not this a most admirable draught of Gods sage prodigallity and illustrious Magnificence who in exchange of a foot of ground gives intire worlds He will have the Heart and for the heart he gives Himself and in him the Creator of souls and the Soul of all hearts Alas what is a corner of the Earth compared with the Land of promise what is a country and City in respect of the firmament And where shall wee find brethren kindred or friends without pretension interest or any suspition of deceipt as are found in Heaven Ah! I no longer wonder that so many Kings and Queens so many great Lords and Ladies have followed the happy and blessed steps of Abraham to enter into the territories of the earthly Paradise and of Religion I remain no longer amazed to see so many young gentlemen brave rich couragious and learned So many tender fair and wealthy virgins who often in the sight of Royall Palaces and Courtes make a most sweet most holy and most honorable retreit into Cloisters to see them place their honor all their delights and riches in a most amiable and delicious prison Good God! How peaceable are these divorces how free are these Captivities and how holy are these resolutions If God give the whole for a part Worlds for one kingdome the Heavens for one Country and a hundred-fold for one who wil be astonished to see a Theodosius Zeno tom 3. an Anastasius and a Michael quitting the Empire of Greece to enclose themselves in a Monastery Who will wonder to see a Charlemain Son to Charles Martell who abandoned all the hopes he had in France to live out of the road of the world and the Court on Mount Soractes and what great wonder is it to see in the Kingdomes of Spain a Veremond King of Castile and a Remirus King of Aragon following the happy steps of a like conduct Surely I see nothing which is too admirable when for the same cause Sigebertus left his England Charls his Germany and so many others who have forsaken their most vast and most glorious Monarchies It was little considerable for Radegond and Baltildus to despise France though it were one of the Largest most Noble and most August Kingdoms under Heaven It was then yet less considerable for all those who have followed their steps and examples for doing what Sara and Abraham did they could not doubt but God would guide them out of their Empires into a Land of plenty where Crowns and Scepters are the Arms of an Eternall possession It remains then for all those Qui aedificavit ibi Altarem Domino qui aparuerat ei Gen. 12. whom he hath taken by the hand as he did Abraham and led them over the Banks of Jordan and through the shades of Hermon to build there an Altar on which they might offer Sacrifices of Love and Acknowledgments as Abraham did CHAP. II. The Voyages of Abraham and Sara into the Land of Egypt SAint Thomas hath excellently well noted D. Th. c. 26. c. 28. 1 in aggrediendo 2 in sustinendo that courage is a force of Spirit alwaies bold alwaies constant and which is found not only amongst assaults onsets and sieges but it delights also to sustain a long time the violences which present and oppose themselves to it's desires It is not then a perfect Act of Courage and Force to undertake some voyage and to put our selves on our way But we must advance even unto the End we propose to our selves And whether it Hails whether it Rains whether it Blows or whether it be fair Weather we must still have as a brave Pilgrim said our track and way mark'd out not on Sand and Earth but in the Heavens that is to say above the Sun and Stars which have alwaies regular motions and pass through the midst of Monsters without either stop or seeming astonished It was as I believe on this pleasing Mirror and on this Card of the most constant designs and of the most assured voyages or rather on God himself that Abraham leaving his own Country instantly cast up his eyes well resolv'd to follow him every where who served him for a Master a Conductor a Sanctuary and Country He left then the plains and vallies to ascend the Mountains as still desirous alwaies to make new progresses and to advance without any intermission It is he then whom I see spreading his Pavillions on the top of a Mountain Et inde transgrediens ad montem qui erat contra orientem Bethel tetendit ibi tabernacutum suum aedificavâ—t quoque Altare Domino invocavit nomini ejus Gen. 12. v. 8 and erecting an Altar to invoke the name and assistance of God his Conductor Listen a while and hear from his mouth the thoughts of his Soul Great God! I have forsaken all for thee and at the first command I received I obeyed the voice of thy most amiable providence A farwell to the World at length behold me here out of my Country far from my own Possessions and severed from my friends I am ignorant where I am but I only know that I am with thee It sufficeth me O my God all my desires are pleased and my Soul is fully satisfied Farewell all my kindred farewell my friends farewell my Country O my God! me thinks at every step I make I conquer a Kingdom all my guests are Kindred the little Hils are my Dungeons the Fields my Cities and all that the day discovers to me of Earth of Rivers of Air and of Seas is my Country my House and my place of entertainment O God! how Magnificent are thy bounties and how delightfull it is to follow and serve so sweet a Master as thy self Ah! let my Mouth and Tongue bless thee and let them not from henceforth serve but to invoke thy holy name In fine I will not only ingrave these thoughts upon this Altar But to the end I may publish them through all the Countries whither the Sun carrys his light I make my self the Companion of this Storie Perrexitquâ— vadens ultra progrediens ad Meridiem Gen. 12. v. 9. and without further delay I leave the East to advance unto the South It often happens that God makes use even of the least sensible and most inanimate Creatures to impart his graces unto his Elect. Sometimes he enters into the Heart with the break of Day His Lights and Clarities often mingle themselves with the Night and when the Sun sets to give rest unto the Body he causeth a miraculous Morning to arise which awakens the Soul Now I no wayes doubt but our Pilgrim in his journyes towards the South feels also more resplendent ardors and more infired lightnings which inflam'd him with more violent more zealous and more lively desires and designs Mean while a generall famine came over all the Land of Canaan Facta est autem sames in terra descenditque Abram in Aegyptum ut peregrinaretur
