcias and Sobna and Ioahe sayd to Rabsaces We pray thee that thou speake to vs thy seruantes in Syryake for we vnderstand this tongue and speake not to vs in the Iewes language the people hearing it which is vpon the wal †And Rabsaces answered them saying What did my lord send me to thee that I should speake these wordes and not rather to the men that sit vpon the wal that they may eate their owne dung and drinke their vâ—ine with you †Rabsaces therfore stood and cryed out with a lowd voyce in the Iewes language and sayd Heaâ—e ye the wordes of the great king the king of the Assyrians †Thus sayth the king Let not Ezechias seduce you for he shal not be able to deliuer you out my hand †Neither let him geue you confidence vpon the Lord saying Our Lord deliuering wil deliuer vs and this citie shal not be geuen into the hand of the king of the Assyrians †Doe not heare Ezechias For thus sayth the king of the Assyrians Doe with me that which is profitable for you and come forth to me and euery man shal eate of his vineyard and of his figge tree and you shal drinke waters of your owne cesternes †til I come and transporte you into a land that is like to your land into a fruiteful land and plentiful of wyne a land of bread and of vineyardes a land of oliuetes and of oyle and honie and you shal liue and shal not die Heare not Ezechias who deceiueth you saying Our Lord wil deliuer vs. †Did the goddes of Nations deliuer their land from the hand of the king of Assyrians †Where is the God of Emath Arphad Where is the God of Sepharuaim of Ana and Aua did they deliuer Samaria out of my hand †What are they among al the goddes of nations which haue deliuered their countrey out of my hand that the Lord can deliuer Ierusalem out of my hand †The people therfore held their peace and did not answer him any thing for they had receiued the kings commandement that they should not answer him †And Eliacim the sonne of Helcias gouernour of the house and Sobna the scribe and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph register came to Ezeehias their garments rent and told him the wordes of Rabsaces CHAP. XIX Ezechias in affliction requesteth the prayers of Isaias the prophet 6. who assureth him of Gods helpe 8. The king of the Assyrians stil threatneth and blasphemeth 15. Ezechias praieth 20. and God hearing the prayers of the one and blasphemies of the other 28. promiseth to protect Ierusalem 35. An Angel in one night killeth an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand of the Assyrians campe their king returneth to Niniue is there slaine by two of his owne sonnes and an other sonne reigneth in his place VVHICH thinges when Ezechias the king had heard he rent his garmentes and was couered with sackcloth and entered into the house of our Lord. †And he sent Eliacim the gouernour of the house and Sobna the scribe and the ancientes of the priestes couered with sackclothes to Isaias the prophete the sonne of Amos. †Who sayd to him Thus saith Ezechias This day is a day of tribulation and rebuke and of blasphemie the children are come to the birth and the woman in trauel hath not strength †If perhaps our Lord thy God wil heare al the wordes of Rabsaces whom the king of the Assyrians his maister hath sent to vpbrayd the liuing God and reproue with wordes which our Lord thy God hath heard and make thou prayer for the remnantes that are found †The seruantes therfore of king Ezechias came to Isaie †And Isaie sayd to them Thus shal you say to your maister Thus sayth our Lord Feare not for the wordes which thou hast heard with which the seruantes of the king of the Assyrians haue blasphemed me †Behold I wil send
Our Lord increase his people an hundred fold more then they are are they not my lord king al thy seruantes why doth my lord seeke this which may be reputed for a sinne to Israel †But the kinges word preuailed more and Ioab went forth and went about al Israel and returned to Ierusalem †And he gaue Dauid the number of them whom he had surueyed and al the number of Israel was found a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword and of Iuda foure hundred seuentie thousand men of warre †For Leui and Beniamin he numbred not because Ioab vnwillingly executed the kings commandement †And that which was commanded displeased God and he stroke Israel †And Dauid sayd to God I haue sinned excedingly in that I would doe this I besech thee take away the iniquitie of thy seruant because I haue done foolishly †And our Lord spake to Gad the Seer of Dauid saying †Goe and speake to Dauid and tel him Thus sayth our Lord I geue thee the choyse of three thinges choose one which thou wilt and I wil doe it to thee †And when Gad was come to Dauid he sayd to him Thus sayth our Lord Choose which thou wilt †either three yeares famine or three monethes to flee from thine enemies and not to be able to escape their sword or three dayes the sword of our Lord and pestilence to be in the land and the Angel of our Lord to kil in al the costes of Israel now therfore see what I shal answer him that sent me †And Dauid sayd to Gad I am on euerie side in great distresse but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord because his mercies be manie then into the handes of men †Our Lord therfore sent the pestilence in Israel and there fel of Israel seuentie thousand men †He sent also an Angel into Ierusalem to strike it and when it was striken our Lord saw and had compassion vpon the greatenesse of the euil and commanded the Angel that smote It is sufficient now let thy hand cease Moreouer the Angel of our Lord stoode beside the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite †And Dauid lifting vp his eies saw the Angel of our Lord standing betwen heauen and earth and a sword drawen in his hand turned agaynst Ierusalem they fel as wel he as the ancientes clothed in heare clothes flatte on the earth †And Dauid sayd to God Am not I he that commanded the people to be mumbred It is I that haue sinned it is I that haue done the euil this flocke what hath it deserued Lord my God let thy hand be turned I besech thee vpon me and vpon my fathers house and let not thy people be striken †And the Angel of our Lord commanded Gad to tel Dauid that he should goe vp and build an altar to our Lord God in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite †Dauid therfore went vp according to the word of Gad which he had spoken to him in the name of our Lord. †Moreouer Ornan when he had looked vp and sene the Angel and his foure sonnes with him they hid themselues for at that time he threshed wheat in the floore †Therfore when Dauid came to Ornan Ornan beheld him went forth to mete him out of the floore and adored him flatte on the ground †And Dauid sayd to him Geue me the place of thy floore that I may build therein an altar to our Lord so that thou take as much siluer as it is worth and the plague may cease from the people †And Ornan sayd to Dauid Take it and let my lord the king doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him yea the oxen also I geue for holocaust and the dreyes for wood and wheat for sacrifice I wil giue al thinges willingly †And king Dauid sayd to him It shal not be so but I wil geue thee siluer as much as it is worth for I may not take it from thee and so offer to our Lord holocaustes geuen gratis †Dauid therfore gaue Ornan for the place six hundred sicles of gold of most iust weight †And he built there an altar to our Lord and he offered holocaustes and pacifiques and he inuocated our Lord he heard him in fyre from heauen vpon the altar of holocauste †And our Lord commanded the Angel and he turned his sword into the scabbard †Dauid therfore forthwith seing that our Lord had heard him in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite immolated victimes there †But the tabernacle of our Lord. which Moyses made in the desert and the altar of holocaustes was at that time in the excelse of Gabaon †And Dauid could not goe to the altar to pray God there for he had bene frighted with exceding feare seing the sword of the Angel of our Lord. CHAP. XXII VVorkemen and al necessaries being prepared 6. Dauid commandeth Salomon to build the Temple for so God hath appoynted 13. exhorteth him to serue God 17. and other principal men to assist him AND Dauid sayd This is the house of God and this is an altar for holocauste to Israel †And he commanded that the proselytes of the land of Israel should be gathered to gether and he appoynted of them masons to hewe stones and polish them that the house of God might be built †Dauid prepared also verie much yron for the nayles of the gates and for the ioyninges and ioynctures and of brasse an inmumerable weight †The cedar trees also could not be estemed which the Sidonians and Tyrians brought downe to Dauid †And Dauid sayd Salomon my sonne is yet a litle child and delicate and the house which I would haue to be builded to our Lord must be such as may be renowned in al countries I therfore wil prepare him necessaries And for this cause before his death he prepared al the expenses †And he called Salomon his sonne and commanded him that he should build a house to our Lord the God of Israel †And Dauid sayd to Salomon My sonne it was my wil to haue built a house to the name of our Lord my God †But the word of our Lord was made to me saying Thou hast shed much bloud and fought verie manie battels thou canst not build a house to my name so much bloud being shed before me †the sonne which shal be borne to thee shal be a most quiet man for I wil make him rest from al his enemies round about and for this cause he shal be called Peaceable and I wil geue peace and quietnesse in Israel al his dayes †He shal build a house to my name he shal be to me for a sonne and I wil be to him for a father and I wil establih the throne of his kingdom ouer Israel for euer †Now therfore my sonne Our Lord be with thee and doe thou prosper and build the house to our Lord thy
God as he hath spoken of thee †Our Lord also giue thee wisdome and vnderstanding that thou mayst be able to rule Israel and to kepe the law of our Lord thy God †For then thou shalt be able to prosper if thou shalt keepe the commandementes and iudgementes which our Lord commanded Moyses to teach Israel take courage and play the man feare not neither be dismayde †Behold I in my pouertie haue prepared the charges of the house of our Lord of gold an hundred thousand talentes and of siluer a thousand thousand talentes but of brasse and of yron there is noe weight for the number is surpassed with the greatnesse timber and stones I haue prepared to al the charges †Thou hast also verie manie artificers hewers of stones and masons carpenters and of al occapations most skilful to make worke †in gold and siluer and brasse and yron wherof there is no number Ryse therfore and do it and our Lord wil be with thee †Dauid also commanded al the princes of Israel that they should help Salomon his sonne †You see quoth he that our Lord your God is with you and hath geuen you rest round about and hath deliuered al your enemies into your handes and the land is subdewed before our Lord and before his people †Geue therfore your hart and your soules to seeke our Lord your God and arise and build a sanctuarie to our Lord God that the Arke of the couenant of our Lord and the vessels consecrated to our Lord may be brought into the house which is built to the name of our Lord. CHAP. XXIII King Dauid being old constituteth Salomon king 3. disposeth the offices of Leuites 7. to wit the families of Gerson 12. of Caath 21. and of Merari 26. ceassing to carrie the tabernacle 27. to serue in the temple DAVID therfore being old ful of daies made Salomon his sonne king ouer Israel †And he gathered al the princes of Israel and the Priestes and Leuites †And the Leuites were numbred from thirtie yeares vpward and there were found thirtie eight thousand men †Of these were chosen and distributed into the ministerie of the house of our Lord foure and twentie thousand and of the ouerseers and iudges six thousand †Moreouer foute thousand porters and as manie singing to our Lord on instrumentes which he had made to sing on †And Dauid distributed them by the courses of the children of Leui to witte of Gerson and Caath and Merari †The sonnes of Gerson Leedan and Semei †The sonnes of Leedan the prince Iahiel Zethan and Ioel three †The sonnes of Semei Salomith and Hosiel and Aram three these be the princes of the familes of Leedan †Moreouer the sonnes of Semei Leheth and Ziza and Iaus and Baria these be the sonnes of Semei foure †And Leheth was the first Ziza the second moreouer Iaus and Baria had not manie children and therfore they were counted in one familie and in one house †The children of Caath Amram and Isaar Hebron and Oziel foure †The sonnes of Amram Aaron and Moyses And Aaron was seperated to minister in Sanctasanctorum he and his sonnes for euer and to burne incense to our Lord according to his rite and to blesse his name for euer †The sonnes of Moyses also the man of God were numbred in the tribe of Leui. †The sonnes of Moyses Gersom and Eliezari the sonnes of Gersom Subuel the first †And the sonnes of Eliezer were Rohobia the first and Eleezer had noe moe sonnes Moreouer the children of Rohobia were multiplied excedingly †The sonnes of Isaar Salomith the first †The sonnes of Hebron Ieriau the first Amarias the second Iahaziel the third Iecmaan the fourth †The son̄nes of Oziel Micha the first Iesia the second †The sonnes of Merari Moholi Musi The sonnes of Moholi Eleazar and Cis. †And Eleazar died and had no sonnes but daughters and the sonnes of Cis their brethren tooke them †The sonnes of Musi Moholi and Eder and Ierimoth three †These be the children of Leui in their kinredes and families princes by courses and number of euerie head that did the workes of ministerie of the house of our Lord from twentie yeares and vpward †For Dauid sayd Our Lord the God of Israel hath geuen rest to his people and the habitation of Ierusalem for euer †Neither shal it be the office of the Leuites to carie any more the tabernacle and al the vessels therof to minister †According to the last preceptes also of Dauid the number of the children of Leui shal be numbred from twentie yeares and vpward †And they shal be vnder the hand of the sonnes of Aaron for the seruice of the house of our Lord in the entrances and in the chambers and in the place of purification and in the Sanctuarie and in al the workes of the ministerie of the temple of our Lord. †And the Priestes ouer the loaues of proposition and for the sacrifice of floure and for cakes and azimes and the frying panne and to rost and ouer al weight and measure †But the Leuites to stand in the morning to confesse and sing to our Lord and in like maner at euening †as wel in the oblation of the holocaustes of our Lord as in the Sabbathes and Calendes and the rest of the solemnities according to the number and ceremonies of euerie thing continually before our Lord. †And let them keepe the obseruations of the tabernacle of couenant and the rite of the Sanctuarie and the obseruance of the children of Aaron their brethren that they minister in the house of our Lord. CHAP. XXIIII King Dauid disposeth sixtene families of Eleazar and eight of Ithamar 7. by lottes 19. to serue in the Temple according to their priestlie function 20. likwise principal Leuites in their offices MOREOVER to the sonnes of Aaron these were the partions The sonnes of Aaron Nadab and Abiu and Eleazar and Ithamar †But Nadab and Abiu died before their father without children and Eleazar and Ithamar did the function of priesthood †And Dauid diuided them that is Sadoo of the sonnes of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sonnes of Ithamar according to their courses and ministerie †And there were found manie more children of Eleazar among the principal men then children of Ithamar And he diuided to them that is to the children of Eleazar princes by their families sixtene and to the children of Ithamar by their families and houses eight †Moreouer he diuided both families betwen themselues by lottes for there were princes of the Sanctuarie and princes of God as wel of the children of Eleazar as of the children of Ithamar †And Semeias wrote them the sonne of Nathanael the Scribe a Leuite before the king and princes and Sadoc the Priest and Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar the princes also of the Priestlie and Leuitical families
one house which was ouer the rest Eleazars and an other house which had the rest vnder it Ithamars †And the first lot came forth to Ioiarib the second to Iedei †the third to Harim the fourth to Seorim †the fifth to Melchia the sixt to Maiman †the seuenth to Accos the eight to Abia †the ninth to Iesua the tenth to Sechenia †the eleuenth to Eliasib the twelfth to Iaeim †the thirtenth to Hoppha the fourtenth to Isbaab †the fiftenth to Belga the sixtenth to Emmer †the seuententh to Hezir the eightenth to Aphses †the ninetenth to Pheteia the twenteth to Hezechiel †the one and twenteth to Iachin the two and twenteth to Gamul †the three and twenteth to Dalaiau the foure and twenteth to Maaziau †These be their courses according to their ministeries to enter into the house of our Lord and according to their rite vnder the hand of Aaron their father as our Lord the God of Israel had commanded †Moreouer of the children of Leui which were remayning there was Subael of the children of Amram and of the children of Subael Iehedeia †Also of the children of Rohobia the prince of Iesias †And the sonne of Isaari Salemoth and the sonne of Salemoth Iahath †and his sonne Ieriau the first Amarias the second Iahaziel the third Iecmaan the fourth †The sonne of Oziel Micha the sonne of Micha Samir †The brother of Micha Iesia and the sonne of Iesia Zacharias †The sonnes of Merari Moholi and Musi The sonne of Oziau Benno †The sonne also of Merari Oziau and Soam and Zacchur and Hebri †Moreouer the sonne of Moholi Eleazar who had no children †And the sonne of Cis Ieramael †The sonnes of Musi Moholi Eder and Ierimoth These be the sonnes of of Leui according to the houses of their families †And they also did cast lottes agaynst their brethren the sonnes of Aaron before Dauid the king and Sadoc and Ahimelech and the princes of the Priestlie and Leuitical families as wel the elder as the yonger Lotte diuided al equally CHAP. XXV Foure sonnes of Asaph six of Idithun and fourtene of Heman chiefe musicians 7. with their brethren in â—lâ—wo hundred and fourscore 8. are distributed by Lottes in foure and twentie companies to serue in the temple THERFORE Dauid and the officers of the hoste seperated for the ministerie the sonnes of Asaph and Heman and Idithun which should prophecie on harpes psalteries cymbals according to their number seruing the office dedicated to them †Of the sonnes of Asaph Zacchur and Ioseph and Nathania Asarela the sonnes of Asaph vnder the hand of Asaph prophecying neere the king †Moreouer Idithun the sonnes of Idithun Godolias Sori Ieseias and Hasabias and Mathathias six vnder the hand of their father Idithun who prophecied on harpe ouer them that confessed and praysed our Lord. †Of Heman also the sonnes of Heman Bocciau Mathaniaâ— Oziel Subuel and Ierimoth Hananias Hanani Eliatha Geddelthi and Romemthiezer and Iesbacassa Mellothi Othir Mahazioth †al these the sonnes of Heman the Seer of the king in the wordes of God that he might exalt the horne God gaue to Heman fourtene sonnes and three daughters †Al vnder their fathers were distributed to sing in the temple of our Lord on cymbals and psalteries and harpes for the ministeries of the house of our Lord neere the king to witte Asaph and Idithun and Heman †And the number of them with their brethren that taught the songue of our Lord al the teachers two hundred eightie eight †And they did cast lottes by their courses equally as wel the elder as the yonger the learned and the vnlearned together †And the first lotte came forth to Ioseph which was of Asaph The second to Godolias to him and his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The third to Zachur to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The fourth to Isari to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The fifth to Nathanias to his sonnes his brethren twelue †The sixth to Bocciau to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The seueth to Isreela to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The eight to Iesaia to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The ninth to Mathanias to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The tenth to Semeias to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The eleuenth to Azareel to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The twelfth to Hasabia to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The thirtenth to Subacl to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The fourtenth to Mathathias to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The fiftenth to Ierimoth to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The sixtenth to Hananias to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The seuententh to Iesbacassa to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The eightenth to Hanani to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The ninetenth to Mellothi to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The twenteth to Eliatha to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The one and twenteth to Othir to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The two and twenteth to Geddelthi to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The three and twenteth to Mahazioth to his sonnes and his brethren twelue †The foure and twenteth to Romemthiezer to his sonnes and his brethren twelue CHAP. XXVI Porters are designed by lottes to watch at foure gates of the temple 20. others made kepers of the holie treasure and vissel 30. Officers also appointed in the two tribes and half ouer Iordan for Gods seruice and the kinges AND the diuisions of the porters of the Corites Meselemia the sonnes of Core of the sonnes of Asaph †The sonnes of Meselemia Zacharias the first begotten ladihel the second Zabadias the third Iathanael the fourth †Aelam the fifth Iohanan the sixth Elioenai the seuenth †And the sonnes of Obededom Semeias the first begotten Iozabad the second Ioaha the third Sachar the fourth Nathanael the fiifth †Ammiel the sixth Issachar the seuenth Phollathi the eight because our Lord blessed him †And to Semias his sonne were borne sonnes the chiefe of their families for they were most valiant men †the sonnes then of Semeias Oâ—hni and Raphael and Obed Elizabad and his brethren most valiant men Eliu also and Samachias †Al these of the sonnes of Obededom they and their sonnes and their brethren most able to minister sixtie two of Obed-edom †Moreouer the sonnes of Meselemia and their brethren most strong eightene †And of Hosa that is of the sonnes of Merari Semri the prince for he had not a first-begotten and therfore his father made him chief †Helcias the second Tabelias the third Zacharias the fourth al these the sonnes and brethren to Hosa thirtene †These were diuided into porters that the princes also of the watches euen as their brethren might minister in
hostes of sacrifices in the solemne feastes 14. disposeth the Priestes and Leuites in their offices as Dauid had ordained 17. and sendeth shippes to fetch gold from Ophir AND twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon built the house of our Lord and his owne house †he built the cities which Hiram had geuen to Salomon and made the children of Israel dwel there †He went also into Emath Suba and obteyned it †And he built Palmira in the desert and he built other cities very wel fensed in Emath †And he built Beth horon the vpper and Beth horon the nether walled cities hauing gates and barrigates and lockes †Balaath also and al the strongest cities that were Salomons and al the cities of the chariotes and the cities of the horsemen Al thinges whatsoeuer Salomon would disposed he built in Ierusalem and in Libanus and in al the land of his dominion †Al the people that was leaft of the Hetheites and Amorrheites and Pherezeites and Heueites and Iebuseites which were not of the stocke of Israel †of their children and of the posteritie which the children of Israel had not slaine Salomon subdewed to be tributaries vntil this day †Moreouer of the children of Israel he sette not to serue the kinges workes for they were men of warre and the chiefe captaines and princes of his chariotes and horsemen †And al the princes of king Salomons armie were two hundred fiftie which taught the people †But the daughter of Pharao he remoued from the citie of Dauid into the house which he had built for her For the king sayd My wife shal not dwel in the house of Dauid the king of Israel because it is sanctified because the Arke of our Lord is entered into it †Then Salomon offered holocaustes to our Lord vpon the altar of our Lord which he had built before the porch †that euerie day there might be offering on it according to the precept of Moyses in the Sabbathes and in the Calendes and in the festiual daies thrise a yere that is to say in the Solemnitie of Azymes and in the Solemnitie of weekes and in the Solemnitie of tabernacles †And he appoynted according to the disposition of Dauid his father the offices of the Priestes in their ministeries the Leuites in their order that they should prayse and minister before the Priestes according to the rite of euerie day the porters in their diuisions by gate and gate for so Dauid the man of God had commanded †Neither did they trangresse of the kinges commandementes as wel the Priestes as the Leuites touching al thinges that he had commanded and in the custodies of the treasures †Salomon had al expenses prepared from the day that he founded the house of our Lord vntil the day wherein he perfitted it †Then went Salomon into Asiongaber and into Ailath to the coast of the Red sea which is in the Land of Edom. †And Hiram sent vnto him by the handes of his seruantes shippes and cunning mariners and they went with Salomons seruantes into Ophir and they tooke from thence foure hundred fiftie talentes of gold and brought it to king Salomon CHAP. IX The Queene of Saba admireth Salomons wisdom 9. giueth and receiueth presents 13. Of the great store of treasure which is yearely brought in 13. king Salomon maketh pretious armour 17. a throne 20. and plate 24. Other kinges send him giftes so he abundeth in glorie and riches 29. After fourtie yeares reigne he dieth and his sonne Roboam succedeth THE queene of Saba also when she had heard the fame of Salomon came to proue him in hard propositions in Ierusalem with great riches and camels which caried spices and very much gold and pretious stones And when she was come to Salomon she spake to him what thinges soeuer were in her hart †And Salomon expounded to her al thinges that she propounded neither was there anie thing that he made not playne vnto her †Who after she saw to witte the wisedom of Salomon and the house which he had built †moreouer also the meates of his table and the habitations of his seruantes and the offices of his ministers and their garmentes the cupbearers also and their garmentes and the victimes which he immolated in the house of our Lord there was no spirit in her anie longer she was soe astonied †And she sayd to the king The word is true which I heard in my countrie of thy vertues and wisdom †I did not beleue them that told it vntil my self was come and mine eies had seene and I had proued scarce the half part of thy wisedom to haue beene told me thou hast passed the fame with thy vertues †Blessed are thy men and blessed are thy seruantes which assist before thee at al time and heare thy wisedom †Be the Lord thy God blessed who would ordayne thee ouer his throne king of the Lord thy God Because God loueth Israel and wil preserue it for euer therfore hath he sette thee king ouer it to doe iudgementes and iustice †And she gaue to the king an hundred twentie talentes of gold and spices exceding much and most pretious stones there were not such spices as these which the Queene of Saba gaue to King Salomon †But the seruantes of Hiram also with the seruantes of Salomon brought gold from Ophir and Thymtrees and most pretious stones †wherof the king made to witte of the Thymtrees stayers in the house of our Lord and in the kinges house harpes also and psalteries for the singing men neuer were there seene such trees in the Land of Iuda †And king Salomon gaue to the Queene of Saba al thinges that she would and that she asked and manie moe thinges then she brought to him who returning went into her countrie with her seruantes †And the weight of the gold that was brought to Salomon euerie yeare was six hundred sixtie six talentes of gold †beside that summe which the legates of diuers nations and the merchantes were accustomed to bring and al the kinges of Arabia and the Dukes of the landes which brought gold and siluer to Salomon †King Salomon therfore made two hundred golden speares of the summe of six hundred peces of gold which were spent in euerie speare †also three hundred golden shieldes of three hundred peces of gold with which euerie shield was couered and the king put them in the armarie which was besette with a wood †The king also made a great throne of iâ—orie and couered it with most fyne gold †Six steppes also wherwith the going vp was to the throne and a foote stoole of gold and two litle armes on either side and two lions standing by the litle armes †yea and other twelue litle lions standing vpon the steppes on both sides there was not such a throne in al kingdomes †Al the vessels also of the kinges table were of gold
of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie †For the most impious Athalia and her children haue destroyed the house of God and of al thinges that had bene sanctified in the temple of our Lord they adorned the temple of Baalim †The king therfore commanded and they made a chest and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side †And it was proclaymed in Iuda and Ierusalem that euery man should bring the price to our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God appoynted ouer al Israel in the desert †And al the princes reioysed and al the people and going in they contributed into the chest of our Lord and cast in so that it was filled †And when it was time that they should bring the chest before the king by the handes of Leuites for they saw much money the kinges Scribe went in and he whom the high priest had appoynted they powred out the money that was in the chest recaried it to his place and so did they from day to day and there was gathered infinite money †Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them that ouersaw the workes of the house of our Lord but they hired with it hewers of stones and artificers of al workes to repayre the house of our Lord smithes also of yron and brasse that that which began to fal might be vpholden †And they that wrought did industriously and the breach of the walles was closed by their handes and they raysed the house of our Lord into the old state and made it stand firmely †And when they had accomplished al the workes they brought the rest of the money before the king and Ioiada of the which were made vessels of the temple to the ministerie and for holocaustes phials also and other vessels of gold and siluer and holocaustes were offered in the house of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada †But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old †And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges because he had done good with Israel and with his house †And after that Ioiada was dead the princes of Iuda went in and adored the king who being altered by their seruiceablenesse agreed to them †And they forsooke the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers and serued groues and sculptilles and there came wrath agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem for this sinne †And he sent them prophetes that they should returne to our Lord whom protesting they would not heare †The spirit of God therfore inuested Zacharias the sonne of Ioiada the Priest he stood in the sight of the people and sayd to them Thus sayth our Lord God Why transgresse you the precept of our Lord which thing shal not profit you haue forsaken our Lord that he should forsake you †Who being gathered agaynst him they threw stones according to the kinges commandement in the court of the house of our Lord. †And Ioas the king did not remember the mercie that Ioiada his father had done with him but he killed his sonne Who when he died sayd Our Lord see and require it †And when a yeare was come about the armie of Syria came vp against him it came into Iuda Ierusalem slewe al the princes of the people and al the pray they sent to the king into Damascus †And wheras there was come a very smal number of the Syrians our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers on Ioas also they exercised ignomious iudgementes †And departing they left him in great diseases and his seruantes rose agaynst him for reuenge of the bloud of the sonne of Ioiada the priest they slewe him in his bed he dyed and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid but not in the kinges sepulchres †And there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse †Moreouer his children and the summe of money which was gathered vnder him the repayring of the house of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges and Amasias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXV Amasias killeth those that slew his father 5. Besides his owne people hyreth souldiars of Israel but by aduise of a Prophete dismisseth them 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans whose idols taken in battel 13. the dismissed souldiars in the meane time spoyling his countrie he adoreth 15. Contemning admonition 17. and prouoking the king of Israel to warre 22. is taken in battel and spoyled 27. Fearing treason in Ierusalem fleeth and is slaine in Lachis FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amasias when he began to reigne and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ierusalem †And he did good in the sight of our Lord but yet not in a perfect hart †And when he saw his kingdom strengthned he put to death the seruantes that had slayne the king his father †but their children he slew not as it is writen in the Booke of the law of Moyses where our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not be slayne for the children nor the children for their fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne †Amasias therfore gathered together Iuda and appoynted them by families and tribunes and centurions in al Iuda and Beniamin and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward and found three hundred thousand of yong men that went forth to battel and held speare and shielde †He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand strong men for an hundred talentes of siluer †But a man of God came to him and sayd O king let not the host of Israel goe forth with thee for our Lord is not with Israel and al the children of Ephraim †and if thou thinke that battels consist in the force of an armie God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies for it perteyneth to God both to helpe and to put to flight †And Amasias sayd to the man of God What shal become then of the hundred talentes which I haue geuen the souldiars of Israel And the man of God answered him Our Lord hath wherby he is able to geue thee much more then this †Amasias therfore seperated the host that came to him out of Ephraim that they should returne into their place but they being wrath excedingly agaynst Iuda returned into their countrie †Moreouer Amasias brought forth his people confidently and went into the Vale of salt pittes and stroke the children of Seir ten thousand †And other ten thousand men did the children of Iuda take and bring to the steepe of a certaine rocke and cast them down headlong from the toppe who burst in sunder euerie one †But
