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A11777 The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes ... By the English College of Doway; Bible. O.T. English. Douai. Martin, Gregory, d. 1582. 1609-1610 (1610) STC 2207; ESTC S101944 2,522,627 2,280

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and his iustice contineweth for euer and euer † He hath made a memorie of his meruelous workes a merciful and pittiful Lord † he hath geuen meate to them that feare him He wil be mindful for euer of his testament † the force of his workes he wil shewforth to his people † To geue them the inheritance of the gentiles the workes of his handes truth and iudgement † Al his commandmentes are faithful confirmed for euer and euer made in truth and equitie † He sent redemption to his people he commanded his testament for euer Holie and terrible is his name † the feare of our Lord is the beginning of wisedom Vnderstanding is good to al that doe it his prayse remaineth for euer and euer PSALME CXI True happines consisteth in fearing God keping his commandments 5. and in doing workes of mercie 10. The contrarie bringeth to miserie Alleluia Of the returne of Aggeus and Zacharie BLESSED is the man that feareth our Lord he shal haue great delight in his commandmentes † His seede shal be mightie in the earth the generation of the righteous shal be blessed † Glorie and riches in his house and his iustice abideth for euer and euer † Light is risen vp in darkenes to the righteous he is merciful and pitiful and iust † Acceptable is the man that is merciful and lendeth that shal dispose his wordes in iudgement † Because he shal not be moued for euer † The iust shal be in eternal memorie he shal not feare at the hearing of euil † His hart is readie to hope in our Lord his hart is confirmed † he shal not be moued til he looke ouer his enemies † He distributed he gaue to the poore his iustice remaineth for euer and euer his horne shal be exalted in glorie † The sinner shal see and wil be angrie he shal gnash his teeth and pine away the desire of sinners shal perish PSALME CXII God is to be praised who being hiegh regardeth and prouideth for the needie in this world Allelu ia PRAYSE our Lord ye children praise ye the name of our Lord. † Be the name of our Lord blessed from henceforth now and for euer † From the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe the name of our Lord is laudable † Our Lord is high aboue al nations and his glorie aboue the heauens † Who is as the Lord our God that dwelleth on high † and beholdeth the low thinges in heauen and in earth † Raising vp the needie from the earth and lifting vp the poore out of the dung † To place him with princes with the princes of his people † Who maketh the d barren woman to dwel in a house a ioyful mother of children PSALME CXIII For the meruelous passage of I srael out of Aegypt 3. the red sea the riuer Iordan 7. and the hilles geuing them place 8. the rockes yelding them water 9. God not themselues is to be praised 12. Idoles and Idolaters are vaine and shal be confounded 17. the faithful trust in God 20. are blessed and for euer praise God Allelu ia IN the comming forth of Israel out of Aegypt of the house of Iacob from the barbarous people † Iewrie was made his sanctification Israel his dominion † The sea saw and fled Iordan was turned backeward † The mountaines leaped as rammes and the litle hilles as the lambes os sheepe † What ayleth thee ô sea that thou didst flee and thou ô Iordan that thou wast turned backeward † Ye mountaines leaped as rammes and ye litle hilles as the lambes of shepe † At the face of our Lord was the earth moued at the face of the God of Iacob † Who turned the rocke into pooles of waters and stonie hil into fountaines of waters † NOT TO VS O LORD NOT TO VS but to thy name geue the glorie † For thy mercie and thy truth lest at any time the Gentiles say Where is their God † But our God is in heauen he hath done al thinges what soeuer he would † “ The idols of the gentiles are siluer and gold the workes of mens handes † They haue mouth and shal not speake they haue eies and shal not see † They haue eares and shal not heare they haue nosthrels and shal not smel † They haue handes and shal not handle they haue feete and shal not walke they shal not crie in their throte † Let them that make them become like to them and al that haue confidence in them † The house of Israel hath hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector † The house of Aaron hath hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector † They that feare our Lord haue hoped in our Lord he is their helper and their protector † Our Lord hath beene mindful of vs and hath blessed vs He hath blessed the house of Israel he hath blessed the house of Aaron † He hath blessed al that feare our Lord the litle with the great † Our Lord adde vpon you vpon you vpon your children † Blessed be you of our Lord which made heauen and earth † The heauen of heauen is to our Lord but the earth he hath geuen to the children of men † The dead shal not prayse thee ô Lord nor al they that goe downe into hel But we that liue doe blesse our Lord from this time and for euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME CXIII 12. The Idols of the Gentiles are siluer and gold Al Catholique Diuines agree in this authentical definition of Idolattie that it is diuine honour geuen to anie creature as to a god Of the diuers so t●s also of Idolatrie the ancient lerned Doctors haue vvritten much Namely Iustinus Martyr in his Orations against the Gen iles Tertullian in Apologetico Arnobius Orat. ad Gentes Lactantius li. 2. c 17. Diuinar Instit and manie others But most copiously and profoundly S Augustin especially in his tenne first bookes de C●uitate Dei Into vvhich error crime the Platonistes sel holding that spiritual inuisible createdsubstances to vvitte Angels good and euil vvhom they called Intelligentias separatas had diuine povvre so gaue to them diuine honour O hers honour dead men and some before their death as goddes for their notable actes atchiued in this life as Saturne ●uppiter Hercules and the like Some yeld diuine honour to mere corporal creatures liuing or vvithout life as to beastes and serpentes the sunne the moone fire vvater earth the vvhole machin of the vvo●ld as if it vvere animate and that vvith diuine spirite or soule Againe al these haue bene vvorshipped as gods not only in them selues but also in their imagees But to omite other diuersities the most grosse
my soule he hath humbled my life in the earth He hath set me in obscure places as the dead of the world † and my spirit is in anguish vpon me within me my hart is trubled † I was mindful of old dayes I haue meditated in al thy workes in the factes of thy handes did I meditate † I haue stretched forth my handes to thee my soule is as earth without water vnto thee † Heare me quickly ô Lord my spirite hath faynted Turne not away thy face from me and I shal be like to them that descend into the lake † Make me heare thy mercie in the morning because I haue hoped in thee Make the way knowen to me wherein I may walke because I haue lifted vp my soule to thee † Deliuer me from mine enemies ô Lord to thee I haue fled † teach me to doe thy wil because thou art my God Thy good spirite wil conduct me into the right way † for thy name sake ô Lord thou wilt quicken me in thine equitie Thou wilt bring forth my soule our of tribulation † and in thy mercie thou wilt destroy mine enemies And thou wilt destroy al that afflict my soule because I am thy seruant PSALME CXLIII The royal Prophet thanketh God for al his victories and possession of the kingdom 3. Admiring Gods benignitie towards man 5. prayeth to be stil defended from al enimies 9. promiseth a new songue of prayse 11. describeth the vanitie of worldlie men 15. concluding that true felicitie is in seruing God A Psalme of Dauid against Goliath BLESSED be our Lord my God who teacheth my handes to battel and my fingers to warre † My mercie and my refuge my defender and my deliuerer My protectour and I haue hoped in him who subdeweth my people vnder me † Lord what is man that thou art made knowne to him or the sonne of man that thou estemest him † Man is made like to vanitie his dayes passe as a shadow † Lord incline thy heauens and descend touch the mountaynes and they wil smoke † Lighten lightening and thou shalt disperse them shoote out thine arrowes and thou shalt destroy them † Send forth thy hand from on high take me out and deliuer me from manie waters from the hand of children strangers † Whose mouth hath spoken vanitie and their right hand is the right hand of iniquitie † O God I wil sing to thee a new song in the psalter of ten stringes I wil sing to thee † Who geuest saluation to kinges who hast redemed Dauid thy seruant from the malignant sword † deliuer me And rescue me out of the hand of children strangers whose mouth hath spoken vanitie and their right hand is the right hand of iniquitie † Whose sonnes are as new plantes in their youth Their daughters comly trimmed decked about after the similitude of a temple † Their storehouses ful flowing out of this into that Their ewes ful of yong abunding in their going forth † their oxen are fatte There is no ruine of wal nor passage nor crie in their streates † They haue said that it is a happie people which hath these things blessed is the people whose God is our Lord. PSALME CXLIIII God is and for euer ought to be praised 3. for his immensiue infinite glorious Maiestie meruelous workes merciful benefites for his powre wisdom iustice 19. who wil reward the good and destroy the wicked Praysing to Dauid himselfe I “ Wil exalt thee my God the king and I wil blesse thy name for euer and for euer and euer † Euerie day wil I blesse thee and wil praise thy name for euer and for euer and euer † Great is our Lord and exceding laudable and of his greatnes there is no end † Generation and generation shal praise thy workes and they shal pronounce thy powre † They shal speake the magnificence of the glorie of thy holines and shal tel thy meruelous workes † And they shal tel the force of thy terrible thinges and shal declare thy greatnes † They shal vtter the memorie of the abundance of thy swetnes and in thy iustice they shal reioyce † Our Lord is pitiful and merciful patient and very merciful † Our Lord is sweete to al and his commiserations are ouer al his workes † Let al thy workes ô Lord confesse to thee and let thy sainctes blesse thee † They shal tel the glorie of thy kingdom and shal speake thy might † That they may make thy might knowne to the children of men and the glorie of the magnificence of thy kingdom † Thy kingdom is a kingdom of al worldes and thy dominion in al generation and generation † “ Our Lord is faithful in al his wordes and holie in al his workes † Our Lord lifteth vp al that fal and setteth vp al that are bruised † The eies of al hope in thee ô Lord and thou geuest their meate in time conuenient † Thou openest thy hand and fillest euerie liuing creature with blessing † Our Lord is iust in al his wayes and holie in al his workes † Our Lord is neere to al that inuocate him to al that inuocate him in truth † He wil doe the wil of them that feare him and wil heare their prayer and saue them † Our Lord keepeth al that loue him and he wil destroy al sinners † My mouth shal speake the prayse of our Lord and let al flesh blesse his holie name for euer and for euer and euer ANNOTATIONS PSALME CXLIIII I vvil exalt thee As this Psalme is the first of the seuen vvhich conteyne more particular instruction of perpetually praising God so it is the seuenth of those vvhich are composed in order of the Alphabet tovvitte the 24 33. ●● 110. 111. 118. and this 144 Of vvhich the three former vvant some letters signifying as Cassiodorus interpreteth such in Gods Church as sing his praises but vvith some imperfections the other foure haue the perfect Alphabet signifying those that sing Gods praises vvith perfect deuotion VVhich only foure S. Ierom calleth Alphabetical Psalmes Epist ad Paulam Vrbi●am Pro●m in Lament Ierem. 1● Our Lord is faithful This verse is not novv in the ordinarie Hebrevv tex● and therfore either the same is defectiue or els this Psalme should sen●e no● to be composed vvith a perfect Alphabet in the fountaine tongue For here it vvanteth the letter Nun. But seing S. Ierom counteth this one of the foure Alphabetical Psalmes omitting the other three vvhich consist of vnperfect Alphabets it is very probable that this verse vvas once in the Hebrevv text as it is both in Greke Latin VVherby amongst other places appeareth that there is no certaintie to correct the Greke or Latin Bible by the Hebr●●● vvhich is novvextant but
Moyses Stretch forth thy hand vpon the sea that the waters may returne to the Aegyptians vpon their chariottes and horsemen † And when Moyses had stretched forth his hand against the sea it returned in the first breake of day to the former place and the Aegyptians fleeing away the waters came vpon them and our Lord enwrapt them in the middes of the waues † And the waters returned and ouerwhelmed the chariottes and the horsemen of al Pharaoes armie who folowing were entred into the sea neither did there so much as one of them remaine † But the children of Israel marched through the middes of the drie sea the waters were vnto them as in stede of a wal on the right hand and on the left † and our Lord deliuered Israel in that day out of the hand of the Aegyptians † And they saw the Aegyptians dead vpon the sea shore and the mightie hand that our Lord had exercised against them and the people feared our Lord they beleued our Lord Moyses his seruant CHAP. XV. Moyses with the people sing a Canticle of thanks-geuing for their deliuerie 22. The people being three daies in the desert without water then finding that is bitter do murmure 25. It is made swete 27. Coming to Elim they finde twelue fountaines and seuentie palmetrees THEN sang Moyses and the children of Israel this song to our Lord and said Let vs sing to our Lord for he is glouriously magnified the horse and the rider he hath throwen into the sea † My strength and my praise is our Lord and he is made vnto me a saluation this is my God and I wil glorifie him the God of my father and I wil exalt him † Our Lord is a man of warre omnipotent is his name † Pharaoes chariottes and his armie he hath cast into the sea his chosen princes are drowned in the red sea † The depthes haue ouerwhelmed them they are sonke into the botome like a stone † Thy right hand ô Lord is magnified in strength thy right hand ô Lord hath striken the enimie † And in the multitude of thy glorie thou hast put downe thy aduersaries thou hast sent thy wrath which hath deuoured them like stuble † And in the spirite of thy furie were the waters gathered together the flowing water stoode the depthes were gathered together in the middes of the sea † The enimie said I wil pursew and ouertake I wil diuide the spoiles my soule shal haue his fil I wil draw forth my sword my hand shal kil them † The spirit blewe and the sea ouerwhelmed them they sanke as lead in the vehement waters † Who is like to thee among the strong ô Lord who is like to thee magnifical in sanctitie terrible and laudable doing meruailes † Thou didst stretch forth thy hand and the earth deuoured them † Thou hast in thy mercie bene a guide to the people which thou hast redemed and in thy strength thou hast caried them vnto thy holie habitation † Nations rose vp and were angrie sorowes possessed the inhabiters of Philisthijm † Then were the princes of Edom trubled trembling ceazed on the sturdie of Moab al the inhabiters of Chanaan were starke † Let feare and dread fal vpon them in the greatnes of thy arme let them become vnmoueable as a stone vntil thy people ô Lord shal passe vntil thy people shal passe this which thou hast possessed † Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thy inheritance in thy most firme habitation which thou hast wrought ô Lord thy sanctuarie Lord which thy handes haue confirmed † Our Lord shal reigne for euer and euermore † For Pharao on horsebake entred in with his chariottes and horsemen into the sea and our Lord brought backe vpon them the waters of the sea but the children of Israel walked on drie ground in the middes therof † Marie therfore the prophetesse Aarons sister tooke a tymbrel in her hand and al the wemen went forth after her with tymbrels and daunces † to whom she beganne the song saying Let vs sing to our Lord for he is gloriously magnified the horse and his rider he hath cast into the sea † And Moyses remoued Israel from the red sea and they went forth into the desert Sur and they walked three dayes through the wildernesse and found not water † And they came into Mara neither could they drinke the waters of Mara because they were bitter wherupon he gaue a name also agreable to the place calling it Mara that is bitternesse † And the people murmured against Moyses saying What shal we drinke † But he cried to our Lord. who did shew him a peece of woode which when he had cast into the waters they were turned into swetenesse There he appointed him precepts and iudgements and there he proued him † saying If thou wilt heare the voice of the Lord thy God and doe that is right before him and obey his commandementes and keepe al his preceptes none of the maladies that I layd vpon Aegypt wil I bring vpon thee for I am the Lord God thy curer † And the children of Israel came into Elim where there were twelue fountaines of water seuentie palme trees and they camped byside the waters The end of the third age THE CONTIN VANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE THIRD AGE from Abrahams going forth of Chaldea to the parting of Israel out of Aegypt The space of 430. yeares ONE and the same Church and Religion begunne in the first age of the world and continued in the second became more and more conspicuous in the third For in this age not only the same principal and particular pointes of faith were beleued and professed but also the number of professors encreased and partly by seperation of place and abode and specially by diuersitie of maners outward rites and conuersation were more distinct from infidels then before as vve shal now shew by the sacred historie of that time VVhich beginneth with Abrahams going forth of his countrey of Chaldea about 2024. yeares from the beginning of the vvorld in the 75. yeare of his age From which time forward God often appeared to him and after him to Isaac and Iacob in the title of EL SADDAI that is God Almightie Creator of al things Lord God most high Possessor of heauen and earth Gen. 14. To Moyses more familiarly Exod. 3. in his most proper name HE WHICH IS In the name of foure letters which the Iewescount ineffable And in diuers other names al shewing One Eternal Omnipotent infinite Maiestie Of whom al other things depend and haue their being himselfe independent of any other thing This one diuine nature and indiuisible substance is aboue al reach of reason three in Persons represented to Abraham Gen. 18 by three Angels in forme of men vvhom by special instinct of God he adored as one and first spake vnto them
Sanctuarie and leauing them there † he shal wash his flesh in a holie place and shal be clothed with his owne garments And after that he hath gone forth and offered his owne holocaust and the peoples he shal pray as wel for him self as for the people † and the fatte that is offered for sinnes he shal burne vpon the altar † but he that hath let goe the goate of dismission shal wash his clothes and bodie with water and so shal enter into the campe † But the calfe the bucke goate that were immolated for sinne and whose bloud was caried into the Sanctuarie to accomplish the expiation they shal carie forth without the campe and shal burne with fire aswel the skinnes as their flesh and the dung † and whosoeuer burneth them shal wash his clothes and his flesh with water and so shal enter into the campe † And this shal be to you an euerlasting ordinance The seuenth moneth the tenth day of the moneth you shal afflict your soules and no worke shal you doe whether he be of the same countrie or a stranger that soiourneth among you † Vpon this day shal be the expiation of you and clensing from al your sinnes before the Lord you shal be clensen † for it is a sabath of rest and you shal afflict your soules by a perpetual religion And the priest shal expiate that is annoynted and whose handes are consecrated to do the function of priesthood for his father and he shal be reuested with the linnen stole and the holie vestments † and he shal expiate the Sanctuarie and the tabernecle of testimonie and the altar the priestes also and al the people † And this shal be an ordinance for euer that you pray for the children of Israel and for al their sinnes once in a yeare He did therfore as our Lord had commanded Moyses CHAP. XVII Al Sacrifices must be offered at the doore of the Tabernacle 7. with special prohibitiō of Idolatrie 10. None must eate bloud 15 whosoeuer eateth caraine flesh is contaminate and must be washed AND our Lord spake to Moyses saying † Speake to Aaron and his sonnes and to al the children of Israel saying to them This is the word which our Lord hath cōmanded saying † Anie man whosoeuer of the house of Israel if he kil an oxe or a sheepe or a goate in the campe or without the campe and offer it not at the dore of the tabernacle an oblation to the Lord shal be guiltie of bloud as if he had shed bloud so shal he perish out of the middes of his people † Therfore shal the children of Israel bring to the priest their hostes which they kil in the filde that they may be sanctified to our Lord before the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie they may immolate them pacifique hostes to our Lord. † And the priest shal poure the bloud vpon the altar of our Lord at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie and shal burne the fatte for a swete odour to our Lord † and they shal no more immolate their hostes to diuels with whom they haue committed fornication It shal be an ordinance for euer to them and to their posteritie † And to them thou shalt say The man of the house of Israel and of the strangers which seiourne with you that offereth an holocaust or victime † and bringeth it not to the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie that it may be offered to our Lord shal perish out of his people † Anie man whosoeuer of the house of Israel and of the strangers that seiourne among them if he eate bloud I wil sette my face against his life and wil destroy it out of his people † because the life of the flesh is in the bloud and I haue geuen it to you that vpon the altar you may make expiation with it for your soules and the bloud may be for an expiation of the soule † Therfore haue I faid to the children of Israel No soule of you shal eate bloud nor of the strangers that seiourne with you † Anie man whosoeuer of the children of Israel and of the strangers that seiourne with you if by hunting or fowling he take wild beast or foule which it is lawful to eate let him poure our the bloud therof and couer it with earth † For the life of al flesh is in the bloud wherupon I said to the children of Israel The bloud of no flesh shal you eate because the life of the flesh is in the bloud and whosoeuer eateth it f●al die † The soule that eateth carraine or that which is taken of a beast aswel of them of the same countrie as of strangers shal wash his clothes and him self with water and shal be contaminated vntil euen and in this order he shal be made cleane † And if he doe not wash his clothes and his bodie he shal beare his iniquitie CHAP. XVIII Mariage prohibited in certaine d●grees of consanguinitie and affinitie 18. And diuers carnal and execrable sinnes committed in other nations are strictly forbidden AND our Lord spake to Moyses saying † Speake to the children of Israel and thou shalt say to them I the Lord your God † according to the custome of the Land of Aegypt wherin you haue dwelt you shal not doe and according to the maner of the Countrie of Chanaan into the which I wil bring you you shal not doe nor walke in their ordināces † You shal doe my iudgements and shal obserue my precepts and shal walke in them I the Lord your God † Keepe my lawes and iudgmentes which a man doing shal liue in them I the Lord. † No man shal approch to her that is “ next of his bloud to reueale her turpitude I the Lord. † The turpitude of thy father and the turpitude of thy mother thou shalt not discouer she is thy mother thou shalt not reueale her turpitude † The turpitude of thy fathers wife thou shalt not discouer for it is the turpitude of thy father † The turpitude of thy sister by father or by mother which was borne at home or abroad thou shalt not reueale † The turpitude of thy sonnes daughter or of thy neece by thy daughter thou shalt not reueale because it is thy turpitude † The turpitude of thy fathers wiues daughter which she bare to thy father and is thy sister thou shal not reueale † The turpitude of thy fathers sister thou shalt not discouer because she is the flesh of thy father † The turpitude of thy mothers sister thou shalt not reueale because she is of the flesh of thy mother † The turpitude of thy fathers brother thou shalt not reueale neither shalt thou approch to his wife who is ioyned to thee by affinitie † The turpitude of thy daughter in law thou shalt not reueale because she is thy sonnes wife neither shalt thou discouer her ignominie † The turpitude of thy brothers
cu●●e the day which are readie to raise vp Leuiathan † Let the ●●a●res be darkened with the mist therof let it expect light and let it not see neither the rysing of the appearing morning † Because it shut not vp the doores of the wombe that bare me nor tooke away euils from myne eies † Why died I not in the matrice perished not forthwith being come forth of the wombe † Why receiued vpon the knees why nurced with the breastes † For now sleping I should be quiet and should rest in my sleepe † With kinges and co●●●les of the earth which build themselues solitarie places † Or with princes that possesse gold and replenish their ●●●●es with siluer † Or as a thing vn●mely borne that is h●● I should not be or as they that being conceiued haue not seene the light † There the impious haue ceased from tumult there the wearied with strength haue ●ested † And they sometime bound together without griefe haue not heard the voyce of the exactor † Litle and great are there and the seruant free from his master † Why is there light geuen to a miserable man and life to them that are in bitternesse of soule † That expect death and it cometh not as they that dig vp treasure † And they reioyce excedingly when they haue found the graue † To a man whose life is hid and God hath compassed him with darkenes † Before I eate I sigh and as it were ouerflowing waters so my roaring † Because the feare which I feared hath chanced to me and that which I was afrayd of hath happened † haue I not dissembled haue I not kept silence haue I not beene at ease and indignation is come vpon me CHAP. IIII. Eliphaz blameth Iob as guiltie of impatience arguing thereupon that he was not so perfect in vertue as he semed 7. and therfore is now punished by God who as Ehiphaz falsly supposeth afflicteth not innocent men 12. alleaging for proofe an imaginarie vision BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering sayd † If we shal begin to speake to thee perhaps thou wilt take it greuously but the word conceiued who can hold † Behold thou hast taught manie wearie handes thou hast strengthned † Them that wauered thy wordes haue confirmed and trembling knees thou hast strengthened † But now a plague is come vpon thee and thou hast faynred hath touched thee and art trubled † Where is thy feare thy strength thy patience and the perfection of thy wayes † Remember I besech thee who euer being innocent hath perished or when haue the iust bene destroyed † Yea rather I haue sene them that worke iniquitie and sow sorrowes reape them † to haue perished by the blast of God and with the spirit of his wrath to haue bene consumed † The roaring of the lion and the voice of the lionesse the teeth of the whelpes of lions are bruised † The tigre hath perished because he had no praye and the lions whelpes are destroyed † Moreouer to me there was spoken a secret word and as it were by stealth hath mine eare receiued the vaines of the whispering therof † In the horrour of a vision by night when deepe sleepe is wont to hold men † feare held me and trembling and al my bones were made sore afrayd † And when the spirit passed in my presence the heares of my flesh stood vpright † There stood one whose countenance I knew not an image before mine eies and I heard the voyce as it were of a gentle winde † What shal man be iustified in comparison of God or shal a man be more pure then his maker † Behold they that serue him are not stable and in his Angels he found wickednes † How much more they that inhabite houses of clay which haue an earthly foundation shal be consumed as it were of the moth † From morning vntil euening they shal be cut downe and because none vnderstandeth they shal perish foreuer † And they that shal be leaft shal be taken away from them they shal die and not in wisedom CHAP. V. Eliphaz prosecuteth his discourse to conuince Iob of great sinnes because he is sov●hemently afflicted 17. exhorteth him therfore to acknowledge his sinnes so al thinges shal succede prosperously CAL therfore if there be that wil answer thee “ turne to some of the sainctes † Anger in deede killeth the foolish and enuie slea●th the litle one † I haue seene a foole with firme roote and I cursed his beautie by and by † His children shal be made far from saluation and shal be destroyed in the gate and there shal be none to deliuer † Whose haruest the hungrie shal eate the armed shal take him by violence and the thirstie shal drinke his riches † Nothing in the ●a●th is done without a cause and out of the ground sorrow shal nor rise † Man is borne to labour and the bird to flight † For the which thing I wil besech our Lord and toward God I wil set my speach † Who doeth great and vnsearchable and meruelous things without number † Who geueth raine vpon the face of the earth and watereth al thinges with waters † W●o setteth the humble on high and them that are in heauinesse he conforteth with health † Who disspateth the cogitations of the malignant that their handes can not accompli●h that which they b●gan † Who apprehendeth the wise in their sub●●l●ie and dissipareth the counsel of the wicked † By day they shal i●cu●re darkenesse and as it were in the night so shal they grope at noone daies † Moreouer he shal saue the need● from the sword of their mouth and the poore from the hand of the violent † And to the needie there shal be hope but iniquitie shal draw together her mouth † Blessed is the man that is corrected of God refuse not therfore the chastising of our Lord † Because he woundeth and cureth striketh and his hands shal beale † In six tribulations he shal deliuer thee and in the seuenth euil shal not touch thee † In famine he shal deliuer thee from death and in battel from the hand of the sword † From the scourge of the tongue thou shalt be hid thou shalt not feare calamitie when it cometh † In waste and famine thou shalt laugh and the beastes of the earth thou shalt not feare † But with the stones of the landes thy couenant and the beastes of the earth shal be peaceable to thee † And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle hath peace and visiting thy beautie thou shalt not sinne † Thou shalt know also that thy seed shal be manifold and thy progenie as the grasse of the earth † Thou shalt enter into the graue in abundance as a heape of wheate is caryed in his time † Behold this is euen so as we haue searched out which thou hauing heard reuolue in thy mind ANNOTATIONS CHAP.