or else the Storms of the day which preceded And truly what can a dying man say who hath lived in the intriges of Fortune in the Labyrinth of Law-suites in the incombrances of a Family in an abysse of passions and in a hell of Miseries after this what can you expect from these infortunate Parents and from these miserable friends which cannot say any thing to themselves but that they are hopelesse Ah! what farewell what separation and what kind of death Children of Saints predestinate Souls happy Successors of Jacob fall not into these precipices but follow the way and tracks which are marked out to you by your fore-fathers And thou my dear Reader build at least an Oratory in thy heart and make a Temple of thy house and an Altar of thy Bed where thou maist offer unto God what thou hast what thou art and what thou hast been In fine have then words in thy mouth for thy self for thy Children and Friends to the end having given thy benediction to those that have deserved it thou maist obtain the blessing of God who is thy Father thy King thy Maker and thy last end CHAP. XII The Lamentations of Joseph for the Death of Jacob. NAture useth to exact duties which cannot be deny'd her without Injustice and some kind of cruelty A man must have the soul of a Tyger to be devoyd of grief and resentment for the miseries of a Parent or friend then chiefly when he either hears them related or is a witness of them I know there are shamefull defects and misbeseeming a good courage and sometimes teares and sighes serve but to vent weaknesses and to betray the constancy wee ought to have But very often there are Tributes which must be payed unto love and piety And such tears as these saith St. Ipsae dulces lacrimae sunt ipsi fletus iucundi quibus restinguitur ardor animo quasi relaxatus evaporat affectus Ambr. Ambrose quench the ardors of our Souls and cause our sincerest and most tender affections sweetly to evaporate by our eyes These are generous tears and impositions unto which the noblest persons are most obliged For my part I laugh at certain slight Philosophers who study to shew in their Stoicall countenances and hold as the Principle of their Academy That we must be always equall without distinguishing That there is a certain equality more proper to a marble Statue than to a reasonable man The wisest Philosophy hath far better Maxims and one of her Axiomes is that There are times occasions which require sentiments of Joy and other seasons which demand expressions of grief And truly were it a hansome thing to see a Son with a smiling countenance and dry eyes at the Tomb of his father It would be a strange spectacle to see him in the midst of a banquet and at a Ball when his Father is laid in the earth and I would willingly know amongst what nations and in what sect there are lawes which dispense with what is due unto the sweet memory of the living and dead Above all the custome of funerals and those ceremonies which Quod cernens Joseph ruit super faciem patris flens deosculans eum Gen. 50. v. 1. Praecepitque servis suis medicis ut aromatibus condirent patrem Gen. 50. v. 2. Flevitque eum Aegyptus septuaginta diebus Gen. 50. v. 3. Dixitque ei Pharao ascende sepeli patrem tuum sicut adjuratus es Gen. 50. v. 6. Quo ascendente ierunt cum coomnes senes domus Pharaonis cunctique majores natu terrae Aegypti Gen. 50. v. 7. Domus Joseph cum fratribus suis c. Gen. 50. v. 8. Habuit quoque in comitatu currus equites c. Gen. 50. v 9. Absque parvulis gregibus atque armentis quae dereliquerant in terra Gesson Gen. 50. v 8. Veneruntque ad aream Atad quae sita est trans Ioâ—danem c. Gen. 50. v. 10. ubi celebrantes exequias planctu magno atque vebementi impleverunt septem dies Gen. 50. v. 10. Reversusque est Joseph in Aegyptum cum fratribus suis Gen. 50. v. 14. Quo mortuo timentes sratres ejus mutuo colloquentes ne fortè memor sit injuriae quam passus est reddut nobis omne malum quod fecimus Gen. 50. v. 15. though very different have been alwayes observ'd in like accidents are so just and antient as wee cannot condemn them without accusing the first men in the World and those eminent persons who have been the Masters of virtue and piety Witness Joseph who having received in his bosome and into his mouth the last groans of his father cast himself on his body and whilst he watered his face with tears procur'd Physicians to imbalm him according to the custome of the Egyptians who spent seaventy dayes in mourning for Jacob. After which Joseph ask'd and obtain'd leave of Pharaoh to conduct him unto the Monument he had bought in Canaan to which he was followed by the old men of Egypt and by all the most antient Officers of the kings house I find not in what ranck Josephs brethren went but they were accompanied thither by a great number of Chariots and horse-men which joyn'd together made up a great Convoy although all the Children and troops had been left in the land of Gessen In fine they all ariv'd at a spatious place which was beyond Jordan which the Hebrews called Atad by reason it was covered all over with Thorns and which now bears the name of Betagla which is as much to say the lodging of the circle because the Children of Jacob set themselves there in order to perform the Ceremonies of the funerall and to deplore the losse of their father with the greatest demonstration of sorrow all which was performed in the court of Atad and in this house of tears for the space of seaven intire dayes Afterwards Joseph with his brethren and all the rest of the Convoy return'd into Egypt to settle themselves in their usuall employments Now it was there where fear which is the inseparable companion of a guilty soul had leisure again to agitate these poor wretches who perswaded themselves that having lost their Father there remained nothing for them but a Judge in the person of their Brother who had motives powerrull enough to revenge himself of their disloyalty Mandaverunt ei dicentes pater tuus praecepit nobis antequam moreretur Gen. 40. v. 16. Vt haec tibi verbis illius diceremus obsecro ut obliviscaris sceleris fratrum tuorum c. Gen. 50. v 17. Quibus auditis flevit Joseph Gen. 50. v. 17. Veneruntque ad cum fratres sui proni adorantes in terram dixerunt servi tui sumus Gen. 50. v. 18. Quibus ille respondit Nolite timcre Ego pascam vos parvulos vestros c. Gen. 50. v. 21. Some remedy must then be found to oppose the danger which threatned them
v. 29. his portion shall be filled with all sorts of Benedictions and his Children under their jurisdiction shall behold Lands even from West to South In fine Asher shall be blessed in himself and his generations which have received as for their share the art of gaining hearts with divers others Favors without which the most illustrious Qualities and attractive Charms shall be but a specious subject of Contempt and Misery O Israel chosen people of God predestinated Nation Children of so many Saints are you not then most happy in having a God over your heads who sees the Heavens the Air and the Clouds rouling under his feet from whence he hath so often shot Thunderbolts against your enemies It is then by the Magnificence and Power of this thundring Arm and from these victorious hands you are going to become masters of Canaan and so long as you shall remain faithful to the Lord who hath taken you into his protection you shall be in him as in a Sanctuary of Peace and in a Fort before which all the Arms of the World and Hell are but as so many small peeces of straw and some breath of wind and smoke which vanish in a moment It is enough for me to leave you in the arms of so absolute a Monarch so merciful a Father and so prudent a Governor Farewel then Israel farewel my dear Children farewel my poor people I go hence whither this great God calls me I have lived too long on Earth amongst men and in a world which is but a valley of Miseries and Calamities Ascendit ergo Moises de campestribus Moab super montem Nebo