is other mens the best of whatsoeuer he hath in his owne field or in his vineyard he shal restore according to the estimation of the damage †If fire breaking forth light vpon the thornes and catch stackes of corne or corne standing in the fieldes he shal render the damage that kindled the fire †If a man committe money or vessel vnto his frend to keepe and they be stolen away from him that receaued them if the theefe be found he shal restore duble †if the theefe be not knowen the maister of the house shal be brought to the goddes and shal sweare that he did not extend his hand vpon his neighbours good †to doe any fraud as wel in oxe as in asse and sheepe and rayment and whatsoeuer may bring damage the cause of both parties shal come to the goddes and if they geue iudgement he shal restore duble to his neighbour †If a man committee asse oxe sheepe or any beast to his neigbours custodie and it die or be hurt or be taken of enemies and no man saw †there shal be an oath betwen them that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbours good and the owner shal admitte the oath and he shal not be compelled to make restitution †But if it were taken away by stelth he shal restore the damage to the owner †If it were eaten of a beast let him bring vnto him that which was slaine and he shal not make restitution †He that asketh of his neighbour to borow any of these thinges and it be hurt or dead the owner being not present he shal be compelled to make restitution †But if the owner be present he shal not make restitution especially if it were hired and came for the hire of the same †If a man seduce a virgin being not yet despoused and lie with her he shal endowe her and haue her to wife †If the virgins father wil not geue her he shal geue money according to the maner of the dowrie which virgins are wont to receaue †Inchanters thou shalt not suffer to liue †He that lieth with a brute beast dying let him die †He that sacrificeth to goddes shal be put to death but to the Lord only †Thou shalt not molest a stranger nor afflict him for your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt †A widow and an orphane you shal not hurt †If you hurt them they wil crie out to me and I wil heare their crie †and my furie shal take indignation and I wil strike you with the sword and your wiues shal be widowes and your children orphanes †If thou lend money to my people being poore that dwelleth with thee thou shalt not vrge them as an exactour nor oppresse them with vsuries †If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge thou shalt geue it him againe before sunne sette †For that same is the onlie thing wherwith he is couered the clothing of his bodie neither hath he other to sleepe in if he the goddes and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse †Thy tithes and thy first fruites thou shalt not slacke to pay the first-borne of thy sonnes thou shalt geue me †Of thy oxen also sheepe thou shalt doe in like maner seuen dayes let it be with the damme the eight day thou shalt render it to me †Holie men you shal be to me the flesh that beastes haue tasted of before you shal not eate but shal cast it to the dogges CHAP. XXIII Lawes are appointed to Iudges the enemies oxe or asse to be saued 8. namely not to take bribes 10. The seuenth yeare and day al must rest 14. Three principal feastes must be solemnized euerie yeare 20. Conduction and protection of an Agel is promised 24. the people is agane commanded to destroy Idols 29. VVhy their enemies shal be destroyed by litle and litle THOV shalt not admitte a lying voice neither shalt thou ioyne thy hand to say false testimonie for a wicked person †Thou shalt not folow the multitude to doe euil neither shalt thou in iudgement argree to the sentence of the most part to stray from the truth †The poore man also thou shalt not pitie in iudgement †If thou meete thy enemies oxe or asse going astray bring it backe to him †If thou see the asse of him that hareth thee lye vnderneth his burden thou â—halt not passe by but shalt liâ—t him vp with the same †Thou shalt not decline the poore mans iudgement †A lye thou shalt auoide The innocent and iust person thou shal not put to death because I abhorre the impious man †Neither shalt thou take bribes which doe blind also the wise and peruert the wordes of the iust †The stranger thou shalt not molest for you know the hartes of strangers because your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt †Six yeares thou shalt sow thy ground and shalt gather the corne therof †But the seuenth yeare thou shalt let it alone and make it to rest that the poore of thy people may eate and whatsoeuer shal be leift let the beastes of