they shal not inhabite nor walke therein and they shal not leape high into the congregation † Vpon the iudges seate they shal not sitte and the ordinance of iudgement they shal not vnderstand neither shal they declare discipline and iudgement and in parables they shal not be found † but they shal confirme the creature of the world and their prayer shal be in the worke of their art applying their soule searching in the law of the Highest CHAP. XXXIX Goldie knowlege 16. puritie of soule 20. humble conceipt of our selues 27. and consideration of eternal reward are good dispositions to spiritual contemplation THE wise man wil search out the wisdom of al the ancientes and wil be occupied in the prophetes † He wil keepe the narration of famous men and wil enter withal into the subtilities of parables † He wil search out the hidden senses of prouerbes and wil conuerse in the secretes of parables † In the middes of great men he wil minister and in the sight of the president he shal appeare † He shal passe into the land of strange nations for he shal trie good and euil in men † He wil geue his hart to watch early vnto our Lord that made him and he wil pray in the sight of the Highest † He Wil open his mouth in prayer and wil entreate for his sinnes † For if it shal please our great Lord he wil fil him with the spirit of vnderstanding † and he wil power forth the wordes of his wisdom as showres and in prayer wil confesse to our Lord. † And he wil direct his counsel and discipline and in his secretes he wil consult † He wil open the discipline of his doctrine and wil glorie in the law of the testament of our Lord. † Manie wil praise his wisdom and it shal not be abolished for euer † The memorie of him shal not depart and his name shal be required from generation to generation † Nations shal declare his wisdom and the church wil shew forth his praise † If he continew he shal leaue a name more then a thousand and if he rest it shal profite him † I wil yet consult that I may declare For as with furie I am replenished † In voice he saith Heare me ye diuine fruites and as the rose planted vpon the riuers of waters fructifie ye † As Libanus haue ye the odours of sweetnes † Florish ye flowres as the lilie and geue forth an odour and bring forth leaues in grace and praise with songue and blesse our Lord in his workes † Geue magnificence to his name and confesse vnto him in the voice of your lippes and in songues of the lippes and harpes thus shal ye say in confession † Al the workes of our Lord are exceeding good † At this word the water stood as an heape and at the word of his mouth as it were receptacles of waters † because in his commandment placabilitie is made and there is no diminishing of his saluation † The workes of al flesh are before him and there is nothing hid from his eyes † From world to world he beholdeth and nothing is meruelous in his sight † It is not to be saied What is this or what is that for al thinges shal be sought in their time † His blessing hath ouerflowed as a streame † And as a flood hath watered the drie land so his wrath shal inherite the nations that haue not sought him † euen as he turned waters into drught and the earth was made drie and his waies are direct to the waies of them so to sinners stumbling blockes in his wrath † Good thinges were created for the good from the beginning so for the wicked good thinges and euil † The beginning of the thing necessarie for the life of men water fire and yron salt milke and bread of flower and honie and the cluster of grape and oyle clothing † Al these shal be conuerted to saintes into good so also to the impious and to sinners into euil † There are spirites that were created for vengeance and in their furie they haue confirmed their tormentes † in the time of consummation they shal power our strength and they shal accomplish the furie of him that made them † Fire haile famine and death al these were created for vengeance † the teeth of beastes and scorpions and serpentes and sword reuenging the impious vnto destruction † In his commandmentes they shal make merrie and on the earth they shal be prepared when nede is and in their times they shal not pretermitte a word † Therefore from the beginning I was confirmed and I haue consulted and thought and leaft written † Al the workes of our Lord are good he wil geue euerie worke in his houre † It is not to be said This is worse then that for al shal be approued in their time † And now with al hart and mouth praise ye and blesse the name of our Lord. CHAP. XL. The first matter of spiritual meditation may be mans miserie contracted by original sinne 4. and increased by actual 17. reliued by God grace 22. which geueth manie benefites 27. man adding his voluntarie cooperation GREAT trauel is created to al men and an heauie yoke vpon the children of Adam from the day of their coming forth of their mothers wombe vntil the day of their burying into the mother of al. † Their cogitations and feares of the hart imagination of thinges to come and the day of their ending † from him that sitteth vpon the glorious seate vnto him that is humbled in earth ashes † From him that weareth hyacinth and beareth the crowne euen to him that is couered with rude linen furie enuie tumult wauering and the feare of death anger perseuering and contention † and in the time of repose in bed the sleepe of night changeth his knowlege † A litle is as nothing in rest and afterward in sleepe as in the day of watch● † He is trubled in the vision of his hart as he that hath escaped in the day of battel In the time of his safetie he rose vp and merueleth at noe feare † With al flesh from man euen to beast and vpon sinners seuenfold † Beside these thinges death bloud contention and sword oppressions famine and contrition and scourges † for the wicked al these were created and for them the floud was made † Al thinges that are of the earth shal turne into the earth and al waters shal returne into the sea † Al bribing and iniquitie shal be cleane taken away and fidelitie shal stand for euer † The riches of the vniust shal be dried vp as a riuer and they shal sound as great thunder in rayne † In opening his handes he shal reioyce so transgressors shal pine away in consumption † The nephewes of the impious shal not multiplie boughes nor vncleane
as the wounded in the streets of the citie when they yelded vp the ghostes in the bosome of their mothers Wherto shal I compare thee or wherto shal I liken thee ô daughter of Ierusalem wherto shal I make thee equal and comfort thee ô virgin daughter of Sion For great is thy destruction as the sea who shal heale thee Thy prophetes haue sene false and foolish thinges for thee neither haue they opened thyne iniquitie to prouoke thee to penance but they haue sene false burdens and banishements for thee Al that passed by the way haue clapped their handes vpon thee they haue hissed and moued their head vpon the daughter of Ierusalem saying Is this the citie of perfect beautie the ioy of al the earth Al thyne enemies haue opened their mouth vpon thee they haue hissed and gnashed with the teeth and haue sayd We wil deuour Loe this is the day which we expected we haue found it we haue sene it Our Lord hath done the thinges that he meant he hath accomplished his word which he commanded from the dayes of old he hath destroyed and hath not spared and he hath made the enemie ioyful ouer thee and hath exalted the horne of thine aduersaries Their hart hath cryed to our Lord vpon the walles of the daughter of Sion Shede teares as a torrent by day and night geue no rest to thyself neither let the aple of thyne eye cease Arise prayse in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy hart as waters before the sight of our Lord lift vp thy handes to him for the life of thy litle ones which haue fainted for famine in the head of al high wayes See ô Lord and consider whom thou hast vintaged thus shal wemen then eate their owne fruite litle ones of the measure of a spanne is the priest and the prophet slaine in the sanctuarie of our Lord The childe and the old man lay on the ground without my virgins and my yongmen are fallen by the sword thou hast killed in the day of thy furie thou hast strooken neither hast thou had mercie Thou hast called as it were to a solemne day those that should terrifie me round about and there was none in the day of the furie of our Lord that escaped and was left whom I brought vp nourished mine enemie hath consumed them CHAP. III. I THE man that see my pouertie in the rod of his indignation He hath led me and brought me into darknes and not into light Only against me he hath turned and hath conuerted his hand al the day He hath made my skinne old and my flesh he hath broken my bones He hath built round about me and he hath compased me with gaul and labour In darke places he hath placed me as the euerlasting dead He hath built round about against me that I goe not forth he hath aggrauated my fetters Yea and when I shal crie and aske he hath excluded my prayer He hath shut vp my wayes with square stones he hath subuerted my pathes He is become vnto me a beare lying in waite a lyon in secret places He hath subuerted my pathes and hath broken me he hath made me desolate He hath bent his bow and set me as a marke for the arrow He hath shot in my reines the daughters of his quiuer I am made a derision to al my people their songue al the day He hath replenished me with bitternes he hath inebriated me with wormwood And he hath broken my teeth by number he hath fed me with ashes And my soule is repelled from peace I haue forgotten good thinges And I sayd Mine end is perished and mine hope from our Lord. Remember my pouertie and transgression the wormwood and the gual Remembring I wil be mindful and my soule shal languish in me Recording this thing in my hart therfore wil I hope The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed because his commiserations haue not fayled New in the morning great is thy fidelite Our Lord is my portion sayd my soule therfore wil I expect him Our Lord is good to them that hope in him to the soule that seeketh him It is good to waite with silence for the saluation of God It is good for a man when he beareth the yoke from his youth He shal sit solitarie and hold his peace because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himself He shal put his mouth in the dust if perhaps there be hope He shal geue the cheeke to him that striketh him he shal be filled with reproches Because our Lord wil not reiect for euer Because if he hath reiected he wil also haue mercie according to the multitude of his merciés For he hath not humbled from his hart and cast of the children of men To stamp vnder his fete al the prisoners of the earth To auert the iudgement of a man before the face of the Highest To peruert a man in his iudgement our Lord hath not knowne Who is this that hath commanded it to be done our Lord not commanding it Out of the mouth of the Highest there shal not procede neither euil thinges nor good What hath the liuing man murmured man for his sinnes Let vs search our wayes seeke and returne to our Lord. Let vs lift vp our hartes with our handes to our Lord into the heauens We haue done wickedly and prouoked to wrath therfore thou art inexorable Thou hast couered in furie and hast strooken vs thou hast killed and not spared Thou hast sette a cloude before thee that prayer may not passe Thou hast made me to be rooted out and abiect in the middes of the peoples Al the enemies haue opened their mouth vpon vs. Prophecie is made vnto vs feare and snare and destruction Myne eye hath shed streames of waters in the destruction of the daughter of my people Myne eye is afflicted neither hath it bene quiet because there was no rest Til our Lord regarded and looked from the heauens Mine eye hath spoyled my soule for al the daughters of my citie Myne enemies in hunting haue caught me as a birde without cause My life is fallen into the lake and they haue layd a stone vpon me The waters haue flowed ouer my head I sayd I am vndone I haue inuocated thy name ô Lord from the lowest lake Thou hast heard my voice turne not away thine eare from my sobbings and cries Thou didst approch in the day when I inuocated thee thou hast sayd Feare not Thou hast iudged ô Lord the cause of my soule redemer
place and let the drie land appeare And it was so done † And God called the drie land Earth and the gathering of waters together he called Seas And God sawe that it was good † And said Let the earth shootforth grene herbes and such as may seede fruite trees yelding fruit after his kinde such as may haue seede in it selfe vpon the earth And it was so done † And the earth brought forth grene herbe such as seedeth according to his kinde tree that beareth fruite hauing seede eche one according to his kinde And God saw that it was good † And there was euening morning that made the third day † Againe God said Be there lightes made in the firmament of heauen to diuide the day the night and let them be for signes seasons and dayes and yeares † to shine in the firmament of heauen to giue light vpon the earth And it was so done † And God made two great lights a greater light to gouerne the day and a lesser light to gouerne the night and starres † And he set them in the firmament of heauen to shine vpon the earth † and to gouerne the day the night and to diuide the light the darkenes And God sawe that it was good † And there was euening and morning that made the fourth day † God also said Let the waters bring forth creeping creature hauing life and flying foule ouer the earth vnder the firmament of heauen † And God created huge Whales and al liuing mouing creature that the waters brought forth according to eche sorte al foule according to their kinde And God sawe that it was good † And he “ blessed them saying Increase and multiplie and replenish the waters of the sea and let the birds be multiplied vpon the earth † And there was euening morning that made the fifth day † God said moreouer Let the earth bring forth liuing creature in his kind cattle such as creepe beastes of the earth according to their kindes and it was so done † And God made the beastes of the earth according to their kindes and cattle al that crepeth on the earth in his kind And God saw that it was good † and he said “ Let vs make Man to our image likenes and let him haue dominion ouer the fishes of the sea and the foules of the ayre and the beastes and the whole earth and al creeping creature that moueth vpon the earth † And God created man to his owne image to the image of God he created him male female he created them † And God blessed them and saith “ Increase and multiplie replenish the earth and subdew it and rule ouer the fishes of the sea and foules of the ayre al liuing creatures that moue vpon the earth † And God said Behold I haue giuen you al maner of hearbe that seedeth vpon the earth and al trees that haue in them selues seede of their owne kinde to be your meate † and to al beastes of the earth and to euerie foule of the ayre to al that moue vpon the earth and wherein there is life that they may haue to feede vpon And it was so done † And God sawe al things that he had made and they were very good And there was euening morning that made the sixt day ANNOTATIONS CHAP. 1. 1. In the beginning Holie Moyses telleth what was done in the beginning of the world and so forward euen til his owne time writing aboue two thousand and foure hundreth yeares after the beginning Al which being incomprehensible by humaine witte or discourse he knew partly by Reuelations from God for he had the gyft of Prophecie in most excellent sorte partly by Traditions from his elders who lerned of their fathers For vntil that time the Church had only Traditions of such things as were reueled to special men wherby we see the great authoritie of Traditions before there were Scriptures And since Scriptures were written they are also necessarie for three special reasons First for that we are only assured by Tradition of the Church that those bookes are in dede holie Scriptures which are so accounted and not by the Scripture it selfe for that were to proue the same by the same vntil we be assured of some part that proueth some other partes And this made S. Augustin to say plainly that he could not beleue the Gospel except the Church told him vvhich is the Gospel Secondly holie Scriptures being once knowen to be the word of God and so of most eminent authoritie of al writings in the world as S. Augustin S. Ierome al other Fathers agree yet for the true vnderstanding of the same both the Scripture it selfe and the ancient Fathers remitte vs to the Church namely to those in the Church that are appointed by Gods ordinance in the high place that he hath chosen VVhich were the High Priests in the old Testament as appeareth Deut. 17. Mat. 23. Ioan. 11. And in the new Testament S. Peter and his Successors for whom Christ prayed that his faith should not faile and therfore commanded him to confirme his bretheren Luc. 22. Thirdly for things not expressed in particular in holie Scripture the Scripture and Fathers do likewise remitte vs to Traditions and to the iudgement and testimonie of the Church Christ saying to his Apostles he that heareth you heareth me The Apostles doubted not to say It semed good to the Holie Ghost and to vs. And S. Paul willed the Thessalonians to hold the traditions vvhich they had lerned whether it were by word or by his Epistle 1. In the beginning God made heauen and earth Al writers ancient and later find such difficulties in these first chapters that some otherwise very lerned haue thought it not possible to vnderstand the same according to the proper and vsual signification of the wordes as the letter may seme to sound but expound al allegorically as that by the waters aboue the firmament should be vnderstood the blessed Angels by the waters vnder the firmament wicked spitites and the like So did Origen and diuers that folow him therein Yea S. Augustin in his bookes vpon Genesis against the Manichees written shortly after his conuersion when he could not find as he desired a good and probable sense agreable to the wordes in their proper signification expounded them mystically but afterwards in his other bookes de Genesi ad literam he gratfully acknowledgeth that God had geuen him further sight therin and that now he supposed he could interprete al according to the proper signification of the wordes yet so that he durst not nor would not addict him selfe to one sense but that he was readie to imbrace an other lest by sticking to his owne iudgement he might faile So likewise S. Basil S. Chrisostom S. Ambrose S. Ierome S. Bede and other greatest
Doctors found confessed great difficulties in these first chapters which they with much studie endeuored to explicate And therfore it is a wonder to see our Protestants Puritans hold this Paradox that Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood VVheras both by testimonie of those that haue in deede studied laboured in them and by a litle due consideration the cōtrarie is most euident For whosoeuer wil looke into the holie Scriptures shal find that some times in shew one place semeth contrarie to an other some times the letter phrase are obscure ambiguous some times the sentences vnperfect Againe manie speaches are prophetical manie parabolical metaphorical and vttered vnder other tropes and figures and that in the literal sense Moreouer there are three spiritual senses besides the literal very frequent in holie Scripture Allegorical pertayning to Christ and the Church Moral pertayning to maners and Anagogical pertayning to the next life As this word Ierusalem literally signifieth the head citie of Iewrie Morally the soule of man Allegorically the Church militant and Anagogically the Church triumphant And sometimes this and the like of others metaphorically in the literal sense signifieth the Church militant and not the citie of Iewrie as in the 12. chapter to the Hebrewes and some times the Church triumphant as in the 21. of the Apocalips 2. The Spirite of God In the Hebrew it is signified that the Spirite of God was on the waters to make them fertile for that fishes and birdes were to be procreated therof the word is merahepheth incubabat sate vpon to produce fruict saith S. Ierom from the waters as a henne by her heate produceth life in the egges And the same S. Ierom and before him Tertullian teach that this was a figure of Baptisme which consisteth of water and the Holie Ghost For as water in the beginning of the world receiued a certain vital vertue of the Holie Ghost to produce liuing creatures so also Baptisme receiueth vertue of the same Holie Ghost to procreate new men VVherupon Tertullian calleth Christians fishes because they are gotten from the waters and thence haue their first spiritual life Let it not therfore seme strange saith he that in Baptisme VVaters geue life 16. Tvvo great lights and starres Here occurreth an other example of the hardnes of holie Scripture For if the two great lights towit the Sunne the Moone and also the starres vvere made the fourth day and not before as it m●y seme by the wordes in this place then what was that light and in what subiect was it that was made the first day S. Basil S. Gregorie Nazianzen Theodoret and some others writing vpon this place do thinke that the light which was made the first day remayned though an accident without his subiect til the fourth day And albeit most other Doctors rather think that the substance of the Sunne Moone of other planets and starres were created the first day and the fourth day set in that order and course which now they kepe with more distinction for signes and seasons and dayes and yeares yet it is clere that the foresaid ancient Doctors iudged it possible that accidents may remaine without their subiect which a Sacramentarie wil be loath to grant lest it might be proued possible as both these al other Catholique Doctors beleued and taught that the accidents of bread and wine remaine in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist without their subiects VVhich Protestants denie 26. Let vs make man to our Image For better consideration of Gods bountie towards vs and sturring our selues to gratitude towards him we may here note tenne prerogatiues bestowed on vs by our Lord maker in our creation aboue al other earthlie creatures First wheras God by an imperial word of commandment made other creatures Fiat lux Fiat firmamentum Be there light Be there a firmament intending to make man he procedeth familiarly by way as it were of consultation and as to his owne vse and seruice to make man saying Let vs make man to our image and likenes that is to say a reasonable creature with vnderstanding and free wil which beastes haue not Secondly in this worke God first insinuateth the high Mysterie of the B. Trinitie or pluralitie of Persons in one God because man is to beleue the same signifying the pluralitie of Persons by the wordes Let vs make and to our and the vnitie in substance by the wordes Image and likenes the first in the plural number the later in the singular Thirdly other creatures were produced by the waters and earth Let the vvaters bring forth fishe and soule Let the earth bring forth grasse and cat●le other beastes but God brought forth man not by the earth though of the earth nor by water nor by heauen nor by Angels but by him selfe geuing him a reasonable soule not sensual only as to beastes and the same not produced of anie creature but created immediatly of nothing Fourthly God gaue man Paradise a most pleasant place to dwel in Fiftly God gaue man dominion and imperial authoritie ouer alliuing creatures vnder heauen Sixtly man was created in that innocencie of life and integritie of al vertues that his mind was wholly subiect to God his sense to reason his bodie to his spirite and al other liuing creatures obedient to him euen the terrible Lions the cruel Tigres the huge Elephants and the wildest birdes Seuently God brought them al to man as to do him homage and to take their names of him VVhich by his excellent knowledge he gaue them conformable to their natures Eightly God gaue man in some sorte an immortal bodie that if he had kept Gods commandment he had liued long and pleasantly in this world and so should haue bene translated to eternal life without dying Ninthly God did not only adorne man with al natural knowledge and supernatural vertues but also with the gift of prophecie VVherby the knew that Eue was a bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh though being a slepe he knew not when she was made Tenthly which was the chiefe benefite of al God conuersed familiarly with man and that in shape of man which was a token of his meruelous great loue to man and a singular incitment of him to loue God Reade more if you please of the dignitie of man and the benefites of God towards him in his creation in S. Bernard vpon the 99. Psalme And vpon the 61. chapter of Esaie 28. Increase and multiplie VVhether this be a commandment or no at least it is a blessing for so the wordes before conuince God blessed them and said Increase and multiplie He said the same also to brute creatures which are not capable of a precept but by this were made fertile VVherby we see that Gods blessing alwayes worketh some real effect as of fertilitie in this and other places of multiplication of the
loaues and fishes Ioan 6. And some real effect Christs blessing must nedes worke also in the blessed Sacrament Mat. 26. VVhich can be no other but changing bread and wine into his bodie bloud seing him selfe expresly sayeth This is my bodie this is my bloud And though Gods blessing in this place be also a precept yet it is not to al men for euer but for the propagation of mankind which being long since abundantly propagared the obligation of the precept ceaseth the cause ceasing So S. Cyprian S. Ierome S. Augustin and other Fathers expound this place And confirme the same by the text for immediatly God signifying to what end he spoke saith and replenish the earth VVhich benig replenished Gods wil is therin fulfilled CHAP. II. The worke of six dayes being finished God rested the seuēth day blessed it 8. Then placing man in paradise planted with bewtiful swete trees witered with foure riuers 16. comandeth him not to eate of the tree of knowledge of good euil 18. formed a woman of a ribbe of Adam THE heauens therfore the earth were fully finished and al the furniture of them † And the seuenth day God ended his woorke which he had made rested “ the seuenth day from al woorke that he had done † And he blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it because in it he had ceased from al his woorke which God created to make † These are the generations of heauen earth when they were created in the day when our Lord God made the heauen and the earth † And euery plant of the filde before it shotvp in the earth And euerie herbe of the ground before it sprang for our Lord God had not rayned vpon the earth and man was not to til the earth † But a spring rose out of the earth watering al the ouermost part of the earth † Our Lord God therfore formed man of the slyme of the earch and breathed into his face the breath oflife man became a liuing soule † And our Lord God had planted a Paradise of pleasure from the beginning wherin he placed man whom he had formed † And our Lord God brought forth of the ground al maner of trees fayre to behold and pleasant to eate of the tree of life also in the middle of Paradise and the tree of knowledge of good euil † And a riuer issued out of the place of pleasure to water Paradise which from thence is diuided into four heades † The name of the one is Phison that is it which compasseth al the land of Heuilath where gold groweth † And the gold of that land is very good there is sound bdelium the stone onyx † And the name of the second riuer is Gehon that is it which compasseth al the land of Ethiopia † And the name of the third riuer is Tygris that same passeth along by the Assirians And the fourth riuer the same is Euphrates † Our Lord God therfore tooke man put him in the Paradise of pleasure to woorke keepe it † And he commanded him saying Of euerie tree of Paradise eate thou † But “ of the tree of knowledge of good euil eate thou not For in what day soeuer thou shalt eate of it “ thou shalt dye the death † Our Lord God also said It is not good for man to be alone let vs make him a helpe like vnto him selfe † Our Lord God therfore hauing formed of clay al beastes of the earth and foules of the ayre brought them to Adam that he might see what to cal them for al that Adam called any liuing creature the same is his name † And Adam called al beastes by their names and al foules of the ayre and al cattel of the filde but vnto Adam there was not found an helper like him selfe † Our Lord God therfore cast a dead sleepe vpon Adam and when he was fast a sleepe he tooke one of his ribbes filled vp flesh for it † And our Lord God built the ribbe which he tooke of Adam into a woman and brought her to Adam † And Adam said This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shal be called woman because she was taken out of man † Wherfore man shal leaue his father mother shal cleaue to his wife they shal be two in one flesh † And they were both naked to wit Adam his wife and were not ashamed ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 2. The seuenth day Al creatures benig made in their kindes in six dayes complete and perfect God not neding as men often do in their workes to perfect poolish or amend the same rested the seuenth day and therfore the natural perfection of Gods workes is attributed to the seventh day and the supernatural perfecting of men in eternal life after the Resurrection is attributed to the eight day as S. Augustin and other fathers teach And for this cause God blessed and sanctifyed the seuenth day and after we haue in the Decalogue or tenne commandments that this day al should rest and abstaine from workes yea and kepe it festiual occupying them selues in spiritual exercises seruice and special worshipe of God as the Iewes did euen til Christs and his Apostles time praying and hearing the word of God read and expounded in the Sabboth day VVherby we see that distinction of dayes pertayneth to Religion the people of God thus obseruing the Sabboth in memorie of the Creation diuers other feastes in memorie of other benefites And we now kepe the Sunday holie in memorie of Christs Resurrection and other feastes in gratful remembrance of other Mysteries of Christs Natiuitie the coming of the Holie Ghost and the like Yea also feastes of his blessed Mother and other Sainctes for the benefites receiued from Christ by them and for more honour to Christ in them So this Catholique obseruation of feastes is neither Iudaical which also in the law was good but now is abrogated nor heathnish for we honour not Iupiter nor Iuno noranie false god or goddesse but our Lord God Creator Redemer for his sake his best seruants VVherof see the Annotations in the English new Testament 4. chap. to the Galathians VVherto we here only adde these wordes of S. Basil VVhich may serue for a general answer to the most common obiection Honor seruorum redundat in commun●m Domin●m The honour of the seruantes redoundeth to the common Lord or Maister So saith he the honour of Sainctes is the honour of Christ their Lord and ours 17. Of the tree of knovvledge Besides the law of nature by which Man was bound to direct al his actions according to the rule of reason and besides the supernatural diuine law by which he was bound to beleue and trust in God and to loue him aboue al things hauing receiued the giftes of faith hope and