c. Deut. 34. v. 1. Let us approach unto Heaven where the source of all happiness resides let us ascend the Mountain of Abarim and the top of Nebo where we shall behold the Stars at a nearer distance and where at least with our eyes we shall mark out the period of our desires and hopes It is thither God leads Moses Dixitque Dominus ad eum baec est terra pro qua juravi Abraham Isaac Jacob dicens Semini tuo dabo eam Vidisti eam ocubis tuis non transibis ad illam Deut. 34. v. 4. Mortuusque est Moises servus Domini in terra Moab jubente Domino Deut. 34. v. 5. Et sepelivit eum in valle terrae Moab contra Phagor c. Deut. 34. v. 6. and where he shews him in a moment all the Holy Land which he had promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob for their children O God What grief and pleasure all at once What theatre of death and of life what subject of hope and despair and what spectacle unto a good heart which had so long sighed after these rewards Why were then so many prodigies so many voyages so many troubles and so many combates needful to obtain at last but the sight of those Palms which he shall never gather Moses dies when he should but begin to live and scarce had he seen what he had so much desired but at the same instant God shuts his eyes and the gates of Canaan What sweet severity what amiable rigor and what sad command Moses dies and this incomparable Prophet who deserved after his death to be placed amongst the Stars of the Firmament is interred neer to Mount Phogor in the Valleys of Moab carrying with him no other title saving that he hath been the Servant of God But this is sufficient and all other Epitaphs are at least for the most part but reliques of some vanity There are no Ciphers but these which neither time nor eternity can efface and though a thousand of them should be written and engraven on Marble and Brass with the rayes of the Sun and with Iron and Diamantine Gravers yet they will either soon or late lose their lustre Worms bear no respect the putrification of Sepulchres devours the fairest bodies and Time hath nights and shades which impallidate all the Stars of the day Let Atheists Libertines and Infidels seek out other Epitaphs where they please for my part it is enough for me to be a servant of so great a God After this Let us go Children of Saints let us go with Moses upon Mount Abarim in the Valleys of Moab into the Tomb and even into the Center of the infernal parts we shall finde every where life repose glory and immortality Never shall we be surprised having this Pasport and if the Holy Land of this World by mishap be forbidden us all the Gates of Sion and Jerusalem which is in Heaven will be opened for us O Heaven O Earth of the living O Jerusalem my dear Country when shall we be on those high Mountains where under our feet we shall behold Times and Seasons Winter and Summer Sun and Moon Air Sea and Earth as well as Life and Death with all their train When shall we be in the Arms and Bosom or at least at the Feet of this Prince whom we serve And when shall we go by the opening of his Wounds even into his Heart which is our Land of Promise Courage then Christians All is sweet to him who loves and to serve is sufficient to gain a Crown But it is God alone whom we must love and in so sweet and delicious a Bondage we ought to live and die O Life O Death O Love O Servitude To live for God to die in God to love nothing but God and to serve no other Master These are the qualities of a most blessed Soul and this is to begin on Earth that which shall never end in Heaven Behold my dear Reader the end of the Law and the first courses of our Holy History However our voyage hath been long enough to take some little breath expecting till we can follow Joshua into the Land of Promise and pass even to the Court of David and of the first Kings of Judea Mean while if by mishap I have never so little gone out of the way which was marked out to me by the invisible Lights of Faith I publickly profess that my Pen hath betrayed my Heart and that I submit all my thoughts and words unto the infallible Sense of the Church with promise upon the least advertisement I shall receive from the Wise freely to disavow all which shall have caused my deviations ERRATA Emendanda PAg. 3. Line 33. read liveless p. 5. l 16. r. ardors p. 142. l. 13. r. now l. 14. r. not p. 204. l. 15. r. pondred p. 207. l. 1. t. Laws FINIS A TABLE of the principal Matters contained IN THIS TOME A. AAron his Embassie into Egypt 267 The assurances he gave unto the people of Israel that God had heard their clamors 322 His fear whilst Joshua pursued the Amalekites 332 The Altar he erected unto the Golden Calf 359 The excuse for his Idolatry 362 Abandonment most happy 140 Abel the Picture of Meekness 27 His imployment in guiding his Fathers flocks ibid. The sacrifice which he
and under the veiles of the Divinity Jacob. c. 3. It comes from heaven as the Apostle St. James affirms and there its Origine and Source is to be found Baruch v. 3. as the Prophet Baruch assureth It issues out of hearts and out of the most intimate secrets of our souls Diodorus as the Sun and light from the obscurest nights and it was peradventure for this reason the Egyptians drew the picture of Osiris the Husband of Isis who presided over Wisdome like a Sun Wisdome like the Sun whose rayes were as so many eyes which penetrated the darkest obscurities In like manner also in the most holy Pictures of the Old Testament Wisdome was represented as a good Mother and as a brave Mistresse which kept an Academy and changed men into Planets full of brightness I know not whether this were not the reason Artemidorus lib. 26. c. 36. as Artemidorus believed which heretofore moved Fathers and Mothers to call their children Suns having no cleerer termes to flatter their wisdome and the excellencie of their wits However it be divine Wisdome is a Sun which is alwaies in his high Noons and at the same instant inlightens the evening and morning that is to say the future and past time as well as the present These wayes though oblique goe alwaies straight and soon or late bring us to the Haven The course of Wisdome It was this wise Conducter which lead Abraham in all his Pilgrimages And it is she at present as the Wiseman himself assures us who taketh her Jacob by the hand and diverts him insensibly from the Abyss into which Esau's despair intended to lead him Haec prosugum irae fratris justum deduxit per vias rectas Sap. c. 10. It was this wisdome saith Solomon which freed an Innocent from the rage and fury of a Brother who contrived his death To this effect it casts some streams of light into Rebeccas soul who presently knew the designs which Esan had on Jacob. Afterwards this prudent woman went to find out Isaack and remonstrated to him that it was not time to marry Jacob but that he must needs permit him to take a wife out of the Land of Chanaan Isaack though blind clearly discerned what his wife pretended Vocavit itaque Isaac jacob benedixit cam praecepique ei dicens Genes 28. v. 1. Vade presiciscere in Meseâ—r tamtam Syriae ad domum Bathâ—â—l patras matris tuae accipe tibi indâ— uxorem de siliabus Laâ—â—an evunculitui Gen. 28. v. 2. And then feeling some