heauen to burne his sacrifice thereby confounding foure hundred and fifty false prophets of Baal 6. By prayer procured rayne 3. Reg. 18. 7. Fasted vvithout eating or drincking fourtie daies and nightes together 3. Reg. 19. 8. Procured fire from heauen which deuoured two insolent captaines and their hundred men 4. Reg. 1. 9. Diuided the riuer of Iordan vvith his cloke that himselfe and Elisens passed ouer the drie chanel 10. VV as assumpted in a firie chariote into some place vvhere he yet liueth And parting a vvay Obtained of God the like duble spirit of prophecie and miracles to Eliseus In like maner Eliseus 1. diuided Iordan againe by Elias cloke and so returned to his disciples 2. Amended the bitternes of certaine waters by casting in salte 3. Boies being cursed by him for deriding him were forth vvith torne by beares 4. Reg. 2. 4. He procured water without rayne for three kinges in the campe 4. Reg. 3. 5. Multiplied a poore vvidovves Oile 6. By his prayers barren woman became frutefull 7. He raised her sonne from death 8. Made the bitter broth of his disciples sweete 9. Fedde maine with few loaues 4. Reg. 4. 10. Cured Naaman of leprosie 11. Stroke Giezi with the same 4. Reg. 5. 12. Naaman of leprosie 11. Stroke Giezi with the same 4. Reg. 5. 12. Made yron to swimme 13. Knewe the secret counsels of the Syrian king 14. Made one see horsemen and firie chariotes which to others were inuisible 15. Made the Syrianes blinde that vvere sent to apprehend him and so ledde them into samaria 16. For shewed vnexpected plentie of corne the next day VVith the death of a great man that would not beleue it 4. Reg. 7. 17. And after his death an other mans dead bodie touching his bones reuiued 4. Reg. 13. Other Prophets vvrought also miracles but these for example may suffice to she vve that God preserued religion also in the kingdome of Israel VVhich himselfe further testified euen in most desolate times vvhen Elias lamented that he vvas leift alone 3. Reg. 19. For God ansvvered that seuen thousand meaning therby a great multitude had not bowed their knees to Baal not so much as in out vvard she vve conformed themselues to infidelitie or idolatrie Iehu in his time destroyed all the worshippers of Baal 4. Reg. 10. But none at anie time could wholy destroy true Israelites For God would not suffer it 4. Reg. 14. v. 27. Yea not vvithstanding diuers notorious heresies vvere preached folovved in that kingdome of the Tenne tribes yet ab did not fall nor embrace them Iecoboam not onlie made and set vp golden calues but also taught that they vvere Gods saying Behold thy goddes O Israel which brought thee out of the land of Aegypt 3. Reg. 12. making temples altars and imaginarie priestes which were not of the children of Leui. Also a feast the fiftenth day of the moneth after the similitude of the solemnitie that was celebrated in Iuda Al which the holie Scripture saith He fourged of his owne hart The very propertie of Archeretickes But the true Priestes Leuites and manic others that had geuen their hart to seke our Lord went into Ierusalem to immolate theire victimes before our Lord the God of their fathers 2 Par. 11. Yea Naaman a stranger of Syria and a Neophite in religion taught by his example that none may yeld conformitie nor otherwise communicate with Infideles then Gods Priests or Prophetes approue for lawful 4. Reg. 5. Vnto this heresie of leroboam Achab by Iezabels perswasion added the worshipping of Baal as God 3. Reg. 16. making both temple and altar to him in Samaria Ieroboams priests seruing fitly this purpose Though al the former heretikes no more agreed to this new heresie then Iutherans now admitte of Caluinisme For Iehua Ieroboamite destroyed al Iezabilits that he could by a stratageme gette together 4. Reg. 10. v. 28. 29. Muchlesse did al Israel serue Baal Againe after that Salmanazar king of Assyria had taken Samaria and placed there a new people 4. Reg. 17. they learning the rites of the Israelits religion mixed their Paganisme there with and made a new heresie or rather manie new heresies For being diuers nations they had in seueral conuentieles their particular goddes and so manie diuers Sects The Babylonians Cutheites Emathites Heueites and Sapharuaimites 4. Reg. 17. But as the Priestes which taught them rites of true religion allowed not of this mixture so doubtles some people harkened to their admonitions and kept religion simply and sincerely And at this very time of the Tenne tribes captiuitie holie Tobias who was carried captiue with the rest neither before nor after the captiuitie leift the law of God But went to Ierusalem when others serued leroboams golden calues to the Temple of our Lord and there adored the Lord God of Israel And in captiuitie bestowed himselfe in workes of mercie towardes the liuing and dead of his nation Tob. 1. As for the kingdom of Iuda it was more free from heresies For very few or none of those kinges that fell to other grosse enormities yea to manifest idolatrie became heretikes as is probablie collected by that Isaias the Prophet being sent to Achaz admonished him conuersed and dealt with him as with one that beleued wholly and solely true religion assuring him that God would protect Ierusalem bidding him not to feare the two smoking firebrandes in the wrath of Rasin king of Syria and of Phacce king of Israel Isa 7. Further bidding him aske a singe of God he answered though frovvardliâ— yet not as an infidel I wil not aske and I wil not tempt our Lord. Yea though Vrias the High Priest by commandment of the same king 4 Reg. 16. made a new altar in place of Gods Altar yet he erred not in faith nor in doctrine as teaching in Moyses chayre but in fact onclie and of frailtie for feare of the king aâ— the king offended in his externall act to slatter the king of Syria And in this case God sent Isaiâ—â— to admonish the king which Vrias neglected or durst not do Likwise Ioram 4. Reg. 8 2. Par. 21. Ochozias 2. Par. 22. Ioas in the latter part of his life 2. Par. 24. Manasses in the former part of his reigne 4. Reg. 2. 2. Par 33. and sowe other kinges of Iuda committing idolatrie and making others to fall with them either were not wholie peruerted or at least drew not al with them For not onlie Prophets in whose hand or ministerie God spake and reproued these sinnes but manie others kept their Zele of true religion as appeared in their promptnes to serue God when by good kinges Asa Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias and others they were exhorted or admitted so to do 4. Reg. 18. 23. 2. Par. 15. 17. 29. 30. 31. 33. 34. c. Finally wheras diuers good princes disposed thinges belonging to Diuine seruice in the temple correcting faultes and
consecrated and in al wherein there was offered voluntarily a gift to our Lord. †From the first day of the seuenth moneth they began to offer holocaust to our Lord moreouer the temple of God was not yet founded †And they gaue money to hewers of sâ—ones and to masons meate also and drinke and oyle to the Sidonians and Tyrians that they should bring ceder trees from Libanus to the sea vnto Ioppe according to that which Cyrus the king of the Persians had commanded them †And in the second yeare of their coming to the temple of God in Ierusalem the second moneth began Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec and the rest of their brethren the Priestes and the Leuites and al that were come from the captiuitie into Ierusalem and they appoynted Leuites from twentie yeares and vpward that they should hasten forward the worke of our Lord. †And Iosue stood and his sonnes and his brethren Cedmihel and his sonnes and the children of Iuda as it were one man that they might be instant vpon them that did the worke in the temple of God the sonnes of Henadad and their sonnes and their brethren Leuites †The temple therfore of our Lord being founded by the masons the Priestes stood in their attyro with trumpettes and the Leuites the children of Asaph in cymbals to prayse God by the handes of Dauid the king of Israel †And they sang together in hymnes and confession to our Lord Because he is good because his mercie is for euer vpon Israel Al the people also made a shoute with a lowde crie in praysing our Lord because the temple of our Lord was founded †Verie manie also of the Priestes and the Leuires and the princes of the fathers the ancients that had seene the former temple when they saw this temple founded they wept with a lowd voyce and manie shouting in ioy lifted vp their voyce †Neither could anie man discerne the voice of the crie of them that reioyced and the voice of the weeping of the people for one with an other the people â—howted with alowd crie and the voice was heard far of CHAP. IIII. The schismatical Samaritanes because they are not admitted to communicate With the lewes endeuour to hinder the building of the Temple 5. Which neuertheles procedeth al the dayes of king Cyrus 7. but is hundered by Artaxerxes til the second yeare of Darius BVT the enemies of Iuda and Beniamin heard that the children of the captiuitie built a temple to our Lord the God of Israel †And coming to Zorobabel and the princes of the fathers they sayd to them Let vs build with you because euen as you so do we seeke your God Behold we haue immolated victimes from the dayes of Asor Haddan the king of Assur which brought vs hither †And Zorobabel sayd to them and Iosue and the rest of the princes of the fathers of Israel It is not for you and vs to build a house to our God but we our selues alone wil build to the Lord our God as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath coÌ„manded vs. †It came to passe therfore that the people of the land hindred the handes of the people of Iuda and trubled them in building †And they hyred counselers agaynst them to destroy theyr counsel al the dayes of Cyrus the king of the Persians vntil the reigne of Darius theking of the Persians †And in the reigne of Assuerus in the begining of his reigne they wrote an accusation against the inhabitantes of Iuda and Ierusalem †And in the dayes of Artaxerxes Bâ—selam Mitridates Thabeel the rest that were in theyr counsel writ to Artaxcrxes king of the Persians and the epistle of the accusation was writen in Syriake and was read in the Sirian language †Reum Beelreem and Samsai scribe wrote one epistle from Ierusalem to Artaxerxes the king of this tenure †Reum Beelteem and Samsai scribe and the rest of their counselers the Dineites and the Apharsathaceites the Terphaleites the the Apharseiâ—es the Erchueites the Babylonians the Susanecheites the Dieuites and the Aelamites †and the rest of the Gentiles which Asenaphar the great and glorious transported and made them dwel in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the countries beyond the Riuer in peace †this is the copie of the epistle which they sent to him To Artaxerxes the king thy seruantes the men that are beyond the Riuer send greeting †Be it knowen to the king that the lewes which came vp from thee to vs are come into Ierusalem a rebellious and naughtie citie which they build making the rampyres thereof and repayring the walles †Now therfore be it knowen to the king that if that citie shal be built and the walles therof repayred they will not geue tribute and tolle yearly rentes and this damage wil come euen to the kinges †But we mindful of the salt that we haue eaten in the palace and because we count it heynous to see the kings harmes therfore we haue sent and certified the king †that thou recount in the bookes of the histories of thy fathers and thou shalt finde writen in the commentaries and shalt know that that citie is a rebellious citie and hurtful to the kinges and prouinces and battels are raysed in it of old time for the which cause also the citie it selfe was destroyed †We certifie the king that if that citie shal be built and the walles therof repayred thou shalt haue no possession beyond the Riuer †The king sent word to Reum Beelteem and Samsai scribe and to the rest that were in their counsel inhabitantes of Samaria and to the rest beyond the Riuer sending greeting and peace †The accusation which you haue sent to vs was openly read before me †and I gaue commandment and they recounted and haue found that that citie of old time rebelleth agaynst the kinges and seditions and battels are raysed in it †For there haue beene also most valiant kinges in Ierusalem which also had dominion ouer al the countrie that is beyond the Riuer They tooke also tribute and rolle and rentes †Now therfore heare the sentence Prohibite ye those men that that citie be not built til it perhaps shal be commanded by me †See that you doe not negligently accomplish this thing and by litle there grow euil agaynst the kinges †Therfore the copie of the edict of Attaxerxes the king was read before Reum Beelteem and Samsai the scribe and their counselers and they went in hast into Ierusalem to the Iewes prohibited them with arme and strength †Then was the worke of the house of our Lord in Ierusalem intermitted and was not done vntil the second yeare of the reigne of Darius the king of the Persians CHAP. V. By the exhortation of Aggaeus and Zacharias the people procede in building the semple 3. VVhich their enimies
striuing to hinder 5. for decision of the cause both parties write to king Darius AND there prophecied Aggeus the Prophete Zacharias the sonne of Addo prophecying to the Iewes that were in Iewrie and Ierusalem in the name of the God of Israel †Then rose vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec and began to build the temple of God in Ierusalem and with them the prophetes of God helping them †But at the same time there came to them Thathanai who was prince beyond the Riuer and Stharbuzanai and their counselers and sayd thus to them Who hath geuen you counsel to build this house and to repayre the walles †Wherto we answered them what the names were of the men that were authors of that building †And the eye of theyr God was set vpon the ancientes of the Iewes and they could not inhibite them And it pleased them that the matter should be reserred to Darius and then they would satisfie agaynst that accusation †The copie of the epistle which Thathanai prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer sent and Stharbuzanai and his counselers the Arphasacheites which were beyond the Riuer to Darius the king †The word which they sent him was writen thus To Darius the king al peace †Be it knowen to the king that we went to Iurie the prouince to the house of the great God which is in building with stone vnpolished and timber is put in the walles and that worke is in building diligently and groweth in their handes †We therfore demanded of those ancientes and thus we sayd to them Who hath geuen you authoritie to build this house to repaire these walles †Yea and their names we asked of them that we might certifie thee and we writte the names of those men that are the chiefe amongst them †And they answered vs these wordes sayng We are the seruantes of the God of heauen earth and we do build a temple that was built these manie yeares before and which a great king of Israel built and set vp †But after that our fathers prouoked the God of heauen to wrath he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldee this house also he destroyed and his people he transported into Babylon †But in the first yeare of Cyrus the king of Babylon Cyrus the king put forth an edict that this house of God should be built †For the vesseles also of the temple of God of gold and of siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple that was in Ierusaleâ—m and had caried them into the temple of Babylon Cyrus the king brought forth out of the temple of Babylon and they were geuen to Sassabasar so called whom also he appointed the chiefe †and sayd to him Take these vessels and goe and put them in the temple that is in Ierusalem and let the house of God be built in his place †Then therfore came this Sassabasar and layd the foundations of the temple of God in Ierusalem and from that time vntil now it is in building and is not yet finished †Now therfore if it seeme good to the king let him search in the kings librarie which is in Babylon whether it hath beene commanded by Cyrus the king that the house of God in Ierusalem should be built and let him send the kings pleasure concerning this thing vnto vs. CHAP. VI. Darius finding in the register that Cyrus gaue licence to build the Temple commandeth that none binder it 8. geueth also money towardes the charges and hostes for sacrifice Then Darius the king commanded and they searched in the librarie of the bookes that were layd vp in Babylon †and there was found in Ecbatanis which is a castle in the prouince Medena one volume and there was such a coÌ„mentarie writen therein †In the first yeare of Cyrus the king Cyrus the king decreed that the house of God should be built which is in Ierusalem in the place where they immolate hostes and that they lay the foundations supporting the height of threescore cubites the bredth of threescore cubites †three rewes of stones vnpolished so rewes of new timber and the costes shal be geuen out of the kings house †Yea the vessels of the temple of God of gold of siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple of Ierusalem and had brought them into Babylon let them be restored brought baâ—ke into the temple of Ierusalem vnto their place which also were put in the temple of God †Now therfore Thathanai prince of the countrie that is beyond the Riuer Stharubazanai and your counselers the Apharsacheites which are beyond the Riuer depart farre from them †and suffer that temple of God to be made of the duke of the Iewes and of their ancientes that they may build that house of God in his place †Also there is coÌ„mandment geuen from me what must be done of those ancientes of the Iewes that the house of God may be built to witre that of the kings coffer that is of the tributes that are geuen out of the countrie beyond the Riuer the charges be diligently geuen to those men lest the worke be hindred †And if it shal be necessarie calues also and lambes and kiddes for holocaust to the God of heauen wheate salt wyne and oyle according to the rite of the Priestes that are in Ierusalem let there be geuen them day dy day that there be no complaynte in any thing †And let them offer oblations to the God of heauen and pray for the life of the king and of his children †By me therfore there is a decree made That euerie man which shal alter this commandement there be a beame taken of his house and set vp and he be fast hanged vpon it and his house be confiscate †And the God that hath made his name to dwel there destroy alkingdomes and the people that shal extend theyr hand to resist to destroy the house of God that is in IerusaleÌ„ â— Darius haue made the decree which I wil to be diligently accoÌ„plished †Therfore Thathanai the prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer and Stharbuzani and his counselers according to that which Darius the king had commanded so did execute it diligently †And the ancientes of the Iewes built and prospered according to the prophecie of Aggeus the prophet and of Zacharias the sonne of Addo and they built and set vp the God of Israel commanding and Cyrus commanding and Darius and Artaxerxes the kings of the Persians †And they were finishing this house of God vntil the third day of the moneth of Adar which is the sixth yeare of Darius the king †And the children of Israel the Priestes and the Leuites and the rest of the transmigration made the dedication of the house of God in ioy †And they offered in the dedication of the house
of God calues an hundred rammes two hundred lambes foure hundred buckgoates for the sinne of al Israel twelue according to the number of the tribes of Israel †And they set the Priestes in theyr orders and the Leuites in theyr courses ouer the workes of God in Ierusalem as it is writen in the booke of Moyses †And the children of Israel of the transmigration made the Phase the fourtenth day of the first moneth †For al the Priestes and the Leuites were purified as it were one man al cleane to immolate the Phase for al the children of the transmigration and for theyr brethren the Priestes and them selues †And the children of Israel that were returned from the transmigration did eate and al that had separated them selues from the coinquination of the Gentiles of the earth vnto them to seeke our Lord the God of Israel †And they made the solemnitie of Azymes seuen dayes in ioy because our Lord had made them ioyful and had turned the hart of the king of Assur to them that he should helpe theyr handes in the worke of the house of our Lord the God of Israel CHAP. VII Esdras with manie other Priestes and Leuites ascendeth to â—erusalem to teach and assist the people 11. bringing Artaxerxes Edict declareth it to the people 27. and geueth thankes to God AND after these thinges in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persians Esdras the sonne of Saraias the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helcias †the sonne of Sellum the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob †the sonne of Amarias the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Maraioth †the sonne of Zarahias the sonne of Ozi the sonne of Bocci †the sonne of Abisue the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest from the begynning †The same Esdras came vp from Babylon and he was a quicke scribe in the law of Moyses which our Lord God gaue to Israel and the king gaue him according to the hand of our Lord his God vpon him al his petition †And there came vp of the children of Israel and of the children of the Priestes and of the children of the Leuites and of the singing men and of the porters and of the Nathineites into Ierusalem in the seuenth yeare of Artaxerxes the king †And they came into Ierusalem the fifth moneth that is the seuenth yeare of the king †For in the first day of the first moneth he began to goe vp from Babylon and in the first day of the fifth moneth he came into Ierusalem according to the good hand of his God vpon him †For Esdras prepared his hart to search the law of our Lord and to doe and to teach in Israel preceptes and iudgement †And this is the copie of the epistle of the edict which king Artaxerxes gaue to Esdras the Priest the learned scribe in the wordes and preceptes of our Lord and his ceremonies in Israel †Artaxerxes the king of kings to Esdras the Priest the most learned scribe of the law of God of heaueÌ„ greeting †It is decreed by me that whoÌ„soeuer it shal please in my kingdom of the people of Israel and of the Priestes and Leuites to goe into IerusaleÌ„ let him goe with thee †For thou art sent from the face of the king and of his seuen counselers that thou mayst visite Iewrie and Ierusalem in the law of thy God which is in thy hand †And that thou maist carie the siluer gold which the king his counselers haue voluntarily offered to the God of Israel whose tabernacle is in Ierusalem †And al the siluer and gold whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in al the prouince of Babylon and the people wil offer and of the Priestes that shal voluntarely offer to the house of theyr God which is in Ierusalem †take freely and bye diligently of this money calues rammes lambes and the sacrifices and libamentes of them and offer them vpon the altar of the temple of your God that is in Ierusalem †Yea and if it shal please thee and thy brethren to doe any thing with the rest of the siluer and gold doe ye according to the wil of your God †The vâ—â—â—els also which are geuen thee for the ministerie of the house of thy God deliuer thou in the sight of God in Ierusalem †Yea and other thinges wherof neede shal be for the house of thy God how much soeuer is necessarie for thee to spend thou shalt geue it out of the treasure and excheker of the king and from me †I Artaxerxes the king haue appointed and decreed to al the keepers of the common coffer that are beyond the Riuer that whatsoeuer Esdras the Priest the scribe of the law of God of heauen shal aske of you you geue it without delay †vnto an hundred talentes of siluer and vnto an hundred cores of wheat and vnto an hundred bates of wyne and vnto an hundred bates of oyle but salt without measure †Al that pertayneth to the rite of the God of heauen let it be geuen diligently in the house of the God of heauen lest perhaps he be angrie agaynst the kingdom of the king and of his sonnes †We doe you also to vnderstand concerning al the Priestes and Leuites and the singers and the porters the Nathineites and ministers of the house of this God that you haue no authoritie to put tolle and â—ribute and yearlie rentes vpon them †And thou Esdras according to the wisedom of thy God which is in thy hand appoyâ—t iuâ—ges and presidentes that they may iudge for al the people that is beyond the Riuer that is for them which know the law of thy God yea and the ignorant teach ye frely †And euerie one that shal not doe the law of thy God and the law of thy king diligently there shal be iudgement of him either vnto death or into banishment or to the confiscation of his substance or at the least into prison †Blessed be our Lord the God of our fathers which hath put this in the kinges hart that he would glorifie the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem †and hath inclined his mercie toward me before the king and his counselers and al the mightie princes of the king and Itaking courage by the hand of our Lord my God which was on me gathered together out of Israel princes that should goe vp with me CHAP. VIII Esdras reciteth those that came with him from Babylon 21. the fast which â—e appointed 33. and how they brought the holie vessel into the Temple THESE therfore are the princes of the families and the genealogie of them that came vp with me in the reigne of Artaxerxes the king out of Babylon †Of the children of Phinees Gersom Of the children of Ithamar Daniel Of the children of Dauid Hattus †Of the children of Sechenias the children of Pharos Zacharias and with him were
as also at this day †And now as it were a litle and for a moment was our prayer made before the Lord our God that a remnant might be left vs and a nayle might be geuen vs in his holie place and that our God would illuminate our eies and would geue vs a litle life in our bondage †Because we are bondmen and in our bondage our God â—id not forsake vs he inclined mercie vpon vs before the king of the Persians to geue vs life and to aduance the house of our God and to build the desolations therof and to geue vs a hedge in Iuda and Ierusalem †And now what shal we fay ô our God after these thinges because we haue forsaken thy coÌ„mandmeÌ„ts †which thou hast coÌ„manded in the hand of thy seruantes the prophetes saying The land to the which you enter to possesse it is an vncleane land according to the vncleannesse of peoples and of other landes by the abhominations of them that haue filled it from mouth vnto mouth in theier coinquination †Now therfore geue not your daughters to their sonnes and their daughters take not for your sonnes and doe ye not seeke their peace and their prosperity for euer that you may be strengthned and may eate the goodes that are of the land and may haue your children heyres for euer †And after al thinges that come vpon vs in our most wicked workes and our most great sinne because thou our God hast deliuered vs from our iniquitie and hast geuen vs health as it is at this day 〈◊〉 †that we shal not turne away and make frustrate thy commandementes neither should ioyne matrimonies with the peoples of these abominations Why art thou angrie with vs vnto vtter destruction not to leaue vs a remnant vnto saluation †Lord God of Israel thou artiust because we are leift which should be saued as at this day Behold we are before thee in our sinne for there can be no standing before thee vpon this CHAP. X Esdras calling the people together commandeth them to dismisse the strange Wemen which they haue married 14 appointing officers to see it executed 18 and reciteth those Which had married such wemen ESDRAS therfore thus praying and beseeching and weeping and lying before the temple of God there was gathered to him of Israel an exceeding great companie of men and wemen and children and the people wept with much lamentation †And Sechenias the sonne of Iehiel of the children of Aelam answered and said to Esdras We haue transgressed against our God and haue taken to wiues strange wemen of the peoples of the land and now if there be penance in Israel vpon this †let vs make a couenant with the Lord our God to put away al the wiues and them that are borne of them according to the wil of our Lord and of them that feare the precept of the Lord our God be it done according to the law †Arise it is thy part to discerne and we wil be with thee take courage and doe it †Esdras therefore rose vp and adiured the Princes of the Priestes and of the Leuites and al Israel that they should doe according to this word and they sware †And Esdras rose vp before the house of God and went to the chamber of Iohanan the sonne of Eliasib and entered into it he did eate no bread and dranke no water for he mourned for the transgression of them that were come out of the captiuitie †And there was a proclamation sent in Iuda and Ierusalem to al the children of the transmigration that they should assemble together into Ierusalem †And euerie one that shal not come within three dayes according to the counsel of the princes and ancientes al his substance shal be taken away and him selfe shal be cast out of the companie of the transmigration †There assembled therfore al the men of Iuda and Beniamin into Ierufalem within three dayes that is the ninth moneth the twenteth day of the moneth and al the people sate in the streate of the house of God trembling for the sinne and the rayne †And Esdas the Priest arose and sayd to them You haue transgressed and taken strange wemen to wife to adde vpon the sinne of Israel †And now geue confession to our Lord the God of your fathers and doe his pleasure and be separated from the peoples of the land and from your wiues the strangers †And al the multitude answered and sayd with a lowde voyce According to thy word vnto vs so be it done †Neuerthelesse because there is much people and a tyme of rayne and we can not abyde to stand without and it is not a worke of one day or two for we haue excedingly sinned in this thing †let there be princes appoynted in al the multitude and let al in our cities that haue taken strangers to wife come at sette tymes and with them the ancientes by citie and citie and the iudges therof vntil the wrath of our God be turned away from vs for this sinne †Therfore Ionathan the sonne of Azahel and Iaazia the sonne of Thecua were appoynted ouer this and Mesollam and Sebethai Leuites did helpe them †and the children of the transmigration did so And Esdras the Priest and the men princes of the families went into the houses of theyr fathers and al by theyr names and they sate in the first day of the tenth moneth to search out the matter †And al the men were fully counted that had taken strangers to wife vnto the first day of the first mos neth †And there were found of the sonnes of the Priestes that had taken strangers to wife Of the children of Iosue the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren Maasia and Eliezer and Iarib and Godolia †And they gaue theyr handes to put away theyr wiues and to offer for theyr offence a ramme of the flocke †And of the children of Emmer Hanani and Zebedia †And of the children of Harim Maasia and Elia and Semeia and Iehiel and Ozias †And of the children of Pheshur Elionai Maasia Ismael Nathanael Iozabed and Elasa †And of the children of the Leuites Iozabed and Semei and Celaia the same is Calita Phataia Iuda and Eliezer †And of the singing men Eliasib and of the porters Sellum and Thelem and Vri. †And of Israel of the children of Pharos Remeia and Iezia and Melchia and Miamin and Eliezer and Melchia and Banea †And of the children of Aelam Mathania Zacharias and Iehiel and Abdi and Ierimoth and Elia. †And of the children of Zethua Elioenai Eliasib Mathania Ierimuth and Zabad and Aziza †And of the children of Bebai Iohanan Hanamia Zabbai Athalai †And of the children of Bani Mosollam and Melluch and Adaia Iasub and Saal and Ramoth †And of the children of Phahath Moab Edna and Chalal Bananias and Maasias Mathanias Beseleel Bennui and Manasse †And of
seruants of Salomon †And in Ierusalem there dwelt of the children of Iuda and of the children of Beniamin of the children of Iuda Athaias the sonne of Aziam the sonne of Zacharias the sonne of Amarias the sonne of Saphatias the sonne of Malaleel of the children of Phares †Maasia the sonne of Baruch the sonne of Cholhoza the sonne of Hazia the sonne of Adaia the sonne of Ioiarib the sonne of Zacharias the sonne of a Silonite †Al these the childeren of Phares which dwelt in Ierusalem foure hundred sixtie eight valiant men †And these are the childeren of Beniamin Sellum the sonne of Mosollam the sonne of Ioed the sonne of Phadaia the sonne of Colaia the sonne of Masia the sonne of Etheel the sonne of Isaia †and after him Gebbai Sellai nine hundred twentie eight †and Ioel the sonne of Zechri the ouerseer of them and Iudas the sonne of Senua second ouer the citie †And of the Priestes Idaia the sonne of Ioarib Iachim †Saraia the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Mosollam the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Meraioth the sonne of Achitob the prince of the house of God †and their bretheren that doe the workes of the temple eight hundred twentie two And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham the sonne of Phelelia the sonne of Amsi the sonne of Zacharias the sonne of Pheshur the sonne of Melchias †and his bretheren the princes of the fathers two hundred fourtie two And Amassai the sonne of Azreel the sonne of Ahazi the sonne of Mosolamoth the sonne of Emmer †and their bretheren exceding mightie an hundred twentie eight and their ouerseer Zabdiel sonne of the mightie ones †And of the Leuites Semeia the sonne of Hasub the sonne of Azaricam the sonne of Hasabia the sonne of Boni †and Sabathai and Iozabed ouer al the workes that were without the house of God of the princes of the Leuites †And Mathania the sonne of Micha the sonne of Zebedei the sonne of Asaph prince to prayse and to confesse in prayer and Becbecia second of his bretheren and Abda the sonne of Samua the sonne of Galal the sonne of Idithum †Al the Leuites in the holie citie two hundred eightie foure †And the porters Accub Telmon and their bretheren which kept the dores an hundred seuentie two †And the rest of Israel the Priestes and the Leuites in al the cities of Iuda euerie man in his possession †And the Nathineites that dwelt in Ophel and Siaha and Gaspha of the Nathineites †And the ouerseer of the Leuites in Ierusalem Azzi the sonne of Bani the sonne of Hasabia the sonne of Mathania the sonne of Micha Of the childeren of Asaph the singing men in the ministerie of the house of God †For the kings commandment was vpon them and an order among the singing men day by day †And Phathahia the sonne of Mesezebel of the childeren of Zara the sonne of Iuda in the hand of the king according to euerie word of the people †and in the houses through al their countries Of the children of Iuda there dwelt in Cariatharbe in her daughters and in Dibon and in her daughters and in Cabseel and in the villages thereof †and in Iesue and in Molada and in Bethphaleth †and in Hasersual and in Bersabee in her daughters †and in Siceleg and in Mochona and in her daughters †and in Remmon and in Saraa and in Ierimuth †Zanoa Odollam and in their townes Lachis and in her countries Azeca and in her daughters And they abode in Bersabee vnto the vale of Ennom †And the childeren of Beniamin of Geba Mecmas and Hai and Bethhel and her daughters †in Anathoth Nob Anania †Asor Rama Gethaim †Hadid Seboim and Neballac Lod †and Ono the valley of artificers †And of the Leuites were portions of Iuda and Beniamin CHAP. XII The names and offices of Priestes and Leuites which came with Zorobabel and Iosue to Ierusalem 27. with great solemnitie of thanksgeuing 31 watchmen are oppoynted on the new walles 45. and Kâ—peres of the holy treasure AND these are the Priestes and Leuites that came vp with Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iosue Saraia Ieremias Esdras †Amaria Melluch Hattus †Sebenias Rheum Merimuth †Addo Genthon Abia †Miamin Madia Belga †Semeia and Ioiarib Idaia Sellum Amoc Helcias †Idaia These are the Princes of the Priestes and their bretheren in the daies of Iosue †Moreouer the Leuites Iesua Bennui Cedmihel Sarebia Iuda Mathanias ouer the hymnes they their bretheren †And Becbecia and Hannia and their bretheren euerie one in his office †And Iosue begatte Ioacim and Ioacim begate Eilasib and Eliasib begate Ioiada †and Ioiada begate Ionathan and Ionathan begate Ieddoa †And in the daies of Ioacim the Priestes and Princes of the families were Of Saraia Maraia Of Ieremias Hanania †Of Esdras Mosellam and of Amaria Iohanan †Of Milicho Ionathan o Sebenia Ioseph †Of Haram Edna Of Maraioth Helci †Of Adaia Zacharia Of Genthon Mosollam †Of Abia Zechri Of Miamin and Moadia Phelti †Of Belga Sammua of Semaia Ionathan †Of Ioiarib Mathanai of Iodaia Azzi †Of Sellai Sellai Of Amoc Heber †Of Helcias Hasebia Of Idaia Nathanael †The Leuites in the daies of Eliasib and Ioaiada and Iohanan and Ieddoa written Princes of the families and the Priestes in the reigne of Darius the Persian †The children of Leui Princes of the families written in the booke of Cronicles of daies and vnto the daies of Ionathan the sonne of Eilasib †And the Princes of the Leuites Hasebia Serebia and Iosue the sonne of Cedmihel their bretheren by their courses to praise and confesse according to the precept of Dauid the man of God and to waite equally in order †Mathania and Becbecia Obedia and Mosollam Telmon Accub keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates †These were in the daies of Ioacim the sonne of Iosue the sonne Iosedec and in the daies of Nehemias the duke and of Esdras the Priest and Scribe †And in the dedication of the wal of Ierusalem they sought Leuites out of al other places to bring them into Ierusalem and to make the dedication and ioy in geuing of thankes and songue and in cimbales psalteries and harpes †And the children of the singing men were gathered together out of the champaine about Ierusalem and out of the townes Nethuphati †and from the house of Galgal and from the countries of Geba and Azmaueth because the singing men did build them selues villages round about Ierusalem †And the Priestes and Leuites were cleansed and they cleansed the people and the gates and the wall †And I made the Princes of Iuda goe vp vpon the wal and I sette two great quyers of them that should praise And they went on the right hand vpon the wal to the gate of the dunghil †And