the field eate it so shalt thou doe in thy vineyard and thy oliuete †Six dayes thou shalt worke the seuenth day thou shalt cease that thy oxe may rest and thine asse and the sonne of thy handmaide may be refreshed and the stranger †Kepe al thinges that I haue said to you And by the name of foren goddes you shal not sweare neither shal it be heard out of your mouth †Three times euerie yeare you shal celebrate feastes to me †Thou shalt keepe the solemnitie of Azymes Seuen dayes shalt thou â—aâ—e azymes as I commanded thee in the time of the moneth of new corne when thou didst come forth out of Aegypt thou shalt not appeare in my sight emprie †And the solemnitie of the haruest of the first fruites of thy worke whatsoeuer thou didst sow in the field The solemnitie also in the end of the yeare when thou hast gathered al thy corne out of the field †Thrise a yeare shal al thy male sexe appeare before the Lord thy God †Thou shalt not sacrifice the bloud of my victime vpon leuâ—n neither shal the fatte of my solemnitie remaine vntil the morning †The first fruites of the corne of thy ground thou shalt carrie into the house of the Lord thy God Thou shalt not boyle a kidde in the milke of his damme †Behold I wil send myne Angel which shal goe before thee and keepe thee in thy iourney and bring thee into the place that I haue prepared †Obserue him and heare his voice neither doe thou thinke him one to be contemned for he wil not forgeue when thou hast sinned and my name is in him †But iâ— thou wilt heare his voice and doe al that I speake I wil be enemie to
daughters virginitie they shal spread the vesture before the ancientes of the citie †and the ancientes of that citie shal take the man and beate him †câ—ndemning him besides in a hundred sicles of siluer which he shal geue to the wenches father because he hath infamousely spred a verie il name vpon a virgin of Israel and he shal haue her to wife and can not put her away al the daies of his life †But if it be true which he obiected and virginitie be not found in the wench †they shal cast her forth without the doores of her fathers house and the men of her citie shal stone her to death and she shal die because she hath done wickednes in Israel to fornicate in her fathers house and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee †If a man lie with an others mans wife both shal die that is to say the aduouterer and the aduouteresse and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel †If a man haue despoused a maide that is a virgine and some man finde her in the citie and lie with her †thou shalt bring forh both of them to the gate of that citie and they shal be stoned the maide because she cried not being in the citie the man because he hath humbled his neighbours wife and thou shalt take away the euil from the middes of thee †But if the man finde the maide that is despoused in the field and taking her lie with her he alone shal die †the maide shal suffer nothing neither is she guiltie of death for as a theefe ryseth against his brother and taketh away his life so also did the maide suffer †she was alone in the field she cried and there was no man to deliuer her †If a man finde a maide that is a virgin which hath not a spouse and taking her lie with her and the matter come into iudgement †he that lay with her shal geue to â—he father of the maide siftie sicles of siluer and shal haue her to wife because he hath humbled her he can not put her away al the daies of his life †No man shal take his fathers wife nor reuele his couering CHAP. XXIII Eunuches bastardes Moabites Ammonites may not enter into the Church 7. Idumeans and Aegyptians may be admitted 9. Obseruation of spiritual and corporal cleannes 15. other preceptes concerning fugitiues 17. fornication 19. vsurie 21. vowes 24. and eating other mens grapes or corne AN eunuch that hath his stones broken or cutte of his yeard cutte away shal not enter into the church of our Lord. †Mamzer that is to say one borne of a common woman shal not enter into the church of our Lord vntil the tenth generation †The Ammonite and the Moabite yea after the tenth generation shal not enter into the church of our Lord for euer †because they would not meete you with bread and water in the way when you came out of Aegypt and because they hyred against thee Balaam the sonne of Beor of Mesopotamia in Syria to curse thee †and our Lord thy God would not heare Balaam and he turned his cursing into thy blessing for that he loued thee †Thou shalt not make peace with them neither doe thou seeke their good al the daies of thy life for euer †Thou shalt not abhorre the Idumeite because he is thy brother nor the Aegyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land †They that are borne of them in the third generation shal enter into the church of our Lord. †When thou goest forth against thyne enemies to battel thou shalt keepe thy self from al euil thing †If there be among you a man that is polluted in a dreame by night he shal goe forth without the campe †and shal not returne before he be washed with water at euen and after sunne sette he shal returne into the campe †Thou shalt haue a place without the campe whither thou mayest goe to the necessities of nature †carying on thy girdle a piked instrument when thou sittest downe thou shalt digge round about and with the earth that is digged vp shal couer †that which thou art eased of for our Lord thy God walketh in the middes of thy campe to deliuer thee and to geue thyne enemies vnto thee and let thy campe be holie and let no filthines appeare therein lest he forsake thee †Thou shalt not deliuer the seruant to his Maister that is fled to thee †he shal dwel with thee in the place that shal please him and in one of thy cities shal he rest vexe him not †There shal be no whoore of the daughters of Israel nor whooremonger of the sonnes of Israel †Thou shalt not offer the hire of a strompet nor the price of a dogge in the house of our Lord thy God whatsoeuer it be that thou hast vowed because both is abomination before our Lord thy God †Thou shalt not lend to thy brother money to vsurie nor corne nor any other thing †but to the straÌ„ger And to thy brother thou shalt lend that which he needeth without vsurie that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al thy worke in the Land which thou shalt enter to possesse †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 sinne †But that which is once gone out of thy lippes thou shalt obserue and shalt doe as thou hast promised to our Lord thy God and hast spoken with thy proper wil and thyne owne mouth †Entring into thy neighbours vineyarde eate grapes as much as shal please thee but carrie none out with thee †If thou enter into thy freindes corne thou shalt breake the eares and rubbe them in thy hand but with a sikcle thou shalt not reape CHAP. XXIIII Diuorce permitted to auoide greater euil 5. The newly maried must not goe to warre 7. He that traterously selleth a man must be slaine 8. disobedience to Priestes incurreth leprosie 10. Such things may not be taken to pledge as can not be wel spared 14. Poore laborers must be presently payed 16. not one punished for an others fault but right iudgement to al 18. and liberalalmes to the poore IF a man take a wife and haue her and she finde not grace before his eies for sonne lothsomenes he shal write a bil of diuorce and shal geue it in her hand and dimisse her out of his house †And being departed when she shal haue married an other husband †and he also hateth her and hath geuen her a bil of diuorce and hath dimissed her out of his house or is deade †the former husband can not take her againe to wife because she is polluted
haue not lent not because of wickednes but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause †But yet vpon the humble be stronger of minde for almes differre him not †Because of the commandment receiue the poore and because of his pouertie send him not away emptie †Lose money for thy brother and thy freind and hide it not vnder a stone vnto perdition †Put thy treasure in the precepts of the Highest it shal profite thee more then gold †Shut vp almes in the hart of the poore and the same shal obteyne for thee against al euil †Aboue the shilde of the mightie aboue the speare it shal fight against tnyne enemie †A good man becometh suretie for his neighbour and he that hath lost shame wil leaue him to himself †Forget not the kindnes of a suertie for he hath geuen his life for thee †The sinner and vncleane person fleeth from his suretie †A sinner counteth the goodes of his suretie to himself and vnthankful in minde wil forsake him that deliuered him †A man is suretie for his neighbour and when he hath lost shame he shal be forsaken of him †Naughtie suretieshippe hath vndone manie that were In good case and hath tossed them as a waue of the sea †Whurling round about it hath made mightie men to remoue and they haue wandred in strange nations †A sinner that trangresseth the commandment of our Lord shal fal into naughtie suretieshippe and he that endeuoureth to doe manie thinges shal fal into iudgement †Recouer thy neighbour according to thy power and take heed to thy self that thou fal not †The beginning of mans life water bread and garment and house couering his turpitude †Better is the poore mans fayre vnder a roofe of bordes then sumptuous cheere in a strange