touches of this wise hand which managed the whole business he commanded Jacobs presence to give him his blessing and to express unto him his trouble to see him depart out of his house before his death But nevertheless since time pressed him for his Mariage it was most convenient to take the way of Mesopotamia to obtain one of Labans daughters for his wife Goe then my dear Child Deus autem omnipoeens benediâ—a tibi c. Gen. 28. v. 3. Et det lib. benedicâ—â—anes Abrahae semini tuo post te c. Gen. 28.5.4 said this good old man goe and let the God of Abraham be thy guide during thy whole voyage For my part I beseech him to augment on thee the benedictions I have most willingly given thee Above all I beg of him to multiply thy off-spring and to put thee in possession of the Country where thou shalt be as a stranger or Pilgrim Farewell then my most dear Son A sensible Separation farewell all my Joy and all the Love of my house which said he kisseth him he embraces him he waters him with his tears Nevertheless Rebecca to whom all moments were longer than Dayes endevoured speedily to draw him thence that she might put him in the Equipage of a Traveller and give him her farwell lest Esan should disturb the departure and the design of this voyage It was indeed a tryall of constancy for this poor Mother when shee must leave this Son but at last shee had him adieu and brought him on his way after shee had spoken to him some few words which issued lesse from her Mouth than from her Heart I wonder how the Father Mother and Son did not die upon this sad Separation But the Wisedom of God who was as the wheel of all these Motions knew how to moderate the excesse of her grief by the hopes of that good which would arise from thence Neverthelesse to speak truth these combats were very rigorous and there needed an Isaack a Jacob and a Rebecca to accomplish this resolution In fine the wise Providence of God expects Jacob at his resting place and intends by the favour of the Night visibly to discover the manner of his conduct and the model of his government Jacob is gon then from Bershabè and travels all alone under the protection of Heaven Igitur egressus Jacob de Bersabee pergebat Hatam Gen. 28. v. 10. Cumque venisset ad quendam locum vellet in es requiescere post solis occubitum tulit de lapidibus qui jacebant supponens capiti suo dormivit in codem Loco Gen. 28. v. 11. and with this confidence that God would never abandon him But what Behold Night already founding the retreat and shuting up all passages to our Pilgrim He beheld the Sun stealing from his Eyes and the Moon giving no light but to discover to him on the Plains of Bethel a bed of Earth and some stones to serve him for a Bolster Poor Jacob What Bed what Bolster what Night and what Inn Without doubt here is the place where long since God appeared unto Abraham and it is this so famous Bethel where he saw the Land of Promise Besides it is in the Night God discloseth his lights The voice of God in silence it is amidst silence wee hear his voice and in solitude he useth to reveal his secrets Repose then Jacob and spend all the Night in security since God hath ben pleased to Assign you this Lodging O happy retreat O pleasing Night O delicious bed O divine Repose Jacob is faln a sleep Viditque in somnis scalam stantem super terram cacumine illius tangens caelum Anâ—â—lâ—s quoque dei asceadentes per eum Gen. 28. v. 12. Et Donanum innio um scalae Gen. 28. v. 13. Cumque vigilasset Jacob de sumno aiâ— v◠è Domiâ—uâ—â—st in â—oco â—sto non est 〈◊〉 alâ—us nist domus Dâ—i po ta caeli but God who always watcheth shewed him a Prodigious Ladder which touched the Earth with one end and the Heavens with the other Angels by turns descended and ascended this Ladder and on the top God himself appeared as it were supported by it But behold indeed a strange Spectacle upon a Theater of Sanctity I am not astonished if after Jacob had taken his rest he awaked at this vision bearing God in his
affirmed to be necessary for the good of the State Afterwards addressing himself unto Joseph with paternall tenderness he said unto him Joseph I will seek no further for a Man to share with me in the cares of my Empire Heaven hath ordained you for it and I cannot oppose it The assurance I have that this election is very good and prudent is the goodness and wisdom I know in you take then the absolute power over my whole House Govern my Empire and make use of my Authority Then Pharao took a Ring from his own Finger Tulitque annulum de manu sua dedit eum in manuejus vestivitque eum stola byssina collo torquem auream circumposuit Gen. 41. v. 42. and put it on Josephs Commanding immediatly that he should be Cloathed in a Silken Garment and that a Chain of Gold should be brought him which he with his own Hand put about his Neck Behold the first Favours of Pharao and the first Splendors of the Divine Providence which at last dissipate the Cloud and Darkness in which Joseph was inclosed his Chains are those rich Collers given by the King his Manicles are his Rings and a Robe of fine Linnen in an instant wipes away all the disasters of his former Life But this is not yet all he must be known and Egypt must take notice that he is the Governour of it Joseph ascend this Triumphant Chariot which is prepared for you Et praepositum esse scirent universae terrae Egypti Gen. 41. v. 43. Fecitque eum ascendere super currum suum Gen. 41. v. 43. It is Pharao who commands it It is Heaven that ordains it It is God that guides you Kings are Gods Ecchos God speaks by their Mouths and whoever disobeys Kings is refractory to his Divine commands Joseph then acteth what God injoyns and it is God who is ready to be his guide through all the Lands of Pharao He is led already through the Streets with pomp and triumph worthy of a King Clamante praecome ut omnes coram eo genuflecterent The Herauld who marcheth before him trys out with a loud voice let every one bow their Knees Pharao in the presence of the people consecrates these honours by his approbation Vertique nomen ejus vocavit eum linguâ Egyptiaca Salvatorem mundi Gen. 41. v. 45. Afterwards he confirms unto Joseph the generall power he gave him over all Egypt to which he added a more magnificent and glorious name than he had before for instead of Joseph he gave him the name of the Saviour of Egypt as a title which could not be due but unto God or to a King In fine Deditque illi uxorem Aseneth filiam Putipharis Sacerdotu Heliopâ—leos Gen. 41. v. 45. V. Borcard de terrae sancta S. Hieron Heb. to fasten Joseph more strongly to himself and Egypt besides the Egyptian name Pharao imposed on him he resolved to Marry him unto Aseneth the Daughter of Putiphar high Priest and Prince of Heliopolis that is to say the City of the Sun which was in Egypt Joseph then was but thirty years old and it was in this flower of his age Triginta autem annorumerat quando stetit in conspectu Regis Pharaonis circuivit omnem regionem Aegypti Gen. 41. v. 46. in which the Body and Soul use to be most vigorous he began to visit the territories of his Government This new born Morning went immediatly every where casting rayes of Joy Hope Peace Plenty and Charity It was a golden Age which began