armie and in the glorie of his chariotes †In the twelfth yeare of his reigne Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians who reigned in Niniue the greate citie fought against Arphaxad and ouer came him †in the great field which is called Ragan about Euphrates and Tigris and Iadason in the field of Erioch the king of the Elicians †Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted and his hart was eleuated and he sent to al that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus and Libanus †and to the nations that are in Carmelus and Cedar and the inhabitantes of Galilee in the great field of Esdrelon †and to al that were in Samaria and beyond the riuer Iordan euen to Ierusalem and al the land of â—esse til you come to the borders of Aethiophia †To al these Nabuchodosor king of the Assyrians sent messengers †Who al with one minde said nay sent them backe emptie and reiected them without honour †Then Nabuchodonosor the king taking indignation against al that land swore by his throne and kingdom that he would reuenge him selfe of al those countries CHAP. II. Nabuchodonosor sendeth Holofernes his General to Waist al countries of the West 7. With a great armie and aboundant munition 11. They subdue manie places and others are strooken With great feare IN the thirtenth yeare of king Nabuchodonosor the two and twenteth day of the first moneth the word was geuen out in the house of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians that he would reuenge him selfe †And he called al the ancientes and al the captaynes and his men of warre and communicated with them the secrete of his counsel †and he said that his cogitation was vpon that to subdew al the earth to his empire †which saying when it had pleased them al Nabuchodonosor the king called Holofernes the General of his warres †and said to him Goe forth against euerie kingdom of the west against them especially that contemned my commandment †Thyne eie shal spare no kingdom and euerie â—ensed citie thou shalt â—ubdew to me †Then Holofernes called the captaynes magistrates of the powre of the Assyrians and he mustered men for the expedition as the king commanded him an hundred twentie thousand fighting men on foote and twelue thousand archers horsemen †And he made al his expedition to goe before in a multitude of inumerable camels with those thinges that might suffice the armies abundantly heardes of oxen also and flockes of sheepe which had no number †He appoynted corne to be prepared out of al Syria in his passage †But gold and siluer he tooke out of the kings house exceding much †And he went forth and al the armie with the chariotes horsemen and the archers which couered the face of the earth as locustes †And when he had passed through the coastes of the Assyrians he came to the great mountaines of Ange which are on the left hand of Cilicia and he went vp into al theit casteles and wonne euerie fortresse †And he brake downe the renowmed citie of Melothus and spoyled al the children of Thersis and the children of Ismael which wete against the face of the desert and on the south of the land of Cellon †And he passed ouer Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia and he brake al the high cities that were there from the torrent of Membre til ye come to the sea †and he tooke the borders therof from Cilicia vnto the coastes of Iapheth which are toward the south †And he caried away al the children of Madian and spoyled al their riches and al that resisted him he slew in the edge of the sword †And after these thinges he went downe into the fieldes of Damascus in the daies of haruest and he set al the corne on fire and he made al the trees and vineyardes to be cut downe †and the feare of him fel vpon al the inhabitantes of the land CHAP. III. Manie kinges and other princes submitte them selues to Holofernes 8. He receiueth them and taketh of their chief men to reinforce his armie 11. neuertheles destroyeth their cities and their goddes that Nabuchodonosor only might be called God THEN the kinges and princes of al cities and prouinces namely of Syria and Mesopotamia and Syria Sobal and Libya and Cilicia sent their embassadours which coming to Holofernes said †Let thy indignation towarde vs cease For it is better that liuing we feare Nabuchodonosor the great king and be subiect to thee then dying we should with our destruction suffer the damages of our seruitude †Euerie citie of ours and al our possession al mountaynes and hilles and fieldes and heardes of oxen and flockes of sheepe and goates and of horses and camels and al our goodes and families are in thy sight †let al our thinges be vnder thy law †We also and our children are thy seruantes †Come to vs a peaceable Lord and vse our seruice as it shal please thee †Then went he downe from the mountaynes with horsemen in a great powre and tooke euerie citie and euerie inhabiter of the land †And of al the cities he tooke to helpe him valiant men and chosen for battel †And so great feare lay vpon al those prouinces that the inhabitantes of al cities princes and honorable persons together with the people went out to meete him coming †receyuing him with garlandes and torches dauncing with timbrels shaulmes †Neither doing these thinges could they for al that mitigate the fiâ—cenesse of his stomacke †for he did both destroy their cities and cut downe their groues †For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him that he should destroy al the goddes of the earth that he only might be called God of those nations which could be subdewed with the might of Holofernes †And passing through al Syria Sobal and al Apamea al Mesopotamia he came to the Idumeians into the land of Gabaa †and tooke their cities and sate there for thirtie dayes in which daies he commanded al the armie of his powre to be vnited CHAP. IIII. The children of Israel excedingly fearing Holofernes forces 3. prouide to resist him by the exhortation of the High Priest vsing both humaine 8. and diuine meanes THEN the children of Israel which dwelt in the Land of Iuda hearing these thinges were sore asrayd of his presence †Trembling also and horrour inuaded their senses lest he would doe that to Ierusalem and to the temple of our Lord which he had done to other cities and their temples †And they sent into al Samaria round about as for as Iericho and preoccupated al the toppes of mountaynes †and they compassed their townes with walles and gathered together corne for prouision of battel †Eliachim the priest wrote to al that were against Esdrelon which is against the face of the great fielde beside Dothain and to al by whom there might be passage of
queene made a feast for the wemen in the palace where king Assuerus had accustomed to remayne †Therfore the seuenth day when the king was merier and after very much drinking was wel warmed with wine he commanded Mâ—umam and Bazatha and Harbona and Bagatha and Abgatha and Zethar and Charchas the seuen eunuches that ministred in his sight †that they should bring in queene Vasthi before the king the crowne set vpon her head that he might shew her beautie to al the peoples and princes for she was exceding beautiful †Who refused and contemned to come at the kings commandment which he had commanded by the eunuches Wherupon the king being wrath and chaffed with exceding furie †asked the wisemen which after the manner of a king were alwayes present with him and he did al thinges by their counsel which knew the lawes and rightes of the elders †and the chiefe and nearest him were Charsena and Sethar and Admatha and Tharsis and Mares and Marsana and Mamuchan seuen dukes of the Persians and of the Medes which saw the face of the king and were wont to sitt first after him †to what sentence Vasthi the queene should be subiect that would not do Assuerus the kings commandment which he had commanded by â—he eunuches †And Mamuchan answered the king hearing and the princes Queene Vasthi hath not only hurt the king but also al peoples and princes that are in al the prouinces of king Assuerus †For the word of the queene wil goe forth to al wemen that they wil contemne their husbands and wil say King Assuerus commanded that the queene Vasthi should come in to him and she would not †And by this example al the wiues of the princes of the Persians and the Medes wil little esteeme the commandmentes of their husbandes wherfore the kings indignation is iust †If it please thee let an edict goe forth from thy face and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of Medes which is not lawful to be transgressed that Vasthi come in no more to the king but an other that is better then she take her kingdome †And let this be published into al the empire of thy prouinces which is most large and let al the wiues as wel of the greater as of the lesser geue honour to their husbandes †His counsel pleased the king and the princes and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan †and he sent letters to al the prouinces of his kingdome as euerie nation could heare and reade in diuers languages and characters that the husbandes should be princes and maisters in their houses and that this should be published through al peoples CHAP. II. Inquirie being made of the best and fairest virgines 5. Esther the vnknowe neece of Mardocheus a â—ew is preferred 18. and made Queene in place of Vasthi a mariage feast made and presentes geuen 21 Mardocheus detecteth traitors and his seruice is recorded in the regester THESE thinges so done after the indignation of king Assuerus was asswaged he remembred Vasthi and what she had done or what she had suffered †and the kings seruantes and his ministers said Let there be maydens sought for the king virgins and beautiful †and let there be sent that may viewe through al prouinces beautiful maydens and virgins and let them bring them to the citie of Susan and deliuer them into the house of wemen vnder the hand of Egeus the eunuch who is ouerseer of the kings wemen and let them receiue wemens ornamentes and other things necessarie to be vsed †And which so euer among al shal please the kings eies let her reigne for Vasthi The word pleased the king and so as they had suggested he commanded to be done †There was a man in the citie of Susan a Iew named Mardocheus the sonne of Iair the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis of the stocke of Iemini †who had beene transported from Ierusalem the same time that Nabucodonosor the king of Babylon transported Iechonias the king of Iuda †who was the foster father of his brothers daughter Edissa which by an other name was called Esther and she had lost both her parentes exceeding beautiful and of comely face And her father and mother being dead Mardocheus adopted her for his daughter †And when the kings commandment was bruited abrode and according to his commandement many fayre virgins were brought to Susan and were deliuered to Fgeus the eunuch Esther also among the rest of the maydens was deliuered to him that she might be kept in the number of the wemen †Who pleased him and found grace in his sight And he commanded the eunuch that he should hasten the wemens ornamentes and should deliuer her her partes seuen the most beautiful maydens of the kings house and should adorne and decke both her and her wayting maydes †Who would not tel him her people and countrie For Mardocheus had commanded her that of this thing she should altogether keepe silence †who walked daily before the entrance of the house wherin the chosen virgins were kept taking care of Esthers welfare and desirous to know what should chance vnto her †And when the time of euerie virgin in order was come that they should goe in to the king al things accomplished that perteyned to wemens ornamentes it was the twelfth moneth yet so that for six monethes they were anoynted with oyle of myrtle and other six monethes they vsed certayne payntings and sweete spices †And going in to the king what soeuer they asked that perteyned to adorning they receiued and being trimmed as it pleased them they passed from the chamber of the wemen to the kings chamber †And she that went in at euening came out in the morning and from thence she was brought to the second house that was vnder the hand of Susagazus the cunuch who was chiefe ouer the kings concubines neither had she power to returne any more to the king vnlesse the king had willed and had commanded her to come by name †And the time by order coming about the day was at hand that Esther the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardocheus whom he had adopted for his daughter should goe in to the king Who sought not wemens ornamentes but whatsoeuer Egeus the eunuch the keper of the virgins would those things he gaue her to her adorning For she was exceding fayre and of incredible beautie she semed to al mens eies gratious and amiable †She therfore was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth moneth which is called Tebeth in the seuenth yeare of his reigne †And the king loued her more then al the wemen and she had grace and mercie before him aboue al the wemen and he put the crowne of the kingdom on her head and made her reigne in steede of Vasthi †And he commanded a verie magnifical feast to be prepared to
al the princes and to his seruantes for the coniunction and mariage of Esther And he gaue rest to al the prouinces and bestowed giftes according to princely magnificence †And when virgins were sought the second time and gathered together Mardocheus taried at the kings gate †neither had Esther as yet vttered her countrie people according to his coÌ„mandment For what soeuer he commanded Esther obserued and she did al thinges so as she was wont at that time when he nourished her a litle one †At that time therfore when Mardocheus abode at the kings gate Bagathan and Thares were angrie two of the kings eunuches that were porters and were chiefe in the first entrie of the palace and they would make insurrection against the king and kil him †Wherof Mardocheus gotte notice and immediatly he told it to queene Esther and she to the king in the name of Mardocheus who had reported the thing vnto her †It was examined and found and they were both hanged on a gibbet And it was put in the histories and registred in the cronicles before the king CHAP. III. Aman aduanced by the king is much offended that Mardocheus doth not adore him 6. and therfore procureth the kings decree to destroy the whole nation of Iewes AFTER these things king Assuerus aduanced Aman the sonne of Amadathi which was of the stocke of Agag he put his throne aboue al the princes which he had †And al the kings seruantes that were in the doores of his pallace bowed their knees and adored Aman for so the emperour had commanded them onlie Mardocheus did not bowe his knee nor adore him †To whom the kings seruantes that were chiefe at the doores of the pallace said Why doest thou aboue the rest not obserue the kings commandment †And when they said this often and he would not heare they told Aman desirous to know whether he would perseuere in his sentence for he had told them that he was a Iew. †Which when Aman had heard and had proued by experience that Mardocheus bowed not his knee vnto him nor adored him he was angrie excedingly †And he counted it a matter of nothing to lay his handes vpon Mardocheus alone for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Iewes and he would rather destroy al the nation of the Iewes that were in the kingdom of Assuerus †The first moneth which is called Nisan in the twelfth yeare of the reigne of Assuerus the lot was cast into a potte which in Hebrew is called Phur before Aman in what day and what moneth the nation of the Iewes should be slayne and there came forth the twelfth moneth which is called Adar †And Aman said to king Assuerus There is a people dispersed through al the prouinces of thy kingdom and separated one from an other vsing new lawes and ceremonies moreouer also contemning the kings ordinances And thou knowest very wel that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they waxe insolent by libertie †If it please thee decree that they may perish and I wil pay ten thousand talentes to the cofferers of thy treasure †The king therfore tooke the ring that he vsed from his hand and gaue it to Aman the sonne of Amadathi of the progenie of Agag the enemie of the Iewes †and he said to him The siluer which thou doest promise be it thine but concerning the people doe that which pleaseth thee †And the kings scribes were called in the first moneth Nisan the thirtenth day of the same moneth and there was written as Aman had commanded to al the kings lieuftenantes and iudges of the prouinces and of diuers nations as euerie nation could read and heare according to the varietie of languages in the name of king Assuerus and the letters signed with his ring †were sent by the kings postes to al prouinces that they should kil and destroy al the Iewes from boy vnto old man children and wemen in one day that is in the thirtenth of the twelth monerh which is called Adar and should spoyle them of their goodes †And the content of the letters was this that al prouinces might know prepare them selues against the day aforesayd †The postes that were sent made hast to fulfil the kings coÌ„mandment And immediatly the edict hong in Susan the king and Aman feasting and al the Iewes that were in the citie weeping CHAP. IIII. Al the Iewes lament their imminent danger 5. Mardocheus willeth Esther to intreate the king for their â—afiie 11. She fearing to goe to the king contrarie to his law vncalled 15. yet they al fasting and praying for her she doth it VVHICH things when Mardocheus had heard he rent his garmentes and was clothed with sackcloth sprinkling ashes on his head and in the streat of the middes of the citie he cried with a lowed voyce shewing the anguish of his mind †and with this wayling going euen to the doores of the pallace for it was not lawful for one clothed with sackcloth to enter the kings court †In al prouinces also townes and places to which the kings cruel decree was come there was great mourning with the Iewes fasting howling and weeping manie vsing sackcloth and ashes for their couch †And Esthers maides and the eunuches went in and told her Which she hearing was astonyed and she sent a garment that the sackcloth being taken away they should put it on him which he would not take †And calling for Athach the eunuch whom the king had geuen her for a seruant to Mardocheus commanded him to goe and to learne of him why he did this †And Athach going forth went to Mardocheus standing in the streate of the citie before the palace doore †who told him al thinges that had chanced how Aman had promised that he would bring siluer into the kings treasures for the slaughter of the Iewes †He gaue him also a copie of the edict which hong in Susan that he should shew it to the queene and should admonish her to enter in to the king and to intreate him for her people †Athach returning told Ester al things that Mardocheus had sayd †Who answered him and bad that he should say to Mardocheus †Al the kings seruantes and al the prouinces that are vnder his dominion know that whether man or woman not called shal enter in to the kings inner court he must immediatly be slayne without al delay vulesse perhaps the king stretch forth a golden rod vnto him for a signe of clemencie and so he may liue I therfore how can I enter in to the king which now these thirtie daies haue not bene called vnto him †Which when Mardocheus had heard †he sent word to Esther agayne saying Thincke not that thou mayst deliuer thy owne life only because thou art in the kings house aboue al the Iewes †for if thou
second day after he was warme with wine What is thy petition Esther that it may be geuen thee and what wilt thou haue done although thou shalt aske the half part of my kingdome thou shalt obteyne †To whom she answered If I haue found grace in thyne eies ô king and if it please thee geue me my life for the which I make request and my people for the which I besech †For we are deliuered I and my people to be destroyed murdered and to perish And would God we were sold for bondmen and bondwemen it were a tolerable euil and mourning I would hold my peace but now it is our enemie whose crueltie redoundeth vpon the king †And king Assuetus answering said Who is this and of what might that he dare doe these things †And Esther said It is this Aman out aduersarie and most wicked enemie Which he hearing forthwith was astonished not enduring to beare the countenance of the king and of the queene †But the king being wrath rose vp and from the place of the banket went into the garden set with trees Aman also rose vp to intreate Esther the queene for his life for he vnderstood that there was euil prepared him of the king †Who when he was returned out of the garden set with trees and had entered into the place of the banket he found Aman to haue fallen vpon the bed wherin Esther lay and he said The queene also he wil force in my presence in my house Neither was the word yet passed from the kings mouth and immediatly they couered his face †And Harbona one of the eunuches which stood wayting on the king sayd Behold the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus that spake for the king standeth in Amans house hauing in height fiftie cubites To whom the king said Hang him vpon it †Aman therfore was hanged on the gibbet which he had prepared for Mardocheus and the kings wrath ceased CHAP. VIII Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle he is aduanced in authoritie 3. and contrarie letters are sent that the Iewes be saued 11. and their enemies slayne 15. Mardocheus is in high honour and his whole nation is estemed and feared by other people THAT day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle †And the king tooke the ring which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman and deliuered it to Mardocheus And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house †Neither content with these things she fel downe at the kings feete and she wept and speaking to him prayed him that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite and his most wicked deuises which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes should be of none effect †But he after the maner put forth the golden scepter with his hand by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed and she rysing vp stood before him †and said If it please the king and if I haue found grace in his eies and my request seme not contrarie to him I besech thee that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish may by new letters be corrected †For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people †And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene and Mardocheus the Iewe Amans house I haue geuen to Esther and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes because he durst lay handes on the Iewes †Write ye therfore to the Iewes as pleaseth you in the kings name signing the letters with my ring For this was the custome that no man durst speake against the lettes which were sent in the kings name and were signed with his ring †And the kings scribes and secretaries being cald for and it was the time of the third moneth which is called Siban the three and twenteth day therof letters were written as Mardocheus would to the Iewes and to the princes and the lieuftenantes and iudges which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces from India euen to Aethiopia to prouince and prouince to people and people according to their languages and characters and to the Iewes according as they could read and heare †And the said letters which were sent in the kings name were signed with his ring and sent by ryding postes which running through al the prouinces should preuent the old letters with the new messages †To whom the king gaue commandment that they should speake to the Iewes in euerie citie and should command them to be gathered together in one that they might stand for their liues and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses and to take the spoyle of them †And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge that is the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar †And this was the content of the letter that in al landes and peoples which were subiect to the empire of king Assuerus it should be notified ' the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies †And there went forth swift postes cariyng the massages and the kinges edict hong in Susan †But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace and from the kinges presence shining in royal garmentes to wit hyathinthine and skie colour bearing a golden crowne on his head and clothed with a silke and purple cloke And the citie reioysed and was glad †But to the Iewes there semed a new light to rise ioye honour and dauncing †With al peoples cities and prouinces whither soeuer the kinges commandmentes came meruelous reioysing feastes and banketes and holie day in so much that manie of the other nation and sect were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. CHAP. IX The Iewes kil their enemies which would haue killed them 6. namely the tenne sonns of Aman are hanged on gallowes 13. more slaine the next day 17. the day folowing is made holie and so to be kept euerie yeare THERFORE in the thirtenth day of the twelth moneth which we haue said now before to be called Adar when slaughter was prepared for al the Iewes and their enemies gaped after their bloud “ the case being changed to the contrarie the Iewes began to be superiours and to reuenge them selues of their aduersaries †And they were gathered together in euerie citie and towne and place to extend their hand against their enemies and their persecutors And none durst resist because the feare of their greatnes did penetrate al peoples †For both the iudges of the prouinces and captaynes and lieutenantes and euerie dignitie that was chiefe ouer euerie place and worke
But her self in al her countenance of colour like the rose also with gratious and shining eies hid her mind ful of sorow and exceding feare †She therfore entring through al the doores in order stood before the king where he sate vpon the throne of his kingdom clothed with royal garmentes and glittering in gold and pretious stones and he was terrible to behold †And when he had lifted vp his face and with burning eies had shewed the furie of his breast the Queene fel downe and her colour being changed into palenes she rested her wearie head vpon her handmayde †And God turned the kings spirit in to mildnes and in hast and fearing he lept out of the throne and holding her vp in his armes til she came to her self spake her fayre with these wordes †What ayleth thee Esther I am thy brother feare not †Thou shalt not die for this law is not made for thee but for the common sorte †Come neere therfore and touch the scepter †And when she held her peace he tooke the golden rod put it vpon her necke and kissed her and sayd Why speakest thou not to me †Who answered I saw thee my Lord as an angel of God and my hart was trubled for the feare of thy glorie †For thou my lord art exceding maruelous and thy face is ful of graces †And when she spake she fel downe agayne and was almost in a sowne †But the king was trubled and al his seruantes did comfort her CHAP. XVI Acopie of king Artaxerxes letters which he sent for the saftie of the â—ewes 10. declaring the insolencie of Aman and dutiful seruice of Mardocheus and Esther 20. commanding al his princes to assist the Iewes and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from sorow to ioy The copie of king Artaxerxes letter which he sent for the Iewes to al the prouinces of his kingdom the which also is not found in the Hebrew volume THE great king Artaxerxes from India to Aethiopia to the dukes and princes of an hundred twentie seuen prouinces which obey our commandment sendeth greeting †Manie haue abused vnto pride the goodnes of princes and the honour that hath beene bestowed vpon them †and they do not only endeuour to oppresse the kings subiectes but not bearing the glorie that is geuen them they worke treason against them that gaue it †Neither are they content not to geue thankes for the benefittes and to violate in them selues the lawes of humanitie but they thincke they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth al things †And they haue burst forth into so great madnes that such as obserue diligently the offices committed vnto them and do al thinges so that they are worthie of al mens prayse them they endeuour to ouerthrow by subtil meanes of lies †whiles with craftie fraude they deceiue the simple eares of princes and esteming others bâ— their owne nature †Which thing is proued both out of old histories and by these thinges which are done daily how the enterprises of kinges are depraued by the euil suggestions of certaine men †Wherfore we must prouide for the peace of al prouinces †Neither must you thincke if we command diuers things that it cometh of the lightnesse of our mind but that we geue sentence according to the qualitie necessitie of times as the profite of the common wealth requireth †And that you may more plainly vnderstand that which we say Aman the sonne of Amadathi both in mind and countrie a Macedonian and an aliene from the Persians bloud and with his crueltie stayning our pietie was receiued of vs a stranger †and found our humanitie so great towardes him that he was called our father and was adored of al second after the king †who was puft vp with so great swelling of arrogancie that he went about to depriue vs of kingdom and life †For by certaine new deuises and not heard of before he hath sought to kil Mardocheus by whose fidelitie and benefittes we liue and Esther the felow of our kingdom with al their nation †thincking this that they being slayne he might worke treason to our solitarines and might transferre the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians †But we haue found the Iewes which were by that most wicked of men oppoynted to be slayne in no fault at al but conâ—rariwise vsing iust lawes †and the children of the highest and the greatest and alwayes louing God by whose benefite the kingdom was geuen both to our fathers and to vs and is kept vnto this day †Wherfore know ye those letters which he directed in our name to be of none effect †For the which heinous fact before the gates of this citie that is of Susan both him self that deuised it and al his kinred hang on gibbettes not we but God repaying him that which he hath deserued †But this edict which we now send let it be set forth in al cities that it be lawful for the Iewes to vse their owne lawes †Whom you must helpe that those which had prepared them selues to their slaughter they may kil the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth which is called Adar †For God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadnes and mourning into ioy to them †Wherfore count you also this day among other festiual daies and celebrate it with al ioy that hereafter also it may be knowne †that al which faythfully obey the Persians receiue worthie reward for their fidelitie and they that lie in wayte against their kingdom perish for their wicked fact †And euerie prouince and citie that wil not be partaker of this solemnitie let it perish by sword and fyre and let it so be destroyed that not onlie men but also beastes haue no accesse therto for euer for an example of contempt and disobedience THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IOB HOlie Iob otherwise called Iobab Gen. 36. as S. Augustin S. Chrisostom S. Ambrose S. Gregorie and other fathers teach the sonne of Zara the sonne of Rahuel the sonne of Esau was king or absolute prince of the land of Hus. who being perfect in religion sincere in life rich in wealth and blessed with children for an admirable example of patience and to shew that a mortal man through Gods grace may resist al the diuels tentations by Gods permission sudainly lost al his goodes and children was striken with horrible sores in al his bodie reuiled by his wife and in steed of comforth which his special freindes pretemted towards him was iniuriously charged by them with impatience arrogancie blasphemie and other crimes for which they falsly supposed he was so afflicted affirming and by diuers sophistical argumentes grounded as they pretended vpon Gods iustice wisdome powre mercie and goodnes would proue that God suffereth none but wicked men to be so afflicted But Iob constantly
Vnderstanding Praise of Canticle Alleluia Gradual Canticle Secondly in the titles of some Psalmes are the names of certaine persons which by S. Augustins iudgement cited in the Proemial Annotations and others proueth not the same persons to be authores of those Psalmes but signifieth some other thing Thirdly in some titles the time is signified when the Psalme was made or song Fourtly the matter conteyned in the Psalme or vpon what occasion it was made is expressed in some titles Fiftly diuers other termes are often vsed in the titles of sundrie Psalmes as To the end For the Octaue For presses and the like al which we shal briefly explicate where they first occurre First therfore this third Psalme is called the Psalme of Dauid not because he is author therof for he is also author of the former where his name is not expressed as is euident by the testimonie of al the Apostles Act. 4. v. 25. but because it treateth particularly and literally of him 1. VVhen he â—â—ed from the face of Absalon Here the time is signified when this Psalme was made to wiâ—e immediatly after the ouerthrow of his rebellious sonne Absalom mentioned 2. Reg. 18. before his returne to lerusalem For al beit of humaine natural and fatherlie affection he greatly lamented the death of his sonne yet he rendered thankes and praises to God as reason and dutie bond him 6. I haue slept and haue benne at rest and haue risen vp King Dauid by his sleeping in persecution and by his resting and deliuerie from his persecuters prefigured Christs Death Burial Resurrection As appeareth Ioan. 2. v. 22. VVhere the Euangelist â—aith that after Christs Resurrection his disciples beleued the scripture to witte this and other like prophecies For otherwise the old Testament doth not so expresly declare such Mysteries as the Gospel doth but one thing in the proper and grammatical signification of he wordes and an other thing in shadowes and figures and hoth literal VVhereupon S. Gregory teacheth li. 20. c. 1. Moral that holie Scripture amongst other incomparable excellences surpasseth al other doctrines in the verie maner of speaking because by one and the same speach it reporteth a thing donne and proclameth a Mysterie so relating thinges past that with the verie same wordes it foresheweth thinges to come PSALME IIII. The holie prophet teacheth by his owne example to flee to God in al tribulation 3. that other refugies are insufficient 9. and Gods helpe most assured Vnto “ the end in songues the Psalme of Dauid WHEN I inuocated the God of my iustice heard me in tribulation thou hast enlarged to me Haue mercie on me and heare my prayer †Ye sonnes of men how long are you of heauie hart why loue you vanitie and seeke lying †And know ye that our Lord hath made his holie one meruelous our Lord wil heare me when I shal crie to him †Be ye angrie and sinne not the thinges that you say in your hartes in your chambers be ye sorie for †Sacrifice ye the “ sacrifice of iustice and hope in our Lord. Manie say Who sheweth vs good thinges †The light of thy countenance ô Lord is signed vpon vs thou hast geuen gladnesse in my hart †By the fruite of their corne and wine and oile they are multiplied †In peace in the selfe same I wil sleepe and rest †Because thou Lord hast singularly setled me in hope ANNOTATIONS PSALME IIII. 1. Vnto the end The Hebrew word Lamnatsea signifieth to him that â—uercometh And so the Hebrewes interprete that the Psalmes which haue this word in their titles were directed either to him that excelled others in skil of musike or had authoritie ouer other musitians or to him whose office was to sing victories and triumphes But the Latin according to the Greeke hath In finem Vnto the end which most commonly signifying perpetuitie or continuance vnto the end of anie thing in the titles of the Psalmes rather signifieth that the matter conteyned in the Psalme perteineth to future times or persons especially to the new Testament And so S. Augustin expouÌ„deth it here of Christ who is the end or perfection of the lavv Not that the principal contentes belong to Christ in his owne Person but to his mystical bodie the Church and faithful people whom the Prophete here teacheth to haue confidence in God moderation in their affections patience in tribulation which is the seuenth key proposing his owne example prophetically Christs The same wherto Christ exhorteth saying Ioan. 16. v. vlt. Haue considence I haue ouercome the vvorld Signifying that his seruantes through his grace may also ouercome it 6. Sacrifice of Iustice Not only external Sacrifice of diuers kindes were necessarie in the law of nature and of Moyses and one most excellent and complement of al in the new Testament but also spiritual sacrifice was euer and is required and that of three sortes First Sacrifice of sorow and contrition for sinnes Psal 50. An afflicted spirite is a sacrifice to God The second is sacrifice of Iustice here mentioned The third is Sacrifice of praise Psal 49. Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise Concerning the second proposed in this place He offereth sacrifice of Iustice that rendereth to euery one that is due First to God as our Creator a resignation of our selues euen our liues at his diuine pleasure as to our Master we must render faith and beleefe in al that he proposeth as to our Father hope confidence reuerential seare as to our Lord and King payment of tribute that is obseruation of his law and commandments as to our Captaine the trauel of warfare in this life as to our Phisitian patience and toleration when he cureth our woundes by chasticement for sinnes as to our Spouse chastity of body and mind fleeing al carnal and spiritual fornication as to our Freind frequent conuersation in al actes of deuotion VVe owe to our selues that seing we consist of soule and bodie we keepe due subordination that the soule and reason command the bodie and inferiour appetite obey as the seruant must obey his master and the handmaide her mistris VVe owe to our neighbour loue from the hart inctruction also from the mouth and assistance by our helpe according to his necessitie and our abilitie yea though our neighbour be our enemie But to other enimies contrary thinges are due To the world contempt because the goodes of this world are smal few shorte vncertaine deceiptful not satisfying the mind and mixed with manie euils and dangers To the flesh we owe chasticement and daylie care so to seede it that it serue the soule rebel not To the diuel we must render the shame that cometh by sinne acknowledging our faults