Morales and 36. chapter vpon the third chapter of Iob recounting certaine principal Patriarches among the rest saith Noe for that he pleased Gods examination vvas saued aliu●in the vncleane vvorld and after a large catalogue of other iust men in confirmation of this doctrine that some were iust in the law of nature concludeth thus Neither is it to be beleued saith he that only so manie vvere iust before the lavv vvas receiued as Moyses contracteth in his most briefe description 15. Three hundred cubites Apelles an old heretike scholar of Marcian but after leauing him and amongst other new coyned heresies reiecting the Law the Prophetes would by this place impugne Moyses saying it was vnpossible that in so smale rowme as was the arke by this descriptiō the designed payres of al kindes of beastes foule serpents should be contained with the eight persons and al their prouision of meate for a whole yeare VVherupon he concludeth that this narration which he calleth a fable hath no probabilitie nor possibilitie to be true To whom al such calumniators it may be answered that Moyses euen in an heretikes owne cōceipt if malice obscured not his sense must needes be thought wise ynough if he had benne disposed to fayne fables to frame them probable or possible especially when he pretended not to signific a miracle in the smalnes of the rowme to receiue so much as he reporteth Origen to answer him supposeth a cubite here mētioned to haue cōtained six ordinarie cubites and so doubtles the arke might easily containe al thinges that are here spoken of for so it were like to a great citie But this opinion neither hath good warrant that euer the Aegyptians of whom he supposeth Moyses might haue learned it or any other nation vsed such long cubites neither can this measure of a cubite be agreable to Moyses meaning who no doubt speaketh of the like cubites here as he doth in other places And in Exodus he describeth an Altar to be made fiue cubites long fiue broade and three in height VVhich would be by Origens measure euetie cubite contayning six ordinarie cubites that is nine foote at least in length and likewise in breadth 45. foote and 27. foote in height Againe Deut. 3. Moyses telleth of an iron bed of Og King of Basan that was nine cubites long foure broad VVhich make according to Origens measure of a cubite fourscore and one foote in length and in breadth 36. foote which in deede haue no probabilitie And therefore S. Augustin and other Doctors supposing that Moses in al these bookes written for instruction of the same people whom he brought forth of Aegypt speaketh of one sorte of cubites do likewise iudge that he meaneth ordinarie knowne cubites which containe a foote a halfe euerie cubite as Vitruuius Agricola and others do proue or a foote and three quarters of a foote which is the greatest cubite that semeth to be mentioned in holie Scripture called a mans cubite or cubite of a mans hand And so the Arke was atleast in length 450. foote in breadth 75. in height 45. or at most in length 525. foote in breadth 87. and a halfe in height 52. and a halfe And either of these capacities was sufficient to receiue al the thinges here mentioned considering the loftes partions that were in the whole arke CHAP. VII Noe vvith his familie and paires of al kindes of beastes and foules being entred into the arke 12. it raineth fourtie daies and fourtie nights 21. Al men and other liuing creatures on the earth without the arke are destroyed AND our Lord said to him Get thee in thou and al thy house into the arke for I haue sene thee iust in my sight in this generation † Of al beasts that are cleane thou shalt take seauen and seauen male female † but of the beasts that are vncleane two and two male female Yea and of the foules also of the ayre seauen ●eauen male and female that seede may be saued vpon the face of the whole earth † For yet a while and after seauen dayes I wil rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights and I wil cleane destroy al substance that I haue made from the face of the earth † Noe therfore did al thinges which our Lord had commanded him † And he was six hundred yeares old when the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth † And Noe entred and his sonnes his wife and the wiues of of his sonnes with him into the arke because of the waters of the floud † Of beasts also the cleane and the vncleane of foules and of al that moueth vpon the earth † two two went to Noe into the arke male and female as our Lord had commanded Noe. † And after the seauen dayes were passed the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth † In the six hundred yeare of the life of Noe in the second moneth in the seauententh day of the moneth al the fountaines of the greate deapth were broken vp and the floud gates of heauen were opened † and the raine fel vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights † In the verie point of that day entred Noe and Sem and Cham Iapheth his sonnes and his wife and the three wiues of his sonnes with them into the arke † they and euerie beast according to their kind and al cattle in their kinde and al that moueth vpon the earth according to their kind and al foule according to their kind al birds and al that fly † went to Noe into the arke two and two of al flesh wherin there was breath of life † And such as entred in male and female of al flesh did enter in as God had commanded him and our Lord shut him in on the out side † And the floud gr●w fourtie daies vpon the earth and the waters increased and lifted vp the arke on high from the earth † For they ouerflowed excedingly and filled al on the face of the earth moreouer the arke fleeted vpon the waters † And the waters preuailed out of measure vpon the earth and al the hiegh mountaines vnder the whole heauen were couered † Fiftene cubites higher was the water aboue the mountaines which it couered † And al flesh was consumed that moued vpon the earth of foule of cattle of beasts and of al creepers that creepe vpon the earth al men † and al things wherin there is breath of life on the earth died † And he cleane destroied al substance that was vpon the earth from man euen to beast as wel it that creepeth as the foules of the ayre and they were destroied from of the earth but onlie Noe remained and they that were with him in the arke † And the waters held on aboue the earth an hundred fiftie dayes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII 16. Shut him in God who
for an assay only and ●aist of euerlasting life which is more expresly promised in the Gospel of Christ as S. Hierom teacheth Epist ad Da●danum CHAP. II. A child of the Hebrewes and Tribe of Leui being exposed to the water 5. is taken from thence by Pharaos daughter 8. who committeth him to be nursed vnwitting to his owne mother adopteth him and calleth him Moyses II. He afterwardes visiting his brethre● killeth an Aegyptian 15. flieth into Mad●an 21. marrieth a wise and hath two sonnes AFTER th●se thinges there came forth a man of the house of Leui and he tooke a wife of his owne stocke † Who conceaued and ●are a sonne and seing him a goodlie one ●id him three monethes † And “ when now she could not conceale him she tooke a basket made of b●●●ishes and dawbed it with * bitume and pitch and put wi●h in it the lit●e infant and laid him in a sedgie place by the riuers brinke † his sister standing a farre of and considering the euent of the thing † And behold the daughter of Pharao came downe to ●he was 〈◊〉 in the riuer and her maides walked by the riuers brinke Who when she saw the basket in the sedges● she sent one of her handmaides and when it was brought † opening it and seeing within it an infant crying hauing pitty on it said This is one of the infantes of the Hebrewes † To whom the childes sister said Wilt thou that I goe ca●●ro thee an Hebrew woman that may nurse the litle infant † She answered Goe The maid went and called her mother † To whom Pharaos daughter speaking Take quoth 〈◊〉 this child and nu●●● him for me I wil geue thee thy hyre The woman tooke and nursed the child and when he was growen deliuered him to Pharaos daughter † Whom she adopted into the place of a sonne and called him Moyses saying Because from the water I did take him † In those dayes after that Moyses was growen he went forth to his brethren and he saw their affliction and a man that was an Aegyptian striking one of the Hebrewes his brethren † And when he had looked about hither thither and saw no man present he stroke the Aegyptian and hid him in the sand † And going forth an other day he saw two Hebrewes brawling and he said to him that did the wrong Why strikest thou thy neighbour † Who answered Who hath appointed thee prince iudge ouer vs Wilt thou kil me as yesterday thou didest the Aegyptian Moyses feared and said How is this thing come abroad † And Pharao heard of this talke and sought to kil Moyses who fleeing from his sight abode in the Land of Madian and sate beside a wel † And the priest of Madian had seuen daughters which were come to draw water and when the troughes were filled they desired to water their fathers flockes † The shepeheardes came vpon them and droue them away and Moyses arose and defending the maides watered their sheepe † Who being returned to Raguel their father he said to them Why are you come sooner then you were woont † They answered A certaine man an Aegyptian deliuered vs from the hand of the shepheardes moreouer also he drew water with vs and gaue the sheepe to drinke † But he said Where is he Why haue you let the man goe cal him that he may eate bread † Therfore Moyses sware that he would dwel with him And he tooke Sephora his daughter to wife † who bare him a sonne whom he called Gersam saying I haue bene a stranger in a forren countrey And she bare an other whom he called Eliezer saying for the God of my father my helper hath deliuered me out of the hand of Pharao † But after much time the king of Aegypt died and the children of Israel groning cried out because of the workes and their crie ascended vnto God from the workes † And he heard their groning remembred the couenant which he made with Abraham Isaac and Iacob † And our Lord looked vpon the children of Israel and knew them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 3. VVh●n she could not conceal him These godlie and prudent parents considering that when the Aegyptians should perceiue such an infant to be borne and not drowned according to the Kings Edict they would destroy both the child and whole familie to auoid the greater danger chose the lesse To bring him to the water side not omitting their owne industrie as wel by closing him in a basket that would draw no water as by setting his sister to watch what became of him that if better successe happened not the first day the mother might at euening geue him suck and minister other necessaries and so expect an other day or manie dayes Gods prouidence til his diuine pleasure should more appeare Iosephus writeth that Amram Moyses father being solicitous when his wife was great how to saue the infant if it were a man child God reueled to him that she had conceiued a sonne who should not only be saued from Pharaos furie but also be the deliuerer of the whole Hebrew nation from thraldome and seruitude of the Aegyptians VVherupon they assuredly trusted that God would protect and prosper him yet so if they did their owne endeuour which S. Augustin teacheth to be alwayes necessarie 12. He stroke the Aegyptian Moyses not of carnal loue towards his brethren nor of priuate passion but by diuine inspiration killed the Aegyptian as S. Augustin proueth li. qq in Exod. q. 2. by the testimonie of S. Steuen saying Moyses thought his brethren had vnderstood that God by his hand vvould saue them VVherby appeareth that Moyses himselfe knew it was Gods pleasure he should kil that Aegyptian inuading an Hebrew Yet others may not imitate such particular examples Catech. Rom. p. 3. c. 6. q. 5. CHAP. III. God appeareth to Moyses in a bush burning but not consuming 7. designeth him the Gouernour of the children of Israel 10. with commission to tel them that they shal be deliuered from Aegypt 21. and shal spoile the Aegyptians AND Moyses fed the sheepe of Iethro his father in law the priest of Madian and hauing driuen the flock to the inner partes of the desert he came to the mountaine of God Horeb. † And our Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middes of a bush and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt † Moyses therfore said I wil goe and see this great vision why the bush is not burnt † And our Lord seeing that he went forward to see he called him out of the middes of the bush and said Moyses Moyses Who answered Here I am † But he said Approch not hither loose of thy shoe from thy feet for the place wherin thou standest is holie ground † And he said I am the God of thy father the God of Abraham the God of
de Caena Dom. saieth In the supper of sacramental banquets old and new Institutions met together The lambe being consumed which old tradition proposed the Master setteth inconsumptible meate to his disciples S. Gregorie Nazianzen Orat 2. de Pascha saieth God commanded the Paschal Lambe should be eaten in the euening because Christ in the euening gaue the Sac●ment of his owne bodie to his disciples S. Hierom in 26 Mat. After that the figuratiue Pasch was complete and Christ had eaten the flesh of the lambe with his Apostles he taketh bread vvhich confirmeth the hart of man and pasieth ouer to the tru● Sacrament of Pasch Likewise S. Chrisostom Ho. de prodit Iudae saieth In the same table both the Pasches of the figure and of the veritie were celebrated S. Ambrose in Lucae 1. expresly applieth this figuratiue lambe to the Eucharist as it is celebrated in the Church by him self and other Priesis saying VVhen we sacrifice Christ is present Christ is sacrified for Christ our P●●●● is ●●molated The like affirmeth S. Augustin li. 2. cont lit Pet il c. 27. It is an other Pasch that the Iewes celebrated of a shepe an other which we receiue in the bodie and blould of ou● Lord. S. Leo ser 7. de Pass To the end shadowes might geue place to the bodie and figures might cease in presence of the veritie the old obseruation is taken away by the new Sacrament hoste passeth into hosie bloud excludeth bloud and when the legal festiuitie is changed it is fulfilled S Gregorie ●o 22 in Euang proueth by these wordes You shal not eate therof anie thing ravv that besides the letter there is a spiritual sense Behold saith he the verie wordes of the historie driue vs from the historical vnderstanding For did the Israelitical people in Aegypt vse to eate a lambe raw that the law should nede to say you shal not eate it ravv And so in that homilie this great Doctor explicateth how we ought to celebrate and receiue the Sacrament of the Eucharist by the figure of this Paschal lambe This bloud saith he is sprinkled on both post●es when the Sacrament of his Passion is receiued vvith mouth to redemption and mediated with intentiue mind to imitation and in the transome ouer the dore when pure intention directeth the exterior act also when we carie the Crosse of his passion in our forhead The flesh of the lambe is eaten at night because we now receiue our Lords bodie in the Sacrament when yet we see not ech others consciences rosted at the fire when we ioyne to our beleefe good vvorkes of feruent charitie with vnleauened bread and vvith lettice that is in sinceritie vvithout corruption of vaineglorie and with bitter penance for sinnes not ravv nor sodde in vvater to wit neither esteeming Christ a mere man nor considering of him with humane vvisdome or priuate spirite of heretikes called stollen vvater prou 9. To deuoure the head vvith the feete and entra●s is by faith to beleue the Diuinitie of Christ and to imitate by loue the steppes of his humanitie and greedely to learne al Christian mysteries Nothing is left til morning when we endeuoure in this life before the resurrection to know euerie point of christian doctrin so farre as to ●s perteineth But if anie thing be left it must be burned in the fire because those hard and hieghest mysteries which we can not vnderstand we must remitte to the Holie Ghost lest anie proudly presume either to contemne or to proclaime that he vnderstandeth not He further describeth also what maner of persons are to eate this new Pasch Their loines must be gyrded that is al carnal pleasures tamed They must haue shoes on their feete by the good examples of former Sainctes dead before must strengthen their fle●pes to flie from vice and follow vertue holding staues in their handes to rule stay themselues and others from sliding by the staffe of authoritie They must eate the Pasch speedely that is without delay or procrastination must learne the mysteries of mans redemption and heauenlie life and so performe Gods wil and precepts in this life vvith speede To this effect S. Gregorie discourseth at large in the moral sense which we haue abridge and otherwise though holie Scripture be ful herof seldome touch Returning therfore to our particular purpose in al these testimonies we specially vrge that the paschal lambe was a figure not only of Christs Passion but also of the Eucharist VVhereupon besides the often expresse mention of our B. Sauiours bodie and bloud in the same which Protestants would wrest as they do also the same termes in holie Scripture to figuratiue sense it necessarily followeth that there be farre more excellent contents in the Sacrament of the Eucharist then natural bread and wine For S. Paule teacheth Colloss 2. that as the bodie excelleth the shadovv so the veritie or thing figured excelleth the figure VVheras the substance of bread and wine doth not excel much lesse so farre excel the Paschal Lambe as by S. Pauls doctrine is required Againe seing the Paschal lambe was a Sacrifice as appeareth in this Chap. v. 6 27 also Num. 9. v. 7. 13. and Mar. 14. v. 12 and as it was immolated was a figure of the Eucharist as before appeareth by conference of the one with the other in respect of the time place maner of offering and eating it and by testimonie of the Doctors aboue cited it followeth also that the Holie Euchaiust is a Sacrifice farre excelling the figure CHAP. XIII God commandeth to remember their deliuerie from Aegypt by the solemnitie of Pasch 2. and by consecrating to him the first-borne 17. And so leadeth them through the desert towards the red sea Moyses taking with him Iosephs bones by a piller of fire in the night and a cloud in the day AND our Lord spake to Moyses saing † Sanctifie vnto me euerie first borne that openeth the matrice in the children of Israel as wel of men as of beastes for they are al mine † And Moyses said to the people Remember this day in the which you went forth out of Aegypt and out of the house of seruitude because with a strong hand hath our Lord brought you forth out of this place that you eate not leauened bread † This day you goe forth in the moneth of new corne † And when our Lord shal haue brought thee into the Land of Chananeite and Hetheite and Amorrheite and Heueite and Iebuseite which he sware to thy fathers that he would geue thee a land that floweth with milke and honie thou shalt celebrate this maner of sacred rites in this moneth † Seuen daies shalt thou eate azimes and in the seuenth day shal be the solemnitie of our Lord. † Azimes shal you eate seuen dayes there shal not be seene anie leauened thing with thee nor in al thy coastes † And thou shalt tel thy sonne in that
is the Sabbath of our Lord therfore it shal not be found † And the seuenth day came and some of the people going forth to gather found not † And our Lord said to Moyses How long wil you not keepe my commandementes and my law † See that our Lord hath geuen you a Sabbath and for this cause on the sixt day he geueth you duble portions let each man tarie with himselfe and let none goe forth out of his place the seuenth day † And the people kept the Sabbath on the seuenth day † And the house of Israel called the name therof Manna which was as it were coriander seede white and the taist therof like to flowre with honie † And Moyses sayd This is the word which our Lord hath commanded Fil a gomor of it and let it be kept vnto the generations to come hereafter that they may know the bread wherwith I fed you in the wildernes when you were brought forth out of the Land of Aehypt † And Moyses sayd to Aaron Take one vessel and put Manna into it so much as a gomor can hold and lay it vp before our Lord to keepe vnto your generations † as our Lord commanded Moyses And Aaron put it in the tabernacle to be reserued † And the children of Israel did ●a●e Manna fourtie yeares til they came into the habitable land with this meate were they fed vntil they touched the borders of the land of Chanaan † And a gomor is the tenth part of an ephi ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 15. Man hu vvhat is this VVhen the people of Israel in the desert had spent their prouision of meate brought from Aegypt and according to Gods promise had receiued store of quailes going forth in the morning they sawe a strange thing lye vpon the ground like to hoare frost wherat merueling they said one to an other VVhat is this in their language Man hu VVherupon saith Theodoret q. 30. in Exod their demand vvas turned into the name and it vvas called Manna VVhich as the same and other ancient Doctors gather by the holie Scriptures was a wonderful and miraculous meate and withal a figure of a more excellent thing long after promised and geuen by our B. Sauiour in the holie Sacrament of the Eucharist As witnesse S. Gregorie Nys●en ●nar vit● Moysi ●ir●a m●dium S. Ambrose li. de ijs qui Myst. in●●●ant cap. 8. S. Cyril Alexandrinus S Chry●ostom S. Augustin Theophilact and others vpon the sixt of S. Iohn VVhere also the text of our Sauiours long discourse with the Capharnaites sheweth euidently that he promised to geue a farre better meate then Manna to those that beleued in him Iam saieth our Lord the bread of life vvhich desended from heauen your fathers did eate Manna in the desert and died The bread vvhich I vvil geue is my flesh for the life of the vvorld My flesh 〈◊〉 meate in deede and my bloud is drinck● indeede c. S. Paul likewise teacheth 1. Cor 10 that this Manna and the vvater issuing out of the rocke were figures of the same B Sacrament as is noted in those places Here only we commend to the Christian readers remēbrance that the thing figured doth euer excede the figure according to S Pauls doctrin Collos 2. wishing him therfore to consider that in Manna were at least twelue clere miracles Fir●● it was made by Angels wherof it is called the bread of Angels Secondly it was not produced from the earth nor water as ordinarie meates are but came from the ayre Thirdly how fast or slowly soeuer anie man did gather it in the end ech one had the same measure ful called a gomor and no more nor lesse Fourthly the sixth day which was next before the Sabbath that which they gathered was found to be duble portions to other dayes that is two gomors for euerie one Fiftly there fel none at al on the Sabbath day Sixtly if in the rest of the weke anie part was left al night it putrified and was corrupt in the morning but the night before the Sabbath day it remained sound and good Seuently notwithstanding diuersitie of stomakes in so great a multitude the same measure was sufficient and no more to euerie one young and old and of middle age Eightly the heate of the sunne melted and consumed that which remained in the field though otherwise it indu●ed heate of the fire seething in water grinding in milles and beating in motters Ninthly it tasted to euerie one what they desired Tenthly it seemed neuerthelesse to the euil minded loathsome and light meate but pleasant to the good Eleuently part of it was kept in the Arke by Gods commandment and was not corrupted in manie hundreth peares Twelftly this strange and extraordinarie prouision continued fourtie yeares that is til the children of Israel came to the promised land and then ceased You see then so miraculous a figure farre excelled Zuinglius or Caluins communion bread which containeth no miracle at al only signifying Christs bodie But as our Sauiours owne wordes importe and ancient fathers teach vs by Manna was prefigured Christs verie bodie and bloud with his soule and Diuinitie vnder the forme of bread For this indeede infinitly excelleth Manna containing al the foresaid or rather much more eminent miracles For first it was consecrated by the maruelous power of Christs word and euer since the same is done by the like power communicated to Priests 2 in his Church militant 3 one and the verie same and not manie in innumerable places and in euerie les●e or greater forme yea in the least particle of the accidents that may be Christ is whole and entire 4 It geueth abundance of grace in this life signified by the day before the Sabbath for the glorie of the next li●e in eternal ●est 5 where is no more vse of Sacraments but euerlasting fruition of glorie 6 VVhoso euer therfore would make temporal commoditie of this heauenlie foode as it were reseruing Manna for other dayes of the weke it perisheth to him and turneth to his ignominie but being reserued in the faithful soule for the life to come which is the true Sabbath it remaineth an heauenlie treasure 7 And so it auaileth to euerie one as their soule which is the spiritual stomake of supernatural meate is lesse or more disposed 8 Though heate of persecution and other aduerse power take away this Sacrament and Sacrifice abrode in the field of this world yet no power extinguisheth it within the Church where it is in due maner prepared and ministred to the children of God 9 where it yeldeth al comfort strength and contentment to good spiritual desires 10 but to the incredulous Capharnaitessemeth vnpossible and to carnal conceipts loathsome 11 Being worthely receiued into our mortal bodies our arke or temporal tabernacle it remaineth in incorruptible effect wherby the bodie
sonnes of Ioseph by their families The sonnes of Beniamin in their kinredes Bela of whom is the familie of the Belaites Asbel of whom is the familie of the Asbelites Ahiram of whom is the familie of the Ahiramites † Supham of whom is the familie of the Suphamites Hupham of whom is the familie of the Huphamites † The sonnes of Bela Hered and Noeman Of Hered the familie of the Heredites of Noeman the familie of the Noemanites † These are the sonnes of Beniamin by their kinredes whose number was fourtie fiue thousand six hundred † The sonnes of Dan by their kinredes Suham of whom is the familie of the Suhamites these are the kinredes of Dan by their families † al were Suhamites whose number was sixtie foure thousand foure hundred † The sonnes of Aser by their kinredes Iemna of whom is the familie of the Iemnaites Iessui of whom is the familie of the Iessuites Brie of whom is the familie of the Brieites † The sonnes of Brie Heber of whom is the familie of the Heberites and Melchiel of whom is the familie of the Melchielites † And the name of the daughter of Aser was Sara † these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Aser and their number fiftie three thousand foure hundred † The sonnes of Nephthali by their kinredes Iesiel of whom is the familie of the Iesielites Guni of whom is the familie of the Gunites † Ieser of whom is the familie of the Ieserites Sellem of whom is the familie of the Sellemites † these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Nephthali by their families whose number was fourtie fiue thousand foure hundred † This is the summe of the children of Israel that were reckened six hundred thousand and a thousand seuen hundred thirtie † And our Lord spake to Moyses saying † To these shal the land be diuided according to the number of names for their possessions † To the greater number thou shalt geue a greater portion and to the fewer a lesse to euerie one as they haue now beene reckened shal possession be deliuered † yet so that lotte doe diuide the Land to the tribes and the families † Whatsoeuer shal chance by lotte that let either the more take or the fewer † This also is the number of the sonnes of Leui by their families Gerson of whom the familie of the Gersonites Caath of whom the familie of the Caathites Merari of whom the familie of the Merarites † these are the families of Leui The familie of Lobni the familie of Hebroni the familie of Moholi the familie of Musi the familie of Core Howbeit Caath begatte Amram † who had to wife Iochabed the daughter of Leui who was borne to him in Aegypt She bare to Amram her husband sonnes Aaron and Moyses and Marie their sister † Of Aaron were borne Nadab and Abiu and Eleazar and Ithamar † of the which Nadab and Abiu died when they had offered the strange fyre before our Lord. † And al that were numbred were twentie three thousand of the male kind from one moneth and vpward who were not reckened among the children of Israel neither was their possession geuen with the rest † This is the number of the children of Israel that were enrolled by Moyses and Eleazar the priest in the champion countrie of Moab vpon Iordan against Iericho † Among whom there was none of them that were numbered before by Moyses and Aaron in the desert of Sinai † For our Lord had foretold that al should die in the wildernesse And none remained of them but Caleb the sonne of Iephone and Iosue the sonne of Nun. CHAP. XXVII Salphaads daughters succede to their fathers inheritance 8. And the law is established that for lack of sonnes daughters shal inherite and for lack also of daughters the next of kinne 12. God commandeth Moyses to ascend into Mount Abarim and thence view the promised Land but fortelleth him that he shal die and not goe into it 15. He then prayeth God to prouide an other to lead the people 18 and Iosue is designed in presence of Eleazar and the people AND there came the daughters of Salphaad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Galaad rhe sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasses who was the sonne of Ioseph whose names are Malaa and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa † And they stood before Moyses and Eleazar the priest and al the princes of the people at the doore of the tabernacle of couenant and said † Our father died in the desert neither was he in the sedition that was raised against our Lord vnder Core but he died in his owne sinne he had no men children Why is his name taken away out of his familie because he hath not a sonne Geue vs possession among the kinne of our father † And Moyses referred their cause to the iudgement of our Lord. † Who said to him † The Daughters of Salphaad require a iust thing geue them possession among their fathers kinne and let them succede him in the inheritance † And to the children of Israel thou shalt speake these thinges † When a man dieth without a sonne his inheritance shal passe to his daughter † If he haue no daughter he shal haue his brethren his successours † And if he haue no brethren neither you shal geue the inheritance to his fathers brethren † but if he haue no such vncles by the father neither the inheritance shal be geuen to them thar are the next of kinne and this shal be to the children of Israel a holie ordinance by a perpetual law as the Lord hath commanded Moyses † Our Lord also said to Moyses Goe vp into this mountaine Abarim and view from thence the Land which I wil geue to the children of Israel † and when thou shalt haue seene it thou also shalt goe to thy people as thy brothet Aaron is gone † because you did offend me in the desert Sin in the contradiction of the multitude neither would you sanctifie me before them vpon the waters these are the waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert Sin † To whom Moyses answered † Our Lord the God of the spirites of al flesh prouide a man that may be ouer this multitude † and may goe out and enter in before them and bring them out or bring them in lest the people of our Lord be as sheepe without a pastor † And our Lord said to him Take Iosue the sonne of Nun a man in whom is the Spirit and put thy hand vpon him † Who shal stand before Eleazar the priest and al the multitude † and thou shalt geue him preceptes in the sight of al and part of thy glorie that al the synagogue of the children of Israel may heare him † For him if anie thing be to be done Eleazar the priest shal consult the Lord. At his word shal he goe out and shal goe in and al the children of Israel with him and the rest of the
First the passage of the Israelites ouer Iordan In the five first chapters Secondly their conquest of the promised Land In the seuen chapters folowing Thirdly the partition of the same Land amongst nine Tribes and a half from the. 13. chap. to the 22. Fourthly In the three last chapters the returne of the other two Tribes and a half to their possessions on the east side of Iordan with Iosues last admonition to them al to serue God sincerly and his and Eleazars death THE BOOKE OF IOSVE IN HEBREW IEHOSVA CHAP. I. Iosue encoreged by our Lord 10. admonisheth the people to prepare themselues to passe ouer Iordan 12. and al the able men of the tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses to march armed before the rest 16. Al promise to doe whatsoeuer he commandeth AND it came to passe after the death of Moyses the seruant of our Lord that our Lord spake to Iosue the sonne of Nun the minister of Moyses and said to him † Moyses my seruant is deade arise and passe ouer this Iordan thou and al the people with thee into the Land which I wil geue to the children of Israel † Euerie place the steppe of your foote shal treade wil I deliuer to you as I haue spoken to Moyses † From the desert and Libanus vnto the great riuer Euphrates al the land of the Hetheites vnto the great sea against the going downe of the sunne shal be your border † No man shal be able to resist you al the daies of thy life as I haue beene with Moyses so wil I be with thee I wil not leaue nor forsake thee † Take courage and be strong for thou shalt by lotte diuide to this people the Land for the which I sware to their fathers that I would deliuer it to them † Take courage therfore and be very strong that thou keepe and doe al the Law which Moyses my seruant hath commanded thee decline not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest vnderstand al thinges which thou doest † Let not the volume of this law depart from thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it daies and nightes that thou maiest keepe and doe al thinges that be written in it then shalt thou direct thy way and vnderstand it † Behold I command thee take courage and be strong Feare not and dreade not because the Lord thy God is with thee in al the thinges to whatsoeuer thou shalt goe † And Iosue commanded the princes of the people saying Passe through the middes of the campe and command the people and say † Prepare for your selues victuals for after the third day you shal passe ouer Iordan and shal enter to possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue you † To the Rubenites also and Gaddites and halfe tribe of Manasses he said † Remember the word which Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded you saying Our Lord your God hath geuen you rest and al this Land † Your wiues and children and cattel shal tarie in the Land which Moyses deliuered to you beyond Iordan but passe you ouer armed before your brethren al that are strong of hand fight for them † vntil our Lord geue rest to your brethren as to you also he hath geuen and they also possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue them and so returne into the Land of your possession and you shal dwel in it which Moyses the seruant of our Lord gaue you beyond Iordan against the rysing of the sunne † And they made answer to Iosue and said Al thinges that thou hast commanded vs we wil doe and whither soeuer thou shalt send vs we wil goe † As we obeyed Moyses in al thinges so wil we obey thee also only be our Lord thy God with thee as he was with Moyses † He that shal gainesay thy mouth and not obey al thy wordes that thou shalt command him let him die thou only take courage and doe manfully CHAP. II. Two discoueres sent into Hiericho are hid and concealed by Rahab 8. and vpon promise of like safetie to her whole samilie 21. she helpeth them secretly away THERFORE Iosue the sonne of Nun sent from Setim two men to spie in secrete and said to them Goe and view the Land and the citie of Iericho Who going entred into the house of a woman a harlot named Rahab and rested with her † And it was told the king of Iericho and said Behold there are men come in hither by night of the children of Israel to spie the Land † And the king of Iericho sent to Rahab saying Bring forth the men that came to thee and are entred into thy house for they be spies and are come to view al the Land † And the woman taking the men hid them and said I confesse they came to me but I knew not whence they were † and when the gate was a shutting in the darke and they withal went out I know not whither they be gone pursew quickly and you shal ouertake them † But she made the men to goe vp into the roofe of her house and couered them with the stalke of flaxe which was there † And they that were sent folowed them the way that leadeth to the ford of Iordan and they being gone out the gate for with was shutte † Neither were they yet a sleepe that lay hidde and behold the woman went vp to them and said † I know that the Lord hath geuen this Land to you for your terrour is fallen vpon vs and al the inhabitantes of the Land are become fainte † We haue heard that the Lord dried vp the water of the Redsea at your entring when you came out of Aegypt and what thinges you did to the two kinges of the Amorrheites that were beyond Iordan Sehon and Og whom you slew † And hearing these thinges we greatly feared and our hart fainted neither did there remaine spirite in vs at your entring in for the Lord your God he is God in heauen aboue in the earth beneth † Now therfore sweare to me by the Lord that as I haue done mercie with you so you also doe with my fathers house and you geue me a true signe † that you saue my father and mother my brethren and sisters and al thinges that he theirs and deliuer our soules from death † Who answered her Be our liues for you vnto death only if thou betray vs not And when our Lord shal haue deliuered vs the land we wil doe in thee mercie and truth † She therfore did let them downe by a corde out of a window for her house ioyned fast to the wall † And she said to them Goe vp to the mountaines lest perhaps they meete you returning and there lie hid three daies til they returne and so you shal goe on your way † Who said to her We shal be quitte from this oath wherwith thou hast sworne vs † if