to appear Tantaque suit abundantia tritici ut arenae maris coaequaretur copia mensuram excederat Gen. 41. v. 49. and followed his steps Never were seen so many blessings on the Earth as then for the grains of Wheat gathered in the space of seaven years were more in number than the Sands which are seen on the shoars of the Sea Six years were already past in these publick felicities when Joseph had two Children Nati sunt antem Joseph filii duâ— Gen. 41. v. 50. Vocavitque nomen primogeniti Manasfes c. the Eldest was called Manasses to testifie the graces God had powred upon Joseph who after so many troubles and afflictions had at length forgotten his Fathers House and all the pains he had endured from the very hour he departed thence The second was called Ephraim Nomen quoque secundi appellavit Ephraim c. Gen. 41. v. 52 in acknowledgement of the Blessings Joseph had received from God after so many abandonments of Creatures and after so many miseries and incommodities out of which he was at last delivered Igitur transactis septem ubertatis annis qui suerunt in Aegypto Gen. 41. v. 53. Coeperunt ventre septem anni inâ—piae c. Gen 41. v. 54 Qua esuriente clamavit ad Pharaonem c. Gen. 41. v. 55. The term of seven years beginning then to approach the Earth which had been employed in generall and continuall productions had no sooner seen this moment in which she was constrained to shut up her bosome but she presently became barren so that in a short time after Egypt which had not foreseen this evill was inforced to cry out Famine and to have recourse unto Pharaoh But Pharaoh for his part sent the people to Joseph who during the time of his prosperity had done like Bees and those Birds indued with fore-sight which during the Summer store up food for the Winter Behold a Draught of the World The Image of the world in which the blind Men and Sages of Egypt have no eyes but for the time present They swim in Rivers of Gold and Silver they sail in Barks of Pearls their Oars are the arms and wings of Fortune Favour is their Mast all their Cordages are of Silk and their sailes of rich Sattin which have alwayes the wind in Poop But notwithstanding this stately Pomp and this favourable Lot they will perish with hunger if their Navigation be long and if good provision be not made by the Pilot that conducts them Suppose men walk upon Roses suppose their drink be Nectar suppose all the Stars be propitious and that the Harvest be never so fair yet had not some fore-seeing Spirit taken the Sickle in hand had he not gathered up these goods and had he not Vessels to receive this dew the Ayr would dry up its sources night would come and the fields would be but like a desart where men must even dye with hunger thirst and misery But some would peradventure ask what expedient can be found to avert all these dangers First it is certain that God for his part will never fail to provide all necessaries and having created Man he is as it were oblig'd to his conservation Secondly the Planets have their regular courses and maugre all their Defections Ascendents Retrogradations Conjunctions Separations and Elevations they are alwaies constant in working our good and
before I dy O God! what consolation for a good Father to see again a good Son he was dead in his thoughts and behold him risen again He was lost and is found again a cruell Bear had devoured him and of all his reliques there was onely left him a bloody garment A strange change and behold him on a Throne and Master of one of the fairest Empires in the Universe What alteration and what Metamorphosis humane Prudence what sayest thou unto this Art not thou then ravished at the sight of these Prodigies hast thou not a desire to submit unto the Lawes of this wise Intelligence which sports with these Counsels and goes even under the Abysses of misfortune there to produce Peace Glory and immortality as a fair day in the midst of darkness Yes truly but to adore the effects of the Divine Providence and the most absolute power it hath over our lives and honours We must follow Jacob and goe visit Joseph Love hath wings at his Feet like Fame Profectusque Israel cum omnibus quae habâ—bat venit ad puteum juramenti Gen. 46. v. 1. he knows not what delay and retardment meaneth Jacob is on his way to see Joseph he is already in Bershabe neer unto that famous Well where Abraham heretofore made a solemn agreement with Abimelech and where both of them swore an inviolable peace There it was where Jacob stayed to offer his Sacrifice unto God upon the Altar of Abraham Et mactatis ibi victimis Deo patris sui Isaack Gen. 46. v. 1. Audivit cum per visionem noctis vocantem se dicentem sibi Jacob Jacob cui respondit Ecce adsum There having immolated Victimes he resign'd into the hands of God all the designs of his voyage he resolves to passe away one night in that place But scarce had he closed the eyes of the body but those of his soul were open'd to see and hear the God of his Father Isaack who called Jacob Jacob to which Jacob had nothing else to say but that he heard his voice and was most ready to execute his Commands Courage then Jacob Ait illi Deus Ego sum fortissimus Deus patris tui noli timere descende in Aegyptum quia in gentem magnam faciâ—mâ—te ibi Gâ—â— 46. v. 4. Joseph queque ponet manus suos super oculos tuos Gen. 46. v. 4. for it is the most powerfull God of thy Father Isaack who calls and appoints thee to passe into the Land of Egypt And there it is where he intends to make thee a Father of many Nations Yes saith he I promise thee Jacob that I will goe with thee and I assure thee that Joseph shall close thine eyes with his own hands O God! what Sacrifice what Vision What Speech and what Oath As for the Sacrifice in the first place what Jacob did ought to be an instruction to all those who leave their Country and intend to alter the course of their lives that before all things they should consult with God and take him for their guide in the Voyages designs they take in hand for it is unto him we ought first to Sacrifise our hearts and immolate all our hopes otherwise we shall look behind us like that wavering Woman who for her inconstancy was turned into a Statue of Salt Secondly the apparition of God which Jacob saw is a certain token that his eye still watcheth over those who dedicate themselves unto him and that he is neither deaf nor dumb to those that speak unto him Thirdly Gods promise is too faithfull and his Love too generous to forsake those who walk in his wayes and have taken him for their guide Fourthly when God promised Iacob to bring him back out of Egypt this must be understood of his Posterity and of the Israelites Jacobs Successors whom God after Two hundred and Fifteen years brought back out of Egypt into Chanaan Touching Jacob he dyed in Egypt between Josephs arms as we are going to see in the sequell of this History It sufficeth for the present to follow him in the remainder of his voyage It was about the morning of the second day that Jacob forsook Bershabe to pursue his Journey Surexit autem Jacob à puteo Juramenti c. Gen. 46. v. 6. It was indeed one of the fairest spectacles which ever appeared on the Confines of Palestine to see him in the head of his Troops