Idumea †Wil t not thou ô God which hast repelled vs and wilt not thou goeforth ô God in our hoastes †Geue vs helpe out of tribulation because mans saluation is vayne †In God we shal doe strength and he wil bring our enemies to nothing PSALME CVIII Christ by the mouth of Dauid requesteth of God to be iustly declared innocent and his enimies punished 6. particularly describing Iudas the traitors malice 21. and his owne temporal afflictions 26. prayeth 30. and praiseth God for his deliuerie †Vnto the end a Psalme of Dauid O God conceale not my prayse because the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful man is open vpon me †They haue spoken against me with deceitful tongue and with wordes of hatred they haue compassed me and they haue impugned me without cause †For that they should loue me they backbited me but I prayed †And they set against me euil thinges for good and hatred for my loue Appoint a sinner ouer him and let the diuel stand on his righthand †When he is iudged let him comeforth condemned and let his prayer be turned into sinne †Let his dayes be made fewe and let an other take his bishopricke †Let his children be made orphans and his wife a widow †Let his children be transported wandering and let them begge and let them be cast out of their habitations †Let the vsurer search al his substance and let strangers spoile his labours †Let there be none to helpe him neither let there be anie to haue pittie on his pupilles †Let his children come to destruction in one generation let his name be cleane put out †Let the iniquitie of his fathers returne to memorie in the sight of our Lord and let not the sinne of his mother be blotted out †Let them be before our Lord alwayes and let the memorie of them perish out of the earth †For that he remembred not to doe mercie †And he persecuted the poore and needie man and the compunct in hart to kil him †And he loued cursing and it shal come to him and he would not blessing and it shal be far from him And he put on cursing as a garment and it entred as water into his inner partes and as oile in his bones †Be it to him as a garment wherwith he is couered and as a girdle wherwith he is alwayes girded †This is the worke of them that detract from me before our Lord and that speake euils against my soule †And thou Lord Lord doe with me for thy names sake because thy mercie is swete Deliuer me †because I am needie and poore and my hart is trubled within me †As a shadow when it declineth am I taken away and I am shaken as locustes †My knees are weakened with fasting and my flesh is changed by reason of oile †And I am made a reproch to them they saw me and wagged their heades †Helpe me ô Lord my God saue me according to thy mercie †And let them know that this is thy hand and thou ô Lord hast done it †They wil curse and thou shalt blesse let them that rise vp against me be confounded but thy seruant shal reioyce †Let them that detract from me be clothed with shame and let them be couered with their confusion as with a duble patched cloke †I wil confesse to our Lord excedingly with my mouth and in the middes of manie I wil prayse him †Because he hath stood on the righthand of the poore that he might saue my soule from the persecutors PSALME CIX Christ rising and ascending into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God 2. beginning in Ierusalem reigneth in the Church of the whole earth 4. vseth the Priesthood of Melchisedechs order to the end of the world 6. and shal iudge the world †A psalme of Dauid OVR Lord sayd to my Lord Sitte on my right hand til I make thine enemies thy footestoole of thy feete †Our Lord wil sendforth the rod of thy strength from Sion rule thou in the middes of thine enemies †With thee the beginning in the day of thy strength in the brightnes of holie thinges from the wombe before the day starre I begat thee †Our Lord sware and it shal not repent him Thou art “ a Priest for euer “ according to the order of Melchisedech †Our Lord on thy righthand hath broken kinges in the day of his wrath †He shal iudge in nations he shal fil ruines he shal crush the heads in the land of manie †Of the torrent in the way he shal drinke therfore shal he exalt the head ANNOTATIONS CIX 4. A Priest for euer In two respectes Christ is a Priest for euer in that from the first instant of his incarnation he was and remaneth a Priest now also in heauen and al other Priestes are his ministerial vicares not successors So that al priestlie functions which they doe he by them doth the same as the principal Priest VVherupon saith S. Paul 1. Cor 4. So let a man thincke of vs as of the ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God Secondly Christ dayly offering Sacrifice by the handes of his Priestes doth continually pacifie Gods wrath in behalf of those sinners for whom it is duly applied euen to the end of the world VVheras the Priesthood of Aaron and of al others in the old Testament ceassed by their deathes both in the office and in the effect 4 According to the order of Melchisedech As Melchisedech king of peace and iustice without father mother or genealogie expressed in holie Scriptures or otherwise knowen to the world was Priest or the Hieghest offered bread and wine an vnbloudie sacrifice communicating with both Chananeites and Hebrewes blessed Abraham and tooke tithes of him and his subiectes so Christ the true King of peace iustice without father of his humanity without mother of his Diuinitie the Sonne of God of ineffable genealogie borne of a virgin in his humanitie the Priest of God offereth Sacrifice not only bloudie on the Crosse but also vnbloudie in the formes of bread and wine continueth the same by the ministerie of other Priestes maketh al nations partakers therof blesseth them and receiueth of them al dutiful and rellgious seruice as of his subiectes PSALME CX Praise of God for benefites 4. especially for the B. Sacrament of the Eucharist 6 with other graces imperted to the Catholique Church Alleluia I Wil confesse to thee ô Lord with al my hart in the counsel of the iust and b the congregation †The workes of our Lord are great exquisite according to al his willes †Confession and magnificence his worke
vvhom vve haue accesse to the euerlasting kingdom Or thus not transposing the vvordes By vocation of Christ the Head through distinct voice of signes for vvordes are signes shevving the mind vve are conducted to the eternal kingdom the happines vvhich al men desire VVhat I pray thee saith this holie Doctor is more sacred then this mysterie vvhat more pleasant then this delight VVhat meate vvhat honey are svveeter then to knovv Gods vvisdom to enter into his secrecte closset◠to behold the sense of our Creator and to teach the vvordes of thy Lord God ful of spiritual vvisdom vvhich are derided by the vvise of this vvorld VVe must also aduertise the reader of the like discourses of ancient Fathers ouer long to be here recited concerning the manifold hiegh praises of Gods Lavv conteyned in this Psalme vvith frequent repetitiō of certaine Synonyma vvordes signifying the same thing in al fourtene tovvitte The Lavv of God his VVayes Testimonies Commandments Precepts Statutes Iustifications Iudgements Iustice Equitie Veritie VVordes Speaches Sermons of vvhich there is commonly one in euerie verse and somtimes tvvo or three in the same verse But our English tongue hardly sufficing rightly to distinguish the three last which in latin are Verba Eloquia Sermones we translate VVORDES only adding in the margen Eloquia and Sermones when they occurre Leauing therfore larger commentaries to others we shal prosecute our wonted maner of briefe glosses Only here premonishing the diligent readers especially Clergimen our selues and our brethren who euerie day sing or read this whole Psalme in the Canonical houres to obserue two particular pointes of Christian doctrine euidently proued by manie places of this Psalme The one against the Pelagians heresie denying the necessitie of Gods special grace in meritorious workes For the Psalmist often here inculcateth mans insufficiencie that of himselfe and by natural forces he can not kepe the commandments of God but needeth alwayes the particular grace of God as vvel to beleue in him to repent for sinnes and to beginne good vvorkes as to procede and perseuere in good state to the end The other against the heresie of our time denying merite by grace freewil For here it is also manifest that Gods grace maketh man able to kepe his commandments and by keeping them to become iust in this life and so to merite eternal glorie Sundrie other principal Articles of Christian Catholique Religion are likevvise comprised in this one Psalme but especially Moral doctrin Alleluja Aleph Doctrine BLESSED are the immaculate in the way which walke in the law of our Lord. †Blessed are they that search his testimonies that seeke after him with al their hart †For they that worke iniquitie haue not walked in his waies †Thou hast very much commanded thy commandmentes to be kept †Would God my waies might be directed to keepe thy iustifications †Then shal I not be confounded when I shal looke throughly in al thy commandmentes †I wil confesse to thee in direction of hart in that I haue lerned the iudgements of thy iustice †I wil keepe thy iustifications forsake me not wholy Beth. House †Wherein doth a yongman correct his way in keeping thy wordes †With my whole hart I haue sought after thee repel me not from thy commandmentes †In my hart I haue hid thy wordes that I may not sinne to thee †Blessed art thou ô Lord teach me thy iustifications †In my lippes I haue pronounced al the iudgementes of thy mouth †I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies as in al riches †I wil be exercised in thy commandmentes and I wil consider thy waies †I wil meditate in thy iustifications I wil not forget thy wordes Gimel Fulnes †Render to thy seruant quicken me and I shal keepe thy wordes †Reuele mine eies and I shal consider the meruelous thinges of thy law †I am a seiourner in the land hide not thy commandmentes from me †My soule hath coueted to desire thy iustifications at al time †Thou hast rebuked the prowde cursed are they that decline from thy commandmentes †Take from me reproch and contempt because I haue sought after thy testimonies †For princes sate and they spake against me but thy seruant was exercised in thy iustifications †For both thy testimonies are my meditation and thy iustifications my counsel Daleth Of Tables †My soule hath cleaued to the pauement quicken me according to thy word †I haue vttered my wayes and thou hast heard me teach me thy iustifications †Instruct me the way of thy iustifications and I shal be exercised in thy meruelous workes †My soule hath slumbered for tediousnes confirme me in thy wordes †Remoue from me the way of iniquitie and according to thy law haue mercie on me †I haue chosen the way of truth I haue not forgotten thy iudgements †I haue cleaued to thy testimonies ô Lord do not confound me †I ranne the way of thy commandments when thou didst dilate my hart He. This thing Set me a law ô Lord the way of thy iustifications and I wil seeke after it alwayes †Geue me vnderstanding and I wil search thy law and I wil keepe it with my whole hart †Conduct me into the path of thy commandments because I would it †Incline my hart into thy testimonies and not into auarice †Turne away mine eies that they see not vanitie in thy way quicken me †Establish thy word to thy seruant in thy feare †Take away my reproch which I haue feared because thy iudgements are pleasant †Behold I haue coueted thy commandments in thine equitie quicken me Vau. And. †And let thy mercie come vpon me ô Lord thy saluation according to thy word †And I shal answer a word to them that vpbrayde me because I haue hoped in thy wordes †And take not away out of my mouth the word of truth vtterly because I haue much hoped in thy iudgementes †And I wil keepe thy law alwayes for euer and for euer and euer †And I walked in largenesse because I haue sought after thy commandments †And I spake of thy testimonies in the sight of kinges and was not confounded †And I meditated in thy commandments which I loued †And I haue lifted vp my handes to thy commandments which I loued and I was exercised in thy iustifications Zain This. †Be mindeful of thy word to thy seruant wherein thou hast
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
testamentes †and their children because of them abide for euer their seede and their glorie shal not be forsaken †Their bodies are buried in peace and their name liueth vnto generation and generation †Let peoples tel their wisdom and the Church declare their praise †Henoch pleased God and was translated into paradise that he may geue repentance to the nations †Noe was found perfect iust and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation †Therefore was there a remnant least to the earth when the flood was made †The testaments of the world were made with him that al flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood †Abraham the great father of the multitude of the nations and there was not found the like to him in glorie who kept the law of the Highest and was in couenant with him †In his flesh he made the couenant to stand and in tentation he was found faithful †Therefore by an oath he gaue him glorie in his nation that he should encrease as an heape of earth †and that he would exalt his seede as the starres and they should inherite from sea to sea and from the riuer to the endes of the earth †And he did in like manner in Isaac for Abraham his father †Our Lord gaue him the blessing of al nations and confirmed his couenant vpon the head of Iacob †He knew him in his blessinges and gaue him an inheritance diuided him his portion in twelue tribes †And he preserued vnto him men of mercie and found grace in the eies of al flesh CHAP. XLV Praises of Moyses 7. Aaron 16. and his priestlie progenie 22. Against whom Chore with his complices rebelling were destroyed MOYSES beloued of God and men whose memorie is in benediction †He made him like in the glorie of saintes and magnified him in the feare of his enemies And with his wordes he appeased monsters †He glorified him in the sight of kinges and gaue him commandment before his people shewed him his glorie †In his faith and meekenes he made him holie and chose him of al flesh †For he heard him and his voice and brought him into a cloude †And he gaue him precepts face to face and a law of life and discipline to teach Iacob his testament and Israel his iudgements †He exalted Aaron his brother high and like to himself of the tribe of Leui. †He established vnto him an euerlasting testament and gaue him the priesthood of the nation and made him blessed in glorie †and he girded him about with a girdle and put vpon him a robe of glorie and crowned him in furniture of power †Garments to the feete and breches and an Ephod he put vpon him and compassed him with litle belles of gold very manie round about †to geue a sound in his going to make sound heard in the temple for a memorie to the children of his nation †An holie robe of gold and hyacinthe and purple a wouen worke of a wiseman indued with iudgement and truth †Of twisted scarlet the worke of an artificer with precious stones figured in the closure of gold and grauen by the worke of a lapidarie for a memorial according to the number of the tribes of Israel †A crowne of gold vpon his miter grauen with a seale of holines and the glorie of honour a worke of power and the adorned desires of the eies †There were none such so faire before him euen from the beginning †No stranger was clothed with them but only his children alone and his nephewes for euer †His sacrifices were consumed with fire euerie day †Moyses filled his handes anoynted him with holie oile †It was made vnto him for an euerlasting testament and to his seede as the daies of heauen to doe the function of priesthood and to haue praise and to glorifie his people in his name †He chose him of al that liued to offer sacrifice to God incense and good odour for a memorial to pacifie for his people †and he gaue them power in his preceptes in the testaments of his iudgementes to teach Iacob his testimonies and in his law to geue light to Israel †Because strangers stood against him and for enuie men compassed him about in the desert they that were with Dathan and Abiron and the congregation of Core in anger †Our Lord God saw and it pleased him not and they were consumed in the violence of wrath †He did prodigious thinges vnto them and consumed them in flame of fire †And he added glorie to Aaron and gaue him an inheritance and diuided vnto him the first fruites of the increase of the earth †He prepared them bread in the first vnto satietie for the sacrifices also of our Lord they shal eate which he gaue to him and to his seede †But he shal not inherite the nations in the land and he hath no part in the nation for himself is his portion inheritance †Phinees the sonne of Eleazar is the third in glorie in imitating him in the feare of our Lord †and to stand in the reuerence of the nation in the goodnes and alacritie of his soule he pacified God for Israel †Therefore did he establish vnto him a couenant of peace to be the prince of the holies and of his nation that the dignitie of priesthood should be to him and to his seede for euer †And the testament to Dauid king the sonne of Iesse of the tribe of Iuda and inheritance to him and to his seede that he might geue wisdom into our hart to iudge his nation in iustice that their good thinges might not be abolished their glorie in their nation he made euerlasting CHAP. XLVI Praises of Iosue 9. Caleb 13. the Iudges of Israel 16. Namely of Samuel Iudge and Prophet STRONG in battel was Iesus the sonne of Naue successour of Moyses among the prophets who was great according to his name †most great in the saluation of Gods elect to ouerthrow the enemies rising vp that he might get the inheritanâ— of Israel †What glorie obteyned he in lifting vp his handes and casting swordes against the cities †Who before him did so resist â—or our Lord himself brought the enemies †Whether was not the sunne hindered in his anger and one day was made as two †He inuocated the mightie soueraine in assaulting of the enemies on euerie side and the great and holie God heard him in haile stones of exceeding great force †He made violent assault against the nation of his enemies and in the goeing downe he destroyed the aduersaries †that the nations might know his might that it is not easie to fight against God And he folowed at the back of the mightie †And in the daies of Moyses did mercie and Caleb the
laide oppen before prophane persons S. Gregorie also alleageth an other reason ho. 17. in Ezech. that occasion of humilitie may be geuen vs by those thinges which are hidden in holie Scriptures And increase also of merite by beleuing more then we vnderstand because faith hath not merite where reason geueth experiment THE ARGVMENT OF THE PROPHECIE OF ISAIE ISaie the sonne of Aâ—os and nephew as S. Ierom insinuateth to king Amasias prophecied in the times of Osias Ioathan Achaz Ezechias and in the beginning of Manasses Kinges of Iuda in al aboue three score yeares and was cruelly put to death sawed into partes by commandment of Manasses He is commonly called the Euangelical Prophet for his ample and particular speaches of Christ more large and more plaine then in aâ—â—e other of the old Prophetes His stile is high and eloquent according to his liberal education being of the royal bloud For so it pleaseth the Holie Ghost to vtter his diuine prophecies diuersly according to the qualities and conditions of the persons by whom he speaketh by Isaie in a loftie and by Amos in a meane stile as a musitian soundeth the same songue by a simple pipe by a corneâ— trumpet or other musical instrument Which S. Paul also witnesseth saying Diuersly and by diuers meanes God spake to the fathers in the Prophetes Isaie therfore conuersing in the kingdom of Iuda especially in the Emperial and Metropolitan citie of Ierusalem preached prophecied manie thinges perteyning to the Tribes of Iuda and Beniamin as also to the tribe of Leui. Which after the schisme of Ieroboam repayred in maner al to the kingdom of Iuda where God was rightly serued He prophecied also of the tenne Tribes the kingdom of Israel of the future captiuities of them both and of the reduction of Iuda Also he prophecied of other nations and peoples with whom the Iewes had either emnitie or freindlie conuersation and of al the world But most especially of the coming of Christ to redeme and deliuer mankind from captiuitie of sinne The whole prophecie conteyneth two general partes First more principally the Prophet admonisheth and threatneth the people that they shal be punished for their manifold sinnes in the 39. former chapters In the other 27. he comforteth them signifying that God of his mercie wil after chatisment their repentance deliuer them from their aduersaries Yet so that ech part participateth of the principal contents with the other More particularly the whole booke may be diuided into eight partes In the twelue first chapters the Prophet admonisheth alsortes in the kingdom of Iuda of their ingratitude towards God with manie other sinnes and of iust punishment but mixt with consolation of Gods mercie and thanksegeuing for the same In eleuen chapters folowing he directeth his speach to other Nations aduersaries to the Iewes In foure more he extendeth his admonitions to al the world stil intermixing some consolations In other foure he reprehendeth both the kingdoms of Israel and Iuda for seeking helpe of strange nations In the next eight chapters he prophecieth of diuers dangers immineÌ„t to the kingdom of Iuda of their captiuitie in Babylon of Gods benignitie deliuering them very much in euerie part of Christ and his Church Then in fiue chapters he prophecieth very particularly of the comfortable deliuerie from sinne by Christ In other foure from temporal captiuitie by Cyrus King of Assirians And finally in the last eightene chapters he prophecieth largely of the perfect deliuerie by Christ conuersion of al Nations reiection of the Iewes til nere the end of the world when they shal also returne to Christ THE PROPHECIE OF ISAIE CHAP. I. Isaie prophecying in the dayes of foure kinges of Iuda 2. admonisheth both princes and people of their ingratitude and other sinnes against God 7. for which they shal be led captiue 11. Neither shal sacrifices nor prayers saue them 16. except they cleanse their soules from sinnes 20. which they not doing shal be seuerely punished 26. Wherby the reliques shal be purged and the Church shal flourish THE vision of Isaie the sonne of Amos which he sawe concerning Iuda and Ierusalem in the dayes of Ozias Ioathan Achaz and Ezechias kinges of Iuda †Heare ye heauens geue eare ô earth because our Lord hath spoken I haue brought vp children and exalted them but they haue despised me †The oxe hath knowen his owner and the asse his masters crib but Israel hath not knowen me and my people hath not vnderstood †Woe to the sinful nation the people loden with greeuous iniquitie the wicked seede vngracious children they haue forsaken our Lord they haue blasphemed the holie one of Israel they are reuolted backewards †For what shal I strike you anie more which adde preuarication euerie head is sicke euerie hart in heauines †From the sole of the foote vnto the toppe of the head there is no health therein wound and wayle and swelling stroke it is not bound vp nor cured with medicine nor mollified with oile †Your land is desolate your cities burnt with fire your countrie strangers deuoure before your face and it shal be made desolate as in the spoile of enemies †And the daughter of Sion shal be left as a vineyard and as a cottage in a place of cucumbers and as a citie that is wasted †Vnlesse the Lord of hostes had lefte vs seed we had beene as Sodom and we should be like to Gomorrha †Heare the word of our Lord ye princes of Sodom geue eare to the law of our God ye people of Gomorrha †To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victimes saith our Lord I am ful the holocaust oframmes and the fatte of fatlings and the bloud of calues and lambes and buck goates I haue not desired †When you should haue come before my sight who sought for these thinges at your handes that you should walke in my courtes †Offer sacrifice no more in vaine incense is abomination to me The Newe moone and the Sabbath and other sestiuities I wil not abide your assemblies are wicked †My soule hateth your Calendes and your solemnities they are become tedious to me I haue laboured in susteyning †And when you shal streach forth your hands I wil turne away mine eies from you when you shal multiplie prayer I wil not heare for your handes are ful of bloud †Wash you be cleane take away the euil of your cogitations from mine eies cease to doe peruersely †Lerne to doe good seeke iudgement succour the oppressed iudge for the pupil defend the widow †And come and accuse me sayth our Lord if your sinnes shal be as scarlet they shal be made white as snow and if they be red as vermelon they shal be white as wooll †If you be willing and wil heare me you shal eate the good thinges
Maachati they and their men †And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan sware to them and to their companions saying Feare not to serue the Chaldees dwel in the land and serue the king of Babylon and it shal be wel with you †Behold I dwel in Masphath that I may answere the commandment of the Chaldees that are sent to vs but you gather ye vintage and haruest and oile and lay it vp in your vessels and abide in your cities which you hold †Yea and al the Iewes that were in Moab and among the children of Ammon and in Idumea and in al the countries when it was heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Iewrie and that he dad made Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan ruler ouer them †al the Iewes I say returned out of al places to which they had fled and they came into the land of Iuda to Godolias into Masphath and they gathered wine and haruest exceeding much †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the host that had bene dispersed in the countries came to Godolias into Masphath †And they said to him Know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias to kil thee And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam beleued them not †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree spake to Godolias apart in Masphath saying I wil goe and strike Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias no man knowing it lest he kil thee and al the Iewes be dispersed that are gathered vnto thee and the remnant of Iuda perish †And Godolias the sonne of Ahicam said to Iohanan the sonne of Caree Doe not this word for thou speakest false of Ismahel CHAP. XLI Godolias with other Iewes and some Chaldees are slaine by Ismael sent from the king of Moabites 8 tenne are ransomed for their riches 11. Iohanan taking armes to reuenge the slaughter Ismael flyeth away deliuering those whom he held captiues 17. and they prepare to flee into Aegypt AND it came to passe in the seuenth moneth came Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Elisama of the kings bloud and the nobles of the king and ten men with him to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam into Masphath and they did eate bread there together in Masphath †And Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias arose and the ten men that were with him they stroke Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan with the sword and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made ruler ouer the land †Al the Iewes also that were with Godolias in Masphath and the Chaldees that were found there and the men of warre did Ismahel strike †And the second day after he had killed Godolias no man yet knowing it †there came men from Sichem and from Silo and from Samaria eightie men their beard shauen and their garments rent and il fauoured and they had gifts and frankincense in their hand to offer in the house of our Lord. †Ismahel therefore the sonne of Nathanias going forth to meete them out of Masphath went going and weeping and when he had met them he said to them Come to Godolias the sonne of Ahicam †Who when they were come to the middes of the citie Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias slew them about the middes of the lake he and the men that were with him †But ten men were found among them that said to Ismahel Kil vs not because we haue treasures in the field of wheate and barlie and oile and honie And he ceassed and slew not them with their bretheren †And the lake into the which Ismahel threw al the carcasses of the men whom he stroke for Godolias is the same that king Asa made for Baasa the king of Israel the same did Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias fil with them that were slaine †And Ismahel led away captiue al the remnant of the people that were in Masphath the kings daughters and al the people that remained in Masphath whom Nabuzardan the prince of the warre had commended to Godolias the sonne of Ahiâ—am And Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias tooke them and he went away to passe vnto the children of Ammon †But Iohanan the sonne of Caree al the princes of the men of warre that were with him heard al the euil that Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias had done †And taking al the men they went forth to make battel against Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias and they found him at the manie waters that are in Gabaon †And when al the people that was with Ismahel had seene Iohanan the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the men of warre that were with him they reioyced †And al the people whom Ismael had taken returned into Masphath and returning they went to Iohanan the sonne of Carâ—◠†But Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias fled with eight men from the face of Iohanan and went to the children of Ammon †Iohanan therefore the sonne of Caree and al the princes of the men of warre that were with him tooke al the remnant of the common people which they had brought back from Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias out of Masphath after that he had strooke Godolias the sonne of Ahicam strong men for battel and wemen and children eunuches which he had brought back from Gabaon †And they went and sate seiourning in Chamaam which is beside Bethlehem that they might goe forward and enter into Aegypt †from the face of the Chaldees for they feared them because Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias had strooken Godolias the sonne of Ahicam whom the king of Babylon had made ruler in the land of Iuda CHAP. XLII Ieremie praying and consulting God 7. answereth that al those which remaine in Ierusalem shal be safe 13. but those that goe into Aegypt shalperish AND there came al the Princes of the men of warre and Iohanan the sonne of Caree and Iezonias the sonne of Osaias and the rest of the common people from litle vnto great †And they said to Ieremie the prophet Let our prayer fal in thy sight and pray for vs to the Lord thy God for al this remnant because we are left few of manie as thine eies doe behold vs. †And let our Lord thy God tel vs the way by which we may goe and the word that we must doe †And Ieremie the prophet said to them I haue heard behold I pray to our Lord your God according to your wordes euerie word whatsoeuer he shal answer me I wil tel you neither wil I conceale from you anie thing †And they said to Ieremie Be our Lord witnes betwen vs of truth and faith if we doe not according to euerie word for the which our Lord thy God shal send thee to vs. †Whether it be good or euil we wil obey the voice
shal be before their eyes †And thou shalt say to them Thus saith our Lord God Behold I wil take the children of Israel out of the middes of the nations to which they are gone and I wil gather them together on euerie side and wil bring them to their ground †And I wil make them into one nation in the land on the mountaines of Israel there shal be one king ruling ouer them al and they shal no more be two nations neither shal they be diuided any more into two kingdoms †Neither shal they be polluted any more in their idols their abominations and al their iniquities and I wil saue them out of al the seates in which they haue sinned I wil clense them and they shal be my people and I wil be their God †And my seruant Dauid king ouer them and there shal be one pastour of them al they shal walke in my iudgements and shal keepe my commandments and shal doe them †And they shal dwel vpon the land which I gaue to my seruant Iacob wherin your fathers dwelt and they shal dwel vpon it themselues and their children and their childrens children euen for euer and Dauid my seruant their prince for euer †And I wil make a league of peace to them an euerlasting couenat shal be to them and I wil found them and wil multiplie them and wil geue my sanctification in the middes of them for euer †And my tabernacle shal be in them and I wil be their God and they shal be my people †And the Gentils shal know that I am the Lord the sanctifier of Israel when my sanctification shal be in the middes of them for euer CHAP. XXXVIII Gog and Magog most tyrannically persecuting the Church 17. as other prophetes haue also foretold 20. shal be mightyly ouerthrowne AND the word of our Lord was made to me saying †Sonne of man set thy face “ against Gog the Land of Magog the prince of the head of Mosoch and Thubal and prophecie of him and thou shalt say to him Thus saith our Lord God Behold I to thee Gog prince of the head of Mosoch and Thubal †And I wil turne thee about and wil put a bitte in thy iawes and wil bring forth thee and al thyne armie the horses and horsmen clothed with brigantines †a great multitude of them that take speare and buckler and sword †The Persians Aethiopians and Lybians with them al with shildes and helmets †Gomer and al her troupes the houses of Thogorma the sides of the North al his strength and manie peoples with them †Prepare and make readie thy selfe and al thy multitude that is gathered to thee in heapes and be thou as a precept to them †After manie dayes thou shalt be visited in the later end of yeares thou shalt come to the land that is returned from the sword and is gathered together out of manie peoples to the mountaines of Israel that were desert continually this same is brought forth out of the peoples and they shal al dwel in it confidently †And going vp as a tempest thou shalt come and as it were a clowde that thou maist couer the land thou thy troupes and manie peoples with thee †Thus sayth our Lord God In that day shal wordes ascend vpon thy hart thou shalt thinke a most wicked thought †And shalt say I wil goe vp to the land without wal I wil come to them that rest and dwel securely al these dwel without wal there are no barres nor gates to them †That thou mayst take the spoiles and inuade the praye that thou maist lay thy hand vpon them that had bene desert and afterward restored and vpon the people that is gathered together out of the Gentils which hath begune to possesse and to be inhabitant of the nauel of the earth †Saba and Dedan and the merchants of Tharsis and al the lions therof shal say to thee What comest thou to take spoiles behold thou hast gathered thy multitude to take the praye that thou maist take siluer and gold and maist take away stuffe and substance spoile infinite booties †Therfore prophecie thou sonne of man and thou shalt say to Gog Thus saith our Lord God Why shalt thou not know in that day when my people of Israel shal dwel confidently †And thou shalt come out of thy place from the sides of the North thou and manie peoples with thee al riders of horses a great companie and a vehement armie †And thou shalt ascend vpon my people of Israel as a clowde that thou couer the earth In the later dayes shalt thou be and I wil bring thee vpon my land that the Gentils may know me when I shal be sanctified in thee before their eyes ô Gog. †Thus sayth our Lord God Thou then art he of whom I spake in the dayes of old in the hand of my seruants the prophets of Israel which prophecied in the dayes of those times that I would bring in thee vpon them †And it shal be in that day in the day of the coming of Gog vpon the land of Israel saith our Lord God myne indignation shal ascend in my furie †And in my zele and in the fire of my wrath I haue spoken That in that day shal be a great commotion vpon the land of Israel †and at my presence shal the fishes of the sea be moued and the foules of heauen and the beastes of the fild and enerie creeping thing that moueth vpon the ground al men that are vpon the face of the earth and the mountaines shal be ouerthrowen and the hedges shal fal and euerie wal shal fal on the ground †And I wil cal in against him in al my moūtaines the sword saith our Lord God euerie mans sword shal be directed against his brother †And I wil iudge him with pestilence and bloud and vehement showre mightie great stones fire and brimstone wil I raine vpon him and vpon his armie and vpon the manie people 's that ar◠with him †And I wil be magnified and I wil be sanctified and I wil be knowen in the eyes of manie nations and they shal know that I am the Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXXVIII 2. Against Gog and the Land of Magog Gog and Magog according to the most common opinion were the king and people of Scithia in the North part of the vvorld a barbarous sauage and cruel nation the ofspring of Magog sonne of Iapheth wherto the prophet alluding describeth here as S. Ierom in this place S. Augustin li. 20. c. 11. de ciuit and other Fathers expound it al persecuters of the Church most especially Antichrist and his complices Of whom likewise by the same mystical names S. Iohn prophecieth Apoc. 20 v. 7. that Satan shal be loosed out of his prison and shal goe forth and seduce