couragious men † Galaad rested beyond Iordan and Dan gaue him self to shippes Aser dwelt in the sea shore and abode in hauens † But Zabulon and Nepthali offered their liues to death in their countrie of Merome † The kinges came and fought the kinges of Chanaan fought in Thanac besides the waters of Mageddo and yet going a praying they tooke nothing † From heauen they fought against them the starres remayning in their order and course fought against Sisara † The torrent of Cison drew their carcasses the torrent of Cadumim the torrent of Cison my soule tread downe the strong ones † The hoofes of the horses fel of the strongest of the enemies fleeing violently and falling downe headlong † Curse ye the land of Meroz said the Angel of our Lord Curse the inhabitantes therof because they came not to help our Lord to aide his most mightie ones † Blessed among wemen be Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite and blessed be she in her tabernacle † To him that asked water she gaue milke and in the phial of princes she offered butter † Her left hand she put to the maile and her right hand to the smithes hammer and stroke Sisara seeking in his head a place for the wound and piercing valiantly through his temple † Betwen her feete he fel he failed and died he was rowled before her feete and he lay without life and miserable † Looking through a window his mother howled she spake out of a higher chamber Why lingereth his chariote to come backe Wherfore are the feete of his waggans slow † One wiser then the rest of his wiues answered these wordes to her mother in law † Peraduenture now he diuideth the spoyles and the fayrest of the wemen is chosen for him garmentes of sundrie colours are deliuered to Sisara for a praye and diuerse furniture is laid together to adorne the neckes † So perish al thine enemies O Lord but they that loue thee as the Sunne shineth in his rysing so let them glitter † And the Land rested for fourtie yeares CHAP. CHAP. VI. The people falling againe to sinne are oppressed by the Madianites 12. An Angel appearing to Gedeon sendeth him to deliuer Israel 17. confirming his mission by miracle 25. So he first destroyeth Baals altar 34. then gathereth an armie against Idolaters 36. and is assured againe of Gods protection by two miracles in a fleec● of woolle AND the children of Israel did euil in the sight of our Lord who deliuered them into the hand of Madian seuen yeares † they were sore oppressed of them And they made them selues dennes and caues in the mountaines and very wel fensed places to resist † And when Israel had sowen Madian came vp and Amalec and the rest of the East nations † and pitching their tentes by them wasted al thinges as they were in the blade vnto the entring of Gaza and they left nothing at al in Israel that perteyned to mans life not sheepe not oxen not asses † For they and al their flockes came with their tabernacles and like vnto locustes filled al places an inumerable multitude of men and of camels wasting whatsoeuer they touched † And Israel was sore humbled in the sight of Madian † And he cried to our Lord desiring helpe against the Madianites † who sent vnto them a man that was a prophet and he spake Thus sayeth our Lord the God of Israel I made you to come vp out of Aegypt and brought you out of the house of seruitude † and deliuered you out of the handes of the Aegyptians and of al the enemies that afflicted you and I cast them out at your entring and deliuered you their Land † And I said I the Lord your God feare not the goddes of the Amorrheites in whose land you dwel And you would not heare my voice † And an Angel of our lord came and sate vnder an oke that was in Ephra and perteyned to Ioas the father of the familie of Ezri And when Gedeon his sonne did thresh and purge wheate in a winepresse to flee Madian † the Angel of our Lord appeared to him and said Our Lord be with thee ô most valiant of men † And Gedeon said to him I besech thee my Lord if our Lord be with vs why hane these euils apprehended vs where are his meruelous workes which our fathers haue told vs and said Out of Aegypt did our Lord bring vs but now our Lord hath forsaken vs and deliuered vs into the hande of Madian † And our Lord looked to ward him and said Goe in this thy strength and thou shalt deliuer Israel out of the hand of Madian know that I haue sent thee † Who answering said I besech thee my Lord wherein shal I deliuer Israel behold my familie is the meanest in Manasses and I the least in my fathers house † And our Lord said to him I wil be with thee and thou shalt strike Madian as it were one man † And he said If I haue found quoth he grace before thee geue me a signe that it is thou which speakest to me † Neither depart thou hence til I returne to thee bringing a sacrifice and offering to thee Who answered I wil tarie thy coming † Gedeon therfore went in and boyled a kidde and of a bushel of flowre baked vnleuened loaues and putting the flesh in a basket and the broth of the flesh into a potte he caried al vnder the oke and offered to him † To whom the Angel of our Lord said Take the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and put them vpon that rocke and powre out the broth theron And when he had done † the Angel of our Lord stretched forth the tippe of the rodde which he held in his hand and touched the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and there arose a fyre from the rocke and consumed the flesh and the leuened loaues and the Angel of our Lord vanished from his eies † And Gedeon seeing that it was the Angel of our Lord said Alas my Lord God that I haue seene the Angel our Lord face to face † And our Lord said to him Peace be with thee feare not thou shalt not die † And Gedeon built there an altar to our Lord and called it our Lords peace vntil this present day And when he was yet in Ephra which is of the familie of Ezri † that night our Lord said to him Take a bullocke of thy fathers and an other bullocke of seuen yeares and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which is thy fathers and cut downe the groue that is about the altar † and thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God in the toppe of this rocke whereupon thou didst lay the sacrifice before and thou shalt take the second bullocke and shalt offer an holocauste vpon a pile of the wood which thou shalt ●nt downe out of the groue † Gedeon therfore taking to him ten men of his seruantes did
immediately told her countrie men † And they told it him the seuenth day before the going downe of the sunne What is sweeter then honie and what stronger then a lyon Who said to them If you had not ploughed with my hayfer you had not found out my proposition † The Spirit therfore of our Lord came vpon him and he went downe to Ascalon and stroke there thirtie men whose garmentes being taken away he gaue to them that had solued the probleme And being exceding wrath he went vp into his fathers house † but his wife tooke a husband one of his friendes and bridal companions CHAP. XV. Samson tying firebrandes to foxes tayles burneth the Philisthi●m● corne 6. they burne his wife and her father 8. he beateth them and hideth him selfe 10. His owne countrimen to get peace with the Philisthimes take and bind him so meaning to deliuer him 14. but he breaketh the cordes and with the iaw bone of an asse killeth a thousand of his enemies 18. Being exceding drie is refreshed with water from the tooth of the same iaw AND after a certaine time when the dayes of wheate haruest were at hand Samson came meaning to visite his wife and he brought her a kidde of goates And when he would enter into her chamber as he was wont her father prohibited him saying † I thought that thou hadst hated her and therfore I deliuered her to thy friend but she hath a sister which is yonger fayrer then she let this be thy wife in steade of her † To whom Samson answered From this day there shal be no fault in me against the Philisthimes for I wil doe you euils † And he went caught three hundred foxes and he coupled them tayle to tayle and tyed fyrebrandes in the middes † which kindling with fyre he let them goe that they might runne abroade hither and thither Who immediately went on into the corne of the Philisthimes which being sette on fire both the corne now caried together and that which yet stoode in the stalke was alburnt in so much that the flame consumed the vineyardes also and the oliuetes † And the Philisthijmes said Who hath done this thing To whom it was said Samson the sonne in law of the Thamnathate because he tooke his wife and gaue her to an other he hath wrought these thinges And the Philisthims went vp and burnt both the woman and her father † To whom Samson said Although you haue done these thinges notwithstanding yet wil I require reuenge of you and then I wil rest † And he stroke them with a great plague so that astonied they laid the calfe of the leg vpon the thigh And going downe he dwelt in the caue of the rocke Etam † Therfore the Philisthijms going vp into the Land of Iuda camped in the place which afterward was called Lechi that is the iaw bone where their armie was spred abrode † And they of the tribe of Iuda said to them Why are you come vp against vs Who answered That we may bind Samson we are come and may repay him the thinges that he hath wrought against vs. † There went downe therfore three thousand men of Iuda to the caue of the flint Etam and said to Samson knowest not thou that the Philisthijms reigne ouer vs Why wouldest thou doe this thing To whom he said As they did to me so haue I done to them † To bind thee quoth they we are come and to deliuer thee into the handes of the Philisthijms To whom Samson Sweare quoth he promise me that you kil me not † They said We wil not kil thee but wil deliuer the bound And they bound him with two new cordes and tooke him from the rocke Etam † Who when he was come to the place of the Iawe-bone and the Philisthijms shouting were come against him the Spirit of our Lord fel vpon him and as flax is wont to be consumed at the sauour of fyre so the bandes wherwith he was bound were dissipated and loosed † And finding a iawe bone to witte the iawe bone of an asse which lay there catching it he slewe therwith a thousand men † and said In the iawe bone of an asse in the iawe of the colt of she asses haue I destroyed them and haue strooke a thousand men † And when he had ended these wordes singing he threw the iaw bone out of his hand and called the name of that place Ramathlochi which is interpreted the lifting vp of the iaw bone † And being very thirstie he cried to our Lord and said Thou hast geuen in the hand of thy seruant this very great saluation and victorie and behold I die for thirst and shal fal into the handes of the vncircumcised † Our Lord therfore opened a great tooth in the iawe of the asse there issued out of it waters which being drunke he refreshed his spirit and receiued strength againe Therfore the name of that place was called The fountaine of him that inuocated from the iawbone vntil this present day † And he iudged Israel in the daies of the Philisthijms twentie yeares CHAP. XVI Samson enuironed in a citie taketh away the gates and carieth them on his shoulders into a mountaine 4. Is at last deceiued by Dalila 21. his eyes put out and scornfully abused 26. But finally God restoring his strength he striking two pillers the house falleth and with himself killeth three thousand Philisthiims HE went also into Gaza and saw there a woman that was an harlot and went in vnto her † Which when the Philisthiims had heard and it was bruted among them that Samson was entered into the citie they compassed him keepers being sette in the gate of the citie and there al the night wayting with silence that in the morning they might kil him going out † But Samson slept vntil midnight and then arising he tooke both the leaues of the gate with their postes and locke and laying them on his shoulders caried them to the toppe of the mountaine which looketh toward Hebron † After these thinges he loued a woman which dwelt in Valley Sorec and she was called Dalila † And the princes of the Philisthiims came to her and said Deceiue him and learne of him wherein he hath so great strength and how we may be able to ouercome him and being bound to afflict him which if thou shalt doe we wil geue thee euerie one a thousand and an hundred peeces of siluer † Dalila therfore spake to Samson Tel me I besech thee wherein thy greatest strength is and what it is wherewith being bound thou canst not breake forth † To whom Samson answered If I shal be bound with seuen cordes of sinewes not yet drie and moyste as yet I shal be weake as ot hermen † And the princes of the Philisthimesbrought vnto her seuen cordes as he had said with the which she bound him † ambushementes lying secretely in wayte neere her and in the chamber
him bread to eate and water to drink † and also a peece of a masse of drie figges and two bunches of resinnes Who when he had eaten his spirite returned and he was refreshed for he had not eaten bread nor drunken water three daies and three nightes † Dauid therefore sayd to him Whose art thou or whence and whither goest thou who sayd I am a yong man of Aegypt the seruant of an Amalacite and my maister hath leift me because I began to be sicke three daies agone † For we brake forth at the south side of Cerethi and against Iuda and at the south of Caleb and burnt Siceleg with fire † And Dauid sayd to him Canst thou bring me to this companie Who sayd Sweare to me by God that thou wilt not kil me nor deliuer me into the handes of my lord and I wil bring thee to this companie And Dauid sware to him † Who when he had brought them behold they sate vpon the face of al the earth eating and drinking and as it were keping festiual day for al the praye and spoiles which they had taken out of the Land of the Philistijms and out of the Land of Iuda † And Dauid stroke them from euening vntil the euening of the next day and there escaped not anie of them but foure hundred yong men which had gotten vpon camels and were fled † Dauid therefore reskewed al thinges that the Amalecites had taken and he reskewed his two wiues † Neither was there anie wanting from litle to great as wel of their sonnes as of their daughters and of the spoiles and what thinges soeuer they had taken Dauid brought al againe † And he tooke al the flockes heardes and draue them before his face and they sayd This is the praye of Dauid † And Dauid came to the two hundred men which being wearie had staied neither were able to folow Dauid and he had bidden them to rest in the Torrent Besor who came forth to meete Dauid and the people that were with him And Dauid coming to the people saluted them peaceably † And euerie naughtie and wicked felow of the men that had gone with Dauid answering sayd Because they came not with vs we wil not geue them anie thing of the praye which we haue recouered but let their wife and children suffice euerie man whom when they haue receiued let them depart † But Dauid sayd You shal not doe so my brethren of these thinges which our Lord hath deliuered to vs and hath kept vs and hath geuen the theeues that were broken out against vs into our handes † neither shal anic man heare you vpon this talke For there shal be equal portion of him that went downe into battel and of him that abode at the baggage they shal diuide alike † And this hath beene downe from that day and euer after it was decreed and ordained as a law in Israel † Dauid therefore came into Siceleg and sent giftes of the praye to the ancientes of Iuda his neighboures saying Take a benediction of the praye of our Lords enemies † To them that were in Bethel and that were in Ramoth toward the South and them that were in Gether † and them in Aroer and them in Sephamoth and them in Esthamo † and them in Rachal and them in the cities of Ierameel and them in the cities of Semi † and them in Harama and them in the lake of Asan and them in Athach † and them in Hebron and to the rest that were in those places in the which Dauid had taried and his men CHAP. XXXI Saul with his sonnes are slaine in battel 7. The Philistijms possesse the place and hang the dead bodies on a wal 11. but valiant men of Iabes Galaad take them away and burne them burie their bones and fast seuen dayes AND the Philistijms fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistijms and fel being slaine in mount Gelboe † And the Philistijms fel vpon Saul and vpon his sonnes and they stroke Ionathas and Abinadab and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul † and the whole weight of the battel was turned vpon Saul and the archers ouertooke him and he was sore wounded of the archers † And Saul sayd to his esquier Drawe out thy sword and strike me lest perhaps these vncircumcised come and kil me mocking me And his esquier would not for he was frighted with exceding feare Saul therefore caught his sword and fel vpon it † Which when his esquier had seene to wit that Saul was dead himselfe also fel vpon his sword and died with him † Saul therefore died and his three sonnes his esquier and al his men in that day together † And the children of Israel that were beyond the valley and beyond Iordan seing that the men of Israel were fled and that Saul was dead and his sonnes they left their cities and fled and the Philistijms came and dwelt there † And when the next day was come the Philistijms came to spoile them that were slaine and they found Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gelboe † And they did cut of Saules head and spoiled him of his armour and sent into the land of the Philistians round about that it should be declared in the temple of their Idols and among their people † And they did put his armour in the temple of Astaroth but his bodie they hung on the wal of Bethsam † Which when the inhabiters of Iabes Galaad had heard whatsoeuer the Philistijms had done to Saul † al the most valiant men arose walked al the night and tooke the bodie of Saul and the bodies of his sonnes from the wal of Bethsam and they came to Iabes Galaad and burnt them there † and they tooke their bones and buried them in the wood of Iabes and fasted seuen daies THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF KINGES BESIDES a great part of the first booke and beginning of the third this second booke is wholly of King Dauid VVhos 's manie laudable Actes as also his faultes which were fewer with his true repentance and punishment are related not in such method as may easily be diuided into distinct partes in order of the chapters but according to the distinction of thinges conteined his succession to the royal crowne first in Iuda and after in al Israel with the declination and death of his competitour Isboseth are recorded in the 2. 3. 4. and 5. chapters His vertues and praises to wit his solemne mourning for Saul and that familie his deuotion fortitude pietie and gratitude are specially touched in the 1. 6 7. 8. 9. and 10. chapters His sinnes of adulterie with Bethsabee of killing her husband Vrias of pride in numbering his people with his hartie repentance and temporal punishment for the same are written from the 11. chapter to the 21 together with the 24. The 22. and 23. chapters
on the sea which should saile into Ophir for gold and they could not goe because they were broken in Asiongaber † Then sayd Ochozias the sonne of Achab to Iosaphat Let my seruantes goe with thy seruantes in the shippes And Iosaphat would not † And Iosaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid his father and Ioram his sonne reigned for him † And Ochozias the sonne of Achab began to reigne ouer Israel in Samaria in the seuententh yeare of Iosaphat the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares † And he did euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the way of his father and his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne † He serued also Baal and adored him and prouoked our Lord the God of Israel according to al thinges which his father had done THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF KINGES THIS fourth booke prosecuteth the historie of the two Kingdomes of Iuda and Israel to the seueral captiuities of them both Shewing manie special vertues and heroical actes of good Kinges Prophetes and other godlie persons and diuers crimes of the wicked For in Iuda were some good kinges highly commended some euil whom God spared in this world for Dauids sake So that in both sortes King Dauids seede continued in his throne and royal state first in the twelue tribes afterward in two nere foure hundred fourscore yeares And after the captiuitie as wil appeare in the age ensuing it was conserued in honour and estimation til Christ our Sauiour But in the Kingdome of Israel or tenne tribes which stood about two hundred fiftie yeares was great change by raysing and extirpating royal families Al their kinges were bad yet partly were set vp by God himself partly suffered to reigne and in both Kingdomes were true and false prophetes God vsing the ministerie of al to his owne glorie the good of his Church and punishment of others and sometimes of themselues So this booke may be diuided into two partes In the seuentene former chapters are recorded ioyntly and mixtly the principal thinges donne in both kingdomes til the captiuitie of the tenne tribes The other eight chapters conteine other thinges donne in Iuda vntil their captiuitie in Babylon THE FOVRT BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE SECOND OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. Ochozias King of Israel consulting Beelzebub for his sicknes is blamed by Elias and fortold that he shal die 9. Fire from heauen deuoureth two capitaines with ech of them fiftie men 13. The third by his more modestie escapeth the like danger 15. With him Elias cometh to the King 17. The same King dieth and his brother Ioram succedeth AND Moab moued warre agaynst Israel after that ●chab was dead † And Ochozias fel through the ●anchions of his vpper chamber which he had in Samaria and was sicke and he sent messengers saying to them Goe consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron whether I may liue of this my infirmitie † And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias the Thesbite saying Arise and goe vp to meete the messengers of the king of Samaria and thou shal say to them What is there not a God in Israel that ye goe to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron † Wherfore thus saith our Lord From the bed on which thou art ascended thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt die And Elias went away † And the messengers returned to Ochozias Who said to them Why are you returned † But they answered him A man mette vs and sayd to vs Goe and returne to the king that sent you and you shal say to him Thus saith our Lord Doest thou therfore send to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron because there was no God in Israel Therfore from the bed which thou art vpon thou shalt not goe downe but dying thou shalt dye † Who said to them What shape and habite had that man which mette you and spake these wordes † But they said A hearie man and girded about his raines with a girdle of lether Who said It is Elias the Thesbite † And he sent vnto him a captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were vnder him Who went vp and sayd to him sitting in the toppe of the mount Man of God the king hath commanded that thou come downe † And Elias answering sayd to the captaine of fiftie men If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and the fiftie men that were with him † And he sent againe vnto him an other captaine of fiftie men and his fiftie with him Who spake to him Man of God Thus saith the king Make hast come downe † Elias answering said If I be a man of God let fyre come downe from heauen and deuoure thee and thy fiftie Fyre therfore came downe from heauen and deuoured him and his fiftie † Agayne he sent a third captaine of fiftie men and the fiftie that were with him Who when he was come bowed his knees toward Elias and prayed him and sayd Man of God despise not my life and the liues of thy seruantes that are with me † Behold fyre came downe from heauen and hath deuoured the two first captaynes of fiftie men and the fifties that were with them but now I besech the that thou haue mercie on my life † And an Angel of our Lord spake to Elias saying Goe downe with him feare not He therfore arose and went downe with him to the king † and spake to him Thus saith our Lord Because thou hast sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron as though there were not a God in Israel of whom thou mightest aske the word therfore from the bed which thou art ascended vpon thou shalt not descend but dying thou shalt die † He died therfore according to the word of our Lord which Elias spake Ioram his brother reigned for him in the second yeare of Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat the king of Iuda for he had no sonne † But the rest of the wordes of Ochozias which he wrought are not these written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel CHAP. II. Eliseus wil not part from Elias 7. Fiftie disciples folow them to Iordan 8. The water is diuided by Elias cloke and they two passe the drie chanel 9. Elias is assumpted in a firie chariote and his duble spirite is geuen to Eliseus 13. Who returning by like miraculous meanes ouer Iordan the disciples receiue and honour him as their religious Superiour 16. They seeke Elias but find him not 19. Eliseus amendeth the waters by casting in salt 23. Boyes are torne by bear●s for mocking Eliseus AND it came to passe when our Lord would take vp Elias by a hurle winde into heauen Elias and
Eliseus went from Galgal † And Elias sayd to Eliseus Sitte here because our Lord hath sent me as far as Bethel To whom Eliseus sayd Our Lord liueth and thy soule liueth I wil not leaue thee And when he was come downe to Bethel † the children of the prophetes that were in Bethel went forth to Eliseus and sayd to him Doest thou know that this day our Lord wil take thy maister from thee Who answered I also know it hold your peace † And Elias sayd to Eliseus Sitte here because our Lord hath sent me into Iericho And he sayd Our Lord liueth thy soule liueth I wil not leaue thee And when they were come to Iericho † the children of the prophetes that were in Iericho came to Eliseus and sayd to him Doest thou know that this day our Lord wil take away thy maister from thee And he sayd I also know it hold your peace † And Elias sayd to him Sitte here because our Lord hath sent me as farre as Iordan Who sayd Our Lord liueth and thy soule liueth I wil not leaue thee They went therfore both together † fiftie men of the children of the prophetes folowed them who also stood ouer agaynst them farre of but they two stood vpon Iordan † And Elias tooke his mantel and folded it together and smote the waters which were diuided into two partes and they both passed ouer by the drie land † And when they were ouer Elias sayd to Eliseus Aske what thou wilt haue me to doe for thee before I be taken from thee And Eliseus sayd I besech thee that in me may be thy duble spirit † who answered Thou hast asked a hard thing Neuerthelesse if thou see me when I shal be taken from thee thou shalt haue that thou hast asked but if thou see me not thou shalt not haue it † And when they went forward and going talked together behold a fyrie chariote and fyrie horses parted them two asunder and Elias ascended by a hurle winde into heauen † And Eliseus saw him and cried My father my father the chariote of Israel and the guider therof And he saw him no more and he tooke his garmentes and rent them in two peeces † And he tooke vp the mantel of Elias that was fallen to him and returning he stood vpon the banke of Iordan † and with the mantel of Elias that fel downe to him he smote the waters and they were not diuided And he sayd Where is the God of Elias now also and he smote the waters and they were diuided this way and that way and Eliseus passed ouer † And the children of the prophetes that were in Iericho ouer agaynst him seing him sayd The spirit of Elias hath rested vpon Eliseus And coming to meete him adored him flatte to the ground † and they sayd to him Behold there are with thy seruantes fiftie strong men that can goe and seeke thy maister lest perhaps the spirit of our Lord hath taken him and cast him vpon one of the mountaines or into one of the valleis Who sayd Send not † And they forced him til he agreed and sayd Send And they sent fiftie men Who when they had sought three daies found not † And they returned to him but he dwelt in Iericho and he sayd to them Did I not say to you Send not † The men also of the citie sayd to Eliseus Behold the habitation of this citie is verie good as thy selfe my lord perceiuest but the waters are very il and the ground barren † But he sayd Fetch me a new vessel and put salt into it Which when they had brought † going out to the fountayne of the waters he cast salt into it and sayd Thus sayth our Lord I haue amended these waters and death shal no more be in them nor barrennesse † The waters therfore were amended vntil this day according to the word of Eliseus which he spake † And from thence he went vp into Bethel when he went vp by the way little laddes came forth out of the citie and mocked him saying Come vp baldhead come vp baldhead † Who when he had looked backe he saw them cursed them in the name of our Lord and two beares came forth out of the forest tore of them two and fourtie boyes † and from thence he went into the mount of Carmel and from thence he turned into Samaria CHAP. III. Ioram king of Israel accompianed with the kinges of Iuda Edom fighteth against the king of Moab for not paying tribute according to their league 9. wanting waters 16. Eliseus procureth sufficient without raine and prophecieth victorie 21. The king of Moab deceiued by a vision is ouerthrowne in the fielde 26. then being besiged immolateth his first begotten sonne and the Israelites leaue the siege AND Ioram the sonne of Achab reigned ouer Israel in Samaria the eightenth yeare of Iosaphat the king of Iuda And he reigned twelue yeares † And he did euil before our Lord but not as his father and mother for he tooke away the statues of Baal which his father had made † Neuertheles in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne he stucke fast and departed not from them † Moreouer Mesa the king of Moab nourished manie sheepe and he payed to the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambes and a hundred thousand rammes with their fleeces † And when Achab was dead he brake the league which he had made with the king of Israel † Therfore king Ioram went forth that day out of Samaria and mustered al Israel † And he sent to Iosaphat the king of Iuda saying The king of Moab is reuolted from me come with me against him to battel Who answered I wil come vp he that is mine is thine my people thy people my horses thy horses † And he said What way shal we goe vp but he answered By the desert of Idumea † Therfore the king of Israel and the king of Iuda and the king of Edom went forward and compassed seuen daies iourney neither was there water for the armie and the beastes that folowed them † And the king of Israel said Alas alas alas our Lord hath gathered vs three kinges together that he might deliuer vs into the handes of Moab † And Iosaphat said Is there not here a prophet of our Lord that we may besech our Lord by him And one of the seruantes of the king of Israel answered Here is Eliseus the sonne of Saphat which powred water vpon the handes of Elias † And Iosaphat sayd The word of our Lord is with him And the king of Israel went downe to him and Iosaphat the king of Iuda and the king of Edom. † And Eliseus said to the king of Israel What is to me and thee goe to the prophetes of thy father and thy mother And the king of Israel said to him Why hath our Lord gathered together these three kinges that he