as a good Father followed by his Children But I assure my self it had been most delitious and profitable to hear them if the holy Scripture would have given us some brief relation of their Discourse Nevertheless Cunctae animae ingressae sunt cum Jacob in Aegyptum sexaginta Gen. 46. v. 26. it acquaints us with the number of these happy Travellers which were seventy in all comprising therein Joseph with Manasses and Ephraim his two Sons who were born there Hence it evidently follows that when Moyses said there went thither Sixty and six he did neither put in the list Jacob nor Joseph Manasses nor Ephraim On the contrary when Saint Luke reckoneth Seventy and five he comprehends in that number the Sons and Nephews of Joseph whose birth hapned during the life and residence of this holy Patriark in Egypt Mean-while Jacob pursues his Journey Misit autem Judam ante se ad Joseph ut nunciaret ei occurreret in Gessen Gea 46. v. 28. but before his setting foot in Egypt he sent Judas to find out Joseph that he might be advertised of his comming and goe forth to receive him in the Land of Gessen Joseph hath no sooner heard this news Quò cum pervenissent juncto Joseph curru ascendit obviam patri ad eundem locum Gen. 46. v. 29. but he set forth to meet Iacob God knows whether the time might seem long unto him and whether his heart and mind went not faster than his body God knows also the various thoughts Jacob had in Expecting Joseph saying Alas what pains for one pleasure what desires for one fruition what Thorns for one Rose what Nights for one Day and how many Combats and dangers for one Triumph In fine behold Joseph in Jacobs bosome Vidensque eum irruit super collum ejus inter amplexus flevit Gen. 46. v. 29. Dixiâ—que pater ad Joseph Jam laetus morior quia vidi faciem tuam superstitem te relinquo GeÌ„ 46. v. 30. At ille locutus est aâ— fratres suos ad omnem domum patris sui ascendam nunciabo Pharaoni dicamque â—i Fratres mei domits patris mei qui erant in terra Chanaan venerunt ad me Gen. 46. v. 31. Cumque vocaverit dixerit quod est opus vestrum GeÌ„ 46. v. 33 Respondebitis viri pastores sumus servi tui ab infantia nostra usque in praesens nos patres nostri Gen. 46. v. 34. behold the Father in the Arms of his Son Ioseph leaps
as far as the City of Sidon Issachar shall make choice of a more happy and quiet life he shall delight in Tillage and the fertile land which shall fall to his lot he shall cultivate with no lesse peace than perseverance His pains shall not be fruitless and in the Continent he shall have all the advantages of those Countries which lye neer the Sea making an exchange with them of its Corn and fruits for those Merchandises which come from remote Nations Hee will impart the riches which agriculture shall afford him unto those who shall govern the Republick and purchase his repose by the Contributions he shall voluntarily give for the maintenance of such as bear Arms so long as he shall live quietly in the heart of his Possessions Dan judicabit populum suum c. Gen. 49. v. 16. Dan shall be the Judge of his people as well as of the other Tribes of Israel Dan by surprise shall ruine his enemies Fiat Dan coluber in via cerastes in semite mordens ungulas equi ut cadat ascensor ejus retiò Gen. 49. v. 17. even as Snakes which hide themselves on the sides of high-wayes to destroy Passengers who stand not sufficiently on their guard or as that crafty Serpent which bites the hoof of a Horse to make his rider fall and to infect him with his venom when he is thrown on the ground Notwithstanding the artifices men may use to defend themselves I shall never think that all their forces and wiles can equall the effects of the Protection which the Messias will give us Salutare tuum expectabo do nine Gen. 49. v. 18. I shall alwayes expect it and never believe that there is any assurance comparable to that which we shall receive from the affection and power of this great Prince Gad having received his share Gad accinctas praeliabitur ante eum ipse acciugitur retrorssum Gen. 49. v. 19. shall march in the head of his Brethren to establish them in their Possessions and returning unto his Territories loaden with Booty he will make his retreat in so good order as he shall not be disturb'd by his enemies Asser shall possess the portion of Palestine which looks towards the Sea Aser pinguis panis ejus praebebit delicias Regibus Gen. 49. v. 20. this Land doth produce all things desirable for the entertainment and comfort of life both Corn and Fruits are there so excellent as they will serve for delicacies unto Kings Nephtali will testifie his courage Cervus emissus dans eloquia pulcritudinis Gen. 49. v. 21. casting himself into dangers to defend his Brethren and shall give them cause to admire and praise him He will break all the obstaeles which shall oppose his generous design as a wounded Hart which though timorous by nature Vide Caietanum Lipoman breaks yet sometimes through the toyls of Hunters and from the cruell teeth of Dogs to defend that life which they would violently take from him The felicity of Joseph shall still increase Filius accrescens Joseph decorus aspectu filiae discurrerunt super murum Gen. 49. v. 22. Sed exasperaverunt eum jurgati sunt invideruntque Illi habentes jacula Gen. 49. v. 23. his beauty is so extraordinary as Ladyes esteem'd themselves happy to see him and they plac'd themselves at Dores and Windows to look on him as he passed through the streets Nevertheless such as ought most to love him have conspired his ruine and transported by a furious passion of envy sought to hinder the effects of the promises of Heaven But as the designs of men cannot alter the decrees and ordinances of God So Innocence prov'd stronger than malice and the Chains wherewith his unchaste Mistris had loaden him and the slavery to which his own Brethren had reduc'd him were the means whereof Divine Providence made use to make him King of Egypt and to secure and preserve the goods and lives of those who wished his death My most dear Son Deus patris tui erit adjutor tuus Gen. 49. v. 25. the God whom thy Father adoreth will alwaies assist thee he will replenish thee with benedictions and cause the most favourable Dews to fall upon thy Lands he will cause streams of living water to flow into their bosome and bowels for the refreshing and inlivening thy Roots Plants and Trees Thou shalt have a particular blessing in thy Children Vide Lyram Abul Per. Rupert Cajet Lip and their great numbers shall manifest that thou art the object of the dearest and most exquisite Providences which God declares to have for men Thy Father hath been more favoured than his Ancestors thou shalt enjoy both their favours and mine and the blessing I promise thee shall never cease untill God having given himself unto men in the person of the Messias shall no longer testifie his particular affection towards his Friends in giving them perishable goods All these graces and favours are due unto thy vertue which hath conserved its self without stain and hath also rendred thee as considerable amongst thy Brethren as the Nazarites who peculiarly consecrate themselves unto the service of the Divine Majesty Benjamin as a ravenous Woolf shall in the