that the vessels of gold siluer should be brought which Nabuchodonosor his father had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem that the king and his Nobles might drinke in them and his wiues and concubines †Then were the golden and siluer vessels brought which he had caried away out of the temple that was in Ierusalem and the king and his nobles dranke in them his wiues and concubines †They dranke wine and praysed their goddes of gold and of siluer of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone †In the very same houre there appeared fingers as it were of the hand of a man writing ouer against the candlesticke in the vtter part of the wal of the kings palace and the king beheld the ioynts of the hand that wrote †Then was the kings face changed and his cogitations trubled him and the iunctures of his reynes were loosed and his knees were striken one against the other †The king therfore cried out mightely that they should bring in the magicians Chaldees and southsayers And the king speaking sayd to the wisemen of Babylon Whosoeuer shal read this writing and shal make the interpretation therof manifest vnto me shal be clothed with purple and shal haue a golden chayne on his necke shal be the third in my kingdom †Then al the kings wisemen going in could not neither read the writing nor declare the interpretation to the king †Wherewith king Baltassar was much trubled and his countenance was changed yea and his nobles were trubled †And the queene for the thing that had happened to the king and his Nobles entered into the house of the feast and speaking she sayd King for euer liue let not thy cogitations truble thee neither let thy face be changed †There is a man in thy kingdom that hath the spirit of the holie goddes in him and in the dayes of thy father knowlege and wisedom were found in him for king Nabuchodonosor also thy father appoynted him prince of the magicians inchanters Chaldees and southsayers thy father I say ô king †Because more ample spirit and prudence and vnderstanding interpretation of Dreames and shewing of secrets and solution of thinge bound were found in him that is in Daniel to whom the king gaue the name Baltassar Now therfore let Daniel be called and he wil tel the interpretation †Daniel therfore was brought in before the king To whom the king speaking said Art thou Daniel of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda whom my father the king brought out of Iewrie †I haue heard of thee that thou hast the spirit of the goddes and more ample knowlege and vnderstanding and wisedom are found in thee †And now there haue come in into my sight the wise magicians that they might read this writing and might shew me the interpretation therof and they could not declare me the sense of this word †Moreouer I haue heard of thee that thou canst interpret obscure thinges and resolue thinges bound if therfore thou be able to reade the writing to shew me the interpretation therof thou shalt be clothed with purple and shalt haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke shalt be the third prince in my kingdom †To which thinges Daniel answering sayd before the king Thy rewardes be they vnto thee and the giftes of thy house geue to an other but the writing wil I read thee ô king and the interpretation therof wil I shew to thee †O king God the most high gaue to Nabuchodonosor thy father kingdom and magnificence glorie and honour †And for the magnificence which he gaue to him al peoples tribes and tongues trembled and feared him whom he would he killed and whom he would he stroke and whom he would he exalted and whom he would he humbled †But when his hart was eleuated and his spirit obstinatly set to pride he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and his glorie was taken away †And he was cast out from the sonnes of men yea and his hart was set with the beasts and with the wild asses was his habitation grasse also he did eate as an oxe and with the dew of heauen his bodie was embrewed til he knew that the Highest had powre in the kingdom of men and whomsoeuer it shal please him he wil raise vp ouer it †Thou also his sonne Baltassar hast not humbled thy hart wheras thou knowest al these thinges †but against the dominatour of heauen thou wast eleuated and the vessels of his house haue bene brought before thee and thou and thy nobles and thy wiues and thy concubins haue drunke wine in them the goddes also of siluer and of gold and of brasse of yron and of wood and of stone that see not nor heare nor feele thou hast praysed moreouer the God that hath thy breath in his hand and al thy wayes thou hast not glorified †Therfore from him is the ioynt of the hand sent which hath written this that is drawen †And this is the writing which is ordered MANE THECEL PHARES †And this the interpretation of the word MANE God hath numbred thy kingdom and hath finished it †THECEL thou art weighed in the balance and art found hauing lesse †PHARES thy kingdom is diuided and is geuen to the Medes and Persians †Then the king commanding Daniel was clothed with purple and a cheyne of gold was put about his necke it was proclamed of him that he had powre the third in the kingdom †The same night was Baltassar the king of Chaldee slaine †And Darius the Mede succeded into the kingdom being three score and two yeares old CHAP. VI. King Darius making Daniel one of the three chief rulers of his kingdom 4. and intending also to aduance him higher other princes accuse him for praying to God contrarie to the kings edict 16. wherupon he is cast into the lions denne 21. but is conserued without anie hurt 24. his accusers are deuoured by the lions and commandment is geuen that al men shal feare the God of Daniel IT pleased Darius and he appoynted ouer the kingdom Gouerners an hundred twentie to be in al his kingdom †And ouer them three princes of whom Daniel was one that the gouerners might render account to them the king might susteyne no truble †Daniel therfore passed al the princes and gouerners because there was the spirit of God more ample in him †Moreouer the king thought to appoynt him ouer al the kingdom wherupon the princes the gouerners sought to finde occasion against Daniel on the behalfe of the king and they could finde no cause nor suspicion because he was faithful and no fault nor suspicion was found in him †Those men therfore said We shal not finde against this same Daniel any occasion vnles perhaps in the law of his God †Then the princes and the
of Iuda and of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel and of the residue of the kinges of Israel euen to their captiuitie which happened in the sixth yeare of Ezechias king of Iuda This Prophet taking by Gods commandment a fornicatrixe to wife and hauing children that became also fornicators by these figures and by a widow long expecting an other husband and the like parables and other preaching admonisheth both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda that for their obstinacie in sinnes they shal fal first the one and afterwardes the other into miserable captiuitie Exhorteth them to repentance foresheweth their release the coming of Christ our Redemer with abundance of grace and benefites to al nations CHAP. I. In signification of the peoples idolatrie the prophet marieth a fornicatrix 4. by his childrens names foresheweth their great and long captiuitie 11. And afterwards their redemption together with al nations THE word of our Lord that was made to Osee the sonne of Beeri in the dayes of Ozias Ioathan Achaz Ezechias kinges of Iuda and in the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel †The beginning to our Lord of speaking in Osee and our Lord sayd to Osee Goe take thee a wife of fornications and make children of fornications because the land fornicating shal fornicate from the Lord. †And he went and tooke Gomer the daughter of Debelaim and she conceiued and bare him a sonne †And our Lord sayd to him Cal his name Iezrahel because yet a litle while I wil visite the bloud of Iezrahel vpon the house of Iâ—hu and I wil make the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease †And in that day I wil breake the bow of Israel in the valley of Iezrahel †And she conceiued yet agayne and bare a daughter he sayd to him Cal her name Without mercie because I wil adde no more to haue mercie on the house of Israel but with obliuion I wil forget them †And I wil haue mercie on the house of Iuda and wil saue them in the Lord their God I wil not saue them in bow and sword and in battel and in horses in horsemen †And she weyned her that was Without mercie And she conceiued and bare a sonne †And he sayd Cal his name Not my people because you not my people and I wil not be yours †And the number of the children of Israel shal be as the sand of the sea that is without measure and shal not be numbered And it shal be in place where it shal be sayd to them Not my people you it shal be sayd to them Children of the liuing God †And the children of Iuda and the children of Israel shal be gathered together and they shal set to themselues one head and shal ascend out of the earth because great is the day of Iezrahel CHAP. II. He admonisheth the two tribes of their sinnes threatning their captiuitie in Babylon 1. Sheweth the abundance of grace in the Church of Christ and multitude of nations to be conuerted SAY ye to your bretheren My people to your sister She that hath obteyned mercie †Iudge your mother iudge ye because she not my wife and I not her husband Let her take away her fornications from her face and her adulteries from the middes of her brests †Lest perhaps I strippe her naked and set her according to the day of her natiuitie and I wil lay her as a wildernes and wil set her as a land vnpassible and wil kil her with drought †And I wil not haue mercie on her children because they are the children of fornications †because their mother hath fornicated she is confounded that conceiued them because she sayd I wil goe after my louers that geue me my breads and my waters my wool my flaxe mine oile and my drinke †For this behold I wil hedge thy way with thornes and I wil hedge it with a wal and she shal not finde her pathes †And she shal folow her louers shal not ouertake them and she shal seeke them and shal not find and she shal say I wil goe and wil returne to my former husband because it was wel with me then more then now †And she did not know that I gaue her corne and wine and oile and multiplied siluer vnto her gold which they haue made to Baal †Therfore wil I returne and wil take my corne in his time and my wine in his time and I wil deliuer my wool and my flaxe which couered her ignominie †And now I wil reuele her follie in the eyes of her louers and there shal not a man deliuer her out of my hand †and I wil make al her ioy to cease her solemnitie her newmoone her sabbath al her festiual times †And I wil destroy her vine her figtree of which she said These are my rewardes which my louers haue geuen me and I wil lay her as a forrest the beast of the filde shal eate her †And I wil visite vpon her the dayes of Baalim to whom she burnt incense was adorned with her earler and with her tablet and went after her louers forgot me sayth our Lord. †For this loe I wil allure her wil leade her into the wildernes I wil speake to her hart †And I wil geue her dressers of vines out of the same place and the vale of Achor to open hope and she shal sing there according to the dayes of her youth and according to the dayes of her ascending out of the Land of Aegypt †And it shal be in that day saith our Lord She shal cal me My husband and she shal cal me no more Baalim †And I wil take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth and she shal no more remember their name †And I wil make with them a league in that day with the beast of the filde and with the foule of the heauen and with that which creepeth on the earth and bow and sword and battel I wil destroy out of the earth and I wil make them sleepe confidently †And I wil despouse thee to me for euer and I wil despouse thee to me in iustice and iudgement and in mercie and in commiserations †And I wil despouse thee to me in faith and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. †And it shal be in that day I wil heare sayth our Lord I wil heare the heauens and they shal heare the earth †And the earth shal heare wheate and wine and oile and these shal heare Iezrahel †And I wil sow her vnto me into the earth and I wil haue mercie on her that was Without mercie †And I wil say to Not my people My people art thou and it shal say Thou art my God CHAP. III. The prophet is commanded
because he hath gathered them together as the haye of the floore †Arise and thresh ô daughter of Sion because I wil make thy horne of yron and thy hoofes I wil make of brasse thou shalt breake in peeces manie peoples and shalt kil the spoiles of them to our Lord and their strength to the Lord of the whole earth CHAP. V. Ierusalem shal be besieged and taken 2. Christ shal be borne in Bethlehem 3. the Iewes shal not be wholly reiected vntil the Gentiles beginne to embrace the true faith 4. Which shal be spred in the whole world 8. pure from idolatrie 14. and the incredulous punished NOW shalt thou be spoiled daughter of the spoiler they haue layd siâ—ge vpon vs with a rod shal they strike the cheeke of the iudge of Israel †AND THOV BETHLEHEM Ephrata art a litle one in the thousands of Iuda out of thee shal come forth vnto me he that shal be the dominatour in Israel and his coming forth “ from the begynning from the dayes of eternitie †Therfore shal he geue them euen til the time wherin she that traueleth shal bring forth and the remnant of his bretheren shal be conuerted to the children of Israel †And he shal stand and feede in the strength of our Lord in the height of the name of our Lord his God and they shal be conuerted because now shal he be magnified euen to the endes of the earth †And this man shal be peace when the Assyrian shal come into our land and when he shal tread in our houses and we wil rayse vpon him “ seuen pastours and “ eight principal men †And they shal feede the land of Assur in the sword and the land of Nemrod in the speares therof and he shal deliuer from Assur when he shal come into our Land and when he shal tread in our coasts †And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the middes of manie peoples as dew from our Lord and as droppes vpon the grasse which expecteth not man and tarieth not for the children of men †And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the Gentiles in the middes of manie peoples as a lion among the beasts of the forests and as a lions whelpe among the flockes of cattel who when he hath passed and troden downe and taken there is none to deliue◠†Thy hand shal be exalted ouer thine enemies and al thine enemies shal perish †And it shal be in that day sayth our Lord I wil take away thy horses out of the middes of thee and wil destroy thy chariots †And I wil destroy the cities of thy land and wil destroy al thy munitions and I wil take away sorceries out of thy hand there shal be no diuinations in thee †And I wil make thy sculptils to perish and thy statuees out of the middes of thee and thou shalt no more adore the workes of thy handes †And I wil plucke vp thy groues out of the middes of thee and wil destroy thy cities †And I wil doe vengeance in furie and in indignation among al the nations that haue not heard ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 2. From the beginning from the dayes of eternitie To signifie that Christ taking mans nature vvas neuertheles eternal God vvith the Father and Holie Ghost the prophet addeth that he vvas from the beginning and from the dayes of eternitie vvhich maner of speach by â—teâ—aâ—â—ng the same termes as also seculum seculi secuâ—a saeculoâ—um the like signifie absolute eternitie Though the same wordes put single in some places do only importe long time or duâ—ing such a state as Exo. 21. v. 6. Psal 23. v. 7. 9. 5. Seuen pastors eight principal men Christ raiseth vp and alvvayes conserueth manie or a great number signified by the tvvo mystical numbers seuen and eight to defend the faithful people of the Church against Assur Nemrod that is against al persecutors and aduersaries These defenders are the Fathers and Doctors of the Church especially Bishops vvho are here called Pastors to admonish them that their office is to seedâ— the people vvith spiritual foode doctrine and Sacraments and are called also princes or principal men to admonish the people to obey and folovv their ordinance As S. Paul also admonisheth Obey your Prelates and be subiect to them For they vvatch as being to render account for your soules Heb. 13. CHAP. VI. God expostulateth with the chiefe of the Iewes 3. and with the whole people their ingratitude for his singular benefites 6. who is not pacified with sacrifices 8. but by doing iustice 9. which they not doing 13. shal be afflicted by their enimies HEARE ye what our Lord speaketh Arise contend in iudgement against the mountaines let the hilles heare thy voice †Let the mountaynes heare the iudgement of our Lord the strong fundations of the earth because the iudgement of our Lord is with his people and with Israel he wil be iudged †My people what haue I done to thee or what haue I molested thee answer me †Because I brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt deliuered thee out of the house of them that serued and sent before thy face Moyses and Aaron and Marie †My people remember I pray thee what Balach the king of Moab purposed and what Balaam the sonne of Beor answered him from Setim euen to Galgal that thou mightst know the iustices of our Lord. †What worthie thing shal I offer to our Lord shal I bow the knee to the high God What shal I offer vnto him holocausts calues of a yeare old †Why can our Lord be pacified with thousandes of rammes or with manie thousandes of fatte buckgoates Why shal I geue my first borne for my wickednes the fruite of my womb for the sinne of my soule †I wil shew thee ô man what is good and what our Lord requireth of thee Verely to do iudgement and to loue mercie and to walke solicitous with thy God †The voice of our Lord crieth to the citie and saluation shal be to them that feare thy name heare ye ô tribes and who shal approue it †As yet there is fire in the house of the impious treasures of iniquitie and a lesser measure ful of wrath †Why shal I iustifie an impious balance and the deceitful weights of the bag †By which her richmen were replenished with iniquitie and the inhabitants therin spake lies and their tongue was fraudulent in their mouth †And I therfore begane to strike thee with perdition for thy sinnes †Thou shalt eate shalt not be filled and thy humiliation in the middes of thee and thou shalt apprehend and shalt not saue and whom thou shalt saue I wil geue vnto the sword †Thou shalt sow and shalt not reape thou shalt tread the oliue and shalt not be anoynted with the oyle and presse muste shalt not drinke
them And Demetrius sate vpon the seate of his kingdom †and there came to him the wicked and impious men of Israel Alcimus the captaine of them who would be made the priest †And they accused the people to the king saying Iudas and his bretheren haue destroyed al thy freindes and vs he hath destroyed out of our land †Now therfore send a man whom thou doest credite that he may goe and see al the destruction that he hath done to vs and to the kings countries and let him punish al his freinds and their ayders †And the king chose of his freinds Bacchides that ruled beyond the great riuer in the kingdom and was faythful to the king and he sent him †to see the destruction that Iudas hath made and Alcimus the impious man he appointed to the priesthood and gaue him in commandment to make reuenge vpon the children of Israel †And they arose and came with a great armie into the land of Iuda and they sent messengers and spake to Iudas his brethren with peaceable wordes in guile †And they attended not to their wordes for they saw that they came with a great armie †And there assembled to Alcimus Bacchides a congregation of the scribes to require the thinges that are iust †and first the Assideans that were in the children of Israel and they sought peace of them †for they sayd A man that is a priest of the seede of Aaron is come he wil not deceiue vs. †And he spake with-them peaceable wordes and he sware to them saying We wil doe you no harme nor your freindes †And they beleued him And he tooke of them threescore men and slew them in one day according to the word that is written †The flesh of thy saincts and the bloud of them they haue shed round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them †And there fel feare and trembling vpon al the people because they sayd There is no truth iudgement in them for they haue transgressed the appointment and the othe which they sware †And Bacchides remoued the campe from Ierusalem and approched to Bethzecha and he sent tooke manie of them that were fled from him and certaine of the people he killed and threw them into a great pitte †And he committed the countrie to Alcimus and left with him ayde to helpe him And Bacchides went away to the king †and Alcimus did what he could for the principalitie of his priesthood †and there gathered together vnto him al that disturbed their people and the obteyned the land of Iuda made a great plague in Israel †And Iudas saw al the euils that Alcimus did and they that were with him to the children of Israel much more then the Gentils †And he went out into al the coasts of Iurie round about and did vengeance vpon the men that reuolted and they ceased to goe forth any more into the countrie †But Alcimus saw that Iudas preuailed and they that were with him and he knew that he could not stand with them and he went backe to the king and accused them of manie crimes †And the king sent Nicanor one of his nobler princes that practised emnities against Israel and he commanded him to destroy the people †And Nicanor came into Ierusalem with a great armie and he sent to Iudas and to his bretheren in peaceable wordes with guile †saying Let there be no fighting betwen me and you I wil come with few men to see your faces with peace †And he came to Iudas and they saluted one an other peaceably and the enemies were readie to catch Iudas †And the thing was knowne to Iudas that he was come with guile and he was sore afrayd of him would not see his face any more †And Nicanor knew that his counsel was disclosed and he went forth to Iudas into battel beside Capharsalama †And there fel of Nicanors armie almost fiue thousand men and they fled into the citie of Dauid †And after these wordes Nicanor went vp into mount Sion there went forth of the priests of the people to salute him in peace and to shew him the holocausts that were offered for the king †And scorning he contemned them and polluted them and he spake proudly †and sware with anger saying Vnles Iudas be deliuered and his armie into my handes incontinent when Ishal returne in peace I wil burne this house And he went out with great anger †and the priests entered in and stood before the face of the altar and the temple and weeping they sayd †Thou ô Lord hast chosen this house for thy name to be inuocated therin that it might be a house of prayer and obsecration for thy people †Take vengeance vpon this man and his armie and let them fal by the sword remember their blasphemies and grant not vnto them to be permanent †And Nicanor went out from Ierusalem and moued the campe neere to Bethhoron and the armie of Syria mette him †And Iudas approched in Adarsa with three thousand men and Iudas prayed and sayd †They that were sent by king Sennacherib ô Lord because they blasphemed thee an angel came forth and stroke of them an hundred eightie fiue thousand †so destroy this armie in our sight to day and let the rest know that he hath spoken il vpon the holy places and iudge thou him according to his malice †And the armies ioyned battel the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar and the campe of Nicanor was discomfited and himself was slaine first in the battel †And as his armie saw that Nicanor was slaine they threw away their weapons fled †and they pursewed them one dayes iorney from Adazer euen til ye come into Gazara and with trumpets they sounded after them with significations †And they went forth out of al the townes of Iurie round about and they pushed them with the hornes and they turned againe to them and they were al slaine with the sword and there was not left of them so much as one †And they tooke the spoiles of them for a praye and Nicanors head they cut of and his right hand which he had proudly stretched forth and they brought it and hung it vp against Ierusalem †And the people reioyced excedingly and they spent that day in great gladnes †And he ordayned that this day should be kept euerie yeare the thirtenth of the moneth Adar †And the land of Iuda was quiet for a few dayes CHAP. VIII Iudas knowing the Romanes to be a most renowmed nation reciting their worthie actes 17. sendeth Embassaders to enter league with them 21. Wherto they a greing confirme a perpetual amitie with mutual conditions AND Iudas heard of the name of the Romanes that they are mightie of power and agree vnto al thinges that are
†For there was a certaine pensiuenes powred about the man and horrour of the bodie wherby the sorow of his hart was made manifest to them that beheld him †Others also came flocking together out of their houses praying with publicke supplication for that the place was to come into contempt †And the wemen hauing their breast girded with heareclothes came together through the stretes Yea and the virgins that were shut vp came forth to Onias and some to the walles but some looked through the windowes †and al stretching forth their handes vnto heauen prayed †For the expectation of the confuse multitude and of the grand priest being in an agonie was miserable †And these certes inuocated almightie God that the thinges committed to them might be performed with al integritie for them that had committed the same of trust †But Heliodorus exercised that which he had decreed in the same place himself present with his gard about the treasurie †But the spirit of almightie God made great euidence of his appearing so that al which had presumed to obey him falling by the vertue of God were turned into dissolution and feare †For there appeared to them a certaine horse hauing a terrible rider adorned with very rich harnesse and he with feircenes stroke Heliodorus with his forefoote and he that sate vpon him seemed to haue armour of gold †There appeared also two other yong men comely for strength excellent of glorie and beautiful in attyre which stood about him and on both sides whipped him beating him with manie stripes without intermission †And Heliodorus sodenly fel on the ground they tooke him being couered round about with much darkenes and being set in a seate portatiue they thrust him forth †And he that with manie currers and men of his garde entered into the foresayde treasurie was caried no man geuing him succourse the manifest powre of God being knowne †And he in deede by the powre of God lay dumbe and depriued of al hope and health †But they blessed our Lord because he magnified his place and the temple that a little before was ful of feare and tumult almightie God appearing was filled with ioy and gladnes †And then certaine of the freindes of Heliodorus forth with desired Onias that he would inuocate the highest to geue him life who was at the very last gaspe †And the high priest considering least perhaps the king might suspect some malice on the Iewes part downe aboute Heliodorus offered for the health of the man an healthful host †And when the high priest by prayer obteyned the selfe same yong men clothed with the same garments standing by Heliodorus sayd Geue thankes to Onias the priest for him hath our Lord geuen thee life †But thou being scourged of God declare vnto al men the great workes and the powre of God And these thinges being sayd they appeared no more †And Heliodorus hauing offered an host to God and hauing promised great vowes to him that granted him to liue and geuing thankes to Onias taking his armie againe returned to the king †And he testified to al men those workes of the great God which he had seene before his owne eyes †And when the king had asked Heliodorus who was meete to be sent yet once more to Ierusalem he sayd †If thou haue anie enemie or traytour to thy kingdome send him thither and thou shalt receiue him againe scourged if yet he escape because there is vndoubtedly in the place a certaine powre of God †For he that hath his dwelling in the heauens is the visiter and helper of that place them that come to doe euil he striketh and destroyeth †Therefore concerning Heliodorus and the keping of the treasurie so the matter standeth CHAP. IIII. Onias defamed molested by Simon repayreth to the king to procure peace 7. Seleucus dying Antiochus reigning lason by promising money to the king getteth the office of highpriest from his brother Onias 10. and peruerteth religion 12. setteth vp a wicked schoole wherby manie are corrupted 8. sendeth money for sacrifice to be offered to Hercules which is imployed in making gallees 21. Antiochus is receiued with great pompe into Ierusalem 23. Menelaus by promise of more money getteth the high priesthood from Iason 29. He also is deposed and his brother Lisimachus put in the place 32. Andronicus trayterously murdereth Onias 36. and for the same is slaine by the kings commandment 39. and Lysimachus by the people 43. Menelaus iustly accused escapeth by bribing and the innocent are slaine BVR Simon the foresayde betrayer of the money and of his countrie spake il of Onias as though he had stirred vp Heliodorus to these thinges and had bene the mouer of the euils †and the prouider for the citie and defender of his nation and the emulatour of the law of God he presumed to cala secret betrayer of the kingdom †But when the emnities proceeded so far that murders also were committed by certaine of Simons familiars †Onias considering the peril of the contention and that Appollonius being gouernour of Caelesyria and Phaenicia was outragious which encreased the malice of Simon went to the king †not as an accuser of the citizens but considering with himself the common profite of the whole multitude †For he saw that without the kings prouidence it was vnpossible that peace should be made in those matters that Simon would not cease from his follie †But after Seleucus departure out of life when Antiochus that was called the Noble had taken the kingdom vpon him Iason the brother of Onias ambiciously sought the highpricsthood †going to the king promising him three hundred three score talents of siluer and of other reuenewes foure score talents †aboue this he promised also an hundred fiftie more if leaue might be granted him to make a schole and a place for youth and to intitle them that were at Ierusalem Antiochians †Which when the king had granted and he had obteyned the princedom forth with he began to transport his countrie men to the heathen rite †And these thinges being taken away which of fauoure had bene decreed by kinges vnto the Iewes and through Iohn the father of the Eupolemus who was embassadour with the Romans concerning amitie and societie he disanulling the lawful rites of the citizens made wicked ordinances †For he presumed vnder the verie castle to set vp a schoole and to put al the goodliest youthes in brothel houses †And this was not the beginning but a certaine increase and going forward of the heathen and strange conuersation through the abhominable neuer heard before of Iason the impious and not a priest †So that the priestes were not now occupied about the offices of the altar but the temple being contemned the sacrifices neglected they hastened to be pertakers of the gamme of wrastling and of the
geue you spirit and soule and life and the members of euerie one I my selfe framed not †But in deede the Creator of the world that hath formed the natiuitie of man and that inuented the origine of al he wil restore againe with mercie vnto you spirit and life as now you despise your selues for his lawes †But Antiochus thinking himselfe contemned and withal despising the voice of the vpbrayder when the yonger was yet aliue he did not only exhort with wordes but also with oth he affirmed that he would make him rich happie and being turned from the lawes of his fathers he would account him a freind and geue him thinges necessarie †But when the yong man was not inclined to these thinges the king called the mother and counselled her to deale with the yong man to saue his life †And when he had exhorted her in manie wordes she promised that she would counsel her sonne †Therfore bending towards him mocking the cruel tyrant she sayd in her countrie language My sonne haue pitie on me which haue borne thee in my wombe nine moneths and gaue thee milke for three yeares and nourished thee and brought thee vnto this age †I beseech thee my sonne that thou looke to heauen and earth and to al thinges that are in them and vnderstand that God of nothing made them and mankinde †so shal it come to passe that thou wilt not feare this tormenter but being made a worthie partaker with thy bretheren take thou death that in that mercie I may receiue thee againe with thy bretheren †When she as yet was saying these thinges the yong man sayd For whom stay you I obey not the commandement of the king but the commandement of the law which was geuen vs by Moyses †But thou that art become the inuenter of al malice against the Hebrewes shal not escape the hand of God †For we for our sinnes doe suffer these thinges †And if the Lord our God hath bene angrie with vs a litle for rebuke correction yet he wil be reconciled againe to his seruants †But thou ô wicked and of al men most flagicious be not in vaine extolled with vaine hopes inflamed against his seruantes †For thou hast not yet escaped the iudgement of the almightie God and him that beholdeth al thinges †For my bretheren hauing now susteyned short payne are become vnder the testament of eternal life but thou by the iudgement of God shalt receiue iust punishment for thy pride †And I as also my brethren doe yeld my life and my bodie for the lawes of our fathets inuocating God to be propicious to our nation quickly and that thou with torments and stripes maist confesse that he onlie is God †But in me and in my brethren shal the wrath of the Almightie cease which hath iustly bene brought vpon al our stocke †Then the king incensed with anger raged against him more cruelly aboue al the rest taking it grieuously that he was mocked †And this same therfore died vnspotted wholy trusting in our Lord. †And last of al after the sonnes the mother also was consumed †Therfore of the sacrifices and of the exceeding cruelties there is ynough sayd CHAP. VIII Iudas Machabeus with six thousand men commendîng their cause to God 6. prospereth in battel 8. Philippe soliciting for more helpe Nicanor and Gorgias are sent with twentie thousand men against Iudas 12. whose men beginning to feare and some flying he encoregeth the rest 19. reciting manie examples of Gods assistance 22. disposeth his armie and prâ—uayleth 30. killing manie of Timothees and Bacchideâ— men 34. The principal hardly escaping by flight acknowlege that God protecteth the lewes BVT Iudas Machabeus and they that were with him went in secretely into the townes and calling together their kinsemen and taking vnto them those that continewed in Iudaisme they brought out to them six thousand men †And they inuocated our Lord that he would haue respect vnto his people that was troden of al and would haue mercie on the temple that was cotaminated of the impious †he would haue pitie also vpon the destruction of the citie which was forth with to be made flat with the ground and would heare the voice of the bloud crying to him †he would remember also the most vniust deathes of innocent children and the blasphemies done to his name and would take indignation for them †But Machabeus hauing gathered a multitude became intolerable to the heathen for the wrath of our Lord was turned into mercie †And coming vpon the castels and cities vnlooked for he burnt them taking commodious places he made not few slaughters of the enemies †and especially in the nightes he was caried to such excursions and the fame of his manlines was spred abrode euerie where †But Philip seing the man to come forward by litle and litle and that thinges for the more part succeeded with him prosperously wrote to Ptolomee the gouernour of Coelesyria and Phoenicia to geue ayde to the kinges affaires †And he with spede sent Nicanor the sonne of Patroclus of the principals of his freindes geuing him of the nations mingled together no lesse then twentie thousand armed men to destroy vtterly al the stocke of the Iewes adioyning also vnto him Gorgias a man of warre and in martial affayres of very great experience †And Nicanor appointed that he would supplie vnto the king the tribute that was to be geuen to the Romanes two thousand talents out of the captiuitie of the Iewes †and forthwith he sent to the cities by the sea side calling men together to the buying of the Iewish slaues promising that he would sel ninetie slaues for a talent not looking to the vengeance which was to folow him from the Almightie †But Iudas when he vnderstood it shewed to those Iewes that were with him the coming of Nicanor †Of whom certaine fearing and not crediting the iustice of God fled away †and others if they had any thing left sold it withal be sought our Lord that he would deliuer them from the impious Nicanor who had sold them before he came neere them †and if not for them yet for the testament that was with their fathers and for the inuocation of his holie magnifical name vpon them †But Machabeus calling together seuen thousand that were with him desired that they would not be reconciled to the enemies nor feare the multitude of the enemies coming against them vniustly but would fight manfully †hauing before their eyes the contume lie that was vniustly done by them to the holie place and moreouer the iniurie also of the citie being made a laughing stocke besides also the ordinances of the ancesters broken †For they in dede trust to their weapons sayd he and to their boldnes also but we trust in the Almightie Lord who can vtterly destroy