place without a house †Let the least thing please thee in steede of a great and thou shalt not heare the reproach of peregrination †It is a naughtie life to change lodging from house to house and where he shal lodge he shal not deale boldely nor open his mouth †He shal lodge and feede and make the vnthanckful drinke and beside these thinges he shal heare bitter wordes †Passe thou stranger furnish the table with the thinges thou hast in thy hand feede the rest †Depart from the presence of the honour of my freindes for the necessitie of my house my brother is to be lodged with me †These thinges be greuous to a man that hath vnderstanding rebuke for the house and the reproch of the lender CHAP. XXX Chastisment of children is necessarie and indulgence very dangerous 14. Health is better then riches 17. A trublesome life is worse then death 22. Be not pensiue but chereful in mind HE that loueth his soune doth accustome him to stripes that he may reioyce in his later end and not grope after the doores of his neighboures †He that teacheth his sonne shal be praised in him in the middes of them of his houshold he shal glorie in him †He that teacheth his sonne doth cast the enemie into emulation and in the middes of his freindes he shal glorie in him †His father is dead he is as it were not dead for he hath left behind him the like to himself †In his life he sawe and reioyced in him in his death he was not made sorie neither was he confounded before the enemies †For he left a defender of his house against the enemies one that should render thanck to his freindes †For the soules of his sonnes he wil binde vp his woundes at euerie voice his bowels shal be trubled †An vntamed horse becometh stubburne and a dissolute childe wil become headie †Pamper thy sonne and he wil make thee afraid play with him and he wil make thee sorowful †Laugh not with him lest thou be sorie and at the last thy teeth shal be on edge †Geue him not power in his youth and contemne not his cogitations †Curbe his necke in youth and knock his sides whiles he is a childe lest perhaps he be hardned and beleeue thee not and he shal be sorow of minde to thee †Teach thy sonne and worke in him that thou offend not in his dishonestie †Better is a poore man whole and strong of force then a rich man weake and scourged with miserie †The health of the soule in holines of iustice is better then al gold and siluer and a sound bodie then infinite reuenewes †There is no riches aboue the riches of the health of the bodie and there is noe delight aboue the ioy of the hart †Better is death then a bitter life and euerlasting rest then continual sicknes †Good thinges hid in a mouth that is shut are as messes of meates set about a graue †What shal sacrifice profite an idol for neither shal he eate nor smel †so he that is chased away of our Lord beareth the rewardes of iniquitie †seing with his eies groning as an eunuch embracing a virgin and sighing †Geue not heuines to thy soule afflict not thyself in thy counsel †Ioyfulnes of the hart this is the life of a man and a treasure without defect of holines and the ioy of a man is long life †Haue mercie on thine owne soule pleasing God and refraine and comfort thy hart in his holines and expel sorow far from thee †For sorow hath killed manie and there is noe profite in it †Enuie and anger diminish the daies and thought wil bring old age before the time †A magnifical hart is good in bankettes for his bankettes are made diligently CHAP. XXXI By seeking vertue and laboring for necessaries the flesh is subdued to the spirite 8. Moderate riches are best 12. with temperance in diette 30. especially in drinking VVATCHING after honestie shal pine the flesh the thought thereof taketh away sleepe †The thought of foreknowlege turneth away the vnderstanding greuous infirmitie maketh a sober soule †The riche man hath laboured in gathering of substance together in his rest he shal be replenished with his goodes †The poore man hath laboured in the diminishing of his liuing and in the end he is made poore †He that loueth gold shal not be iustified he that foloweth after corruption shal be replenished of it †Manie haue bene geuen into falles for gold and their perdition hath come by the beautie thereof †The gold of them that sacrifice is a wood of offence wo to them that folow after it and euerie vnwise man shal perish in it †Blessed is the rich man that is found without spot and that hath not gone after gold nor hoped in money and treasures †Who is this we wil praise him for he hath done meruelous thinges in