morning devour his prey Bâ—njamin â—upus rapax mane comedet praedam vesyere dividâ— spolia Gen. 49. v. 27. Vide Procop. Euseb Theodoret. Abul c. Er praecepit eis dicens Ego congregor ad populum meum sepelite me cum patribus in spelunca duplici quae est in agro Ephron Hethaei Gen. 49. v. 29. and in the evening share and divide the Spoiles Behold the Benedictions Jacob by heavens direction gave to each of his Children He afterwards recommended unto them the Buriall of his body in the Tomb of his fore-Fathers and having exhorted them to remain constant in the service of God dyed peaceably in his bed Can we represent unto our selves an end more sweet and quiet I well know that the like deaths are seen in sacred Houses I have seen such with mine own eyes and with my ears I have heard of some Jacobs who have closed their mouths with Benedictions and Canticles of Victory I have seen standers by bath'd in tears and yet their hearts fill'd with Joy receiving the last words and benedictions of dying men I know that the like effects are sometimes seen in the world and there have bin some Kings and Queens Fathers and Mothers Men and Women of all states and conditions who have spoken on their death-beds with so much Judgement and force of spirit as if they had been upon a Throne or in a Pulpit Likewise from thence Edicts Lawes and Lessons are heard in which there can be no deceit nor disguisment But it will be granted me that these examples are very rare amongst those whose lives pass away in noise and tumult For Death is an Eccho which answers life and a night which resents the Calm
Aegypto ut occideres nos liberos nostros ac jumenta fiti Exod. 17. v. 3. hears the cryes they cast forth against him and his Prophet by reason being come to the foot of Mount Sina they there found want of water Alas again said they why have you brought us out of the land of Egypt to make us die here of thirst with all our Children and troops truly Behold a brave Conductor Ah! who hath given us this man who leads us into the desarts and into places where nature is so dry and covetous that she affords us not one drop of water Why doe you blame me for it Saith Moses to them Quibus respondit Moises quid jurgamini contra me cur tentatis Dominum Exod. 17 v. 2. and why are you so ungratefull as to forget him who hath conferr'd so many benefits on you Doe you think your selves then lesse considerable to hiâ— than worms and flyes of which he hath yet so particular a care Is it not he who gives light unto the Stars and lustre to flowers and descends without departing out of himself even into the bottome of Abysses to nourish so many fishes His greatness hath even vouchsafed to debase it self even into the bosome of the earth and on dung hills there to give Being and life unto Plants why doe you tempt then this sweet clemency and which it seemes you would yet constrain to afford you more illustrious proofes of its most magnificent bounties Notwithstanding all this the murmuring increased and some sedition had followed if Moses to divert this danger had not addressed himself unto God saying in this manner Lord Clamavit autem Moises ad Dominum dicens Quid saciam populo huic ad huc paululum lapidabit me Exod. 17. v. 4. what to say and doe unto this people I know not For if I expect any longer I fear lest they may be more incensed and kill me with stones The vulgar sort is a great Body covered with eyes and eares yet very often deaf and blind It is an Ocean which hath its fluxes and refluxes and being once agitated by some storm spares neither City nor wall Haven nor bancks and is no longer the Ship of which an old Pilot holds the Rudder than that whereof some young Mariner governs the stern It is also likned to the Camelion which takes all sorts of forms and colours In fine That which we find most changable and dangerous in the world is the picture of a multitude which suffer themselves to be transported with passions and what appeares therein most cruel is that there needs but a rash and seditious person or a man who hath nothing to lose to excite unto the spoil and ruine of all We must not wonder then if Moses feareth to be distroyed with stones and to serve as a prey unto the fury of those to whom he had been a Redeemer But there is a Sun in the world which causeth himself to be seen and felt by blind men a voice heard by the deafest eares a Scepter which extends it self over the waves of the Ocean which stops the course of unconstancy a spirit of peace which appeaseth the blackest furies It is the eye the word the scepter the hand and the Spirit of God whose least breath is able every where to remove trouble and in a Moment to overthrow all the disturbers of peace March saith he unto Moses Et ait Dominus ad Moisen antecede populum sume tecum de senioribus Israel Et virgam qua percussisti fluvium tolle in manu tuâ vade Exod. 17. v. 5. En ego stabo ibi coram te supra petram Horeb percutiesque petram exibit ex ea aqua ut bibat populus c. Exod. 17. v. 5. Mâ—racul us fountain issuing out of the rock of Horeb. Ex Abulensi March in the head of this people and choose a certain number of the most antient take in thy hand the Rod thou didst use to change the water of Nilus into blood and I will goe as it were before thee Then being come to Horeb thou shalt strick a Rock which is at the foot of the Mountain from whence thou at the same time shalt see water streaming forth to quench the thirst of all thy followers There are certain Cosmographers who affirm that this miraculous stone is still seen and that a fountain of water continually flowes from thence It represents unto us saith Theodoret the fountain of blood and living water which issued from the side of him who is the fundamental stone of the Church after it had been strucken on the Crosse the sacred liquor whereof hath sprung up even upon our Altars where at present it still runs through the sacred chanels of the most holy Eucharist Tertul. lib de Baptis c. 9. It was also a lively representation of Baptism from whence the salutiferous waters and the most perfect vertue doth flow as it were from the center of the crosse Some others conceive that this water was a figure of the graces and gifts of the holy Ghost And it is to this purpose a Saint Bern. ser 67. in cant ad illud canâ— 2. columba mea in foraminibus petrae in caverna maceriae whose piety is always eloquent knew well how to observe the chast Dove of Sinai the amiable Shepheardesse of Raphidim the faithfull spouse which makes her aboad in the hollow places and holes of the stones of Horch hath found in this adorable Rock her resting place her peace her repose her affections her strength her patience her joy and all her fairest and most solid hopes This is then that which renders her uncapable of all fear and invulnerable to all strokes and insensible of all sorrows which cause suffering in others Her eyes are bathed in tears her hands and arms are brused with torture And yet she elevates them unto God to receive some ease and to testifie her constancy Her body is torn with scourges and dilacerated with torments but her wounds and ulcers are all as so many mouths which cry out Let the great God live Ah! what Theater of Constancy what prodigie of power what miracle of Love O stones of Horeb how powerfull are you fountain of Sinai let thy waters never dry up but who ever shall doubt of these wonders whereof Horeb is the source let him come let him be inebriated with these waters of life miracle and of immortality CHAP. XXII The defeat of the Amalekites by the prayers of Moses I Know not who said that men were as the arms of God It is true that they are not onely the Instruments of his mercy but also the arms of his indignation These are sometimes darts which he casts the one against the other Billowes which mutiny and produce fluxes and refluxes to swallow up each other in a common Shipwrack and flames which fasten on a common subject to make there a funestous Pile in