hundred †But Timothee fled into Gazara a strong hold wherof Chaereas was the captaine †And Machabeus and they that were with him ioyfully besieged the hold foure dayes †But they that were within trusting to the place blasphemed aboue measure cast forth abominable wordes †But when the fifth day appeared twentie yong men of them that were with Machabeus incensed in their mindes because of the blasphemie went manfully to the wal and with fierce conrege going on they scaled to the top †Yea and the others also mounting vp attempted to set the towres and the gates on fire and to burne the blasphemers themselues aliue †And the hold being sacked for two dayes together they slewe Timothee that was found hyding himself in a certaine place and his brother Chaereas and Apollophanes they killed †Which thinges being done they blessed our Lord in hymnes and confessions who did great thinges in Israel and gaue them the victorie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 8. They decreed Beza in his Annotations in Ioan. 10. v. 22. set forth in English in the yeare 1603. confesseth that the feast vvhich our Sauiour obserued vvas instituted by Iudas Machabius and his bretheren after the restoring of Gods true religion by easting out Antiochus his garrison It is also cleare that this feast vvas in vvinter ibidem agreable to the text in the moneth of Casleu which is Nouember vvheras the feast of tabernacles vvas in September before vvinter and the feast of restauration of the temple after the captiuitie of Babylon vvas in Adar 1. Esd 6. vvhich is Februarie betwen vvhich time and middes of March vvas not competent space for those thinges vvhich Christ did after this feast before his Passion And therfore it is very strange that Beza or other Protestantes vvil denie these bookes to be Canonical vvhich haue so excellent a testimonie by the Euangelist of our Sauiours ovvne fact CHAP. XI Lysias supposing with his armie of fourescore thousand footemen a great band of horsemen to subdue Ierusalem 6. Iudas with his few praying God and going to fight an Angel in forme of an horsemen goeth before them 10. so they setting vpon the enemies kil manie the rest flee 13. Lysias perceiuing Gods powre offereth to procure peace 22. Wherto the king agreeth writting to him 27. and to the Iewes 34. The Romanes also write to the Iewes BVT a litle after Lysias the kings procuratour and cosin and chiefe ouer the affayers being greatly offended with these thinges that had hapened †hauing gathered foure score thousand and al the horsemen came against the Iewes thincking that taking the citie he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles †and he should haue the temple to make gayne of money as the rest of the temples of the Gentiles and euerie yeare the priesthood to be sold †neuer recounting the powre of God but furious in minde he trusted in the multitude of foote men and thousandes of horsemen and in foure score elephants †And he entred into Iurie and approching to Bethsura which was in a narrow place from Ierusalem the space of fiue furlongs he expugned that hold †But as Machabeus and they that were with him vnderstood that the holdes were ex pugned they besought our Lord with weeping and teares and al the multitude together that he would send a good Angel to the sauing of Israel †And Machabeus him self first taking weapons exhorted the rest together with him to aduenture and to geue ayde to their bretheren †And when they went forth together with prompt corege at Ierusalem there appeared going before them an horseman in white clothing with armour of gold shaking a speare †Then al they together blessed our merciful Lord and tooke great corege being readie to penetrate not only men but also most fierce beastes and walles of yron †They went therfore promptly hauing an helper from heauen and our Lord hauing pitie vpon them †And like lyons running violently vpon the enimies they ouerthrew of them eleuen thousand footmen and of horsemen a thousand six hundred †and they put to flight al very many of them being wounded scaped a way naked Yea and Lysias him selfe shamefully fleeing escaped †And because he was not senselesse recounting with him selfe the diminution made on his side and vnderstanding the Hebrewes to be inuincible because they rested vpon the help of the almightie God he sent vnto them †and promised that he would consent to al thinges that are iust and that he would force the king to be their freind †And Machabeus granted to Lysias requestes in al things hauing respect to the commonwealth and whatsoeuer Machabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Iewes the king granted it †For there were epistles written to the Iewes from Lysias conteyning this tenure LYSIAS to the people of the Iewes health †Iohn and Absalom that were sent from you deliuering the wrytings requested that I would accomplishe those thinges which by them were signified †Therfore whatsoeuer might be brought to the king I declared vnto him and that which the matters permitted I granted †If therfore you kepe fideletie in the affayres hence forward also wil endeuour to be a cause of doing you good †And concerning the rest word for word I haue geuen commandement both to theise and to them that are sent of me to commune with you †Fare ye wel In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight of the moneth Dioscorus the foure twenteth day †But the kings epistle conteyned these thinges King Antiochus to Lysias his brother health †Our father being translated amongst the goddes we being willing that they that are in our kingdome should liue without truble and employ diligence to their owne matters †we haue heard that the Iewes consented not to my father to turne to the rite of the Greekes but that they would keepe their owne institution and therfore that they request vs their rites to be granted them †Being therfore desirouse that this nation also be quiet oradyning we haue decreed that the temple be restored vnto them that they might doe according to the custome of their ancestours †Thou shalt do wel therfore if thou send to them geue the right hand that our pleasure being knowen they may be of good cheere looke to their owne commodities †But to the Iewes the kings epistle was in this manner KING Antiochus to the senate of the Iewes and to the rest of the Iewes health †If you fare wel you are so as we would yea our selues also fare wel †Menelaus came to vs saying that you would come downe to your countrie men that are with vs. †To them therfore that come and goe vntil the thirtith day of the month Xanthicus we geue the right handes of securitie †that the Iewes may vse their owne meates and their owne lawes as also before and that none of them by any meanes
hart and he was inclined to the man †And he desired him to marrie a wife and to beget children He made a marriage he liued quietly and they liued in common †But Alcimus seeing their charitie one towardes an other and the couenantes came to Demetrius and sayd that Nicanor assented to forraine matters and that he ment to make Iudas being a traytour to the kingdom his successour †Therfore the king being exasperated with this mans most wicked criminations wrote to Nicanor saying that he in deede was greatly displeased for the couenant of their amitie neuertheles that he commanded him to send Machabeus quickly prisoner to Antioch †Which thinges being knowen Nicanor was amased and tooke it greuously if he should vndoe those thinges which they had couenanted being nothing hurt of the man †But because he could not resist the king he obserued oportunitie wherby to accomplish the commandement †But Machabeus seeing that Nicanor dealt with him more austerely and that he exhibited his accustomed meeting more sternely vnderstanding this austeritie not to be of good a few of his companie gathered together he hid him self from Nicanor †Which when he vnderstood that he was stoutly preuented of the man he came to the most great most holie temple and the priestes offering the accustomed hostes he commanded the man to be deliuered vnto him †Who saying with an oath that they knew not where he was that was demanded stretching out his hand to the temple †he sware saying Vnles you wil deliuer Iudas prisoner vnto me I wil beate downe this temple of God to the flat ground and wil digge downe the altar and this temple I wil consecrate to Liber pater †And when he had sayd these thinges he departed But the priestes stretching forth their hands vnto heauen inuocated him that was alwayes the defender of their nation saying thus †Thou ô Lord of al which lackest nothing wouldest a temple of thy habitation to be made amongst vs. †And now ô Lord holie of al holies preserue for euer this house impolluted which of late hath bene clensed †And Razias one of the ancients of Ierusalem was accused to Nicanor a man that was a louer of the citie and wel reported of who for his affection was called father of the Iewes †This man long time kept the purpose of continencie in Iudaisme and content to geue his bodie and life for perseuerance †But Nicanor willing to manifest the hatred that he had against the Iewes sent fiue hundred souldiars to take him †for he thought if he had intrapped him that he should doe the Iewes verie great hurt †But the multitudes coueting to rush into his house and to breake open the gate to set fyre therto when he was in taking he strooke himselfe with a sword †choosing to dye nobly rather then to be made subiect to sinners and against his noble birth to suffer vnworthie iniuries †But wheras for hast he had not made the wound with a sure stroke and the multitudes brake in within the dores running backe boldly to the wal he threwe downe him selfe manfully headlong vnto the multitudes †who quickly geuing place to his fal he fel vpon his necke †And when he had breathed incensed in minde he arose and when his blood ranne with a great streame he was wounded with most greuous wounds running he passed through the multitude †and standing vpon a certaine steepe rocke now being become without bloud gryping his bowels with both handes he cast them vpon multitudes inuocating the dominatour of life and spirit that he would restore these to him againe so he departed this life CHAP. XV. Nicanor intending to assault Iudas on the sabbath day 5. blasphemeth most proudly 7. Iudas with al confidence in God encorregeth his men 11. confirming them with the relation of a vision in slepe 21. So he with feruent prayer the enemie trusting his owne streingth ioyneth battel 27. and killeth thirtie fiue thousand and Nicanor amongst the rest whose head and hand cut of with the shoulder are hanged vp in Ierusalem 33. his tongue geuen to the birdes and a festiual day obserued 38. And herewith the Auctor of this second booke concludeth the whole historie BVT Nichanor as he vnderstood that Iudas was in the places of Samaria he purposed with al violence to ioyne batel the day of the Sabbath †But the Iewes that of necessitie folowed him saying do not so fearcely and barbarousely but geue honour to the day of the sanctification and honour him that beholdeth al thinges †that vnhappie man asked if there were a powre in heauen that commanded the sabbath day to be kept †And they answering There is the liuing Lord himself in heauen the potent that commanded the seuenth day to be kept †But he sayd And I am potent vpon the earth that commanded armes to be taken and the kings affayres to be accomplished Neuertheles he obteyned not to accomplish his counsel †And Nicanor in dede puffed vp with exceeding pride had thought to haue set vp a common victorious memorie of Iudas †But Machabeus alwayes trusted with al hope that there would come ayde from God to them †And exhorted his companie that they should not feare at the coming of the nations but should haue in minde the aydes geuen vnto them from heauen and now should hope that they should haue the victorie from the Almightie †And speaking vnto them out of the law and the Prophetes admonishing them also of the conflictes that they had made before he made them the more prompt †and so their hartes being encoreged withal he shewed the fraude of the Gentils and their breaking of oathes †And he armed euerie one of them not with sense of buckler and speare but with very good words exhortations declaring a dreame worthy to be credited wherby he reioyced them al. †And the vision was in this maner Onias who had bene the highpriest a good and benigne man reuerent to behold modest of maners and comelie of speach and who from a childe was exercised in vertues that he stretching forth the handes “ prayed for al the people of the Iewes †After this that there appeared also an other man meruelous for age and glorie and for the port of great dignitie about him †And that Onias answering sayd This is a louer of his bretheren of the people of Israel this is he that “ prayeth much for the people for the whole citie Ieremie the Prophete of God †And that Ieremie put forth his righthand and gaue vnto Iudas a sword of gold saying Take the holie sword a gift from God wherwith thou shalt ouerthrow the aduersaries of my people Israel †Being exhorted therefore with the wordes of Iudas exceding good by which the coreges might be stured vp and the hartes of the young men streingthned
expedient that one man dye for the people and the whole nation perish not vvhich the holie Euangelist ascribeth to his office being highpriest of that yeare he prophecied that IESVS should dye for the nation and not only for the nation but togather into one the children of God that were dispersed IESVS REDEMER correct in vs our errors gather the dispersed conserue them that are and shal be gathered make al one flocke in one fould vnder one Pastour thy selfe IESVS CHRIST To whom with the Father and the Holie Ghost be al thankes praise honour and glorie now and for euer and euer AMEN The prayer of Manasses vvith the second third Bookes of Esdras extant in most Latin and vulgare Bibles are here placed after al the Canonical bookes of the old Testament because they are not receiued into the Canon of Diuine Scriptures by the Catholique Church THE PRAYER OF MANASSES KING OF IVDA WHEN HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN BABYLON LORD omnipotent God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of their iust sede which didst make heauen and earth with al the ornamentes of them which hast bound the sea with the word of thy precept which hast shut vp the depth and sealed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges dread tremble at the countinance of thy powre because the magnificence of thy glorie is importable the wrath of thy threatning vpon sinners is intollerable but the mercie of thy promise is infinite and vnsearchable because thou art our Lord most high benigne long suffering and very merciful and penitent vpon the wickednes of men Thou Lord according to the multitude of thy goodnes hast promised penance and remission to them that haue sinned to thee and by the multitude of thy mercies thou hast decreed penance to sinners vnto saluation Thou therfore Lord God of the iust hast not appointed penance to the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob them that haue not sinned to thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sand of the sea Myne iniquities Lord be multiplied mine iniquities be multiplied and I am not worthie to behold looke vpon the height of heauen for the multitude of mine iniquities I am made crooked with manie a band of yron that I can not lift vp my head and I haue not respiration because I haue stirred vp thy wrath and haue done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and thy commandmentes I haue not kept I haue set vp abominations and multiplied offenses And now I bowe the knee of my hart beseeching goodnes of thee I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned I acknowlege myne iniquities Wherefore I beseech disiring thee forgeue me Lord forgeue me and destroy me not together with myne iniquities neither reserue thou for euer being angrie euils for me neither damme me into the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of the penitent in me thou shalt shew al thy goodnes because thou shalt saue me vnworthie according to thy great mercie and I wil prayse thee alwayes al the dayes of my life because al the power of the heauens prayseth thee and to thee is glorie for euer and euer Amen THE THIRD BOOKE OF ESDRAS For helpe of the readers especially such as haue not leysure to read al vve haue gathered the contentes of the chapters but made no Annotations because the text it self is but as a Commentarie to the Canonical bookes and therfore we haue only added the concordance of other Scriptures in the margin CHAP. I. Iosias king of Iuda maketh a great Pasch 7. geuing manie hostes to such as wanted for sacrifice 14. the Priestes and Leuites performing their functions therin 22. in the eightenth yeare of his reigne 25. He is slayne in battel by the king of Aegypt 32. and much lamented by the Iewes 34. His sonne Ieconias succedeth 37. After him Ioacim 40. who is deposed by the king of Babylon 43. Ioachin reigneth three monethes and is caried into Babylon 46. Sedecias reigneth eleuen yeares wickedly 52. and he with his people is caried captiue into Babylon the citie and temple are destroyed 57. so remayned til the Monarchie of the Persians AND Iosias made a Pasch in Ierusalem to our Lord immolated the Phase the fourtenth moone of the moneth †appointing the Priestes by courses of dayes clothed with stoles in the temple of our Lord. †And he spake to the Leuites the sacred seruantes of Israel that they should sanctifie them selues to our Lord in the placing of the holie arke of our Lord in the house which king Salomon sonne of Dauid built †It shal not be for you to take it vpon your shoulders And now serue your Lord and take the care of that nation Israel in part according to your villages and tribes †according to the writing of Dauid king of Israel and according to the magnificence of Salomon his sonne al in the temple and according to your fathers portion of principalitie among them that stand in the sight of your brethren the children of Israel †Immolate the Pasch and prepare the sacrifices for your bretheren and doe according to the precept of our Lord which was geuen to Moyses †And Iosias gaue vnto the people that was found of sheepe lambes and kiddes and goates thirtie thousand calues three thousand †These thinges were geuen to the people of the kinges goodes according to promisse and to the priestes for the Phase sheepe in number two thousand and calues an hundred †And Iechonias and Semeias and Nathanael bretheren and Hasabias and Oziel and Coraba for the Phase sheepe fiue thousand calues fiue hundred †And when these thinges were done in good order the Priestes and the Leuites stood hauing azymes by tribes †And according to the portions of their fathers principalitie in the sight of the people they did offer to our Lord according to those thinges which were written in the booke of Moyses †and rosted the Phase with fire as it ought and the hostes they boyled in cauldrons and in pottes with beneuolence †and they brought to al that were of the people and afterward they prepared for them selues and the priestes †For the Priestes offered the fatte vntil the houre was ended and the Leuites prepared for them selues and their brethren the children of Aaron †And the sacred singing men the children of Asaph were by order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Zacharias and Ieddimus which was from the king †And the porters at euerie gate so that none transgressed his owne for their brethren prepared for them †And the thinges were consummate that perteyned to the sacrifice of our Lord. †In that day they celebrated the Phase and offered hostes vpon the sacrifice of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found at that time
manie whose minde was stirred vp with many vowes †And Cyrus the king brought forth the sacred vessels of our Lord which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported out of Ierusalem and consecrated them to his Idol †And Cyrus the king of Persians bringing them forth deliuered them to Mithridatus who was ouer his treasures †And by him they were deliuered to Salmanasar president of Iurie †And of these this was the number Cuppes for libamentes of siluer two thousand foure hundred basens of siluer thirtie phials of gold thirtie also of siluer two thousand foure hundred and other vessels a thousand †and al the vessels of gold and siluer were fiue thousand eight hundred sixtie †And they were numbered to Salmanasar together with them that came out of the captiuite of Babylon into Ierusalem †But in the times of Artaxerxes king of the Persians there wrote to him of them that dwelt in Iurie and Ierusalem Balsamus and Mithridatus and Sabellius and Rathimus Balthemus Sabellius scribe and the rest dweling in Samaria and other places the epistle folowing to king Artaxerxes †SIR thy seruantes Rathimus ouer occurrentes and Sabellius the scribe and the other iudges of thy court in Caelesyria and Phenice †And now be it knowen to our Lord the king that Iewes came vp from you to vs coming into Ierusalem a rebellious very naughty citie do build the fornaces thereof and set vp the walles and rayse the temple †And if this citie and the walles shal be finished they wil not onlie not abyde to pay tributes but also wil resist the kinges †And because that is in doing about the temple we thought it should doe wel not to neglect this same thing †but to make it knowen to our Lord the king that if it shal seme good ô king it may be sought in the bookes of thy fathers †and thou shalt find in the recordes thinges writen of these and thou shalt know that this citie hath bene rebellious and trubling kinges and cities †and the Iewes rebelles making battels in it from time out of mind for the which cause this citie was made desolate †Now therfore we doe thee to vnderstand Lord king that if this citie shal be built and the walles therof shal be erected there wil be no comming downe for thee into Caelesyria Phenice †Then wrote the king to Rathimus the writer of the occurrentes and to Balthemus and to Sabellius the scribe and to the rest ioyned with them and to the dwellers in Syria and Phenice as foloweth †I haue read the epistle that you sent me I commanded therfore search to be made it was found that the same citie is from the beginning rebellious to kinges †and the men rebelles and making battels in it there were most valient kinges ruling in Ierusalem and exacting tributes in Caelesyria Phenice †Now therfore I haue geuen commandment to forbid those men to build the citie and to stay them that nothing be done more then is †and that they proceede not farder wherof are euils so that there may be truble brought vpon the kinges †Then these things being read which were writen of king Artaxerxes Rathimus and Sabellius the scribe and they that were apointed with them ioyning together in hast came to Ierusalem with a troupe of horsemen and multitude companie †and they begane to forbid the builders and they ceased from building of the temple in Ierusalem til in the second yeare of the reigne of Darius king of the Persians CHAP. III. After a solemne supper made to al the court and chief princes king Darius sleeping 4. three esquires of the bodie keeping watch proposed the question 10. Whether wine or a King or wemen or the truth doth excel 17. The first prayseth wine KING Darius made a great supper to al his domestical seruantes and to al the magistrates of Media and Persia †and to al that were purple and to the praetors and consuls and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto Aethiopia an hundred twentie seuen prouinces †And when they had eaten and drunken and returned ful then Darius went vp into his chamber and slept and awaked †Then those three youngmen kepers of his bodie which garded the kings bodie sayd one to an other †Let euerie one of vs say a word that may excel whose word soeuer shal appeare wiser then the others to him wil king Darius geue great giftes †to be couered with purple to drinke in gold and to sleepe vpon gold a chariote with a bridle of gold a bonet of silke and a cheyne about his necke †and he shal sit in the second place next Darius for his wisdome And he shal be called the cosin of Darius †Then euerie one writing his word signed it and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius the king †and they sayd When the king shal rise we wil geue him our writinges and which soeuer of the three the king shal iudge and the magistrates of Persia that his word is the wiser to him shal the victorie be geuen as is writen †One wrote Wine is strong †An other wrote a King is stronger †The third wrote Wemen are more strong but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh †And when the king was risen they tooke their writinges and gaue him and he read †And sending he called al the Magistrates of the Persians and the Medes and them that weare purple and the pretors and the ouerseers †and they sate in the councel and the writinges were read before them †And he sayd Cal the youngmen and they shal declare their owne wordes And they were called and went in †And he sayd to them Declare vnto vs concerning these thinges which are writen And the first began he that had spoken of the strength of wine †and sayd O ye men how doth wine preuaile ouer al men that drinke it seduceth the minde †And also the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine Also of the bondman and the free of the rich man and the poore †and euerie mind it turneth into securitie and pleasantnes and it remembreth not any sorow and dewtie †and al hartes it maketh honest and it remembreth not king nor magistrate and it maketh a man speake al thinges by talentes †And when they haue drunke they remember not frendship nor brotherhood yea and not long after they take swordes †And when they are recouered and risen from the wine they remember not what they haue done †O ye men doth not wine excel who thinketh to doe so And hauing sayd this he held his peace CHAP. IIII. The second prayseth the excellencie of a king 13. The third which is Zorobabel commendeth wemen 33. but preferreth truth aboue al 41. which is so approued and he is rewarded 42. The king moreouer at his request restoreth the holie vessels of the
from Babylon to build the citie that there should be libertie aswel to them as to their children and to al the priestes that goe before †And he wrote a quantitie also and commanded the sacred stole to be geuen wherein they should serue †and to the Leuites he wrote to geue preceptes vntil the day wherein the house shal be finished and Ierusalem builded And to al that kepe the citie he wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them †And he sent away al the vessels whatsoeuer Cyrus had separated from Babylon and al thinges whatsoeuer Cyrus sayd he also commanded to be donne and to be sent to Ierusalem †And when that yong man was gone forth lyfting vp his face toward Ierusalem he blessed the king of heauen †and sayd Of thee is victorie and of thee is wisdome and glorie And I am thy seruant †Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisedom and I wil confesse to thee Lord God of our fathers †And he toke the letters and went into Babylon And he came and told al his brethren that were in Babylon †and they blessed the God of their fathers because he gaue them remission and refreshing †that they should goe vp and build Ierusalem and the temple wherein his name was renowmed and they reioyced with musike and ioy seuen dayes CHAP. V. Those that returned from captiuitie of Babylon into Ierusalem and Iurie are recited 47. They restore Gods seruice 66. but are hindered from building AFTER these thinges there were chosen to goe vp the princes of townes by their houses and tribes and their wiues and their sonnes and daughters and their men seruantes and wemen seruantes and their cattel †And Darius the king sent together with them a thousand horsmen til they conducted them to Ierusalem with peace with musicke with tymbrels and shaulmes †and al the brethren were playing and he made them goe vp together with them †And these are the names of the men that went vp by their townes according to tribes and according to the portion of their principalitie †Priestes The children of Phinees the sonne of Aaron Iesus the sonne of Iosedec Ioacim the sonne of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel of the house of Dauid of the progenie of Phares of the tribe of Iuda †Who spake vnder Darius king of the Persians the meruelous wordes in the second yeare of his reigne the first moneth Nisan †And they are these that of Iurie came vp from the captiuitie of the transmigration whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported into Babylon and returned into Ierusalem †And euerie one sought a part of Iurie according to his owne citie they that came with Zorobabel and Iesus Nehemias Areores Elimeo Emmanio Mardocheo Beelsuro Mechpsatochor Olioro Emonia one of their princes †And the number of them of the same nation of their rulers the children of Phares two thousand an hundred seuentie two †The children of Ares three thousand an hundred fiftie seuen †The children of Phoemo an hundred fourtie two in the children of Iesus and Ioabes a thousand three hundred two †the children of Demu two thousand foure hundred seuentie the children of Choraba two hundred fiue the children of Banica an hundred sixtie eight †the children of Bebech foure hundred three the children of Archad foure hundred twentie seuen †the children of Cham thirtie seuen the children of Zoroar two thousand sixtie seuen the children of Adin foure hundred sixtie one †the children of Aderectes an hundred eight the children of Ciaso and Zelas an hundred seuen the children of Azoroc foure hundred thirtie nine †the children of Iedarbone an hundred thirtie two the children of Ananias an hundred thirtie the children of Asoni ninetie †the children of Marsar foure hundred twentie two the children of Zabarus nintie fiue the children of Sepolemon an hundred twentie three †the children of Nepopas fiftie fiue the children of Hechanatus an hundred fiftie eight the children of Cebethamus an hundred thirtie two †the children of Crearpatros which are of Enocadie and Modia foure hundred twentie three they of Gramas and Gabea an hundred twentie one †They of Besselon and Ceagge sixtie fiue they of Bastaro an hundred twentie two †they of Bechenobes fiftie fiue the children of Liptis an hundred fiftie fiue the children of Labonni three hundred fiftie seuen †the children of Sichem three hundred seuentie the children of Suadon Cliomus three hundred seuentie eight †the children of Ericus two thousand an hundred fourtie fiue the children of Anaas three hundred seuentie The priestes †the children of Ieddus the sonne of Euther the sonne of Eliasib three hundred seuentie two the children of Emerus two hundred fiftie two †the children of Phasurius three hundred fiftie seuen the children of Caree two hundred twentie seuen †The Leuites The children of Iesus in Caduhel and Bamis and Serebias and Edias seuentie foure the whole number from the twelfth yeare thirtie thousand foure hundred sixtie two †The sonnes and daughters and wiues the whole number fourtie thousand two hundred fourtie two †The children of the Priestes that sang in the temple the children of Asaph an hundred twentie eight †And the porters the children of Esmeni the children of Azer the children of Amon the children of Accuba of Topa the children of Tobi al an hundred thirtie nine †Priestes that serued in the temple the children of Sel the children of Gaspha the children of Tobloch the children of Caria the children of Su the children of Hellu the children of Lobana the children of Armacha the children of Accub the children of Vtha the children of Cetha the children of Aggab the children of Obai the children of Anani the children of Canna the children of Geddu †the children of An the children of Radin the children of Desanon the children of Nachoba the children of Caseba the children of Gaze the children of Ozui the children of Sinone the children of Attre the children of Hasten the children of Asiana the children of Manei the children of Nasissim the children of Acusu the children of Agista the children of Azui the children of Fauon the children of Phasalon †the children of Meedda the children of Phusa the children of Careé the children of Burcus the children of Saree the children of Coesi the children of Nasith the children of Agisti the children of Pedon †Salomon his children the children of Asophot the children of Phasida the children of Celi the children of Dedon the children of Gaddahel the children of Sephegi †the children of Aggia the children of Sachareth the children of Sabathen the children of Caroneth the children of Malsith the children of Ama the children of Sasus the children of Addus the children of Suba the children of Eura the children of Rahotis the children of Phasphat the children of Malmon †Al that serued the sanctuarie and the seruantes of Salomon foure hundred eightie two
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
truly for he was caried thither after his eyes were put out Iosephus li. 10. Antiq. c. 10. :: There was so exceding much that they wel could not or did not weigh it :: By Gods special prouidence king Ioachin other wise called Iechonias 2. Par. 3. Mat. 1. is exalted and set ouer al the Iewes vnto whom others succede in like authoritie and so is fulfilled the prophecie of Iacob Gen. 49. The scepter shal not be taken from Iuda nor a duke of his thiegh til he come that is to be sent The signification of the name and the contents of this booke Epist ad Paulin. Diuided into two bookes The first booke into three partes The first part Genealogies partly of other progenies of Adam but specially of Iacobs issue :: Adam had two other sonnes before Seth but Cains race was vtterly extinguished by the flood and Abel had no children :: As before the right line of Adam to Noe so here from his sonne Sem to Abram :: For mysterie sake God changed his name to Abraham Gen. 17. Differences of names numbers times found in holie scriptures make them hard to be vnderstood Diuers meanes to reconcile seming contradictions in holie scriptures 1. 2. Luc. 3. 3. 4. Mat. â— 5. 6. 7 8. 9. 10. Not priuate but publique spirit of the Church expounder of holie Scripture 2. Pet. 1. v. 20. :: This patriarch first called Iacob signifying suppâ—ater was afterward called Israel that is Sâ—â—ng God or valient vvith God Gen 35. :: Either this man had two names or there is error in the last letter here or Iosue 7. :: Otherwise called Calâ—bi v. 9. :: By sonnes as often elsewhere are vnstood nephewes and other of spring * dvvellings or resting places :: Valient men by whose help Ioab got victories and triumphant crownes :: S. Matthew omitteth this Ioakim and counteth Iechonias as the sonne of Iosias The same Ieconias was also otherwise called Ioachin 4 Reg. 24. v. 6. 25. v. 27. S. Hierom. li. 1. in Matth. :: Semeia with his fiue sonnes are counted six sonnes of Sechenias though Semeia only was his proper sonne the other his nephewes See annotation ch 1. num 3. :: In ioyning a vow to his prayer he imitated holie Iacob Gen. 28. And they both desired temporal thinges for the better seruing of God aduancing his glorie especially that they might be assisted with grace not to yeâ—d to tentatious nor sinne of malice :: Chiefloâ—d of the vaâ—â—â—y where the 〈…〉 dwelt that maâ—e the Temple :: See annotations Gen. 49. nu 4. :: Of these and the like S Paul sayth By saith they ouer came kingdomes Heb 11. :: The lineal succession of Hiegh priestes from Aaron to the captiuitie in Babylon Nicephorus counteth some others among these li. 2. c. 4. Iosephus also differeth from this cata logue li. 10. c. 11. 2. Paral. 26. :: In Sadoc 3. Reg 2. the high priesthood was reduced to the line of Eleazar which by Gods ordinance was translated to Heli of Ithamars line but stil continued in the line of Aaron The rest of Sadochs line by Achimaas c. to Iosedech in the captiuitie appeareth before v. 9. ad 15. :: Gen. 46. this third sonne is called As bel seuen more are there recited And so in the rest is much difference but al may be reconciled by such rules as are noted chap. 1. :: â—â—â—â—cheth Regiaa Queene :: Ishod Vâ—ram decorum that is A comelic personable or goodlie maa So we leaue the hebrew 〈◊〉 in this place because â— serom and the whole Church doth so in the latin text which we translate :: The genealogies of al Israel being hitherto recited before their captiuitie others are now added which first returned to Ierusalem after their release The second part King Saul and al his familie ouerthrowne :: He offered Sanctifice on an Altar withut warranto 1. Reg. 13. And destroyed not the Amalâ— cites as he was commanded 1. Reg. 1â— The third part King Dauids reigne and his special actes :: Two stout men of Moab as if they had benne lions 2. Reg. 23. v. 20. :: An armie of 〈…〉 o◠〈…〉 is 〈…〉 to â—s â—â—Soanâ—◠〈◊〉 :: Obededom was a Leuite c. 15. v. 18. and therfore more mete to kepe the arke :: Called a Getheite because he had dwelt in the towne of Geth :: An other linen garment vsed by prophetes such as Samuel did weare being a child 1. Reg. 2. :: Not only king Dauid being a holie Prophet but anie other Superior might blesse his subiectes :: That he also disposed certaine offices of Leuites was by special priuilege which was no preiudice to the hiegh priests authoritie for superior powre is proued by Gods institution rather then by factes either of good men which do manie thinges by way of dispensation oâ— of euil vâ—uâ—â—ing whithoâ—t warrant that to them perteyneth â—ot For it is â—â—ie that God instituted supreme spiritual powre in the high priest Deut. 17. And al kinges and temporal princes are to receiue the law at the priestes hand ibidem v. 18. Eleazar the high priest was appointed to consult our Lord for Iosue Nu. 27. Finally by Gods ordinance the lavy of truth vvas in the mouth of priestes Malâ—s 2. Psal â— 104. Psal 95. Psal â—05 :: That is continew and preserue thy seede and samilie as we see it performed et en to the B. virgin Marie and Christ of the house of Dauid Mat â— Luc. 2. 3. 2. Reg. â— :: The lesser townes and villagies are commonly called the dauhgters of some great towne or citie to which they perteyne :: That which is dedicated to sacred vse is consecrated to God â— Reg. 10. 2. Reg. 21. :: By Gods permission Dauid was tempted and ouercome 2. Reg. 24. 2. Reg. 24. :: King Dauid was not without faith nor hope and yet was contaminate with iniquitie from which he prayed to be deliuered * liitle cartes :: God shewed by sending fire miraculously to burne the sacrifice that he had heard Dauids prayer 1. Reg. 7. 3 Reg 5. :: Salomon sig nifieth Peaceable and therin as in manie other thinges prefigured Christ who amongst other names is called Prince of peace Isai 9. :: Aarons sonnes being consecrated Pricstes according to Gods ordinance Leuit 8 the Le uites to do other offices about the tabernacle Num. 3. 4 king Dauid with Sadoc the high priest and other chief men ch 24. â— 6. disposed them by lottes which should serue by courses to sing and play on instrumentes as wel in the tabernacle now resting in Ierusalem v. 26. as in the Temple when it should be built :: They were called princes of the Sanctuarie in respect of Sacrifices other sacred functions :: And princes of God in â—eguard of their spiritual iurisdiction in the Church or house of God :: Otherwise called Ethan ch 6. v 44. c. 15. v. 19. :: They played oâ— instrumentes Psalmes and Canticles made by Prophetes