drinke the bloud of these men because in the peril of their liues they haue brought me the water And for this cause he would not drinke These thinges did the three most valiantes † Abisai also the brother of Ioab he was prince of three and he lifted vp his speare agaynst three hundred wounded and he was among three most renowned † and among the second three he the noble one and prince of them but yet vnto the three first he taught not † Banaias the sonne of Ioiada a most valiant man of Cabseel who had done manie factes he stroke the two ariel of Moab and he went downe and slewe the lion in the middes of the cisterne in the time of snow † And he storke the Aegyptian whose stature was of fiue cubites and which had a speare as the weauers beame he therfore went downe to him with a rod and by force tooke away the speare that he held in his hand and slewe him with his owne speare † These thinges did Banaias the sonne of Ioiada who was among the three valiantes most renowned † the first among thirtie but yet the three he raught not and Dauid made him of his counsel † Moreouer the most valiant men in the armie Asahel the brother of Ioab and Elchanan the sonne of his vncle of Bethlehem † Sammoth an Arortie Helles a Phalonite † Ira the the sonne of Acces a Thecaite Abiezer an Anathothite † Sobbochai an Husathite Ilai an Ahohite † Maharai a Netophathite Heled the sonne of Baana a Netophathite † Ethai the sonne of Ribai of Gabaath the children of Beniamin Banaia a Pharatonite † Hurai of the Torrent Gaas Abiel an Arbathite Azmoth a Bauramite Eliaba a Salabonite † The sonnes of Assem a Gezonite Ionathan the sonne of Sage an Ararite † Ahiam the sonne of Sachar an Ararite † Eliphal the sonne of Vr † Hepher a Mecherathi●e Ahia Phelonite † Hesro a Carmelite Naarai the sonne of Azbai † Ioel the brother of Nathan Mibahar the sonne of Agarai † Selet an Ammonite Naharai a Berothite the armour bearer of Ioab the sonne of Saruia † Ira a Iethreite Gareb a Iethreite † Vrias the Hetheite Zabad the sonne of Oholi † Adina the sonne of Sizaa Rubenite the prince of the Rubenites with him thirtie † Hanan the sonne of Maacha and Iosaphat a Mathanite † Ozia an Astarothite Samma and Iehiel the sonnes of Hotham an Arorite † Iedihel the sonne of Zamri and Ioha his brother a Thosaite † Eliel a Mahumite and Ieribai and Iosaia the sonnes of Elnaim and Iethma a Moabite Eliel and Obed and Iasiel of Masobia CHAP. XII VVho folowed dauid when he fled from Saul 23. And who came into Hebron to make him king THESE also came to dauid into Siceleg when as yet he fled from Saul the sonne of Cis the which were most valiant and excellent warriers † drawing the bowe and hurling with both handes stones in slinges and shooting arrowes directly of the brethren of Saul of Beniamin † The prince Ahiezer and Ioas the sonnes of Sammaa a Gabaathite and Iaziel and Phallet the sonnes of Azmoth and Beracha and Iehu an Anothothite † Samaias also a Gabaonite the most valiant amongst the thirtie and aboue the thirtie Ieremias and Ieheziel and Iohanan and Iezabad a Gaderothite † And Eluzai and Ierimuth and Baalia and Samaria and Saphatia an Haruphite † Elcana and Iesia and Azareel and Ioezer Iesbaam of Carehim † Ioela also and Zabadia the sonnes of Ieroham of Gedor † Yea and of Gaddi also there fled to Dauid when he lay hid in the desert most valiant men and the best warriers holding sheild and speare their faces as the faces of a lion nd swift as the roebuck●s on the mountaynes † Ezer the prince Obdias the second Eliab the third † Masmana the fourth Ieremias the fifth † Ethi the sixth Eliel the seuenth † Iohanan the eight Elzebad the ninth † Ieremias the tenth Machbanai the eleuenth † these of the children of Gad were the princes of his armie the meanest was captayne ouer an hundred souldiars and the greatest ouer a thousand † These are they which passed Iordan the first moneth when it vsed to flow ouer his bankes and they chased away al that dwelt in the valleis toward the east quarter and the west † And there came also of Beniamin and of Iuda to the hold wherin Dauid abode † And Dauid went out to mete them and sayd If you be come peaceably to me for to helpe me my hart be ioyned to you but if you lye in wayte against me for my aduersaries whereas I haue no iniquitie in my handes the God of our fathers see and iudge † But the spirit came on Amasai the prince among thirtie and he sayd We are thine ô Dauid and with thee ô sonne of Isai peace peace be to thee peace to thy helpers for thy God helpeth thee Dauid therfore receiued them and appoynted them princes of the band † Moreouer of Manasses there fled to Dauid when he came with the Philisthijms agaynst Saul to fight and he fought not with them because the princes of the Philisthimes taking counsel sent him backe saying with the peril of our head wil he returne to his lord Saul † Therfore when he returned into Siceleg there fled to him of Manasses Ednas and Iozabab and Iedihel and Michael and Ednas Iozabad and Eliu and Salathi the princes of a thousand in Manasses † These did ayde Dauid agaynst the rouers for they were al most valiant men and were made commanders in the armie † Yea and there came euerie day to Dauid to helpe him til it became a great number as it were the armie of God † This also is the number of the commanders of the armie which came to Dauid when he was in Hebron to transferre the kingdom of Saul to him according to the word of our Lord. † The children of Iuda bearing shield and speare six thousand eight hundred wel appoynted to battel † Of the children of Simeon valient men to ●ight seuen thousand one hundred † Of the children of Leui foure thousand six hundred † Ioiada also prince of the stocke of Aaron and with him three thousand seuen hundred † Sadoc also a young man of goodlie towardenes and the house of his father princes twentie two † And of the children of Beniamin the brethren of Saul three thousand for a great part of them as yet folowed the house of Saul † Moreouer of the children of Ephraim twentie thousand eight hundred valiant of strength men renowmed in their kinredes † And of the halfe tribe of Manasses eightene thousand euerie one by their names came to make Dauid king † Also of the children of Issachar men of vnderstanding that knewe al times to command what Israel should doe princes two hundred and al the rest of the tribe did folow their counsel † Moreouer of Zabulon such as went forth to battel stood in aray wel
shal pay thy vowes † Thou shalt decree a thing and it shal come to thee and light shal shine in thy waies † For who wil be humbled shal be in glorie and he that wil bow downe his eies he shal be saued † The innocent shal be saued but he shal be saued in the cleannesse of his handes CHAP. XXIII Iob expecteth helpe and sentence of God 6. with iust feare yet with good conscience maintaineth his owne innocencie BVT Iob answering sayd † Now also my talke is in bitternesse and the hand of my plague is aggrauated vpon m● mourning † Who wil grant me that I may know and find him and come euen to his throne † I wil set iudgement before him and wil fil my mouth with accusations † That I may know the wordes that he wil answer me and vnderstand what he wil speake to me † I wil not that he contend with me with much strength nor that he oppresse me with the weight of his greatnes † Let him propose equitie against me and my iudgement shal come to victorie † If I shal goe to the East he appeareth not if to the West I shal not vnderstand him † If to the left hand what shal I doe I shal not apprehend him if I turne my self to the right hand I shal not see him † But he knoweth my way hath proued me as gold that passeth through the fyre † My foote hath folowed his steppes I haue kept his way haue not declined out if it † From the commandementes of his lippes I haue not departed and I haue hid the wordes of his mouth in my bosome † For he is alone and no man can turne away his cogitation and whatsoeuer his soule would that hath he done † And when he shal haue fulfilled his wil in me manie other things also are at hand wit him † And therfore I am trubled at his face and considering him I am made pensife withfeare † God hath mollified my hart and the Omnipotent hath trubled me † For I haue not perished because of the imminent darkenesse neither hath the mist couered my face CHAP. XXIIII God in his prouidence knoweth when he wil punish the wicked which his true seruantes know not much lesse the impious TIMES are not hid from the Omnipotent but they that know him know not his daies † Some haue transferred boundes spoiled flockes fed them † They haue driuen away theasse of pupilles haue taken away the widowes oxe for a pledge † They haue subuerted the way of the poore and haue oppressed together the meeke of the earth † Others as wilde asses in the deserte goe forth to their worke watching to the praye doe prepare bread for their children † They reape the filde that is not theirs and gather the grapes of his vineyard whom by violence they haue oppressed † They send men away naked taking away their clothes which haue no couering in the cold † Whom the showers of the mountaynes doe wash and not hauing a couert they embrace stones † They did violence spoyling the pupilles and the common poore people they spoyled † From the naked and them that goe without clothing and the hungrie they haue taken away the eares of corne † They haue rested the noone-tide among their heapes which hauing troden the wine presses are a thirst † Out of the cities they haue made men to mourne and the soule of the wounded hath cryed and God doth not suffer it to passe vnreuenged † They haue bene rebellious to the light they haue not knowen his wayes neither did they returne by his pathes † At the verie breake of day the murderer ryseth he killeth the needie and the poore man but by night he wil be as a theefe † The eie of the aduouterer obserueth darkenesse saying Eie shal not see me and he wil couer his face † He diggeth through houses in the darke as in the day they had oppoynted with them selues and they haue not knowen the light † If sodenly the morning shal appeare they thinke it the shadow of death and they walke so in darkenesse as it were in light † He is light aboue the face of the water cursed be his portion in the earth neither walke he by the way of the vineyardes † Let him passe from snowe waters to exceding heate and his sinne euen vnto hel † Let mercie forget him wormes his sweetnes be he not in remembrance but be he broken in peeces as an vnfruitful tree † For he hath fedd the barren and her that bareth not and to the widow he hath not done good † He hath pulled downe the strong in his strength and when he shal stand he wil not credit his life † God hath geuen him place for penance and he abuseth it vnto pride but his eies be vpon his waies † They are eleuated for a litle and shal not stand and shal be humbled as al thinges and shal be taken away and as the toppes of the eares of corne they shal be broken † And if it be not so who can reproue me that I haue lied and set my wordes before God CHAP. XXV Baldad endeuoreth againe to terrifie Iob with Gods iudgement from appealing therto and from auouching his owne innocencie BVT Baldad the Suhite answering sayd † Power and terrour is with him that maketh concord in his high ones † Is there anie number of his souldiars and vpon whom shal not his light arise † can man be iustified compared with God or the borne of a woman appeare cleane † Behold the moone also doth not shine and the starres are not cleane in his sight † How much more man rottennes the some of man a worme CHAP. XXVI Iob refuteth his aduersariese needles and common argumentes by more sound discoursing of Gods powre and wisdome BVT Iob answering sayd † whose helper art thou his that is weake and doest thou hold vp the arme of him that is not strong † To whom hast thou geuen counsel perhaps to him that hath not wisdom and thy prudence hast thou shewed very great † Whom wouldest thou teach not him that made breath † Behold the gyantes grone vnder the waters and they that dwel with them † Hel is naked before him and there is no couert to perdition † Who stretcheth out the northwind ouer the vacant and hangeth the earth vpon nothing † Who bindeth the waters in his cloudes that they breake not forth together downeward † Who holdeth the countenance of his throne and spreddeth his clowde ouet it † He hath made a limite about the waters til light darkenes be ended † The pillers of heauen tremble and dread at his beck † In his strength sodenly the seas are gathered together and with his wisdom he stroke the proud man † His spirite hath adorned the heauens and his hand being the midwife the winding serpent is brought forth † Loe
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of mu●itians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers ●each that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Λ delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that “ hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not “ stoode in the way of sinners and hath not “ sitte in the chayre of pestilence † But his “ wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night † And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time † And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper † The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth † Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust
him darkesome water in the cloudes of the aire Because of the brightnesse in his sight the cloudes passed hayle and coles of fire † And our Lord thundered from heauen and the Highest gaue his voice haile and coles of fire † And he shot his arrowes and dissipated them he multiplied lightnings and trubled them † And the fountaynes of waters appeared and the fundations of the world were reueled At thy rebuke ô Lord at the blast of the spirit of thy wrath † He sent from on high and tooke me and he receiued me out of manie waters † He deliuered me from my most strong enemies and from them that hated me because they were made strong ouer me † They preuented me in the day of mine affliction and our Lord was made my protectour † And he brought me out into largenesse he saued me because he would me † And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice and according to the purity of my handes he wil reward me † Because I haue kept the waies of our Lord neither haue I done impiously from my God † Because al his iudgementes are in my sight and his iustices I haue not repelled from me † And I shal be immaculate with him and shal keepe me from mine iniquitie † And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice and according to the puritie of my handes in the sight of his eies † With the holie thou shalt be holie and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent † And with the elect thou shalt be elect and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted † Because thou wilt saue the humble people and the eies of the proud thou wilt humble † Because thou dost illuminate my lampe ô Lord my God illuminate my darkenesse † Because in thee I shal be deliuered from tentation and in my God I shal goe ouer the wal † My God his way is vnpolluted the wordes of our Lord are examined by fire he is protector of al that hope in him † For who is God but our Lord or who is God but our God † God that girded me with strength and made my way immaculate † That perfited my feete as it were of hartes and setting me vpon high thinges † That teacheth my handes to battel and hast put mine armes as a bow of brasse † And hast geuen me the protection of thy saluation and thy right hand hath receiued me And thy discipline hath corrected me vnto the end and thy discipline the same shal teach me † Thou hast enlarged my pases vnder me and my steppes are not weakened † I wil pursew myne enemies and ouertake them and wil not returne til they faile † I wil breake them neither shal they be able to stand they shal fal vnder my feete † And thou hast girded me with strength to battel and hast supplanted them that rise against me vnder me † And myne enemies thou hast geuen me their backe and them that hate me thou hast destroyed † They cried neither was there that would saue them to our Lord neither did he heare them † And I wil breake them to powder as the dust before the face of winde as the durt of the streates I wil destroy them † Thou wilt deliuer me from the contradictions of the people thou wilt appoynte me to be head of the Gentiles † A people which I knew not hath serued me in the hearing of the eare it hath obeyed me † The children being alienes haue lyed to me the children alienes are inueterated and haue halted from their pathes † Our Lord liueth and blessed be my God and the God of my saluation be exalted † O God which geuest me reuenges subdewest peoples vnder me my deliuerer from mine angrie enemies † And from them that rise vp against me thou wilt exalt me from the vniust man thou wilt deliuer me Therfore wil I confesse to thee among nations ô Lord and wil say a psalme to thy name Magnifying the saluations of his king and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid and to his seede for euer PSALME XVIII Gods perfect goodnes and glorie is shewed by his great workes and by his Apostles sent with heauenlie commission to preach in al tongues to al nations 6. Christ coming into the world and returne vnto heauen 8. his immaculate Law 13. Wherin notwistanding the iust shal haue nede to pray for remission of smaller and daylie sinnes † Vnto the end the psalme of Dauid THE heauens shew forth the glorie of God and the firmament declareth the workes of his handes † Day vnto day vttereth word and night vnto night sheweth knowledge † There are no languages nor speaches whose voyces are not heard † Their sound hath gone forth into al the earth and vnto the endes of the round world the wordes of them † He put his tabernacle in the sunne himself as a bridgrome coming forth of his bridechamber He hath reioyced as againt to runne the way † his comming forth from the toppe of heauen And his recourse euen to the toppe therof neither is there that can hide him selfe from his heate † “ The law of our Lord is immaculate conuerting soules the testimonie of our Lord is faithful geuing wisedome to litle ones † The iustices of our Lord be right making hartes ioyful the precept of our Lord lightsome illuminating the eies † The feare of our Lord is holie permanent for euer and euer the iudgmentes of our Lord be true iustified in themselues † To be desired aboue gold and much pretious stone and more sweete aboue honie and the honie combe † For thy seruant keepeth them in keeping them is much reward † Sinnes who vnderstandeth from my secrete sinnes cleanse me † and from other mens spare thy seruant If they shal not haue dominion ouer me then shal I be immaculate and shal be cleansed from the greatest sinne † And the wordes of my mouth shal be such as may please and the meditation of my hart in thy sight alwayes O Lord my helper and my redemer ANNOTATIONS PSALME XVIII ● The lavv of our lord is immaculate conuerting soules Gods law in it selfe being most pure and immaculate is the proper meanes wherby the Holie Ghost conuerteth soules from sinnes to iustice Not that euerie one is iust fied vvhich readeth heareth or knoweth the lavv but by keping it through grace of the Holie Ghost VVho is the author and vvorker of ius●●e by disposing the soule to cooperate in maner partly here described Gods faithful and most true testimonie by his lavv geueth vvisdome faith and knovvlege to the humble his right iustices comfort the hartes of the saithful his clere precept teacheth them their dutie his holie feare perseuireth vvith them his true iudgements are most delectable and
eares thou hast perfited to me Holocaust and for sinne thou didst not require † then said I Behold I come In the head of the booke it is written of me † that I should doe thy wil my God I would and thy law in the middes of my hart † I haue declared thy iustice in the great Church loe I wil not stay my lippes Lord thou hast knowen it † Thy iustice I haue not hid in my hart thy truth and thy saluation I haue spoken I haue not hid thy mercie and thy truth from the great councel † But thou ô Lord make not thy commiserations farre from me thy mercie and thy truth haue alwayes receiued me † Because euils haue compassed me which haue no number mine iniquities haue ouertaken me I was not able to see They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head and my hart hath forsaken me † It may please thee ô Lord to deliuer me Lord haue respect to helpe me Let them be confounded and ashamed together that seeke my soule to take it away Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that wil me euils Let them forth with receiue their confusion that say to me Wel wel † Let al that seeke thee reioyce and be glad vpon thee and let them that loue thy saluation say alwayes Our Lord be magnified † But I am a begger and poore Our Lord is careful of me Thou art my helper my protector my God be not slacke PSALME XL. The prophet pronounceth them happie that wil beleue in Christ coming in humilitie and pouertie 5. Christ describeth his owne poore afflicted state in this life by reason he is to satisfie for the sinnes of the world the malice of his aduersaries 10. especially of Iudas 11. and by way of prayer prophecieth his owne Resurrect on † Vnto the end a Psalme to Dauid him selfe BLESSED is the man that vnderstandeth concerning the needie and the poore in the euil day our Lord wil deliuer him † Our Lord preserue him and geue him life and make him blessed in the land and deliuer him not vnto the wil of his enemies † Our Lord helpe him vpon the bed of his sorow thou hast turned al his couche in his infirmitie † I said Lord haue haue mercie on me heale my soule because I haue sinned to thee † Mine enemies haue spoken euils to me When shal he die and his name perish † And if he came in to see he spake vayne thinges his hart hath gathered together iniquitie to him selfe He went forth and spake together † Al mine enemies whispered against me they did thinke euils to me They haue determined an vniust word against me Shal not he that sleepeth adde to ryse againe † For the man also of my peace in whom I hoped who did eate my breades hath greatly troden me vnder foote † But thou ô Lord haue mercie vpon me and raise me vp againe and I wil repay them † In this I haue knowen that thou wouldest me because mine enemie shal not reioyce ouer me † But me thou hast receiued because of innocencie and thou hast confirmed me in thy sight for euer † Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from the beginning of the world and for euermore Be it be it PSALME XLI The feruent desire of the iust 6. much afflicted in this life 12. and assured hope of eternal ioy † Vnto the end vnderstanding to the sonnes of Core EVEN as the harte desireth after the fountaines of waters so doth my soule desire after thee ô God † My soule hath thirsted after God the strong liuing when shal I come and appeare before the face of God † My teares haue beene breades vnto me day and night whiles it is said to me dayly Where is thy God † These thinges haue I remembred and haue powred out my soule in me because I shal passe into the place of a meruelous tabernacle euen to the house of God In the yoyce of exultation and confession the sound of one feasting † Why art thou sorowful my soule and why dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance † and my God My soule is trubled toward my selfe therfore wil I be mindful of thee from the land of Iordan and Hermoniim from the litle mountaine † Depth calleth on depth in the voice of thy flould-gates Al thy high thinges and thy waues haue passed ouer me † In the day our Lord hath commanded his mercie and in the night a song of him With me is prayer to the God of my life † I wil say to God Thou art my defender Why hast thou forgotten me and why goe I sorowful whiles mine enemie afflicteth me † Whiles my bones are broken mine enemies that truble me haue vpbrayded me Whiles they say to me day by day Where is thy God † Why art thou heauie ô my soule wh● dost thou truble me Hope in God because yet I wil confesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLII The iust inuocateth Gods sentence against the deceiptful that seeke his spiritual ouerthrow 4. acknowledgeth his helpe from almightie God the B. Trinitie in whose vision glorie consisteth † A Psalme of Dauid IVDGE me ô God discerne my cause from the nation not holie from the vniust and deceitful man deliuer me † Because thou art God my strength why hast thou repelled me and why goe I sorowful whiles the enemie afflicteth me Send forth thy light and thy truth they haue conducted me and haue brought me into thy holy hil and into thy tabernacles † And I wil goe in to the altar of God to God which maketh my youth ioyful † I'wil confesse to thee on the harpe ô God my God why art thou sorowful ô my soule and dost thou trubel me † Hope in God because yet wil I cōfesse to him the saluation of my countenance and my God PSALME XLIII The prophet describeth the first calling and difficulte state of the Iewish nation 6. their prosperitie at other times 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie and persecutions † Vnto the end for the sonnes of Core to vnderstanding O GOD we haue heard with our eares our fathers haue declared to vs. The worke that thou hast wrought in their dayes and in the dayes of old † Thy hand destroyed the nations and thou didst plant them thou didst afflict the peoples and expel them † For not by their owne sword did they possesse the land and their owne arme did not saue them But thy right hand
that he might saue al the meeke of the earth † Because the cogitation of man shal confesse to thee and the remanes of the cogitation shal keepe festiual day to thee † Vowe ye and render to our Lord your God al ye that round about him bring giftes To the terrible † and him that taketh away the spirite of princes terrible to the kinges of the earth PSALME LXXVI Anie faithful deuout person meditating Gods benefites 7. examineth his cōscience that nothing be in his soule that may offend God Who is alwayes readie to forgeue 11. and therfore he stil reneweth his purpose to serue God sincerly 15. particularly remembring the deliuerie of Israel from Aegypt Vnto the end for Idithun a psalme to Asaph † VVith my voice I haue cried to our Lord with my voice to God and he attended to me † In the day of my tribulation I sought God with my handes in the night before him and I was not deceiued My soule refused to be comforted † I was mindeful of God and was delighted and was exercised and my spirite fainted Myne eies preuented the watches I was trubled spake not † I thought vpon old daies and the eternal yeares I had in minde † And I meditated in the night with my hart and I was exercised and I swept my spirite Why wil God reiect for euer or wil he not adde to be better pleased as yet † Or wil he cutte of his mercie for euer from generation vnto generation † Or wil God forget to haue mercie or wil he in his wrath keepe in his mercies And I sayde Now haue I begune this is the change of the right hand of the Highest † I haue bene mindful of the workes of our Lord because I wil be mindful from the beginning of thy meruelous workes † And I wil meditate in al thy workes and in thy inuentions I wil be exercised † O God in the holie is thy way what God is great as our God † thou art the God that doest meruelous thinges Thou hast made thy powre knowne among peoples † thou hast with thine arme redemed thy people the children of Iacob and Ioseph † The waters saw thee ô God the waters saw thee and they were afrayd and the depthes were trubled † A multitude of the sounding of waters the cloudes gaue a voice For in deede arrowes doe passe † the voice of thy thunder in a wheele Thy lightenings shined to the rounde world the earth was moued and trubled † Thy way in the sea and thy pathes in many waters and thy steppes shal not be knowne † Thou hast conducted thy people as sheepe in the hand of moyses and Aaron PSALME LXXVII The royal prophet exhorting the people to attend 5. reciteth manie great benefites of God towards their forefathers whose ingratitude often rebellion and chatisement he stil noteth 9. as in their entrance into the land of Chanaan 12. also before the same in Aegypt and in the desort 42. How God plagued the Aegyptians 52. protected and conducted his people into the promised land 56. where likewise they often offended were punished 65. yet were stil conserued 69. and the tribe of Inde exalted in king Dauid Vnderstanding to Asaph MY people attend ye to my law incline your eare vnto the wordes of my mouth † I wil open my mouth in parables I wil speake propositions from the beginning † How great thinges haue we heard and haue knowne them and our fathers haue told vs. † They were not hid from their children in an other generation Telling the prayses of our Lord and his powers and his meruelous workes which he hath done † And he raised vp a testimonie in Iacob and made a law in Israel How great thinges he commanded our fathers to make the same knowne to their children † that an other generation may know The children that shal be borne and shal rise vp and shal tel their children † That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the workes of God and may seeke after his commandmentes † That they become not as their fathers a peruerse generation and exasperating A generation that hath not directed their hart their spirit hath not bene faithful towards God † The children of Ephrem bending and shooting with bow were turned in the day of battel † They kept not the testament of God and in his law they would not walke † And they forgate his benefites and his meruelous workes which he shewed them † Before their fathers he did meruelous thinges in the land of Aegypt in the filde of Tanis † He diuided the sea brought them through and he made the waters to stand as in a bottle † And he conducted them in a cloude by day and al the night by light of fire † He stroke the rocke in the desert and gaue them water to drinke as in a great depth † And he broughtforth water out of the rocke and made waters runne downe as riuers † And they added as yet to sinne vnto him they prouoked the Highest to wrath in the place without water † And they tempted God in their hartes so that they asked meats for their liues † And they spake euil of God they saide Can God prepare a table in the desert † Because he stroke the rocke and waters ranne torrentes flowed Can he also giue bread or prepare a table for his people † Therfore our Lord heard and made delay and fire was kindled in Iacob and wrath ascended vpon Israel † Because they beleued not in God nor hoped in his saluation † And he commanded the cloudes from aboue and opened the gates of heauen † And he rayned them Manna to eate and bread of heauen he gaue to them † Bread of Angels did man eate he sent them victuals in abundance † He transported the Southwinde from heauen and in his powre he brought in the Southwestwinde † And he rayned vpon them flesh as dust and as the sand of the sea fethered fowles † And they fel in the middes of their campe about their tabernacles † And they did eate and were filled excedingly and their desire he brought to them † They were not defrauded of their desire As yet their meats were in their mouth † And the wrath of God ascended vpon them And he killed their fat ones and the chosen of Israel he hindered † In al these things they sinned as yet and they beleued not in his meruelous workes † And their daies failed in vanitie and their years in hast † When he slew them they sought him and they returned and early they came to him † And they