erat quasi species ignis usque mane Num. 9. v. 15. Sic siebat jugiter per diem operiebat illud nubes per nectem quasi species ignis Num. 9. v. 16. the last prodigy was the Pillar which served them for a Torch amidst the obscurities of the night and for an umbrello to oppose the over-violent ardors of the day It was a Chariot of Fire and a Cloud conducted by an Intelligence which held the Reigns thereof and guided it according to the will of God It was a Barque in the Air more fortunate than that which heretofore carried in artificial fire the hopes of Greece For this Vessel had real Fires its Pilot marked out as some have believed the seasons of the year and the hours of the day and night It was a Standard which accompanied and preceded all the Triumphs and Victories of the Hebrews and at the same time routed their enemies It was the Holy Standard whose Ciphers were Love-nets and Draughts of Clemency it was a Sun in Eclipse and a Cloud where the Sun was in his Meridian The Morning and Evening Stars saw this Veil hanging over the Camp of the Israelites when they were inforced to make a halt and flying when they were to march God himself made sometimes use of it as his Throne Si fuisset nubes à vespere usque ad mane statim diluculo tabernaculum reliquisset proficiscebantur Et si post diem noctem recessisset dissipabant tentoria Num. 9. v. 21. and these resplendent obscurities this luminous night and this day shadowed with Clouds served him for a Veil through which he darted on the people the splendors of his glory and the shafts of his amiable Providence which gave the first motion to the Pillar and conducting Angel Is not this a lively Image of the Holy Ghost who is the Pillar of Saints and of the Church who gives strength unto the feeble and light unto the blinde He illuminates during the night of sin and placeth us under his Wings during the day of Grace This amiable Pillar goes marking out our Lodgings during this whole Pilgrimage and at last will stop when it must take its resting place and make its last retreat under the Canopy of Heaven O Israel Chosen People lose not then the sight of this Pillar it is for thee it is for all and if thine eyes cannot endure the splendor of its Rayes put thy feir at last under its shadow and never forsake it until this Divine Cloud which covers thee pour down into thy heart and until without veil or mixture thou maist receive the clarities which make the Paradise and glory of the Blessed for the rest thou needst fear nothing For there is no person who may not gain a place in Heaven and break all the obstacles on Earth following this most Blessed Guide and never losing the sight of these pleasing Lights The Humble may raise themselves by respect and fear the Merciful by the love of Piety the Couragious by Valor the Considerate by Counsel the Provident by the Prudence of Saints the most Solid by Wisdom and such as have the Gift of Discretion by Knowledge and by the various Trials they shall have CHAP. XLVI The Brazen Serpent Quod cum audisset Chananaeus rex Arad qui babitabat ad meridiem venisse scilicet Israel per explorator ◠viam pugnavit contra illum victor existens duxit ex eo praedam Num. 21. v. 1. A While after the death of Mary and Aaron when the people pursued their voyage towards the Holy Land Arad King of the Canaanites had no sooner heard the news of it but he instantly took the field to hinder their further advance It was upon the same way that two years after their departure out of Egypt the Hebrews had sent their Spies into the Land of Canaan and this was the occasion which moved Arad to raise forces in great haste imagining that all these Travellers and Strangers had no other intention than to invade his Territories and render themselves masters of his Country The first conflicts were very prosperous to this Prince At Israel voto se Domino obligans ait Si tradideris populū istū in manu mea delebo urbes ejus Num. 21. v. 2. Exaudivitque Dominus preces Israel tradidit Chananaeum quē ille interfecit subversis urbibus ejus vocavit nomen illius Horma id est anathema Num. 21. v. 3. Profecti sunt autem de monte Hor per viam quae ducit ad Mare rubrum ut circumirent terram Edom. Et taedere coepit populum itineris ac laboris Num. 21. v. 4. Locutusque contra Deum Moisen ait Cur eduxisti nos de Aegypto ut moreremur in solitudine Deest panis non sunt aquae anima nostra jam nauseat super cibo isto levissimo Num. 21. v. 5. and I am confident he would have defeated his Enemies if God had not combined against him according to the solemn Vow the Israelites made to demolish for his honor all the strong holds of this King and to lay so many Anathemaes on them that there might remain nothing but the execrable footsteps and bloody marks of the abominations and impieties which reigned in the Land of Canaan And this they did after a general victory from thence pursuing their way toward the Red Sea and about the Lands of Idumea But in fine these ungrateful men seeing already their promised Palms could not forbear to mingle murmurs with their Songs of Victory and the vexation they had to see themselves so long in a Pilgrimage made them lose the remembrance of him who had conducted them through the desart and rendred them conquerors over their Enemies after he had in a maner inforced the Elements and the most insensible Bodies of Nature to contribute unto their necessities Ah! said they we have too long wandred in this solitary place sometimes upon Mountains and then in Valleys nevertheless after a journey of forty years we have not hitherto reached the Haven And even this Manna which fell from Heaven and which indeed hath hitherto supplied our most pressing necessities is yet but a very slight nourishment and which affords more distaste than benefit Why did we then leave Egypt to come into these desarts and arid places where we have neither Water nor Bread Can we truly represent unto our selves a more unworthy and blinde ingratitude than this But where may we finde punishments harsh enough to inflict on this impious people and darts sharp enough to cause a resentment of so great a disloyalty I could wish that all the Oaths of these perjured persons had been numbred after so many favors and miracles done for their sake and yet behold their Sacrifices their Offerings their Vows and all their Gratitude Why have you brought us hither and why have you delivered us out of slavery to cause us to die with hunger and thirst in this desart