the buier and so he shal receiue his possession againe †but if his hand finde not to repay the price the buier shal haue that he bought vntil the yeare of Iubilee For in it al sale shal returne to the owner and to the old possessour †He that selleth a house within the walles of a citie shal haue licence to redeme it vntil one yeare be expired †if he redeme it not and the compasse of the yeare be fully out the buier shal possesse it and his posteritie for euer and it can not be redemed no not in the Iubilee †But if the house be in a village that hath not walles it shal be sould according to the law of fieldes if it be not redemed before in the Iubilee it shal returne to the owner †The houses of Leuites which are in cities may alwaies be redemed †if they be not redemed in the Iubilee they shal returne to the owners because the houses of the cities of the Leuites are for possessions among the children of Israel †But let not their suburbes be sould because it is a perpetual possession †If thy brother be empouerished and weake of hand and thou receiue him as a stranger and seiourner and he liue with thee †take not vsuries of him nor more then thou gauest feare thy God that thy brother may liue with thee †Thou shalt not geue him thy money to vsurie and an ouer plus of the fruites thou shalt not exact of him †I the Lord your God that brought you out of the Land of Aegygt that I might geue you the Land of Chanaan and might be your God †If thy brother constrained by pouertie sel him self to thee thou shalt not oppresse him with the seruitude of seruants †but he shal be as an hireling and a seiourner vntil the yeare of Iubilee he shal worke with thee †and afterward he shal goe out with his children and shal returne to his kinred and to the possession of his fathers †for they are my seruantes and I brought them out of the Land of Aegypt let them not be sould by the condition of seruantes †afflict him not by might but feare thy God †Let your man seruant and woman seruant be of the nations that are round about you †And of the strangers that seiourne with you or that were borne of them in your land these you shal haue for seruantes †and by right of inheritance shal leaue them to your posteritie and shal possesse them for euer but your brethren the children of Israel doe ye not oppresse by might †If the hand of a stranger or seiourner grow strong among you and thy brother empouerished sel him self to him or to any of his stocke †after the sale he may be redeemed He that wil of his brethren shal redeme him †both the vncle by father and the vncles sonne and the kinsman and the allied But and if him self be able also he shal redeme him selfe †accounting onlie the yeares from the time of his selling vnto the yeare of Iubilee and accounting the money that he was sould for according to the number of the yeares and the reckning of an hyreling †If they be more yeares that remaine vntil the Iubilee according to these also shal he repay the price †if few he shal make the reckning with him according to the number of the yeares and shal repay to the buyer for that which remaineth of the yeares †his wages being allowed for the which he serued before he shal not afflict him violently in thy sight †And if by these meanes he can not be redemed in the yeare of Iubilee he shal goe out with his children †For the children of Israel are my seruantes whom I brought forth out of the Land of Aegypt CHAP. XXVI VVith new prohibition of Idolatrie and commandment to kepe the Sabbath 3. rewardes are promised to al that obserue Gods precepts 14. And manie miserable punishments are threatned to al transgressors I THE Lord your God you shal not make to your selues an idol and thing grauen neither shal you erect titles nor set a notorious stone in your land for to adore it for I am the Lord your God †Keepe my sabbathes and dread my Sanctuarie I the Lord. †If you walke in my preceptes and keepe my commandementes and doe them I wil geue you raine in their seasons †and the earth shal bring forth her spring and the trees shal be replenished with fruites †The threshing of your haruest shal reach vnto vintage and the vintage shal reach vnto sowing time and you shal eate your bread to your fil and without feare shal you dwel in your land †I wil geue peace in your coastes you shal sleepe and there shal be none to make you afraid I wil take away euil beastes and the sword shal not passe through your quarters †You shal pursue your enemies and they shal fal before you †fiue of yours shal pursue an hundred strangers and an hundred of you tenne thousand your enemies shal fal by the sword in your sight †I wil respect you and make you encrease you shal be multiplied and I wil establish my couenant with you †You shal eate the eldest of the old store and new coming vpon it you shal cast forth the