the time of death 9 He vvil not be angrie alvvayes Origen misunderstood this place and some other like holding an erronius opinion that al euen the most wicked sinners both men and d●uels shal at last be saued and not eternally damned which is a condemned heresie contrarie to euident places of holie Scriptures Psal 9 v 6. The impious hath perished their name thou hast destroyed for euer for euer euer Mat. 2● The wicked shal goe into fire euerlasting into euerlasting punishment Apoc. 20. The beast and the false prophet and the same reason is for al the vvicked shal be tormented day and night for euer and euer Neither are the●e vvordes God vvil not be angrie alvvayes spoken vniuersally touching al sinners vvhosoeuer but are limited v 13 17 to those that seare him and kepe his testament vvheras al those that dye in mortal sinne are stil o●●●●na●e in malice and can neuer rightly repent nor rightly feare God nor kepe his commandments PSALME CIII The Psalmist inuiteth himself and others to praise God for his meruelous workes in the heauens 5. the earth and water 9. limiting their bondes producing al thinges necessarie for al liuing creatures in conuenient seasons 27. With continual prouidence of al. † To Dauid him self MY soule blesse thou our Lord ô Lord my God thou art magnified excedingly † Thou hast put on confession and beautie being clothed with light as with a garment Stretching out the heauen as a skinne † which couerest the higher partes therof with waters Which makest the cloude for thee to ascend on which walkest vpon the winges of windes † Which makest spirites thine Angels and thy ministers a burning fyre † Which hast founded the earth vpon the stabilitie therof it shal not be inclined for euer and euer † The depth as a garment is his clothing vpon the mountaines shal waters stand † At thy reprehention they shal flee at the voice of thy thunder they shal feare † The mountaines ascend and the plaine fildes descend into the place which thou hast founded for them † Thou hast set a bound which they shal not passe ouer neither shal they returne to couer the earth † Which sendestforth fontaines in the valles betwen the middest of mountaines shal waters passe † Al the beastes of the filde shal drinke the wilde asses shal expect in their thirst † Ouer them shal the foules of the ayre inhabite out of the middes of rockes they shal geueforth voices † Watering the mountaines from his higher places of the fruite of thy worke shal the earth be filled † Bringing forth grasse for beastes and herbe for the seruice of men That thou mayst bring forth bread out of the earth † and wine may make the hart of man ioyful That he may make the face chereful with oile and bread may confirme the hart of man † The trees of the silde shal be filled and the ceders of Libanus which he hath planted † there sparowes shal make their nest The house of the hearne is the leader of them † the high mountaines for hartes the rocke a refuge for the Irchins † He made the moone for seasons the sunne knoweth his going downe † Thou didst appoint darkenes and night was made in it shal al the beastes of the wood passe † The whelpes of lions roaring to rauen and to seeke of God meate for themselues † The sunne is risen and they are gathered together and in their couches they shal be placed † Man shal goe forth to his worke and to his working vntil euening † How magnified are thy workes ô Lord thou hast made al thinges in wisedom the earth is filled with thy possession † This great sea and very large there are creeping beastes wherof there is no number Litle beastes with great † there shippes shal passe This dragon whom thou madest to delude † al expect of thee that thou geue them meate in season † Thou geuing vnto them they shal gather it thou opening thy hand al shal be filled with bountie † But thou turning away the face they shal be trubled thou shalt take away their spirite and they shal faile and shal returne into their dust † Thou shalt sendforth thy spirit and they shal be created and thou shalt renewe the face of the earth † Be the glorie of our Lord for euer our Lord wil reioice in his workes † Who looketh vpon the earth maketh it to tremble who toucheth the mountaines and they smoke † I wil chaunte to our Lord in my life I wil sing to my God as long as I am † Let my speach be acceptable to him but I wil take delight in our Lord. † Let sinners faile from the earth and the vniust so that they be not my soule blesse thou our Lord. PSALME CIIII. The Israelites are exhorted to sing praises to God 5. for his meruelous benefites towards Abraham Isaac and Iacob 11. whose particular familie being then smal went from Chanaan into Aegypt 17. Whither Ioseph by Gods prouidence was caried before there increased in number was persecuted 26. deliuered by Moyses and Aaron working manie great miracles 36. protected and fedde in the desert 44. and finally possessed Chanaan Alleluia CONFESSE ye to our Lord and inuocate his name shewforth his workes among the Gentiles † Chaunt to him and sing to him tel ye al his meruelous workes † Prayse ye him in his holie name let the hart of them reioice that seeke our Lord. † Seeke ye our Lord and be confirmed seeke his face alwayes † Remember ye his meruelous workes which he hath done his wonders and the iudgments of his mouth † The seede of Abraham his seruantes the children of Iacob his elect † He is the Lord our God in al the earth are his iudgementes † He hath bene mindeful for euer of his testament of the word which he commanded vnto a thousand generations † Which he disposed to Abraham and of his oath to Isaac † And he appointed it to Iacob for a precept and to Israel for an eternal testament † Saying To thee wil I geue the land of Chanaan the corde of your inheritance † When they were of smal number very few and seiourners therof † And they passed from nation into nation from kingdom to an other people † He leift not a man to hurt them and he rebuked kings for their sake † Touch not my annointed and toward my prophetes be not malignant † And he called a famine vpon the land and he desstroyed al the strength of bread † He sent a man before them Ioseph was sold to be a seruant † They humbled his feete in fetters yron passed through his soule † vntil his word came The word of our Lord inflamed him † the king sent and
loosed him the prince of the people and released him † He appointed him lord of his house and prince of al his possession † That he might instruct his princes as himselfe and might teach his ancientes wisedom † And Israel entered into Aegypt and Iacob was a seiourner in the land of Cham. † And he increased his people excedingly and strengthned them ouer their enemies † He turned their hart that they hated his people and to worke guile toward his seruantes † He sent Moyses his seruant Aaron him selfe whom he chose † He did put in them the wordes of his signes and of his wonders in the Land of Cham. † He sent darkenes and obscured and did not exasperate his wordes † He turned their waters into bloud and killed their fishes † Their land broughtforth frogges in the inner chambers of their kinges † He sayd and the caenomyia came and the cinifes in al their coastes † He made theyr raynes haile fire burning in their land † And he stroke their vines and their figtrees and he destroyed the wood of their coastes † He said the locust came and the bruchus wherof there was no number † And it did eate al the grasse in their land and it did eate al the fruicte of their land † And he stroke euerie first begotten in their land the first fruictes of al their labour † And he brought themforth with gold and siluer and there was not in their tribes a feeble person † Aegypt was glad at their departure because the feare of them lay vpon them † He spred a cloude for their protection and fire to shine vnto them by night † They made petition and the quaile came and he filled them with the bread of heauen † He diuided the rocke and waters flowed riuers ranne in the drie ground † Because he was mindful of his holie word which he had vttered to Abraham his seruant † And he broughtforth his people in exultation and his elect in ioy † And he gaue them the countries of the Nations and they possessed the labours of peoples † That they might keepe his iustifications and seeke after his lawe PSALME CV The prophet exhorteth the people to render thankes and praises to God 6. for remitting their manifold sinnes in the desert 34. and in the conquered land 38. foreshewing like sinnes to come Gods wrath and punishment for the same 44. and that he wil geue grace of repentance to some 47. for which he prayeth and praiseth God Allelu ia CONFESSE ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer † Who shal speake the powers of our Lord shal make al his prayses to be heard † Blessed are they that keepe iudgement and doe iustice at al time † Remember vs ô Lord in the good pleasure of thy people visite vs in thy saluation † To see in the goodnes of thyne elect to reioyce in the ioy of thy nation that thou maist be praysed with thine inheritance † We haue sinned with our fathers we haue dealt vniustly we haue done iniquitie † Our father 's in Aegypt did not vnderstand thy meruelous workes they were not mindeful of the multitude of thy mercie And they prouoked thee to wrath going vp vnto the sea the Read sea † And he saued them for his name sake that he might make his power knowen † And he rebuked the Read sea and it was made drie and he led them in the depths as in a desert † And he saued them from the hand of them that hated them and “ he redemed them out of the hand of the enemie † And water ouerwhelmed those that afflicted them there did not one of them remaine † And they beleued his wordes and they sang his praise † They had quickly donne they forgot his workes and they expected not his counsel † And they coueted concupiscence in the desert and tempted God in the place without water † He gaue them their petition and sent saturitie into their soules † And they prouoked Moyses in the campe Aaron the holie of our Lord. † The earth was opened and swalowed Dathan and ouerwhelmed the congregation of Abiron † And a fire flamed vp in their sinagogue the flame burnt the sinners † And they made a calfe in Horeb and they adored the sculptil † And they changed their glorie into the similitude of a calfe that eateth grasse † They forgat God which saued them which did great thinges in Aegypt † meruelous thinges in the land of Cham terrible thinges in the Read sea † And he sayd to destroy them if Moyses his elect had not stood in the way before him To turne away his wrath that he should not destroy them † and they estemed for naught the land that was to be desired They did not beleue his word † and they murmured in their tabernacles they heard not the voice of our Lord. † And he lifted vp his hand ouer them to ouerthrowe them in the desert † And to cast doune their seede among the Nations and to disperse them in the countries † And they were professed to Beelphegor and they did eate the sacrifices of the dead † And they prouoked him in their inuentions and ruine was multiplied on them † And Phinees stood and pacified and the slaughter ceased † And it was reputed to him vnto iustice in generation and generation euen for euer † And they prouoked him at the waters of contradiction and Moyses was vexed for them † because they exasperated his spirit And he playnely affirmed in his lippes † they destroyed not the nations of which our Lord spake to them † And they were mingled among the nations and learned their workes † and they serued their sculptils and it became a scandal to them † And they immolated their sonnes and their daugheters to diuels † And they shed innocent bloud the bloud of their sonnes and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the sculptils of Chanaan And the land was infected with bloud † and was contaminated in their workes and they did fornicat in their inuentions † And our Lord was wrath with ●urie vpon his people and he abhorred his inheritance † And he deliuered them into the handes of the nations and they that hated them had the dominion of them † And their enimies afflicted them and they were humbled vnder their handes † he did often deliuer them But they exasperated him in their counsel and they were humbled in their iniquities † And he saw when they were afflicted and he heard their prayer † And he was mindeful of his testament and it repented him according to the multitude of his mercie
be done † Nothing vnder the sunne is new neither is anie man able to say Behold this is new for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before vs. † There is no memorie of former thinges but neither of those thinges verily which hereafter are to come shal there be remenbrance with them that shal be in the later end † I Ecclesiastes haue bene king of Israel in Ierusalem † and haue proposed in my mind to seke and search wisely of al thinges that are done vnder the sunne This very euil occupation hath God geuen to the children of men that they might be occupied in it † I haue sene al thinges that are done vnder the sunne and behold al are vanitie affliction of spirit † The peruerse are hardly corrected and the number of fooles is infinite † I haue spoken in my hart saying Loe I haue bene made great and haue gone beyond al in wisdom that were before me in Ierusalem and my minde hath contemplated manie thinges wisely and I haue lerned † And I haue geuen my hart to know prudence and doctrine and errors and follie and I haue perceiued that in these also there was labour and affliction of spirite † for that “ in much wisdom there is much indignation and he that addeth knowlege addeth also labour ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 18. In much vvisdom is much indignation How much more anie man profiteth in wisdom so much more he is angrie with himself for the euils which he hath done so much better he knovveth the strict iudgement of God which he must passe so much more he vnderstandeth the vvant of perfect vvisdom so much more he seeth that labour is required to procede in vertue and to conserue that smal portion vvhich he hath gotten Neither is anie man ordinarily assured that he hath gotte anie part of true vvisdom for he knovveth not vvhether he be vvorthie of loue or hate Eccle. 9. CHAP. II. Humane deligthes are al vaine 4. as gorgious buildinges fruitful vinyards plentie of fish cattle seruantes siluer gold musike 11. not satisfying mans desire 18. Neither can anie man know how his heyre wil behaue himself ISayde therfore in my hart I wil goe flow in delightes and enioy good thinges And I saw that this also was vanitie † Laughter I haue reputed errour and to ioy I haue saide Why art thou deceiued in vaine † I haue thought in my hart to withdraw my flesh from wine that I might transferre my minde to wisdom and might auoid follie til I might see what should be profitable for the children of men what is nedeful to be done vnder the sunne in the number of the dayes of their life † I haue magnified my workes I haue built me houses planted vineyards † I haue made gardens and orchards and set them with trees of al kindes † and I haue made me ponds of waters to watter the wood of springing trees † I haue possessed menseruants and wemenseruants and haue had a great familie heardes also and great flockes of shepe aboue al that were before me in Ierusalem † I haue heaped together to myself siluer and gold and the substance of kinges and prouinces I made me singingmen singingwemen and the delightes of the children of men cuppes and goblets to serue to powre out wines † and I surpassed in riches al that were before me in Ierusalem wisdom also hath perseuered with me † And al thinges that myne eies desired I haue not denied to them neither haue I stayed my hart but that it enioyed al pleasure delighted itself in these thinges which I had prepared and this I estemed my portion if I did vse my labour † And when I had turned myself to al the workes which my handes had done to the laboures wherin I had swette in vaine I saw in al thinges vanitie and affliction of minde nothing to be permanent vnder the sunne † I passed further to contemplate wisdom and errors and follie what is man quoth I that he can folow the king his Maker † and I saw that wisdom so much excelled follie as light differeth from darknes † The eyes of a wiseman are in his head the foole walketh in darknes and I haue lerned that there was one death of both † And I sayd in my hart If the fal of the foole myne shal be one what doth it profite me that I haue bestowed greater labour for wisdom And speaking with my minde I perceiued that this also was vanitie † For there shal be no memorie of the wise in like maner as of the foole for euer and the times to come shal couer al thinges together with obliuion the lerned dieth in like maner as the vnlerned † And therfore I haue bene wearie of my life seing al thinges vnder the sunne to be euil and al thinges vanitie and affliction of spirite † Againe I detested al myne industrie wherwith I haue laboured vnder the sunne most studiously being like to haue an heyre after me † whom I know not whether he wil be a wiseman or a foole and he shal rule in my labours wherewith I haue swette and haue bene careful and is there anie thing so vaine † Wherfore I ceased and my hart hath renounced to labour anie more vnder the sunne † For whereas one laboreth in wisdom and doctrine and carefulnes he leaueth the thinges gotten to an idle man and this therfore is vanitie and great euil † For what profite shal be to a man of al his labour and affliction of spirite wherwith he is vexed vnder the sunne † Al his daies are ful of sorowes and miseries neither by night doth he rest in minde and is not this vanitie † Is it not better to eate and drinke and shew vnto his soule good thinges of his laboures this is of the hand of God † Who shal so deuour and flow with delightes as I † To a man good in his sight God hath geuen wisdom and knowlege and ioy but to the sinner he hath geuen affliction and superfluous care to adde and to gather together and deliuer it to him that hath pleased God but this also is vanitie vaine carefulnes of the minde CHAP. III. Contrarie thinges succede in their seasons and passe away 9. wherof man getteth no perfect knowlege how long soeuer he liueth and laboreth to know them 16. neither wil there be equitie where it ought to be in this world 21. but in the next good and euil shal be separated and iudged according to their desertes AL thinges haue a time and in their spaces al thinges passe vnder heauen † A time to be borne a time to dye A time to plant a time to pluck vp that which was planted † A time to kil and a time to heale A time to destroy and a time to builde † A time to wepe a time to laugh A time to mourne
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it † Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth † If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be † He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape † As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. † In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better † The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne † If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie † Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement † Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not † before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine † when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes † and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe † The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate † Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne † and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it † Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie † And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables † He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth † The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour † More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh † Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man † and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
shal see the end of the wise and shal not vnderstand what God hath thought of him and why our Lord hath fensed him † For they shal see and shal contemne him but our Lord shal laugh them to scorne † and they shal fal after this without honour and in contumelie among the dead for euer because he shal breake them puffed vp without voice and shal remoue them from the fundations and they shal be made desolate vnto the highest degree and shal be moorning and the memorie of them shal perish † They shal come feareful in cogitation of their sinnes and their iniquities on the contrarie shal conuince them ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 11. He vvas taken avvay By this place S. Augustin proueth that such as died in good state might haue fallen into wickednes if they had liued longer and therefore it was a benefite to them to dye sooner And that it is neuertheles certaine that God both knew the possibilitie that such might yea would haue sinned if they had liued longer and also knew that they should d●e sooner and so escape that danger VVhich assured foreknowlege of al thinges that shal be or may be standeth wel with mans freewil against certaine that inclined to Pelagianisme attributing too much to mans freewil and detracting from Gods foreknowlege and prouidence VVhich he prouing by this place his aduersaries excepted against the auctoritie of this booke and therfore he also proueth that it is Canonical Scripture li. de Predest Sanct. c. 14. CHAP. V. In the general iudgement the wicked seing the iust whom they had contemned to be in great honour shal bewaile their owne miserie 9. considering that their pleasure was short 16. and the ioy of the blessed shal be for euer 18. God wil arme himself and al creatures to punish the impious THEN shal the iust stand in great constancie against those that haue afflicted them and taken away their labours † They seing shal be trubled with horrible feare and shal meruel at the sodennes of vnexpected saluation † saying within themselues repenting and sighing for anguish of spirit These are they whom we had sometime in derision and in a parable of reproch † We senslesse estemed their life madnes and their end without honour † Behold how they are counted among the children of God and their lot is among the saints † We therfore haue erred from the way of truth and the light of iustice hath not shined to vs and the sunne of vnderstanding rose not to vs. † We are weried in the way of iniquitie and perdition and haue walked hard wayes but the way of our Lord we haue not knowen † What hath pride profited vs or what commoditie hath the vaunting of riches brought to vs † Al those thinges are passed away as a shadow and as a messenger running before † and as a shippe that passeth through the surging waters wherof when it is past the trace can not be found nor the path of that shippes keele in the waues † or as a bird that flyeth through in the ayre of which there is no token can be found of her passage but only a sound of the winges beating the light winde and by vehemence of going cutting the ayre mouing the winges she is flowen through and afterward there is no signe found of her way † or as when an arrow is shotte forth to a sette marke the diuided ayre is forthwith closed in itself againe so that the passage therof is not knowen † so we also being borne forthwith ceased to be and of vertue certes haue bene able to shew no signe but in our naughtines we are consumed † Such thinges sayd they in hel which sinned † because the hope of the impious is as dust which is taken away with the winde and as a thinne froth which is dispersed by the storme and as smoke that is scatered abrode by the winde and as the memorie of a ghest of one day that passeth † But the iust shal liue for euer and their reward is with our Lord and cogitation of them with the Highest † Therfore shal they receiue a kingdom of honour a crowne of beautie at the hand of our Lord because with his right hand he wil couer them and with in his holie arme he wil defend them † And his zele wil take armour and he wil arme the creature to the reuenge of the enemies † He wil put on iustice for a brestplate wil take sincere iudgement for an helmet † he wil take equitie for an inuicible shilde † and he wil sharpen fierce wrath for a speare and the round world shal fight with him against the senslesse † The shottes of lightenings shal goe directly as it were from a bow of the clouds wel bent they shal be cast forth and shal light on a certaine place † And from rocked wrath shal thicke haile stones be cast the water of the sea shal rage against them and the riuers shal runne together roughly † A spirit of powre shal stand against them and as a hurle winde shal diuide them and their iniquitie shal bring al the land to a desert and naughtines shal ouerthrow the seates of the mightie CHAP. VI. Kinges and al Magistrates are againe admonished to exercise iustice 7. otherwise they shal be more greuously punished 13. wisdom may easely be found 18. by those that sincerely desire it 22. And is very profitable 25. excepting the enuious or il disposed 26. both to prince and people VVISEDOM is better then strength and a wiseman then a strong † Heare therfore ye kinges vnderstand lerne ye iudges of the endes of the earth † Geue eare ye that rule multitudes and that please yourselues in multitudes of nations † because the powre is geuen you of our Lord and strength by the Highest who wil examine your workes and search your cogitations † because when you were the ministers of his kingdom you iudged not rightly nor kept the law of iustice nor haue walked according to the wil of God † Horribly and quickly wil he appeare to you because most seuere iudgement shal be done on them that beare rule † For to the litle one mercie is granted but the mightie shal mightely suffer torments † For God wil not except any mans person neither wil feare the greatnes of any man because he made the litle and the great he hath equally care of al. † But to the stronger more strong torment is imminent † To you therfore ô kings are these my wordes that you may lerne wisdom and not fal † For they that haue kept iust thinges iustly shal be iustified and they that haue lerned these thinges shal find what they may answer † Couet ye therfore my wordes and loue them and you shal haue discipline † Wisdom is cleere and such as neuer fadeth and is easely sene of them that loue her and is
worketh it shal be honoured therin † Blessed is the man that shal continew in wisdom and that shal meditate in his iustice and in vnderstanding shal consider the prouidence of God † He that considereth her wayes in his hart and hath vnderstanding in her secrets going after her as a searcher and consisting in her wayes † He that looketh through her windowes and heareth in her gates † He that resteth by her house in her walles fastening a stake wil set vp his corage beside her handes and good thinges shal rest in his cottage for euer † He shal set his children vnder her couering and shal abide vnder her boughes † he shal be protected vnder her couering from the heate and shal rest in her glorie CHAP. XV. The fruictes of fearing God 7. Which fooles and liers reape not but the wise only 11. God is no way auctor of sinne 14. but sinners themselues are the auctors abusing their freewil HE that feareth God shal doe good thinges and he that hath iustice shal apprehend her † and she wil meete him as an honourable mother and as a wife from virginitie she wil receiue him † She shal fede him with the bread of life and vnderstanding and geue him the water of wholsome wisdom to drinke and she shal be made sure in him and he shal not be bowed † and she shal hold him fast and he shal not be confounded and she shal exalt him before his neighbours † and in the middest of the Church she shal open his mouth and shal fil him with the spirite of wisdom and vnderstanding and shal clothe him with a stole of glorie † Ioy exultation she shal heape vpon him shal make him inherite an euerlasting name † Foolish men shal not apprehend her wise men shal meete her foolish men shal not see her for she is far from pride and deceite † Lying men shal not be myndful of her and true men shal be found in her and shal haue successe euen to the beholding of God † Prayse is not comelie in the mouth of a sinner † Because wisdom proceded from God For prayse shal be with the wisdom of God shal abound in a faithful mouth the dominator wil giue praise to yt † Say not It is by God that she is absent for doe not thou the thinges that he hateth † Say not He hath made me erre for impious men are not necessarie for him † Our Lord hateth al abomination of errour and it shal not be amiable to them that feare him † God from the beginning made man and left him in the hand of his owne counsel † He added his commandmentes and precepts † If thou wilt keepe the commandment and keepe acceptable fidelitie for euer they shal preserue thee † He hath set before thee water and fire to which thou wilt stretch forth thine hande † Before man there is life and death good and euil what pleaseth him shal be geuen him † Because the wisdom of God is much and he is strong in mighte seing al men without intermission † The eies of our Lord are towards them that feare him and he knoweth al the worke of man † He hath commanded no man to do impiously and he hath geuen no man space to sinne † for he desireth not a multitude of faithlesse and vnprofitable children CHAP. XVI A few good children yea none at al are better then manie wicked 9. Gods wrath falleth vpon the euil and his mercie on the good 14. workes of mercie merite great reward 15. Nothing is hid from God 20. but manie thinges from men REIOICE not in impious children if they be multiplied neither be delighted vpon them if the feare of God be not in them † Credite not their life and respect not their labours † For better is one fearing God then a thousand impious children † And it is more profitable to die without children rather then to leaue impious children † By one wise a countrie shal be inhabited and the tribe of the impious shal be made desolate † Manie such thinges hath mine eie sene and myne eare hath heard thinges of more force then these † In the synagogue of sinners a fire shal flame and in an incredulous nation wrath shal waxe hotte † The old giantes did not obteine for their sinnes who were destroied trusting to their owne strength † and he spared not the peregrination of Lot and he detested them for the pride of their word † He had not pitie on them destroying the whole nation and extolling themselues in their sinnes † And as the six hundred thousand foote men which were gathered together in the hardnes of their hart and if one had bene stiffe necked it is meruel if he had bene vnpunished † For there is mercie and wrath with him Mightie exoration powring out wrath † according to his mercie so his chastisement iudgeth a man according to his workes † The sinner shal not escape in robberie and the sufferance of him that doth mercie shal not slacke † Al mercie shal make a place to euerie man according to the merite of his workes according to the vnderstanding of his peregrination † Say not I shal be hid from God and from on high who shal remember me † In a great people I shal not be knowen for what is my soule among so innumerable creatures † Behold heauen and the heauens of heauens the depth and al the earth the thinges that are in them in his sight shal be moued † the mountaines together and the litle hilles the fundations of the earth when God shal behold them they shal be shaken with trembling † And in al these thinges the hart is senseles and euerie hart is vnderstood of him † and his wayes who doth vnderstand and the storme which neither the eie of man shal see † For manie of his workes are in secretes but the workes of his iustice who shal declare or who shal susteine For the testament is far from some and the examination of al is in consummation † He that is lesse of hart thinketh vaine thinges and the vnwise and erring man thinketh folish thinges † Heare me my sonne and lerne the discipline of vnderstanding and attend to my wordes in thy hart † and I wil speake discipline in equitie and wil search to declare wisedom and to my wordes attend in thy hart and I speake in equitie of spirit the vertues that God hath put vpon his workes from the beginning and in truth I shew forth his knowlege † In the iudgement of God are his workes from the beginning and from the institution of them he distinguished their partes and their beginninges in their nations † He adorned their workes for euer neither haue they hungred nor laboured and they haue not ceased from their workes † Euerie one shal not vexe his neighbour for euer † Be not