our sinnes al his life l He prayed also for his resurrection and glorification m VVith al possible confusion Christs exaltation the 5. key Mat. 22. Act. 2. 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 1. 10. a God the Father b To God the Sonne the Lord of Dauid and of al mankind yet the sonne of Dauid according to his humanitie c He limiteth not the time but excludeth al time wherin the enimie might imagine that Christs kingdom should cease signifying that Christ shal reigne til al his enimies be subdued much more afterwards in al eternitie d The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem on whitsunday the fiftith day from his Resurrection continueth euer more e Thou shalt haue principalitie f in the day of thy powrful conquest and rising from death g in excellencie of al holie spiritual mysteries and graces h because I God the Father of my substance begate thee God the Sonne in eternitie The same which Micheas saith c. 5. v. 2. His comingforth from the beginning from the dayes of eternitie i God most firmly and vnchangeably affirmed that thou Christ our Messias art not only a King but also a Priest Heb. 5. v. 7. k not for a time as Aaron was but for euet l neither of Aarons order but according to the Order of Melchisedec m Kinges that sometimes persecute Christans are subdued with other people to Christ n He shal iudge and punish the incredulous people o make great slanghters amongst those that resist p and bring princes with their populous kingdome to nothing q He shal in the meane time and also his best seruants suffer much tribulation in this life r and for the same â—e highly exalted in life euerlasting Christs Priesthood for euer both in function and in effect The resemblance of Christs and Melchisedecs Priesthood Graces geuen to the Church the 6. key a I wil praise God both in secret for discharge of myn owne conscience b and in publique for edification of others This Psalme in the Hebrew is composed with euerie verse and middle of verse begunning with a distinct letter in order of the Alphabet c Gods wil is the whole cause of al his workes d Euerie worke of his is praise worthie and magnifical e God hath leift one most special and beneficial memorie of al other benefites his owne bodie and bloud in memorie of his Passion and our redemption f the spiritual foode and sustinance of al the soules that rightly feare him g Of his promise to conserue his Church perpetually h the powrable operation of his death and of al his mysteries i Gods commandments do iustifie al that kepe them k He also of his mercie redemed man that he might be able to kepe his precepts l Begingning with feare of God bringeth at last by other degrees to true wisdom which two are the first and last of the seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost The meanes to be happie the 7. key a The Septuagint Interpreters added this mention of Aggeus and Zacharie returning from captiuitie to signifie that this Psalme was very proper meete to be coÌ„mended to the people at that time wherby they might lerne that their sinnes were the cause of their captiuitie and of al their miseries and if they desired temporal or spiritual prosperitie they must obserue the meanes here prescribed to obtayne the same b He that sincerly feareth God wil take great delight in keping his commandments This Psalme is also composed by the Alphaber as the next before Psal 1. c So doing he and his shal prosper d The iust shal not only prosper in this world but also in the next e God wil also comfort the iust in tribulations f That shal geue discrete and wholsome counsel to the afflicted g Workes of mercie are also called iustice because they concurre to mans iustification 2. Cor. 9â— h and to his saluation Gods prouidence the 3. key a Al Gods seruants b In respect of God al creatures are low though they be in heauen c See the example of Ioseph so aduanced d of Sara Rebecca Rachael and other wemen made fruictful The meruelous passage of Israel from Aegypt the 4. key a People of false religion counted barbarous especially such as also persecute the true Religion for otherwise the Aegyptians were both ciuil in maners and lerned in manie sciences b The people of Iewes were more notoriously renowmed in the world from the time of their deliuerie out of Aegypt for the peculiar people whom God sanctified and in whom as in his elected enheritance or dominion he dwelled and reigned c The Psalmist writing in verse doth often describe thinges in poetical maner but more truly then prophane poetes for that in very dede al creatures otherwise sensles as the sea do in a sorte feele the powre of their Creator obey his wil d VVhen the Israelites went forth of Aegypt e when they entred into Chanaan f Either there was an earthquake or some other mouing of hilles not mentioned by Moyses or els the Psalmist speaketh of the rockes of the torrentes which bowed that the Israelites might rest in Ar and lie in the borders of the Moabites Num 21 v 15 g By the figure Apostrophe he speaketh to the sea riuer and hilles vsing also Prosopopoeia as if senfles thinges vnderstood and should answer h An other miraculous benefite that the rocke yelded them water in their necessitie * Here some Hebrewe Rabbins beginne an other Psalme but by the coherence of the matter S. Augustin proueth that it iâ— but one Psalme where is shewed that the true inuisible God is knowen by such workes as are here recited and contratiwise that the GeÌ„tils idoles are not goddes because they are made of siluer gold or other matter by mens handes hauing resemblance of liuing thinges are altogether sensles i Thou didstal this ô God of mere mercie towards thy people k for thy truths sake seing thou didst promise to protect them l that the Gentiles should not take occasion to blaspheme m This is a iust prayer of the zelous conforming their desires to Gods wil But if God geue idolaters grace to amend then al the iust wil also reioice in their cenuersion n Though manie Iewes fel to idolatrie yet there alwayes remained so manie in Gods true seruice that it mighst stil be truly saide The house of Israel hath hoped in our Lord as is here auerred o This in effect al worldlie politikes say in their hartes as it were quitting their interest of heauen to God p and contenting themselues with earthlie possessions q But when such prophane men are dead they make no shew at al of praising r for parting from the earth they descend into hel and there eternally blaspheme God God â— Å¿ Contrarivvise the iust aspiring to heauen vvhich is the proper kingdom of God vsing this vvorld as they ought to do for a meanes to ascend into heauen shal
other especially the wicked afflicting the good which our Sauiour describeth Mat. 24 saying Nation shal rise against nation You shal be odious to al nations for my sake Iniquitie shal abound c. :: This ioyful propagation of Gods glorie and name is either vnderstood to be prophecied of the Church in general which is as an iland of the whole world or properly and particularly amongst other gentiles of â—laâ—des conuerted to Christ as great Britannie others Iere. 48. :: The prophet and faithful people confessing Gods benefites and perfect performance of whatsoeuer he promiseth or determineth conforming their desires to his pleasure say Amen as wel in prosperitie when he deliuereth and blesseth them as in aduersitie when he punisheth by the destruction of Ierusalem which is here prophecied and the like :: After the reiection of the Iewes al Gentiles shal be conuerted to Christ Apoc. 7. â—1 :: In the time of grace geuen by Christ his whole Church singeth this and other like canticles of praises :: Other peoples haue their peculiar proper cities Babylon Damascus Tyrus Sidon c. but al Christians haue one citie the Catholique Church signified by Sion :: Fensed vvith vval and bul vvorke of faith good vvorkes S. Ierom here noteth that the sense of this Canticle is hard by reason of often and sudaine inter locutions of diuers persons consisting in questions and ansvvers To vvhose lerned commentaries vve remitte the studious readers :: A prophecie of the general resurrection of al men :: Some in glorie :: Some in miserie Mich. 1 Iob. 40. :: Tyrants are called serpents for their suttle poysenful malice and barres because they hold men fast inclosed in bondage And for the same reasons the diuel is called a serpent and a barre The fourt part Prophetical admonitions to both the kingdomes of Israel and Iuda :: By Ephraim is vnderstood the kingdom of Israel whose first king Ieroboam was of that tribe :: After that the tenne tribes were caried captiues 4 Reg. 17. God deliuered the two tribes out of imminent danger 4. Reg 18. 19 :: geuing peace to their people :: spirite of iudgement to king Ezechias :: and victorie to the souldiars :: Because Isaias other holie prophetes often and much vrged not only the people but also priestes vvhich had rule ouer the people to kepe Gods commandments and to expect his mercie and goodnes they scornfully repete the same wordes deriding such exhortations desperatly geuing themselues to al wickednes as if they neither feared death nor hel v. 15. Mat. 21. v 42. Act. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 9. 2. Reg. 5. 1. Par. 14 Iosue 10 :: As husbanmen dispose their workes in order so God sometimes worketh miracles sometimes geueth benefites sometimes sendeth afflictions and greater to some then to others :: But none are continually afflicted without intermission :: Ari signifieth a lion El God So Ierusalem called the lion of God to witte a strong citie is threatned with destruction which happened first by the Babylonians 4. Reg. 25 againe more miserably by Titus Vespasian 40. yeares after Christs death 2. Reg. 5. 1 Par. 11 Luc. 19. :: Scribes and Pharises pretending knowlege of Scriptures can not read Christ in the Prophets because these bookes are sealed or loeked and they haue not the key Apoc. 3. :: The Gentiles could not read Christ in these bookes because they knew not letters of the holie Scriptures S. Ierom Praemio in Isaiam Mat. 15. Mar. 7. 1. Cor. â—â— Eccli 29. :: You that trust in your owne counsels and forces or in other mens and not in God shal finde the miserable euent of your follie as is before noted chap. 2â— * Apostatae or denyers :: Either Isaias was commanded to write this which should be fulfilled manie yeares after or els he speaketh prophetically to Ieremie nere 200. yeares before he prophecied signifying that he should hen write it as in dede he did Iere. 41 c. Psal â—3 :: This claritie in sunne and moone shal be after the general resurrection :: Christ wil exercise his seuere iustice in the general iudgement when he shal bid the damned goe into euerlasting fire Mat. 25. :: If often happeareth that when eâ—il men seme most secure they â—al into sodaine calamities * Hel. Iere. 42. :: Both this Prophet and afterwards â—ereâ—â—e admonished the Iewes not to trust in the Aegyptians but they contemning this admonition shewed in their deedes that they distrusted God not be leuing nor obeying his prophetes for the same were at last punished :: In the meane time God destroyed the armie of Sennacaâ—â—b be seging Ierusalem 4 Reg. 19. But they forgote this and manie other examples of Gods powre and loue Isai 2. The fift part Of the captiuitie and relaxation of the kingdom of Iuda with other afflictions and comfortes but especially of Christ and his Church :: Albeit manie thinges in this and other places perteyne first and literally to the old testament yet al are in figure and some thinges haue no other literal sense but of the new testament As this prophecie of maffling or vnperfect tongues to speake readily is fulfilled in the Church of Christ plainly and distinctly confessing al Mysteries of Catholique faith and religion and the like which can not be verified in the Iewish people * Noble cities of Iuda This manie other prophecies perteyne to the old testament as in figure alluding to the historie but principally to Christ and his Church Pref. of prophetical bookes VVhat the wordes Iudgement and Iustice signifie Definition of Iudgement and Iustice as they are vsed in the holie Scriptures Both applied to Gods and mens actions Explication of the text :: Sennacarib spoyled al the kingdom of Israel and al Iuda sauing Ierusalem which he also beseged reproching and despising God but himself was therfore spoyled and despised :: Fidelitie in performing promises of good thinges temporal and spiritual :: Messengers sent to procure peace shal mourne because they can not obtaine it Psal 14 1. Cor 1. :: Both prophecies histories testifie that terrene Ierusalem was subiect to destruction and was destroyed and therfore this is necessarily to be vnderstood of the Church of Christ against vvhich heâ— gates shal neuer preuaile :: God willeth as vvel the gentiles that were farre of to come neere :: As Iso the Iewes that were his pecular people al to attend that he wil destroy this whole world before the general Iudgement :: No defence of strong places signified by Bosra shal saue anie men from destruction in the day of Iudgement :: In the meane time as a figure therof Sion shal be destroyed and therfore the metaphorical destruction folovving rather perteyneth to the state of the damned in the next vvorld then to the afflicted in this life :: An euident prophecie of the conuersion of Gentiles In whom the Church shal continually spring florish :: Christ leaning al logical
but in al perfection a man :: God promised the Iewes multiplication of men :: And of catle which were a principal riches as appeareth by the word pecunia deriued of pecus Isa 54 Ioa. 6. :: The seede of Israel remaineth foreuer not in the incredulous Iewes saith S. Ierom but in those which with the Apostles by the Apostles beleue in Christ :: VVhen the citie was besie ged and Ieremie in prison prophecied that it should be taken and subdued by the enimies yet he bought landes to signifie that in time they should be deliuered from captiuitie :: Sedecias was brought to the king of Babylon in Reblatha where they put out his eyes thence caried him blind to Babylon 4. Reg. 25. and so coming to that citie he could not see it Ezech. 12. v. 13. Exo 3â— :: By the force of the sword famine pestilence as Psa 59. v. 6. that they flee from the face of the bovv :: VVhen they were in the vvildernes newly deliuered from Aegypt they committed manie hainous crimes in murmuring schisme idolatrie and other carnal spiritual sinnes Psal 35. 1. Reg. 21. :: Lest anie should thinke that by Gods iust and seuere punishment or by anie reuolting from his seruice the Church might be vtterly destroyed he stil promiseth mercie towards the reliques of his people that they shal neuer al fayle but continew til the Redemer of mankind Christ shal come And much lesse shal Christs Church euer faile after his coming :: Besides manie other reuelations this prophet had two visions in prison in confirmation that God would conserue his people and Church for euer notwithstanding their manifold great sinnes great affliction and destruction of manie for the same :: An euident prophecie and promise of Christ Iere. 23. v. 5. :: Borne of the seede of Dauid :: Dauids progenie shal continew vnto Christ whose kingdom vvhich is his Church shal haue no end Luc. 1. v. 33 Psal 88. v. 30. :: S Hypolitus and al ancient Fathers teach that the holie Eucharist is the coÌ„plement of al sacrifices of the old Testament :: Gods most special prouidence blessed the families of Dauid and Aaron aboue al other kinreds :: See ch 32. v. 4. 4. Reg. 25. v. 7. :: Recidiuation into sinnes after remission offendeth God more then the former sinnes as ouâ— Sauiour teacheth by a parable Ma. 18. Exo. 21. Deut. 15. :: God was not the cause of the Babylonians crueltie but permitted and directed the same to punish the Iewes :: Here againe it appeareth that the prophet obserueth not the order of time in vvriting his visions For the thing here recorded happened before the prophecies mentioned in the former chapters :: This Ionadab vvas a man of powre estimation very familiar vvith Iehu king of Israel 4. Reg. 10. v. 15 :: The Rechabites descended not of Israel but of Iethro a Madianite Moyses father in lavv as both Hebrevv Lâ— in Do 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 on :: In case of necessitie they entered into the city otherwise remained in tentes :: Seing these religious Rechabites obserued obediently the rule of their father founder in vvorkes of supererogation othervvise not commanded much more al are bound to kepe Gods commandments Iere. 18. v. 11. 25. v. 5. Religious Orders in the old Testament The rule of Rechabites differed from the Nazareites children of the Propheces They were figures of more perfect orders in the Church of Christ Mat. 19. v. 12. 21. Diuers kindes of Religious Orders Luc 18. v. 22. Varieties of Religious Orders make no difference in Catholique Religion But do much adorne the whole Church Psal 44. v. 11. 1â— :: Besides preaching which the euil disposed did either not duly regard or quickly forget God commanded that his wil should also be written for a perpetual admonition if they would read it or heare it redde and for a testimonie against them and a warning to others :: He was not now in prison for v. 19. certaine noble men of the court aduised both Baruch and him to hide themselues but kept himself close in some secret place as most Priestes do now in England that they may better exercise their function then if they were in the persecutors handes :: The secretarie cut out the leaues and burnt them by the kings commandment as appeareth v. 25. c. :: God did not translate them to an other place but they hyding themselues by Gods direction the searchers could not finde them :: His sonne Iechonias reigned but three monethes which is counted as no reigne Theodoret. Ch. 22. v. 19. Nor anie of his issue in wordlie glorie as their predecessors had reigned S. Tho. p. 3. q. 3â— a. 2. ad 3. 4 Reg. 24. 2 Para. 36. â— Esd 1. :: As Herod dealt afterwards with S. Iohn Baptist so this king estemed reuerenced and feared Ieremie and yet persecuted him :: It is an old deuise of persecuters to pretend false causes against the innocent so Iulian the Apostata charged Cristian Catholiques with treason and sedition Hist. tripart li. 6. c. 27. so did also the Arrians Vandals other heretikes against Catholiques as Raffinus and Victor testifie Iere 2â— â— 9. :: The Hebrew phrase life shal beliuing and liuing he shal liue signifieth that he shal liue most securely Mystically this saftie in voluntarie banishment signifieth that voluntarie temporal penance saueth from eternal damnation :: God euer moueth some to pittie the innocent afflicted til at last he geueth them acrowne of glorie for their constant patience :: Prophecies are not only certaine when a thing is absolutly affirmed but also when they are conditional as this was and the euent should haue bene accordingly if the king had folowed the prophets aduise though by not going the contrarie captiuitie and much miserie happened to the king and people 4. Reg. 25 â— Reg. 25. Iere 52. :: Possession of one gate gaue sufficient entrance to the whole armie whereupon the king and his chiefe nobles fled by a posterne gate :: He expostulated iustly reproued Sedecias for rebelling breaking his othe shewing ingratitude for so much as Nabu chodonosor had made him king reposed coÌ„fidence in him The fifth part Ieremie prophecieth the destruction of the Iewes going into Aegypt and of sundrie nations for their idolattie and crueltie :: This heathen prince seing the Iewes afflicted for their sinnes confesseth the iustice of God not sparing to punish his owne elected people 4. Reg. 25. :: Being chiefe gouernour he promiseth according to his place to defend the people to answer for them and to be their agent and procurator in whatsoeuer the Chaldees should command or require of them * This thing 4. Reg. 25. :: Such cruel tragedies are commonly atchiued by falshood treacherie pretending freindshipe intending mischief :: Not sincerely weping but hypocritically feaâ—ing to lament the destruction of the Temple Citie :: Auarice tameth crueltie when nothing els can :: It semeth
v. 3. :: This legate vvas sent almost two yeares before to Rome ch 14. v. 24. and now brought letters not only to the Ievves but also to sundrie kinges and peoples in their behalf :: Simon subdued these tvvo tovvnes because they anoyed the Ievves but because they othervvise perteyned not to Iurie he payed for them an hundred talentes :: By the riuer of Cedron ouer which Dauid passed 2. Reg â—â— v. 23. and our Sauiour Ioa. 18. a citie vvas novv built or rather repared being decayed before :: After Simons death his eldest sonne Iohn surnamed Hyrcanus succeeded him in gouernment spiritual and temporal v. 24. :: He beginning to gouerne in the yeare 170. ch 13. v. 41. 42. had difficulties the first last yeares in the rest they had peace To be inebriated signifieth no more but to be repâ—enished vvith drinke competently or abundantly vvithout excesse As Psal 64. v. 10 the earth inebriated and v. 11. riuers inebriated That is abundantly replenished vvithout excesse S. August q. 144. in Gen. :: Out of the booke here mentioned some thinke the fourth booke of Machabees vvas translated See Sixâ—us Seâ—en li. 1. Biblioth pag. â—â— * li. 2. â— â— v. â— This Appendix coÌ„cerning tvvo epistles of the Ievves vvas added to the historie of the first booke by him that vvritte this second e :: As they had vvritten before in their afflictions so novv they exhorte their bretheren to be thankful to God and amongst other meanes to shevv their gratful minde by celebrating the feast of dedication of the nevv altar li 2. â— 4. v. 7. :: It semeth that either this Iudas vvas the first sonne of Iohn Hyrâ—amus othervvise called Aristobolus or rather Iudas Essenus of vvhom ch 2. v. 14. and of vvhom Iosephus vvriteth li. 13. â— 19. :: Chaldea being nere to Persis is sometimes comprehended vnder the same name so Mamertinus in Panagerâ—ca ad Iulia reciteth Tigris and Euphrates amongst the riuers of Persi S. Chrysostom ho. 6. in Math. saith the Ievves vvere deliuered from captiuitie of Perâ—â—s meaning Babylon :: In this fire vvere foure miracles First it vvas not changed into ayre but into vvater v. 20. :: Secondly this vvater being cast on the hostes of sacrifice vvas kindled as fire v. 22. :: Thirdly it burned also being cast vpon stones v. 32. :: Fourth it vvas extinguished by the light that came from the altar v. 32. :: Nephthar signifieth deliuerie vvhich is the effect of purification for the temple other holie thinges being purified were deliuered from prophane vse :: S. Ambrose li 3. c. 14. Offic. vvriteth at large of this miracle Epis Iere. Baruc. 6. :: Neither the tabernacle nor the arke vvere caried avvay by Nabuchodonosor but vvere preserued by some meanes and most like besides the auctoritie of this scripture by Ieremie the propher vvho had spocial fauour of the Babylonians vvhen Ierusalem vvas taken Iere. 39. v. 11. Exâ— 40. 3. Râ—g 8. â—euit 9. 7. 24. :: This semeth to be the same Iudas Essenus vvho vvith others vvritte this epistle ch â— v. 10. * li. 2. c. 15. v. 38. :: After the auctor had written this Appendix to the former booke he resolued also to adde an abridgement of the vvhole historie vvherunto he maketh this Preface signifying the matter vvherof he vvil vvrite v. 20. in vvhat maner v. 24. and why v 25. auouching his diligence v. 26. vvith breuitie v. 29. A :: God assisting the vvtiâ—ers of diuine histories doth not alvvayes deliuer them from labour in seeking to knovv the same of sueh as knew particular thinges So S Luke vvritte the Gospel hauing diligently attained to al thinges Luc. 1. v. 3. * exact declaration * li. 1. c. 1. v. 1. The first part The persecution of the Church by Antiochus :: Three thinges make a coÌ„monwealth to be in good state C 1 Good agreement of principal men amongst themselues with the commonaltie 2 Exact obseruation of good lavves 3 And eminent vertue of the supreme gouernour vvith exercise of pietie and hate of sinnes Other three thinges do truble the state Obstinacie in offenders not content to be corrected 2 Inueterate malice seking reuenge against iust Superiors 3. and auarice of princes to robbe the holie or common treasure :: These virgins remained in places nere to the temple brought vp in exercises of pietie fasting and praying til they were despoused 1. Reg. 2. v. 22. S. Amb. li. 1. de virgine S. Greg. Nissen Orat. de Christ Natiuit S. Damas li. 4. c. 13. :: 4. Reg. 2. v. 11. A firie chariotte and firie horses caried Elias from Elizeus 4. Reg. 6. v. 17. And the mountaine appeared ful of horses and of firie chariots round about Elizeus no lesse strange then this vision See S. Ambrose li. 2. c 29. offic discoursing vpon this historie :: It is the common practise of al traytors to calumniate and defame good gouerners And the best remedie a gainst such seducers is by auctoritie of Superior povvre not by the people vvho are commonly more prone to fauour faction then iustice * li. 1. c. 1. v. 11. E :: VVhere true Religion is abolished most men neglect al shew of religion and rather applie themselues to vanities or woise sinnes * li. 1. c. 1. v. 17. G :: This king falsly pretended to restore his kinsman his sisters sonne to the kingdom being depriued by his younger brother Liuius li. 44 but the true cause of his sending Apolonius into Aegypt was to subdue that kingdom to himself 1. Mach. 1. v. 17. :: Menelaus brother of Simon v. 23 of the tribe of Beniamin ch 3. v. 4. vvas not by the law capable of the priesthood which only perteined to the progenie of Aaron of the tribe of Leui So in this trublesome time the right succession of high priestes was intermitted and restored in Mathathias li. 1. c. 2. :: True and solide vertue moued the common people to compassion the King himself to teares the Tyrians to honour the bodies of the innocent with costlie burial v. 49. :: Strange thinges aboue the ordinarie course of nature doe euer signifie Gods vvrath for mens transgression and are admonitions to turne from sinne vvith spede that vve may escape the heauie hand of Gods iustice So the Emperour Charles the Great interpreted the apparition of a great Comete as vvitnesseth Fasciculus temporum Lacedemonians othervvise called Spartians descended from the stocke of Abraham li. 1. c. 12. v. 2. * li. 1. c. 1. v. 21. I ch 3. v. 23. 27. :: Al rites of religion vvith temples and other holie thinges are ordayned to the Seruice of God and for mens spiritual good and therfore vvhen men cease to serue God as holie thinges are destroyed or taken avvay :: Iudas vvas the tenth lawful highpriest from the Monarchie of the Grecians :: Sanaballat in the time of Alexander the great procured a temple to be built in Garizim like to that in Ierusalem An other was
this water the third day and the seuenth and so shal be cleansed If he were not sprinkled the third day the seuenth day he can not be clensed †Euerie one that toucheth the dead corps of mans soule and is not sprinkled with this commistion shal pollute the tabernacle of the Lord and shal perish out of Israel because he was not sprinkled with the water of expiation he shal be vncleane and his filthinesse shal remaine vpon him †This is the law of the man that dieth in a tabernacle Al that enter into his tent and al the vessel that are there shal be polluted seuen daies †The vessel that hath no couer nor bynding ouer it shal be vncleane †If any man in the field touch the corps of a man that was slaine or that died of himself or his bone or graue he shal be vncleane seuen daies †And they shal take of the ashes of combustion and of sinne and shal powre liuing water vpon them into a vessel †in the which when a man that is cleane hath dipped hyssope he shal sprinkle therwith al the tent and al the implementes and the men polluted with such contagion †and in this maner he that is cleane shal purge the vncleane the third and seuenth day And being expiated the senenth day he shal wash both himself and his garmentes and be vncleane vntil euening †If anie man be not expiated after this rite his soule shal perish out of the middes of the Church because he hath polluted the Lordes Sanctuarie and is not sprinkled with water of lustration †This precept shal be an ordinance for euer He also that sprinkleth the waters shal wash his garmentes Euerie one that toucheth the waters of expiation shal be vncleane vntil euen †Whatsoeuer he toucheth that is vncleane he shal make it vncleane and the soule that toucheth anie of these thinges shal be vncleane vntil euen CHAP. XX. ariâ— the sister of Moyses dieth 2. The people murmure for lack of water 7. Moysâ—s and Aaron being commanded to draw some out of a rock do it doutfully 12. and for the same are foretold that they shal die in the desert 14. Not obtaining licence to passe through Edom 22. they come into Mount Hor where Eleazar is ordained hiegh Priest Aaron dieth and is mourned by the people thirtie daie AND the children of Israel and al the multitude came into the desert Sin the first moneth and the people abode in Cades And Marie died there and was buried in the same place †And when the people lacked water they came together against Moyses and Aaron †and being turned into sedition said Would God we had perished among our brethren before our Lord. †Why haue you brought forth the Church of our Lord into the wildernesse that both we and our cattel should die †Why did you make vs ascend out of Aegypt and haue brought vs into this exceding naughtie place which can not be sowed which bringeth forth neither figge nor vines nor pomegranates moreouer also hath no water for to drinke †And Moyses and Aaron the multitude being dismissed entring into the tabernacle of couenant fel flatte vpon the ground and cried to our Lord and said Lord God heare the crie of this people and open vnto them thy treasure the fountaine of liuing water that being satisfied their murmuring may cease And the glorie of our Lord appeared ouer them †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Take the rodde and assemble the people together thou and Aaron thy brother and speake to the rocke before them and it shal geue waters And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rocke al the multitude shal drinke and their cattel †Moyses therfore tooke the rodde which was in the sight of our Lord as he commanded him †the multitude being assembled before the rocke and he said to them Heare ye rebellious and incredulous Can we out of this rocke bring you forth water †And when Moyses had lifted vp his hand stricking the rocke twise with the rodde there came forth great plentie of water so that the people drunke and their cattel †And our Lord said to Moyses and Aaron Because you haue not beleued me to sanctifie me before the children of Israel you shal not bring in these peoples into the land which I wil geue them †This is the water of contradiction where the children of Israel quarelled against our Lord and he was sanctified in them †In the meane time Moyses sent messengers from Cades to the King of Edom which should say Thus thy brother Israel biddeth vs to say Thou knowest al the labour that hath taken vs †in what maner our fathers went downe into Aegypt and there we dwelt a great time and the Aegyptians afflicted vs and our fathers †and in what maner we cried to our Lord and he heard vs and sent an Angel that hath brought vs out of Aegypt Loe being presently in the citie of Cades which is in thy vttermost borders †we besech thee that we may haue licence to passe through thy countrie We wil not goe through the fieldes not through the vineyardes we wil not drinke the waters of thy welles but we wil goe the common high way declining neither to the right hand nor to the left til we be past thy borders †To whom Edom answered Thou shalt not passe by me otherwise I wil come armed against thee †And the children of Israel said We wil goe by the beaten way and if we and the cattel drinke thy waters we wil geue thee that which is iust there shal be no difficultie in the price only let vs passe speedely †But he answered Thou shalt not passe And immediatly he came forth to meete them with an infinitie multitude and a strong hand †neither would he condescend to them desiring to grant them passage through his borders For the which cause Israel turned an other way from him †And when they had remoued the campe from Cades they came into the mountaine Hor which is in the borders of the land of Edom †Where our Lord spake to Moyses †Let Aaron sayeth he goe to his people for he shal not enter to the Land which I haue geuen the children of Israel for that he was incredulous to my mouth at the Waters of contradiction †Take Aaron and his sonne with him and thou shalt bring them into the mountaine Hor. †And when thou hast vnuested the father of his vesture thou shalt reuest therewith Eleazar his sonne Aaron shal be gathered and die there †Moyses did as our Lord had commanded and they went vp into the mountaine Hor before al the multitude †And when he had spoyled Aaron of his vestimentes be reuested Eleazar his sonne with them †After that he was dead in the toppe of the mountaine he went downe with Eleazar †And al the multitude seeing that Aaron
passe when Samuel waxed old he appoynted his sonnes iudges ouer Israel †And the name of his first begotten sonne was Ioel and the name of the second Abia iudges in Bersabee †And his sonnes walked nor in his waies but they declined after auarice tocke bribes and peruerted iudgement †Therfore al the ancientes of Israel being assembled came to Samuel into Ramatha †And they sayd to him Behold thou art old and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes appoynt vs a king that he may iudge vs as also al nations haue †And the word was misliked in the eyes of Samuel because they had sayd Geue vs a king that he may iudge vs. And Samuel prayed to our Lord. †And our Lord sayd to Samuel Heare the voice of the people in al thinges which they speake to thee for they haue not “ reiected thee but me that I should not reigne ouer them †According to al their workes which they haue done from the day that I brought them out of Aegypt vntil this day as they haue forsaken me and serued strange goddes so doe they also vnto thee †Now therefore heare their voice but yet testifie to them and foretel them the right of the king that shal reigne ouer them †Samuel therfore spake al the wordes of our Lord to the people which had desired a king of him †and sayd This shal be “ the right of the king that shal reigne ouer you Your sonnes he wil take and put in his chariotes and wil make them vnto him the horsemen and running footmen before his chariotes †and wil appoynt them his tribunes and centurions and the plowers of his fieldes and mowers of his corne and makers of his armour and of his chariotes †Your daughters also wil he take to make ointementes and to be cookes and bakers †Your fieldes also and vineyardes and the best oliuetes he wil take away and geue to his seruantes †Yea and your corne also and the reuenewes of your vineyardes he wil tithe to geue his eunuches and seruantes †Your seruantes also and handmaides and goodliest yong men and asses he wil take away and put in his worke †Your flockes also wil he tithe you shal be his seruantes †And you shal crie in that day from the face of the king which you haue chosen you and our Lord wil not heare you in that day because you desired vnto your selues a king †But the people would not heare the voice of Samuel but sayd Not so for there shal be a king ouer vs †and we also wil be as al nations and our king shal iudge vs and shal goe forth before vs and shal fight our battels for vs. †And Samuel heard al the wordes of the people and spake them in the eares of our Lord. †And our Lord said to Samuel Heare their voice and appoynt a king ouer them And Samuel sayd to the men of Israel Let euerie man goe into his citie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 7. Reiected me For so much as God had chosen Israel a peculiar people to him self and hitherto ruled the same by his Priestes established among them and by Iudges extraordinarily raised vp and sent by him to deliuer them in their distresses their demand now to haue a King who after the maner of other nations should be their Lord and haue more dignitie and authoritie ouer them then Dukes or Iudges had is interpreted as in effect to reiect God in that they disliked sought to change his forme of gouernment And therfore this request of the people iustly displeased both Samuel and God himself 11. The right of the King Samuel here by Gods appointment to diswade the people from their desire of a king at least to admonish them before hand what they are like to find by experience reciteth such thinges as Kinges abusing their powre do oftentimes practise by reason of their high dignitie and litle feare of controlment but vniustly and vnlawfully according to the doctrin of ancient Fathers Amongst others S. Cyprian calleth the exactions of kinges here recited greuous iniuries S. Hierom dura imperia seruitutem rigorous or cruel gouernmentes and seruitude S. Gregorie proueth the same by two contrarie examples Seing sayeth he that which is here foretold was punished in Achab and Iesabel 3. Reg. 21. it sheweth that it was not right by diuine iudgement which they exacted And when the elect King Dauid was to build an altar to our Lord 1. Paral. 21. he would not take part of Ornans field except he payed a iust price for it Moreouer the law prescribing the dutie of Kinges Deut. 17. v. 16. c. commandeth them not to multiplie horses not to heape riches not to take high courage that their hartes be not lifted vp into pride ouer their bretheren Neuertheles Kinges haue great prerogatiues more then Dukes and Iudges besides and aboue but neuer contrarie to the law that albeit they can not take their subiectes landes or goodes neither for them selues nor to geue to their seruantes at their pleasure yet in diuers cases subiectes are bound to contribute of their priuate goodes to supplie the necessitie of the King or of the commonwealth as by nature euerie part must suffer damage or danger in defence of the principal member or whole bodie And if anie refuse so to do they may iustly be compelled Furthermore in case Kinges or other Princes commit excesses and oppresse their subiectes yet are they not by and by to be deposed by the people nor commonwealth but must be tolerated with patience peace and meeknes til God by his souereigne authoritie left in his Church dispose of them which his diuine wisdom and goodnes often differreth to do as here he expresly forewarneth saying v. 18 You shal crie in that day from the face of your King and our â—ord vvil not â—eare you And the reason is because he wil punish the sinnes of the people by suffering euil princes to reigne Iob. 34. v. 30. Of which important difficultie falling sometimes betwen Princes and their subiectes who so desireth may search the iudgement of ancient Fathers and see S. Thomas and other schole Doctors 2. 2. q. 12. a. 2. Here only for better vnderstanding of this present text these brief pointes may be obserued First the people of their owne wil desired to haue a King Secondly they requested the same at the handes of samuel their present Superiour Thirdly this demand displeased both Samuel and God himself Fourthly yet God condescended to grant their suite but with an admonition and forewarning of the inconueniences which they should finde and feele Fiftly God himself designed the person that should be King reueled him by vision and commanded Samuel to annoint him Sixtly God neuertheles by guiding the lotte more manifestly declared and confirmed his election Seuently God deposed the same King for transgressing his law chap.