old †I wil sette my tabernacle in the middes of you and my soule shal not cast you of †I wil walke among you and wil be your God and you shal be my people †I the Lord your God that haue brought you out of the Land of the Aegyptians that you should not serue them and that haue broken the chaines of your neckes that you might goe vpright †But if you wil not heare me nor doe al my commandements †if you dispise my lawes and contemne my iudgementes that you do not those thinges which are appointed by me and bring my couenant to nothing worth †I also wil do these thinges to you I shal quickly visite you with pouertie and burning heat which shal waist your eies and consume your liues you shal sowe your seede in vaine which shal be deuoured of the enemies †I wil sette my face against you and you shal fal downe before your enemies and shal be made subiect to them that hate you you shal flee when no man pursueth you †But if you wil not obey me so neither I wil increase your chastisementes seuen fould for your sinnes †and wil breake the pride of your stubburnesse and I wil make to you the heauen from aboue as iron and the earth as brasse †Your labour shal be spēt in vaine the earth shal not bring forth her spring nor the trees yeld their fruites †If you walke contrarie to me and wil not heare me I wil increase your plagues vntil seuen fould for your sinnes †and I wil send in vpon you the beastes of the field
the Ammanite his neighbour sayd Let them build if a fox come vp he shal leape ouer their stone wal †Heare our God because we are had in dispise turne the reproch vpon their head and giue them into dispite in a Land of captiuitie †Couer not their iniquitie and let not their sinne be put out before thy face because they haue mocked thy builders †Therfore we built the wal and ioyned together the whole vnto the halfe part and the hart of the people was prouoked to worke †And it came to passe when Sanaballat had heard and Tobias and the Arabians and the Ammanites and the Azotians that the breach of the wal of Ierusalem was closed vp and the gates began to be stopped they were wrath excedingly †And they were al assembled together to come and to fight against Ierusalem and to prepare embushments †And we prayed our God and set watchmen vpon the wal day and night against them †And Iudas sayd The strength of him that carrieth is weakened the morter is very much and we shal not be able to build the wal †And our enimies sayd Let them not know and let them be ignorant til we come into the midest of them and kil them and make their worke to cease †And it came to passe the Iewes that dwelt beside them coming and telling vs ten times out of al places from whence they came to vs †I sette the people in a place behind the wal round about in order with their swordes and speares and bowes †And I looked and rose vp I sayd to the princes and magistrates and to the rest of the common people Be not afrayd at their face Remember our Lord great and terrible and fight for your bretheren your sonnes and your daughters and your wiues and your houses †And it came to passe when our enimies had heard that it was told vs God defeted their counsel And we returned al to the walles euery man to his worke †And it came to passe from that day the halfe part of their yongmen did the worke and halfe was ready to battel and speares sheilds and bowes and cotes of mayle and the princes behind them in al the house of Iuda †of them that built in the wal and that carried burdens and that laded them with one of his hands he did the worke with the other he held a sword †for euery one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reynes And they builded and sounded with the trumpet nere me †And I sayd to the princes and to the magistrates to the rest of the common people The worke is great and broad and we are seperated in the wal one far from an other †in what place soeuer you shal heare the sound of the trumpet thither runne together vnto vs our God wil fight for vs. †And let vs our selues doe the worke and let the halfe part of vs hold speares from the rysing of the morning til the starres appeare †At that time also I sayd to the people Let euery man with his seruant tarry in the middes of Ierusalem and let there be courses among vs by day and night to worke †And I and my bretheren and my seruants and the watchmen that were behinde me did not put of our clothes euery man was made bare only to washing CHAP. V. Nehemias blameth couetous richmen for oppressing the poore 14. himselfe geueth largely of his owne to the needie AND there was a great crie of the people and of their wiues against their brethren the Iewes †And there were that said Our sonnes and