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 tribes of Iacob † Blessed are they that saw thee and were honored in thy freindshipe † For we liue by life only but after death our name shal not be such † Elias was in dede hid in the whirlewind his spirit was complete in Eliseus in his daies he feared not the prince and no man ouercame him by might † Neither did any word ouercome him and his bodie prophecied being dead † In his life he did wonders and in death he wrought meruelous thinges † In al these thinges the people repented not and they departed not from their sinnes til they were cast out of their land and were dispersed into al the earth † And there was leaft a verie smal nation and a prince in the house of Dauid † Some of them did that which pleased God but others committed manie sinnes † Ezechias fenced his citie and brough in water into the middes thereof and digged a rocke with yron and built a wel for water † In his daies came vp Sennacherib and sent Rabsaces and lifted vp his hand against them and put forth his hand vpon Sion and became proude by his mightines † Then were their harts and hands moued and they were in sorow as trauailing wemen † And they inuocated our merciful Lord and spredding their handes they lifted them vp to heauen and the holie Lord God quickly heard their voice † He was not mindful of their sinnes neither did he geue them to their enemies but purged them by the hand of Isaie the holie prophete † He ouerthrew the campe of the Assirians and the Angel of our Lord destroyed them † For Ezechias did that which pleased God and went strongly in the way of Dauid his father which Isaie commanded him the great prophet and faithful in the sight of God † In his daies the sunne returned backward added life to the king † By a great spirite he saw the last thinges and comforted the mourners in Sion † For euer he shewed the thinges to come secret thinges before they came to passe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLVIII 10 VVho art vvritten Amongst other quarels Protestantes except against the authentical auctoritie of this booke because the auctor saith that Enoch and Elias shal come againe to appease the wrath of our Lord to reconcile the father to the sonne and to restore the tribes of Iacob But that this is no iust exception is clere by other holie Scriptures where the same vniforme doctrin of the whole Church is no lesse euident then in this booke For God himself saith the same also by the mouth of his prophet Malachie Behold I wil send you Elias the prophet before the day of our Lord come the great and dreadful Christ also sayth Elias in deede shal come and restore al thinges VVherupon S. Chrysostom after he hath shewed how terrible Antichrist shal be by reason of his temporal powre crueltie and wicked lawes he addeth Feare thou not He shal only haue force in the reprobate that perish For then also Elias shal come to fortifie the faithful Likewise the wordes in the Apocalips I wil geue to my two witnesses they shal prophecie a thousand two hundred and three score dayes were euer inuariably vnderstood by tradition from the first preachers of Christ as the ancient writer Aretas testifieth that Enoch and Elias shal come admonish al not to geue credite to the deceiptful wonders of Antichrist and that they shal trauel in this testimonie the space of three yeares and a half For 1260. dayes come very nere to that space of time CHAP. XLIX Praises of Iosias who like to Dauid and Ezechias tooke away occasions of idolatrie 8. Praises of Ieremie 10. Ezechiel 12. and the twelue Prophetes 13. Also of Zorobabel Iesus the sonne of Iosedech Nehemias Enoch Ioseph Seth Sem and Adam THE memorie of Iosias is according to the confection of perfume made by the worke of an apothecarie † His remembrance shal be sweete as honie in euerie mouth and as musick in banket of wine † He was directed by God into the repentance of the nation and he tooke away the abominations of impietie † And he gouerned his hart toward our Lord and in the daies of sinners he strengthened pietie † Except Dauid and Ezechias and Iosias al committed sinne † For the kinges of Iuda forsooke the law of the Highest and contemned the feare of God † For they gaue their kingdom to others and their glorie to a strange nation † They burnt the chosen citie of holines and made the waies thereof desolate in the hand of Ieremie † For they euil intreated him who was consecrated a prophet from his mothers wombe to ouerthrow and pluck vp and destroy and to build againe and renewe † Ezechiel who saw the sight of glorie which he shewed him in the chariote of Cherubs † For he made mention of the enemies in rayne to doe good vnto them that haue shewed right waies † And the bones of the twelue prophets wel may they spring out of their place for they haue strengthened Iacob and haue redeemed themselues in the fidelitie of power † How may we magnifie Zorobabel for he also was as a signet on the right hand † and so Iesus the sonne of Iosedec who in their daies built the house and erected the holie temple to our Lord prepared to euerlasting glorie † And Nehemias in the memorie of much time who erected vs our walles ouerthrowen and set vp the gates and lockes who built our houses † No man hath bene borne in the earth like to Henoch for he also was taken vp from the earth † Neither as Ioseph who was a man borne prince of his bretheren the stay of the nation the ruler of his bretheren the stay of the people † and his bones were visited and after death they prophecied † Seth and Sem obteyned glorie with men and aboue euerie soule in the beginning Adam CHAP. L. Praises of Simon the High Priest 27. Detestation of certaine persecuting aduersaries 29. With conclusion that the obseruers of this doctrine shal be wise and happie SIMON the sonne of Onias the high priest who in his life held vp the house and in his daies strengthned the temple † The height also of the temple was founded by him the duble building and high walles of the temple † In his daies the welles of waters flowed out and they were filled as the sea aboue measure † Who had care of his nation and deliuered it from perdition † Who preuailed to amplifie the citie who obteyned glorie in conuersing with the nation and amplified the entrance of the house and the court † As the morning starre in the middes of a cloude and as the ful moone he shineth in his dayes † And as the sunne shining so did he shine in the temple of God † As the rainbow that shineth among
of health 2. He sheweth them al his riches 5. for which I saie reprehendeth him and prophecieth that the Babylonians wil spoile Ierusalem AT THAT time Merodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters giftes to Ezechias for he had heard that he had bene sicke and was recouered † And Ezechias reioyced vpon them and he shewed them the storehouse of aromatical spices and of siluer and of gold and of sweete odours and of the best oyntment and al the store houses of his furniture and al thinges that were found in his treasures There was not anie thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house and in al his dominion † But Isaie the prophet went in to Ezechias the king and said to him What sayd these men and from whence came they to thee And Ezechias sayd From a far countrie they came to me from Babylon † And he sayd What saw they in thy house And Ezechias sayd al thinges that are in my house haue they sene there was not anie thing which I haue not shewed them in my treasures † And Isaie sayd to Ezechias Heare the word of the Lord of hostes † Behold the daies shal come and al thinges that are in thy house and that thy fathers haue layd vp for treasure vntil this day shal be taken away into Babylon there shal not any thing be leaft sayth our Lord. † And of thy children which shal come forth of thee whom thou shalt beget they shal take away and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon † And Ezechias sayd to Isaie The word of our Lord which he hath spoken is good And he said Onlie be there peace and truth in my daies CHAP. XL. The prophet comforteth the people with Christs coming to remitte sinnes 3. Before whom S. Iohn Baptist shal preach penance 6. sheweth mans imbecilitie 9. Gods Maiestie 18. the vanitie of idols 27. and fal of them that feare not God BE comforted be comforted my people saith your God † Speake to the hart of Ierusalem and cal to her because her malice is accomplished her iniquitie is forgeuen she hath receiued of the hand of our Lord duble for al her sinnes † The voice of one crying in the desert Prepare the way of our Lord make streight the pathes of our God in the wildernes † Euerie valley shal be exalted and euerie mountaine and litle hil shal be humbled crooked thinges shal become streight and rought wayes playne † And the glorie of our Lord shal be reueled and al flesh together shal see that the mouth of our Lord hath spoken † The voice of one saying Crie And I sayd What shal I crie Al flesh is grasse and al the glorie therof as the floure of the filde † The grasse is withered and the floure is fallen because the spirit of our Lord hath blowen on it In deede the people is grasse † the grasse is withered and the floure is fallen but the word of our Lord abideth for euer † Vpon an high mountayne get thee vp thou that euangelizest to Sion exalt the voice in strength which euangelizest to Ierusalem exalt it feare not Say to the cities of Iuda Behold your God † behold our Lord God shal come in strength and his arme shal haue dominion behold his reward is with him and his worke before him † As a shepheard shal he feede his flocke in his arme shal he gather together the lambes and in his bosome shal he lift them vp and them with yong himself shal carie † Who hath measured the waters with his fist and poundered the heauens with a spanne who hath poysed with three fingers the huge greatnes of the earth and wayed the mountaines in weight and the litle hilles in balance † Who hath holpen the spirit of our Lord or who hath bene his counseler and shewed to him † With whom hath he taken counsel and who hath instructed him and taught him the path of iustice and taught him knowlege and shewed him the way of prudence † Behold the Gentiles are as a droppe of a bucket and are reputed as the moment of a balance behold the ilandes are as a litle dust † And Libanus shal not suffice to kindle the fyre and the beastes therof shal not be sufficient for holocaust † Al nations as if they were not so are they before him and they are reputed of him as nothing and a vaine thing † To whom then haue you made God like or what image wil you set to him † Hath the artificer cast a sculptil or hath the goldsmith figured it with gold or the siluersmith with plates of siluer † Strong wood and that which wil not putrifie hath he chosen the wise artificer seeketh how he may set vp a sculptile which may not be moued † Why doe you not know why haue you not heard why hath it not bene told you from the beginning Haue you not vnderstood the fundations of the earth † He that sitteth vpon the compasse of the earth and the inhabitants therof are as locustes he that stretcheth out the heauens as nothing spreddeth them as a tent to dwel in † He that maketh the searchers of secretes as if they were not that hath made the iudges of the earth as a vayne thing † and in deede their stocke was neither planted nor sowen nor rooted in the earth sodenly he hath blowen vpon them and they haue withered and a whirle wind shal take them away as stubble † And to whom haue ye likened me and made me equal saith the holie one † Lift vp your eies on high and see who hath created these thinges he that bringeth out the host of them in number and calleth them al by name by the multitude of his force and strength and power not one of them was missing † Why sayest thou Iacob and speakest thou Israel My way is hid from our Lord and my iudgement is passed ouer of my God † Why knowest thou not or hast thou not heard our Lord is God euerlasting which hath created the endes of the earth he shal not faile nor labour neither is there searching out of his wisdome † Which geueth strength to the wearie and to them that are not multiplieth force and strength † Children shal faynte and labour and yongmen shal fal by infirmitie † But they that hope in our Lord shal change their strength they shal take winges as eagles they shal runne not labour they shal walke and not fainte CHAP. XLI God pleading against idolaters sheweth his powre and goodnes by his benefites bestowed vpon the Iewes 17. With promise of perpetual protection 21. Wheras their vaine idols can no way profite them LET the ilands hold their peace before me and the Gentiles change their strength let them come neere and then speake let vs
wither and I wil turne riuers into ilands and wil drie vp the standing pooles † And I wil lead the blind into the way which they know not and in the pathes which they haue bene ignorant of I wil make them walke I wil make darkenes before them to be light and crooked thinges streight these words haue I done to them and haue not forsaken them † They are turned backward let them be confounded with confusion that trust in grauen thing that say to the framed thing ye are our goddes † Heare ye deafe and ye blind behold to see † Who is blind but my seruant and deafe but he to whom I haue sent my messengers Who is blind but he that is solde and who is blind but the seruant of the Lord † Thou that seest manie thinges wilt thou not keepe them thou that hast eares open wilt thou not heare † And the Lord hath bene willing to sanctifie him and to magnifie the law and extol it † But the same people is spoiled and wasted al are the snare of yongmen and they are hid in the houses of prisons they are made a praye neither is there to deliuer them a spoile neither is there that sayth Restore † Who is there among you that wil heare this attend and harken for thinges to come † Who hath geuen Iacob into spoyle and Israel to the wasters hath not our Lord himself to whom we haue sinned And they would not walke in his wayes they haue not heard his law † And he hath powred out vpon them the indignation of his furie a strong battel and hath burnt him round about and he knewe not and set him on fyre and he vnderstoode not CHAP. XLIII God comforteth his Church promising euer to protect the same 11. blameth the Iewes expostulating their ingratitude AND now thus sayth our Lord that created thee ô Iacob formed thee ô Israel Feare not because I haue redemed thee and called thee by thy name thou art mine † When thou shalt passe through the waters I wil be with thee and the floudes shal not couer thee when thou shalt walke in fyre thou shalt not be burnt and the flame shal not burne in thee † Because I am the Lord thy God the holie one of Israel thy sauiour I haue geuen Aegypt thy propitiation Aethiopia and Sale for thee † Since thou becamest honorable in mine eies and glorious I haue loued thee I wil geue men for thee and peoples for thy soule † Feare not because I am with thee from the East wil I bring thy seede and from the West I wil gather thee † I wil say to the North Geue and to the South Hinder not bring my sonnes from a farre and my daughters from the endes of the earth † And cuerie one that inuocateth my name for my glorie haue I created him formed him and made him † Bring forth the blind people and hauing eyes the deafe and he hath eares † Al the nations are assembled together and the tribes are gathered which of you can shew this and shal make vs heare the former thinges Let them geue their witnesses and be iustified and heare and say In verie deede † You are my witnesses sayth our Lord and my seruants whom I haue chosen that you may know and beleue me and vnderstand that I myself am Before me there hath no god bene formed after me there shal not be † I am I am the Lord and there is no sauiour beside me † I haue shewed and haue saued I haue made it heard and there hath bene no strange one among you You are my witnesses sayth our Lord and I God † And from the beginning I my self and there is not that can deliuer out of my hand I wil worke and who shal turne it away † Thus sayth the Lord your redemer the holie one of Israel For your sake haue I sent forth into Babylon and haue plucked downe al the barres and Chaldees glorying in their shippes † I the Lord your holie one that created Israel your king † Thus sayth our Lord that gaue a way in the sea and a path in the vehement waters † Which brought forth the chariote and the house the arme and the strong they slept together neither shal they rise agayne they are broken as flaxe and are extinct † Remember not former thinges and looke not on thinges of old † Behold I make new thinges and now they shal spring forth verely you shal know them I wil make a way in the desert and riuers in the place not haunted † The beast of the fielde shal glorifie me the dragons the ostreches because I haue geuen waters in the desert riuers in the place not haunted that I might geue drinke to my people to mine elect † This people haue I formed for myself they shal tel my prayse † Thou hast not inuocated me ô Iacob neither hast thou labored in men ô Israel † Thou hast not offered me the ramme of thyne holocaust and with thy victimes thou hast not glorified me I haue not made thee to serue in oblation nor put thee to payne in frankincense † Thou hast not bought me sweete cane for siluer and with the fatte of thy victimes thou hast not inebriated me But thou hast made me to serue with thy sinnes thou hast put me to payne with thine iniquities † I am I am he that take cleane away thine iniquities for mine owne sake and I wil not remember thy sinnes † Bring me into remembrance and let vs be iudged together tel if thou haue any thing that thou mayst be iustified † Thy first father sinned and thy interpreters haue transgressed against me † And I haue profaned the holie princes I haue geuen Iacob to destruction Israel to reproch CHAP. XLIIII Christ foundeth and establisheth his Church 6. Inueigheth against idolaters 26. and promiseth deliuerance from the captiuitie of Babylon AND now heare ô Iacob my seruant and Israel whom I haue chosen † Thus sayth the Lord that made and formed thee thy helper from the wombe feare not ô my seruant Iacob and thou most righteous whom I haue chosen † For I wil powre out waters vpon the thirstie ground and streames vpon the drie land I wil powre out my spirit vpon thy seede and my blessing vpon thy stocke † And they shal spring the herbes as willowes beside the waters running by † This man shal say I am our Lords and an other man shal cal in the name of Iacob and this wil write with his hand To the Lord and in the name of Israel he shal be resembled † Thus sayth our Lord the king of Israel and the redemer therof the Lord of hostes I am the first and I the last and beside me there is no God † Who is like to me let him cal and declare and let him expound me the order since I appoynted the
where is he that brought them out of the sea with the pastours of his flocke Where is he that put in the middes of him the spirit of his holie one † He that brought out Moyses to the right hand by the arme of his maiestie that diuided the waters before them that he might make to himself an euerlasting name † He that brought them out through the depthes as an horse in the desert that stumbled not † As the beast that goeth downe in the plaine filde the spirit of our Lord was their conductor so didst thou bring thy people that thou mightest make thee a name of glorie † Attend from heauen and looke from thy holie habitation of thy glorie where is thy zele and thy strength the multitude of thy bowels and of thy mercies they haue held backe them selues toward me † For thou art our father and “ Abraham hath not knowen vs and Israel hath bene ignorant of vs thou ô Lord art our father our redemer from the begynning is thy name † Why hast thou made vs erre ô Lord from thy waies hast thou hardned our hart that we feared not thee Returne for thy seruants the tribes of thine inheritance † As nothing haue they possessed thy holie people our enemies haue troden downe thy sanctification † We are become as in the begynning when thou didst not rule ouer vs neither was thy name inuocated vpon vs. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. LXIII 16. Abraham hath not knovvne vs. The faithful people considering their ovvne great frequent inueterate sinnes vvith the extreme calamities wherinto they vvere fallen for the same supposed that their progenitor Abraham vvhom God had particularly called out of his countrie Iacob of vvhose tvvelue sonnes the vvhole nation vvas propagated did no longer acknowlege them for their children because they had so greuously offended God vvere not vvorthie of anie fauour Al vvhich notwithstanding yet they hoped in Gods incomparable mercie that his diuine goodnes being Creator of al who had elected them for his peculiar people brought them out of Aegypt and often deliuered them from sundrie afflictions vvould againe reduce them from capti●itie and as their merciful father remitte their sinnes and releue their miseries though Abraham Iacob and other Patriarches had iustly reiected them as lost children This being the proper literal sense of this place according to S. Ieroms and other ancient Doctors explication it maketh nothing at al for the old and new heresie of Vigilantius Luther denying that Sainctes in an other life do knovv vvhat is donne in this vvorld For albeit the Patriarches in zele of iustice did not acknovvlege their carnal posteritie because of their great sinnes for their children yet they knevv their state as S. Augustin li. de cura pro mortuis interpreting this and other places of holie Scripture teacheth partly by relation of such as passed from hence to them partly by holie Angels and especially by diuine inspirations As it is clere that Abraham knevv the state of poore Lazarus of the rich glutton describing vvhat ech of them had deserued and consequently receiued Much more both the old Patriarches and al other Sainctes in eternal glorie knovv ●●h other though neuer sene nor knovvne before in this vvorld as S. Gregorie teacheth li 4 c. 33. Dialogi The glorified Sainctes see also in God that vvhich perteyneth to their clientes that pray vnto them in earth so farre as God doth ordaine more clerly by light of glorie then prophetes see by light of prophecie as S. Augustin teacheth But touching the maner he saith it exceeded the reach of his vnderstanding hovv Martyrs do helpe those vvho it is certaine are holpen by them So discoursing at large of the vncertaine maner shevveth that there is no doubt at al of the thing it selfe that Sainctes in heauen do knovv mortal mens necessities hea●e their prayers and helpe them by their intercession and merites vvhich he confirmeth also li. 20. c. 21. cont Faust Tract 8. in Ioan. Ser. 5. de Sanctis Likevvise S. Ierom against Vigilan●ius S. Gregorie li. 3. Epist ep ●0 li. 7. ep 126. li. 9. ep 38 and others in manie places CHAP. LXIIII. The Iewes in captiuitie pray to God for release 4. acknowleging his former great benefites and their owne sinnes fleing now to his mercie VVOVLD God thou wouldest breake the heauens in sunder and wouldst descend at thy presence the mountaines should melt away † As the burning of fyre would they melt the waters would burne with fyre that thy name might be made knowen to thine enemies at thy presence the nations should be trubled † When thou shalt doe meruelous thinges we shal not sustayne thou art descended and at thy presence the mountaines are melted † From the begynning of the world they haue not heard nor receiued with the eares the eie hath not seene ô God beside thee what thinges thou hast prepared for them that expect thee † Thou hast mette him that reioyceth and doth iustice in thy waies they shal remember thee behold thou art angrie and we haue sinned we haue bene alwayes in them and we shal be saued † And al we are become as one vncleane and al our iustices as the cloth of a menstrued woman and we haue al fallen as a leafe and our iniquities as the winde haue taken vs away † There is none that inuocateth thy name that ryseth vp and holdeth thee thou hast hid thy face from vs and hast dashed vs in the hand of our iniquitie † And now Lord thou art our father and we clay and thou art our maker and al we the workes of thy handes † Be not angrie ô Lord ynough and remember no more our iniquitie loe regard al we are thy people † The citie of thy holie one is made desert Sion is made desert Ierusalem is become desolate † The house of our sanctification and of our glorie where our fathers praysed thee is turned into the burning of fyre and al our thinges worthie to be desired are turned into ruines † Wil● thou vpon these thinges conteyne thyself ô Lord wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict vs vehemently CHAP. LXV The gentiles shal seeke and finde Christ 2. Whom the Iewes wil persecute and shal be reiected only a few reliques reserued 13. So the Church shal multiplie and abound in graces THEY haue sought me that before asked not they haue found that sought me not I said Behold me behold me to a Gentilitie that did not inuocate my name † I haue spred fo●th mine handes al the day to an incredulous people which goeth in a way not good after their owne cogitations † A people that prouoke me to anger before my face alwayes that immolate in gardens and sacrifice vpon brickes † That dwel in sepulchers and sleepe in temples of idols that eate swines flesh and profane potage in their vessels † That say
wayes and their inuentions haue I iudged them † And they went in to the Nations vnto which they entered and haue polluted my holie name when it was said of them This is the people of the Lord and out of his land they are come forth † And I haue spared my holie name which the house of Israel polluted among the Gentiles to which they entered in † Therfore thou shalt say to the house of Israel Thus saith our Lord God not for your sake wil I doe it ô house of Israel but for my holie name which you haue polluted in the Nations to which you entered † And I wil sanctifie my great name that is polluted among the Gentiles which you haue polluted in the middes of them that the Gentils may know that I am the Lord saith our Lord of hostes when I shal be sanctified in you before them † For I wil take you out of the Gentils and wil gather you together out of al the landes and wil bring you into your land † And I wil powre out vpon you cleane water and you shal be clensed from al your contaminations from al your idols wil I clense you † And I wil geue you a new hart and wil put a new spirit in the middes of you and wil take away the stonie hart out of your flesh and wil geue you a fleshie hart † And I wil put my spirite in the middes of you and I wil make that you walke in my precepts keepe my iudgements and doe them † And you shal dwel in the land which I gaue to your fathers and you shal be my people and I wil be your God † And I wil saue you from al your contaminations and I wil cal for corne and wil multiplie it and wil not put famine vpon you † And I wil multiplie the fruite of the tree and the ofsprings of the filde that you beare no more the reproch of famine among the Gentils † And you shal remember your most wicked wayes and your studies not good and your iniquities and your wicked deedes shal displease you † Not for you wil I doe it saith our Lord God be it knowne to you be ye confounded and ashamed vpon your wayes ô house of Israel † Thus saith our Lord God In the day that I shal clense you from al your iniquities and shal make the cities to be inhabited and shal repayre the ruinous places † and the desert land shal be tilled which once was desolate in the eyes of euerie wayfaringman † they shal say This land vntilled is become as a garden of pleasure and the desert cities and destitute and vndermined haue sitten fenced † And the Nations whatsoeuer shal be left round about you shal know that I the Lord haue builded the destroyed thinges and planted the vntilled places that I the Lord haue spoken and done it † Thus saith our Lord God As yet in this shal the house of Israel finde me that I wil doe for them I wil multiplie them as a flocke of men † as a holie flocke as the flocke of Ierusalem in the solemnities therof So shal the desert cities be ful of flockes of men and they shal know that I am the Lord. CHAP. XXXVII By dead bones rising to life which also signifieth the general resurrection 11. is prophecied the reduction of the Iewes from captiuitie 15. the kingdoms of Iuda and Israel shal be reduced into one kingdom 23. in figure that al Nations shal be vnited in Christ. THE hand of our Lord was made vpon me and brought me forth in the spirite of our Lord and left me in the middes of a filde that was ful of bones † And he led me about through them on euerie side there were verie manie vpon the face of the filde and exceeding drie † And he sayd to me Sonne of man thinkest thou these bones shal liue And I sayd Lord God thou knowest † And he sayd to me Prophecie of these bones and thou shalt say to them Drie bones heare ye the word of our Lord. † Thus saith our Lord God to these bones Behold I wil put spirite into you and you shal liue † And I wil geue sinowes vpon you and wil make flesh to grow vp ouer you and wil strech a skine on you and I wil geue you spirite and you shal liue you shal know that I am the Lord. † And I prophecied as he had commanded me and there was made a sound when I prophecied and behold a commotion and bones came to bones euerie one to his iuncture † And I saw and behold vpon them sinowes and flesh was growen vp and a skinne was strerched out in them aboue and they had noe spirite † And he sayd to me Prophecie to the spirite prophecie sonne of man thou shalt say to the spirite Thus saith our Lord God Come spirite from the foure windes and blow vpon these slaine and let them be reuiued † And I prophecied as he had commanded me spirit entered into them they liued they stood vpon their feete an armie passing great † And he sayd to me Sonne of man Al these bones are the house of Israel They say our bones are withered our hope is perished and we are cut of † Therfore prophecie and thou shalt say to them Thus sayth our Lord God Behold I wil open your graues and wil bring you out of your sepulchers ô my people and wil bring you into the land of Israel † And you shal know that I am the Lord when I shal haue opened your sepulchres and shal haue brought you out of your graues ô my people † and shal haue geuen my spirite in you and you shal liue and I shal make you rest vpon your ground you shal know that I the Lord haue spoken and done it saith our Lord God † And the word of our Lord was made to me saying † And thou sonne of man take thee one peece of wood and write vpon it Of Iuda and of the children of Israel his felowes and take an other peece of wood and write vpon it Of Ioseph the wood of Ephraim and of al the house of Israel and of his selowes † And ioyne them one to the other for thee into one peece of wood and they shal be into an vnion in thy hand † And when the children of thy people shal say to thee speaking Doest thou not declare vnto vs what thou meanest by these † Thou shalt speake to them Thus saith our Lord God Behold I wil take the peece of wood of Ioseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel that are adioyned to him and I wil geue them together with the peece of wood of Iuda and wil make them into one peece of wood and they shal be one in his hand † And the peeces of wood wherupon thou shalt write in thy hand
† for the euiles which thou hast sene to haue chanced now worse then these wil they doe againe † for looke how much the world shal become weake by age so much shal euiles be multiplied vpon the inhabitants † For truth hath remoued it self farther of and lying hath approched for now the vision which thou sawest hasteneth to come † And I answered and sayd before thee ô Lord † For behold I wil goe as thou hast commanded me wil rebuke the people that now is But them that shal yet be borne who shal admonish † The world therfore is set in darknes and they that dwel in it without light † Because thy law is burnt therefore no man knoweth the workes that haue bene done by thee or that shal begin † For if I haue found grace with thee send the Holie Ghost to me I wil write al that hath bene done in the world from the beginning the thinges that were written in thy law that men may finde the pathe and they that wil liue in the later times may liue † And he answered me and sayd Goe gather together the people and thou shalt say to them that they seeke thee not for fourtie dayes † And doe thou prepare thee manie tables of boxe take with thee Sarea Dabria Salemia Echanus and Asiel these fiue which are readie to write swee●tly † And come hither I wil light in thy hart a candle of vnderstanding which shal not be put out til the things be finished which thou shalt begine to write † And then some thinges thou shalt open to the perfect some thou shalt deliuer secretly to the wyse For to morrow this houre thou shalt begine to write † And I went as he commanded me gathered togetheral the people and sayd † Heare Israel these wordes † Our fathers were pilgrimes from the beginning in Aegypt and were deliuered from thence † And they receiued the law of life which they kept not which you also after them haue transgressed † and the land was geuen you by lotte and the land of Sion and your fathers and you haue done iniquitie and haue not kept the wayes which the Highest commanded you † And wheras he is a iust iudge he hath taken from you in time that which he had geuen † And now you are here and your brethren are among you † If then you wil rule ouer your sense instruct your hart you shal be preserued aliue and after death shal obtaine mercie † For the iudgement shal come after death when we shal returne to lyfe againe and then the names of the iust shal appeare and the dedes of the impious shal be shewed † Let no man therfore come to me now nor aske for me vntil fourtie d●yes † And I tooke the siue men as he commanded me and we went forth into the field and taried there † And I was come to the morrow behold a voice called me saying Esdras open thy mouth and drinke that which I wil geue thee to drinke † And I opened my mouth behold a ful cuppe was brought me this was ful as it were with water but the colour therof like as fire † And I tooke it and dranke and when I had drunken of it my hart was tormented with vnderstanding and wisdome grewe into my brest For my spirit was kept by memorie † And my mouth was opened and was shut no more † The Highest gaue vnderstanding vnto the fiue men and they wrote excesses of the night which were spoken which they knewe not † And at night they did eate breade but I spake by day by night held not my peace † And there were written in the fourtie dayes two hundred foure bookes † And it came to passe when they had ended the fourtie daies the Highest spake saying † The former thinges which thou hast written set abrode and let the worthie and vnworthie reade but the last seuentie bookes thou shalt keepe that thou mayest deliuer them to the wyse of thy people † For in these is the vaine of vnderstanding and the fountaine of wisdome and the streame of knowledge and I did soe CHAP. XV. Esdras is bid to denounce that assuredly manie euiles wil come to the world 9. God wil protect his people the wicked shal be punished and lament their final miseries God reuenging for the good BEHOLD speake into the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie which I shal put into thy mouth sayth our Lord † and see that they be written in paper because they be faithful and true † Be not afrayd of the cogitations against thee neither let the incredulities truble thee of them that speake † Because euerie incredulous person shal dye in his incredulitie † Behold I bring in sayth our Lord vpon the whole earth euils sword and famine and death and destruction † Because iniquitie hath fully polluted ouer al the earth and their hurtful workes are accomplished † Therefore sayth our Lord † I wil not now kepe silence of their impieties which they doe irreligiously neither wil I beare with those thinges which they practise vniustly Behold the innocent iust bloud crieth to me the soules of the iust crie continually † Reuenging I wil reuenge them sayth our Lord and I wil take al innocent bloud out of them vnto me † Behold my people is led to staughter as a flocke I wil no more suffer it to dwel in the land of Aegypt † But I wil bring them forth in a mightie hand and valiant arme and wil strike with plague as before and wil corrupt al the land thereof † Aegypt shal mourne and the fundations thereof beaten with plague and with the chastisement which God wil bring vpon it † The husband men that til the ground shal mourne because their seedes shal perish by blasting and haile and by a terible starre † Woe to the world and them that dwel therein † Because the sword is at hand and the destruction of them and nation shal rise vp against nation to fight sword in their handes † For there shal be instabilitie to men growing one against an other they shal not care for their king the princes of the way of their doinges in their might † For a man shal desire to go into the citie can not † Because of their prides the cities shal be trubled the houses raised the men shal feare † Man shal not pitie his neighbour to make their houses nothingworth in the sword to spoyle their goodes for famine of bread much tribulation † Behold I cal together sayth God al the kinges of the earth to feare me that are from the Orient from the South from the East from Libanus to be turned vpon themselues and to render the thinges that they haue geuen them † As they doe vntil this day to myne elect so wil I doe and render in their bosome Thus sayth our Lord God