13. v. 13. and disobeying his commandment chap. 15. v. 23. appointing an other by the ministerie of Samuel chap. 16. Eightly notwithstanding his deposition he remained in his dignitie til his death which happened by other meanes chap. 31. By al which it appeareth that God constituted Saul the first King of the Iewes the people suing to haue a King but deposed him for euil behauiour the people desiring no such thing and Samuel the Prophet much lamenting the same Yet was he not actually beâ—iued of the crowne and kingdom during his life CHAP. IX Saul by occasion of seeking his fathers asses cometh to Samuel 15. Who had a reuelation of his coming and a commandment to annoint him 22. He is entertained and lodged with Samuel AND there was a man of Beniamin named Cis the sonne of Abiel the sonne of Seor the sonne of Bechorath the sonne of Aphia the sonne of a man of Iemini valiantin strength †And he had a sonne called Saul chosen good and there was not a man of the children of Israel better then he from the shoulder and vpward he appeared aboue al the people †And the asses of Cis the father of Saul were lost and Cis said to Saul his sonne Take one of the seruants with thee and rising goe and seeke the asses Who when they had passed by mount Ephraim †and by the land of Salisa and had not found they passed also through the land of Salim and they were not yea and by the Land of Iemini and found them not †And when they were come into the Land of Suph Saul saide to the seruant that was with him Come let vs returne lest perhaps my father hath let alone the asses and be careful for vs. †Who sayd to him Behold a man of God is in this citie a famous man al that he speaketh cometh to passe without doubt now therefore let vs goe thither if perhaps he may tel vs of our way for which we are come †And Saul sayd to his seruant Loc we wil goe what shal we carie to the man of God The bread is spent in our males and present we haue none to geue vnto the man of God nor any thing els †Agayne the seruant answered Saul and sayd Behold there is found in my hand the fourth part of a sicle of siluer let vs geue it to the man of God that he may tel vs our way †For in time past in Israel so euery man spake going to consult God Come and let vs goe to the Sâ—er For he that at this day is called a Prophete in time past was called a Sâ—â—r †And Saul sayd to his seruant Thy word is very good come let vs goe And they went into the citie wherein the man of God was †And when they went vp the ascent of the citie they found maides coming forth to draw water and sayd to them Is the Seer here †Who answering sayd to them Here he is Loe before thee make hast now for this day he came into the citie because this day there is a sacrifice of the people in the excelse †Entring into the citie immediatly you shal find him before he goe vp into the excelse to eate for the people wil not eate til he come because he wil blesse the Hoste and afterward they shal eate that are inuited Now therefore goe vp because this day you shal finde him †And they went vp into the citie And when they walked in the middes of the citie Samuel appeared coming forth against them to goe vp into the excelse †And our Lord had reueled the eare of Samuel one day before Saul came saying †This very houre that now is to morrow wil I send to thee a man of the Land of Beniamin and thou shalt annoint him ruler ouer my people of Israel and he shal saue my people from the hand of the Philistiims because I haue respected my people for their crie is come to me †And when Samuel had beheld Saul our Lord sayde to him Behold the man of whom I told thee this man shal rule ouer my people †And Saul came to Samuel in the middes of the gate and sayd Shew me I pray thee where is the house of the Seer †And Samuel answered Saul saying I am the Seer goe vp before me into the excelse that you may eate with me to day and I wil dimisse thee in the morning and al thinges that are in thy hart wil I tel thee †And concerning the asses which thou didst lose three dayes agone be not careful because they are found And whose shal be al the best thinges of Israel not to thee and to al thy fathers house †And Saul answering sayd Am not I the sonne of Iâ—mini of the least tribe of Israel and my kindred the last among al the families of the tribe of Beniamin Why therfore hast thou spoken this word to me †Samuel therefore taking Saul and his seruant brought them into the parlour and gaue them a place in the chiefe rowme of them that were inuited for there were about thirtie men †And Samuel sayd to the cooke Geue the portion which I gaue thee and commanded that thou shouldest lay it vp apart with thee †And the cooke lifted vp a shoulder and sette it before Saul And Samuel said Behold that which hath remayned sette it before thee and eate because of purpose it was kept for thee when I called the people And Saul did eate with Samuel that day †And they descended from the excelse into the towne and he spake with Saul in the toppe of the house and he prepared a bed for Saul in the highest rowme he slept †And when they were risen in the morning and it beganne now to be light Samuel called Saul in the high chaÌ„ber saying Arise that I may dismisse thee And Saul arose and they went both forth to witte he and Samuel †And when they came downe in the vttermost part of the citie Samuel said to Saul Speake to the seruant that he goe before vs and passe but stay thou alitle while that I may tel thee the word of our Lord. CHAP. X. Saul is annointed king and confirmed by signes that his ordinance is of God 10. He prophecieth which the people doth admire 17. Samuel calleth the people together for appointing a king the lotte falleth on Saul 25. and the law of the king is againe mentioned AND Samuel tooke a litle vessel of oyle and powred vpon his head and kissed him and sayd Behold our Lord hath annointed thee vpon his inheritance to be prince and thou shalt deliuer his people out of the handes of their enemies that are round about them And this shal be a signe vnto thee that God hath annointed thee to be prince †When thou shalt be departed from me this day thou shalt finde two men beside the sepulchre of Rachel in the
voice Great art thou ô Bel and there is not any deceite with thee †And Daniel laughed and he held the king that he should not goe in and he sayd Behold the pauement marke whose steppes these are †And the king sayd I see the steppes of men wemen and of infantes And the king was angrie †Then apprehended he the priests their wiues their children and they shewed him secrete litle doores by which they came in consumed the thinges that were on the table †The king therfore them he deliuered Bel into the powre of Daniel who ouerthrewe him his temple †And there was a great dragon in that place the Babylonians worshipped him †And the king sayd to Daniel Loe now thou canst not say that this same is not a liuing god adore him therfore †And Daniel sayd The Lord my God I doe adore because he is the liuing God †but thou ô king geue me licence and I wil kil the Dragon without sword and clubbe And the king sayd I geue thee licence †Daniel therfore tooke pitch fatte and heares and sod them together he made lumpes and gaue into the Dragons mouth the Dragon burst in sunder And he sayd Loe whom you worshipped †Which when the Babylonians had heard they were wrath excedingly and being gathered together against the king they said The king is become a Iewe. Bel he hath destroyed the Dragon he hath killed he hath slaine the priests †And they sayd when they were come to the king Deliuer vs Daniel otherwise we wil kil thee thy house †The king therfore saw that they pressed vpon him vehemently and compelled by necessity he deliuered Daniel to them †Who cast him into the lake of lions and he was there six dayes †Moreouer in the lake were seuen lions there were geuen to them two bodies euerie day two sheepe and they were not geuen vnto them that they might deuoure Daniel †And there was d Habacuc a prophete in Iewrie he had boyled broth had broken bread in a bowle and he went into the field to carie it to the reapers †And the Angel of our Lord sayd to Habacuc Carie the dinner which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel who is in the lake of lions †And Habacuc sayd Lord Babylon I haue not sene and the lake I know not †And the Angel of our Lord tooke him by the toppe of his head and caried him by the heare of his head put him into Babylon ouer the lake in the force of his spirit †And Habacuc cried saying Daniel take the dinner that God hath sent to thee †And Daniel sayd Thou hast remembred me ô God and hast not forsaken them that loue thee †And Daniel rysing vp did eate Moreouer the Angel of our Lord restored Habacuc forth with in his place †The king therfore came the seuenth day to lament Daniel and he came to the lake and looked in and behold Daniel sitting in the middes of the lions †And the king cried out with a lowd voice saying Great art thou ô Lord the God of Daniel And he drew him out of the lake of lions †But those that had bene the cause of his perdition he cast into the lake and they were deuoured in a moment before him †Then the king sayd Let al inhabitants in the whole earth feare the God of Daniel because he is the Sauiour doing signes meruels in the earth who hath deliuered Daniel out of the lions denne THE ARGVMENT OF THE TWELVE LESSE PROPHECLES VVHY Isai Ieremie Ezechiel and Daniel are called the foure greater Prophetes and these twelue the lesse there semeth no other certaine and proper reason but because they writte more largely and these more brifely For otherwise without essential difference al the sixtene as also Baruch whose booke is inserted with Ieremies and Moyses Samuel the Royal Psalmist Dauid Nathan Elias Elizeus Esdras Nehemias and manie others some writing bookes some not were absolutly true Prophetes of God indued with the holie spirite of prophecie had the like reuelations with the same assurance of truth in great part of the same Mysteries as wel perteyning to the old Testament as to the New And so these twelue contracted into the straitnes of one volume sayth S. Ierom multò aliud quam sonant in litera praefigurant Prefigurate a farre other thing then they sound in the letter Sygnifying as he elswhere explicateth that they do foreshew manie important thinges not only perteyning no the Iewes and some other peoples of those former times but also of al nations to be conuerted to Christ They were not al at one time but O see Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas and Micheas prophecied before the captiuitie of the tenne Tribes Nahum Habacuc and Sophonias after that captiuitie and before the captiuitie of the two Tribes And the other three Aggaeus Zacharias and Malachie after the relaxation from captiuitie Neither did they al prophecie in the same places nor concerning the same people and so haue their particular arguments as we shal briefly note of euerie one as they folow in order Here vve may note for instruction of the vulgar reader that the Prophetes commonly vse one of these names when they direct their speach of the kingdom of two Tribes Iuda Beniamin Ierusalem or The house of Dauid Because Iuda vvas the chiefe and most vvorthie tribe Beniamin the other only tribe besides Leui that ioyned vvith Iuda Ierusalem the Metropolitan and Royal citie vvhere both the Temple and Kinges palace vvere situated The House of Dauid is the familie vvherof succeded al the kinges of that kingdom so long as it stood and of vvhich some remayned in more estimation then anie other euen to Christ Likevvise they vse some of these other names vvhen they speake of the kingdom of tenne Tribes Ephraim Ioseph Samaria Iezrahel Bethel or Bethauen For that their first king Ieroboam vvas of the tribe of Ephraim and so descended from Ioseph Samaria and Iezrahel vvere the chifest cities of that kingdom Bethel vvas one of the places Dan the other vvhere Ieroboam set vp the tvvo calues VVhich place vvas othervvise more truly called Bethauen the house of the idol or of vanitie or iniquitie The names also of Israel and Iacob were more commonly vsed for the tenne tribes who being more in number vsurped and appropriated to themselues the names of their general Progenitor and Patriarch Yet sometimes these names importe al the tvvelue tribes including also Leui. And sometimes especially after the captiuitie of the tenne tribes these names signifie the tvvo tribes only vvhich more imitated Iacobs steppes and vertues then the tenne THE PROPHECIE OF OSEE OSEE borne in Belomoth as writeth S. Epiphanius of the tribe of Issachar prophecied in the reigne of Ozias otherwise called Azarias Ioathan Achaz Ezechias kinges
subuersion the wrath of indignation †Now therfore ô my sonnes be ye emulatours of the law geue your liues for the testament of your fathers †And remember the workes of the fathers which they haue done in their generations you shal receiue great glorie and an eternal name †Abraham was he not in tentation found faythful and it was reputed to him vnto iustice †Ioseph in the time of his distresse kept the commandment and he was made lord of Aegypt †Phinees our father feruent in the zele of God receiued the testament of an euerlasting priesthood †Iesus whiles he accomplished the word was made the duke in Israel †Caleb whiles he testifieth in the church receiued an inheritance †Dauid in his mercie obteyned the seate of the kingdom for euer †Elias whiles he zeleth the zele of the law was receiued into heauen †Ananias and Azarias and Misael beleuing were deliuered out of the flame †Daniel in his simplicitie was deliuered out of the lions mouth †And so thinke ye through generation generation that al that hope in him are not weakened †And of the wordes of the sinful man be not afrayd because his glorie is dung worme †to day he is extolled to morow he shal not be found because he is turned into his earth his cogitation is perished †You therfore my sonnes take courege doe manfully in the law because in it you shal be glorious †And behold Simon your brother I know that he is a man of counsel heare ye him alwayes he shal be a father to you †And Iudas Machabeus valiant of strength from his youth let him be to you the prince of warfare he shal manage the battel of the people †And you shal bring to you al the doers of the law and reuenge ye the reuenge of your people †Repay retribution to the Gentiles and attend to the precept of the law †And he blessed them and was layd to his fathers †And he died the hundreth and six and fourtith yeare and he was buried by his sonnes in the sepulchers of his fathers in Modin and al Israel lamented him with great lamentation CHAP. III. Iudas Machabeus punisheth the wicked 10. killeth Apollonius in battel 13. Seron braggeth but is also ouerthrowen 25. Antiochus furiously incensed 29. gathereth money in Persis 32. leauing Lysias viceroy 38. who sending a great armie against the Israelites 42. Iudas and his bretheren commending the cause to God by prayer and penance 54. resolue to fight against their enemies AND Iudas that was called Machabeus his sonne arose in his steed †and al his bretheren helped him and al that had ioyned themselues to his father and they fought the battel of Israel with ioy †And he dilated glorie to his people and put on him a brigantine as a giant and girded about him his warlie armour in battels and protected the campe with his sword †He became like a lion in his actes and as a lions whelpe roaring in hunting †And he persecuted the wicked enquiring them out and such as trubled his people them he burnt with fyre †and his enemies were repelled for feare of him al the workers of iniquitie were trubled and saluation was directed in his hand †And he exasperated manie kinges and reioyced Iacob in his workes and for euer his memorie is in benediction †And he walked through the cities of Iuda and destroyed the impious out of them and turned away wrath from Israel †And he was renowned euen to the vttermost part of the earth he gathered theÌ„ that perished †And Apollonius gathered together the Gentils and from Samaria a powre much and great to make battel against Israel †And Iudas vnderstood it and wentforth to meete him and he stroke and killed him and there fel manie wounded and the rest fled away †And he tooke the spoiles of them and the sword of Apollonius Iudas tooke away and he fought with it al his dayes †And Seron capitaine of the armie of Syria heard that Iudas gathered a congregation of the faithful and an assemblie with him †and he sayd I wil make me a name wil be glorified in kingdom wil ouerthrow Iudas and those that are with him that despised the word of the king †And he prepared himself and there went vp with him a campe of the impious strong helpers to doe vengeance vpon the children of Israel †And they approched euen as far as Bethoron Iudas went forth to meete him with few †But as they saw the armie coming to meete them they sayd to Iudas How shal we a few be able to fight against so great a multitude and so strong and we are wearied with fasting to day †And Iudas sayd It is an easie matter for manie to be inclosed in the hand of few there is no difference in the sight of the God of heauen to deliuer in manie and in few †Because not in the multitude of the armie is the victorie of battel but from heauen is the strength †They come to vs in an obstinate multitude and in pride to destroy vs and our wiues and our children and to spoile vs. †But we wil fight for our liues and our lawes †and our Lord himself wil destroy them before our face but you feare them not †And as he ceased to speake he flew vpon them sodenly and Seron was destroyed and his host in his sight †and he pursewed him in the descent of Bethoron euen to the playne and there fel of them eight hundred men and the rest fled into the land of the Phylisthims †And the feare of Iudas and of his bretheren and the dread fâ—l vpon al the nations round about them †And his name came to the king and al nations told of the battels of Iudas †And as king Antiochus heard these wordes he was wrath in his mind and he sent and gathered the armie of al his kingdom a campe exceding strong †and he opened his treasurie and gaue wages to the armie for a yeare and he commanded them that they should be readie at al assayes †And he saw that money fayled out of his treasures and the tributes of the region smal because of the dissension and the plague that he had made in the land to take away the ordinances that were from the first dayes †and he feared lest he should not haue as once and twise for costs and gifts which he had geuen before with a large hand and he had abunded aboue the kinges that had bene before him †And he was excedingly astonied in minde purposed to goe into Persis and to take the tributes of the regions and to gather together much siluer †And he left Lysias a noble man of the bloud royal ouer the kings affayres from the
riuer Euphrates euen to the riuer of Aegypt †and that he should bring vp Antiochus his sonne til he returned †And he deliuered to him half the armie and Elephants and he gaue him in commandment concerning al thinges that he would concerning the inhabitants of Iurie and Ierusalem †and that he should send an armie to them to destroy and roote out the powre of Israel and the remnant of Ierusalem and to take away the memorie of them out of the place †and that he should appoynt inhabitants in al their costs children strangers should by lot distribute their land †And the king tooke the part of the armie that remayned and went forth from Antioch the citie of his kingdom in the yeare an hundreth and seuen and fourtie and he passed ouer the riuer Euphrates walked through the higher countries †And Lysias chose Ptolomee the sonne of Doryminus and Nicanor and Gorgias mightie men of the kings freindes †And he sent with them fourtie thousand men and seuen thousand horsemen that they should come into the land of Iuda and should destroy it according to the word of the king †And they went forth with al their power and came and ioyned nere to Enimaum in the champaine countrie †And the merchants of the countries heard the name of them and they tooke siluer and gold exceding much and seruants and they came into the campe to take the children of Israel for slaues and there were added to them the armie of Syria and of the land of the strangers †And Iudas saw and his bretheren that the euils were multiplied and the armies approched to their borders and they knew the kings words which he commanded to doe to the people vnto destruction and consummation †and they sayd euerie one to his neighbour Let vs set vp the abasing of our people and let vs fight for our people and our holies †And an assemblie was gathered that they should be readie vnto battel and that they should pray and desire mercie and miserations †And Ierusalem was not inhabited but was as a desert there was none that came in and went out of her children and the holie place was conculcated and the children of strangers were in the castel there was the inhabitation of the Gentils and pleasure was taken away from Iacob and there failed their pipe and harpe †And they gathered together and came into Maspha against Ierusalem because the place of prayer in Israel was in Maspha before †And they fasted that day and clothed themselues with heareclothes and put ashes on their head and they rent their garments †and they layd open the bookes of the law out of which the Gentils searched the similitude of their idols †and they brought the ornaments of priests and first fruites and tithes and raysed vp Nazareits that had fulfilled their dayes †and they cried with a lowd voice to heauen saying What shal we doe with these whither shal we carie them †And thy holies are conculcated and they are contaminated and thy priests are brought into mourning and into humiliation †And behold the Nations are come together against vs to destroy vs thou knowest what thinges they intend against vs. †How shal we be able to stand before their face vnles thou ô God doe helpe vs †And with trumpets they cried out with a lowd voice †And after these thinges Iudas appointed captaynes of the people tribunes and centurions and a seargents and decurions †And he sayd to them that built houses and despoused wiues and planted vyneyards and to the fearful that euerie one should returne into his house according to the law †And they remoued the campe and pitched at the South of Emmaum †And Iudas sayd Gird vp your selues and be mightie sonnes and be readie agaynst the morning that you may fight against these nations which are assembled against vs to destroy vs and our holies †because it is better for vs to dye in battel then to see the euils of our nation and of the holies †but as it shal be the wil in heauen so be it done CHAP. IIII. Gorgias with six thousand souldiars wel appointed intending sudenly to destroy the Israelites armie of three thousand not wel armed 8. is defeated halfe of his men slaine the rest running away 16. Iudas staying his men from spoyling til the enemies were out of sight then they take rich prayes and render thankes to God 28. The next yeare Lysias with three score thousand foote and six thousand horsemen inuading Iurie Iudas with tenne thousand making his prayer to God killeth fiue thousand 35. the rest flying Lysias gathereth more souldiars 36. Iudas with his bretheren and others clense the temple and renew holie thinges 55. Offer Sacrifice 58. and institute a feast of the dedication of a new Altar AND Gorgias tooke fiue thousand chosen horsemen they remoued the campe by night †that they might approch to the campe of the Iewes and might strike them sodenly and the children that were of the castel were their guides †And Iudas heard and arose he and the mighties to strike the powre of the kings armie that were in Emmaum †For as yet the armie was dispersed from the campe †And Gorgias came into the campe of Iudas by night and found no man and he sought them in the mountaynes because he sayd These flee from vs. †And when the day was come Iudas appeared in the filde with three thousand men onlie which had not harnes and swords as they would †and they saw the campe of the Gentils strong and the men in brigantines and horsemen round about them and these were skilful to battel †And Iudas sayd to the men that were with him Feare not the multitude of them of their assault be not afrayd †Remember in what sort our fathers were saued in the redsea when Pharao with a great armie folowed them †And now let vs crie towards heauen and our Lord wil haue mercie on vs and wil be mindful of the testament of our fathers wil destroy this armie before our face this day †and al Nations shal know that there is one that redemeth and deliuereth Israel †And the aliens lifted vp their eyes and saw them coming against them †And they went out of the campe into battel and these that were with Iudas sounded with the trumpet †And they mette together and the Gentils were discomfited and fled into the playne †but al the hi◠most fel by the sword and they pursewed them as far as Gezeron and euen to the playnes of Idumea and of Azotus and of Iamnia and there fel of them euen to three thousand men †And Iudas returned and his armie folowing him †And he sayd to the people Couet not the spoiles because there is battel against vs †and Gorgias and his
auctoritie a 35. 50. 115. 206. 317. 713. 828. 8â—0 939. 984. b 926. Succession of Patriarches and of Highpriestes See Supreme head of the Church and the Historical table Succession conserued in the Machabees after the apostacie of Manasses Alcimus c. b 956. 1004. Sunne a very excellent creature but not so excellent as man b 398. Sunne stood the space of a day a 488. Returned backe tenne degrees a 805. b 505. Supreme head of the Church a 35. 50. 171. 327. 433. 475. 846. 657. 899. 905. 912. 960. b 1004. Sureâ—â—eshipe is dangerous b 276. Susanna was deliuered from false sentence by Daniel conuincing the wicked Iudges b 805. Suspension from Priestlie function a 811. Sustenance is the proper hyre of spiritual woorkmen a 55. Swearing by creatures a 131. See Othes Swete answer appeaseth anger a. 532. b 289. 381. T Tabernacle described a 230. c. finished and erected a 259. It signified the Church of Christ ibid. Temperance in feasting a 134. 1037. Temple intended by Dauid a 648. 848. was built by Salomon a 699. 871 It was destroyed by the Chaldees a 815. 933. b 648. 658. and reedified after the relaxation from captiuitie a 945. c. But the former was more excellent a 948. b 868. The second was prophaned and much impared by Antiochus Epiphanes b 893. 959. but recouered and clensed by Iudas Machabeus b 905. 970. 1002. It was enlarged and adorned by Herod b 1003. and finally destroyed by the Romanes b 545. Temples schismatical were built in Garizim and in Egypt b 960. 1000. Temporal paine remaineth due after sinne is remitted a 33. Tenne Tribes in great part fel into schisme and Idolatrie a 734. but not al a 744. 750. 941. 992. 1010. Manie of them returned from captiuitie a 982. b 600. 602. 743. Two tribes and tenne tribes are called by sundrie names b 810. Tentations happen to the strongest but hurt them not b 919. Teraphim signifie images as wel lawful as vnlawful a 103. 612. b 813. Thau the Hebrw letter had the forme of a Crosse b 688. Time is short in comparison of eternitie a 1077. 1084. Time or season is to be considered and obserued b 320. Tithes payed in the law of nature and of Moyses a 59. 319. 418. 986. b 887. Tobias his booke is Canonical a 989. 990. He neuer yelded to schisme nor idolatrie a 941. 991. He prophecied a 1008. Tongues diuided in Babel a 43. Traditions were long before Scriptures a 3. They are necessary and certaine a 397. 409. Traitors do commonly calumniate good gouernours b 954. Translations doe not fully expresse the sense of the original tongue b 374. Transubstantiation confessed by Rabbines b 993. Treasure of satisfactorie workes in the Church a 1069. Tribulations are profitable to men a 115. 1067. b 64. 133. 170. 218. 273. 322. 339. 347. 531. 551. 711. Trinitie of Diuine Persons in God a 30. 47. 67. 196. 702. 934. b 86. 93. 792. 989. Truth must be auouched b. 380. V Vanitie described by Salomon b 317. c. Venial sinnes a 157. b. 34. 305. Verse more pleasant to the minde and more easie to be remembred a 460. b 11. Vertues described and commended in al the fiue Sapiential bookes b 267. c. more particularly b 282. to the page 313. Vertue afflicted moueth to compassion b 957. Vestments of Bishops and Priestes a 234. signifie vertues requisite in Clergie men a 236. Vinetree signifieth the Church b 698. Virginitie a 542. It is a great blessing and meritorious state in the Church of Christ b 530. preferred aboue Mariage b 531. 995. Vision of God is perfect felicitie a 247. b 38. Visions of the Prophetes are often obscure b 675. 749. 871. Vnion domestical and ciuil is necessarie before peace can be made with strangers b 743. Vocation to spiritual functions is necessarie a 234. 251. 323. 326. 346. 792. b 588. Vowes a 95. 319. 335. 384. 385. 444. 709. 824. b 140. 323. 6. 3. 843. Vnlawful vowes do not bind a 542. Yet Iepthe is otherwise probably excused in sacrificing his daughter a 543. Vsurie is forbidde a 224. 313. 443. b 34. 105. 310. 705. 714. W Warres often made by Gods seruants a 55. 211. 366. 385. 403. 414 440. Seq In the bookes of Iosue Iudges Kinges and Paralipomenon Also b 896. 986. Smale numbers ouercame greater b 931. c. In warres a iust cause is the best armour b 966. Water made swete by Moyses throwing in a peece of wood a 195. By Elizeus casting in salt a 763. Water drawne out of rockes a 211. 365. 417. 978. b 144. 193. 207. Water procured by Elizeus a 765. Waters of the redde sea stood like to walles a 193. Likewise of Iordan a 474. b 207. Water of lustration holie â— 340. Wemen being vertuous and prudent are preferred before riches beautie c. b 315. Some most excellent both in the old and new Testament b â—16 Wemen in extreme hunger did eate their owne children a 774. b 655. 658. Likewise men sometimes did the same b 663. 681. Widohood is a holie state of life a 1035. The Booke of Wisdome is Canonical Scripture a 989. b 343. 349. Wisdome taken three waies Increated which is God himselfe Spiritual wisdome and Humane wisdome b 270. 353. 355. Wisdome spiritual comprehendeth al vertues and diuine giftes and compriseth al the meanes wherby God is serued b 267. consisteth in keping the law of God b 582. Wisdome and therby eternalglorie is attained by gradation from vertue to vertue b 352. 995. Wisdome considereth thinges past present and to come a 463. especially it considereth the Creator ad supernatural vertues a 1091. Wisemen are most humble b 313. Worldly wise are not to be consulted in spiritual thinges b 385. Worldlie men thinke the Church may be destroyed by persecution a 165. Workes necessarie to saluation a 33. b 267. 994. Al workes are not sinful a 23. Workes without true faith or grace may merite temporal reward but not eternal a 784. b 34. 728. 764. Workes done in grace are meritorious a. 61. 200. 347. 352 442. 539. 567. 704. 895. 936. 970. 988. 995. b 76. 227. 395. 764. 85. 995. Workes of mortification a 272. 593. 1021. b 126. 331. 395. 901. Workes of supererogation a 920. 936. b 530. 613. 952. 995. Al voluntarie workes shal be rewarded or punished a 15. 722. 988. b 31. 271. 273. 376. 383. 666. 706. Y Yeares mystical The seuenth yeare the ground rested a 312. debtes were remitted amongst the Iewes a 428. the fiftith yeare was Iubelie with remission of seruitude and testauration of inheritance a 312. Younger must regard and esteme the iudgement of elders b 433. Younger brother for mysterie preferred before the elder as Iacob before Esau a 85. Ephraim before Manasses a 146. Moyses before Aaron a 169. Dauid and Salomon before their elder brethren a 604. 688. Youth is the fittest time to get vertue and knowledge b 332. 448. Z Zachatias Highpriest was slaine by Ioas
King of Iuda a 908. Zacharias the Prophet exhorted to build the Temple b 868. Zele is an indignation rising of loue b 827. Zele is necessarie in iust religious causes discretly vsed a 982. 986. 993. b 55. 126. 898. Zele of Simeon and Leui was iust but not discrete a 109. 149. 1023. Zele of Moyses against Idolaters a 244. of Phinees against fornicators a 374. b 196. 439. of Dauid to Gods publike seruice a 647. 648. b 55. 115. 126. 256. of Elias against false Prophetes a 747. of Matthathias against persecuters of the Church b 896. And of his sonnes and other Machabees in aduancing Religion b 899. c. Zele of Dauid Ezechias and Iosias aboue other Kinges in destroying idolatrie b 445. Zele of certaine Christian kinges rewarded with glorious titles a 475. Zorobabel chief Duke Iesus the Highpriest with others built an Altar a 947. and the Temple after the captiuitie a 951. b 866. Which was a figure of the Church of Christ b 868. FINIS Censura trium Theologorum Anglorum extra collegium commorantium NOS infrascripti perlecta hac veteris Testamenti versione cum Librorum Argumentis capitum cumque Annotationibus ac Recapitulationibus suis locis insertis nihil inuenimus quod Fidei Catholicae aut bonis moribus repugnet sed econtrà reperimus Translationem fidelem reliqua docta vtilia Vtpote quae exactam temporum seriem Ecclesiae Pastorum Doctrinaeque Catholicae successionem ab ipso mundi exordio deducunt obscuriora sacri textus loca elucidant haereses huius temporis argumentis ex ipso eodem textu collectis conuincunt Ecclesiae Catholicae dogmata penè omnia confirmant Ideoque summâ cum legentium vtilitate publcari posse iudicamus si ordinarijs Librorum Censoribus hoc ipsum approbare beneplacitum fuerit 1609. IOANNES WRIGHTVâ— Ecclesiae collegiatae Gloriosiss Virginis Cortracensis Decanus MATTHAEVS KELLISONVS S. Theologiae Doctor ac Professor in Vniuersitate Remensi GVILIELMVS HARISONVS S. Theologiae Doctor Omnes aliquando Sacrarum Literarum in hoc Collegio Professores You may please curteous reader to amend the more especial errors happened in this Edition by reading thus In the former volume Page 20. line 24. reade bodie c. Page 26. line 7. partitions Page 51. line 13. that blesse thee Page 57. line 29. SALEM Page 107. line 1. seing Esau Page 227. line 6. to the twelue Page 305. Adde in the margent much more in the Church of Christ Page 727. line â—4 nauie and put out moniment in the margent Page 846. line 39. reioyce that Page 910. line 40. and 41. Ioas did take Amasias c. Page 1064. line 39. how they escape manie miseries which are neuer borne line 40. birth Page 1069. line 1. nor I gaynesay In the latter volume Page 24. after the last line adde Others thinke he speaketh of that Chusi or Chusai who reported to him the death of Absalom 2. Reg. 18. v. 31. Page 268. read the foure last lines thus thirtith chapter either an other Auctor or rather the same vnder an other title and in prophetical stile vttereth like diuine sentences adding in the last chapter other excellent preceptes receiued of his mother wherto he adioyneth the praise of a right wise woman prophetically the Catholique Church Page 721. adde in the margent were pastors of cattle here mentioned subdued the Ammonites We haue also found some other faultes of lesse importance and feare there be more But we trust the reader may easely correct them as they occurre The cause of delay in setting forth this English Bible Anno. 1568. VVhy how it is allowed to haue holie Scriptures in vulgar tongues Scriptures being hard are not to be read of al. Manie take harme by reading holiâ— Scriptures lib. de Prescrip lib. 2 ad Gratian. c. 1. Tract 18 in Ioan. Epist 103. c. 6. Reading of Scriptures moderated Scriptures translated into diuers tongues Bibl. Sanct. lib. 4. Lib. 1. Hist c. 47 Linvvod lib. 1. A calumnious suggestion of Lutheranes VVhat part of Scriptures be most conuenient for vulgar readers â— Tim 3. â—ac 1. VVhy we translate the old Latin text More pure then the Hebrew or Greke now extant TertulliaÌ„ li. 5. cont Marcion S. Ambrose li. 3 deSpirit San. c. 11 S. Ieron li. 1. con IouiniaÌ„ in 49. Isaiae li. 20. c. 24 mora Epist dedicat ad Leandr li. 2. Doct Christ c. 14. lib. 6. Etymol c. 5. li. 1 de Diuin offic c. 12. Receiued by al Churches Turned into Greke Prefat in Iosue Al others growne out of vse S. Ierom excelled al other Doctors in translating expounding holie Scriptures His Edition free from partialitie Preferred before al other Editions by Beza Luc. 22. v. 20. Prefat Noui. Testam Anno. 1556. Luc. 1. v. 1. None yet in England allowed for sufficient VVhat is done in this Edition Preface before the nevv Testam Diuers readinges resolued vpon none leift in the margent They touched not present controuersies VVhy some vvordes are not translated into vulgar English Some Hebrew wordes not translated into Latin nor Greke li 2 Doct. Christ cap. 11. More authoritie in sacred tongues Some vvordes can not be turned into English Protestantes leaue some vvordes vntranslated Corruptions in Protestantes Translations of holie Scriptures Of purpose against Catholique doctrine Against free wil. Against Melchisedechs sacrifice And against holie Images This Edition dedicated to al that vnderstand English Christ redeemed al but al are not saued True faith first necessarie Act. 17. v. 18. Ser. 42. de Sanct. The twelue Apostles were first Reapers before they were Sowers S. Paul at first a Sower or Seminarie Apostle Pastoral cures and Apostolical missions New doctrine is falsly called the Gospel S. Aug. de vâ—â—lit crede 1. c. Mat. 15. The seduced externally conformable are punished with the authors of iniquitie Psalmo 124. Cor. 6. Grace in the new TestameÌ„t more abundant then in the old Luc. 10. Tit. 1. Both wicked workes and omission of good workes are damnable Mat. 25. 1. Cor. â—3 1. Pet. 1. Innumerable saued by Christ Apoc. 7. They are more happie that suffer persecution for the truth * Vvorthie or comparable in dignitie 2. Cor. 4. English Catholiques most happie in this age 1. Pet. 1. The due praise of Martyres and other glorious Sainctes excedeth mortal tongues Patience necessarie to the end of mans life Persecution profitable Rom 10. Heb. 10. Confession of faith before men necessarie to saluation S. Ierom. Epist ad Paulin. de omnib S. Scipt libris S. Aug. prefat in specul li. 2. dc doct christ ca. 9. li. I. de Gen. coÌ„tra Manich ca. 4. li. de catechiz rudib c. 3. 4. l. 2. qq su per Exod q. 73. li. 15. cont Faust Manich. cap. 2. li 18. ciuit ca 54. de vera relig c. 27. li. 4. coÌ„t Faust ca. 2. S. Greg. hâ— 6. in Ezech. I. How the holie Scriptures conteine al knowlege neceslarie to saluation The old