our daughters are verie manie let vs take corne for the price of them and let vs eate and liue †And there were that sayd Let vs pledge our fieldes and vineyardes and our houses and let vs take corne in famine †And others sayd Let vs borow money for the kings tributes and let vs giue our fields and vineyardes †and now as the flesh of our bretheren so is our flesh and as their children so also our children behold we subdew our sonnes and our daughters into bondage and our daughters there are bond we men neither haue we where with they may be redemed and our fieldes and our vineyardes other men doe possesse †And I was exceding angrie when I had heard their crie according to these wordes †And my hart thought with my selfe and I rebuked the princes and magistrates and sayd to them Do you euery one exact vsuries of your brethen and I gathered against them a great assemblie †and I sayd to them We as you know haue redemed our bretheren the Iewes that were sold to the gentiles according to our abilitie and wil you therfore sel your bretheren and shal we redeme them And they held their peace neither did they find what to answer †And I sayd to them The thing is not good which you doe why walke you not in the feare of our God lest we be vpbrayded with al the gentiles our enimies †I also and my bretheren and my seruantes haue lent money and corne to very manie let vs not aske this againe in common let vs remitte them the debt that is dewe to vs. †Restore ye to them their fieldes this day and their vineyards and their oliuets and their houses yea the hundreth part also of money corne wine and oyle which you were wont to exact of them giue it rather for them †And they sayd We wil restore and we wil seeke nothing of them and we wil do so as thou speakest And I called the Priestes and adiured them to do according to that which I had sayd †Moreouer I shooke my bosome and sayd God so shake euery man that shal not accomplish this word out of his house and out of his labours so be he shaken out and made emptie And al the multitude sayd Amen And they praysed God And the people did as it was sayd †And from that day wherin the king commended me to the duke in the land of Iuda from the twenteth yeare til the two thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king for twelue yearees I and my bretheren did not eate the yearly allowance that was dewe to the dukes †But the former dukes that had bene before me burdened the people and tooke of them in bread and wine and money euery day fourtie sicles yea and their officers oppressed the people But I did not so for the feare of God †Yea I builded rather in the worke of the wal and field I bought not and al my seruantes were gathered together to the worke †Tke Iewes also and the magistrates an hundred fiftie men and they that came to vs out of the nations that were round about vs were at the table †And there was prepared for me day by day one oxe six chosen rammes beside foules and within ten dayes diuers wines
aspes vnder their lippes Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse their feete swift to shee l bloud Destruction and infelicitie in their waies and the way of peace they haue not knowen there is no feare of God before their eies Shal not al they know that worke iniquitie that deuoure my people as foode of bread They haue not inuocated our Lard there haue they trembled for feare where no feare was †Because our Lord is in the iust generation you haue confounded the counsel of the poore man because our Lord is his hope Who wil geue from Sion the saluation of Israel when our Lord shal haue turned away the captiuitie of his people Iacob shal reioyce and Israel shal be glad ANNOTATIONS PSALME XIII 1. No not one S. Paul by this place and the like Isaie 59. v. 7. confirmeth his doctrin Rom. 3. that both the Iewes and the Gentils meaning al mankind were in that state that none no not one without the grace of Christ were iust nor could be iustified nor saued by the law of Nature nor of Moyses VVhich proueth the necessitie of faith But neither that only faith iustifieth nor that the iustest are stil wicked as Caluin and Beza falsly expound these Scriptures For the Prophets and S. Paul speake in these places of men before they be iustified teaching that al mankind was once in sinne and none could be iustified but by Christ Neuerthelesse they teach also that men being iustified must and may serue iustice vnto sanctification And that their workes are not then vnprofitable For being made free from sinne saith the same Apostle to the Romanes c. 6. and become seruants to God you haue your fruâ—ct vnto sanctification and the end is life euerlasting VVhich point of doctrin how