depth and the floudes of it shal be destroyed and the fishes thereof at the face of our Lord and at the glorie of his powre † because his right hand is strong which bendeth the bow his arrowes be sharpe that are shot of him they shal not misse when they shal begine to be shot into the endes of the earth † Behold euiles are sent and they shal not returne til they come vpon the earth † The fire is kindled and it shal not be quenched til it consume the fundations of the earth † For as the arrow shot of a strong archer returneth not so shal not the euils returne backe that shal be sent vpon the earth † Woe is me woe is me who shal deliuer me in those dayes † The beginning of sorrowes and much mourning the beginning of famine and much destruction The beginning of warres and the potestates shal feare the beginning of euiles and al shal tremble † In these what shal I doe when the euiles shal come † Behold famine and plague and tribulation and distresse are sent al as scourges for amendment † and in al these they wil not conuert themselues from their iniquities neither wil they be alwayes mindful of the scourges † Behold there shal be good cheape victuals vpon the earth so that they may thinke that peace is directly coming toward them and then shal euiles spring vpon the earth sword famine and great confusion † For by famine manie that inhabit the earth shal dye and the sword shal destroy the rest that remained aliue of the famine † and the dead shal be cast forth as dung and there shal be none to comfort them For the earth shal be left desert and the cities therof shal be throwen downe † There shal not be left a man to til the ground and to sow it † The trees shal yeeld fruites and who shal gather them † The grape shal become ripe who shal tread it For there shal be great desolation to places † For a man shal desire to see a man or to heare his voyce † For there shal be leaft ten of a citie and two of the filde that haue hid themselues in thicke woodes and cliffes of rockes † As there are left in the oliuet and on euerie tree three or foure oliues † Or as in a vinyeard when it is gathered there are grapes left by them that diligently search the vineyard so shal there be left in those dayes three or foure by them that search their houses in the sword † And the earth shal be left desolate and the fildes thereof shal waxe old the wayes thereof and al the pathes thereof shal bringforth thornes because no man shal passe by it † Virgins shal mourne hauing no bridegromes wemen shal mourne hauing no husbandes their daughters shal mourne hauing no helpe † their bridegromes shal be consumed in battel and their husbandes be destroyed in famine † But heare these thinges and know them ye seruantes of our Lord. † Behold the word of our Lord receiue it beleue not the goddes of whom our Lord speaketh † Behold the euiles approch and slacke not † As a woman with childe when shee bringeth forth her child in the ninth moneth the houre of her deliuerance approching two or three howres before paines come about her wombe and the infants coming out of her wombe they wil not tarrie one moment † So the euiles shal not slacke to come forth vpon the earth and the world shal lament and sorowes shal hold it round about † Heare the word my people prepare yourselues vnto the fight in the euiles so be ye as strangers of the earth † He that selleth as if he should flee and he that byeth as he that should lose it † He that playeth the marchant as he that should take no fruite and he that buildeth as he that should not inhabite † He that soweth as he that shal not teape so he also that pruneth a vinyeard as if he should not haue the vintage † They that marie so as if they should not get children they that marie not so as it were widowes † Wherfore they that labour labour without cause † ●or soreners shal reape their fruites shal violently take their goodes and ouerthrow their houses and lead theire children captiue because in captiuitie and famine they beget their children † And they that play the marchantes by robrie the longer they adorne their cities and houses and their possessions and persons † so much the more wil I be zealous toward them vpon their sinnes sayth our Lord. † As a whore enuieth an honest very good woman † so shal iustice hate impietie when she adorneth herselfe and accuseth her to her face when he shal come that may defend him that searcheth out al vpon the earth † Therefore be not made like to her nor to her workes † For yet a little whyle iniquitie shal be taken away from the earth iustice shal reigne ouer you † Let not the sinner say he hath not sinned because he shal burne coales of fire vpon his head that sayth I haue not sinned before our Lord God and his glorie † Behold our Lord shal know al the workes of men and their inuentions their cogitations and their hartes † For he sayd Let the earth be made and it was made let the heauen be made it was made † And by his worde the starrs were made he knoweth the number of the starres † Who searcheth the depth and the treasures therof who hath measured the sea capacitie therof † Who hath shut vp the sea in the midest of waters hath hanged the earth vpon the waters with his word † Who hath spred heauē as it were a vault ouer the waters he hath foūded it † Who hath put fountaines of waters in the desert and lakes vpon the toppes of mountaines to sendforth riuers from the high rocke to watter the earth † Who made man put his hart in the midds of the bodie and gaue him spirit life and vnderstanding † And the inspiration of God omnipotent that made al thinges and searcheth al hid thinges in the secretes of the earth † He knoweth your inuention and what you thinke in your hartes sinning and willing to hide your sinnes † Wherfore our Lord in searching hath searched al your workes and he wil put you al to open shame † and you shal be confounded when your sinnes shal come forth before men and the iniquities shal be they that shal stand accusers in ●hat day † What wil you doe or how shal you hide your sinnes before God and his Angels † Behold God is the Iudge feare him Cease from your sinnes and now forget your iniquities to doe them anie more God wil bring you out and deliuer you from al tribulation † For behold the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you and they shal take certaine
haue geuen credite chap. 19. v. 24. :: God suffered Semei being of his owne free wil malicious for punishment of Dauids sinnes to curse him but was not the author of his malice for so Semei had committed no fault therein and then he could not lawfully haue benne punished for it as he was 3. Reg. 2. :: The people doubting lest Absalō might be reconciled to his father were not allured vnto him til they saw such a crime committed as semed to make reconciliatiō impossible So al rebelles and vsurper● of others right seeke by some enormious fact to make their adherentes and folowers sure vnto them but God plagueth them in the end as he did both Achitophel and Absalom :: Bad counsa●● often falleth worst to the counseller :: Dauid moued with compassion towardes his sonne Absalom being in actual rebellion against him presigured Christs cōpassion towards his persecuters being his creatures praying for them in his passion S. Ambrose in Psal ●18 v. 108. :: Al his sonnes being ●ea● ●●t he had once three sonnes a daughter chap. 14. v. 〈◊〉 :: Al the eleuen tribes are called by the name o● Ioseth being chiefe after Iuda S● Semei not of the proper tribe of Ioseph ●ut of Beniamin pleading for pardon of his former fa●lt alleageth that he came first of the eleuen tribes to submitte him self and serue the king :: Chiefe or great in ●amil●●iti● Iosue ● :: After that Dauid was deliuered from the handes of Saul 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 must dangerously of ● m●●●●secut●●●●● and 〈…〉 here specially named and from al his enimies c●rp●ral spiritual when he had good repose of mind his visible enimies being 〈…〉 ●ed and his sinnes remitted acknowledging Gods infinite goodnes by inspira●ion of the Holie Ghost made this Can title of thanks geuing and praise of God It is inserted amongst the Psalmes the 17 in order al one in sense so differing in some wordes that the one explicateth the other :: Though some few Gentiles were subdued by Dauid and some were conuerted to true religion in the old Testamēt yet the fulcon uersion of Gentiles per●eineth to the Church of Christ which is here forshewed and described to haue perpetual seede for euer :: King Dauid in this last prophecie plainly distinguisheth betwen the couenant pro●●ise made to him touching ●●s earthlie kingdom and the kingdom of Christ who should be borne of his 〈…〉 In both which 〈…〉 the reward of the good and punishment of 〈…〉 :: The king proposed not this for desire of that water but to trie and exercise his mens fortitude :: Precious thinges are most mete to be offered to God :: This sinne punishment happened before when Dauid had health and streingth of bodie The furie of our Lord that is Satan a ●u●●o●s spirite yet Gods creature not our Lord him selfe but by permission only 1. Par. 2. 1. Satan arose against Israel 〈◊〉 Dauid :: Contrition :: Confession :: Satisfaction The Epistle in a votiue Masse in tyme of plague or mortalitie :: Temporal punishment inflicted after the guilt of sinne was remitted :: If subiectes had not proprietie in their goodes but that the right and dominion of al perteyned to the prince then could nothing at al in anie case be geuen gratis by the subiect but only yelded as due to his souereigne The contentes of this booke diuided into three partes The first pa●● King Dauides admonitions to his sonne and his death :: For this conspiracie Abiathar was deposed ch ● v. 27. :: Basely estemed or punished as offenders vpon suspition or ●●lo●●● :: King Dauid did not ad●●e his sonne as a subject adoreth his prince ●a● adored God geuing thankes for this bene●●●e of a succed●● as it foloweth in the next verse The second part O● Salomons r●●●ne and actes good and bad :: In al co●●e 〈◊〉 suires●● 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 to heare his mother :: By special instinct Salomon did this extraordinarie fact as a prophet minister of God executing his sentence geuen before against the house of ●●l● 〈◊〉 the sinnes of his children ● Reg. 2. ● 31. and for A●●athars proper fault 〈◊〉 with Adonias against Salomon 3. Reg. 1. :: Salomon was not only a kīg but also a prophet Moreouer some secular princes do● 〈◊〉 ●●inate spiritual superiours are in shal them in ther 〈◊〉 yet thei● i●●●sd●ction is not depending on the 〈◊〉 but the 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 by them Num 27. v. 21. The Epistle on monday in the 4 weke of Le●● :: So here●●●es not being able to proue that their synagogue is the true permanent Church would destroy the Catholique and so haue none at al. :: These bookes are not extant * Narovv vvithout broad vvithin :: 〈…〉 :: Holie of holies or most holie place :: Stones in buildinges and bones in ●●●ng bodies represent the state of religious persones who being hidde in their Monisteties and c●ll●s so much the more fortifie the Church by how much 〈◊〉 they appeare abrode because their office is not to t●●ch but to mou●ne S. Bernard Ser. 64. :: It is a clere 〈◊〉 that al ●ar ued grauen pictures or images were not vnlawful but were religiously made sette in the holie Temple for the more honour of God The end of the fourth age Articles of ●aith other pointes of religion state of the Church more expressed in this fourth age then before Beleefe in one God Diuine lawes Moral Ceremonial Iudicial Mat. 22. Onely God to be 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 q. 154. in Eoxd Mat. 22. 〈…〉 Christ Freewil in Angels and men Obiection of Gods ●or ●novvledge answered Grace necessarie 2. Cor. ● Gods cōmand mentes possible to be kept Good workes Meritorious D●●ers sertes of Sacrifices Holocaust ●●● sinne Pacifique Fire sent from God 〈…〉 charitie Sacraments Alanus de Sacra c. 9. Manie more in the old Testament then in the new li de vera Religi●ne c. 17. Christs Sacraments more excellent Most of Christs Sacraments presigured in the old law but not al. S. Aug. in hunc Psal ser de ve●bis Domini li. 17. ciuit c. 20 li. 1. cont aduers leg c. 18. S. Cyril li. 3. m Ioan. S. Leo ser 8. le passione Some like im●●●●ments in ●se of holie Rites Tabernacle Propitiatorie with appertinances The Tabernacle and afterwardes the Temple the onlie place for Sacrifice Q●est 56. in Leuit. Yet God some times dispensed therein ibidem Feastes of the old law Figh●sortes of feastes besides the dailie sacrifice S. Beda de Embolismo 〈◊〉 1. Prescribed fast from euen to euen Seuenth yeare of rest and Iubiley yeare O●●●r ceremonial obseruances 〈…〉 and vncleane No bloud to be eaten nor 〈…〉 Not 〈…〉 ●eed● in one field No cloth of d●●ers matter Strict commandment to kep●●l the Law The obseruers blessed and rewarded Trans●r●ss●●●s cursed and punished VVork●● of supererogation Vowes Nazarit●● Rechabites Three so●●● of Chri 〈…〉 prefigured Laitie Clergie Mounkes Holie scip●●res expo 〈…〉 mystically S. Bern.
and obstinate disputers stil repete the same obiections :: Iob sheweth that neither God nedeth mans helpe :: Neither is Baldads prudence able to helpe if there were nede :: Giantes were not able to wade in Noes floud but were drowned with the rest :: Not only great thinges before recited but also the very least are made by God and depend vpon his prouidence :: God would not as yet haue Iobs cause iudged but reserued the sentence for his greater trial in patience :: It were a lie to acknowlege such sinnes as he had not committed :: Some part of Gods iudgement falleth on the wicked in this life but especially at their death Psal 75. :: By these more precious and rare creatures men ought to consider the creator and so not set their rest in them but in him which is true wisdome :: Sudaine headie waters bursting out do change the wayes and passages of men :: True wisdom is not in natural thinges but in supernatural vertues :: VVhen man hath considered Gods workes his dutie is to feare God :: Then to depart from euil and do good :: Parables are not only similitudes of thinges but also pithie and profound sentences such as Iob Salomon and other wisest men vttered :: This particle as importeth not here a similitude but rather that he was a very king or supreme prince as hauing supreme authoritie v. 7. royal vesture and crowne v. 〈◊〉 Is●lorus li. de vita sanct Beda alij :: Men scarse fitte to haue care of dogges derided Iob in his affliction so he was contemned of the most contemptible :: Our Sauiour also sustered this reproch Mat. 26. :: In the Hebrew haue put in the plural number importing pluralitie of Diuine Persons :: Death is a comforth to a iust man in tribulation :: Like to such beastes as seke solitary places to lament in :: whereas there is a continual warre betwen a chaist mind and rebellious flesh holie Iob made this condition of truce betwene these enimies that his eye should neuer geue occasion to carnal concupiscence :: By which meanes he was also safe from carnal cogitations S. Greg. li. 21. e. 2. :: By this demand he prouoked his aduersaries to produce what they could to conuince him of idolatrie or denving God wherwith they indirectly charged him :: Iob disputed no more with his freindes but afterward submitted him self to God acknowledging some vnaduised speach c 39. v. 37. c. 42. v 3 The ninth conflict :: This young-man wittie lerned but proud withal was a figure of the hote and arrogant disputers who wil seme to know more then their elders S. Greg. li. 23. c. 2. :: A notorious arrogancie to hold himselfe wiser then any man either of his owne sect or of his aduersaries :: Those that neither credite Catholique Doctors nor yet relie vpon their owne elders but euery one vpon his owne priuate spirit denie that to perteyne to them which is spoken to others in the same errors S. Greg li. 23. c. 8. :: Arrogant men imagine their owne conceiptes vtterance to be more meruelous thē other mens not knowing how foolish their owne pride is S. Greg. li. 23. c. 16. :: It is true that Gods wil once vttered ought to suffice al men for he answereth not to ech one by a particular speach but by common speach or fact satisfieth al mens questions wherof S. Gregorie noteth this general rule vita praecedentium sit form ● sequentium The l●se of them that goe be fore is made a forme or rule of them that folovv li. 23. c. 18 19 But Eliu falsely supposed that God by Iobs affliction had declared that he was a wicked man For in dede God declared the contrarie c. 1. v. 1. 8. c. 2. v. 3. :: Iob said not that God ubuerted iudgement or wrongfully iudged but God hath taken avvay my iudgement cha 27 v 2. that is differred to iudge my cause :: Neither did Iob say this c. 9. v. 22. but Eliu wrested his meaning that he might haue something to reprehend S. Greg. li. 24. c. 25. :: Eliu applieth this to Iob as though he had made false shew of vertue which he had not and that God had suffered him hither to to ●●igne or rather to tyrannize for iust punishment of his peoples sin nes But God at last declared that Iob was not such a one ch 42. v. 7. :: Eliu insisteth much in this calumniation for Iob neuer said that he was iust compared vvith God nor iuster then God But that his affliction was greater then his sinne ch 6. v. 3. c. 23. v. ● c. :: These are strong sentences saith S. Gregorie but they agree not or ●●e●●lapphed to the blessed person of Iob. li. 26. c. 7. :: No orator is so vaine but he promiseth al truth speaketh some to get credite with his auditorie :: If kinges reigne wel their praise remaineth for euer v. 11. :: The night is drawne long when tentations are not spedely resisted :: wherby ful worse and worse cogitations succede in place of the first S. Greg. li 26. ● 38. :: Aboue al other Lawgeuers God is most able to punish transgressors but most willing and most able to reward the obseruers S. Gregorie ex poundeth this to be a prophec●e of Christ our singular lavvgeuer li. ●7 c. 1 :: Christ wil geue the glorious light of heauen which now is hidden to men that lost terrestrial paradise ibidē c. 12. :: Consideration of heauenly rewardes mentioned in the end of the former chapter comforteth the afflicted but thunder and other meteors being figures of Gods iudgement strike the hart with terrour :: North wind or north pole :: God directeth the ●loudes in the ayre as a master mariner gouerneth a shippe :: Man not able to praise God sufficiently p●ayseth him with fea●e * Iob coruinced the former three with sound answers this last and most arrogant with silence The third part For the tenth and last dispute God discusseth the controuer sie and geueth sentence for Iob. :: Onlie the Creator hath absolute and perfect knowlege of al creatures As may appear● by induction or example :: Of the creation of the earth :: Of the sea :: Distinction of lightes :: The depth of the sea :: Man 's owne natiuitie and what shal happen after his death :: The sunnes light and heate :: Diuers Meteors :: Starres and planetes :: Man hath his knowlege from God :: And the cock hath skil which man wanteth * or rest from motion :: In some Editions the 39. chap. begineth here shewing by induction of sensible thinges as before of insensible that onlie God knoweth the nature of al creatures :: By Gods meruelous prouidence appearing in the natural instinct of other creatures man may consider that the same is greater towards him And therfore God here proposeth the examples of :: VVild goates :: Hyndes :: VVild asses :: Vnicornes ::
sinne thincke the seruice of God a most ted●ous loathsome thing :: Desire not to dye that thou maist therby be couered from vvorldl●e miseries for that is a desperate desire but haue patience in this l●fe that thou maist fi●de rest in God * Co●●●ing :: As vertues are to be revvarded so al sinnes shal be punished Namely external pretence of holines vvith secrete euil intention Distrust in God Impatience and the like :: The progenie of Gods children bring forth the fruite of obedience and loue :: Honour and estimation of parents is the chiefest obligation that man hath towardes his neighbour the first after his dutie to God Exo. 20. Deut. 5. Gen. 27. 49. :: Almes geuen or prayer made or sacrifice offered for parents doth merite reward at Gods hand :: Al greatnes in men proceding from God bindeth them so much the more to humilitie VVhich vertue God most specially loueth that so they may shew gratitude for his benefites Philip. 2. Pro. ●● v. ● :: Those that dare liue in sinful state tempting God euen to the last houre commonly perish therin Dan 4. v. 24. :: Geue not occasion by thy hard dealing with the poore that they curse thee :: For if thou geue cause God who is their protector wil reuenge them against thee :: They that folow wisdom shal be safe :: Through shamfastnes to yeld vnto sinne or not to reproue sinne is vicious :: But to be ashamed and to abhorre sinne is very good and necessarie :: Al men are bonde to say the truth at conuenient times v 23. And euer bond to auoide vntruthes :: Euerie one is bond ●ather to lose his l●fe then to do against iustice o● to denie the truth Though thou be so potent that no man can hinder thy euil de signment yet do it not because God wil punish it :: After that sinne is forgeuen there remaineth of●e● times punishment for satisfaction * Couering or death Prou 10. v. 4. :: Constancie in good purpose meriteth :: the promised peace and iust reward :: So Gedeon pacified the Ephraimites that were incensed against him Iudic. 8 :: Manie preferre lerning before pietie which S. Augustin reproueth preferring the godlie before the lerned that are lesse vertuous The vnlerned rise sayth he and take the kingdom of heauen and we with our lernings without halt loe how we tumble in the durt li. 8. c. 8. Consess :: what soeuer anie soweth that he shal reape and the wicked shal eate the fruites of his owne workes Iob. 9. Psal 142 Eccle. 7. :: Great prudence and sortitude are required in al Iudges spiritual and temporal :: In hel are two punishments fire burning and the worme of conscience vering the soule both are eternal Leuit. ●● T●b ● Deut. 1● Leuit. ● Num ●● :: VVorkes of mercie are also profitable to the dead as prayer almes and sacrifice for soules in purgatorie Rom 1● v. 15. :: A most especial preseruatiue from sinne :: Briberie sometimes corrupteth kinges much more other inferior Iudges And therfore it is better to suffer damage then to contend by law against the rich Gal 6. Prou. 26. Prou. 22. v. 24. :: In al consultations conferre with the skilful for the blinde can not iudge of colours the dease of musike the sicke of taist nor worldlie m●n of spiritual thinges :: Seing ielosie betwen man wife is dangerous much more vnnecessarie conuersation betwen other men and wemen especially probable occasions of sinne must be auoided Prou. ● :: Constancie in good thinges namely in freindshippe is very necessarie :: A sinner that prospereth is like to a somer floure in the filde that is quickly cut downe and withereth :: Example of rulers is of greate efficacie Prou. 29. Dan. 4. :: The causes of translating kingdomes dominions :: Couetuosnes is the roote of al euiles 1. Tim. 6. in that for lucie manie fal into al sortes of sinnes euen into schisme and heresie erring from the faith ibidem v. 1● :: Neuertheles pride is the beginning of al sinne as this text expresly testifieth and the reason is for that mans inordinate self loue is the cause of declining from Gods commandments they which runne on in that course cast themselues headlong into the depth of al mischief and of eternal miserie Prou. 17. Prou. 1● :: A wisman humbling himself by penance as Daniel did or being vniustly humbled by others as Ioseph was shal be exalted by God :: Expect the end of an other mans speach before you beginne to answer :: Expect also if anie that is elder or better able wil answer first Deut. 13. Iob. 42. :: One punishment of sinne is blindnes of hart Especially where is no remorse of conscience :: In prosperitie is feare and in aduersitie hope of change :: It is rather crueltie then mercie to nourish a wicked man persisting in sinne for so he runneth stil into more wickednes and into eternal damnation :: but the penitent is to be comforted and assisted :: Euerie one is bond to loue his enemie of charitie but in prudence it be houeth not to credite him According to our Sauiours rule Be wise as serpents and simple as dooues Mat. 10 Deut. 7. :: He that conuerseth with a greater man then himself except it be with vertuous is forced often to suffer much and to yeld to manie inconueniences :: Pusill animitie in a superior maketh him omite his dutie committe errors fearing to do that perteyneth to his office which his auctoritie requireth :: Acception of persous hindereth manie good counsels promoteth manie euil thinges Iac. 3. :: He that can not afforde nourishment to his owne bodie by such meanes as he hath sinneth against God abusing his benefites against himself whom he vniustly afflicteth and against his neighbour whom he scandalizeth Prou. 27. v. ●0 :: In the old testament al descended into some part of hel Isa 40. v. 7. :: There shal be particular reward of euerie good worke :: VVho so euer shal resolue with himself to liue iustly shal be sure to haue grace for God preuenteth our weakenes and so continueth to helpe al that acccept his grace :: He doth iniurie to God to his word that preacheth wel and liueth euil :: Beza sayeth God ordained Adams fall but to a good end and that God iustly decreed that which men vniustly haue done in refut 2. calumnae ad Castel But this holie Scripture teacheth the contrarie that God gaue man both freewil and sufficient grace that he might if he would haue kept his preceps The same is also clerely taught Deut 7. 11. 30. and other places Gen. 2. Mat. 19. v. 17. Ier. 2. v. 8. :: Fire of concupiscence if it be not ouercome in this life wil procure the fire of Gods wrath which shal neuer be extinguished Gen. 6. Num. 26. Rom. 2. v. 6. :: Euen a dish of colde water geuen in almes shal be rewarded Mat. 10.
after the birth of Christ The same doth S. Augustin ser 6. 18 d● temp S Amb. cp 81. S. Chrys ho. de ●● Bapt. b This astonishment and reuerence of the prophet c and the great attention which he is admonished to haue import the great mysteries of Christ and his Church and not only the temple rites of the old law which vvere but figures of the new :: Holy thinges are ordinarily to be done in holie places and therfore sacred vestures by touching vvherof men vvere sanctified Exo. 29. v. 37. must not be vsed out of the temple Leuit. 10. v. 9. Deut. 18. :: The land that was assigned to holie vses vvas called sanctified and could not be alienated to priuate men nor other purposes * sanctificatum :: The princes portion of land vvas round about the clergies portion that he might defend them and the peoples part round about the princes that they might defend him :: These measures vvere of equal capacitie but the ephi serued for drie thinges the bat for liquid as appeareth v. 13. 14. :: As the people were bond to pay certaine first fruites to their temporal prince :: so he was mutually bond to pay the charges of publique sacrifices for al the people S. Ierom also expoundeth this mutual obligation to consist betwen the people and hiegh priest :: After the captiuitie albeit king Dauids progenie continued in Salathiel Zorobabel and others yet they had not the state of kinges or temporal princes and therfore not only Christian Doctors but also Rabbi Dauid other Hebrewes vnderstand this prophecie of Christ the true Messias and of the sacrifices rites of his Church the letter neuertheles alluding to the forme of the old lavv :: Al vvorkes done by the true children of God that is to say done in the state of grace do merite eternal reward :: But other moral good vvorkes done in state of mortal sinne are only revvarded temporally in this vvorld and not in life euerlasting See cha 36. v. 25. :: There is no historie nor probabilitie that vvaters issued out of the temple vvhich vvas reedified by Zorobabel Neither did al sortes of fishes liue in anie such vvater nere the temple as are mentioned v. 9. And therfore this prophecie hath an hiegher and truer sense of the Church of Christ and the vvater of Baptisme :: S. Iohn savv this riuer of liuing vvater as clere as chrystal proceding from the seat of God of the lambe And the tree of life yelding tvvelue fruites rendring his fruite euerie moneth c. Apoc. 22. :: Iosephs two sonnes had ech one a vvhole portion and so there vvere twelue tribes besides the Leuites who had other better meanes then the rest :: By the twelue tribes of Israel S. Ierom vnderstandeth the vniuersal multitude of al glorified Sainctes noting that no mention is here made of the cities of refuge as in the bookes of Numeri and Iosue because in the glorious habitation of Sainctes there can be no nede of refuge where al are perfect al secure :: As the first borne of liuing thinges first fruictes of al thinges springing so the first portion of land all●●ed to Gods seruice is called the first fruites :: The North side of the citie being in length 4500. reedes of six sacred cubites euerie rede the vvest side also and consequently the other two sides east and south in al 18000. reedes which make 36. mi●les of 1000. passes euerie mile it is certaine that this description agreeth not to the terrestrial citie of Ierusalem which was nothing nere so large And therfore the later Iewish Rabins hold opinion that when their Messias commeth the citie of Ierusalem shal be built so great But al Catholique Doctors vnderstand it mystically of the Church of Christ :: S. Iohn the Apostle had the same vision of this new Ierusalem Christs triumphant Church Apoc. 21. 22. :: The Synagog of the Ievves being left desert Mat. 23. v. 38. Christ is vvith his militant Church al dayes euen to the consummation of the world Mat. vlt. and vvith his Church triumphant illuminating and glorifying it for euer and euer Apoc. 22. v 5. a ch 1. v. 6. b ch 1. v. 3 4. Reg. 20. v. 18. Daniel of the royal bloud c ch 1. v. 1. He vvas most holie d ch 9. v 23. e Ezech. 14. 28. f ch 6. v. 5. most wise and most loyal His booke is excellent but hard to be vnderstood ch 3. v. 24. ch 13. ch 14. Certaine partes of this booke are denied by the Ievves and some others It is probable that these partes were some times in the Hebrew or the Chaldee Obiection out of S. Ierom. First solution Second solution They are proued to be Canonical by the Councels and other Fathers The prayer of Azarias The Hymne of the three children The histore of Susanna The histories of Bel and the Dragon The contents in general Epist ad Paulm In particular Diuided into three partes The first part Actes of Daniel with the other three Hebrevv children and of the kinges of Babylon 4. Reg. 24. v. 1. :: Part of the holie vessels some especial persons vvere caried away but the king was released at this time for he reigned in Ierusalem eight yeares more eleuen in al. 2 Par. 36. v 5. a Daniel as chief vvas an example to the other three children in their maner of life vvherby is also probable that they being al of the tribe of Iuda v. 6. he was nerer of the royal bloud of which some vvere taken into the kings court v. 3. b Three causes moued them to abstayne frō the kings meates left they might eate any thing offered to i dols or forbid by the lavv of Moyses because such delicare diet might prouok to gl●tonie or in time when they should be elder to other sinnes Theod. * leanes p 〈…〉 c. c By mention of the first yeare of Cyrus is sufficiently signified that Daniel liued al the time of the captiuitie And ●● 10. it is farther clere that he liued in the third yeare very like longer :: Nabuchodonosor had this dreame the second yeare after his great conquest of the Moabites Ammonites Syrians Aegyptians making his kingdom a great Monarchie so it vvas in the 25 yeare of his reigne vvhen Daniel vvas about the age of 35. yeares * prosessors of Astrologie :: It is in dede more easie to tel by the diuels helpe what one hath dreamed because dreames being past might either procede from the diuel or by some external signes be knovvne vnto him but to declare the signification which is to come and ●ncertaine i● aboue the diuels or mans povvre who can only coniecture what is probable doe often erre therin See the Annotations Gen. 40. :: By shevving the kings former cogitation before his dreame he gaue great assurance of the true spirite of prophecie that the king might securely beleue the interpretation