man is iustified S. Augustin excellently briefly explicateth li. 1. de Spirituet lit c 9. in these wordes The iust are iustified freely by Christ his grace they are not therfore purified by the lavv they are not iustified by their proper wil but iustified freely by Christ his grace Not that it is done without our wil but by the law our wil is shevved weake that grace might cure the wil and the wil being cured might fulfil the law not being vnder the law not needing the law VVherto we may here adde and so saue labour of repeting this in other places an other document of the same Doctor in the same booke de spirit lit c 27. that the iust do not liue without some sinnes and yet remaine in state of saluation the wicked do sometimes certaine good workes ful remaine in state of damnation For euen as saith he venial sinnes without which this life it not ledde do not exclude the iust from eternal life so certaine good workes without which the life of the very worst is hardly found profite nothing the vniust man to eternal saluation but in euerlasting damnation some shal haue more and somelesse torment PSALME XIIII For attayning eternal glorie in heauen it is necessarie to flee from sinnes and do good workes †“ The Psalme of Dauid LORD who shal dwel in thy tabernacle or who shal rest in thy holie hil †He that walketh without spot and worketh iustice †He that speaketh truth in his d hart that hath not done guile in his tongue Nor hath done euil to his neighbour and hath not taken reproch against his neighbour The malignant is brought to nothing in his sight but them that feare our Lord he glorifieth he that sweareth to his neighbour and deceiueth not †that hath not geuen his money to vsurie and hath not taken k giftes vpon the innocent k Likewise doing wrong for bribes He that doeth “ these thinges shal “ not be moued for euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XIIII 1. The Psalme of Dauid As the appropriating of the general name of Psalme vnto some doth not preiudice but that the rest are also Psalmes though they be called Prayers Canticles Testimonies and the like so the application of Dauids name to certaine Psalmes proueth not other authores of the rest But the name of Psalme sheweth a spiritual songue apt for musical instrument and the name of Dauid by interpretation signifieth that it particularly perteyneth to the beloued 5. He that doth these thinges wheras this or anie other place of holie Scripture attributeth saluation to certaine good workes neither faith nor other workes are therby excluded but presupposed as no lesse necessarie then those which are mentioned Especially faith is alwayes requisite without which it is impossible to please God and other vertues either in practise or in purpose and preparation of mind when and where occasion requireth 5. Shal not be mouâ—d for euer Al states of this world are mutable and only eternal felicitie in heauen shal continew for euer Therfore this Psalme can not be vnderstood of the Tabernacle nor Temple of the old Testament which were but figures of eternal glorie But if so much puritie was then requisite much more al sinceritie and great sanctitie are necessarie for entrance into heauen PSALME XV. Christ by the mouth of Dauid declareth his future victory and triumph ouer the world 9. and death †The inscription of the title to Dauid him self PRESERVE me ô Lord because I haue hoped in thee †I haue said to our Lord Thou art my God because thou needest not my goods †To the sainctes that are in his land he hath made al my willes meruclous in them †Their infirmities were multiplied afterward they made hast I wil not assemble their conuenticles of bloud neither wil I be mindful of their names by my lippes †Our Lord “ the portion of myne inheritance and of my cuppe thou art he that wil restore myne inheritance vnto me †Cordes are fallen to me in goodly places for mine inheritance is goodlie vnto me †I wil blesse our Lord who hath geuen me vnderstanding moreouer also euen til night my veines haue rebuked me I forsaw our Lord in my sight alwaies because he is at my right hand that I be not moued †For this thing my hart hath beene glad and my tongue hath reioyced moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope †Because thou wilt “ not leaue my soule in hel neither wilt geue thy holie one to see corruption Thou hast made the waies of life knowen to me thou shalt make me ful of ioy with thy countenance delectations on thy right hand euen to the end ANNOTATIONS PSALME XV. 5. Out lord the portion of myn inheritance Christ whom the Iewes expected as an earthlie conquerour that should aduance himself and them temporally in this world was in dede as the